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Microsoft server hack impacts 100 organizations globally

Microsoft server hack impacts 100 organizations globally

The Sun3 days ago
WASHINGTON/LONDON: A large-scale cyber espionage campaign targeting Microsoft SharePoint servers has compromised around 100 organizations, according to cybersecurity researchers. The attack exploits a previously unknown vulnerability, allowing hackers to infiltrate systems and potentially install backdoors for persistent access.
Microsoft issued an alert on Saturday warning of 'active attacks' on self-hosted SharePoint servers, though cloud-based instances remain unaffected. The flaw, classified as a 'zero-day' due to its prior obscurity, enables unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Netherlands-based Eye Security and the Shadowserver Foundation identified nearly 100 victims before the hacking method became widely known. 'It's unambiguous,' said Vaisha Bernard, chief hacker at Eye Security. 'Who knows what other adversaries have done since to place other backdoors.'
Most affected organizations are in the US and Germany, with government agencies among the victims. Shadowserver estimates over 9,000 servers could be vulnerable, including industrial firms, banks, and healthcare providers.
Google linked some attacks to a 'China-nexus threat actor,' though Beijing denies involvement. The FBI and UK's National Cyber Security Center are investigating, urging affected entities to apply security patches immediately.
Daniel Card of PwnDefend warned, 'Just applying the patch isn't all that is required here,' emphasizing the need for thorough security reviews. - Reuters
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Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines
Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines

The Star

time42 minutes ago

  • The Star

Peru seizes 4 tons of black market mercury bound for illegal gold mines

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Intel beats shareholder lawsuit over $32 billion stock plunge
Intel beats shareholder lawsuit over $32 billion stock plunge

The Star

time4 hours ago

  • The Star

Intel beats shareholder lawsuit over $32 billion stock plunge

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Intel has struggled to compete with rival chipmakers such as Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, Samsung Electronics and Taiwan's TSMC, and benefit from growth in artificial intelligence. The company lost $18.8 billion in 2024, its first annual loss since 1986. The case is In re Intel Corp Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 24-02683. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Nick Zieminski)

Flurry of trade deals with US offers relief for some Asian countries, while others wait for more Trump antics
Flurry of trade deals with US offers relief for some Asian countries, while others wait for more Trump antics

The Star

time5 hours ago

  • The Star

Flurry of trade deals with US offers relief for some Asian countries, while others wait for more Trump antics

BANGKOK (AP): US President Donald Trump has announced trade deals with Japan and a handful of other Asian countries that will relieve some pressure on companies and consumers from sharply higher tariffs on their exports to the United States. A deal with China is under negotiation, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying an Aug. 12 deadline might be postponed again to allow more time for talks. Steep tariffs on US imports of steel and aluminum remain, however, and many other countries, including South Korea and Thailand, have yet to clinch agreements. Overall, economists say the tariffs inevitably will dent growth in Asia and the world. Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a deal Wednesday that will impose 15% tariffs on U.S. imports from Japan, down from Trump's proposed 25% "reciprocal' tariffs. It was a huge relief for automakers like Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda, whose shares jumped by double digits in Tokyo. Trump also announced trade deals with the Philippines and Indonesia. After meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Trump said the import tax on products from his country would be subject to a 19% tariff, down just 1% from the earlier threat of a 20% tariff. Indonesia also will face a 19% tariff, down from the 32% rate Trump had recently said would apply, and it committed to eliminating nearly all of its trade barriers for imports of American goods. Earlier, Trump announced that Vietnam's exports would face a 20% tariff, with double that rate for goods transshipped from China, though there has been no formal announcement. Negotiations with China are subject to an Aug. 12 deadline, but it's likely to be extended, Bessent told Fox Business on Tuesday. He said the two sides were due to hold another round of talks, this time in Sweden, early next week. Meanwhile, Trump said a trip to China may happen soon, hinting at efforts to stabilize US-China trade relations. A preliminary agreement announced in June paved the way for China to lift some restrictions on its exports of rare earths, minerals critical for high technology and other manufacturing. In May, the US agreed to drop Trump's 145% tariff rate on Chinese goods to 30% for 90 days, while China agreed to lower its 125% rate on US goods to 10%. The reprieve allowed companies more time to rush to try to beat the potentially higher tariffs, giving a boost to Chinese exports and alleviating some of the pressure on its manufacturing sector. But prolonged uncertainty over what Trump might do has left companies wary about committing to further investment in China. Pressure is mounting on some countries in Asia and elsewhere as the Aug. 1 deadline for striking deals approaches. Trump sent letters, posted on Truth Social, outlining higher tariffs some countries will face if they fail to reach agreements. He said they'd face even higher tariffs if they retaliate by raising their own import duties. South Korea's is set at 25%. Imports from Myanmar and Laos would be taxed at 40%, Cambodia and Thailand at 36%, Serbia and Bangladesh at 35%, South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina at 30% and Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Tunisia at 25%. The status of talks with India remains unclear but progress appears to hinge on the country's heavily protected farm sector. It faces a 26% tariff. Nearly every country has faced a minimum 10% levy on goods entering the U.S. since April, on top of other sectoral levies. Even after Trump has pulled back from the harshest of his threatened tariffs, the onslaught of uncertainty and higher costs for both manufacturers and consumers has raised risks for the regional and global economy. Economists have been downgrading their estimates for growth in 2025 and beyond. The Asian Development Bank said Wednesday it had cut its growth estimate for economies in developing Asia and the Pacific to 4.7% in 2025 and 4.6% in 2026, down 0.2 percentage points and 0.1 percentage points. The outlook for the region could be further dimmed by an escalation of tariffs and trade friction, it said. "Other risks include conflicts and geopolitical tensions that could disrupt global supply chains and raise energy prices,' as well as a deterioration in China's ailing property market. Economists at AMRO were less optimistic, expecting growth for Southeast Asia and other major economies in Asia at 3.8% in 2025 and 3.6% next year. While countries in the region have moved to protect their economies from Trump's trade shock, they face significant uncertainties, said AMRO's chief economist, Dong He. "Uneven progress in tariff negotiations and the potential expansion of tariffs to additional products could further disrupt trade activities and weigh on growth for the region,' he said. - AP

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