Hawaii warns residents about phishing using fake government sites

State officials have warned the public about a phishing campaign using the fake domain codify.inc to impersonate official government websites. Cybercriminals aim to steal personal information and login credentials from unsuspecting users.

Several state agencies are affected, including the departments of Labor and Industrial Relations, Education, Health, Transportation, and many others. Fraudulent websites often mimic official URLs, such as dlir.hi.usa.codify.inc, and may use AI-based services to entice users.

Residents are urged to verify website addresses carefully. Official government portals will always end in .gov, and any other extensions like .inc or .co are not legitimate. Users should type addresses directly into their browsers rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails or texts.

Suspicious websites should be reported to the State of Hawaii at soc@hawaii.gov to help protect other residents from falling victim to the scam.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot

Europe tightens cybersecurity around satellites

European governments are intensifying their efforts to safeguard satellites from cyberattacks as space becomes an increasingly vital front in modern security and hybrid warfare. Once seen mainly as technical infrastructure, satellites are now treated as strategic assets, carrying critical communications, navigation, and intelligence data that are attractive targets for espionage and disruption.

Concerns intensified after a 2022 cyberattack on the Viasat satellite network coincided with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, exposing how vulnerable space systems can be during geopolitical crises. Since then, the EU institutions have warned of rising cyber and electronic interference against satellites and ground stations, while several European countries have flagged growing surveillance activities linked to Russia and China.

To reduce risks, Europe is investing in new infrastructure and technologies. One example is a planned satellite ground station in Greenland, backed by the European Space Agency, designed to reduce dependence on the highly sensitive Arctic hub in Svalbard. That location currently handles most European satellite data traffic but relies on a single undersea internet cable, making it a critical point of failure.

At the same time, the EU is advancing with IRIS², a secure satellite communication system designed to provide encrypted connectivity and reduce reliance on foreign providers, such as Starlink. Although the project promises stronger security and European autonomy, it is not expected to be operational for several years.

Experts warn that technology alone is not enough. European governments are still clarifying who is responsible for defending space systems, while the cybersecurity industry struggles to adapt tools designed for Earth-based networks to the unique challenges of space. Better coordination, clearer mandates, and specialised security approaches will be essential as space becomes more contested.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Nomani investment scam spreads across social media

Fraudulent investment platform Nomani has surged, spreading from Facebook to YouTube. ESET blocked tens of thousands of malicious links this year, mainly in Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Spain, and Poland.

The scam utilises AI-generated videos, branded posts, and social media advertisements to lure victims into fake investments that promise high returns. Criminals then request extra fees or sensitive personal data, and often attempt a secondary scam posing as Europol or INTERPOL.

Recent improvements make Nomani’s AI videos more realistic, using trending news or public figures to appear credible. Campaigns run briefly and misuse social media forms and surveys to harvest information while avoiding detection.

Despite overall growth, detections fell 37% in the second half of 2025, suggesting that scammers are adapting to more stringent law enforcement measures. Meta’s ad platforms earned billions from scams, demonstrating the global reach of Nomani fraud.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot

Major IBM training programme to boost India’s AI, cybersecurity and quantum skills

Technology giant IBM has announced a major education initiative to skill 5 million people in India by 2030 in frontier areas such as AI, cybersecurity and quantum computing.

The programme will be delivered via IBM’s SkillsBuild ecosystem, which offers over 1,000 courses and has already reached more than 16 million learners globally.

The initiative will span students and adult learners across schools, universities and vocational training ecosystems, with partnerships planned with bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to integrate hands-on learning, curriculum modules, faculty training, hackathons and internships.

IBM also plans to strengthen foundational AI skills at the school level by co-developing curricula, teaching resources and explainers to embed computational thinking and responsible AI concepts early in education.

The CEO of IBM has described India as having the talent and ambition to be a global leader in AI and quantum technologies, with broader access to these skills seen as vital for future economic competitiveness and innovation.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

UK report quantifies rapid advances in frontier AI capabilities

For the first time, the UK has published a detailed, evidence-based assessment of frontier AI capabilities. The Frontier AI Trends Report draws on two years of structured testing across areas including cybersecurity, software engineering, chemistry, and biology.

The findings show rapid progress in technical performance. Success rates on apprentice-level cyber tasks rose from under 9% in 2023 to around 50% in 2025, while models also completed expert-level cyber challenges previously requiring a decade of experience.

Safeguards designed to limit misuse are also improving, according to the report. Red-team testing found that the time required to identify universal jailbreaks increased from minutes to several hours between model generations, representing an estimated forty-fold improvement in resistance.

The analysis highlights advances beyond cybersecurity. AI systems now complete hour-long software engineering tasks more than 40% of the time, while biology and chemistry models outperform PhD-level researchers in controlled knowledge tests and support non-experts in laboratory-style workflows.

While the report avoids policy recommendations, UK officials say it strengthens transparency around advanced AI systems. The government plans to continue investing in evaluation science through the AI Security Institute, supporting independent testing and international collaboration.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

AI and security trends shape the internet in 2025

Cloudflare released its sixth annual Year in Review, providing a comprehensive snapshot of global Internet trends in 2025. The report highlights rising digital reliance, AI progress, and evolving security threats across Cloudflare’s network and Radar data.

Global Internet traffic rose 19 percent year-on-year, reflecting increased use for personal and professional activities. A key trend was the move from large-scale AI training to continuous AI inference, alongside rapid growth in generative AI platforms.

Google and Meta remained the most popular services, while ChatGPT led in generative AI usage.

Cybersecurity remained a critical concern. Post-quantum encryption now protects 52 percent of Internet traffic, yet record-breaking DDoS attacks underscored rising cyber risks.

Civil society and non-profit organisations were the most targeted sectors for the first time, while government actions caused nearly half of the major Internet outages.

Connectivity varied by region, with Europe leading in speed and quality and Spain ranking highest globally. The report outlines 2025’s Internet challenges and progress, providing insights for governments, businesses, and users aiming for greater resilience and security.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot

No sensitive data compromised in SoundCloud incident

SoundCloud has confirmed a recent security incident that temporarily affected platform availability and involved the limited exposure of user data. The company detected unauthorised activity on an ancillary service dashboard and acted immediately to contain the situation.

Third-party cybersecurity experts were engaged to investigate and support the response. The incident resulted in two brief denial-of-service attacks, temporarily disrupting web access.

Approximately 20% of users were affected; however, no sensitive data, such as passwords or financial details, were compromised. Only email addresses and publicly visible profile information were involved.

In response, SoundCloud has strengthened its systems, enhancing monitoring, reviewing identity and access controls, and auditing related systems. Some configuration updates have led to temporary VPN connectivity issues, which the company is working to resolve.

SoundCloud emphasises that user privacy remains a top priority and encourages vigilance against phishing. The platform will continue to provide updates and take steps to minimise the risk of future incidents.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot

UNODC and INTERPOL announce Global Fraud Summit in 2026

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), will convene the Global Fraud Summit 2026 at the Vienna International Centre, Austria, from 16 to 17 March 2026.

UNODC and INTERPOL invite applications for participation from private sector entities, civil society organisations, and academic institutions. Applications must be submitted by 12 December 2025.

The Summit will provide a platform for discussion on current trends, risks, and responses related to fraud, including its digital and cross-border dimensions. Discussions will address challenges associated with detection, investigation, prevention, and international cooperation in fraud-related cases.

The objectives of the Summit include:

  • Facilitating coordination among national and international stakeholders
  • Supporting information exchange across sectors and jurisdictions
  • Sharing policy, operational, and technical approaches to fraud prevention and response
  • Identifying areas for further cooperation and capacity-building

The ministerial-level meeting will bring together senior representatives from governments, international and regional organisations, law enforcement authorities, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Participating institutions are encouraged to nominate delegates at an appropriate senior level.

The Summit is supported by a financial contribution from the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Applications must be submitted through the application at the official website.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacyIf so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

EU ministers call for faster action on digital goals

European ministers have adopted conclusions aimed to boosting the Union’s digital competitiveness, urging quicker progress toward the 2030 digital decade goals.

Officials called for stronger digital skills, wider adoption of technology, and a framework that supports innovation while protecting fundamental rights. Digital sovereignty remains a central objective, framed as open, risk-based and aligned with European values.

Ministers supported simplifying digital rules for businesses, particularly SMEs and start-ups, which face complex administrative demands. A predictable legal environment, less reporting duplication and more explicit rules were seen as essential for competitiveness.

Governments emphasised that simplification must not weaken data protection or other core safeguards.

Concerns over online safety and illegal content were a prominent feature in discussions on enforcing the Digital Services Act. Ministers highlighted the presence of harmful content and unsafe products on major marketplaces, calling for stronger coordination and consistent enforcement across member states.

Ensuring full compliance with EU consumer protection and product safety rules was described as a priority.

Cyber-resilience was a key focus as ministers discussed the increasing impact of cyberattacks on citizens and the economy. Calls for stronger defences grew as digital transformation accelerated, with several states sharing updates on national and cross-border initiatives.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot

Apple support scam targets users with real tickets

Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting Apple’s support system to trick users into surrendering their accounts. Fraudsters open real support tickets in a victim’s name, which triggers official Apple emails and creates a false sense of legitimacy. These messages appear professional, making it difficult for users to detect the scam.

Victims often receive a flood of alerts, including two-factor authentication notifications, followed by phone calls from callers posing as Apple agents. The scammers guide users through steps that appear to secure their accounts, often directing them to convincing fake websites that request sensitive information.

Entering verification codes or following instructions on these fraudulent pages gives attackers access to the account. Even experienced users can fall prey because the emails come from official Apple domains, and the phone calls are carefully scripted to build trust.

Experts recommend checking support tickets directly within your Apple ID account, never sharing verification codes, and reviewing all devices linked to your account. Using antivirus software, activating two-factor authentication, and limiting personal information online further strengthen protection against such sophisticated phishing attacks.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!