CyberWatch Weekly: Top 3 Cybersecurity News from August 4th Week
Cybersecurity threats continue to dominate headlines as governments and global companies face increasingly sophisticated attacks. This week, incidents ranging from a large-scale disruption of Nevada’s state systems to a global espionage campaign targeting telecom infrastructure highlight the persistent vulnerabilities in critical services. Adding to the concerns, a major breach at Colt Technology Services has exposed sensitive data, raising questions about how secure corporate networks really are. These cases serve as reminders that attackers are relentless and defenses must constantly evolve. Let’s look at this week’s top cybersecurity headlines.
Nevada State Government Hit by Cyberattack, Services Disrupted
The Nevada state government is grappling with a major cyberattack that disrupted websites, phone lines, and digital systems on Sunday morning, forcing offices to suspend in-person services. Governor Joe Lombardo confirmed the incident, assuring residents that emergency services remain available while temporary routing and workarounds are being used to maintain access. The cause of the disruption appears to be a coordinated network intrusion, though no group has claimed responsibility. Such attacks typically exploit unpatched systems or misconfigured networks, allowing attackers to disable services at scale. The state has not yet disclosed whether sensitive data was compromised, but residents have been urged to remain cautious against scams and phishing attempts. Recovery efforts are underway with assistance from federal, tribal, and local partners.
Experts note that strengthening government cyber defenses, including continuous monitoring, employee training, and faster patch management, is critical to preventing such incidents. The attack comes just weeks after Las Vegas faced a damaging ransomware assault on MGM Resorts, underlining Nevada’s ongoing vulnerability.
Source: The Record
Chinese Hackers Exploit Cisco Flaws to Breach Global Telecom Networks
Chinese state-backed hackers have infiltrated telecom networks worldwide by exploiting long-known vulnerabilities, particularly in Cisco routing equipment, cybersecurity agencies warned Wednesday. The group, tracked as Salt Typhoon, breached at least nine U.S. telecom firms and struck more than 200 American organizations across 80 countries, according to the FBI. A joint advisory from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, European cyber agencies, and Japan said the hackers are targeting telecoms, transportation, and lodging sectors to monitor communications and movement globally. Investigators linked the activity to private contractors working with China’s Ministry of State Security and People’s Liberation Army, naming firms such as Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology and Huanyu Tianqiong Information Technology. Rather than using zero-day exploits, Salt Typhoon leverages publicly known flaws like CVE-2018-0171 in Cisco’s discontinued Smart Install feature.
Attackers manipulate access lists, reroute ports, and capture authentication traffic to evade detection and expand control. Officials caution the campaign remains active. “Just because it was secure six months ago does not mean it is now,” an FBI official warned.
Source: GovInfoSecurity
Colt Technology Cyberattack Exposes Sensitive Employee and Customer Data
Colt Technology Services has confirmed it is investigating a cyberattack that led to the theft of sensitive company and customer data. The incident, currently under review by external investigators and forensic experts, impacted Colt’s business support systems, which operate separately from customer infrastructure. The stolen files reportedly include employee salary information, financial records, executive and staff personal details, customer contracts, network designs, and software development documents. Initially, Colt stated the breach was limited to internal systems, but the company has since confirmed that customer data was also compromised and is now being sold online. With operations spanning more than 900 data centers across Europe, Asia, and North America, Colt plays a key role in global telecommunications. The company has engaged law enforcement agencies and continues to monitor the situation while assessing the scale of the breach.
The cyberattack underscores the growing risks facing telecom providers, whose expansive networks make them frequent targets for financially motivated and state-linked groups.
Source: Capacity Media
Conclusion
The latest incidents reveal how cyberattacks are no longer isolated disruptions but systemic challenges impacting governments, industries, and individuals worldwide. From state-backed campaigns to data theft, the evolving threat landscape demands stronger resilience, collaboration, and vigilance. As risks escalate, cybersecurity remains a shared priority requiring urgent and continuous attention.
Stay vigilant and informed, tune in next week for more updates in InfosecTrain’s CyberWatch Weekly!