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Situation as at 31 December 2025

Situation as at 31 December 2025

The European Union – the media freedom hub marsrgi Thu, 03/19/2026 - 08:58 Opening: 16 April 2026 Closing: 28 May 2026 The overall goal of this preparatory action is to continue the activities of the ongoing Free Media Hub EAST project, i.e. to sustain and improve existing financial and other kinds of support to exiled independent media from Russia, Belarus, as well as media from Ukraine that has relocated in the EU, and to foster the coordination and consolidation of a pan-European platform or network of media hubs to promote the preservation of a pluralistic media environment. GettyImages © Mihajlo Maricic Main link https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportuni… Related topics Media and democracy Media freedom and pluralism International relations Funding for Digital Actions to Support Ukraine Democracy in the digital age {"service":"share","version":"2.0","color":true,"networks":["x","facebook","linkedin","email","more"]}

In episode 459 of Smashing Security, we dive into a chillingly clever account takeover attempt targeting WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg - involving MFA fatigue, real Apple alerts, a convincing support call, and a phishing page that oh-so-nearly worked. If a famous techie could have this happen to you, can you be sure you're immune? Plus: would you donate your lifetime medical history to science if you were promised anonymity? We unpack serious concerns around UK Biobank, where “de-identified” data may not be as anonymous as you think — and how surprisingly little information it takes to reveal everything. And! Human-powered “AI”, and a punishment worse than prison: eight hours on the RSA expo floor... All this, and much more, in episode 459 of the "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and special guest Paul Ducklin.

Out-of-court consumer complaint resolution

Latest update on the AML/CFT standardised data collection

CEF-Digital Info Session: 2026 Calls Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:35 26 March 2026 Online Learn more about the calls "Equipment for smart European cable systems" (CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLES) and "Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways" (CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS). GettyImages © Dragon Claws Main link https://hadea.ec.europa.eu/events/cef-digital-info-session-2026-calls-2026-03-2… Related topics Connecting Europe Facility Funding for Digital Related content Press release 17 March 2026 Commission makes available €200 million for submarine cable and digital infrastructure projects The European Commission has opened two new Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) calls worth €200 million for projects in high-capacity networks, including submarine cables. {"service":"share","version":"2.0","color":true,"networks":["x","facebook","linkedin","email","more"]}

Equipment for smart European cable systems - Works Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/17/2026 - 08:45 Opening: 17 March 2026 Closing: 30 June 2026 This call supports the upgrade of existing submarine telecommunications/digital infrastructures to “smart capabilities” enabling applications that monitor them as well as other surrounding critical infrastructures (e.g. power cables, pipelines, etc.) and/or their vicinity. Main link https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportuni… Related topics Digital connectivity Connecting Europe Facility Funding for Digital {"service":"share","version":"2.0","color":true,"networks":["x","facebook","linkedin","email","more"]}

Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Studies Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/17/2026 - 08:19 Opening: 17 March 2026 Closing: 30 June 2026 This call for proposals will fund studies related to the deployment/significant upgrade of backbone networks that address risks, vulnerabilities and dependencies in the EU backbone infrastructure. GettyImages © Dragon Claws Main link https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportuni… Related topics Digital connectivity Connecting Europe Facility Funding for Digital {"service":"share","version":"2.0","color":true,"networks":["x","facebook","linkedin","email","more"]}

Drivers in the Russian city of Perm have been enjoying an unexpected bonus this week: free parking. Not because the city council suddenly decided to embrace generosity - but rather because hackers succeeded in knocking the city's payment system offline. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.

Open EU Foundry status granted to innovative chiplet facility Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/16/2026 - 10:40 The Commission has granted the Open EU Foundry (OEF) status to Silicon Box in Novara, Italy. GettyImages © Nikola Ilic - E+ Under the European Chips Act, the OEF status is granted to new or upgraded innovative semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The status provides benefits to semiconductor facilities including administrative support, faster construction approvals and priority access to pilot lines under the Chips for Europe Initiative. This helps deepen European semiconductor supply chain resilience and boost innovation. Silicon Box’s project is a significant milestone in strengthening Europe’s semiconductor industry through its new advanced semiconductor packaging and testing facility. The facility will integrate multiple dies or chiplets - small, modular semiconductor blocks that perform specific functions - into a single package, effectively creating a multi-chip module that behaves like a single chip, using panel level packaging. Panel level packaging uses a more efficient large-panel approach to packaging, enabling higher output and lower cost compared to traditional methods in the final stage of the chip making process. The facility will also test chips at panel-level, grouping multiple chiplets into a single panel, enabling more comprehensive quality verification before final assembly. The project will provide an important base in Europe for developing innovative technologies, products and system solutions for the semiconductors key to powering AI, electric and autonomous vehicles, data centres, as well as supercomputing applications. The plant is expected to reach full capacity in 2033. This OEF status recognition follows four semiconductor projects across the EU which have previously been awarded OEF or IPF (integrated production facility) status in October 2025: ESMC in Germany (OEF) Ams-OSRAM in Austria (IPF) Infineon Technologies Dresden in Germany (IPF) STMicroelectronics in Italy The decision to grant OEF follows the Commission state aid decision concerning Silicon Box. Related topics Advanced Digital Technologies Electronics Chips Act Semiconductors {"service":"share","version":"2.0","color":true,"networks":["x","facebook","linkedin","email","more"]}

If you're in the middle of applying for a planning or zoning permit, there is some unwelcome news: cyber-criminals have found a way to exploit the bureaucratic tedium of the process against you. Read more in my article on the Fortra blog.

Signal, the encrypted messaging app trusted by security-savvy users around the world, has confirmed that hackers have managed to takeover accounts - with government officials and journalists among those being targeted. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.

A Wikipedia security engineer accidentally wakes a dormant JavaScript worm that hadn't stirred since 2024 - and within minutes, giant woodpecker images are plastered across the internet's favourite encyclopaedia. Meanwhile, a crypto contractor hired to help the US Marshals manage seized digital assets allegedly decides to help himself to $46 million of it - and then brags about it on a recorded Telegram call. Plus: Graham champions Asterix, Trisha discovers the fantasy novels of Robin Hobb, and someone called "Lick" ends up in the nick. All this, and much more, in episode 458 of the "Smashing Security" podcast with cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley, and special guest Tricia Howard.

Elon Musk's social media site says it suspended 800 million accounts in a year for spam and manipulation - but with state-backed campaigns still flooding the platform, the real question is how many fake accounts remain. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.

In a co-ordinated public-private operation between law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity industry partners, Tycoon 2FA - one of the world's most prolific phishing-as-a-service platforms - has been dismantled. Read more in my article on the Hot for Security blog.