Leading technology companies Google and Palo Alto Networks are raising alarms over the activities of the hacking group known as “Scattered Spider” and its focus on the aviation industry.
In a LinkedIn post on Friday, Sam Rubin, an executive at Palo Alto’s cybersecurity unit, Unit 42, revealed that his team has observed “Muddled Libra,” also known as Scattered Spider, targeting the aviation sector. Similarly, Charles Carmakal, an executive with Google’s cybersecurity division Mandiant, stated that his company is aware of multiple incidents within the airline and transportation industries that resemble the operations associated with UNC3944 or Scattered Spider.
Neither executive disclosed which specific companies may have been targeted. However, recent reports indicate that Hawaiian Airlines, owned by Alaska Air Group, and Canada’s WestJet have both experienced cyber incidents, though details about these breaches remain undisclosed.
Scattered Spider is a loosely organized but highly aggressive hacking group believed to include young operators based in Western countries. The group has been linked to some of the most disruptive cyberattacks in recent memory across the United States and Europe.
In 2023, the hackers compromised major gaming companies MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, disrupting casino operations and rendering slot machines inoperable. Earlier this year, they caused chaos for British retailers, and their recent targets include the US insurance sector.
Both tech giants emphasize the growing threat posed by Scattered Spider and underscore the need for heightened cybersecurity vigilance across critical industries.
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