DATA ENCRYPTION
eMudhra says TLS certificate security incident impacted 1% of revenue
eMudhra Ltd experienced a certificate security incident in October that impacted its TLS business revenue significantly. Following the incident, the company revoked the affected intermediary certificates to prevent further issues. Executive Chairman V. Srinivasan confirmed that no end-entity certificates were issued, maintaining the integrity of the infrastructure. KPMG was appointed as an independent external reviewer to investigate the incident thoroughly.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon, others vote from space
Three NASA astronauts, including Anil Menon, participated in the US midterm elections from the International Space Station. Menon, along with fellow astronauts Luke Delaney and Jessica Watkins, cast their ballots securely from orbit. The ballots were sent via NASA's encrypted Near Space Network to ensure integrity. Menon filled out his electronic ballot for Harris County in Texas, marking a unique voting experience.
Personalised festive experiences key to brand loyalty for 72% of Indian shoppers: Survey
A recent survey indicates that 72 percent of Indian holiday shoppers prefer brands that provide personalized experiences. Consumers are increasingly seeking brands that demonstrate understanding of their preferences and offer seamless engagement. The survey found that 68 percent of respondents favor brands with an omnichannel presence for better communication. Additionally, shoppers are concerned about data security, which influences their loyalty just like festive offers.
From GST to e-invoicing: Closing the loop on Digital India
India has already built the rails. It is time to let the invoice travel on them.
Meesho Q2 loss narrows; Info Edge names Sanjeev Bikhchandani CEO
Happy Thursday! Meesho’s losses shrunk as revenue grew in the second quarter of FY27. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
QClairvoyance's quantum chemistry bet: Transitioning from research to pharma partnerships
QClairvoyance Quantum Labs has performed chemically precise simulations of eight small molecules on an actual quantum computer, marking progress towards drug discovery applications.
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Swiggy’s Q2 report card; eMudhra to exit certificate biz
Swiggy continued on its growth trajectory while bringing down losses in Q2FY27. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

From eMudhra to PHP: Breach spree hits tech infrastructure, AI emerges as threat multiplier
Recent cybersecurity incidents have raised concerns among companies and government agencies regarding digital certificates and critical software vulnerabilities. A security breach at eMudhra impacted its global digital certificate business but was managed promptly. Additionally, critical vulnerabilities in PHP temporarily led to the shutdown of various websites for security updates. A supply-chain attack compromised the LiteLLM Python package, affecting its users significantly.

eMudhra to exit global SSL/TLS certificate business after controversy
Digital trust services provider eMudhra on Thursday said that it would voluntarily withdraw from the global SSL/TLS certificate business, following an incident where its certificates were found to have vulnerabilities.

What eMudhra security incident means for anyone who shops, banks or pays online
The eMudhra security incident raised concerns that cybercriminals could potentially use weak private keys to create fake website certificates and impersonate legitimate platforms. Here’s how such an attack could put users’ personal and payment details at risk, and what is known about the incident so far.

eMudhra breach: Netizens react as IT Ministry says impact on Indian sites ‘very limited’
Cybersecurity agency CERT-In warned that the compromised keys could let attackers issue fraudulent certificates for domains they do not control, impersonate legitimate websites and carry out attacks that intercept or modify encrypted communications.

Eternal’s strong Q2 report; Exits outpace hiring at top IT firms
Happy Thursday! Eternal’s Q2 revenue surged on Blinkit’s growth. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

Multiple websites go offline after critical PHP security flaw; FBI urges immediate updates. Here's what you should do
In light of critical vulnerabilities discovered in PHP, numerous websites have been taken offline. The FBI has strongly recommended that organizations either update their PHP installations or disconnect vulnerable systems. Cybersecurity experts warn that these flaws pose a significant risk of data theft and cyberattacks. In response, website administrators are implementing urgent maintenance. Users are encouraged to exercise caution and adhere to online safety protocols.

Eternal’s Q2 profit rises; SBI flags customer data leak
Eternal’s Q2 profit has surged, with Blinkit contributing significantly to the growth. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Dark Matter: Eternal’s chatbot will keep user conversations private even from the company — Deepinder Goyal
In a letter to shareholders, Goyal explained the idea behind Dark was to remove the worry that someone, someday, can read what you tell an AI bot. “All of us have a dark side, and it needs an outlet where it doesn’t have to hide,” he wrote.

eMudhra certificates blocked by Google and Mozilla; some legitimate websites may stop working from October 27; here's what happened
eMudhra intermediate CA certificates (Google Trends): Google and Mozilla have blocked eight compromised intermediate certificate keys linked to eMudhra, an Indian provider of digital trust and cybersecurity services. Weak randomness during key generation could have allowed attackers to forge trusted HTTPS certificates. Although eMudhra says the affected certificates issued no end-user certificates, Google's planned removal of a related root certificate could disrupt some websites.

ET AI Explainer: Why are US AI labs wary of 'distillation attacks' from Chinese peers
Distillation as a technique in which a less capable AI model is trained on the outputs of a stronger one. The aim is to help the less capable models replicate some of the larger model’s capabilities at a lower cost.

OpenAI Engineer accused of bugging executive room: How the investigation unfolded and what he wanted to record
Alfozan faces a federal charge of using or trying to use a device to intercept oral communications. The complaint says OpenAI staff found the recorder on September 30. It was plugged into a USB port behind a television. It was hidden in toilet paper.

Hidden recorder, chatbot prompts and an FBI arrest: Inside the OpenAI spying case
Abdulrahman Alfozan, an engineer at OpenAI, was arrested for allegedly planting a recording device in an executive meeting room. The device, discovered on September 30, was found concealed in toilet paper and connected to a USB port. CCTV footage showed Alfozan near the room prior to the device’s discovery, despite lacking authorisation.
IBM executive warns of risk of quantum computing hacks
Organisations are unprepared for the risks posed by quantum computing, IBM's Europe and Africa vice-Wednesday, referring to the high-speed technology that could crack security encryptions and enable large-scale cyberattacks. I would say less than 10 percent today," Curioni said on the sidelines of a London conference organised by the American technology pioneer.

DRDO successfully tests Quantum Key Distribution(QKD) platform in live network
The DRDO has successfully tested a Quantum Key Distribution platform in a live network environment. This advancement enhances India's capabilities in quantum-secured communications for critical military applications. The technology ensures secure communication for artillery and armored weapon tests while providing eavesdropping detection capabilities. Additionally, free-space QKD technology is being developed to facilitate communication in challenging terrains without optical fibers.

Explained: How OpenAI traced listening bug to Saudi employee now in FBI custody
On October 13, Abdulrahman Alfozan, a Saudi national, was charged for allegedly hiding a recording device at OpenAI. Discovered by staff in the executive conference room, the device was wrapped in toilet paper and concealed within a USB port. Reportedly, Alfozan used AI to strategize the placement of the device.

FBI arrests OpenAI engineer over hidden recording device in executive conference room
OpenAI reported the discovery of a sophisticated recording device hidden in a conference room. The employee, Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested after evidence linked him to the installation of the device. Authorities confirmed that no sensitive company data had been compromised during this incident. Alfozan had made multiple attempts to access restricted areas within the company's building. He is scheduled to appear in court again on October 19 for further proceedings.

Who is Abdulrahman Alfozan? ChatGPT maker OpenAI's Saudi national employee arrested by FBI for planting high tech listening device in San Francisco office
OpenAI's security team found the device late last month at ChatGPT maker's office and the employee, Saudi national Abdulrahman Alfozan, was arrested on October 9, the US Justice Department said.

ideaForge Technology secures order from Survey of India for drone mapping services
The induction of these advanced DFCA-certified drones built for geospatial, intelligence, mapping and surveying, will enable the central government agency to collect high-quality aerial and geospatial data across diverse terrains and project environments, it said.

Tricog Health targets 100 million cardiac screenings by 2030: CEO Dr Charit Bhograj
Bengaluru-based Tricog Health aims to conduct 100 million cardiac screenings by 2030, having screened over 41 million patients since its founding in 2014. The healthtech firm uses AI-enabled ECG devices and specialist reviews to detect heart conditions, with operations across several Indian states and 14 countries. Its technology aims to reduce diagnosis delays and improve early detection of cardiovascular diseases.

Trai issues draft audit manual for DRM-based digital addressable systems, seeks comments by October 30
Trai has released a draft audit manual for digital rights management-based systems seeking industry feedback. The manual outlines procedures for audits of IPTV-based distribution systems, including subscriber management and encryption. Monthly reconciliation of data between subscriber management and DRM systems is required, with specific thresholds for discrepancies listed. Stakeholders have until October 30 to provide their comments on the draft.

TRAI invites comments on draft DRM audit manual for IPTV services
TRAI has released a draft audit manual for DRM-based IPTV systems and is seeking stakeholder comments by October 30. The draft outlines procedures for auditing digital addressable systems, addressing gaps from an earlier manual. It specifies data reconciliation requirements between subscriber management and DRM systems to maintain accuracy. Monthly audits will be required for all IPTV operators as part of compliance measures.

India’s AI rules take shape; TCS profit jumps 15%
The government is set to release a consultation paper on AI regulations within a month. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
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