Weekly Cybersecurity Digest [November, Week 1]
Posted on November 4, 2025
Dear Valued Clients,
Welcome to this week’s cybersecurity digest from Make Sense, your trusted partner in building measurable resilience across Europe’s evolving digital and institutional landscape. The first week of November sharpened focus on state-aligned espionage, cybercrime disruption, and biometric-privacy governance, as Europe confronts increasingly aggressive threat actors and intensifies regulatory enforcement.
From zero-day exploits targeting diplomats to record European ransomware activity, the strategic imperative remains clear: anticipate, adapt, and accelerate security maturity through intelligence-driven execution.
✅ Top Stories of the Week
i. European diplomats targeted by a Windows zero-day
A Chinese-affiliated threat actor (UNC6384) exploited a newly discovered Windows zero-day (CVE-2025-9491) to execute remote code on systems used by European diplomats in Belgium, Hungary and other member states during September–October. The diplomatic breach raises alarm over espionage risks to sensitive EU bodies and calls for accelerated patching & threat hunting. [Read more via Bleeping Computer]
Reflect: Which diplomatic-adjacent communication channel or government-relations workflow in your organisation would be most vulnerable to targeted espionage or credential harvesting?
ii. Meduza Stealer developers arrested in Russia
Russian police detained three alleged developers of the Meduza Stealer info-stealing malware in raids around Moscow, seizing computers and bank cards. Investigators say the tool was sold on Russian-language forums and used to pilfer credentials and crypto-wallet data, with activity seen across Europe. The arrests mark a rare domestic crackdown on cybercrime operators. [Read more via The Record]
Question: When did your team last verify browser credential storage policies and privileged-account hygiene across remote endpoints?
iii. Clearview AI faces fresh data privacy lawsuit in Europe
On 30 October 2025, Clearview AI was sued again in Europe for scraping biometric data of EU citizens without consent. The case, filed by privacy advocates in France and Spain, challenges Clearview’s claim that public images fall outside the scope of the GDPR. EU regulators signalled support for stronger enforcement of biometric data, potentially setting a precedent for AI and facial recognition governance. [Read more via The Record]
Action prompt: Review your organisation’s biometric data policies. Could public-image capture, facial recognition pilots or AI vendor tools expose you to GDPR liability?
✅ Industry Trends & Insights
CrowdStrike’s 2025 European Threat Landscape: ransomware hits region at record pace
On 3 November 2025, CrowdStrike reported Europe accounted for nearly 22% of global ransomware/extortion victims this year, with attacks moving from “days to hours.” The study highlights growing involvement of Iran, Russia, China and North Korea-linked actors, rapid initial-access brokerage, and cross-border supply-chain exposure, pressing EU organisations to tighten detection and response. [Read via CrowdStrike]
Reflect: Which threat vector – compromised identity, supplier access or unmanaged endpoint would adversaries penetrate fastest in your organisation today?
ISE 2026 launches inaugural CyberSecurity Summit for Pro AV and systems integration
On 29 October 2025, ISE 2026 announced its first CyberSecurity Summit (scheduled for 5 February 2026), targeting the European Pro-AV and systems-integration sector. It emphasises how digital threats are moving into smart buildings, infrastructure and non-traditional IT systems. The initiative reflects industry recognition that cyber resilience is a business-critical strategy, not just a technological or compliance task. [Read more via AV Network]
Ransomware in Europe jumps 34 % in H1 2025
A joint report by Marsh and Northwave, published on 29 October 2025, reveals that ransomware incidents in Europe surged by 34% in the first half of 2025. Key sectors hit include IT service providers, construction, retail, and logistics. The data shows that smaller firms are becoming primary targets, underscoring the need for stronger resilience and incident response capabilities. [Read more via Commercial Risk Online]
Note down: Which small or mid-sized supplier is most operationally critical to you and when was its incident-response readiness last validated?
✅ Regulatory & Policy Updates
EU country grouping cleared to build sovereign digital infrastructure
The European Commission has approved a coalition of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands to establish an organisation tasked with building sovereign European digital infrastructure across critical domains, including cloud, AI, cybersecurity and social networks. The move aims to reduce reliance on non-EU technology, boost resilience and strengthen digital autonomy. [Read more via Euractiv]
EU to enlist online platforms in hybrid-threat protocol under Digital Services Act
On 30 October 2025, a draft document revealed that the Digital Services Act will be extended to require major online platforms (Google, Meta, TikTok, X) to engage in a “crisis protocol” for hybrid threats, cooperating with national authorities and identifying AI/deepfake risks during elections. The move signals Europe’s increasing regulatory push to integrate cyber/infosec risk into digital-platform governance. [Read more via Reuters]
Consider: What internal escalation paths exist for responding to synthetic media or misinformation targeting your brand, executives, or stakeholders?
Europe embraces open-source cybersecurity as geopolitical tension rises
Amid U.S.–China friction, Europe is increasingly turning to open-source cyber defence technologies to reduce vendor lock-in and bolster sovereignty. Analysts highlight growth in community-driven projects, national funding for open-source toolchains, and rising adoption across EU states, signalling a shift in the European cybersecurity vendor and ecosystem landscape. [Read more via CyberNews]
Note: Name one open-source security tool your organisation could pilot for detection engineering, automation or transparency benefits this quarter.
✅ Cyber IQ Challenge + Proactive Security Hacks
Quick Quiz:
What capability most strengthens resilience against state-linked espionage and rapid ransomware escalation?
A) Traditional perimeter hardening
B) Zero-trust identity, patch acceleration and rapid-detection playbooks
C) Post-incident consultancy and board reporting
D) Annual awareness training alone
(Answer below)
Smart Security Moves of the Week:
- Diplomatic-grade defence: Accelerate patch cycles for high-privilege assets; validate isolation paths for sensitive workflows.
- Credential hardening: Enforce browser credential restrictions and privileged-account lifecycle reviews.
- Biometric-data review: Audit AI, video and identity systems for GDPR and consent-handling compliance.
- SME supply-chain uplift: Provide micro-resilience guidance and share threat intel with small critical vendors.
Answer: B) Zero-trust identity, patch acceleration and rapid-detection playbooks.
✅ Conclusion
From diplomat-targeting zero-days to AI-driven privacy litigation and Europe’s worst ransomware surge to date, this week reaffirmed the shift from isolated cyber events to systemic threat pressure. Strategic autonomy, detection acceleration and supplier assurance now define European cyber resilience.
Final reflection: If a state-linked group probed your organisation tomorrow, how swiftly could you validate identity trust, patch critical paths, and secure diplomatic-grade data flows?
At Make Sense, we convert intelligence into measurable defence, empowering organisations to harden identity, rehearse crisis playbooks, and elevate resilience across supply chains and critical systems.
Stay secure,
The Make Sense SRL Team & CyberTania
