The Virus Informer

Author: The Virus Informer

  • Turkey farms in Dakotas, Minnesota hit with H5N1 avian flu

    Turkey farms in Dakotas, Minnesota hit with H5N1 avian flu

    Since early September, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified seven H5N1 avian flu cases in commercial poultry operations across North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Idaho. Turkey facilities were particularly affected, with operations in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota each reporting tens of thousands of birds infected. Additional cases were confirmed at a commercial poultry breeding operation in South Dakota and two backyard flocks in Idaho.

    Over the past month, a total of eight commercial poultry flocks and six backyard flocks have contracted avian flu, impacting approximately 360,000 birds. The outbreak has also spread beyond poultry to livestock, with two new dairy herds in Idaho recently testing positive for H5N1. Idaho and Texas have reported infections in five dairy herds combined within the past 30 days, bringing the year-to-date cattle infection count to 88 cases.

    Source: Read the full story at CIDRAP

    This summary was written with AI assistance from the linked source.

  • Police dismantle KillSec ransomware gang allegedly led by 16-year-old

    Police dismantle KillSec ransomware gang allegedly led by 16-year-old

    Law enforcement agencies from ten countries conducted a coordinated operation called “Operation KillSwitch” on September 30 to dismantle the KillSec ransomware gang. The operation resulted in the seizure of the group’s data leak site and servers, the arrest of three suspects, and the identification of a 16-year-old as the gang’s alleged main administrator. Investigators searched eight properties across Greece, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom while also targeting the group’s criminal proceeds. The investigation, led by German authorities, identified suspects believed to hold roles as an administrator, developer, negotiator, and affiliate within the cybercrime organization.

    KillSec has been active since approximately 2024, exploiting software vulnerabilities and poorly secured devices to breach corporate systems and steal data for extortion purposes. Authorities determined that approximately 500 of the group’s attacks were successful, with at least 70 linked to German organizations. During the operation, law enforcement seized roughly 110 terabytes of stolen data and shut down five servers. Investigators discovered that group members used artificial intelligence to build their ransomware infrastructure and identify potential victims. The examination of seized evidence continues as authorities work to trace criminal proceeds, including cryptocurrency, and identify additional victims and perpetrators.

    Source: Read the full story at BleepingComputer

    This summary was written with AI assistance from the linked source.

  • Microsoft enables Windows settings backup by default for orgs

    Microsoft enables Windows settings backup by default for orgs

    Microsoft has made Windows settings backup and restore a default feature for enterprise devices running Windows 11 version 26H2 that are connected to Microsoft Entra. The backup tool preserves user Windows settings and Microsoft Store applications when devices are reset, replaced, upgraded, or reimaged. Originally introduced as an optional feature two years ago, the tool progressed through public preview in May 2025 and became generally available in August 2025 before being activated by default following the September 29 release of Windows 11 26H2.

    The automatic activation applies only to devices in non-EU Digital Markets Act regions that do not have existing backup policy configurations. Microsoft stated that administrators retain complete control over the feature through mobile device management solutions and can disable it using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy. The restore functionality remains disabled by default and requires explicit administrator configuration, while existing policy settings take precedence over the new default behavior.

    Source: Read the full story at BleepingComputer

    This summary was written with AI assistance from the linked source.

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