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Securityaffairs
2w
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Image Credit: Securityaffairs
NSO Group must pay WhatsApp over $167M in damages for attacks on its users
- NSO Group has been ordered by a U.S. jury to pay WhatsApp over $167 million in damages for using Pegasus spyware to target over 1,400 individuals, violating U.S. laws.
- The jury ruling came after a five-year legal battle, with NSO Group being asked to pay punitive damages exceeding $167 million and compensatory damages exceeding $444,000.
- WhatsApp's post mentioned that the decision serves as a critical deterrent against malicious activities targeting American companies and users globally, highlighting the broader industry threat.
- NSO Group plans to examine the verdict details and pursue legal remedies, potentially including appeals, as stated by the company's spokesperson, Gil Lainer.
- The U.S. court's ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed in October 2019, accusing NSO Group of using WhatsApp to infect mobile devices with surveillance software like Pegasus.
- NSO Group was found liable for breaching WhatsApp's terms of service and utilizing the platform for malicious activities, leading to the enforcement of punitive measures by the court.
- WhatsApp's victory in the legal battle against NSO Group was hailed as a significant privacy win, emphasizing accountability for spyware firms exploiting vulnerabilities.
- NSO Group exploited a zero-day vulnerability in WhatsApp's voice calling feature (CVE-2019-3568) to install spyware like Pegasus, continuing to use such exploits even after legal actions were taken.
- The court revelation exposed how NSO Group's spyware infiltrates phones, accessing sensitive data and functionalities, targeting various platforms beyond WhatsApp and using different installation methods.
- NSO Group has been instructed to disclose detailed information about its spyware's functionality surrounding the period of alleged attacks, shedding light on its covert surveillance practices.
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Insider
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314
Image Credit: Insider
Mark Zuckerberg destroyed friendship. Now he wants to replace it with AI.
- Mark Zuckerberg envisions a future where AI chatbots could become friends for those feeling lonely, aiming to make social media more interactive.
- Despite the push for AI friends to combat loneliness, critics argue that true friendship involves genuine support and connection, which cannot be emulated by AI.
- Young people are showing a preference for in-person interactions over digital connections, seeking genuine human connection through activities like book clubs and sports.
- Zuckerberg's past initiatives, like the metaverse, have faced challenges, and his current focus on AI friends has stirred debate on the impact of technology on human relationships.
- AI chatbots, while always available and responsive, may contribute to further isolation and unrealistic expectations of friendship if relied upon heavily.
- Amid concerns about loneliness, Meta's efforts to introduce AI chatbots have faced criticism for their potential negative effects and detachment from real human connections.
- Studies show that online interactions provided by social media platforms often prioritize quantity over quality, offering surface-level connections that may not address deeper human needs for companionship.
- While online connections can be meaningful, true friendship is perceived to require genuine support and reciprocal engagement, which AI chatbots may lack in providing.
- Meta's pursuit of AI-driven solutions for loneliness raises questions about the potential impact on societal norms and individuals' perceptions of authentic relationships.
- The prevalence of technology in daily life has altered how people engage with others, potentially replacing genuine connections with artificial interactions that may not fulfill the human need for companionship.
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Siliconangle
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157
Image Credit: Siliconangle
Meta and NSO court battle over WhatsApp hack ends with Meta winning $167 million in damages
- Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group Technologies Ltd. ordered to pay $167 million in damages to Meta after a 6-year court battle over installing spyware on WhatsApp accounts of journalists and activists.
- Meta considers the verdict a victory for privacy and security, marking a critical deterrent against illegal spyware development and use that threatened safety and privacy.
- NSO Group was found to have installed the Pegasus spyware on 1,400 WhatsApp accounts, enabling control of camera and microphone, access to location data, emails, and text messages with just a text message.
- Despite claims of sovereign immunity and preventing serious crime, NSO Group may appeal the verdict, mentioning deployment of spyware by authorized government agencies.
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Siliconangle
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331
Image Credit: Siliconangle
Meta and NSO court battle over WhatsApp hack ends with Meta winning $167M in damages
- Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group was ordered to pay $167 million in damages to Meta after a six-year court battle over installing spyware on WhatsApp accounts.
- Meta hailed the verdict as a victory for privacy and security, marking the first win against illegal spyware development and use.
- The spyware vendor, NSO Group, had installed Pegasus spyware on 1,400 WhatsApp accounts, allowing access to cameras, microphones, and messages with just a text message.
- NSO Group may appeal the verdict, claiming the software aimed to prevent serious crimes and terrorism, and was deployed responsibly by authorized government agencies.
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The Verge
2w
253
Image Credit: The Verge
Meta awarded $167.25 million over Pegasus spyware attack
- NSO Group, the Israeli spyware-maker behind Pegasus, has been ordered to pay Meta $167.25 million for hacking 1,400 users through WhatsApp by a federal jury in California.
- Meta sued NSO Group in 2019 after vulnerabilities allowing Pegasus installation through phone calls were identified by Citizen Lab, giving access to cameras, microphones, emails, and locations.
- Meta was awarded $444,719 in compensatory damages, with the verdict seen as a win for privacy and security against illegal spyware use.
- Going forward, Meta will seek a court order to prevent NSO Group from targeting WhatsApp, while also donating to digital rights organizations to combat spyware threats.
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Guardian
2w
350
Image Credit: Guardian
Court clash between Meta and NSO ends in $168m defeat for spyware firm
- Meta Platforms won a $168m verdict against NSO, ending a six-year legal battle over spyware exploitation.
- The jury ruled that NSO owed Meta $444,719 in compensatory damages and $167.3m in punitive damages.
- NSO plans to examine the verdict and pursue legal remedies, as it has been accused of abusive surveillance globally.
- The case shed light on NSO's secretive operations, including its research team and clients like Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico.
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TechCrunch
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131
Image Credit: TechCrunch
NSO Group must pay more than $167 million in damages to WhatsApp for spyware campaign
- NSO Group has been ordered to pay more than $167 million in damages to WhatsApp for a 2019 hacking campaign targeting over 1,400 users.
- WhatsApp sought over $400,000 in compensatory damages for the time spent on remediating the attacks and investigating the security breach.
- NSO Group's spokesperson indicated the possibility of appealing the ruling, stating they will examine the details for further legal action.
- The legal battle, which began over five years ago, exposed details like victims' locations and NSO Group's customers, culminating in the recent jury ruling.
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Massivelyop
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83
Massively OP Podcast Episode 517: We are EVE Legion
- Massively OP Podcast Episode 517 discusses EVE Online's upcoming expansion, the return of Camelot Unchained, WoW's next patch, Embers Adrift on Steam, and more.
- The episode includes updates on ESO, WoW Classic, LOTRO, and The Sims 4, along with news about EVE Online's Legion expansion, Camelot Unchained's return, WoW Patch 11.1.7, and Embers Adrift's Steam release.
- Listeners can enjoy an action-packed hour of news, opinions, and gamer emails in this week's podcast episode.
- To listen to the Massively OP Podcast Episode 517 and get more details, you can visit the official website or other platforms like iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM, and Spotify.
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Massivelyop
3w
135
Morhaime-backed multiplayer extraction RPG Wildgate is running another public test this weekend
- The multiplayer extraction RPG Wildgate, backed by Mike Morhaime, is conducting another public test this weekend on Steam, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.
- The game is described as a crew-based first-person shooter set in space, developed by Moonshot Games, with former Blizzard devs on the team.
- The playtest will run from May 9 to May 12, allowing players to experience the game, but they may encounter bugs and connectivity issues as it is still a work-in-progress.
- Signups for the playtest are available on the official site until May 8, and those who participated in the April test are automatically included in this one.
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Insider
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161
Image Credit: Insider
Leaked docs show how Meta's AI is trained to be safe, be 'flirty,' and navigate contentious topics
- Leaked documents reveal how Scale AI contractors train Meta's AI models, with examples of allowed and rejected prompts.
- Prompts like 'flirty' were permitted as long as they were not sexually explicit, while prompts involving sensitive topics were to be handled carefully.
- The training aimed to balance making AI models fun but safe, restricting content related to hate speech, sexual abuse, conspiracies, and sensitive issues.
- The guidelines required contractors to reject prompts that could lead the AI to generate or affirm misinformation.
- Meta's projects with Scale AI included evaluating the AI's handling of contentious topics and natural language conversations.
- Some projects involved training Meta's voice-based AI models to respond in specific emotional tones or styles, permitting romantic or flirty but non-sexual prompts.
- Even in playful scenarios, strict content rules were enforced, with contractors instructed to avoid sensitive topics like politics, religion, or violence.
- It was noted that chatbots could bypass safety restrictions once deployed, leading to concerns about inappropriate interactions with users.
- Other AI companies like OpenAI have also faced challenges with chatbot personalities and ensuring appropriate responses on contentious issues.
- Maintaining ethical standards in AI training and deployment is crucial to avoid reputational and legal risks, as seen in cases like OpenAI's Scarlett Johansson chatbot controversy.
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Guardian
3w
279
Image Credit: Guardian
Mark Zuckerberg tried to convince us he was human. Sorry, ZuckBot: you’ve failed | Arwa Mahdawi
- Mark Zuckerberg has been trying to transform his image to appear more relatable and likable by changing his appearance and engaging in activities like mixed martial arts and wild boar hunting.
- Despite efforts to humanize himself, Zuckerberg still struggles to escape the perception of being a 'creepy automaton', as acknowledged by him during a podcast interview.
- Zuckerberg's recent podcast interviews have not been successful in humanizing him, with discussions around his lavish lifestyle, apocalypse shelter in Hawaii, and plans for AI chatbots to combat loneliness.
- Amid controversies and anti-trust trials, Zuckerberg's efforts to appease politicians and navigate legal challenges continue, raising questions about Meta's future and Zuckerberg's image.
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Insider
3w
214
Image Credit: Insider
Meta's layoffs were supposed to target low performers. These employees share how it felt to them.
- Former Meta employees let go for 'low performance' describe gaslighting, golden handcuffs, and toxicity.
- Some laid-off employees had positive ratings before termination, were on leave, or hadn't received a formal rating.
- CEO Mark Zuckerberg's push to 'raise the bar on performance' led to around 3,600 layoffs in February.
- Ex-employees fear being labeled 'low performers' may harm their future job prospects.
- Accounts reveal emotions behind the layoffs and concerns about professional reputation.
- Meta's spokesperson reiterated that terminations were performance-based.
- Former employees share experiences of being cut, rehired, and questionable evaluation processes.
- One ex-employee felt relieved post-layoff but worries about the 'low performer' label.
- Another described feeling surreal when invited to reapply post-layoff without acknowledgment.
- Employees express concerns about impact on future prospects and stress inflicted by toxic work environments.
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Semiengineering
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236
Image Credit: Semiengineering
Chip Industry Technical Paper Roundup: May 6
- New technical papers recently added to Semiconductor Engineering’s library:
- 1. ChipletQuake: On-die Digital Impedance Sensing for Chiplet and Interposer Verification by Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- 2. Input-Triggered Hardware Trojan Attack on Spiking Neural Networks by Sorbonne Université, CNRS, and Queen’s University Belfast
- 3. MCMComm: Hardware-Software Co-Optimization for End-to-End Communication in Multi-Chip-Modules by Georgia Tech
- 4. Investigating Self-Heating Effects in Ferroelectric FinFETs for Reliable In-Memory Computing by TU Munich, University of Stuttgart, and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
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Massivelyop
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World of Warcraft previews Patch 11.1.7: Legacy of Arathor and a return to the Arathi Highlands
- World of Warcraft is preparing for Patch 11.1.7: Legacy of Arathor, offering a variety of events to keep players engaged during the summer months.
- The upcoming content update includes a campaign in the Arathi Highlands, lorewalking quest chains, new delve affixes, the return of the greedy emissary, a Turbulent Timeways event, and UI quality-of-life improvements.
- A new combat assist feature called Combat Assistant will help players by highlighting recommended next abilities based on resources and character situations.
- In addition, the May trading post in World of Warcraft is themed around 'critter country,' offering hedgehog rides, fox costumes, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cosplay options like shell backs and ninja weapon skins.
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The Verge
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12
Image Credit: The Verge
Meta’s AI app is a nightmarish social feed
- Meta's newly launched AI app combines elements of Pinterest, Threads, and generative AI prompts for its social feed.
- Users can easily share their AI chatbot interactions with just two clicks on the Meta AI site.
- The platform showcases a mix of image generation experiments, simple queries, and AI experimentation by users.
- The social aspect of the site aims to demonstrate to AI beginners the possibilities and applications of generative AI.
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