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Identity-led intrusions drive cyber extortion tactics
Malware

Identity-led intrusions drive cyber extortion tactics

Attackers are exploiting trusted identities and collaboration tools to steal data and extort victims, leaving defenders with only brief windows to react.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last week
Check Point warns of 48% rise in cyber attacks worldwide
Malware

Check Point warns of 48% rise in cyber attacks worldwide

Sensitive data exposure through workplace AI is compounding a 48% annual rise in attacks, with organisations hit by 2,803 per week in September.

By Mara Sugue • 3 min read • Last week
Ransomware gangs steal 896 terabytes, Zscaler says
Malware

Ransomware gangs steal 896 terabytes, Zscaler says

Data theft is now driving ransom demands, with average payments rising and attackers increasingly targeting senior staff at exposed companies.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month
Ransomware surges 600% as AI lowers cybercrime cost
Ransomware

Ransomware surges 600% as AI lowers cybercrime cost

Manufacturers, hospitals and service firms face escalating extortion threats as organised crime drives most attacks across Australasia.

By Raphael Veloso • 4 min read • Last month
Google warns of AI-powered cyberattacks in live ops
Malware

Google warns of AI-powered cyberattacks in live ops

Defenders now have minutes, not hours, as attackers use agentic AI to automate credential theft, scanning and extortion across live operations.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Last month
Ransomware attacks hit 894 as AI boosts cyber crime
Malware

Ransomware attacks hit 894 as AI boosts cyber crime

North America and Europe bore most of the 894 July ransomware incidents as NCC Group warned AI tools are accelerating attacks.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Fri, 28th Aug 2026
NCC Group logs record July ransomware cases as AI rises
Malware

NCC Group logs record July ransomware cases as AI rises

Industrial operators faced sustained pressure in July, as ransomware attacks hit 894 cases and AI-assisted tactics began to reshape threats.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 27th Aug 2026
AI-driven cybercrime surges at scale, Flashpoint warns
Malware

AI-driven cybercrime surges at scale, Flashpoint warns

Stolen credentials and AI-generated phishing are accelerating attacks, as Flashpoint tracked 22 million illicit discussions and 7.4 million infected hosts.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Fri, 14th Aug 2026
Ransomware victim numbers flat as active groups hit record
Data Protection

Ransomware victim numbers flat as active groups hit record

More groups are now driving attacks, leaving victim numbers flat even as ransomware operations reached a record 93 active crews in the quarter.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Fri, 14th Aug 2026
Many ANZ ransomware victims still pay, study finds
Malware

Many ANZ ransomware victims still pay, study finds

More than a third of ransom-paying organisations in Australia and New Zealand still failed to restore systems cleanly, a survey found.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Wed, 12th Aug 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Extortion stories

Singapore faces AI-linked ransomware at 1.5 times global
Disaster Recovery

Singapore faces AI-linked ransomware at 1.5 times global

Identity systems and staff safety are under growing strain as six in 10 Singapore organisations hit by ransomware said attackers used AI.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • Last week
New Zealand cyber agency warns AI is reshaping threats
Data Protection

New Zealand cyber agency warns AI is reshaping threats

Boards are being urged to beef up defences as AI tools may soon help criminals automate attacks and target New Zealand organisations more precisely.

By Mara Sugue • 4 min read • This month
AI boosts phishing losses in Resilience cyber claims
Disaster Recovery

AI boosts phishing losses in Resilience cyber claims

Phishing and fraud still drive most insured cyber losses, as artificial intelligence makes familiar scams more effective for clients.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Sat, 1st Aug 2026
UK manufacturing hit by 1.84 million ransomware events
Malware

UK manufacturing hit by 1.84 million ransomware events

Factory downtime risks and supply chain disruption have made UK manufacturing the country's most targeted sector for ransomware, SonicWall said.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Sat, 1st Aug 2026
Origin Energy probes alleged cyber incident over data
Data Protection

Origin Energy probes alleged cyber incident over data

Customers face heightened scam risks as Origin Energy investigates claims that a hacker accessed two million records and alerted regulators.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Fri, 31st Jul 2026
Which New Zealand companies are most likely to be targeted by Ransomware hackers?
Data Protection

Which New Zealand companies are most likely to be targeted by Ransomware hackers?

Mid-market firms in financial, insurance and consulting services face the highest ransomware risk, with attacks now striking faster and costing far more.

By Anthony Cooke • 4 min read • Mon, 27th Jul 2026
Ransomware victims surge to 7,551 as attacks fragment
Software-as-a-Service

Ransomware victims surge to 7,551 as attacks fragment

Ransomware attacks spread through vendor systems and AI-aided tactics, leaving 7,551 publicly disclosed victims in the latest 12-month period.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Fri, 24th Jul 2026