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