<?xml version="1.0"?>
<rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[News: Security & Privacy News]]></title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/page/5/?d=2</link><description><![CDATA[News: Security & Privacy News]]></description><language>en</language><item><title>Fake LastPass support email threads try to steal vault passwords</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/fake-lastpass-support-email-threads-try-to-steal-vault-passwords-r33975/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Password management software provider LastPass is warning users of a phishing campaign targeting its users with fake unauthorized account access alerts.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The emails impersonate a LastPass representative by spoofing the display name and use subject lines crafted to mimic forwarded internal conversations between attackers and the company’s customer support team about a request to change the account’s primary email address.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The email chains are forwarded to the target in an attempt to prompt them to respond to the suspicious activity with urgency and click on links named “report suspicious activity,” “disconnect and lock vault,” and “revoke device.”
</p>

<div style="">
	<figure class="image" style="display:inline-block">
		<img alt="Example email thread" class="ipsImage" height="492" width="720" src="https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/u/1220909/2026/March/thread.jpg">
		<figcaption>
			<em>Example email thread<br>
			Source: LastPass</em>
		</figcaption>
	</figure>
</div>

<p>
	In doing so, users are directed to a fake LastPass login page hosted on the domain “verify-lastpass[.]com” that collects LastPass user credentials.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The LastPass Threat Intelligence, Mitigation, and Escalation (TIME) notes in a report that apart from this primary domain, the attacker also uses slightly modified URLs that redirect to the same phishing page.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	LastPass notes that multiple sender addresses and subject lines are used in the campaign to increase credibility and make tracing more difficult.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Most sender addresses are completely unrelated to the LastPass brand, set up from compromised websites or abandoned domains, but the attackers try to hide them by using the ‘LastPass Support’ display name.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The company underlined that its infrastructure has not been compromised in any way, and there’s no impact on its systems.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Moreover, it reminded customers that its support agents will never ask for their master password and that users should never disclose it to anyone.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	LastPass is working with third-party partners to take down the fake websites as soon as possible, while urging users who receive suspicious communications to report them to ‘abuse@lastpass.com.’
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	LastPass’s popularity makes the service a frequent target of phishing campaigns. Earlier this year, in January, LastPass warned of another phishing campaign that distributed <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-lastpass-emails-pose-as-password-vault-backup-alerts/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">fake maintenance notifications</a>, asking users to back up their vaults within 24 hours and redirecting them to phishing pages.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In late 2025, two more campaigns targeting LastPass occurred: one leveraging <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-lastpass-death-claims-used-to-breach-password-vaults/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">fake user death claims</a>, and the other claiming the company <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-lastpass-bitwarden-breach-alerts-lead-to-pc-hijacks/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">had been hacked</a> and urging users to download a new version of the client app.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-lastpass-support-email-threads-try-to-steal-vault-passwords/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 12:19 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33975</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:20:25 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Bitwarden adds support for passkey login on Windows 11</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/bitwarden-adds-support-for-passkey-login-on-windows-11-r33974/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Bitwarden announced support for logging into Windows 11 devices using passkeys stored in the manager's vault, enabling phishing-resistant authentication.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The new feature is available for all plans, including the free tier, and allows logging into Windows by selecting the security key option and scanning a QR code with a mobile device to confirm access to the passkey stored in the Bitwarden encrypted vault.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Bitwarden is an open-source password and secrets manager that can store account passwords, passkeys, API keys, credit card details, identity data, and private notes.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	To use the new feature, there are <a href="https://bitwarden.com/blog/log-into-windows-with-a-bitwarden-passkey/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">three required conditions</a>:
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<ol>
	<li>
		Have Entra ID–joined devices
	</li>
	<li>
		FIDO2 security key sign-in is enabled
	</li>
	<li>
		Have a registered Entra ID passkey stored in their Bitwarden vault
	</li>
</ol>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“Windows now supports industry-standard passkeys secured in the Bitwarden vault, enabling passwordless authentication during sign-in,” <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260304025297/en/Bitwarden-Enables-Passkey-Login-to-Windows-11" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Bitwarden says</a> in a press release.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“Users can choose to log in with a passkey stored in the Bitwarden vault, allowing Windows to authenticate using cryptographic credentials rather than passwords, without transmitting shared secrets.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Bitwarden acts as the passkey provider in the Windows authentication flow, storing the credential in the user’s synced vault rather than binding it to a single device. This also allows recovery using other devices in case of losing the phone.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	More importantly, by removing password entry from the login process and using cryptographic challenges signed with private keys stored in the vault, the risk of credential exposure to phishing drops dramatically.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Bitwarden states that Microsoft will roll out passkey login on Windows this month, and it depends on the Microsoft Entra ID configuration.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In November 2025, <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/windows-11-now-supports-3rd-party-apps-for-native-passkey-management/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Microsoft announced</a> the introduction of a passkey provider API on Windows 11, allowing third-party apps like Bitwarden and 1Password to store and manage passkeys for websites and apps on the OS.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The latest announcement extends this further, to a more fundamental authentication layer, that of the OS itself.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/bitwarden-adds-support-for-passkey-login-on-windows-11/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 12:18 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33974</guid><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:19:30 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>FBI seizes LeakBase cybercrime forum, data of 142,000 members</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/fbi-seizes-leakbase-cybercrime-forum-data-of-142000-members-r33961/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	The FBI has seized the LeakBase cybercrime forum, a major online forum used by cybercriminals buy and sell hacking tools and stolen data.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	This seizure action is part of an international joint operation coordinated by Europol, known as "Operation Leak," that involved law enforcement agencies in 14 countries.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	On March 3 and 4, the FBI and law enforcement agents <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-leads-dismantlement-one-worlds-largest-hacker-forums" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">shut down LeakBase</a> by seizing two of its domains, posting seizure banners, and warning LeakBase members of the seizure after collecting further evidence.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Police officers and investigators also executed search warrants, made arrests, and conducted interviews in the United States and across Australia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	LeakBase's domain (<em>leakbase[.]la</em>) now displays a notice stating "This website has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of an international law enforcement operation."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The seizure banner also notes that the forum's database and all its contents, including IP logs and private messages, will be used for "evidentiary purposes" in future investigations.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"All forum content including users' accounts, posts, credit details, private messages and IP logs have been secured and preserved for evidentiary purposes," the notice reads. "Attempts to access, alter, or interfere with this site may result in additional criminal offenses. This action was possible because of international law enforcement and private sector coordination involving the partners listed below."
</p>

<div style="">
	<figure class="image" style="display:inline-block">
		<img alt="Leakbase seizure banner" class="ipsImage" height="406" width="720" src="https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/u/1109292/2026/Leakbase-seizure-banner.jpg">
		<figcaption>
			<em>Leakbase seizure banner (BleepingComputer)</em>
		</figcaption>
	</figure>
</div>

<p>
	The domain nameservers have also been switched to <em>ns1.fbi.seized.gov</em> and <em>ns2.fbi.seized.gov</em>, the nameservers used by the FBI when seizing domains.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"On 3 March, law enforcement authorities carried out coordinated enforcement actions across multiple jurisdictions, including arrests, house searches, and 'knock-and-talk' interventions. Around 100 enforcement actions were conducted worldwide, including measures against 37 of the most active users of the platforms," <a href="https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/major-data-leak-forum-dismantled-in-global-action-against-cybercrime-forum" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Europol added today</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"On 4 March, authorities moved to the technical disruption phase, seizing the forum's domain and replacing it with a law enforcement splash page. The operation now enters a prevention phase aimed at deterring further criminal activity and raising awareness of the consequences of engaging in cybercrime."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Active since 2021, LeakBase was launched as a project supported by the ARES threat group, and it gradually grew its user base to more than 142,000 members following the closure of the <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/breached-hacking-forum-shuts-down-fears-its-not-safe-from-fbi/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Breached hacker forum</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The forum was free to join and offered access to databases, a market for selling leaks, exploits, and other cybercrime services, and an escrow payment system. In addition, it also hosted spaces for programming, hacking tips, social engineering, cryptography, and opsec guides.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Today's announcement follows the disruption of <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/united-states-leads-seizure-one-world-s-largest-hacker-forums-and-arrests-administrator" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">RaidForums in 2022</a> and <a href="https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-arrest-founder-one-world-s-largest-hacker-forums-and-disruption" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">BreachForums in 2023</a>, two cybercrime marketplaces that preceded it, as well as the BreachForums founder's conviction and sentencing <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/breachforums-hacking-forum-admin-resentenced-to-three-years-in-prison/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">in 2025</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fbi-seizes-leakbase-cybercrime-forum-data-of-142-000-members/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Thursday 5 March 2026 at 4:34 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33961</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:34:31 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>New phishing scam uses legit software to hijack computers, but the real story is even wilder</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/new-phishing-scam-uses-legit-software-to-hijack-computers-but-the-real-story-is-even-wilder-r33959/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Microsoft Defender Experts just published a new threat report that sheds light on one of the wildest phishing plots we’ve seen in a while. The scheme doesn’t involve breaching a highly-sophisticated security system or inventing <a automate_uuid="31b37989-9230-4ccc-8c74-6096fc740636" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/hackers-exploited-sharepoint-to-steal-credentials-from-multiple-energy-companies/" rel="external nofollow">a new zero-day vulnerability</a>, or anything that comes to mind when you hear the word “hacking.” The attackers simply came up with an admittedly clever system to infiltrate enterprise computers using legitimate software.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	It all starts with emails containing fake meeting invites, PDF documents, and other malicious links. When a targeted user clicks a link to update a familiar app like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, or Adobe Reader, they are actually downloading malware on their computer.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	But here’s the thing: Microsoft found that the malicious files were digitally signed using an abused Extended Validation (EV) certificate issued to a company called TrustConnect Software PTY LTD.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Now, EV certificates aren’t easy to get, as they require strict identity verification by the Certificate Authority. Because of this, Windows SmartScreen and most antiviruses automatically consider them trustworthy and assume any file containing such a signature is entirely safe to download and run.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	When a user downloads it, the malware sets the groundwork for the entire operation. It first copies itself to the Program Files directory to mimic a legitimate application, registers itself as a Windows service, and creates a Run key in the system registry so it boots up every time the computer turns on.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Once it gets hold of an infected computer, the malware then uses encoded PowerShell commands to silently install legitimate Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools like ScreenConnect, Tactical RMM, and Mesh Agent!
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Since actual corporate IT departments use these exact tools every single day to manage company computers, the malicious network traffic blends right in. The attackers get a persistent backdoor into the corporate network, including remote desktop control and system-level command execution, without raising a single red flag. According to Microsoft’s report, the attackers even install multiple RMM tools, just in case a security team happens to detect and remove one of them.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	With full network control established, the attackers can do basically whatever they want with affected computers. They can sift through internal servers to steal intellectual property, customer databases, or financial records. Or they can move laterally from a single infected laptop straight to the core domain controller. The possibilities are endless.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	This is an ongoing threat, and Microsoft advises companies and employees to treat every file download they’re not absolutely sure is safe with extra caution. You can check out the entire report on<a automate_uuid="abff7ccb-b853-4fdf-98da-1423fad75c00" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/03/03/signed-malware-impersonating-workplace-apps-deploys-rmm-backdoors/" rel="external nofollow"> </a>the <a automate_uuid="2a5740c0-7389-456c-9477-9cc1438255aa" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/03/03/signed-malware-impersonating-workplace-apps-deploys-rmm-backdoors/" rel="external nofollow">Microsoft Security blog</a>.
</p>

<h3>
	Malware as a Service
</h3>

<p class="img-center">
	<img alt="TrustConnect home page" class="ipsImage" height="697" width="720" src="https://cdn.neowin.com/news/images/uploaded/2026/03/1772596265_trustconnect_home_page.webp">
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Now, if EV certificates are so hard to obtain, you might be wondering how a bunch of attackers got hold of them. And the story about it is pretty wild.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a automate_uuid="7c88cdc2-afb8-4d58-9231-75362dca9814" href="https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/dont-trustconnect-its-a-rat" rel="external nofollow">Threat researchers at Proofpoint discovered</a> last month that the hackers did not steal the certificate. They actually created a shell company, “TrustConnect Software PTY LTD” and crafted an entire fake business identity. They used AI to generate a highly convincing corporate website and injected it with fabricated customer statistics and reviews. Under the disguise of a legitimate startup, TrustConnect then legally bought an EV certificate. Someone at the Certificate Authority actually reviewed and approved the purchase.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	With a highly trusted EV certificate in their possession, TrustConnect didn’t just plan to launch its own attacks. Instead, it turned its fake website into a lucrative storefront for renting out its malware to other attackers. TrustConnect essentially created, as Proofpoint calls it, a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) operation, charging a flat rate of $300 a month in cryptocurrency for access to the digitally signed payloads and command infrastructure. The attackers followed that age-old advice and sold shovels during a gold rush.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	So, if you yourself wanted to infiltrate some company’s computer, you wouldn't even need to write a malicious script. You could just pay TrustConnect $300, download their pre-signed payload, practice some corporate talk to convince a target to actually run your file, and you’re in. Easy game.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Thankfully, the security research community did not just sit back and let it happen. Proofpoint, working alongside a group of researchers known as The Cert Graveyard, managed to get the abused EV certificate officially revoked on February 6. But there is a massive catch. Because the revocation was not backdated, any malware payloads the hackers had already signed remain completely valid and trusted by Windows.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	While the TrustConnect storefront stopped accepting new subscribers, the threat actors did not just pack up and vanish. They almost immediately switched to testing a new malware variant called DocConnect. According to Proofpoint’s report, DocConnect is an improved version of the malware, with more advanced features, featuring a better control panel, improved real-time communication, and tricks like fake Windows Update screens.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The whole thing is turning into an endless game of whack-a-mole and is far from over. Be careful with what you’re downloading, now more than ever, because these attackers have no intention of backing down.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/new-phishing-scam-uses-legit-software-to-hijack-computers-but-the-real-story-is-even-wilder/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 5:53 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33959</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:54:25 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Florida woman jailed over massive Microsoft "Genuine" Windows & Office activation key fraud]]></title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/florida-woman-jailed-over-massive-microsoft-genuine-windows-office-activation-key-fraud-r33945/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Heidi Richards, a 52‑year‑old female resident of Brandon, Florida, has been sentenced to 22 months in federal prison and fined $50,000 after being found guilty of conspiring to traffic in illicit Microsoft certificate of authenticity (COA) labels. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe and the case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Field Office.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	According to the Court records, Miss Richards was operating this illegal business under the name "Trinity Software Distribution," which purchased thousands of Microsoft COA labels from accomplices, who were also part of this illicit chain, at prices far below retail. Her employees then extracted the product key codes from those labels and sold them in bulk to unwary customers. These operations were carried out for five years between 2018 to 2023.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	If you are wondering, these are essentially the stickers or labels on retail product boxes and have a holographic and color-shifting feature. Microsoft describes COA labels as a safeguard for customers to help them identify authentic or "Genuine" Windows/Office software, so that they can avoid counterfeit copies. The labels carry security features designed to discourage duplication and are meant to be affixed to packaging or hardware.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	According to Microsoft’s official guidance, a COA label is "not a license,” and it holds no independent commercial value without the software it authenticates. About such "standalone" COAs, Microsoft <a automate_uuid="ddffc8b6-06a6-4f14-ba12-c03cbfa66cc4" href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/hardware-pc-purchase" rel="external nofollow">confirms</a> that they are "often counterfeit COAs" that are part of "excessive inventory." So it is not the product key, which are <a automate_uuid="fc488431-aecf-4802-95ff-a4676ef9f3a6" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-confirms-it-just-killed-a-unique-and-useful-way-to-activate-windows/" rel="external nofollow">much coveted for Windows activation</a>, although the COA can <a automate_uuid="4ab7aafb-c5c3-47b5-9139-7f6537142940" href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-windows-product-key-aaa2bf69-7b2b-9f13-f581-a806abf0a886" rel="external nofollow">accompany</a> the activation product key.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The company recommends that customers check the placement of COAs on packaging and consult official resources to confirm legitimacy and authenticity. Federal law also makes it clear that COA labels cannot be sold separately from the software and hardware they are meant to accompany, since they are not licenses in themselves but rather proof that a license is genuine.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Source: US DOJ (<a automate_uuid="0d979997-99bc-48f9-ab33-f9cc24e7511f" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/jury-convicts-software-distributor-conspiracy-traffic-illicit-microsoft-certificates" rel="external nofollow">link1</a>, <a automate_uuid="c8dcca8f-4c73-4993-8b5c-98009950b75e" href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/software-distributor-sentenced-22-months-prison-conspiracy-traffic-illicit-microsoft" rel="external nofollow">link2</a>)
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/florida-woman-jailed-over-massive-microsoft-genuine-windows--office-activation-key-fraud/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 4 March 2026 at 6:00 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33945</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:01:03 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Clueless cops post seized crypto wallet password. $5M quickly stolen.</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/clueless-cops-post-seized-crypto-wallet-password-5m-quickly-stolen-r33935/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	South Korean police deeply apologized for preventable loss of seized funds.
</h3>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Soon after South Korean police posted a press release boasting about seizing $5.6 million worth of cryptocurrency from 124 wealthy tax evaders, cops realized that they had mistakenly posted images that made it possible for a thief to quickly steal most of the seized assets.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Eventually, the press release was removed, but not before it was grabbed by local media outlets and tech publications covering the theft.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Bleeping Computer <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/48m-in-crypto-stolen-after-korean-tax-agency-exposes-wallet-seed/" rel="external nofollow">shared</a> a screenshot of the retracted images, which showed a handwritten note next to a Ledger device that’s used as a so-called “cold wallet” to store crypto out of reach of online threats. Clearly legible in the photo, the note contained a complete mnemonic recovery phrase that anyone can use as a master key to move assets off the cold wallet to a new wallet without any additional PIN or permissions required.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	A blockchain analysis expert, Cho Jae-woo, told a <a href="https://www.mk.co.kr/news/stock/11974731" rel="external nofollow">South Korean news site</a> that 4 million PRTG (Pre-Retogeum) tokens—worth approximately $4.8 million—were in the wallet when the thief struck. The Block <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/391578/south-korea-tax-service-reveals-crypto-wallet-recovery-phrase-report" rel="external nofollow">reported</a> that on-chain data from Etherscan indicated that “the party who moved the funds first deposited a small amount of ETH into the wallet to cover transaction fees, then transferred the 4 million PRTG tokens out in three transactions.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	On Sunday, officers with South Korea’s National Tax Service <a href="https://in.nts.go.kr/incheonnts/na/ntt/selectNttList.do?mi=9230&amp;bbsId=1028" rel="external nofollow">posted</a> another press release, “deeply” apologizing for the leak compromising the seized assets.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	In it, cops explained that they included the images to make the release more eye-catching, but they were careless in failing to redact the crypto wallet password from the images. They acknowledged there was no excuse for the error and confirmed they were launching an investigation with national police, attempting to trace the transfer and retrieve the lost funds.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Because the press release was widely circulated online, the thief could be anyone. South Korea’s National Tax Service has no clear suspects, Gizmodo <a href="https://gizmodo.com/south-korean-police-lose-seized-crypto-by-posting-password-online-2000728191" rel="external nofollow">suggested</a>, and no easy way to claw back funds.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	The officials’ best bet might be if the thief tries to move the stolen tokens through a regulated exchange, but The Block noted that the thief might struggle to convert that much cryptocurrency into cash under current market conditions. So seemingly, the thief, who likely wasn’t expecting the big payday anyway, may be motivated to lie low and avoid major exchanges.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Cho suggested that cops could have easily prevented the theft, likening posting any image of the mnemonic recovery phrase to leaving a wallet wide open. He noted that the original holder of the Ledger wallet was following best practices by only recording the phrase on a handwritten note and not storing the password online. Cops should have known to check the images for the recovery phrase, Cho said, and their mistake will likely cost the national treasury billions of won.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	It’s possible that whoever took the cryptocurrency just seized on an opportunity after seeing the cops’ failure to redact the images while scrolling through the National Tax Service’s press releases at dawn. It’s also possible that bad actors are closely monitoring South Korean police cryptocurrency announcements, following what The Block reported was “a series of crypto custody lapses.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	In January, officials in Gwangju had to investigate after “a substantial quantity of seized bitcoin was lost,” The Block <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/386701/south-korean-prosecutors-probe-disappearance-seized-bitcoin-report" rel="external nofollow">reported</a>. That was believed to be linked to a <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/383429/brooklyn-man-indicted-for-allegedly-stealing-16-million-from-coinbase-users-through-phishing-scheme" rel="external nofollow">phishing attack</a> targeting Coinbase but perhaps signaled that police weren’t always adequately securing seized assets.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p style="font-weight: 400;">
	Even more disturbingly, last month, police in Seoul’s Gangnam district had to launch an internal investigation after 22 seized bitcoins went missing, The Block <a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/389783/south-korean-police-loses-seized-bitcoin" rel="external nofollow">reported</a>. That case also involved a cold wallet suddenly drained without the physical device leaving police control, possibly indicating that some sensitive information isn’t handled securely.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In the latest press release, the National Tax Service officer said they are strengthening internal controls and job training to prevent future leaks.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/03/oops-south-korean-cops-lost-5m-in-seized-crypto-after-leaking-wallet-password/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 10:22 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33935</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:22:57 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Motorola announces partnership with GrapheneOS Foundation</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/motorola-announces-partnership-with-grapheneos-foundation-r33934/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Motorola has entered a partnership with the GrapheneOS Foundation to "bring cutting-edge security to everyday users across the globe."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The Lenovo-owned company said that this new partnership will allow for long-term collaboration on future devices engineered with GrapheneOS compatibility. It combines GrapheneOS's engineering with Motorola's own security experience and Lenovo's ThinkShield solutions. The two organizations will work together on joint research, software, and security, especially on mobile platforms, with more details to come as the partnership develops. Here's what a GrapheneOS spokesperson said:
</p>

<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
	<p>
		We are thrilled to be partnering with Motorola to bring GrapheneOS’s industry‑leading privacy and security‑focused mobile operating system to their next-generation smartphone
	</p>

	<p>
		 
	</p>

	<p>
		This collaboration marks a significant milestone in expanding the reach of GrapheneOS, and we applaud Motorola for taking this meaningful step towards advancing mobile security.
	</p>
</blockquote>

<p>
	In addition to the new partnership, Motorola <a automate_uuid="9234b53f-7b4e-4d73-97ca-6b3bb7a2f2fb" href="https://motorolanews.com/motorola-three-new-b2b-solutions-at-mwc-2026/" rel="external nofollow">unveiled</a> Moto Analytics, a platform for IT administrators to get a real-time view of device performance across their managed fleets. The tool provides deep operational insights, from app stability to battery health, and goes far beyond typical access control.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	A new feature, Private Image Data, is coming to the Moto Secure app. This tool automatically removes sensitive metadata, like location and device information, from all new photos taken on the device. It runs in the background to strip some of the private data attached to your images.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	GrapheneOS is a security-hardened mobile operating system built on the <a automate_uuid="909bbd6e-a749-45d1-b1bf-a1624f554d34" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/android-development-moves-internally-at-google-ahead-of-public-releases/" rel="external nofollow">Android Open Source Project (AOSP)</a>. For years, this heavily modified, "de-Googled" version of Android has been confined to Google Pixel devices because the project's developers maintained that only Pixels met their stringent hardware security requirements for features like verified boot and firmware updates.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Last October, the GrapheneOS project confirmed plans to expand its support to a major Android device maker, signaling an end to the Pixel-only era by seeking a hardware partner that could meet its exacting standards. The organization had previously said it would not have its own custom hardware <a automate_uuid="292d5199-cd63-4c39-8e5e-ef1e3efa6e3d" href="https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/30605-did-some-research-about-the-undisclosed-oem-grapheneos-is-working-with" rel="external nofollow">until at least 2027</a> because devices slated for 2026 lacked critical security technologies like hardware memory tagging.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/motorola-announces-partnership-with-grapheneos-foundation/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 10:21 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33934</guid><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:21:41 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>A new California law requires age checks in Windows, macOS, and every other operating system &#x2014; even Linux. Good luck with that.</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/a-new-california-law-requires-age-checks-in-windows-macos-and-every-other-operating-system-%E2%80%94-even-linux-good-luck-with-that-r33924/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	California’s Digital Age Assurance Act requires age checks in every operating system.
</h3>

<p id="306996ef-a718-443d-86de-fd0ac4d3be65">
	Over the past few years, age verification has increasingly become prevalent across industries and platforms. Just last month, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" rel="external nofollow">Discord announced plans to roll out age verification measures globally</a> to, as it claims, protect users from harmful or inappropriate content.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	And now, the move is trickling down to operating systems. Well, at least in California. In October 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1043" href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1043" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">California’s Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043)</a>, requiring operating system providers in the state to collect users’ age information during setup (via <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.pcgamer.com/software/operating-systems/a-new-california-law-says-all-operating-systems-including-linux-need-to-have-some-form-of-age-verification-at-account-setup/" href="https://www.pcgamer.com/software/operating-systems/a-new-california-law-says-all-operating-systems-including-linux-need-to-have-some-form-of-age-verification-at-account-setup/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">PCGamer</a>).
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" id="306996ef-a718-443d-86de-fd0ac4d3be65-2">
	The bill was passed by the Assembly and Senate unanimously, and is expected to take effect on January 1, 2027, affecting Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/linux" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/linux" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/linux" rel="external nofollow">Linux</a> distros like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/steamos" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/steamos" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/steamos" rel="external nofollow">SteamOS</a>, and more.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	According to AB 1043, an OS developer will be required to:
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" style="margin-left: 40px;">
	<em>"1) Provide an accessible interface at account setup that requires an account holder to indicate the birth date, age, or both, of the user of that device for the purpose of providing a signal regarding the user’s age bracket to applications available in a covered application store.</em>
</p>

<p style="margin-left: 40px;">
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" style="margin-left: 40px;">
	<em>(2) Provide a developer who has requested a signal with respect to a particular user with a digital signal via a reasonably consistent real-time application programming interface that identifies, at a minimum, which of the following categories pertains to the user.</em>
</p>

<p style="margin-left: 40px;">
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" style="margin-left: 40px;">
	<em>The categories are broken into four sections: users under 13 years of age, over 13 years of age under 16, at least 16 years of age and under 18, and "at least 18 years of age."</em>
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<div id="slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-gTH6tWmwtpVEzBMN2pJCnc">
	<div data-hydrate="true">
		<p aria-hidden="true">
			While the law doesn't enforce outrageous forms of age verification like a facial scan, OS developers will be required to collect age verification during the account setup process. The information can then be shared with app developers upon request.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p aria-hidden="true">
			App developers will now have access to their users' ages, consequently shifting legal liability for age-appropriate content decisions to them. For context, app developers could face steep penalties: up to $2,500 per affected child for negligent violations and $7,500 for intentional ones.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p aria-hidden="true">
			Despite signing the bill into law, Governor Gavin Newsom has urged the legislature to amend it, citing concerns from streaming services and game developers over <em>“complexities such as multi-user accounts shared within families and user profiles spread across multiple devices.”</em>
		</p>

		<h2 id="age-verification-probably-won-t-work-for-linux-3">
			Age verification probably won't work for Linux
		</h2>

		<p id="48e39aca-699d-4a22-828a-2282e3de8149">
			While this might not be a major change for Windows since the operating system already requires users to provide their date of birth during the Microsoft Account setup process, it seems like an uphill task for Linux distros.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			This is because they don’t have centralized accounts, and users can download ISOs from global mirrors and freely modify the source code.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em>"This is basically impossible for California to enforce,"</em> <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1rfcxj1/anyone_scared_of_californias_pending_age/" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/linuxmint/comments/1rfcxj1/anyone_scared_of_californias_pending_age/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">CatoDomine indicated on Reddit</a>. <em>"Even if Linux Mint decides to add some kind of age verification, to comply with CA law, there's no reason anyone would choose that version."</em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			The user further indicated that even if the find a way to get age verification to work on Linux, <em>"It's more likely they will put a disclaimer on their website: "not for use in California."</em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><strong>Do you support California’s new law requiring age verification in all operating systems? Share your thoughts in the comments.</strong></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows/new-california-law-requires-age-checks-in-windows" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
		</p>

		<hr class="ipsHr">
		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 5:10 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of February) 854</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
		</p>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33924</guid><pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 19:12:13 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Google quantum-proofs HTTPS by squeezing 2.5kB of data into 64-byte space</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/google-quantum-proofs-https-by-squeezing-25kb-of-data-into-64-byte-space-r33895/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	Merkle Tree Certificate support is already in Chrome. Soon, it will be everywhere.
</h3>

<p>
	Google on Friday unveiled its plan for its Chrome browser to secure HTTPS certificates against quantum computer attacks without breaking the Internet.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The objective is a tall order. The quantum-resistant cryptographic data needed to transparently publish TLS certificates is roughly 40 times bigger than the classical cryptographic material used today. Today’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X.509" rel="external nofollow">X.509 certificates</a> are about 64 bytes in size, and comprise six elliptic curve signatures and two EC public keys. This material can be cracked through the quantum-enabled <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shor's_algorithm" rel="external nofollow">Shor’s algorithm</a>. Certificates containing the equivalent quantum-resistant cryptographic material are roughly 2.5 kilobytes. All this data must be transmitted when a browser connects to a site.
</p>

<h2>
	The bigger they come, the slower they move
</h2>

<p>
	“The bigger you make the certificate, the slower the handshake and the more people you leave behind,” said Bas Westerbaan, principal research engineer at Cloudflare, which is partnering with Google on the transition. “Our problem is we don’t want to leave people behind in this transition.” Speaking to Ars, he said that people will likely disable the new encryption if it slows their browsing. He added that the massive size increase can also degrade “middle boxes,” which sit between browsers and the final site.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	To bypass the bottleneck, companies are turning to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkle_tree" rel="external nofollow">Merkle Trees</a>, a data structure that uses cryptographic hashes and other math to verify the contents of large amounts of information using a small fraction of material used in more traditional verification processes in public key infrastructure.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Merkle Tree Certificates, “replace the heavy, serialized chain of signatures found in traditional PKI with compact Merkle Tree proofs,” members of Google’s Chrome Secure Web and Networking Team <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2026/02/cultivating-robust-and-efficient.html" rel="external nofollow">wrote Friday</a>. “In this model, a Certification Authority (CA) signs a single ‘Tree Head’ representing potentially millions of certificates, and the ‘certificate’ sent to the browser is merely a lightweight proof of inclusion in that tree.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Google and other browser makers require that all TLS certificates be published in public transparency logs, which are append-only distributed ledgers. Website owners can then check the logs in real time to ensure that no rogue certificates have been issued for the domains they use. The transparency programs were implemented in response to the <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2011/09/07/diginotar_hacker_proof/" rel="external nofollow">2011 hack</a> of Netherlands-based DigiNotar, which allowed the minting of 500 counterfeit certificates for Google and other websites, some of which were used to spy on web users in Iran.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Once viable, Shor’s algorithm could be used to forge classical encryption signatures and break classical encryption public keys of the certificate logs. Ultimately, an attacker could forge <a href="https://blog.cloudflare.com/pq-2025/" rel="external nofollow">signed certificate timestamps</a> used to prove to a browser or operating system that a certificate has been registered when it hasn’t.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	To rule out this possibility, Google is adding cryptographic material from quantum-resistant algorithms such as <a href="https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/FIPS/NIST.FIPS.204.pdf" rel="external nofollow">ML-DSA</a>. This addition would allow forgeries only if an attacker were to break both classical and post-quantum encryption. The new regime is part of what Google is calling the quantum-resistant root store, which will complement the Chrome Root Store the company <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2023/05/how-chrome-root-program-keeps-users-safe.html" rel="external nofollow">formed in 2022</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The MTCs use Merkle Trees to provide quantum-resistant assurances that a certificate has been published without having to add most of the lengthy keys and hashes. Using other techniques to reduce the data sizes, the MTCs will be roughly the same 64-byte length they are now, Westerbaan said.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The new system has already been implemented in Chrome. For the time being, Cloudflare is enrolling roughly 1,000 TLS certificates to test how well the MTCs work. For now, Cloudflare is generating the distributed ledger. The plan is for CAs to eventually fill that role. The Internet Engineering Task Force standards body has recently formed a working group called the <a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/plants/about/" rel="external nofollow">PKI, Logs, And Tree Signatures</a>, which is coordinating with other key players to develop a long-term solution.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“We view the adoption of MTCs and a quantum-resistant root store as a critical opportunity to ensure the robustness of the foundation of today’s ecosystem,” Google’s Friday blog post said. “By designing for the specific demands of a modern, agile internet, we can accelerate the adoption of post-quantum resilience for all web users.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/02/google-is-using-clever-math-to-quantum-proof-https-certificates/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Saturday 28 February 2026 at 5:38 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33895</guid><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:38:47 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>NATO says iPhones are secure enough to handle classified data</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/nato-says-iphones-are-secure-enough-to-handle-classified-data-r33866/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	The devices don’t need special software or settings to hold NATO-restricted information.
</h3>

<p>
	The iPhone and iPad have been approved to hold NATO-restricted information, <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/02/iphone-and-ipad-approved-to-handle-classified-nato-information/" rel="external nofollow">according to an announcement on Thursday</a>. That means off-the-shelf devices <a href="https://www.ia.nato.int/niapc/Product/Indigo-26_968" rel="external nofollow">running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26</a> can handle classified information “without requiring special software or settings,” Apple says.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The NATO-restricted designation is the lowest level of classified information, and it applies to information that would be “disadvantageous to the interests of NATO” if disclosed, according to <a href="https://www.information.marines.mil/Portals/224/Docs/Newcomers/NATO-Security-Briefing.pdf" rel="external nofollow">a security document</a> posted by the Marines. BlackBerry 10 phones <a href="https://allthingsd.com/20131001/blackberry-10-gets-nato-security-clearance/" rel="external nofollow">similarly received approval</a> to hold this level of classified information in 2013.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Following an “extensive evaluation” by Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), the iPhone and iPad were cleared to handle classified information from the German government. But now, the BSI has signed off on the use of Apple devices with iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 across all NATO nations.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Apple says built-in security protections, like encryption, biometric authentication with Face ID, and <a href="/news/775234/iphone-17-air-a19-memory-integrity-enforcement-mte-security" rel="">Memory Integrity Enforcement, which directly targets spyware</a>, “are now recognized as meeting stringent government and international security requirements.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/885516/nato-iphones-ipads-restricted-classified-information" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 27 February 2026 at 6:14 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33866</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 20:14:57 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>YouTube&#x2019;s war on ad-blockers just got personal &#x2014; punishing users by hiding video descriptions and comments</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/youtube%E2%80%99s-war-on-ad-blockers-just-got-personal-%E2%80%94-punishing-users-by-hiding-video-descriptions-and-comments-r33851/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	AdGuard says YouTube has intentionally turned off comments and descriptions for some ad-blocker users.
</h3>

<p id="d7dda40e-1f2d-4423-bd43-d62d4bb118c6">
	Google is using every possible avenue to prevent users from watching YouTube videos with ad-blockers installed on their devices. Last month, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtubes-latest-error-message-is-really-an-ad-blocker-crackdown-blocking-playback" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtubes-latest-error-message-is-really-an-ad-blocker-crackdown-blocking-playback" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtubes-latest-error-message-is-really-an-ad-blocker-crackdown-blocking-playback" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">multiple users raised concerns about a sudden increase in <em>"This content isn't available, try again later" </em>errors when watching YouTube videos</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	At the time, there were only two workarounds for the issue:<strong> </strong>either disabling ad-blockers installed in their browsers or upgrading to YouTube's $14/month Premium subscription plan. As a result, many users speculated that Google was intentionally using the YouTube errors as part of its broader campaign against ad-blockers.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" id="d7dda40e-1f2d-4423-bd43-d62d4bb118c6-2">
	And now, AdGuard has seemingly uncovered a new method that Google is using to discourage users from using ad blockers. The company claims that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-google-interstitial="false" data-hl-processed="skimlinks" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-placeholder-url="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=23432X820454&amp;xcust=hawk-custom-tracking&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fadguard.com%2Fen%2Fblog%2Fyoutube-missing-comments-descriptions.html%3F&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windowscentral.com%2Fsoftware-apps%2Fyoutubes-war-on-ad-blockers-just-got-personal-punishing-users-by-hiding-video-descriptions-and-comments" data-url="https://adguard.com/en/blog/youtube-missing-comments-descriptions.html?" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=23432X820454&amp;xcust=wp_gb_5907247031386983694&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fadguard.com%2Fen%2Fblog%2Fyoutube-missing-comments-descriptions.html%3F&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windowscentral.com%2Fsoftware-apps%2Fyoutubes-war-on-ad-blockers-just-got-personal-punishing-users-by-hiding-video-descriptions-and-comments" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube has stopped showing comments and video descriptions to users with ad blockers</a>.
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	 
</p>

<div class="ipsEmbeddedOther" contenteditable="false">
	<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="ipsEmbed_finishedLoading" data-controller="core.front.core.autosizeiframe" data-embedid="embed4582179283" src="https://nsaneforums.com/index.php?app=core&amp;module=system&amp;controller=embed&amp;url=https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1r5oc17/youtube_now_turns_off_comments_and_video/?embed_host_url=https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtubes-war-on-ad-blockers-just-got-personal-punishing-users-by-hiding-video-descriptions-and-comments" style="overflow: hidden; height: 326px;"></iframe>
</div>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	 
</p>

<p id="bf139398-8c89-4473-b8cd-d3fd9bd539b6">
	Some of the users that flagged the issue on <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Reddit</a> indicated that the only fix for the issue is to disable the ad-blocker on their PC. <em>"The sad thing is this is happening to premium users that are running ad-blockers,"</em> <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1r5oc17/youtube_now_turns_off_comments_and_video/" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/youtube/comments/1r5oc17/youtube_now_turns_off_comments_and_video/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">a Reddit user lamented</a>. <em>"Not just to the people running YouTube ad-blockers specifically."</em>
</p>

<figure id="5aeca41a-a4af-4215-8973-a30a66d6b998">
	<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
		<p>
			The exact method of messing with the ad-blocking crowd may be new, but it’s far from the first time when ad blockers faced a challenge from YouTube and managed to successfully overcome it by updating the filter lists — sets of rules that tell the ad blocker what exactly to block. As with previous issues, the fixes have already been deployed. Once the updated filters reach users, the issue should resolve. But not everyone may have received them yet. And that’s where things get different.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><cite>AdGuard</cite></em>
		</p>
	</blockquote>
</figure>

<p id="b77550fe-c494-4d14-aa5c-07acb951943c">
	The company says that the gap between a fix being developed and it actually being delivered to users has never been wider. Interestingly, the company claims that Google’s new extension rules are to blame.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Google began transitioning Chrome extensions from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3 in 2023, a change that significantly affected ad blockers such as uBlock Origin. As a result, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/browsing/google-pulls-the-plug-on-ublock-origin" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/browsing/google-pulls-the-plug-on-ublock-origin" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/browsing/google-pulls-the-plug-on-ublock-origin" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">more than 30 million Chrome users were left vulnerable to intrusive ads</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Now, the Manifest V3 framework is in full effect after Google deprecated V2. According to AdGuard, MV3 changed the scope of extensions, significantly reducing their permissions and limiting their capabilities.
</p>

<div id="slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-Dsw7mL6m5djSb2bt5duxo9">
	<div data-hydrate="true">
		<div>
			 
		</div>

		<p style="margin-left: 40px;">
			<em>"One of the most significant changes is the replacement of the webRequest API with the declarativeNetRequest API.</em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em>While both APIs allow extensions to block unwanted content, the declarativeNetRequest API is far more restrictive. It operates by pre-defining a list of rules that the extension can use to block content, and these rules are applied statically."</em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			As a result, AdGuard says that it's impossible for ad-blockers to respond to requests in real-time under the MV3 framework. What's more, the ability to update filter lists and adapt to new content has been stunted.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			The company admits that Google's transition to the Manifest V3 framework was designed to bolster user privacy. While the goal was achieved, it says that many extensions, especially ad-blockers, have become less powerful.
		</p>

		<figure id="ea099a8c-b2ee-4b3c-81f1-715acffbe588">
			<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
				<p>
					Ad-blocking extensions under MV3 can’t just update their filters at will like before. The filters in MV3 are pre-built within the extension itself, which means that filter updates can only be delivered through full extension updates, and updating the extension requires it to go through a full-scale review process. This means that if something breaks on a popular website (like YouTube), users may be stuck without a solution for days.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><cite>AdGuard</cite></em>
				</p>
			</blockquote>
		</figure>

		<p id="d111bc5a-a37d-4763-a852-3b88770fcf26">
			For context, AdGuard uses Chrome’s fast-track review to deliver filter rules updates to users without having to wait for a full extension review. However, this only applies to rules that Google deems "safe."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			In such an instance, the automatic extension could be delivered to users within a few hours. However, rules that don't fall under the safe category must undergo a full review process, which could last up to a week or more.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			According to AdGuard:
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p style="margin-left: 40px;">
			<em>"Unfortunately, the fixes required to deal with the YouTube issues we’re discussing today cannot be delivered via the fast track, so until the extension passes the lengthy review process, they will not become available to Chrome users."</em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Browsers like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/mozilla" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/mozilla" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/mozilla" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Mozilla</a> <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/firefox" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/firefox" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/firefox" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Firefox</a> don't use Chromium, which means they continue to run the Manifest V2 framework. As such, extensions and ad-blockers continue to run smoothly with powerful capabilities, potentially explaining why there haven't been many complaints about YouTube from Firefox users.
		</p>

		<figure id="61e7bd84-4d29-4063-8072-f4a1eb0fd250">
			<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
				<p>
					The recent Manifest V3 changes in Chromium […] severely limited what ad blockers can do in Chromium-based browsers. You probably don’t feel it right now because we’ve been able to work with the Chromium team and shape the API in a way that covers most of our needs. But what’s been crippled is the ability to improve it further. It now takes much more time to implement changes — it may take years to introduce a new feature in MV3.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><cite>Andrey Meshkov, AdGuard’s Co-Founder and CTO</cite></em>
				</p>
			</blockquote>
		</figure>

		<p id="8998f882-b6cf-4a60-8473-0e7c1e3d119b">
			In the interim, AdGuard recommends a standalone, system-level ad blocker like AdGuard for Windows or AdGuard for Mac since it doesn't depend on a browser and will filter the traffic of your entire PC.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Alternatively, you can also switch to a different browser that doesn't rely on the Manifest V3 framework, including Mozilla Firefox and other Gecko-based browsers.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Earlier this month,<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtube-blocks-background-play-on-third-party-mobile-browsers" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtube-blocks-background-play-on-third-party-mobile-browsers" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtube-blocks-background-play-on-third-party-mobile-browsers" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank"> YouTube reportedly started killing background play on third-party mobile browsers</a>, limiting the popular feature to Premium users. This is on top of <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/ad-blockers-are-not-allowed-google-escalates-its-battle-against-ad-blockers-to-push-youtube-premiums-usd14-month-subscriptions" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/ad-blockers-are-not-allowed-google-escalates-its-battle-against-ad-blockers-to-push-youtube-premiums-usd14-month-subscriptions" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/ad-blockers-are-not-allowed-google-escalates-its-battle-against-ad-blockers-to-push-youtube-premiums-usd14-month-subscriptions" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Google preventing playback on YouTube videos</a> as well as <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/google-throttling-youtube-adblock-users" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/google-throttling-youtube-adblock-users" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/streaming-video/google-throttling-youtube-adblock-users" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">intentionally slowing down YouTube videos for users with ad-blockers</a>.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Ironically, a YouTube ad (in the background) is trying to get me to join its $14/month Premium plan as I wrap up this post.
		</p>

		<h2 id="what-do-you-think-3">
			What do you think
		</h2>

		<p id="94d4bd06-a943-4d1a-afc4-cefea9e1a867">
			Google's crackdown on ad-blockers has seemingly made it virtually impossible for free users to enjoy YouTube videos without the constant interruptions from annoying ads. What's more, the ads being promoted (at least for me) aren't curated for my specific wants and needs, making them redundant.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			At this point, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. It seems like getting a Premium subscription is the only realistic way around the annoying ads since ad-blockers are seemingly out of the equation with the new Manifest V3 framework rules or ditching <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/google-chrome" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/google-chrome" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/google-chrome" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Google Chrome</a> entirely...
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><strong>What are your thoughts on Google's aggressive campaign against ad-blockers? Let me know in the comments.</strong></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/youtubes-war-on-ad-blockers-just-got-personal-punishing-users-by-hiding-video-descriptions-and-comments" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Source</a>
		</p>

		<hr class="ipsHr">
		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Thursday 26 February 2026 at 4:59 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
		</p>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33851</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:02:31 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Zyxel warns of critical RCE flaw affecting over a dozen routers</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/zyxel-warns-of-critical-rce-flaw-affecting-over-a-dozen-routers-r33850/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Taiwan networking provider Zyxel has released security updates to address a critical vulnerability affecting over a dozen router models that can allow unauthenticated attackers to gain remote command execution on unpatched devices.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Tracked as CVE-2025-13942, this command injection security flaw was found in the UPnP function of Zyxel 4G LTE/5G NR CPE, DSL/Ethernet CPE, Fiber ONTs, and wireless extenders.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Zyxel says that unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit it to execute operating system (OS) commands on an affected device using maliciously crafted UPnP SOAP requests.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	However, CVE-2025-13942 attacks will likely be more limited than the severity rating suggests, as successful exploitation requires UPnP and WAN access to be enabled, with the latter disabled by default.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"It is important to note that WAN access is disabled by default on these devices, and the attack can be carried out remotely only if both WAN access and the vulnerable UPnP function have been enabled," <a href="https://www.zyxel.com/global/en/support/security-advisories/zyxel-security-advisory-for-null-pointer-dereference-and-command-injection-vulnerabilities-in-certain-4g-lte-5g-nr-cpe-dsl-ethernet-cpe-fiber-onts-security-routers-and-wireless-extenders-02-24-2026" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Zyxel said</a>. "Users are strongly advised to install the patches to maintain optimal protection."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	On Tuesday, Zyxel also patched two high-severity post-authentication command-injection vulnerabilities (<a href="https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-13943" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">CVE-2025-13943</a> and <a href="https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-1459" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">CVE-2026-1459</a>) that allow threat actors to execute OS commands using compromised credentials.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Internet security watchdog Shadowserver currently tracks <a href="https://dashboard.shadowserver.org/statistics/iot-devices/time-series/?date_range=7&amp;vendor=zyxel&amp;dataset=count&amp;limit=100&amp;group_by=geo&amp;stacking=stacked" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">nearly 120,000 Internet-exposed Zyxel devices</a>, including <a href="https://dashboard.shadowserver.org/statistics/iot-devices/time-series/?date_range=7&amp;vendor=zyxel&amp;type=router&amp;dataset=count&amp;limit=100&amp;group_by=geo&amp;stacking=stacked" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">over 76,000 routers</a>.
</p>

<div style="">
	<figure class="image" style="display:inline-block">
		<img alt="Internet-exposed Zyxel devices" class="ipsImage" height="364" width="720" src="https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/u/1109292/2026/Internet-exposed%20Zyxel%20devices.png">
		<figcaption>
			<em>Internet-exposed Zyxel devices (Shadowserver)</em>
		</figcaption>
	</figure>
</div>

<p>
	Zyxel devices are often targeted in attacks since they're provided by many internet service providers worldwide as the default out-of-the-box equipment when activating a new internet service contract.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is currently <a href="https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?search_api_fulltext=Zyxel" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">tracking 12 Zyxel vulnerabilities</a>impacting the company's routers, firewalls, and NAS devices that have been or are still actively exploited in the wild.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Earlier this month, Zyxel warned <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/zyxel-wont-patch-newly-exploited-flaws-in-end-of-life-routers/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">that it has no plans to patch</a> a pair of zero-day security vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-40891 and CVE-2024-40891) that are <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-exploit-critical-unpatched-flaw-in-zyxel-cpe-devices/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">actively exploited in attacks</a> and affect end-of-life routers still available for sale online. Instead, the company "strongly" advised customers to replace their routers with newer products whose firmware has already been patched.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"VMG1312-B10A, VMG1312-B10B, VMG1312-B10E, VMG3312-B10A, VMG3313-B10A, VMG3926-B10B, VMG4325-B10A, VMG4380-B10A, VMG8324-B10A, VMG8924-B10A, SBG3300, and SBG3500, are legacy products that have reached end-of-life (EOL) for years," said Zyxel. "Therefore, we strongly recommend that users replace them with newer-generation products for optimal protection."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Zyxel claims that more than 1 million businesses use its networking products across 150 markets.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/zyxel-warns-of-critical-rce-flaw-affecting-over-a-dozen-routers/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Thursday 26 February 2026 at 4:58 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33850</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:59:28 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Discord delays its global age verification update after widespread backlash, severing Persona ties &#x2014; "We&#x2019;re listening. We'll get this right"</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/discord-delays-its-global-age-verification-update-after-widespread-backlash-severing-persona-ties-%E2%80%94-we%E2%80%99re-listening-well-get-this-right-r33844/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	Controversial age verification requirements won't come to Discord globally until later this year.
</h3>

<p id="d569a973-883e-42a2-b64a-881b4422947b">
	<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">Discord</a>, the extremely popular and free-to-use communication app that's been a mainstay for gamers and other communities for over a decade, has announced that it's delaying the global rollout for its age verification requirements and "Teen-by-Default" policy until "the second half of 2026," meaning the update won't come until the start of July at the earliest.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The news — delivered by chief technology officer Stanislav Vishnevskiy in <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://discord.com/blog/getting-global-age-assurance-right-what-we-got-wrong-and-whats-changing" href="https://discord.com/blog/getting-global-age-assurance-right-what-we-got-wrong-and-whats-changing" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">a new blog post</a> — comes after weeks of widespread scathing backlash from users around the world, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">after searches for "Discord alternatives" surged 10,000%</a>. Clearly, many aren't comfortable with the idea of submitting videos of themselves or their government-issued ID to prove they're not a teen so they can continue accessing age-restricted channels.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" id="d569a973-883e-42a2-b64a-881b4422947b-2">
	Despite assurances from <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" rel="external nofollow">Discord</a> that personal data never leaves your device and is deleted immediately once your age is verified, trust in the platform is at an all-time low after <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/hackers-infiltrate-discords-id-checks-and-its-bad-news-70-000-users-personal-data-exposed" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/hackers-infiltrate-discords-id-checks-and-its-bad-news-70-000-users-personal-data-exposed" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/hackers-infiltrate-discords-id-checks-and-its-bad-news-70-000-users-personal-data-exposed" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">a hack exposed the personal data of 70,000 users last October</a>. Discord no longer works with the third-party vendor responsible, but even so, it's easy to see why users are skeptical of its security.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/" href="https://fortune.com/2026/02/24/discord-peter-thiel-backed-persona-identity-verification-breach/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">Discord also recently cut ties with Persona</a>, a verification software used by Roblox and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" rel="external nofollow">Reddit</a> that's backed by Peter Thiel after connections to U.S. government surveillance were discovered. Discord says it ran a test with Persona in the UK only in January, and decided to drop it afterwards.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	Discord has noted that for the full rollout of its age requirements later this year will utilize "non-identifying systems" that only verify your age and not your identity, including credit card verification. You may also not need to verify at all, as Discord has an "internal system that works to accurately determine your age." This, Discord says, will cover "90%+ of users."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	To comply with specific age verification laws currently in effect in the UK and Australia and soon coming to Brazil, though, Discord has to rely on facial age estimation and/or ID checks in these regions specifically.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<div>
	<div>
		<p>
			<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-320-80.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="Discord surrounded by alternatives" class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ehrbDTTFCk6KTm3WCsFVHd-1024-80.jpg"> </source></picture>
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><span>The ongoing backlash against Discord's upcoming age verification policy has driven many to search for </span></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><span>alternatives, though age verification laws will affect <em>them</em>, too... </span></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><span itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Discord | Stoat | Mumble | TeamSpeak | Root | Edited with Gemini)</span></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p id="8f31c3e2-4f18-433e-bed6-2398dc171ee0">
			It's also promised to completely document every verification vendor it works with on its website, and says users will have multiple vendors to choose from, with Discord promising to make it clear "who each vendor is, what method they use, and how they handle your data."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Discord says "Every vendor we work with goes through a security and privacy review before integration," and explains that this includes "contractual limits on data use, and strict retention and deletion requirements." Any information submitted for verification is "stored only for the minimum time necessary, which in most cases means it's deleted immediately."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Ultimately, the move away from facial age estimation and ID checks wherever possible is a clear step in the right direction, though it's unfortunate that region-specific laws are forcing Discord to use these verification methods in certain countries. Still, a win is a win.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			"We've made mistakes. I won't pretend we haven't. And I know that being a bigger company now means our mistakes have bigger consequences and erode trust faster. I don't expect one blog post to fix that," Vishnevskiy wrote. "Trust is earned through actions over time: shipping the things we promised, owning it when we miss the mark, and giving you real control over your own experience."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			"We’re listening. We'll get this right. And when we ship, you'll be able to see for yourselves," he added.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/discord-delays-its-global-age-verification-update-after-widespread-backlash-severing-persona-ties" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
		</p>

		<hr class="ipsHr">
		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 12:05 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
		</p>

		<p>
			<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
		</p>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33844</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:06:43 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>1Password is going up in price</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/1password-is-going-up-in-price-r33843/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	The password manager’s annual plans will cost $12 more starting March 27th.
</h3>

<p>
	1Password is increasing its prices on March 27th, 2026. In an email sent to users, the password manager says it will raise the price of its individual plan from $3.99 / month ($35.88 / year) to $4.99 / month ($47.88 / year), and that its family plan is going from $6.95 / month ($59.88 / year) to $7.99 / month ($71.88 / year).
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“While 1Password has grown substantially in value and capability, our pricing has remained largely unchanged for many years,” 1Password’s email states. 1Password says that the price increase will help it “continue investing in innovation and the world-class security you expect.” The email lists some of the new features the company has recently added to the platform, such as the ability to save logins and payment details, <a href="/tech/864980/1password-security-phishing-attack-prevention-password-browser-extension-scammers" rel="">protection against phishing,</a> and faster device setup.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	As noted by 1Password, the price increase will go into effect during your next plan renewal, as long as it’s after March 27th.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<em><strong>Update, February 24th: </strong>Added monthly price changes.</em>
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/883837/1password-price-increase" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 12:05 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33843</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:05:36 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Passwords are finally coming to WhatsApp soon</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/passwords-are-finally-coming-to-whatsapp-soon-r33842/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Meta is on a roll when it comes to bringing long-awaited features to WhatsApp. After<a automate_uuid="53d6a108-ae95-4eaf-954d-5ca754de897b" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/whatsapp-will-finally-let-you-send-scheduled-messages-eventually/" rel="external nofollow"> yesterday’s news about scheduling messages coming to the popular messaging service</a>, we now learn that you’ll finally be able to set passwords in WhatsApp soon.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	This feature was spotted in beta testing, specifically in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.26.7.8. It appears that, once they arrive in the public version, passwords won’t be mandatory, as you’ll likely still be able to use your account without setting one up. Passwords will simply be another layer of security that users can implement.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The feature is currently only present in WhatsApp beta for Android, and there’s no mention of whether it will be coming to iOS as well. Given that scheduled messages are currently only present in an iOS test build, it looks like Meta is splitting new features across platforms. Still, it’s reasonable to assume that iOS users will also be able to set up passwords, but no confirmations just yet.
</p>

<figure class="image image--expandable">
	<img alt="WhatsApp passwords" class="ipsImage" height="530" width="720" src="https://cdn.neowin.com/news/images/uploaded/2026/02/1771956380_whatsapp_passwords.webp">
	<figcaption>
		<em>Image: WABetaInfo</em>
	</figcaption>
</figure>

<p>
	The current process of setting up a WhatsApp account is well-known. You enter your phone number, receive and input the 6-digit SMS verification code, and you're in. The new password won't alter this initial signup; it'll only kick in for logins on new devices or after re-verification. You’ll still be able to set up your WhatsApp account the “old-fashioned” way and further secure it with a password if you choose.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Right now, WhatsApp accounts aren't the most secure by default. Essentially, anyone with access to your SIM card can hijack the OTP codes and sign into your account. Meta hopes to mitigate that by allowing users to add an extra step.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Once set, the password becomes a required step during logins on new devices. First you'll need to enter the 6-digit SMS code, then (if enabled) your existing two-step verification PIN, and finally the account password. This multi-layer approach makes unauthorized access much harder, even if someone hijacks your OTP.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	There’s no info on when Meta plans to push passwords to the public version of WhatsApp.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Source: <a automate_uuid="cfb6c92c-b776-48e4-826e-b128af7cd9f4" href="https://wabetainfo.com/whatsapp-beta-for-android-2-26-7-8-whats-new/" rel="external nofollow">WABetaInfo</a>
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/passwords-are-finally-coming-to-whatsapp-soon/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 12:03 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33842</guid><pubDate>Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:04:26 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Microsoft updates security baseline package for Windows Server 2025</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/microsoft-updates-security-baseline-package-for-windows-server-2025-r33834/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Many organizations have complex environments with a diverse set of hardware and software configurations. Those utilizing Microsoft's stack of technology typically also receive guidance from the Redmond firm about the best practices to follow while configuring their infrastructure. One such technique for standardization of deployments is the security baseline package offered by Microsoft for Windows Server 2025. Now, the company has updated this package with new configurations.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	For those unaware, a security baseline package is essentially a set of pre-configured Group Policy Objects (GPO), registry tweaks, and security policies recommended by Microsoft. The Redmond giant has made several changes to various configurations for Windows Server 2025, version 2602.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Starting off with the sudo command, this mode has been disabled in Member Servers (MS) and Domain Controllers (DCs) because it can be leveraged by attackers to escalate their privileges, bypassing user account control (UAC) prompts. In the same vein, the Configure Validation of ROCA-vulnerable WHfB keys during authentication setting has been set to Block mode in domain controllers to mitigate vulnerabilities Windows Hello for Business (WHfB) keys that are prone to the Return of Coppersmith's attack (ROCA).
</p>

<p class="img-center">
	<img alt="Internet Explorer logo on a dark background" class="ipsImage" height="405" width="720" src="https://cdn.neowin.com/news/images/uploaded/2020/01/1580239767_internet_explorer.jpg">
</p>

<p>
	Additionally, Internet Explorer 11 Launch Via COM Automation has been disabled similar to Windows 11, version 25H2, as this poses a cybersecurity risk through legacy components. Another configuration borrowed from Windows 11 is the application of the Mark of the Web (MotW) tag on files downloaded from the internet and other untrusted sources. This enforces additional protections on such content such as SmartScreen filtering and blocking of macros in Office applications.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Some NTLM configurations, some of <a automate_uuid="fbdd75c1-915e-4213-96a9-5bde6cb0bbd8" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-making-windows-more-secure-here-is-how-it-admins-need-to-prepare/" rel="external nofollow">which we also discussed previously</a>, are as follows:
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<ul>
	<li>
		Audit Incoming NTLM Traffic: Configured as Enable auditing for all accounts on both MS and DC
	</li>
	<li>
		Audit NTLM authentication in this domain: Configured as Enable all on DC
	</li>
	<li>
		Outgoing NTLM traffic to remote servers: Configured as Audit all on both MS and DC
	</li>
	<li>
		NTLM Auditing Enhancements: Already enabled by default to improve visibility into NTLM usage within your environment
	</li>
</ul>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Meanwhile, the policy related to preventing the downloading of enclosures has been removed from the latest security baseline package as it is not applicable on Windows Server 2025.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Finally, some updated printer policies are described below:
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<ul>
	<li>
		Configure RPC connection settings: Enforce the default, RPC over TCP with Authentication Enabled, on both MS and DC
	</li>
	<li>
		Configure RPC listener settings: Configure as RPC over TCP | Kerberos on MS
	</li>
	<li>
		Impersonate a client after authentication: Add RESTRICTED SERVICES\PrintSpoolerService to allow the Print Spooler’s restricted service identity to impersonate clients securely
	</li>
</ul>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Microsoft has also shared some guidance around the expiration of Secure Boot certificates and SMB Server hardening, you can check out additional details <a automate_uuid="b2a7e823-f17e-4c40-a9a8-3667fe02db80" href="https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-baselines/security-baseline-for-windows-server-2025-version-2602/4496468" rel="external nofollow">here</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-updates-security-baseline-package-for-windows-server-2025/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Wednesday 25 February 2026 at 3:41 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33834</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:41:52 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>AIs can generate near-verbatim copies of novels from training data</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/ais-can-generate-near-verbatim-copies-of-novels-from-training-data-r33818/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	LLMs memorize more training data than previously thought.
</h3>

<p>
	The world’s top AI models can be prompted to generate near-verbatim copies of bestselling novels, raising fresh questions about the industry’s claim that its systems do not store copyrighted works.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	A series of recent studies has shown that large language models from OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic, and xAI memorize far more of their training data than previously thought.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	AI and legal experts told the FT this “memorization” ability could have serious ramifications on AI groups’ battle against dozens of copyright lawsuits around the world, as it undermines their core defense that LLMs “learn” from copyrighted works but do not <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/comment/COLC-2023-0006-8906" rel="external nofollow">store copies</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“There’s growing evidence that memorization is a bigger thing than previously believed,” said Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, a professor of applied mathematics and computer science at Imperial College London.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	AI groups have long argued that memorization does not happen. In a 2023 letter to the US Copyright Office, Google said “there is no copy of the training data—whether text, images, or other formats—present in the model itself.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The AI industry also claims that training models on copyrighted books is “fair use,” arguing that the technology transforms the original work into something meaningfully new.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	But a <a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/2601.02671" rel="external nofollow">study</a> published last month showed that researchers at Stanford and Yale Universities were able to strategically prompt LLMs from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI to generate thousands of words from 13 books, including <em>A Game of Thrones</em>, <em>The Hunger Games</em>, and <em>The Hobbit.</em>
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	By asking models to complete sentences from a book, Gemini 2.5 regurgitated 76.8 percent of <em>Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone</em> with high levels of accuracy, while Grok 3 generated 70.3 percent.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	They were also able to extract almost the entirety of the novel “near-verbatim” from Anthropic’s Claude 3.7 Sonnet by jailbreaking the model, where users can prompt LLMs to disregard their safeguards.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	It builds on a study from last year that found “open” models, such as Meta’s Llama, memorize huge parts of particular books in their training data.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	AI experts were previously unsure whether closed models, which tend to have more safeguards that prevent models from generating unwanted content, would also be prone to large-scale memorization.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“It was a surprise that they could memorize entire texts” despite guardrails, said A. Feder Cooper, a researcher at Yale University, who was part of the study.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Researchers have not yet worked out why LLMs memorize things that appear in their training data. It also remains unclear how much of the training data is evident in the outputs they generate.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	This memorization feature could also have serious implications in other sectors such as health care and education, where leakage of any training data could lead to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-68603-0" rel="external nofollow">privacy</a> and confidentiality issues.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Legal experts said it could potentially create a significant liability for AI groups regarding copyright infringement, as well as ramifications for how AI companies train their models and the costs of developing them.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The research findings “could present a challenge to those who argue that the AI model does not store or reproduce any copyright works,” said Cerys Wyn Davies, an intellectual property partner at law firm Pinsent Masons.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Whether or not AI models memorize their training data has played an important factor in recent legal battles over copyright.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	A US court last year found that Anthropic’s training of LLMs on some copyrighted content could be considered fair use as it was deemed “transformative.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	But it determined that storing pirated works was “inherently, irredeemably infringing,” which then led the AI group to <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/09/first-of-its-kind-ai-settlement-anthropic-to-pay-authors-1-5-billion/" rel="external nofollow">pay $1.5 billion to settle</a> the lawsuit.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In Germany, a ruling from November last year found that OpenAI had infringed on copyright because its model had memorized song lyrics. The case, brought by GEMA, an association representing composers, lyricists, and publishers, was considered a landmark ruling in the EU.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Rudy Telscher, a partner at law firm Husch Blackwell, said reproducing an entire book without jailbreaking is “clearly a copyright violation.” But “it’s a matter of whether this is happening enough that [AI models] could be vicariously liable for the infringement,” he added.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Anthropic said the jailbreaking technique used in the Stanford and Yale research was impractical for normal users and would require more effort to extract the text than just purchasing the content.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The company also added that its model does not store copies of specific datasets but learns from patterns and relationships between words and strings in its training data.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	xAI, OpenAI, and Google did not respond to requests for comment.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The fact that AI labs have put safeguards in place to prevent training data from being extracted means they are aware of the problem, said Imperial’s de Montjoye.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Ben Zhao, a computer science professor at the University of Chicago, questioned whether AI labs really needed to use copyrighted content in training data to create cutting-edge models in the first place.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	“Whether the technical result can be done or not, it’s still a question of should we be doing this?” Zhao said. “The legal side should eventually hold their ground and really be the arbiter in this whole process.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/02/ais-can-generate-near-verbatim-copies-of-novels-from-training-data/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Tuesday 24 February 2026 at 3:23 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33818</guid><pubDate>Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:23:37 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>This Windows security feature blocks dangerous drivers before they strike</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/this-windows-security-feature-blocks-dangerous-drivers-before-they-strike-r33811/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Windows security is a pretty big topic, which makes sense considering that Microsoft's operating systems are <a automate_uuid="536a5e1c-57c8-4b0e-8daa-8d4e76720dc9" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/love-it-or-hate-it-windows-11-has-reached-one-billion-users-faster-than-windows-10/" rel="external nofollow">utilized by over a billion users</a>. Naturally, the company has <a automate_uuid="e987d908-2494-46bc-9dc8-5d1b6d53f542" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/these-are-all-the-security-features-coming-to-windows-11/" rel="external nofollow">several lines of defenses</a> which offer a layered security approach against different kinds of threats. Microsoft recently teased some <a automate_uuid="7724d8d5-63fb-460c-940c-24f9fc75ca9c" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/windows-11-is-getting-a-big-security-update/" rel="external nofollow">big upcoming security updates for Windows 11 too</a>. But for now, we thought it was a good idea to talk about a very important built-in capability in Windows that protects your operating system against malicious drivers.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is a security feature under Microsoft's Core Isolation umbrella for Windows. For those unaware about Core Isolation itself, this is a collection of capabilities that protect "core" Windows processes from malicious software by isolating them in memory. The Vulnerable Driver Blocklist falls within this category because it essentially offers a list of drivers that are restricted by default from ever running in Windows.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Devices like cameras, microphones, keyboards, and more typically communicate with the operating system through drivers. In the past, there have been documented instances of <a automate_uuid="be1ffe32-a248-40b4-b626-29a2afb6053a" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/more-than-40-windows-drivers-found-to-contain-privilege-of-escalation-vulnerabilities/" rel="external nofollow">compromised Windows drivers that were being used to exploit the OS</a>. So, in 2022, Microsoft decided that it would mitigate this attack surface by <a automate_uuid="f9a898a6-fd5b-452e-b9ae-cfbf0b36cd62" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/defender-will-now-protect-against-malicious-drivers-with-new-vulnerable-driver-blocklist/" rel="external nofollow">maintaining a list of drivers known to be compromised</a> in Windows installations.
</p>

<figure class="image image--expandable">
	<img alt="Purple background with skull opening lock with key" class="ipsImage" height="405" width="720" src="https://cdn.neowin.com/news/images/uploaded/2022/03/1647998187_49guqu_(16).jpg">
</figure>

<p>
	The Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is the result of an ongoing collaboration between Microsoft and independent hardware vendors (IHVs) and OEMs. Whenever a driver vulnerability is reported, the Redmond tech giant works with vendors to patch the security threat and add a driver version to the blocklist if the threat factor is significantly high and the risk of breaking compatibility is relatively low.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	This is a particularly important aspect to understand. Microsoft's Vulnerable Driver Blocklist isn't exhaustive. It doesn't list all the compromised drivers because sometimes, blocking a driver without the user really knowing about it can cause poor user experience on Windows, such as device malfunctions and the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). This is exactly why maintaining the list is always a careful balancing act for Microsoft.
</p>

<p class="img-center">
	<img alt="Paused Windows Update" class="ipsImage" height="405" width="720" src="https://cdn.neowin.com/news/images/uploaded/2025/04/1745144054_windows_update_paused.jpg">
</p>

<p>
	The Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is updated through Windows Update during feature updates, which means that it is modified roughly 1-2 times a year. Whenever a driver vendor issues an update for their compromised software, they can contact Microsoft to update this blocklist.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In most Windows installations, the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is on by default, and it is enforced when hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI), Smart App Control, or S mode is active too. It's worth noting that this blocklist explicitly denies vulnerable drivers and allows everything else through "Allow All" rules. This is despite Microsoft's best practice recommendation, which involves maintaining an explicit allowlist approach where drivers are allowed individually rather than blocked; however, it's understandable that this is not feasible in many cases.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The Vulnerable Driver Blocklist is found in the System32 folder and, as mentioned previously, it is enabled by default, so you don't really need to do anything. That said, Microsoft does offer an offline XML policy file, which IT admins can download from <a automate_uuid="571de7e8-bf52-48ad-9961-1a26ce5bb4de" href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/application-security/application-control/app-control-for-business/design/microsoft-recommended-driver-block-rules#vulnerable-driver-blocklist-xml" rel="external nofollow">here</a>. For regular consumers, the Vulnerable Driver Blocklist can be toggled through the <strong>Windows Security</strong> app or through the Settings app under <strong>Privacy &amp; Security &gt; Windows Security</strong>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<hr>
<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<em>What do you think about this security feature in Windows? Were you aware of its existence? Let us know in the comments section below!</em>
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/this-windows-security-feature-blocks-dangerous-drivers-before-they-strike/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Sunday 22 February 2026 at 12:01 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33811</guid><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 02:02:30 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Microsoft is removing a security feature from the Edge browser</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/microsoft-is-removing-a-security-feature-from-the-edge-browser-r33807/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	The next feature update for Microsoft Edge is bringing an important change to those using the browser's built-in password manager. Over time, it grew to a very powerful tool with plenty of features, and it got to the point where Microsoft was willing to <a automate_uuid="f20b44c8-04e3-465d-adf3-0013c408b90c" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-killing-its-password-manager-in-authenticator-to-make-everyone-use-edge/" rel="external nofollow">discontinue its standalone password manager</a> and lock users into Microsoft Edge. Now, the company is making an important change to the password manager and its security.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Edge's built-in password manager lets you secure passwords and autofill with two security options: Windows Hello or a standalone password. The latter is now on its way out, as Microsoft decided to discontinue the primary password in favor of the device sign-in or Windows Hello.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Starting with Edge 146, users will no longer have the ability to create a custom primary password. However, the feature will remain available for existing users for a couple of additional months. On June 4, 2026, Microsoft will pull the plug for existing users and switch them to device authentication. Here is what the company says in the release notes for Edge 146, which is <a automate_uuid="64a6ba5e-512f-4380-afa7-3c875800c47b" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-ending-edge-support-on-one-operating-system-this-year/" rel="external nofollow">now available in the Beta Channel</a><span>:</span>
</p>

<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
	<p>
		<strong>Custom primary password deprecation</strong>. In Microsoft Edge 146, users will no longer be able to create a new custom primary password in Edge Settings edge://settings/autofill/passwords/settings. Users who already have a custom primary password configured will see a warning that the feature won't be available from June 4, 2026. On June 4, 2026, any users who are still using a custom primary password will be automatically migrated to device authentication.
	</p>
</blockquote>

<p>
	While the change may sound inconvenient for those who use a custom password to protect personal data in Microsoft Edge, a device-wide authentication is a much better option, considering that custom passwords are non-recoverable. Therefore, if you forget your custom password, the only way out is to delete the entire profile. Additionally, using device-wide authentication lets you use biometric sign-in with your face or fingerprint, which is safer and more convenient.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Microsoft plans to release Edge 146 on the Week of March 12, 2026. Besides discontinuing the custom password feature, Microsoft announced that Edge 150 would be the final supported version of the browser on macOS 12 Monterey.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-removing-a-security-feature-from-the-edge-browser/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Sunday 22 February 2026 at 3:57 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33807</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 17:57:41 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>PayPal discloses data breach that exposed user info for 6 months</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/paypal-discloses-data-breach-that-exposed-user-info-for-6-months-r33786/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	PayPal is notifying customers of a data breach after a software error in a loan application exposed their sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, for nearly 6 months last year.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The incident affected the <a href="https://www.paypal.com/us/business/financial-services/working-capital-loan" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">PayPal Working Capital</a> (PPWC) loan app, which provides small businesses with quick access to financing.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	PayPal discovered the breach on December 12, 2025, and determined that customers' names, email addresses, phone numbers, business addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth had been exposed since July 1, 2025.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The financial technology company said it has reversed the code change that caused the incident, blocking attackers' access to the data one day after discovering the breach.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"On December 12, 2025, PayPal identified that due to an error in its PayPal Working Capital ("PPWC") loan application, the PII of a small number of customers was exposed to unauthorized individuals during the timeframe of July 1, 2025 to December 13, 2025," PayPal <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/27345193-paypal-february-2026-breach-notification/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">said in breach notification letters</a> sent to affected users.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"PayPal has since rolled back the code change responsible for this error, which potentially exposed the PII. We have not delayed this notification as a result of any law enforcement investigation."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	PayPal also detected unauthorized transactions on the accounts of a small number of customers as a direct result of the incident and has issued refunds to those affected.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The company now offers affected users two years of free three-bureau credit monitoring and identity restoration services through Equifax, which require enrollment by June 30, 2026.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Affected customers are advised to monitor their credit reports and their account activity for suspicious transactions. PayPal reminded users that it never requests account passwords, one-time codes, or other authentication credentials via phone, text, or email, a common tactic used in phishing attacks that often follow data breach disclosures.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	PayPal has also reset passwords for all impacted accounts and said that users will be prompted to create new credentials upon their next login if they have not already done so.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In January 2023, PayPal notified customers of another data breach after a large-scale credential stuffing attack <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/paypal-accounts-breached-in-large-scale-credential-stuffing-attack/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">compromised 35,000 accounts</a> between December 6 and December 8, 2022.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Two years later, in January 2025, New York State <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/paypal-to-pay-2-million-settlement-over-2022-data-breach/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">announced a $2,000,000 settlement with PayPal</a> over charges that it failed to comply with the state's cybersecurity regulations, leading to the 2022 data breach.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<em>Update February 20, 11:38 EST: </em>After the article was published, a PayPal spokesperson told BleepingComputer that the company's systems were not breached and the incident exposed the data of roughly 100 customers.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"When there is a potential exposure of customer information, PayPal is required to notify affected customers," the spokesperson said. "In this case, PayPal’s systems were not compromised. As such, we contacted the approximately 100 customers who were potentially impacted to provide awareness on this matter.”
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/paypal-discloses-data-breach-exposing-users-personal-information/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Saturday 21 February 2026 at 6:04 am AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33786</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 20:05:38 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>We&#x2019;re not the only ones saying it: Windows 11 desperately needs a single privacy toggle</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/we%E2%80%99re-not-the-only-ones-saying-it-windows-11-desperately-needs-a-single-privacy-toggle-r33778/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	Configuring privacy on Windows 11 feels like solving a maze, and a single master switch is needed to end the chaos.
</h3>

<p id="7b6100e9-89ba-4b27-b007-19a6c7de3492">
	While writing my most recent comprehensive guide to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/14-customization-to-increase-privacy-on-windows-11" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/14-customization-to-increase-privacy-on-windows-11" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/14-customization-to-increase-privacy-on-windows-11" rel="external nofollow">improve privacy on Windows 11</a>, I started noticing just how many settings you have to manage to reduce the amount of data Microsoft collects from devices and users.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	At one point, I genuinely thought I would never finish that set of instructions. Every time I believed I had found the last toggle, another appeared somewhere else. And even after turning off and reconfiguring dozens of default options, it's still unclear how much data the company continues to collect in the background.
</p>

<p>
	<a aria-hidden="true" class="paywall" id="elk-c6887aa9-a646-4104-9bd2-f25e05e0a49f" rel=""></a>
</p>

<h2 id="the-illusion-of-privacy-controls-3">
	The illusion of privacy controls
</h2>

<p>
	<a aria-hidden="true" class="paywall" id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p id="39c0a6e2-982a-40a5-933c-2f4dd016e1e1-0">
	Yes, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows/windows-11" data-before-rewrite-redirect="/windows-11" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows/windows-11" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows/windows-11" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">Windows 11</a> presents a privacy page during the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-install-windows-11" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-install-windows-11" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/how-do-clean-install-windows-11" rel="external nofollow">out-of-box experience (OOBE)</a>. On the surface, it looks reassuring. You're usually asked about diagnostics, tailored experiences, advertising ID, location, and a few other features.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	But let's be honest. That page doesn't include everything, far from it.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<div>
	<div>
		<p>
			<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-320-80.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="Windows 11 privacy settings" class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sqZXrtywyDkQPatXRPuqfU-1024-80.jpg"> </source></picture>
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><span itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)</span></em>
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p id="84e1aeb8-c7a2-4f68-bab8-466975b0f134">
			After setup, you might assume the "Privacy &amp; Security" section in the Settings app is the central control hub. It isn't. While it contains important options, it does not represent the full picture. Privacy-related controls are scattered throughout the operating system.
		</p>

		<h2 id="privacy-settings-are-not-completely-centralized-3">
			Privacy settings are not completely centralized
		</h2>

		<p id="11cb8846-df02-4f0d-8f38-989cd59f8524">
			The "Start" settings include recommendations, suggestions, and account-linked experiences. The "Search" settings integrate cloud content and web results, and the "Device usage" page influences personalized tips and content.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			If you use a Microsoft account to set up Windows 11, it also serves as another source of data mining, as it connects settings, preferences, and usage data across devices, and the data has to traverse the Microsoft network. (So, who really knows what happens in transit?)
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			The Windows <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/backup" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/backup" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/backup" rel="external nofollow">Backup</a> system and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/microsoft-onedrive" data-before-rewrite-redirect="/onedrive" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/microsoft-onedrive" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/microsoft-onedrive" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">OneDrive</a> also rely on Microsoft's infrastructure.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-1143-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-320-80.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="Windows backup settings" class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ipoetz26mn36hWiJsDokh3-1024-80.jpg"> </source></picture>
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><span itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)</span></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p id="8829eb35-d63f-4df5-8e7b-1b44fc54ccca">
					<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/how-to-protect-your-pc-from-buggy-updates-on-windows-11" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/how-to-protect-your-pc-from-buggy-updates-on-windows-11" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/how-to-protect-your-pc-from-buggy-updates-on-windows-11" rel="external nofollow">Windows Update</a> gathers telemetry to determine compatibility and deliver updates, and diagnostic data settings allow reducing, but not eliminating, telemetry on most editions.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					This fragmentation makes privacy management overwhelming and opaque.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					You are not managing one privacy system. You are navigating a network of interconnected services, cloud integrations, personalization engines, and telemetry pipelines. And many of them cannot be fully disabled, but can only be minimized. Others are tied directly to core functionality.
				</p>

				<h2 id="managed-collection-is-the-real-default-3">
					Managed collection is the real default
				</h2>

				<p id="0afb4589-7d5a-435d-a44d-33bc94c2db09">
					If I didn't know better, I would think this level of complexity is intentional.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Windows 11 makes it feel like you're in control, but behind the scenes, data collection is still deeply built into the system. The default isn't minimal data gathering. It's controlled data gathering. And that's the real problem.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					The operating system should include a single, system-wide master switch that disables all non-essential telemetry and data collection.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					It shouldn't be buried in submenus, split across different sections, or scattered throughout dozens of settings pages.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					In addition, every app should explicitly request users whether they want to send telemetry. The default should be "off," not "on."
				</p>

				<h2 id="users-are-noticing-and-pushing-back-3">
					Users are noticing and pushing back
				</h2>

				<p id="a0d711aa-b946-4ed4-b79f-1b44180ecdff">
					I'm not the only one noticing this. In my previous set of instructions on controlling Microsoft's data collection, readers were blunt. For example, <strong>Harold56 </strong>wrote:<em><strong> "Something is seriously wrong that there are so many tracking features that have to be individually turned off. There should be one button to stop all tracking and telemetry."</strong></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Another reader, <strong>IDont Know</strong>, added: <em><strong>"It’s insane and a clear deterrent from me ever using Windows 11 on my personal devices."</strong></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					That frustration is growing. Not because people are against updates or security. Not because they don't understand telemetry. But because all the responsibility falls on them.
				</p>

				<h2 id="windows-11-needs-a-real-privacy-master-switch-3">
					Windows 11 needs a real privacy master switch
				</h2>

				<p id="2bae0ba5-e6d1-4ce5-9c06-308a4660d5b7">
					Privacy should not require a checklist of dozens of toggles across half the operating system. It should not require a 5,000-word guide to manage their privacy carefully.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Microsoft has the engineering capability to centralize these controls. It already centralizes updates, accounts, and cloud services. So, centralizing privacy shouldn't be that complicated.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					A master privacy switch would not weaken Windows 11. It would strengthen trust. It would send a clear message that user choice matters more than passive data collection.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Until that happens (if ever), privacy on Windows 11 remains a maze. And no modern operating system should require users to solve a maze just to feel in control of their own data.
				</p>

				<h2 id="do-you-think-windows-11-privacy-settings-are-out-of-control-3">
					Do you think Windows 11 privacy settings are out of control?
				</h2>

				<p id="c57493ff-3000-4607-9a9f-3a3db642b28d">
					Windows 11’s privacy settings are scattered across so many menus that even power users are getting fed up — and a lot of you told us you feel the same way. A single master switch could solve half the confusion overnight, but until Microsoft gives us one, we’re stuck hunting through toggles like it’s a scavenger hunt.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					<strong>How are you dealing with Windows 11’s privacy maze?</strong><em>Do you have a go‑to workflow, a setting you always change first, or a pain point we didn’t mention? </em>Drop your thoughts below — your experiences help shape what we cover next.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/windows-11-privacy-settings-are-a-mess-microsoft-needs-to-add-a-master-switch" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
				</p>

				<hr class="ipsHr">
				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 20 February 2026 at 12:09 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
				</p>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33778</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:10:50 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Is it time to leave Discord? We asked Windows Central readers as the platform faces severe backlash over age verification &#x2014; and ties to Peter Thiel</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/is-it-time-to-leave-discord-we-asked-windows-central-readers-as-the-platform-faces-severe-backlash-over-age-verification-%E2%80%94-and-ties-to-peter-thiel-r33777/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	We asked you if Discord's latest decisions have crossed a red line, and the answer is clear.
</h3>

<p id="8f93cc86-8764-4096-8b5d-a87a906726de">
	It's been about 10 days since <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-global-age-verification" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">Discord revealed that it would be implementing its controversial age verification and "Teen-by-Default" stance globally</a> after a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-age-verification-uk-changes-2026" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-age-verification-uk-changes-2026" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-age-verification-uk-changes-2026" rel="external nofollow">test run in the UK and Australia</a>. The news was met with a severe backlash from its massive community.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Users flooded social channels like <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/reddit" rel="external nofollow">Reddit</a> and X with posts talking about canceled Nitro subscriptions, deleted accounts, and <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/discord" rel="external nofollow">Discord</a> alternatives, causing Discord to go into damage control mode.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" id="8f93cc86-8764-4096-8b5d-a87a906726de-2">
	The company was quick to offer clarification on the new rules; not every user would be forced to submit a government ID or a facial scan to be considered an adult. Not because of any sort of trust, but because Discord's background monitoring could already determine "with high confidence" who is an adult and who is underage.
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	 
</p>

<div class="ipsEmbeddedOther" contenteditable="false">
	<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="ipsEmbed_finishedLoading" data-controller="core.front.core.autosizeiframe" data-embedid="embed1441785781" src="https://nsaneforums.com/index.php?app=core&amp;module=system&amp;controller=embed&amp;url=https://twitter.com/discord/status/2021295316469940606" style="overflow: hidden; height: 1395px;"></iframe>
</div>

<div id="2021295316469940606">
	<div>
		<p id="d9e03dd7-ca3d-4bf0-b794-2fea2f0dd64c">
			It's well worth pointing out that this update on X received a Community Note exposing Discord's decision to use Persona as an age verification vendor, which has ties to Peter Thiel of Palantir notoriety. Persona indeed receives and retains data despite what Discord claims — more on that in a moment.
		</p>

		<h2 id="a-majority-of-windows-central-readers-are-searching-for-a-discord-alternative-3">
			A majority of Windows Central readers are searching for a Discord alternative
		</h2>

		<div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-750-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-750-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-750-80.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-320-80.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="Discord poll results" class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kgAbqRVyCUmqev6MBozKEB-750-80.jpg"> </source></picture>
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><span>A look at Windows Central poll results asking if our readers plan to switch to a Discord alternative to avoid age verification. </span></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><span itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Future)</span></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p id="17386d7f-b1bd-48a9-b1c3-5258dfa355f8">
					The backlash, in my opinion, was deserved, and I know I'm not alone. I ran a poll at the end of my original news story about global Discord age verification, asking whether or not Windows Central readers would be switching to an alternative voice chat and socializing platform.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Out of more than 200 responses, <strong>59% voted</strong> <strong>Yes</strong>, with another <strong>27% coming in as a</strong> <strong>Maybe. </strong>That leaves <strong>15% of readers who say they're sticking with Discord</strong> no matter what.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					I wrote a follow-up story covering the fact that <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">searches for "Discord alternatives" spiked 10,000% overnight</a> following the age verification news, noting that Stoat — an open-source chat platform akin to Discord — saw a 9,900% rise in searches in the same period.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					Most of the <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat#viafoura-comments" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat#viafoura-comments" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/discord-alternative-search-10000-percent-stoat#viafoura-comments" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">comments on the article</a> explained reasons for leaving, with some offering alternatives of which they're most fond.
				</p>

				<figure id="08296724-885e-41a5-a09e-eb2f5235b6dd">
					<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
						<p>
							I've been a Nitro subscriber for almost 10 years, and I'm looking at jumping ship. This is just the last straw though... Discord has been getting steadily worse over the years.
						</p>

						<p>
							 
						</p>

						<p>
							<em><cite>PJthePlayer</cite></em>
						</p>
					</blockquote>
				</figure>

				<p id="d72940a6-5891-4bf9-b0c4-450d9025b169">
					In a separate poll attached to the search news, <strong>48% of polled Windows Central readers agree that Stoat looks like the best alternative</strong>, with Matrix and TeamSpeak garnering 15% and 14% of the votes, respectively.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					TeamSpeak has publicly stated that it's receiving an "incredible surge of new users" and is working on expanding its availability in key regions, so I can't imagine what Stoat is going through considering it seems like the more popular choice.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<div class="ipsEmbeddedOther" contenteditable="false">
					<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="ipsEmbed_finishedLoading" data-controller="core.front.core.autosizeiframe" data-embedid="embed7126685606" src="https://nsaneforums.com/index.php?app=core&amp;module=system&amp;controller=embed&amp;url=https://twitter.com/teamspeak/status/2022753526783312054" style="overflow: hidden; height: 584px;"></iframe>
				</div>

				<div id="2022753526783312054">
					<div>
						<h3 id="discord-and-its-newfound-ties-to-peter-thiel-3">
							Discord and its newfound ties to Peter Thiel
						</h3>

						<div>
							<div>
								<p>
									<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-320-80.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="Discord social media app displayed on a smartphone." class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SQeMUXr4f3htRsCse7AUNH-1024-80.jpg"> </source></picture>
								</p>

								<p>
									<em><span>A look at the Discord app's sign-in page on a phone. </span></em>
								</p>

								<p>
									<em><span itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Image credit: Getty Images | SOPA Images)</span></em>
								</p>

								<p>
									 
								</p>

								<p id="202d4aba-3321-407c-85f8-043afaf6ba97">
									The outrage from Discord's community regarding age verification is anything but baseless. Discord was subject to a data breach of about 70,000 credentials last year, including IDs and facial scans.
								</p>

								<p>
									 
								</p>

								<p>
									Discord believed it could distance itself from security concerns by claiming it had switched to a different age verification vendor that doesn't retain data, but it was quickly discovered that this wasn't entirely true. The new vendor, Persona, is indirectly funded by Peter Thiel, who founded Palantir, an <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-auto-tag-linker="true" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence" data-before-rewrite-redirect="https://www.windowscentral.com/tag/artificial-intelligence" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence" rel="external nofollow">AI</a>-powered data surveillance juggernaut. That may or may not be a big deal in your world.
								</p>

								<p>
									 
								</p>

								<p>
									The bigger problem? Persona clearly states that it retains data it receives, flying in the face of Discord's claims. According to <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://kotaku.com/discord-palantir-peter-thiel-persona-age-verification-2000668951" href="https://kotaku.com/discord-palantir-peter-thiel-persona-age-verification-2000668951" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" target="_blank" rel="external nofollow">Kotaku</a>, Discord has stated that its use of Persona was a "limited test" that has now concluded. Will it continue working with the vendor? Your guess is as good as mine.
								</p>

								<p>
									 
								</p>

								<p>
									Discord is undeniably in a tough spot. It believes age verification is necessary to safeguard its younger users, but the way it's being handled is anything but smooth. It's not an enviable position, and it will be interesting to see how the situation plays out.
								</p>

								<h4 id="share-your-thoughts-about-discord-s-age-verification-drama-3">
									Share your thoughts about Discord's age verification drama
								</h4>

								<p id="923213a8-9224-4306-a1e8-ad6bd7503755">
									<em><strong>Think the outrage over Discord's age verification stance is warranted? Think it's a necessary step for a company with so many users? Have you found the perfect alternative? I want to hear about it in the comments section!</strong></em>
								</p>

								<p>
									 
								</p>

								<p>
									<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/discord-leave-windows-central-readers" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
								</p>

								<hr class="ipsHr">
								<p>
									<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
								</p>

								<p>
									<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 20 February 2026 at 12:07 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
								</p>

								<p>
									<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
								</p>

								<p>
									<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
								</p>
							</div>
						</div>
					</div>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33777</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:09:20 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>"The majority of the attacks allow recovery of passwords" &#x2014; New research suggests your favorite password manager might not be as secure as you thought</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/the-majority-of-the-attacks-allow-recovery-of-passwords-%E2%80%94-new-research-suggests-your-favorite-password-manager-might-not-be-as-secure-as-you-thought-r33776/</link><description><![CDATA[<h3>
	Your password vault isn’t as airtight as you hoped. Here’s what researchers discovered.
</h3>

<p id="9e1ccc05-dfc9-41a9-9a67-e7f72e57e2c3">
	I've long been someone concerned about data security and privacy. I grew up in a time when your passwords were kept securely in your own organic memory if not jotted down on a page somewhere, so the rise of password managers felt like a godsend.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	A place to securely store all passwords (and more) for all accounts? Accessible across your devices? Too convenient to pass up. And yet, I still didn't trust my password manager with the "big" credentials; those, I kept tucked away in my head.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a id="elk-seasonal" rel=""></a>
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true" id="9e1ccc05-dfc9-41a9-9a67-e7f72e57e2c3-2">
	Despite some obvious trepidation, I've never been shy about recommending a password manager to help keep your data secure. It's otherwise impossible to have a secure, different password for all accounts.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	At least, that's how it used to be.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p aria-hidden="true">
	According to a <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/058" href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2026/058" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">new study published by security researchers</a> from ETH Zurich and Università della Svizzera Italiana, password managers might not be as secure as once imagined.
</p>

<figure id="2ca75bce-fc0e-48a8-a3dc-60fa27a15dd0">
	<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
		<p>
			These attacks work even when proper authenticated encryption is used. They are possible because of insufficient key separation in vaults with complex structures and/or a lack of cryptographic binding between data and metadata.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<em><cite>Matteo Scarlata, Giovanni Torrisi, Matilda Backendal, Kenneth G. Paterson</cite></em>
		</p>
	</blockquote>
</figure>

<p id="3ccf0786-1ea5-4812-a31d-7dc3b778f5b6">
	The most popular password managers, like Bitwarden, <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/lastpass-security-breach-encrypted-customer-vaults" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/lastpass-security-breach-encrypted-customer-vaults" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/lastpass-security-breach-encrypted-customer-vaults" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">LastPass</a>, and Dashlane, which together have more than 60 million customers, have all seemingly adopted a stance known as "Zero Knowledge Encryption."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Largely based on nothing technical, it's a term designed to create peace-of-mind for users by conveying the idea that what is stored on password manager servers can't be read by the companies. If the company hosting your encrypted passwords can't read it, surely no one else who breaks in can, either.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<div id="slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-zHiQmeLdQF89GydVUugdw4">
	<div data-hydrate="true">
		<p>
			Wrong.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			The security researchers discovered several vulnerabilities after hitting these services with "a cornucopia of practical attacks," noting that these attacks allowed them to "downgrade security guarantees, violate security expectations, and even fully compromise users' accounts."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			In one example, researchers were able to compromise entire accounts using a vulnerability in account sharing and key escrow utilities. In another example, a lack of ciphertext integrity resulted in keys being swapped out in order to attack vaults.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			What's worse is that the endgame of the majority of these attacks allowed researchers to recover passwords, something that password managers explicitly say they defend against.
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			Researchers have shared their findings with vulnerable password management companies, and it's stated that "remediation is underway."
		</p>

		<p>
			 
		</p>

		<p>
			<a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/02/password-managers-promise-that-they-cant-see-your-vaults-isnt-always-true/" href="https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/02/password-managers-promise-that-they-cant-see-your-vaults-isnt-always-true/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank"><em>(via Ars Technica)</em></a>
		</p>

		<h2 id="windows-central-s-advice-3">
			Windows Central's advice
		</h2>

		<div>
			<div>
				<p>
					<picture data-new-v2-image="true"> <source sizes="(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)" srcset="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:1200/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 1200w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:1024/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:970/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:650/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:480/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 480w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:320/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg.webp 320w" type="image/webp"> <img alt="YubiKey" class="ipsImage" data-new-v2-image="true" height="720" width="720" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v2/t:79,l:0,cw:1200,ch:675,q:80,w:1024/2Y2iRHsZXBECvFakFJfxrY.jpg"> </source></picture>
				</p>

				<p>
					<em><span>Hardware-based authentication, like this USB solution from YubiKey, can help protect your data. </span></em>
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p id="a68fccec-ee3b-4d27-911c-c567ceb42a23">
					I'm always happy for an opportunity to remind people that password security is only getting more important. And despite these research findings suggesting that password managers are, in some ways, vulnerable, they're still the best way for most people to manage different credentials for each account.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					What you should do, however, is consider a switch to a local-only option that doesn't store data in the cloud. You might also consider switching to hardware-based two-factor authentication. <a data-analytics-id="inline-link" data-before-rewrite-localise="https://www.windowscentral.com/all-you-need-know-yubikey-windows-hello" data-hl-processed="none" data-mrf-recirculation="inline-link" data-url="https://www.windowscentral.com/all-you-need-know-yubikey-windows-hello" href="https://www.windowscentral.com/all-you-need-know-yubikey-windows-hello" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">We've covered YubiKey in the past</a> as a solid option.
				</p>

				<p>
					 
				</p>

				<p>
					If you are sticking with a standard cloud-based manager, be sure to segment your passwords into several vaults, ensuring your entire digital life isn't compromised if one should go down.
				</p>

				<h2 id="share-your-thoughts-about-password-managers-3">
					Share your thoughts about password managers
				</h2>

				<p id="69e2ea25-15ad-42cd-998e-24edaa39ec72">
					<em><strong>Will you continue using a password manager as usual despite these findings? What is your alternative? Let me know in the comments section!</strong></em>
				</p>
				 

				<p>
					<a href="https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/password-manager-security-vulnerabilities-research" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
				</p>

				<hr class="ipsHr">
				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 20 February 2026 at 12:06 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
				</p>

				<p>
					<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
				</p>
			</div>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33776</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:07:20 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>Microsoft is uploading your confidential emails to Copilot for summarization [Update]</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/microsoft-is-uploading-your-confidential-emails-to-copilot-for-summarization-update-r33775/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	<a automate_uuid="6d217809-2e48-4557-be71-58d9cbadf787" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/geminis-new-lyria-3-model-turns-your-ideas-photos-and-videos-into-full-songs-in-seconds/" rel="external nofollow">AI is infiltrating every aspect of our lives</a>, and even more so in <a automate_uuid="078ef017-cfdf-48bd-8f17-cdfdb1bd33a8" href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-q2-2026-key-figures-include-copilot-windows-11-and-record-xbox-growth/" rel="external nofollow">organizations which are embracing its latest advancements</a>. Although AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot can be very useful when used correctly, it seems like a recent bug actually resulted in a privacy nightmare for enterprise customers.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	As first spotted by <a automate_uuid="9406ffbc-8fe8-4b34-8237-ad41a048fe11" href="https://office365itpros.com/2026/02/13/dlp-policy-for-copilot-bug/" rel="external nofollow">Office365ITPros</a>, a recent advisory posted on the Microsoft admin portal indicates that Copilot is reading your confidential emails as it summarizes messages for you. This is a massive violation of privacy and security, considering data loss prevention (DLP) policies like privacy labels are specifically designed to restrict scenarios like these.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Microsoft has noted that this was unintended behavior and was actually due to a programming bug. It primarily impacted emails in the <strong>Sent Items</strong> and <strong>Drafts</strong> folder, which were sent to Copilot Chat for summarization of content. This issue was first discovered by customers on January 21, 2026, and is being tracked under the CW1226324 ID.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The bad news is that despite being a fairly severe security lapse, Microsoft is yet to fully roll out a robust fix. It began deploying a fix in a staggered manner starting on February 10, but it is yet to reach all impacted customers. The Redmond tech giant is informing affected customers and testing the impact of remediation measures to ensure that the patch works as expected.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	While we await a full incident report, it will be interesting to know if the root cause, that is, the programming bug, has always existed in the implementation of Copilot integration, or if it's the result of a recent change. Regardless, news about this bug will not please organizations, many of which are paying hefty sums to integrate Copilot in their environments. Perhaps it will once again raise alarms about the <a automate_uuid="4e30747a-a138-4472-9945-ceb63b683bd8" href="https://www.neowin.net/editorials/i-hate-that-microsoft-might-be-vibecoding-windows-but-its-inevitable/" rel="external nofollow">possibility of Microsoft vibecoding its software</a> and <a automate_uuid="ea833d54-8227-4df9-92dc-d86cf3f9262a" href="https://www.neowin.net/editorials/microsofts-horrendous-patch-tuesday-update-exposes-the-weak-qa-process-for-windows/" rel="external nofollow">not properly testing it</a>, but long-term impacts are yet to be seen.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<hr>
<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<strong>Update:</strong> In a statement to Neowin, a Microsoft spokesperson has indicated that this issue is now fixed and that it was not the "intended Copilot experience". The full statement is as follows:
</p>

<blockquote class="QuoteNewsStyle">
	<p>
		We identified and addressed an issue where Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat could return content from emails labeled confidential authored by a user and stored within their Draft and Sent Items in Outlook desktop. This did not provide anyone access to information they weren’t already authorized to see. While our access controls and data protection policies remained intact, this behavior did not meet our intended Copilot experience, which is designed to exclude protected content from Copilot access. A configuration update has been deployed worldwide for enterprise customers.
	</p>
</blockquote>

<p>
	All that said, it's interesting to note that while the bug was first reported on January 21, it seems like the fix was expedited only after media outlets caught wind of the issue. Regardless, all's well that ends well.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-is-uploading-your-confidential-emails-to-copilot-for-summarization/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 20 February 2026 at 12:04 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33775</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:05:40 +0000</pubDate></item><item><title>PromptSpy is the first known Android malware to use generative AI at runtime</title><link>https://nsaneforums.com/news/security-privacy-news/promptspy-is-the-first-known-android-malware-to-use-generative-ai-at-runtime-r33774/</link><description><![CDATA[<p>
	Researchers have discovered the first known Android malware to use generative AI in its execution flow, using Google’s Gemini model to adapt its persistence across different devices.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	In a report today, ESET researcher Lukas Stefanko explains how a new Android malware family named "PromptSpy" is abusing the Google Gemini AI model to help it achieve persistence on infected devices.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"In February 2026, we uncovered two versions of a previously unknown Android malware family," <a href="https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/eset-research/promptspy-ushers-in-era-android-threats-using-genai/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">explains ESET</a>.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"The first version, which we named VNCSpy, appeared on VirusTotal on January 13th, 2026 and was represented by three samples uploaded from Hong Kong. On February 10th, 2026, four samples of more advanced malware based on VNCSpy were uploaded to VirusTotal from Argentina."
</p>

<h2>
	First known Android malware to use generative AI
</h2>

<p>
	While machine learning models have previously been used by Android malware to <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-android-malware-uses-ai-to-click-on-hidden-browser-ads/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">analyze screenshots for ad fraud</a>, ESET says that PromptSpy is the first known case of Android malware integrating generative AI directly into its execution.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	On some Android devices, users can "lock" or "pin" an app in the Recent Apps list by long-pressing it and selecting a lock option. When an app is locked this way, Android is less likely to terminate it during memory cleanup or when the user taps "Clear all."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	For legitimate apps, this prevents background processes from being killed. For malware like PromptSpy, it can serve as a persistence mechanism.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	However, the method used to lock or pin an app varies between manufacturers, making it hard for malware to script the right way to do so on every device. That is where AI comes into play.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	PromptSpy sends Google's Gemini model a chat prompt along with an XML dump of the current screen, including the visible UI elements, text labels, class types, and screen coordinates.
</p>

<div style="">
	<figure class="image" style="display:inline-block">
		<img alt="PromptSpy sending an LLM prompt to Google Gemini" class="ipsImage" height="552" width="720" src="https://www.bleepstatic.com/images/news/security/a/android/promptspy-malware/promptspy.jpg">
		<figcaption>
			<em>PromptSpy sending an LLM prompt to Google Gemini<br>
			Source: ESET</em>
		</figcaption>
	</figure>
</div>

<p>
	Gemini then responds with JSON-formatted instructions describing the action to take on the device to pin the app.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The malware executes the action through Android's Accessibility Service, retrieves the updated screen state, and sends it back to Gemini in a loop until the AI confirms that the app has been successfully locked in the recent apps list.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"Even though PromptSpy uses Gemini in just one of its features, it still demonstrates how incorporating these AI tools can make malware more dynamic, giving threat actors ways to automate actions that would normally be more difficult with traditional scripting," explains ESET.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	While the use of an AI LLM for run-time changes to behavior is novel, PromptSpy's primary functionality is to act as spyware.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	The malware includes a built-in VNC module that allows the threat actors to gain full remote access to devices with Accessibility permissions are granted.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Using this access, the threat actors can view and control the Android screen in real time.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	According to ESET, the malware can:
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<ul style="list-style-type:square">
	<li>
		Upload a list of installed apps
	</li>
	<li>
		Intercept lockscreen PINs or passwords
	</li>
	<li>
		Record the pattern unlock screen as a video
	</li>
	<li>
		Capture screenshots on demand
	</li>
	<li>
		Record screen activity and user gestures
	</li>
	<li>
		Report the current foreground application and screen status
	</li>
</ul>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	To make removal harder, when users attempt to uninstall the app or turn off Accessibility permissions, the malware overlays transparent, invisible rectangles over UI buttons that display strings like "stop," "end," "clear," and "Uninstall."
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	When a user taps the button to stop or uninstall the app, they will instead tap the invisible button, which blocks removal.
</p>

<h2>
	Unclear if its a proof-of-concept malware
</h2>

<p>
	Stefanko says that victims must reboot into Android Safe Mode so that third-party apps are disabled and cannot block the malware's uninstall.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	ESET told BleepingComputer that it has not yet observed PromptSpy or its dropper in its telemetry, so it is unclear whether the malware is a proof-of-concept.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"We haven't seen any signs of the PromptSpy dropper or its payload in our telemetry so far, which could mean they're only proofs of concept," Stefanko told BleepingComputer.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	However, as VirusTotal indicates that several samples were previously distributed via the dedicated domain mgardownload[.]com and used a web page on m-mgarg[.]com to impersonate JPMorgan Chase Bank, it may have been used in actual attacks.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	"Still, because there appears to be a dedicated domain that was used to distribute them, and fake bank website, we can't rule out the possibility that both the dropper and PromptSpy are or were in the wild," Štefanko added.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	While the distribution of this malware appears very limited, it demonstrates how threat actors are using generative AI to not only create attacks and phishing sites, but also to modify malware behavior in real time.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-says-hackers-are-abusing-gemini-ai-for-all-attacks-stages/" rel="external nofollow" target="_blank">Google Threat Intelligence reported</a> that state-sponsored hackers are also using Google's Gemini AI model to support all stages of their attacks, from reconnaissance to post-compromise actions.
</p>

<p>
	 
</p>

<p>
	<a href="https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/promptspy-is-the-first-known-android-malware-to-use-generative-ai-at-runtime/" rel="external nofollow">Source</a>
</p>

<hr class="ipsHr">
<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>Posted Friday 20 February 2026 at 12:03 pm AEST (my time).</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<span style="font-size:12px;"><em>News posts: 2023 5,800+ | 2024 5,700+ | 2025 5,700+ | 2026 (to end of January) 461</em></span>
</p>

<p>
	<strong><span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="https://nsaneforums.com/topic/459202-remember-matrix/" rel="">RIP Matrix</a></span></strong>
</p>
]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">33774</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:03:55 +0000</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
