Cyber Defense Archives

Cyberattacks Hit Automakers, Retailers, Developers And Open-Source Platforms As Threat Landscape Intensifies

Cyberattacks Hit Automakers, Retailers, Developers And Open-Source Platforms As Threat Landscape Intensifies

BIRMINGHAM - Cybersecurity threats are accelerating across nearly every sector of the global economy, from automotive manufacturing and retail chains to software development platforms and open-source infrastructure. That was the warning delivered by cybersecurity analyst Richard Stiennon, founder of IT-Harvest, during a recent MITech TV interview that examined several high-profile cyber incidents now rippling through

By Mike Brennan|2026-05-21T12:54:51-04:00May 21st, 2026|Cyber Defense, mitechtv|

AI Is Flooding Cybersecurity With New Threats—And Michigan Businesses May Not Be Ready

AI Is Flooding Cybersecurity With New Threats—And Michigan Businesses May Not Be Ready

From auto suppliers to hospitals, a new wave of AI-driven vulnerabilities could overwhelm defenses—experts warn BIRMINGHAM - Cybersecurity is entering a phase few businesses are prepared for—and the consequences could hit Michigan’s economy hard. In an interview with MITechNews, cybersecurity analyst Richard Stiennon, founder of IT-Harvest, described what he calls a “break-glass moment” for the

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-21T18:39:39-04:00April 21st, 2026|Cyber Defense, mitechtv|

Michigan’s Auto Industry Runs on Chinese Tech—And Washington Is Starting to Push Back

Michigan’s Auto Industry Runs on Chinese Tech—And Washington Is Starting to Push Back

ANN ARBOR - From connected cars rolling off Detroit assembly lines to smart devices inside homes across the state, a significant portion of Michigan’s digital infrastructure relies on Chinese-made communication components—often without consumers or businesses realizing it. A new report highlighted by The Hill is raising alarms in Washington over the dominance of two Chinese

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-16T18:37:37-04:00April 16th, 2026|Auto Tech, Cyber Defense|

West Michigan IT Firms Consolidate as Cybersecurity Demand and Talent Shortages Accelerate

West Michigan IT Firms Consolidate as Cybersecurity Demand and Talent Shortages Accelerate

GRAND RAPIDS - A new acquisition in Grand Rapids highlights a growing shift in Michigan’s technology sector: smaller IT service providers are joining forces as cybersecurity threats intensify, client expectations rise, and skilled talent becomes harder to find. Hungerford Technology, a managed IT provider serving West Michigan, announced April 16 it has acquired RGA Tech

By Staff Writer|2026-04-16T18:00:38-04:00April 16th, 2026|Cyber Defense|

Cybercrime Is Becoming a “Hidden Tax” on Michigan Small Businesses—And AI Is Making It Worse

Cybercrime Is Becoming a “Hidden Tax” on Michigan Small Businesses—And AI Is Making It Worse

ANN ARBOR - Small businesses across Michigan—from auto suppliers in Oakland County to cannabis retailers in Detroit—are facing a growing and costly threat: cybercrime. A new national survey by the Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI), conducted by Morning Consult, shows fraud, scams and ransomware are draining an estimated $131 billion annually from U.S. small businesses,

By Staff Writer|2026-04-16T18:00:47-04:00April 11th, 2026|Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Defense, ESD|

A Cyberattack Doesn’t Have to Take Down the Grid to Cost Michigan Millions

A Cyberattack Doesn’t Have to Take Down the Grid to Cost Michigan Millions

Even brief disruptions to power, water, or manufacturing systems could ripple across Michigan’s economy—experts say the real risk isn’t always a full-scale shutdown. ANN ARBOR - Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure don’t have to trigger a massive blackout to cause serious economic damage. In fact, cybersecurity experts say the more likely—and potentially more costly—scenario is something

By Staff Writer|2026-04-16T18:00:48-04:00April 11th, 2026|Cyber Defense|

Federal Cyber Warning Hits Close to Home: Why Michigan’s Power Grid—and Aging Infrastructure—Are in Focus

Federal Cyber Warning Hits Close to Home: Why Michigan’s Power Grid—and Aging Infrastructure—Are in Focus

WASHINGTON DC - Federal cybersecurity agencies are warning that Iranian-linked hackers are actively targeting U.S. critical infrastructure—but in Michigan, the implications go beyond abstract cyber threats. The warning, issued jointly by federal agencies including the FBI, NSA and Department of Energy, highlights ongoing efforts to probe vulnerabilities in energy systems, water facilities and other industrial

By Staff Writer|2026-04-16T18:00:50-04:00April 10th, 2026|Cyber Defense, News|

Iran-Linked Hackers Target $25B Michigan Medical Device Company Stryker

Iran-Linked Hackers Target $25B Michigan Medical Device Company Stryker

KALAMAZOO - A suspected Iranian cyberattack targeting Kalamazoo-based medical technology giant Stryker is raising alarms among cybersecurity experts who say global conflict is increasingly spilling into corporate computer networks. Stryker, one of Michigan’s largest healthcare companies, generates more than $25 billion in annual sales and employs roughly 56,000 people worldwide, producing orthopedic implants, surgical equipment,

By Mike Brennan|2026-03-12T10:56:56-04:00March 12th, 2026|Cyber Defense, Featured, Life Sciences, Life Sciences/Biotech, News|

AI Is Becoming Hackers’ Favorite Tool, Cybersecurity Expert Warns

AI Is Becoming Hackers’ Favorite Tool, Cybersecurity Expert Warns

BIRMINGHAM – Cybersecurity expert Richard Stiennon joined MITech TV to discuss the release of the Cyber 150, his annual ranking of the top privately held cybersecurity companies in the world. AI Used By Hackers is accelerating as AI becomes hackers’ favorite tool, cybersecurity experts warn. As a result, cybercriminals are using AI to identify vulnerabilities

By Mike Brennan|2026-04-15T05:57:35-04:00March 11th, 2026|Cyber Defense, mitechtv|

Cybersecurity Vendor Research Is Broken – Richard Stiennon Built a Fix

Cybersecurity Vendor Research Is Broken – Richard Stiennon Built a Fix

BIRMINGHAM- For CISOs and CIOs, cybersecurity vendor research has quietly become one of the most expensive inefficiencies inside the enterprise. Security architects lose weeks buried in Google searches. Analysts build sprawling spreadsheets that are outdated almost as soon as they’re finished. Vendor shortlists are shaped less by market reality than by which sales teams get

By Mike Brennan|2026-01-30T12:36:23-05:00January 30th, 2026|Cyber Defense, mitechtv|