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Hacker offers Altruist’s sensitive Firebird platform data for sale

TCN Bureau
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Hacker offers Altruist’s sensitive Firebird platform data for sale
  • Attacker claims to possess the full source code for Firebird and other proprietary solutions, as well as sensitive client records and internal credentials.

Altruist Technologies, a leading Indian provider of omnichannel communication solutions to major telecommunications and banking clients, is reportedly the target of a major cybersecurity breach.

A threat actor has surfaced on underground forums, as reported by Daily Dark Web, claiming to have gained unauthorised access to the company’s systems and is now offering a trove of allegedly exfiltrated data and source code for sale.

The threat actor asserts that they have extracted a 25GB database from Altruist’s flagship “Firebird” omnichannel platform, widely used by telecom and financial industry clients for secure, multichannel communications.

In addition to the database, the attacker claims to possess the full source code for Firebird and other proprietary solutions, as well as sensitive client records and internal credentials.

As evidence, the actor published screenshots depicting successful database queries, internal user tables, and system-level access on a server identified as firebird-auth-api.altruistindia.com. The individual further alleges ongoing persistent (root-level) access to Altruist’s internal network.

According to the claims, compromised data includes:

  • The entire 25GB Firebird database.
  • Full source code of the Firebird platform and related solutions.
  • Sensitive information about clients.
  • Internal user credentials and personal data such as:
  • Usernames
  • Email addresses
  • User roles
  • Last login times

As of this report, Altruist Technologies has not issued a public statement regarding these allegations. The incident, if verified, could have significant implications for the company’s clients in highly regulated sectors, potentially exposing sensitive communications data and proprietary technology.

Industry observers note that the sale of such data could increase the risk profile for affected clients, and stress the importance of immediate internal investigations, public disclosure, and engagement with cybersecurity specialists to mitigate potential harm.

VIVERSE partners with World Labs to create new era of AI-powered 3D content

Mohammed Fahad
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VIVERSE partners with World Labs to create new era of AI-powered 3D content
  • The synergy between the two platforms accelerates asset production without compromising creative direction, interactivity, or narrative quality.
  • VIVERSE enables creators to opt in, control their data usage, and influence machine learning models—ensuring technology amplifies, rather than replaces, creative expression.

VIVERSE, the leading 3D content distribution platform, has announced a strategic collaboration with World Labs, the creators of the newly launched Marble 3D generation tool, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of the creator economy.

The partnership highlights how artificial intelligence–driven tools can simplify and accelerate 3D world creation, making it more accessible and interactive for creators worldwide.

Marble, developed by World Labs—a company founded Fei-Fei Li, Justin Johnson, Christoph Lassner, and Ben Mildenhall—transforms text, image, or video prompts into complex 3D environments.

The innovation streamlines what was once a labour-intensive process, putting powerful world-building capabilities into the hands of more creators regardless of technical background.

The collaboration enables creators to leverage Marble’s generative AI engine to instantly generate 3D worlds and further refine and enhance them using VIVERSE’s comprehensive worldbuilding toolset. The synergy between the two platforms accelerates asset production without compromising creative direction, interactivity, or narrative quality.

A creator-first approach

“3D content creation is entering a new era—one defined by intelligence, interoperability, and creative freedom,” said Andranik Aslanyan, Head of Growth at HTC VIVERSE.

“Our collaboration with World Labs exemplifies how AI can evolve from a generator of assets into a true creative partner—accelerating the journey from imagination to fully interactive 3D experiences on VIVERSE.”

Three immersive experiences have already emerged from this partnership:

  • Whiskerhill: An interactive game set in a magical world, converting Marble’s generated environment into quests reminiscent of VIVERSE’s popular Pet Rescue series.
  • Whiskerport: A multi-scene gaming adventure connecting several Marble-created worlds, leveraging VIVERSE’s new feature to support multi-level gameplay and exploration.
  • Clockwork Conspiracy: A brand-new multi-scene game produced by VIVERSE, using Marble’s 3DGS engine to demonstrate the combined creative workflow possible between the two platforms.

Both companies emphasise a creator-first approach, underscoring that AI should serve to expand creative possibilities while keeping human vision and storytelling at the heart of the process.

“Our collaboration with HTC VIVERSE highlights a novel workflow to turn ideas into engaging 3D experiences. We are excited to see what creators build,” said World Labs CEO Fei-Fei Li.

VIVERSE’s ongoing investment in AI-driven tools and creator platforms continues to lower barriers to entry in 3D content creation, empowering the next generation to build, share, and monetise immersive digital experiences.

Committed to ethical AI practices, VIVERSE enables creators to opt in, control their data usage, and influence machine learning models—ensuring technology amplifies, rather than replaces, creative expression.

Berkshire sells more Apple and reveals $4.3b stake in Alphabet

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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Berkshire sells more Apple and reveals $4.3b stake in Alphabet
  • Overall, Berkshire listed $283.2b in US-listed equity holdings for the period ending September 30.
  • During the third quarter, Berkshire purchased $6.4b in stocks while selling $12.b —marking the twelfth consecutive quarter as a net seller—and boosting its cash reserves to a record $381.7b.
  • Berkshire also trims its stake in Bank of America by 6%, and sold its position in homebuilder DR Horton.

Berkshire Hathaway has disclosed a new $4.3 billion stake in Alphabet, the parent company of Google, and further reduced its position in Apple, as the conglomerate details its equity portfolio for the last time before Warren Buffett steps down after 60-year tenure as chief executive.

In a filing late Friday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Berkshire reported owning 17.85 million Alphabet shares as of September 30, 2025.

The disclosure marks a notable shift for Berkshire, whose chairman and CEO, Warren Buffett, has long favoured value stocks and typically steered clear of most technology companies—Apple being the key exception, owing to what Buffett has described as its consumer-products strength.

Despite selling nearly three-quarters of the more than 900 million Apple shares it once held, Apple remained Berkshire’s largest stock holding at 238.2 million shares, representing $60.7 billion at quarter−end. Overall, Berkshire listed $283.2 billion in US-listed equity holdings for the period ending September 30.

Buffett effect

Buffett, or his investment lieutenants Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, are credited with portfolio decisions, though the filing does not specify who initiated the Alphabet trade. The move is striking given that both Buffett and the late Vice Chairman Charlie Munger had previously lamented missing out on Alphabet in earlier years, recognising its business parallels with Berkshire’s Geico car insurance.

After news of Berkshire’s stake, Alphabet shares gained 1.7 per cent in after-hours trading, as investors frequently interpret the “Buffett effect” as a positive sign for newly added companies.

During the third quarter, Berkshire purchased $6.4 billion in stocks while selling $12.5 billion—marking the twelfth consecutive quarter as a net seller—and boosting its cash reserves to a record $381.7 billion.

The Apple sell-off represented a major portion of those sales. Berkshire also trimmed its stake in Bank of America by 6%, and sold its position in homebuilder DR Horton. Meanwhile, it increased holdings in several companies, including insurer Chubb and Domino’s Pizza.

Buffett, now preparing to transfer the reins of the $1.1 trillion conglomerate to vice chairman and CEO-designate Greg Abel on January 1, has continued a cautious approach amid high market valuations.

Berkshire, which operates nearly 200 businesses including BNSF Railroad, Dairy Queen, and See’s Candies, has not executed a major acquisition in nearly a decade and has held off on significant share buybacks for over a year.

With Buffett’s retirement imminent, investors will be watching closely to see how Berkshire’s investment strategy and portfolio evolve under new leadership.

Apple to cut mini app commissions amid mounting regulatory pressure

Ana Mary Joseph
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Apple to cut mini app commissions amid mounting regulatory pressure
  • Reduction applies to developers who adopt Apple’s technology for declaring user age ranges, a system Apple touts as a privacy-friendly alternative amid debates over digital age verification.
  • UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal’s decision exposes Apple to possible damages exceeding £1b, with a parallel complaint also pending before European antitrust regulators.

Apple Inc. announced it will reduce App Store commissions for “mini apps” on its devices, marking a significant shift as regulatory scrutiny intensifies on the company’s digital marketplace practices worldwide.

Under the newly unveiled program, Apple will cut its commission rate from up to 30 per cent to 15 per cent for developers of mini apps—smaller applications hosted within larger “host apps,” such as games or specialised services.

The reduction applies to developers who adopt Apple’s technology for declaring user age ranges, a system Apple touts as a privacy-friendly alternative amid debates over digital age verification.

Mini apps are widely used in China, where platforms like Tencent Holdings’ WeChat and Alipay house a broad array of services, but the format is rapidly catching on in the US. OpenAI, for instance, revealed last month it will launch mini apps within its flagship ChatGPT app.

While Apple collects commissions directly from mini app sales, the split between host and mini app developers remains at the discretion of the apps involved.

Regulatory and legal hurdles

The commission reduction comes as Apple faces mounting legal and regulatory challenges in the US, Europe, and the UK. In a recent blow, the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) denied Apple’s request to appeal last month’s ruling that found it abused dominance by imposing excessive commissions on developers.

The CAT decision exposes Apple to possible damages exceeding £1 billion ($1.3 billion), with a parallel complaint also pending before European antitrust regulators.

Apple has the option to seek an appeal before the UK’s Court of Appeal within 21 days. A company spokesperson criticised the CAT’s decision, saying it “takes a flawed view of the thriving and competitive app economy” and overlooks consumer and developer benefits.

Meanwhile, regulatory debates over age verification requirements continue. Multiple US states, alongside companies such as Meta Platforms, advocate for marketplace-level age checks. Apple argues that such mandates risk adult privacy and prefers its own age declaration system, which involves user-supplied age ranges and, for minors, adult approval.

Industry impact

Last month’s CAT decision calculated potential developer damages at £1.2 billion, incorporating overcharges between a typical 30 per cent Apple commission and the lower 17.5 per cent rate suggested by the tribunal. Developers were found to have passed half the excess cost on to consumers.

Rachael Kent, the British academic leading the UK case, stated, “This case has been a marathon, not a sprint, but we are one step closer to App Store users finally seeing their money rightfully returned to their pockets.”

Apple’s revised commission policy could set a precedent for further changes as global regulators scrutinise digital platform fees—potentially reshaping the economics of app distribution.

Cybersecurity, data governance top internal audit plans for 2026

Mohammed Fahad
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Cybersecurity, data governance top internal audit plans for 2026
  • Organisations are forced to adapt quickly to maintain compliance, even as economic pressures and organisational change heighten the risk of misconduct.
  • Gartner identifies geopolitical volatility, cost reduction pressure, and resilience planning as persistent audit priorities for next year.

Internal audit teams across major organisations will prioritise cybersecurity vulnerabilities, data governance, and regulatory compliance in their 2026 audit plans, according to research from advisory firm Gartner, Inc.

The findings, published in Gartner’s “2026 Audit Plan Hot Spots” report, are based on a survey of 160 chief audit executives (CAEs) as well as interviews with IT audit leaders conducted between May and June 2025.

The report highlights the convergence of challenges posed by rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), global regulatory uncertainty, and mounting cost pressures facing organisations worldwide.

“The rapid rise of AI is driving acute issues for organisations in terms of cybersecurity, data governance and regulatory compliance,” said James Bourke, Director of Research in Gartner’s Assurance Practice.

“Internal audit teams are very likely to be covering these areas in their audit plans for 2026, although with muted confidence in their ability to provide assurance over cybersecurity and data governance risks given how rapidly these areas are evolving.”

Cybersecurity under strain

A staggering 96 per cent of CAEs surveyed have placed cybersecurity risks at the top of their assurance agenda for 2026. As organisations increasingly rely on third-party vendors and grapple with sophisticated threats—including AI-driven attacks and disinformation—internal auditors face an uphill battle.

“Cybersecurity is a major risk area, especially as organisations depend more on third-party vendors who can introduce vulnerabilities,” Bourke explained.

At the same time, overstretched cybersecurity teams face accelerating threat volumes. CAEs’ confidence reflects these challenges: less than half (48 per cent) say they are highly confident in their ability to provide full assurance over cybersecurity risks.

Audit teams will focus on evaluating organisational readiness for cyber threats, the robustness of security controls, and oversight over third-party relationships.

Emphasis will be on strengthening governance, integrated risk management, and strong control environments to mitigate operational and reputational risks.

Data governance faces new AI risks

Data governance is set to be another major focus, with 94 per cent of CAEs including it in their 2026 plans. The proliferation of AI-generated content has created new governance challenges, from managing data volume and classification to navigating a patchwork of global regulations around data localisation and sovereignty.

Gartner recommends that companies bolster their data governance with comprehensive AI policies, effective controls over retention and deletion of AI-generated outputs, and robust frameworks to prevent the misclassification or unauthorised access of sensitive information.

Regulatory compliance rounds out the top three areas, with coverage planned by 97 per cent of audit leaders. Amid shifting US policies and a deregulatory climate, organisations are being forced to adapt quickly to maintain compliance, even as economic pressures and organisational change heighten the risk of misconduct.

“Misconduct by employees, agents and third parties is more likely amid a weakening macroeconomic environment and organisational change,” Bourke warned.

Beyond these core areas, Gartner also identified geopolitical volatility, cost reduction pressure, and resilience planning as persistent audit priorities for next year.

LG Electronics India reports 27% drop in profit after tax

Mohammed Fahad
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LG Electronics India reports 27% drop in profit after tax
  • Home appliances and air solutions revenue drop slightly while home entertainment division registers an improvement.

LG Electronics India on Thursday reported a 27.3 per cent year-on-year decline in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs389 crore for the second quarter of FY26, down from Rs536 crore in the same quarter last year.

Margins and profitability came under pressure despite a marginal 1 per cent rise in operating revenue to Rs6,174 crore, highlighting headwinds across the electronics and consumer durables sector.

Faces soft demand

The company’s EBITDA fell sharply by 28 per cent to Rs547 crore for the period, with operating margins shrinking by 350 basis points to 8.9 per cent. Segment-wise, home appliances and air solutions revenue dropped slightly to Rs3,948 crore, whereas the home entertainment division registered an improvement to Rs2,226 crore.

The industry overall faced soft demand, as consumers deferred purchases until a GST rate cut on electronics took effect in late September .

Commenting on the results, Managing Director Hong Ju Jeon cited “macroeconomic headwinds, a cool summer, geopolitical challenges, tariffs, and forex fluctuations,” but emphasised that LG Electronics India still achieved “resilient sales growth, gaining market share and maintaining stable profitability.” He reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian market.

The results mark LG Electronics India’s first quarterly report following its high-profile market debut in October, when shares listed at a 50 per cent premium on the NSE at Rs1,710 and closed the day at Rs1,682.8, capping a blockbuster IPO that was oversubscribed 54 times .

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