Hackers are leveraging AI to infiltrate systems more quickly than before.

      Sora Shimazaki / Pexels

      AI is enabling hackers to infiltrate systems more rapidly than ever, with breaches occurring in under an hour, as highlighted by new findings from ReliaQuest. The report suggests a transition among hackers from ransomware to data theft, complicating detection and defense efforts. Moreover, there is an increase in phone scams and phishing attacks, prompting businesses to reevaluate their security measures to safeguard sensitive data.

      The findings indicate that hackers are increasingly opting for selling stolen data instead of demanding ransoms, as this approach is more lucrative. Data theft is involved in 80% of breaches, whereas just 20% involve data encryption. This trend suggests that companies are less inclined to pay ransoms since only about 7% successfully recover their data. Phishing has emerged as the primary method for data theft, with 30% of attacks targeting credential theft. With the aid of AI, hackers can steal data in just four hours and encrypt it within six hours.

      Voice phishing is another growing concern, representing 14% of breaches and primarily affecting the manufacturing sector. Factors like frequent IT interactions and lenient help desk protocols may contribute to the increase in voice phishing incidents.

      On a positive note, the report highlights progress made by defenders this year. ReliaQuest reports utilizing AI and automation to address threats, enabling clients to achieve threat containment in merely three minutes. As the threat landscape evolves, it is crucial for organizations to enhance their defense mechanisms.

      The report recommends three steps for organizations to improve their security: integrating AI and automation into security operations, securing common entry points, and eliminating blind spots. ReliaQuest aims to assist organizations in fortifying their security strategies and enhancing threat detection and response.

      Judy Sanhz is a computing writer for Digital Trends, covering all technology news and passionate about operating systems and devices.

      Forget about the RTX 5090 — PC gaming has become more accessible than ever

      With graphics cards priced at $2,000, tempered glass casings, and power supplies that frequently exceed 1,000 watts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the costs of PC gaming in 2025 and decide against it altogether. However, there’s no need for an RTX 5090 to enjoy PC gaming this year. More than ever, gaming on a PC has become accessible to a larger audience.

      While it may not literally mean everyone can game, there has been a notable reduction in the barriers to entry for PC gaming over the past few years. This narrative has often been overshadowed by the rising costs of graphics cards and the demands of high-end PC ports. But don’t lose hope; while the experience may not always be ideal, starting with PC gaming today is significantly easier than it was in the past.

      A little real talk

      The worst healthcare data breach in history just got worse

      Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth, previously reported a data breach in October of last year that was deemed the most significant in the industry. Initially affecting up to 100 million users, the breach has now impacted a staggering 190 million, according to Tech Crunch. Cybercriminals allegedly exploited an employee system that did not have multi-factor authentication in place.

      UnitedHealth confirmed the updated figures from the ransomware incident on Friday. “Change Healthcare has determined that the estimated total number of individuals affected by the Change Healthcare cyberattack is approximately 190 million,” Tyler Mason, a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group, stated in an email to TechCrunch.

      AMD’s new integrated graphics are nearly 70% faster than an RTX 4070

      AMD's latest integrated graphics appear to be remarkably powerful. According to AMD's promotional materials, the forthcoming Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip featuring Radeon 8060S integrated graphics is around 68.1% quicker than the laptop RTX 4070, which is currently regarded as the top graphics card for laptops.

      AMD has conducted tests on the Radeon 8060S across various games at 1080p using the High graphics setting. While the performance margins were tight in many games, AMD showed significant advantages in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Baldur's Gate 3, Hitman 3, and particularly in Borderlands 3, where the 68.1% performance increase was noted, as reported by Notebookcheck.