**Iranian Activist Uncovers Massive Phishing Campaign Targeting Middle Eastern Victims** As a digital activist, I’ve been monitoring the online activities surrounding the Iranian protests from afar. Recently, I stumbled upon a brazen phishing campaign targeting high-profile Gmail and WhatsApp users across the Middle East. The sheer scope of the attack is shocking, and it’s left me wondering who’s behind it. The campaign, which has been operating for weeks, targeted individuals involved in Iran-related activities, including the Iranian diaspora and those with ties to the region. My own WhatsApp account was compromised when I received a suspicious link from an unknown…
Author: Naveed Ahmad
Canada Just Gave the Green Light to Chinese EVs: What’s Next for the US Market? In a move that’s got the auto world buzzing, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced yesterday that his country is slashing the 100% import tax on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) to a mere 6.1%. This decision could pave the way for Chinese automakers like Geely, BYD, and Xiaomi to enter the North American market, but don’t get too excited just yet. Here’s the catch: Canada is capping the number of annual imports at 49,000, with that number increasing to around 70,000 in about five years.…
**Italy Cracks Down on Activision Blizzard’s Sneaky Sales Tactics** Uh-oh, looks like Activision Blizzard is in hot water again! Italy’s antitrust regulator, Autorita Garante della Concorrenza E Del Mercato (AGCM), has just launched two separate investigations into the company’s sales practices for its popular mobile games, Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty Mobile. Apparently, the AGCM is not happy about Activision Blizzard’s use of “deceptive and aggressive” tactics to get kids hooked on these games and prompting them to make in-game purchases without their parents’ knowledge or consent. Yeah, you read that right – we’re talking about tactics that are…
The Rise of Micro Apps: The New Era of Software Creation? I’ve been hearing a lot about the rise of micro apps, a trend that’s been making waves in the tech world. Essentially, micro apps are small, personal projects that people are building for their own use, rather than trying to make a fortune off of them. And the best part? You don’t have to be a developer to create one! I stumbled upon this concept while reading about Rebecca Yu, a college student who spent her summer break building an eating app that suggests restaurants to her and her…
**Berlin-Based AI Startup Parloa Just Tripled Its Valuation to $3 Billion after a $350 Million Raise** What’s up, tech enthusiasts! I’ve got some mind-blowing news for you – Berlin-based Parloa, a six-year-old customer support AI startup, has just raised a whopping $350 million in Series D funding, valuing the company at an astonishing $3 billion. Yes, you read that right – the company has tripled its valuation in just eight short months since its last funding round. But who is Parloa? This innovative startup is creating AI brokers that promise to automate the type of customer support work that was…
**Spotify’s Latest Price Hike: A $1 Increase for US Subscribers, But Why?** Ugh, Spotify’s at it again! For the third time in three years, the music streaming giant has raised its prices, and this time, US subscribers are feeling the pinch. As of their next billing cycle, the cost of Spotify’s month-to-month subscription plan will jump from $11.99 to $12.99. That’s a whole dollar more, people! The company sent out an email to its paid customers explaining the change, citing that the increase is necessary to “reflect the value that Spotify delivers” – which, let’s be real, is just a…
**The Copper Crisis: Can This Startup’s Unconventional Method Ease the Shortfall?** As we gaze into the future, it’s becoming increasingly clear that copper will be the lifeblood of our digital world. From data centers to electric vehicles, this versatile mineral is an integral part of our tech infrastructure. But, a severe shortage is looming on the horizon, with demand projected to outstrip supply by as much as 25% as early as 2040. To put it simply, copper is about to get very expensive – and fast. Companies and investors are already pouring money into the sector, with AI minerals startup…
**US Senators Crack Down on Sexualized Deepfakes: “We Need Answers”** The cat’s out of the bag – or rather, the deepfake genie is out of the bottle. Senators are sounding the alarm and demanding answers from the tech giants – X, Meta, Alphabet, Snap, Reddit, and TikTok – about their handling of sexualized deepfakes on their platforms. In a scathing letter, the senators are calling out the companies for not doing enough to prevent the spread of nonconsensual, sexualized imagery. The truth is, this isn’t just an X problem – it’s a problem across the entire tech industry. The senators…
**Anthropic Taps Microsoft India MD to Lead Bengaluru Expansion – A Sign of Things to Come** In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the industry, US AI startup Anthropic has poached former Microsoft India managing director Irina Ghose to head its Indian operations. This coup is significant, to say the least, as it highlights the growing importance of India as a key battleground for AI firms looking to expand beyond the US and tap into the country’s massive market potential. Ghose’s appointment is a masterstroke, bringing as it does a wealth of experience to the role. Having spent 24 years…
**The Quest for a Streamlined Prior Authorization Process in Healthcare** In the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, prior authorization (PA) has become a crucial step in ensuring patients receive necessary treatments while managing healthcare expenses. However, traditional PA processes are often plagued by inefficiencies, errors, and delays. In this post, I’ll introduce a cutting-edge approach to building a safe and autonomous PA agent for healthcare revenue cycle management, complete with human-in-the-loop controls. **What is Prior Authorization?** For those unfamiliar, PA is the process of obtaining approval from a patient’s insurance provider before performing a treatment or procedure. It’s essential to ensure treatments…