25-Aug-2026 | ReliaQuest, TikTok and the Rise of AI-Powered Cybercrime

Hacked dAily is the first AI-driven cybersecurity podcast, created by Cytadel Cyber and published daily. Each episode delivers concise, decision-ready analysis of the threats shaping security, risk, and resilience. 1. ReliaQuest repelled a phishing and social-engineering campaign in which attackers impersonated an employee, captured credentials, and obtained an MFA approval. Strong device-trust controls limited access to a view-only dashboard, demonstrating how layered defenses can contain identity attacks before they reach systems or customer data. 2. The U.S. Department of Justice reached a $400 million settlement with TikTok, ByteDance, and affiliates over alleged violations of children’s privacy laws. Although the agreement includes no finding of liability, it highlights mounting regulatory, compliance, and reputational risks for platforms handling children’s data. 3. Philippine maritime and marina agencies are investigating a ransomware attack that disrupted government operations. The incident underscores the exposure of transport and regulatory services, while questions remain about affected systems, data theft, and recovery costs. 4. Researchers uncovered Balonx Sistema, a Mexico-based phishing-as-a-service operation targeting customers of more than 20 financial institutions. Its rented fraud tools, automated voice scams, and reported 1,100-plus victims show how cybercrime is becoming more scalable, accessible, and capable of bypassing MFA. 5. Chinese-speaking group UAT-10147 is using AI-assisted tools, public exploits, and automated attack methods against web servers across multiple industries and countries. The activity shows how adversaries are accelerating exploitation, evading detection, and expanding the risk of persistent access and data theft. Hacked Daily is sponsored by Cytadel, an offensive cyber assurance company specialising in AI-powered attacks. Cytadel’s expert-led Red Team Assessments follow real attack chains across people, identity and technology to verify whether they can become AI fraud or ransomware disruption. We verify your defences before attackers do. Learn more at cytadel.co.uk.