MERCENARY hackers increasingly are targeting law firms in a bid to steal data that could tip the balance in legal cases, French and British authorities say.
In a pair of reports published over the past week, the cyber watchdog agencies of France and the UK cataloged an array of digital challenges faced by law firms, including threats posed by ransomware and malicious insiders. Both also highlighted the dangers posed by mercenary hackers hired by litigants to filch sensitive information from courtroom opponents.
The London-based National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said in its report published on June 22 that it was increasingly seeing "hackers-for-hire" brought in "to gain the upper hand in business dealings or legal disputes."
France’s cyber watchdog, known as ANSSI, said in its report released on Tuesday (27) that “mercenaries with offensive cyber capacities” were increasingly targeting the legal sector. ANSSI cited Reuters reporting last year on how mercenary hackers based out of India were being drafted to help sway high-profile cases in the United States, Europe and elsewhere.
That story - which was based on interviews with victims, researchers, investigators, former US government officials, lawyers and hackers, plus a review of court records and thousands of emails - revealed that hacking groups based in India were responsible for a years-long hacking spree that targeted some 1,000 attorneys at 108 different law firms worldwide. Reuters showed how the hackers made a business out of stealing documents for their clients and, in some cases, trying to enter the ill-gotten material as evidence.
The investigation has since been corroborated by researchers at Alphabet-owned Google and Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc.
Britain's NCSC and France's watchdog ANSSI didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
(Reuters)
Hackers-for-hire targeting law firms, say France & UK
A report last year said hacking groups based in India targeted some 1,000 attorneys at 108 law firms worldwide
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.