ZeroHour

Source: Infosecurity Magazine

2 stories in the last 7d

Cyber Essentials Has Record Year but Takeup Remains Low

UK Cyber Essentials certifications hit a record 61,430 in the year to June 2026, up 20%, but uptake remains low among 5.7 million SMEs.

The UK government awarded a record 61,430 Cyber Essentials certificates between July 2025 and June 2026, a 20% year-over-year increase, including 46,245 basic self-assessed and 15,185 audited CE+ certifications. Roughly three-quarters were recertifications, and uptake remains low against an estimated 5.7 million UK SMEs. An ESET survey found 49% of UK SMEs suffered a cyber incident in the past year, while the Cyber Resilience Pledge and the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill aim to push certification through supply chains.

Black Axe Members Extradited to US Over Internet Fraud Claims

Five alleged Black Axe leaders were extradited from South Africa to the US over romance scam and money laundering charges.

Five Nigerian nationals who allegedly led Black Axe's Cape Town zone were extradited to the US on September 11 and appeared in federal court in Trenton, New Jersey on September 14. The superseding indictment alleges romance scams, advance-fee fraud, BEC, and money laundering via US bank accounts between 2011 and 2021, using social media, dating sites, and VoIP, with coercion via threats to distribute victims' intimate photos. Charges include wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy carrying up to 20 years each, plus aggravated identity theft for three defendants.

Infosecurity Magazine · 2d agoPolicy & legal