The Austrian Federal Administrative Court confirmed that DerStandard’s “Pay or Okay” model breaches the GDPR. Users had to either accept tracking by hundreds of third parties or pay a subscription. Authorities ruled that this coercive model invalidates consent, which must be free and specific. Real consent rates drop to 1–7% when asked transparently, but the […]
Researchers found millions of passports, credit cards, résumés, and faces in DataComp CommonPool, a massive AI training dataset scraped from the web. Auditing just 0.1% revealed hundreds of millions of likely PII (personally identifiable information) items, including sensitive job and health details. Despite face-blurring tools, researchers estimate 102 million faces were missed, and metadata/captions still […]
Clorox is suing IT provider Cognizant after a 2023 ransomware attack cost the company $380 million. The lawsuit claims Cognizant’s helpdesk handed over employee passwords to attackers posing as staff. No hacking skills were needed, just a phone call and a convincing story, Clorox alleges. Cognizant denies responsibility, stating it only offered limited helpdesk support. […]
Once seen as a prestigious tech leadership role, the CISO position is now plagued by burnout, overwhelming stress, and rising legal accountability. Many CISOs, like George Gerchow, are stepping back or leaving entirely, citing lack of authority, resources, and structural power. Regulatory burdens, personal liability, and constant pressure without clear support are driving high turnover […]
Gartner predicts over 40% of agentic AI projects will be canceled by 2027 due to cost, unclear ROI, and security gaps. But that’s not failure, it’s how innovation works. Like past tech trends, the hype cycle gives way to reality, then lasting value. Proof-of-concepts are meant to fail fast and filter out weak ideas. True […]
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC-IE) and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) have launched a user-friendly, plain English guide to help citizens secure their online accounts. The guide simplifies complex cyber security topics, offering clear, concise advice on topics like strong passwords and Passkeys. A glossary is included to define technical terms, making it […]
The new Anubis ransomware not only encrypts files but can also permanently erase them, making recovery impossible—even if victims pay. Active since late 2024, Anubis targets sectors like healthcare and construction across multiple countries. It spreads via phishing emails and runs as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) with aggressive affiliate incentives. The “wipe mode” reduces files to […]
Smaller organizations are nearing collapse under rising cyber threats, tight budgets, and a growing skills gap. WEF reports that 71% of cyber leaders say SMEs can no longer adequately defend against complex risks. Skills shortages, outdated tools, and staff burnout leave critical gaps as threats like AI phishing and ransomware surge. Compliance demands and cloud […]
Trust Gap: 54% of people remain skeptical of AI, especially in advanced economies, despite recognizing its technical capabilities. Digital Divide: Emerging economies lead in AI use, knowledge, and training—outpacing advanced ones across the board. Balancing Act: Public opinion is split—AI brings efficiency and innovation but also fears around privacy, misinformation, and job loss. Call for […]
SMS scams robbed Americans of $470 million in 2024, up from $373 million the year before. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these frauds often begin with fake text messages about deliveries, job offers, or banking alerts. Reports of these scams jumped to 247,000, with package delivery scams being the most common type. These […]