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Australian Stories

Extortion stories

Australia to enforce tougher rules on smart devices
Internet of Things

Australia to enforce tougher rules on smart devices

Australia will impose mandatory cybersecurity standards on smart devices from March 2026, forcing stronger passwords and update guarantees.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Tue, 17th Feb 2026

Global Stories

Extortion stories

Big firms detect cyberattacks but fail to contain them
Firewalls

Big firms detect cyberattacks but fail to contain them

Big businesses can spot cyber intrusions but struggle to contain them fast, leaving cloud-era networks exposed to deeper, costlier breaches.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Mar 2026
Ransomware dominates UK cyber incidents, data loss surges
Data Protection

Ransomware dominates UK cyber incidents, data loss surges

Ransomware drives over half of UK cyber incidents as data loss surges, with healthcare, retail and complex supply chains hardest hit.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Ransomware attacks surge 50% as industrial firms hit hardest
Malware

Ransomware attacks surge 50% as industrial firms hit hardest

Global ransomware attacks jump 50% to 7,874 in 2025, with industrial firms bearing the brunt as criminal groups reshuffle their tactics.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Mar 2026
AI-driven cyberattacks surge in Asia-Pacific, IBM warns
Software-as-a-Service

AI-driven cyberattacks surge in Asia-Pacific, IBM warns

AI-driven cyberattacks are surging across Asia-Pacific, with IBM warning basic security gaps now let attackers move from scan to impact faster.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Mar 2026
Ransomware attacks dip but NCC warns threat evolving
Data Protection

Ransomware attacks dip but NCC warns threat evolving

Global ransomware attacks fell 17% in January, but NCC warns evolving tactics, AI and messaging apps mean risk is not receding.

By Kaleah Salmon • 4 min read • Fri, 27th Feb 2026
ShinyHunters pivots to subdomain phishing & vishing
Software-as-a-Service

ShinyHunters pivots to subdomain phishing & vishing

ShinyHunters shifts to subdomain-brand phishing and vishing on mobiles, bypassing domain checks to hijack SSO logins and SaaS sessions.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 27th Feb 2026
AI-driven cyber attacks now breach networks in minutes
Malware

AI-driven cyber attacks now breach networks in minutes

AI-fuelled hackers can now spread across corporate networks in as little as four minutes, outpacing human defenders by hours.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 26th Feb 2026
WatchGuard warns of surge in evasive, encrypted malware
Malware

WatchGuard warns of surge in evasive, encrypted malware

WatchGuard reports a 1,548% surge in new evasive malware and a 2,000% jump in encrypted threats, straining signature-based defences.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 20th 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
Okta warns of North Korean fraud in remote tech hiring
Data Protection

Okta warns of North Korean fraud in remote tech hiring

Okta warns North Korean operatives are landing remote tech jobs with stolen and synthetic identities to fund the regime and enable cyber attacks.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 5 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026
AI-fuelled cyber attacks surge 70%, Check Point warns
Software-as-a-Service

AI-fuelled cyber attacks surge 70%, Check Point warns

AI-driven hacking has pushed weekly cyber attacks up 70% since 2023, with Check Point warning campaigns are faster, broader and harder to stop.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Extortion stories

'Shadow AI' misuse emerges as key cyber threat in NZ
Data Protection

'Shadow AI' misuse emerges as key cyber threat in NZ

'Shadow AI' misuse by staff has surged as a top cyber threat for New Zealand firms, fuelling rising losses and extortion pressures.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Tue, 10th Mar 2026
Canada boosts financial intelligence to fight extortion
Risk & Compliance

Canada boosts financial intelligence to fight extortion

Canada is boosting financial intelligence and policing ties to track money trails and crack down on organised-crime extortion schemes.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Feb 2026
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
AI-driven cyber attacks surge in Check Point 2026 report
Firewalls

AI-driven cyber attacks surge in Check Point 2026 report

AI-fuelled cyber attacks surged 70% in 2025, with Check Point warning of machine-speed, multi-channel campaigns targeting key sectors.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Wed, 4th Feb 2026
Cyber Centre: AI-fuelled ransomware to target more Canadians
Malware

Cyber Centre: AI-fuelled ransomware to target more Canadians

AI-powered ransomware will hit more Canadians by 2027 as cheaper, faster attacks outpace defences, the cyber security agency warns.

By Jake MacAndrew • 3 min read • Fri, 30th Jan 2026