SecurityBrief New Zealand - Technology news for CISOs & cybersecurity decision-makers
New Zealand

Cyber Criminal Stories

Global Stories

Cyber Criminal stories

Ransomware attacks surge 50% as industrial firms hit hardest
Malware

Ransomware attacks surge 50% as industrial firms hit hardest

Global ransomware attacks jump 50% to 7,874 in 2025, with industrial firms bearing the brunt as criminal groups reshuffle their tactics.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 6th Mar 2026
NordVPN taps CrowdStrike intel to bolster consumer security
Malware

NordVPN taps CrowdStrike intel to bolster consumer security

NordVPN will use CrowdStrike threat intelligence to power its Threat Protection Pro tool, bringing enterprise-grade data to consumer security.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Fri, 13th Feb 2026
Exclusive: e2e-assure CEO on CNI defence from geopolitical cyberattacks
Firewalls

Exclusive: e2e-assure CEO on CNI defence from geopolitical cyberattacks

Rob Demain warns that cyber campaigns on critical infrastructure are demanding behaviour-led defence over compliance.

By Jake MacAndrew • 5 min read • Fri, 23rd Jan 2026
New ransomware methods emerge: ClickFix & group alliances
Malware

New ransomware methods emerge: ClickFix & group alliances

Ransomware attacks dipped in November, but ClickFix techniques and alliances between groups like Qilin and CL0P drove fresh risks.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Mon, 29th Dec 2025
AI data leaks fuel surge in global cyber attacks
Firewalls

AI data leaks fuel surge in global cyber attacks

AI data leaks are helping drive a global cyber attack surge, with firms now hit by over 2,000 assaults a week and ransomware on the rise.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Thu, 11th Dec 2025
Ransomware attacks surge in October with US and Europe the big drivers
Ransomware

Ransomware attacks surge in October with US and Europe the big drivers

Ransomware attacks surged 41% in October to 594 incidents, heavily targeting industrial, consumer, and healthcare sectors, mainly in North America and Europe.

By Melania Watson • 3 min read • Thu, 20th Nov 2025
Cyber threats surge as nation-states team up with cybercrime groups
Unified Communications

Cyber threats surge as nation-states team up with cybercrime groups

The OpenText 2024 report reveals rising collaboration between nation-states and cybercrime groups, posing a serious threat to global supply chains.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Thu, 3rd Oct 2024
GBG report reveals APAC businesses advocate collaboration to fight fraud
Unified Communications

GBG report reveals APAC businesses advocate collaboration to fight fraud

A new report reveals 81% of APAC businesses view cross-sector collaboration as crucial against fraud, but competitive desires impede wider participation.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Mon, 29th Jul 2024
VIPRE finds 233.9 million malicious emails detected in Q3 2023
Advanced Persistent Threat Protection

VIPRE finds 233.9 million malicious emails detected in Q3 2023

Analysing nearly two billion emails, the report finds that cyber criminals are adapting their methods to reflect changing consumer habits.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 20th Oct 2023
Gen Z & millennials: the most vulnerable to cybercrimes
Malware

Gen Z & millennials: the most vulnerable to cybercrimes

Gen Z and millennials, the digital era's major users, are most at risk of falling prey to cybercrimes, a study suggests.

By Sean Mitchell • 2 min read • Mon, 16th Oct 2023
Delinea introduces MFA enforcement in its Secret Server offering
Privileged Access Management

Delinea introduces MFA enforcement in its Secret Server offering

Delinea Secret Server introduces MFA enforcement at depth to meet increasingly stringent cyber insurance requirements.

By Gaurav Sharma • 3 min read • Thu, 28th Sep 2023
Norton launches Secure Browser to halt cyber criminals
Data Protection

Norton launches Secure Browser to halt cyber criminals

Norton launches Norton Secure Browser to protect consumers from browser-based cyber threats and unwanted tracking.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Mon, 25th Sep 2023

Stories from Other Regions

Cyber Criminal stories

US charges Russian in Qakbot cybercrime, seizes USD $24m
Malware

US charges Russian in Qakbot cybercrime, seizes USD $24m

The US has charged Russian Rustam Gallyamov for running the Qakbot malware network, seizing USD $24m in cryptocurrency from cybercrime activities.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Wed, 28th May 2025
Exclusive: Cyber expert Louise Hanna warns education, proactive strategies lacking
Security Information and Event Management

Exclusive: Cyber expert Louise Hanna warns education, proactive strategies lacking

Cybersecurity expert Louise Hanna warns Australian organisations lack education and proactive strategies, urging caution amid AI hype and supply chain risks.

By Melania Watson • 5 min read • Thu, 22nd May 2025
Ransomware attacks down 31% but retail sector hit hard
Malware

Ransomware attacks down 31% but retail sector hit hard

Global ransomware attacks fell 31% in April, but key UK retailers like M&S and Harrods faced disruptive incidents amid a complex cyber threat landscape.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Thu, 22nd May 2025
AI's role in global digital fraud exposed by BioCatch study
Artificial Intelligence

AI's role in global digital fraud exposed by BioCatch study

A BioCatch study reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used by criminals for financial crime and digital fraud, posing significant challenges to global financial institutions.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Wed, 1st May 2024
Australian healthcare plagued with rising rate of cyber fraud
Firewalls

Australian healthcare plagued with rising rate of cyber fraud

RSM Australia warns that identity and cyber fraud pose significant threats to the healthcare sector, with criminals exploiting complex funding sources and billing systems.

By Catherine Knowles • 3 min read • Fri, 16th Feb 2024
McAfee turns the tables on cyber crims with new launch
Data Protection

McAfee turns the tables on cyber crims with new launch

McAfee has launched AI-powered Scam Protection to combat cyber criminals using AI technology to deceive people out of thousands of pounds.

By Catherine Knowles • 4 min read • Fri, 29th Sep 2023