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Threat Actors

Learn about the individuals and groups behind cyberattacks, including nation-state hackers, cybercriminal organizations, hacktivists, and insider threats. These articles analyze motivations, tactics, and real-world examples to help you understand who poses risks to your digital assets.

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Medusa Ransomware

Medusa Ransomware Gang Phishing Campaigns: What to Know

The FBI Didn't Issue a Joint Advisory for Nothing In March 2025, CISA, the FBI, and MS-ISAC released a joint cybersecurity advisory (#StopRansomware) specifically about the Medusa ransomware variant. By that point, Medusa had already hit over 300 organizations across critical infrastructure sectors — healthcare, education, legal, insurance, technology,

Carl B. Johnson Oct 01, 2026 5 min read
What Is Malware

What Is Malware? A Security Pro's Field Guide

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 880,000 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion — and malware was the engine behind a staggering share of those incidents. If you've ever asked what is malware, the textbook answer is simple: malicious software

Carl B. Johnson Sep 24, 2026 5 min read
Types of Malware

Types of Malware: What Every Organization Must Know

A Single Email Delivered 11 Different Types of Malware In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 880,000 complaints with losses exceeding $12.5 billion. A significant chunk of those losses traced back to malware delivered through phishing emails and social engineering. I've

Carl B. Johnson Sep 20, 2026 5 min read
Medusa Ransomware

Medusa Ransomware Gang Phishing Campaigns Explained

In March 2025, CISA and the FBI issued a joint advisory warning that the Medusa ransomware gang had compromised over 300 organizations across critical infrastructure sectors — healthcare, education, legal, insurance, and manufacturing. The attack vector in the vast majority of cases? Phishing emails and credential theft. If you think your

Carl B. Johnson Sep 19, 2026 6 min read
Smishing Attack Examples

Smishing Attack Examples: Real Texts That Steal Data

In March 2024, the FBI's IC3 reported that Americans lost over $45 million to smishing and vishing schemes in a single year — and those are just the cases people actually reported. I've personally investigated incidents where a single SMS message led to a six-figure wire transfer

Carl B. Johnson Sep 04, 2026 5 min read
Ransomware

What Is Ransomware? A Security Pro's Real-World Guide

A Single Click Cost One Hospital Chain $100 Million In 2020, Universal Health Services — a Fortune 500 hospital operator — got hit by the Ryuk ransomware strain. The result: 400 facilities knocked offline, staff reverting to pen and paper, and an estimated $67 million in direct costs plus ongoing damages that

Carl B. Johnson Aug 15, 2026 5 min read
Medusa Ransomware

Medusa Ransomware Gang Phishing Campaigns: What to Know

The Ransomware Gang That Treats Phishing Like a Business In March 2025, CISA and the FBI issued a joint advisory — AA25-071A — warning that the Medusa ransomware gang had compromised over 300 organizations across critical infrastructure sectors. Healthcare, education, legal, insurance, manufacturing. The attack vector in the vast majority of cases?

Carl B. Johnson Aug 11, 2026 5 min read
Types of Malware

Types of Malware: What Every Organization Must Know

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 880,000 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion — a 22% increase from the previous year. A staggering number of those incidents involved some form of malicious software. Understanding the types of malware your organization faces isn&

Carl B. Johnson Aug 04, 2026 5 min read
Ransomware

How Ransomware Spreads: 6 Attack Vectors in 2026

A Single Email Cost One Hospital Chain $100 Million In 2024, Change Healthcare — a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group — suffered a ransomware attack that disrupted pharmacy operations, insurance claims, and patient care across the United States. The company paid a $22 million ransom. Total damages exceeded $100 million. The initial entry

Carl B. Johnson Jul 25, 2026 5 min read