Cybersecurity

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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Could quantum computing reshape Bitcoin’s future

Quantum technology, rooted in quantum mechanics from the early 1900s, is rapidly advancing and may reshape the future of computing. Quantum computers handle data far faster than classical systems, with Google’s Willow chip marking a key advance.

However, their potential also raises concerns for digital assets such as Bitcoin.

Bitcoin’s cryptographic security relies on the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), which is considered unbreakable with today’s computers. Yet quantum computers, using algorithms like Peter Shor’s, could theoretically expose private keys and compromise wallets.

Experts caution that such risks remain distant, as current quantum hardware is still decades away from posing a real threat.

Beyond security risks, quantum computing could also revive millions of long-lost Bitcoins locked in early wallets. If those coins return to circulation, it could shake Bitcoin’s scarcity and market value.

The debate continues whether these coins should be burned or redistributed to preserve Bitcoin’s economic integrity.

For now, Bitcoin remains safe. Developers are creating quantum-resistant tools like QRAMP and new cryptography to strengthen the network. Users can boost safety by avoiding address reuse and using wallets like Taproot and SegWit.

While quantum risks loom, the network’s adaptability and ongoing research suggest that Bitcoin is well placed to withstand future challenges.

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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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NVIDIA’s sales grow as the market questions AI momentum

Sales of AI chips by Nvidia rose strongly in its latest quarter, though the growth was less intense than in previous periods, raising questions about the sustainability of demand.

The company’s data centre division reported revenue of 41.1 billion USD between May and July, a 56% rise from last year but slightly below analyst forecasts.

Overall revenue reached 46.7 billion USD, while profit climbed to 26.4 billion USD, both higher than expected.

Nvidia forecasts sales of $54 billion USD for the current quarter.

CEO Jensen Huang said the company remains at the ‘beginning of the buildout’, with trillions expected to be spent on AI by the decade’s end.

However, investors pushed shares down 3% in extended trading, reflecting concerns that rapid growth is becoming harder to maintain as annual sales expand.

Nvidia’s performance was also affected by earlier restrictions on chip sales to China, although the removal of limits in exchange for a sales levy is expected to support future revenue.

Analysts noted that while AI continues to fuel stock market optimism, the pace of growth is slowing compared with the company’s earlier surge.

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Google boosts Virginia with $9 billion AI and cloud projects

Alphabet’s Google has confirmed plans to invest $9 billion in Virginia by 2026, strengthening the state’s role as a hub for data infrastructure in the US.

The focus will be on AI and cloud computing, positioning Virginia at the forefront of global technological competition.

The plan includes a new Chesterfield County facility and expansion at existing campuses in Loudoun and Prince William counties. These centres are part of the digital backbone that supports cloud services and AI workloads.

Dominion Energy will supply power for the new Chesterfield project, which may take up to seven years before it is fully operational.

The rapid growth of data centres in Virginia has increased concerns about energy demand. Google said it is working with partners on efficiency and power management solutions and funding community development.

Earlier in August, the company announced a $1 billion initiative to provide every college student in Virginia with one year of free access to its AI Pro plan and training opportunities.

Google’s move follows a broader trend in the technology sector. Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta are expected to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on AI-related projects, with much dedicated to new data centres.

Northern Virginia remains the boom’s epicentre, with Loudoun County earning the name’ Data Centre Alley’ because it has concentrated facilities.

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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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Google Cloud develops blockchain network for financial institutions

Google Cloud is creating its own blockchain platform, the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), targeting the financial sector. The network provides a neutral, compliant infrastructure for payment automation and digital asset management through a single API.

GCUL allows financial institutions to build Python-based smart contracts, with support for various use cases such as wholesale payments and asset tokenisation. Although called a Layer 1 network, its private, permissioned design raises debate over its status as a decentralised blockchain.

The company also revealed a series of AI-driven security enhancements at its Security Summit 2025.

These include an ‘agentic security operations centre’ for proactive threat detection, the Alert Investigation agent for automated analysis, and Model Armour to prevent prompt injection, jailbreaking, and data leaks.

Currently in a private testnet, GCUL was first announced in March in collaboration with the CME Group, which is piloting solutions on the platform. Google Cloud plans to reveal more details in the future as the project develops.

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