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A massive hoard of internal chats has been leaked from the Black Basta ransomware group, rivalling the Conti leaks of late February 2022. A 47 Mb JSON file of internal Black Basta chat logs was leaked by an actor named ExploitWhispers on February 11, 2025. Its existence did not become general knowledge until February 20, when the threat intelligence firm Prodaft posted brief details. The post included a note from ExploitWhispers, written in Russian, suggesting the leak happened because Black Basta had ‘hacked domestic banks’ (that is, Russian banks) and in doing so they had crossed the line. Prodaft also…

DISTOMO, Greece (AP) — Feeling overwhelmed by everyday obligations or doom-scrolling? The ancient Greeks had a remedy for burnout still practiced annually by their rural descendants.In the mountain village of Distomo, the “Koudounaraioi” — literally, the “Bell People” — transform themselves into half-human, half-beast revelers in a ritual dating back to pre-Christian times.Clad in sheep and goatskins with heavy hand-forged bronze bells chained to their waists, the Bell People danced through the streets Monday of this red-roofed village, a two-hour drive northwest of Athens.The deafening clatter the dancers make and their profanity-filled chants as they bound around a fire in…

In the realm of modern enterprise IT, which thrives on seamless integration across various platforms such as security, identity, and analytics, one aspect lags conspicuously behind: compliance. As enterprises increasingly operate on SaaS-based API-driven infrastructure, the necessity for compliance systems to evolve becomes undeniable.For IT and Unified Communications heads, transforming compliance should be a straightforward extension of the existing infrastructure, akin to security monitoring or identity management. Unfortunately, compliance often remains a rigid, isolated element that introduces operational challenges, compliance gaps, and significant costs, according to Theta Lake.Historically, compliance solutions have been crafted for slower, less dynamic environments. These legacy…

The intersection of cybersecurity and financial crime has emerged as a pivotal area of concern for both regulators and businesses globally.According to Arctic Intelligence, in an era where digital threats are increasingly complex, the necessity to merge cybersecurity protocols with financial crime risk assessments is more crucial than ever.Cyber threats such as ransomware attacks, where cybercriminals lock digital systems and demand a ransom, often paid in cryptocurrencies, are becoming a mainstream tactic for perpetrating financial crimes. These payments can be used to further finance illicit activities like money laundering. Business Email Compromise (BEC) and data breaches are other avenues through…

AI Agents, also known as Artificial Intelligence Agents, are software programs that harness technologies such as ML and NLP.According to Moody’s, these agents are not just tools; they are revolutionizing how tasks are performed in sectors like regulatory technology (RegTech). For instance, in due diligence processes, an AI Agent can autonomously conduct investigations, providing insights into entities by analyzing extensive global datasets. This capacity to manage complex tasks enhances productivity and efficiency in compliance operations.The role of GenAI in risk and compliance is transformative, primarily by building efficiency into routine and complex processes. A typical example is the daily screening…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t hear a challenge from conservative college students who say their freedom of speech is violated by a university program for reporting allegations of bias. Two of the nine justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, publicly said they would have heard the case. The students say Indiana University’s bias-response team stifles speech on campus by allowing anonymous reports about things that appear prejudiced or demeaning. The university says the program is aimed at education and support, and the two-person team doesn’t dole out punishment. The unnamed students are represented by the…

On 26 February 2025, the European Commission unveiled a comprehensive set of revisions aimed at streamlining EU sustainability reporting rules. According to Position Green, this proposal, an integral part of the EU’s Omnibus approach, seeks to amend several existing directives such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). This overhaul signifies a pivotal shift towards enhancing economic competitiveness and security within the EU.The proposed changes are particularly consequential for large entities, stipulating that only those with over 1,000 employees and either EUR 50m in turnover or…

In a surprising legal turn, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has decided to withdraw its lawsuit against Capital One, potentially forfeiting up to $2bn in reimbursements for customers. The dropped lawsuit is part of a broader shift under the bureau’s new leadership, which appears to be stepping back from a number of pending enforcement actions against financial companies. This move could affect dozens of cases nationally, signalling a significant policy change towards consumer protection enforcement.The original lawsuit accused Capital One of misleading consumers about the interest rates offered through its “360 Savings” accounts. While promoting the account as having…

New Zealand go into their Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday buoyed by beating the Proteas at the same venue in a tri-series last month. The Black Caps lost to India in their final Group A match on Sunday in Dubai but Tom Latham said it would have no bearing on the encounter for a place in the final. More relevant is that New Zealand chased down 305 against South Africa in Lahore after Kane Williamson scored 133 and also beat hosts Pakistan in the tri-series. “We’re fortunate that we had a tri-series in Pakistan and…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is voting Monday on whether to confirm former wrestling executive Linda McMahon as the nation’s education chief, a role that would place her atop a department that President Donald Trump has vilified and vowed to dismantle.McMahon would face the competing tasks of winding down the Education Department while also escalating efforts to achieve Trump’s agenda. Already the Republican president has signed sweeping orders to rid America’s schools of diversity programs and accommodations for transgender students while also calling for expanded school choice programs.At the same time, Trump has promised to shut down the department and…