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Microsoft flags active attacks on server software; Activision refutes lawsuit over Uvalde school shooter; Trump posts morphed video of Obama being arrested

Microsoft flags active attacks on server software; Activision refutes lawsuit over Uvalde school shooter; Trump posts morphed video of Obama being arrested

The Hindu21-07-2025
Microsoft flags active attacks on server software
Microsoft has flagged the emergence of 'active attacks' targeting server software used by high-profile clients such as U.S. government agencies and businesses. The company said that the vulnerabilities applied only to SharePoint servers used within organisations and that the SharePoint Online in Microsoft 365, which is in the cloud, had not been affected by the attacks. Tens of thousands of servers were reportedly at risk due to this 'zero day attack.' The Washington Post reported that unidentified actors in recent days had exploited a flaw to attack U.S. and international agencies and businesses.
Microsoft said that the vulnerability allowed an authorised attacker to perform spoofing over a network. The company further confirmed that it provided a security update for SharePoint Subscription Edition and urged customers to apply it immediately.
Activision refutes lawsuit over Uvalde school shooter
Call of Duty maker Activision, and Meta, are facing a lawsuit in the U.S. brought by the families of the victims of the Robb Elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas in 2022, over how their products allegedly influenced the gunman to carry out the killings. In specific, the lawsuit raised concerns about recognisable gun models or gun-related products being promoted to gamers through the Call of Duty game. The influence of highly realistic first-person shooter games with advanced special effects that allow players to gun down others through the screen have been criticised for desensitising users to real life acts of gun violence, which are rampant in the U.S.
However, Activision lawyer Bethany Kristovich opposed this view and defended the game's product placement and marketing choices. The lawyer also stressed that creators of artistic works, including video games, cannot be held legally liable for the acts of their audience. Meanwhile, Meta's attorneys are set to make their arguments for a similar motion next month.
Trump posts morphed video of Obama being arrested
U.S. President Donald Trump posted a morphed video of his predecessor, former U.S. President Barack Obama, being arrested by FBI agents and sent behind bars. The video, which appeared to originally come from a TikTok user, was shared by Trump on the right-wing social media platform Truth Social, where he is mostly active. U.S. outlet Fox News reported that the morphed video had been created with artificial intelligence (AI). In the video, Obama is seen being apprehended by FBI agents and handcuffed, before being shown in prison-issue orange clothes.
The video quickly went viral on Truth Social, and was then shared across other social media channels. This is not the first time Trump has posted morphed or AI-generated videos in order to take aim at his opponents or express his opinion on world events.
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TCS layoff: Should TCS investors be concerned as company plans to hand pink slips to 12,000 employees? Explained
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TCS layoff: Should TCS investors be concerned as company plans to hand pink slips to 12,000 employees? Explained

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Caught on camera: Donald Trump cheats at golf in Scotland; netizens say, ‘Of course!'
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Caught on camera: Donald Trump cheats at golf in Scotland; netizens say, ‘Of course!'

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WhatsApp may soon let you import profile pic from Facebook and Instagram: Details inside
WhatsApp may soon let you import profile pic from Facebook and Instagram: Details inside

India Today

time28 minutes ago

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WhatsApp may soon let you import profile pic from Facebook and Instagram: Details inside

WhatsApp is testing a new feature for its Android users It will allow them to use their Facebook or Instagram profile photo on the messaging app The feature is currently being tested in a beta version WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for Android users that will allow them to use their Facebook or Instagram profile photo on the messaging app without manually uploading it. The feature is currently being tested in a beta version and is expected to simplify the process of setting up a display picture for WhatsApp by connecting the app with other Meta platforms. As per details shared by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the company is testing the feature in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.21.23. With this version, users can reportedly see new options in the profile settings section of the app. Alongside the usual options like camera, gallery, avatar, and Meta AI, two new sources â€' Facebook and Instagram â€' are being added for profile photos. Until now, if someone wanted to use a photo from Facebook or Instagram as their WhatsApp DP, they had to first download the image from that platform and then upload it through the phone's gallery. This new feature could eliminate that extra step and make things faster for users who maintain the same identity across all Meta-owned platforms. The feature is said to be accessible from the profile section in the settings menu. Users will be able to tap on the existing profile photo and select either Facebook or Instagram to import a new one. However, to make use of this functionality, WhatsApp users will need to link their account with Meta's Accounts Centre. This is a system Meta introduced to make it easier for people to manage their presence across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The integration with Meta's Accounts Centre is not new. It already supports features like cross-posting stories or using a single login across multiple apps. Now, with the ability to import profile pictures, WhatsApp is moving another step closer to offering a more connected experience within Meta's ecosystem. However, it's important to note that this feature will not be turned on automatically. According to WABetaInfo, users will have the choice to link their accounts or keep them separate. The feature will be disabled by default, which means users can opt-in only if they want to. Also, despite this cross-platform syncing, WhatsApp will continue to offer the same level of privacy, including end-to-end encryption, and this change will not impact that in any way. As of now, this option is still in the development phase and has only been rolled out to select users who are part of the Google Play Beta programme. There is no confirmed timeline for when the feature will be available to the general public, but it is likely to be included in one of the upcoming updates. WhatsApp is reportedly testing a new feature for Android users that will allow them to use their Facebook or Instagram profile photo on the messaging app without manually uploading it. The feature is currently being tested in a beta version and is expected to simplify the process of setting up a display picture for WhatsApp by connecting the app with other Meta platforms. As per details shared by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the company is testing the feature in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.21.23. With this version, users can reportedly see new options in the profile settings section of the app. Alongside the usual options like camera, gallery, avatar, and Meta AI, two new sources â€' Facebook and Instagram â€' are being added for profile photos. Until now, if someone wanted to use a photo from Facebook or Instagram as their WhatsApp DP, they had to first download the image from that platform and then upload it through the phone's gallery. This new feature could eliminate that extra step and make things faster for users who maintain the same identity across all Meta-owned platforms. The feature is said to be accessible from the profile section in the settings menu. Users will be able to tap on the existing profile photo and select either Facebook or Instagram to import a new one. However, to make use of this functionality, WhatsApp users will need to link their account with Meta's Accounts Centre. This is a system Meta introduced to make it easier for people to manage their presence across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The integration with Meta's Accounts Centre is not new. It already supports features like cross-posting stories or using a single login across multiple apps. Now, with the ability to import profile pictures, WhatsApp is moving another step closer to offering a more connected experience within Meta's ecosystem. However, it's important to note that this feature will not be turned on automatically. According to WABetaInfo, users will have the choice to link their accounts or keep them separate. The feature will be disabled by default, which means users can opt-in only if they want to. Also, despite this cross-platform syncing, WhatsApp will continue to offer the same level of privacy, including end-to-end encryption, and this change will not impact that in any way. As of now, this option is still in the development phase and has only been rolled out to select users who are part of the Google Play Beta programme. There is no confirmed timeline for when the feature will be available to the general public, but it is likely to be included in one of the upcoming updates. Join our WhatsApp Channel

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