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Latest news and stories from BleepingComputer.com From a bleeping computer to a working computer.
Penn hacker claims to have stolen 1.2 million donor records in data breach
A hacker has taken responsibility for last week's University of Pennsylvania "We got hacked" email incident, saying it was a far more extensive breach that exposed data on 1.2 million donors and internal documents. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/university-of-pennsylvania-hacker-claims-1.2-million-donor-data-breach/
OpenAI is going Meta route, as it considers memory-based ads on ChatGPT
OpenAI is planning to introduce ads on ChatGPT, as it continues to struggle with revenue from paid users. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-is-going-meta-route-as-it-considers-memory-based-ads-on-chatgpt/
Windows 11 Build 26220.7051 released with three features for Insiders
Windows 11 Build 26220.7051 is now rolling out to testers in the Windows Insider Program, and there are at least three new features, including Ask Copilot in the taskbar. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-11-build-262207051-released-with-three-features-for-insiders/
Windows 11 tests shared Bluetooth audio support, but only for AI PCs
If you have two headphones, speakers, earbuds, or any other Bluetooth hardware, you can now use both simultaneously on a Copilot+ PC. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-11-tests-shared-bluetooth-audio-support-but-only-for-ai-pcs/
Microsoft Edge gets scareware sensor for faster scam detection
Microsoft is introducing a new scareware sensor for the Microsoft Edge web browser, which helps detect scam pages more quickly and ensures that Defender SmartScreen blocks them faster. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-edge-gets-scareware-sensor-for-faster-scam-detection/
Why password controls still matter in cybersecurity
Passwords still matter — and weak policies leave the door wide open. Specops Software explains how longer passphrases, smarter banned-password lists, and adaptive rotation strategies can strengthen security without frustrating users. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/why-password-controls-still-matter-in-cybersecurity/
CISA: High-severity Linux flaw now exploited by ransomware gangs
CISA confirmed on Thursday that a high-severity privilege escalation flaw in the Linux kernel is now being exploited in ransomware attacks. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-linux-privilege-escalation-flaw-now-exploited-in-ransomware-attacks/
Windows zero-day actively exploited to spy on European diplomats
A China-linked hacking group is exploiting a Windows zero-day in attacks targeting European diplomats in Hungary, Belgium, and other European nations. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chinese-hackers-exploit-windows-zero-day-to-spy-on-european-diplomats/
OpenAI confirms GPT-5 is now better at handling mental and emotional distress
OpenAI confirmed that it shipped an update on October 5, which allows GPT-5 to better handle sensitive conversations, especially when a user is experiencing emotional or mental distress. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/artificial-intelligence/openai-confirms-gpt-5-is-now-better-at-handling-mental-and-emotional-distress/
CISA orders feds to patch VMware Tools flaw exploited by Chinese hackers
CISA has ordered federal agencies to patch a high-severity vulnerability in Broadcom's VMware Aria Operations and VMware Tools software, exploited by Chinese hackers since October 2024. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-feds-to-patch-vmware-tools-flaw-exploited-since-october-2024/
BPO giant Conduent confirms data breach impacts 10.5 million people
American business services giant Conduent has confirmed that a 2024 data breach has impacted over 10.5 million people, according to notifications filed with the US Attorney General's offices. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/bpo-giant-conduent-confirms-data-breach-impacts-105-million-people/
Ex-L3Harris exec guilty of selling cyber exploits to Russian broker
Peter Williams, a former general manager at U.S. defense contractor L3Harris Trenchant, has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to stealing and selling confidential cybersecurity information to a Russian vulnerability exploit broker. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ex-l3harris-exec-guilty-of-selling-cyber-exploits-to-russian-broker/
Rethinking identity security in the age of autonomous AI agents
AI agents now make decisions and access systems on their own, creating identity blind spots traditional tools can't see. Learn how Token Security brings identity-first security to agentic AI — making every agent verified, owned, and accountable. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/rethinking-identity-security-in-the-age-of-autonomous-ai-agents/
Microsoft promises more Copilot features in Microsoft 365 companion apps
Microsoft 365 companion apps will be getting more Copilot features in the coming weeks. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-promises-more-copilot-features-in-microsoft-365-companion-apps/
WordPress security plugin exposes private data to site subscribers
The Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall plugin for WordPress, installed on over 100,000 sites, has a vulnerability that allows subscribers to read any file on the server, potentially exposing private information. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wordpress-security-plugin-exposes-private-data-to-site-subscribers/
Open VSX rotates access tokens used in supply-chain malware attack
The Open VSX registry rotated access tokens after they were accidentally leaked by developers in public repositories and allowed threat actors to publish malicious extensions in an attempted supply-chain attack. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/open-vsx-rotates-tokens-used-in-supply-chain-malware-attack/
Google confirms AI search will have ads, but they may look different
Google Ads are not going anywhere. Eventually, AI Search results on Google and likely other properties will have ads. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-confirms-ai-search-will-have-ads-but-they-may-look-different/
China-linked hackers exploited Lanscope flaw as a zero-day in attacks
China-linked cyber-espionage actors tracked as 'Bronze Butler' (Tick) exploited a Motex Lanscope Endpoint Manager vulnerability as a zero-day to deploy an updated version of their Gokcpdoor malware. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/china-linked-hackers-exploited-lanscope-flaw-as-a-zero-day-in-attacks/
‘We got hacked’ emails threaten to leak University of Pennsylvania data
The University of Pennsylvania suffered a cybersecurity incident on Friday, where students and alumni received a series of offensive emails from various University email addresses, claiming that data was stolen in a breach. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/offensive-we-got-hacked-emails-sent-in-penn-security-incident/
Australia warns of BadCandy infections on unpatched Cisco devices
The Australian government is warning about ongoing cyberattacks against unpatched Cisco IOS XE devices in the country to infect routers with the BadCandy webshell. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/australia-warns-of-badcandy-infections-on-unpatched-cisco-devices/
Alleged Meduza Stealer malware admins arrested after hacking Russian org
The Russian authorities have arrested three individuals in Moscow who are believed to be the creators and operators of the Meduza Stealer information-stealing malware. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/alleged-meduza-stealer-malware-admins-arrested-after-hacking-russian-org/
Google says Search AI Mode will know everything about you
Google wants 'AI mode' on Search to be as personal as possible, and it'll soon tap into services like Gmail or Drive to know more about you. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-says-search-ai-mode-will-know-everything-about-you/
Ukrainian extradited from Ireland on Conti ransomware charges
A Ukrainian national believed to be a member of the Conti ransomware operation has been extradited to the United States and faces charges that could get him 25 years in prison. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ukrainian-extradited-from-ireland-on-conti-ransomware-charges/
Massive surge of NFC relay malware steals Europeans’ credit cards
Near-Field Communication (NFC) relay malware has grown massively popular in Eastern Europe, with researchers discovering over 760 malicious Android apps using the technique to steal people's payment card information in the past few months. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/massive-surge-of-nfc-relay-malware-steals-europeans-credit-cards/
Major telecom services provider Ribbon breached by state hackers
Ribbon Communications, a provider of telecommunications services to the U.S. government and telecom companies worldwide, revealed that nation-state hackers breached its IT network as early as December 2024. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/major-telecom-services-provider-ribbon-breached-by-state-hackers/
WhatsApp adds passwordless chat backups on iOS and Android
WhatsApp is rolling out passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android devices, enabling users to encrypt their chat history using their fingerprint, face, or a screen lock code. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/whatsapp-adds-passwordless-chat-backups-on-ios-and-android/
CISA and NSA share tips on securing Microsoft Exchange servers
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) have released guidance to help IT administrators harden Microsoft Exchange servers on their networks against attacks. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-and-nsa-share-tips-on-securing-microsoft-exchange-servers/
LinkedIn phishing targets finance execs with fake board invites
Hackers are abusing LinkedIn to target finance executives with direct-message phishing attacks that impersonate executive board invitations, aiming to steal their Microsoft credentials. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/linkedin-phishing-targets-finance-execs-with-fake-board-invites/
Malicious NPM packages fetch infostealer for Windows, Linux, macOS
Ten malicious packages mimicking legitimate software projects in the npm registry download an information-stealing component that collects sensitive data from Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/malicious-npm-packages-fetch-infostealer-for-windows-linux-macos/
Canada says hacktivists breached water and energy facilities
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security warned today that hacktivists have breached critical infrastructure systems multiple times across the country, allowing them to modify industrial controls that could have led to dangerous conditions. [...]
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/canada-says-hacktivists-breached-water-and-energy-facilities/