Skip to main content

Flash: Adobe issues emergency update after ransomware attacks

Check your Web browser is running the latest version of Flash. And do it now.

Adobe has issued a global alert to computer users around the world warning of a serious security flaw that leaves machines open to ransomware attacks. The company is urging all users to update to the most recent version of the software, which it rolled out Thursday, as soon as possible.

Recommended Videos

Ransomware locks a user out of their machine until they pay a sum of money to the hacker behind the attack. A user’s machine can be tricked into installing the malicious software after visiting an infected website.

Hackers are said to be using the Nuclear and Magnitude exploit kits to spread ransomware such as Cerber. DT reported on Cerber last month, though researchers only recently discovered how a flaw in Flash can be used to deliver the ransomware, hence Adobe’s response on Thursday.

Rather creepily, Cerber takes control of Windows’ text-to-speech engine to let a user know, out loud, that their computer has been hijacked. The message says, “Attention! Attention! Attention! Your documents, photos, databases, and other files have been encrypted.” In the case of Cerber, victims have reportedly been told to pay $500 to regain access to their files.

Adobe has in the last few hours posted information about cross-platform Flash updates that “address critical vulnerabilities that could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.”  There’s a lot of information on the page, but the main point is to ensure you have the latest version of Flash on your machine. You can do this by hitting this Adobe page via each of the browsers you use (updates may be auto-installing for one browser but not another) to make sure the software is up to date.

Ransomware is becoming an increasing problem for not only individual computer users, but businesses too, where the ransom demands are likely to be far higher. In February, for example, ransomware landed on the systems of a Hollywood hospital, locking staff out of computers holding important patient information as well as other data.

Hackers reportedly demanded $3.4 million to restore access. The hospital said it refused to pay such a large amount, though admitted it ended up handing over $17,000 in bitcoins to resolve the matter.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Google’s AI agent ‘Big Sleep’ just stopped a cyberattack before it started
Sundar Pichai

Google's AI agent, dubbed Big Sleep, has achieved a cybersecurity milestone by detecting and blocking an imminent exploit in the wild—marking the first time an AI has proactively foiled a cyber threat. Developed by Google DeepMind and Project Zero, Big Sleep identified a critical vulnerability in SQLite (CVE-2025-6965), an open-source database engine, that was on the verge of being exploited by malicious actors, allowing Google to patch it before damage occurred. “We believe this is the first time an AI agent has been used to directly foil efforts to exploit a vulnerability in the wild,” the company said.

Why it matters: As cyberattacks surge—costing businesses trillions annually—this breakthrough shifts defense from reactive patching to AI-driven prediction and prevention. It gives security teams a powerful new tool to stay ahead of hackers, potentially saving devices and data worldwide. CEO Sundar Pichai called it "a first for an AI agent—definitely not the last" according to Live Mint.

Read more
Google confirms merging Chrome OS and Android into one platform
Google Chrome app on s8 screen.

Why it matters: Google's push to blend Chrome OS and Android could supercharge affordable laptops like Chromebooks, making them more versatile for work and play. This move echoes Apple's seamless ecosystem across iPadOS and macOS, potentially shaking up the PC market where Windows dominates but innovation lags.

What's happening: In a bombshell interview, Google's Android ecosystem president Sameer Samat outright confirmed the company is "combining Chrome OS and Android into a single platform. This follows months of rumors and aligns with Android 16's new desktop-friendly features, like proper windowing and external display support. But then Samat later clarified on X that it's not a full-on merger killing Chrome OS; instead, it's about weaving Android's tech stack deeper into Chrome for better app compatibility and hardware efficiency.

Read more
WeTransfer backlash highlights need for smarter AI practices
A pair of hands using a keyboard on a laptop.

A recent update to WeTransfer’s terms of service caused consternation after some of its customers feared that it meant content from files uploaded to the popular file-sharing service would automatically be used to train AI models.

But the Netherlands-based company insisted on Tuesday that this is not the case, saying in a statement that it "does not sell user content to third parties,” and nor does it "use AI in connection with customer content.”

Read more