Spring Sales Scams: How to Shop Smart and Stay Safe
Spring is a time of renewal, and for many, that means taking advantage of seasonal sales and deals. However, this time of year also brings a surge in scam activity. Scammers are eager to exploit the excitement of spring sales, luring unsuspecting shoppers with fake deals and fraudulent websites. To ensure your spring shopping is safe and enjoyable, it’s essential to be aware of common scams and take precautions.
Tax Season Scams: Staying Safe Year-Round
Tax season can be a daunting time for many, filled with the fear of audits and the stress of navigating complex tax laws. Unfortunately, scammers capitalize on these anxieties, making tax season a prime time for fraud. While many associate tax scams with the April 15th deadline, it’s crucial to understand that these schemes persist throughout the year. Scammers work tirelessly to exploit your fears and steal your hard-earned money.
Phoenix Xcelerator Announces 2025 Cohort, Innovative Defense Solutions
The Forge Institute is proud to announce the startups selected for the highly competitive Phoenix Xcelerator program. After an extensive review of applicants from across the nation, these early-stage innovators have been chosen for their cutting-edge solutions and potential to disrupt their categories.
The Phoenix Xcelerator is a no-cost, no-equity accelerator designed to fast-track promising startups tackling aerospace and defense challenges.
USPS Smishing Scams: Exploiting Trust with Fake PDFs
Smishing attacks are on the rise, and cybercriminals are now using USPS impersonation scams to trick unsuspecting victims. These scams rely on fraudulent text messages containing seemingly legitimate PDF attachments, designed to steal sensitive information from users who trust official-looking documents.
Phoenix Xcelerator Announces 2025 Cohort, Innovative Defense Solutions
The Forge Institute is proud to announce the startups selected for the highly competitive Phoenix Xcelerator program. After an extensive review of applicants from across the nation, these early-stage innovators have been chosen for their cutting-edge solutions and potential to disrupt their categories.
Forge Institute, in partnership with Department of Air Force APEX PIA, ignites Atomic Anvil to strengthen the Region’s Defense Innovation Ecosystem & Bring Innovation to the Warfighter
Forge Institute today announced the launch of Atomic Anvil, a groundbreaking program designed to bolster national security by connecting researchers, entrepreneurs, and non-traditional entities to mission partners within the Department of Defense. This initiative, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX) Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) with Parallax Advanced Research (Parallax), will accelerate technology transfer and transition to address critical national security needs.
Forge Institute Announces Walter Burgess as Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Phoenix Xcelerator Program
The Forge Institute proudly announces Walter Burgess as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Phoenix Xcelerator Program. With over 28 years of leadership in technology and innovation, Walter brings unparalleled insight to this flagship initiative, which empowers early-stage entrepreneurs and strengthens the national defense ecosystem.
Forge Institute and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to collaborate on the advancement of analytic methods for publicly available information to support operations in the Information Environment
Forge Institute, recognized for pioneering private-public partnerships in the national defense arena, is proud to announce a multi-year Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the Information Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
Case Study: From Personal Shopper to Cyber Defender
Sedrick Howard’s path to becoming a cybersecurity professional is as unique as it is inspiring.
Forge Institute & Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance Partner to Boost Veteran Talent and Cybersecurity for Arkansas’ Defense Industry
Today, the Forge Institute announced a strategic partnership with the Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance (AADA). This partnership will boost access to veteran talent, enhance the cybersecurity capabilities of the aerospace & defense industry in Arkansas, and drive innovation collaborations to support national defense.
Forge Institute Launches Phoenix Xcelerator to Scale Growth of Defense Tech Startups
Forge Institute is proud to announce the launch of the Phoenix Xcelerator, a pioneering program designed to empower & grow startups across the defense and aerospace sectors. Through structured programming—including a rigorous high-quality curriculum, personalized mentorship, and coaching—the Phoenix Xcelerator advances industry-informed and mission-led innovation. The program is funded in-part through a grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).
Cyber Threat ADVISORY
The Arkansas Cyber Defense Center (ACDC) advises all individuals and organizations to take immediate precautions following reports of cyberattacks targeting U.S. telecom networks by the State-Sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group, Salt Typhoon. These attacks pose significant risks to personal privacy, business operations, and critical infrastructure.
Watch Out For These Seasonal Scams
As the holiday season draws near, it's not just the time for joy and giving—it’s also peak season for scammers. Fraudsters take advantage of the festive hustle and bustle, creating schemes designed to exploit your holiday spirit and generosity. Protecting yourself from these schemes is essential to ensure your holiday remains merry and stress-free.
Charity Scams During the Holiday Season
As the holiday season nears, scammers ramp up their efforts with fake charity appeals and fraudulent offers. They exploit the festive spirit to steal money or personal information. Be cautious—verify charities and holiday deals before donating or purchasing, and protect yourself from falling victim to these common scams.
The Growing Threat of Deepfake Technology in Cyber Attacks
In an era where technology advances rapidly, deepfake technology has emerged as both a fascinating innovation and a potential cybersecurity nightmare. Originally developed for entertainment purposes, deepfakes use artificial intelligence (AI) to create hyper-realistic videos and audio, making it possible to fabricate someone's likeness or voice with startling accuracy. While the initial use cases were harmless, deepfakes have now become a significant concern in cybersecurity, especially as they are increasingly being weaponized in phishing attacks, misinformation campaigns, and identity theft. In this blog, we’ll dive into how deepfake technology works, real-world examples of its malicious use, and how organizations can protect themselves from falling victim to deepfake-related attacks.
Integrity in the Election Process
As the November elections draw closer, concerns about foreign adversaries trying to meddle in U.S. elections are ramping up again. Over the past few years, foreign entities have become more sophisticated in their attempts to create chaos, spread false information, and influence how people vote. While government agencies are hard at work protecting election systems, it's just as important for voters and local election officials to stay alert and aware of these threats.
Local cybersecurity expert warns of phishing scams during election season
Tom Flak, Director of Cyber Programs at Forge Institute, says there's an uptick in phishing concerns during election seasons because people are already used to receiving campaign messages.
“While you normally should be suspicious when you get an email from someone you don’t know or don’t really communicate with, during the election season, you do kind of expect to get unsolicited emails from political campaigns," Flak says.
The Rising Threat of Ransomware and Data Breaches in Healthcare
Healthcare facilities are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, with ransomware and data breaches posing severe risks to patient care and data integrity. In this post, we address the rising threat of ransomware and data breaches in the healthcare industry and how healthcare providers can prevent and mitigate these risks.
Forge Institute Receives Funding, Partners to Launch Structured Programs to Drive High-Growth Entrepreneurial Ventures in the Energy Sector
The Forge Institute is proud to announce the launch of Embers Xcelerator: Grid-Connected Cyber, a pre-accelerator program focused on growing innovations for grid-connected resilience, and the Forge Institute Mentorship Program.
Cyber Threat Training Course Strengthens the Energy Sector’s Defenses Across the Mid-South Region
Forge Institute, in collaboration with UA Little Rock and the University of Arkansas, has recently completed a successful Cyber Threat Training course which aims to bolster the cyber security defenses of the Nation’s energy infrastructure.