Senior prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist of Sweden’s National Security Unit stated Monday that the vessel responsible for the 26 January incident, which severed an undersea cable between Latvia and Sweden, did not act with malicious intent.
Swedish officials, including the coast guard, police, and military, participated in the probe. While the vessel had been seized during the investigation, authorities have now lifted that restriction.
Google identified more than 57 cyber threat actors linked to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia leveraging the company’s AI technology to enhance their cyber and information warfare efforts. According to a new report by Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), the state-sponsored hacking groups, known as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), primarily use AI for tasks such as researching vulnerabilities, writing malicious code, and creating targeted phishing campaigns.
The company says that Iranian APT actors, particularly APT42, were identified as the most frequent users of Google’s AI tool, Gemini. They used it for reconnaissance on cybersecurity experts and organizations, and phishing operations.
Beyond APT groups, underground cybercriminal forums have begun advertising illicit AI models, such as WormGPT, WolfGPT, FraudGPT, and GhostGPT—AI systems designed to bypass ethical safeguards and facilitate phishing, fraud, and cyberattacks.
In the report, Google stated that the company has implemented countermeasures to prevent abuse of its AI system and has called for stronger collaboration between government and private industry to bolster cybersecurity defenses.
ENGlobal Corporation, a major contractor in the energy sector and federal government, was locked out of its financial systems for six weeks following a ransomware attack that began on 25 November 2024, the company disclosed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The attack disrupted access to key business applications, affecting operational and corporate functions, including financial and reporting systems. However, ENGlobal stated that its systems have been fully restored, and the attackers no longer have access.
The Oklahoma-based company also confirmed that the breach involved unauthorised access to sensitive personal information stored on its IT systems. The company stated that affected individuals will be notified accordingly.
In an earlier SEC filing in December, ENGlobal revealed that the attackers had encrypted data files after gaining access, forcing the company to restrict IT system access and limit operations to essential functions. Despite the disruption, the company does not expect a material financial impact from the incident.
Founded in 1985, ENGlobal specialises in designing and constructing automation and instrumentation systems for commercial and government clients, including the US defence industry. The company reported $6 million in 2024 third-quarter revenue last quarter.
No ransomware group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which caused a longer-than-average outage.
Taiwan has officially banned government agencies from using DeepSeek AI, citing security risks and concerns over potential data exposure to China. The move strengthens previous guidance, which only advised against its use.
Premier Cho Jung-tai announced the decision after a cabinet meeting, stressing the importance of safeguarding national information security. Officials raised fears over possible censorship on DeepSeek and the risk of sensitive data being transferred to China.
The digital ministry had initially stated on Friday that government departments should avoid the AI service but did not explicitly prohibit it. The latest announcement formalises the ban, aligning with Taiwan’s broader approach to restricting Chinese technology.
Authorities in several other countries, including South Korea, France, Italy, and Ireland, have also scrutinised DeepSeek’s handling of personal data.
Australia has imposed sanctions on the extremist online network ‘Terrorgram’ in an effort to combat rising antisemitism and online radicalisation. Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that engaging with the group would now be a criminal offence, helping to prevent young people from being drawn into far-right extremism. The move follows similar actions by Britain and the US.
Wong described ‘Terrorgram’ as a network that promotes white supremacy and racially motivated violence, making it the first entirely online entity to face Australian counterterrorism financing sanctions. Offenders could face up to 10 years in prison and substantial fines. Sanctions were also renewed against four other right-wing groups, including the Russian Imperial Movement and The Base.
The network primarily operates on the Telegram platform, which stated that it has long banned such content and removed related channels. The US designated ‘Terrorgram’ as a violent extremist group in January, while Britain criminalised affiliation with it in April.
Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, including attacks on synagogues and vehicles since the Israel-Gaza conflict began in October 2023. Police recently arrested neo-Nazi group members in Adelaide and charged a man for displaying a Nazi symbol on National Day.
Young people in Guernsey are being offered a free six-week course on AI to help them understand both the opportunities and challenges of the technology. Run by Digital Greenhouse in St Peter Port, the programme is open to students and graduates over the age of 16, regardless of their academic background. Experts from University College London (UCL) deliver the lessons remotely each week.
Jenny de la Mare from Digital Greenhouse said the course was designed to “inform and inspire” participants while helping them stand out in job and university applications. She emphasised that the programme was not limited to STEM students and could serve as a strong introduction to AI for anyone interested in the field.
Recognising that young people in Guernsey may have fewer opportunities to attend major tech events in the UK, organisers hope the course will give them a competitive edge. The programme has already started but is still open for registrations, with interested individuals encouraged to contact Digital Greenhouse.
With Germany’s parliamentary elections just weeks away, lawmakers are warning that authoritarian states, including Russia, are intensifying disinformation efforts to destabilise the country. Authorities are particularly concerned about a Russian campaign, known as Doppelgänger, which has been active since 2022 and aims to undermine Western support for Ukraine. The campaign has been linked to fake social media accounts and misleading content in Germany, France, and the US.
CSU MP Thomas Erndl confirmed that Russia is attempting to influence European elections, including in Germany. He argued that disinformation campaigns are contributing to the rise of right-wing populist parties, such as the AfD, by sowing distrust in state institutions and painting foreigners and refugees as a problem. Erndl emphasised the need for improved defences, including modern technologies like AI to detect disinformation, and greater public awareness and education.
The German Foreign Ministry recently reported the identification of over 50,000 fake X accounts associated with the Doppelgänger campaign. These accounts mimic credible news outlets like Der Spiegel and Welt to spread fabricated articles, amplifying propaganda. Lawmakers stress the need for stronger cooperation within Europe and better tools for intelligence agencies to combat these threats, even suggesting that a shift in focus from privacy to security may be necessary to tackle the issue effectively.
Greens MP Konstantin von Notz highlighted the security risks posed by disinformation campaigns, warning that authoritarian regimes like Russia and China are targeting democratic societies, including Germany. He called for stricter regulation of online platforms, stronger counterintelligence efforts, and increased media literacy to bolster social resilience. As the election date approaches, lawmakers urge both government agencies and the public to remain vigilant against the growing threat of foreign interference.
Australia’s government recently passed laws banning social media access for children under 16, targeting platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and X. However, YouTube was granted an exemption, with the government arguing that it serves as a valuable educational tool and is not a ‘core social media application.’ That decision followed input from company executives and educational content creators, who argued that YouTube is essential for learning and information-sharing. While the government claims broad community support for the exemption, some experts believe this undermines the goal of protecting children from harmful online content.
Mental health and extremism experts have raised concerns that YouTube exposes young users to dangerous material, including violent, extremist, and addictive content. Despite being exempted from the ban, YouTube has been criticised for its algorithm, which researchers say can promote far-right ideologies, misogyny, and conspiracy theories to minors. Studies conducted by academics have shown that the platform delivers problematic content within minutes of search queries, including harmful videos on topics like sex, COVID-19, and European history.
To test these claims, Reuters created child accounts and found that searches led to content promoting extremism and hate speech. Although YouTube removed some flagged videos, others remain on the platform. YouTube stated that it is actively working to improve its content moderation systems and that it has removed content violating its policies. However, critics argue that the platform’s algorithm still allows harmful content to thrive, especially among younger users.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) was hit by a cyberattack affecting its online services and limiting access to weather information relied upon by various sectors, including aviation and agriculture. According to an official statement, SAWS’ website has been offline since Sunday evening. As a temporary measure, the agency has been sharing weather updates through alternative channels, such as social media platforms.
SAWS attributed the disruption to a ‘security breach’ and confirmed that its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems were impacted. The organisation stated that efforts are underway to investigate the incident and restore affected services, with ICT specialists working on interim and long-term solutions.
Critical operations, including those supporting aviation and maritime operations, have been affected. SAWS advised the public to refer to its social media channels for updates and announced that the incident would be reported to law enforcement authorities. The agency noted that this was the second attempted cyberattack in two days, with an initial attempt on January 25, 2025, reportedly unsuccessful.
SAWS also provides meteorological data to neighboring countries, making the disruption regionally significant. As of Wednesday afternoon, the SAWS website remained offline.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the incident, South Africa has faced multiple cyberattacks targeting government institutions in recent years. In 2023, ransomware incidents affected the country’s pension fund, national health lab, and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa.
Taiwan’s digital ministry has instructed government departments not to use DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence service due to security concerns. The warning highlights ongoing fears about Chinese technology, given Beijing’s claims over Taiwan and its political and military threats.
Authorities cited potential risks from cross-border data transmission and information leaks, describing DeepSeek as a threat to national security. The ministry pledged to monitor technological developments and adjust security policies accordingly.
South Korea’s privacy watchdog is also investigating DeepSeek’s handling of personal data. European regulators in France, Italy, and Ireland have launched similar inquiries into its data practices.
DeepSeek’s AI assistant recently surpassed ChatGPT in downloads from Apple’s App Store. Global investors responded by selling US tech stocks, causing Nvidia’s market value to drop by $593 billion in a historic single-day loss.
