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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Gunmen attacked Orthodox churches and synagogues in Dagestan on Sunday, killing around 20 people.</li><li>The attacks raised questions about Russia's domestic security as it continues its war in Ukraine.</li></ul>On Sunday evening, gunmen attacked <a target="_blank" href="https://tass.com/defense/1808009">two Orthodox churches and two synagogues</a> in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/russia">Russia's</a> predominantly Muslim Dagestan region, hurling Molotov cocktails and exchanging fire with police.The attacks, which killed around 20 people, raised major questions about whether the Kremlin has the resources to protect its citizens back home while pursuing its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/russia-ukraine-war">war in Ukraine</a>.The incident "caught security forces completely off guard," Lucas Webber, a research fellow at the Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank, told Business Insider — despite the fact that it would have required "quite a bit of planning and preparation beforehand."The attacks also illustrated "the diverse range of militant actors Russia has angered through its domestic and foreign policy actions," he added.The Institute for the Study of War reported that the Islamic State's (IS) Northern Caucasus branch, Wilayat Kavkaz, was likely behind the attacks, noting that they had "increased fears within the Russian information space about further terrorist attacks and instability in the North Caucasus."Five of the six gunmen said to have been killed in the attack also had connections to the Dagestan <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dagestan-anti-jewish-airport-rampage-was-egged-on-by-telegram-channel-2023-10">region's</a> political elite, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://cepa.org/article/islamists-feast-as-russias-security-state-slumbers/">Center for European Policy Analysis</a>, a Washington DC-based think tank.<div type="image" title="A view of the destruction after more than 15 police officers have been killed in armed attacks in Makhachkala checkpoint and a synagogue in Derbent, in Dagestan, Russia on June 24, 2024. Describing it as a 'terrorist attack,' the Republic's head, Sergey Melikov said: 'We know who is behind this and what the organizers of these attacks aimed for. War has come to our home.' Active phase of counter-terrorism operations in Makhachkala and Derbent has been completed, and six gunmen responsible for the attacks were neutralized. (Photo by National Antiterrorism Committee / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)" height="570" width="1024" msid="111361391" hostid="261" sizebytes="32888"></div>The attacks marked the latest in a series of major domestic security failures that have plagued Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Such incidents have presented a major problem for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose reputation as a strongman able to guarantee security and order in Russia while also waging a war against Ukraine appears to be flailing.Earlier this month, security forces stormed a detention center in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don where six inmates linked to Islamic State had taken two guards hostage. The inmates were killed, and the hostages were freed, Russian news agency Tass reported, citing Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service.In March, gunmen entered the packed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/isis-k-allowed-slipped-into-moscow-massacre-because-war-zelenskyy-2024-3">Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow</a>, killing more than 140 people and leaving many more injured. Four men from Tajikistan were detained following the attack. Islamic State later claimed responsibility.In October, a mob of protesters also <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dagestan-anti-jewish-airport-rampage-was-egged-on-by-telegram-channel-2023-10">ransacked</a> Dagestan's main airport in search of Jewish people to target.<h2 id="9b13bd34-e537-4e93-9d19-9e7030543b75">North Caucasus</h2>Russia's North Caucasus region has a long history of rebellion against Kremlin rule, especially in Chechnya, where Russia battled separatists in two bloody wars — in 1994-1996 and then in 1999-2009.But such violence became increasingly rare, with immense pressure from security services and developments in Syria and Iraq causing Islamic State's presence in the Caucasus to splinter, Mark Youngman, the founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://threatologist.com/about/">Threatologist</a>, which analyzes Eurasian security risks and specializes in the North Caucasus, told BI."Since 2017, there has been no organized insurgency — no infrastructure, no leadership — challenging Russia's presence," Youngman said. "Since that point, most jihadist violence has been perpetrated by isolated individuals and small groups — people inspired by jihadist ideology, but lacking resources and connections."<div type="image" title="Emergency services vehicles are seen outside the burning Crocus City Hall concert hall following the shooting incident in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow on March 22, 2024." height="3282" width="4923" msid="111361386" hostid="261" sizebytes="687650"></div>Nevertheless, Russia remained a "priority enemy of Islamic State," Webber said — something he noted has been exacerbated by Russia's "2015 intervention in Syria, expanded private military companies activities across Africa, and strengthened ties with Iran and the Taliban."Youngman said that part of the problem stems from Russia not taking "meaningful steps" to tackle the root causes that have fed support for radical ideologies in the region, such as "arbitrary behavior by the security services, human rights violations, poverty, corruption," and "lack of opportunities."Russia has instead relied on force to counter insurgency, Youngman said.Despite Sunday's incident being the second major terrorist attack in just three months, Russian security services "have not really changed their strategy," Harold Chambers, a political and security analyst specializing in the North Caucasus, told BI."Dagestan's authorities have been focused on hunting Ukrainian agents, real or fake, and followers of online opposition members," Chambers said. "Thus, the presence of radical actors who were publicly known went unaddressed."Russia's security services "do not seem to possess the same level of intelligence about threats — or, if they do, they are not acting on it," Youngman added. They are "distracted by events in Ukraine."

Terrorist attacks are on the rise in Russia as Putin remains 'distracted' by war in Ukraine

An <keyword id="19992067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force" source="keywords">Indian Air Force</keyword> soldier who was injured in a <keyword id="19899445" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="terrorist-attack" source="keywords">terrorist attack</keyword> in the <keyword id="19905509" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Poonch" source="keywords">Poonch</keyword> sector in <keyword id="19900657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Kashmir" source="keywords">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword> on Saturday has unfortunately passed away, confirmed the Indian Air Force. "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J&amp;K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress," tweeted the <keyword id="19900590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iaf" source="keywords">IAF</keyword> Media Co-ordination Centre on X. The injured personnel were evacuated to Udhampur for treatment on IAF choppers, where one of them succumbed. Another soldier is reported to be in critical condition, as confirmed by security force officials. "In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces," said the IAF. The soldier who succumbed was undergoing treatment at the command hospital at Udhampur. The remaining three are stable as per the Security Force officials, reported ANI. Following the attack that occurred in the evening around Shah Sitar and Shashidhar areas in the Poonch sector. Security forces initiated a search and cordon operation, as stated by security forces' officials. In response to the attack, forces have increased patrolling and vehicle checks in the area. The convoy was en route to the Sanai Top in the Surankote area of the district. The terrorists are suspected to be belonging to the same group that ambushed Indian troops in the Bufliaz area nearby on December 21, as per the Times of India report. The December attack last year had killed four soldiers and injured three. Earlier, in November 2023, a prolonged gunfight between Indian Army and the terrorists responsible for frequent attack on civilians in the region has resulted in deaths of five army personnel, including two captains. The Poonch sector belongs to the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which will vote for the Lok Sabha elections on May 25. Congress leaders Malikarjun Kharge and <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rahul-gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> extended condolences over the death of IAF personnel. Condemning the attack by terrorists, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote, "The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad," Rahul Gandhi said. Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP <keyword id="21530697" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shesh-paul-vaid" source="keywords">Shesh Paul Vaid</keyword> slammed Pakistan after the attack, hinting that the neighbouring country will not tolerate seeing people of Jammu and Kashmir exercising their democratic right. "It is not surprising, because the election tempo was building up in this area," said Shesh Paul Vaid in a video message posted on his official social media platform, X. Retired Major General GD Bakshi told ANI, "From the last two-three years, we have seen that the Inter-Services Intelligence and Army of Pakistan is again reviving terrorism in the Rajouri-Poonch area. They are trying to infiltrate. Troops are alert. We have to hit across the border like the Balakot airstrike". (With inputs from agencies)

Poonch Terrorist Attack: One Indian Air Force soldier dies, five injured; Patrolling intensifies across J&K

<ul class="summary-list"><li>July's jobs report fell well short of expectations, prompting recession fears and a stock market sell-off.</li><li>Some have called for emergency interest rate cuts this week as a result.</li></ul>The US <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/markets-japan-rate-hike-yen-fx-carry-trade-stock-futures-2024-8">stock market</a> is plummeting. Investors are panicking, and they're calling for the nation's central bank to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-rate-cuts-recession-outlook-economy-job-market-interest-rates-2024-8">cut interest rates</a> over a month before the Fed's next meeting.Doing so would align today's economy with that of a pandemic and major terrorist events.On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/unemployment-rate-job-growth-july-labor-market-economic-data-2024-7">July's jobs report</a>, which found that the unemployment rate rose to 4.3%, the highest reading in nearly three years. Job growth fell well short of expectations and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/stock-market-selloff-today-jobs-report-recession-unemployment-tech-earnings-2024-8?_gl=1*g3mnly*_ga*MTAyOTY4OTk4NC4xNzE0NDgyOTcz*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyMjg2NzI3MC4yNTUuMS4xNzIyODY5OTQwLjU4LjAuMA..">sent stocks plunging</a> — with many pointing their fingers at the Federal Reserve for waiting too long to cut interest rates after <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-likely-september-federal-reserve-holds-steady-july-2024-7">holding steady</a> at its meeting last week.The fallout from the jobs report has continued over the past few days. The US stock market tanked on Monday, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/nasdaq-crash-tech-recession-global-stock-market-rout-accelerates-japan-2024-8">with the Nasdaq and Dow Jones indices plunging</a>. Japan's main stock market index was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/markets-japan-rate-hike-yen-fx-carry-trade-stock-futures-2024-8">down 12.4% </a>on Monday in response to both the US jobs report and Japan's latest interest-rate hike.The global panic has prompted some economists to call for the Federal Reserve to implement an emergency interest rate cut this week; Bloomberg <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2024/08/04/bond-traders-bet-big-on-the-fed-launching-into-rescue-mode/">reported</a> that traders were predicting a 60% chance of a rate cut within the next week. The Federal Open Market Committee is not expected to meet again until September 18, during which it's expected to cut interest rates after holding them steady for nearly a year.Wharton professor Jeremy Siegel <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/05/whartons-jeremy-siegel-says-fed-needs-to-make-an-emergency-rate-cut.html">told</a> CNBC on Monday that the Fed should make an emergency 75 basis-point cut this week and that there should be "another 75 basis point cut indicated for next month at the September meeting — and that's minimum.""How much have we moved the fed funds rate? Zero," Siegel said. "That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever."The Fed has not given any indication as to whether it will cut interest rates this week, but it's only done an emergency cut in extreme situations in the past — and it doesn't look like the US economy is quite there yet. However, with concerns that the Fed is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-unemployment-interest-rates-economy-recession-soft-landing-2024-8">no longer able to achieve its soft landing</a> and avoid a recession, calls for relief will likely grow.<h2 id="36aa2446-dc65-482b-bd7d-7a46586b2aae">The history of emergency rate cuts</h2>Emergency interest rate cuts are extremely rare, and the Fed has done so sparingly in the past. There were a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/emergency-rate-cuts-events-caused-past-fed-coronavirus-timeline-when-2020-3-1028964493#6-january-2001-tech-bubble-6">series of off-cycle interest rate cuts</a> in 2001 following the dot-com bust and later the September 11 terrorist attack, both of which crashed the stock market."In the past, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has responded to weaker economic conditions, which are often associated with downward pressure on the price level, with a lower federal funds target," the St. Louis Fed said of the 9/11 attacks in a January 2002 <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/january-2002/the-federal-reserves-response-to-the-sept-11-attacks">note</a>. "The present case has been no exception; the FOMC reduced the federal funds rate target four times in the three months following the attacks."Later in 2008, the Fed implemented emergency rate cuts following the housing market crash, and most recently <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fed-interest-rate-cut-zero-bond-holdings-coronavirus-pandemic-economy-2020-3">cut rates off-cycle in March 2020</a> in response to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.Still, among calls to cut rates this week, some experts are urging against an overreaction. Jim Smigiel, chief investment officer and financial services company SEI, said in a statement that "emergency Fed rate cuts being priced in makes little sense given the economic backdrop in the U.S. and would only serve to destroy policy maker credibility."If the Fed doesn't cut rates this week, there will likely be increased pressure on the central bank in September to cut rates more aggressively. Powell <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interest-rate-cuts-likely-september-federal-reserve-holds-steady-july-2024-7">said during a press conference last week</a> that any decision will be made solely based on data, and he "can imagine a scenario in which there would be everywhere from zero cuts to several cuts, depending on the way the economy evolves."

Cries are getting louder for emergency interest-rate cuts this week, something that's been reserved for pandemics or terrorist attacks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Kim Jong Un has ordered the mass production of attack drones, North Korean media reported.</li><li>The move comes after the country ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia.</li></ul>North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the mass production of exploding drones on Thursday, according to North Korean state media.This comes just a week after a Ukrainian official told Business Insider that North Korean soldiers were receiving training from Russian forces on the use of drones.According to state media outlet KCNA, per a translation by news aggregator <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://kcnawatch.org/newstream/1731624047-386598930/respected-comrade-kim-jong-un-guides-performance-test-of-suicide-attack-drones-of-various-types/">KCNA Watch</a>, Kim oversaw tests of various drones before instructing the country's defense industry.Kim emphasized the need to build "a serial production system as early as possible and go into full-scale mass production."<div type="image" title="A drone takes off during a test of suicide attack drones on November 14, 2024. Picture and information is a state media handout and unverified by independent journalists. The drones have been blurred out by state media." height="673" width="1000" msid="115335199" hostid="261" sizebytes="52152"></div>The news agency released partially redacted images showing Kim watching tests of cruciform-style attack drones, as well footage of a BMW and an armored vehicle, both apparently destroyed in the tests.Kim emphasized how cheap drones were and remarked on the race to develop attack-drone capabilities worldwide, the news agency said.<div type="image" title="This photo provided by the North Korean government shows a burning vehicle during tests of drones designed to crash into targets, at an undisclosed location in North Korea, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024." height="750" width="1000" msid="115335197" hostid="261" sizebytes="56624"></div>Kim also oversaw drone tests in August, where he called for several types of drone to be developed, including reconnaissance and underwater drones, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-koreas-kim-jong-un-oversees-drone-test-2024-08-25/">Reuters reported at the time, citing state media.</a>Attack drones that explode on impact have been a major feature of the war in Ukraine.Russia has made widespread use of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-lancet-drone-hampering-ukraine-exposing-poor-air-defenses-2023-6">Lancet drones</a> as well as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/irans-drones-are-the-new-blueprint-for-international-warfare-2024-4">Iran-designed Shahed drones</a> in attacks both on Ukrainian military positions as well as critical domestic infrastructure.Ukraine has also relied heavily on drones to combat Russia's larger military force.There are growing concerns about closer ties between Russia and North Korea.North Korea ratified a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jong-un-says-russia-north-korea-allies-putin-bromance-2024-6">mutual defense treaty</a> with Russia this week, which stipulates that the two countries would come to each other's aid in the event of an attack.<div type="image" title="Kim Jong Un has been an ally to Putin during Russia's war on Ukraine." height="1877" width="2813" msid="115335198" hostid="261" sizebytes="111736"></div>North Korea has also steadily increased its military cooperation with Russia. Ukraine claims that up to 11,000 North Korean troops have been sent to help push back Ukrainian forces in Kursk.The soldiers are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/new-details-first-ukraine-attack-north-korea-troops-russia-kursk-2024-11">operating in Russian uniforms</a> and are scattered among Russian divisions fighting in the Ukrainian-held part of western Russia, Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-passing-deadly-drone-techniques-to-north-korea-ukraine-official-2024-11">told Business Insider.</a>Last week, Kovalenko <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-passing-deadly-drone-techniques-to-north-korea-ukraine-official-2024-11">told BI</a> that "Russia is training North Korean soldiers to operate strike UAVs and reconnaissance drones."This training, taking place under live-combat conditions, "poses a threat to both Ukraine and South Korea, as some of these soldiers will transfer their skills back to North Korea," he said.Kovalenko also said there were plans to send Russian drone instructors to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, for further training of North Korean personnel."North Korea may use these skills for future terrorist actions in the border areas with South Korea," he said.BI was unable to independently verify his statements.The exact terms of the military exchange with Russia are not known, but North Korea <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-military-officials-helping-russia-ukraine-win-for-kim-2024-10">experts told BI</a> that the country is likely getting not only economic aid but also technical assistance. The deal likely offers the state leverage to ask for advanced Russian weapons systems or their designs.The partnership brings another advantage for North Korea: much-needed live combat experience and technical know-how.North Korean troops have not seen significant combat since the 1950s."It's a win-win situation," Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., a North Korea defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI last month.Kim is getting access to foreign technology, he said, and also "access to real-world combat information to improve his defensive and offensive capabilities."

North Korea orders mass production of attack drones after seeing Russia's tactics up close

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ukrainian forces have struck North Korean troops in Kursk, marking a new phase in the conflict.</li><li>A Ukrainian official told BI they were wearing Russian uniforms and were hit by an artillery strike.</li></ul>A Ukrainian official gave Business Insider further details about the first clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk, where Ukraine launched a cross-border counteroffensive in August.Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-soldiers-attacked-under-fire-russia-kursk-ukraine-official-2024-11">said on Monday</a> that "the first North Korean troops have already come under fire in Kursk Oblast."This was later confirmed by Ukraine's defense minister, Rustem Umerov, who called it a "small engagement." Rustem said that the skirmish signaled decisively that North Korea had joined the conflict.In remarks sent to BI, Kovalenko gave more details about the attack."It was an ordinary combat engagement in the Kursk region," he said, describing how Ukrainian forces conduct reconnaissance, identify enemy positions, and launch strikes.He said that Ukrainian forces knew that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms had been distributed across various Russian army units in the region for training under combat conditions."An artillery strike was launched against a position where Russians and North Korean military personnel were located," he said.Kovalenko added that it wasn't an isolated incident.He said "daily battles" now occur in the area around Sudzha, a Ukraine-held town at the center of its push into the region."Of course, shelling of the positions occurs daily," he said.On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-says-nkorean-troops-have-suffered-losses-clashes-with-ukraine-2024-11-07/">said</a> that North Korean soldiers — which Ukraine says number 11,000 — have already taken casualties in Kursk.According to Kovalenko, the North Koreans are being given "a few weeks" of training before being sent to live combat positions.He said they pose "a serious threat that requires additional resources from our forces."He also said that some were being <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-passing-deadly-drone-techniques-to-north-korea-ukraine-official-2024-11">given training in using reconnaissance and strike drones</a>, skills that present a future risk to South Korea.Once back in North Korea, they could use their new drone know-how "for future terrorist actions in the border areas with South Korea," he said.Business Insider was unable to independently confirm his account.In recent weeks, Ukrainian intelligence has shared details of <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-intel-details-weapons-says-moscow-given-north-korean-troops-2024-11">the military equipment it says Russia has issued</a> to North Koreans, including mortars, rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles.North Korea experts told BI that the military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang is a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-military-officials-helping-russia-ukraine-win-for-kim-2024-10">win-win for both countries</a>. But on a practical level, they also spoke of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-korea-troops-aid-russia-what-means-for-ukraine-war-2024-10">logistical difficulties</a> of combining two militaries.This includes the conditions the troops will likely be cooperating under — including language issues, strains of racism from some Russian troops, as well as likely close supervision from North Korean officials to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-kim-north-korea-stops-troops-defecting-ukraine-russia-brutal-2024-10">make sure they don't desert</a>.Ukrainian intelligence also recently shared what it said was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-complain-north-korea-intercepted-call-ukraine-intel-nato-war-2024-10">intercepted audio of Russian servicemen</a> discussing the incoming Korean troops, in a conversation that suggested a chaotic start to North Koreans joining Russia's fight.

It's becoming clearer how Ukraine's first attack on North Korean troops went down

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ransomware attacks can harm companies' operations and customer confidence.</li><li>The FBI advises against paying hackers, but negotiators can help businesses assess their options.</li></ul>Cybercriminals stealing important data and holding it for ransom can be a company's worst nightmare.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ransomware-attacks-prevent-respond-jackie-singh-debbie-reynolds-2022-5">Instances of ransomware</a>, a type of malicious software that holds sensitive data hostage until a victim pays the attacker, are becoming more common. The security firm Mandiant, a Google subsidiary, said it found a 75% increase in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://cloud.google.com/blog/topics/threat-intelligence/ransomware-attacks-surge-rely-on-public-legitimate-tools">posts on data-leak sites</a> from 2022 to 2023.Some companies choose to pay cybercriminals, and others don't. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/mgm-resorts-refused-to-pay-ransom-in-cyberattack-on-casinos-3a53fa6d">MGM</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/boeing-confirms-lockbit-hackers-wanted-200-million-ransom-after-2023-hack">Boeing</a> reportedly declined to pay millions of dollars that hackers sought after data breaches. The software firm <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/11/business/cdk-hack-ransom-tweny-five-million-dollars/index.html">CDK Global</a> likely paid $25 million when it was attacked, and the casino operator <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/14/caesars-paid-millions-in-ransom-to-cybercrime-group-prior-to-mgm-hack.html">Caesars</a> reportedly paid $15 million."The position we generally take is that if you don't need to pay ransom, you should not pay ransom," said Mark Lance, the vice president of digital forensics and incident response and threat intelligence at GuidePoint Security, which helps organizations negotiate ransomware. "We do not recommend funding a criminal organization or making a payment if it's unnecessary."But he said companies may decide to pay up for a variety of reasons. "We educate clients who are the victims on what to expect if they're impacted by ransomware and what some of the benefits might be if they did pay versus didn't pay," he said.While many ransomware attacks are preventable, they happen every day to companies of all sizes. Here's what ransomware negotiators want you to know about whether to pay hackers.<h2 id="71770eeb-d42c-4350-9eef-3a0d3a2336c8">Why some companies decide to pay</h2>Kurtis Minder, the CEO of GroupSense, which offers ransom-negotiation services, said companies must consider the "blast radius associated with the attack.""There's operational interruption," he said, "but in addition to that, they need to consider things like brand impact, the PR impact, and the customer-confidence concerns," including the release of sensitive data.IBM has estimated that data breaches will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach">cost an average of $4.9 million</a> in 2024, 10% more than last year.Minder said some companies face going out of business if they don't pay the ransom. When their systems are down and they don't have backups, they're often unable to continue business operations.Lance gave an example of a hospital his company worked with that found that paying a ransom to get important files back would cost it about one-seventh of what it would spend to access backups of the files.He said organizations might also pay when cybercriminals take sensitive or proprietary information, such as personally identifiable information, and threaten to release it.<h2 id="fbfa70fb-8ec2-4478-8bc4-fdea77f2984f">Both paying and not paying can be risky</h2>Lance said that whether to pay ransom is ultimately up to individual companies.The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/ransomware">FBI warns</a> against paying ransom to attackers, as there's no guarantee you'll get your data back. The agency also argues that paying incentivizes hackers to target more victims.Minder and Lance say many cybercriminal organizations are sophisticated and have their own reputations to uphold — so they usually do what they say and provide instructions for decrypting the stolen information once they receive payment."It's always a risk paying a threat actor because you're dealing with somebody who just stole information from your environment and is basically holding your data hostage," Lance said. "There are motivations for them to make sure that you do get access back to your systems and are able to recover."Still, Minder said, you can't know for sure. But if you don't pay, your data will most likely stay encrypted, sensitive information may be released, and you may be at risk of getting attacked again.Minder added that while companies are encouraged to report ransomware attacks to law enforcement, not all of them do.There's no federal law that prohibits paying cybercriminals. But the government prohibits financial transactions, including ransom, with certain entities designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Some states, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-news/florida-prohibits-state-agencies-from-paying-cyber-ransoms/">Florida</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.govtech.com/security/experts-remain-divided-on-n-c-ransomware-payment-ban">North Carolina</a>, have laws banning government entities from paying cyberattackers.The US Securities and Exchange Commission requires public companies to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-companies-can-respond-to-cybersecurity-risks-after-layoffs-2024-9">disclose details about cybersecurity incidents</a> that are "material," meaning likely to affect their operations, reputation, or finances.<h2 id="1dff5843-5cbd-4edf-a683-4c14bf20df27">Seeking help is crucial</h2>Lance said that if you encounter ransomware, "don't try to go at it alone without any experience."He added that hiring a negotiator or talking with others in the same industry who've experienced an attack can help companies avoid pitfalls, which can include not having a response plan, waiting too long to respond, and not communicating effectively with cybercriminals.Negotiators have experience interacting with dozens of cybercriminal groups; Lance said that knowledge of these organizations' backgrounds and histories is useful during negotiations.Minder said that working with negotiators could help companies assess their risk and decide whether to pay. Negotiators can also help navigate the logistics of paying and getting a company's systems back up and running and can work with law enforcement and insurance companies.Lance said the negotiation process involves setting expectations when a company decides to pay ransom — this includes ensuring the company can decrypt stolen files and data, demanding proof that data was deleted, and obtaining details about how the cybercriminals accessed the company's system."We want to educate people that ransomware is a real and relevant threat" that most likely isn't going away, Lance said. But he added that there are "basic things that you can do to protect yourself from being a victim."

Should your company pay cybercriminals after a ransomware attack? It depends.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A power outage halted production at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-gigafactory">Tesla's gigafactory</a> in Germany. </li><li>Workers were sent home from the plant near Berlin, the company told German newspaper Bild. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a> took aim at a militant group that claimed responsibility for a fire which halted production at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla">Tesla</a>'s German factory on Tuesday.The far-left "Volcano Group" set fire to an electricity pylon near the plant that caused a power cut, they said in a letter posted on website <a target="_blank" href="http://kontrapolis.info">kontrapolis.info</a>."We sabotaged Tesla today," the activists claimed. "Our gift for March 8th is to shut down Tesla."They said in the letter that Tesla "consumes earth, resources, people, workers and in return spits out 6,000 SUVs, killer cars and monster trucks each week."<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1764998660406845620">Musk said on X</a>: "These are either the dumbest eco-terrorists on Earth or they're puppets of those who don't have good environmental goals. Stopping production of electric vehicles, rather than fossil fuel vehicles, ist extrem dumm."Police were notified about the burning pylon at about 5:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, and firefighters were dispatched, a Brandenburg police spokesperson told Business Insider. An investigation into the suspected arson was ongoing.Employees on the night shift were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/berlin-aktuell/tesla-bei-berlin-kein-strom-nach-brand-anschlag-87401096.bild.html">evacuated from the factory</a> in nearby Grünheide, Bild reported. Tesla told the newspaper it did not expect to resume production quickly following a consultation with energy provider E.DIS. The power-grid operator Stromnetz Berlin said the Berlin districts of Müggelheim, Rahnsdorf, and parts of Neukölln were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.dw.com/en/germany-police-probe-attack-as-tesla-production-halted/a-68440976">affected by outages, DW reported</a>. About 2,000 households were without power. Tesla didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.The EV maker's plans to expand its only manufacturing plant in Europe <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/feb/21/german-town-votes-against-tesla-plans-to-expand-gigafactory-carmake-industrial-action-sweden">hit a snag last month</a> as a majority of Grünheide residents voted against the proposals, The Guardian reported. Tesla told the publication at the time that it would now "seek dialogue with all participants to decide on further steps."Environmental activists protesting the plans started occupying the forest near the factory last Wednesday, DW reported. They planned to camp in the forest for a week in a bid to block Tesla's expansion of its gigafactory. The expansion would mean clearing over 100 hectares of forest, the outlet added. Production at the Grünheide plant was also temporarily <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-pauses-germany-production-red-sea-militant-attacks-2024-1">brought to a standstill </a>in January because of militant attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The pause took place from January 29 to February 11, Reuters reported.

Elon Musk hits out at 'eco-terrorists' who claimed responsibility for arson attack near Tesla's German gigafactory

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The FBI accused Paul Faye Sr. of planning an attack on the southern border.</li><li>But his son, Joseph Faye says his father only "talks a big game."</li></ul>The son of a man <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fbi-arrest-militia-sniper-planning-attack-southern-border-2024-2">accused of planning a violent attack on the southern border</a> says his father is a "compulsive liar" who "talks a big game.""He's not a terrorist," Joseph Faye, 30, told <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tennessee-sniper-border-arrest-paul-faye-son-rcna137744">NBC News</a> on Wednesday. "He talks a big game, but it's all lies."Faye's father, Paul Faye Sr., was charged with the possession of an unregistered silencer under the National Firearms Act, according to a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24409164-paul-faye-sr-criminal-complaint-case-no-24-mj-1036">criminal complaint</a> filed on February 2. Faye Sr. was accused of trying to sell an unregistered AK-47 suppressor to an undercover FBI agent.According to the criminal complaint, the undercover FBI agent befriended Faye Sr. via the social media platform TikTok.Faye subsequently told three undercover agents at a meeting in April that he believed the federal government was letting illegal immigrants through the southern border on purpose, per the document.According to the criminal complaint, Faye Sr. subsequently outlined his plans to attack the southern border. He told an agent that he planned to transport explosives to the border and that he would act as a sniper there."I would be on top that roof right there, zeroing out, taking out anybody," Faye Sr. told an undercover agent during a meeting in December.But Faye Sr.'s son says his father isn't much of a marksman."We went hunting, and my dad had to shoot at a deer standing still three different times before he hit it," Joseph Faye said. "He's not a sniper."In fact, the younger Faye said that most of the weapons in his father's "war room" belonged to him.According to the criminal complaint, undercover agents spotted numerous firearms, including a Creedmoor rifle, several AR-15 rifles, and a shotgun when they visited him in January."I'm a deer hunter. I have hunting rifles. The only gun my father owns is an old shotgun he got from his dad before he died," Joseph Faye said.The younger Faye said he'd long suspected his father's new friends could've been undercover agents and had warned him about it."I said, 'They're feds, they're undercover cops,' and he said, 'No they're not,'" Joseph Faye told NBC News. "Every time they came to see us, they'd be in different vehicles. They always brought ARs. Once we went out camping with my family and the next thing I know they show up.""I told my dad, 'They're feds, no doubt about it,'" he added.

The son of a man accused of planning to attack the southern border says his father is 'not a terrorist'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russian troops have been using Discord to coordinate drone attacks, but it was banned on Tuesday.</li><li>Federal regulators said they blocked the gaming messaging platform because it could be used for crime.</li></ul>Russian state media reported on Tuesday that authorities have banned <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/discord-members-say-pentagon-leak-suspect-wanted-to-show-off-2023-4">Discord</a>, a US-based messaging and voice-call platform that's popular among gamers but more recently has been used for battlefield communication in Ukraine.Internet and media regulator Roskomnadzor told the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.ru/ekonomika/22073811">TASS agency </a>the messenger was blocked over concerns it may be used to sell drugs, spread illicit material, and facilitate "terrorist and extremist purposes."The regulator cited an earlier request for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/discord-grow-ad-business-video-format-ipo-2024-10">Discord</a> to remove 947 pieces of "illegal material," but said some of the content was not taken down. It added that Discord was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1850059">previously fined $100,000</a> for not removing child-sexual-abuse images and failing to regulate content posted by its users.Anton Gorelkin, deputy head of the Russian State Duma's committee on information policy, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/webstrangler/3766">accused Discord on Tuesday</a> of ignoring Moscow's laws, saying the platform has been "brought to the point of no return."Several legislators voiced concern about the ban on Tuesday, including <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/davankov/1214">Vladislav Davankov, deputy chair of the State Duma,</a> who said the platform is used widely in Russia and often by students and online tutors.Davankov said he would appeal the decision by Roskomnadzor.The effects of the ban are likely to hit the front lines in Ukraine as well, where both Kyiv and Moscow's troops have been seen using <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://mil.in.ua/en/news/discord-is-used-in-the-command-posts-of-the-armed-forces-of-ukraine/">Discord to coordinate drone operations.</a>Several videos posted online have shown <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://vk.com/video-104764077_456286993?list=2607dee3b94aa0dae9">uniformed men watching surveillance drone feeds</a> on the platform, including one clip said to have captured the interior of a command post in Bakhmut.Discord allows users to join a closed group voice call and livestream to other users from their screens or cameras.Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the para-governmental internet group Safe Internet League, warned that Discord is "very actively used in the SVO," the Russian abbreviation for special military operation."There are separate closed conferences for watching videos from drones and other equipment. Discord gives the highest quality picture," Mizulina wrote on her <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/ekaterina_mizulina/10940">Telegram channel</a>, calling the ban a mistake.That's a notable reversal from Mizulina's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/ekaterina_mizulina/968">previous call</a> in 2022 for Discord and streaming platform Twitch to be shut down in Russia due to concerns they can feed gaming addiction.Analyst and pundit Roman Alekhine described Roskomnadzor's move as a civilian decision that would damage Russia's front-line operations and potentially increase its military losses."Do they really want to win there?" Alekhine wrote on his <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/Alekhin_Telega/11842">Telegram channel.</a>He expected Russian authorities to cite concerns of intelligence leaks on a non-military messaging platform but said they should provide troops with a replacement service.Several military bloggers wrote that drone operations had already been disrupted in some units."At the control points of dozens of units, broadcasts from drones operating through closed Discord rooms have fallen," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/rustroyka1945/18268">wrote the blogger Troika</a>, complaining that Russian forces had been set back "to the level of March 2022."News of Discord's impending ban spread in late September among Russian pundits, but bloggers said their calls for the platform to stay online were ignored.One pundit channel, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/milinfolive/132376">Military Informant</a>, blasted Roskomnadzor's decision as "madness," while another <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://t.me/infomil_live/10926">sarcastically thanked</a> the regulator for giving Russian troops another challenge to "bypass the consequences of another wise decision."The platform's removal in Russia comes as Moscow has cracked down on Western websites and social media since the war began. Moscow has closed off access to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/04/russia-completely-blocks-access-to-facebook-and-twitter">Facebook and X,</a> throttled <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/youtube-slowdown-russia-darkens-freedom-speech-outlook-2024-08-08/">YouTube</a>, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1vvdry5gx7o">blocked scores of European news sites</a>.Meanwhile, VK, Russia's biggest domestic social media network, saw its annual revenue surge 19% year-on-year in 2022 and 36% year-on-year in 2023, per its annual reports.According <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://corp.vkcdn.ru/media/files/VK_AR2023_ENG_06.06_ASdbSN6.pdf">to its 2023 report</a>, the company's main social media platform, VKontakte, grew its daily audience count by 19.4%, from 73.4 million users in Q1 2022 to 87.7 million users in Q4 2023.Discord, Roskomnadzor, and the Russian defense ministry did not immediately respond to comment requests sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

You Searched For "terrorist attacks" and got 9 results

Terrorist attacks are on the rise in Russia as Putin remains 'distracted' by war in Ukraine

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Poonch Terrorist Attack: One Indian Air Force soldier dies, five injured; Patrolling intensifies across J&K

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Cries are getting louder for emergency interest-rate cuts this week, something that's been reserved for pandemics or terrorist attacks

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North Korea orders mass production of attack drones after seeing Russia's tactics up close

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It's becoming clearer how Ukraine's first attack on North Korean troops went down

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Should your company pay cybercriminals after a ransomware attack? It depends.

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Elon Musk hits out at 'eco-terrorists' who claimed responsibility for arson attack near Tesla's German gigafactory

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The son of a man accused of planning to attack the southern border says his father is 'not a terrorist'

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Russia cut off its troops from Discord, the video gaming comms tool they use to coordinate attacks in Ukraine

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