Yazılar

Italy’s Leonardo to Acquire European Cybersecurity Firm Amid Sector Expansion

/in /tarafından

Leonardo (LDOF.MI), Italy’s state-controlled aerospace and defense giant, is preparing to announce the acquisition of a European cybersecurity company, according to comments made Tuesday by Chairman Stefano Pontecorvo in an interview with Reuters.

While Pontecorvo did not disclose the identity of the target firm or specify a closing timeline, he emphasized the strategic importance of the deal. “Cybersecurity is an essential component in so-called multi-domain warfare, where everything is connected with everything,” he said. “Connections must be secure so that the enemy cannot use parts of a system.”

The move aligns with Leonardo’s broader strategy to consolidate and grow its cybersecurity operations, which the company sees as a critical pillar in modern defense architecture.

Back in October, CEO Roberto Cingolani confirmed the group was exploring multiple acquisition targets—both in Italy and abroad—adding that no deal would exceed 15% of the division’s annual turnover. He also projected double-digit growth for Leonardo’s cybersecurity segment in the years ahead.

Speaking at the Paris Airshow, Pontecorvo also signaled that the evolving and increasingly complex nature of cyber threats would likely encourage more collaborations across the defense and tech sectors, as the demand for specialized cybersecurity solutions grows.

The upcoming acquisition is expected to strengthen Leonardo’s positioning within European defense networks, as the continent accelerates digital and military integration in response to rising geopolitical tensions.

WestJet Investigates Cybersecurity Breach Impacting Mobile App and Internal Systems

/in /tarafından

WestJet Airlines of Canada is currently investigating a cybersecurity incident that has disrupted access to its mobile app and certain internal systems, the airline announced in a statement on Friday. The breach has affected an unspecified number of users.

WestJet said that specialized internal teams are working closely with law enforcement agencies and Transport Canada to contain the impact and determine the full extent of the security breach.

“We are expediting efforts to safeguard sensitive data and personal information for both our guests and employees,” the airline said, while also noting it is too soon to speculate on the cause or scope of the incident.

Despite the disruption, a company spokesperson confirmed that WestJet’s flight operations remain safe and fully unaffected.

This incident adds to a growing trend of cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure in Canada. Earlier in April, energy company Emera and its subsidiary Nova Scotia Power reported unauthorized access to their networks and business servers.

Google’s $32 Billion Acquisition of Wiz Faces U.S. Antitrust Review, Bloomberg Reports

/in /tarafından

The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing Google’s planned $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz to determine if the deal could unlawfully reduce competition in the marketplace, according to Bloomberg News citing sources familiar with the matter.

This acquisition would be Alphabet’s largest to date and aims to integrate Wiz into Google’s cloud division, bolstering its cybersecurity offerings for enterprise customers to manage critical risks.

Both Google and the DOJ declined to comment, and Wiz did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request. The deal reportedly gained momentum after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, amid expectations of a more favorable antitrust environment.

Executives at Wiz reportedly remained cautious following the collapse of Adobe’s $20 billion attempt to buy Figma due to antitrust challenges in late 2023. Google has agreed to pay Wiz over $3.2 billion if the deal fails to close.

Trump’s appointments of Andrew Ferguson as FTC chair and Gail Slater to oversee DOJ antitrust reviews reportedly increased confidence in a smoother regulatory process.

This scrutiny arrives as Google also faces ongoing DOJ lawsuits alleging monopoly abuses in online search and advertising technology markets. In April, a U.S. judge ruled Google liable for “willfully acquiring and maintaining monopoly power” in publisher ad servers and ad exchange markets.