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Popular YouTuber MrBeast has taken down an AI-powered thumbnail generator following strong criticism from fellow creators who accused the tool of exploiting their work without consent. The creator, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, introduced the feature last week through his YouTube analytics platform, Viewstats. He claimed the tool was designed to help smaller content creators craft more effective thumbnails. However, the move sparked a backlash, with critics arguing that it used existing thumbnails without permission. Prominent YouTubers including PointCrow and Jacksepticeye condemned the AI generator. PointCrow, whose real name is Eric Morino, accused MrBeast of launching “something that can steal… hard work without a thought,” alleging the AI model had been trained on other creators’ thumbnails without consent. In response, MrBeast announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would be removing the tool from Viewstats. Instead, he plans to promote human artists available for hire. "I genuinely care about the YouTube community more than anyone can imagine," MrBeast wrote, acknowledging the feedback. “It deeply saddens me when I do something that upsets people in the community. If creators don't want the tool, then that's perfectly fine.” The now-defunct tool, offered via an $80-per-month subscription, allowed users to replicate popular thumbnail styles and even insert themselves into visuals resembling those from other channels. Critics likened the feature to generative AI tools trained on unauthorized content — a practice currently under legal scrutiny in multiple copyright lawsuits. Despite MrBeast’s initial belief that creators would welcome the tool, it faced swift condemnation. Critics noted that, although the concept aimed to democratize content creation, it ultimately risked harming original creators and eroding trust in the community. MrBeast, who currently holds over 385 million subscribers and is widely considered the platform’s highest-paid personality, has long emphasized supporting creators through tools and business ventures. However, the recent controversy adds to a series of challenges. These include a lawsuit tied to his Amazon series Beast Games, which drew allegations of mistreatment during filming, and criticism from the Mexican government for filming at Mayan ruins. In a separate incident in April, MrBeast also apologized for a poorly organized fan event in Las Vegas that some attendees described as a “horrible” experience. Despite these controversies, MrBeast remains a dominant figure in digital entertainment, with an expanding media presence and influence over YouTube’s creative landscape. Source BBC  

After decades of haunting computer users with its trademark blue background, Windows’ infamous “Blue Screen of Death” is getting a new look — it will soon turn black. The change comes as part of Microsoft’s wider efforts to make the Windows operating system more resilient, following last year’s major CrowdStrike incident that caused millions of computers worldwide to crash. “It's now easier than ever to manage unexpected restarts and recover quickly,” Microsoft said in a statement from its Redmond, Washington headquarters on Wednesday. As part of the update, Microsoft is simplifying the experience for users facing unexpected system restarts. The redesigned error screen will feature a black background, a shorter message, and will no longer display the familiar frowning face. Instead, it will show the percentage progress for the system restart. The updated interface is expected to roll out later this summer for all devices running Windows 11 (version 24H2). How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession In addition, Microsoft announced a new “quick machine recovery” feature aimed at reducing downtime, especially during large-scale outages. The mechanism will allow Microsoft to automatically deploy targeted fixes without requiring complex, manual intervention from IT teams. The quick machine recovery feature will also become widely available later this summer on Windows 11, with further improvements expected by the end of the year.   

Ana Sepúlveda, a math teacher in Dallas, wanted to make geometry exciting for her 6th grade honors class. Knowing her students are passionate about soccer, she decided to connect the subject to the sport. To help, she turned to ChatGPT. Within seconds, the AI provided a detailed five-page lesson plan, complete with a theme: “Geometry is everywhere in soccer — on the field, in the ball, and even in stadium designs!” The plan explained how shapes and angles are used in the game, suggested discussion questions like “Why are these shapes important to soccer?” and proposed a project for students to create their own soccer field or stadium using rulers and protractors. “AI has completely changed the way I work,” said Sepúlveda, who teaches at a bilingual school and uses ChatGPT to translate materials into Spanish. “It’s helping me plan lessons, communicate with parents, and keep students more engaged.” Teachers nationwide are increasingly using AI tools to create quizzes, lesson plans, worksheets, assist with grading, and reduce administrative work. Many say this technology allows them to focus more on teaching. Google may be forced to link to rival search platforms in the UK A Gallup and Walton Family Foundation survey released Wednesday found that 6 in 10 K-12 public school teachers in the U.S. used AI tools during the last academic year. The survey, conducted in April with over 2,000 teachers, showed AI use is most common among high school educators and those early in their careers. According to Gallup research consultant Andrea Malek Ash, teachers who use AI weekly reported saving an average of six hours per week, suggesting AI could help reduce teacher burnout. States are issuing guidelines for using AI tools in classrooms As concerns grow over students misusing AI tools, many schools are introducing guidelines and providing training to ensure teachers use the technology responsibly and avoid shortcuts that could negatively impact student learning. Currently, around two dozen U.S. states have issued AI-related guidance for schools, but how consistently these rules are applied across classrooms varies, according to Maya Israel, an associate professor of educational technology and computer science education at the University of Florida. “We need to make sure AI doesn’t replace a teacher’s professional judgment,” Israel emphasized. She added that while AI can be useful for basic tasks like grading multiple-choice tests, it struggles with more complex assessments requiring nuance. Students should also have a way to report unfair or inaccurate grading, with the final grading decision left to the teacher. AI tools are already saving time for many educators. Roughly 8 in 10 teachers who use AI say it helps reduce workload by assisting with tasks such as creating worksheets, quizzes, or handling administrative duties. About 6 in 10 report that AI has improved the quality of their work, particularly in adapting materials for students or providing feedback. Mary McCarthy, a high school social studies teacher near Houston, said AI has transformed her teaching and improved her work-life balance by easing lesson planning and other tasks. Training provided by her school district has also helped her demonstrate responsible AI use to students. “If all we say is ‘AI is bad, and kids will get lazy,’ then of course that’s what will happen if we don’t guide them,” McCarthy said. “As the adult in the room, I see it as my duty to help them learn how to use this tool responsibly.” OpenAI pulls Jony Ive partnership details after court ruling in trademark dispute Teachers say the technology is best used sparingly Since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, opinions on the use of artificial intelligence in education have changed significantly. Many schools initially banned the technology, but over time, educators have begun exploring ways to integrate it into classrooms. Despite this shift, concerns remain. According to a recent study, nearly half of teachers worry that students' reliance on AI could harm their ability to think critically, work independently, or persevere through problem-solving tasks. However, teachers also believe that understanding AI better helps them recognize when students overuse it. Colorado high school English teacher Darren Barkett, for example, says AI-generated assignments often lack grammatical errors and contain unusually complex language—both signs that a chatbot was involved. Barkett himself uses ChatGPT for lesson planning and grading multiple-choice tests and essays. In suburban Chicago, middle school art teacher Lindsay Johnson uses only AI tools approved by her school to ensure student privacy. She introduces AI technology later in the creative process so students can build confidence in their own abilities first. For her eighth graders' final project, Johnson asked students to draw a portrait of someone influential in their lives. After they finished the facial details, she offered them the option to use generative AI for designing the background. She relied on an AI feature in Canva, a design platform vetted by her school district's IT team for safety and privacy. “My goal as an art teacher is to show students the range of tools available and help them understand how to use those tools properly,” Johnson said. Interestingly, some students declined the AI assistance. “About half the class said, ‘I already have a vision, and I want to complete it myself,’” she added.

U.S. traffic safety regulators have launched an inquiry into Elon Musk’s self-driving “robotaxi” trials in Texas following viral videos showing Teslas braking abruptly, veering down the wrong side of the road, and crossing intersections from incorrect lanes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed on Tuesday that it has contacted Tesla for more details about the incidents. Although other clips show the robotaxis functioning smoothly, any significant findings from the inquiry could raise concerns over Musk’s repeated assurances about the technology's safety and his ambitious vision of an autonomous future dominated by Tesla vehicles — potentially without steering wheels or drivers. “NHTSA is aware of the referenced incidents and is in contact with the manufacturer to gather additional information,” the agency said in a statement. Passengers testing Tesla robotaxis on Austin roads have generally reported positive experiences, and Tesla’s stock price rose by 8% on Monday. However, news of the federal inquiry caused the stock to fall more than 2% on Tuesday. Tesla has yet to comment publicly. Google may be forced to link to rival search platforms in the UK Dan Ives, a bullish Tesla analyst at Wedbush Securities who experienced a flawless ride during Sunday’s launch of the test program, dismissed the concerning footage circulating on platforms like X and YouTube. “Any issues they encounter will be fixed,” Ives said, calling the test program a “huge success” over the past three days “despite the skeptics.” One such skeptic, vehicle technology expert Sam Abuelsamid of Telemetry Insight, argued the footage was worrying enough to pause public testing altogether. “The system has always had highly erratic performance, working really well a lot of the time but frequently making random and inconsistent but dangerous errors,” Abuelsamid wrote in a message. “This is not a system that should be carrying members of the public or being tested on public roads without trained test drivers behind the wheel.” One widely shared video shows a Tesla entering a left-turn-only lane, but instead of turning, it drives straight through the intersection and into an oncoming lane. The vehicle then swerves several times, with the steering wheel jerking back and forth, before stabilizing. The car proceeds down the wrong side of the road for around 10 seconds. Luckily, no oncoming vehicles were present. The passenger who filmed the incident, money manager Rob Maurer, downplayed the situation. “There are no vehicles anywhere in sight, so this wasn’t a safety issue,” Maurer said in his video commentary. “I didn’t feel uncomfortable in the situation.” Another video shows a Tesla braking suddenly in the middle of the road, possibly reacting to the flashing lights of parked police cars, though the officers appeared to be handling a separate matter nearby. NHTSA has been monitoring Tesla’s autonomous technology closely. The agency launched an investigation last year into how Teslas with Musk’s so-called Full Self-Driving system performed in low-visibility conditions, following several crashes — one of them fatal. Tesla had to recall 2.4 million vehicles at the time. Musk insists his Full Self-Driving Teslas are safer than human drivers, and he claims the upgraded robotaxi system will be so reliable that hundreds of thousands will be deployed by the end of next year. OpenAI pulls Jony Ive partnership details after court ruling in trademark dispute Despite the Austin trials, Musk faces stiff competition. Rivals such as Amazon-owned Zoox and Waymo — the current leader in self-driving taxis — have already launched services in multiple cities. Waymo recently announced it had completed its 10 millionth paid ride. Musk is under pressure to deliver a robotaxi breakthrough. His recent role in the Trump administration as a cost-cutting czar has alienated Tesla’s core buyer base, traditionally made up of liberal, environmentally conscious Americans, contributing to declining sales. European markets have also cooled after Musk publicly supported far-right politicians in Britain and Germany earlier this year. Source: Agency    

Google may soon face new requirements in the UK aimed at providing consumers with more choice over which online search services they use, according to the country’s competition watchdog. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the tech giant under a new law that allows the regulator to demand changes if it finds that a company holds too much power in a particular market. Google currently dominates the UK search market, accounting for over 90% of searches, with approximately 200,000 businesses using its search advertising services to reach customers, as reported by the BBC. Alphabet, Google's parent company, has criticized the CMA's proposed changes, calling them "broad and unfocused." However, the company has said it will "work constructively" with the regulator moving forward. The CMA, which is not accusing Google of anti-competitive behavior at this stage, has outlined a "roadmap" for potential changes to the company’s operations. These changes could include requiring "choice" screens for users to access different search providers and offering more transparency and control for publishers whose content appears in search results. A final decision is expected in October. According to the CMA, the average person in the UK conducts between five and ten searches per day, and businesses spend an average of £33,000 annually on Google advertisements. The watchdog believes that, if competition were functioning properly, this figure could be lower. "Google search has delivered tremendous benefits but our investigation so far suggests there are ways to make these markets more open, competitive and innovative," said CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell. She added that the proposed changes would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google’s search services. However, Google expressed concerns over the potential outcomes of the investigation. A company spokesperson said that while the CMA has reiterated that "strategic market status" does not equate to accusations of anti-competitive behavior, the investigation and proposed changes "could have significant implications for businesses and consumers in the UK." Google faces major setback in appeal against EU antitrust fine over Android They also cautioned that the UK has historically benefited from early access to Google innovations, but this could change as a result of what they described as "punitive regulations." Concerns from Businesses and Publishers The CMA’s investigation, which was launched in January, aims to ensure fair competition in online search. It has heard from 47 organizations, including airlines, adult online retailers, and media publishers, about how Google's search practices help or hinder their businesses. EasyJet, for example, noted that changes to the search engine resulting from the European Union’s Digital Markets Act had diverted more customers to online travel agencies, which misrepresented the airline’s services and prices. In response, Google stated that increasing the visibility of rival search engines and comparison sites was part of the required changes under the EU law. However, the company claimed this move had hurt airlines and hotel operators by reducing direct traffic to their websites. Meanwhile, LoveHoney and Ann Summers, which sell sex toys, lingerie, and sexual wellness products, raised concerns about Google’s SafeSearch feature, which censors explicit results and has affected the "discoverability" of their sites. Trade association UK Hospitality also warned that the UK should be cautious about adopting similar search requirements to those in the EU, fearing they could create "unintended consequences" for both businesses and consumers. Implications for Artificial Intelligence Sebastian Cuttill, of the News Media Association, highlighted that the CMA's intervention could have significant implications not just for traditional search engines but also for AI-powered alternatives, such as Google's own AI Overviews. He argued that increasing transparency over how news content is used by tech firms to develop AI tools would be "massive" for publishers. News organizations, including the BBC, have expressed concerns about the use of their content to train AI systems without consent or compensation. "This measure would pursue the statutory objectives of fair dealing and trust and transparency," Cuttill said. Global Scrutiny Google’s search operations have come under increased scrutiny by regulators in other countries as well. In August, a US judge ruled that the company had operated an illegal search monopoly. Additionally, the European Union has imposed multiple enforcement actions, including a €2.4 billion (£2 billion) fine for allegedly "self-preferencing" its Shopping comparison service, a penalty that was upheld by the bloc’s top court last year.

A promising collaboration between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and renowned iPhone designer Jony Ive to create a new AI hardware product has encountered a legal obstacle after a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to the marketing of the venture. Last month, OpenAI announced the acquisition of io Products, a product and engineering firm co-founded by Ive, in a deal reportedly worth nearly $6.5 billion. However, the project quickly ran into legal trouble when a startup named IYO, which is also working on AI hardware, filed a trademark infringement complaint. The startup claims its product was pitched to Altman’s personal investment firm and Ive's design company in 2022 and alleges that the new venture's name is confusingly similar to its own. Tesla begins robotaxi test run in Austin U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson ruled on Friday that IYO has a sufficiently strong trademark infringement claim to move forward with legal proceedings, scheduling a hearing for October. Until then, Altman, Ive, and OpenAI are barred from “using the IYO mark, and any mark confusingly similar thereto, including the IO mark, in connection with the marketing or sale of related products.” In response to the ruling, OpenAI removed all references to the new venture from its website, including the original May 21 announcement. The replaced webpage now displays a message stating the content is "temporarily down due to a court order" and adds, "We don’t agree with the complaint and are reviewing our options." IYO CEO Jason Rugolo welcomed the court's decision, issuing a statement on Monday asserting that the company will firmly defend its brand and technology. "IYO will not roll over and let Sam and Jony trample on our rights, no matter how rich and famous they are," Rugolo said.

A malfunction in a laser navigation tool led to the crash of a Japanese company’s lunar lander earlier this month, officials confirmed on Tuesday. Tokyo-based ispace revealed that its lander, named Resilience, failed to make a safe touchdown on the moon’s surface — marking the company’s second lunar crash in as many years. The mission aimed to land near the moon’s far northern region known as Mare Frigoris, or the Sea of Cold. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter later captured images of the crash site, showing debris from Resilience and its mini rover. According to ispace, the laser range finder responsible for measuring the lander's altitude did not activate promptly, resulting in a failure to calculate the distance to the surface. As a result, Resilience was descending at roughly 138 feet (42 meters) per second when communication was lost. The spacecraft crashed just five seconds later. The company's first lunar mission also ended in disaster in 2023 due to faulty software, with both incidents occurring during the critical final descent phase. Tesla begins robotaxi test run in Austin Out of seven recent private-sector attempts to land on the moon, only one succeeded — Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander, which touched down in March. Interestingly, Blue Ghost had shared the same SpaceX launch from Florida as Resilience back in January. So far, successful moon landings have been achieved by five nations: the United States, Soviet Union, China, India, and Japan. Among them, only the U.S. has sent astronauts to the lunar surface, during NASA's historic Apollo missions over 50 years ago. Despite consecutive failures, ispace remains committed to lunar exploration. The company is preparing for a third landing attempt in 2027 with support from NASA, along with a fourth mission. Additional tests and technical upgrades are expected to raise project costs by approximately 1.5 billion yen (over $10 million), company officials said. Samsung electronics eyes turnaround in HBM segment amid AI surge CEO and founder Takeshi Hakamada emphasized that ispace remains undeterred by recent setbacks and is determined to restore customer confidence. Independent experts will assist with the crash investigation, and the company plans to strengthen its technical cooperation with the Japanese Space Agency. “We are determined to move forward with our future missions,” Hakamada said in Japanese. Source: With inputs from agency  

By 2025, AI content writing tools have become indispensable for bloggers, marketers, and creators aiming to save time and enhance productivity. With a wide array of options available, finding the perfect fit can be challenging. That is why we have curated a list of the top free AI content writers you can start using right now to streamline your content creation process. These tools offer impressive features without costing a dime, perfect for creating high-quality content with ease and efficiency.  Best 8 Free AI Content Writers  . ChatGPT  ChatGPT stands out as one of the best free AI writing tools in 2025 due to its versatility, user-friendly interface, and powerful content generation abilities. Whether you are writing blog posts, marketing copy, emails, or even creative fiction, ChatGPT delivers fast, coherent, and engaging output.  It adapts well to different tones and writing styles, which makes it a reliable assistant for professionals and casual users alike. While the free version offers plenty of value, the $20/month premium unlocks even more precision and speed.  With frequent updates and strong community support, ChatGPT continues to set the standard in AI writing. Its only real drawback is the occasional need for detailed prompting to avoid robotic responses. Overall, it remains a top-tier choice for AI-assisted writing. Read more: Ai and Future of Content Writing: Will Artificial Intelligence replace writers? Copy.ai  Copy.ai earns its spot as another popular free AI writing tool for its impressive content quality, especially for long-form writing, ad copy, and blog generation. With over 90 AI templates, it is built for versatility, covering everything from social media posts to product descriptions.  What sets Copy.ai apart is its ability to produce content that passes most AI detection tools. This feature has made it ideal for marketers and bloggers seeking authentic-feeling text. While the free version has limitations, it still allows you to explore its intuitive interface and streamlined workflows.  The only downsides are occasional interface glitches and the lack of a content history feature. Even so, Copy.ai’s combination of high-quality output, user-friendly design, and efficient workflow automation firmly positions it as a leading AI writing tool in 2025. Its free plan offers limited features, while paid plans start at $36/month (billed annually) and $49/month.  Read more: Free Online Content Writing Courses Writesonic Writesonic is one of the best free AI writing tools, especially for bloggers and digital marketers. Its clean, user-friendly interface and access to 90+ AI templates make it ideal for creating SEO-optimised blog posts, ad copy, and email content.  Writesonic delivers high-quality, refined outputs across most use cases, and its long-form editor is particularly strong for content-heavy projects. Pricing starts at just $12.67/month, making it one of the most affordable premium AI tools. Even at its free level, Writesonic offers decent output volume and solid results.  While tone customisation and tech-specific writing could use improvements, its affordability and ease of use make up for it. The sharing feature is also a bonus, letting users collaborate easily. Despite some customer service complaints, Writesonic remains a top choice available without breaking the bank.  Read more: Speaking with AI: Best Free Apps for English Speaking Practice Deepseek DeepSeek AI is another advanced and cost-effective free AI writing tool. With its powerful Mixture-of-Experts architecture and massive 128k token context window, it handles long-form content and complex queries with remarkable ease.  DeepSeek excels in technical writing, mathematical reasoning, and content generation. These offer near-human fluency while passing AI detection tools effortlessly. Currently, Deepseek is totally free, making it one of the best choices for businesses and developers.  Its open-source nature promotes innovation and accessibility, attracting startups and researchers alike. While it occasionally needs prompt refinements to meet specific writing tones, the overall quality and depth of its output are top-tier.   Read more: OpenAI Codex: A Pair Programmer to Shape the Future Coding Paradigm Rytr Rytr is an excellent free AI writing tool for those looking for a straightforward, affordable solution to create short-form content quickly and efficiently. It offers over 40 use cases, supports 30+ languages, and includes 29 writing tones—ideal for everything from social media posts to product descriptions. Its clean interface is perfect for beginners, and the built-in plagiarism checker adds an extra layer of trust.  With pricing starting at just $9/month, it is one of the most affordable AI tools on the market. While it lacks a long-form editor and some advanced blogging tools, Rytr excels at delivering polished, ready-to-publish content fast. If you are a freelancer or marketer looking for efficiency without complexity, Rytr is a reliable and cost-effective choice worth considering in 2025.  Frase  Frase is a powerful AI writing tool built specifically for SEO and content marketing. It combines content generation with in-depth SERP analysis which allows users to create optimised content briefs, FAQs, introductions, and more—all within one streamlined platform. Its real strength lies in managing the full content workflow, from research to optimisation.  Read more: 10 Best Free AI Image Generators in 2025 Pricing starts at $14.99/month, but it is important to note that to generate over 4,000 words, you will need the Pro Add-On for an extra $35/month. While Frase lacks a robust free plan and can fall short in SEO keyword accuracy, its integration of AI writing and SEO insights makes it an excellent tool for digital marketers. For anyone managing content at scale, Frase delivers both speed and structure in one package. Su‎dowrite Sudowrite is another excellent free AI writing tool for fiction writers, especially those battling writer’s block or seeking creative inspiration. Unlike general-purpose tools like ChatGPT or Rytr, Sudowrite is laser-focused on storytelling. Its standout features—like Describe, Brainstorm, and Expand—help deepen scenes, enhance character development, and shape compelling narratives.  It is not built for business writing, but that is the beauty of it. For novelists and short story writers, it is like having a creative partner who never runs out of ideas. Even if you do not use every suggestion, it pushes you forward when you are stuck. Its pricing starts at $19/month, but there is a limited free trial to explore. If you are serious about fiction, Sudowrite is a must-try creative companion. Read more: 12 Most In-Demand Tech Skills for 2025: Stay Ahead in the Job Market In a Nutshell In the current time, free AI writing tools offer powerful solutions for every type of content creator—from marketers and bloggers to novelists. SEO-driven articles, ad copy, or immersive storytelling—there is a tool tailored to your needs. With options like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Sudowrite, crafting high-quality content has never been more accessible or affordable. It is time to start exploring and elevate your writing today!

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of instant messaging app Telegram, plans to leave his fortune to the more than 100 children he has fathered. The Russian-born tech tycoon has revealed that his estate will be split between his six children from relationships and the scores of others whom he fathered through sperm donation. In a wide-ranging interview published Thursday in French political magazine Le Point, 40-year-old Durov revealed that he does not differentiate between his legal children with three different women and those conceived with the sperm he donated. “They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death,” he said, after revealing that he recently wrote his will.   Durov revealed the number of children he has fathered on his social media last year. He said a doctor told him that it was his “civic duty” to donate his “high quality donor material,” which he did over the course of 15 years. According to Bloomberg, Durov is worth an estimated $13.9 billion, but he dismissed such estimates as “theoretical,” telling Le Point: “Since I’m not selling Telegram, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have this money in a bank account. My liquid assets are much lower – and they don’t come from Telegram: they come from my investment in bitcoin in 2013.” Regardless, his children will have a long wait for their inheritance. He said: “I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of 30 years has elapsed, starting from today. I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account. I want to specify that I make no difference between my children: there are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations.” Cybernews researchers report billions of login credentials leaked online When asked why he has written his will now, Durov, who lives in Dubai, said: “My work involves risks – defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states. I want to protect my children, but also the company I created, Telegram. I want Telegram to forever remain faithful to the values I defend.” Telegram, which has more than a billion monthly users, is known for its high-level encryption and limited oversight on what its users post. Last year, Durov was arrested in Paris on charges relating to a host of crimes, including allegations that his platform was complicit in aiding money launderers, drug traffickers and people spreading child pornography. Google faces major setback in appeal against EU antitrust fine over Android Durov, who is Telegram’s sole shareholder, has denied the charges, which he described as “absurd.” “Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he told the French magazine. Source: CNN  

Researchers at cybersecurity outlet Cybernews say that billions of login credentials have been leaked and compiled into datasets online, giving criminals “unprecedented access” to accounts consumers use each day. According to a report published this week, Cybernews researchers have recently discovered 30 exposed datasets that each contain a vast amount of login information — amounting to a total of 16 billion compromised credentials. That includes user passwords for a range of popular platforms including Google, Facebook and Apple. Sixteen billion is roughly double the amount of people on Earth today, signaling that impacted consumers may have had credentials for more than one account leaked. Cybernews notes that there are most certainly duplicates in the data and so “it's impossible to tell how many people or accounts were actually exposed.” It's also important to note that the leaked login information doesn't span from a single source, such as one breach targeting a company. Instead, it appears that the data was stolen through multiple events over time, and then compiled and briefly exposed publicly, which is when Cybernews reports that its researchers discovered it. Various infostealers are most likely the culprit, Cybernews noted. Infostealers are a form of malicious software that breaches a victim's device or systems to take sensitive information. Many questions remain about these leaked credentials, including whose hands the login credentials are in now. But, as data breaches become more and more common in today's world, experts continue to stress the importance of maintaining key “cyber hygiene.” If you're worried about your account data potentially being exposed in a recent breach, the first thing you can do is change your password — and avoid using the same or similar login credentials on multiple sites. If you find it too hard to memorize all your different passwords, consider a password manager or passkey. And also add multifactor authentication, which can serve as a second layer of verification through your phone, email or USB authenticator key.