Israel's Cato networks raises $359 million, valued at more than $4.8 billion
Israeli cybersecurity firm Cato Networks said on Monday it raised $359 million in a late stage private funding round that it said values the company at more than $4.8 billion.New investors, including Vitruvian Partners and ION Crossover Partners, as well as existing investors, including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Acrew Capital, and Adams Street Partners , participated in the financing round.The latest investment brings the total funding raised to more than $1 billion, the company said, saying its mission is to "redefine enterprise security for the digital and AI era."
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Iran bans Elon Musk's Starlink, users now face prison, fines, even flogging
As Iran's tensions deepen with the West, the Middle Eastern country's parliament has voted to ban Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service in the country after the United States and Israeli airstrikes, as per a report. Iran Moves to Ban Elon Musk's Starlink, Final Approval Expected Soon The new law, which Iran's Guardian Council is expected to approve within days, also made stricter espionage rules, targeting foreign-backed dissent, as reported by Newsweek. While the final approval is pending, the move shows Tehran's growing alarm over Starlink's role as a digital lifeline during internet blackouts and a potent symbol in its information war with the West, according to the Newsweek report. If the ban is approved, then the users of the SpaceX-operated satellite service will face penalties of fines, flogging, or up to two years in prison if they are caught, as per the report. ALSO READ: Oracle stock soars after revealing massive $30 billion annual cloud deal in filing Why Is Starlink Under Fire? The Middle Eastern country's latest legislation increases the state's powers over digital and foreign-linked activities, like criminalising Starlink, and introducing sweeping penalties for espionage and cooperation with foreign adversaries, as reported by Newsweek. The new Iranian law defines "operational cooperation" with countries like the U.S. and Israel as "corruption on earth", which is a capital offence, reported Newsweek. The list of offences includes actions like cyberattacks, use of drones or sabotage tools, and accepting funds from foreign intelligence, even without taking action, according to the report. Live Events The Starlink ban reflects how private tech companies like Starlink get indirectly involved during a global conflict, as this law came after the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, the move highlights how satellite internet is now a tool of modern warfare and a threat for governments like Iran's, as reported by Newsweek. ALSO READ: Peter Thiel faces backlash for backing Palantir — key facts Americans should be aware of Starlink's Role During Blackouts While, the exact numbers of Starlink users remain unclear, as per the images circulated online throughout 2024 showed Starlink dishes installed on rooftops across Iran, often in direct defiance of strict local laws, according to the report. Iranian tech outlet Zoomit wrote that the "equipment costs range from $673 to $3,367, with monthly fees around $40, making the service unaffordable for most Iranians," as quoted by Newsweek. This comes as Iranians depend on VPNs and other tools to bypass restrictions and access the outside world due to massive government censorship and widespread internet blackouts, as per the report. For many Iranians, Starlink had emerged as one of the few reliable options during these shutdowns, offering a critical lifeline for protesters and dissidents, as reported by Newsweek. ALSO READ: Shock rift in MAGA? Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene praise Zohran Mamdani as Trump fumes FAQs Why is Iran banning Starlink now? Because of growing tensions with the US and Israel, and fears that Starlink is helping citizens bypass government censorship and surveillance, as per the Newsweek report. What happens if someone in Iran uses Starlink? If the law is finalized, they could face serious penalties—fines, prison time, or even flogging, as per the Newsweek report.
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Talks Or Bombs? Iran Dares US To Choose – Says No More Strikes Or No Deal
New Delhi: The dust still has not settled in Tehran. Not on the rubble. Not on the talks. Not on trust. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi does not mince his words. He says the message from the United States came quietly through intermediaries. Washington wants to reopen talks. But Tehran has a condition. 'First,' he said, 'we need a guarantee. No more attacks.' Just weeks ago, dialogue was still on the table. The focus was narrow – Iran's nuclear programme. Then came the airstrikes. Israel hit first. They struck deep – nuclear facilities, military bases and high-ranking scientists. Iran hit back. Then the United States entered the fight. On June 21, it bombed three of Iran's nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The damage? That depends on who is speaking. President Donald Trump says Iran's nuclear infrastructure is gone; it is flattened. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN's atomic watchdog, disagrees. Though its chief Rafael Grossi admits there is serious damage, yet he says it is 'not obliterated'. Iran's enrichment systems may recover in months. Or not at all. Takht-Ravanchi says it is hard to know. The bombings disrupted everything. He will not speculate on how long it would take to resume full operations. But one thing he is clear on – Iran never sought a bomb. 'It is for peaceful research and always has been,' he insisted. The material? Hard to come by. Iran built its programme with limited resources. They relied on themselves. And when asked whether Iran would abandon enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief or foreign investment, he scoffed, 'Why should we?' The enrichment level stands at 60%. The 2015 nuclear deal capped it at 3.67%. That deal, brokered by world powers, unraveled when Trump walked out in 2018. His administration called it weak, reimposed sanctions and triggered Iran's slow but steady departure from its commitments. By 2021, Iran was enriching uranium at levels that, while below weapons-grade, alarmed Western leaders. The IAEA said 90% purity was within reach, enough for several bombs. Trust broke down. Takht-Ravanchi says that is not Iran's fault. He blames Washington. He blames Israel. And he is losing patience with Europe. 'They always criticise us. But not a word about how we have been treated,' he said. If Europe cannot question American actions, he suggests, they should stay quiet. Then came another message. The United States, through mediators, assured Tehran it does not seek regime change. It does not want to target Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi acknowledges the signal. But he is skeptical. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Iranians to rise up against their leaders. Trump, after endorsing a ceasefire last week, distanced himself from that view. Takht-Ravanchi responded firmly, 'That will not happen. Iranians may disagree among themselves. But when the threat is foreign, they stand together.' The ceasefire is fragile. Iran says it will hold as long as it is not attacked again. Israel's intentions? Unclear. Regional allies are working behind the scenes. Qatar, in particular, played a key role in mediating the current pause. Takht-Ravanchi acknowledged their efforts. 'We do not want war. We are open to diplomacy. But we will not be caught off guard again,' he said. For now, Iran waits for clarity, assurance and an answer to a question no one in Washington has addressed head-on. 'Will there be more bombs during the talks?' That, Takht-Ravanchi says, changes everything.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Israeli researchers discover security flaw in popular AI chatbots
Jerusalem: Israeli researchers have uncovered a security flaw in some of the popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Google Gemini, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Monday. The researchers found that these systems can be manipulated into providing illegal and unethical information, despite having built-in safety protective measures, according to the statement. The study described how attackers can use carefully written prompts, known as jailbreaks, to bypass the chatbots' safety mechanisms. Once the protections are disabled, the chatbots consistently provide harmful content, such as instructions for hacking, producing illegal drugs, and committing financial crimes, Xinhua news agency reported. In every test case, the chatbots responded with detailed, unethical information after the jailbreak was applied. The researchers explained that this vulnerability is easy to exploit and works reliably. Because these tools are freely available to anyone with a smartphone or computer, the risk is especially concerning, the researchers noted. They also warned about the emergence of dark language models. These are AI systems that have either been intentionally stripped of ethical safeguards or developed without any safety controls in place. Some of these models are already being used for cybercrime and are shared openly on underground networks, they added. The team reported the issue to several major AI companies. However, responses were limited. One company did not reply, while others said the problem does not qualify as a critical flaw. The researchers called for stronger protections, clearer industry standards, and new techniques that allow AI systems to forget harmful information.
