Critical infrastructure Archives | Page 8 of 160

Young investors warned on crypto and AI advice

Australia’s financial regulator has warned young investors to be cautious with social media influencers and AI chatbots. A survey by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found one in four Gen Z Australians invest in crypto, often guided by online content.

The survey of 1,127 participants aged 18 to 28 showed 63% use social media for financial information, 18% rely on AI platforms, and 30% consult YouTube. AI was the most trusted source at 64%, but over half still trust influencers and social media despite possible misinformation.

ASIC previously issued warnings to 18 influencers suspected of promoting high-risk products without a licence. Commissioner Alan Kirkland said some social media marketing promotes crypto scams or risky super switches that threaten young people’s key assets.

The regulator is also watching AI financial guidance. Personalised advice from unlicensed sources is illegal, and young investors should carefully check sources, especially as crypto exchanges increasingly use AI bots for trading guidance.

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AI-powered browsing arrives in Chrome for India New Zealand and Canada

Chrome is bringing its advanced AI features to users in India, New Zealand and Canada, aiming to simplify daily browsing tasks and provide instant support. The updates include the integration of Gemini in Chrome and support for over 50 languages.

Users can now interact with a personalised browsing assistant without switching tabs, receiving instant answers, summaries or creative suggestions. Gemini in Chrome allows multitasking and remembers previously visited pages for easier navigation.

Integrations with Google apps such as Gmail, Maps and YouTube enhance productivity directly from the browser. Users can draft emails, schedule meetings, or extract key points from videos without leaving their current page.

Chrome’s AI can also consolidate information from multiple open tabs, streamlining tasks like research or shopping. Nano Banana 2 allows users to transform images on the web in real time, without uploading files or switching windows.

Security remains a priority, with Chrome designed to detect threats and require confirmations for sensitive actions. Gemini in Chrome benefits from automated testing and updates to maintain robust protection as users explore new AI features.

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Tesla moves to enter the British household electricity market

A licence that would allow Tesla to supply electricity directly to households and businesses across Great Britain has been applied for.

The application was submitted to the national energy regulator Ofgem, which oversees energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales.

Approval would enable the company to enter the retail electricity market as early as next year. The service is expected to operate under the brand ‘Tesla Electric’, extending the company’s strategy of combining electric vehicles, battery storage and energy supply into a single ecosystem.

Tesla’s UK energy subsidiary, Tesla Energy Ventures, filed the application through its Manchester-based operation. Regulatory review may take several months, as Ofgem typically requires up to nine months to evaluate electricity supplier licences.

A future electricity offer could primarily target households that already use Tesla technologies, including home batteries and electric vehicle charging systems.

The company sells Powerwall storage batteries in the UK, which allow homeowners to store electricity generated by solar panels or purchased during off-peak hours.

Such systems also allow surplus energy stored in batteries to be sold back to the grid.

Similar services are already available in the US, where Tesla launched a residential electricity supply programme in Texas in 2022.

The expansion into the energy supply market comes amid pressure on Tesla’s automotive business in Europe. Sales of Tesla vehicles in the UK declined significantly during 2025, reducing the company’s share of the national car market.

Diversifying into energy services could therefore represent a broader strategic shift for the company led by Elon Musk. Integrating electricity supply with electric vehicles and home energy systems could allow Tesla to build a more comprehensive energy platform for consumers.

If approved, the initiative would position Tesla as both a technology manufacturer and a direct energy supplier in the British market.

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EU approves signature of global AI framework

The European Parliament has approved the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, the first international legally binding treaty on AI governance.

With 455 votes in favour, 101 against, and 74 abstentions, Parliament endorsed the EU’s signature to embed existing AI legislation in a global framework. The move reinforces the safe and rights-respecting deployment of AI across the EU and worldwide.

The convention sets standards for transparency, documentation, risk management, and oversight, applying to both public authorities and private actors acting on their behalf.

It establishes a global baseline for AI governance while allowing the EU to maintain higher protections under the AI Act, GDPR, and other EU legislation covering product safety, liability, and non-discrimination.

The EU co-rapporteurs highlighted that the agreement demonstrates the EU’s commitment to human-centric AI. By prioritising democracy, accountability, and fundamental rights, the framework aims to ensure AI strengthens open societies while supporting stable economic growth.

Negotiations on the convention began in 2022 with participation from the EU member states, international partners, civil society, academia, and industry. Current signatories include the EU, the UK, Ukraine, Canada, Israel, and the United States, with the convention open to additional global partners.

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Telegram faces global outages as Russia slows service

Users of the messaging app Telegram have experienced outages in multiple regions over the past 24 hours, with the largest volume of complaints coming from Russia. Reports from the US, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway suggest the issues could be global.

Difficulties primarily affected the mobile app, with users reporting login issues, messaging delays, and limited access to features. In Russia, outages result from traffic slowdowns by Roskomnadzor, with similar restrictions affecting WhatsApp.

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has criticised the Russian government’s actions, arguing that authorities aim to push citizens towards a state-controlled alternative, the ‘Max’ messenger.

Despite Telegram overtaking WhatsApp in Russia with over 95 million active users, Max has now surpassed 100 million users, showing the Kremlin’s growing influence over digital communications.

Russian authorities have stated that Telegram must comply with local laws, moderate content, and consider data localisation to avoid further restrictions. Durov has reaffirmed the platform’s commitment to protecting user privacy and upholding freedom of speech.

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BeatBanker malware targets Android users in Brazil

A new Android malware called BeatBanker is targeting users in Brazil through fake Starlink and government apps. The malware hijacks devices, steals banking credentials, tampers with cryptocurrency transactions, and secretly mines Monero.

Infection begins on phishing websites mimicking the Google Play Store or the ‘INSS Reembolso’ app. Users are tricked into installing trojanised APKs, which evade detection through memory-based decryption and by blocking analysis environments.

Fake update screens maintain persistence while silently downloading additional malicious payloads.

BeatBanker initially combined a banking trojan with a cryptocurrency miner. It uses accessibility permissions to monitor browsers and crypto apps, overlaying fake screens to redirect Tether and other crypto transfers.

A foreground service plays silent audio loops to prevent the device from shutting down, while Firebase Cloud Messaging enables remote control of infected devices.

The latest variant replaces the banking module with the BTMOB RAT, providing full control over devices. Capabilities include automatic permissions, background persistence, keylogging, GPS tracking, camera access, and screen-lock credential capture.

Kaspersky warns that BeatBanker demonstrates the growing sophistication of mobile threats and multi-layered malware campaigns.

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AI and quantum computing reshape the global cybersecurity landscape

Cybersecurity risks are increasing as digital connectivity expands across governments, businesses and households.

According to Thales Group, a growing number of connected devices and digital services has significantly expanded the potential entry points for cyberattacks.

AI is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape by enabling attackers to identify vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed.

Security specialists increasingly describe the environment as a contest in which defensive systems must deploy AI to counter adversaries using similar technologies to exploit weaknesses in digital infrastructure.

Security concerns also extend beyond large institutions. Connected devices in homes, including smart cameras and speakers, often lack robust security protections, increasing exposure for individuals and networks.

Policymakers in Europe are responding through measures such as the Cyber Resilience Act, which will introduce mandatory security requirements for connected products sold in the EU.

Long-term risks are also emerging from advances in quantum computing.

Experts warn that powerful future machines could eventually break widely used encryption systems that currently protect communications, financial data and government networks, prompting organisations to adopt quantum-resistant security methods.

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Amazon launches Health AI to assist with medical queries

Amazon has launched a new AI-powered assistant, Health AI, on its website and mobile app. The tool is designed to answer health questions, explain medical records, manage prescriptions, and connect users with healthcare providers.

Health AI can also book appointments and guide users based on their health information if they grant access to their records. The feature is currently limited to the US, with a wider rollout planned in the coming weeks.

The assistant is linked with One Medical, Amazon’s healthcare service, allowing users to communicate with licensed professionals through messages, video consultations, or in-person visits. It can also send prescription renewal requests and suggest relevant health products.

Users can create an Amazon Health Profile and enable two-step authentication to start using Health AI. By allowing the AI to access their medical records, including medications, lab results, and diagnoses, users can receive more personalised responses.

Amazon emphasises that Health AI is a support tool rather than a replacement for doctors. It helps users understand health information and prepare for discussions with healthcare providers, but it does not provide independent diagnoses or treatment.

As part of an introductory offer, eligible US Prime members can receive up to five free message consultations with One Medical providers. The system runs on Amazon Bedrock and uses multiple AI agents to manage tasks, monitor interactions, and escalate to human professionals when necessary.

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Moltbook founders join Meta’s AI research lab

Meta Platforms has acquired Moltbook, a social networking platform designed for AI agents. The deal brings co-founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr into Meta’s AI research division, the Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, and the founders are expected to start on 16 March.

Moltbook, launched in January, allows AI-powered bots to exchange code and interact socially in a Reddit-like environment. The platform has sparked debate on AI autonomy and real-world capabilities, highlighting growing competition among tech giants for AI talent and technology.

Industry figures have offered differing views on the platform’s significance. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called Moltbook a potential fad but acknowledged its underlying technology hints at the future of AI agents.

Meanwhile, Anthropic’s chief product officer, Mike Krieger, noted that most users are not ready to grant AI full autonomy over their systems.

The platform’s growth also highlighted security risks. Cybersecurity firm Wiz reported a vulnerability that exposed private messages, email addresses, and credentials, which was resolved after the owners were notified.

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Japan expands strategic investment in AI, quantum computing, and drones

Japan has identified dozens of advanced technologies as priority investment targets as part of an economic strategy led by Sanae Takaichi.

The plan aims to channel public and private capital into industries expected to drive long-term economic growth.

Government officials selected 61 technologies and products for support across 17 strategic sectors. The list includes emerging fields such as AI, quantum computing, regenerative medicine and marine drones.

Many of these technologies are still in early development, but are considered important for economic security and global competitiveness.

The strategy forms a central pillar of Takaichi’s broader economic agenda to strengthen Japan’s industrial base and encourage investment in high-growth sectors. Authorities plan to release spending estimates and implementation timelines by summer as part of a detailed investment roadmap.

Japan has also set ambitious market goals in several sectors. Officials aim to secure more than 30% of the global AI robotics market by 2040 while increasing annual sales of domestically produced semiconductors to ¥40 trillion.

Several Japanese technology companies could benefit from the policy direction. Firms such as Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric and Mitsubishi Electric are integrating AI into industrial robots, while Sony Group produces sensors used in robotic systems.

Chipmakers, including Rohm, Kioxia and Renesas Electronics, may also benefit from increased investment in semiconductor manufacturing and related supply chains.

Despite strong investor interest, analysts note uncertainty about how the programme will be financed, particularly as Japan faces rising spending pressures from social security, defence and public debt.

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