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Russian REVIL cyber gang disappears after demanding $70M in Bitcoin

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The REVIL ransomware group has mysteriously disappeared from the web without a trace after demanding a $70M ransom payout in Bitcoin

The infamous ransomware group REVIL has mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Websites and other digital infrastructure that belonged to the hackers, who are believed to be from either Eastern Europe or Russia, went dark on Tuesday.

Information security blog Bleeping Computer says ” All REVIL sites are down, including payment sites and data leak pages”.

Biden promises ‘consequences’ for Russian hackers

It’s unclear why the group has gone dark, but it comes after US President Joe Biden told Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that there would be ‘consequences’ if the Kremlin didn’t address the ongoing spate of ransomware attacks.

Biden has previously stressed the importance of addressing hacks, acknowledging their threat to critical infrastructure that is relied on by Americans. However, speculation is still mounting as to why REVIL has suddenly disappeared.

Cybersecurity firm Exabeam told CNN, “this outage could be criminal maintenance, planned retirement, or, more likely, the result of an offensive response to the criminal enterprise’.

REVIL gang demands $70M in Bitcoin ransom

This comes after the group asked for a $70M ransom in Bitcoin from victims of a recent hack. They promised to release a ‘universal decryptor key’ to all victims if anyone was willing to pay the ransom.

The REVIL gang posted a blog entry on its personal website on the dark web taking credit for the audacious cyber attack on MSP providers in the US which they claim affected over a million systems.

“Everyone will be able to recover from the attack in less than an hour,” the post read.

Will the companies pay the ransom?

The general advice from cyber-security experts is to not pay hackers to retrieve their data, because it encourages future attacks.

However, John Hammond from Huntress Labs doesn’t believe the situation is so simple. The cybersecurity firm Huntress Labs Inc is leading the investigation into the attack.

“This is an extremely intricate and tough situation,” he said in a private Twitter message to Ticker reporters.

“You have to make the decision that is best for your business,” he said.

The Kaseya cyber attack

The attack targeted more than 20 managed service providers (MSP). Yesterday, Huntress Labs anticipated the hack had affected more than 1000 businesses, which expectations that the figure would grow based on reports from the providers and a Reddit thread tracking the hack.

“It’s reasonable to think this could potentially be impacting thousands of small businesses,” tweeted John Hammond from Huntress Labs. Hammond says the attack targeted a software supplier called Kaseya.

Biden has sinced called for US intelligence to conduct a “deep dive” into the attacks. “We’re not sure it’s the Russians,” he said. “The initial thinking was, it was not the Russian government, but we’re not sure yet.”

Sweden closes up shop

Another victim of the attack is Sweden, which has seen around 500 supermarkets unable to trade.

Coop Sweden has closed half of its 800 stores after its point-of-sale tills and self-service checkouts stopped working just before the weekend.

The supermarket itself was not targeted by hackers. However, because it uses on of the affected MSPs it too has fallen victim to the attack.

Cybersecurity becomes and international security issue

This comes as the latest in a string of ransomware attacks in recent months, including the attack on JBS. Experts have also attributed the JBS attack to the REvil cyber gang.

It also comes shortly after President Joe Biden signed an executive order to strengthen cybersecurity defences across the US.

William is an Executive News Producer at TICKER NEWS, responsible for the production and direction of news bulletins. William is also the presenter of the hourly Weather + Climate segment. With qualifications in Journalism and Law (LLB), William previously worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) before moving to TICKER NEWS. He was also an intern at the Seven Network's 'Sunrise'. A creative-minded individual, William has a passion for broadcast journalism and reporting on global politics and international affairs.

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Trump extends TikTok sale deadline by 90 days

Trump extends TikTok’s sale deadline to US owner by 90 days, ensuring continued access for American users.

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Trump extends TikTok’s sale deadline to US owner by 90 days, ensuring continued access for American users.

In Short:
President Trump extended the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American owner by 90 days, allowing it to operate in the U.S. until September 17, 2025. He hopes for a deal with China while maintaining TikTok’s presence for its 170 million U.S. users amidst security concerns.

President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the app to an American owner by another 90 days.

The executive order signed by Trump allows the Chinese company to continue operating in the U.S. until September 17, 2025. Trump announced the extension on Truth Social, expressing hope for a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

During a flight on Air Force One, Trump suggested that Xi would be willing to approve a sale if a buyer appeared. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasised the administration’s aim to keep TikTok available for American users while ensuring data security.

TikTok has approximately 170 million users in the U.S., with declining support for a ban, according to Pew Research. An initial ban on the app, instituted under the Biden Administration over national security issues, briefly took effect but was reversed after Trump indicated he would allow TikTok to continue.

TikTok has asserted that it does not pose any security threats to the U.S. and that American data is not stored in China. Following the extension, users have returned to TikTok, with reduced engagement on competing platforms.

Past potential buyers include Amazon and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, though no sale was finalised due to trade tensions. Under U.S. law, ByteDance must sell TikTok to a U.S. buyer, but the company has remained silent about its intentions.

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Smart glasses could replace smartphones by 2035

“Experts predict smart glasses powered by AI will replace smartphones by 2035, transforming our tech interactions.”

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“Experts predict smart glasses powered by AI will replace smartphones by 2035, transforming our tech interactions.”


Smart Glasses Could Replace Smartphones by 2035 — Experts say wearable tech powered by AI is on track to replace smartphones within a decade. T

These sleek, voice-first devices are poised to transform how we interact with technology, with tech giants investing heavily in the space. Will your next phone fit on your face?

Subscribe to never miss an episode of Ticker – https://www.youtube.com/@weareticker

#SmartGlasses #TechRevolution #AI #Wearables #FutureTech #BigTech #VoiceFirst #NextGenDevices

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AI will reduce Amazon workforce, CEO Andy Jassy predicts

Amazon CEO predicts AI will shrink workforce, altering job types, but won’t lead to immediate mass layoffs.

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Amazon CEO predicts AI will shrink workforce, altering job types, but won’t lead to immediate mass layoffs.

In Short:
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy warns that advancements in artificial intelligence may reduce the workforce over time, primarily through attrition rather than mass layoffs. Many industries, including retail, are adopting AI, which could lead to job cuts while creating new specialised roles.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has indicated that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) will likely lead to a decrease in the workforce within the company in the coming years.

In a recent communication to employees, Jassy described generative AI as a transformative technology that is already changing Amazon’s operations and customer interactions.

While he did not specify the exact extent of job reductions, he acknowledged that improvements in efficiency through AI would result in fewer roles.

Upcoming changes will primarily occur through attrition rather than mass layoffs, as seen in previous years. Certain teams may face layoffs, particularly those related to products like Alexa.

Impacts of AI

Jassy’s remarks are among the strongest from a large corporation regarding the potential impacts of AI on employment.

Various industries, including retail and pharmaceuticals, are adopting AI for multiple functions, which necessitates new job roles but also implies potential job cuts.

Surveys show a significant percentage of employers anticipate downsizing their workforce as a result of AI.

In the tech sector, many companies are prioritising the hiring of individuals with AI skills, as AI tools become integral to business efficiency.

Amazon plans to heavily invest in AI infrastructure. Jassy noted that the company is developing over 1,000 AI agents to enhance its productivity.

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