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- ⚠️ AkiraBot Unleashed, €26M Cyber Funding & SMBs in the Line of Fire
⚠️ AkiraBot Unleashed, €26M Cyber Funding & SMBs in the Line of Fire
AI-powered spam attacks have entered a new era with the emergence of AkiraBot, a tool that uses OpenAI’s language models to bypass CAPTCHA systems and flood over 420,000 websites with malicious SEO content.
Unlike traditional bots, AkiraBot generates context-aware, human-like messages, targeting contact forms and chat widgets across platforms like Shopify and Squarespace.
• Bypasses CAPTCHA: AkiraBot evades reCAPTCHA, hCAPTCHA, and Cloudflare Turnstile using proxy rotation and human-like behavior.
• Automated Spam Campaigns: The tool uses a GUI to attack multiple sites, logs spam attempts in real-time, and reports to Telegram for campaign optimization.
• Lowered Barrier to Entry: Even low-skill attackers can now launch large-scale spam operations with minimal effort.
• Rising Trend: Similar AI tools like Xanthorox AI are automating broader cybercrime tactics beyond spam.
To stay protected, organizations must move beyond basic defenses and adopt AI-driven spam filters, WAFs, rate-limiting, and behavior-based bot detection. The future of spam is smarter—your defenses need to be too.
Birmingham City University (BCU) has teamed up with UK tech firm Covatic to tackle cyber threats targeting AI systems, particularly in high-stakes sectors like healthcare and autonomous vehicles.
Their groundbreaking research, published in Expert Systems with Applications, introduces innovative defenses against black-box attacks, where adversaries intentionally alter inputs to confuse AI models.
Key highlights include:
• Pre-processing Techniques: Simple image alterations (like rotations and resizing) to disrupt adversarial inputs.
• Performance Boost: Achieving a 21% improvement in model performance compared to standard methods.
• Real-World Application: Covatic plans to integrate these findings into its existing technologies used by millions.
Professor Atif Azad emphasizes the need for fortifying AI as its applications expand across critical fields. This collaboration not only enhances cybersecurity but also fosters innovation and job creation in the West Midlands, making a significant impact on the tech landscape.
CyberCatch is stepping up the fight against rising cyber threats through an exciting new partnership with Startup Science, aimed at equipping startups and small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) with crucial cybersecurity training. With nearly 50% of cyberattacks targeting these smaller enterprises, this initiative comes at a perfect time.
Key Highlights:
• Average data breach costs a staggering $4.88 million.
• 60% of SMBs can’t recover from ransomware attacks, leading to permanent shutdowns.
• A whopping 74% of data breaches are attributed to human error.
CyberCatch's innovative Cybersecurity Awareness Training (CAT) takes a bite-sized approach with 5-minute video modules that cover vital attack methods like spear phishing and WiFi jacking.
These engaging lessons help develop a strong human firewall within organizations, making them more resilient against cyber threats. With comprehensive and affordable solutions in place, CyberCatch and Startup Science are passionate about helping businesses thrive in a digital-first landscape!
Sekoia.io, a Rennes-based cybersecurity startup, has made waves by securing €26 million in Series B funding, propelling its total fundraising to €60 million. Founded in 2022, Sekoia.io is on a mission to democratize threat detection using AI and cyber intelligence.
Highlights from the article include:
• AI Innovation: 25% of the 4 million threats detected in 2024 were identified through Sekoia’s exclusive AI technologies.
• Global Ambitions: The company plans to expand its services globally, aiming to recruit hundreds of international service partners.
• Scalability: Sekoia.io focuses on Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs), cementing its role in a rapidly growing market expected to reach €47.9 billion by 2028.
• Workforce Empowerment: The platform enhances SOC Analysts’ productivity using AI, ensuring they are supported rather than replaced.
This strategic funding will help Sekoia.io strengthen its offerings and tackle the cybersecurity talent shortage, making high-performance security accessible to organizations of all sizes.
KELA is shaking up the cybersecurity landscape with its groundbreaking launch of AI-Powered Digital Analysts, designed to lighten the load for overwhelmed security teams.
Key Highlights:
• Automation: These intelligent agents rapidly triage alerts, validate threats, and deliver actionable insights.
• Customization: They adapt to specific organizational needs, handling tasks from threat briefings to malware detection.
• Two Models:
- Alex: Tailored for enterprises and MSSPs, integrated directly with existing security frameworks.
- Ethan: Aids government agencies, leveraging extensive cybercrime intelligence for swift investigations.
Accessible via popular platforms such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, these digital analysts seamlessly enhance existing security workflows, ensuring that human teams can respond more effectively to cyber threats. With KELA’s innovative solution, organizations can now tackle the escalating threat landscape head-on!