Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

Don't count on the LLM to return your data - even if you pay up

State-backed crews are already poking at autonomous tools, Trend Micro warns Cybercriminals, including ransomware crews, will lean more heavily on agentic AI next year as attackers automate more of their operations, Trend Micro's researchers believe.…

Even AI has doubts about the claim that '80% of ransomware attacks are AI-driven' Do 80 percent of ransomware attacks really come from AI? MIT Sloan has now withdrawn a working paper that made that eyebrow-raising claim after criticism from security researcher Kevin Beaumont.…

How to avoid your business being felled by an AI-powered ransomware attack that costs less than a laptop. Passwork KNP Logistics Group, a British transport company from Northamptonshire that’s been around longer than the mass-produced lightbulb, collapsed after a devastating security breach that left more than 700 employees jobless. The 158-year-old firm fell victim to a ransomware attack.…

Stopping the spread isn't the same as stopping attacks, period Google on Tuesday rolled out a new AI tool in Drive for desktop that it says will pause syncing to limit ransomware damage, but it won't stop attacks outright.…

tldr; boffins did it interview It all started as an idea for a research paper. …

AI-powered ransomware, extortion chatbots, vibe hacking … just wait until agents replace affiliates It's no secret that AI tools make it easier for cybercriminals to steal sensitive data and then extort victim organizations. But two recent developments illustrate exactly how much LLMs lower the bar for ransomware and other financially motivated cybercrime — and provide a glimpse to defenders about what's on the horizon.…

AI lowers the bar for cybercrime, Anthropic admits comment Anthropic, a maker of AI tools, says that AI tools are now commonly used to commit cybercrime and facilitate remote worker fraud.…

Oh, look, a use case for OpenAI's gpt-oss-20b model ESET malware researchers Anton Cherepanov and Peter Strycek have discovered what they describe as the "first known AI-powered ransomware," which they named PromptLock. …

AI is your secret weapon against ransomware crooks. Here's how to use it Partner Content Cybercriminals are evolving, and so are the tools to stop them. As AI becomes more accessible, attackers are sharpening their tactics. But here's the good news: defenders are, too. AI is no longer a buzzword; it's a frontline weapon in the fight against ransomware.…

Take care when downloading AI freebies, researcher tells The Register Criminals are using installers for fake AI software to distribute ransomware and other destructive malware.…

Leaked chats and spilled secrets as AI helps decode circa 200K private talks Southern Water neither confirms nor denies offering Black Basta a $750,000 ransom payment following its ransomware attack in 2024.…

Researchers say there's dissent in the ranks. Plus: An AI tool lets you have a go yourself at analysing the data Hundreds of thousands of internal messages from the Black Basta ransomware gang were leaked by a Telegram user, prompting security researchers to bust out their best Russian translations post haste.…

Ransomware, AI, secure software, digital IDs – there's something for everyone in the presidential directive Analysis Joe Biden, in the final days of his US presidency, issued another cybersecurity order that is nearly as vast in scope as it is late in the game.…

PLUS: Data broker leak reveals extent of info trading; Hot new ransomware gang might be all AI, no bark; and more Infosec in brief Gravy Analytics, a vendor of location intelligence info for marketers which reached a settlement with US authorities last year over its alleged unlawful sale of location, has reportedly been hacked – potentially exposing millions of smartphone users.…

ARPA-H joins the challenge, adds $20M to cash rewards Interview As ransomware gangs target critical infrastructure – especially hospitals and other healthcare organizations – DARPA has added another government agency partner to its Artificial Intelligence Cyber Challenge (AIxCC).…

That means Brit spies want the ability to do exactly that, huh? The idea that AI could generate super-potent and undetectable malware has been bandied about for years – and also already debunked. However, an article published today by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) suggests there is a "realistic possibility" that by 2025, the most sophisticated attackers’ tools will improve markedly thanks to AI models informed by data describing successful cyber-hits.…

Secure Future Initiative needed in wake of tech evolution and unrelenting ransomware criminality Microsoft has made fresh commitments to harden the security of its software and cloud services after a year in which numerous members of the global infosec community criticized the company's tech defenses.…

The critical rise of generative AI use in ransomware attacks on applications Webinar It's a fact of life that ransomware is a constant threat, like a dark cloud on every horizon. Recent research suggests that the volume of attacks has doubled in the last year.…

How AI is powering ransomware attacks on applications Webinar You could be forgiven for wondering if anything can ever again be completely straightforward or demonstrably authentic in a world where generative AI can masquerade convincingly as your mother, or express itself in the exact language your best friend might use.…