Honestly, if you thought 2025 was a wild ride for digital safety, January 2026 is already telling us to hold its beer. We aren't even three weeks into the year, and the sheer volume of current cyber security events has shifted from a slow drip to a firehose. It’s a lot to keep track of.
Between massive database leaks surfacing on underground forums and CISA sounding the alarm on "medium" bugs that are actually quite scary, the landscape is shifting. Fast.
The Big One: Endesa and the 20 Million Person Problem
Early this month, a threat actor going by the names "glock" and "spain" started bragging. They claimed to have a database from Endesa, the Spanish energy giant. We aren't talking about a small list of names here. We're talking about 20 million individuals.
Endesa confirmed the breach on January 11, 2026. While they were quick to say passwords weren't touched, the "basic" info stolen is anything but basic.
- National identity numbers
- Payment details (IBANs)
- Contact info
- Contract details
The weird part? No ransomware. No encrypted files. The attackers basically walked in using compromised credentials, took what they wanted, and left. It’s a classic example of the "quiet" breach that hurts the most because you don't even know they're there until your data is for sale on a forum.
Instagram and the Reset Email Wave
If you’ve noticed a weird spike in password reset emails from Instagram lately, you aren't alone. On January 10, reports surfaced of a massive 17.5 million account leak.
The trick here is sneaky. Attackers are triggering actual, legitimate reset emails from Instagram to flood your inbox. Then, they follow up with a fake one that looks identical but leads to a phishing site. It’s effective because it uses the real platform as a "pre-heat" for the scam.
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Why CISA is Worried About CVE-2026-20805
On January 13, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added a new Microsoft Windows bug to its "Known Exploited Vulnerabilities" catalog. On paper, CVE-2026-20805 looks boring. It’s an "Information Disclosure" vulnerability in the Desktop Window Manager.
But here is the catch: hackers are using it to bypass Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). Think of ASLR as a security guard who constantly moves the "valuables" to different rooms in a hotel so a thief can't find them. This bug lets the thief peek through a window and see exactly which room the valuables are in. Once they have that, the next step is usually full system control. CISA has given federal agencies until February 3 to patch it. You should probably check your Windows Updates too.
The Rise of "Agentic AI" Attacks
We've been talking about AI for years, but 2026 is when it's becoming "agentic."
According to recent reports from Google Cloud and the World Economic Forum, we are seeing a shift where AI isn't just a tool for writing better phishing emails. It’s acting as an autonomous swarm. These AI agents can scan a network, find a misconfiguration, chain it with a known vulnerability, and exfiltrate data in seconds. It happens faster than a human analyst can even open a ticket.
"The biggest disruption in 2026 won't be a new exploit. It will be the speed gap. Attackers are moving at machine speed while defenders are still stuck in meetings."
Small Business: The New Front Line
It’s not just the big fish getting hit. The University of Hawaiʻi recently launched a series of clinics because small business owners are getting hammered. Sole proprietors are being targeted because they often lack the "cyber hygiene" that larger corporations finally started taking seriously in 2024.
If you're running a business, the "it won't happen to me" phase is officially over. Hackers are using automated tools to find anyone with an unpatched router or a weak password. It's not personal; it's just math.
What You Actually Need to Do Now
The news is grim, but being a victim isn't inevitable. Most of the successful attacks this month relied on compromised credentials or delayed patching.
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- Check for Windows Updates immediately. If you see a patch for the Desktop Window Manager or the January 2026 cumulative update, hit install.
- Audit your "Human Firewall." If you get a password reset email you didn't ask for, do not click the link. Go directly to the app or website and change your password there.
- Move to Passkeys. Passwords are the weakest link. Most major platforms (Google, Apple, Microsoft) now support passkeys, which are significantly harder to phish than a traditional string of text.
- Isolate your backups. The "Double Extortion" method—where they steal data and encrypt it—is the standard now. If your backups are connected to your main network, they'll get encrypted too.
Stop treating security like a "once a year" checkup. It's more like brushing your teeth—if you don't do the small things daily, the big problems are guaranteed to follow.
Next Steps for Your Security:
- Verify your Windows build version to ensure CVE-2026-20805 is mitigated.
- Implement hardware-based MFA (like a YubiKey) for high-value accounts like banking and primary email.
- Review your third-party app permissions on social media platforms to close old backdoors.