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Extortion Stories - Page 3

Australian Stories

Extortion stories

Australia ranks high in cyberattacks as AI fuels new risks
Malware

Australia ranks high in cyberattacks as AI fuels new risks

Australia ranks tenth globally for cyberattack frequency, with AI fueling a rise in ransomware and extortion, Microsoft reports in its 2025 Digital Defence Review.

By Melania Watson • 5 min read • Fri, 17th Oct 2025
Teens charged in SCATTERED SPIDER cyber attacks as experts warn of ongoing risks
Ransomware

Teens charged in SCATTERED SPIDER cyber attacks as experts warn of ongoing risks

Two UK teenagers linked to SCATTERED SPIDER have been charged for cyberattacks disrupting Transport for London, amid ongoing global cyber threats.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Wed, 24th Sep 2025
Ransomware attacks in Australia soar by 110%, says Zscaler report
Digital Transformation

Ransomware attacks in Australia soar by 110%, says Zscaler report

Ransomware attacks in Australia have surged 110% year-on-year, with manufacturing, healthcare, and government sectors hit hardest, says Zscaler report.

By Melvin Hipolito • 5 min read • Wed, 10th Sep 2025
E-waste hacking: The unknown data security crisis
Data Protection

E-waste hacking: The unknown data security crisis

Australian e-waste, tripling the global average, presents rising cybersecurity risks, with 10-20% of breaches linked to improper disposal of old devices.

By Ross Thompson • 5 min read • Wed, 4th Jun 2025

Global Stories

Extortion stories

AI reshapes data privacy as trust & attacks escalate
Data Protection

AI reshapes data privacy as trust & attacks escalate

AI is transforming data privacy as mistrust soars and cyber attacks accelerate, pushing firms to verify every identity and machine action.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
AI drives 70% surge in weekly cyber attacks in 2025
Firewalls

AI drives 70% surge in weekly cyber attacks in 2025

AI-fuelled automation drove a 70% surge in weekly cyber attacks in 2025, with nearly 2,000 incidents per organisation, Check Point warns.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 29th Jan 2026
AI reshapes cyber threats as experts warn on automation
Malware

AI reshapes cyber threats as experts warn on automation

AI will transform cyber threats by 2026, experts say, but warn over-automation and legacy systems could imperil critical infrastructure.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Fri, 12th Dec 2025
Ransomware tactics shift as manufacturing faces data theft surge
Firewalls

Ransomware tactics shift as manufacturing faces data theft surge

Ransomware attacks on manufacturing shift from encryption to data theft and extortion, with recovery costs averaging USD $1.3 million, reveals new research.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Fri, 5th Dec 2025
Ransomware attacks surge 28% in September as Industrials sector hit hardest
Ransomware

Ransomware attacks surge 28% in September as Industrials sector hit hardest

Global ransomware attacks surged 28% in September, with Industrials hardest hit, as cyber criminals ramp up efforts ahead of the busy holiday season.

By Shannon Williams • 4 min read • Thu, 30th Oct 2025
Data exfiltration pushes ransomware payouts past USD $1 million
Virtualisation

Data exfiltration pushes ransomware payouts past USD $1 million

Ransomware payouts have surged past USD $1 million in Q2 2025, driven by data exfiltration and social engineering in targeted attacks on mid-sized firms.

By Melania Watson • 4 min read • Wed, 13th Aug 2025

Stories from Other Regions

Extortion stories

UK unveils GBP £210m cyber plan to bolster public services
Data Protection

UK unveils GBP £210m cyber plan to bolster public services

UK launches GBP £210m Cyber Action Plan and central unit to shore up digital public services amid rising attacks and legacy risks.

By Shannon Williams • 6 min read • Fri, 9th Jan 2026
Data privacy myths leave smaller firms exposed to attack
Firewalls

Data privacy myths leave smaller firms exposed to attack

Myths over the value of business data are leaving smaller firms dangerously exposed, IDS-INDATA warns ahead of Data Privacy Day.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Fri, 9th Jan 2026
'One part terrified, one part really angry' - Assault victim's anger over Manage My Health hack
Data Protection

'One part terrified, one part really angry' - Assault victim's anger over Manage My Health hack

A sexual assault survivor says she feels re‑victimised and furious after the Manage My Health hack and US$60,000 ransom demand.

By Lauren Crimp • 3 min read • Thu, 8th Jan 2026
Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach
Data Protection

Government orders review into ManageMyHealth data breach

Government orders urgent review into ManageMyHealth cyber breach as hackers threaten to leak 400,000 patient files over NZD $60,000.

By RNZ • 5 min read • Mon, 5th Jan 2026
Fraud losses top GBP £1.17 billion as Black Friday scams surge
eCommerce

Fraud losses top GBP £1.17 billion as Black Friday scams surge

Fraud losses in the UK surged to GBP £1.17 billion in 2024, with Black Friday scams and unauthorised card fraud sharply increasing online threats.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Fri, 28th Nov 2025
Ransomware & state threats surge in Europe, warns CrowdStrike
Ransomware

Ransomware & state threats surge in Europe, warns CrowdStrike

European organisations faced a sharp 2024 rise in ransomware and state-backed cyberattacks, with 22% of global victims, says CrowdStrike's latest report.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Tue, 4th Nov 2025
Extortion and ransomware drive over half of cyberattacks
Malware

Extortion and ransomware drive over half of cyberattacks

Over half of cyberattacks last year were driven by extortion or ransomware, with criminals focusing on financial gain rather than espionage, Microsoft reveals.

By Amy Hogan-Burney • 8 min read • Wed, 22nd Oct 2025