CyberWatch Weekly: Latest Global Cyberattacks, Data Breaches, and Hacking Incidents You Need to Know

This week, the global cybersecurity sphere witnessed a surge in high-impact breaches, from Russia-linked attacks crippling major UK firms to a cyber incident compromising Tasmanian student data, and a major hack targeting Naruto and Demon Slayer publisher Viz Media. These events underline how geopolitical tension, third-party vulnerabilities, and social engineering continue to drive sophisticated cyber operations worldwide. As governments, corporations, and media houses grapple with evolving threats, the growing intersection of politics and cybercrime remains a pressing concern. Let’s take a closer look at this week’s top cybersecurity headlines.

Russia-Linked Cyberattacks Cripple UK Firms Amid Gaza Conflict Distraction

A wave of cyberattacks has hit major British companies, with evidence suggesting Russian-backed hackers are exploiting the Gaza conflict as a cover to mask their operations. According to Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, most large-scale hacks on firms like Heathrow, Marks & Spencer, and Jaguar Land Rover bear “Russian fingerprints.” The attacks, which disrupted flights, halted car production, and caused economic losses, reflect Moscow’s strategy to sow chaos while diverting global scrutiny. Experts suggest Russia leveraged the Middle East crisis to disguise its cyber offensives, following a lull in hacking activity after the Ukraine war began. These renewed attacks highlight the ongoing geopolitical use of cyberwarfare for disruption and influence.

To mitigate such threats, experts recommend enhancing cross-sector threat intelligence, investing in resilient infrastructure, and implementing robust cybersecurity frameworks with multi-factor authentication and rapid incident response systems. Strengthening global cooperation and cyber diplomacy remains essential to counter state-linked attacks targeting national industries.

Source: CityCam

Cyberattack Hits Tasmanian Government Systems, Student Data at Risk

A cyberattack targeting a third-party education platform has affected multiple Tasmanian government agencies, raising concerns about student data exposure. The breach originated from VETtrak, a student management software developed by ReadyTech, which serves the Department for Education, Children and Young People, as well as the state’s fire and health departments. ReadyTech reported the incident on October 17, later confirming that hackers had posted some stolen documents online. Authorities have since isolated the affected systems and alerted federal police. While the government claims there’s no evidence of sensitive data misuse, officials warn that criminals could exploit the leaked information for fraud or identity theft. The incident underscores growing risks tied to third-party vendors managing sensitive government data. 

Experts recommend enforcing tighter vendor security checks, prompt incident reporting, and real-time threat monitoring. Enhanced cybersecurity training for staff and adopting zero-trust frameworks can help minimize vulnerabilities and ensure citizen data protection.

Source: ItNews

Hackers Breach Naruto & Demon Slayer Publisher Viz Media, Steal 250GB of Sensitive Data

A major cyber breach has struck Viz Media, the U.S. publisher behind hit anime and manga franchises like Naruto, Sailor Moon, and Demon Slayer. Hackers reportedly compromised the Google Drive account of a senior executive, gaining access to over 250GB of corporate data, including licensing agreements, employee credentials, and confidential business plans. The attackers, who announced the breach on an underground forum, claim to have infiltrated the vice president’s account through social engineering, a tactic that exploits human error to bypass security measures. Once inside, they exfiltrated sensitive data from internal dashboards, Gmail, and Mediabox’s royalty-management system. 

Experts warn that such incidents highlight the critical need for privileged access management and multi-factor authentication, especially for high-ranking employees. Viz Media has yet to confirm the breach but is urged to audit affected systems, alert partners, and monitor for phishing attempts leveraging stolen data.

Source: Cybernews

Conclusion

From state-sponsored disruptions to data breaches exploiting human error, this week’s incidents reveal the growing scale and sophistication of global cyber threats. Strengthening security frameworks, enforcing accountability, and enhancing international cooperation are critical steps toward safeguarding sensitive data and digital ecosystems.

Stay vigilant and informed, tune in next week for more updates in InfosecTrain’s CyberWatch Weekly!