Tariffs and Inflation Hamper Online Retail Therapy
As the summer heat scorches on, many seek respite in the cool confines of their homes, turning to online shopping for comfort. Yet this year, e-commerce is feeling the squeeze from the pincers of tariffs and inflation. These twin economic pressures are dampening the joy of digital window shopping, causing consumers to think twice before hitting “checkout” on their digital carts. With the cost of goods on the rise and additional tariffs affecting cross-border commerce, the carefree click to purchase is now weighed down by the prospect of a costlier bill. This financial storm might not break the consumer spirit, but it’s certainly bruising it.
New Study Shows AI Strains Network Connectivity
In the fast-evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is pushing network connectivity to its limits. A joint study by connectivity stalwart Expereo and pollster IDC has unveiled a brewing concern amongst IT leaders worldwide. Their report points to AI’s burgeoning appetite for data, straining underprepared networks, and causing latency issues. Expereo’s CIO, Jean-Philippe Avelange, warns that an influx of AI projects is exposing deficiencies in network scaling, performance, and bandwidth, with only a minor fraction of respondents asserting their readiness for major AI undertakings. As the demand for AI-driven initiatives mounts, companies must devise strategies to combat the imminent bandwidth bottlenecks.
Phishing Campaign Targets Department of Education’s Grant Management System
A sophisticated phishing campaign has set its sights on the United States Department of Education’s G5 grant management system. Cybersecurity entity BforeAI recently uncovered the plot, which used deceptive domains to mimic the G5 login portal, aiming to capture sensitive credentials. Abu Qureshi of BforeAI indicates that the perpetrators broadened their attack vector in the wake of recent departmental staffing reductions, exploiting perceived vulnerabilities. Phishing remains a favored tactic among cybercriminals, particularly when institutional upheaval leaves potential chinks in the digital armor of government agencies.
Healthcare’s Digital Frontier: A Magnet for Cyberattacks
The healthcare sector, increasingly reliant on technology, is becoming a prime target for cybercriminals. An IBM report from 2024 casts a stark light on the issue, with a staggering 725 notable breaches recorded in a single year. The average financial toll for healthcare organizations surpasses other industries at $9.8 million per incident. Concurrently, the introduction of generative AI, including human-mimicking agentic AI agents, is revolutionizing patient interaction but also raising the cybersecurity stakes. Industry experts, such as Calypso AI’s CTO, Jimmy White, acknowledge the tremendous potential of AI while cautioning about the enlarged attack surface it presents, compounding healthcare’s cybersecurity conundrum.
