Latest news with #BEC
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Bitdefender To Acquire Mesh Security, Expanding Its Email Security Capabilities
Bitdefender, a global cybersecurity leader, today announced it has agreed to acquire Mesh Security Limited (Mesh), a provider of advanced email security solutions. Through the acquisition, Mesh's email security technology and capabilities will be integrated into Bitdefender's extended detection and response (XDR) platform and managed detection and response (MDR) services. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Email remains the most exploited attack vector and serves as an entry point for ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise (BEC). According to the FBI Internet Crime Report 2024, businesses reported nearly US$2.8 billion in losses due to BEC scams in 2024. Additionally, the 2024 Bitdefender Cybersecurity Assessment Report (based on a global survey of 1,200 cybersecurity professionals) identified phishing and social engineering as the top threats impacting their organisation. The acquisition will incorporate Mesh's email security capabilities into Bitdefender GravityZone, the company's flagship unified security, compliance, and risk analytics platform. Mesh employs a dual-layered approach to email security, combining perimeter-based protection via a secure email gateway (SEG) with mailbox-level defence through API-based deployment. This model expands visibility into threat activity across all vectors and contributes high-quality telemetry to Bitdefender's global threat intelligence network. A cornerstone of Bitdefender's continued growth is through its global network of over 41,000 channel and MSP partners. Mesh enhances this value by offering a centralised platform optimised for MSPs, enabling efficient multi-tenant email security management. Its solution provides 24x7 protection while reducing operational overhead. With automated policy enforcement, real-time threat insights, and seamless integration into existing workflows, Mesh empowers MSPs to deliver effective, scalable protection to customers. 'We are pleased to announce our intent to acquire Mesh, a strategic move that will complement our GravityZone XDR platform and power our MDR service to help businesses combat email-borne threats as they continue to evolve,' said Andrei Florescu, president and general manager of Bitdefender Business Solutions Group. 'Mesh brings leading-edge innovation from a deeply experienced team that shares our commitment to effective, real-world security. Together, we will further strengthen our ability to provide proven and trusted email protection to our global customer base.' Founded in 2020 and backed by investors Elkstone and Enterprise Ireland, Mesh has established itself as a trusted email security provider for hundreds of MSP partners and thousands of end customers globally. Known for its detection efficacy, MSP-centric architecture, and operational simplicity, Mesh has earned recognition for addressing the unique challenges of email-based threats with precision and ease of use. 'This is the beginning of something even bigger,' said Brian Byrne, chief executive officer and co-founder of Mesh. 'We've always focused on building practical, powerful email security that just works – and Bitdefender shares that same mindset. We're excited to join forces and bring stronger protection to even more organisations.' The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Bitdefender to Acquire Mesh Security, Expanding its Email Security Capabilities
BUCHAREST, Romania & SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bitdefender, a global cybersecurity leader, today announced it has agreed to acquire Mesh Security Limited (Mesh), a provider of advanced email security solutions. Through the acquisition, Mesh's email security technology and capabilities will be integrated into Bitdefender's extended detection and response (XDR) platform and managed detection and response (MDR) services. 'We are pleased to announce our intent to acquire Mesh, a strategic move that will complement our GravityZone XDR platform and power our MDR service to help businesses combat email-borne threats as they continue to evolve.' The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Email remains the most exploited attack vector and serves as an entry point for ransomware, phishing, and business email compromise (BEC). According to the FBI Internet Crime Report 2024, businesses reported nearly $2.8 billion in losses due to BEC scams in 2024. Additionally, the 2024 Bitdefender Cybersecurity Assessment Report (based on a global survey of 1,200 cybersecurity professionals) identified phishing and social engineering as the top threats impacting their organization. The acquisition will incorporate Mesh's email security capabilities into Bitdefender GravityZone, the company's flagship unified security, compliance, and risk analytics platform. Mesh employs a dual-layered approach to email security, combining perimeter-based protection via a secure email gateway (SEG) with mailbox-level defense through API-based deployment. This model expands visibility into threat activity across all vectors and contributes high-quality telemetry to Bitdefender's global threat intelligence network. A cornerstone of Bitdefender's continued growth is through its global network of over 41,000 channel and MSP partners. Mesh enhances this value by offering a centralized platform optimized for MSPs, enabling efficient multi-tenant email security management. Its solution provides 24x7 protection while reducing operational overhead. With automated policy enforcement, real-time threat insights, and seamless integration into existing workflows, Mesh empowers MSPs to deliver effective, scalable protection to customers. 'We are pleased to announce our intent to acquire Mesh, a strategic move that will complement our GravityZone XDR platform and power our MDR service to help businesses combat email-borne threats as they continue to evolve,' said Andrei Florescu, president and general manager of Bitdefender Business Solutions Group. 'Mesh brings leading-edge innovation from a deeply experienced team that shares our commitment to effective, real-world security. Together, we will further strengthen our ability to provide proven and trusted email protection to our global customer base.' Founded in 2020 and backed by investors Elkstone and Enterprise Ireland, Mesh has established itself as a trusted email security provider for hundreds of MSP partners and thousands of end customers globally. Known for its detection efficacy, MSP-centric architecture, and operational simplicity, Mesh has earned recognition for addressing the unique challenges of email-based threats with precision and ease of use. 'This is the beginning of something even bigger,' said Brian Byrne, chief executive officer and co-founder of Mesh. 'We've always focused on building practical, powerful email security that just works—and Bitdefender shares that same mindset. We're excited to join forces and bring stronger protection to even more organizations.' The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. About Bitdefender Bitdefender is a cybersecurity leader delivering best-in-class threat prevention, detection, and response solutions worldwide. Guardian over millions of consumer, enterprise, and government environments, Bitdefender is one of the industry's most trusted experts for eliminating threats, protecting privacy, digital identity and data, and enabling cyber resilience. With deep investments in research and development, Bitdefender Labs discovers hundreds of new threats each minute and validates billions of threat queries daily. The company has pioneered breakthrough innovations in antimalware, IoT security, behavioral analytics, and artificial intelligence and its technology is licensed by more than 180 of the world's most recognized technology brands. Founded in 2001, Bitdefender has customers in 170+ countries with offices around the world. For more information, visit Trusted. Always.
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
EU biodiesel tariffs offer Hong Kong a chance to boost adoption of green fuel
The European Union's (EU) tariffs on biodiesel and renewable diesel from China present Hong Kong with an opportunity to promote the use of low-carbon fuels, according to a business group, which called for more measures to support its adoption. Advertisement A dearth of financial incentives and infrastructure has also resulted in limited use by the public and private sector to meet climate goals, according to the Business Environment Council (BEC). 'The EU's anti-dumping tariffs have forced Chinese producers to adapt their business models, including exporting to nearby regions,' the BEC said in a May 29 report. 'Strategic collaborations could support Hong Kong to [adopt] biofuels.' Hong Kong's biodiesel consumption amounted to 7.5 per cent of the city's annual production of 100,000 tonnes, with the rest exported, according to the BEC. Backed by more than 320 companies, the council provides advisory, research and training on environmental protection and climate mitigation. 01:42 Japanese train runs on ramen oil Japanese train runs on ramen oil The EU last August imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese biofuel, citing the need to protect almost 6,000 jobs in 19 member states from 'unfair competition'. The final levies in February ranged from 10 to 35.6 per cent.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AI-powered social engineering scams are getting savvier. Here's how consumers can protect themselves
Social engineering and AI-driven fraud are climbing to the top of global security concerns. The World Economic Forum lists them among the biggest cybersecurity threats of 2025. And the threat is no longer just spam emails with obvious typos. Today's scams are targeted, convincing, and increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. We're not just talking about phishing links or fake support calls. We're talking about deepfaked voicemails from loved ones. Phony messages that sound like your boss. Emails that mirror your own writing style. AI makes it easy to personalize deception on a massive scale. In this article, Heimdal breaks down where social engineering started, how it's evolving with AI, and who's most likely to fall for it. We'll highlight real-world examples and finish with straightforward steps to help individuals and organizations protect themselves. Social engineering relies on psychological manipulation. Scammers trick people into revealing personal information or taking actions they wouldn't normally consider. Basically, it's convincing someone to act against their interests, exposing their private or confidential information. The concept isn't new. Early scams go back to in-person cons. But the digital shift changed everything. The internet opened new ways to deceive people. Online platforms gave scammers more reach, resulting in faster, broader, and more convincing scams. According to the FBI's 2024 IC3 Report, this explosion in connectivity has dramatically expanded the scale of attacks. No one is immune to social engineering, but some people and places see more damage than others. Older adults face the highest losses. In 2024, individuals 60 and older reported the most complaints to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. They also lost more money than any other age group at over $4.8 billion, up 43% from 2023. Phishing/spoofing and tech support scams hit this group hardest. Where you live also matters. California, Texas, Florida, and New York had the most reported complaints and the highest losses last year. California saw over $2.5 billion in losses, while Texas lost more than $1.3 billion and Florida about $1 billion. Organizations are just as vulnerable. The WEF's 2025 Outlook highlights how critical sectors, such as government, healthcare, finance, and infrastructure, face heightened cyber risks. Today's scams build on familiar tricks but are more convincing. However, classic methods still dominate. Phishing, business email compromise (BEC), romance scams, and fake tech support calls remain go-to techniques. In 2024, the FBI received over 193,000 phishing and spoofing complaints, and BEC scams caused $2.77 billion in losses. AI is making scams like these harder to spot. Deepfakes. Scammers fake a loved one's voice or mimic an executive in a video. Hyper-personalized phishing. AI crafts clean, accurate, and targeted emails. Automation. Large-scale attacks launch in seconds with little effort. The cost is staggering. According to the IC3 report, investment fraud (often AI-driven) led to $6.57 billion in losses in 2024. Cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion, with adults over 60 most affected. What was once obvious is now polished and personal. Urgency and fear remain core tools among scammers. One common scam begins with a fake call or message claiming a loved one is in danger. Victims are pressured to act fast—send money, share banking info, or buy gift cards. Empathy-driven scams work just as well. Romance scams build trust and then ask for money. The latest twist is generative AI tools. Criminals now use them to build fake identities and clone online profiles. The IC3 warns that this tactic is spreading, especially in financial fraud, with criminals using AI-generated text, images, audio, and video. Whether it's fear or empathy, the goal is the same. Scammers hope to convince victims that a problem is real and get them to act before thinking. Stopping these scams starts with spotting the signs. Verify money or data requests through a separate, trusted communication channel. Question urgency. Don't act on impulse when receiving unsolicited messages. Look for deepfake signs, such as robotic speech or visual glitches. Use strong passwords and enable MFA. Train employees to detect phishing and fraud attempts. Require verification for fund transfers and sensitive data requests. Use strong email filtering and anti-phishing tools. Report scams at or contact your local FBI office. Social engineering isn't slowing down. It's adapting, and fast. AI gives scammers new tools to make old tricks far more believable. What used to be low-effort deception is now hyper-targeted, high-tech manipulation. But while the tools may be new, the core defense remains the same: awareness, verification, and quick reporting. Think before acting, pause when something feels rushed, ask questions, and don't be afraid to confirm through another channel. Technology can help, too. MFA, strong passwords, and smart filters all put up real barriers between scammers and their targets. The FBI urges everyone, individuals and businesses included, to report scams and share information. Even one report could help someone else avoid the same trap. Staying ahead of AI-driven scams requires preparation. The more you know, the harder it is to be fooled. This story was produced by Heimdal and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Energy Sector Releases Blueprint For NZ's Energy Strategy
Press Release – BusinessNZ A new paper outlining practical actions to support the Government's energy strategy has been developed by the BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC), the newly founded Energy Transition Framework, ARUP and leading industry associations including ERANZ, ERA, … New Zealand's energy sector has rallied around a secure and affordable vision for a sustainable energy future, and is calling on Government to adopt its perspective as part of their eventual energy strategy. A new paper outlining practical actions to support the Government's energy strategy has been developed by the BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC), the newly founded Energy Transition Framework, ARUP and leading industry associations including ERANZ, ERA, ENA, FlexForum, IEGA, and MEUG. The paper provides an overview of the energy sector today, addressing challenges related to security, investment, and infrastructure, and includes a vision statement with strategic priorities and actions for the energy transition. BEC Executive Director Tina Schirr says the vision outlined is one which can support a high-growth, productive economy while delivering better outcomes for all New Zealanders. 'A well-designed and effectively implemented national energy strategy can drive economic growth and productivity. Sustained regulatory uncertainty and sovereign risk have muted investment in new flexible electricity generation, storage, and gas – its an issue that needs urgent attention. 'We're urging Government to develop of a clear plan of action to address long-term gas constraints. Upcoming work on fuel security offers a chance to broaden the scope and build a robust, future-proof energy strategy.' The group also calls for the removal of regulatory barriers to enable consumer-led innovation and ensure all New Zealanders can equitably participate in the energy transition. 'New Zealand is uniquely positioned to lead by harnessing our abundant natural resources, maintaining a consumer-first focus via competitive forces, and enabling innovation across all fuels and technologies.' The paper advocates for transparent, evidence-based progress tracking to ensure accountability and keep the transition on course. 'Our collective vision is clear: We're seeking a modern energy system that delivers for people, business and the planet. We're ready to partner with government to make this vision a reality.'
