Singapore's government announced that a Chinese cyber-espionage group targeted its four largest telecommunication companies in a months-long attack, while Netflix made a landmark acquisition of Warner Bros. and its assets, and AI cybersecurity startup Vega Security raised $120 million in Series B funding. Additionally, Rivian made changes to the rear door manual release on its upcoming R2 SUV, and Facebook introduced new AI-powered features.
According to a statement released Monday, Singapore confirmed for the first time that the hackers, known as UNC3886, targeted the country's telecoms infrastructure, including Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Simba Telecom, as reported by TechCrunch. While the intruders were able to breach and access some systems, they did not disrupt services or access personal information, said K. Shanmugam, the country's coordinating minister for national security. Google-owned cybersecurity unit Mandiant previously linked UNC3886 as an espionage group likely working for China.
In other news, Netflix acquired Warner Bros. film and television studios, as well as HBO, HBO Max, and other assets, in a move that has stunned industry observers, according to TechCrunch. The deal, announced in early December, will bring together franchises such as Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and DC Comics properties under one roof. The scale of this megadeal is predicted to disrupt Hollywood as it is known.
Meanwhile, AI cybersecurity startup Vega Security raised a $120 million Series B round to scale its vision of running security where the data already lives, implementing in cloud services, data lakes, and existing storage systems, as reported by TechCrunch. The two-year-old firm's new round nearly doubles Vega's valuation to $700 million, bringing its total funding to $185 million.
Rivian reportedly decided to change the rear door manual release on its upcoming R2 SUV, as multiple carmakers have been accused of making manual door releases too hard to find and access during an emergency, according to TechCrunch. The front doors will open from the inside in the same way as in the existing R1 vehicles. There is an electronic button that opens the door, and a manual door-release latch is tucked into the front part of the interior handle.
Facebook announced new AI-powered features designed to let users express themselves in more playful ways across the platform, according to TechCrunch. The updates include animated profile pictures, photo-restyling tools for Stories and Memories, and the ability to add animated backgrounds to text posts. To achieve the best results, Facebook recommends using a clear photo of a single person facing the camera.
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