DHS and the FBI shared a joint alert on December third regarding the critical infrastructure threat posed by the Iranian SamSam virus. The ultimate purpose of the virus is the successful intrusion and takeover of a network for the purpose of extorting a ransom (ransomware). The alert recommended strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and regular updates as the key line of defense against the malware. This alert comes only a week after a DoJ indictment of two Iranians for creating the virus and targeting U.S. infrastructure. To date, there have been over 200 victims that have included hospitals, municipalities, and other public institutions causing damages of around $30 million.
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