Tech News Digest: Spyware via Ad Infrastructure and AI Regulatory Scrutiny Dominate Today's Headlines
Today's tech news highlights significant developments in cybersecurity threats and increased regulatory attention on AI companies.
Zero-Click Spyware Delivered Through Online Ads
Researchers at Citizen Lab and Confiant have uncovered an Israeli ad tech firm, Discover-Tech, that allegedly facilitated zero-click spyware attacks by embedding malicious code within online advertisements, with targets including journalists at Al Jazeera. Read more: An Israeli firm is sending spyware through online ads, researchers say
Governments Exploiting Ad Infrastructure for Spyware
Researchers at Citizen Lab have documented how government actors exploited online advertising infrastructure to deliver zero-click spyware, compromising dozens of devices at media organization Al Jazeera without requiring any user interaction. Read more: Citizen Lab says governments are abusing online ads to hack people with 'zero-click' spyware
FTC Increases Scrutiny on AI Firms
The Federal Trade Commission has issued subpoenas to OpenAI and Anthropic as part of an investigation into potential consumer harms stemming from safety failures at both AI companies, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny of the AI industry. Read more: FTC subpoenas OpenAI and Anthropic following safety failures
First Technical Evidence of Mercenary Spyware via Ad Networks
Security researchers at The Citizen Lab have published the first technical evidence of sophisticated mercenary spyware being distributed through online advertising infrastructure, using zero-click exploits that require no user interaction. Read more: 'Nightmare Scenario': Zero-Click Spyware Is Infecting Phones via Targeted Ads
Nvidia RTX Spark Laptops Mark New Attempt at Arm-Based Windows PCs
Nvidia has launched RTX Spark laptops, marking a second attempt at Arm-based Windows PCs after the failed original Microsoft Surface. This time, both Nvidia and Microsoft claim the platform can run traditional Windows applications like Adobe and Office, positioning RTX Spark as an AI-focused computing platform. Read more: How Windows is being optimized for Nvidia's RTX Spark laptops
Anthropic Opens Systems to Independent AI Safety Researchers
Anthropic has entered an agreement with AI safety research organization METR to provide employee-level access to its systems, allowing researchers to conduct independent assessments of the company's risks, incidents, and practices—with the ability to publish findings without company approval. Read more: Anthropic is letting METR researchers look under the hood with employee-level access