(This is our CINS Army Brief for August 2021. Learn more and subscribe here.)

Raging wildfires in California, a fourth wave of Covid cresting, and temperatures soaring. That’s not all that’s on the upswing; in the return-to-work era ransomware attacks are surging and threat actors are lurking. Here’s a little of what you may have missed this month while fighting the fatigue.

• Report: Cybercriminals increasingly targeting outpatient facilities
  https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/report-cyber-criminals-increasingly-targeting-outpatient-facilities
• This ransomware has returned with new techniques to make attacks more effective
  https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-ransomware-has-returned-with-new-techniques-to-make-attacks-more-effective/
• Schools could be ripe for cyberattacks amid ransomware open season
  https://www.techrepublic.com/article/schools-could-be-ripe-for-cyberattacks-amid-ransomware-open-season/
• Monetizing stolen data has never been easier, fueling more expensive breaches
  https://diginomica.com/monetizing-stolen-data-has-never-been-easier-fueling-more-expensive-breaches
• Feds list the top 30 most exploited vulnerabilities. Many are years old
  https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/07/feds-list-the-top-30-most-exploited-vulnerabilities-many-are-years-old/
• Cybersecurity, Vulnerabilities Not Priorities for Most Hospitals
  https://healthitsecurity.com/news/cybersecurity-vulnerabilities-not-priorities-for-most-hospitals
• Supply chain security low across 76% of healthcare systems: survey
  https://www.dotmed.com/news/story/55505
• 1 in 4 Former Employees Still Has Access to Files at Old Job
  https://smallbiztrends.com/2021/08/employees-access-files-former-employer.html
• How to Make Your Next Cybersecurity Compliance Audit a Breeze
  https://www.csoonline.com/article/3627794/how-to-make-your-next-cybersecurity-compliance-audit-a-breeze.html
• Ransomware gangs are working with Russian intelligence services, report says
  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ransomware-gang-russia/
• Cyberfraud shifts to gaming, travel and leisure, report finds
  https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/cyber-fraud-shifts-to-gaming-travel-and-leisure-report-finds.html
• More than 12,500 vulnerabilities disclosed in first half of 2021: Risk Based Security
  https://www.zdnet.com/article/more-than-12500-vulnerabilities-disclosed-in-first-half-of-2021-risk-based-security/
• Ransomware poses threat to vulnerable local governments
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/local-government-ransomware-dc/2021/08/05/048051cc-efc6-11eb-81d2-ffae0f931b8f_story.html
• The cybersecurity jobs crisis is getting worse, and companies are making basic mistakes with hiring
  https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-cybersecurity-jobs-crisis-is-getting-worse-and-companies-are-making-basic-mistakes-with-hiring/
• 3 Metrics to Gauge Cybersecurity Program Health
  https://securityboulevard.com/2021/08/3-metrics-to-gauge-cybersecurity-program-health/
• How Ransomware Trends Are Changing Cyber Insurance
  https://securityintelligence.com/articles/how-ransomware-trends-change-cyber-insurance/
• The Overlooked Security Risks of The Cloud
  https://threatpost.com/security-risks-cloud/168754/
• A Third of Cloud Professionals Believe Misconfigurations Will Increase
  https://solutionsreview.com/cloud-platforms/a-third-of-cloud-professionals-believe-misconfigurations-will-increase/
• Transparency after a cyber attack: How much is too much?
  https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/news/252505047/Transparency-after-a-cyber-attack-How-much-is-too-much
• COVID-19 Contact-Tracing Data Exposed, Fake Vax Cards Circulate
  https://threatpost.com/covid-contact-tracing-exposed-fake-vax-cards/168821/