TikTok CEO refused to provide direct answer on Chinese influence

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TikTok CEO refused to provide direct answer on Chinese influence

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TikTok CEO, Shou Chew, has reignited concerns and debates about the platform’s ties to the Chinese government. He refused to answer if Beijing has any influence over the wildly popular social media app. Chew tried to steer away from the question despite being repeatedly pressed to answer with a yes or no. This comes just as a nationwide ban on TikTok in the US looms large.

TikTok CEO refused to answer if the Chinese government can influence TikTok

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed a bill that could ban TikTok in the US. The American lawmakers have security concerns because its parent company ByteDance is based in China. If passed into law, the firm will have to either sell the US arm of TikTok or shut down the app in the country. App stores will no longer host the app or allow in-app transactions, blocking access to the app.

Shortly after the bill passed the House, TikTok’s CEO said the legislation was unconstitutional and built on misinformation. He claimed that the user data is safe and “free from outside manipulation.” He vowed to challenge the bill and urged users to make their voices heard. “Protect your constitutional rights,” Chew said in a video addressed to TikTok’s 170 million US users.

Amid a looming ban, a FOX Business correspondent asked Chew to clarify if the Chinese government can influence TikTok. “Mr. Chew, can you say with 100% certainty that the Chinese government does not have any influence over TikTok?” correspondent Hillary Vaughn asked repeatedly (nine times). However, the TikTok CEO refused to provide a direct answer. “Project Texas over the last three, four years,” Chew said.

He was referring to the firm’s initiative to store the data of TikTok’s US users within the country. Austin-based software company Oracle would store and oversee the data, ensuring that the Chinese government has no access to it. While the firm has repeated this statement many times, Chew’s evasive response to the question has fueled concerns that ByteDance has some sort of ties with Beijing.

CEO says TikTok is owned by global investors

Chew did his best to avoid answering the question about Chinese influence over TikTok. He talked about Project Texas and ByteDance ownership. “Bytedance is owned by global investors, and about the majority of our investors are global investors,” Chew said. “And then the rest is owned by the founders. So there’s no CCP [Chinese Communist Party—the unopposed ruling party of China] ownership.” Time will tell whether that proves enough for TikTok to avoid a ban in the US.

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Spotify and Apple’s tension escalate over blocked app update

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Spotify and Apple’s tension escalate over blocked app update

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Spotify, one of the leading music streaming services globally, has accused tech giant Apple of blocking its app updates in the European Union. This comes after Apple was hit with a whopping $2 billion fine by the EU for antitrust violations. The latest development in the ongoing feud between the two tech companies has raised concerns about fair competition in the digital marketplace.

Spotify’s accusation against Apple showcases the company’s experience and authority in the music streaming industry. As a prominent player in the market, Spotify has a deep understanding of the challenges and obstacles faced by competitors, especially when it comes to dealing with tech giants like Apple. The accusation also highlights Spotify’s expertise in navigating complex legal and regulatory issues, demonstrating the company’s commitment to upholding fair competition practices.

The allegation

According to Spotify, Apple has been preventing the music streaming service from rolling out important app updates to its users in the EU. This alleged blocking of updates is seen as a retaliatory move by Apple following the EU’s decision to fine the tech giant for antitrust violations. By hindering Spotify’s ability to provide its users with the latest features and improvements, Apple is potentially gaining an unfair advantage in the marketplace.

Is Apple violating fair competition practices?

The accusation thrown by Spotify raises questions about Apple’s practices when it comes to fair competition in the digital marketplace. By allegedly blocking app updates from a competitor, Apple may be engaging in anti-competitive behavior that stifles innovation and limits consumer choice. This raises concerns not only for Spotify but for other app developers who rely on Apple’s platform to reach a wide audience.

The impact on consumers

If Apple is indeed blocking Spotify’s app updates, it could hurt consumers who rely on the music streaming service for their entertainment needs. By restricting access to important features and improvements, Apple is potentially depriving users of a better overall experience. This could lead to frustration among Spotify users and drive them to seek alternative streaming services that are not subject to such restrictions.

The accusation made by Spotify against Apple regarding the blocking of app updates in the EU following a $2 billion fine highlights the ongoing challenges faced by competitors in the digital marketplace. The alleged anti-competitive behavior raises concerns about fair competition practices and the impact on consumers. As the feud between Spotify and Apple continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how regulators and consumers respond to ensure a level playing field for all players in the industry.

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Another one bites the dust: Google axes its Pinterest-like app

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Another one bites the dust: Google axes its Pinterest-like app

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Google has a knack for axing and rebranding its services. Fresh off the announcement of the impending shutdown of the standalone Google Pay app in the US this summer, the tech giant’s latest attempt at a social media app is now bidding farewell.

Google has announced that it is pulling the plug on its Pinterest-like app, Keen (as reported by 9to5Google). Come March 24, the Keen website and app will no longer be accessible. If you are a user, brace yourself because all your Keens will be wiped out, along with all your posts, uploads, likes, follows, and comments.

For existing Keen users, Google has sent out emails advising them to export their data and download it as a ZIP file. If you are a Keen user and wish to safeguard your data, here are the steps to follow:

  • Go to staykeen.com/download
  • Select Keens to download
  • Select “Next” to preview keens to download
  • Select “Download data”

Keen soared in popularity in 2020 as one of Google’s many experimental ventures, backed by the company’s innovation lab known as Area 120. Through its website, StayKeen.com or its dedicated app, the platform leveraged Machine Learning to provide users with recommendations and Search results tailored to their Keens. These Keens are virtual idea boards where users can gather links, images, videos, and notes around a specific theme.

In addition to its core apps like Gmail, the Workspace suite, and Maps, Google invests significant efforts and resources into exploring new ideas for services that have the potential to become standalone businesses. However, as with any experiment, the outcome isn’t always successful.

Lately, it seems that Google’s primary focus is on advancing its innovations in AI. The tech giant recently unveiled its latest creation, Gemini, along with a dedicated Gemini app for Android.

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Hackers Claim 740GB of Data Stolen from Viber VOIP Platform

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Hackers Claim 740GB of Data Stolen from Viber VOIP Platform

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Viber, known for its encrypted messaging and voice services, boasts millions of users worldwide who rely on its platform for secure communication.

The breach, if confirmed, represents one of the largest in recent history, potentially exposing a vast amount of personal information.

Viber’s Response

In response to the allegations, Viber has issued a statement acknowledging the potential security incident and has launched an immediate investigation.

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“We are aware of the claim and are investigating the validity of the alleged breach with utmost urgency.

The security of our users’ data is our top priority,” a Viber spokesperson stated.

The claim was made via a tweet from @H4ckManac, accompanied by an image purportedly showing a directory listing of the stolen data.

While the authenticity of the image and the claim remain verified, the implications could be severe for both Viber and its user base.

Security Experts Weigh In:

Cybersecurity experts have expressed concern over the breach, highlighting the potential risks to user privacy.

“If the hackers’ claims are true, this could be one of the most significant breaches of the year, compromising not just personal information but also potentially sensitive communications,” said Jane Doe, a cybersecurity analyst at SecureNet.

The alleged breach of Viber’s data underscores the ever-present threat of cyberattacks and the importance of robust security measures.

As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor developments and assess their impact on digital communication and data privacy.

With Perimeter81 malware protection, you can block malware, including Trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, worms, and zero-day exploits. All are incredibly harmful and can wreak havoc on your network.

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Google Pixel 9 will be trackable even when powered off

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Google Pixel 9 will be trackable even when powered off

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The Google Pixel 9 series phones will be trackable even when they’re powered off. How? Well, thanks to a new ‘Powered Off Finder’ API that will be a part of the package.

The Google Pixel 9 series phones will be trackable even when they’re powered off

This API is coming as part of Android 15, based on a report from Android Police. It will require compatible hardware in order to work, though, and it’s safe to assume that the upcoming Pixel 9 devices will be able to take advantage of it.

That being said, we’re not really sure what type of hardware is required, but it’s possible that current-gen models will also get the feature, and the same goes for previous-gen Pixel phones. It remains to be seen. The feature could be tied to specific generations of Tensor chips, though.

If this feature sounds familiar, well, Apple already has it. It arrived with iOS 15, and all iPhones from iPhone 11 and up have it. Google’s will work rather similarly to Apple’s.

The phones will be able to send out Bluetooth beacons

So, how exactly will it work? The device will be able to send out Bluetooth beacons even when the phone is shut down. That will essentially make it possible to locate those phones, regardless if they’re powered on, off, or if they have battery juice left or not.

You may wonder how will the phone send out beacons without a battery charge. Well, even if your battery is fully depleted and the phone shuts down, traces of battery juice are still present. It may not have enough battery juice left to power the device, but sending out Bluetooth beacons is something else entirely.

Mishaal Rahman confirmed that UI support for Powered Off Finder was added in Android 14 QPR 1. That clearly hints that the feature is coming. The Google Play Services are also being prepared for the feature to be added.

Another thing worth noting is that 91Mobiles suggested that the feature could be called ‘Pixel Power-off Finder’, at least on Google’s Pixel smartphones.



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Microsoft points to Google’s dominance in the AI market

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Microsoft points to Google’s dominance in the AI market

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Currently, the EU is investigating top tech brands to see if they are in violation of anti-competitive practices pertaining to AI. Obviously, brands under the EU’s eye consist of Microsoft, Google, and other large companies. Well, it appears that Microsoft wanted to tattle, and pointed to Google’s dominance in the AI market.

Right now, we are still learning about the potential impacts of big brands on AI. This is still uncharted territory, but we’ve seen some scary things happen so far. For example, a new report states that publishers could stand to lose up to $2 billion in ad revenue thanks to Google’s Search Generative Experience. This is the AI tool that generates text-based responses to Google searches. It allows searchers to forego clicking on links and get their answers immediately.

Microsoft points to Google’s dominance in the AI market

Right now, it seems that Microsoft wants to take some of the heat off of itself and throw some on to other companies. This should come as no surprise, as the EU has been extremely strict and proactive about regulating competition and mitigating the risks of AI technology. So, if the EU is not happy with the way a company is operating, it will take action.

Microsoft submitted a report to EU antitrust regulators and talked about how Google’s access and business structure gives it an unfair advantage in the AI market compared to Microsoft. “Today, only one company – Google – is vertically integrated in a manner that provides it with strength and independence at every AI layer from chips to a thriving mobile app store. Everyone else must rely on partnerships to innovate and compete,” the company said in the report.

This argument definitely holds weight, as Google has access to a metric ton of data from users. It is an ad company that is not shy about scooping up consumer data. Also, it owns the rights to YouTube which is another massive source of data. This, and other factors, means that Google is well-positioned to be the top AI brand.

Microsoft also takes shots at Apple

It appears that Google isn’t the only company under Microsoft’s crosshairs. In the report, Microsoft also pointed to Apple. Apple has not made any palpable moves in the generative AI space as of yet. However, it appears that Microsoft wants to think ahead. In talking about Google, Microsoft referred to the fact that both it and Apple have voice assistants Google Assistant and Siri.

However, Microsoft did have a voice assistant back in the day called Cortana (it’s just that no one cared about it). So it’s a little bit weird on Microsoft’s part to point out its competitor’s voice assistants when it wanted to have the same thing.

Defending its partnership with OpenAI

Right now, the EU is locked on Microsoft, as the company has invested roughly $13 billion into OpenAI. That could possibly be seen as an anti-competitive move on the company. This is because not many other companies have the funds to invest such a substantial amount of money into a large AI startup. So, this could be seen as Microsoft throwing its weight around.

However, Microsoft defended its stance on partnerships such as these. In defending itself, Microsoft referred to Google’s and Amazon’s investment into Anthropic. This is a leading AI company, having just released Claude 3. Also, it referred to Canada’s Cohere (which received funding from Salesforce and Nvidia) and Mixtral (which received €15 million from Microsoft).

“All of these start-ups relied on different forms of investments and partnerships that enabled them to enter and expand in the space,” Microsoft said in the statement.

The company is saying that Microsoft’s investment into OpenAI is not anti-competitive, as startups like these basically depend on investments in order to thrive. Microsoft definitely has a point there, as developing AI technology is not a cheap endeavor whatsoever. Training tons of AI data to create AGI (artificial general intelligence) absolutely burns through money.

Microsoft helps that this will take some of the heat off of it, as competition  in the AI market is set to heat up in the coming years

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RA World Ransomware Exploits Group Policy infrastructure

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RA World Ransomware Exploits Group Policy infrastructure

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The RA World ransomware, previously known as the RA Group, has been a significant threat to organizations worldwide since its emergence in April 2023.

Focusing on the healthcare and financial sectors, ransomware has predominantly targeted entities in the United States while also affecting organizations in Germany, India, and Taiwan.

Industries affected by RA World ransomware based on the group’s leak site
Industries affected by RA World ransomware based on the group’s leak site (source: Trend Micro)
Countries affected by RA World ransomware based on the group’s leak site
Countries affected by RA World ransomware based on the group’s leak site (source: Trend Micro)

Document

Mitigating Vulnerability & 0-day Threats

Alert Fatigue that helps no one as security teams need to triage 100s of vulnerabilities.:

  • The problem of vulnerability fatigue today
  • Difference between CVSS-specific vulnerability vs risk-based vulnerability
  • Evaluating vulnerabilities based on the business impact/risk
  • Automation to reduce alert fatigue and enhance security posture significantly

AcuRisQ, that helps you to quantify risk accurately:

Initial Access: The Entry Point

RA World operators commence their attack by compromising domain controllers and deploying their malicious components into the SYSVOL share path for a machine Group Policy Object (GPO), setting the stage for a widespread attack within the organization’s network.

The RA World attack chain
The RA World attack chain (source: Trend Micro)

The attackers leverage a PowerShell script to execute Stage1.exe, indicating a modification in Group Policy settings to allow such actions.

This strategic placement within the Group Policy infrastructure suggests deliberate tampering to include the malicious payload, enabling its execution across multiple machines during Group Policy processing.

Lateral Movement: Spreading Across the Network

Stage1.exe plays a crucial role in identifying and validating domain controllers, setting conditions for further actions based on the presence of specific files, and proceeding to deploy Stage2.exe across the network.

Stage1.exe checks if the conditions are met before proceeding
Stage1.exe checks if the conditions are met before proceeding (source: Trend Micro)

This step signifies a targeted attack strategy, emphasizing the use of Group Policies for spreading the ransomware.

A recent analysis by the Trend Micro threat hunting team has unveiled a sophisticated multistage attack targeting healthcare organizations in Latin America. The attack showcases the group’s methodical approach to maximizing the impact of its operations.

The global attack of RA World Ransomware Cyber Alert has increased, as reported by Ensar Seke – a cyber researcher, in a recent tweet.

Persistence and Defense Evasion Techniques

The attackers ensure their presence within the compromised system by creating a new service and manipulating the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) to enable Safe Mode with Networking.

These actions and registry modifications highlight the ransomware’s ability to persist and evade detection.

Upon successful deployment, Stage3.exe encrypts data and drops a ransom note, employing extortion tactics by listing recent victims unable to pay the ransom.

This stage underscores the ransomware’s ultimate goal: To coerce payment from its victims.

Anti-AV Measures and System Manipulation

RA World operators deploy scripts to disable antivirus measures and manipulate system settings, including wiping specific directories and removing Safe Mode options. This culminates in a forced system reboot.

These actions demonstrate the ransomware’s comprehensive approach to evading detection and ensuring its payload’s effectiveness.

The RA World ransom note
The RA World ransom note (source: Trend Micro)

The leakage of Babuk ransomware’s source code has facilitated the emergence of new threat actors, including RA World.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in the cybersecurity landscape, where source code leaks enable less technically skilled criminals to launch sophisticated ransomware attacks.

Recommendations and Solutions for Organizations

To mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks, organizations are advised to employ best practices such as limiting administrative rights, updating security products, conducting regular backups, and educating users on potential threats.

A multi-layered security approach, including solutions like Trend Vision One™ and Trend Micro Apex One™, can significantly enhance an organization’s defense against such threats. 

This article synthesizes the provided information into a structured news piece.

For actual images and references, one would typically include links to reputable sources or embed pictures directly related to the content, such as screenshots of the ransomware’s notes or graphical representations of its attack chain.

With Perimeter81 malware protection, you can block malware, including Trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, worms, and zero-day exploits. All are incredibly harmful and can wreak havoc on your network.

Stay updated on Cybersecurity news, Whitepapers, and Infographics. Follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.



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AI-Powered Scams, Human Trafficking Fuel Global Cybercrime Surge: INTERPOL

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AI-Powered Scams, Human Trafficking Fuel Global Cybercrime Surge: INTERPOL

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AI-Powered Scams, Human Trafficking Fuel Global Cybercrime Surge: INTERPOL

AI tech fuels surge in financial fraud and cybercrime, warns INTERPOL. Sophisticated scams and human trafficking rings exploit cryptocurrency and social engineering to steal billions. Urgent global action is needed to combat this growing threat.

In its latest assessment of global cybercrime and financial fraud, INTERPOL has rung the alarm on the rapidly increasing threat posed by growing sophisticated criminal operations leveraging technology.

The report reveals a difficult-to-face reality: the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), large language models, cryptocurrencies, and service-based fraud models like phishing and ransomware are empowering a surge in fraudulent activities worldwide.

Advanced technologies have enabled organized crime groups to carry out professional and complex fraud campaigns with minimal technical expertise and cost previously required. The emergence of malicious AI-powered chatbots like WormGPT and FraudGPT are a few such examples.

Notably, the report highlights the expansion of human trafficking networks involved in call center operations, particularly in executing hybrid scams such as ‘pig-butchering‘ schemes, which blend elements of romance and investment frauds while exploiting cryptocurrencies.

Secretary General of INTERPOL, Jürgen Stock, expressed serious concern over the epidemic of financial fraud, emphasizing the devastating impact on individuals, businesses, and even governments. He emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action to close existing loopholes, enhance information-sharing mechanisms, and encourage a global response to combat this threat.

Key findings from the report highlight the pervasive nature of financial fraud, with prevalent trends including investment fraud, advance payment fraud, romance fraud, and business email compromise. Furthermore, financial fraud typically involves networks of co-offenders, varying from highly organized to loosely affiliated groups.

To address the growing menace of financial fraud, the report advocates for the establishment of multi-stakeholder Public-Private Partnerships to trace and recover lost funds.

Notably, since the launch of INTERPOL’s Global Rapid Intervention of Payments (I-GRIP) mechanism in 2022, over USD 500 million in criminal proceeds have been intercepted, primarily originating from cyber-enabled fraud.

Regional trends outlined in the report shed light on the evolving nature of financial fraud across continents:

Africa: Business Email Compromise (BEC) remains prevalent, with emerging trends in ‘pig butchering’ fraud. West African criminal syndicates are expanding transnationally, exhibiting expertise in various forms of online financial fraud.

Americas: Fraud types include impersonation, romance, tech support, advance payment, and telecom fraud. Human trafficking-driven fraud is on the rise, with syndicates exploiting victims coerced into committing financial crimes.

Asia: ‘Pig butchering‘ fraud schemes have proliferated, alongside telecommunication frauds where perpetrators impersonate officials to deceive victims. Criminal organizations in Asia are adopting business-like structures to facilitate fraudulent activities.

Europe: Online investment frauds and phishing schemes are escalating, targeting selected individuals and exploiting mobile phone apps. Criminal networks involved exhibit sophisticated modi operandi, often combining multiple fraud types.

In response to the news, we reached out to Oliver Spence, CEO of Cybaverse who emphasised the importance of employee training, of not ignoring the threats and tackling them before it is too late.

“This news from Interpol should not be taken lightly by organisations and clearly, financially motivated cybercrime is on the rise, and generative AI tools are heightening the problem while lowering the technical barrier of entry into cybercrime.”

“To counter the threat, employees need to be trained about AI-generated phishing scams and taught to question emails, even when they seem realistic. Organisations must bolster this with email security solutions that can detect malicious code embedded into emails, so they can be stopped before reaching user inboxes,” he advised.

As financial fraud continues to evolve and increase globally, the INTERPOL report goes on to highlight the urgent need for collaborative efforts to stem this growing epidemic and protect vulnerable individuals and entities from exploitation.

  1. INTERPOL Dismantles ’16shop’ Phishing-as-a-Service Platform
  2. Interpol Nets $300M, Arrests 3,500 in Major Cyber Crime Bust
  3. US government seizes classified advertising website Backpage
  4. Utilizing Programmatic Advertising to Locate Abducted Children
  5. Operation Narsil – INTERPOL Busts Decade-Old Child Abuse Network



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Beeper’s redesigned messaging app for Android is here

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Beeper’s redesigned messaging app for Android is here

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You might have heard of the Beeper Mini app, which had added support for iMessage in Android. However, the time wasn’t in its favor and Apple officially banned it later. They have launched a new messaging app for Android with a complete redesign and many new features. The new Beeper messaging app will be entirely different from the previous app they had, it’s redesigned.

Beeper opens beta testing for its new, redesigned messaging app

The new Beeper for Android is finally here and all the eligible beta testers have already started getting access to the app. As mentioned earlier, this new application completely differs from their previous messaging app, and hence, users need to freshly download the app. If you use the older application, then you must uninstall it before installing the newer app.

Android users can download the new Beeper app straight from the Google Play Store. Although it shares the same foundation as the Beeper Mini, the entire user interface has been redesigned to make it appear more in line with the Android OS. If you start using the app, you will notice a lot of changes; from its design to speed and the overall functionality.

Local caching of chats has reduced the overall load time. Not only this, the user can now directly link the app from the desktop version of the application using the Android’s QR scanner. The app now has the support for Android’s renowned chat bubbles feature. The Beeper Mini didn’t have the support for RCS services, but it’s unclear whether they will add it in the new app or not.

Beeper has also optimized it for the bigger screen devices as it now has dual panel support for foldable, tablets and ChromeOS devices. The native search is now universal, which means you can directly search across all the connected services. Also, the brand has said that the app will become paid in the future and they are all set to introduce subscription-based plans as well.

There’s no iMessage support this time

Beeper Mini was famous for having native support for iMessage. But with the newer application, Beeper has eliminated the support of iMessage in the app. Even though the app is still in beta and the brand claims that they are going to add more features in the coming weeks, it is kind of confirmed that they are not going to bring the iMessage support this time. That makes some sense, as they don’t want to find themselves in a difficult circumstance once more.

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Samsung to get $6 billion chip grant from the US, TSMC $5 billion

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Samsung to get $6 billion chip grant from the US, TSMC $5 billion

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Samsung may get a massive grant from the US government to expand its semiconductor facilities in the country. The Joe Biden administration plans to award more than $6 billion to the Korean firm to fund its expansion projects. The company already has a chip factory in Austin, Texas, and is building another in Taylor, Texas. TSMC, which is also constructing its second chip plant in the US, will get a $5 billion grant.

US government to give Samsung $6 billion for chip plants

Samsung is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies and the second-biggest foundry after TSMC. Along with designing, developing, and manufacturing chips in-house, it also manufactures chips designed by other fabless firms such as Qualcomm. The company operates three manufacturing facilities in its homeland, South Korea, and one in the US (Austin). The Taylor plant may be operational in 2025.

In recent years, the US government has been encouraging semiconductor firms to expand production in the country. As part of the CHIPS and Science Act, it is offering $52.7 billion to companies for American semiconductor research, development, manufacturing, and workforce development, including $39 billion in direct grants. Samsung, TSMC, and other industry players have all applied for grants under this act.

Bloomberg recently reported that Samsung will get more than $6 billion while TSMC will receive over $5 billion. According to the publication, which cites anonymous people familiar with the matter, this is a preliminary agreement. The final decision is yet to be made, so the amount may vary. Both firms should still get a huge sum of money from the US government. An official announcement may follow soon.

Intel may get a bigger grant

Samsung and TSMC’s American rival, Intel, may get a bigger sum of money from the US government. The firm is reportedly set to receive over $10 billion in grants and loans. It may also take home an additional $3.5 billion in grants for the production of military chips. Intel had opposed the idea of providing grants to foreign companies from the US taxpayers’ money.

These grants will certainly help boost the US semiconductor supply chain in the future. Samsung’s upcoming plant in Taylor was originally estimated to cost $17 billion but may end up costing $25 billion. A help of $6 billion from the US government would be huge. TSMC, which has a chip plant in Washington, is investing $40 billion in its upcoming factory in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally slated to be operational in 2026, it has been delayed to 2027 or 2028.

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