After losing nearly $1 million to a tech-support scam and spending years scraping by on Social Security, Vermont retiree Jeanette Voss has had a life-changing experience. On Christmas Eve, the 71-year-old saw her stolen money reappear all at once, deposited directly into her bank account — with interest. The final tally? $1,033,000. “Overnight, my whole life changed,” she told New Hampshire Public Radio (1). Must Read For a crime that typically leaves victims financially and emotionally shattered, the ...

Core Viewpoint - Fortinet is actively participating in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to address global cybercrime challenges and promote strategies for accountability and deterrence in the cybersecurity landscape [1][4][10] Group 1: Fortinet's Role and Initiatives - Fortinet is a founding member of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Cybersecurity and is involved in various initiatives aimed at combating cybercrime, including the Cybercrime Bounty program [1][3] - Derek Manky, Chief Security Strategist at Fortinet, will present on incentivizing intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts to disrupt the cybercrime ecosystem during the forum [2][5] - The Cybercrime Bounty program is highlighted as a key initiative to disrupt the growing cybercrime market, emphasizing the importance of building alliances across sectors [2][3] Group 2: Economic Impact of Cybercrime - The annual losses from cybercrime are estimated to exceed $11 trillion, with the rise of AI-enabled cybercrime exacerbating the situation [5] - Organizations are facing an increasing number of tailored cyberattacks, necessitating collaborative approaches to enhance cybersecurity resilience [5][10] Group 3: Forum's Objectives and Discussions - The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting aims to foster dialogue among leaders from various sectors to address shared challenges and promote innovations for a better future [6][8] - Key discussions will focus on the paradigm shift in technology and its implications for cybersecurity, emphasizing the need for trust and collaboration [9][10]

Core Insights - The article discusses the rise of a criminal organization known as "The Com," which recruits young individuals, primarily teenagers, to conduct ransomware attacks against major corporations, exploiting their technical skills and naivety [3][4][19]. Recruitment and Operations - The Com prioritizes female candidates and offers training for inexperienced individuals, with compensation of $300 per successful call, paid in cryptocurrency [2][19]. - The organization has infiltrated U.S. and UK companies with a combined market cap exceeding $1 trillion, targeting around 120 companies, including well-known brands like Nike and Louis Vuitton [3][4]. Tactics and Techniques - The Com employs sophisticated social engineering tactics, utilizing platforms like LinkedIn and Slack to gather information about employees and corporate structures [7][10]. - Members of the group often mimic legitimate help desk calls to extract sensitive information from employees, exploiting the asymmetry in authentication processes [11][20]. Youth Involvement and Risks - Many of the young recruits are unaware of the severe legal consequences, with some facing federal charges and significant prison sentences for their involvement [4][17]. - The article highlights that the recruitment often begins in gaming communities, where young individuals are groomed for cybercrime [15][23]. Gender Dynamics - The organization has seen an increase in female participation, which is strategically leveraged for social engineering due to societal biases that underestimate women [19][22]. - Despite the growing number of female recruits, the leadership remains predominantly male, and women are often not given opportunities for advancement within the organization [22]. Parental Awareness and Cybersecurity - Parents often remain unaware of their children's involvement in cybercrime until law enforcement intervenes, highlighting a gap in monitoring online behavior [6][26]. - The complexity of online crimes makes it difficult for parents to recognize warning signs, necessitating a more proactive approach to cybersecurity at home [25][26].

Core Insights - The Global X Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:BUG) has experienced significant challenges throughout the year [1] Group 1: ETF Performance - The ETF has faced a rough year, indicating potential volatility in the cybersecurity sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Global X Cybersecurity ETF (NASDAQ:BUG) has underperformed in 2025 despite a strong underlying cybersecurity thesis, primarily due to heightened investor expectations for flawless performance from high-growth software companies [2][3]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Cybersecurity stocks are currently facing a "Perfection Regime," where investors expect impeccable execution despite strong fundamentals and increasing cyber threats [5]. - The emergence of AI-enabled agentic attacks is identified as a significant new frontier in cyber threats, leading to accelerated enterprise security spending [4]. Group 2: ETF Composition and Holdings - BUG has a concentrated portfolio with significant holdings in CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW), Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT), and Check Point Software (NASDAQ:CHKP), with 81.6% of its investments in Information Technology [5]. - The ETF's equal-weight approach allows underperforming stocks to potentially catch up in 2026 if the sector experiences a rotation [6]. Group 3: Future Performance Indicators - Key indicators for 2026 performance include enterprise IT budget announcements and security spending commitments, typically revealed in January and February earnings calls [7]. - Monitoring the execution quality of BUG's holdings is crucial, as companies must deliver on billings, guidance, and customer growth without any setbacks [7].

Thailand’s army has recast its deadly clash with Cambodia as a battle against cybercriminals, adding a new motive for bombing runs across the border that it says are aimed at rooting out scammers https://t.co/5Oe5oZRQ1y ...

AI in Law Enforcement - MahaCrimeOS AI is designed to detect patterns and provide direction in cybercrime reporting [1] - MahaCrimeOS AI is built using multiple technologies to create a safe and advanced platform [2] - MahaCrimeOS AI collaborates with Microsoft and CyberEye to meet the needs of Maharashtra [1] Digital Transformation in Policing - Almost 100% of investigations are getting digitally registered [2] - AI is being properly used in governance to help police do their job and recover funds [2] - The use of AI fulfills the needs of several million people and makes government function more efficiently [2]

We interviewed victims and scammers to unravel the digital arrest fraud that capitalized on India’s online revolution https://t.co/HCOk3Omt15 ...

South Korea's biggest online sex criminal sentenced to life in prison https://t.co/sqqPu4HBPa ...

Across South-East Asia tens of thousands of people toil to defraud Americans, Europeans and others in an industry that is estimated to steal over $500bn a year from victims worldwide https://t.co/mFRObdMDe0 ...