Cybersecurity

AI models have reached the capability to conduct autonomous, multistage network attacks, while critical infrastructure faces new threats from specialized wiper malware and IoT botnets. In finance, UK fintech investment is rebounding through late-stage mega-rounds even as early-stage funding collapses and automation progress stalls due to fragmented legacy systems. Notable Insights: • Anthropic Sonnet 4.5 can now execute autonomous network attacks, successfully replicating the Equifax data breach in high-fidelity simulations by exploiting publicized CVEs without external help. • Mandiant released a rainbow table that allows anyone with $600 of hardware to crack legacy NTLMv1 administrative passwords in under 12 hours. • The U.S. federal government is threatening to withhold broadband funding from states that pass AI regulations deemed too "onerous" as part of a national push for "light-touch" policy.