One in four free mobile VPN apps fail privacy checks
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are trusted by millions to protect privacy, secure communications, and enable remote access on their mobile device. But what if the apps designed to safeguard your data are not secure?
Analysis by Zimperium zLabs of 800 free VPN apps for both Android and iOS reveals that the threat is real and widespread.
Security risks leave 84 percent of IT pros feeling stressed at work
A new study of 500 US IT and cybersecurity staff reveals that 84 percent report feeling uncomfortable levels of stress at work due to IT security risks, while 78 percent fear they will be personally blamed for security incidents.
The report from Object First exposes a gap in how organizations support their IT staff, highlighting the opportunity to provide mental health resources and less complex security technology to help reduce stress as cyber threats continue to rise.
90 percent of organizations face attacks involving lateral movement
A new report from Illumio, based on a survey of over 1,100 IT and cybersecurity decision makers, finds that almost 90 percent of leaders have detected a security incident involving lateral movement within the past 12 months.
Each incident involving lateral movement resulted in a global average of over seven hours of downtime. Alert fatigue, along with limited and fragmented visibility, especially across hybrid environments, are two of the top challenges to detecting lateral movement.
MiniTool Video Converter 4.5 gains AI-powered subtitle and transcription tools
MiniTool Software has rolled out version 4.5 of its Windows video conversion tool.
MiniTool Video Converter can convert video files between formats, record on-screen activity, and compress clips. It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, with adjustable settings for resolution, bit rate, and frame rate.
41 percent of schools suffer AI-related cyber incidents
A new survey of more than 1,400 education leaders across primary, secondary and higher education in the UK and US finds that while AI is already integrated into classrooms and faculty work, development of policies and protections needed to manage new risks in schools is lagging.
The study from Keeper Security shows 41 percent of schools have experienced AI-related cyber incidents, including phishing campaigns and misinformation, while nearly 30 percent reported instances of harmful AI content, such as deepfakes created by students.
The rise of the ‘bionic hacker’ -- AI’s impact on attack and defense
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming both attack and defense according to a report released today by crowdsourced security platform HackerOne.
It finds that organizations have expanded their AI program adoption by 270 percent this year, while HackerOne’s platform reported a 540 percent surge in prompt injection vulnerabilities to make them the fastest-growing threat in AI security.
AI use increases alongside plummeting consumer trust
A new report from Ping Identity finds that 68 percent of consumers are now using AI, up from 41 percent a year ago. But at the same time fewer than one in five (17 percent) say they have ‘full trust’ in the organizations that manage their identity data.
The findings of the study, carried out by Talker Research which interviewed 10,500 consumers across 11 countries, show that 75 percent say they are more concerned about personal data security than five years ago. In addition 39 percent cite AI-driven phishing as the modern scam that concerns them most.
NordVPN adds hijacked session alerts to warn users of stolen cookies on dark web
NordVPN has introduced a hijacked session alert, a new feature designed to protect users from stolen authentication cookies being sold on the dark web.
The new feature forms part of the company’s Threat Protection Pro service and sends immediate notifications when active session data is compromised, giving users the chance to act before criminals are able to exploit their accounts.
Snapchat plans to start charging for storing old posts
Snapchat is introducing paid storage plans for Memories, a feature the company introduced back in 2016 as a way for users to save snaps beyond the usual 24-hour limit.
The move will affect users with more than 5GB of saved content. The company says most users fall below this threshold, but those storing thousands of photos and videos will now need to upgrade if they want to keep them available long term.
Opera begins rolling out Opera Neon, its AI-powered browser
Opera has begun rolling out Opera Neon, a subscription-based browser designed around agentic AI. The first wave of invitations is being sent to users in the Neon Founders program, with broader access set to follow.
Unlike the normal Opera browser, Opera Neon is intended for people who use AI as part of their everyday work. It combines standard browsing tools with a system of workspaces, cards, and agentic actions.
Imgur no longer available in the UK
Image-hosting service Imgur is currently blocking UK users from accessing its content. The move comes after regulators threatened to impose fines on the company.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is unhappy with how Imgur – and its parent company MediaLab – handles children’s data. The ICO had conducted investigations into various technology firms as it checked their compliance with online safety laws.
Microsoft starts the official rollout of Windows 11 25H2
We have known that the day was coming, and now it has arrived. Smack in the middle of H2, Microsoft has finally made Windows 11 25H2 available – for what it is worth.
While preview builds of Windows 11 25H2 have been available to Windows Insiders for a while, and to seekers more recently. But now the rollout to everyone and anyone is underway. What can you expect from this most recent “feature update” to Windows 11? Not – as even Microsoft admits – very much, really.
Cryptographic debt and quantum readiness [Q&A]
As White House Executive Orders, NIST mandates, and international deadlines accelerate the push toward post-quantum encryption, the clock is ticking for organizations still grappling with cryptographic debt.
We spoke to Dave Krauthamer, co-founder and field CTO at QuSecure, to learn more about emerging threats, compliance mandates, and mitigation frameworks for organizations looking to get ahead of the coming disruption.
Wacom unveils MovinkPad Pro 14 portable creative pad with larger OLED screen and faster hardware
Wacom has announced the MovinkPad Pro 14, a portable drawing tablet designed to give artists and designers a self-contained creative tool that can used anywhere. This new model expands on the earlier MovinkPad 11 with a larger 14-inch OLED display, faster hardware, and new software features aimed at both professional users and those developing their skills.
The MovinkPad line is Wacom’s attempt to bridge the gap between standalone tablets and traditional pen displays that require a computer connection. The Pro 14 offers an all-in-one device that runs Android 15 while still being able to link to a desktop system if needed.
IT issues cost 100s of 1,000s of hours in lost productivity
A new report shows that poor digital employee experience (DEX) directly costs global businesses an average of 470,000 hours per year in lost productivity, equivalent to around 226 full-time employees.
The study from Nexthink, based on analysis of data from more than 20m endpoints across 474 global businesses, finds the average employee suffers 14 negative digital experiences a week. These include device crashes, application glitches, or slow load times, and can reduce productivity and collaboration while also increasing employee frustration and stress.
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