Cybersecurity Archives | Page 3 of 351 | Digital Watch Observatory

Google launches AI skills initiative to support Europe’s workforce transition

At the Future of Work Forum, Google introduced ‘AI Works for Europe’, a programme aimed at strengthening digital skills and supporting workforce adaptation to AI across the region.

Funding of $30 million will be directed through Google.org to expand training opportunities, alongside broader access to AI certification programmes designed to help individuals and businesses adopt new technologies in practical contexts.

A central focus involves preparing workers and students for labour market changes.

Partnerships with organisations such as INCO are supporting the development of targeted training programmes, particularly in sectors where demand for AI-related skills is increasing, including finance, logistics and marketing.

New educational pathways are also being introduced, including an expanded AI Professional Certificate available in multiple European languages. These initiatives aim to improve AI literacy and provide hands-on experience aligned with employer expectations.

Collaboration with local organisations and institutions remains a key element, reflecting a broader strategy to ensure access to training across different regions and communities.

Efforts to expand AI capabilities across Europe highlight the growing importance of skills development as AI becomes more integrated into economic activity.

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MIT research highlights embedded and enacted risks in AI

Generative AI offers major productivity and growth opportunities, but also brings new risks as organisations move from experiments to full deployment. MIT research highlights key risk areas, including training data, foundation models, user prompts, and system prompts.

Researchers identify two types of risk.

Embedded risks come from the technology itself, shaped by model behaviour, data quality, and vendor updates, and are mostly outside an organisation’s control.

Enacted risks arise from choices in deploying AI, from prompt design to agent permissions, and require strong governance.

Advanced uses such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and autonomous AI agents increase exposure. RAG uses internal data to improve outputs, but may reveal sensitive information or control gaps. AI agents acting across multiple tools can lead to ‘autonomy creep,’ performing tasks without proper oversight.

To manage AI risk, organisations should map tools, assign ownership, track outputs, and use separate strategies for embedded and enacted risks. Vendor engagement, governance frameworks, and technical controls are essential for safe AI use.

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xAI faces lawsuit over alleged misuse of AI image generation

Legal action has been filed against xAI in a US federal court, with plaintiffs alleging that its AI system Grok was used to generate harmful and explicitly manipulated images of minors.

The lawsuit claims that xAI failed to implement adequate safeguards to prevent the creation of such content, despite similar protections adopted by other AI developers.

According to the filing, the technology enabled the transformation of real images into explicit material without sufficient restrictions.

Plaintiffs seek to establish a class action, arguing that the company should be held accountable for both direct and third-party uses of its models. Legal arguments focus on whether responsibility extends to external applications built using the same underlying AI systems.

The case also highlights broader regulatory challenges surrounding AI-generated content, particularly the difficulty of preventing misuse when systems can modify real images. Questions around platform liability, safety standards, and enforcement are likely to shape future policy discussions.

Growing scrutiny of AI developers reflects increasing concern over how generative systems are deployed, especially in contexts involving sensitive or harmful content.

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Microsoft Exchange Online outage affects users globally

A service disruption has affected users of Microsoft Exchange Online, and Microsoft has confirmed ongoing investigations into mailbox access issues affecting enterprise customers worldwide.

Reports indicate that Microsoft users encountered difficulties connecting via multiple access points, including the Microsoft Outlook desktop and mobile applications and browser-based email services. The issue affects specific connection methods rather than the entire platform.

Organisations relying on cloud-based communication tools experienced interruptions in email workflows, calendar scheduling, and shared mailbox functionality. Such disruptions can significantly disrupt operational continuity, particularly for businesses that depend on real-time communication systems.

Updates through Microsoft’s service health channels suggest that engineering teams are working to identify the root cause, though no definitive explanation has yet been provided.

Such incidents highlight broader concerns around resilience in cloud infrastructure, as enterprises increasingly depend on centralised platforms for critical communication services.

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6G will make wireless networks capable of thinking for themselves

Unlike its predecessors, 6G is being designed from the ground up with AI as a core feature rather than a performance add-on.

From user devices and base stations through to the network core, AI and machine learning will enable 6G networks to self-optimise, manage interference, predict user mobility, and make real-time decisions with minimal human intervention.

One of 6G’s most distinctive capabilities will be Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC), which allows radio signals to simultaneously carry data and sense the surrounding environment, effectively turning the network into a vast, distributed sensor capable of detecting motion, tracking objects, and supporting applications such as predictive maintenance and autonomous vehicles.

AI plays a central role in interpreting this sensing data in real time, enabling split-second responses to real-world conditions.

Standardisation efforts are already underway, with 3GPP’s Release 20 exploring how AI and machine learning can optimise the air interface and improve tasks such as channel state information compression.

Commercial 6G deployment is expected in the early 2030s, by which point AI is projected to act as the brain and nervous system of key parts of the network, constantly learning, adapting, and optimising with little human oversight.

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Cyber operation led by INTERPOL dismantles 45,000+ malicious IP addresses

An INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting phishing, malware, and ransomware infrastructure has resulted in the takedown of more than 45,000 malicious IP addresses and servers.

Law enforcement agencies from 72 countries and territories participated in Operation Synergia III (from 18 July 2025 to 31 January 2026). The operation resulted in 94 arrests, with 110 additional individuals under investigation. A total of 212 electronic devices and servers were seized.

During the operation, INTERPOL processed threat data into actionable intelligence, facilitated cross-border coordination, and provided tactical operational support to participating countries. Preliminary investigations informed a series of coordinated national actions, including searches of identified locations and the disruption of malicious cyber infrastructure.

Several investigations remain ongoing. Preliminary case reports illustrate the range of criminal methods. For instance, in Macau, China, law enforcement identified more than 33,000 phishing and fraudulent websites impersonating casinos, banks, government portals, and payment services.

The sites were used to collect payments via fraudulent top-up mechanisms or to harvest users’ personal and financial data.

In Togo, police arrested 10 suspects operating from a residential location. The group’s activities included unauthorised access to social media accounts and social engineering schemes such as romance fraud and sextortion.

After compromising accounts, suspects contacted the account holder’s connections, impersonating the original user to initiate fraudulent relationships or solicit money transfers from secondary victims.

In Bangladesh, police arrested 40 suspects and seized 134 electronic devices linked to a range of schemes, including fraudulent loan and employment offers, identity theft, and credit card fraud.

INTERPOL collaborated with private sector partners Group-IB, Trend Micro, and S2W to monitor illicit cyber activity and identify malicious servers during the operation.

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EU adopts cyber-related sanctions on companies based in China and Iran

The European Union imposed sanctions on two China-based companies and one Iranian company in connection with cyber operations targeting the EU member states. The Council’s official press release does not specify the underlying operations. The designated entities are Integrity Technology Group and Anxun Information Technology, both based in China, and Emennet Pasargad, based in Iran.

According to an EU statement, Integrity Technology is assessed to have facilitated the compromise of over 65,000 devices across six member states. Anxun is assessed to have provided offensive cyber capabilities targeting critical infrastructure, and two of the company’s co-founders have been individually designated for their roles in these operations.

Emennet is assessed to have a compromised digital advertising infrastructure to disseminate disinformation during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The sanctions entail an asset freeze and a travel ban for the listed individuals. The EU citizens and entities are additionally prohibited from making funds available to the designated companies.

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Security warning issued over OpenClaw AI agent

Cybersecurity authorities have warned that vulnerabilities in the OpenClaw AI agent could expose sensitive data. Officials in China say weak default security settings may allow attackers to exploit the system.

Experts in China warned that prompt injection attacks could manipulate OpenClaw when it accesses online content. Malicious instructions hidden in websites may cause the AI agent to reveal confidential information.

Researchers have also identified risks involving link previews in messaging apps such as Telegram and Discord. Investigators in China say attackers could trick the system into sending sensitive data to malicious websites.

Security specialists in China advise organisations to strengthen protections around AI agents. Recommendations include isolating systems, limiting network access and installing trusted software components only.

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AI network management systems deployed for BTS concert in Seoul

South Korea’s three major telecommunications operators plan to deploy advanced network technologies during the BTS comeback concert scheduled for 21 March at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The initiative aims to bolster network management, prevent congestion, and ensure stable connectivity as large crowds gather in a confined space.

SK Telecom said it will introduce its proprietary AI-powered network management system, A-One, at the event. The technology can recommend optimal equipment placement, predict traffic demand, and monitor real-time network performance to maintain service stability.

To manage heavy data usage during the concert, the company will operate multiple network systems across the venue’s different zones. The setup is designed to allow attendees inside the square to upload photos and videos quickly while enabling viewers outside the venue to stream the concert without interruptions. Additional equipment will also be installed in areas expected to attract international visitors.

KT will deploy its AI-based autonomous traffic management system, W-SDN, which monitors network usage in real time and automatically adjusts traffic flows if congestion is detected. The company will activate an emergency network control mode during the event and deploy about 80 engineers and portable base stations on site.

LG Uplus will also apply its autonomous network management technology, which predicts traffic changes and distributes network loads across nearby base stations. The South Korea-based operator said the system will help ensure uninterrupted connectivity for concertgoers throughout the event.

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Meta removes encrypted messaging from Instagram DMs

Meta will discontinue end-to-end encryption for Instagram direct messages starting in May 2026. The company said the feature saw limited use among Instagram users.

Users with encrypted chats will receive instructions on how to download messages or media before the feature ends. Meta confirmed the change through updates to its support pages and in-app notifications.

The decision comes amid ongoing debate about encryption and online safety on major social platforms. Critics argue that encrypted messaging can make it harder to detect harmful activity involving minors.

Meta said users seeking encrypted communication can continue using WhatsApp or Messenger. The company maintains end-to-end encryption for messaging services outside Instagram.

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