State officials have warned the public about a phishing campaign using the fake domain codify.inc to impersonate official government websites. Cybercriminals aim to steal personal information and login credentials from unsuspecting users.
Several state agencies are affected, including the departments of Labor and Industrial Relations, Education, Health, Transportation, and many others. Fraudulent websites often mimic official URLs, such as dlir.hi.usa.codify.inc, and may use AI-based services to entice users.
Residents are urged to verify website addresses carefully. Official government portals will always end in .gov, and any other extensions like .inc or .co are not legitimate. Users should type addresses directly into their browsers rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts.
Suspicious websites should be reported to the State of Hawaii at soc@hawaii.gov to help protect other residents from falling victim to the scam.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Cybersecurity experts are raising alarms as AI transitions from a theoretical concern to an operational threat. The H2 2025 ESET Threat Report shows AI-powered malware is now targeting systems globally, raising attack sophistication.
PromptLock, the first AI-driven ransomware, uses a dual-component system to generate unique scripts for each target. The malware autonomously decides to exfiltrate, encrypt, or destroy data, using a feedback loop to ensure reliable execution.
Other AI threats include PromptFlux, which rewrites malware for persistence, and PromptSteal, which harvests sensitive files. These developments highlight the growing capabilities of attackers using machine learning models to evade traditional defences.
The ransomware-as-a-service market is growing, with Qilin, Akira, and Warlock using advanced evasion techniques. The convergence of AI-driven malware and thriving ransomware economies presents an urgent challenge for organisations globally.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A ransomware attack has disrupted the Oltenia Energy Complex, Romania’s largest coal-based power producer, after hackers encrypted key IT systems in the early hours of 26 December.
The state-controlled company confirmed that the Gentlemen ransomware strain locked corporate files and disabled core services, including ERP platforms, document management tools, email and the official website.
The organisation isolated affected infrastructure and began restoring services from backups on new systems instead of paying a ransom. Operations were only partially impacted and officials stressed that the national energy system remained secure, despite the disruption across business networks.
A criminal complaint has been filed. Additionally, both the National Directorate of Cyber Security of Romania and the Ministry of Energy have been notified.
Investigators are still assessing the scale of the breach and whether sensitive data was exfiltrated before encryption. The Gentlemen ransomware group has not yet listed the energy firm on its dark-web leak site, a sign that negotiations may still be underway.
An attack that follows a separate ransomware incident that recently hit Romania’s national water authority, underlining the rising pressure on critical infrastructure organisations.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
China has proposed stringent new rules for AI aimed at protecting children and preventing chatbots from providing advice that could lead to self-harm, violence, or gambling.
The draft regulations, published by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), require developers to include personalised settings, time limits, and parental consent for services offering emotional companionship.
High-risk chats involving self-harm or suicide must be passed to a human operator, with guardians or emergency contacts alerted. AI providers must not produce content that threatens national security, harms national honour, or undermines national unity.
The rules come as AI usage surges, with platforms such as DeepSeek, Z.ai, and Minimax attracting millions of users in China and abroad. The CAC supports safe AI use, including tools for local culture and elderly companionship.
The move reflects growing global concerns over AI’s impact on human behaviour. Notably, OpenAI has faced legal challenges over alleged chatbot-related harm, prompting the company to create roles focused on tracking AI risks to mental health and cybersecurity.
China’s draft rules signal a firm approach to regulating AI technology as its influence expands rapidly.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A Moscow court has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against Russia’s state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Ministry of Digital Development by users of WhatsApp and Telegram. The ruling was issued by a judge at the Tagansky District Court.
The court said activist Konstantin Larionov failed to demonstrate he was authorised to represent messaging app users. The lawsuit claimed call restrictions violated constitutional rights, including freedom of information and communication secrecy.
The case followed Roskomnadzor’s decision in August to block calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, a move officials described as part of anti-fraud efforts. Both companies criticised the restrictions at the time.
Larionov and several dozen co-plaintiffs said the measures were ineffective, citing central bank data showing fraud mainly occurs through traditional calls and text messages. The plaintiffs also argued the restrictions disproportionately affected ordinary users.
Larionov said the group plans to appeal the decision and continue legal action. He has described the lawsuit as an attempt to challenge what he views as politically motivated restrictions on communication services in Russia.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
Aflac, a health and life insurer in the US, revealed that a cyberattack discovered in June affected over 22.6 million individuals. Personal and claims information, including social security numbers, may have been accessed.
The investigation found the attack likely originated from the Scattered Spider cybercrime group. Authorities were notified, and third-party cybersecurity experts were engaged to contain the incident.
Systems remained operational, and no ransomware was detected, with containment achieved within hours. Notifications have begun, and the insurer continues to monitor for potential fraudulent use of data.
Class-action lawsuits have been filed in response to the incident, which also affected employees, agents, and other related individuals. Erie and Philadelphia Insurance previously reported network issues linked to similar threats.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
European governments are intensifying their efforts to safeguard satellites from cyberattacks as space becomes an increasingly vital front in modern security and hybrid warfare. Once seen mainly as technical infrastructure, satellites are now treated as strategic assets, carrying critical communications, navigation, and intelligence data that are attractive targets for espionage and disruption.
Concerns intensified after a 2022 cyberattack on the Viasat satellite network coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, exposing how vulnerable space systems can be during geopolitical crises. Since then, the EU institutions have warned of rising cyber and electronic interference against satellites and ground stations, while several European countries have flagged growing surveillance activities linked to Russia and China.
To reduce risks, Europe is investing in new infrastructure and technologies. One example is a planned satellite ground station in Greenland, backed by the European Space Agency, designed to reduce dependence on the highly sensitive Arctic hub in Svalbard. That location currently handles most European satellite data traffic but relies on a single undersea internet cable, making it a critical point of failure.
At the same time, the EU is advancing with IRIS², a secure satellite communication system designed to provide encrypted connectivity and reduce reliance on foreign providers, such as Starlink. Although the project promises stronger security and European autonomy, it is not expected to be operational for several years.
Experts warn that technology alone is not enough. European governments are still clarifying who is responsible for defending space systems, while the cybersecurity industry struggles to adapt tools designed for Earth-based networks to the unique challenges of space. Better coordination, clearer mandates, and specialised security approaches will be essential as space becomes more contested.
Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that a data breach occurred, but stated that its impact appears to be limited. According to the agency, only a very small number of science servers were affected, and these systems were located outside ESA’s main corporate network.
Claims about the breach began circulating on 26 December, when a hacker using the alias ‘888’ alleged that more than 200 gigabytes of ESA data had been compromised and put up for sale. The hacker claimed the material included source code, internal project documents, API tokens, and embedded login credentials.
ESA acknowledged the allegations on 29 December and launched a forensic investigation. A day later, the agency stated that its initial findings confirmed unauthorised access but suggested the scope was far smaller than online claims implied.
The affected servers were described as unclassified systems used for collaborative engineering work within the scientific community. ESA said it has already informed relevant stakeholders and taken immediate steps to secure any potentially impacted devices.
The investigation is still ongoing, and ESA has stated that it will provide further updates once the forensic analysis is complete.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
A hacker using the name Lovely has allegedly claimed to have accessed subscriber data belonging to WIRED and to have leaked details relating to around 2.3 million users.
The same individual also states that a wider Condé Nast account system covering more than 40 million users could be exposed in future leaks instead of ending with the current dataset.
Security researchers are reported to have matched samples of the claimed leak with other compromised data sources. The information is said to include names, email addresses, user IDs and timestamps instead of passwords or payment information.
Some researchers also believe that certain home addresses could be included, which would raise privacy concerns if verified.
The dataset is reported to be listed on Have I Been Pwned. However, no official confirmation from WIRED or Condé Nast has been issued regarding the authenticity, scale or origin of the claimed breach, and the company’s internal findings remain unknown until now.
The hacker has also accused Condé Nast of failing to respond to earlier security warnings, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Users are being urged by security professionals to treat unexpected emails with caution instead of assuming every message is genuine.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
South Korea has blamed weak femtocell security at KT Corp for a major mobile payment breach that triggered thousands of unauthorised transactions.
Officials said the mobile operator used identical authentication certificates across femtocells and allowed them to stay valid for ten years, meaning any device that accessed the network once could do so repeatedly instead of being re-verified.
More than 22,000 users had identifiers exposed, and 368 people suffered unauthorised payments worth 243 million won.
Investigators also discovered that ninety-four KT servers were infected with over one hundred types of malware. Authorities concluded the company failed in its duty to deliver secure telecommunications services because its overall management of femtocell security was inadequate.
The government has now ordered KT to submit detailed prevention plans and will check compliance in June, while also urging operators to change authentication server addresses regularly and block illegal network access.
Officials said some hacking methods resembled a separate breach at SK Telecom, although there is no evidence that the same group carried out both attacks. KT said it accepts the findings and will soon set out compensation arrangements and further security upgrades instead of disputing the conclusions.
A separate case involving LG Uplus is being referred to police after investigators said affected servers were discarded, making a full technical review impossible.
The government warned that strong information security must become a survival priority as South Korea aims to position itself among the world’s leading AI nations.
Would you like to learn more aboutAI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!
