Explore essential practices for cyber security to protect your digital assets from evolving threats and safeguard your sensitive data.

One of the most innovative aspects of the Smishing Report 2022 was its forensic linguistic framework - a system that treated text messages as structured data rather than random spam. By analysing grammar, tone, syntax, and response prompts, PORGiESOFT Security’s Threat Intelligence Function could uncover consistent behavioural patterns across threat actors. Language as an intelligence layer The research introduced nine smishing “classes”, each representing a distinct linguistic strategy. This classification showed that language choice directly correlated with sophistication across the global threat landscape. Simpler messages often targeted broad audiences (“Your package is waiting”), while complex multi-element messages targeted high-value individuals. The linguistic shift Between 2020 and 2022, the report observed a clear simplification in sentence structure and increase in conversational tone. Older scams used rigid, formal phrasing (“Kindly verify your account to avoid suspension”)

QR code scams are rising as criminals exploit everyday scanning for payments, access and services. This post explains how quishing works, the targets seen in 2024, and why these attacks are hard to spot.

In a world where fraudsters evolve daily, traditional training materials are rapidly losing their impact. Every week, thousands of new scams are launched - some with human-like precision and tone. Yet, most employees, citizens and consumers still receive awareness information that feels outdated, generic or disconnected from reality. The challenge for organisations is no longer whether to train people on fraud risks, but how to do it effectively in a digital-first, AI-driven environment. The new face of fraud education Fraudsters have learned to imitate not only emails and brands, but emotions. They exploit human curiosity, fear, urgency and even empathy to drive impulsive actions - often leading to financial losses. Modern fraud isn’t limited to crude spam messages; it includes AI-generated voices, cloned websites, and realistic video impersonations. In this environment, awareness needs to be as dynamic as the threats themselves. At PORGiESOFT Security, we’ve been developing AI-Avatar

Artificial intelligence is transforming the financial sector’s ability to detect and prevent fraud. With over £1 trillion lost globally to scams each year, AI offers both a challenge and an opportunity. Used responsibly, it can empower banks, regulators and fraud teams to identify suspicious activity faster and more accurately than ever before. The scale of the problem Fraud now accounts for over 40% of all crime in the UK. Financial institutions face relentless attacks ranging from phishing and smishing to insider threats and synthetic identity fraud. Traditional systems often rely on static rules or manual reviews, which cannot keep pace with evolving threats. Why AI is a game-changer AI can analyse millions of data points in real time, spotting subtle anomalies that human analysts might miss. Natural language processing (NLP) helps systems understand communication patterns, while machine learning models learn from historical fraud data to predict new threats. At PORGiESOFT Security,

Local councils and public service bodies are increasingly being impersonated by fraudsters seeking to exploit public trust. Fake text messages about parking fines, energy rebates, or council tax refunds now appear regularly in residents’ inboxes. Behind each one is a criminal attempt to harvest personal information, install malware or steal money. Fraud targeting councils is not new, but the scale and sophistication have evolved dramatically. In recent years, our Fraud Intelligence Function has tracked numerous scam campaigns impersonating local authorities, often using official logos, similar domain names and familiar language. These campaigns exploit both technology and emotion - and without continuous awareness, residents can easily fall victim. Why councils are high-value targets Councils handle a vast range of citizen interactions: benefits, payments, waste collection, housing support, and public health. Fraudsters know that people are more likely to trust a message from their lo