In this episode of the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by security researchers Anna and Keivan to discuss two prominent threat actors: Vanilla Tempest and Peach Sandstorm. 

Vanilla Tempest, a financially motivated cybercrime group, has been involved in recent ransomware attacks on U.S. hospitals, utilizing various ransomware payloads such as Ink. They are known for using tools like PowerShell scripts and Goot Loader to exfiltrate data and extort victims. Peach Sandstorm, an Iranian nation-state threat actor, focuses on cyber espionage and intelligence collection. They have targeted various sectors, including energy, defense, and critical infrastructure, and have shown increasing sophistication in their attacks. Later, Sherrod speaks with Colton Bremer, a senior security researcher at Microsoft, about his work on the Defender Experts (DEX) team. Colton explains the different tiers of DEX services, which focus on detecting and mitigating advanced threats that may bypass traditional security measures. 

View Colton Bremer on LinkedIn  

View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider 

The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.