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UK Watchdog To Increase Control Over Google Search

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The United Kingdom’s antitrust watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said on Tuesday it will increase measures to address concerns about Google’s dominance in search services.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• The CMA said it will increase measures to address concerns about Google’s dominance in search services.
• The agency proposed a roadmap with actions for Google, and plans to make a final decision by October.
• Google is suggested to provide choice screens for users and fairer business rankings.

The agency has proposed a roadmap outlining potential actions for Google, including requiring choice screens for users and fairer business rankings. A final decision is expected by October.

According to the official press release , Google accounts for 90% of all search queries in the UK, and over 200,000 businesses rely on the search engine for advertising to reach their customers.

The CMA is not accusing Google of anti-competitive practices— as is currently happening in U.S. trials —but has raised concerns about fair competition.

The agency’s investigation highlighted multiple issues, including Google’s lack of transparency on how search results are ranked, its access to vast amounts of data, and the challenges publishers face in controlling their content and revenue. The CMA proposes a “pro-innovation approach” with new measures and actions to address these concerns.

“The UK’s new Digital Markets Competition Regime can help unlock opportunities for innovation and growth, by promoting competition in digital markets while protecting UK consumers and businesses from unfair or harmful practices,” states the document. “Measures are designed to promote competition and innovation in ways that benefit the UK economy, while ensuring that UK consumers and businesses are treated fairly.”

The CMA published a roadmap with measures and actions prioritized by importance. Early measures include requiring choice screens so users can select from different search providers—including AI-based options—ensuring fair ranking principles, providing more transparency and control for publishers (including over AI-generated responses), and supporting new businesses by enabling easier market entry.

“These targeted and proportionate actions would give UK businesses and consumers more choice and control over how they interact with Google’s search services – as well as unlocking greater opportunities for innovation across the UK tech sector and broader economy,” said Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA.

Image by James Yerema, from Unsplash

New Spyware “SparkKitty” Targets Crypto Wallets Through App Store And Google Play

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Security researchers identified a new spyware named SparkKitty, which steals smartphone photos to access cryptocurrency wallets

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• Malware disguises as modified popular apps like TikTok on iOS and Android.
• Uses OCR to find crypto wallet seed phrases in stolen images.
• Active since February 2024, spreading through official and unofficial app stores.

The spyware, first reported by Kaspersky , appears to be connected to a previous malware strain known as SparkCat. It has infected several apps on both the App Store and Google Play , although some have already been removed.

The researchers explain that SparkKitty spread fake applications which mimic well-known platforms, including TikTok. Once installed, the malicious apps request access to the user’s photo gallery.

Some versions steal all images, while others use optical character recognition (OCR) to scan for crypto wallet seed phrases, which are unique codes that give access to digital currencies.

On iPhones, the malware is hidden inside fake software frameworks that mimic legitimate ones such as AFNetworking or Alamofire. On Android devices, the spyware embeds itself as malicious modules inside apps, particularly those related to messaging or cryptocurrency.

Kaspersky explains that the campaign started its operation in February 2024 and has spread through both unauthorized app stores, as well as official distribution channels. The initial detection of the malware occurred through fake TikTok applications, which redirected users to a fake online shop calle “TikToki Mall,” which accepted cryptocurrency payments.

Users who accessed the site from their iPhones were displayed fake App Store pages that deceived them into installing infected applications.Hackers also misused Apple’s Enterprise Developer Program to distribute their malware, bypassing regular App Store security.

After infection, the app checks for activation codes, contacts a remote server for instructions, and uploads stolen photos to hacker-controlled servers.

The researchers report that a fake crypto-enabled messaging application was downloaded more than 10,000 times before security researchers discovered its malicious nature.

Most victims are in Southeast Asia and China, with many infected apps featuring gambling or adult content. However, the spyware could target users worldwide. SparkKitty shares technical features with SparkCat, suggesting a direct connection between the two campaigns.

To stay protected, users should avoid third-party app stores, carefully check app permissions, and keep their devices updated. Even photos unrelated to cryptocurrency may be at risk from this ongoing spyware threat.