Microsoft said Monday it obtained a court order allowing it to seize web domains used by North Korean hacking groups to launch cyberattacks on human rights activists, researchers and others. The U.S. technology giant said a federal court allowed it to take control of 50 domains operated by a group dubbed Thallium, which tricked online users by fraudulently using Microsoft brands and trademarks. After getting the victim's credentials, the hackers can access emails, contact lists, calendar appointments and other data and often forwards any new emails to the attackers. The hackers also used malicious software which can access other data on a victim's computer. An order from a U.S. federal court in Virginia allowed Microsoft to take control of the domains, meaning “the sites can no longer be used to execute attacks,” Mr. Burt said.

Source: The Hindu December 31, 2019 00:03 UTC