Facebook discloses a FreeType 2 flaw that is being exploited in attacks, which can lead to arbitrary code execution. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
CISA warns that the Palo Alto Networks' PAN-OS is under active attack and needs to be patched ASAP. 👉threatpost.com
Indian authorities arrest Aleksej Besciokov, the co-founder and one of the administrators of the Russian Garantex crypto-exchange while vacationing with his family in Varkala, India. 👉techcrunch.com👉bleepingcomputer.com
CISA reports Medusa ransomware has impacted over 300 organizations in critical infrastructure sectors in the United States until last month. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
A critical PHP remote code execution vulnerability impacting Windows systems is now under mass exploitation. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
Apple has released emergency security updates to patch a zero-day bug the company describes as exploited in "extremely sophisticated" attacks. 👉bleepingcomputer.com👉thehackernews.com
Apple fixes a WebKit zero-day that has been actively exploited in sophisticated attacks. 👉techcrunch.com
A new Android spyware named 'KoSpy' is linked to North Korean threat actors who have infiltrated Google Play and third-party app store APKPure through at least five malicious apps. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
Microsoft is updating its policies for Chrome extensions to ban any that rewrite affiliates links following the Honey scandal. 👉theverge.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
Multiple Moxa PT switches are vulnerable to an authentication bypass because of flaws in their authorization mechanism. 👉thehackernews.com
Chinese hackers are deploying custom backdoors on Juniper Networks Junos OS MX routers that have reached end-of-life (EoL) and no longer receive security updates. 👉thehackernews.com👉arstechnica.com
A newly discovered clipboard hijacking operation dubbed 'MassJacker' uses at least 778,531 cryptocurrency wallet addresses to steal digital assets from compromised computers. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
The FCC is creating a security council to bolster US defenses against cyberattacks and help it stay ahead of China in critical technologies, such as AI and 5G. 👉cnbc.com👉nextgov.com
SideWinder APT Targets Maritime, Nuclear, and IT Sectors Across Asia, Middle East, and Africa. 👉thehackernews.com
CISA adds five actively exploited vulnerabilities in Advantive VeraCore and Ivanti EPM to KEV list. 👉thehackernews.com
Indian police have arrested co-founder of Garantex, a Russian crypto exchange sanctioned by the EU, at the request of US authorities. 👉techcrunch.com
Chinese cyberspies backdoor Juniper routers for stealthy access. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
New Chrome Extensions policy on affiliate links restricts use to when they provide a direct and transparent benefit to users. 👉theverge.com
Microsoft:
Microsoft released security updates to address 57 security vulnerabilities in its software, including a whopping six zero-days that it said have been actively exploited in the wild. 👉thehackernews.com
Microsoft is replacing Remote Desktop app with Windows App in May. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
Microsoft patches Windows Kernel zero-day exploited since 2023. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
The FTC moves ahead with an antitrust probe of Microsoft opened by Lina Khan. 👉bloomberg.com$
Intel appoints Lip-Bu Tan as its next CEO. 👉techcrunch.com
Google:
Google's Gemma 3 is an open source, single-GPU AI with a 128K context window. 👉arstechnica.com
Google DeepMind unveils new AI models for controlling robots. 👉techcrunch.com
Google, Meta, and Amazon support tripling nuclear power by 2050. 👉cnbc.com
Google is pushing back on a plan backed by Meta and other platforms to have app stores verify users' ages, calling it an “effort to offload their own responsibilities to keep kids safe.” 👉theverge.com
Artificial Intelligence:
A UK competition authority investigation of Apple and Google's mobile browsers has concluded that the mobile duopoly's policies are holding back innovation. 👉techcrunch.com
French publishers and authors sue Meta for allegedly training AI models on their books without consent, say they have evidence of massive copyright breaches. 👉techcrunch.com
Snap introduces AI Video Lenses powered by its in-house generative model. 👉techcrunch.com
Niantic:
Niantic Labs is selling its video game division, including Pokémon Go, to Saudi Arabia-owned developer Scopely for $3.5B, subject to regulatory approval. 👉theverge.com
Niantic sells gaming division, including Pokémon Go, to Saudi-owned Scopely. 👉mobilesyrup.com
Amazon:
Roomba maker iRobot warns of “substantial doubt” over its ability to continue operating, after Amazon abandoned a $1B+ takeover in January 2024. 👉bloomberg.com$
US FTC says it will meet the deadlines for its Amazon Prime deceptive practices case, hours after asking a judge for a delay due to staffing shortfalls. 👉cnbc.com
Tech Industry:
TSMC has pitched Nvidia, AMD, Broadcom, and Qualcomm about taking stakes in a JV to run Intel Foundry; TSMC would hold no more than a 50% stake. 👉reuters.com
Aileeen Lee sees the most promise in unsexy tech. 👉techcrunch.com
Deliveroo exits Hong Kong after tough competition from Foodpanda and Meituan's Keeta, which has expanded to Saudi Arabia. 👉bloomberg.com$
Cyber Espionage:
The threat actor known as Blind Eagle has been linked to a series of ongoing campaigns targeting Colombian institutions and government entities since November 2024. 👉thehackernews.com
New apps are mobilizing millions of Indians online for politics, disinformation and hate. 👉thehackernews.com
Other News
Spotify says it paid $10B+ in royalties in 2024, “the largest in music history”, making up 60%+ of its $17.13B+ 2024 revenue, with ~1,500 artists earning $1M+. 👉cnbc.com
Microsoft Warns of Malvertising Campaign Infecting Over 1 Million Devices Worldwide. 👉thehackernews.com
Food delivery startup Wonder acquires media company Tastemade for $90M. 👉techcrunch.com
Estonian startups aim to turn its thriving tech sector into a military-industrial complex, including making autonomous drones, as Europe boosts defense spending. 👉bloomberg.com$
After Palantir's stock jumped 350%+ in 2024, founder Alex Karp has sold $1.9B in shares since January 2024. 👉cnbc.com
A tiny new portable power bank deal can even charge your computer. 👉bleepingcomputer.com
Indian police have arrested co-founder of Garantex, a Russian crypto exchange sanctioned by the EU, at the request of US authorities. 👉thehackernews.com
THN Weekly Recap: Alerts on Zero-Day Exploits, AI Breaches, and Crypto Heists. 👉thehackernews.com
CTM360 Uncovers a Large-Scale Fake Play Store Scam Targeting Global Users: PlayPraetor Trojan. 👉thehackernews.com
The vCISO Academy: Transforming MSPs and MSSPs into Cybersecurity Powerhouses. 👉cynomi.com
Report: TSMC could launch joint venture with partners to run Intel's fabs. 👉siliconangle.com
US Schools Deploy AI Surveillance Amid Security Lapses, Privacy Concerns. 👉news.slashdot.org
Indian Authorities Arrest Founder of Sanctioned Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex. 👉decrypt.co
The FTC is working to send more than $15.5 Million in Refunds to Consumers Affected by Career Step's Deceptive Job Placement and Employer Partnerships Claims. 👉ftc.gov
The Verge reports that the video game division at Niantic, maker of Pokémon Go, is being sold to Saudi-owned Scopely for $3.5 billion. 👉theverge.com
Aftermath reports that in a single week, Saudi Arabia has purchased Pokémon Go and a big chunk of Street Fighter's esports scene. 👉aftermath.site
Indian police have arrested co-founder of Garantex, a Russian crypto exchange sanctioned by the EU, at the request of US authorities. 👉techcrunch.com
82% of schools suffered recent cyber breaches. 👉route-fifty.com
Indian Authorities Arrest Founder of Sanctioned Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex. 👉decrypt.co
Roomba maker iRobot warns of “substantial doubt” over its ability to continue operating, after Amazon abandoned a $1B+ takeover in January 2024; IRBT drops 35%+. 👉bloomberg.com$
M.G. Siegler notes that Google is testing the Gemma model on Google's internal Spyglass tool. 👉spyglass.org
There is increasing usage of artificial intelligence in robots. 👉spectrum.ieee.org
Google is developing a new 3D map for robots and AR smart glasses. 👉reddit.com
A Chinese Company is using a food delivery service to collect geolocation data. 👉restofworld.org
An Xbox handheld made in collaboration with ASUS is coming this year. 👉theverge.com
12m artists uploaded music to Spotify last year. Less than 0.6% generated $10,000 or more in royalties. 👉musicbusinessworldwide.com
A study shows that productivity increased during covid due to customer time spent in restaurants decreasing. 👉nber.org
Roomba might not be able to clean up this mess. 👉ridehome.info
Microsoft is replacing Remote Desktop With Its New Windows App. 👉it.slashdot.org
Niantic acquired by subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group for $3.5 billion. 👉mynintendonews.com
Niantic sells Pokémon Go and entire gaming business to Scopely for $3.5 billion. 👉techstartups.com
With Gemini Robotics, Google Aims for Smarter Robots. 👉spectrum.ieee.org
Google is BACK!! Welcome Gemma3 - 27B, 12B, 4B & 1B - 128K context, multimodal AND multilingual! 👉developers.googleblog.com
Google releases Gemma 3, its strongest open model AI, here's how it compares to DeepSeek's R1. 👉pcguide.com
This is a big deal because I was told ( unofficially, grain of salt ) that Niantic was specifically collecting the location data from Ingress and Pokemon Go in order to map all types of travel routes for certain defense operations. 👉infosec.exchange
Buying 10 years of location data of 600+ million people from 150+ countries, including military personal, government agents, and journalists for $3.5B is a bargain! 👉bsky.app
Google Unveils Scalable ‘Gemma 3’ Advanced AI Model. 👉iphoneincanada.ca
Niantic sells Pokémon Go and gaming portfolio to Saudi-backed Scopely for $3.5 billion. 👉shacknews.com
'I Won't Say That It Will Remain the Same' Pokemon GO is Being Sold to Scopely. 👉gamerant.com
Niantic's Game Development Business is Being Acquired by Scopely. 👉gamingbolt.com
Google is Sticking Gemini 2.0 Into Robots Now. 👉gizmodo.com
US chipmaker Intel appoints Malaysian industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as CEO. 👉reddit.com
It's official: Scopely is buying Niantic's games for $3.5bn. 👉mobilegamer.biz
UK says Apple stifles browser innovation, but chickens out of imposing regulation. 👉appleinsider.com
Incredibly excited to welcome the Niantic Games team to Scopely! 👉linkedin.com
The new Intel CEO is the real deal. Flipping my negativity right here . 👉x.com
Proud of @msquinn for seeing this through over so many years and so many hats — early collaborator, investor, COO, board member — doing so over the past couple of years from afar at ungodly hours... 👉x.com
Nothing to worry about, just exact geolocation data sold to a company that is wholly owned by the Saudi government. 👉bsky.app
I am in two minds about this. Niantic in recent years have been making decisions that have damaged Pokémon GO while pushing Niantic's core beliefs, and it's resulted in tickets for every event to make up for it. However, I'm hesitant due to monetisation in Scopely's other games. 👉x.com
Super excited to finally be able to share some of the really exciting work we have been cooking up @GoogleDeepMind! Interactivity, Dexterity, Generalization and Multi-Embodiment seem far less far-fetched than before! Reach out if this excites you too! 👉deepmind.google
And Lip Bu Tan it is as CEO of Intel. Luckily I had a nice chat with him (not about Intel) at a 49er game last year. Good times. 👉x.com
The pc gaming handheld race between Microsoft and Valve sounds exciting and important and as I've said before making good on the “play anywhere” Xbox marketing tag line would be really cool but I'm still very skeptical any of this will amount to a hill of beans. 👉theverge.com
Love the timing of this a day after amazon said it would be streaming old episodes of the apprentice 👉cnbc.com
The FTC, Wednesday: We have budget constraints limiting our ability to pursue a case against Amazon. The FTC, also Wednesday: No we don't. huh. 👉x.com
the-coder.com reports that OpenAI has trained a language model specifically for creative writing. 👉the-decoder.com
A food delivery startup has acquired media company Tastemade for $90 Million. 👉finance.yahoo.com
A review of vibe coding, which can often be difficult and unintuitive, and why “vibe coding” is a fantastic way to explore the capabilities of LLMs. 👉simonwillison.net
Meta is testing self-developed AI training chip. 👉seekingalpha.com
A review of Roomba, whose parent company warns investors it could die, stock craters. 👉gizmodo.com
The SEC's Retreat From Crypto Enforcement May Invite More Private Lawsuits. 👉coindesk.com
I'm old enough to remember European regulators blocking this M&A deal, currently leading to...bankruptcy. Nice work. 👉x.com
The U.S. government has been actively brainstorming with industry players to save Intel (IFS). One idea is a TSMC-led JV running IFS, recently reported again. 👉x.com