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Website
Advertising AI Cloud Cookie Data Internet Technology Website

The Cookie Problem. Should you Accept or Reject?


It is impossible for a user today to surf the internet without cookies, to reject or accept. A pop-up shows in our browser that asks to either “accept all” or “reject all.” In a few cases, a third option allows you to ‘manage preferences’.

The pop-ups can be annoying, and your first reaction is to remove them immediately, and you hit that “accept all” button. But is there anything else you can do?

About cookies

Cookies are small files that are saved by web pages, and they have information for personalizing user experience, particularly for the most visited websites. The cookies may remember your login details, preferred news items, or your shopping preferences based on your browsing history. Cookies also help advertisers target your browsing behaviour via targeted ads. 

Types of cookies

Session cookies: These are for temporary use, like tracking items in your shopping cart. When a browser session is inactive, the cookies are automatically deleted.

Persistent cookies: As the name suggests, these cookies are used for longer periods. For example, saving logging details for accessing emails faster. They can expire from days to years. 

About cookie options

When you are on a website, pop-ups inform you about the “essential cookies” that you can’t opt out of because if you do, you may not be able to use the website's online features, like shopping carts wouldn’t work. But in the settings, you can opt out of “non-essential cookies.”

Three types of non-essential cookies

  1. Functional cookies- Based on browsing experience. (for instance, region or language selection)
  2. Advertising cookies- Third-party cookies, which are used to track user browsing activities. These cookies can be shared with third parties and across domains and platforms that you did not visit.
  3. Analytics cookies- They give details about metrics, such as how visitors use the website

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Vietnam
AI Artificial Intelligence Cloud Cyber Attacks Internet Panama Ransomware Vietnam

Panama and Vietnam Governments Suffer Cyber Attacks, Data Leaked


Hackers stole government data from organizations in Panama and Vietnam in multiple cyber attacks that surfaced recently.

About the incident

According to Vietnam’s state news outlet, the Cyber Emergency Response Team (VNCERT) confirmed reports of a breach targeting the National Credit Information Center (CIC) that manages credit information for businesses and people, an organization run by the State Bank of Vietnam. 

Personal data leaked

Earlier reports suggested that personal information was exposed due to the attack. VNCERT is now investigating and working with various agencies and Viettel, a state-owned telecom. It said, “Initial verification results show signs of cybercrime attacks and intrusions to steal personal data. The amount of illegally acquired data is still being counted and clarified.”

VNCERT has requested citizens to avoid downloading and sharing stolen data and also threatened legal charges against people who do so.

Who was behind the attack?

The statement has come after threat actors linked to the Shiny Hunters Group and Scattered Spider cybercriminal organization took responsibility for hacking the CIC and stealing around 160 million records. 

Threat actors put up stolen data for sale on the cybercriminal platforms, giving a sneak peek of a sample that included personal information. DataBreaches.net interviewed the hackers, who said they abused a bug in end-of-life software, and didn’t offer a ransom for the stolen information.

CIC told banks that the Shiny Hunters gang was behind the incident, Bloomberg News reported.

The attackers have gained the attention of law enforcement agencies globally for various high-profile attacks in 2025, including various campaigns attacking big enterprises in the insurance, retail, and airline sectors. 

The Finance Ministry of Panama also hit

The Ministry of Economy and Finance in Panam was also hit by a cyber attack, government officials confirmed. “The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) informs the public that today it detected an incident involving malicious software at one of the offices of the Ministry,” they said in a statement. 

The INC ransomware group claimed responsibility for the incident and stole 1.5 terabytes of data, such as emails, budgets, etc., from the ministry.

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zero-day
AI Cloud Internet malware WeepSteel zero-day

Hackers Exploit Zero-Day Bug to Install Backdoors and Steal Data


Sitecore bug abused

Threat actors exploited a zero-day bug in legacy Sitecore deployments to install WeepSteel spying malware. 

The bug, tracked as CVE-2025-53690, is a ViewState deserialization flaw caused by the addition of a sample ASP.NET machine key in pre-2017 Sitecore guides. 

A few users reused this key, which allowed hackers who knew about the key to create valid, but infected '_VIEWSTATE' payloads that fooled the server into deserializing and executing them, which led to remote code execution (RCE). 

The vulnerability isn’t a bug in ASP.NET; however, it is a misconfiguration flaw due to the reuse of publicly documented keys that were never intended for production use.

About exploitation

Mandiant experts found the exploit in the wild and said that the threat actors have been exploiting the bug in various multi-stage attacks. Threat actors target the '/sitecore/blocked.Aspx' endpoint, which consists of an unauthorized ViewState field, and get RCE by exploiting CVE-2025-53690. 

The malicious payload threat actors deploy is WeepSteel, a spying backdoor that gets process, system, disk, and network details, hiding its exfiltration as standard ViewState responses. Mendiant experts found the RCE of monitoring commands on compromised systems- tasklist, ipconfig/all, whoami, and netstat-ano. 

Mandiant observed the execution of reconnaissance commands on compromised environments, including whoami, hostname, tasklist, ipconfig /all, and netstat -ano. 

In the next attack stage, the threat actors installed Earthworm (a network tunneling and reverse SOCKS proxy), Dwagent (a remote access tool), and 7-Zip, which is used to make archives of the stolen information. After this, the threat actors increased access privileges by making local administrator accounts ('asp$,' 'sawadmin'), “cached (SAM and SYSTEM hives) credentials dumping, and attempted token impersonating via GoTokenTheft,” Bleeping Computer said. 

Threat actors secured persistence by disabling password expiration, which gave them RDP access and allowed them to register Dwagent as a SYSTEM service. 

“Mandiant recommends following security best practices in ASP.NET, including implementing automated machine key rotation, enabling View State Message Authentication Code (MAC), and encrypting any plaintext secrets within the web.config file,” the company said.

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User Privacy
AI Cloud Cyber Security Data Data Leak data security Internet User Privacy

Massive database of 250 million data leaked online for public access


Around a quarter of a billion identity records were left publicly accessible, exposing people located in seven countries- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt, and Turkey. 

According to experts from Cybernews, three misconfigured servers, registered in the UAE and Brazil, hosting IP addresses, contained personal information such as “government-level” identity profiles. The leaked data included contact details, dates of birth, ID numbers, and home addresses. 

Cybernews experts who found the leak said the databases seemed to have similarities with the naming conventions and structure, which hinted towards the same source. But they could not identify the actor who was responsible for running the servers. 

“These databases were likely operated by a single party, due to the similar data structures, but there’s no attribution as to who controlled the data, or any hard links proving that these instances belonged to the same party,” they said. 

The leak is particularly concerning for citizens in South Africa, Egypt, and Turkey, as the databases there contained full-spectrum data. 

The leak would have exposed the database to multiple threats, such as phishing campaigns, scams, financial fraud, and abuses.

Currently, the database is not publicly accessible (a good sign). 

This is not the first incident where a massive database holding citizen data (250 million) has been exposed online. Cybernews’ research revealed that the entire Brazilian population might have been impacted by the breach.

Earlier, a misconfigured Elasticsearch instance included the data with details such as sex,  names, dates of birth, and Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF) numbers. This number is used to identify taxpayers in Brazil. 

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SwissBorg
AI Bitcoin Cloud cryptocurrency Cyber Security Cypto wallet Internet SwissBorg

Cryptoexchange SwissBorg Suffers $41 Million Theft, Will Reimburse Users


According to SwissBorg, a cryptoexchange platform, $41 million worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from an external wallet used for its SOL earn strategy in a cyberattack that also affected a partner company. The company, which is based in Switzerland, acknowledged the industry reports of the attack but has stressed that the platform was not compromised. 

CEO Cyrus Fazel said that an external finance wallet of a partner was compromised. The incident happened due to hacking of the partner’s API, a process that lets software customers communicate with each other, impacting a single counterparty. It was not a compromise of SwissBorg, the company said on X. 

SwissBorg said that the hack has impacted fewer than 1% of users. “A partner API was compromised, impacting our SOL Earn Program (~193k SOL, <1% of users).  Rest assured, the SwissBorg app remains fully secure and all other funds in Earn programs are 100% safe,” it tweeted. The company said they are looking into the incident with other blockchain security firms. 

All other assets are secure and will compensate for any losses, and user balances in the SwissBorg app are not impacted. SOL Earn redemptions have been stopped as recovery efforts are undergoing. The company has also teamed up with law enforcement agencies to recover the stolen funds. A detailed report will be released after the investigations end. 

The exploit surfaced after a surge in crypto thefts, with more than $2.17 billion already stolen this year. Kiln, the partner company, released its own statement: “SwissBorg and Kiln are investigating an incident that may have involved unauthorized access to a wallet used for staking operations. The incident resulted in Solana funds being improperly removed from the wallet used for staking operations.” 

After the attack, “SwissBorg and Kiln immediately activated an incident response plan, contained the activity, and engaged our security partners,” it said in a blogpost, and that “SwissBorg has paused Solana staking transactions on the platform to ensure no other customers are impacted.”

Fazel posted a video about the incident, informing users that the platform had suffered multiple breaches in the past.

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Technology
AI Anthropic ChatGPT Claude Cloud Internet Technology

Antrhopic to use your chats with Claude to train its AI


Antrhopic to use your chats with Claude to train its AI

Anthropic announced last week that it will update its terms of service and privacy policy to allow the use of chats for training its AI model “Claude.” Users of all subscription levels- Claude Free, Max, Pro, and Code subscribers- will be impacted by this new update. Anthropic’s new Consumer Terms and Privacy Policy will take effect from September 28, 2025. 

But users who use Claude under licenses such as Work, Team, and Enterprise plans, Claude Education, and Claude Gov will be exempted. Besides this, third-party users who use the Claude API through Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and Amazon Bedrock will also not be affected by the new policy.

If you are a Claude user, you can delay accepting the new policy by choosing ‘not now’, however, after September 28, your user account will be opted in by default to share your chat transcript for training the AI model. 

Why the new policies?

The new policy has come after the genAI boom, thanks to the massive data that has prompted various tech companies to rethink their update policies (although quietly) and update their terms of service. With this, these companies can use your data to train their AI models or give it out to other companies to improve their AI bots. 

"By participating, you’ll help us improve model safety, making our systems for detecting harmful content more accurate and less likely to flag harmless conversations. You’ll also help future Claude models improve at skills like coding, analysis, and reasoning, ultimately leading to better models for all users," Anthropic said.

Concerns around user safety

Earlier this year, in July, Wetransfer, a famous file-sharing platform, fell into controversy when it changed its terms of service agreement, facing immediate backlash from its users and online community. WeTransfer wanted the files uploaded on its platform could be used for improving machine learning models. After the incident, the platform has been trying to fix things by removing “any mention of AI and machine learning from the document,” according to the Indian Express. 

With rising concerns over the use of personal data for training AI models that compromise user privacy, companies are now offering users the option to opt out of data training for AI models.

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Ransomware
AI Cloud Cyber Security Data Organization Ransomware

How cybersecurity debts can damage your organization and finances

How cybersecurity debts can damage your organization and finances

A new term has emerged in the tech industry: “cybersecurity debt.” Similar to technical debt, cybersecurity debt refers to the accumulation of unaddressed security bugs and outdated systems resulting from inadequate investments in cybersecurity services. 

Delaying these expenditures can provide short-term financial gains, but long-term repercussions can be severe, causing greater dangers and exponential costs.

What causes cybersecurity debt?

Cybersecurity debt happens when organizations don’t update their systems frequently, ignoring software patches and neglecting security improvements for short-term financial gains. Slowly, this leads to a backlog of bugs that threat actors can abuse- leading to severe consequences. 

Contrary to financial debt that accumulates predictable interest, cybersecurity debt compounds in uncertain and hazardous ways. Even a single ignored bug can cause a massive data breach, a regulatory fine that can cost millions, or a ransomware attack. 

A 2024 IBM study about data breaches cost revealed that the average data breach cost had increased to $4.9 million, a record high. And even worse, 83% of organizations surveyed had suffered multiple breaches, suggesting that many businesses keep operating with cybersecurity debt. The more an organization avoids addressing problems, the greater the chances of cyber threats.

What can CEOs do?

Short-term gain vs long-term security

CEOs and CFOs are under constant pressure to give strong quarterly profits and increase revenue. As cybersecurity is a “cost center” and non-revenue-generating expenditure, it is sometimes seen as a service where costs can be cut without severe consequences. 

A CEO or CFO may opt for this short-term security gain, failing to address the long-term risks involved with rising cybersecurity debt. In some cases, the consequences are only visible when a business suffers a data breach. 

Philip D. Harris, Research Director, GRC Software & Services, IDC, suggests, “Executive management and the board of directors must support the strategic direction of IT and cybersecurity. Consider implementing cyber-risk quantification to accomplish this goal. When IT and cybersecurity leaders speak to executives and board members, from a financial perspective, it is easier to garner interest and support for investments to reduce cybersecurity debt.”

Limiting cybersecurity debt

CEOs and leaders should consider reassessing the risks. This can be achieved by adopting a comprehensive approach that adds cybersecurity debt into an organization’s wider risk management plans.

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Ransom Demands
Azure Cloud Cloud Attacks Cloud Security Cyber Security Data Theft Microsoft Microsoft Azure Ransom Demands

Microsoft Warns Storm-0501 Shifts to Cloud-Based Encryption, Data Theft, and Extortion

 

Microsoft has issued a warning about Storm-0501, a threat actor that has significantly evolved its tactics, moving away from traditional ransomware encryption on devices to targeting cloud environments for data theft, extortion, and cloud-based encryption. Instead of relying on conventional ransomware payloads, the group now abuses native cloud features to exfiltrate information, delete backups, and cripple storage systems, applying pressure on victims to pay without deploying malware in the traditional sense. 

Storm-0501 has been active since at least 2021, when it first used the Sabbath ransomware in attacks on organizations across multiple industries. Over time, it adopted ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) tools, deploying encryptors from groups such as Hive, BlackCat (ALPHV), Hunters International, LockBit, and most recently, Embargo ransomware. In September 2024, Microsoft revealed that the group was expanding into hybrid cloud environments, compromising Active Directory and pivoting into Entra ID tenants. During those intrusions, attackers established persistence with malicious federated domains or encrypted on-premises devices with ransomware like Embargo. 

In its latest report, Microsoft highlights that Storm-0501 is now conducting attacks entirely in the cloud. Unlike conventional ransomware campaigns that spread malware across endpoints and then negotiate for decryption, the new approach leverages cloud-native tools to quickly exfiltrate large volumes of data, wipe storage backups, and encrypt files within the cloud itself. This strategy both accelerates the attack and reduces reliance on detectable malware deployment, making it more difficult for defenders to identify the threat in time. 

Recent cases show the group compromising multiple Active Directory domains and Entra tenants by exploiting weaknesses in Microsoft Defender configurations. Using stolen Directory Synchronization Accounts, Storm-0501 enumerated roles, users, and Azure resources with reconnaissance tools such as AzureHound. The attackers then identified a Global Administrator account without multifactor authentication, reset its password, and seized administrative control. With these elevated privileges, they maintained persistence by adding their own federated domains, which allowed them to impersonate users and bypass MFA entirely. 

From there, the attackers escalated further inside Azure by abusing the Microsoft.Authorization/elevateAccess/action capability, granting themselves Owner-level roles and taking complete control of the target’s cloud infrastructure. Once entrenched, they began disabling defenses and siphoning sensitive data from Azure Storage accounts. In many cases, they attempted to delete snapshots, restore points, Recovery Services vaults, and even entire storage accounts to prevent recovery. When these deletions failed, they created new Key Vaults and customer-managed keys to encrypt the data, effectively locking companies out unless a ransom was paid. 

The final stage of the attack involved contacting victims directly through Microsoft Teams accounts that had already been compromised, delivering ransom notes and threats. Microsoft warns that this shift illustrates how ransomware operations may increasingly migrate away from on-premises encryption as defenses improve, moving instead toward cloud-native extortion techniques. The report also includes guidance for detection, including Microsoft Defender XDR hunting queries, to help organizations identify the tactics used by Storm-0501.
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Technology
AI Cloud Data PromptLock Ransomware Technology

Experts discover first-ever AI-powered ransomware called "PromptLock"

Experts discover first-ever AI-powered ransomware called "PromptLock"

A ransomware attack is an organization’s worst nightmare. Not only does it harm the confidentiality of the organizations and their customers, but it also drains money and causes damage to the reputation. Defenders have been trying to address this serious threat, but threat actors keep developing new tactics to launch attacks. To make things worse, we have a new AI-powered ransomware strain. 

First AI ransomware

Cybersecurity experts have found the first-ever AI-powered ransomware strain. Experts Peter Strycek and Anton Cherepanov from ESET found the strain and have termed it “PromptLock.” "During infection, the AI autonomously decides which files to search, copy, or encrypt — marking a potential turning point in how cybercriminals operate," ESET said.

The malware has not been spotted in any cyberattack as of yet, experts say. Promptlock appears to be in development and is poised for launch. 

Although cyber criminals used GenAI tools to create malware in the past, PromptLock is the first ransomware case that is based on an AI model. According to Cherepanov’s LinkedIn post, Promptlock exploits the gpt-oss:20b model from OpenAI through the Ollama API to make new scripts.

About PromptLock

Cherepanov’s LinkedIn post highlighted that the ransomware script can exfiltrate files and encrypt data, but may destroy files in the future. He said that “while multiple indicators suggest that the sample is a proof-of-concept (PoC) or a work-in-progress rather than an operational threat in the wild, we believe it is crucial to raise awareness within the cybersecurity community about such emerging risks.

AI and ransomware threat

According to Dark Reading’s conversation with ESET experts, the AI-based ransomware is a serious threat to security teams. Strycek and Cherepanov are trying to find out more about PromptLock, but they want to warn the security teams immediately about the ransomware. 

ESET on X noted that "the PromptLock ransomware is written in #Golang, and we have identified both Windows and Linux variants uploaded to VirusTotal."

Threat actors have started using AI tools to launch phishing campaigns by creating fake content and malicious websites, thanks to the rapid adoption across the industry. However, AI-powered ransomware will be a worse challenge for cybersecurity defenders.

Read more »
Technology
AI Business ChatGPT Cloud Data Data Leak GenAI Technology

CISOs fear material losses amid rising cyberattacks


Chief information security officers (CISOs) are worried about the dangers of a cyberattack, and there is an anxiety due to the material losses of data that organizations have suffered in the past year.

According to a report by Proofpoint, the majority of CISOs fear a material cyberattack in the next 12 months. These concerns highlight the increasing risks and cultural shifts among CISOs.

Changing roles of CISOs

“76% of CISOs anticipate a material cyberattack in the next year, with human risk and GenAI-driven data loss topping their concerns,” Proofpoint said. In this situation, corporate stakeholders are trying to get a better understanding of the risks involved when it comes to tech and whether they are safe or not. 

Experts believe that CISOs are being more open about these attacks, thanks to SEC disclosure rules, strict regulations, board expectations, and enquiries. The report surveyed 1,600 CISOs worldwide; all the organizations had more than 1000 employees. 

Doing business is a concern

The study highlights a rising concern about doing business amid incidents of cyberattacks. Although the majority of CISOs are confident about their cybersecurity culture, six out of 10 CISOs said their organizations are not prepared for a cyberattack. The majority of the CISOs were found in favour of paying ransoms to avoid the leak of sensitive data.

AI: Saviour or danger?

AI has risen both as a top concern as well as a top priority for CISOs. Two-thirds of CISOs believe that enabling GenAI tools is a top priority over the next two years, despite the ongoing risks. In the US, however, 80% CISOs worry about possible data breaches through GenAI platforms. 

With adoption rates rising, organizations have started to move from restriction to governance. “Most are responding with guardrails: 67% have implemented usage guidelines, and 68% are exploring AI-powered defenses, though enthusiasm has cooled from 87% last year. More than half (59%) restrict employee use of GenAI tools altogether,” Proofpoint said.

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Windows
AI Bitcoin Cloud Crypto Ethereum Internet Technology Windows

Malicous npm package exploit crypto wallets


Experts have found a malicious npm package that consists of stealthy features to deploy malicious code into pc apps targeting crypto wallets such as Exodus and Atomic. 

About the package

Termed as “nodejs-smtp,” the package imitates the genuine email library nodemailer with the same README descriptions, page styling, and tagline, bringing around 347 downloads since it was uploaded to the npm registry earlier this year by a user “nikotimon.” 

It is not available anymore. Socket experts Krill Boychenko said, "On import, the package uses Electron tooling to unpack Atomic Wallet's app.asar, replace a vendor bundle with a malicious payload, repackage the application, and remove traces by deleting its working directory.”

What is the CIS build kit?

The aim is to overwrite the recipient address with hard-coded wallets handled by a cybercriminal. The package delivers by working as an SMTP-based mailer while trying to escape developers’ attention. 

This has surfaced after ReversingLabs found an npm package called "pdf-to-office" that got the same results by releasing the “app.asar” archives linked to Exodus and Atomic wallets and changing the JavaScript file inside them to launch the clipper function. 

According to Boychenko, “this campaign shows how a routine import on a developer workstation can quietly modify a separate desktop application and persist across reboots. He also said that “by using import time execution and Electron packaging, a lookalike mailer becomes a wallet drainer that alters Atomic and Exodus on compromised Windows systems."

What next?

The campaign has exposed how a routine import on a developer's pc can silently change a different desktop application and stay alive in reboots. By exploiting the import time execution and Electron packaging, an identical mailer turns into a wallet drainer. Security teams should be careful of incoming wallet drainers deployed through package registries. 

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Technology
AI Android Cloud Internet SIM Swapping Technology

Beware of SIM swapping attacks, your phone is at risk


In today’s digital world, most of our digital life is connected to our phone numbers, so keeping them safe becomes a necessity. Sad news: hackers don’t need your phone to access your number. 

What is SIM swapping?

Also known as SIMjacking, SIM swapping is a tactic where a cybercriminal convinces your ISP to port your phone number to their own SIM card. This results in the user losing access to their phone number and service provider, while the cybercriminal gains full access. 

To convince the ISP of a SIM swap, the threat actor has to know about you. They can get the information from data breaches available on the dark web. You might also get tricked by a phishing scam and end up giving your info, or the threat actor may harvest your social media in case you have public information. 

Once the information is received, the threat actor calls the customer support, requesting to move your number to a new SIM card. In most cases, your carrier doesn’t need much convincing. 

Threats concerning SIM swapping

An attacker with your phone number can impersonate you to friends and family, and extort money. Your phone security is also at risk, as most online services ask for your phone number for account recovery. 

SIM swapping is dangerous as SMS based two-factor-authentication is still in use. Many services require us to activate 2FA on our accounts, and sometimes through SMS. 

You can also check your carrier’s website to see if there’s any option to deactivate SIM change requests. This way, you can secure your phone number. 

But when this isn’t available with your carrier, look out for the option to enable a PIN or secret phrase. A few companies allow users to set these, and call you back to confirm about your account.

How to stay safe from SIM swapping?

Avoid using 2FA; use passkeys.

Use a SIM PIN for your phone to lock your SIM card.

Read more »
NIS2 Directive
AI Agent AI technology Cloud Cloud Security Cyber Security data security DORA Hybrid Cloud NIS2 Directive

Data Portability and Sovereign Clouds: Building Resilience in a Globalized Landscape

 

The emergence of sovereign clouds has become increasingly inevitable as organizations face mounting regulatory demands and geopolitical pressures that influence where their data must be stored. Localized cloud environments are gaining importance, ensuring that enterprises keep sensitive information within specific jurisdictions to comply with legal frameworks and reduce risks. However, the success of sovereign clouds hinges on data portability, the ability to transfer information smoothly across systems and locations, which is essential for compliance and long-term resilience.  

Many businesses cannot afford to wait for regulators to impose requirements; they need to proactively adapt. Yet, the reality is that migrating data across hybrid environments remains complex. Beyond shifting primary data, organizations must also secure related datasets such as backups and information used in AI-driven applications. While some companies focus on safeguarding large language model training datasets, others are turning to methods like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) or AI agents, which allow them to leverage proprietary data intelligence without creating models from scratch. 

Regardless of the approach, data sovereignty is crucial, but the foundation must always be strong data resilience. Global regulators are shaping the way enterprises view data. The European Union, for example, has taken a strict stance through the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which enforces data sovereignty by applying the laws of the country where data is stored or processed. Additional frameworks such as NIS2 and DORA further emphasize the importance of risk management and oversight, particularly when third-party providers handle sensitive information.

Governments and enterprises alike are concerned about data moving across borders, which has made sovereign cloud adoption a priority for safeguarding critical assets. Some governments are going a step further by reducing reliance on foreign-owned data center infrastructure and reinvesting in domestic cloud capabilities. This shift ensures that highly sensitive data remains protected under national laws. Still, sovereignty alone is not a complete solution. 

Even if organizations can specify where their data is stored, there is no absolute guarantee of permanence, and related datasets like backups or AI training files must be carefully considered. Data portability becomes essential to maintaining sovereignty while avoiding operational bottlenecks. Hybrid cloud adoption offers flexibility, but it also introduces complexity. Larger enterprises may need multiple sovereign clouds across regions, each governed by unique data protection regulations. 

While this improves resilience, it also raises the risk of data fragmentation. To succeed, organizations must embed data portability within their strategies, ensuring seamless transfer across platforms and providers. Without this, the move toward sovereign or hybrid clouds could stall. SaaS and DRaaS providers can support the process, but businesses cannot entirely outsource responsibility. Active planning, oversight, and resilience-building measures such as compliance audits and multi-supplier strategies are essential. 

By clearly mapping where data resides and how it flows, organizations can strengthen sovereignty while enabling agility. As data globalization accelerates, sovereignty and portability are becoming inseparable priorities. Enterprises that proactively address these challenges will be better positioned to adapt to future regulations while maintaining flexibility, security, and long-term operational strength in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.
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Network Security
Airlines aviation Cloud Customer Data customer privacy Data Breach Network Security

Airline suffers data breach, customer information stolen


Air France and KLM announced that threat actors had compromised a customer service platform and stolen customer data. Along with Transavia, KLM and Air France are units of Air France-KLM Group, a Dutch-French multinational airline holding organization. Established in 2004, it is a big name in international air transport. 

"KLM has reported to the Dutch Data Protection Authority; Air France has done this in France at the CNIL. Customers whose data may have been accessed are currently being informed and advised to be extra alert to suspicious emails or phone calls," the group said.

With 78,000 employees and a fleet of 564 aircraft, Air France-KLM offers services for 300 destinations in 90 countries worldwide. The group transported 98 million passengers globally in 2024. The airlines said that they have closed the threat actors’ access to the hacked systems once the breach was discovered. They also claim that the attack didn’t impact their networks.

"Air France and KLM have detected unusual activity on an external platform we use for customer service. This activity resulted in unauthorized access to customer data. Our IT security teams, along with the relevant external party, took immediate action to stop the unauthorized access. Measures have also been implemented to prevent recurrence. Internal Air France and KLM systems were not affected," the group said.

The attackers stole data, including names, email addresses, contact numbers, transaction records, and details of rewards programs. But the group has said that the passengers’ personal and financial data was not compromised. The airlines have informed the concerned authorities in the respective countries of the attack. They have also notified the impacted individuals about the breach.

"KLM has reported the incident to the Dutch Data Protection Authority; Air France has done so in France with the CNIL.” "Customers whose data may have been accessed are currently being informed and advised to be extra vigilant for suspicious emails or phone calls," they said. 

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Technology
AI Chatbot ChatGPT Cloud Google Google Drive Internet Microsoft Technology

How ChatGPT prompt can allow cybercriminals to steal your Google Drive data


Chatbots and other AI tools have made life easier for threat actors. A recent incident highlighted how ChatGPT can be exploited to obtain API keys and other sensitive data from cloud platforms.

Prompt injection attacks leads to cloud access

Experts have discovered a new prompt injection attack that can turn ChatGPT into a hacker’s best friend in data thefts. Known as AgentFlayer, the exploit uses a single document to hide “secret” prompt instructions that target OpenAI’s chatbot. An attacker can share what appears to be a harmless document with victims through Google Drive, without any clicks.

Zero-click threat: AgentFlayer

AgentFlayer is a “zero-click” threat as it abuses a vulnerability in Connectors, for instance, a ChatGPT feature that connects the assistant to other applications, websites, and services. OpenAI suggests that Connectors supports a few of the world’s most widely used platforms. This includes cloud storage platforms such as Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive.

Experts used Google Drive to expose the threats possible from chatbots and hidden prompts. 

GoogleDoc used for injecting prompt

The malicious document has a 300-word hidden malicious prompt. The text is size one, formatted in white to hide it from human readers but visible to the chatbot.

The prompt used to showcase AgentFlayer’s attacks prompts ChatGPT to find the victim’s Google Drive for API keys, link them to a tailored URL, and an external server. When the malicious document is shared, the attack is launched. The threat actor gets the hidden API keys when the target uses ChatGPT (the Connectors feature has to be enabled).

Othe cloud platforms at risk too

AgentFlayer is not a bug that only affects the Google Cloud. “As with any indirect prompt injection attack, we need a way into the LLM's context. And luckily for us, people upload untrusted documents into their ChatGPT all the time. This is usually done to summarize files or data, or leverage the LLM to ask specific questions about the document’s content instead of parsing through the entire thing by themselves,” said expert Tamir Ishay Sharbat from Zenity Labs.

“OpenAI is already aware of the vulnerability and has mitigations in place. But unfortunately, these mitigations aren’t enough. Even safe-looking URLs can be used for malicious purposes. If a URL is considered safe, you can be sure an attacker will find a creative way to take advantage of it,” Zenith Labs said in the report.

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Technology
Blockchain Cloud Data Digital ID Internet NDAChain Technology

Vietnam Launches NDAChain for National Data Security and Digital Identity


Vietnam has launched NDAChain, a new blockchain network that allows only approved participants to join. The move is aimed at locking down Vietnam’s government data. 

About NDAChain

The network is built by the National Data Association and managed by the Ministry of Public Security’s Data Innovation and Exploitation Center. It will serve as the primary verification layer for tasks such as supply-chain logs, school transcripts, and hospital records.

According to experts, NDAChain is based on a hybrid model, relying on a Proof-of-Authority mechanism to ensure only authorized nodes can verify transactions. It also adds Zero-Knowledge-Proofs to protect sensitive data while verifying its authenticity. According to officials, NDAChain can process between 1,200 and 3,600 transactions per second, a statistic that aims to support faster verifications in logistics, e-government, and other areas. 

Two new features

The networks have two main features: NDA DID offers digital IDs that integrate with Vietnam’s current VNeID framework, allowing users to verify their IDs online when signing documents or using services. On the other hand, NDATrace provides end-to-end product tracking via GS1 and EBSI Trace standards. Items are tagged with unique identifiers that RFID chips or QR codes can scan, helping businesses prove verification to overseas procurers and ease recalls in case of problems.

Privacy layer and network protection

NDAChain works as a “protective layer” for Vietnam’s digital infrastructure, built to scale as data volume expands. Digital records can be verified without needing personal details due to the added privacy tools. The permissioned setup also offers authorities more control over people joining the network. According to reports, total integration with the National Data Center will be completed by this year. The focus will then move towards local agencies and universities, where industry-specific Layer 3 apps are planned for 2026.

According to Vietnam Briefing, "in sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, and health supplements, where counterfeit goods remain a persistent threat, NDAChain enables end-to-end product origin authentication. By tracing a product’s whole journey from manufacturer to end-consumer, businesses can enhance brand trust, reduce legal risk, and meet rising regulatory demands for transparency."

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LLaMA
AI Chatbots AI Models AI technology Chatbots ChatGPT Cloud Cyber Security Data Privacy data security DeepSeek Gemini AI LLaMA

Why Running AI Locally with an NPU Offers Better Privacy, Speed, and Reliability

 

Running AI applications locally offers a compelling alternative to relying on cloud-based chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Deepseek, especially for those concerned about data privacy, internet dependency, and speed. Though cloud services promise protections through subscription terms, the reality remains uncertain. In contrast, using AI locally means your data never leaves your device, which is particularly advantageous for professionals handling sensitive customer information or individuals wary of sharing personal data with third parties. 

Local AI eliminates the need for a constant, high-speed internet connection. This reliable offline capability means that even in areas with spotty coverage or during network outages, tools for voice control, image recognition, and text generation remain functional. Lower latency also translates to near-instantaneous responses, unlike cloud AI that may lag due to network round-trip times. 

A powerful hardware component is essential here: the Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Typical CPUs and GPUs can struggle with AI workloads like large language models and image processing, leading to slowdowns, heat, noise, and shortened battery life. NPUs are specifically designed for handling matrix-heavy computations—vital for AI—and they allow these models to run efficiently right on your laptop, without burdening the main processor. 

Currently, consumer devices such as Intel Core Ultra, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, and Apple’s M-series chips (M1–M4) come equipped with NPUs built for this purpose. With one of these devices, you can run open-source AI models like DeepSeek‑R1, Qwen 3, or LLaMA 3.3 using tools such as Ollama, which supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. By pairing Ollama with a user-friendly interface like OpenWeb UI, you can replicate the experience of cloud chatbots entirely offline.  

Other local tools like GPT4All and Jan.ai also provide convenient interfaces for running AI models locally. However, be aware that model files can be quite large (often 20 GB or more), and without NPU support, performance may be sluggish and battery life will suffer.  

Using AI locally comes with several key advantages. You gain full control over your data, knowing it’s never sent to external servers. Offline compatibility ensures uninterrupted use, even in remote or unstable network environments. In terms of responsiveness, local AI often outperforms cloud models due to the absence of network latency. Many tools are open source, making experimentation and customization financially accessible. Lastly, NPUs offer energy-efficient performance, enabling richer AI experiences on everyday devices. 

In summary, if you’re looking for a faster, more private, and reliable AI workflow that doesn’t depend on the internet, equipping your laptop with an NPU and installing tools like Ollama, OpenWeb UI, GPT4All, or Jan.ai is a smart move. Not only will your interactions be quick and seamless, but they’ll also remain securely under your control.
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Technology
AI Cloud Data Google Internet Security Breach Technology

Security Breach Reveals "Catwatchful" Spyware is Snooping on Users

Security Breach Reveals "Catwatchful" Spyware is Snooping on Users

A security bug in a stealthy Android spyware operation, “Catwatchful,” has exposed full user databases affecting its 62,000 customers and also its app admin. The vulnerability was found by cybersecurity expert Eric Daigle reported about the spyware app’s full database of email IDs and plaintext passwords used by Catwatchful customers to access stolen data from the devices of their victims. 

Most of the victims were based in India, Argentina, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia, and Ecuador. A few records date back to 2018. The leaked database also revealed the identity of the Catwatchful admin called Omar Soca Char.

The Catwatchful database also revealed the identity of the spyware operation’s administrator, Omar Soca Charcov, a developer based in Uruguay.

About Catwatchful

Catwatchful is a spyware that pretends to be a child monitoring app, claiming to be “invisible and can not be detected,” while it uploads the victim’s data to a dashboard accessible to the person who planted the app. The stolen data includes real-time location data, victims’ photos, and messages.  The app can also track live ambient audio from the device’s mic and access the phone camera (both front and rear).

Catwatchful and similar apps are banned on app stores, and depend on being downloaded and deployed by someone having physical access to a victim’s phone. These apps are famous as “stalkerware” or “spouseware” as they are capable of unauthorized and illegal non-consensual surveillance of romantic partners and spouses. 

Rise of spyware apps

The Catwatchful incident is the fifth and latest in this year’s growing list of stalkerware scams that have been breached, hacked, or had their data exposed. 

How was the spyware found?

Daigle has previously discovered stalkerware exploits. Catwatchful uses a custom-made API, which the planted app uses to communicate to send data back to Catwatchful servers. The stalkerware also uses Google Firebase to host and store stolen data. 

According to Techradar, the “data was stored on Google Firebase, sent via a custom API that was unauthenticated, resulting in open access to user and victim data. The report also confirms that, although hosting had initially been suspended by HostGator, it had been restored via another temporary domain."

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North Korea
AI Artificial Intelligence Cloud Cyber Crime Data Deepfakes Extortion Internet lazarus North Korea

Amid Federal Crackdown, Microsoft Warns Against Rising North Korean Jobs Scams

Amid Federal Crackdown, Microsoft Warns Against Rising North Korean Jobs Scams

North Korean hackers are infiltrating high-profile US-based tech firms through scams. Recently, they have even advanced their tactics, according to the experts. In a recent investigation by Microsoft, the company has requested its peers to enforce stronger pre-employment verification measures and make policies to stop unauthorized IT management tools. 

Further investigation by the US government revealed that these actors were working to steal money for the North Korean government and use the funds to run its government operations and its weapons program.  

US imposes sanctions against North Korea

The US has imposed strict sanctions on North Korea, which restrict US companies from hiring North Korean nationals. It has led to threat actors making fake identities and using all kinds of tricks (such as VPNs) to obscure their real identities and locations. This is being done to avoid getting caught and get easily hired. 

Recently, the threat actors have started using spoof tactics such as voice-changing tools and AI-generated documents to appear credible. In one incident, the scammers somehow used an individual residing in New Jersey, who set up shell companies to fool victims into believing they were paying a legitimate local business. The same individual also helped overseas partners to get recruited. 

DoJ arrests accused

The clever campaign has now come to an end, as the US Department of Justice (DoJ) arrested and charged a US national called Zhenxing “Danny” Wanf with operating a “year-long” scam. The scheme earned over $5 million. The agency also arrested eight more people - six Chinese and two Taiwanese nationals. The arrested individuals are charged with money laundering, identity theft, hacking, sanctions violations, and conspiring to commit wire fraud.

In addition to getting paid in these jobs, which Microsoft says is a hefty payment, these individuals also get access to private organization data. They exploit this access by stealing sensitive information and blackmailing the company.

Lazarus group behind such scams

One of the largest and most infamous hacking gangs worldwide is the North Korean state-sponsored group, Lazarus. According to experts, the gang extorted billions of dollars from the Korean government through similar scams. The entire campaign is popular as “Operation DreamJob”. 

"To disrupt this activity and protect our customers, we’ve suspended 3,000 known Microsoft consumer accounts (Outlook/Hotmail) created by North Korean IT workers," said Microsoft.

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Russia links
Cloud Cyber Security Data Safety User Data data security FSB IP Address Messaging Apps Russia Russia links

Telegram’s Alleged Ties to Russian Intelligence Raise Global Surveillance Fears

 

A new investigation by Russian media outlet Important Stories, in collaboration with the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), has sparked fresh scrutiny over Telegram’s connections to Russia’s intelligence services. The popular messaging platform, long regarded for its privacy features, may have indirect links to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), raising significant concerns for users worldwide.

At the center of the probe is a company called Global Network Management (GNM), which plays a critical role in routing Telegram’s messages. Although GNM is officially incorporated in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, it operates primarily from Russia. Its owner, Vladimir Vedeneev, is a Russian engineer with long-standing ties to Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Legal filings show that Vedeneev is the only individual authorized to manage certain Telegram servers, including those based in the U.S. 

Vedeneev also runs other firms—such as Globalnet and Electrontelecom—that reportedly supply telecommunications infrastructure to various Russian state entities, including the FSB. These companies have been linked to classified government projects involving surveillance and defense. 

The IP addresses used by Telegram used to be owned by Russian firms with FSB affiliations. These IPs still appear to be registered in Russia, and might be responsible for allowing user activity to be traced back through Russian-controlled networks. Telegram users typically rely on regular cloud chats, which—unlike its secret chats—are not end-to-end encrypted and are stored on Telegram’s servers. Security analysts warn that if Vedeneev’s companies manage routing systems and network infrastructure, they could potentially access user metadata, including IP addresses, device IDs, and location data. 

Though message content may remain encrypted, this metadata could still be exploited for surveillance. Moreover, Telegram transmits unique device identifiers in an unencrypted format, creating additional vulnerability. Experts caution that Russian intelligence could leverage this data to monitor users, particularly dissidents, journalists, or foreign nationals viewed as threats. Telegram has refuted the claims, stating that it has no employees or servers in Russia and that its infrastructure remains fully under the control of its internal teams. 

The company maintains that no third party, including vendors, can access confidential user data or systems. However, Telegram has yet to directly address the investigation’s core claims regarding GNM, Vedeneev, or the related infrastructure providers. The platform also hasn’t explained how it protects users if server operators have potential intelligence ties or why certain data is still sent without encryption. 

The issue is especially relevant in Ukraine, where Telegram has over 10 million users and is a major source of news and official communication. While President Volodymyr Zelensky’s administration uses the app for public updates, growing concerns around disinformation and espionage have prompted discussions about its continued use. 

As the investigation raises critical questions about the app’s security, the broader implications for global digital privacy and national security remain in sharp focus.
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