T7 action - International Financial Reporting Standards for Compensation Professionals Updated: 2023

An international group of law enforcement agencies have disrupted the notorious RagnarLocker ransomware operation.

TechCrunch reported Thursday that an international law enforcement operation involving agencies from the U.S., European Union and Japan had seized the RagnarLocker group’s dark web portal. The portal, which the gang used to extort its victims by publishing their stolen data, now reads: “This service has been seized by a part of a coordinated international law enforcement action against the RagnarLocker group.”

Announcing the takedown on Friday, Europol confirmed it took coordinated action against RagnarLocker, which it says was responsible for “numerous high-profile attacks.” The European police agency also confirmed the arrest of a 35-year-old man in Paris on October 16, who the authorities accuse of being the “main perpetrator” of the operation. Authorities searched the alleged RagnarLocker developer’s home in the Czech Republic. Alleged associates of the developer were also interviewed in Spain and Latvia.

RagnarLocker’s infrastructure was also seized in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. According to Eurojust, the EU agency that coordinates criminal justice cooperation across the bloc, a total of nine servers were seized: five in the Netherlands, two in Germany and two in Sweden. Eurojust also reports that it seized various cryptocurrencies, though their value is currently unknown.

Ukrainian authorities, who were part of the 11-country operation, said in a separate announcement on Friday that its officers searched the premises of another RagnarLocker suspect near Kiev, and recovered laptops, mobile phones and other electronic media.

In a press release, Italy’s Polizia di Stato (State Police) confirmed its involvement in the coordinated international effort, which it called “Operation Mole.” The Italian law enforcement agency also published a video that shows footage from a raid conducted by French, Italian and Czech police agents, presumably in the house of the 35-year-old man they had arrested.

RagnarLocker is both the name of a ransomware strain and the criminal group that develops and operates it. The gang, which some security experts have linked to Russia, has been observed targeting victims since 2020, and has predominantly attacked organizations in the critical infrastructure sectors.

In an alert published last year, the FBI warned that it had identified at least 52 U.S. entities across 10 critical infrastructure sectors, including manufacturing, energy and government, that had been affected by RagnarLocker ransomware. At the same time, the FBI released indicators of compromise associated with RagnarLocker, including Bitcoin addresses used to collect ransom demands, and email addresses used by the gang’s operators.

In its announcement on Friday, Ukraine’s police said that since 2020 the RagnarLocker group had attacked and exfiltrated data from 168 international companies in Europe and the United States. The group demanded between $5 and $70 million dollars in cryptocurrency from its victims.

If a victim refused to pay or notified law enforcement of the intrusion, the hackers would publish the victim’s data on the group’s since-seized dark web site.

“Ragnar Locker explicitly warned their victims against contacting law enforcement, threatening to publish all the stolen data of victimised organisations seeking help on its dark web ‘Wall of Shame’ leak site,” Europol said on Friday. “Little did they know that law enforcement was closing in on them.”

Although the gang has been under the watchful eye of law enforcement for some time, RagnarLocker has been targeting victims as recently as this month, according to ransomware tracker Ransomwatch. In September, the gang claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel’s Mayanei Hayeshua hospital and threatened to leak more than a terabyte of data allegedly stolen during the incident.

Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai contributed reporting and writing. This article was first published on October 19, and updated with new details and comment from Europol and Italy’s Polizia di Stato (State Police).

International Day of Climate Action is a worldwide movement initiated by young people concerned about climate change and global injustice. The environmental consequences include storms, intense drought, heatwaves, rising sea levels, warming of oceans, habitat destruction.

What is climate action? All those helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (which worsen climate change), Improve our adaptation to climate-caused issues, integrate climate change measures into policies, and more.

To learn more about International Day of Climate Action, please visit the International Days website.

Other Resources:
Purdue Climate Change Research Center website
Stories of Change: Climate + Birds youtube video
Preparing Indiana's Urban Forest for Climate Change publication,
The Nature of Teaching: Food Waste and the Environment publication

Every moving situation is unique. Where you’re headed, your timeline and what you need to bring with you are different from everybody else. A reliable international moving company knows that fact and can be flexible enough to handle your specific needs. Identify the best one for you after determining how they qualify compared to your needs based on the following criteria.

Understand Your Needs

The primary reason to hire an international moving company is to take some of the burdens off of you. Of course, getting your possessions from here to there is the task, but making the process as easy as possible for their clients is the real work.

Beyond knowing what your physical needs are, such as safely moving precious items, packing and unpacking and getting your stuff to its destination, understand what your well-being and stress level concerns are as well. Is the timeline critical? Is constant contact important to you? Are you thinking about any unknowns? Do you need high-level moving insurance that your belongings are safe?

The more potential stressors you can identify, the easier your choice of moving company will be.

Reviews

In the current information age, there’s no lack of online opinions and stories about individual moving companies. However, every person who moves faces a situation that’s unique to them. Comparing star ratings on various platforms is only somewhat effective in determining which company can pull off your move while catering to your needs.

Beyond the ratings, read several reviews and stories, both good and bad, associated with the companies you’re considering. You’ll likely see patterns related to each company. Those patterns often reflect issues surrounding punctuality, customer service or complaint handling. Determine which companies are better at handling your particular set of needs and concerns by dissecting the comments under the company listing.

Get Quotes

Hiring a mover requires signing a contract between you and the company. Anytime you hire a contractor, obtain at least three quotes from different providers and know what kind of quote they’re offering. You may receive a binding quote that is unlikely to change and includes the total price you’ll pay for services or an estimated quote that reflects an educated guess price that is subject to increase depending on how the move plays out.

Pricing estimates typically show a lower price than binding quotes. Before committing to an estimate, ensure you understand what will trigger a price increase and how much the cost will go up under various circumstances.

Ask Questions

A reputable company that genuinely cares about your well-being won’t be afraid to answer even the most trivial questions. They should understand that your move is a tremendous undertaking and you have questions that may only be important to you. Their job is primarily one of customer service, after all.

If you sense that your questions are going unanswered, or feel uneasy about their responses, move on to your next candidate company.

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Is Southern New Hampshire University accredited?

SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, which means that your degree carries with it international recognition. The International Business PhD program is also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), which means that your degree also carries with it Global Business recognition.

Who can apply?

This program is for individuals who want to earn a PhD with a focus on doctoral-level scholarship in international business and research. Applicants are expected to hold a Master’s degree and may come from a variety of related fields. The campus-based program is designed for domestic and international students who wish to engage in learning alongside faculty as full-time students. Classes are typically held in the evenings and during the week.

The executive low-residency program is designed to support professionals who wish to further develop their ability to provide leadership within their organization or field while working full-time. At this time, the executive low-residency program is only available to domestic United States students. International students interested in the PhD in International Business are encouraged to apply as an on-campus student.

When is the application deadline?

This program has one admittance date which is the Fall term. The application deadline for this is the February 20. Applications received in full after the deadline may be considered for admission into the program on a case-by-case basis.

Applications are typically reviewed by a committee of faculty. If approved in this initial review, applicants may be invited to an interview for acceptance into the program.

Are test scores (GRE, GMAT) required?

Test scores (GER,GMAT) are optional. Prospective students can be offered conditional acceptance without test scores, converting to full acceptance upon successful demonstration of academic ability.

Can I transfer credits from other programs?

Due to the nature of the program, transfer credits are not accepted.

Is financial aid available?

Yes, financial aid is available if a student is taking three (3) credits or more per term. A graduate student must be accepted to our program to be eligible for financial aid.

Note: International applicants must provide documentation of their ability to meet the costs of the program. These costs are indicated on the I-20 form. The costs may appear to be somewhat higher than the total of tuition and room and board because they also include such general expenses as health insurance, textbooks, pocket money, etc.

What areas of specialization are available?

Within the program, there are opportunities to focus on specific subjects of personal and professional interest. Examples include specialization such as Business Strategy & Management, Finance, Marketing, and Information Technology.

What is the dissertation and colloquium process like?

After successfully completing comprehensive exams, students enroll each term in the doctoral dissertation colloquium. The dissertation is based on a student's research and is expected to contribute to their area of study. Each student has a dissertation committee, normally consisting of a minimum of four faculty members.

Doctoral colloquiums provide a forum for students to discuss their dissertation research and help monitor their progress in completing their dissertations. Once a student completes the research and the final draft and receives approval, they will provide an oral presentation. A student must receive approval from all members of their dissertation committee in order to successfully complete the doctoral program.

How long does it take to complete the program?

The program is designed to take approximately 5 years. You have maximum 8 years to complete your program from the time you begin the first course. This includes the completion of the required course of study, comprehensive exams, and the dissertation.

What is the structure of the classes based on the format I choose?

Conventional On-campus Program: Classes typically meet during the day but may be scheduled during late afternoon periods. All classes are structured to meet face-to-face with faculty members of Southern New Hampshire University who hold a terminal degree.

Executive Low-Residency Program:Students participate in class meetings held once a month on a Saturday during the Fall and Spring academic semesters (four times a semester). These classes are facilitated on campus face-to-face at the Southern New Hampshire University Manchester Campus. In addition, some courses may involve weekly synchronous remote meetings at the discretion of the faculty. Students are also required to attend a week-long summer residency each year while they are in the coursework stage. These courses are also conducted by faculty members of SNHU who hold a terminal degree. (Note: Low Residency program will be on pause starting Fall 2024)

What does “Low-Residency” mean?

Low-residency means on-site, face-to-face meeting times are kept to a minimum. This format is specifically designed to accommodate students who wish to earn their Ph.D. while they work full-time. By emphasizing online coursework, it’s a perfect fit for students trying to balance professional or personal commitments. (Note: Low Residency program will be on pause starting Fall 2024)

How many classes may students take a semester?

During most academic terms, students in this doctoral program will take two to three 3-credit courses. After the successful completion of comprehensive exams, students enroll in dissertation colloquium courses each term.

Where else can I find information about the field of international business?

Applicants are encouraged to learn about the international business field prior to applying for the program. Reviewing articles published in journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, International Business Review, and Journal of World Business as well as visiting the website of the Academy of International Business may provide ample insights about the discipline and main areas of research. 

Should you earn a PhD in International Business or a DBA?

The answer depends on your interests and your career goals. Both degrees represent the highest level of academic achievement, and both degrees are highly respected in both the academic and business worlds. Additionally, both the PhD and DBA are advanced research degrees that involve conducting original research, analyzing data, and producing important findings.

But there are differences. The DBA is considered a professional doctorate, and the PhD is an academic doctorate.

PhD research is focused on developing theories, addressing a gap between theories, or addressing a gap in the general body of knowledge. The PhD may be more appropriate if you are focused on a faculty career in higher education or a career as a researcher in a research center.

In contrast, DBAs focus on real-world organizational and business problems and involve original and secondary research to explore, examine, and address those problems. The DBA is primarily for those focused on a career in business and consulting. However, many DBAs do teach in colleges and universities.

It’s important to note that students in either program can study real-world problems.  PhD students might use a different set of methodologies or look at the problem from a broader scope in contrast to DBA students who may focus their research on a particular industry or company with a narrower lens.  However, any syllabu of interest in the international business field including but not limited to, multinational companies or managers engaged in international business is likely to be a viable research area for a SNHU PhD student.

Many of SNHU PhD graduates are enjoying careers in both business and academia.  Make sure you provide serious consideration to which degree best suits your needs and career aspirations.  SNHU does not currently offer a DBA.