Group-IB, a leading creator of cybersecurity technologies to investigate, prevent, and fight digital crime, is thrilled to announce that Anastasia Tikhonova, Head of Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) Research in Thailand, Jennifer Soh, Senior Cyber Investigation Specialist and Vesta Matveeva, APAC Head of Cyber Crime Investigation in Singapore have been named among the 30 finalists of the Top Women in Security ASEAN Region 2023 Awards. The prestigious recognition acknowledges their remarkable contributions to the cybersecurity field and exemplifies Group-IB’s commitment to fostering equal opportunities.
In addition to their inclusion in the prestigious Top 30 list, Anastasia Tikhonova, a first-time finalist, was also honored with a Security Researcher Award. Vesta Matveeva accomplished a remarkable achievement by winning in four categories: Security Professional Ambassador, CyberSecurity Award, Top Woman in Security in the ASEAN Region, and the esteemed country award for Singapore.
The official announcement of the fourth edition of this influential list took place on September 14th during the virtual Award Ceremony. The initiative aims to recognize the achievements of women who have made significant strides in enhancing the security industry across the ASEAN Region. The Top 30 Women in Security ASEAN Region Awards form part of a global campaign by the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA).
The 2023 finalists were carefully selected from an outstanding pool of candidates, with an esteemed panel of judges independently affirming Group-IB’s cybercrime fighters as among the Top 30 Women in Security in the ASEAN Region for 2023.
Vesta Matveeva, who leads Group-IB’s cyber investigations unit in the Asia Pacific region, has achieved significant recognition, consistently earning placements on Singapore’s prestigious Top 20 Women in CyberSecurity list for two consecutive years (2020, 2021). With a background in computer science and authorship of numerous scientific papers, Vesta’s dedication to Group-IB’s cybersecurity mission of fighting cybercrime runs deep. Vesta’s investigations have led to capturing cybercriminals in a number of high-profile INTERPOL-led operations like Night Fury, Falcon. Beyond her professional commitments, Vesta generously shares her knowledge and experience through lectures at various educational institutions in Singapore.
Jennifer Soh, based at Group-IB’s Global HQ in Singapore, is a Senior Cyber Investigation Specialist with a background as a former Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) Team Lead in a Singapore Government Agency. Recognized for the second consecutive year, Jennifer’s expertise shines in collaborative cybercrime investigations with INTERPOL and other law enforcement agencies. She played key roles in dismantling a Business Email Compromise syndicate during Operation Falcon and identifying cybercriminals in the INTERPOL-coordinated Africa Cyber Surge Operation. Beyond her investigative work, Jennifer is dedicated to mentoring young talent in cybersecurity. Both Vesta and Jennifer played crucial roles in the latest anti-cybercrime operation targeting 16shop, a notorious phishing-as-a-service platform.
Anastasia Tikhonova, Head of Advanced Persistent Threats (APT) Research, based out of Thailand, has played a pivotal role in pioneering groundbreaking research in advanced persistent threat actors at Group-IB’s Threat Intelligence team. Over the past seven years, she has specialized in researching nation-state hackers, focusing on their evolving Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) and tracking their newly created infrastructure, including Tonto Team, TA428, Muddy Water, etc. Anastasia actively participates in APAC webinars, and conferences, including industry-defining events like the OT-ISAC Summit, Asia Pacific FS-ISAC summit, and Govware. She embodies the belief that perseverance and staying true to one’s principles are keys to success.
Vesta’s and Jennifer’s Cyber Investigation unit and Anastasia’s Threat Intelligence team collaborate closely. The Threat Intelligence unit gathers and analyzes data about emerging and ongoing threats. This information is a valuable resource for Group-IB’s investigators, enabling them to assist organizations in identifying threat actors and holding them accountable, enhancing Group-IB’s efforts to combat cybercrime.
“We are immensely proud of Jennifer, Vesta, and Anastasia for their outstanding accolade and inclusion in the Top 30 Women in Security ASEAN Region 2023 list. In addition to being the leading cybersecurity experts in their respective fields, each one is also an inspirational role model for future talent. Their remarkable achievements exemplify the importance of equal opportunities in cybersecurity, bringing unique skills to the forefront. We strive to make the world a safer place while upholding the fundamental belief that talent knows no gender.”
Group-IB’s Head of Communications
