- Comparitech Stack Report
- Posts
- Ransomware Gang Hits Canadian Retailer
Ransomware Gang Hits Canadian Retailer
Taylor Hawes
February 16, 2026
🔎 Cyber Watch 🔎
Ransomware Gang Hits Canadian Retailer
A ransomware group known as Akira has posted data it claims to have stolen from a major Canadian retailer, highlighting ongoing extortion campaigns. The incident was added to the gang’s data leak site, signalling active criminal bragging rights and pressure tactics. This follows numerous other breach reports this month, including U.S. municipal and corporate breaches. The story highlights how ransomware actors continue to target a mix of public and private sector organisations. Ransomware attacks remain frequent and damaging in early 2026.
Key takeaway
Attack claims show ransomware groups still actively publishing stolen data.
Retailer breaches highlight consumer sector risks.
Ransomware continues across industries, not just government or critical infrastructure.
Organizations should review breach response and disclosure practices.
🎙️ Tech Briefing On‑Air 🎙️
AI was not plotting humanity’s demise. Humans were
AI agents creating religions. Bots plotting against humans. Social feeds filled with warnings about a coming singularity. That was the reaction when “Moltbook,” an AI-only social network, surfaced online. The platform claimed to host autonomous AI agents interacting without human input. In reality, investigations showed that many accounts were humans role-playing as bots, and the hype quickly outpaced the facts.
This episode of the Smashing Security podcast features cybersecurity veteran Graham Cluley and guest Iain Thomson breaking down what really happened. They examine how stories about AI agents forming a religion called “Crustafarianism” spread rapidly across social media, and how media coverage amplified speculation before verification.
Takeaways
Moltbook was not a network of autonomous AI agents; many accounts were human-operated.
Viral claims about AI “religions” spread faster than verified reporting.
Security researchers identified weaknesses in the platform’s design.
Public reaction shows how quickly AI narratives escalate without evidence.
Cyber literacy remains essential as AI tools become more visible in public discourse.
🤝 Partner Intel 🤝
Paessler Network Monitoring Tools
Paessler is known for PRTG Network Monitor, a tool suite that tracks network traffic, system performance, servers, routers, and other infrastructure from a central dashboard. The software supports thousands of sensors and uses protocols like SNMP, WMI, and NetFlow to gather data. Organisations use it to detect outages early, monitor performance, and generate alerts. Its broad feature set helps IT teams maintain visibility across complex environments.
🤖 AI Runtime 🤖
AI Security Threats Are Frontline Risks
Federal cybersecurity leaders and tech executives in Washington, D.C. stressed that AI-driven threats are now tangible national security issues. AI tools are being used to automate attacks, scan networks for weaknesses, and craft deceptive communications, raising the bar for defenders. Deepfake and synthetic media risks also feature prominently, pointing to threats beyond traditional malware. Officials are advocating for agile defence tools and ongoing monitoring to keep pace with AI-driven cyber activity.
đź“Š By the Numbers đź“Š
🗳️ Your Monday Take 🗳️
Cast your vote on our weekly poll.
If you had to eliminate just one hidden weakness from your environment this year, which would it be? |
📩 We’ll share the results in the Friday issue.
|
Until Friday’s edition - Let’s keep that zero-day count at zero!