What happened in the MSI data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 24, 2024
In April 2023, Taiwanese PC maker MSI experienced a data breach orchestrated by the ransomware group Money Message. These keys are crucial for certifying that firmware updates are genuine, and their leak could potentially allow cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software. MSI did not confirm paying the ransom demanded by the group and downplayed the impact of the breach, assuring that no user data was affected.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach did not impact any user accounts or data, as MSI confirmed that no user information was affected.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included private code signing keys for MSI's firmware across 57 products, and Intel Boot Guard keys for 116 MSI products, potentially allowing cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software.
How was MSI hacked?
The Money Message ransomware group infiltrated MSI's systems, stealing sensitive files, including proprietary source code. When their ransom demands were not met, they leaked the stolen data on the dark web. MSI fell victim to a double extortion ransomware attack, with the leaked data including firmware image signing keys for 57 PCs and private signing keys for Intel Boot Guard used on 116 MSI products. The breach occurred due to an incident involving MSI and the new ransomware group, likely stealing 1.5TB of data.
MSI's solution
In response to the breach, MSI implemented several measures to enhance security and prevent future incidents. These actions included urging users to obtain firmware and BIOS updates exclusively from MSI's official website and avoiding downloads from other sources. Additionally, MSI worked to address the vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
How do I know if I was affected?
MSI did not report reaching out to affected users, as the breach did not involve user data. However, if you are an MSI user and want to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breach, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to verify your email address.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Ensure that the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
For more specific help and instructions related to MSI's data breach, please contact MSI's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the MSI data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the MSI data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 24, 2024
In April 2023, Taiwanese PC maker MSI experienced a data breach orchestrated by the ransomware group Money Message. These keys are crucial for certifying that firmware updates are genuine, and their leak could potentially allow cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software. MSI did not confirm paying the ransom demanded by the group and downplayed the impact of the breach, assuring that no user data was affected.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach did not impact any user accounts or data, as MSI confirmed that no user information was affected.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included private code signing keys for MSI's firmware across 57 products, and Intel Boot Guard keys for 116 MSI products, potentially allowing cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software.
How was MSI hacked?
The Money Message ransomware group infiltrated MSI's systems, stealing sensitive files, including proprietary source code. When their ransom demands were not met, they leaked the stolen data on the dark web. MSI fell victim to a double extortion ransomware attack, with the leaked data including firmware image signing keys for 57 PCs and private signing keys for Intel Boot Guard used on 116 MSI products. The breach occurred due to an incident involving MSI and the new ransomware group, likely stealing 1.5TB of data.
MSI's solution
In response to the breach, MSI implemented several measures to enhance security and prevent future incidents. These actions included urging users to obtain firmware and BIOS updates exclusively from MSI's official website and avoiding downloads from other sources. Additionally, MSI worked to address the vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
How do I know if I was affected?
MSI did not report reaching out to affected users, as the breach did not involve user data. However, if you are an MSI user and want to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breach, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to verify your email address.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Ensure that the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
For more specific help and instructions related to MSI's data breach, please contact MSI's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the MSI data breach, check out the following news articles:
Rapidly implement a modern Zero Trust network that is more secure and maintainable than VPNs.
What happened in the MSI data breach?
Twingate Team
•
May 24, 2024
In April 2023, Taiwanese PC maker MSI experienced a data breach orchestrated by the ransomware group Money Message. These keys are crucial for certifying that firmware updates are genuine, and their leak could potentially allow cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software. MSI did not confirm paying the ransom demanded by the group and downplayed the impact of the breach, assuring that no user data was affected.
How many accounts were compromised?
The breach did not impact any user accounts or data, as MSI confirmed that no user information was affected.
What data was leaked?
The data exposed in the breach included private code signing keys for MSI's firmware across 57 products, and Intel Boot Guard keys for 116 MSI products, potentially allowing cybercriminals to sign malware as MSI-related software.
How was MSI hacked?
The Money Message ransomware group infiltrated MSI's systems, stealing sensitive files, including proprietary source code. When their ransom demands were not met, they leaked the stolen data on the dark web. MSI fell victim to a double extortion ransomware attack, with the leaked data including firmware image signing keys for 57 PCs and private signing keys for Intel Boot Guard used on 116 MSI products. The breach occurred due to an incident involving MSI and the new ransomware group, likely stealing 1.5TB of data.
MSI's solution
In response to the breach, MSI implemented several measures to enhance security and prevent future incidents. These actions included urging users to obtain firmware and BIOS updates exclusively from MSI's official website and avoiding downloads from other sources. Additionally, MSI worked to address the vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers and collaborated with cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
How do I know if I was affected?
MSI did not report reaching out to affected users, as the breach did not involve user data. However, if you are an MSI user and want to check if your credentials have been compromised in any data breach, you can visit Have I Been Pwned to verify your email address.
What should affected users do?
In general, affected users should:
Change Your Passwords: Immediately update your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Ensure that the new passwords are strong and unique, not previously used on any other platform.
Reset Passwords for Other Accounts: If you've used the same or similar passwords for other online accounts, reset those as well. This is crucial as attackers often try using stolen passwords on multiple sites.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Activate 2FA on any affected accounts. Consider enabling this additional security feature on all other important online accounts to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
For more specific help and instructions related to MSI's data breach, please contact MSI's support directly.
Where can I go to learn more?
If you want to find more information on the MSI data breach, check out the following news articles:
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