The U.S. government has sanctioned two key members of LockBit, the Russian-speaking hacking and extortion gang accused of launching ransomware attacks against victims across the U.S. and internationally.
The U.S. sanctions announced Tuesday are the latest round of actions targeting the hackers behind LockBit and other prolific ransomware gangs.
In 2022, Russian-Canadian dual national Mikhail Vasiliev was arrested on allegations of launching multiple LockBit ransomware attacks.
A third suspect, Russian national Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, was accused of involvement in several ransomware operations, including LockBit.
Security researchers say that ransomware victims who pay a ransom are more likely to experience subsequent ransomware attacks.
In a role reversal, Xalts, a Singapore fintech startup founded 18 months ago, has acquired Contour Network, a digital trade platform set up by eight major banks including HSBC, Standard Chartered and BNP.
Backed by Accel and Citi Ventures, Xalts enables financial institutions to build and manage blockchain-based apps.
The startup plans to turn Contour into a rail connecting banks, corporations and other institutions, and integrate it with Xalts’ platform.
Kaur says this will enable Xalts’ clients to not only build apps, but also connect with each other in a secure and compliant way.
It will focus first on enabling banks and logistics companies to offer embedded trade and supply chain apps on a single platform to their customers.
It’s very gratifying to help prepare the next generation of AI leaders to address multidisciplinary AI challenges.
I recently called for a global AI learning campaign in a piece I published with the OECD.
To reduce potential liability and other risks, AI users should establish proactive AI governance and compliance programs to manage their AI deployments.
Furthermore, in our increasingly regulated and litigious AI world, responsible AI practices should reduce litigation risks and potential reputational harms caused by poorly designed AI.
Additionally, even if not addressed in the investment agreements, investors can introduce portfolio companies to potential responsible AI hires or consultants and encourage and support their engagement in the ever-expanding responsible AI ecosystem.
The U.S. firm specializes in building structures out of large concrete masonry blocks.
Amsterdam-based Monumental, meanwhile, specializes in the more familiar red clay variety.
Monumental has already been doing limited pilots in its native Netherlands, including the 15-meter exterior of an office building.
“At Monumental, we’re working to help the industry meet these challenges,” says co-founder and CEO Salar al Khafaji.
Funding will go toward hiring, scaling manufacturing and diversifying the manner of bricks/blocks its robots are capable of handling.
E-commerce company eBay said today that it plans to let go of 1,000 employees or around 9% of its workforce due to the ongoing economic conditions.
The company said in a blog post that it also plans to cut contract roles in the coming months.
The company’s CEO Jamie Iannone admitted that the company hired fast, but it didn’t grow enough to justify the headcount.
In Q3 2023, eBay registered $2.5 billion in revenue and $1.3 billion in profits.
The company also earned $2.2 billion by selling its equity in online ad business Adevinta to Permira and Blackstone last year.
Since launching its self-repair program in August 2022, Samsung has been aggressively adding new devices to the mix.
Another upgrade this week brings the current offering up to 50 products (when you factor in variants like the Plus and Ultra), including smartphones, tablets, TVs, laptops, monitors, soundbars and even a projector.
There are 14 new devices in all, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series, the Galaxy Book 2 series and the aforementioned projector, Freestyle 2.
The news also finds Samsung adding a number of different parts options, including speakers, the SIM tray, side key and volume buttons on Galaxy phones and tablets.
Samsung’s approach is generally more in line with Google’s in terms of access to tools and parts.
Google’s Chrome web browser is getting an infusion of AI technology in the latest release.
In addition to the writing assistant, AI can also be used to help organize tab groups and personalize your browser.
Chrome’s Tab Groups feature allows users who keep many tabs open to manage them by organizing them into groups.
With the new Tab Organizer, Chrome will automatically suggest and create groups based on the tabs you already have open.
To access these features, you’ll sign into Chrome, select “Settings” from the three-dot menu, and then navigate to the “Experimental AI” page.
The Oppo-owned phone maker just debuted its latest flagship, the OnePlus 12.
Zoom goes up to 120x, but you’re going to start introducing noise into the photo after around 6x.
Meanwhile a new “Master Mode” brings additional options to OnePlus’ Pro Mode feature, including adjustments to things like contrast, saturation, sharpness and tint.
Flagship specs at flagship prices.
If that’s a bit too step, the new OnePlus 12R starts at $500 – less than half the price.
Torq, a self-described “hyperautomation” cybersecurity startup, today announced that it raised $42 million in an extension to its Series B funding round from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, GGV Capital, Insight Partners, Greenfield Partners and Evolution Equity Partners.
“Torq’s approach to a hyperautomation platform works across multiple pillars of the organizational cybersecurity platform, making the organization more resilient.”Smadari co-founded Portland, Oregon-based Torq alongside Ofer Smadari, Leonid Belkind and Eldad Livni in 2020.
To that end, Torq lets IT teams create and deploy security workflows designed to integrate with existing cybersecurity infrastructure.
Smadari asserts, however, that Torq gives customers the ability to choose which parts of their data are accessible to the Torq platform and where that data’s stored — e.g.
According to Smadari, Torq, which makes money by charging an annual subscription, has grown revenue 300% in 2023 on 500% client base growth.
After working together at Xerox Corp.’s corporate venture capital firm Xerox Ventures, Chris Fisher, Tim Chiang and Dean Mai form Myriad Venture Partners.
They secured $100 million in capital commitments for their first fund, which targets $200 million in total, Fisher told TechCrunch.
Fisher is the former senior vice president and chief strategy officer of Xerox and former founder and managing partner of Xerox Ventures, a firm started in 2021.
This is something he is already seeing happening at companies through R&D, expansion and spending across AI software, including ChatGPT.
“With Xerox Ventures as an internal firm, the ability to scale wasn’t there.
