AMNESTY SECURITY LAB
How global scammers use US tech to fleece people
Indian scammer Safeer Koorimannil reveals how AI from American tech giants fuels global fraud rings in Myanmar. Trafficked to a scam center, he used sophisticated software to target thousands daily. The investigation highlights how U.S. technology, from AI models to internet infrastructure, enables these operations, raising questions about company accountability and regulatory oversight.
Scale of Iran’s protests and bloody crackdown emerge despite internet blackout
Iran faces its most severe crackdown since the 1979 revolution. Protests over currency collapse turned violent, leading to widespread damage and a rising death toll. Authorities have cut internet access, obscuring the full extent of the unrest. Human rights groups report unlawful killings and the threat of mass executions. The situation remains tense as the world watches.
WhatsApp patches exploit allowing hackers to target Apple users
WhatsApp fixed a security flaw that allowed targeted attacks on Apple devices by exploiting bugs in iOS and iPadOS. Less than 200 users were affected during a 90-day malicious campaign. WhatsApp and Apple have released patches, urging all users to update their apps to prevent further risks.
WhatsApp, Apple iPhone, Android devices targeted by hackers, says Meta. Here's what has happened?
Hackers have targeted WhatsApp, Apple iPhone, Android devices as Meta Platforms-owned communications service said it had patched the security vulnerability that allowed hackers to take advantage of a second vulnerability on Apple devices and hijack the machines.
India targeting high-profile journalists with Pegasus spyware: Amnesty
In a joint investigation, Amnesty International and The Washington Post reported that India's government has targeted high-profile journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale of The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, with Pegasus spyware. Pegasus, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, allows unauthorized access to a phone's messages, emails, calls, photos, and location.
Apple alerts device hacking threat for India's opposition leaders: What's the brouhaha about?
Apple has sent state-sponsored attack warnings to Indian opposition leaders. This comes amid concerns about potential surveillance and cyber threats in the country, with previous warnings regarding state-sponsored attacks being validated by investigations. Apple provides recommendations to enhance device security, but the company acknowledges that there's a possibility of false alarms. However, are they true or false alarms?
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Saudis in US targeted as kingdom cracks down on dissent
Saudi rights advocates say the imprisonments validate their pre-trip warnings: Biden's attempts to soothe the crown prince have only emboldened him. Several authoritarian governments illicitly monitor and strike out against their citizens in the United States, often in violation of U.S. sovereignty, in what's called transnational repression. Many of the cases the U.S. prosecutes involve rivals, particularly China.
Paytm’s wild ride continues; China asks Didi to delist from US
All eyes are set on tomorrow as India's digital payment giant Paytm is set to announce its quarterly and half-yearly results even as its share price today fell after three days of gain.
Israel slashes list of countries that can buy cyber tech
Israel's Defence Ministry said in a statement it takes "appropriate steps" when terms of usage set in export licenses it issues are violated, but stopped short of confirming any licenses had been revoked.
Apple fixes security hole reportedly used to hack an iPhone
It was the first time a so-called "zero-click" exploit—one that doesn't require users to click on suspect links or open infected files—has been caught and analysed, the researchers said.
View: Pegasus - assumptions, limitations and gaps
The recent public scrutiny and frenzy have primarily been due to simultaneous unverified media reports which claimed that the system was used to target activists, journalists, and several others. The frenzy was compounded by subsequent reports of around 50,000 numbers having been leaked that were allegedly targeted by Pegasus. We discuss below some of the techniques that the reports have relied upon.
Apple issues urgent software patch to fix security flaw linked to Pegasus spyware
Apple said it was issuing a security update for iPhones and iPads because a ``maliciously crafted'' PDF file could lead to them being hacked.
Supreme Court to hear plea of senior journalist N Ram on Pegasus issue next week
An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on a list of potential targets for surveillance using Israeli firm NSO's Pegasus spyware.
Naresh Goyal, Ajay Singh, Prashant Ruia among potential Pegasus spyware targets: Report
Last week, an international media consortium reported that over 300 verified mobile phone numbers, including those of two ministers, over 40 journalists, three opposition leaders besides scores of business persons and activists in India, could have been targeted for hacking through the Pegasus spyware of the NSO Group.
Pegasus spyware: Senior journalists move SC seeking independent enquiry into govt snooping allegations
The petition, likely to come up for hearing within next few days, sought to investigate if the illegal hacking into the phones using the Pegasus spyware represented an attempt by agencies and organisations to muzzle and chill the exercise of free speech and expression of dissent in India.
Swiggy's plan beyond food delivery
In today's ETtech Morning Dispatch: Swiggy gets $1.25 billion funding after Zomato IPO; Income Tax department comes knocking on crypto exchanges' doors; and AWS shuts down NSO Group account over Pegasus spyware matter.
AWS shuts down NSO Group accounts over Pegasus spyware matter
Amnesty International said it had reported this information to Amazon, and that AWS had “acted quickly” to shut down the implicated infrastructure and accounts.
View: Official response to Pegasus must be clearer. Plus, system of authorising surveillance is flawed
According to NSO, this spyware is sold only to governments to investigate and prevent terrorist and national security incidents. Even applicable regulations cited by them require approval by the Israeli defence ministry, since Pegasus is considered a cyber weapon and requires an arms export licence.
‘Gandhi, two BJP ministers potential Pegasus targets’
The government came down strongly against these allegations, with home minister Amit Shah calling the entire effort an act by “disruptors” and “obstructers” who want to derail India’s progress.
Hold NSO accountable, says WhatsApp chief
The Facebook-owned company discovered and thwarted an attack from NSO in 2019
Blackstone's edtech bet; GlobalBees and Spinny score big
From Blackstone's newest edtech bet to GlobalBees's $150 million fundraising and the latest on the Pegasus spyware, here's a quick look at the top tech news today.
Pegasus used against Indian journalists and activists; government denies
Details put out by The Guardian, one of the media partners in the project, states that 38 Indian journalists were targeted for specific surveillance using NSO software Pegasus, which first hit headlines in 2019 for similar reasons. Also, some activists have allegedly been targeted.
Russia arrests nearly 5,000 at wide protests backing jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny
The 44-year-old Navalny, an anti-corruption investigator who is Putin's best-known critic, was arrested on January 17 upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusations.
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