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Techday NZ
27-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Tech sector faces sharp rise in AI & ransomware threats
New research from Trustwave highlights an increase in cyber threats facing technology organisations globally, with ransomware and AI-driven attacks on the rise. The series of reports released by the Trustwave SpiderLabs team outlines a rapidly evolving risk landscape for technology firms. According to the findings, companies in the technology sector account for 85% of all targeted ransomware incidents worldwide, with a 10% weekly increase in ransomware activity. Industry under pressure The reports detail how the technology industry's extensive integration with other sectors and fast-paced innovation have made it an appealing target for cybercriminals. Trustwave SpiderLabs analysts note that a sophisticated network of attackers is exploiting vulnerabilities ranging from supply chains to legacy systems. Ransomware operators noted in the reports, such as Ransomhub, CLOP, Akira, and Fog, have intensified their campaigns against technology firms, deploying tactics that include double extortion schemes and mass data exfiltration. The research identifies publicly exposed services, minimal year-over-year improvement in system exposure, new vulnerable ports, and outdated operating systems as ongoing points of access for attackers. AI-driven and supply chain threats One of the key trends highlighted is the use of artificial intelligence by attackers. Offensive AI is being used to craft increasingly advanced phishing emails, facilitate social engineering, and automate elements of supply chain attacks. This has led to larger and more successful campaigns by cybercriminals against technology sector targets. Supply chain attacks are another major concern noted in the reports. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting third-party vendors, compromising continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, and exploiting open-source libraries. These breaches often stem from a single compromised supplier but can result in widespread and persistent security incidents for numerous technology firms. The dark web is also described as enabling a professionalised and collaborative ecosystem for attackers. Cybercriminals are monetising access and information stolen from technology companies, contributing to higher rates and values of supply chain attacks. Expert viewpoint "The technology sector's relentless pace of innovation is matched only by the creativity and determination of today's cyber adversaries. Our latest research shows that cybercriminals are not just keeping up—they're industrialising their operations, exploiting supply chains, and weaponising artificial intelligence (AI). Trustwave is committed to helping technology organisations build resilience through world-class threat intelligence, MDR, and security solutions that address the realities of a hyper-connected digital world." This statement was provided by Kory Daniels, Chief Information Security Officer at Trustwave, who emphasised the increasing professionalism and sophistication of attackers targeting the technology sector. Recommendations for technology firms The Trustwave SpiderLabs reports include several recommendations aimed at helping technology organisations bolster their defences. These suggestions centre on adopting a proactive, intelligence-led approach to cybersecurity: They encourage firms to implement robust identity and access management strategies, including multi-factor authentication and strict least-privilege policies. The reports also call for regular system inventory, risk assessment, and prompt patching of all networked devices—particularly those exposed to the public internet. Monitoring for dark web leaks and third-party supply chain risks using advanced threat intelligence tools is recommended, along with investment in AI-powered security systems capable of detecting and responding to sophisticated threats. Additionally, the reports highlight the need for ongoing employee security awareness training and the regular simulation of incident response protocols to prepare staff for potential breaches. The Trustwave research series includes the following titles: 2025 Trustwave Risk Radar Report: Technology sector, Technology sector deep dive: AI: The double-edged sword of the technology industry, and Technology industry deep dive: Dark web-powered supply chain attacks. Findings from the reports suggest that cybercriminals are not only broadening their reach, but also refining their tactics through the adoption of new technologies and collaborative practices. This, according to Trustwave, requires an equally sophisticated and comprehensive response from technology organisations seeking to reduce their exposure to risk and disruption.
Business Insider
16-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I needed a durable sofa bed that could keep up with my family of 6 — this one from Cozey is modular, easy to clean, and has storage
My family room is awkwardly shaped, and it wasn't easy to find a sofa that fit the long, narrow room, let alone a sofa that could be converted into a sleeper for our frequent guests. Most sofas were too small for my family of six, or so big they overwhelmed the room. Making the challenge of finding a sofa even more difficult is that I wanted a sleeper sofa that is comfortable. Plus, I preferred a sofa with a performance fabric that is durable and stain-resistant. The Cozey Neptune Sofa Bed checked all the boxes. Bonus, it's modular to be as small or large as I desire and has built-in storage in the cushions, a unique feature that lets me store blankets and guests' bedding. Cozey sells directly to consumers and is a great place to buy a couch. It's sofas are sold at a reasonable price point, given the quality and level of customization available. After using the Neptune for about six weeks, I'm very pleased with how it looks and how well its premium plywood frame, high-density foam cushions, and stain-resistant premium fabric stands up to my busy (and messy) family of six. Design and Customizations Cozey specializes in modular sofas. On its website, the Neptune offers several seating options, with and without ottomans, storage, and sleepers. The modularity of the design lets you select a single or full-size sleeper sofa comprised of one to four seats starting at $1,890 or a massive 9-seater U-shaped sectional design with a full-size bed that costs just over $5,000. After you select your base combination, you can add headrests and ottomans, storage seats, a sleeper option, and your preferred color. The storage ottomans can be attached to the couch, used freestanding as extra seating or footrests, or attached to the sleeper to create a larger sleeping surface. They can also hold up to 32 liters, like pillows or extra bedding. I also use one of the ottomans to store wayward toys. Because I wanted the biggest sofa possible without crowding my narrow family room, I appreciated that Cozey's online design tool showed me the dimensions of each configuration I created. After a little trial-and-error, I was able to find a sofa that was just right for my space and family. The Neptune is available in five different colors and two different fabrics. The Neptune's standard durable child pet-friendly performance fabric comes in Slate (dark gray), Fog (light gray), Latte (beige), and Leaf (green). It also comes in a water- and stain-resistant Aquaforte fabric in Snowdrift (white). Cozey sends free fabric swatches upon request if you want to get a close-up of their color options before ordering. I also appreciate that Cozey has a generous 30-day return policy, where you can ship the sofa back for free, but you will need to keep the original boxes. With Cozey, I knew I could easily return excess seats and receive a full refund if I decided a sofa with a smaller footprint was better. Alternatively, if I thought I could squeeze in an extra seat or two, thanks to Cozey's modular design, I knew that I would be able to order additional seats easily. Cozey also offers a five-year warranty that covers defective parts, where they will replace the affected section, but not the entire sofa. Ordering and Delivery Cozey's ordering page lets you easily see your desired configuration in both sit and sleep orientations. They make it easy to see dimensions and have an AR feature to let you see what the sofa could look like in your space. If you aren't sure what you need, Cozey offers a free design consultation via video or telephone. Once you settle on the configuration, color, and accessories you want, add your design to your cart and place your order. Cozey lists each individual piece in your cart so you can double-check exactly which pieces you are getting before you hit "buy." Delivery was fast and free via FedEx. Cozey ships in the United States except Alaska, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands, and is also available throughout Canada. I received my Neptune 13 days after placing my order. It arrived in 16 different boxes, clearly labeled with a number and which piece was inside. Although my sofa came in a surprisingly large number of boxes, the system worked well. Each box weighed under 55 pounds, so I was able to move the boxes inside myself and easily keep track of the pieces as I assembled the sofa. Set-Up Cozey's website makes setting up the sofa look simple, but I found the process time-consuming and challenging. I followed the included instructions, but I struggled at times to line up the many interlocking pieces that hold the sofa together. At first, I attempted to assemble the sofa together on my own. However, I became frustrated when I couldn't get several pieces to lock together. Once my teenage daughter and young son pitched in to help, things went much more smoothly. It was helpful to have someone guide me in placing the seats. Cozey estimates that assembling one of its sofas takes between five and 10 minutes per seat. However, it took me twice as long to assemble my six-seater sofa, including attaching legs to the seats, placing the cushions, and trying two different configurations. That said, the process probably would have been faster if I had enlisted help from the beginning and had not toyed with different configurations. Even though the assembly process was more of a hassle than I anticipated, it was well worth the effort. Comfort The Neptune has firm cushions made out of high-density foam that softened a little after a couple of weeks of use. My entire family finds the Neptune very comfortable. My son, who prefers to nap in his bed, fell asleep on the Neptune a couple of times in the first month we had the sofa. I love how easily the Neptune opens and closes when I want to access its under-seat storage or convert it into a sofa bed. Accessing the storage space is as easy as lifting the seat and removing the top cushion, which I often do to retrieve the blankets I store there. For the storage seats, the top cushion isn't attached to the base, but simply sits on top. I was worried that the cushions might move with use. However, the seats don't move a bit, even when my kids are being wild. To open the sleeper, I just need to lift the bottom seat of the convertible seats and pull them out. The sleeper cushions are attached to the base, and the process of opening them is very smooth. It's also easy to remove the back cushions to finish creating the sleeper. The back cushions have a large handle that is used to gently lift the cushions before laying them in place. The optional ottomans can be used to extend the sleeping area by placing them next to the sleeper and locking them into place with a small metal arm that is very easy to extend for use and then flip back into the ottoman for storage. Sleeping I found it very intuitive to convert the Neptune sleeper into a bed, but this is not a traditional sleeper and does not come with a mattress. Instead, the sofa transforms into a bed by pulling out specially designed seats to expand them into a sleeping surface and then placing the back cushions in the space created by pulling out the seat. Notably, because of Neptune's modular design, there is flexibility on how you set up the sleeper. I ordered two sleeper seats and placed them next to each other to create one large sleeping space. However, because the sleeper seats are separate, I could move one of the seats to a different position at any time to create two single beds. This might come in handy when my niece and nephew come to visit, if they don't want to sleep next to each other. However, since one of my sleeper seats is a corner seat, that seat needs to stay in place. Although I initially ordered the sleeper sofa for overnight guests, my kids regularly expand the sofa to use as a lounger for family movie nights and hang-outs with friends. I was surprised and happy to find that my kids find the sofa bed easy enough to set up themselves and comfortable enough that they want to use it regularly. Given the higher cost of sleeper sofas, it's nice to see that this feature is getting more than occasional use. To make sure Neptune's sofa bed would be comfortable for my guests, I slept on it for a few nights myself. While it's not as comfortable as the Tempur-Pedic mattress I usually sleep on, it's much more comfortable than the thin, lumpy mattresses I associate with most sofa beds. Since the bed portion consists of the sofa's firm cushions, the sleep surface is firm. While sleeping on the sofa bed, I was worried that I would feel the spacing between the cushions. While I could feel them, they weren't very noticeable once I lay down to go to sleep. I slept on the sofa with my partner one night. Because each section of the sleeper is separate, his movements didn't bother me, and I didn't wake up when he got out of bed earlier than me. As a hot sleeper, I was also concerned that the thick, durable fabric might trap heat, but I was relieved to find that I didn't overheat at night. Although Neptune's sleeper isn't as comfortable as a regular mattress, I found it far more comfortable than a hotel sleeper sofa I recently slept on. There is a solution for those who want to ensure their guests have a smooth surface. Cozey offers the Neptune Sleep Kit, which includes a plush mattress topper, two small pillows, a comforter, and sheets that are designed to fit the Neptune perfectly. The mattress topper made the sleeper more comfortable by smoothing out the spaces between the cushions that make up the sleeping surface and adding another layer. Although it's nice to have sheets, a comforter, and pillows that are custom-designed to fit the sleeper, I don't think these add much value, especially if you already have your own bedding. A Cozey rep said that only about 20% of customers add on the Sleep Kit. If Cozey sold the mattress topper on its own, I think it would be a no-brainer to purchase, but it's hard to justify the $360 cost for the entire set unless you are short these other items. Durability Since I received the Neptune about six weeks ago, it has gotten heavy use. My family uses it daily to watch television, and we've had a few family movie nights where we all watch together. The sofa has also been used during countless playdates and guests have commented how much they like the look and feel of the sofa. Moreover, my kids like to snack, and I have allowed them to eat and drink on the sofa to their heart's content to test its durability and performance fabric. The sofa has held up exceptionally well. I've needed to vacuum the sofa to remove crumbs several times. Once, I found chocolate sauce that had dripped down the front of a cushion, down to the sofa's body, and onto the floor. By the time I found the stain, it had been sitting for a while, and I was worried that my new sofa would be ruined forever. I was pleasantly surprised when the chocolate syrup came out after dabbing it with some water. Another time, I found a red spot that was either from a strawberry or a piece of candy. That spot came out equally as well. I was so pleased with how easy it was to clean the Neptune that I regretted choosing a darker color for the sofa. I chose Fog rather than the lighter Latte, which I thought would match my decor better but couldstain too easily. Now that I've successfully removed several stains from the sofa, I would feel more confident ordering a lighter color next time. Moreover, since the Neptune is the first piece of modular furniture I have owned, I was worried that the individual pieces might move with use, making the sofa feel flimsy. After heavy use, the pieces haven't moved a bit. I briefly allowed my children to climb and jump on the sofa to see if the pieces moved, and I didn't notice any pieces separating. I love that the Neptune feels like one, solid piece with use, but still has all of the flexibility that comes along with modular furniture. Cons to consider The Neptune comes in limited colors. Disappointingly, their premium Aquaforte fabric only comes in one color, a very light white. I also found it difficult to assemble the Neptune on my own, so I recommend enlisting help for a more streamlined experience. There is no white glove delivery or in-home assembly offered at this time. What are the alternatives? Cozey is one of the few modular sofa beds I've encountered with the customizability to choose exactly how large or small you want your sofa to be. Cozey designs several other modular designs like the original Altus collection, which is available in the performance fabric, leather, and velvet, or the Ciello couch, a great plush modular cloud-couch dupe, but none of them are considered sofa beds. They do, however, offer a sleep kit add-on to turn the surface into a single-person bed. Although Cozey makes single and double-sleeper sofas, Koala is another good choice for small spaces where the cushions flip out to convert into a full or queen-size bed. If you prefer a sectional but don't need a sleeper, the Sundays Movie Night sofa is a very comfortable option, whereas they've also just introduced its first sleeper sofa, a unique design where a full-size foam mattress flips over without having to remove any cushions. The Bottom Line The Cozey Neptune is a great choice for anyone looking for a highly customizable, durable sofa. Because Cozey is modular and can be configured in so many different ways, almost everyone should be able to find a sofa that works for their needs. The addition of built-in storage is so helpful for storing extra bedding or maximizing space in areas where storage could be in short supply. Plus, Cozey's generous return policy is almost unheard of among furniture companies.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
DOGE-themed malware mocks Elon Musk, demands $1 trillion in ransom
Phishing emails deliver the latest variant Live Events Growing impact and warnings from authorities FAQs A group of cybercriminals behind the Fog ransomware is hitting the headlines after issuing DOGE-themed ransom notes and demanding $1 trillion. In a bizarre twist, the note satirically referenced Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They asked the victims to provide bullet points of their workweek. This, seemingly, was a jab at Musk's infamous email to federal it looks humorous on the surface, the attacks are very real and dangerous. These attackers have used a variant of Fog ransomware, confirmed Trend Micro The attackers, according to the Forbes report, declared that they encrypted their data and copied some of it. They offered decryption services via a Tor browser. Reportedly, victims were warned to not 'snitch' and were told that their geolocation coordinates were also per the report, unlike earlier Fog campaigns, which relied on compromised VPN credentials, the latest wave employed phishing emails with a zip archive titled Pay If opened, a malicious LNK file triggers a PowerShell script, which downloads the ransomware and related quoted Trend Micro researchers stating that the script also included politically charged content. It can open YouTube videos and gather detailed system information. Victims, reportedly, were directed to pay the ransom via Monero . Some notes even offered free decryption if they forwarded the malware to someone else, highlighting the hackers' mocking Micro further observed that 173 ransomware incidents linked to Fog were recorded since June 2024. This mainly affected technology, manufacturing, education, and transport sectors. In February alone, 53 new victims fell prey to their report dated April 23, 2025, stated that ransomware is one of the most pervasive threats to critical infrastructure. Fog, the FBI said, was the most reported new ransomware variant in 2024. They said that it contributed to the $16.6 billion cost of cybercrime in the expert Dr Ilia Kolochenko reportedly warned the organisations against quietly paying ransoms. He stressed that there is a need for legal and technical consultation before making decisions. He said that it would be like sprinting on thin Micro too advised the organisations to bolster their defences with secure backups, regular patching, phishing awareness training, and network segmentation. They also released indicators of compromise to help identify Fog ransomware Despite the taunting tone, the ransomware does exist and has been confirmed by security experts. The attacks lead to data encryption and, in most cases, data not respond to the attackers. Report the attack to your local cybercrime agency or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Centre. Consult with cybersecurity experts.
Forbes
15-04-2025
- Forbes
DOGE Big Balls Ransomware Attack — What You Need To Know
A new ransomware threat called DOGE Big Balls uses political conspiracy theories as false flags. Although current high-profile news events are more often to be found used as bait in the realm of organized phishing crime to hook victims into clicking links, one cybercrime group has taken political conspiracy theory and woven it into ransomware code in an attempt to throw law enforcement off the scent. Welcome to the very strange world that is the DOGE Big Balls ransomware threat. If you think the threat from ransomware attackers is all but over, then you are very wrong indeed. While the amount paid in ransoms is declining the attacks themselves are not only surging but evolving fast. With new ransomware groups employing tools to brute force VPN and firewall passwords, old groups wanting to make friends with the FBI, and some even, I kid you not, moving the ransomware threat to snail mail, the danger is far from over. An April 14 report from threat intelligence platform Cyble, has detailed how one ransomware group is leveraging provocative political commentary, conspiracy theory, and even the name and address of a high-profile individual within the Department Of Government Efficiency to manipulate, misattribute and draw attention while sowing the seeds of confusion. That ransomware threat is called DOGE Big Balls. Although the ransomware payload itself is a highly-customized version of an existing malware threat known as Fog, the threat actors behind the latest attacks have renamed their threat to DOGE Big Balls Ransomware, likely to attract media attention and stand out from the crowd. Mea culpa, it's working. It's relatively basic in attack methodology, leveraging a ZIP file with a deceptive shortcut that ultimately executes a multi-stage Windows Powershell infection chain. A known vulnerability, CVE-2015-2291, is exploited to get the necessary kernel-level access to enable privilege escalation. Where things get more unusual, however, is that the ransomware scripts include political commentary and conspiracy theory in the code. 'By introducing conspiracy-laced commentary in the code and ransom notes,' Cyble threat intelligence analysts said, 'the threat actor demonstrates a psychological play designed to unsettle and distract victims during critical moments of response.' These statements include the likes of 'The CIA didn't kill Kennedy you idiot. Oswald is a very deranged person that felt ostracized by his own country.' The ransomware demand text itself references 19-year-old software engineer and DOGE worker Edward Coristine, known online as Big Balls, and about whom much has been written in the media regarding his alleged past. Not only do the attackers falsely claim that Coristine is the threat actor behind the ransomware attack, but they include his full home address and telephone number. 'The use of Coristine's name and the DOGE reference in the ransomware could be a tactic to malign him and the DOGE initiative,' Cyble said. I have reached out to DOGE for a statement.
