Top six blogs of 2016 - blueAPACHE

2017

The recurring theme that dominated the year gone by was that of Cybersecurity. Time and again, we were reminded of not just the endless possibilities and inventiveness of an attack, but also of its ability to bring down entire organisations. Be it PayPal or SWIFT, Dropbox or Australia Post, no organisation, big or small, was safe from an attack or the threat of one. If there was a vulnerability that could be exploited, it was only a matter of time before it was. 2016 was also a year of tremendous achievement for us. We expanded our presence and strengthened our industry standing. Our continued evolution reinforces that we remain relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. We look forward to providing lot more useful information, industry trends, updates and sharing our successes with you in 2017. Here is a look at the top 6 blueAPACHE blog posts of 2016:

  1. Fake Australia Post websites spreading TorrentLocker

Another round of ransomware is targeting Australians. This new incarnation masquerades as an Australia Post email notifying you of a parcel and encouraging you to check tracking. Clicking the tracking link takes you to a site that looks like Australia Post, but is not.

  1. Warning – you have received a subpoena email

Branded with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) logo and the subject “AFP You have been issued”, a new ransomware email claims you have been subpoenaed to appear in court due to a “law violation”. The AFP advised that they were aware of the fake email, and made a statement advising they do not issue subpoenas via email.

  1. Android bank app users targeted in sophisticated malware attack

A new Trojan named Android/Spy.Agent.SI is mimicking banking and other financial applications on Android devices. According to media releases, millions of customers of Australia and New Zealand’s largest banks may be targeted.

  1. Virus cripples Royal Melbourne Hospital Pathology

Royal Melbourne Hospital has been targeted by a hack that has significantly impacted their IT systems, and in turn, the services they can provide to those most in need. The virus has infected Windows XP computers within Melbourne Health’s (the network which runs the hospital) Pathology department.

  1. Chris Marshall and we featured in ARN magazine

blueAPACHE Founder and Managing Director, Chris Marshall, spoke to ARN Editor, James Henderson, about the eighteen year journey from the spare room, to being recognised as one of Australia’s true home grown IT success stories.

  1. We expand Brisbane team, increases investment in QLD

We significantly expanded operations in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, responding to strong demand from a thriving local business market. Following significant growth in Queensland, we transferred long-term Victorian executive, Andrew Bird, to lead the Brisbane operations as the new Territory Manager. To continue receiving regular updates, please subscribe to our newsletter by entering your details here.

When was 'Top six blogs of 2016' published, and who wrote it?

The blog was published on January 6, 2017, and it was written by us. Estimated reading time: about 3 minutes, based on 472 words of article text on this page at 200 words per minute, excluding the Q&A and image list.

Which organisations were mentioned as having faced cybersecurity attacks or threats in 2016 according to the blog?

The blog mentions PayPal, SWIFT, Dropbox, and Australia Post as organisations that faced attacks or the threat of one in 2016, noting that no organisation, big or small, was safe.

What was the first blog listed among the top six you post of 2016, and what was it about?

The first blog listed was 'Fake Australia Post websites spreading TorrentLocker,' which described a round of ransomware targeting Australians via fake Australia Post parcel tracking emails that led to malicious look-alike websites.

What did the 'Warning – you have received a subpoena email' blog describe?

It described a ransomware email branded with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) logo and the subject 'AFP You have been issued,' claiming the recipient had been subpoenaed to appear in court due to a 'law violation.' The AFP confirmed they were aware of the fake email and stated they do not issue subpoenas via email.

What malware threat targeted Android bank app users according to one of the top blogs of 2016?

A new Trojan named Android/Spy.Agent.SI was mimicking banking and other financial applications on Android devices, potentially targeting millions of customers of Australia and New Zealand's largest banks.

What happened to Royal Melbourne Hospital as covered in one of the top 2016 blueAPACHE blogs?

Royal Melbourne Hospital was targeted by a hack that significantly impacted its IT systems and the services it could provide. The virus infected Windows XP computers within Melbourne Health's Pathology department.

What was covered in the blog featuring Chris Marshall and ARN magazine?

Our Founder and Managing Director Chris Marshall spoke with ARN Editor James Henderson about the eighteen-year journey of us from starting in a spare room to becoming recognised as one of Australia's true home grown IT success stories.

What business expansion did you announce in one of its top 2016 blog posts?

We significantly expanded our operations in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley in response to strong demand from a thriving local business market. Following growth in Queensland, we transferred long-term Victorian executive Andrew Bird to lead Brisbane operations as the new Territory Manager.

How could readers stay updated with your news after reading this blog?

Readers were invited to subscribe to our newsletter by entering their details via the contact page link provided in the blog.

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