Cyber (In)Securities – Issue 172

AI, Botnets, and the Expanding Global Threatscape

The latest edition of Cyber (In)Securities spotlights the fast-shifting cybersecurity landscape across the globe. From botnets exploiting cloud misconfigurations to AI reshaping regulatory debates, Edition 172 brings together news, analysis, and community insights to help leaders stay ahead of evolving digital risks.

Global Cybersecurity Threats: Supply Chain, Botnets, and Malware

This week, CISA issued an alert on “Shai-Hulud,” a self-replicating worm that compromised more than 500 npm packages in a major software supply chain attack. ShadowV2, a new botnet operating as a DDoS-for-hire service, is exploiting misconfigured AWS Docker containers, while Silent Push uncovered CountLoader, a malware loader linked to Russian ransomware groups LockBit, BlackBasta, and Qilin.

Other major threats include:

• A Cisco IOS zero-day vulnerability already exploited in the wild.
• Supermicro BMC flaws enabling persistent backdoors.
• Nation-state operations from North Korea, Iran, and China exploiting trust in cloud and email services.
• A record-breaking 22 Tbps DDoS attack highlighting the scale of disruption attackers can now unleash.

Trust, Safety, and Digital Resilience

Trust and safety challenges are also at the forefront. Discord’s age verification rollout has triggered widespread backlash from gamers over privacy and data collection. In Australia, proposals to ban under-16s from social media raise concerns that blanket restrictions may deepen risks rather than solve them. Meanwhile, AI-generated ransomware demonstrates that artificial intelligence isn’t introducing entirely new problems — but is accelerating the exploitation of existing vulnerabilities.

Governance, Geopolitics, and AI Regulation

Edition 172 also highlights governance developments shaping the future of digital safety:

• Italy becomes the first EU country to pass a comprehensive AI law, balancing innovation with transparency and human oversight.
• India hosts its first Trust and Safety Festival, positioning itself as a global hub for innovation and child protection.
• In Côte d’Ivoire, CyAN’s Inssata Diomandé joined regional leaders at the Abidjan Women in Tech Conference to address cybersecurity and digital trust in Africa.
• In Poland, Jean-Christophe Le Toquin focused on youth online safety at the International Conference on Image-Based Abuse.
• Vaishnavi J, founder of Vyanams Strategies, brought insights to India’s Trust and Safety Festival, while CyAN members Gilles Chevillon, Matthieu Camus, and Christian Navelot led discussions on AI and regulatory compliance in Europe.

Editor’s Desk & Root Access

• Kim Chandler McDonald examines the impact of AI on Australia’s economy, Discord’s credibility crisis, and the risks of blanket youth bans.
• Michael T. McDonald explains why phishing has moved beyond email into chat and collaboration tools, and why “AI-powered malware” is more about exploiting existing fragility than creating new threats.

CyAN Community Highlights

We’re proud to spotlight our members making global impact:

• Rupesh Shirke has been nominated for the SANS ICS/OT Practitioner of the Year Award. Voting is open until October 8.
• Sapann Harish Talwar will be speaking at c0c0n 2025 – Security and Hacking Conference in Kochi, India, on October 10-11.

What’s On Our Feed

This edition also features updates from across our global network, including Sarah Jane Mellor, Caroline Humer, Sylvain Hajri, Jean-Manuel Bullukian, Mohammed Shakil Khan, Gilles Chevillon, Jonathan Wood, Sándor Fehér, Yedhu Krishna Menon, Rupesh Shirke, and Sapann Harish Talwar.

Why Cyber (In)Securities Matters

At the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN), we believe sharing global insights is vital for building digital trust, strengthening cyber resilience, and connecting professionals across governance, privacy, AI safety, and threat intelligence. Cyber (In)Securities Edition 172 continues our mission to provide timely, curated knowledge to security leaders, policymakers, and innovators worldwide.

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