Cybersecurity Archives | Page 267 of 392 | Digital Watch Observatory

Metro Bank teams up with Ask Silver to fight fraud

Metro Bank has introduced an AI-powered scam detection tool, becoming the first UK bank to offer customers instant scam checks through a simple WhatsApp service.

Developed in partnership with Ask Silver, the Scam Checker allows users to upload images or screenshots of suspicious emails, websites, or documents for rapid analysis and safety advice.

The tool is free for personal and business customers, who receive alerts if the communication is flagged as fraudulent. Ask Silver’s technology not only identifies potential scams but also automatically reports them to relevant authorities.

The company was founded after one of the co-founders’ family members lost £150,000 to a scam, fuelling its mission to prevent similar crimes.

The launch comes amid a surge in impersonation scams across the United Kingdom, with over £1 billion lost to fraud in 2023. Metro Bank’s head of fraud, Baz Thompson, said the tool helps counter tactics that rely on urgency and pressure.

Customers are also reminded that the bank will never request sensitive information or press them to act quickly via emails or texts.

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Russia fines Telegram over extremist content

A Moscow court has fined the messaging platform Telegram 7 million roubles (approximately $80,000) for failing to remove content allegedly promoting terrorist acts and inciting anti-government protests, according to TASS (Russian state news agency).

The court ruled that Telegram did not comply with legal obligations to take down materials deemed extremist, including calls to sabotage railway systems in support of Ukrainian forces and to overthrow the Russian government.

The judgement cited specific Telegram channels accused of distributing such content. Authorities argue that these channels played a role in encouraging public unrest and potentially supporting hostile actions against the Russian state.

The decision adds to the long-standing tension between Russia’s media watchdogs and Telegram, which remains one of the most widely used messaging platforms across Russia and neighbouring countries.

Telegram has not stated in response to the fine, and it is unclear whether the company plans to challenge the court’s ruling.

The platform was founded by Russian-born entrepreneur Pavel Durov and is currently headquartered in Dubai, boasting close to a billion users globally.

Telegram’s decentralised nature and encrypted messaging features have made it popular among users seeking privacy, but it has also drawn criticism from governments citing national security concerns.

Durov himself returned to Dubai in March after months in France following his 2024 arrest linked to accusations that Telegram was used in connection with fraud, money laundering, and the circulation of illegal content.

Although he has denied any wrongdoing, the incident has further strained the company’s relationship with authorities in Russia.

This latest legal action reflects Russia’s ongoing crackdown on digital platforms accused of facilitating dissent or undermining state control.

With geopolitical tensions still high, especially surrounding the conflict in Ukraine, platforms like Telegram face increasing scrutiny and legal pressure in multiple jurisdictions.

Thailand strengthens cybersecurity with Google Cloud

Thailand’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has joined forces with Google Cloud to strengthen the country’s cyber resilience, using AI-based tools and shared threat intelligence instead of relying solely on traditional defences.

The collaboration aims to better protect public agencies and citizens against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

A key part of the initiative involves deploying Google Cloud Cybershield for centralised monitoring of security events across government bodies. Instead of having fragmented monitoring systems, this unified approach will help streamline incident detection and response.

The partnership also brings advanced training for cybersecurity personnel in the public sector, alongside regular threat intelligence sharing.

Google Cloud Web Risk will be integrated into government operations to automatically block websites hosting malware and phishing content, instead of relying on manual checks.

Google further noted the impact of its anti-scam technology in Google Play Protect, which has prevented over 6.6 million high-risk app installation attempts in Thailand since its 2024 launch—enhancing mobile safety for millions of users.

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Google’s Wiz acquisition propels Israel’s tech sector to new heights

Israel’s high-tech sector surged into 2025 with remarkable momentum, instead of continuing the two-year slump in funding.

According to new figures from Startup Nation Central, private Israeli tech firms raised $3.2 billion through 185 deals in the first quarter, rather than declining as in previous periods. This marked a 12% rise from the previous quarter and a 14% increase year on year.

The most striking figure came from mergers and acquisitions, which reached a record-breaking $35.9 billion across 38 deals.

It was driven by Google’s $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz—the biggest tech exit in Israeli history and one of the largest globally, instead of a more modest transaction typical of previous years.

Even excluding the Wiz acquisition, the M&A volume still hit $3.9 billion—its highest since the third quarter of 2023. Instead of reflecting a single outlier, the strong figures suggest a broader resurgence in investor confidence and corporate activity.

It signals that global interest in Israel’s innovation sector is gaining strength again, instead of continuing to wane as seen over the past two years.

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Earthquake disrupts Myanmar internet and surveillance ops

A powerful earthquake in Myanmar has significantly disrupted the junta’s cyber operations, severely damaging the National Cyber Security Center and a major e-Government data hub in Naypyitaw.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed that repairs are underway, though many internet services in quake-affected areas remain unstable.

According to the opposition National Unity Government (NUG), the damage could weaken the military regime’s ability to monitor and suppress dissent online.

The National Cyber Security Center, which played a central role in tracking online activity and orchestrating arrests via surveillance tools, was among the worst-hit sites. Thousands of communication stations were also damaged, with less than half restored so far.

The quake has also taken down several junta ministry websites and left staff in Naypyitaw facing harsh living conditions. With Myanmar recording the highest number of internet shutdowns globally in 2024, activists fear the regime will attempt to regain control, but the full extent of the digital disruption may be greater than reported.

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Aetherflux raises $50 million for space solar power project

Aetherflux, the space solar startup founded by Baiju Bhatt, the billionaire co-founder of Robinhood, has secured $50 million in Series A funding to advance its first low Earth orbit demonstration scheduled for 2026.

The California-based startup, which emerged from stealth in October, plans to deploy a constellation of satellites capable of collecting solar energy and transmitting it to Earth.

The concept, inspired by Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story ‘Reason,’ is set to change the way power is sourced globally. Bhatt is dedicated to transforming this science fiction-inspired idea into reality.

With the newly raised capital, Aetherflux aims to hire more engineers and build the technology needed for its missions. The company will use the funds to develop its satellite payload and improve infrastructure.

The satellites will send power back to Earth via lasers, with energy captured by ground stations featuring photovoltaic arrays. These stations will store energy for future use and may one day deliver electricity to remote areas.

Bhatt’s team, consisting of experts from NASA, SpaceX, and the US Navy, is also focused on building the first ground station. While a location hasn’t been chosen, military sites are being considered for their controlled airspace.

If successful, Aetherflux will pave the way for scalable space-based solar power systems.

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European Commission targets end-to-end encryption and proposes expanding Europol’s powers into an EU-level FBI equivalent

The European Commission announced ProtectEU, a new internal security strategy that sets out the broad priorities it intends to pursue in the coming years in response to evolving security challenges. While the document outlines strategic objectives, it does not include specific legislative proposals.

The Commission highlighted the need to revisit the European Union’s approach to internal security, citing what it described as ‘a changed security environment and an evolving geopolitical landscape.’ Among the identified challenges are hybrid threats from state and non-state actors, organised crime, and increasing levels of online criminal activity.

One of the key elements of the strategy is the proposed strengthening of Europol’s operational role. The Commission suggests developing Eu r opol into a truly operational police agency to reinforce support to member states, with the capacity to assist in cross-border, large-scale, and complex investigations that present serious risks to the Union’s internal security.

That would bring Europol closer in function to agencies such as the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. The strategy also notes the Commission’s intention to develop roadmaps on ‘lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement’ and encryption.

The strategy aims to ‘identify and assess technological solutions that would enable law enforcement authorities to access encrypted data lawfully, safeguarding cybersecurity and fundamental rights.’ These issues continue to be the subject of technical and legal discussion across jurisdictions.

Other aspects of the strategy address long-standing challenges within the EU’s security framework, including limited situational awareness and coordination at the executive level. The strategy proposes enhancing intelligence-sharing through the EU’s Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity, a mechanism for the voluntary sharing of intelligence by member states, which is currently supported by open-source analysis.

The report further emphasised that the effectiveness of any reforms in this area would depend on the commitment of member states, citing ongoing challenges related to differing national priorities and levels of political alignment. In addition, the Commission announced its intention to propose a new Cybersecurity Act and new measures to secure cloud and telecom services and develop technological sovereignty.

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Singapore issues new guidelines to strengthen resilience and security of cloud services and data centres

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has issued new Advisory Guidelines (AGs) intended to support the resilience and security of Cloud Services and Data Centres (DCs) in Singapore. The guidelines set out best practices for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and DC operators, aiming to reduce service disruptions and limit their potential impact on economic and social functions.

A wide range of digital services—including online banking, ride-hailing, e-commerce, and digital identity systems—depend on the continued availability of cloud infrastructure and data centre operations. Service interruptions may affect the delivery of these services.

The AGs encourage service providers to adopt measures that improve their ability to recover from outages and maintain operational continuity. The AGs recommend various practices to address risks associated with technical misconfigurations, physical incidents, and cybersecurity threats.

Key proposals include conducting risk and business impact assessments, establishing business continuity arrangements, and strengthening cybersecurity capabilities. For Cloud Services, the guidelines outline seven measures to reinforce security and resilience.

These cover security testing, access controls, data governance, and disaster recovery planning. Concerning Data Centres, the AGs provide a framework for business continuity management to minimise operational disruptions and maintain high service availability.

That involves the implementation of relevant policies, operational controls, and ongoing review processes. The development of the AGs forms part of wider national efforts led by the inter-agency task force on the Resilience and Security of Digital Infrastructure and Services.

These guidelines are intended to complement regulatory initiatives, including planned amendments to the Cybersecurity Act and the Digital Infrastructure Act (DIA) introduction, which will establish requirements for critical digital infrastructure providers such as major CSPs and DC operators. To inform the guidelines, the IMDA conducted consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, including CSPs, DC operators, and end user enterprises across sectors such as banking, healthcare, and digital platforms.

The AGs will be updated periodically to reflect technological developments, incident learnings, and further industry input. A coordinated approach is encouraged across the digital services ecosystem. Businesses that provide digital services are advised to assess operational risks and establish appropriate business continuity plans to support service reliability.

The AGs also refer to international standards, including IMDA’s Multi-Tier Cloud Security Standard, the Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix, ISO 27001, and ISO 22301. Providers are encouraged to designate responsible personnel to oversee resilience and security efforts.

These guidelines form part of Singapore’s broader strategy to strengthen its digital infrastructure. The government will continue to engage with sectoral regulators and stakeholders to promote resilience, cybersecurity awareness, and preparedness across industries and society.

As digital systems evolve, sustained attention to infrastructure resilience and security remains essential. The AGs are intended to support organisations in maintaining reliable services while aligning with recognised standards and best practices.

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US Cyber Command integrates generative AI for enhanced cybersecurity operations

A senior official at US Cyber Command has stated that the agency has begun employing generative AI tools to significantly reduce the time required to analyse network traffic for potentially malicious activity. Speaking at an event hosted by the Information Technology Industry Council in Washington, D.C., Executive Director Morgan Adamski said Cyber Command is already observing operational benefits from its efforts to integrate AI across various mission areas, particularly in cybersecurity functions.

Cyber Command developed an AI roadmap last year outlining approximately 100 tasks to embed AI into logistics, security operations, and national defence functions. An AI task force within the Cyber National Mission Force conducts 90-day development cycles to test and integrate large language models and other AI technologies into command operations.

The task force is responsible for deploying, evaluating, and assessing the viability of these tools for broader implementation. The agency also examines how AI can be adopted at scale across its cybersecurity enterprise.

General Timothy Haugh, Commander of Cyber Command, noted last year that the task force was created ‘to move us from opportunistic AI application to systematic adoption.’ Through its Constellation initiative—a collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)—Cyber Command is working with private-sector AI firms to accelerate the deployment of new capabilities.

One such tool enables continuous Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) monitoring, which supports over three million global users daily. Adamski explained that the tool is strategically placed within key segments of the DoDIN where known adversary tactics may appear.

‘We can monitor traffic at those points and have been able to identify previously unseen malicious activity,’ she said. She also highlighted Panoptic Junction, a pilot initiative led by Army Cyber Command that uses AI to monitor network traffic for compliance, threat intelligence, and anomaly detection.

According to Adamski, the project produced results that have prompted considerations for wider adoption across the DoDIN.

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OpenAI backs Adaptive Security in the battle against AI threats

AI-driven cyber threats are on the rise, making it easier than ever for hackers to deceive employees through deepfake scams and phishing attacks.

OpenAI, a leader in generative AI, has recognised the growing risk and made its first cybersecurity investment in New York-based startup Adaptive Security. The company has secured $43 million in Series A funding, co-led by OpenAI’s startup fund and Andreessen Horowitz.

Adaptive Security helps companies prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks by simulating deepfake calls, texts, and emails. Employees may receive a phone call that sounds like their CTO, asking for sensitive information, but in reality, it is an AI-generated test.

The platform identifies weak points in a company’s security and trains staff to recognise potential threats. Social engineering scams, which trick employees into revealing sensitive data, have already led to massive financial losses, such as the $600 million Axie Infinity hack in 2022.

CEO Brian Long, a seasoned entrepreneur, says the funding will go towards hiring engineers and improving the platform to keep pace with evolving AI threats.

The investment comes amid a surge in cybersecurity funding, with companies like Cyberhaven, Snyk, and GetReal also securing major investments.

As cyber risks become more advanced, Long advises employees to take simple precautions, including deleting voicemails to prevent hackers from cloning their voices.

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