Extortion stories
Stolen credentials and AI-generated phishing are accelerating attacks, as Flashpoint tracked 22 million illicit discussions and 7.4 million infected hosts.
More groups are now driving attacks, leaving victim numbers flat even as ransomware operations reached a record 93 active crews in the quarter.
More than a third of ransom-paying organisations in Australia and New Zealand still failed to restore systems cleanly, a survey found.
Mac users were lured via Google ads and shared Claude chats into installing malware that steals passwords, files and wallet data.
Business and public sector organisations faced 2,270 attacks a week in June, as ransomware rose 33% and GenAI use exposed sensitive data.
Consumers on hospitality and eCommerce sites are at risk of having passwords and payment details stolen through fake webpages run by the platform.
Almost half of ransomware victims discovered breaches only after data theft, underscoring how attackers are evading detection for weeks.
Existing phishing and fraud tactics are becoming faster, cheaper and harder to detect, raising the risk for large organisations, ReliaQuest said.
Victims risk losing the newest and most active data first as a Go-based encryptor targets recently modified files before older ones.
Trusted third-party access has let attackers quietly pull large volumes of Salesforce records from enterprise systems via a Klue integration.
BlueVoyant says a ClickFix malware campaign using fake browser updates is linked to the Rapid Brigantine ransomware ecosystem.
Access to AI research and software is drawing state-backed and criminal attacks, with technology firms now the world's most targeted sector.
Stolen patient records are now being traded alongside ransomware access, deepening risks for hospitals, suppliers and insurers across the sector.
Losses from North Korea-linked digital asset theft jumped 51% in 2025, exposing banks and fintech firms to more identity-based intrusions.
Phishing and fraud still drive most insured cyber losses, as artificial intelligence makes familiar scams more effective for clients.
Factory downtime risks and supply chain disruption have made UK manufacturing the country's most targeted sector for ransomware, SonicWall said.
Customers face heightened scam risks as Origin Energy investigates claims that a hacker accessed two million records and alerted regulators.
Mid-market firms in financial, insurance and consulting services face the highest ransomware risk, with attacks now striking faster and costing far more.
Ransomware attacks spread through vendor systems and AI-aided tactics, leaving 7,551 publicly disclosed victims in the latest 12-month period.
Each incident can halt site operations for 24 days on average as attackers exploit the sector's growing use of connected digital tools.
.webp)
