Top 5 Cybersecurity News Stories April 18, 2025

By Editorial Team | April 18, 2025

Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving as threat actors seek access to your data and money. To help you stay secure, we have searched the internet for the top five cybersecurity news stories of the week that we think you should be aware of. No story is too big or small as we look at threats from espionage to security flaws in everyday devices:

1. Apple Patches Two Actively Exploited iOS Flaws Used in Sophisticated Targeted Attacks

Apple has rolled out urgent security updates across iOS, iPadOS, macOS Sequoia, tvOS, and visionOS to fix two actively exploited zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-31200 & CVE-2025-31201).

One affects audio file processing, while the other could bypass Pointer Authentication. Users are urged to update immediately, as the flaws are part of highly targeted attacks.

2. Meta Resumes E.U. AI Training Using Public User Data After Regulator Approval

Meta will begin training its AI models using public data from adult users in the EU, resuming plans paused last year over data protection concerns.

The training excludes private messages and data from minors. Users will receive in-app and email notifications with an opt-out option. This move follows EU regulatory approval and mirrors practices by Google and OpenAI.

3. Google blocked over 5 billion ads in 2024 amid rise in AI-powered scams

Google’s 2024 Ads Safety Report reveals it blocked 5.1 billion ads and suspended over 39 million advertiser accounts due to rising AI-powered scams, especially deepfake impersonations.

Over 700,000 accounts were banned for promoting AI-driven fraud. Enhanced machine learning helped detect threats early, contributing to a 90% drop in scam reports.

4. CISA extends funding to ensure ‘no lapse in critical CVE services’

CISA has extended MITRE’s funding for 11 months, ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the vital CVE program, just as it faced a shutdown due to funding expiry.

The move comes after MITRE warned of widespread impacts on cybersecurity tools and infrastructure. Meanwhile, a newly launched CVE Foundation aims to secure the program’s future independently of U.S. government control.

5. Notorious internet messageboard 4chan has been hacked, posts claim

4chan has reportedly been hacked, with screenshots claiming to show the site’s backend and moderator identities now circulating online. A defunct section of the site briefly reappeared with “U GOT HACKED” splashed across it.

Though unconfirmed, cybersecurity experts say the breach appears credible. The site, known for controversial content and limited moderation, was intermittently accessible during the incident.