First quarter of 2025 sees record numbers of ransomware attacks
New findings from threat protection platform BlackFog show the first quarter of 2025 has seen record-breaking numbers of publicly disclosed ransomware attacks, marking a 45 percent increase compared to Q1 of 2024.
Analysis of ransomware activity in the period from January to March saw records set each month. Both January and February set new monthly records for disclosed attacks, with increases from 2024 of 22 percent and 36 percent, respectively while March recorded the largest number of disclosed attacks since BlackFog began tracking in 2020, with 107 attacks -- an 81 percent increase compared with March 2024.
Immutable backup storage is the best defense against ransomware
New research from Object First shows 81 percent of IT professionals say immutable backup storage built on Zero Trust principles is the best defense against ransomware, and 54 percent view target backup appliances as more secure than integrated appliances.
The report, produced with Informa TechTarget's Enterprise Strategy Group, finds two-thirds of organizations have suffered an attack, and 45 percent experienced multiple attacks. Moreover, 49 percent of affected organizations took up to five business days to recover, and most could not recover all of their data.
The devices that are exposing enterprises to risk
The enterprise device landscape is becoming much more complex and more dangerous, with the average device risk per industry increasing by 15 percent year-on-year.
A new report from Forescout highlights that network-connected devices, from traditional IT operating systems to specialized healthcare systems and OT machinery, are exposing organizations to damaging threats such as ransomware attacks and data exfiltration.
Could cyberattacks leave Europe in the dark?
A new report highlights how growing reliance on digital technologies across Europe, combined with geopolitical tensions and sophisticated threat actors, is creating a perfect storm that could put energy stability at risk and lead to the lights going out.
The study from security awareness training platform KnowBe4 shows the average number of cyberattacks against utilities more than doubled between 2020 and 2022. Specifically across Europe, cyber threats to the energy sector have surged, driven by an epidemic of under-reporting and lack of detection, with recent attacks disrupting operations, compromising sensitive data, and highlighting the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures.
How AI-enhanced cyberattacks are redefining the modern threat landscape [Q&A]
Despite still being in its infancy, it would be hard to overstate the impact that AI has already had on the cybersecurity landscape.
Not only has AI made it infinitely easier and faster to develop a wide range of traditional attacks -- such as phishing, business email compromise and malware -- it has also opened the door to novel strategies and threats. Worse yet, they allow threat actors to develop significantly more targeted and sophisticated attacks, regardless of their knowledge level or skill.
HPE launches new virtual private cloud solution
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is launching an expansion of its HPE Aruba Networking Central AI-powered network management solution, including a virtual private cloud environment.
This is aimed at customers who want the agility of cloud but with specific data security, data control or regulatory requirements, and an on-premises option that can operate while being disconnected from the cloud.
AI boosts cyberwarfare threat amid geopolitical tensions
According to a new report, 73 percent of IT decision-makers globally are concerned about nation-state actors using AI to develop more sophisticated and targeted cyberattacks.
The study from Armis warns that AI-powered cyberwarfare attacks are now becoming a supercharged cyber weapon and urges organizations to immediately close the divide between current cybersecurity programs and future proactive preparation as threats will increase.
Traditional vulnerability assessment falls short on third-party risks
As organizations increasingly rely on third-party vendors, open-source components, and cloud services to bolster efficiency and scalability, they also open themselves to risks.
Historically they've relied on CVSS scores to measure the severity of risks, but a new report from Black Kite suggests that this method alone is not enough.
IBM brings new AI capabilities to the mainframe
IBM has announced what it's calling its most advanced mainframe to date, with major new AI capabilities.
Powered by a new IBM Telum II processor, the IBM z17 expands the system’s capabilities beyond transactional AI capabilities, enabling the platform to take on new workloads.
Only a fifth of companies confident their data is AI ready
A new survey, of 1,000 purchasing decision makers across the US, UK, France, and DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) regions, reveals that while AI investment is the top spending priority for nearly half of businesses, only one-fifth of surveyed companies feel confident their data is AI-ready.
The research from Nasuni finds 96 per cent of respondents say they face challenges migrating their file data, creating a major roadblock for AI initiatives. There's also a misalignment in investment priorities, while nearly half of respondents cite AI as their top spending priority over the next 18 months, only a third will invest in the necessary cloud data management.
The impact of AI on professional services [Q&A]
Traditional business models are changing as the adoption of artificial intelligence increases. In the professional services sector there's still heavy reliance on spreadsheets, but a recent survey reveals optimism about AI's impact.
We spoke to Andy Campbell, director of solutions marketing at Certinia, to learn about the impact AI is having on professional services and his outlook for the market.
AI is now better than humans at phishing
A new report from AI training company Hoxhunt reveals that AI agents can successfully create more effective simulated mass phishing campaigns than elite human red teams can.
Hoxhunt has been tracking the effectiveness of AI phishing since 2023 when AI was 31 percent less effective than humans. By November 2024, AI was 10 percent less effective than humans via development of Hoxhunt's AI spear phishing agent. As of March 2025 though AI is now 24 percent more effective than human red teams.
What last year's biggest data breaches have taught us about authentication [Q&A]
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) there were 1.1 billion breaches in the first half of 2024 -- a 490 percent increase over the first half of the year before.
In addition, an enormous and unprecedented rate of credential stuffing and bot attacks have been spearheaded by ChatGPT's debut. All of this means having intelligent and accurate fraud prevention techniques have never been so critical.
Visa turns to AI to help cut fraud
With fraud on the increase and more sophisticated attack methods being used, payments company Visa is turning to AI to help businesses and financial institutions fight back.
It's introducing ARIC Risk Hub, developed by Featurespace -- a company recently acquired by Visa -- which uses adaptive AI to build profiles around genuine customer activity making it easier to spot suspicious actions.
AI won't replace low-code/no-code tools
According to a new study, 76 percent of tech leaders say that AI will make their existing low-code/no-code tools more efficient instead of replacing them altogether.
The survey from App Builder, with third-party research firm Dynata, finds use of low-code and no-code tools have steadily increased over the past decade and become an integral piece of how 95 percent of teams now build scalable applications.
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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