Defender Advice for 2026

Microsoft rushes an emergency fix for an actively exploited Office zero-day. A suspected cyberattack halts rail service in Spain. The FBI probes Signal chats in Minnesota. The UK moves to overhaul policing for the cyber age. Romania investigates a hitman-for-hire site. A UK court awards $4.1 million in a Saudi spyware case. Google agrees to a voice assistant settlement. CISA maps post-quantum crypto readiness. Prosecutors charge an Illinois man over a Snapchat hacking scheme targeting hundreds of women. Our guest today is Cynthia Kaiser, SVP of the Ransomware Research Center at Halcyon, sharing some insight into the AI and quantum threats to cybersecurity and the national cyber strategy. A Best Buy guy tries a creative alibi. 

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CyberWire Guest

Our guest today is Cynthia Kaiser, SVP of the Ransomware Research Center at Halcyon, sharing some insight into the AI and quantum threats to cybersecurity and the national cyber strategy.

Selected Reading

Microsoft Issues Emergency Patch for Actively Exploited Office Zero-Day (Beyond Machines)

Catalonia travel chaos: thousands stranded as suspected cyber attack disrupts rail network (The Olive Press) 

FBI is investigating Minnesota Signal groups tracking ICE, Patel says (NBC News)

UK plans sweeping overhaul of policing amid surge in online crimes (The Record)

Romania probes two suspects over alleged hitman-for-hire website (The Record)

Judge awards British critic of Saudis $4.1 million, finds the regime hacked his devices (The Record)

Google to pay $68 million over allegations its voice assistant eavesdropped on users (CBS News)

CISA releases technology readiness list for post-quantum cryptography (CSO Online)

Illinois man charged with hacking Snapchat accounts to steal nude photos (Bleeping Computer)

Savannah BSavannah Best Buy employee says 'hacker group' blackmailed him into theft ring scheme (WJCL 22)

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