Alexander Martin

And assuming all scam types and loss volumes are underreported at the same rate doesn't strike me as likely, and isn't supported by that 2017 BJS survey: bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/...

I think using data to inform the approach to this issue is critical, but it can be done better than CFA's attempt.

I'm not entirely confident about their estimates. Applying a 2017 reporting rate to 2024 losses seems unwise.

Iranian influence operation using fake personas to deceive US Instagram users disrupted, Meta says Meta said it disrupted an influence operation linked to Iran that used “sophisticated fake personas” on Instagram to build relationships with U.S. users before introducing political messaging.

Meta said Wednesday it disrupted an influence operation linked to Iran that used “sophisticated fake personas” on Instagram to build relationships with U.S. users before introducing political messaging.

Meta says it culled millions of scam ads amid accusations that it profits from them Meta said it removed 159 million scam ads last year amid calls from U.S. lawmakers for an investigation into the company’s “facilitation of and profiting from” fraudulent advertising.

Meta said it removed 159 million scam ads in 2025, amid calls from U.S. lawmakers for an investigation into the company’s “facilitation of and profiting from” fraudulent advertising.

Exclusive: Foreign hacker in 2023 compromised Epstein files held by FBI, source and documents show A foreign hacker compromised files relating to the FBI’s investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a break-in at the bureau’s New York Field Office three years ago, according to ​a...

Read more, in @raphae.li’s story here: www.reuters.com/world/us/for...

UK plans to shift fraud fight onto telecoms, tech companies The plan is the latest effort to curb what has become the most common crime in the United Kingdom, with official surveys estimating that fraud accounts for about 40% of recorded crime.

The British government on Monday unveiled a new fraud strategy that shifts more responsibility for stopping scams onto telecom companies, technology platforms and financial firms, but critics question whether it goes far enough.

BREAKING: Andrew Milne, the solicitor who has been buying up hundreds of freeholds in Sheffield and then demanding money from homeowners, has been sentenced to a 24 month community order and 300 hours of unpaid work for “grossly offensive and menacing” emails to the court reporter Daniel Cloake.

Great work!

The mystery of a globetrotting iPhone-hacking toolkit Tools used in a series of hacking campaigns by hackers in Russia, Ukraine, and China may have originated inside U.S. government contractor L3Harris, TechCrunch has learned.

SCOOP: The iPhone mass hacking toolkit used by Russian spies was developed at U.S. military contractor L3Harris, former employees said.

The Coruna toolkit was used against Ukrainians and by Chinese cybercriminals, according to Google. But the toolkit was initially developed for Western governments.

Kremlin hackers attempting to compromise Signal, WhatsApp accounts globally Russian state hackers are carrying out a global campaign to compromise Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to government officials and military personnel, Dutch intelligence warned Monday.

Russian state hackers are carrying out a global campaign to compromise Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to government officials and military personnel, Dutch intelligence warned Monday.

Has anyone seen any attempts to locate the UAE/AWS drone strike sites yet?

Labour MP’s partner among 3 arrested in UK on suspicion of spying for China London’s Metropolitan Police said officers had searched addresses in London, Wales and East Kilbride

👀

Leaked documentary evidence, that should say!

(S+) Iran: So gnadenlos späht das Regime die eigene Bevölkerung aus – ein Insider packt aus US-Präsident Trump fordert die Iraner auf, das Regime zu stürzen. Doch die Führung in Teheran hat einen gigantischen Überwachungsapparat erschaffen. SPIEGEL-Recherchen gewähren Einblick in das Spähsys...

Leaked documents provide a frightful look into the Iranian regime's surveillance apparatus.

Western allies form 6G security coalition amid tech rivalry with China The Global Coalition on Telecoms (GCOT) — comprising the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, with Sweden and Finland joining at the launch — unveiled voluntary security and res...

🇬🇧🇺🇸🇨🇦🇯🇵🇦🇺🇸🇪🇫🇮

New: A group of Western and Indo-Pacific nations launched a coalition on Tuesday aimed at shaping the security foundations of next-generation 6G mobile networks, as China accelerates its own research and investment in the technology.

"Giants" is plural too...

British organizations urged to be alert to threat of Iranian cyberattacks In an advisory, the U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre warned British organizations to review and strengthen their cyber defenses amid the evolving situation in Iran and throughout the Middle East.

In an advisory alert, Britain's National Cyber Security Centre says there was “likely no current significant change in the direct cyber threat from Iran to the UK, however due to the fast-evolving nature of the conflict, this assessment may be subject to change.”

Orgs are urged to be alert.

Irish Independent: Man stole three coffee machines in a week from Monaghan department store.

How does he sleep at night?

Moscow man accused of posing as FSB officer to extort Conti ransomware gang A Moscow resident has been accused of trying to extort money from the notorious Conti ransomware group by posing as an officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service, according to local media reports.

A Moscow resident has been accused of trying to extort money from the notorious Conti ransomware group by posing as an officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service, according to local media reports.

✍️ @darynant.bsky.social

Urteil des Bundesgerichtshofs: Ein Königreich kann man nicht beleidigen Der Bundesgerichtshof weist Marokkos Klage gegen einen Bericht der ZEIT über die Spähsoftware Pegasus ab. Und stärkt den Schutz der Pressefreiheit.

🇩🇪Germany’s Federal Court of Justice has rejected 🇲🇦Morocco’s lawsuit against Die Zeit over its reporting on the Pegasus #spyware, reinforcing press freedom protections.

www.zeit.de/politik/ausl...

Well, well, well. It seems the authorities in Beijing are increasingly concerned about domestic IP theft. As the ancient Chinese saying goes: “我没想到豹子会吃掉我的脸。”

Link: www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/...

North Korean state hackers seen using Medusa ransomware in attacks on US, Middle East Cybersecurity researchers said they saw Medusa attacks launched by members of Lazarus — a well-known North Korean hacking operation housed within the country’s military — against a company in the Midd...

Hackers tied to one of North Korea’s most sophisticated state-backed groups have been seen deploying Medusa ransomware in financially-motivated attacks on at least two institutions

therecord.media/north-korean...

Beautiful use of “unctuously” there.

I guess us reading this kind of thing is called 'hopium' is that right?

Source: tass.ru/politika/265...

Thank you Derrick!

Ben Judah (@benjudah.bsky.social) Special Adviser to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary of the United Kingdom.

Candid and well-written look behind the Chagos deal by @benjudah.bsky.social, HT to @paulfscott.bsky.social for flagging it.

Crocuses in the garden opening up this weekend with a lovely bit of sunshine. Snowdrops in the background of course. Time to start some indoor seeding, some California poppies and Livingstone daisies that'll hopefully be ready to move outside once we've got past the chance of any more frosts!

Russia stepping up hybrid attacks, preparing for long standoff with West, Dutch intelligence warns Russia’s intensifying cyberattacks, sabotage and covert influence operations across Europe show the Kremlin is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the West, Dutch intelligence agencies said.

Russia’s intensifying cyberattacks, sabotage and covert influence operations across Europe show the Kremlin is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the West, Dutch intelligence agencies said in a report published this week.

I'm wary of asking a question already answered by the above post, but does that include sunflower hearts?

Looks like a pair of little house sparrows at my bird feeder this morning. The female at the front is a terribly messy eater...