Latest news with #Shastry
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pak hackers step up multi-phase attacks in India
Hyderabad: A sharp escalation in cyber warfare between India and Pakistan unfolded since April, with multiple Indian websites defaced and strategic digital systems attacked in a series of coordinated operations attributed to Pakistan-based hacker groups, including APT36 and Team Insane to Interpol trainer and cyber forensic expert Pendyala Krishna Shastry, the attacks were part of a broader campaign of cyber and information warfare waged by Pakistani actors against Indian digital assets. These groups reportedly deployed malware, conducted phishing attacks, and launched denial-of-service operations targeting critical sectors such as finance, telecom, energy, and public a website that tracks defacements, reported incidents involving Indian govt domains. The website of National Institute of Water Sports ( was claimed to be defaced. Another, also experienced a breach, but was restored groups, Hacktivists lead multi-phase assaultThe offensive unfolded in five distinct phases. Initial attacks, which occured between April 23 and April 26, were low-scale defacements by religious hacktivist collectives, while between April 27 and May 2, denial-of-service attacks were launched against e-governance platforms. By May 6, high-skill actors initiated ransomware and data theft in manufacturing and oil and gas May 7 onwards, advanced persistent threat groups like APT36 focused on banking and payment systems, including National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). APT36, also known as Transparent Tribe, has been active since 2013, using remote access trojans such as Crimson RAT and Capra RAT to infiltrate Indian five, which began on May 13, includes attacks reportedly supported by state actors from China, Turkey, Iran, and North Korea. The Lazarus Group, SideWinder, MuddyWater, and APT28 have been named among key actors using zero-day exploits and supply chain vulnerabilities to target core assets. Shastry underlined the urgency of countering the digital offensive with better cyber hygiene, institutional readiness, and public awareness.
USA Today
08-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Is it safe to remove skin tags at home? Dermatologists weigh in.
Is it safe to remove skin tags at home? Dermatologists weigh in. Show Caption Hide Caption Benefits of snail mucin: the latest TikTok trend A surprising skincare trend of snail mucin has gone viral on TikTok, with insights from dermatologists on its benefits for hydration, anti-aging, and acne-combatting ingredients. Skin tags are benign growths that can pop up in a few areas around the body, from your underarms, to the neck, to under the breasts. They're completely harmless, so it's fine to leave them alone if they don't bother you. But if you do want to remove them, there are options. There are plenty of over-the-counter products marketed as skin tag removers, and quite a few natural remedies that might help too. But is it ever a good idea to attempt getting rid of skin tags at home? Some things should just be left to the professionals. Here's what dermatologists recommend. Can I remove a skin tag on my own? Technically, you can. In actuality, you probably shouldn't. Skin tags usually don't go away by themselves, and if you're tempted by the many products marketed as skin tag removers, it's important you understand the risks, says Dr. Jennifer Shastry, a Northwestern Medicine dermatologist. If you attempt to remove the skin tag on your own, disrupting the skin barrier can leave you at a risk for infection, uncontrolled bleeding, and/or scarring. 'I have seen patients come in with chemical burns on their skin from attempting at-home skin tag removal,' Shastry says. 'So, I really would advise in-office removal, if that was desired.' 'I don't recommend any at-home treatments since I have seen terrible infections and scarring from people who have tried at home,' agrees Dr. Hayley Goldbach, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Brown University. 'Many of the products marketed to remove skin tags are extremely harsh and can result in burns on the skin.' The same logic applies to reported natural remedies for removing skin tags, such as applying tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar or garlic to the skin tag. 'They are unlikely to be completely effective and pose a significant risk of irritating the skin and causing rashes,' says Shastry. Want strong, healthy hair? Dermatologist talks rice water's potential benefits How to safely get rid of skin tags If the skin tag is growing in size, or just generally becoming bothersome, dermatologists can perform a few in-office treatments to effectively and safely remove skin tags. Depending on the size and location of the skin tag, you have a few options: snip removal, cryotherapy (a cold liquid nitrogen spray), cauterization (using heat energy to burn the skin tag), and shave removal (which is typically reserved for larger skin tags), says Shastry. Skin tag removal often isn't covered by health insurance, says Goldbach. This is because it's usually considered to be a cosmetic treatment. In case you missed: Warts can be stubborn to treat. Here's how to get rid of them. What are skin tags a warning sign of? Skin tags aren't typically dangerous or a warning sign of anything, says Goldbach. However, in rare cases, seeing a cluster of new skin tags could indicate there's change happening within your body (and potential underlying illness), in which case you should always consult your dermatologist, who may direct you to a healthcare provider. Regardless, seeing any type of new, prominent growth on your skin always warrants a check-up with your dermatologist, especially if it's expanding in size, changing in color or painful or itchy, says Shastry. Sometimes, what you think might be a benign skin tag could actually be something more serious, like a melanoma.
