5 Cyber Security Best Practices Every SME should follow
Cyber Security is one of those phrases that we all hear on a regular, sometimes daily basis. Whilst cyber security…
When a company like Anthropic makes headlines, it’s usually for pushing the boundaries of what artificial intelligence can do and increasingly, raising questions around AI cyber security risks in legacy systems. Founded by former researchers from OpenAI, Anthropic positioned itself early on as the “safety-first” AI company, building powerful models, but with guardrails baked in.
In April 2026, that reputation was put under the spotlight.
According to the BBC, “Anthropic is investigating a claim that a small group of people gained access to its Claude Mythos model – the cyber-security tool which the AI firm says is too powerful to release to the public.”
Let’s unpack that.
The model in question, Claude Mythos, reportedly has advanced cyber security capabilities. While details are limited, the implication is clear: this isn’t just another chatbot. It’s a tool capable of identifying, analysing, and potentially exploiting vulnerabilities at a level that could outpace human defenders.
At its core, Claude Mythos is believed to function as an advanced “bug hunter”, an AI system designed to identify vulnerabilities in software, infrastructure, and security configurations. In the right hands, tools like this are incredibly valuable. They allow organisations to uncover weaknesses early, test their defences, and strengthen systems before a real attacker gets in.
But the same capability cuts both ways.
If access isn’t tightly controlled, a tool designed for ethical security testing could just as easily be used to identify and exploit those same weaknesses faster, and at a scale most organisations aren’t prepared for. General availability of tools such as Mythos also greatly lower the skill needed to exploit vulnerabilities.
Anthropic’s decision not to release it publicly suggests a growing reality in AI:
Some tools are now too powerful to be widely accessible.
That’s a shift. Until now, the conversation has been about scaling access, making AI available to everyone. Now, we’re seeing the opposite: deliberate restriction.
And the reason is simple – risk.
It’s easy to focus on the AI itself. But in practice, tools like Mythos don’t create vulnerabilities, they expose them.
The real issue is what those tools find.
For most organisations, especially in regulated sectors, the uncomfortable truth is this:
Your risk isn’t cutting-edge AI. It’s the systems you’re already running.
Legacy platforms. Outdated integrations. Unsupported software. Workarounds that became permanent.
These are the environments where a tool like Mythos becomes dangerous, not because it exists, but because it can quickly surface weaknesses that have been sitting quietly for years.
If you’re operating in financial services, legal, insurance, or accountancy, the stakes are higher.
You’re not just managing IT. You’re managing:
And increasingly, you’re being judged on proactive risk management, not just reactive fixes.
The Mythos story is a reminder that the bar is moving.
Attackers (and defensive tools) are becoming faster, smarter, and more automated. That means vulnerabilities that were once “low priority” can now be identified and exploited far more quickly.
In our experience, most firms don’t ignore risk, they inherit it.
Systems evolve. Teams change. Documentation disappears. And over time, you’re left with a patchwork of technologies that work but aren’t necessarily secure.
This is especially true for businesses in that 30–150 user range – large enough to be complex, but without the internal resource to continuously review and modernise.
The result?
Blind spots.
Not because you’ve made poor decisions, but because no one’s had the time or perspective to step back and assess the whole picture.
Yes, in the sense that it accelerates everything.
It shortens the gap between vulnerability and exposure.
It raises the standard for what “secure” looks like.
It increases the pool of actors able to take advantage of vulnerability.
And it removes the comfort of obscurity, the idea that if something hasn’t been found yet, it probably won’t be.
But the more useful question is this:
Are your systems ready for a world where weaknesses are easier to find?
At Gather, we work with regulated firms who know their IT needs to evolve but aren’t sure where to start.
We don’t lead with tools. We start with understanding:
From there, we help you make clear, practical decisions – whether that’s tightening security, modernising legacy platforms, or putting the right controls in place.
No scare tactics. No over-engineering. Just informed, strategic advice.
Because in a world where AI is getting more powerful, the goal isn’t to panic; it’s to be prepared.
If this story resonated, it might be worth asking a simple question:
“If something like Mythos looked at our systems tomorrow… what would it find?”
If you’re not sure, that’s exactly where we can help.
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They inspire the solutions we produce, the services we provide and the people we employ.
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