SecurityBrief Australia - Technology news for CISOs & cybersecurity decision-makers

Smishing stories

Ransomware threat dark server room to critical infrastructure art

NCC warns ransomware risk persists despite January dip

Last week
#
ransomware
#
manufacturing
#
digital transformation
Ransomware cases dipped 17% in January, but NCC warns the threat remains high as Qilin targets critical sectors and tactics evolve.
Dim office ransomware laptop chat bubbles qr codes masked figures

Ransomware attacks dip but NCC warns threat evolving

Last week
#
data protection
#
ransomware
#
iot security
Global ransomware attacks fell 17% in January, but NCC warns evolving tactics, AI and messaging apps mean risk is not receding.
Smartphone suspicious call laptop fake login deceptive subdomain scene

ShinyHunters pivots to subdomain phishing & vishing

Last week
#
saas
#
mfa
#
cloud security
ShinyHunters shifts to subdomain-brand phishing and vishing on mobiles, bypassing domain checks to hijack SSO logins and SaaS sessions.
Uk online shop secure checkout cybersecurity shield circuit lock

Ecommpay issues free guide to combat rising eCommerce fraud

Last week
#
mfa
#
fintech
#
cx
Ecommpay launches a free fraud guide for online retailers as UK payment fraud hits GBP £1.17 billion and AI-driven scams rapidly escalate.
Him

CBA warns young Aussies of fake job and dating scam losses

Last month
#
crypto
#
phishing
#
physical security
Young Australians lose over AUD $2.2 million as fake flexible job offers surge, with scammers recruiting money mules via texts and social media.
Australian woman dating apps night scam shadows credit cards

McAfee warns Australians of AI-fuelled Valentine scams

Last month
#
data protection
#
endpoint protection
#
mdm
McAfee warns Australians AI-powered romance scams are surging ahead of Valentine's Day, with one in seven victims losing an average AUD $780.
Moody phone reflection identity theft caricature upload privacy risk

ChatGPT caricature trend raises fresh ID fraud fears

Last month
#
data protection
#
surveillance
#
biometrics
Daon warns viral ChatGPT caricature craze is handing fraudsters a richer dossier of personal data to fuel scams and social engineering.
Valentines romance scam smartphone chat warnings dark moody scene

Experts warn of rising Valentine's Day cyber scams

Last month
#
mfa
#
phishing
#
physical security
Cyber experts warn Valentine's Day brings a surge in romance and shopping scams, urging users to be wary of links, apps and payment requests.
Gerry sillars

Australians urged to tighten online habits on & off duty

Last month
#
ransomware
#
mfa
#
phishing
Australians are being warned to sharpen digital habits as AI‑driven phishing and social engineering outpace traditional cyber defences.
Nz adult watching laptop with social video thumbnails fraud shield

Avast launches Deepfake Guard & expands Scam Guardian

Last month
#
malware
#
semiconductors
#
mdm
Avast rolls out Deepfake Guard for Windows and takes Scam Guardian global on mobile in a push to combat rising video-led fraud.
Young european at laptop suspicious email ominous shadowy hand

Gen Z more likely to engage with phishing than Boomers

Sat, 31st Jan 2026
#
mfa
#
phishing
#
physical security
Gen Z click on phishing links nearly three times more than Baby Boomers, despite heavier use of multi-factor authentication, Yubico finds.
Harlan parrott

KnowBe4 marks AIDA decade & names AI innovation VP

Fri, 30th Jan 2026
#
saas
#
digital transformation
#
cloud security
KnowBe4 marks a decade of its AIDA security AI, now running seven agents for 70,000 clients, and appoints Harlan Parrott VP of AI Innovation.
Lotem finkelsteen 2

AI drives 70% surge in weekly cyber attacks in 2025

Thu, 29th Jan 2026
#
firewalls
#
ransomware
#
hybrid cloud
AI-fuelled automation drove a 70% surge in weekly cyber attacks in 2025, with nearly 2,000 incidents per organisation, Check Point warns.
Smartphone shielded from qr scams with red protection icon

McAfee adds QR scans & smarter tools to fight scams

Thu, 29th Jan 2026
#
phishing
#
advanced persistent threat protection
#
physical security
McAfee boosts its Scam Detector with instant QR checks and smarter message scanning to counter a surge in personal, AI-powered frauds.
Hooded hacker laptop phishing icons morphing into sinister masks

Microsoft tops global phishing brand rankings again

Fri, 16th Jan 2026
#
gaming
#
mfa
#
cloud security
Microsoft again tops global phishing brand list as attackers increasingly mimic big tech services to steal cloud and consumer credentials.
Anxious australian office worker comparing real and fake images

Australians struggle to spot AI scam images, study shows

Thu, 15th Jan 2026
#
phishing
#
physical security
#
email security
Australians greatly overestimate their ability to spot AI-driven scam images, with new research showing they get it right less than half the time.
Moody illustration ai driven financial scams puppet trading phone

AI-driven 'Truman Show' trading scam hits app stores

Mon, 12th Jan 2026
#
mfa
#
crypto
#
fintech
AI-powered 'Truman Show' scam uses OPCOPRO app and fake trading rooms in official stores to steal cash and victims' digital identities.
Brad perriott

What holiday trading strength means for modern retail cyber readiness

Mon, 15th Dec 2025
#
data protection
#
cx
#
phishing
Cyber Weekend spending of AUD $6.8 billion shows retail's strength, but AI-powered scams mean cyber readiness is now a peak-season necessity.
Holiday online shopping spain cozy apartment security alerts

Softonic issues guide to avoid scams in festive sales

Tue, 9th Dec 2025
#
firewalls
#
data protection
#
vpns
Softonic issues festive-season guide warning of rising scams in fake shops, apps and delivery messages as online bargain hunting surges.
Computer screen network diagram alerts threats abstract digital shields modern office australia

AI-powered assistant CASPER promises smarter cyber threat detection

Sat, 22nd Nov 2025
#
firewalls
#
network security
#
phishing
UTS has developed CASPER AI, an assistant using AI to detect cyber threats and guide users and organisations in secure, compliant responses.