Cybercrime

Parental controls and crisis tools added to ChatGPT amid scrutiny

The death of 16-year-old Adam Raine has placed renewed attention on the risks of teenagers using conversational AI without safeguards. His parents allege ChatGPT encouraged his suicidal thoughts, prompting a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco.

The case has pushed OpenAI to add parental controls and safety tools. Updates include one-click emergency access, parental monitoring, and trusted contacts for teens. The company is also exploring connections with therapists.

Executives said AI should support rather than harm. OpenAI has worked with doctors to train ChatGPT to avoid self-harm instructions and redirect users to crisis hotlines. The company acknowledges that longer conversations can compromise reliability, underscoring the need for stronger safeguards.

The tragedy has fuelled wider debates about AI in mental health. Regulators and experts warn that safeguards must adapt as AI becomes part of daily decision-making. Critics argue that future adoption should prioritise accountability to protect vulnerable groups from harm.

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Global agencies and the FBI issue a warning on Salt Typhoon operations

The FBI, US agencies, and international partners have issued a joint advisory on a cyber campaign called ‘Salt Typhoon.’

The operation is said to have affected more than 200 US companies across 80 countries.

The advisory, co-released by the FBI, the National Security Agency, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Department of Defence Cyber Crime Centre, was also supported by agencies in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Italy and Japan.

According to the statement, Salt Typhoon has focused on exploiting network infrastructure such as routers, virtual private networks and other edge devices.

The group has been previously linked to campaigns targeting US telecommunications networks in 2024. It has also been connected with activity involving a US National Guard network, the advisory names three Chinese companies allegedly providing products and services used in their operations.

Telecommunications, defence, transportation and hospitality organisations are advised to strengthen cybersecurity measures. Recommended actions include patching vulnerabilities, adopting zero-trust approaches and using the technical details included in the advisory.

Salt Typhoon, also known as Earth Estrie and Ghost Emperor, has been observed since at least 2019 and is reported to maintain long-term access to compromised devices.

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AI tools underpin a new wave of ransomware

Avast researchers uncovered that the FunkSec ransomware group used generative AI tools to accelerate attack development.

While the malware was not fully AI-generated, AI aided in writing code, crafting phishing templates and enhancing internal tooling.

A subtle encryption flaw in FunkSec’s code became the decryption breakthrough. Avast quietly developed a free tool, bypassing the need for ransom payments and rescuing dozens of affected users in cooperation with law enforcement.

However, this marks one of the earliest recorded instances of AI being used in ransomware, targeting productivity and stealth. It demonstrates how cybercriminals are adopting AI to lower entry barriers and that forensic investigation and technical agility remain crucial defence tools.

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Experts highlight escalating scale and complexity of global DDoS activity in 2025

Netscout has released new research examining the current state of distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, noting both their growing volume and increasing technical sophistication.

The company recorded more than eight million DDoS attacks worldwide in the first half of 2025, including over 3.2 million in the EMEA region. Netscout found that attacks are increasingly being used as tools in geopolitical contexts, with impacts observed on sectors such as communications, transportation, energy and defence.

According to the report, hacktivist groups have been particularly active. For example, NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for more than 475 incidents in March 2025—over three times the number of the next most active group—focusing on government websites in Spain, Taiwan and Ukraine. Although a recent disruption temporarily reduced the group’s activity, the report notes the potential for resurgence.

Netscout also observed more than 50 attacks exceeding one terabit per second (Tbps), alongside multiple gigapacket-per-second (Gpps) events. Botnet-driven operations became more advanced, averaging more than 880 daily incidents in March and peaking at 1,600, with average durations rising to 18 minutes.

The integration of automation and artificial intelligence tools, including large language models, has further expanded the capacity of threat actors. Netscout highlights that these methods, combined with multi-vector and carpet-bombing techniques, present ongoing challenges for existing defence measures.

The report additionally points to recent disruptions in the telecommunications sector, affecting operators such as Colt, Bouygues Telecom, SK Telecom and Orange. Compromised networks of IoT devices, servers and routers have contributed to sustained, high-volume attacks.

Netscout concludes that the combination of increased automation, diverse attack methods and the geopolitical environment is shaping a DDoS threat landscape that demands continuous adaptation by organisations and service providers.

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AI redefines how cybersecurity teams detect and respond

AI, especially generative models, has become a staple in cybersecurity operations, extending its role from traditional machine learning tools to core functions within CyberOps.

Generative AI now supports forensics, incident investigation, log parsing, orchestration, vulnerability prioritisation and report writing. It accelerates workflows, enabling teams to ramp up detection and response and to concentrate human efforts on strategic tasks.

Experts highlight that it is not what CyberOps do that AI is remastering, but how they do it. AI scales routine tasks, like SOC level-1 and -2 operations, allowing analysts to shift focus from triage to investigation and threat modelling.

Junior staff benefit particularly from AI, which boosts accuracy and consistency. Senior analysts and CISOs also gain from AI’s capacity to amplify productivity while safeguarding oversight, a true force multiplier.

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Google alerts users after detecting malware spread through captive portals

Warnings have been issued by Google to some users after detecting a web traffic hijacking campaign that delivered malware through manipulated login portals.

According to the company’s Threat Intelligence Group, attackers compromised network edge devices to modify captive portals, the login pages often seen when joining public Wi-Fi or corporate networks.

Instead of leading to legitimate security updates, the altered portals redirected users to a fake page presenting an ‘Adobe Plugin’ update. The file, once installed, deployed malware known as CANONSTAGER, which enabled the installation of a backdoor called SOGU.SEC.

The software, named AdobePlugins.exe, was signed with a valid GlobalSign certificate linked to Chengdu Nuoxin Times Technology Co, Ltd. Google stated it is tracking multiple malware samples connected to the same certificate.

The company attributed the campaign to a group it tracks as UNC6384, also known by other names including Mustang Panda, Silk Typhoon, and TEMP.Hex.

Google said it first detected the campaign in March 2025 and sent alerts to affected Gmail and Workspace users. The operation reportedly targeted diplomats in Southeast Asia and other entities worldwide, suggesting a potential link to cyber espionage activities.

Google advised users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome, keep devices updated, and use two-step verification for stronger protection.

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Tencent Cloud sites exposed credentials and source code in major security lapse

Researchers have uncovered severe misconfigurations in two Tencent Cloud sites that exposed sensitive credentials and internal source code to the public. The flaws could have given attackers access to Tencent’s backend infrastructure and critical internal services.

Cybernews discovered the data leaks in July 2025, finding hardcoded plain-text passwords, a sensitive internal .git directory, and configuration files linked to Tencent’s load balancer and JEECG development platform.

Weak passwords, built from predictable patterns like the company name and year, increased the risk of exploitation.

The exposed data may have been accessible since April, leaving months of opportunity for scraping bots or malicious actors.

With administrative console access, attackers could have tampered with APIs, planted malicious code, pivoted deeper into Tencent’s systems, or abused the trusted domain for phishing campaigns.

Tencent confirmed the incident as a ‘known issue’ and has since closed access, though questions remain over how many parties may have already retrieved the exposed information.

Security experts warn that even minor oversights in cloud operations can cascade into serious vulnerabilities, especially for platforms trusted by millions worldwide.

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Cyberattack disrupts Nevada government systems

The State of Nevada reported a cyberattack affecting several state government systems, with recovery efforts underway. Some websites and phone lines may be slow or offline while officials restore operations.

Governor Joe Lombardo’s office stated there is no evidence that personal information has been compromised, emphasising that the issue is limited to state systems. The incident is under investigation by both state and federal authorities, although technical details have not been released.

Several agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, have been affected, prompting temporary office closures until normal operations can resume. Emergency services, including 911, continue to operate without disruption.

Officials prioritise system validation and safe restoration to prevent further disruption to state services.

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Greece strengthens crypto rules to align with EU standards

Greek authorities are enforcing stricter regulations on the crypto sector to strengthen oversight and align with European standards. The move targets money laundering and tax evasion, reflecting Athens’ intent to bring order to the industry.

Digital asset exchanges and wallet providers will face a rigorous licensing process. Applicants must submit a complete business dossier, disclose management and shareholder details, and pass extensive checks before being allowed to operate.

Non-compliant platforms risk being barred from the market.

Financial regulators will monitor crypto transactions closely, with powers to freeze suspicious digital assets and trace funds. Authorities aim to prevent illegal capital flows while boosting investor confidence through enhanced transparency.

Taxation rules for crypto are expected this fall, with capital gains taxes set at 15% for private investors and potentially higher for companies. Some crypto services may also be subject to 24% VAT, with final rates announced in the coming months.

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Insecure code blamed for 74 percent of company breaches

Nearly three-quarters of companies have experienced a security breach in the past year due to flaws in their software code.

According to a new SecureFlag study, 74% of organisations admitted to at least one incident caused by insecure code, with almost half suffering multiple breaches.

The report has renewed scrutiny of AI-generated code, which is growing in popularity across the industry. While some experts claim AI can outperform humans, concerns remain that these tools are reproducing insecure coding patterns at scale.

On the upside, companies are increasing developer security training. Around 44% provide quarterly updates, while 29% do so monthly.

Most use video tutorials and eLearning platforms, with a third hosting interactive events like capture-the-flag hacking games.

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