Science and Technology

A collaborative effort between the US government and Microsoft has dismantled a hacking group linked to Russian intelligence. The group, known as Star Blizzard to cybersecurity experts, has targeted nonprofit organizations, think tanks, journalists and former military and intelligence officials from the United States and its allies. Star Blizzard used "spear phishing" tactics, sending emails that appeared to come from a trusted source to gain access to victims' internal systems. Once inside, they could steal sensitive information and disrupt operations. Microsoft identified the group's infrastructure and alerted the US Department of Justice, which led to the seizure of more than…

OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) startup, has secured a staggering $6.6 billion in funding, nearly doubling its valuation in just nine months. This massive investment round pushes OpenAI's value to as much as $157 billion, according to sources close to the deal. Thrive Capital led the funding round, with notable investors such as Microsoft, Nvidia, SoftBank and the UAE's MGX joining the table. This significant financial support highlights the technology sector's continued enthusiasm for the development of artificial intelligence, despite concerns about its long-term viability and potential risks. OpenAI's success could be a positive sign for small AI companies.…

Verizon has been actively addressing a significant service outage that affected numerous customers across the United States on Monday. Reports of outages increased in the morning, with a peak of more than 100,000 incidents recorded by outage monitoring website Downdetector. The problems were especially pronounced in major urban areas such as Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and throughout the Midwest. The telecom giant confirmed that its engineers were working diligently to correct the service problems and had made substantial progress by the evening. The company apologized via social media for the inconvenience caused to its customers on…

As recently as Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Caroline Ellison, a former key advisor to cryptocurrency tycoon Sam Bankman-Fried, was sentenced to two years in prison. His conviction is linked to his involvement in the infamous $8 billion fraud scandal that brought down the once-thriving cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Chief Judge Lewis A. Kaplan acknowledged Ellison's evident remorse and noted his significant cooperation with federal authorities. However, he said the severity of the fraud does not allow for a lighter sentence. Ellison will begin his sentence at a minimum-security facility near Boston by November 7, marking nearly two years…

Significant leadership changes are underway at leading artificial intelligence company OpenAI as several key executives announce their departures. CTO Mira Murati, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and Vice President of Research Barret Zoph have all revealed their intentions to leave the company. These departures come as OpenAI, currently overseen by a nonprofit board, is reportedly going through a transition to a traditional for-profit structure. Ms. Murati, a leading figure at OpenAI for more than six years, stated her desire for personal exploration as the reason for her departure. Mr. McGrew and Mr. Zoph cited similar desires for new opportunities and…

Brazil’s Supreme Court recently issued a directive to Elon Musk-owned social media company X to provide valid documentation for its new legal representative within a specified time frame. The decision underscores the court’s commitment to enforcing compliance with local legal standards by international companies operating in Brazil. The court granted X a five-day window to comply with the documentation requirements, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to Brazilian law. The move is part of a broader effort by Brazilian authorities to ensure that foreign entities are properly represented and accountable under the nation’s regulatory framework. The requirement for X…

In an unprecedented display of digital campaign strategy, Vice President Kamala Harris has far surpassed former President Donald J. Trump in online ad spending. During the critical week of their recent debate, Harris’s campaign spent a staggering $12.2 million on Facebook and Instagram ads, nearly 20 times Trump’s $611,228, according to Meta data. The spending disparity is not an isolated event, but part of a broader trend that has seen Harris’ campaign gain a significant financial advantage since she declared her candidacy. This massive spending on digital platforms is aimed at amplifying her presence in key swing states and broadening…

In a significant update, the social media platform known as “X” has significantly expanded its availability across Brazil, aiming to connect more users across the country’s diverse media landscape. The development marks a pivotal moment for digital inclusivity in Brazil, reflecting the platform’s commitment to improving connectivity and engagement among users across diverse demographics. The recent software upgrade has successfully expanded the network's capacity, allowing more Brazilians to access its features, which include real-time communication, media sharing and global networking. The initiative is part of 'X's broader strategy to increase its presence in emerging markets, where Internet access is quickly…