Tech News

1. TikTok Ban and Restoration:

   • TikTok briefly went offline in the US after a federal ban took effect, but was later restored after President-elect Trump pledged to sign an executive order delaying enforcement. 👉 theverge.com, 👉 axios.com, 👉 apnews.com, 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Trump's proposed executive order aims to delay the ban and potentially establish a joint venture with 50% US ownership. 👉 axios.com
   • The brief outage marked the first time a widely popular social media network had been outlawed by the US government. 👉 npr.org
   • TikTok's restoration is raising concerns about potential legal violations and the precedent it sets. 👉 theverge.com
   • Apple and Google removed TikTok (and other ByteDance apps) from their app stores following the ban. 👉 techcrunch.com, 👉 theverge.com

2. Impact of TikTok Ban on Other ByteDance Apps:

   • The ban also affected other ByteDance apps including CapCut, Lemon8, and Marvel Snap. 👉 theverge.com, 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Meta launched a new video editing app, Edits, seemingly in response to the CapCut ban. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • The ban's unexpected impact on games like Marvel Snap highlights the interconnectedness of ByteDance's ecosystem. 👉 theverge.com

3. National Security Concerns and Data Privacy:

   • The TikTok ban was primarily driven by national security concerns related to data privacy and potential Chinese government influence. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • GDPR complaints were filed against TikTok and other companies for allegedly transferring European user data to China. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com, 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Concerns persist about the potential for Chinese government access to user data, despite assurances from TikTok. 👉 thehackernews.com

4. Trump's Cryptocurrency Launch and Market Reaction:

   • Donald Trump launched a Solana-based meme coin, TRUMP, which experienced a significant surge in value. 👉 coindesk.com, 👉 techmeme.com
   • Melania Trump also launched her own cryptocurrency, leading to a drop in the value of TRUMP. 👉 axios.com, 👉 techmeme.com
   • The launch has raised concerns about potential regulatory issues and market manipulation. 👉 thehackernews.com

5. Cybersecurity Threats and Vulnerabilities:

   • Hackers leaked configurations and VPN credentials for 15,000 FortiGate devices. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A new UEFI Secure Boot flaw could allow attackers to install bootkits. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft's January 2025 Patch Tuesday addressed 8 zero-day vulnerabilities and 159 other flaws. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • The FTC ordered GoDaddy to address poor web hosting security practices. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • The Star Blizzard hacking group targeted high-value diplomats using WhatsApp. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com, 👉 thehackernews.com
   • A malicious PyPi package stole Discord authentication tokens. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Critical flaws in WGS-804HPT switches could enable remote code execution. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • A new phishing kit bypassed 2FA on Microsoft 365 accounts. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • The US sanctioned a Chinese firm and hacker involved in the Treasury Department breach. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com, 👉 thehackernews.com
   • The FCC ordered telecoms to improve network security following Salt Typhoon hacks. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Damage to Baltic Sea undersea internet cables was likely accidental, not sabotage. 👉 washingtonpost.com, 👉 techmeme.com
   • A new New York law could require background checks for 3D printer purchases. 👉 hardware.slashdot.org

6. Other News:

   • The FTC ordered GM to stop collecting and selling driver data without consent. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft removed upgrade blocks for Assassin's Creed on Windows 11. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • The FTC settled with Genshin Impact developer over gacha loot box practices. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Otelier data breach exposed information from millions of hotel reservations. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • The US imposed sanctions on a North Korean IT worker network. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com, 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Deals were struck for 85% of the CHIPS Act funding. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Perplexity AI made a bid to merge with TikTok's US business. 👉 cnbc.com, 👉 techmeme.com
   • A potential breakthrough in AI super-agents is expected soon. 👉 axios.com, 👉 techmeme.com
   • Apple is unlikely to acquire Sonos. 👉 bloomberg.com^$, 👉 techmeme.com
   • Apple's CFO denied claims of 75% App Store profit margins. 👉 t.co, 👉 techmeme.com

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