Businesses increasingly fall prey to scams, with more than 74,000 attacks reported to the FBI between 2023 and 2024. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that companies face significant threats from data breaches, impersonation, and fake services.
In the US, losses from data breaches alone averaged $4.9 million per company in 2024, up to $1.4 billion. Scammers use familiar tactics, such as posing as trusted individuals and making urgent demands for payment or sensitive data.
Smaller businesses are especially at risk, often lacking dedicated IT support or robust security teams. Juggling multiple responsibilities makes them easier targets for sophisticated scam operations.
The BBB advises businesses to train staff to recognise suspicious behaviour and to enforce secure payment processes. Strengthening cybersecurity with tools like firewalls and multi-factor authentication can also reduce the attack risk.
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Capgemini has announced it will acquire Indian IT firm WNS for $3.3 billion to accelerate its leadership in agentic AI. The acquisition will significantly enhance Capgemini’s business process services (BPS) by integrating advanced AI capabilities into core operations.
The boards of both companies have approved the deal, which offers WNS shareholders a 28% premium over the 90-day average share price. Completion is expected by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.
The company sees strong potential in embedding AI into enterprise operations, with BPS becoming a key showcase. The integration will strengthen Capgemini’s US presence and unlock cross-selling opportunities across the combined client networks.
Both firms emphasised a shared vision of intelligent operations powered by agentic AI, aiming to help clients shift from automation to AI-driven autonomy. Capgemini’s existing partnerships with tech giants like Microsoft, Google and NVIDIA will support this vision.
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A US federal court has ordered OpenAI to preserve nearly all user chats with ChatGPT, including those that users had deleted. The decision comes as part of The New York Times’s ongoing copyright lawsuit, triggering widespread privacy concerns.
The ruling means that millions of personal conversations, previously thought erased, will remain accessible during litigation. These exchanges may include medical queries, relationship issues, and other private matters shared in confidence.
Privacy advocates argue that users were not notified or allowed to object. Critics warn the US ruling sets a dangerous precedent, enabling mass data preservation in lawsuits unrelated to most users.
The Times claims users may have deleted chats to hide copyright infringement. Lawyers and privacy experts counter that people delete chats for legitimate, non-infringing reasons and should retain control over their data.
Legal experts call the preservation order excessive, noting it undermines trust in AI tools and could lead to a chilling effect on their use. The decision could reshape how user privacy is treated in tech litigation for years.
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SK Telecom has announced a major cybersecurity initiative worth KRW 700 billion, designed to restore trust and enhance information security after a recent incident.
The company’s new programme, called the Accountability and Commitment Program, includes four elements to protect customers and reinforce transparency.
A central part of the initiative is the Information Protection Innovation Plan, which involves a five-year investment to build a world-class cybersecurity system.
The project will follow the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework and aims to position SK Telecom as Korea’s leader in information security by 2028.
To further support affected customers, the company is upgrading its Customer Assurance Package and introducing a Customer Appreciation Package to thank users for their patience and loyalty.
A subscription cancellation fee waiver has also been included to reduce friction for those reconsidering their service.
SK Telecom says it will maintain its commitment to customer safety and service reliability, pledging to fully address all concerns and enhance security and service quality across the board.
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Deepfake abuse is emerging as a troubling form of peer-on-peer harassment in schools, targeting mainly girls with AI-generated explicit imagery. Tools that once required technical skill are now easily accessible to young people, allowing harmful content to be created and shared in seconds.
Though all US states and Washington, D.C. have laws addressing the distribution of nonconsensual intimate images, many do not cover AI-generated content or address the fact that minors are often both victims and perpetrators.
Some states have begun adapting laws to include proportional sentencing and behavioural interventions for minors. Advocates argue that education on AI, consent and digital literacy is essential to address the root causes and help young people understand the consequences of their actions.
Regulating tech platforms and app developers is also key, as companies continue to profit from tools used in digital exploitation. Experts say schools, families, lawmakers and platforms must share responsibility for curbing the spread of AI-generated abuse and ensuring support for those affected.
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United Airlines has rolled out facial recognition at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, allowing TSA PreCheck passengers to pass through security without ID or boarding passes. This service uses facial recognition to match real-time images with government-provided ID photos during the check-in process.
Seattle is the tenth US airport to adopt the system, following its launch at Chicago O’Hare in 2023. Alaska Airlines and Delta have also introduced similar services at Sea-Tac, signalling a broader shift toward biometric travel solutions.
The TSA’s Credential Authentication Technology was introduced at the airport in October and supports this touchless approach. Experts say facial recognition could soon be used throughout the airport journey, from bag drop to retail purchases.
TSA PreCheck access remains limited to US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents, with a five-year membership costing $78. As more airports adopt facial recognition, concerns about privacy and consent are likely to increase.
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Tinder is trialling a facial recognition feature to boost user security and crack down on fraudulent profiles. The pilot is currently underway in the US, after initial launches in Colombia and Canada.
New users are now required to take a short video selfie during sign-up, which will be matched against profile photos to confirm authenticity. The app also compares the scan with other accounts to catch duplicates and impersonations.
Verified users receive a profile badge, and Tinder stores a non-reversible encrypted face map to aid in detection. The company claims all facial data is deleted when accounts are removed.
The update follows a sharp rise in catfishing and romance scams, with over 64,000 cases reported in the US last year alone. Other measures introduced in recent years include photo verification, ID checks and location-sharing tools.
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A ransomware attack on Dutch retailer Ahold Delhaize resulted in a significant data breach affecting more than 2.2 million individuals across US businesses.
The breach occurred in November 2024 following network disruptions at supermarket chains, including Giant Food, Food Lion, and Stop & Shop.
The Inc Ransom group claimed responsibility in April 2025, stating it exfiltrated around 6 TB of data. The company confirmed that stolen files included employment records containing sensitive personal and financial information, with some data already posted on the dark web.
Affected individuals are now notified and offered two years of free identity protection services. The compromised data includes names, Social Security numbers, contact details, and medical and employment information.
Supermarkets have become a growing target in recent cyber campaigns. In April, UK retailers such as M&S and Harrods were also attacked, while distributor UNFI faced major disruptions earlier this month.
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US Cyber Command has joined forces with the Coast Guard in a major military exercise designed to simulate cyberattacks on key port infrastructure.
Known as Cyber Guard, the training scenario marked a significant evolution in defensive readiness, integrating for the first time with Pacific Sentry—an Indo-Pacific Command exercise simulating conflict over Taiwan.
The joint effort included the formation of Task Force Port, a temporary unit tasked with coordinating defence of coastal infrastructure.
The drill reflected real-world concerns over the vulnerability of US ports in times of geopolitical tension, and brought together multiple combatant commands under a unified operational framework.
Rear Admiral Dennis Velez described the move as part of a broader shift from isolated training to integrated joint force operations.
Cyber Guard also marked the activation of the Department of Defense Cyber Defense Command (DCDC), previously known as Joint Force Headquarters–DOD Information Network.
The unit worked closely with the Coast Guard, signalling the increasing importance of cyber coordination across military branches when protecting critical infrastructure.
Port security has featured in past exercises but was previously handled as a separate scenario. Its inclusion within the core structure of Cyber Guard suggests a strategic realignment, ensuring cyber defence is embedded in wider contingency planning for future conflicts.
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Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung has cautioned that Europe could slow its progress in AI by imposing too many regulations. Speaking at a tech conference in Stuttgart, he argued that strict and unclear rules make the region less attractive for innovation.
Bosch, which holds the most significant number of AI patents in Europe, plans to invest 2.5 billion euros in AI development by the end of 2027. The company is focusing on AI solutions for autonomous vehicles and industrial efficiency.
Hartung urged lawmakers to focus on essential regulations rather than attempting to control every aspect of technological progress. He warned that over-regulation could hinder Europe’s global competitiveness, particularly as the US and the EU ramp up AI investments.
The warning follows significant funding announcements, with the US committing up to 500 billion dollars and the EU planning to mobilise 200 billion euros for AI infrastructure.
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