Latest news with #MicrosoftOffice
Biz Bahrain
9 hours ago
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Kaspersky: ChatGPT-Mimicking Cyberthreats Surge 115% in Early 2025, SMBs Increasingly Targeted
In 2025, nearly 8,500 users from small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) faced cyberattacks where malicious or unwanted software was disguised as popular online productivity tools, Kaspersky reports. Based on the unique malicious and unwanted files observed, the most common lures included Zoom and Microsoft Office, with newer AI-based services like ChatGPT and DeepSeek being increasingly exploited by attackers. Kaspersky has released threat analysis and mitigation strategies to help SMBs respond. Kaspersky analysts explored how frequently malicious and unwanted software are disguised as legitimate applications commonly used by SMBs, using a sample of 12 online productivity apps. In total, Kaspersky observed more than 4,000 unique malicious and unwanted files disguised as popular apps in 2025. With the growing popularity of AI services, cybercriminals are increasingly disguising malware as AI tools. The number of cyberthreats mimicking ChatGPT increased by 115% in the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 177 unique malicious and unwanted files. Another popular AI tool, DeepSeek, accounted for 83 files. This large language model launched in 2025 immediately appeared on the list of impersonated tools. 'Interestingly, threat actors are rather picky in choosing an AI tool as bait. For example, no malicious files mimicking Perplexity were observed. The likelihood that an attacker will use a tool as a disguise for malware or other types of unwanted software directly depends on the service's popularity and hype around it. The more publicity and conversation there is around a tool, the more likely a user will come across a fake package on the internet. To be on the safe side, SMB employees – as well as regular users – should exercise caution when looking for software on the internet or coming across too-good-to-be-true subscription deals. Always check the correct spelling of the website and links in suspicious emails. In many cases these links may turn out to be phishing or a link that downloads malicious or potentially unwanted software', says Vasily Kolesnikov, security expert at Kaspersky. Another cybercriminal tactic to look for in 2025 is the growing use of collaboration platform brands to trick users into downloading or launching malware. The number of malicious and unwanted software files disguised as Zoom increased by nearly 13% in 2025, reaching 1,652, while such names as 'Microsoft Teams' and 'Google Drive' saw increases of 100% and 12%, respectively, with 206 and 132 cases. This pattern likely reflects the normalization of remote work and geographically distributed teams, which has made these platforms integral to business operations across industries. Among the analyzed sample, the highest number of files mimicked Zoom, accounting for nearly 41% of all unique files detected. Microsoft Office applications remained frequent targets for impersonation: Outlook and PowerPoint each accounted for 16%, Excel for nearly 12%, while Word and Teams made up 9% and 5%, respectively. Share of unique files with names mimicking the popular legitimate applications in 2024 and 2025 The top threats targeting small and medium businesses in 2025 included downloaders, trojans and adware. Phishing and Spam Apart from malware threats, Kaspersky continues to observe a wide range of phishing and scam schemes targeting SMBs. Attackers aim to steal login credentials for various services — from delivery platforms to banking systems — or manipulate victims into sending them money through deceptive tactics. One example is a phishing attempt targeting Google Accounts. Attackers promise potential victims to increase sales by advertising their company on X, with the ultimate goal to steal their credentials. Beyond phishing, SMBs are flooded with spam emails. Not surprisingly, AI has also made its way into the spam folder — for example, with offers for automating various business processes. In general, Kaspersky observes phishing and spam offers crafted to reflect the typical needs of small businesses, promising attractive deals on email marketing or loans, offering services such as reputation management, content creation, or lead generation, and more. Learn more about the cyber threat landscape for SMBs on Securelist. To mitigate threats targeting businesses, their owners and employees are advised to implement the following measures: ● Use specialized cybersecurity solutions that provide visibility and control over cloud services (e.g., Kaspersky Next). ● Define access rules for corporate resources such as email accounts, shared folders, and online documents. ● Regularly backup important data. ● Establish clear guidelines for using external services. Create well-defined procedures for implementing new software with the involvement of IT and other responsible managers.
Mint
12 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Nvidia vs Microsoft: Which AI heavyweight will hit $4 trillion first?
The race to become the first $4 trillion company is on. Artificial-intelligence heavyweights Microsoft and Nvidia continue to battle to be the world's most valuable company by market capitalization, after surpassing the $3 trillion milestone last year. Twice this month, Microsoft unseated Nvidia as the most valuable company, but Nvidia regained its title Wednesday. On Thursday, its shares clinched a four-day winning streak and record close of $155.02. That put Nvidia's market value at $3.782 trillion, ahead of Microsoft's $3.697 trillion. Now, it's just a matter of who gets to $4 trillion first. Wedbush analysts say we will find out soon enough. 'We believe both Nvidia and Microsoft will hit the $4 trillion market cap club this summer and then over the next 18 months the focus will be on the $5 trillion club," the analysts wrote in a research note Friday. They characterize Nvidia and Microsoft as the so-called poster children of the AI revolution, which they say 'represents the biggest tech transformation in over 40 years." After all, Nvidia's momentous ascent has been the stuff of dreams for AI fans. Interest in AI reached new heights when ChatGPT launched in late 2022, and Nvidia's powerful graphics processing units emerged as a solution to power the technology. Today, Nvidia is widely regarded as the chip maker of choice for hyperscalers, Microsoft included. Nvidia stands at the forefront, 'as they are the only game in town with their chips the new gold and oil." The company's dominance allows CEO Jensen Huang to have 'the best perch and vantage point to discuss overall enterprise AI demand," the analysts contended. Microsoft's AI story has been equally compelling for bulls. The company once known for the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office suite has rebranded itself into an AI enterprise—if the language in its latest earnings report is any indication. Azure, Microsoft's flagship cloud computing platform, offers a suite of tools that allow developers to build and deploy AI applications. Its footing in the cloud computing space, alongside other hyperscalers like Alphabet, is a key advantage: The need for cloud compute is only expected to grow as the adoption of AI, a power-intensive technology, ramps up. As more AI use cases are identified, the Wedbush team expects Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform to 'acquire AI-capable chips, build AI-capable service offerings, and sell those services into their respective installed bases." Nvidia stock rose 1.3% to $157.11 on Friday. Wedbush maintains an Outperform rating and $175 price target on the shares. Microsoft was flat at $497.67. The firm rates Microsoft at Outperform with a $600 target price. Wedbush Fund Advisers launched the Dan IVES Wedbush AI Revolution ETF earlier this month, which includes Microsoft, Nvidia, and the other Magnificent Seven tech stocks.
Entrepreneur
a day ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Get This $30 Lifetime Microsoft Office Deal
Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you'll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. Still paying $10/month for Microsoft 365? That's over $120 a year for Office apps that have hardly changed since their initial release. It's like subscribing to Netflix to watch your favorite show over and over, when owning the DVD set is far cheaper in the long run. Well, we're offering you a deal on the DVD set—a Microsoft Office lifetime license. Normally $229, you can download Microsoft Office for Windows for only $29.97 this week only. When you cancel Microsoft 365 and start using the lifetime version, it pays for itself in only three months. Then, you'll collect savings in your pocket that add up to hundreds over your lifetime. What you get in the lifetime license Microsoft Office 2019 Professional Plus comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, giving you more apps than the newest lifetime license. It's a one-time download for a single Windows PC, with instant access after purchase and no recurring fees. That means no cloud-based subscription, no billing cycle, and no interruptions. This version doesn't include Microsoft's newer AI integrations, but for business professionals who just want to build spreadsheets, write proposals, and organize email without bloat or distraction, that's actually a perk. Office 2019 is a stable, tried-and-true toolset that gets the job done without requiring a learning curve or surprise app updates. If you prefer owning your software outright and cutting subscription clutter from your business expenses, this is your moment. Get the most affordable version of Microsoft Office you'll find, and make that monthly $10 work harder somewhere else. Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it's just $29.97 this week (reg. $229). No coupon is needed to get this price. Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
OpenAI features designed to compete with Microsoft, Google, The Information says
OpenAI has quietly designed a rival to compete with Microsoft Office (MSFT) and Google Workspace (GOOGL), with features that allow people to collaborate on documents and communicate via chat in ChatGPT, The Information's Amir Efrati and Natasha Mascarenhas report, citing two people who have seen the designs. Launching these features would allow OpenAI to compete more directly against Microsoft, its biggest investor and business partner, the report notes. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders' Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on MSFT: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue OpenAI Is Poaching Microsoft's Customers and Triggering an AI Turf War Microsoft to conduct another round of layoffs at Xbox division, Bloomberg says Trump Trade: Trump slams Powell while Fed chair appears before Congress Quantum Computing News: New Roadmaps, Real Timelines, and Rising Stocks Top Analyst Views Microsoft Stock (MSFT) as a 'Key Beneficiary of AI Adoption' Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why and how Europe's growing fear of Donald Trump is bad news for Microsoft, Google, Apple and others
European governments and institutions are accelerating efforts to reduce their dependence on American tech giants after President Trump used executive powers to force Microsoft to suspend the email account of an International Criminal Court prosecutor investigating Israel for war crimes, according to a New York Times report. The February incident involving ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has become a watershed moment for European policymakers, who now view America's tech dominance as a potential weapon that could be wielded against them even in allied nations like the Netherlands. Microsoft's swift compliance with Trump's sanctions order shocked European officials and crystallized long-standing concerns about digital sovereignty . "The I.C.C. showed this can happen," Dutch cybersecurity expert and European Parliament member Bart Groothuis told the Times. "It's not just fantasy." Groothuis, who previously supported U.S. tech firms, said he has done a "180-degree flip-flop" and now believes Europe must take steps toward greater technological independence. European institutions scramble for alternatives The ICC incident has prompted immediate changes across European institutions. Some ICC officials have switched to Proton, a Swiss encrypted email provider, while the court has implemented extensive measures to ensure operational continuity despite ongoing U.S. sanctions, three sources familiar with the communications revealed to the Times. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Laxmi Ji Idol For Wealth, Peace & Happiness Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo American tech companies control over 70 percent of Europe's cloud computing market, making the region heavily dependent on services from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft for essential digital infrastructure including file storage, data retrieval, and software operations. Tech giants offer reassurances but damage spreads Microsoft President Brad Smith acknowledged that the ICC episode was a "symptom" of eroding U.S.-Europe trust, telling the Times that "the I.C.C. issue added fuel to a fire that was already burning." The company has since enacted policy changes to protect customers in similar geopolitical situations, and when Trump sanctioned four additional ICC judges this month, their email accounts remained active. CEO Satya Nadella recently visited the Netherlands to announce new "sovereign solutions" for European institutions, including enhanced legal and data security protections. Amazon and Google have launched similar initiatives targeting European customers concerned about geopolitical volatility. European governments pivot toward digital independence Despite corporate reassurances, European nations are pursuing concrete alternatives. Denmark's digital ministry is testing Microsoft Office replacements, while Germany's Schleswig-Holstein state is reducing Microsoft usage. The Netherlands government has made digital autonomy a central priority, exploring partnerships with European providers. The European Union has announced billion-euro investments in AI data centers and cloud infrastructure designed to reduce American tech dependence. European Parliament lawmakers are discussing policies favoring EU-based tech services for government procurement. European cloud providers like Netherlands-based Intermax Group and Switzerland's Exoscale report significant increases in new business. "A few years ago, everyone was saying, 'They're our trusted partners,'" Intermax CEO Ludo Baauw told the Times, referring to U.S. tech companies. "There's been a radical change." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
