Startup Tackles Phone Fraud Pre-Call

A new European startup, Guardian Labs, is developing technology designed to prevent phone fraud before a mobile device even rings. The company’s focus on pre-call security emerged from a personal experience involving an elderly relative, highlighting the growing need for proactive digital protection. This initiative signals an emergent focus on advanced, pre-emptive security solutions within the deeptech market, moving beyond traditional reactive measures.

The cybersecurity landscape is seeing increased investment in predictive and preventative capabilities. For instance, the PHOENI2X project, a Horizon Europe initiative, is developing an AI-assisted Cyber Resilience Framework. This framework aims to provide enhanced situational awareness with AI-assisted prediction, prevention, detection, and response capabilities for essential services and national authorities. Similarly, KARTOS, a cybersecurity platform developed by ENTHEC, focuses on scoring, predicting, and remediating potential security risks using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. ENTHEC, an early-stage deep-tech startup, is pioneering solutions against cybercrime, further demonstrating the industry's shift towards proactive risk management.

Another deeptech player, levelQuantum s.r.l., is working on quantum-based cybersecurity protocols, addressing vulnerabilities that could arise with more powerful computing. These projects collectively underscore a market trend where innovative deep-tech companies are leveraging advanced technologies to anticipate and neutralise threats before they materialise. The emphasis is on building resilience and safeguarding digital interactions through intelligent, forward-looking systems.

What this means: The development by Guardian Labs exemplifies a broader movement in cybersecurity towards proactive, AI-driven solutions that aim to stop threats before they impact users, reflecting a critical evolution in digital defence strategies, particularly in the deeptech sector.