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UK Twitter hacker ordered to repay $5.4m in Bitcoin after 2020 account breach

Naushad K. Cherrayil
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UK Twitter hacker ordered to repay $5.4m in Bitcoin after 2020 account breach
  • Cyberattack compromised accounts of high-profile figures such as former US President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and several other celebrities and business leaders.

British prosecutors have secured a civil recovery order against Joseph James O’Connor, requiring the 26-year-old to repay £4.1 million ($5.4 million) in Bitcoin and other crypto assets gained through his involvement in the infamous 2020 Twitter hack.

The cyberattack notably compromised the accounts of high-profile figures such as former US President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden (then the Democratic candidate), Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and several other celebrities and business leaders.

O’Connor, who was arrested in Spain in 2021 and later extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty to several charges—including computer intrusion, wire fraud, and extortion—and was sentenced to five years in prison in 2023.

The July 2020 breach led to the hijacking of prominent Twitter (now known as X) accounts to promote a cryptocurrency scam, which solicited digital currency and issued threats to celebrities.

Crypto assets to be liquidated

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that 42 Bitcoin and additional crypto assets linked to the scam will be seized and liquidated by a court-appointed trustee. The civil recovery order, granted last week, follows a previous property freezing order obtained during extradition proceedings.

Adrian Foster, chief crown prosecutor, emphasised that the UK authorities leveraged all available powers to ensure “they do not benefit from their criminality,” even if the conviction occurred outside Britain.

The 2020 incident forced X (then Twitter) to temporarily restrict access to all verified accounts, highlighting critical vulnerabilities at the social media giant and prompting a reevaluation of its security protocols.

Apple to reshape its iPhones launch cycle strategy

Mohammed Fahad
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Apple to reshape its iPhones launch cycle strategy
  • Crowded autumn launches have strained Apple’s marketing, engineering, and supply chain operations
  • Apple is expected to unveil its flagship iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the much-anticipated foldable iPhone in autumn 2026.
  • The remainder of the iPhone 18 series—including the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and an all-new iPhone Air—will debut approximately six months later.

In a strategic shift reminiscent of its early days, Apple Inc. is revisiting its iPhone launch calendar after nearly fifteen years of autumn unveilings.

The tech giant is moving toward a staggered release schedule for its flagship product, aiming to relieve pressure on its internal teams and suppliers, and to boost revenue consistency throughout the year.

Historically, Apple launched its new iPhones during the summer months, before switching to September releases in 2011—a move that capitalised on back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons.

However, with the company now announcing multiple devices each autumn, including the recent “Awe Dropping” showcase of the iPhone 17 lineup, new AirPods 3 Pro, and Apple Watches, executives are reconsidering the merits of a once-a-year product blitz.

New standard

Industry sources highlight that the crowded autumn launches have strained Apple’s marketing, engineering, and supply chain operations. The new approach aims to ease these bottlenecks by spreading hardware debuts across more of the fiscal year.

Looking ahead, Apple is expected to unveil its flagship iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the much-anticipated foldable iPhone in autumn 2026. Notably, the remainder of the iPhone 18 series—including the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and an all-new iPhone Air—will debut approximately six months later.

Analysts expect this staggered strategy to become the new standard in Apple’s product roadmap.

The company is reportedly delaying the next iPhone Air due to weaker-than-expected demand, signaling a more careful rollout for non-core models. Meanwhile, Apple continues investing in innovation, with upcoming iPhones set to feature new satellite-enabled capabilities as part of a broader focus on enhanced connectivity and user experience.

While rivals such as Samsung and Google race to integrate advanced AI features into their devices, Apple’s renewed focus on delivering innovative iPhone variants signals its intent to retain its lead in the premium smartphone market—even as it adapts to shifting consumer expectations and operational realities

Amazon launches $15b bond sale to fund AI infrastructure growth

Ana Mary Joseph
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Amazon launches $15b bond sale to fund AI infrastructure growth
  • Proceeds from the offering may be used for a range of corporate purposes, including acquisitions, capital expenditures, and share buybacks.

Amazon is set to raise $15 billion through its first US dollar bond offering in three years, as the tech giant ramps up investments in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

The multi-part bond deal, disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Monday, is part of a growing trend among major technology companies turning to debt markets to finance large-scale expansions.

Investor demand for Amazon’s bond peaked at approximately $80 billion, underscoring robust appetite for tech-related debt. Notably, the yield spread on the 40-year tranche narrowed significantly, reflecting strong investor confidence.

Amazon’s capital expenditure to rise

Proceeds from the offering may be used for a range of corporate purposes, including acquisitions, capital expenditures, and share buybacks.

The move follows similar financing strategies by other industry leaders. Last month, Meta Platforms launched it’s largest-ever bond sale, targeting up to $30 billion, while Oracle is reportedly planning a $15 billion bond issuance.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley estimate that leading tech firms—including Amazon, Meta, and Alphabet—are on track to spend as much as $400 billion this year alone on AI infrastructure.

Amazon’s capital expenditures are projected to reach about $125 billion in 2025, with expectations for further increases next year.

The company recently inked a $38 billion partnership with OpenAI, a move that significantly bolsters its cloud business amid intensifying competition from Microsoft and Google.

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.

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