Cybersecurity leaders are increasingly concerned about a new generation of “advanced persistent teenagers” who are skilled and financially motivated hackers. These groups, like Lapsus$ and Scattered Spider, execute attacks using persuasive phishing tactics that exploit human vulnerabilities.

In early 2024, a Microsoft developer discovered a backdoor in XZ Utils, impacting numerous Linux systems. Dubbed a “nightmare scenario,” this incident echoed past cybersecurity crises, highlighting the vulnerabilities of open source software. Experts discussed securing it at TechCrunch Disrupt.