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Extortion stories

Cyber-attacks top risk for professional firms in 2026
Data Protection

Cyber-attacks top risk for professional firms in 2026

Insurers say the threat could trigger business interruption, regulatory scrutiny and client claims, as 65% of firms rank cyber-attacks first.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Fri, 24th Apr 2026
Deepfake report finds US & X lead global incidents
Surveillance

Deepfake report finds US & X lead global incidents

The United States and X dominate deepfake spread, with a new report linking 46.9% of cases to the US and most incidents to social media.

By Shannon Williams • 3 min read • Tue, 14th Apr 2026
Manchester City names N-able as official cyber partner
Data Protection

Manchester City names N-able as official cyber partner

Manchester City appoints N-able as official cyber partner to safeguard its expanding digital operations and global fan data footprint.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Mar 2026

Global Stories

Extortion stories

Healthcare data fuels underground cybercrime economy
Data Protection

Healthcare data fuels underground cybercrime economy

Stolen patient records are now being traded alongside ransomware access, deepening risks for hospitals, suppliers and insurers across the sector.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last week
North Korea-linked hackers stole USD $2.02 billion
Software-as-a-Service

North Korea-linked hackers stole USD $2.02 billion

Losses from North Korea-linked digital asset theft jumped 51% in 2025, exposing banks and fintech firms to more identity-based intrusions.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month
Intruder finds exposed MySQL databases in 26% of firms
Ransomware

Intruder finds exposed MySQL databases in 26% of firms

The findings show many firms still leave internet-facing databases and admin tools open, giving attackers easy routes before flaws are even published.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
NCA data disrupts 50,000 fraud accounts in Google tool
Marketing Technologies

NCA data disrupts 50,000 fraud accounts in Google tool

Shared UK crime data has helped Google disable nearly 50,000 fraudulent accounts and expose more than 5,000 fake bank websites.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
Ransomware posts rise 22% as leak sites proliferate
Software-as-a-Service

Ransomware posts rise 22% as leak sites proliferate

Leak-site noise is making it harder for firms to tell real breaches from extortion theatre, as active sites hit 91 in the first quarter of 2026.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 5 min read • Wed, 29th Apr 2026
Former Black Basta affiliates target executives in Teams
Unified Communications

Former Black Basta affiliates target executives in Teams

Senior staff are increasingly in the crosshairs as suspected former Black Basta affiliates use Teams impersonation to seize remote access.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Thu, 16th Apr 2026
World Backup Day warnings over ransomware resilience gaps
Data Protection

World Backup Day warnings over ransomware resilience gaps

Many firms still lack recoverable copies of critical data as ransomware increasingly targets cloud and SaaS systems, experts warn.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 8 min read • Tue, 31st Mar 2026
Google Mandiant report spots faster, stealthier cyberattacks
Virtualisation

Google Mandiant report spots faster, stealthier cyberattacks

Google's latest Mandiant report warns cyberattacks are faster and stealthier as AI-powered tools narrow defenders' response times to seconds.

By Sean Mitchell • 5 min read • Tue, 24th Mar 2026
US disrupts four IoT botnets in record DDoS attacks
Firewalls

US disrupts four IoT botnets in record DDoS attacks

US authorities say they have crippled four vast IoT botnets behind record 30Tbps DDoS attacks, in a major cross-border operation.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Mon, 23rd Mar 2026
AI agents drive surge in cyber threats & extortion
Malware

AI agents drive surge in cyber threats & extortion

AI agents are fuelling a new wave of cyber risk, as criminals weaponise automation to speed up ransomware and sharpen extortion tactics.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 6 min read • Sat, 14th Mar 2026

Stories from Other Regions

Extortion stories

Australian firms urged to rethink ransomware defences
Data Protection

Australian firms urged to rethink ransomware defences

Ransomware is hitting Australian large businesses harder than global peers, with most victims still paying attackers despite backup defences.

By Mark Tarre • 5 min read • Last month
Canada second globally for ransomware, Fortinet says
Malware

Canada second globally for ransomware, Fortinet says

Ransomware pressure on Canadian firms is intensifying as AI speeds attacks, with 374 organisations extorted and losses mounting.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
Halcyon hires Dave Hannigan as ransomware Security Chief
Ransomware

Halcyon hires Dave Hannigan as ransomware Security Chief

The appointment signals Halcyon’s push to bolster customer defences as ransomware drives operational disruption, extortion and revenue losses.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Tue, 7th Apr 2026
Survey finds Australians suffering cyber breach fatigue
Data Protection

Survey finds Australians suffering cyber breach fatigue

Survey finds many Australians shrug off data breach warnings, seeing cyber attacks as inevitable despite rising risks and tailored support calls.

By Shannon Williams • 5 min read • Wed, 18th Mar 2026