GUEST RESEARCH: Barracuda threat analysts have identified a new generation of QR code phishing attacks featuring techniques designed to evade traditional security defenses. The techniques are outlined in new research and include QR codes built from text-based ASCII/Unicode characters rather than the standard static image, and the use of ‘Blob’ universal resource identifiers (URIs) to create hard-to-detect phishing pages. The threat analysts have not seen any examples of the two techniques used at the same time.

GUEST RESEARCH:  Organisations with advanced identity security experience “bending of the curve,” see accelerated value from reduced cyber risk to increased workforce productivity

Key findings:

•  83% of organisations reported fewer identity-related security issues due to their security investments in 2023
• Organisations with mature identity security reported seeing disproportionately higher returns, “bending” the identity security-to-value curve
• Organisations with more mature identity security practices are, on average, seeing about 1.7 times higher adoption of AI-powered identity security solutions
• Machine identities are expected to increase about 30% in the next 3-5 years, growing faster than all other identity types, making coverage of these identities increasingly important for organisations of all maturity levels

GUEST RESEARCH: NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world’s leading global consumer intelligence company, has released their much-anticipated Mid-Year Consumer Outlook: Guide to 2025 report, identifying macro catalysts across industries.

COMPANY NEWS: Riverbed's latest research reveals significant insights into Australian companies' AI adoption, uncovering a gap between confidence and readiness for AI projects.