How infostealers have changed the cybersecurity landscape
Many of the recent wave of high-profile cyberattacks can be traced back to the theft of a single set of credentials which have allowed the attacker to access and move within a corporate network.
A new report from Flashpoint looks at the rise of large-scale information-stealing malware campaigns and how ‘infostealer’ malware has been a key enabler, responsible for the theft of over 1.8 billion corporate and personal email accounts, passwords, cookies, and other sensitive data.
Access to public web data is essential for the AI market
New poll data reveals that 89 percent of respondents say access to public web data is critical for ensuring a fair and competitive AI market.
The survey carried out at this year’s OxyCon web intelligence event shows organizations are getting worried they are losing access to precious web data, robbing them of the ability to make the AI of the future as democratic as possible. 64 percent of respondents say their organisations has been blocked from more websites than a year ago.
How enterprise developers are moving from fragmented tools to unified platforms [Q&A]
Across large organizations, developers and DevOps teams rely on an ever-growing collection of specialized tools. But while these offer valuable flexibility, they can also create significant pain points.
We spoke to Chintana Wilamuna, VP of solutions architecture at WSO2, about how the landscape is changing from fragmented, purpose-built development tools toward comprehensive, unified platforms.
Cybercriminals turn to stealth to bypass malware detection
A new report reveals a 40 percent (quarter-over-quarter) increase in evasive, advanced malware. The data highlights encrypted channels as adversaries' favored attack vector using Transport Layer Security (TLS), the encryption protocol behind most secure web traffic.
The study from WatchGuard Technologies, which provides cybersecurity for MSPs, shows 70 percent of all malware is now delivered via encrypted connections, the findings highlight attackers’ increasing reliance on obfuscation and stealth, and the need for organizations to improve visibility into encrypted traffic and adopt flexible protection strategies.
Ransomware payments hit record highs as threats get harder to detect
The frequency of ransomware attacks has dropped from eight incidents per organization to five or six incidents in the last year, but at the same time the average ransomware payment has surged by more than a million dollars, from $2.5M to $3.6M.
A new Global Threat Landscape report from ExtraHop, based on research by Censuswide, finds threat actors are shifting away from broad, indiscriminate attacks to a more targeted approach that yields better results.
Observability data drives key decisions on customer experience and more
The latest Splunk State of Observability report for 2025, released today by Cisco, shows that observability insights are guiding key business decisions in customer experience, product roadmap forecasting, and brand perception.
The study based on a survey of 1,855 ITOps and engineering professionals worldwide, and underscores how observability has evolved beyond an IT function to a boardroom priority. It finds 74 percent believe observability is important for monitoring critical business processes and 66 percent say it is key to understanding user journeys.
Supply chain security risks are becoming unmanageable
A new survey finds 60 percent of surveyed UK and US cybersecurity leaders now admit that security risks originating from third parties and supply chain partners are ‘innumerable and unmanageable.’
The study from IO (which used to be ISMS online) shows 97 percent of cybersecurity leaders say they’re confident in their breach response, with 61 percent describing themselves as ‘very confident.’ Yet, that confidence contrasts dramatically with 61 percent of leaders who say their organization has suffered a third-party or supply chain attack in the past 12 months.
Smaller businesses turn to messaging platforms to engage customers
The adoption of business messaging channels has increased by 53 percent in just one year, driven by AI agents and LLM-powered automation.
A report from respond.io shows small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly engaging customers through platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger.
How AI is driving email phishing and how to beat the threat [Q&A]
Among all of the various forms of cyberattack phishing attempts delivered by email are still one of the most common.
What’s more AI is making these attacks more effective, because you can no longer rely on looking out for dodgy grammar or other signs that a message may not be what it seems.
Addressing the data protection challenges of rolling out AI [Q&A]
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way that many areas of business operate. But with the benefits also come new risks to corporate data.
We spoke to Rohan Sathe, CEO and co-founder of Nightfall AI, to find out how AI risks exposing sensitive information and what companies can do to protect themselves.
Outdated finance systems drive away talent
Nearly 40 percent of finance professionals would consider changing employers due to outdated financial systems according to new research.
The report from insightsoftware shows businesses are struggling with the need for real-time insights and the younger generation’s demands for tools that eliminate inefficiencies and foster collaboration.
Q3 ransomware attacks up 36 percent year-on-year
New data from BlackFog shows publicly disclosed ransomware attacks continued to set new records in the third quarter of this year, with 270 attacks -- a 36 percent increase compared to the same quarter in 2024 (198 attacks). This also represents a 335 percent increase since Q3 2020, underscoring the continued rise in attacks over the last five years.
Between July and September, publicly disclosed attacks were attributed to 54 ransomware groups. As in Q2, the Qilin ransomware gang was the most active, responsible for 20 incidents during the period. Notably, approximately 40 percent (107) of reported attacks have not yet been attributed to any known ransomware group.
AI delivers time gains but people are still key to productivity
Workers say they are saving an average of two hours per day thanks to AI use. But these perceptions of productivity gains are at odds with the reality experienced by many organisations according to a new report.
A study from the Adecco Group draws on insights from 37,500 workers across 31 countries and 21 industries. It finds confidence in AI usage has surged, with a staggering 71 percent of respondents suggesting that nothing holds them back from using AI, a significant jump from 19 percent in 2024.
Gen Z targeted by AI-driven extortion scams
New research looking at high pressure extortion scams reveals that Gen Z is being particularly impacted by AI-powered threats. All mobile users are at risk, however, with one in three having been targeted by an extortion scam, often threatening to expose pictures or browsing history, and nearly one in five falling victim.
The research from Malwarebytes shows a distinct target profile for extortion. 69 percent of victims and 64 percent of targets are Gen Z or Millennial (compared 52 percent of victims and 40 percent of targets of other types of scams). 65 percent of victims and 60 percent of targets are male (vs. 48 percent/45 percent)
Google steps up the fight against scams with new tools and more education
Scams and fraud are an ever present threat on the internet and the rise of AI means that they’re getting harder to spot with the old giveaways of bad grammar and dodgy attachments largely eliminated.
Google is announcing a range of new tools and initiatives to help people remain safe online. These include improved app features, new account recovery tools and better education and awareness programs.
Ian's Bio
Ian spent almost 20 years working with computers before he discovered that writing about them was easier than fixing them. Since then he's written for a number of computer magazines and is a former editor of PC Utilities. Follow him on Mastodon
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