Google Announces New Cybersecurity Product: Google Threat Intelligence
- Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
Google announced a new cybersecurity product, the Google Threat Intelligence, at the RSA Conference in San Francisco on May 6. The new platform aims to help organizations and security teams stay up to date with threats, prevent possible attacks, and improve defenses.
Google’s document explains that this new product combines three intelligence actors: the cybersecurity firm Mandiant, the VirusTotal threat service, and Gemini, Google’s generative AI technology.
“Google Threat Intelligence includes Gemini in Threat Intelligence, our AI-powered agent that provides conversational search across our vast repository of threat intelligence, enabling customers to gain insights and protect themselves from threats faster than ever before,” Google experts say in the report.
Google Threat Intelligence will operate with Google’s Large Language Model (LLM) Gemini 1.5 Pro and will detect threats quickly. As an example of its efficiency, Google considered a case study where the Gemini 1.5 Pro was able to process and detect the malware WannaCry and recognize its killswitch within 34 seconds.
Through a demo , Google explains how intuitively the platform operates, and the multiple sections and data users can access, including lists, graphics, links, and documents. Cybersecurity experts and teams will be able to access relevant information about possible threats, recent reports on attacks, and specific data from recognized menaces—like specific malware— after providing basic information such as URL, geographic location, and the industry related to the organization.
The software includes curated information about potential threat actors, their modus operandi, associated groups, common attacks in the industry, historical data, communities, and campaigns to help security teams research, equip themselves, and act accordingly.
However, this announcement comes not too long after Google decided to discontinue its VPN service due to non-usage and just a few weeks after researchers at HiddenLayer revealed that Gemini models had security flaws . Hopefully, Google has taken action to improve its cybersecurity products.
EU Music Streaming Firm Wants European Commission to Deny Apple’s Proposal
- Written by Shipra Sanganeria Cybersecurity & Tech Writer
Digital Music Europe (DME), a group representing major music streaming platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud, has asked the European Commission to dismiss Apple’s proposed solutions in regards to pricing transparency and allowing third-party app downloads outside its App Store . The group’s formal May 7 plea to the Commission cites the measures proposed as inconcrete and ineffective.
The measures, which were created to comply with the European regulatory’s March order, propose to create a more transparent environment for audio streaming platforms operating within the European Economic Area.
According to Apple’s proposal , the measures would simplify the process for audio streaming platforms to notify users about alternative methods for purchasing digital subscriptions. The apps on the App Stores would be allowed to add links to their websites and Apple, in turn, would levy a 27% commission on any transaction made through these links.
Additionally, it would allow the digital music providers to inform customers of the prices available on their respective websites, via emails as well.
Digital Music Europe, in the submitted letter, expressed apprehensions, claiming that Apple’s latest initiative in music streaming services is a “discriminatory program” that will compel competitor platforms to participate in a new system controlled by Apple, according to a Reuters report.
Earlier in March, the European Commission levied a fine of €1.8 billion (approximately $1.9 billion) on Apple over its “abusive” App Stores practices. EU regulators stated that for nearly a decade, Apple’s policies restricted music streaming providers from informing users about alternative pricing options, leading users to pay higher subscription fees than necessary.
Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, said in the press release , “For a decade, Apple abused its dominant position in the market for the distribution of music streaming apps through the App Store. They did so by restricting developers from informing consumers about alternative, cheaper music services available outside of the Apple ecosystem.”
Even though Apple has introduced new policies in an effort to adhere to the EU mandate, its refusal of Spotify’s latest iOS version highlights its determination to uphold the current state of app distribution and payment processing protocols within the iOS ecosystem.
