Tracy Kitten

Former Director of Global Events Content and Executive Editor, BankInfoSecurity & CUInfoSecurity

Kitten was director of global events content and an executive editor at ISMG. A veteran journalist with more than 20 years of experience, she covered the financial sector for over 10 years. Before joining Information Security Media Group in 2010, she covered the financial self-service industry as the senior editor of ATMmarketplace, part of Networld Media. Kitten has been a regular speaker at domestic and international conferences, and was the keynote at ATMIA's U.S. and Canadian conferences in 2009. She has been quoted by CNN.com, ABC News, Bankrate.com and MSN Money.

CryptoWall Ransomware Gang Extorts $330,000

Tracy Kitten • February 10, 2016

Over a three-month period in 2015, a single cybercrime gang managed to earn at least $330,000 in bitcoins thanks to an estimated 670 victims paying attackers to decrypt ransomware-infected systems. Should police be doing more to stop these attacks?

The CISO's Role in Fighting Extortion

Tracy Kitten • January 21, 2016

Extortion campaigns waged by cybercriminals are expected to become more damaging in 2016, putting additional pressure on CISOs to enhance protection of internal networks and educate employees about extortionists' techniques, says iSight Partner's John Miller.

Analysis: Impact of DD4BC Arrests

Tracy Kitten • January 12, 2016

Will this week's arrests of a "main target" and another suspect tied to the distributed denial-of-service extortion group known as DD4BC deter copycats from waging similar schemes? Experts weigh in.

Updated Mobile Malware Targets Android

Tracy Kitten • December 22, 2015

The latest strain of Android malware called SlemBunk tries to trick mobile banking application users into sharing their banking, social network and other credentials, as security experts see the number of mobile malware attacks continuing to increase.

Phishing Scam Targets Apple Users

Tracy Kitten • November 9, 2015

Fraudsters are increasingly using global brands, including Apple, to fool consumers into providing personal and financial information that can be used to compromise financial accounts. Experts offer insights on the latest trends and how to respond.

Experts: DDoS, Extortion Fuel New Attacks on Banks

Tracy Kitten • November 9, 2015

Distributed-denial-of-service attacks on banks are more powerful than ever, but we hear less about them than we did three years ago. How have attackers changed their tactics, and why should we be even more concerned about their strikes?

Why Low-Tech Fraud Is a Growing Risk

Tracy Kitten • October 29, 2015

While sophisticated cyberattacks and high-profile mega-breaches get most of the attention, European fraud experts say less sophisticated attacks are far more common and pose a greater fraud risk. At ISMG's Fraud Summit in London, they called for global collaboration to fight fraud.

Lessons from Gameover Zeus Takedown

Tracy Kitten • August 5, 2015

The takedown of Gameover Zeus taught law enforcement and banks many lessons, including that Trojans are being used to steal corporate secrets, not just money, says Eward Driehuis of Fox-IT, which investigated the threat actors behind the Trojan.

Ransomware Gets a New Twist?

Tracy Kitten • June 15, 2015

Symantec has issued new warnings about a malware strain known as Poweliks, noting that this Trojan is being used in conjunction with ransomware. But security experts disagree over the severity of the threat.

Ransomware: The Right Response

Tracy Kitten • April 2, 2015

Businesses targeted by ransomware attacks are increasingly willing to negotiate with - and even pay - their extortionists. But negotiating with cyberthieves is never a good idea.

Attackers Target Community Banks

Tracy Kitten • March 24, 2015

Community banking institutions are at great risk of cyber-attack because they often don't think they're targeted, says Scott McGillivray of Pacific Continental Bank, who describes how to convey this risk to senior management.

Ransomware Attacks' New Focus: Businesses

Tracy Kitten • March 15, 2015

Ransomware attacks are getting more agile, varied and widespread, and are increasingly taking aim at businesses of all sizes in all sectors, rather than consumers. That's why employee education is so critical.

Why Fraud Is Shifting to Mobile Devices

Tracy Kitten • February 5, 2015

As a result of the explosive growth in worldwide use of smart phones, mobile malware will play a much bigger role in fraud this year, predicts Daniel Cohen, a threat researcher for RSA, which just released its 2014 Cybercrime Roundup report.

Botnet Takedown: A Lasting Impact?

Tracy Kitten • June 3, 2014

Security researchers say the international takedown of the Gameover Zeus botnet and servers for CryptoLocker ransomware will have a positive short-term impact, but they warn the threats could quickly re-emerge unless key steps are taken.

Online Retailers at Increased Risk

Tracy Kitten • April 18, 2014

The breach of e-commerce retailer LaCie is the latest indicator that more fraudsters are targeting online merchants because card-not-present transactions are particularly vulnerable.