AI Augments Organized Crime, Warns Europol.
Europol has raised alarms about artificial intelligence (AI) significantly enhancing organized crime, posing severe threats to the European Union’s societal foundations. In the EU Serious and Organized Crime Threat Assessment 2025, Executive Director Catherine De Bolle emphasized that AI has advanced cybercrime, leading to more precise and devastating attacks targeting governments, businesses, and individuals. These attacks often combine profit motives with destabilization efforts, aligning with state-sponsored actors.
The report outlines various offenses, including cyber-attacks, drug trafficking, people smuggling, and money laundering, which generate illicit proceeds, spread violence, and normalize corruption. Additionally, AI has complicated efforts to combat child sexual abuse online due to the generation of highly realistic synthetic media. The report also highlights the use of AI-powered technologies like voice cloning and deep fakes in new forms of fraud and extortion. In response, the European Commission aims to strengthen security measures and plans to double Europol’s staff funding to address these growing threats.
UK’s NCSC Urges Quantum-Resilient Security Measures.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has advised organizations to secure systems against potential quantum computing threats by 2035. Quantum computers, although still in development, could solve complex mathematical problems swiftly, risking current encryption methods vital for secure communications and banking. The NCSC proposes that large entities like energy and transportation providers adopt “post-quantum cryptography.” A phased roadmap suggests organizations identify vital services to upgrade by 2028, prioritize critical overhauls by 2031, and complete the transition by 2035. Quantum computing’s qubits can handle vast calculations but are sensitive to interference. The NCSC’s guidance aims to prepare for imminent quantum computing advancements, mitigating data security risks.
Cisco Smart Licensing Utility Vulnerabilities Under Active Exploitation.
Two critical-rated security flaws impacting Cisco Smart Licensing Utility are currently under active exploitation attempts. These vulnerabilities, now patched, could have allowed unauthorized access and control over affected systems. Organizations utilizing Cisco’s Smart Licensing Utility are strongly advised to apply the latest security updates to mitigate potential risks associated with these vulnerabilities.
Rise in Infostealer Attacks Compromising Billions of Credentials.
Recent reports indicate that infostealer malware has fueled cyberattacks, resulting in the compromise of approximately 2.1 billion credentials over the past year. These malicious programs infiltrate systems to extract sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and financial details. The surge in infostealer attacks underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures, including the use of multi-factor authentication, regular monitoring of accounts, and employee awareness training to recognize phishing attempts.
Google’s Acquisition of Wiz Highlights Cloud Security Focus.
In a significant move within the cybersecurity industry, Google has acquired cloud security firm Wiz for $32 billion. This acquisition underscores the growing emphasis on securing cloud infrastructures as organizations increasingly migrate to cloud-based services. Wiz’s expertise in identifying and mitigating cloud vulnerabilities is expected to enhance Google’s cloud security offerings, providing customers with more robust protection against emerging threats in the cloud computing landscape.
Cybersecurity
