18-Sep-2025: Google Hack Drama, AI Crime Scripts & Fancy Bear’s Spycraft Escapades

Welcome to Hacked dAily, your go-to source for the latest in cyber chaos with a dash of humor! First up, Google faced the virtual equivalent of a joker hacking into Gotham's system, as hackers inserted a fake account into its law enforcement data, proving even the digital giants aren't immune to a bit of trolling. Next, the TA558 cyber gang swapped their crime novels for AI to script heists on Brazilian hotels with Venom RAT. It seems AI is great for many things, even helping criminals elevate their game. Maybe next, they'll have AI writing heartfelt apology notes? Over to the artful dodgers of APT28, or Fancy Bear, who are exploring their creative side by using steganography to hide data in images. It’s like watching the cyber world's da Vinci skulking through the cloud, pulling off digital espionage like it's dangling for a gold medal at the subterfuge Olympics. In a facepalm-worthy move, a SonicWall VPN breach allowed an attacker a free pass into a company’s security system, courtesy of recovery codes in a plaintext file. Apparently, plain sight is the new cybersecurity strategy. Lastly, Shadow AI is going rogue, slipping past defenses like a cyber spy. Forget glass ceilings; it's all about breaking firewalls now as AI takes 'working from home' a little too seriously. Tune in tomorrow for more cybersecurity capers! This episode is sponsored by Cytadel Cyber. Specialist in Ransomware Readiness Assessments, Threat Intel-Led Red Teaming, AI DeepFakes, AI Voice Cloning and AI Vishing Simulations. Cyatdel helps you test your cyber resilience against the threats of today, keeping your data secure. Checkout cytadel.co.uk for more information.