Rising Mobile Payments, OSINT Use, Data Protection Day, Age Verification Laws, and Russian Cyber Threats Highlighted in Cybersecurity Update

The use of smartphones for mobile payments is growing, though there is no explicit assessment of its security. Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) is a reconnaissance technique leveraging public data, applied in various contexts such as conflicts and divorce cases. Data Protection Day, celebrated on January 28, 2026, emphasizes the importance of digital sovereignty and personal data protection. A national age verification system is being implemented to restrict social media access for individuals under 15. Additionally, the Russia-linked cyber threat group TA584 is targeting Europe with sophisticated social engineering and malware attacks.