In an effort to make threat intelligence more understandable and less intimidating, Microsoft has announced a new taxonomy for naming hacking groups that it detects targeting its customers. Instead of using obscure and difficult-to-remember names, Microsoft is now using simple and memorable phrases inspired by weather patterns, such as “Denim Tsunami” and “Mulberry Typhoon.” The move is intended to help customers better understand the threat landscape and make it easier for them to identify and respond to potential cyberattacks.
Why it matters: Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and it can be challenging for non-technical users to understand and protect themselves from these threats. By renaming their hacking groups with more accessible and intuitive names, Microsoft is taking a step towards making cybersecurity more approachable and understandable for all users, which is crucial for improving overall security posture and mitigating the risk of cyberattacks.
- Countries will be assigned certain weather conditions, blizzard for Russia, Sleet for North Korea, Typhoon for China etc. While specific groups within those nations will be classified with an adjective such as a color.
- The renaming effort is part of a broader strategy by Microsoft to improve its naming convention to increase transparency and facilitate cooperation with other organizations.
- By standardizing names, organizations can better track and analyze cyber threats, share information with others, and ultimately develop more effective defenses against attacks.
