Australian IT Pros Urged to Guard Against Chinese Cybersecurity Threats

Australian IT Pros Urged to Guard Against Chinese Cybersecurity Threats

The Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre have joined cybersecurity institutions from the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand in warning local technology professionals to beware of threat actors affiliated with China, including Salt Typhoon, infiltrating their critical communications infrastructure. The news comes weeks after the Australian Signals Directorate’s Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024, where the agency warned that state-sponsored cyber actors had been persistently targeting Australian governments, critical infrastructure, and businesses using…

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Cybersecurity News Round-Up 2024: Top 10 Biggest Stories

Cybersecurity News Round-Up 2024: Top 10 Biggest Stories

This year has not been quiet for the cybersecurity field. We have seen record-breaking data breaches, huge ransomware payouts, and illuminating studies about the impact of the increasingly complex and ever-evolving threat landscape. As we approach the new year, TechRepublic revisits the biggest cybersecurity stories of 2024. 1.  Midnight Blizzard’s attack on Microsoft In January, Microsoft disclosed that it had been a victim of a nation-state-backed attack beginning in November 2023. The Russian threat actor…

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UK Cyber Risks Are ‘Widely Underestimated,’ Warns Security Chief

UK Cyber Risks Are ‘Widely Underestimated,’ Warns Security Chief

In his first speech on Tuesday, the new head of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre warned that the country’s cyber risks are “widely underestimated.” Richard Horne, who took the position in October, says that hostile activity has “increased in frequency, sophistication and intensity,” largely from foreign actors in Russia and China. He highlighted the ransomware attacks on the British Library and pathology company Synnovis, which disrupted the NHS, illustrating a dependence on technology for…

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Over 600,000 Personal Records Exposed by Data Broker

Over 600,000 Personal Records Exposed by Data Broker

A database linked to SL Data Services, a U.S.-based data broker, has exposed 644,869 sensitive records online. The records included personally identifiable information, property ownership details, vehicle records, court records, and background check documents, and they lacked password protection or encryption. Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered the exposure and reported it to the review and cyber research site WebsitePlanet. He observed a sample of the documents stored in the 713.1 GB database and said 95%…

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Top 5 Cyber Security Trends for 2025

Top 5 Cyber Security Trends for 2025

The cyber landscape is more turbulent than ever. Microsoft recently reported a 2.75-fold increase in ransomware attempts this year, while research predicts that global cyber attacks in 2024 will surge 105% compared to 2020. There is a dire need for more qualified cyber professionals as generative AI is lowering the barrier to entry for attacks. Unfortunately, cyber skills gaps have been reported in both the U.K. and Australia, with women making up only a quarter…

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Starbucks, Supermarkets Targeted in Ransomware Attack

Starbucks, Supermarkets Targeted in Ransomware Attack

Starbucks and several major U.K. supermarkets experienced disruption due to a ransomware attack on the prominent supply chain software provider Blue Yonder. The company disclosed the incident on Thursday, Nov. 21, and it was still working to restore services the following Monday. The disruption to the Blue Yonder platform prevented Starbucks from paying its baristas and managing their schedules, according to the Wall Street Journal. As a result, cafe managers had to manually calculate their…

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Australia Passes Groundbreaking Cyber Security Law

Australia Passes Groundbreaking Cyber Security Law

Australia passed its first-ever Cyber Security Act on Nov. 25, introducing various measures to strengthen the nation’s defenses. Among its key provisions is a requirement that organisations report to the government if they pay ransomware criminals — a practice that has become widespread globally. The Cyber Security Act follows Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy 2023-2030. The strategy, designed to position Australia as a leader in cyber resilience, foreshadowed several measures in the law, including creating a…

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How to Create a Strong Security Culture – IT Governance UK Blog

How to Create a Strong Security Culture – IT Governance UK Blog

Getting a greater return on investment on your security measures We all have a responsibility for security. Regardless of role or rank, everyone has their part to play: Practising good cyber hygiene Knowing how to spot a phishing attack Reporting phishing emails and (possible) breaches Contrary to popular belief, cyber and information security aren’t just matters for IT. But to ensure that all staff truly take note of security and apply the knowledge gained from…

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1.1 Million UK NHS Employee Records Exposed

1.1 Million UK NHS Employee Records Exposed

Over a million NHS employee records — including email addresses, phone numbers, and home addresses — were exposed online due to a misconfiguration of the low-code website builder Microsoft Power Pages. In September, researchers with the software-as-a-service security platform AppOmni identified a large shared business service provider for the NHS that was allowing unauthorised access to sensitive data through insecure permission settings on Power Pages. Specifically, the permissions on some tables and columns in Power…

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AI-Assisted Attacks Top Cyber Threat For Third Consecutive Quarter, Gartner Finds

AI-Assisted Attacks Top Cyber Threat For Third Consecutive Quarter, Gartner Finds

For the third consecutive quarter, Gartner has found that cyber attacks staged using artificial intelligence are the biggest risk for enterprises. The consulting firm surveyed 286 senior risk and assurance executives from July through September, and 80% cited AI-enhanced malicious attacks as the top threat they were concerned about. This isn’t surprising, as evidence suggests AI-assisted attacks are on the rise. Other commonly cited emerging risks outlined in the report include AI-assisted misinformation, escalating political…

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