On September 27, 2023, leading organizations from the United States and Japan released a joint cybersecurity advisory (CSA) concerning the recent activities of a threat actor named BlackTech. These organizations include the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Japanese National Police Agency (NPA), and the Japanese National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC).
According to the call-to-action document, BlackTech has been linked to the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important as a wide range of industries are targeted by these attacks, highlighting the urgent need for international collaboration. The joint effort from the agencies aims to provide further insight into the activities of BlackTech, raising public awareness about possible threats to security while ensuring vigilance and proactive responses.
Key elements of the advisory include details on the threat actor’s modus operandi, as well as recommendations for countermeasures. The group continues to monitor the activities of BlackTech, hoping to further understand their methods, goals, and potential targets. The issue is not isolated to any particular industry or sector, and as such, companies of all types are encouraged to heed this advice and take appropriate steps to protect their digital infrastructure.
With growing tension in cyberspace, such advisory notices are becoming increasingly critical in order to ensure international companies, irrespective of their domain, are equipped to handle these types of threats. Firms are therefore urged to remain vigilant and proactive, reinforcing their cybersecurity measures accordingly and informing themselves of the current threat landscape.
You can find additional information regarding BlackTech and the joint CSA via this report released by Alston & Bird.