Critical infrastructure

CERT Polska reports coordinated cyber sabotage targeting Poland’s energy infrastructure

Poland has disclosed a coordinated cyber sabotage campaign targeting more than 30 renewable energy sites in late December 2025. The incidents occurred during severe winter weather and were intended to cause operational disruption, according to CERT Polska.

Electricity generation and heat supply in Poland continued, but attackers disabled communications and remote control systems across multiple facilities. Both IT networks and industrial operational technology were targeted, marking a rare shift toward destructive cyber activity against energy infrastructure.

Investigators found attackers accessed renewable substations through exposed FortiGate devices, often without multi-factor authentication. After breaching networks, they mapped systems, damaged firmware, wiped controllers, and disabled protection relays.

Two previously unknown wiper tools, DynoWiper and LazyWiper, were used to corrupt and delete data without ransom demands. The malware spread through compromised Active Directory systems using malicious Group Policy tasks to trigger simultaneous destruction.

CERT Polska linked the infrastructure to the Russia-connected threat cluster Static Tundra, though some firms suggest Sandworm involvement. The campaign marks the first publicly confirmed destructive operation attributed to this actor, highlighting rising cyber-sabotage risks to critical energy systems.

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AI-driven scams dominate malicious email campaigns

The Catalan Cybersecurity Agency has warned that generative AI is now being used in the vast majority of email scams containing malicious links. Its Cybersecurity Outlook Report for 2026 found that more than 80% of such messages rely on AI-generated content.

The report shows that 82.6% of emails carrying malicious links include text, video, or voice produced using AI tools, making fraudulent messages increasingly difficult to identify. Scammers use AI to create near-flawless messages that closely mimic legitimate communications.

Agency director Laura Caballero said the sophistication of AI-generated scams means users face greater risks, while businesses and platforms are turning to AI-based defences to counter the threat.

She urged a ‘technology against technology’ approach, combined with stronger public awareness and basic security practices such as two-factor authentication.

Cyber incidents are also rising. The agency handled 3,372 cases in 2024, a 26% increase year on year, mostly involving credential leaks and unauthorised email access.

In response, the Catalan government has launched a new cybersecurity strategy backed by a €18.6 million investment to protect critical public services.

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Moltbook AI vulnerability exposes user data and API keys

A critical security flaw has emerged in Moltbook, a new AI agent social network launched by Octane AI.

The vulnerability allowed unauthenticated access to user profiles, exposing email addresses, login tokens, and API keys for registered agents. The platform’s rapid growth, claimed to have 1.5 million users, was largely artificial, as a single agent reportedly created hundreds of thousands of fake accounts.

Moltbook enables AI agents to post, comment, and form sub-communities, fostering interactions that range from AI debates to token-related activities.

Analysts warned that prompt injections and unregulated agent interactions could lead to credential theft or destructive actions, including data exfiltration or account hijacking. Experts described the platform as both a milestone in scale and a serious security concern.

Developers have not confirmed any patches, leaving users and enterprises exposed. Security specialists advised revoking API keys, sandboxing AI agents, and auditing potential exposures.

The lack of safeguards on the platform highlights the risks of unchecked AI agent networks, particularly for organisations that may rely on them without proper oversight.

An incident that underscores the growing need for stronger governance in AI-powered social networks. Experts stress that without enforced security protocols, such platforms could be exploited at scale, affecting both individual users and corporate systems.

The Moltbook case serves as a warning about prioritising hype over security in emerging AI applications.

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Eutelsat blocked from selling infrastructure as France tightens control

France has blocked the planned divestment of Eutelsat’s ground-station infrastructure, arguing that control over satellite facilities remains essential for national sovereignty.

The aborted sale to EQT Infrastructure VI had been announced as a significant transaction, yet the company revealed that the required conditions had not been met.

Officials in France say that the infrastructure forms part of a strategic system used for both civilian and military purposes.

The finance minister described Eutelsat as Europe’s only genuine competitor to Starlink, further strengthening the view that France must retain authority over ground-station operations rather than allow external ownership.

Eutelsat stressed that the proposed transfer concerned only passive facilities such as buildings and site management rather than active control systems. Even so, French authorities believe that end-to-end stewardship of satellite ground networks is essential to safeguard operational independence.

The company says the failed sale will not hinder its capital plans, including the deployment of hundreds of replacement satellites for the OneWeb constellation.

Investors had not commented by publication time, yet the decision highlights France’s growing assertiveness in satellite governance and broader European debates on technological autonomy.

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Anthropic challenges Pentagon over military AI use

Pentagon officials are at odds with AI developer Anthropic over restrictions designed to prevent autonomous weapons targeting and domestic surveillance. The disagreement has stalled discussions under a $200 million contract.

Anthropic has expressed concern about its tools being used in ways that could harm civilians or breach privacy. The company emphasises that human oversight is essential for national security applications.

The dispute reflects broader tensions between Silicon Valley firms and government use of AI. Pentagon officials argue that commercial AI can be deployed as long as it follows US law, regardless of corporate guidelines.

Anthropic’s stance may affect its Pentagon contracts as the firm prepares for a public offering. The company continues to engage with officials while advocating for ethical AI deployment in defence operations.

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US cloud dominance sparks debate about Europe’s digital sovereignty

European technology leaders are increasingly questioning the long-held assumption that information technology operates outside politics, amid growing concerns about reliance on US cloud providers and digital infrastructure.

At HiPEAC 2026, Nextcloud chief executive Frank Karlitschek argued that software has become an instrument of power, warning that Europe’s dependence on American technology firms exposes organisations to legal uncertainty, rising costs, and geopolitical pressure.

He highlighted conflicts between EU privacy rules and US surveillance laws, predicting continued instability around cross-border data transfers and renewed risks of services becoming legally restricted.

Beyond regulation, Karlitschek pointed to monopoly power among major cloud providers, linking recent price increases to limited competition and warning that vendor lock-in strategies make switching increasingly difficult for European organisations.

He presented open-source and locally controlled cloud systems as a path toward digital sovereignty, urging stronger enforcement of EU competition rules alongside investment in decentralised, federated technology models.

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AI could harm the planet but also help save it

AI is often criticised for its growing electricity and water use, but experts argue it can also support sustainability. AI can reduce emissions, save energy, and optimise resource use across multiple sectors.

In agriculture, AI-powered irrigation helps farmers use water more efficiently. In Chile, precision systems reduced water consumption by up to 30%, while farmers earned extra income from verified savings.

Data centres and energy companies are deploying AI to improve efficiency, predict workloads, optimise cooling, monitor methane leaks, and schedule maintenance. These measures help reduce emissions and operational costs.

Buildings and aviation are also benefiting from AI. Innovative systems manage heating, cooling, and appliances more efficiently. AI also optimises flight routes, reducing fuel consumption and contrail formation, showing that wider adoption could help fight climate change.

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Europe opens new digital identity innovation hub in France

ID Campus has opened in the French city of Angers as a new European hub dedicated to identity technologies and trust-based digital services. Led by sovereign provider iDAKTO, the initiative aims to bring together public institutions, startups, and researchers to advance secure online systems.

The campus will support innovation, training, pilot projects, and cross-sector collaboration. A key focus is the rollout of the European Digital Identity Wallet. Deeptech firms, research labs, and international delegations are expected to use the site for testing and cooperation.

The project’s development involved partnerships with public bodies in France, including France Titres, La Mission French Tech, and Angers Loire Metropole, reflecting a wider push to strengthen national and European authentication infrastructure.

The official launch brought together leaders from government and industry to discuss the rise in digital adoption and tightening regulatory frameworks across Europe, as secure digital identity systems become central to public services and cross-border transactions.

European digital sovereignty remains a core driver of the initiative, with policymakers seeking interoperable trust frameworks that reduce reliance on non-European technologies.

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China moves toward data centres in orbit

China is planning to develop large-scale space-based data centres over the next five years as part of a broader push to support AI development. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has announced plans to build gigawatt-class digital infrastructure in orbit, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Under CASC’s five-year development plan, the space data centres are expected to combine cloud, edge and terminal technologies, allowing computing power, data storage and communication capacity to operate as an integrated system. The aim is to create high-performance infrastructure capable of supporting advanced AI workloads beyond Earth.

The initiative follows a recent CASC policy proposal calling for solar-powered, gigawatt-scale space-based hubs to supply energy for AI processing. The proposal aligns with China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, which is set to place AI at the centre of national development priorities.

China has already taken early steps in this direction. In May 2025, Zhejiang Lab launched 12 low Earth orbit satellites to form the first phase of its ‘Three-Body Computing Constellation.’ The research institute plans to eventually deploy around 2,800 satellites, targeting a total computing power of 1,000 peta operations per second.

Interest in space-based data centres is growing globally. European aerospace firm Thales Alenia Space has been studying its feasibility since 2023, while companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and several startups in the US and the UAE are exploring similar concepts at varying stages of development and ambition.

Supporters argue that space data centres could reduce environmental impacts on Earth, benefit from constant solar energy and simplify cooling. However, experts warn that operating in space brings its own challenges, including exposure to radiation, solar flares and space debris, as well as higher costs and greater difficulty when repairs are needed.

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UK minister signals interest in universal basic income amid rising AI job disruption

Jason Stockwood, the UK investment minister, has suggested that a universal basic income could help protect workers as AI reshapes the labour market.

He argued that rapid advances in automation will cause disruptive shifts across several sectors, meaning the country must explore safety mechanisms rather than allowing sudden job losses to deepen inequality. He added that workers will need long-term retraining pathways as roles disappear.

Concern about the economic impact of AI continues to intensify.

Research by Morgan Stanley indicates that the UK is losing more jobs than it is creating because of automation and is being affected more severely than other major economies.

Warnings from London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan and senior global business figures, including JP Morgan’s chief executive Jamie Dimon, point to the risk of mass unemployment unless governments and companies step in with support.

Stockwood confirmed that a universal basic income is not part of formal government policy, although he said people inside government are discussing the idea.

He took up his post in September after a long career in the technology sector, including senior roles at Match.com, Lastminute.com and Travelocity, as well as leading a significant sale of Simply Business.

Additionally, Stockwood said he no longer pushes for stronger wealth-tax measures, but he criticised wealthy individuals who seek to minimise their contributions to public finances. He suggested that those who prioritise tax avoidance lack commitment to their communities and the country’s long-term success.

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