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Record ransomware surge as 7,458 victims named in 2025
Malware

Record ransomware surge as 7,458 victims named in 2025

Ransomware hits record 7,458 named victims in 2025 as 124 gangs crowd dark web leak sites and new “supergroup” alliances emerge.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Ransomware victims refuse to pay as data extortion soars
Firewalls

Ransomware victims refuse to pay as data extortion soars

Most ransomware-hit firms now refuse to pay, as Arctic Wolf reports an 11-fold surge in data-only extortion and booming remote access abuse.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Social Engineering stories

INTERPOL cybercrime sweep in Africa recovers USD $4.3m
Firewalls

INTERPOL cybercrime sweep in Africa recovers USD $4.3m

INTERPOL's Africa cybercrime blitz nets 651 arrests, seizes 2,341 devices and recovers USD $4.3m after scams linked to USD $45m losses.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
EY maps hyper-velocity AI priorities for tech during 2026
DevOps

EY maps hyper-velocity AI priorities for tech during 2026

EY urges tech leaders to pursue AI-fuelled deals, agentic systems and sovereignty-by-design as 2026 competition and security pressures grow.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
KnowBe4 appoints Kelly Morgan as Chief Customer Officer
Cloud Security

KnowBe4 appoints Kelly Morgan as Chief Customer Officer

KnowBe4 appoints former DocuSign executive Kelly Morgan as chief customer officer to steer global client strategy amid rising AI security risks.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
UK campaign targets small firms' growing cyber risk
Ransomware

UK campaign targets small firms' growing cyber risk

UK urges small firms to 'lock the door' on cyber crime as attacks cost businesses GBP £14.7 billion a year and basic defences lag.

By Kaleah Salmon • 5 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
3DiVi sets four-layer defence for face authentication
Data Protection

3DiVi sets four-layer defence for face authentication

3DiVi unveils four-layer defence model to harden face authentication against deepfakes and spoofing as remote ID checks surge globally.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
Internal auditors fear AI fraud but lack readiness
Data Analytics

Internal auditors fear AI fraud but lack readiness

Internal auditors warn AI-driven fraud is surging, but most concede they lack the tools, skills and time needed to spot it effectively.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
AI-driven phishing surge dominates 2025 cyberattacks
Malware

AI-driven phishing surge dominates 2025 cyberattacks

AI-powered phishing drives a sharp 2025 surge in email and chat attacks, as Acronis warns of a new era of automated cybercrime at scale.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Thu, 19th Feb 2026
OT cyber threats shift from spying to disruption in 2025
Ransomware

OT cyber threats shift from spying to disruption in 2025

Cyber attacks on industrial systems in 2025 shifted from quiet spying to coordinated operations aiming to disrupt critical infrastructure.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
Data-only extortion surges as remote access abused
Data Protection

Data-only extortion surges as remote access abused

Data-only extortion soars 11-fold as attackers 'log in instead of break in', abusing remote access tools for faster, stealthier raids.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Wed, 18th Feb 2026
AI drives shift to persistent, low‑level cyber conflict
Malware

AI drives shift to persistent, low‑level cyber conflict

Cyber operations have become constant, covert pressure in geopolitics, with AI-fuelled identity abuse replacing headline-grabbing cyberattacks.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Sun, 15th Feb 2026
Xiid & Cytex link AI governance with zero trust access
Firewalls

Xiid & Cytex link AI governance with zero trust access

Xiid and Cytex join forces to fuse AI governance with zero trust access, targeting shrinking attack paths and stricter cyber regulation.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Sun, 15th Feb 2026
AI romance scams surge on UK dating apps, says study
Malware

AI romance scams surge on UK dating apps, says study

AI-driven romance scams are rife on UK dating apps, with one in five users meeting fake profiles and 11% losing money, new research warns.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Sat, 14th Feb 2026
LummaStealer returns post-takedown with ClickFix ruse
Multi-factor authentication

LummaStealer returns post-takedown with ClickFix ruse

LummaStealer roars back after domain takedown, using fake CAPTCHA ClickFix tricks and CastleLoader to spread via routine user actions.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Social Engineering stories

CBA warns young Aussies of fake job and dating scam losses
Crypto

CBA warns young Aussies of fake job and dating scam losses

Young Australians lose over AUD $2.2 million as fake flexible job offers surge, with scammers recruiting money mules via texts and social media.

By Melania Watson • 3 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026
McAfee warns Australians of AI-fuelled Valentine scams
Data Protection

McAfee warns Australians of AI-fuelled Valentine scams

McAfee warns Australians AI-powered romance scams are surging ahead of Valentine's Day, with one in seven victims losing an average AUD $780.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026