Tech News

1. Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities and Exploits:

   • CISA added a critical security flaw impacting CrushFTP to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog following reports of active exploitation. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Google released Android security patches for 62 vulnerabilities, including two zero-days exploited in attacks. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 thehackernews.com 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Meta warned Windows users to update WhatsApp to patch a vulnerability that allows attackers to run malicious code. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A critical security flaw in FortiSwitch could permit unauthorized password changes, prompting Fortinet to release security updates. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Hackers exploited a Windows Common Log File System zero-day flaw using the RansomEXX ransomware to gain system privileges. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • An Amazon EC2 SSM Agent flaw was patched after allowing privilege escalation and code execution through path traversal. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Reuters reports the US Justice Department disbands crypto enforcement team, citing Trump order. 👉 reuters.com

2. Malware and Phishing Campaigns:

   • Fake Microsoft Office add-ins distributed via SourceForge install malware for cryptomining and data theft. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A new Mirai botnet is behind a surge in exploitation attempts targeting TVT NVMS9000 DVRs. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • A recent E-ZPass toll payment phishing campaign is targeting users with scam texts. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • UAC-0226 is deploying the GIFTEDCROOK stealer via malicious Excel files targeting Ukrainian institutions. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Fast flux is being used by threat actors to power resilient malware, C2, and phishing networks, according to CISA and FBI warnings. 👉 thehackernews.com

3. Tariffs and Trade:

   • The White House says tariffs on China are set to rise to 104% after China missed Trump's deadline to remove its reciprocal tariff. 👉 cnn.com
   • Trump believes the U.S. has the resources to build iPhones domestically amid tariff escalations with China. 👉 9to5mac.com
   • Razer pauses direct sales of its Blade 16 and other laptops in the US due to looming tariffs. 👉 theverge.com
   • Micron has informed US customers it will implement surcharges on memory modules and solid-state drives starting Wednesday to offset President Trump's new tariffs. 👉 reuters.com
   • Nintendo delays Switch 2 pre-orders in Canada to align with the timing of pre-orders to be determined in the US due to Trump Tariffs. 👉 mobilesyrup.com
   • Framework pauses sales of its six lowest-priced laptops in the US due to tariffs. 👉 404media.co
   • Beijing opposes Shein's plans to move some production out of China, seeking to stave off a manufacturing exodus after US tariffs. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • President Trump Announces 32% Tariffs on Taiwan, analysts says TSMC May Be Somewhat Tariff-Proof. 👉 fool.com 👉 barrons.com

4. Government and Regulation:

   • The UK has banned "outrageous fake reviews and sneaky hidden fees" to make life easier for online shoppers. 👉 theverge.com
   • The U.S. DOJ is disbanding the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Unit, established by Biden in 2021, as the agency is "not a digital assets regulator". 👉 fortune.com
   • Trump administration officials have told some U.S. government employees that Elon Musk's DOGE team of technologists is using AI to surveil at least one federal agency's communications for anti-Trump talk. 👉 reuters.com
   • A US judge orders the White House to lift access restrictions imposed on the AP while the AP's lawsuit moves forward. 👉 mediagazer.com
   • Microsoft delays WSUS driver sync deprecation indefinitely based on customer feedback. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

5. Data Breaches and Privacy:

   • Student Loan Breach Exposes 2.5M Records. 👉 threatpost.com
   • Hackers intercepted about 100 bank regulators' emails for more than a year, gaining access to messages containing agency deliberations. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 reuters.com
   • US food giant WK Kellogg Co discloses data breach linked to Clop ransomware. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

6. Artificial Intelligence:

   • LMArena updates leaderboard policies after a non-public version of Llama 4 Maverick secured the number two spot. 👉 theverge.com
   • Amazon launches Nova Sonic, which can generate natural-sounding speech. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • US officials say DOGE is using AI to surveil at least one federal agency's communications for anti-Trump talk, and is also using Signal. 👉 reuters.com
   • A16z seeks to raise a $20B megafund for growth-stage investments in AI companies. 👉 reuters.com
   • Meta rolls out Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger, automatically enrolling users and adding built-in protections, in the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Google says Deep Research is now available on Gemini 2.5 Pro Experimental for Gemini Advanced subscribers. 👉 9to5google.com
   • A nonprofit is using AI agents to raise money for charity. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Deep Cogito emerges from stealth with hybrid AI ‘reasoning’ models. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Six arrested for AI-powered investment scams that stole $20 million. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Stanford's 2025 AI index: China files more AI patents than the US, but US companies produced 40 frontier models, compared to 15 from China and three from Europe. 👉 wired.com
   • IBM unveils the z17 mainframe with a Telum II chip, able to process 450B daily inference operations, 50% more than the z16 released in 2022, available June 18. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Germany-based Hawk, which offers AI-powered anti-money laundering services, raised a $56M Series C led by One Peak and says it has over 80 customers worldwide. 👉 fintechfutures.com

7. Operating Systems:

   • Windows 11 24H2 is blocked on PCs with code-obfuscation driver BSODs. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft fixes auth issues on Windows Server, Windows 11 24H2. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Microsoft April 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes exploited zero-day, 134 flaws. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Windows 10 KB5055518 update fixes random text when printing. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • Windows 11 KB5055523 & KB5055528 cumulative updates released. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

8. Other News:

   • Bloomberg reports that Samsung's Q1 profit beats expectations on solid demand for new Galaxy, but Trump tariffs cloud chips, smartphones. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • The Verge reports on the rise of “Frankenstein” laptops in India, made by salvaging parts from multiple brands and sold to students, gig workers, and small businesses. 👉 theverge.com
   • Tech CEOs who spent big on Trump's inauguration have yet to see the investment pay off, with Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are down 22% since January 20. 👉 nytimes.com^$
   • Snap releases sponsored AI lenses, a new generative AI ad format users can interact with and that is powered by One Snap, its homegrown generative AI tech. 👉 adexchanger.com
   • Toronto-based Tailscale, which offers an enterprise mesh VPN service, raised $160M led by Accel at a $1.5B valuation. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Istanbul-based fintech Sipay raised a $78M Series B at an $875M valuation to expand outside of Turkey. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Bloomberg interviews with 40 sources describe concerns about Helsing, Europe's most valuable defense tech startup, including whether it can live up to its €5B valuation. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Qualtrics founder and Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith launches a $1B fund aimed at connecting tech startups with sports and entertainment across 20 to 25 investments. 👉 upstartsmedia.com
   • Amazon expands Haul, its Temu competitor, to offer name-brand items from Amazon's US inventory, as the US plans to end de minimis tariff exemptions on May 2. 👉 theinformation.com
   • Blackbird Labs, which makes a blockchain-based payment loyalty app for ~1,000 restaurants, raised $50M led by Spark Capital, taking its total funding to $85M. 👉 techcrunch.com

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