Cybercrime

Cybercrime / News Briefs

Microsoft Warns Extortion Drives Majority of Attacks Amid AI Escalation, Identity Collapse, and Global Fragmentation

Microsoft's latest Digital Defense Report reveals how cybercriminals and nation-states are rapidly adopting AI to enhance attacks. With identity-based threats soaring, the company urges urgent modernization of security systems and global cooperation.

Advanced AI Is Reshaping the Cybercriminal Landscape at Alarming Speed

A new report has shed light on how advanced artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybercriminal landscape. The latest threat intelligence assessment by Anthropic details how its AI model, Claude, was misused in a string of global cyberattacks that mark a sharp escalation in both scale and sophistication.

INTERPOL Leads Arrest of 1,209 Suspects in Pan-African Cybercrime Crackdown, Recovers $97 Million

Authorities across 18 African nations, aided by the United Kingdom and INTERPOL, have arrested 1,209 suspects and dismantled over 11,000 illicit cyber infrastructures.

The CEO Is Not Who They Seem: Deepfakes Target Corporate Trust

A surge in AI-generated deepfake scams is reshaping the cybersecurity threat landscape, with fraudsters now impersonating company executives to deceive employees and siphon off millions.

Cyberattacks Spur Boom in Insurance Demand Amid Rising Global Threats

A wave of high-profile cyberattacks is reshaping the global insurance industry, creating both risk and reward for major players. According to a new Bloomberg report, firms like Munich Re and Chubb are capitalising on surging demand for cyber insurance as artificial intelligence makes digital breaches more frequent and destructive.

India Launches ‘.bank.in’ and ‘.fin.in’ Domains to Deter Financial Fraud

In a bid to bolster cybersecurity in India's financial sector, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced exclusive internet domains -- 'bank.in' for registered banks and 'fin.in' for non-banking financial entities. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra revealed that registrations for 'bank.in' will commence in April 2025, followed by 'fin.in', with the initiative aimed at reducing phishing attempts and fortifying digital banking trust.

Biden Administration to Back UN Cybercrime Treaty Amid Controversy

The Biden administration is poised to support a contentious United Nations cybercrime treaty, a move likely to spark debate over potential abuses, according to top officials.

Cybercrime Costs German Companies €267 Billion, Organised Crime and Foreign Nations Blamed

German companies have suffered substantial financial losses due to cybercrime and sabotage, totaling approximately €267 billion ($298 billion) over the past year. This represents a 29% increase compared to the previous year, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the industry association Bitkom.

Ransomware Crisis in U.S. Healthcare

A significant ransomware attack by a group known as AlphV or BlackCat has severely disrupted pharmacies across the U.S., affecting the delivery of prescription medications for over ten days. This attack on Change Healthcare has resulted in considerable difficulties for hospital pharmacies and nationwide drug distribution.

Global Law Enforcement Strikes Major Blow Against LockBit Ransomware Operation

In a significant global operation, law enforcement agencies from 10 countries have severely disrupted the LockBit ransomware group, recognized as the most prolific and harmful cyber threat worldwide.

UN Treaty Threatens Cybersecurity, Warns Google

As governments convene to discuss the UN Cybercrime Treaty, Google is urging caution, warning that the current draft could endanger online security and free expression.

Rise in Cybercrime Exploiting Artificial Intelligence Hype Leads to Growing Threats Within the .ai Domain Space

Cybercriminals are leveraging the growing popularity of artificial intelligence to perpetrate attacks, capitalizing on the surge in interest following the release of chatbot technologies like ChatGPT. New research by Netcraft reports on the increasing use of .ai domain names where criminals use malicious websites around AI to draw in victims.

Researchers Uncover Massive Underground Link-Shortening Service Used by Malicious Actors

New research indicates that the .US top-level domain contains numerous domains linked to a malicious link-shortening service dubbed 'Prolific Puma' promoting malware and phishing. Infoblox has been monitoring this three-year-old service, which uses short domains hosted on uncooperative providers to disguise harmful landing pages.

UK’s National Agencies Release White Paper on Evolving Cyber Crime Ecosystem

The Hague to Probe Cyberwarfare Under Existing International Law

In a recent article published by WIRED Magazine, a significant shift in international law regarding cyberwarfare has been brought to light. The International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague has signaled its intention to investigate and prosecute hacking crimes that breach existing international law without the need for new regulations.