TECHNOLOGY
The next WannaCry and drone hacking: Advanced persistent threats in 2023
November 16, 2022 1:14 p.m.
Kaspersky researchers presented their vision of the future for advanced persistent threats (APTs), defining the changes in the threat landscape that will emerge in 2023. Attacks on satellite technologies, mail servers, the rise of destructive attacks and leaks, drone hacking and the next big cyber epidemic are among some of the predictions for the next year.
The political turmoil of 2022 brought about a shift that will echo in cybersecurity for years to come and have a direct effect on the development of future sophisticated attacks. The 2023 forecast is based on the expertise and the activities the Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) has witnessed this year while tracking more than 900 APT groups and campaigns.
The next WannaCry and drones for proximity hacking
Statistically, some of the largest and most impactful cyber epidemics occur every six to seven years. The last such incident was the infamous WannaCry ransomware-worm, leveraging the extremely potent EternalBlue vulnerability to automatically spread to vulnerable machines. Kaspersky researchers believe the likelihood of the next WannaCry happening in 2023 is high.
One potential reason for an event like this occurring is that the most sophisticated threat actors in the world are likely to possess at least one suitable exploit, and current global tensions greatly increase the chance a ShadowBrokers-style hack-and-leak could take place.
Major shifts will be reflected in new types of targets and attack scenarios too, as experts believe next year, we may see bold attackers and specialists adept at mixing physical-and cyber-intrusions, employing drones for proximity hacking.
Some of the possible attack scenarios include mounting drones with sufficient tooling that would allow the collection of WPA handshakes used for offline cracking of WiFi passwords or even dropping malicious USB keys in restricted areas in the hope that a passer-by would pick them up and plug them into a machine.
Other advanced threat predictions for 2023 include:
- SIGINT-delivered malware
One of the most potent attack vectors imaginable, which uses servers in key positions of the internet backbone allowing man-on-the-side attacks, may come back stronger next year. While these attacks are extremely hard to spot, Kaspersky researchers believe they will become more widespread and will lead to more discoveries.
- The rise of destructive attacks
Given the current political climate, Kaspersky experts foresee a record number of disruptive and destructive cyber-attacks, affecting both the government sector and key industries. It is likely that a proportion of them will not be easily traceable to cyber incidents and will look like random accidents. The rest will take the form of pseudo-ransomware attacks or hacktivist operations to provide plausible deniability for their real authors. High-profile cyber attacks against civilian infrastructures, such as energy grids or public broadcasting, may also become targets, as well as underwater cables and fiber distribution hubs, which are challenging to defend.
- Mail servers become priority targets
Mail servers harbor key intelligence so are of interest to APT actors and have the biggest attack surface imaginable. The market leaders of this type of software have already faced exploitation of critical vulnerabilities, and 2023 will be the year of 0days for all major email programs.
- APT targeting turns toward satellite technologies, producers, and operators
With existing capabilities, evidence of APTs being capable of attacking satellites -with the Viasat incident as an example- it is likely that APT threat actors will increasingly turn their attention to the manipulation of, and interference with, satellite technologies in the future – making the security of these technologies ever more important.
- Hack-and-leak is the new black (and bleak)
The new form of hybrid conflict that unrolled in 2022 involved a large number of hack-and-leak operations. These will persist in the coming year with APT actors leaking data about competing threat groups or disseminating information.
- More APT groups will move from CobaltStrike to other alternatives
CobaltStrike, a red-teaming tool, has become a tool of choice for APT actors and cybercriminal groups alike. With it gaining so much attention from the defenders, it is likely that attackers will switch to new alternatives such as Brute Ratel C4, Silver, Manjusaka or Ninja, all offering new capabilities and more advanced evasion techniques.
“It is quite clear 2022 saw major changes to the world’s geopolitical order and ushers in a new era of instability. A portion of our predictions focus on how this instability will translate into nefarious cyber activities, while others reflect our vision of which new attack vectors will be explored by attackers. Better preparation means better resilience and we hope our assessment of the future will enable defenders to strengthen their systems and repel cyberattacks more effectively,” says Ivan Kwiatkowski, senior security researcher at Kaspersky.
The APT predictions have been developed thanks to Kaspersky’s threat intelligence services used around the world. Read the full report on Securelist.
These predictions are a part of Kaspersky Security Bulletin (KSB) – an annual predictions series and analytical articles on key changes in the world of cybersecurity. Click here to look at other KSB pieces.
To look back at what the Kaspersky experts expected to see in the advanced targeted threats landscape in 2022, please read our previous yearly report.
TECHNOLOGY
HUAWEI’s 4-in-1 flagship tablet, HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max: Pre-order now to enjoy P39,595 worth of freebies
7:11 a.m. August 18, 2026
As the no. 1 tablet brand in the Philippines, HUAWEI empowers Filipino creators and professionals with the launch of the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max. Users nationwide can pre-order the thinnest, lightest 13-inch+, PC-level productivity tablet and secure massive premium freebies until August 19.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max minimizes limits so users can define every moment of mobile productivity and artistic creation. It brings together top-tier industrial design, an immersive display, and AI assistant capabilities to push the boundaries of what large-screen tablets can achieve.
4-in-1 PC-Level Portability and AI-Powered Productivity
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max delivers the ultimate 4-in-1 PC-like experience, designed to adapt effortlessly to everyday situations across work, entertainment, study, and creative pursuits. It simplifies daily tasks with the upgraded PC-Level WPS Office and the new WPS AI suite, which intelligently suggests topics, refines text, and extracts key points to create presentations. The software also uses real-time multi-device collaboration, allowing teams to edit and sync files instantly using shared links and multi-level permissions.
Showcasing top-tier portable industrial design, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max features the HUAWEI Cloud Falcon Architecture integrated into a full-metal unibody. This structure enables an ultra-slim profile at just 4.7 mm, while keeping the device ultra-light at just 499 g. The tablet is designed to improve overall bending resistance by 60%, earning it the industry’s first TÜV Rheinland Ultra-Thin Bending Resistance Certification. Performance is driven by a 10,400 mAh battery that delivers up to 14.5 hours of video playback, alongside the 40 W reverse SuperCharge and Live Multitask features that can run three apps simultaneously.
Complementing this is the 439 g high-strength alloy HUAWEI Glide Keyboard that folds and connects to the tablet like a laptop. Designed with a magnetic flexible hinge, the keyboard opens effortlessly in a single motion, while an integrated hidden slot stores and charges the stylus. It also features second-generation keycaps with three times greater resistance against wear and stains.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max is available in a sleek Blue variant that draws inspiration from the interplay of light on sunlit water. Its luminous finish uses a nano-scale coating that creates dynamic, rippled visual effects across the metallic surface. The exclusive PaperMatte Edition weighs 509 g, making it the thinnest and lightest 13-inch+ tablet available.
Eye-Comforting, Immersive, and Flexible PaperMatte Display
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro Max features a 13.2-inch 3K flexible OLED display with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits, maintaining clarity under bright lighting. The screen supports a 144 Hz refresh rate that renders fast motion and accurate colors smoothly. The exclusive PaperMatte Edition applies a nano-level etching process that improves clarity by 20%, earning it the TÜV Rheinland Full Care Display 5.0 Certification. To maximize the viewing area, the tablet’s top-tier industrial design has a 94% screen-to-body ratio and narrow 3.55 mm bezels.
TECHNOLOGY
Sophos announces partnership with OpenAI to bring Frontier AI to the Channel
9:19 a.m. August 14, 2026
Sophos, a global cybersecurity leader, announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring OpenAI frontier models to managed service providers (MSPs) through Sophos Fusion, the industry’s most complete AI-native Cybersecurity Defense System.
Through this partnership, Sophos intends to give partners a new way to deliver frontier AI security as one connected defense system, and to build recurring services on top of it.
Sophos Fusion is built on a single, open architecture where every control point operates as one, whether native to Sophos or a third-party integration. The partnership will extend that open model, with a focus on bringing OpenAI frontier models into a cyber defense system that already connects endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity, and security operations, and compounds intelligence from every threat it encounters. For MSPs, that means frontier AI arrives inside the defense system they already run, not as another tool to wire in themselves.
In addition to applying frontier AI to strengthen defense, Sophos is also defending the AI that organizations increasingly adopt. Through Sophos AI Defense, available for early access in August 2026, Sophos gives organizations visibility into how AI and shadow AI is used across their environment, enforces policy on that usage, and helps govern how sensitive data is used across AI models and tools. Sophos intends to expand this protection with OpenAI, securing the AI workloads, data, and usage that organizations increasingly depend on as part of one connected defense system.
The partnership builds on an established relationship between Sophos and OpenAI through the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program. Through Daybreak, OpenAI works with leading cybersecurity companies to develop practical, governed solutions for defenders, building new workflows, integrating frontier capabilities, and helping security teams identify, validate and remediate threats faster. This partnership deepens that work with a dedicated focus on the MSPs that deliver security to organizations worldwide, and reflects Sophos’ commitment to an open architecture that brings best-of-breed technologies into one defense system.
“Frontier AI only protects organizations at scale when you have the architecture to operationalize it and the reach to deliver it,” said John Peterson, chief technology officer, Sophos. “Sophos Fusion will give OpenAI models a defense system to work inside: connected control points, shared context, and human accountability. Our channel gives them reach through a global network of more than 25,000 partners, including over 7,000 MSPs. For those partners, it opens a new class of AI security services to build a business on. That is how frontier AI reaches the organizations that need it most.”
MSPs are uniquely positioned to turn frontier cyber capabilities into practical security outcomes because they understand their customers’ environments and already operate the workflows organizations rely on. Sophos Fusion supports that work by connecting endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations in one coordinated defense system. By pairing that foundation with OpenAI’s frontier capabilities, Sophos plans to help approved partners enhance detection, investigation, and response and develop new services tailored to their customers’ needs.
TECHNOLOGY
TECNO MEGAPAD 2 Launches in PH: An 11-inch 2.5K Eye-Care AI tablet for learning and productivity
12:57 p.m. August 2, 2026
TECNO, an AI-powered innovative technology brand, announced today the official launch of the TECNO MEGAPAD 2 in the Philippines. Unveiled globally at MWC 2026, the new tablet combines an 11-inch 2.5K eye-care display, practical AI tools, seamless cross-device connectivity, and a slim metal design in one versatile device.
Designed as a tablet that users can start learning and working on immediately after bringing it home, MEGAPAD 2 delivers an out-of-the-box experience without requiring separately purchased accessories. Its thin and lightweight design, internet connectivity, typing capability, and intelligent productivity features help students and young users turn fragmented moments into meaningful study and task-completion time.
Every MEGAPAD 2 purchase in the Philippines comes with one free Bluetooth keyboard, making it ready for learning, note-taking, content creation, and everyday productivity from day one.
Eye-Care Display in Slim Design
TECNO MEGAPAD 2 features an 11-inch 2.5K display with a 90Hz refresh rate and has obtained TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light certification. It delivers clear visuals and eye comfort for long study sessions, reading, and entertainment. Packaged in a 6.6mm ultra-slim body, it is lightweight, easy to grip, and highly portable.
AI for Smarter Learning and Daily Convenience
For learning and education, the study hub in MEGAPAD 2 is designed to support different study needs across ages and scenarios. Children can explore LearnUp Massive Free Learning Resources, gaining access to a wide range of educational and interest-based content. Meanwhile, parents can customize parental controls that help create a safer online environment for children. When students encounter difficult questions, Photo-based Problem Solving can identify problems and encourage their independent thinking.
In everyday life, MEGAPAD 2 serves as a smart companion for multiple uses. With AI SnapMemo & MindHub, users can quickly capture and organize useful information into a personalized knowledge hub. AI Drawing Board turns simple sketches into vivid images, bringing ideas to life instantly. For entertainment, AI Captions provide clear subtitle support across apps, helping users enjoy content in different languages. With AI Translation, users can translate photos, selected text, social media content, and face-to-face conversations in up to 160 languages.
Seamless Connectivity and Collaboration
As the first tablet launched following the update of TECNO’s OneLeap platform, MEGAPAD 2 can easily connect with other products in TECNO ecosystem by drag-and-drop or one-tap pairing. MEGAPAD 2 supports file sharing, photo sharing, and triple-screen collaboration among TECNO smartphones, laptops, and the tablet. It can also connect to a TECNO smartphone or laptop as an extended screen for a larger workspace. When paired with a smartphone, phone calls, messages, and notifications can be synced to the tablet, allowing users to answer calls directly without reaching for the phone.
Reliable Performance
In terms of performance, TECNO MEGAPAD 2 is powered by a MediaTek Helio 8-Core Processor, delivering an excellent balance between power and efficiency. Available with 12GB (6GB+6GB) or 16GB (8GB+8GB) of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage, it also supports microSD expansion up to 2TB. Running HiOS 16, MEGAPAD 2 delivers a smarter interface and a responsive experience for everyday applications and multitasking, while also offering comprehensive protection for privacy, account security, and safer payments.
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