government
Google will now show labels in Play Store to denote official government apps
Today, after months of testing, Google is rolling out labels in the Play Store to denote official state and federal government apps in more than 14 countries. This new label…
Bill to strengthen national tipline for missing and exploited children heads to Biden’s desk
A bipartisan bill designed to protect children from online sexual exploitation is headed to President Biden’s desk. Proposed by Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-SC), the bill aims…
Hoping to stall a ban, TikTok says it generated $14.7B for US small businesses last year
In addition, it says that over 7 million U.S. businesses rely on TikTok and that 224,000 jobs were supported by small business activity on the platform in 2023.
The government’s reward for information now extends to ALPHV’s affiliates, which claimed responsibility for a massive weekslong healthcare cyberattack.
Tech giants sign voluntary pledge to fight election-related deepfakes
Tech companies are pledging to fight election-related deepfakes as policymakers amp up pressure. Today at the Munich Security Conference, vendors including Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon, Adobe and IBM signed an…
Spurred by the growing threat of deepfakes, the FTC is seeking to modify an existing rule that bans the impersonation of businesses or government agencies to cover all consumers. The…
Lawmakers revise Kids Online Safety Act to address LGBTQ advocates’ concerns
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is getting closer to becoming a law, which would make social platforms significantly more responsible for protecting children who use their products. With 62…
Some IRS employees still access TikTok despite ban on government devices
The TikTok ban on U.S. government devices is proving hard to enforce. A month after the IRS was found to be in non-compliance with the federally mandated ban on the…
Pornhub owner pays US government $1.8M to resolve sex trafficking probe
Pornhub’s parent company Aylo Holdings will pay $1.8 million to the U.S. government to resolve a charge of profiting off of sex trafficking. The company, formerly known as MindGeek, will…
Black representatives in Congress voice concerns over impact of tech layoffs on minority workers
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus have written to the US Acting Secretary of Labor expressing concerns over the disproportionate impact tech layoffs could have on Black workers,
Featured Article
Lawmakers say Costco’s decision to continue selling banned China surveillance tech is ‘puzzling’
Two U.S. lawmakers have asked retail giant Costco why it continues to sell surveillance equipment made by Lorex, despite warnings of cybersecurity risks and links to human rights abuses. The bipartisan letter dated October 31, sent by Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ, 4th) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), said Costco’s continued…
Featured Article
Why ransomware victims can’t stop paying off hackers
In September, MGM Resorts was hit by a devastating ransomware attack, downing operations at some of its most iconic casino hotels in Las Vegas, including the Bellagio, Mandalay Bay and the Cosmopolitan. Guests were forced to wait hours to check in after the cyberattack crippled electronic payments, slot machines, ATMs…
Authorities confirm RagnarLocker ransomware taken down during international sting
An international group of law enforcement agencies have disrupted the notorious RagnarLocker ransomware operation. TechCrunch reported Thursday that an international law enforcement operation involving agencies from the U.S., European Union…
Indian state government fixes website bug that revealed Aadhaar numbers and fingerprints
A security researcher says a bug on an Indian state government website inadvertently revealed documents containing residents’ Aadhaar numbers, identity cards and copies of their fingerprints. The bug was fixed…
Featured Article
California passes law mandating VC firms to release investments’ diversity information
This is the United States’ first piece of legislation that aims to increase diversity within the venture capital landscape.
X to allow paid political ads, lifting Twitter’s earlier ban
X this week confirmed it’s lifting its ban on paid political ads — a move it committed to earlier this year, shortly after Elon Musk took over the social network…
Mandiant says China-backed hackers exploited Barracuda zero-day to spy on governments
Security researchers at Mandiant say China-backed hackers are likely behind the mass-exploitation of a recently discovered security flaw in Barracuda Networks’ email security gear, which prompted a warning to customers…
Decrypt the complete Security Stage agenda at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023
A few months ago we introduced you to the brand new Security Stage, our debut space dedicated to cybersecurity at TechCrunch Disrupt. Ahead of the big day, we’re excited to…
Featured Article
How the US dismantled a malware network used by Russian spies to steal government secrets
The U.S. government said it has disrupted a long-running Russian cyber espionage campaign that stole sensitive information from the U.S. and NATO governments, an operation that took the feds almost 20 years. The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that an FBI operation successfully dismantled the “Snake” malware network used by…
Australia banned TikTok on official devices today, joining western countries including the U.S. and the UK to ban the app.
FBI confirms it’s investigating a cyber incident on its own network
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that it’s investigating malicious cyber activity on its own network. CNN reported on Friday that hackers compromised an FBI computer system at…
Taiwan fines car renting giant iRent for customer data spill
Taiwanese authorities have fined car rental and ridesharing giant iRent after TechCrunch revealed the company was spilling customers’ data and identity documents onto the open web for months. According to…
US, UK sanction 7 alleged members of infamous Russian Trickbot hacking gang
In a first-of-its-kind coordinated action, authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have sanctioned seven individuals allegedly behind the infamous Russia-based cybercrime gang Trickbot. The action, which marks the…
Featured Article
Meet the prolific Russian espionage crew hacking spymasters and lawmakers
A notorious hacking group with alleged ties to Russian intelligence services has claimed its latest victim: British lawmaker Stewart McDonald. McDonald, a member of Parliament for his constituency in Glasgow South, told BBC News that he fears he had been the victim of a “disinformation” campaign after his personal email…
Featured Article
Ransomware is a global problem that needs a global solution
This time last year, we were optimistic. It seemed like the tide was turning on ransomware after the U.S. government scored a handful of wins against the cybercriminals carrying out these increasingly damaging attacks: the Justice Department successfully seized $2.3 million in bitcoin that Colonial Pipeline paid to the DarkSide…
Beam raises $6.4M to help citizens access safety net funds
Beam, a startup that helps citizens access government financial aid, has raised $6.4 million in Series A funding. The company, previously known as Edquity, helps deliver funds across a wide…
Ring launches pilot program to let local agencies share updates and ‘safety information’
Ring today announced that local government agencies will be able to have an official presence on the company’s Neighbors app. Beginning with the City of North Port and Pinellas County…
Aiphone door entry systems can be ‘easily’ bypassed thanks to NFC bug
The vulnerability in the door entry security system, used in government buildings and apartment complexes, cannot be fixed.
Why a Memphis VC is betting $52M on startups selling to complex orgs
Ridgeline is a new VC firm that invests in B2B companies with a specific goal in mind: helping its portfolio companies sell to complex organizations that are hard to crack,…
‘Insane’ — UK tech reacts to government moves that might hand UK startups contract to Barclays Bank
Tech Nation is trailing in second place in the race to remain the U.K.’s government-backed “startup champion” after the latter put the £12 million contract out to tender, according to…
