Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Microsoft warns that a widespread malvertising campaign hit nearly one million devices around the world. The campaign, which began on illegal streaming sites, impacted both consumer and enterprise devices across a wide range of industries. “Analysis of the redirector chain determined the attack likely originated from illegal streaming websites where users can watch pirated videos,” Microsoft says.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool—it is a game changer in our lives, our work as well as in both cybersecurity and cybercrime. While organizations leverage AI to enhance defences, cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to make these attacks more scalable and convincing .

The KnowBe4 Threat Research team has observed a sustained increase in the use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) files to obfuscate malicious payloads. SVGs are vector based, rather than pixel-based like PNGs and JPGs. This means the graphic elements can be scaled up without loss of quality - making them perfect for sharing graphics, such as logos and icons, via email.

In the realm of cybersecurity, perception often diverges from reality. A common misconception is that nation-state cybercriminals primarily target the United States. However, recent evidence suggests a more ubiquitous threat landscape, with significant activities targeting the UK, Australia and other regions globally. The notion that certain countries are immune to sophisticated cyberattacks is not just outdated—it's dangerous.

I’ve been in the cybersecurity industry for over 36 years. Surprisingly, hackers and malware haven't changed all that much. The malware today is not all that different from the stuff I was disassembling for John McAfee back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A lot of the involved programming languages, technology and communication channels have changed, but not how malware operated and what it did. We had ransomware back in 1989. We had polymorphic, crypto-morphing malware back then.

A KnowBe4 Threat Lab Publication Authors: Martin Kraemer, James Dyer, and Lucy Gee Much like sending a phishing email from a compromised account, cybercriminals can boost the deliverability and credibility of their attacks by leveraging legitimate platforms. Notably, there has been a growing proportion sent using the popular accounting software Intuit QuickBooks. Our Threat Research team has observed a 36.5% increase in the use of this platform since January 1, 2025.

Ever since OpenAI publicly released ChatGPT in late 2022, people have been predicting the end of programmers. Supposedly, AI can do anything programmers can do. While I’m not convinced all programmers are going away, I wouldn’t want to be a brand new programmer, and I do think the field is definitely going to change, if not significantly shrink over time. I’m not going out on much of a limb in saying this as almost everyone thinks this. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks this.

Researchers at Barracuda observed a fourfold increase in ransomware threats last year, driven by increasingly sophisticated ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operations. “The developers behind RaaS platforms often have the time, resources, and skills to invest heavily in advanced and evasive toolsets and templates,” Barracuda explains.

A new report from Arctic Wolf has found that 96% of ransomware attacks now involve data theft as criminals seek to force victims to pay up. “As potential victims implemented more reliable backup and restoration processes, ransomware operators introduced data exfiltration as a means to apply additional pressure and protect their revenue streams,” Arctic Wolf says.

The European Union's AI Act is ushering in a new era of workplace requirements, with AI literacy taking center stage. Under Article 4, organizations must now ensure their workforce is sufficiently AI-literate - but what does this really mean for your organization? The AI Act requires organizations to provide adequate AI training to staff and operators. This training must account for technical knowledge, experience, educational background, and the context in which AI systems are used.