Cracking the code on ultra-secure, high-speed data transmission
Why it matters: Chinese researchers hit a significant data-transfer milestone by transmitting data at one terabit per second over 1,200 kilometers of optical fiber, with encryption embedded directly into the light signal. This approach eliminates any added layers of software-based security – something the global telecom industry has struggled to achieve for years.
Forward-looking: Visa plans to allow AI agents to conduct financial transactions on behalf of consumers, a move that could streamline and automate everyday purchases. The company is currently running pilot programs that connect its payment network to AI platforms developed by firms such as Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, Perplexity, and Mistral, with broader adoption expected soon.
TL;DR: A new study analyzing more than 19 billion passwords from relatively recent data breaches between April 2024 and 2025 has found that the vast majority are weak. Alarmingly, only six percent of the leaked passwords were unique, leading researchers to describe a widespread epidemic of weak password reuse.
In brief: Tesla has vehemently denied a report by the Wall Street Journal that alleges the EV giant's board contacted recruitment firms to search for a replacement for Elon Musk as CEO. Musk called the article "deliberately false" and an "extremely bad breach of ethics."
Cyberduck is a free file-transfer client for Windows and Mac. It supports a wide range of services, including SFTP, WebDAV, Amazon S3, Backblaze, Azure, OpenStack, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox.
"Another reason why Americans should buy American"
A hot potato: Amazon has backed away from a plan to show exactly how much the Trump tariffs will increase the cost of items on its Amazon Haul site. The White House had called the potential move a "hostile and political act," and the president himself called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to discuss the matter.
Apple already issued patches, so be sure to update your systems immediately
In brief: Security researchers have uncovered a wide-ranging set of vulnerabilities in Apple's AirPlay protocol that could allow attackers to hijack Apple and third-party devices remotely without user interaction. The exploit chain, dubbed "AirBorne," includes 23 individual bugs – 17 with official CVEs – and enables zero-click remote code execution on vulnerable systems.
The anti-piracy campaign that failed its own background check
WTF?! In what must be the very definition of irony, one of the most infamous anti-piracy campaigns from two decades ago may have included a font that was, in essence, stolen. The "You Wouldn't Steal a Car" PSA is still remembered by many people old enough to recall its 2004 launch, but it seems the ad didn't heed its own warning.