Samsung Tops DARPA AI Cyber Challenge, Approov Raises £5M, and Synack Launches 'Sara' - Cybersecurity AI Weekly #17
August 18, 2025 -
Cybersecurity AI Weekly
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Welcome to this week's edition of Cybersecurity AI Weekly.
Edinburgh-based Approov has secured £5 million in Series A funding to bolster its mobile API security solutions, focusing on AI-driven threats and regulatory changes. Meanwhile, Theori, an offensive security firm, won third place and a $1.5 million prize at DARPA's AI Cyber Challenge with their AI system, 'Robo Duck,' which identified 34 vulnerabilities, showcasing AI's growing role in cybersecurity.
Synack has introduced a new AI architecture named Sara, which combines AI with human analysis to enhance its Penetration Testing as a Service platform, aiming to improve security validation against AI-driven attacks. In a similar vein, Samsung Electronics took first place in the AI Cyber Challenge organized by DARPA, demonstrating advanced AI technology for software security.
Welcome to this week's edition of Cybersecurity AI Weekly.
Edinburgh-based Approov has secured £5 million in Series A funding to bolster its mobile API security solutions, focusing on AI-driven threats and regulatory changes. Meanwhile, Theori, an offensive security firm, won third place and a $1.5 million prize at DARPA's AI Cyber Challenge with their AI system, 'Robo Duck,' which identified 34 vulnerabilities, showcasing AI's growing role in cybersecurity.
Synack has introduced a new AI architecture named Sara, which combines AI with human analysis to enhance its Penetration Testing as a Service platform, aiming to improve security validation against AI-driven attacks. In a similar vein, Samsung Electronics took first place in the AI Cyber Challenge organized by DARPA, demonstrating advanced AI technology for software security.
Beyond Identity and TeamWorx Security Partner for U.S. Cybersecurity
Beyond Identity and TeamWorx Security have announced a strategic partnership to enhance cybersecurity for the U.S. Department of Defense and federal government. Their collaboration focuses on secure information-sharing and identity verification using TeamWorx's Hive-IQ platform and Beyond Identity's technology. Read more
Accenture Acquires CyberCX for $650 Million
Accenture has acquired Australian cybersecurity provider CyberCX for approximately $650 million. This acquisition aims to enhance Accenture's cybersecurity capabilities amid rising cyberattacks in Australia. Read more
Approov Secures £5 Million for Mobile Security
Edinburgh-based Approov has raised £5 million in Series A funding led by Maven Capital Partners to enhance its mobile API security solutions. The investment will help address AI-driven threats and comply with new regulations like the EU's Digital Markets Act. Read more
Theori Wins $1.5 Million at DARPA AI Cyber Challenge
Theori, an offensive security firm, secured third place and a $1.5 million prize at DARPA's AI Cyber Challenge. Their AI system, 'Robo Duck,' identified 34 vulnerabilities, highlighting AI's role in cybersecurity. Read more
Synack Unveils AI Architecture 'Sara' for Enhanced PTaaS
On August 11, 2025, Synack announced the launch of its new AI architecture, 'Sara', which integrates AI with human analysis to improve its Penetration Testing as a Service platform. Read more
Samsung Wins AI Cyber Challenge by DARPA
Samsung Electronics has won first place in the AI Cyber Challenge organized by DARPA, showcasing advanced AI technology to detect software vulnerabilities and securing a $4 million prize. Read more
Trend Micro Unveils AI-Based Agentic SIEM
On August 12, 2025, Trend Micro introduced its Agentic SIEM, an AI-driven solution designed to enhance security operations by tackling alert overload and manual configuration challenges. Read more
Sysdig Unveils AI-Powered Sysdig Sage for Cloud Security
Sysdig has launched Sysdig Sage, an AI-powered tool designed to improve cloud security by reducing false positives and accelerating the resolution of critical vulnerabilities. Read more
Rockwell Automation Reports AI Adoption Plans in Cybersecurity
A report by Rockwell Automation, Inc. indicates that 61% of cybersecurity professionals plan to adopt AI within the next year to tackle rising cyber risks in manufacturing. Read more
FIU Develops AI Protection Against Data Poisoning
Researchers at Florida International University have created a method using federated learning and blockchain to safeguard AI systems from data poisoning attacks. Read more
Portal26 Enhances GenAI Platform with New Features
On August 14, 2025, Portal26 announced updates to its GenAI Governance and Security Platform, including a new Strategy Module, Shadow AI Discovery Engine, and enhanced security controls. Read more
Archestra Secures $3.3M for AI Security Platform
Archestra Inc. has raised $3.3 million to develop an open-source platform focused on enhancing security for AI agents and MCP servers in enterprise environments. Read more
Palo Alto Networks Unveils Quantum-Ready AI Security Suite
Palo Alto Networks has launched a new suite of security solutions aimed at addressing risks associated with quantum computing, multicloud strategies, and artificial intelligence. The suite includes a Quantum Readiness Dashboard and enhancements to cloud network security and AI risk assessment tools. Read more
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