Debugged Weekly: Jun 26th-30th
Google, “NotPetya”, Facebook and more! Take a look at some of the hottest stories of the week.
1. New computer virus spreads from Ukraine to disrupt world business
Summary: A computer virus dubbed “GoldenEye” or “NotPetya” wreaked havoc on firms around the globe on Wednesday as it spread to more than 60 countries, disrupting ports from Mumbai to Los Angeles and even halting work at a chocolate factory in Australia. The virus originally began its spread on Tuesday in Ukraine.
Why this matters: This attack signifies a growing danger that mass-scale cyberattacks will continue to cause damage throughout the world.
2. Facebook reaches 2 billion monthly active users
Summary: On Tuesday, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook has hit a new milestone, with more than 2 billion monthly active users now on the social network. As of now, more than a quarter of the world uses Facebook.
Why this matters: This is a historic moment as a social media platform has now surpassed 2 billion active users.
3. NATO decides cyberattacks could trigger collective defence clause
Summary: Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all, is being extended into the realm of cyberwarfare. In response to the Petya attacks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that the collective defence articles could be invoked in the face of a cyberattack.
Why this matters: This is among the first official statements from NATO in reference to recent cyberattacks.
4. Report: Russia says terrorists used encrypted messaging service Telegram to coordinate attack
Summary: Russia’s FSB intelligence service said Monday that terrorists have used encrypted-messaging service Telegram to plan attacks, according to Reuters. The attacks planned on Telegram allegedly include the April bombing in St. Petersburg that killed 15 people.
Why this matters: Russia’s statements increase the pressure on encrypted messaging companies to turn over their data to the state.
5. Canada’s top court rules Google must block some results worldwide
Summary: On Wednesday, Canada’s top court ruled that the courts can force Google to remove results worldwide. Specifically, the case stated that a court in the country can grant an injunction preventing conduct anywhere in the world when it is necessary to ensure the injunction’s effectiveness This drew criticism from civil liberties groups arguing such a move sets a precedent for censorship on the internet.
Why this matters: A major country has now officially ruled that Google must ban worldwide results if those results interfere with that country’s judicial system. This will be the start of a significant legal battle between Google and the Canadian courts.
