Blockchain
US lawmakers press Meta over crypto and blockchain plans
The United States House Financial Services Committee is putting pressure on Meta to open up about any blockchain or crypto-related plans it may have — given a total of five cryptocurrency and blockchain-related trademark applications still active from 2022.
Committee ranking member Maxine Waters stated in a Jan. 22 letter to Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and operating chief Javier Olivan that the trademark applications— all filed on March 18, 2022 — “appear to represent a continued intention to expand the company’s involvement in the digital assets ecosystem.”
Waters said the applications show Meta is working on digital assets despite Meta telling Democratic Financial Services Committee staff on Oct. 12, 2023, “that there is no ongoing digital assets work at Meta.”
Meta abandoned plans for its payments crypto stablecoin Diem (formerly Libra) in mid-2019 due to pressure from lawmakers. It sold Diem for $200 million in January 2022 to the now-collapsed Silvergate Bank.
Meta’s mid-2019 plan to release a digital wallet, Novi (formerly Calibra), by 2020 similarly fizzled out with no indication of a new release date.
The trademark filings denote various services for crypto and “blockchain assets” trading, exchange, payments, transfers, wallets and the associated hardware and software infrastructure.
A Notice of Allowance (NOA) for each filing — a document saying the application meets registration requirements — has been sent to Meta, who, within six months, must file either a statement that it will use the trademark or request a six-month extension to file the statement.
Meta has until Feb. 15 at the earliest to respond to the first NOA sent on Aug. 15, 2023. The latest NOA was sent on Jan. 16, meaning it has until July 16 to respond.
Waters asked Meta how it will respond to the NOAs, if it intends to pursue any Web3, crypto or digital wallet projects along and if it’s launching a crypto payments platform.
She also queried the extent of Meta’s research into stablecoins or partnerships with stablecoin projects, if it’s looking to adopt distributed ledger technology (DLT) and how its technology might allow crypto-related functions in its metaverse.
Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Source: Cointelegraph
The post US lawmakers press Meta over crypto and blockchain plans appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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North Korean hackers target crypto firms with ‘Durian’ malware, Kaspersky confirms
North Korean hackers have once again targeted cryptocurrency firms, this time using a sophisticated malware known as Durian, according to cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky. This latest revelation underscores the ongoing threat posed by cybercriminals to the cryptocurrency industry and highlights the need for robust security measures to protect against such attacks.
Durian, named after the pungent tropical fruit, is a highly advanced malware strain believed to have been developed by the Lazarus Group, a notorious hacking collective with ties to North Korea. The malware is designed to infiltrate the networks of cryptocurrency exchanges and steal sensitive information, including user credentials, private keys, and other valuable data.
Kaspersky researchers have identified multiple instances of Durian being deployed in targeted attacks against cryptocurrency firms in recent months. The malware is typically spread via phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links to fake websites designed to trick victims into downloading and installing the malware on their systems.
Once installed, Durian operates covertly, using a variety of techniques to evade detection and maintain persistence within the victim’s network. It can intercept and exfiltrate sensitive data, log keystrokes, and even take screenshots of the victim’s desktop, allowing hackers to gain unauthorized access to cryptocurrency wallets and other valuable assets.
The use of Durian by North Korean hackers represents a significant escalation in cyber threats against the cryptocurrency industry. The Lazarus Group, believed to be behind the malware, has a long history of targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and financial institutions with sophisticated cyberattacks aimed at stealing funds and sensitive information.
To mitigate the risk of falling victim to such attacks, cryptocurrency firms are advised to implement robust cybersecurity measures, including multi-factor authentication, encryption, network segmentation, and regular security audits. Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening email attachments or clicking on links, especially if they appear suspicious or unsolicited.
By remaining vigilant and implementing proactive security measures, cryptocurrency firms can better protect themselves and their customers against the growing threat posed by cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers.
Source: crypto.news
The post North Korean hackers target crypto firms with ‘Durian’ malware, Kaspersky confirms appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.
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