Tech
What lies in store for the security world in 2026? | Computer Weekly
If 2024 and 2025 were the years organisations felt the strain of tightening budgets, 2026 is the year those decisions will fully manifest in their cyber risk exposure. Across both the private and public sectors, years of belt-tightening have led to reduced headcount, ageing infrastructure and postponed modernisation. Analyst reports show growth in cyber security spending has slowed markedly and many security teams are operating with fewer specialists than they had three years ago. The cumulative effect of this means fewer defenders, slower detection and weakening resilience at a time when adversaries are escalating in both ambition and sophistication.
The past year has provided irrefutable proof of how these gaps translate directly into risk. A major supply-chain compromise of Oracle Cloud reportedly exposed millions of records and impacted more than 140,000 tenants. The Salesloft/Drift breach illustrated how attackers can exploit interconnected SaaS ecosystems to cascade access across multiple organisations. Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover’s cyber incident halted vehicle production and disrupted supply chains for weeks, demonstrating how even relatively mature, well-funded industries can be brought to a standstill by a single compromise. These incidents reveal a systemic weakening of defensive capacity and third-party oversight.
This is the backdrop against which 2026 begins, and the legacy of recent budget cuts will continue to degrade the defensive posture of many organisations. With smaller teams and constrained resources, adversaries will enjoy longer dwell times, greater freedom to move laterally and more opportunities to exploit unpatched systems. Supply-chain compromise and zero-day exploitation will remain primary attack vectors, especially in environments where patch cycles have slowed or asset inventories are incomplete. Compounding this is the fact that several national cyber bodies have themselves faced funding and workforce reductions, limiting their ability to coordinate incident response at scale. In short, the high-impact attacks of 2025 should not be viewed as peaks, unfortunately, but as early indicators of a worsening trend.
However, budget pressure is not the only factor reshaping the threat landscape. A parallel shift is emerging that is driven by a rise in what might be termed casual cyber aggression, outside the more predictable threats such as nation states or organised crime threat actors. Across the UK, several high-profile incidents in 2025 have been traced back to loosely affiliated individuals, often teenagers, wielding commodity hacking tools, rented botnets and downloadable exploit kits. These attackers are not motivated by complex financial schemes or geopolitical goals, instead drawn by curiosity, frustration, social validation or the mere thrill of notoriety.
This behaviour is being fuelled by two converging forces. First, the accessibility of attack tooling has increased dramatically. Automated scripts, ransomware-as-a-service platforms and AI-driven reconnaissance tools require minimal technical expertise, lowering the barrier to entry. Second, the volume of open source intelligence, from corporate data leaks to overshared social media profiles, has exploded. Executives, public figures and organisations leave digital footprints that can be assembled into highly persuasive social engineering campaigns. For would-be attackers, the pathway from idea to impact has never been shorter.
What appears to be eroding at the same time – maybe due to the frequency of attacks or complacency – is the perceived risk of consequence. Arrests and prosecutions for cyber offences remain rare relative to the scale of attacks; and within online communities where many of these individuals operate, reputation and bravado often outweigh caution. Combined with social disaffection and worsening economic pressures, hacking is becoming, for some, a form of digital expression by offering an accessible outlet with very real-world repercussions and very little perceived consequence.
In 2026 that will translate into an expectation of more erratic and attention-grabbing attacks by small groups or individuals using widely-available tools. While these incidents may lack technical sophistication, their public visibility and collateral impact, particularly when they target public services, transportation networks or major consumer brands, will make them strategically significant. They also risk eroding public trust in digital services at a moment when that trust is already fragile.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a look ahead without the mention of the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence in cyber security on top of everything. Back in 2020, predictions that AI would reshape defensive strategies seemed optimistic; today, they look understated. By 2025, an IBM report revealed more than two-thirds of organisations reported using AI in their cyber security programmes and nearly a third rely on it extensively. AI now underpins anomaly detection, automated response, threat-hunting and vulnerability management. But cyber criminals have adopted it just as aggressively. Research suggests that the majority of email-based attacks now incorporate AI, and AI-assisted ransomware campaigns are becoming the norm.
Generative AI has made it far easier to craft targeted phishing emails, credible social-engineering scripts and realistic deepfake impersonations. For high-value targets such as CEOs, the oversharing of personal and professional information online materially increases risk. And the growing maturity of agentic AI, those autonomous systems capable of multi-step tasks, introduces both powerful defensive opportunities and new avenues for attack.
Taking all of this into account, three trends stand out.
First, the knock-on effects of underinvestment will continue; i.e. fewer breaches overall, but those that do occur will be larger, more complex and more damaging due to longer dwell times and interconnected supply chains.
Second, casual cyber aggression will become more visible, testing societal resilience and challenging policymakers to rethink digital accountability.
Third, the AI arms race will accelerate on both sides, with defenders and attackers deploying increasingly autonomous systems, driving the next stage of the cat-and-mouse dynamic.
It’s fair to say that 2026 will not necessarily be the most catastrophic year in cybersecurity but it could be one of the most telling. The choices organisations make now, in restoring investment, rebuilding cyber skills and governing AI responsibly, will determine whether the curve bends towards resilience or further fragility.
Anthony Young is CEO at Bridewell, a managed security services provider working in the UK and US.
I stuck Amazon’s Echo Show 15 and its Alexa+ AI assistant in my kitchen for a month. Things have not gone well.
Source link
South Korean officials have warned that the US-Israel war with Iran could hit the global semiconductor supply chain if it disrupts the flow of critical industrial materials from the Middle East.
South Korea’s semiconductor sector, led by giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, produces about two-thirds of the world’s memory chips. If the Middle East’s supply of chipmaking materials is disrupted, semiconductor production could slow unless alternative sources are found quickly.
The Helium Problem
One material at risk is helium, which is essential in chip manufacturing for managing heat, detecting leaks, and maintaining stable temperatures in fabrication equipment. For many of these uses, there is no real substitute.
About 38 percent of the world’s helium is produced by Qatar, where large extraction facilities are tied to the natural gas industry. This concentration means that disruptions can quickly ripple through the global supply chain.
National oil company QatarEnergy declared force majeure on March 4, after stopping its gas production and downstream operations due to ongoing attacks. Downstream facilities turn gas into other products, including urea, polymers, methanol, and aluminum.
South Korea’s Industry Ministry said the country also depends on the Middle East for 14 other materials in chipmaking, such as bromine and some chip-inspection equipment. While some of these materials can be sourced domestically or from other markets, shifting suppliers in the semiconductor sector is difficult because chipmakers need to test and validate new sources to meet strict purity standards.
Companies say the situation is manageable for now. As reported by Reuters, SK Hynix said it has secured diverse supply chains and maintains sufficient helium inventories, adding that there is “almost no chance” its operations would be affected in the near term.
Contract chipmaker TSMC similarly said it does not currently anticipate a significant impact, while GlobalFoundries stated it is in direct contact with suppliers and has mitigation plans in place.
Stuck in Transit
Even if Qatar’s gas production restarts, the semiconductor industry is vulnerable to disruptions in regional shipping routes. Much of the world’s energy and petrochemical exports from the Persian Gulf pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime choke point.
If shipping through this corridor is interrupted for an extended period, it could slow the movement of industrial gases and petrochemicals that chipmakers rely on. Disruptions to oil and gas exports from the region have also already pushed global energy prices higher: Brent crude, the European benchmark, is priced at $80 per barrel at the time of publication.
Energy costs are a major factor in semiconductor production. Fabrication plants run large clean rooms that need constant electricity and cooling, so chipmakers are sensitive to changes in global energy prices. Industry representatives in South Korea warned that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices higher, likely leading to higher semiconductor production costs and potentially higher chip prices.
These risks come as semiconductor supply chains are already stretched by growing demand from AI computing. Chip demand from AI data center operators has tightened supply across several electronics sectors, including smartphones, laptops, and automobiles.
A Long-Term Problem
For now, the immediate impact on chip production is unclear. Major chipmakers usually maintain a mix of suppliers and stockpile specialty gases and chemicals to help weather short-term disruptions.
But if instability in the region continues, pressure on supply chains will likely grow. A drawn-out conflict that hits energy infrastructure, export facilities, or shipping routes could slowly squeeze the global supply of materials needed for chipmaking.
This could delay plans by major technology companies to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure in the Middle East. Firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Nvidia have been positioning the UAE as a hub for AI computing capacity.
This story originally appeared on WIRED Middle East.
Chances are that when you google “mattress store near me,” one of the first results you will see is Mattress Firm. This brick and mortar titan carries both established mattress brands like Serta and Sealy, as well as many online brands, like Purple, letting you go see for yourself if it’ll be the mattress for you. And if you were looking for an excuse to hop in the car and head over, we have a Mattress Firm coupon available right now, as well as tons of Mattress Firm promo codes to save big on those big (and small) purchases. Fingers crossed that you could start sleeping better, potentially as soon as tonight.
Upgrade Your Sleep Sale: Save Up to $600 (Plus Get a Free Adjustable Base)
This year, Mattress Firm wants to make it even easier (and more affordable) to upgrade your sleep with the Upgrade Your Sleep Sale. During this sale, you can save up to $600 and get a free adjustable base included on select mattresses, through April 28. You’ll receive a free Sleepy’s Basic adjustable base (a $300 value) with select mattress purchases—this means a free queen adjustable base with a minimum $499 purchase, or free king adjustable base with minimum $599 purchase.
Get 15% Off When You Sign Up for Emails
To make sure you never miss out on Mattress Firm discount codes, you can sign up for email notifications. By doing so, you automatically get one! You can get an extra 15% off on your first order. Heads up that it can’t be combined with other coupons, nor can it be applied to specific brands and models, including Nectar, Purple, Sealy Hybrid, Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Serta iComfort.
Free Adjustable Base (Up to $499 Value) With Select Mattresses
First and foremost, make sure you have or are getting a mattress that’s compatible with an adjustable base. If you’re all set bed-wise, but have been looking for the right time to buy an adjustable base, consider this your sign: select mattresses come with a free adjustable base (up to $499 value). At last, you can sit up in bed or kick up your feet to your heart’s content.
Score Up to $300 in Instant Credits and Gifts
Mattress Firm’s got a gift for you, just ‘cuz. For those eyeballing Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, and Sterns & Foster in particular, it’s your lucky day, as there are Mattress Firm coupon codes for all three of these brands.
Starting with Tempur-Pedic, when you buy a qualifying Tempur-Pedic mattress, you can receive a $300 Instant Credit on these adjustable bases: Tempur-Ergo, Tempur-Ergo Smart Base, Tempur-Ergo ProSmart Base, Tempur-Ergo ProSmart Air Base, or the Sealy Ease Base. Use code TEMPURGIFT. You can also get a $300 credit toward these same adjustable bases when you purchase a qualifying Stearns & Foster mattress: use code STEARNSGIFT at checkout.
Lastly, if you wanted to pair a Sealy mattress with the Sealy Ease adjustable base (or any of the aforementioned adjustable bases), there’s a Mattress Firm coupon for that, too. Use code SEALYGIFT at checkout, and get a $200 Instant Credit on select Sealy and Tempur-Pedic adjustable bases.
Take 20% Off With Military, Medical, Student, or Teacher Discounts
Sleep is a necessity for everyone. But for those who work all day on their feet, and have to be dialed in at all times, sleep is critical. This is especially true for first responders, nurses, doctors, and medical professionals. As a way to say “thank you” for all that you do, there’s a special mattress firm discount just for you. Use the Mattress Firm first responder discount for 20% off select purchases. It’s for one-time use, but renews every 90 days when you re-verify your status.
For military members, as a way to thank you for your service, you can use the Mattress Firm military discount for 20% off select purchases as well. It’s a one-time use code, but re-verify your status every 90 days, and you can get a new one!
If you’re a teacher or student, there’s also a Mattress Firm discount for you, too. To help you bounce back after long days teaching, or late nights studying, use this Mattress Firm student discount code for 20% off select purchases. Like the first responder and military coupons, it’s a one-time usage code that can be renewed every 90 days when you re-verify your status.
Stock market today: Which are the top losers and gainers on March 6- check list – The Times of India
Bangladesh road map aims at raising tax-to-GDP ratio to 15% by 2035
Watch: How war in Iran may affect food and fuel prices
Attock Cement’s acquisition approved | The Express Tribune
Policy easing drives Argentina’s garment import surge in 2025
India Us Trade Deal: Fresh look at India-US trade deal? May be ‘rebalanced’ if circumstances change, says Piyush Goyal – The Times of India
-
Business1 week ago
Attock Cement’s acquisition approved | The Express Tribune
-
Business1 week ago
India Us Trade Deal: Fresh look at India-US trade deal? May be ‘rebalanced’ if circumstances change, says Piyush Goyal – The Times of India
-
Fashion1 week agoPolicy easing drives Argentina’s garment import surge in 2025
-
Politics1 week agoWhat are Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities?
-
Politics1 week agoUS arrests ex-Air Force pilot for ‘training’ Chinese military
-
Sports7 days agoLPGA legend shares her feelings about US women’s Olympic wins: ‘Gets me really emotional’
-
Business7 days agoGreggs to reveal trading amid pressure from cost of living and weight loss drugs
-
Fashion1 week agoTexwin Spinning showcasing premium cotton yarn range at VIATT 2026