Introduction: A recent SOC alert from a LetsDefend simulation provides a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by malicious Microsoft Office macros. A single document, edit1-invoice.docm, acted as a Trojan downloader, successfully executing on an endpoint to perform reconnaissance, establish persistence, and communicate with a command-and-control (C2) server. This incident underscores the critical need for robust endpoint detection, granular logging, and analyst proficiency in dissecting attack chains.

Hack The Box acquires LetsDefend to unify red and blue team training, offering enterprises holistic, gamified cybersecurity workforce upskilling.

_**Move strengthens Hack The Box’s Enterprise, AI, and Blue Team Cybersecurity Upskilling Ecosystem**_ **Hack The Box**(HTB), a global leader in gamified cybersecurity skills development, today announced that it has acquired LetsDefend, a pioneering blue team upskilling platform known for its hands-on SOC simulations and growing community members. The combination of Hack The Box and LetsDefend will offer hands-on labs, real-world simulations, and cross-role skill development to empower enterprises, governments, MSSPs, and academic institutions to continuously benchmark, upskill, and certify their cyber workforce. This unified approach will drive more predictable security outcomes, reduce risk, and create high-performing cyber teams for organizations. This strategic acquisition unites two of cybersecurity’s most vibrant communities and product offerings into one powerful ecosystem, advancing how organizations and individuals develop their cybersecurity knowledge and preparedness. With access to an expanded offering of full-spectrum, hands-on cyber defense upskilling, both red and blue teams will benefit from deeply integrated attack-and-defend scenarios, increased learning paths, and a collaborative ecosystem designed to enhance technical depth and operational readiness. “Today’s cyber threats demand that security professionals upskill in a holistic, predictive way,” said Haris Pylarinos, Founder & CEO at Hack The Box. “Together with LetsDefend, we will provide a one-stop platform where aspiring penetration testers and SOC analysts can learn side by side, effectively gamifying the entire cyber kill chain. This collaboration delivers to our community and organizations an unparalleled environment to prepare for and overcome real-world cyber warfare.” LetsDefend, founded in 2021, has quickly grown into a go-to platform for blue team practitioners, boasting a community of over 320,000 users across 150+ countries. Its cloud-based virtual SOC enables users to experience being a security analyst in a safe, educational environment. “By accelerating LetsDefend’s vision with our in-house AI, we’re turning a virtual SOC experience into a living range where learners face the same AI-related tactics adversaries use,” said Gerasimos Marketos, Chief Product Officer at Hack The Box. “The data backs it up: recent HTB competitions show AI agents and LLM-assisted operations can rival top human teams. This isn’t a threat to learners; it’s a head start.” The acquisition comes at a critical time, when organizations are seeking more cohesive cybersecurity workforce development options. Security leaders are increasingly consolidating point solutions in favor of platforms that deliver measurable readiness across both defense and offense. The rise of AI in security operations and a growing talent crisis underscore the need for efficient upskilling methods that prepare professionals to perform on day one. The combined user base, now one of the largest in the cybersecurity space, will enjoy cross-platform features and challenges. Hack The Box will also expand community events, virtual meetups, and CTF competitions to include both offensive and defensive elements, reflecting its comprehensive methodology. **Business Wire** Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wire has 18 newsrooms worldwide to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media. __

Cybersecurity training company Hack The Box Ltd. announced today that it has acquired LetsDefend Inc., a provider of a blue team training platform, for an undisclosed price. Founded in 2021, LetsDefend...

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Hello folks ! I’m sharing with you my analysis about the alert SOC249 — Port Scan Detected on LetsDefend. Feel free to correct me or share…

Hello, my digital adventurers! Today, we will be going through a new LetsDefend challenge called “VoIP”.