Tech News

1. AI and Security:

   • Google Chrome is rolling out an AI-powered security feature to all users, providing real-time protection against dangerous websites, downloads, and extensions. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Match Group's head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth, discusses using AI in apps like Tinder to detect offensive messages and promote behavioral change. 👉 t.co
   • A Webinar will discuss how new AI agents can automate identity attacks. 👉 pushsecurity.com
   • Meta's Joel Kaplan indicates Meta is prepared to involve President Trump in its dispute with the EU, should EU regulations unfairly target Meta's products. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • The new Android SafetyCore feature blocks device owners from changing sensitive settings during phone calls to prevent fraudulent activities. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • A recent article explores how AI is accelerating social engineering attacks and its implications for IT leaders. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Google has confirmed that Android SafetyCore enables AI-powered on-device content classification. 👉 thehackernews.com

2. Vulnerabilities and Exploits:

   • Microsoft's February Patch Tuesday addresses 55 flaws, including 4 zero-day vulnerabilities. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Hackers are exploiting an authentication bypass vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS firewalls. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A SonicWall firewall bug is being actively exploited following the release of proof-of-concept exploit code. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • An authentication bypass exploit in PAN-OS software has been patched by Palo Alto Networks. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • An authentication bypass exploit in PAN-OS software has been patched by Palo Alto Networks. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Threat actors exploited a PostgreSQL security flaw as a zero-day in BeyondTrust breach. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2025-24200, has been actively exploited in iOS, prompting Apple to release an emergency update. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Rapid7 found attackers exploited a PostgreSQL security flaw, CVE-2025-1094, alongside the BeyondTrust zero-day, CVE-2024-12356, in targeted attacks. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • A new "whoAMI" attack exploits name confusion in AWS AMIs for remote code execution, potentially affecting thousands of accounts. 👉 thehackernews.com

3. Malware and Cyber Attacks:

   • A North Korean APT group, APT43, is using PowerShell and Dropbox in cyberattacks targeting South Korea. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • The death of former OpenAI employee Suchir Balaji was ruled a suicide in a new autopsy report. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • A new malware called FinalDraft is abusing the Outlook mail service for command-and-control communication in attacks. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft warns of hackers stealing emails in device code phishing attacks, potentially linked to Russia. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Security researchers say the Chinese government-linked hacking group, Salt Typhoon, is continuing to compromise telecommunications providers. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Security researchers say the Chinese government-linked hacking group, Salt Typhoon, is continuing to compromise telecommunications providers. 👉 techradar.com
   • Security researchers say the Chinese government-linked hacking group, Salt Typhoon, is continuing to compromise telecommunications providers. 👉 nextgov.com
   • A free-to-play game on Steam, PirateFi, has been caught distributing the Vidar infostealing malware. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Researchers uncover a watering hole attack likely carried out by APT TA423, which attempts to plant the ScanBox JavaScript-based reconnaissance tool. 👉 threatpost.com
   • Tens of thousands of Chinese surveillance cameras have failed to patch a critical, 11-month-old CVE, leaving thousands of organizations exposed. 👉 threatpost.com
   • Lazarus Group is deploying a previously undocumented JavaScript implant named Marstech1 in targeted developer attacks. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • A widespread phishing campaign is observed leveraging bogus PDF documents hosted on Webflow CDN with an aim to steal credit card information and commit financial fraud. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Chinese espionage tools were deployed in an RA World ransomware attack. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Threat actors exploited a smart contract flaw in zkLend, stealing $9.5 million worth of Ethereum. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • "0ktapus" Threat Group Victimize 130 Firms 👉 threatpost.com
   • Ra World Ransomware Attack in South Asia Links to Chinese Espionage Toolset. 👉 thehackernews.com

4. Financial and Economic News:

   • Javier Milei, the Argentinian president promoted the $LIBRA cryptocoin, created by the Viva la libertad project, which was then rugpulled, crashing 95%. 👉 web3isgoinggreat.com
   • Argentine President Javier Milei posted and then deleted an X post promoting Libra, a memecoin that rose 2,000%+ to a $4.4B market cap before plunging 95%+. 👉 coindesk.com
   • Indian authorities have seized nearly $190M in cryptocurrency linked to the BitConnect Ponzi scheme, one of the country's largest crypto enforcement actions. 👉 dlnews.com

5. Government and Policy:

   • Meta's Joel Kaplan says Meta “won't shy away” from taking up its case with President Trump if the EU uses its rules to unfairly target Meta's products. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • The Dutch Police (Politie) dismantled the ZServers/XHost bulletproof hosting operation after taking offline 127 servers used by the illegal platform. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Argentinian president promotes $LIBRA cryptocoin... which crashes into oblivion. 👉 slashdot.org
   • DOGE is sending termination notices to USDS staff who worked as IT experts for the US government since the Obama era; USDS has been renamed as DOGE. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • A profile of Watch Duty creator John Clarke Mills, who is expanding the free fire-tracking app so it becomes a one-stop shop for information during any disaster. 👉 wired.com
   • Bolivians, frustrated with spotty internet from the state's China-built satellite, are smuggling in Starlink kits despite the country's ban in August 2024. 👉 restofworld.org

6. Apple News:

   • Apple and Meta are set to go toe-to-toe in another emerging area: AI-powered humanoid robots. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Apple is exploring monetizing Maps. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans to refresh the Vision Pro with Apple Intelligence, a new Spatial content app, and a revamped guest mode in visionOS 2.4, as early as April. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Apple Maps paid search ads under consideration in monetization push 👉 appleinsider.com
   • Users are urged to update their iPhones to patch 2 zero-days under attack. 👉 threatpost.com
   • Apple is working on a 27" Studio Display successor to launch by 2026 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • The developer for Linux on Apple Silicon Macs resigns, citing ‘major failure of leadership’. 👉 9to5mac.com
   • A new report indicates Apple is planning a media event for Feb 19. 👉 techmeme.com

7. Programming and Development:

   • Fast programming languages are gaining in popularity. 👉 techrepublic.com
   • Karol Herbst Steps Down As Nouveau Maintainer Due To Linux Kernel's Toxic Environment 👉 phoronix.com
   • Hector Martin, lead of Asahi Linux distribution for Apple Silicon, resigns, citing burnout, demanding users, and Linus Torvalds's handling of Rust integration. 👉 theregister.com

8. Business and Technology:

   • Sources report that Broadcom has informally explored a bid for Intel's chip design and marketing unit, but only if it could secure a partner for Intel's foundry business. 👉 wsj.com^$
   • Intel's foundry business lost over $13B on $17.5B revenue in 2024, while TSMC generated $41.1B in operating profit on $90B in revenue over the same period. 👉 wsj.com^$
   • Walmart's investment in tech, including an AI tool to plan worker shifts, helped it take on Amazon, with 18% of its ~$680B revenue in 2024 generated online. 👉 ft.com
   • A record 1,200 VC-backed unicorns have yet to IPO or get acquired. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Maryland-based Uscreen, which helps creators launch apps, engage fans, monetize memberships, and more, raised $150M from PSG Equity, giving PSG a majority stake. 👉 businessinsider.com^$
   • Q&A with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi about his move from Expedia to Uber, getting out of the self-driving market, Uber becoming an aggregator, and more. 👉 stratechery.com
   • Amazon Tests Robots For Automating Fulfillment Centers. 👉 finance.yahoo.com
   • Placer.ai's January 2025 Office Index, office visits nationwide were 40.2% lower in January 2025 compared with pre-pandemic numbers from January 2019. 👉 sfgate.com

9. Hacks and Data Breaches:

   • The FBI says US victims lost nearly $4.5B to romance scams over the past decade. 👉 wired.com
   • A hacker has leaked account data of 12 million Zacks Investment users. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • 2.5 million records exposed in a student loan breach 👉 threatpost.com
   • Authorities declare OpenAI whistleblower's death ‘case closed’ citing evidence of self-inflicted gunshot wound. 👉 businessinsider.com^$

10. Cybercrime and Scams:

    • Match's head of trust and safety Yoel Roth says it is using AI in its apps like Tinder to detect men's “off-color” messages and “drive behavioral change”. 👉 t.co
    • Cybercriminals are selling access to Chinese surveillance cameras. 👉 threatpost.com
    • Fake travel reservations are exacting more pain from the travel weary, already dealing with the misery of canceled flights and overbooked hotels. 👉 threatpost.com
    • DPRK hackers dupe targets into typing PowerShell commands as admin. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

11. Other:

    • The world's most printed 3D model, 3DBenchy, is now public domain. 👉 hackaday.com
    • Match's head of trust and safety Yoel Roth says it is using AI in its apps like Tinder to detect men's “off-color” messages and “drive behavioral change”. 👉 t.co
    • Tencent is testing DeepSeek for search in its messaging app Weixin, while Baidu plans to fully connect its search engine to DeepSeek and its own LLM Ernie. 👉 reuters.com

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