Welcome reader to your CybersecurityHQ report.

Headlines

US federal officials are working with AI model operators and cybersecurity companies to explore critical AI system attacks through a series of tabletop simulations. Collaborators include major names in the field, including Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon Web Services, Palantir, and Nvidia.

The simulation is the first of a planned series that will seek to explore the unique cyber threats that the AI industry faces and ensure that there is the right protocol in place both for private companies and public institutions.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department's data was leaked after a failed ransomware negotiation with the Blacksuit ransomware cartel. The data included case reports, what is likely a fingerprint database, employee data, and more. The leak was publicized on the cartel’s dark web blog with a message that began, “Kansas police said they will not pay a ransom after voluntarily agreeing to have their case files made public. Trust your police.”

BlackSuit says the leak also includes crime scene photos, evidence room information, and other highly sensitive information. Kansas City Police are another victim in the cartel’s massive crime spree, as the group has successfully attacked at least 58 organizations so far in 2024.

Cybersecurity startup Huntress, focused on offering cybersecurity to small businesses, is now valued at over $1.5 billion after its latest funding. The round was led by Kleiner Perkins, Meritech Capital, and Sapphire Ventures. The company is founded by a team of former hackers, giving it an interesting origin story.

CEO Kyle Hanslovan said that the capital will help “escalate the arms race against cybercriminals.” Since its launch in 2015, it’s built a large customer base of over 100,000 small businesses. Despite all the success, Hanslovan says the company is not prioritizing going public at the moment.

Interesting Read

2024 is halfway through, and it is proving to be a massive year for data breaches. The first quarter saw a doubling of data breaches compared to the year prior. While nothing has come close to the number of breach victims we saw in Q4 2018 (with massive breaches at Google+, Facebook, and Shein), it marks an unsettling trend.

That kind of explosive growth in data breaches is cause for concern for just about anybody, and the fine points of this trend are detailed in this article from NewsCenter1 analyzing new data by ConsumerAffairs. There are plenty of charts to pore over, giving readers easy snapshots to understand the cybersecurity landscape as it stands today.

Employment Tip: Use Alumni Networks

If you studied cybersecurity in college, chances are you have fellow alumni who might be able to help you find a great career. Leverage alumni networks by attending events and connecting on social media.

For the latest openings in cybersecurity careers, check CybersecurityHQ.

Stay Safe, Stay Secure.

The CybersecurityHQ Team