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Managed Security Services Provider Morning News: 21 August 2017

Each morning MSSP Alert broadcasts a quick lineup of news, analysis and chatter from across the global managed security services provider, SOC (security operations center) and IT outsourcing ecosystem.

Here’s the lineup for Monday, August 21, 2017

10. Big Healthcare Hack: A computer geek with alleged links to global hacking group Anonymous has stolen patient data from England's National Health Service (NHS) appointment booking system, according to The Sun. The crook breached a private contractor’s security to access a database containing confidential records on up to 1.2 million people, the report claimed.

9. HBO Passwords Stolen: Hackers have sent alleged login user names and passwords for HBO social media accounts (including the @HBO twitter handle) to  Mashable, the media site reported this past weekend. Mashable did not attempt to use the login information for legal reasons, but the media site believes the information is legitimate. HBO is working with authorities to find and prosecute hackers who have leaked some company intellectual property onto the web.

8. Hacker Sentenced: Obinna Obioha, a Nigerian hacker who defrauded businesses in the U.S. and elsewhere of about $6.5 million, has been jailed for 51 months by a New York federal judge, according to Naij.com.

7. Playstaytion Hack: OurMine, an alleged hacker group, apparently is leaking Sony Playstation databases onto the web and social media sites, according to A 90s Kid -- a gaming and entertainment website.

6. IRS Cyber Spending: The IRS appropriately used $106.4 million in funding designated for cybersecurity enhancements and identity theft prevention, according to a watchdog group. We'll share more details soon.

5. AT&T Home Security: AT&T may sell Digital Life, a home security business worth about $1 billion, Reuters reported. The telecom giant is looking to reduce its debt load amid the massive Time Warner buyout, which is still pending.

4. Ransomware Attack: LG Electronics’ service centers were attacked by ransomware this week, with the malicious code used possibly identical to the WannaCry ransomware attack, one of the largest cyberattacks that struck in May, The Korea Herald reported.

3. Carbon Black Leakage: Carbon Black says a bug in its Cb Response platform could result in some customers unintentionally sharing sensitive files, KrebsOnSecurity reported. The warning is not to be confused with a DirectDefense warning about alleged Carbon Black leakage earlier this month. Carbon Black said that earlier DirectDefense warning was misleading. Related Conference: The Carbon Black Connect 2017 customer and partner conference is set for October.

Steve Pataky
SonicWall CRO Steve Pataky

2. Promoted: SonicWall has promoted Steve Pataky to senior VP and chief revenue officer, according to his LinkedIn account. Pataky, the well-known channel chief, has played an instrumental role in SonicWall's pure channel strategy since the company spun off from Dell last year. More recently, he has been helping the firewall company to develop a more formalized MSP and MSSP strategy.

1. MSSPs on the Inc. 5000: We recently mentioned that numerous MSSPs and cybersecurity companies have surfaced on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies for 2017. Among the names we failed to mention: InteliSecure (Rank: 1874), a managed security services provider and security operations center provider in Denver. The company's revenues grew 205 percent over the past three years, reaching $21.1 million in 2016. Related: Participate in our own Top MSSPs survey. Deadline for submissions is Aug. 31. Results and honorees coming in September.

Joe Panettieri

Joe Panettieri is co-founder & editorial director of MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E, the two leading news & analysis sites for managed service providers in the cybersecurity market.