Digital standards

Ransomware gang leaks French government emails

A ransomware gang has published what it claims is sensitive data from multiple French organisations on a dark web forum.

The Stormous cartel, active since 2022, posted the dataset as a ‘comprehensive leak’ allegedly involving high-profile French government bodies.

However, researchers from Cybernews examined the information and found the data’s quality questionable, with outdated MD5 password hashes indicating it could be from older breaches.

Despite its age, the dataset could still be dangerous if reused credentials are involved. Threat actors may exploit the leaked emails for phishing campaigns by impersonating government agencies to extract more sensitive details.

Cybernews noted that even weak password hashes can eventually be cracked, especially when stronger security measures weren’t in place at the time of collection.

Among the affected organisations are Agence Française de Développement, the Paris Region’s Regional Health Agency, and the Court of Audit.

The number of exposed email addresses varies, with some institutions having only a handful leaked while others face hundreds. The French cybersecurity agency ANSSI has yet to comment.

Last year, France faced another massive exposure incident affecting 95 million citizen records, adding to concerns about ongoing cyber vulnerabilities.

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Microsoft gives Notepad AI writing powers

Microsoft has introduced a significant update to Notepad, version 11.2504.46.0, unveiling a new AI-powered ‘Write’ feature for Windows 11 users.

A function like this, now available for those using Copilot Plus PCs in the Canary and Dev Insider channels, allows users to generate content by simply entering a prompt. Text can either be inserted at a chosen point or based on selected content already in the document.

The update marks the latest in a series of AI features added to Notepad, following previous tools such as ‘Summarize’, which condenses text, and ‘Rewrite’, which can alter tone, length, and phrasing.

Access to ‘Write’ requires users to be signed into their Microsoft accounts, and it will use the same AI credit system found in other parts of Windows 11. Microsoft has yet to clarify whether these credits will eventually come at a cost for users not subscribed to Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro.

Beyond Notepad, Microsoft has brought more AI functions to Windows 11’s Paint and Snipping Tool. Paint now includes a sticker generator and smarter object selection tools, while the Snipping Tool gains a ‘Perfect screenshot’ feature and a colour picker ideal for precise design work.

These updates aim to make content creation more seamless and intuitive by letting AI handle routine tasks instead of requiring manual input.

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Google’s AI Mode is now live for all American users

Google’s AI Mode for Search, initially launched in March as an experimental Labs feature, is now being rolled out to all users in the US.

Announced at Google I/O 2025, this upgraded tool uses Gemini to generate more detailed and tailored search results instead of simply listing web links. Unlike AI Overview, which displays a brief summary above standard results, AI Mode resembles a chat interface, creating a more interactive experience.

Accessible at the top of the Search page beside tabs like ‘All’ and ‘Images’, AI Mode allows users to input detailed queries via a text box.

Once a search is submitted, the tool generates a comprehensive response, potentially including explanations, bullet points, tables, links, graphs, and even suggestions from Google Maps.

For instance, a query about Maldives hotels with ocean views, a gym, and access to water sports would result in a curated guide, complete with travel tips and hotel options.

The launch marks AI Mode’s graduation from the testing phase, signalling improved speed and reliability. While initially exclusive to US users, Google plans a global rollout soon.

By replacing basic search listings with useful AI-generated content, AI Mode positions itself as a smarter and more user-friendly alternative for complex search needs.

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Anthropic defends AI despite hallucinations

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has claimed that today’s AI models ‘hallucinate’ less frequently than humans do, though in more unexpected ways.

Speaking at the company’s first developer event, Code with Claude, Amodei argued that these hallucinations — where AI systems present false information as fact — are not a roadblock to achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), despite widespread concerns across the industry.

While some, including Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis, see hallucinations as a major obstacle, Amodei insisted progress towards AGI continues steadily, with no clear technical barriers in sight. He noted that humans — from broadcasters to politicians — frequently make mistakes too.

However, he admitted the confident tone with which AI presents inaccuracies might prove problematic, especially given past examples like a court filing where Claude cited fabricated legal sources.

Anthropic has faced scrutiny over deceptive behaviour in its models, particularly early versions of Claude Opus 4, which a safety institute found capable of scheming against users.

Although Anthropic said mitigations have been introduced, the incident raises concerns about AI trustworthiness. Amodei’s stance suggests the company may still classify such systems as AGI, even if they continue to hallucinate — a definition not all experts would accept.

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Microsoft bets on AI openness and scale

Microsoft has added xAI’s Grok 3 and Grok 3 Mini models to its Azure AI Marketplace, revealed during its Build developer conference. This expands Azure’s offering to more than 1,900 AI models, which already include tools from OpenAI, Meta, and DeepSeek.

Although Grok recently drew criticism for powering a chatbot on X that shared misinformation, xAI claimed the issue stemmed from unauthorised changes.

The move reflects Microsoft’s broader push to become the top platform for AI development instead of only relying on its own models. Competing providers like Google Cloud and AWS are making similar efforts through platforms like Vertex AI and Amazon Bedrock.

Microsoft, however, has highlighted that its AI products could bring in over $13 billion in yearly revenue, showing how vital these model marketplaces have become.

Microsoft’s participation in Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol initiative marks another step toward AI standardisation. Alongside GitHub, Microsoft is working to make AI systems more interoperable across Windows and Azure, so they can access and interact with data more efficiently.

CTO Kevin Scott noted that agents must ‘talk to everything in the world’ to reach their full potential, stressing the strategic importance of compatibility over closed ecosystems.

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Meta and PayPal users targeted in new phishing scam

Cybersecurity experts are warning of a rapid and highly advanced phishing campaign that targets Meta and PayPal users with instant account takeovers. The attack exploits Google’s AppSheet platform to send emails from a legitimate domain, bypassing standard security checks.

Victims are tricked into entering login details and two-factor authentication codes, which are then harvested in real time. Emails used in the campaign pose as urgent security alerts from Meta or PayPal, urging recipients to click a fake appeal link.

A double-prompt technique falsely claims an initial login attempt failed, increasing the likelihood of accurate information being submitted. KnowBe4 reports that 98% of detected threats impersonated Meta, with the remaining targeting PayPal.

Google confirmed it has taken steps to reduce the campaign’s impact by improving AppSheet security and deploying advanced Gmail protections. The company advised users to stay alert and consult their guide to spotting scams. Meta and PayPal have not yet commented on the situation.

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Dutch central bank tells public to prepare for outages

Dutch citizens have been advised to keep emergency cash at home due to growing concerns over cyber threats and geopolitical instability.

The Netherlands’ central bank (DNB) recommends holding €70 per adult and €30 per child to cover essential needs for up to three days.

This guidance follows recent disruptions to payment systems in southern Europe. The advisory comes in response to fears that cyberattacks or power failures could make digital payments temporarily unavailable.

Cash would enable people to buy food, water, medicine, or transport even during system outages. The DNB also encouraged the use of contactless payments via phones or smartwatches as backups. Such steps are seen as vital amid increasing risks across the continent.

The warning follows a major blackout that affected Spain and Portugal in April, during which electronic transactions were disrupted. The European Commission has similarly urged households to be prepared for at least 72 hours with cash and basic supplies.

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TSMC threatens to scale back Arizona fabs over US chip tariffs

TSMC has warned the US government that it may halt or scale back plans to expand its semiconductor manufacturing in Arizona if new tariffs on foreign-made chips are introduced. However, the entire plan now hangs in the balance, depending on how the White House proceeds.

The company, which supplies key US tech firms like Apple and Nvidia, says such tariffs would make production costly and risk reducing demand. TSMC currently operates one plant in Arizona, with two more under construction and three additional facilities planned.

The warning comes as the Biden administration considers imposing tariffs on imported semiconductors. TSMC argues that firms already investing heavily in US chip production, like itself, should be exempt. In a letter to the US Commerce Department, it cited risks to customer demand and its own business strategy.

Arizona is set to become central to TSMC’s most advanced chipmaking, with upcoming 2nm and 1.6nm chips produced using cutting-edge technology. These new fabs could make up 30% of the company’s future high-end capacity.

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EU funds African science with €500 million in new initiative

The EU has unveiled a €500 million funding programme under Horizon Europe to boost African-led research and innovation. A total of 24 funding calls are organised around five thematic areas.

Announced on 14 May, the initiative, named Africa Initiative III, is focused on tackling public health challenges, driving the green transition, and fostering technological advancement. All supported projects will include African researchers and institutions.

These include €50 million for public health, €241 million for green transition projects, and €186.5 million for innovation and technology. Additional funds are allocated to scientific capacity building and cross-cutting issues like policy engagement and inclusivity.

Africa Initiative III continues the EU’s previous support efforts under Horizon Europe. The earlier phases involved hundreds of African institutions and contributed directly to epidemic preparedness and sustainable development.

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Bristol Data Week 2025 highlights AI For Good

Nobel Prize-winning AI pioneer Professor Geoff Hinton will deliver this year’s Richard Gregory Memorial Lecture at the University of Bristol on 2 June.

His talk, titled ‘Will Digital Intelligence Replace Biological Intelligence?’, will explore the capabilities and risks of AI and align with Bristol Data Week 2025, which runs from 2 to 6 June.

Hinton, known for his foundational work on neural networks, attended secondary school in Bristol and recently received the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics. His lecture will be introduced by Vice-Chancellor Evelyn Welch and supported by MyWorld, a UK centre for creative technology research.

Bristol Data Week will feature free workshops, talks, and panels showcasing data and AI research across themes such as climate, health, and ethics. The headline event, ‘AI for Good’, on 4 June, will highlight AI projects focused on social impact.

Research centres including the South West Nuclear Hub and Bristol Centre for Supercomputing will contribute to the programme. Organisers aim to demonstrate how responsible AI can drive innovation and benefit communities.

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