Popular blockchains can be centralised fairly easily | Trail of Bits study funded by DARPA

[…]Over the past year, Trail of Bits was engaged by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to examine the fundamental properties of blockchains and the cybersecurity risks associated with them. DARPA wanted to understand those security assumptions and determine to what degree blockchains are actually decentralized. […] The report also contains links to the Read more about Popular blockchains can be centralised fairly easily | Trail of Bits study funded by DARPA[…]

Hashed Takes $3.5B Hit, Delphi Digital Discloses Loss After Terra’s LUNA Collapse

The collapse of the tokens linked to the Terra ecosystem, stablecoin terraUSD (UST) and Luna (LUNA), has led to some major investors coming clean and detailing their losses. Two more backers of Terra are disclosing exactly how their balance sheets have been affected. Delphi Digital, a research firm and boutique investor, said in a blog Read more about Hashed Takes $3.5B Hit, Delphi Digital Discloses Loss After Terra’s LUNA Collapse[…]

Melvin Capital shutters down after trying to kill Gamestop

Melvin Capital, once one of Wall Street’s most successful hedge funds which then lost billions in the meme stock saga, will shut down after it was hit again by this year’s market slump. Gabe Plotkin, widely regarded as one of the industry’s best traders after posting years of double digit returns, told investors that the Read more about Melvin Capital shutters down after trying to kill Gamestop[…]

Apple will allow some apps to automatically charge you higher subscription prices

Apple has announced an update to its subscription policy that’s supposed to make auto-renews seamless but could also lead to surprise charges. Under the old policy, the tech giant will ask users to opt in before they’re charged for a subscription that has recently raised its price. Going forward, however, it will allow developers to Read more about Apple will allow some apps to automatically charge you higher subscription prices[…]

Amazon (AMZN) Europe Unit Pays No Taxes on $55 Billion Sales in 2021

Amazon.com Inc.’s main European retail business reported 1.16 billion euros ($1.26 billion) of losses in 2021, which allowed the company to pay no income tax and receive 1 billion euros in tax credits, corporate filings seen by Bloomberg show. The Luxembourg-based business recorded sales of 51.3 billion euros last year, up 17% from 43.8 billion Read more about Amazon (AMZN) Europe Unit Pays No Taxes on $55 Billion Sales in 2021[…]

Pokémon-Like NFT Game Axie Infinity Scammed Out Of $600 Million

Pokémon-style NFT battler Axie Infinity was one of the biggest “success” stories in the world of crypto gaming. Now it’s responsible for one of the biggest thefts in the history of the technology. The gaming-focused blockchain Ronin Network announced earlier today that an Axie Infinity exploit allowed a hacker to “drain” roughly $600 million worth Read more about Pokémon-Like NFT Game Axie Infinity Scammed Out Of $600 Million[…]

GameStop, AMC Stocks Halted On NYSE after reaching above $500,- per share

GameStop  (GME) – Get GameStop Corp. Class A Report shares extended declines Tuesday, after being halted by officials on the New York Stock Exchange, in a move that could snap the meme stock’s longest winning streak in more than a decade. Both GameStop and AMC Entertainment  (AMC) – Get AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. Class A Report names Read more about GameStop, AMC Stocks Halted On NYSE after reaching above $500,- per share[…]

HP staffer blew $5m on personal expenses with company card

A now-former HP finance planning manager pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns that follow from the misappropriation of company funds. According to the US Justice Department, Shelbee Szeto, 30, of Fremont, California, worked at HP Inc from August 2017 through June 2021, first as an Read more about HP staffer blew $5m on personal expenses with company card[…]

BitConnect boss accused of $2.4bn fraud has disappeared

Satish Kumbhani, who is accused of scamming people out of $2.4bn in a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, has disappeared while evading an American watchdog, a court was told this week. The BitConnect founder fled his home nation of India and went to ground in another country as the US Securities and Exchange Commission sought to serve Read more about BitConnect boss accused of $2.4bn fraud has disappeared[…]

Penguin Random House Demands Removal Of Maus From Digital Library Because The Book Is Popular Again after ban in the US

We’ve said it over and over again, if libraries did not exist today, there is no way publishers would allow them to come into existence. We know this, in part, because of their attempts to stop libraries from lending ebooks, and to price ebooks at ridiculous markups to discourage libraries, and their outright claims that Read more about Penguin Random House Demands Removal Of Maus From Digital Library Because The Book Is Popular Again after ban in the US[…]

Automakers Can’t Give Up The Idea Of Turning Everyday Features Into Subscription Services With Fees

At the same time car companies are fighting the right to repair movement (and the state and federal legislation popping up everywhere), they’re continuing the quest to turn everyday features — like heated seats — into something users have to pay a recurring fee for. In 2019, BMW had to abandon a plan to charge Read more about Automakers Can’t Give Up The Idea Of Turning Everyday Features Into Subscription Services With Fees[…]

Bitcoin a lifeline for sex workers, like ex-nurse making $1.3 million – banks and other payment providers refuse to process them

[…] Knox describes herself as “one of the most outspoken sex workers, particularly for crypto.” Her interest kicked off in 2014, which is when she says several vendors, including PayPal, Square Cash, and Venmo, shut down her accounts because of red flags related to sex work. So Knox started accepting cryptocurrencies instead. Her first exchange Read more about Bitcoin a lifeline for sex workers, like ex-nurse making $1.3 million – banks and other payment providers refuse to process them[…]

Dutch watchdog fines Apple $5.7 million for 3rd weekly time in App Store dispute

The Dutch antitrust watchdog on Monday fined apple Apple (AAPL.O) 5 million euros ($5.72 million) for a third time for failing to allow software application makers in the Netherlands to use non-Apple payment methods for dating apps listed in the company’s App Store. The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has been levying weekly fines Read more about Dutch watchdog fines Apple $5.7 million for 3rd weekly time in App Store dispute[…]

Developers react to Apples 27% commission with astonishment, anger

Developers reacted with astonishment and anger at Apple’s 27% commission policy as a minimal form of compliance with a new antitrust law regarding the App Store. One leading developer described the move as ‘vile,’ while another said Apple is deliberately ensuring it would cost developers more to opt-out of Apple’s payment system than it would Read more about Developers react to Apples 27% commission with astonishment, anger[…]

Intel’s $1.2bn EU antitrust fine cancelled by court 12 years after Intel didn’t pay up

Intel Corporation no longer has to pay a €1.06bn ($1.2bn, £890m) fine imposed by the European Commission (EC) in 2009 for abusing its dominance of the chip market. On Wednesday, the General Court of the European Union annulled the EC antitrust penalty [PDF] after previously upholding it in 2014 [PDF]. After rival AMD complained in Read more about Intel’s $1.2bn EU antitrust fine cancelled by court 12 years after Intel didn’t pay up[…]

Robinhood Must Pay User $29,460 Over Meme Stock Trading Halt

In January 2021, stock trading app Robinhood infuriated users when it responded to surging trades of so-called meme stocks, by halting trades—effectively preventing users from selling shares until the prices had collapsed. Congressional hearings, regulatory probes, and a deluge of regulatory complaints and lawsuits ensued, which was at least one cause of its initial public Read more about Robinhood Must Pay User $29,460 Over Meme Stock Trading Halt[…]

John Deere Hit With Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged Tractor Repair Monopoly

A class action lawsuit filed in Chicago has accused John Deere of running an illegal repair monopoly. The lawsuit alleged that John Deere has used software locks and restricted access to repair documentation and tools, making it very difficult for farmers to fix their own agricultural equipment, a problem that Motherboard has documented for years Read more about John Deere Hit With Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged Tractor Repair Monopoly[…]

Google’s and Facebook’s top execs accused of fixing ads

The alleged 2017 deal between Google and Facebook to kill header bidding, a way for multiple ad exchanges to compete fairly in automated ad auctions, was negotiated by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, and endorsed by both Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (now with Meta) and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, according to an updated complaint filed in Read more about Google’s and Facebook’s top execs accused of fixing ads[…]

Apple Lets Developers in the Netherlands Offer Payment Options, escape from the 30% squeeze

Apple will grudgingly allow dating app developers in the Netherlands to use alternative payment methods in the App Store, but it doesn’t like it, and the score hasn’t been settled yet. In an update on its developers’ blog on Friday, Apple said dating app developers will have two new optional “entitlements” in the App Store, Read more about Apple Lets Developers in the Netherlands Offer Payment Options, escape from the 30% squeeze[…]

North Korea made ‘$400m’ in cryptocurrency heists last year

Thieves operating for the North Korean government made off with almost $400m in digicash last year in a concerted attack to steal and launder as much currency as they could. A report from blockchain biz Chainalysis found that attackers were going after investment houses and currency exchanges in a bid to purloin funds and send Read more about North Korea made ‘$400m’ in cryptocurrency heists last year[…]

Open source maintainer PLC4X hits out at corporate freeloaders, stops offering free support

Yet another developer of open source software has tired of companies utilizing the code he helps maintain without giving anything back to support the project. On Tuesday, Christofer Dutz, creator of Apache PLC4X, said he will stop providing community support for the software if corporate users fail to step up and open their wallets. “The Read more about Open source maintainer PLC4X hits out at corporate freeloaders, stops offering free support[…]

FTC’s latest monopoly lawsuit against Meta Facebook gets go-ahead

The Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust complaint that Facebook, er, Meta operates as a monopoly will be heard by the courts after the US watchdog’s initial lawsuit was dismissed. In December 2020, the FTC accused Meta of “illegally maintaining its personal social networking (PSN) monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct.” It threatened to break Read more about FTC’s latest monopoly lawsuit against Meta Facebook gets go-ahead[…]

White House invites tech firms to discuss open-source software security in January

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has invited major tech firms to discuss ways that the cybersecurity of open-source software can be improved, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. According to Bloomberg, the tech firms include “major software companies and developers.” Cloud providers are also reportedly among the invited companies. Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for Read more about White House invites tech firms to discuss open-source software security in January[…]

Google and Facebook Fined Big in Russia for Failing to Remove Banned Content – imprisonment threats follow forcing local data storage

A Russian court fined Alphabet Inc.’s Google 7.2 billion rubles ($98 million) and Meta Platforms Inc. 2 billion rubles Friday for failing to remove banned content, the largest such penalties yet, as the authorities escalate a crackdown on foreign technology companies. The fines were due to the companies’ repeated failure to comply with orders to Read more about Google and Facebook Fined Big in Russia for Failing to Remove Banned Content – imprisonment threats follow forcing local data storage[…]

EXCLUSIVE Dutch watchdog finds Apple app store payment rules anti-competitive – sources

The Dutch antitrust authority has found that Apple’s rules requiring software developers to use its in-app payment system are anti-competitive and ordered it to make changes, four people familiar with the matter said, in the latest regulatory setback for the iPhone maker. Apple’s app-store payment policies, in particular its requirement that app developers exclusively use Read more about EXCLUSIVE Dutch watchdog finds Apple app store payment rules anti-competitive – sources[…]