Online Safety stories
Spark launches the Kids Plan, a NZD $20 monthly mobile plan with parental controls and access to digital parenting resources for families.
Headspace Invaders, a free interactive platform, helps Kiwis aged 12-16 tackle online harm through games teaching resilience and critical thinking.
Cyber scams in New Zealand have surged 77,721% amid rising AI use and crypto fraud, with sextortion and phishing attacks also sharply increasing in Q2 2025.
New Zealand children face rising cyberbullying risks as 23% turn to AI companions for support, study finds amid earlier digital device use by youngsters.
Avast study reveals nearly half of older New Zealanders write passwords on paper, raising their risk of online scams and fraud amidst growing cyber threats.
Unison Networks launches the free Safe Sparks Digital Programme, teaching children aged 5-11 electrical safety online across Hawke's Bay, Taupō and Rotorua.
Network for Learning has upgraded Wi-Fi in over 1,700 New Zealand schools, enhancing internet speed and reliability for digital learning nationwide.
VexTrio, unmasked as a multinational ad-fraud empire with nearly 100 companies, runs scams worth billions across adtech and beyond.
Thousands of Kiwis are falling victim to evolving package delivery scams exploiting busy inboxes with fake DHL and NZ Post emails.
StarHub launches ScamSafe app in Singapore to block scam calls and SMS, offering free six-month access before a monthly subscription begins.
EE launches a free P.H.O.N.E. Contract to help nearly four million UK families set smartphone rules and ease device-related arguments.
Wikipedia has lost its UK High Court bid to avoid new Online Safety Act rules requiring user verification on its platform.
Google uses machine learning to enhance safety for users under 18 in the US, applying new age-based protections across its platforms automatically.
The UK government plans to impose a two-hour daily social media limit for under-16s to tackle youth compulsive behaviour and online harms.
Most Australians fear rising cybercrime sophistication, yet many small businesses cut cyber security spend, risking vulnerability amid digital trust concerns.
Over half of UK parents say their children can bypass online controls, exposing a widening digital gap in managing screen time and internet safety at home.
Bitdefender and the Creators Guild of America have joined forces to shield digital creators from rising cyber threats, including deepfake-driven attacks.
CommBank has launched AI bots developed with Apate.ai to engage scammers in real-time, disrupting fraud and protecting Australians from scams.
Over 1,000 Australian students joined Optus' Digital Thumbprint workshop to learn how to identify AI threats like deepfakes, scams, and online extortion.
Audra Security launches in the UK, offering easy-to-use internet security products for homes and small businesses without requiring IT expertise.