TECH
Microsoft finds crypto‑stealing USB worm as researchers expose iPhone boot ROM flaw
Ars Technica reported that Microsoft discovered a new lightweight malware dubbed Crypto Clipper that spreads via USB drives, monitors clipboard for cryptocurrency credentials, captures screenshots, and exfiltrates data through Tor. The Register reported a newly disclosed BootROM exploit called “usbliter8” affecting Apple A12 and A13 chips, enabling unsigned code execution during DFU mode but requiring physical access and remaining unpatchable. Together they illustrate software‑based crypto theft and hardware‑level boot‑chain risks.
Waymo recalls nearly 4,000 robotaxis over missed construction zone signs
Offbeat reports that Waymo is recalling 3,871 robotaxis equipped with its fifth‑generation ADS after several incidents in Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area where the vehicles failed to recognize freeway construction zones, driving past closure signs or between cones. The company has imposed a temporary ban on freeway operation for the affected fleet while a software fix is developed. The recall follows earlier safety incidents this year, including a flood‑related mishap and a collision involving a child near an elementary school.
Nothing cancels CMF phone launch due to soaring RAM costs
Nothing announced it will not release a new CMF budget phone this year because skyrocketing RAM prices make a viable price point impossible. Co‑founder Akis Evangelidis said the memory cost surge prevents a genuine step forward, while CEO Carl Pei noted that RAM costs have doubled since the phone’s design and are now the most expensive component. The company added that other products are still planned, the smartphone launch season is not over, and other makers such as Apple are also feeling pressure from the RAM shortage.
Amazon drops Sam Altman biopic amid internal AI data center probe
The Verge reports that Amazon MGM has shelved the Luca Guadagnino‑directed biopic “Artificial,” which dramatizes OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s brief ouster and reinstatement. At the same time, Amazon employees have reportedly been investigated and warned of possible termination for advocating limits on the company’s AI data center expansions. The dual developments highlight tensions between Amazon’s corporate AI investments and internal concerns over the technology’s growth.
India’s Telegram ban triggers massive VPN downloads and rival app spikes
India temporarily blocked Telegram to curb exam‑paper scams, and the Delhi High Court upheld the restriction. The ban sparked a 49% jump in VPN downloads, with Proton VPN and Turbo VPN seeing the biggest gains, and saw a surge in registrations for services such as Windscribe and Surfshark. At the same time, downloads of rival messaging apps like Signal, Viber and iMe rose sharply, while Telegram’s daily active users in India still increased 17%, according to TechCrunch.
Hackers leak Madison Square Garden data, sparking lawsuit
Wired reported that the hacking group ShinyHunters posted millions of records from Madison Square Garden, including customer and Knicks personnel data, prompting a federal class‑action lawsuit. The outlet also noted that MSG’s extensive use of surveillance technology, such as facial‑recognition cameras, raises further privacy concerns. In related coverage, Wired described other venue‑related privacy issues, including face‑scanner deployments at San Francisco gay bars and broader scrutiny of surveillance tools in public spaces.
US ban on Anthropic models sparks security debate and brand boost speculation
TechCrunch reports that the US government forced Anthropic to halt its newest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, citing national‑security concerns after alleged jailbreaks discovered by Amazon researchers. Cybersecurity researchers signed an open letter warning the move could be dangerous, while the outlet also suggests the controversy might unintentionally raise Anthropic’s profile ahead of its IPO.
FDA advisors unanimously back Moderna's mRNA flu vaccine after earlier agency turmoil
Ars Technica reports that the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted 9‑0 to recommend approval of Moderna’s seasonal mRNA flu vaccine, mRNA‑1010 (mFlusiva). The vote follows a February decision by Trump‑appointed official Vinay Prasad to reject the filing, which was later reversed amid criticism. Moderna hailed the unanimous support, and the agency has set an August 5 deadline for a final decision.
Tensordyne unveils log‑math AI accelerator promising higher efficiency than Nvidia
El Reg says Tensordyne has taped out its first commercial chip, Napier, which uses a logarithm‑based multiply‑accumulate unit to replace conventional multiplication and claims up to 17× more tokens per watt and 13× higher throughput than Nvidia’s Blackwell GPUs. The 300‑W, 144 GB HBM3e accelerator delivers up to 2.1 petaFLOPS in FP8 while supporting FP4 and FP8 data types, and the TDN72 rack system can house 72 of these chips in a 30 kW, liquid‑free enclosure. Tensordyne’s software stack aims to compile existing models without extensive quantization, with plans for PyTorch support before the chip’s slated Q2‑Q3 2027 release.
Barret Zoph leaves OpenAI after five‑month stint
Barret Zoph, who headed enterprise AI sales, departed OpenAI five months after rejoining in January, according to The Verge. He had previously left for Mira Murati’s competitor Thinking Machines Lab and returned alongside other former staff, but exited amid earlier misconduct allegations. OpenAI confirmed the move as it narrows its focus on enterprise and coding ahead of a planned IPO.