Cybersecurity Archives | Page 281 of 392 | Digital Watch Observatory

Democrats call for clarification on cyber pause against Russia

Democratic lawmakers are calling for an explanation from the Pentagon after reports surfaced about an order to pause offensive cyber operations against Russia during sensitive negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

The decision to halt such operations, which disrupt rival computer networks, is not unusual in the context of diplomatic efforts but has raised concerns among lawmakers. The order was first reported by The Record and later confirmed by two anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticised the move, calling it a ‘critical strategic mistake’ and arguing that ‘the best defence is always a strong offence’, especially in cybersecurity.

Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, also demanded that the Pentagon provide Congress with details regarding the scope of the pause and its potential impact on US allies. He further questioned whether a risk assessment was made before the decision.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the matter, citing operational security concerns. The pause in cyber operations comes amid rising tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s recent dealings with Russia, including a public clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Trump has shifted US policy by engaging in talks with Moscow and openly criticising Zelenskiy, suggesting that America could pull its support for Ukraine if the war does not end soon.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

European groups back new cybersecurity label for cloud services

Twenty-three industry groups across Europe have urged EU officials to approve a draft cybersecurity certification for cloud services.

The certification scheme, which was introduced in 2020 by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), aims to provide governments and businesses with reliable, secure cloud service providers.

It has been under revision since last year, with changes that favour major tech firms such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

The groups, including the American Chamber of Commerce and various EU trade associations, argue that the updated draft, which will be finalised in March 2024, strikes a balance between robust security standards and an open market.

These revisions removed political provisions, such as requirements for US tech companies to partner with EU firms for data storage, focusing instead on technical security criteria.

Despite this, concerns linger about the European Commission potentially delaying or even scrapping the certification scheme altogether. The groups have strongly urged the EU to push forward with its adoption, believing it will support Europe’s digital economy while promoting secure cloud computing solutions.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Musk under scrutiny over $2.4 billion FAA telecom contract

A group of US lawmakers is raising concerns over the potential involvement of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in a $2.4 billion Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) telecommunications contract originally awarded to Verizon.

Musk, who owns satellite company Starlink, has been critical of the FAA’s existing telecom system and has reportedly sought to replace Verizon’s contract with his own company’s services.

Senator Maria Cantwell and other lawmakers have expressed alarm over what they see as potential interference in a competitive bidding process. The FAA, which awarded the 15-year contract to Verizon in 2023, is now reportedly reviewing the agreement.

Musk recently admitted to making false claims about Verizon’s role in aviation safety, further fuelling concerns about his influence.

The controversy has led to bipartisan scrutiny, with senators and representatives questioning whether the government is prioritising private interests over public safety. The FAA, meanwhile, has stated it has not yet made any decision regarding the contract.

Reports indicate that Starlink terminals are being tested in Alaska, raising further speculation about Musk’s involvement in the project.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Financial crime agency investigates Paytm over past transactions

India’s financial crime enforcement agency has issued a show cause notice to Paytm over alleged violations of the country’s Foreign Exchange Management Act.

The notice relates to the acquisition of two companies, Little Internet Private Limited and Nearbuy India Private Limited, covering the period from 2015 to 2019.

Paytm has stated that the alleged violations occurred before these companies became its subsidiaries. The company maintains that the notice has no impact on its services for consumers and merchants. No further details about the specific allegations have been disclosed.

The notice comes at a time of increased regulatory scrutiny of digital payment firms in India.

Paytm has previously faced challenges related to compliance and operations, making the latest development a significant issue for the company as it continues to navigate the country’s evolving financial regulations.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

US accuses crypto entrepreneur of manipulating digital token markets

The founder of cryptocurrency financial services firm Gotbit has been extradited from Portugal to the United States to face charges of market manipulation and fraud.

Aleksei Andriunin, a 26-year-old Russian national, appeared in a Boston court, where he pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy charges. Prosecutors allege his company engaged in sham trading to artificially inflate the value of digital tokens.

Authorities claim that between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit manipulated cryptocurrency trading volumes through a practice known as ‘wash trading’. The FBI’s ‘Operation Token Mirrors‘ played a key role in the investigation, reportedly using its own digital token to detect fraudulent activities.

Gotbit allegedly facilitated wash trades worth millions and profited tens of millions of dollars by boosting the market appeal of cryptocurrencies such as Saitama and Robo Inu.

Andriunin was arrested in Portugal in October when US authorities first announced charges against him and others. His company and two employees in Russia also face legal action, though they have not yet appeared in court.

The case is part of a broader crackdown on fraud in the cryptocurrency sector.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

A significant boost in Windows performance could come with Qualcomm’s latest chip

Qualcomm is reportedly developing the Snapdragon X2, a next-generation high-end processor for Windows PCs. Leaks suggest the new chip could feature up to 18 Oryon V3 cores, potentially boosting performance significantly.

The Snapdragon X2 is expected to adopt a system-in-package (SiP) design, integrating RAM and flash storage within the processor to enhance efficiency and data transfer speeds.

The processor is said to support configurations of up to 48GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, according to leaked documents. While specific clock speeds remain unknown, it is described as a high-TDP variant, indicating a focus on raw power.

Qualcomm is also reportedly testing the chip with a liquid cooling system, suggesting efforts to manage heat output in high-performance environments.

Branding for the processor is expected under the ‘Snapdragon X2 Ultra Premium’ label, with a focus on competing against Intel, AMD, and Apple’s M-series chips.

Qualcomm previously confirmed its next PC processor, the Snapdragon X Elite Gen 2, would include the Oryon V3 CPU, following the success of its predecessor, the Oryon V2.

The Snapdragon X2 could improve the Windows on ARM ecosystem, offering better efficiency and performance. However, software compatibility challenges remain a key concern, as ARM-based Windows devices have previously struggled with certain applications.

Official details from Qualcomm are still pending, with more information possibly emerging at industry events such as Mobile World Congress.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

US investigates UK over alleged backdoor demand for Apple data

United States officials are reviewing whether the UK breached a bilateral agreement by reportedly pressuring Apple to create a ‘backdoor’ for government access to encrypted iCloud backups.

Apple recently withdrew an encrypted storage feature for UK users following reports that it had refused to comply with such demands, which could have affected users worldwide. The Washington Post reported that Apple rejected the UK government’s request.

The US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed in a letter to lawmakers that a legal review is underway to determine if the UK violated the CLOUD Act.

Under the agreement, neither the US nor the United Kingdom can demand data access for citizens or residents of the other country. Initial legal assessments suggest the UK’s reported demands may have overstepped its authority under the agreement.

Apple has long defended its encryption policies, arguing that creating a backdoor for government access would weaken security and leave user data vulnerable to hackers. Cybersecurity experts warn that any such backdoor, once created, would inevitably be exploited.

The tech giant has clashed with regulators over encryption before, notably in 2016 when it resisted US government efforts to unlock a terrorism suspect’s iPhone.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Zhipu AI secures over 1 billion yuan in new funding

Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI has raised over 1 billion yuan ($137.22 million) in new funding, following a previous 3 billion yuan investment in December. The latest funding round comes amid growing competition in China’s AI sector, particularly with rival DeepSeek’s large language models, which claim to rival Western models at a lower cost.

Investors in the new round include the state-backed Hangzhou City Investment Group Industrial Fund and Shangcheng Capital. Zhipu AI plans to use the funds to enhance its GLM language model and expand its AI ecosystem, with a focus on businesses in Zhejiang province and the Yangtze River Delta region.

Founded in 2019, Zhipu AI has completed 16 funding rounds and is considered one of China’s leading AI startups. The company aims to release a range of new AI models, including foundation and multimodal models, as part of its open-source strategy. The funding comes as competitors like DeepSeek continue to disrupt the AI landscape with open-source models that challenge established platforms.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Vodafone collaborates with IBM on quantum-safe cryptography

Vodafone UK has teamed up with IBM to explore quantum-safe cryptography as part of a new Proof of Concept (PoC) test for its mobile and broadband services, particularly for users of its ‘Secure Net’ anti-malware service. While quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, they could eventually break current internet encryption methods. In anticipation of this, Vodafone and IBM are testing how to integrate new post-quantum cryptographic standards into Vodafone’s existing Secure Net service, which already protects millions of users from threats like phishing and malware.

IBM’s cryptography experts have co-developed two algorithms now recognised in the US National Institute of Standards and Technology’s first post-quantum cryptography standards. This collaboration, supported by Akamai Technologies, aims to make Vodafone’s services more resilient against future quantum computing risks. Vodafone’s Head of R&D, Luke Ibbetson, stressed the importance of future-proofing digital security to ensure customers can continue enjoying safe internet experiences.

Although the PoC is still in its feasibility phase, Vodafone hopes to implement quantum-safe cryptography across its networks and products soon, ensuring stronger protection for both business and consumer users.

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Wayve expands with new testing hub in Germany

British startup Wayve has announced plans to open a new testing and development hub in Germany, deploying a fleet of test vehicles in the Stuttgart region. The self-driving technology firm aims to enhance features like lane change assistance at the new facility, which will focus on improving its “Embodied AI” system that learns from human behaviour.

Wayve, which operates in the UK and the US, is expanding into Germany as part of its strategy to enter the European market, particularly Germany, the continent’s largest automotive hub. The company received a boost earlier this year, with Uber investing in August and SoftBank leading a $1 billion funding round in May, supported by Nvidia.

Despite the significant investments in autonomous vehicle technology, self-driving systems still face challenges in predicting and assessing risks as accurately as human drivers. Wayve’s technology is already integrated into six vehicle platforms, including electric models like the Jaguar I-PACE and Ford Mustang Mach-E, as part of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.