Blockchain security experts have uncovered a fake mobile app that stole over $1.8 million in cryptocurrency. The app, called BOM, targeted users by gaining access to their private wallet data, including mnemonic phrases and private keys. Once installed, BOM deceptively requested unnecessary permissions, such as access to photos and media, which raised suspicion among security experts. When granted, the app scanned the device’s storage, stole wallet data, and sent it to a remote server.
The first signs of unauthorised transactions were detected on 14 February, with further investigation revealing the scale of the theft. Over 13,000 victims had their funds stolen, with the hacker address traced across several blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Polygon. The stolen assets included Tether, Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, and Dogecoin.
Though the identity of the attackers remains unclear, analysts from SlowMist noted that the app’s backend services had gone offline, indicating the perpetrators may already be attempting to cover their tracks. Some of the stolen funds were exchanged through decentralised platforms like PancakeSwap and OKX-DEX, making it harder to trace the movement of the assets.
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Nvidia has forecast strong growth for the first quarter, reinforcing confidence in the booming demand for AI chips. Orders for the company’s new Blackwell semiconductors were described as ‘amazing’, with CEO Jensen Huang stating that AI is advancing rapidly.
Investors had raised concerns last month after Chinese startup DeepSeek claimed to have developed cost-efficient AI models, but Nvidia’s results eased doubts.
Shares initially rose before fluctuating in extended trading, continuing a trend that has seen Nvidia’s stock surge over 400% in two years. The company generated $11 billion in revenue from Blackwell-related products in the fourth quarter, accounting for around half of its total data centre revenue.
Analysts had expressed scepticism about the transition to Blackwell and competition from DeepSeek, but the latest figures reassured investors.
Margins remain under pressure, with Nvidia forecasting a slight drop to 71% in the first quarter, below Wall Street estimates. Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress expects a recovery later in the year as production scales up and costs decline.
Despite some concerns about oversupply in AI infrastructure, Chinese firms have reportedly increased orders for Nvidia’s H20 AI chip, further supporting demand.
Nvidia’s fourth-quarter revenue rose 78% to $39.3 billion, surpassing expectations. Data centre sales surged 93% to $35.6 billion, continuing strong growth from the previous quarter.
Investors remain focused on Nvidia’s ability to maintain momentum in a competitive AI landscape, particularly as tech giants like Microsoft and Meta commit substantial investments to AI expansion.
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Australia’s corporate regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has launched ‘preliminary inquiries’ into WiseTech Global amid a turbulent week for the logistics software company. This comes after a series of executive changes, including the surprise return of founder Richard White as chairman. Four non-executive directors resigned earlier this week, citing differing opinions on White’s previous role as CEO, which led to his reappointment as executive chairman.
Joe Longo, ASIC’s chairman, confirmed the inquiry and stated that decisions on the next steps would be made shortly. However, WiseTech has yet to comment on the situation. The company, founded by billionaire White, has been facing mounting challenges, including media reports of misconduct, governance issues, and a declining share price.
Since October, WiseTech’s stock has dropped by approximately 14%, following news of an internal review concerning White’s actions. However, following his return, shares rose by 2.1%, reaching A$96.5 per share. The company now faces intense scrutiny as it navigates these turbulent times.
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China accused Taiwan on Wednesday of attempting to hand over its semiconductor industry to the United States, claiming that the island’s government was using the industry to gain political support from Washington. The accusation comes amid reports that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest contract chipmaker, may be negotiating a stake in Intel. However, neither TSMC nor Intel has confirmed the talks and Taiwan’s government says it has not received such investment proposals from TSMC.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian, suggested without providing evidence that Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was using TSMC to seek foreign support for independence, accusing the island of ‘selling out’ its companies to the US. Taiwan, however, rejected these claims, with Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council affirming the importance of TSMC to the island’s economy and stressing its commitment to maintaining a leading role in semiconductor technology.
The US has been critical of Taiwan’s semiconductor industry, with former President Donald Trump calling for more manufacturing to return to the United States. Despite China’s claims, Taiwan maintains that it is responsible for its foreign investment decisions. The island continues to rely on the US for military support, though the US does not formally recognise Taiwan’s government.
TSMC, which supplies major companies like Apple and Nvidia, did not comment on the reports. Taiwan’s government, however, vowed to support the company amid rising tensions surrounding its semiconductor industry.
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Canada’s telecommunications regulator, the CRTC, announced on Wednesday that it will impose a fee on Google to cover the costs of enforcing the Online News Act, which requires large tech platforms to pay for news content shared on their sites. The levy, which will be implemented from April 1, will vary each year and has no upper limit. This move comes amid rising tensions between Canada and the US over issues like trade and a digital services tax on American tech firms.
The CRTC stated that most of its operations are funded by fees from the companies it regulates, and the new charge aims to recover costs related to the law. Google, which had previously raised concerns about the fairness of such a rule, had argued that it was unreasonable to impose 100% of the costs on one company. Despite this, Google has agreed to pay C$100 million annually to Canadian publishers in a deal that ensures its search results continue to feature news content.
The law, which is part of a global trend to make internet giants pay for news, was introduced last year in response to concerns that tech firms were crowding out news businesses in the online advertising market. While both Google and Meta were identified as major platforms required to make payments, Meta chose to block news from its platforms in Canada instead. Google, however, has continued to negotiate with the Canadian government, although it has yet to comment further on the CRTC’s decision.
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Intuit has projected stronger-than-expected third-quarter revenue, driven by growing demand for its AI-powered financial services and a busy US tax season.
The company’s optimistic forecast sent its shares up nearly 5% in extended trading. Chief Financial Officer Sandeep Aujla expressed confidence in the firm’s performance, highlighting a strong start to the tax season.
The company, known for TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma, has been expanding its use of AI to enhance financial management and automation.
Intuit Assist, its AI-powered assistant, is integrated across its products to provide personalised financial recommendations and streamline tasks like bookkeeping. The firm recently launched an AI tool for QuickBooks to help small businesses manage tax and financial operations more efficiently.
Revenue for the second quarter reached $3.96 billion, surpassing Wall Street estimates, while adjusted earnings per share also exceeded expectations.
For the third quarter, Intuit expects revenue between $7.55 billion and $7.60 billion, above analysts’ projections. However, its forecasted adjusted profit per share of $10.89 to $10.95 fell short of estimates. Despite this, the company reiterated its confidence in its full-year outlook.
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AI-related stocks declined on Tuesday as investors braced for Nvidia’s earnings, expected to provide insight into AI demand and justify high valuations. Concerns over slowing infrastructure investments and competition from low-cost Chinese AI models weighed on the market.
Tech stocks suffered further losses after a report revealed Microsoft had scrapped data centre leases in the US.
Nvidia dropped 2.1% ahead of its crucial earnings release, while semiconductor firms like Broadcom and Micron slid around 2.1%. Investor scepticism over AI spending deepened following breakthroughs by China’s DeepSeek.
The sector also faced pressure from reports that Washington plans to tighten restrictions on Nvidia’s chip exports to China. US officials are consulting allies about stricter chip controls, adding to uncertainty in the market.
Data centre operators and power firms, expected to benefit from AI growth, also declined. Digital Realty slipped 1.2%, while power providers Vistra and Constellation Energy lost 5.9% and 3.3% respectively.
AI server maker Super Micro Computer led losses on the S&P 500, falling 8.7%, while Palantir dropped 3.7%.
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Microsoft has made an undisclosed equity investment in Veeam Software as part of an expanded partnership to develop AI-powered data protection tools.
The deal will strengthen Veeam’s ability to help customers recover data after cyberattacks, ransomware incidents, or accidental loss. The company’s core technology ensures immutable backups, preventing hackers from modifying or deleting critical files.
With Microsoft‘s support, Veeam plans to enhance research and development, integrate AI-driven capabilities into its software, and expand design collaboration.
The move follows Microsoft’s previous investment in cybersecurity firm Rubrik, another company specialising in data backup and recovery.
Veeam, which was acquired by private equity firm Insight Partners for $5 billion in 2020, was valued at $15 billion after a secondary sale last year.
Founded in 2006, Veeam serves over 550,000 customers globally, including major corporations such as Deloitte and Canon. The partnership with Microsoft underscores the growing demand for advanced data security solutions as businesses face increasing cyber threats.
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Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has issued a warning about a large-scale malware campaign targeting GitHub users. Hackers have created hundreds of fake repositories to deceive users into downloading malware designed to steal cryptocurrency, login credentials, and browsing data. The campaign, known as ‘GitVenom,’ uses fraudulent projects that appear legitimate, offering tools like a Telegram bot for managing Bitcoin wallets or an Instagram automation tool. However, these projects run malicious software in the background, including remote access trojans (RATs), info-stealers, and clipboard hijackers.
The fake repositories were made to look convincing by including detailed documentation and manipulated version histories, which were designed to mimic active development. Despite appearing professional, these projects fail to deliver their promised functions while quietly extracting sensitive information from users. Kaspersky’s investigation revealed that some of these malicious repositories have been active for at least two years, suggesting the attackers have successfully lured victims over an extended period.
Once users have downloaded the malware, it targets saved login details, cryptocurrency wallet information, and browsing history, sending the stolen data to the attackers via Telegram. Some malware even hijacks clipboard contents, replacing cryptocurrency wallet addresses with those controlled by the hackers, potentially redirecting funds. The campaign has caused considerable impact, with one documented case involving the theft of five Bitcoins, worth around $442,000.
Although the GitVenom campaign has been detected worldwide, it has particularly affected users in Russia, Brazil, and Turkey. Kaspersky warns that, given GitHub’s popularity among developers, hackers are likely to continue using fake software projects as a method of infection.
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Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance is ramping up efforts to boost revenue from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following its $8.5 billion media merger with Disney.
With broadcast rights costing the company and Disney nearly $10 billion in recent years, a strategy is in place to attract small businesses as advertisers. Closed-door seminars across Indian cities are promoting IPL ad packages starting at $17,000 to help offset rising costs.
A focus on digital advertising is central to Reliance’s approach, as it competes with global giants such as Netflix, Google, and Meta.
The company is leveraging neuroscience research to pitch its streaming ads as more engaging than those on YouTube and Instagram. A growing digital push is expected to help monetise IPL’s massive audience, with ad rates rising by up to 25% this year.
Intense competition in India‘s $28 billion digital ad market poses challenges, despite IPL’s popularity. Reliance is banking on data-driven targeted advertising to appeal to brands, but affordability remains a concern for smaller businesses.
Analysts suggest that while advanced neuroscience studies may strengthen its marketing claims, real success will depend on tangible financial gains in the highly competitive streaming space.
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