Researchers say hackers exploited a security flaw in software widely used by governments, businesses
Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
The breaches in the United States and other countries took advantage of a disastrous security flaw that drew attention this month, after Microsoft issued a patch that fixed only part of the problem in SharePoint.
Hackers connected to the Chinese Government were behind at least some of the widespread attacks in the past few days on organisations that use collaboration software from Microsoft, defenders working on the intrusions said in interviews.
The breaches in the United States and other countries took advantage of a disastrous security flaw that drew attention this month, after Microsoft issued a patch that fixed only part of the problem in SharePoint, which is widely used to co-ordinate work on documents and projects.
'We assess that at least one of the actors responsible for this early exploitation is a China-nexus threat actor,' said Charles Carmakal, chief technology officer of Google's Mandiant Consulting.
Another researcher, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry is still under way, said federal investigators have evidence of US-based servers linked to compromised SharePoint systems connecting to internet protocol addresses inside China last week.
The FBI, the White House, and the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency declined to comment today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
38 minutes ago
- Techday NZ
One NZ & Advantai Group partner to boost branded mobile services
One NZ and Advantai Group have entered into an exclusive three-year partnership to enable New Zealand businesses to launch their own branded mobile services with reduced barriers in terms of time, cost and regulatory compliance. Through the new arrangement, Australian-based Advantai Group will offer its Fastter solution in New Zealand, providing technology and managed services that allow local brands to integrate mobile offerings within loyalty and customer engagement programmes. These services will operate using One NZ's mobile network, which has been named "Best in Test" for four consecutive years by umlaut, part of Accenture. Reducing barriers to entry David Joss, Chief Executive Officer at Advantai Group, said that the partnership aims to simplify the path for New Zealand's largest consumer brands to introduce their own mobile services. "We're untangling telco," he said. "Fastter effectively removes the biggest barriers to entry. This provides large Kiwi brands with a unique opportunity to create more value for their customers. "We host, run, operate and manage mobile solutions for brands, so we're essentially offering zero risks to entry via a revenue-share model. Time, cost and regulatory compliance are usually the key challenges for brands to launch their own mobile solutions, which we manage for our partners. "In the right conditions, we can launch a fully branded mobile offering in just nine weeks, while traditionally it would take a minimum of nine months with significant upfront investment." Advantai Group's technology company Prvidr, launched in 2015, currently supports more than a dozen Australian Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) and works with brands including Spriggy Mobile and Member's Mobile, covering the entire customer lifecycle. Mobile as a loyalty tool As digital transformation impacts customer engagement strategies globally, integration of telco offerings into loyalty schemes has been on the rise in Australia, Europe and the US across sectors such as retail, finance and automotive. Replicating similar models in New Zealand has so far been constrained by resource barriers. Joss commented, "With Fastter, we're giving Kiwi brands a proven playbook to increase customer satisfaction and long-term loyalty, without needing to acquire a telco or build infrastructure from scratch." The Fastter solution, operated under a revenue-share approach, enables brands to deploy and scale fully branded mobile networks, embedding them within existing product and service offerings. One NZ provides the underlying network infrastructure while Advantai Group manages the operational elements. Underlying market potential Murray Osborne, General Manager Infrastructure Partners at One NZ, pointed to untapped opportunities in the New Zealand market. He stated, "We bring an awesome network and Advantai Group has proven they are awesome at delivering membership-based loyalty mobile programs. Working together, we can scale the offering rapidly and unlock more customer loyalty for the brands involved. "This is the perfect way to ensure your brand is in your customers' pockets. Phones are now people's life remotes, and no one in New Zealand is offering this sort of out-of-the-box solution yet." The move follows growth in New Zealand's MVNO market. According to the Commerce Commission's 2024 Telecommunications Monitoring Report, MVNO market share increased from 1.6% to 2.5% in the last year, but the country remains among the bottom eight within the OECD. This is well below Australia, where up to 20% of the mobile market is held by MVNOs. Osborne added, "We are super excited about the potential of this partnership, which we believe can help New Zealand hit at least 10% MVNO penetration within 3-5 years. We're already in discussions with some of the country's most recognised brands, and you can expect to see new mobile players launching very soon. "There are 11 MVNOs currently operating in Aotearoa and One NZ backs 7 of these. We see massive potential to increase this for the benefit of both brands and consumers. Our exclusive partnership with the Advantai Group and Fastter dramatically reduces the cost, complexity and lead time for launching branded mobile services on our network. "Australia shows that there is lots of opportunity for innovation in the virtual mobile operator space, and we're looking forward to powering similar success in New Zealand," adds Osborne. The Commerce Commission defines an MVNO as a mobile provider that does not own network infrastructure or spectrum, instead negotiating wholesale access with a host network operator. There are currently 11 active MVNOs in New Zealand, with One NZ hosting the majority.
Techday NZ
15 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Atturra rebrands Plan B to expand IT services in New Zealand
Atturra has confirmed that Auckland-based Plan B Limited will rebrand as Atturra, following its recent acquisition by the advisory and technology services business. The rebranding will take effect from 31 July 2025, marking the integration of Plan B's nationwide network of five data centres and its portfolio of over 1,000 clients into Atturra's operations. Atturra's expansion in New Zealand brings five business divisions to the market: Managed Services, Cloud Services, Business Applications, Data and Integration, and Advisory and Consulting. The move aligns with Atturra's commitment to delivering a broad IT solutions portfolio across Australia and New Zealand, further strengthened by the recent acquisition of ComActivity, which provides Infor M3 ERP services. Expanded services As part of its local service expansion, Atturra is introducing several new offerings for New Zealand clients. These include enhanced end user support focused on "modern workplace/helpdesk" services, aiming to improve staff productivity through desktop and workplace technology solutions. The enhanced security suite will offer cybersecurity services designed to safeguard organisations' data and infrastructure, leveraging Atturra's skills in managed security, threat prevention, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Public cloud services, including expertise with major cloud platforms such as Microsoft Azure and AWS, will also be available. These services cover the architecture, deployment, and management of cloud solutions, supported by Atturra's managed cloud services team. Additionally, a procurement service will enable streamlined access to hardware and software through Atturra's supplier network, offering end-to-end provisioning for IT equipment and software licensing. Leadership appointments Atturra has announced several senior leadership appointments alongside the rebrand. Frazer Scott has been named Country Manager for New Zealand and will also support Atturra's ANZ network strategy. His remit includes aligning the company's go-to-market efforts in New Zealand and leading the managed services division locally. The company's regional leadership team, predominantly based in Auckland, has also been drawn from existing Plan B talent. The team includes Diego Nievas as Chief Technology Officer, leading technical strategy and innovation for managed services across Australia and New Zealand; Sachin Jain as Director, Customer Experience, overseeing delivery and client success; and Rudi Hefer as Director, Commercial and Connect, responsible for the ANZ networking, connectivity business, and commercial and channel activities. "Our enhanced service portfolio will allow Atturra to deliver more comprehensive, integrated solutions - from infrastructure to cloud and user support - tailored to New Zealand organisations. Frazer Scott commented further on the transition, stating, "While existing clients will see no immediate changes to the services they receive and will continue working with the same local team, work is underway to combine Plan B's infrastructure and local expertise with Atturra's broader solutions and resources. Shared planning, cross-training, and alignment workshops will help teams operate as one. Clients can expect improved innovation and delivery as a result." The leadership restructuring aims to reinforce Atturra's commitment to managed services, local leadership, and collaboration across regions. The company intends for existing Plan B clients to benefit from a seamless transition with continued support from the local team, while accessing a broader suite of services under Atturra's brand. Atturra's clients span a wide range of industries including government, utilities, education, defence, financial services, and manufacturing. Its partnerships with global technology providers such as Boomi, Cisco, HP, HPE, Infor, Microsoft, Nuix, OpenText, QAD, Smartsheet, Snowflake, and Software AG underpin the company's service offerings. The rebrand and leadership appointments underscore Atturra's strategy to deliver expanded IT services to organisations in New Zealand while integrating Plan B's local experience and resources into its broader operational framework.
Techday NZ
15 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Are you really managing 87% of your client files through your email inbox
Picture this: It's 4:30pm on a Friday, and you're scrambling to find a critical policy document for a client renewal that's due Monday morning. You know you saved it somewhere in your email system, but after 20 minutes of searching through folders, attachments, and different versions, you're still empty-handed. Sound familiar? If you're an insurance broker managing client files across multiple systems, you're not alone. Research shows that 87% of broker-client files are exchanged through Microsoft tools and Outlook, yet most brokerages still struggle with the fundamental challenge of keeping everything organised, accessible, and audit-ready. The real cost of document chaos Every insurance broker knows the frustration of: Lost productivity from spending hours searching for documents that should take seconds to find Compliance risks when client communications are scattered across personal inboxes and local drives Version control nightmares when multiple team members work on the same policy documents Human error in filing critical correspondence under the wrong client or policy number Missed renewals because reminder emails got buried in overflowing inboxes These aren't just minor inconveniences – they're business-critical issues that can cost your clients, compliance penalties, and your professional reputation. Why your current Microsoft 365 setup isn't enough Don't get us wrong – Microsoft 365 is a powerful platform. Your team already lives in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The problem isn't with Microsoft's tools; it's with how insurance brokers are forced to use them. Standard Microsoft 365 wasn't designed for the specific compliance and organisation needs of insurance brokers. It lacks: Intelligent client-based filing that automatically routes documents to the correct client folders Industry-specific naming conventions that make document types instantly recognisable Guided workflow triggers for renewals, endorsements, and compliance tasks Immutable audit trails that lock file notes against changes for regulatory compliance Integrated task management that connects document activities to client servicing workflows Enter JAVLN Officetech: Your Microsoft 365 upgrade JAVLN Officetech doesn't replace your Microsoft 365 environment – it enhances it. Think of it as adding an intelligent insurance-specific layer on top of the tools you already use daily. Seamless integration. Zero disruption Our Microsoft 365 integration works exactly how you'd expect: Enhanced Outlook capabilities: The JAVLN Officetech toolbar transforms your email management with intelligent saving that routes emails and attachments to correct client folders using Conversation ID recognition. Link emails directly to client tasks, insert JAVLN Officetech files into new emails, and choose whether to keep or delete emails from Outlook after saving. Create instant PDF copies of important correspondence for compliance records. Upgraded Word and Excel functionality: Beyond basic document creation, insert dynamic user information like current date, time, your name, or email address directly from your JAVLN Officetech profile. Add your electronic signature or complete sign-off (including credentials and job title) with one click. Protect sensitive documents with randomly generated passwords, or convert to PDF with options to replace the original, create copies, or automatically attach to emails. Universal productivity enhancements: The toolbar acts like a central control panel across all Microsoft applications. Access JAVLN Officetech images for document insertion, utilize check-in/check-out collaboration controls to prevent version conflicts, and maintain seamless workflow without switching between applications. Intelligent automation that protects against human error Here's where JAVLN Officetech truly shines – it anticipates and prevents the common mistakes that plague manual document management: Automatic naming conventions ensure consistency across your entire team ('ic' for Incoming Correspondence, 'oc' for Outgoing Correspondence) Structured client folders with current year organisation keep everything logically arranged Intelligent filing suggestions based on email properties and previous filing patterns Built-in reminders ensure critical renewals and client tasks never fall through the cracks Comprehensive audit trails that record every document interaction for compliance confidence Real-world impact: What changes for your brokerage When you implement JAVLN Officetech's Microsoft 365 integration, here's what happens to your daily operations: Morning efficiency: Start your day with a clear dashboard showing priority tasks, upcoming renewals, and client communications requiring attention – all derived from your existing Microsoft 365 data. Email management: Instead of manually sorting through hundreds of emails, watch as client correspondence automatically routes to the correct folders with suggested filing locations and intelligent conversation threading. Document creation: Access compliance-ready templates directly within Word and Excel, with version control that prevents conflicts. Collaboration: Work confidently knowing that document check-in/check-out prevents overwrites, while real-time updates keep everyone informed of progress. Compliance confidence: Rest easy knowing that every client interaction is automatically recorded, timestamped, and locked against changes in immutable file notes. The bottom line: Protection for your most valuable asset Your client relationships are built on trust, and that trust depends on your ability to manage their information professionally, securely, and efficiently. JAVLN Officetech doesn't just organise your documents – it protects your reputation. By integrating seamlessly with your existing Microsoft 365 environment, we eliminate the learning curve while dramatically reducing the risk of human error. Your team continues working in familiar applications, but with the confidence that comes from purpose-built insurance brokerage functionality. The question isn't whether you can afford to implement a proper document management system – it's whether you can afford not to. Ready to transform your Microsoft 365 investment into a competitive advantage? JAVLN Officetech's Microsoft 365 integration is available with all subscription plans and works seamlessly with your existing Business or Enterprise Microsoft licenses.
