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Beware! Don’t let smishing fraudsters catch you off guard

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Fraudulent texts from postal services are now the most common cyber sham hitting phone-users during the pandemic.

How cyber criminals are targeting you through your text messages.

Parcel and Package delivery scams in the form of text messages are one of the most common forms of “smishing”, according to new data

Smishing is a technique criminals use to target phone-users through texts that impersonate trusted organisations.

Often, these messages contain a link to a fraudulent website that looks very much like a company’s legitimate website.

Questions are then posed to prompt the victim to enter both their personal and financial information. 

Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime at UK Finance, says cybercriminals are capitalising on the pandemic, knowing that many consumers will be ordering goods online.  

“We are urging people to always stop and think whenever you get a text message out of the blue before parting with your information or money,” Worobec says.

Cyber scammers targeting online shoppers

Data by cybersecurity company Proofpoint which was provided to the banking trade body UK Finance, says recent fraudulent cybersecurity saw millions of mobile users receive deceitful texts from postal delivery services.

The messages claimed a small payment was required from the victim to pay for an unpaid shipping fee. 

“Always avoid clicking on links in a text message in case it’s a scam and forward any suspected scam text messages to 7726, which spells SPAM, so that the criminals responsible can be brought to justice,” Worobec says. 

The data from Proofpoint also shows that within a 90-day period, 53 percent of fraudulent activity came from smishing attempts claiming to be delivery services. 

Another 23 percent of messages claimed to originate from banks and financial institutions. 

Worobec urges consumers to take advice from the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign which reminds consumers to stop, challenge and protect themselves from such behaviours.

Sarah Lyons, NCSC Deputy Director for Economy & Society, also encourages mobile-users to be extra vigilant when encountering any suspicious tech messages. 

“Scammers and cyber criminals regularly exploit well-known, trusted brands for their own personal gain, and sadly these latest findings bear that out,” Lyons says.

“These scam messages can be very hard to spot, so if you think you’ve already responded to a scam, don’t panic…there’s lots you can do to limit any harm.”

If you believe that you have encountered fraudulent cyber activity, report it to your state or country’s cybercrime security centre.

Written by Rebecca Borg

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Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploitation

Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploiting creators and infringing intellectual property rights amid rising concerns over AI usage

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Hollywood agencies criticise OpenAI’s Sora for exploiting creators and infringing intellectual property rights amid rising concerns over AI usage

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In Short:
– Top talent agencies, including CAA and UTA, oppose OpenAI’s Sora over client rights and copyright risks.
– Disney and others demand immediate action from OpenAI to address copyright infringements related to Sora.

Top Hollywood talent agencies have expressed strong opposition to OpenAI’s new video creation app, Sora. The Creative Artists Agency (CAA) voiced concerns about significant risks to their clients and intellectual property rights.CAA represents high-profile clients such as Doja Cat and Scarlett Johansson. The agency questioned OpenAI’s commitment to compensating creators for their work, suggesting that their practices might ignore global copyright principles.

They stated, “Control, permission for use, and compensation is a fundamental right of these workers.”

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United Talent Agency (UTA) echoed similar sentiments, labelling Sora’s actions as “exploitation, not innovation.” UTA reinforced that human talent is irreplaceable and affirmed its commitment to defending its clients’ rights. OpenAI has indicated it will implement measures to limit the generation of well-known characters and enhance control for rightsholders.

Industry Response

The memo from WME instructed agents to ensure that all clients are opted out of the latest Sora updates. Disney also took a firm stance, clarifying it had not granted OpenAI permission to use its copyrighted content.

The Motion Picture Association urged immediate action from OpenAI to address copyright infringements related to Sora.

Concerns over generative AI’s impact on copyright have surged within the entertainment industry.

Major companies like Universal and Disney have already pursued legal action against other AI firms over similar issues, highlighting a growing fear regarding the protection of intellectual property.


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OpenAI, Jony Ive’s AI device faces significant delays

OpenAI and Jony Ive’s AI device faces significant delays due to technical and infrastructure challenges ahead of its launch

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OpenAI and Jony Ive’s AI device faces significant delays due to technical and infrastructure challenges ahead of its launch

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In Short:
– OpenAI and Jony Ive face significant challenges for their AI device, delaying its launch to 2026.
– Technical issues include computing power shortages and difficulties defining the AI’s personality and behaviour.
OpenAI and Jony Ive’s collaboration on an AI device is facing significant technical challenges, leading to potential delays in its launch.
The partnership began after OpenAI’s acquisition of Ive’s design studio, io, for $6.5 billion. The current target for release is set for 2026.Banner

The primary obstacle is the need for adequate computing power for widespread deployment. Insiders revealed that OpenAI is struggling to secure enough compute resources for current applications, let alone the device design focused on continuous interaction.

Compute Issues

Development teams are also navigating challenges in defining the AI’s personality and behaviour.

Creating an assistant that is both engaging and appropriately responsive has proven difficult, as the design aims to foster a friendly interaction style without veering into overly chatty or insincere exchanges.

Legal issues add to the complications, including a trademark dispute with audio startup Iyo, resulting in the removal of “io” branding from promotional materials. Manufacturing is ongoing, with partnerships established, including with Chinese company Luxshare.

As OpenAI prepares for the upcoming DevDay 2025 conference, the company is under pressure to showcase progress, especially as competitors like Apple and Google advance their AI projects.

The focus remains on overcoming existing hurdles while optimising development strategies for the future of AI devices.


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Indonesia lifts TikTok suspension after compliance with requests

Indonesia swiftly reinstates TikTok’s licence after compliance with data-sharing demands regarding August protests

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Indonesia swiftly reinstates TikTok’s licence after compliance with data-sharing demands regarding August protests

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In Short:
– Indonesia lifted TikTok’s suspension after it provided required protest-related data to the government.
– The incident underscores increasing tensions between Southeast Asian governments and tech companies over data transparency.
Indonesia has lifted TikTok’s operating license suspension on October 4, one day after imposing the penalty. The decision followed TikTok’s compliance with government demands for data related to protests in August.The rapid resolution illustrates rising tensions between Southeast Asian governments and global tech companies regarding data transparency during politically sensitive events.

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Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs confirmed that TikTok submitted necessary data on livestream traffic and monetisation during the protests occurring between August 25 and 30, 2025. This submission occurred on the same day of the suspension announcement, restoring TikTok’s registration as an electronic system operator.

The suspension was initially triggered by TikTok’s partial data submission by a September 23 deadline, citing internal privacy constraints on full compliance.

Regulatory Context

The data dispute arose amid violent demonstrations in late August, protesting excessive lawmakers’ allowances and police brutality, particularly following the death of a motorcycle taxi driver on August 28. Authorities found accounts allegedly linked to illegal gambling using TikTok’s livestream feature, prompting TikTok to suspend this function temporarily.

The incident highlights Indonesia’s assertive stance on tech regulation, particularly given its significance as TikTok’s second-largest market globally. The platform has faced various regulatory challenges in Indonesia, including a recent $900,000 antitrust fine for late notification regarding its Tokopedia acquisition.

Despite the suspension, TikTok remained accessible throughout the regulatory process, stating its commitment to comply with local laws.


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