Category: cyber defence

Europe’s Cyber Gap Is Now Structural: ECOG Proposal Explains Why

Europe’s Cyber Gap Is Now Structural: ECOG Proposal Explains Why
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The CSIS paper proposing a European Cyber Operations Group — published earlier this month, finally getting the attention it deserves this week as the broader policy community processes it — is ostensibly a policy recommendation. A select group of nations, operating under the European Intervention Initiative or a similar structure, providing a "single unified front" … Continue reading Europe’s Cyber Gap Is Now Structural: ECOG Proposal Explains Why

Operation Absolute Resolve: The Grid Went Dark, the Rules Went With It

Operation Absolute Resolve: The Grid Went Dark, the Rules Went With It
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In January I sat down to write a post about something completely different and instead spent forty-five minutes rereading the same paragraph from the New York Times' January 17 story: US officials, briefed on the operation, confirmed that hackers operating on behalf of the US government were able to "not only shut off the power … Continue reading Operation Absolute Resolve: The Grid Went Dark, the Rules Went With It

Gulf AI Chip Deals: We’re Offshoring the Riskiest Tech in History

Gulf AI Chip Deals: We’re Offshoring the Riskiest Tech in History
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I just finished writing about how Ukraine's entire military operational architecture depends on one private company's satellite network, and how that's an extremely expensive lesson in single points of failure. Then I look at this week's news and find out that the US has been enthusiastically creating a different category of single-point risk — this … Continue reading Gulf AI Chip Deals: We’re Offshoring the Riskiest Tech in History

Iran’s Cyber War Is Inside Your ICS and Nobody’s Screaming

Iran’s Cyber War Is Inside Your ICS and Nobody’s Screaming
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I wrote about the Handala wiper attack on Stryker Corporation two weeks ago — a $100 billion Fortune 500 medical device maker, data wiped across 60+ countries, login screens replaced with the Handala logo, stock down 4.5% inside a trading session, Ireland's NCSC scrambling — and I remember thinking: okay, that's the clearest evidence yet … Continue reading Iran’s Cyber War Is Inside Your ICS and Nobody’s Screaming

Handala Wipes Stryker Offline: Iran’s Hacktivists Hit Medtech

Handala Wipes Stryker Offline: Iran’s Hacktivists Hit Medtech
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I wrote about INC Ransom working through Australian healthcare for eighteen months roughly forty minutes ago. My keyboard hasn't cooled down. And then Bleeping Computer drops the Stryker story and I genuinely had to put my coffee down and read it twice. Because this is a different category of attack and it should scare the … Continue reading Handala Wipes Stryker Offline: Iran’s Hacktivists Hit Medtech

Iran vs. The Internet: How the World’s First Full-Scale Cyber-Kinetic War Just Rewrote the Rules

Iran vs. The Internet: How the World’s First Full-Scale Cyber-Kinetic War Just Rewrote the Rules
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Look, if you thought 2026 was going to be a quiet year for cybersecurity, I have to say — bless your heart. On February 28th, the United States and Israel launched a coordinated military offensive against Iran codenamed Operation Epic Fury (U.S.) and Operation Roaring Lion (Israel), as confirmed by Wikipedia's detailed breakdown of the 2026 … Continue reading Iran vs. The Internet: How the World’s First Full-Scale Cyber-Kinetic War Just Rewrote the Rules

Iran’s Cyber War Machine Is Live — Gulf Energy in the Crosshairs

Iran’s Retaliatory Hackers Target Gulf Energy and Power Grids
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I hadn't even finished writing about Chinese state hackers quietly carpet-bombing 53 organisations globally when this landed on my desk like a grenade. Iran. Retaliatory cyber campaign. "No red lines." Sixty-plus threat groups coordinating under a single umbrella. My coffee went cold the moment I read the words "Electronic Operations Room" and I have not … Continue reading Iran’s Cyber War Machine Is Live — Gulf Energy in the Crosshairs

Iran Goes Dark: The Biggest Cyberattack in History Just Happened

Iran Goes Dark: The Biggest Cyberattack in History Just Happened
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You know what? I was just sitting down with my third coffee of the morning, still processing the geopolitical shitshow from last weekend, when my feed lit up like a Christmas tree on fire. Iran's internet is at one percent of normal traffic. One. Fucking. Percent. According to NetBlocks — who are about as reliable … Continue reading Iran Goes Dark: The Biggest Cyberattack in History Just Happened

China’s State Hackers Hit 53 Orgs Globally — Google Disrupts UNC5221

China’s State Hackers Hit 53 Orgs Globally — Google Disrupts UNC5221
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Oh, for fuck's sake. Another day, another Chinese state-sponsored hacking group caught doing exactly what everyone with a security clearance and a pulse has been screaming about for the last decade. Google dropped the news on February 25th, 2026 that they'd disrupted a Chinese-linked threat actor — tracked internally as UNC5221 — that had successfully … Continue reading China’s State Hackers Hit 53 Orgs Globally — Google Disrupts UNC5221

Notepad++ Update Traffic Hijacked for Six Months by Chinese State Hackers

Notepad++ Update Traffic Hijacked for Six Months by Chinese State Hackers
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Well fuck me sideways, it finally happened. The thing we've been screaming about for years—that your trusted software update channels are prime targets for nation-state actors—just got confirmed in the worst possible way. Notepad++, that beloved text editor used by millions of developers worldwide, had its update mechanism hijacked by Chinese state-sponsored hackers for six goddamn … Continue reading Notepad++ Update Traffic Hijacked for Six Months by Chinese State Hackers

From Pranks to Paydirt: The Malware Origin Story

From Pranks to Paydirt: The Malware Origin Story
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The document discusses the evolution of malware, particularly in corporate espionage, highlighting its transition from harmless viruses to sophisticated attacks like Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). It emphasizes the need for advanced security measures, such as behavioral analysis and air-gapping, to combat these threats, underscoring the ongoing battle between attackers and defenders.

The Evolution of a Digital Menace

The Evolution of a Digital Menace
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Phishing has evolved from basic scams to sophisticated attacks utilizing AI, targeting corporate secrets and valuable data. Modern tactics include impersonating executives, voice cloning, and exploiting trusted platforms. A comprehensive defense strategy, involving employee training, advanced email filters, and multi-factor authentication, is crucial for preventing losses from these advanced threats.

China’s Drone Warfare Advances: A Bloody Game-Changer for Global Security

China’s Drone Warfare Advances: A Bloody Game-Changer for Global Security
~ larshilse ~ 1 Comment

China's rapid advancements in drone technology are reshaping global security dynamics. With AI integration and market dominance, China's military drone capabilities threaten Western powers. Their strategic use of drones in conflict and control over the global supply chain raises significant geopolitical concerns, prompting adaptations in defense and military doctrine worldwide.

Killer Robots & Head Shrinks: The Real Psychological Shitshow of AI Drone Warfare

Killer Robots & Head Shrinks: The Real Psychological Shitshow of AI Drone Warfare
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Military AI drones are changing warfare and creating a psychological minefield. This blog post dives into the psychological impact of drone warfare on soldiers and civilians, revealing PTSD, anxiety, moral injury, and community trauma. Explore the ethical implications of AI making life-or-death calls and the urgent need for more research and support systems.

Dragon in the Sky: How China is Absolutely Crushing Everyone in the Drone Game

Dragon in the Sky: How China is Absolutely Crushing Everyone in the Drone Game
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Well folks, if you haven't been paying attention to who's winning the global drone race, allow me to enlighten you: China isn't just ahead—they're so far in front that Western drone makers need binoculars just to spot their damn dust trail. China's Drone Domination: The Numbers Don't Lie (They Just Hurt Our Feelings) Let's not … Continue reading Dragon in the Sky: How China is Absolutely Crushing Everyone in the Drone Game