Burger King sued for cooking vegan burgers in the same grill as meat
The vegans said that the deceitful business practices has contaminated the Impossible Whopper.
Articles by Al Restar
‘Tarmac’ malware hits Mac computers through malvertising
Tarmac malware is now targeting Mac users in the U.S., Japan, and Italy.
Data breach is linked to more heart attack deaths in hospitals
Data breaches add 36 deaths every 10,000 heart attack cases every year, researchers said.
FTC sues InfoTrax Systems for data breach affecting 1M users
More than 1 million people were affected by the data breach, the FTC said.
Facebook finally fixes bug that opens camera while using app
The update can now be downloaded from the App Store.
Bots will take down voting systems ahead of 2020 elections, expert predicts
The influence of bots to the 2020 election will not be limited to trying to change public opinions, bots could also take down the voting system.
Buran ransomware is being sold for a discount
The rate is also negotiable to those who can guarantee an impressive level of infection using the Busan ransomware.
Weekly Cybersecurity Round-Up
Last week, cybersecurity researchers discovered a new threat called DarkUniverse and a mysterious hacker exposed IronMarch website contents.
FTC settlement with spyware company Retina-X is an oxymoron
The FTC announced a settlement with spyware maker Retina-X which stops the company from distributing their apps until they can ensure that they are used for “legitimate purposes.”
Potential Facebook vulnerability on iOS 13.2.2 opens camera without authorization
Potential Facebook vulnerability on devices running on iOS 13.2.2 has been reported by several users after they saw that the app opens their rear camera without authorization.
IronMarch exposed: mysterious hacker leaks neo-nazi forum database
The IronMarch forum has become the birthplace of two of the most notorius neo-nazi and extremist organizations, Atomwaffen Division and SIEGE Culture.
California DMV Exposed More Than 3,200 Drivers’ Social Security Info
The recent California DMV data breach poses a serious problems for illegal immigrant driver’s license holders.
Researchers discover DarkUniverse hacking group
The discovery follows a tip on the NSA’s biggest breach in history.
Facebook is testing facial recognition-based identity verification
It asks users to take a video selfie while looking at different directions.
Asus router app data breach exposes info of Alexa users
Alexa users around the world have had their data compromised after an Asus wi-fi controller app has leaked information in an unprotected Elasticsearch database, a…
Chinese Hackers APT41 uses MessageTap Malware to read people’s SMS
They target SMS which contains keywords pertaining to names of political leaders, military and intelligence organizations, and political movements that are at odds with the Chinese government.
Facebook new logo is an attempt to fix its dying reputation
The new logo aims to distinguish the Facebook company from the Facebook app
Bitcoin trading platform, BitMex, reset all user passwords after data breach
Bitcoin exchanges and trading platforms are no strangers to data breaches. But it’s a completely different story if one of them inadvertently disclosed user emails to other users, just like BitMex.
Twitter bans political ads, CEO Jack Dorsey announced
Dorsey said that political message reach should not be bought.
xHelper Android malware re-installs itself after factory reset
The malware infects an average of 131 Android devices every day.
Facebook to pay ICO fine without admitting liability on Cambridge Analytica scandal
Facebook argues that the ICO admitted that there is no evidence that Cambridge Analytica used user data.
‘Pinyapel’ a water-resistant paper made of scrapped pineapple leaves is the ‘future of packaging’
Pinyapel received one of the D&AD Future Impact Awards for Environment and Sustainability 2019.
‘I’ll Be Back’ Attack: the biggest cyber-attack in Georgia
Georgia experienced the worst cyber-attack in history, crippling and defacing at least 15,000 websites.
Facebook takes web hosts to court for hosting phishing sites
Facebook sues web hosts used by phishing sites for trademark infringement and cybersquatting.
PH Ombudsman partners with UP, CHED to create anti-corruption TV shows for the youth
They will produce a T.V. series or “teleseryes” about ethics and accountability.
Confirmed: Pokemon GO character Blanche is non-binary
Professor referred to Blanche as a “they.”
7 Million Adobe Creative Cloud Users Could Be Exposed To Phishing Attacks
Cyberscurity researchers found an unprotected database containing Adobe Creative Cloud users’ emails.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Is Dead, Will ISIS Vanish?
ISIS fighters in earlier interviews said that they are loyal to the Islamic state and not to their leader.
Katy Perry: ’35 and never more alive’
Happy Birthday, Katy Perry!
SnapTube discovered faking ad clicks and defrauding 40M users
The malvertising campaign triggers the purchase of premium services without the users’ knowledge.
India calls for bidders to build a centralized facial recognition infrastructure
The government of India has called for huge tech companies to bid for their most ambitious facial recognition technology project.
Zappos data breach settlement is insulting
Victims are only getting 10% discount in their purchase from the store while lawyers are getting $1.6M in legal costs.
Stolen credit card data seller BriansClub, hacked
It’s poetic justice but it also means that 26 million credit card data has been stolen twice.
Russian ‘Cozy Bear’ hackers are back in the wild
They are now called “Dukes.”
Nine zero-day vulnerabilities found in Android VoIP
The researchers said that their discovery was “serious,” but they expect Google to patch the zero-days soon.
Bitcoin trail led to nabbing of giant child porn site
Authorities from U.S. and Korea nabbed Jong Woo Son and the users of his child porn site.
Hackers are selling Jackpotting Malware that ejects cash from ATMs for $1000 only
The same attacks were also seen in the U.S., Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Two cashback sites leaked data of 3.5 million users
The unprotected database is hosted in an Elastic server and was available to the public since August 9, 2019.
Omegle intensifies messages against China
Omegle inches its fight against the alleged human rights abuses committed by the Chinese government with more provocative statements posted on its website. The popular…
The day Jennifer Aniston broke the Internet with a selfie
People of the Internet have welcomed the newest celebrity on Instagram, and she is Jennifer Aniston. The F.R.I.E.N.D.S. star broke the Internet on Tuesday after…
Facebook allowed Trump to run an Ad with a racial slur
Amidst the growing polarization on the issue of political advertisements on social media platforms, Facebook allowed President Donald Trump’s campaign team to purchase an ad…
Warren ran Ad with fake news to tell Facebook to stop allowing politicians to post misinformation
2020 Presidential hopeful, Elizabeth Warren, touts Facebook by running an ad that contains fake news in order to prove a point against the tech giant…
Google bans lending apps with interest rates higher than 36%
The Google Play Store bans lending apps to campaign against payday lenders with exploitative interest rates. The new financial policy in the Play Store was…
PM Abiy Ahmed Ali wins Nobel Peace Prize 2019
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali wins this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for his instrumental work in ending the decades-old cold war between Ethiopia and…
‘El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie’ is the somber ending that we deserve
Around six years ago, Mr. Walter White, a.k.a Heisenberg, walked to his very bloody and heartbreaking death in the critically acclaimed T.V. series, Breaking Bad….
Omegle throws jabs at China: ‘Xi = Pooh!’
Omegle, a popular online chat room website, has made a political statement against China amid the on-going political unrest that is currently happening in the…
Police Robot calls manufacturer instead of police officers
The Huntingdon Park police near Los Angeles has rolled out several robot police in public spaces around the city. However, reports and testimonies reveal that…
Nobel Literature Prize 2018 and 2019 announced
After skipping a year following a scandal, the Nobel Committee has awarded the 2018 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature in conjunction with the…
Twitter admits using 2FA phone numbers and emails to serve targeted ads
The micro-blogging site, Twitter, admitted that it has allowed advertisers to use the personal information uploaded by users for their two-factor authentication (2FA) such as…
Adobe now says they will refund canceled user accounts in Venezuela
Popular software company, Adobe, changed tune after earlier reports revealed that they won’t be able to provide a refund to affected Venezuelan customers who have…
California to allow individuals to buy HIV prevention pills without prescription
California will become the first state in the United States to allow individuals to purchase the HIV prevention drugs, PrEP and PEP, without the prescription…
Lithium-ion battery pioneers win Nobel Chemistry Prize 2019
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm proclaimed three scientists – John B Goodenough of the University of Texas at Austin, M Stanley Whittingham of…
Phishing campaigns grew 400% in first half of 2019
Phishing campaigns have grown more than 400% from January to June in 2019, and attackers are becoming more sophisticated in their tactics by using a…
WhatsApp patched a bug that could be exploited using GIFs
The facebook-owned messaging app, WhatsApp, patched up an exploitable vulnerability that could allow an attacker to run a Remote Code Execution (RCE) by sending a…
The U.S. listed 8 Chinese tech firms on ‘entity list’ for human rights violations of Muslim minorities
The U.S. Commerce Department announced the addition of eight Chinese tech firms on its Entity List due to proven records of human rights violations towards…
Research on how cells use oxygen wins ‘2019 Nobel Medicine Prize’
Three brilliant scientists will be awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine this year for their groundbreaking work in trying to understand how cells…
Paypal enters Chinese fintech, acquires GoPay
Online payment and money transfer platform, Paypal, becomes the first foreign financial payment platform to process payments made in China after the company has acquired…
Senate passes law to oblige DHS to respond to ransomware attacks
Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate has passed new law that would compel the government to issue bigger support to organizations that have fallen victims to…
Data breaches involving hospitals could lead to identity theft, financial fraud, and misuse of medical info
A new research study has revealed the extent of damage when hospitals and other medical institutions suffer a data breach. The researchers said that patients…
Forever 21 to close down stores in US, Europe, and Asia
After heavily rumored to be soon filing for bankruptcy, fashion retailer, Forever 21, confirmed that the company has already “voluntarily” filed a Chapter 11 Protection…
Medtech app, Amboss, scores €30M in Series B funding
German medical resource app, Amboss, has scored a massive €30 million in Series B funding. The startup which started as a supplement medical material dedicated…
US, UK agrees to compel social media platforms allow police to read messages
A new agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom will compel social media companies based in the U.S. to cooperate with the British…
Facebook dilemma: balancing campaign vs disinformation and securing users’ privacy
Scholars and researchers are accusing Facebook of not staying true to its promise that they will publicly release data pertaining to the disinformation campaigns that…
Apple Warning: have your iPhone display replaced by authorized technicians
Apple’s latest launch of iPhone 11 and iOS 13 is nothing but a messy one. The company has already rolled out two new updates for…
Hacker accessed data of 4.9M DoorDash customers and partners
Popular food delivery start-up, DoorDash, is once again in hot water after a hacker has gained access to its database and compromised the data of…
Tesla, Elon Musk broke labor laws, judge ruled
A U.S. labor law judge has ruled against Tesla and its Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, for violating and interfering in the rights of their…
Illegal vape carts contain cyanide, study says
With at least 12 confirmed deaths and thousands of recorded cases of vape-related lung diseases, an independent study has found out that most of the…
Amazon will still listen to your Alexa recordings
Amidst the backlash that tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Apple have received after they are caught storing the recordings made by their respective personal…
Apple rolls out iOS 13.1.1 – the second update they launched this week
Within the first week of the launch of the new generation of its operating system, Apple once again released an update to the earlier released…
Facebook tests hiding the like count to improve users’ mental health
Australians will no longer see how many people reacted and liked their Facebook friends’ posts as the social media giant is debuting a test to…
Turkish dating app, Heyyo, exposed sexual orientation and dating behavior of 70k users
A team of cybersecurity experts has discovered an unprotected online database that exposes not only personally identifiable information of more than 70,000 individuals but also…
US to install ‘virtual wall’ to stop drug-carrying drones from entering the borders
The U.S. government partnered with Citadel Defense, a counter-drone technology company, to build a “virtual wall” that prevents drones carrying drugs, contrabands, and other illegal…
iOS 13 still has bugs even after they fixed some in iOS 13.1
A week after Apple has released its much-awaited iOS 13 updates for its devices, the company issued yet another warning that there is a bug…
Facebook will allow politicians to post fake news because they are ‘newsworthy’
Amidst Facebook renewed commitment to fighting misinformation and the proliferation of Facebook on its platform, the San-Francisco social media giant announced that they would start…
It’s final: Mac Pro will be manufactured in Texas
After a series of conflicting reports regarding where the new Mac Pro will be manufactured, Apple finally confirmed that they have decided to manufacture the…
Facebook acquires CTRL Labs, a startup building mind control software
CTRL Labs, the technology start-up that is on its way to building a groundbreaking software that allows people to control a virtual avatar only by…
Microsoft renews vow to fight climate crisis, plans to make carbon-neutral Xbox
Following the growing pressure from customers and their employees, Microsoft joins other tech companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google, in renewing its commitment towards fighting…
China to increase government presence in private corporations
China move to increase government presence in the private sector, including huge corporations like Alibaba. Specifically, the government of China’s tech city, Hangzhou, is sending…
Chinese yuan will not back Facebook Libra
San Francisco tech giant, Facebook, revealed that its cryptocurrency called Libra would be backed by a basket of currencies around the world with the U.S….
Users now need to opt-in before Google can save Google Assistant recordings
After coming under fire for admitting that human reviewers are listening to “snippets” of recordings from Google Assistant, the San Francisco tech giant stopped the…
Deepfake videos will be “perfectly real” in six months
In less than a year, developers may be able to develop a technology that can make deepfake videos render more “perfectly” and with stronger believability…
Nextiva welcomes new CFO and CPO
Nextiva, a leading business communications company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, welcomed two new executives in September, showcasing the fast-growing company’s competitive market position in an…
Wi-Fi 6 promises better connectivity even in huge venues
Wi-Fi 6 has finally been launched, and it has some promises to fulfill. The Wi-Fi Alliance, a group of tech companies that provide technology for…
Data breach exposed data of 16M Ecuador citizens including Julian Assange
An Eslasticsearch database has been discovered and the data breach leaked sensitive and personally identifiable information from the majority of the population in Ecuador, a…
Google to prioritize original content and page reputation
Google, the world’s most popular search engine, renews its bid on prioritizing original content and investigative journalistic reporting by updating the guidelines in which their…
Lyft sued over sexual assault by drivers
A class-action suit has been filed against the popular ride-hailing platform, Lyft, over its alleged failure to protect women passengers from the predatory behavior of…
Scientists call out Google for showing contents that deny climate change in Discover
Several members of the scientific community are calling for Google to change its algorithms that are currently showing off contents that deny climate change and…
Facebook Dating and privacy: why users call it ‘creepy’
Today, Facebook has officially launched Facebook Dating in the U.S. after a series of tests in other territories; however, the supposedly cute and romantic intention…
Huawei accuses Trump admin of cyberattacks to sabotage them
Huawei accuses the Trump administration of carrying out cyberattacks against its intranet and internet information servers and exhausting judicial and administrative powers to derail and…
Here’s why the FTC slapped Youtube with $170M fine and what it means to your child’s privacy
The Federal Trade Commission wants Google, which owns the popular video streaming platform, Youtube, to change their policy on how they handle the information of…
Advocates want PayPal to take down accounts of hate groups linked to Ku Klux Klan
Rights and anti-bigotry groups in social media have been reporting accounts associated with white supremacists and hate groups, saying that these individuals and organizations are…
Android 10 is here! Here’s what they improved in terms of privacy
After so much anticipation, Google has finally launched Android 10, the newest version of the operating system that is used by most smartphones around the…
CamScanner to take AdHub to court for inserting malware in the app
CamScanner, a popular application that allows users to scan images of documents and save them as PDF files, said in a statement that they will…
Apple patches vulnerability that led to a public jailbreak code
Apple finally patched a vulnerability that leads to the development of a publicly available jailbreak code with a new update, Monday. The company has previously…
Philippines is the biggest cyber attack originator, report says
A recent report on online fraud and abuse revealed that more than half of the login attempts on social media are made by scammers. The…
US and France close to a compromise deal over digital tax, Trump said
Amid the escalating tension between the U.S. and France over the latter’s proposal to levy a digital tax that would affect tech companies in the…
Academics found ‘clickjacking’ scripts in 600+ popular sites
A global team of tech researchers has found clickjacking scripts in at least 613 of the world’s most popular websites, which are exploited by hackers…
Hackers exploit WordPress plug-in vulnerability
Another day, another hacking activity has been flagged by a group of security researchers. This time, they were able to detect a hacking campaign that…
Trump’s solution to hurricanes? Nuclear bombs.
There is no denying that hurricanes have been one of the biggest problems in the United States, being geographically located in a region where hurricanes…
Grad students replicated ‘risky’ OpenAI software
A duo of grad students has recreate an artificial intelligence code that OpenAI refused to release to the public because it could potentially be used…