Google’s threat intelligence team has revealed attempts by government-backed APT groups to misuse its Gemini AI, including low-effort jailbreak attempts and using the AI for malicious activities like phishing and information gathering. Despite these efforts, Google reported that the attempts were largely unsuccessful, with Gemini maintaining safety filters against harmful prompts. APT actors from Iran, China, and North Korea have sought to leverage Gemini for various cyber operations, including coding tasks and strategic research.
read more
News from PRK
Generated 1 posts last week North Korean Developer Hacks Solana Trading Bot Stole 1.4 Million Dollars
The Solareum trading bot project has shut down following a hack that drained users of approximately $1.4 million in Solana, allegedly orchestrated by a North Korean developer. The U.S. government has since seized nearly $1 million in stolen funds, while the company faced backlash for its lack of transparency and cooperation during the investigation. Users reported significant losses, prompting security experts to intervene and freeze some of the stolen assets.
read moreWarren Questions Trump’s Commerce Secretary Nominee Over Tether Connections
Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump’s nominee for Commerce Secretary, due to his ties with Tether, a stablecoin issuer. She questions his ability to prioritize public interests over financial ties and has requested answers to 13 inquiries regarding his involvement with Tether by February 10. Warren, a critic of Tether, argues it is linked to illegal activities and advocates for stricter crypto regulations, despite facing opposition to her proposed legislation.
read moreWarren Questions Lutnick on Tether Ties Ahead of Confirmation Hearing
Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about Howard Lutnick, President Trump’s Commerce Secretary pick, due to his ties to Tether, a stablecoin linked to criminal activities. In a letter, she questioned his ability to prioritize public interests over personal financial ties and demanded answers regarding his financial stake in Tether and due diligence practices by Cantor Fitzgerald. Warren’s scrutiny comes as she advocates for stricter regulations in the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting Tether’s controversial role in facilitating illicit activities.
read moreCourt Reverses Tornado Cash Sanctions Amid Crypto Market Developments
A US court has reversed sanctions against the Tornado Cash cryptocurrency mixing protocol, potentially paving the way for more innovation-friendly regulations in the crypto space. This follows the original sanctions imposed by the Treasury in 2022 for alleged money laundering activities linked to North Korea.Meanwhile, Phemex crypto exchange halted withdrawals amid nearly $30 million in suspicious outflows, while the likelihood of memecoin-based ETFs, including those for TRUMP, DOGE, and BONK, has increased under new SEC leadership. Despite this, ARK Invest’s Cathie Wood remains focused on major cryptocurrencies, expressing skepticism about the utility of the TRUMP token.
read moreTornado Cash Price Surges Amid Legal Developments and Privacy Coin Interest
TornadoCash (TORN) surged 170% to $20 following calls from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin for the release of its detained co-founders, amid renewed interest in privacy coins. A recent court ruling reversed sanctions against TornadoCash, boosting market confidence. However, a critical resistance level at $21 must be breached for further gains, while volume tapering suggests a potential demand slowdown.
read moreNoones Confirms Eight Million Dollar Exploit Due to Solana Bridge Vulnerability
Noones, a peer-to-peer crypto marketplace, confirmed an $8 million exploit linked to a vulnerability in its Solana bridge. The breach, which occurred between January 1 and 2, involved questionable transactions across multiple blockchains and was contained by security teams. CEO Ray Youssef stated that user funds and personal data are secure, and the Solana bridge will remain inactive until thorough testing is completed.
read moreTornado Cash Token Surges After Court Overturns Sanctions Imposed by US
TORN, the token of Tornado Cash, surged 140% to over $25 after a court overturned U.S. sanctions against the crypto mixer, which had been imposed due to its alleged use by the Lazarus Group for laundering stolen funds. Although the token has since dropped to $17, it remains significantly higher than its value a week ago. The court ruled that the smart contracts of Tornado Cash could not be classified as “property,” thus invalidating the grounds for the sanctions.
read moreEthereum Community Seeks Trump’s Help for Developers Facing Legal Challenges
The Ethereum community is rallying for the release of developer Virgil Griffith and Tornado Cash co-founder Roman Storm, following President Trump’s pardon of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht. Vitalik Buterin emphasized the need for support, stating, “No man left behind,” as concerns grow over the implications of prosecuting software development. Storm, facing charges related to money laundering, has labeled his prosecution a threat to privacy and free speech, while calls for clemency highlight the ongoing debate about the treatment of crypto developers.
read moreCourt Rules Against Treasury Sanctions on Tornado Cash’s Smart Contracts
A Texas federal court ruled that the U.S. Treasury overstepped its authority by sanctioning Tornado Cash, stating that its immutable smart contracts cannot be classified as “property” under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This decision follows a similar ruling from the Fifth Circuit and limits the government’s ability to regulate open-source blockchain protocols. Tornado Cash’s native token, TORN, surged over 200% following the ruling, highlighting the ongoing legal battles surrounding the platform amid allegations of facilitating money laundering.
read moreTexas Court Reverses Sanctions Against Tornado Cash Protocol in Legal Victory
A Texas District Court has reversed the sanctions against the Tornado Cash protocol, a significant win for privacy-focused technologies. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control had sanctioned Tornado Cash in August 2022 for allegedly aiding North Korea’s Lazarus Group in laundering over $455 million. Despite this legal victory, developer Alexey Pertsev remains imprisoned for money laundering charges related to the platform.
read moreIllicit Cryptocurrency Activity Grows Amid Rising Cybercrime and National Threats
Illicit cryptocurrency activity has evolved, with 2024 seeing an estimated $40.9 billion flowing to known illicit addresses, potentially surpassing $51 billion by year-end. Cybercriminals are leveraging AI for sophisticated scams, while North Korean hackers accounted for $1.34 billion in stolen funds, primarily targeting centralized services. Despite law enforcement efforts, ransomware remains a significant threat, with ongoing attacks and smaller payments continuing to fuel the ecosystem.
read more