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GW Law Professor Selected for University of Chicago Fellowship

GW Law Professor Mary Anne Franks has been selected as a spring 2026 fellow with the University of Chicago’s Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression. Professor Franks, the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Civil Rights Law, is an internationally recognized expert on the intersection of civil rights, free speech, and technology. As a fellow, she will explore the tensions between free expression and harm and connect directly with University of Chicago students through office hours and campus conversations. The Chicago Forum promotes the understanding, practice, and advancement of free and open discourse at the University of Chicago and beyond. Professor Franks, who taught at the University of Chicago Law School as a Bigelow Fellow early in her career, says she is looking forward to returning to the institution that helped shape her scholarly trajectory. “The U of C provided such an intellectually vibrant and challenging community for me when I was starting out as a legal academic,” she said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to return there as a Fellow for the Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, especially at a time when authoritarian attacks are gravely endangering academic freedom and freedom of expression in the United States.” Professor Franks’ scholarship has had a global impact. She has written two books, Fearless Speech: Breaking Free from the First Amendment and The Cult of the Constitution: Our Deadly Devotion to Guns and Free Speech. Her scholarship has also been published in numerous law journals, including the Harvard Law Review, the California Law Review, and the UCLA Law Review. Earlier this year, she received the NAACP’s Archwell Digital Civil Rights Award, which was presented in partnership with Archwell Philanthropies, home to the charitable work of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess

Time for government, business leaders to figure out AI <b>cybersecurity</b> regulation

Time for government, business leaders to figure out AI cybersecurity regulation Experts say capabilities of agentic AI rising, along with risk to personal data, economy, national security As new agentic AI models continue to come online, cybersecurity experts laud their ability to sift through vast quantities of data quickly and autonomously — making them great tools to help fight cybercrime. But, they warn, those attributes could also be put to work by bad actors to hack systems and risk our personal data, our economy, and our national security. A group of cybersecurity experts were recently brought together for a Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Security discussion, during which all agreed that it’s high time for business and government leaders to regulate the tech — before it’s too late. Cybercrime, recent data from IBM shows, is rising rapidly. According to a 2026 study, the company found that cyberattacks aimed at public-facing software and systems applications — many of which utilized AI — had a year-over-year increase of 44 percent. High-profile attacks include the November data breach of Anthropic — the AI company behind the Claude Code assistant. Attackers were able to use their own AI models to scan for weak spots in its source code and publish its inner workings. “The unfortunate thing is that the bad people only have to win once in some sense, whereas the defenders have to win all the time,” said James Mickens, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science. “To me, at least, that’s a concerning aspect of what it means to think about agentic cyber security, attacks and defenses.” Moreover, cybercriminals have made alarming progress in phishing attacks over recent months, using AI to fine-tune targets and craft messages. “A year ago, we still had email messages in our inbox that had misspellings that

Newly Discovered PowMix Botnet Hits Czech Workers Using Randomized C2 Traffic

Cybersecurity researchers have warned of an active malicious campaign that's targeting the workforce in the Czech Republic with a previously undocumented botnet dubbed PowMix since at least December 2025. "PowMix employs randomized command-and-control (C2) beaconing intervals, rather than persistent connection to the C2 server, to evade the network signature detections," Cisco Talos researcher Chetan Raghuprasad said in a report published today. "PowMix embeds the encrypted heartbeat data along with unique identifiers of the victim machine into the C2 URL paths, mimicking legitimate REST API URLs. PowMix has the capability to remotely update the new C2 domain to the botnet configuration file dynamically." The attack chain begins with a malicious ZIP file, likely delivered via a phishing email, to activate a multi-stage infection chain that drops PowMix. Specifically, it involves a Windows Shortcut (LNK) that's used to launch a PowerShell loader, which then extracts the malware embedded within the archive, decrypts it, and runs it in memory. The never-before-seen botnet is designed to facilitate remote access, reconnaissance, and remote code execution, while establishing persistence by means of a scheduled task. At the same time, it verifies the process tree to ensure that another instance of the same malware is not running on the compromised host. PowMix's remote management logic allows it to process two different kinds of commands sent from the C2 server. Any non #-prefixed response causes PowMix to shift to arbitrary execution mode, and decrypt and run the obtained payload. - #KILL, to initiate a self-deletion routine and wipe traces of all malicious artifacts - #HOST, to enable C2 migration to a new server URL. In parallel, it also opens a decoy document with compliance-themed lures as a distraction mechanism. The lure documents reference legitimate brands like Edeka and include compensation data and valid legislative references, potentially in an

Alden Trust Grant Powers Creation of <b>Cybersecurity</b> Teaching Lab at St. Lawrence

Alden Trust Grant Powers Creation of Cybersecurity Teaching Lab at St. Lawrence St. Lawrence University has received a $200,000 grant commitment from the George I. Alden Trust to support a new Cybersecurity Teaching Laboratory that will enhance the University’s newest academic major: Cybersecurity. The grant continues the Alden Trust’s longstanding partnership with St. Lawrence, which has strengthened campus learning facilities at pivotal moments—including support for the Bloomberg Finance Lab. The Cybersecurity Teaching Lab builds on that momentum, supporting critical infrastructure upgrades to transform a traditional classroom into a specialized environment designed specifically for one of today’s fastest-growing and most in-demand fields. The lab will provide a dynamic, collaborative learning environment where students develop technical expertise and knowledge through simulations, collaborative projects, and real-world problem solving. Planned for completion this spring and summer, the Cybersecurity Teaching Laboratory is expected to open its doors to students and faculty in fall 2026. The Cybersecurity major is the seventh academic program launched at St. Lawrence since 2020, reflecting the University’s commitment to expanding interdisciplinary offerings aligned with emerging career opportunities. “We are grateful to the George I. Alden Trust for its generous support of this important new facility, which will strengthen experiential learning opportunities for students in our new Cybersecurity major,” says President Kate Morris. “This investment will help prepare students for one of today’s fastest-growing fields through a liberal arts focus that complements interdisciplinary perspectives with content expertise.” Assistant Professor of Computer Science Kevin Angstadt ’14, who helped guide the Cybersecurity major from concept to approval, says the program was intentionally designed to balance technical depth with flexibility. “The new Cybersecurity Lab will serve as the hub for cybersecurity education at St. Lawrence, enabling us to teach a range of courses that bridge the gap between theory and practice and provide our students

OPSWAT, Emerson Partner on OT <b>Cybersecurity</b> Globally

Katie Bavoso sits down with MK Tong, CEO of SotaTek USA, to break down why infrastructureânot AI modelsâis the real bottleneck for enterprise success SecurityBridge CEO Jesper Zerlang discusses SAP security, AI risks like data poisoning, and why channel partnerships are key to 2026 growth. Spyglass MTG CEO Dori Albert explains how organizations can build secure and data-driven AI platforms that deliver real business value. Leaders from Harbor IT explain why the traditional generalist MSP model is fading and how specialization, cybersecurity expertise, and vertical industry focus are shaping the future of managed services. In this Channel Insider crossover, the hosts of The Neuron break down the AI race, the bubble debate, and what todayâs tools really mean for businesses and everyday users. SurePath AI CEO Casey Bleeker explains how organizations can accelerate generative AI adoption using zero trust principles and AWS guardrails without increasing security and compliance risk. - Channel Business - Security - AI - Infrastructure Related Topics - - Lists & Awards Top ArticlesLink to AI 50 ListAI 50 ListChannel Insider's editorial team spotlights the top AI leaders from MSPs, vendors, and channel businesses delivering measurable outcomes.Link to CML 100 HonoreesCML 100 HonoreesCheck out our CML 100 List to discover the top channel marketing individuals who are transforming channel marketing for their organizations.Link to HSP 250 ListHSP 250 ListView our HSP250 list to see the top Hybrid Solution Providers that have proactively embraced the future of tech.Link to The 2024 Channel Insider VIP ListThe 2024 Channel Insider VIP ListChannel Insider sought nominations from IT vendors, solution providers, and partners to highlight impactful collaborations. Check out our top choices here. - Resources Resource HubsFeatured ResourcesLink to Video: SotaTek US CEO on AI Infrastructure Mistakes MSPs Must FixVideo: SotaTek US CEO on AI Infrastructure Mistakes MSPs Must Fix Katie

How AI companies are quietly becoming the world's <b>cybersecurity</b> gatekeepers

When Anthropic launched Project Glasswing earlier this month, it did so with the kind of announcement that sounded like public service and read like a market consolidation. The initiative brought together Amazon Web Services (AWS), Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks — essentially the who’s who of the global technology industry — under a single coordinated effort to secure the world’s most critical software using an unreleased AI model called Claude Mythos Preview. Published - April 17, 2026 06:12 am IST

The Great Rotation Hit <b>Cybersecurity</b> Stocks Hard. Smart Investors Are Buying the Dip.

The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) supercharged technology stocks in recent years, but the situation changed in 2026. Wall Street's "great rotation" away from tech stocks caused a sharp drop in the share prices of cybersecurity companies. Now, investors have an opportunity to scoop up stocks in the sector at attractive valuations. Buying the dip makes sense because cybersecurity is a necessity to safely navigate online. That's why the industry is forecast to grow from $248 billion in 2026 to $699 billion by 2034. In fact, Palo Alto Networks (PANW +1.74%) CEO Nikesh Arora took advantage of the situation to buy company shares worth about $10 million in March. This was his first buy since 2019. Here's a look at this situation and why it makes sense to buy cybersecurity stocks now. Cybersecurity remains a resilient sector In early 2026, Wall Street believed that artificial intelligence (AI) could usurp cybersecurity companies' business. But several factors make that possibility unlikely. The stakes are too high for organizations to entrust IT security to unproven AI substitutes from the likes of Anthropic, despite its release of an AI capable of finding software vulnerabilities. Look no further than CrowdStrike's technical glitch in 2024 for an example of cybersecurity's central role in today's digital world. The company's mistake caused global disruption to airlines, banks, and hospitals. Rather than lose to AI, the more likely scenario is for cybersecurity enterprises to partner with the companies building artificial intelligence. Both Palo Alto Networks and SentinelOne (S +5.17%) are collaborating with Alphabet-owned Google Cloud to ensure AI infrastructure is protected. NASDAQ: PANW Key Data Points Moreover, several IT security providers have already woven artificial intelligence into their platforms. A prime example is SentinelOne, an early adopter of the tech, having built AI into the core of its systems

<b>Cybersecurity</b> experts warn of new CAPTCHA scam

Cybersecurity experts warn of new CAPTCHA scam How to protect yourself online ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - You’ve probably seen CAPTCHA security prompts on some websites to verify that you’re human. But cybersecurity experts are warning you to watch out for CAPTCHA scams. CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. Retail, banking, and other websites often ask users to click on CAPTCHA prompts to verify that they’re not a robot. CAPTCHA prompts are designed to prevent automated bots from rapidly buying up inventory of things like popular concert tickets or products, or opening online accounts. But Dean Gefen, CEO and founder of cybersecurity firm NuKudo, says fake CAPTCHA scams are popping up on both real and fake websites. Some will ask users to press Windows Key +R, then Ctrl +V, then Enter, ask users for passwords to accounts, or to download something on their device. “If the CAPTCHA is asking you to put something on your device, to do a shortcut, it shouldn’t be the case. Also, CAPTCHA doesn’t require you to insert your name or password. And it doesn’t require you to download software on your device,” explained Gefen. Those requests, he said, are red flags for CAPTCHA scams. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports that when victims press the sequence of keys, it can open a hidden command box on the device, paste in and run a script to download a virus. The ITRC says it’s called the “STealC” virus, which can track what you do on the device, as well as collect passwords and cookies from Outlook and other accounts. If you do fall for a CAPTCHA scam, ITRC says immediately take action: - Disconnect your device from the internet, but turning off the WIFI or unplug the

CoSN2026: Practical <b>Cybersecurity</b> Strategies for Small and Midsize Districts

When it comes to cybersecurity readiness, McKaveney presented five questions that small districts and those with limited staffing and budgets should answer. - Do we know what we have, what data we protect and where our biggest risks are? - Are we using basic protections that prevent the most common attacks? - Would we notice if something went wrong? - What do we do if a cyber incident happens tomorrow? - Could we recover learning and operations quickly after an incident or other disaster? Identify Cyber Inventory and Risks CoSN guidance recommends starting with an asset inventory and risk assessment to ensure cybersecurity efforts are directed properly to maximize investments. This could be as simple as a list on a spreadsheet or identifying assets via helpdesk software, McKaveney said. DISCOVER: K–12 schools need a roadmap for effective cybersecurity. Richard Platts, CTO of Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Pennsylvania, said data inventory is just as important as hardware and software inventory. Governance and ownership are a large piece of that. Data ownership is a three-tier system, he said. “Think about your your IEP [Individualized Education Program] management software,” he said. “I've always insisted that that data owner is the special education director. It's a named person who owns that data. They might not do the daily maintenance of that data or the data entry, but at the end of the day, they're responsible for the overall quality of that data to be able to provide services to students.” The next tier down are the data stewards, the people responsible for the maintenance and fitness the data, typically the IT team. “Then you have a lot of other people down there, as general data users, who might be doing the day-to-day data entry or are relying on that data to do their job,”

Virginia's governor promotes <b>cybersecurity</b> chief Mike Watson to state CIO role

Virginia’s governor promotes cybersecurity chief Mike Watson to state CIO role Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who assumed office in January, on Wednesday named Michael Watson, Virginia’s chief information security officer, as the commonwealth’s new CIO. Watson fills a slot recently occupied by Bob Osmond, who was last week named as Delaware’s new CIO. After more than 18 years with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Watson is tasked with leading the state’s enterprise IT, cloud, artificial intelligence and “digital modernization” efforts, according to a bio posted to the agency’s website. It also notes his reputation “for bridging technical depth with strategic execution.” The agency says it manages 65,000 users, 2,500 applications and $1.3 billion in annual technology procurement. According to his LinkedIn profile, Watson started his career by working a variety of technical roles over seven years with the Ajax Electric Company, a Pennsylvania manufacturer of heat treatment furnaces. He spent four years as a senior systems programmer at the University of Pennsylvania and nearly one-and-a-half years doing IT at the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts. He joined Virginia’s technology agency in 2007, as a director of security incident management, before working his way up to the deputy CISO role in 2011. Watson is credited with heading numerous cybersecurity initiatives in Virginia, including shifting the commonwealth toward a “whole of state” cyber program, providing greater support for educational institutions and other non-state-government offices. In 2024, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers presented Watson with its Thomas M. Jarrett State Cybersecurity Leadership Award, a recognition of his work advancing cybersecurity policy in Virginia. He’s credited with implementing a zero-trust strategy and advancing cybersecurity training for state workers, but Watson has also distinguished himself by the length of his tenure. Serving more than a decade in a CISO role puts him

Anthropic releases Claude Opus 4.7 with automated <b>cybersecurity</b> safeguards

Anthropic releases Claude Opus 4.7 with automated cybersecurity safeguards Software teams building agentic AI workflows have been pushing frontier models toward longer, unsupervised task runs. Claude Opus 4.7, now generally available from Anthropic, is aimed squarely at that demand, with particular gains in software engineering, multimodal processing, and the kind of instruction fidelity that matters when a model is running tasks autonomously over multiple steps. Opus 4.7 is available across all Claude products and the API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, and Microsoft Foundry. Pricing remains the same as Opus 4.6: $5 per million input tokens and $25 per million output tokens. What changed from Opus 4.6 Opus 4.7 is a notable improvement on Opus 4.6 in advanced software engineering, with particular gains on the most difficult tasks. The model handles complex, long-running tasks with rigor and consistency, pays precise attention to instructions, and devises ways to verify its own outputs before reporting back. On the vision side, the upgrade is significant. Opus 4.7 can accept images up to 2,576 pixels on the long edge, approximately 3.75 megapixels, more than three times as many as prior Claude models. That increase supports use cases including computer-use agents reading dense screenshots, data extractions from complex diagrams, and work that needs pixel-perfect references The higher resolution is a model-level change, meaning images sent to the API are automatically processed at greater fidelity; users who do not need the extra detail can downsample images before sending to control token costs. Instruction-following behavior has also shifted in ways that require attention from teams migrating existing deployments. Where previous models interpreted instructions loosely or skipped parts entirely, Opus 4.7 takes the instructions literally. Users should re-tune their prompts and harnesses accordingly. Opus 4.7 is also better at using file system-based memory. It remembers important notes

The federal government's most underrated <b>cybersecurity</b> tool

- Safe Mode The federal government’s most underrated cybersecurity tool In this episode of Safe Mode, we sit down with Philip George, Executive Technical Strategist at Merlin Group to talk about the real challenges federal agencies face at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI adoption, and post-quantum cryptography. Philip breaks down the disconnect between cyber spending and mission outcomes, why rushing into AI without sound identity management and data integrity is a recipe for disaster, and what evolving federal cryptographic requirements and shortened certificate lifecycles mean for government IT. We dig into why visibility — simply knowing what’s on your network — remains the most powerful defensive posture regardless of the threat, explore the tension between zero trust and agentic AI, and hear Philip’s counterintuitive take that the answer to AI-driven security challenges might just be more AI, purpose-built and narrow in scope. Also, Greg sits down with Chris Townsend, Elastic’s Global VP of Public Sector, at the Elastic Public Sector Summit to unpack how agencies can operationalize data amid rising cyber threats. Townsend explains why open standards and cross-agency data sharing matter—and how agentic AI can help modernize SOC operations by prioritizing alerts and speeding response times. In our reporter chat, Greg Otto and Derek Johnson break down the surge of AI-in-cybersecurity developments—from Anthropic’s Project Glasswing and the “too dangerous to release” Mythos model to OpenAI’s trusted-access approach—focusing on what these tools could mean for vulnerability discovery and the balance between real risk and hype.

AI Use in <b>Cybersecurity</b> Could Show Holes in Short Term, Says Fitch

U.S. cyber insurers in 2025 reversed a couple of years of decline in direct written premiums to post growth of 11% but, according to Fitch Ratings, there are some underwriting concerns brought on by developments with artificial intelligence. Fitch said Anthropic’s Mythos model has raised eyebrows in the financial and cybersecurity worlds. In the short to medium term, vulnerabilities will probably outnumber patches as the artificial intelligence tool works on cyber threat intelligence and incident response. Related: Anthropic Touts AI Cybersecurity Project With Big Tech Partners “AI is particularly disruptive to cyber risk because traditional vulnerability analysis was labor-intensive and offered limited financial upside for researchers, a gap AI now fills at scale and speed,” said Fitch in its brief on the cyber marketplace on Feb. 15. “This lowers barriers for attackers, expands third-party risks, and could materially increase attack volume.” Growth in the cyber market was mostly driven by volume, with policies-in-force up 35% to offset soft aggregate pricing. This, said Fitch, indicates a great awareness among buyers of cyber exposures, as well as a competitive underwriting environment. Larger companies are still more likely to have cyber insurance protection while smaller companies lag behind. Yet, Fitch said, demand overall has “strengthened as boards and management teams recognize that cyber events can disrupt operations, trigger legal liabilities, and impair revenue even when direct financial losses are limited.” Meanwhile, insurers have and will continue to assess and adjust contract language while integrating cybersecurity assessments into underwriting. Policy wordings related to war exclusions, silent cyber, business interruption, and contingent losses “will be critical,” added Fitch. A more detailed look at the cyber market is expected this summer, said the credit-rating agency. Was this article valuable? Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Should the Mythos AI model raise <b>cybersecurity</b> alarms?

On April 7, AI firm Anthropic said its new model, Mythos, is so powerful at finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities that it will not be released publicly. Instead, the company said it will be shared with firms that build critical software used across the economy. The initiative, known as Project Glasswing, has raised cybersecurity concerns among most firms, which must now contend with AI-enabled attackers using so-called “zero-day” exploits, which are unknown even to a given piece of software’s developers, and therefore are not patched through software updates. The Hindu reported last week that the Union government and the Indian IT sector’s main cybersecurity body are both studying the implications of Mythos. Should the Mythos AI model raise cybersecurity alarms? Aseem Jakhar and Sharda Tickoo discuss this in a conversation moderated by Aroon Deep. Aseem Jakhar is the founder of Payatu and co-founder of the Nullcon cybersecurity conference; Sharda Tickoo is the country manager, India at Trend AI, formerly Trend Micro Published - April 17, 2026 01:49 am IST

Hot Picks: <b>Cybersecurity</b> and AI trends highlight software stocks to watch

Software stocks are drawing renewed attention as AI adoption reshapes enterprise technology and heightens cybersecurity risks across industries. BNN Bloomberg spoke with Fatima Boolani, managing director and co-head of software equity research at Citi, about how platform scale, data protection and AI infrastructure are driving long-term opportunities in the sector. Key Takeaways - AI advancements are increasing both the scale and sophistication of cyber threats, reinforcing demand for cybersecurity solutions. - Large, integrated platforms are becoming critical partners as enterprises deploy AI across core operations. - Data growth and sprawl are raising the importance of backup, recovery and resilience capabilities. - Observability and system monitoring are essential as AI infrastructure becomes more complex and mission-critical. - Market weakness in software has created potential opportunities in high-quality cybersecurity names. Read the full transcript below: ANDREW: On Hot Picks today, we are focusing on software. Our guest has Palo Alto, the giant cybersecurity provider, as a top selection. We’re joined by Fatima Boolani, managing director and co-head of software equity research at Citi. Thanks very much indeed for joining us. FATIMA: Thanks for having me. ANDREW: Palo Alto, in some ways, it’s the IBM of cybersecurity. People don’t get fired for hiring them. Why? Where do you — I mean, we know cybersecurity is a growth industry. What, in particular, about Palo Alto do you think investors should focus on? FATIMA: There are two very important reasons why we are very decidedly advocating for investors to build bigger core positions in their portfolios with respect to cybersecurity and increase their cybersecurity exposure. The first one is the last two weeks, and more particularly the last week. We’ve seen some very important, consequential, almost tectonic plate-shifting news out of the frontier labs of the Anthropics and the OpenAIs of the world in terms

<b>Cybersecurity</b> Alert for America's Railroads

Following a newly issued cybersecurity warning from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), SMART-TD is alerting all members across both freight and passenger rail operations of what they need to know. The alert highlights a credible threat from Iranian state-affiliated cyber actors targeting railroad systems by attempting to access internet-connected industrial control devices used throughout rail operations. What Risk Does Iran Pose to the U.S. Rail System? According to the FRA, these foreign actors are specifically targeting programmable logic controllers (PLCs). These are the behind-the-scenes computer systems that help control critical railroad infrastructure. If compromised, these systems could be manipulated or disabled, potentially causing service disruptions, or in the worst case, interfering with the safe movement of our trains. Federal officials also warn that attackers are scanning for exposed systems across the internet, looking for any vulnerabilities they can exploit. This means they are not just targeting one railroad or one type of equipment. This table, provided by the FRA, lays out some of their largest concerns. Why This Matters to Railroaders While much of this technology operates in the background, the impact of a cyber incident would be felt directly by the operating crews. Railroaders are the last line of defense when something doesn’t look, feel, or operate the way it should out there. Keeping that in mind, we encourage you to read over the table of potential issues the FRA released today. Please include discussions of what this warning means on your territory as part of your crew’s job briefings. The idea that our signals, crossing gates, drawbridges, ventilation in tunnels, and even our braking systems have been flagged as targets of cybercriminals is not something any of us can afford to blow off. History has taught us that critical infrastructure like railroads often becomes a high-priority target during

Arm CEO Rene Haas on AI <b>cybersecurity</b> risks

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ATDT, Microsoft Team Up to Boost Mexico <b>Cybersecurity</b>

ATDT, Microsoft Team Up to Boost Mexico Cybersecurity The ATDT and Microsoft signed a memorandum to advance along with Mexico’s National Cybersecurity Plan 2025–2030, addressing rising ransomware and identity-based threats. The initiative targets public sector resilience, impacting government entities, cloud providers, and cybersecurity firms. Mexico’s Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency (ATDT) and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen national cybersecurity infrastructure. This agreement integrates into the National Cybersecurity Plan 2025–2030 to mitigate digital risks and elevate protection standards within the public sector. "The digital transformation of the state requires solid foundations of security,” says Heidy Rocha, Director General of Cybersecurity, ATDT. The implementation of this agreement addresses critical operational safeguards in government digital services, considering the interdependency between state functionality and information security, she adds. The memorandum of understanding focuses on supporting institutional capacities, promoting continuous training, and fostering a cybersecurity culture across agencies, decentralized bodies, and public entities to protect digital services and citizen information. Mexico is a Frequent Victim The significance of this alliance is framed by a rising threat landscape affecting the digital infrastructure of Mexico. According to data from IQSEC, Mexico moved from 16th place in 2024 to 11th place globally in ransomware attack attempts during 2025. This progression establishes the nation as the second most targeted market in Latin America, following Brazil. The rise of Mexico in global threat rankings is linked to structural deficiencies in identity management and multi-cloud security. Research conducted by Permiso Security indicates that 76% of cybersecurity professionals report that more than 54% of security incidents in previous months involved issues relating to identity management, establishing the compromise of human and non-human identities as the primary entry vector. The global cybersecurity environment revealed a high concentration of incidents in North America in 2025. The United States alone accounted for

Zscaler and OpenAI Join Forces to Advance the Next Era of <b>Cybersecurity</b>

Zscaler Blog Erhalten Sie die neuesten Zscaler Blog-Updates in Ihrem Posteingang Zscaler and OpenAI Join Forces to Advance the Next Era of Cybersecurity Zscaler is proud to partner with OpenAI as part of their Trusted Access for Cyber (TAC) program, which expands trusted, verified access to advanced AI capabilities for defenders. As part of this program, we plan to use GPT 5.4-Cyber, a TAC-enabled variant of GPT‑5.4, to further improve cybersecurity for our Zero Trust Exchange platform and for our customers. GPT 5.4-Cyber will be integrated into our secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) workflows, empowering our teams to instantly detect, triage, and mitigate vulnerabilities earlier and patch security vulnerabilities faster. In addition to safeguarding software, Zscaler has a long history of harnessing OpenAI technology to fight AI-based attacks, including within our AI Red Teaming and Agentic SecOps solutions. Safeguarding the Zscaler Platform Secure software development is a business imperative at Zscaler. Participating in Open AI’s TAC program enables us to integrate GPT 5.4-Cyber and Codex Security into Zscaler’s internal multi‑agent security architecture for cyber defenses and product hardening. GPT 5.4-Cyber is a key enabler to offer Security-as-a-Service to our developers throughout the SDLC process, from validating threat models in designs, to assisting with secure code reviews, finding vulnerabilities, and executing black-box testing on built artifacts. We are approaching TAC with both a defensive and offensive mindset. In addition to improving security through the SDLC, we are leveraging the model to improve cyber readiness by turning large volumes of security signals into actionable intelligence, prioritizing true risk, and accelerating remediations. Moreover, we are relying on the model for offensive-informed posture hardening by modeling adversarial attack paths and highlighting weak controls, which enables us to neutralize exposures at unprecedented speeds. Combining the frontier OpenAI models with Zscaler’s industry‑leading Zero Trust architecture leads