Tech Nuggets with the Technology

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Honor ViewPad 6, ViewPad X6 With 5,100mAh Battery Launched

Honor ViewPad 6 and ViewPad X6 have been launched as Huawei sub-brand Honor's latest tablets. Both the devices come in LTE and Wi-Fi variants, which further have a variety of storage options. https://ift.tt/3evUJKU

Redmi 9C May Launch as a Rebadged Poco Phone in India

A new Poco phone may launch in India soon. A phone with the model number M2006C3MI has been spotted on Bureau of Indian Standards and TUV Rheinland websites. https://ift.tt/2OvwPo3

What's Behind the Twitter Bitcoin Hack?

Hackers broke into the Twitter accounts of world leaders, celebrities, and tech moguls on Wednesday in one of the most high-profile security breaches in recent years, highlighting a major flaw with... https://ift.tt/2Zz2sng

Moto E7 Gets Listed on Canadian Carrier Website

Moto E7 has been listed on Canadian carrier Freedom Mobile's website. Available in a single colour option, the phone will come with 2GB RAM + 32GB storage and a dual camera setup on the back. https://ift.tt/2CEUgca

Microsoft cuts jobs across geographies as it enters new fiscal year

Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it had trimmed its workforce across geographies and teams as it entered a new fiscal year from July 1. https://ift.tt/32rUzSg

Extraction, Money Heist Drove Netflix's Lockdown-Hit Quarter

Chris Hemsworth-starrer Extraction was the most watched title on Netflix this past lockdown-hit quarter (between April and June). 99 million tuned into Extraction. Money Heist season 4 brought in 65... https://ift.tt/3fDI6yy

Twitter Stepped Up Search to Fill Top Security Job Ahead of Hack

Twitter had stepped up its search for a chief information security officer in recent weeks, two people familiar with the effort told Reuters, before the breach of high-profile accounts on Wednesday... https://ift.tt/2CJWU00

eBay Said to Near $10 Billion Sale of Classified Ads Unit

eBay has called a board meeting on Friday to select a buyer for its classified ads business in a deal potentially worth up to $10 billion, sources close to the matter told Reuters. https://ift.tt/2B7IJBz

Netflix Adds More Than 10 Million New Subscribers

Netflix on Thursday elevated its content chief Ted Sarandos to co-CEO, making the 20-year veteran of the pioneering streaming video service a clear successor to co-founder Reed Hastings. https://ift.tt/2OvWltk

Federal court rules WhatsApp and Facebook’s malware exploit case against NSO Group can proceed

A U.S. federal court judge ruled on Thursday that WhatsApp and parent company Facebook’s lawsuit against Israeli mobile surveillance software company NSO Group can go forward. Phyllis Hamilton, Chief Judge of the United Stated District Court of the Northern District of California, denied most of the arguments NSO Group made when it filed a motion to dismiss the suit in April (a copy of her decision is embedded below).

Last October, WhatsApp and Facebook filed a complaint alleging that NSO Group exploited an audio-calling vulnerability in the messaging app to send malware to about 1,400 mobile devices, including ones that belonged to journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents, diplomats and senior government officials.

WhatsApp and Facebook also claim that NSO Group developed a data program called Pegasus that extracted data, including messages, browser history and contacts, from phones, and sold support services to customers including the Kingdom of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Mexico.

WhatsApp blames — and sues — mobile spyware maker NSO Group over its zero-day calling exploit

In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, one of NSO Group’s arguments was that its business dealings with foreign governments, which it said use its technology to fight terrorism and other serious crimes, granted it immunity from lawsuits filed in U.S. courts under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act (FSIA). In her decision, Judge Hamilton wrote that NSO Group failed to qualify because it was not incorporated or formed in the U.S.

In an email to TechCrunch, a WhatsApp spokesperson said “We are pleased with the Court’s decision permitting us to move ahead with our claims that NSO engaged in unlawful conduct. The decision also confirms that WhatsApp will be able to obtain relevant documents and other information about NSO’s practices.”

TechCrunch has also contacted NSO Group for comment. When the lawsuit was filed in October, the company stated, “In the strong possible terms, we dispute today’s allegations and will vigorously fight them.”

WhatsApp vs NSO Group, cour… by TechCrunch on Scribd

NPCI raises scope and limit of debit transactions on NACH platform

The NPCI has enhanced the limit for giving e-mandate on debit card and net banking transactions. https://ift.tt/2B4VI70 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Public records show the US Internal Revenue Service signed a deal, on July 15th, with Coinbase to use its blockchain tracing software for one year, for $124,950 (Michael McSweeney/The Block)

Michael McSweeney / The Block:
Public records show the US Internal Revenue Service signed a deal, on July 15th, with Coinbase to use its blockchain tracing software for one year, for $124,950 — Public records show that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service has inked a deal with crypto exchange company Coinbase to use its Coinbase Analytics blockchain tracing software.