News of the Cyber World

[kyonides]

Here is the story of some user that learned something about creepiness the ugly way.

A hacker accessed my Netflix,
watched every episode of Cocomelon
and left me a creepy message

One user reported their Netflix account showed a watch history they didn’t recognize. One day, they simply found that every episode of “Cocomelon” had been watched inexplicably.
...
After dropping by the My List page, they found something genuinely haunting waiting for them: a message, delivered through favorited titles the user didn’t add themselves.

It said, “Thanks for Everything,” “You,” and “Legend.”
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The country Oman is halfway across the world. It wasn’t until the account holder got a notification about a new device login that she realized what was happening.

Google Maps faces renewed DOJ antitrust scrutiny

The probe is focused on Google’s sprawling mapping business, which includes a massive stockpile of location data for businesses and other points of public interest.
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DOJ officials have met with Google competitors and customers while seeking more information on the mapping business, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing three sources with knowledge of the probe.

Antitrust officials are assessing whether Google has engaged in anticompetitive practices by requiring app developers to use its map and search products together, rather than allow them to seek out competing services. The requirement is included in Google’s terms of service.

An antitrust lawsuit targeting Google Maps could be filed as soon as this year, the sources said, though they stressed no final decision was made and the exact details of a potential complaint were still being considered.

Apple has begun firing contractors amid mass tech layoffs

the iPhone maker over the past few days has started to cut ties with hundreds of contractors — workers technically employed by outside agencies who work alongside Apple employees on projects – in what looks like a stealthy move to cut costs.

Instead of waiting for contracts that are typically renewed every 12 to 15 months to expire, Apple is firing contractors outright, sources said. One contractor claimed to have been blindsided, saying Apple management had assured him that all jobs were safe. Only a few weeks earlier, some had been gloating that Apple hadn’t overhired like other tech companies, the source added.
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Apple hasn’t disclosed the size of its contractor workforce, but past reports suggest it numbers in the thousands, with three dozen staffing firms helping with project management, launch events and even creating Apple Maps.

Insiders say some contractors gripe that they are treated like second-class citizens.

Food Giant Dole Says It Was Hit With Ransomware Attack

Dole said that the ransomware attack had a “limited” impact on his operations, though it is “continuing to investigate the scope of the incident.” It also informed law enforcement about the security breach.

However, a purported internal Dole memo that was posted online said that the attack “shut down our systems throughout North America.” CNN reported that the memo, dated Feb. 10, was issued by Emanuel Lazopoulos, senior vice president at Dole’s Fresh Vegetables division.

“Our plants are shut down for the day and all our shipments are on hold,” the internal memo also said. “Please bear with us as we navigate our way and hopefully we will minimize this event.”
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Dole, which has headquarters in Ireland, has four processing plants in the United States and employs more than 3,000 workers
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Jeff Russell, an assistant manager of the Clayton Ranch Market, in the small town of Clayton, New Mexico, told CNN that his store has been short of salad kits in recent days.

Amazon Censors Criticism of China

Amazon is concerning a group of authors and publishers highly critical of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The company, headquartered in Seattle and Arlington, does extensive business with China, from which it sells vast quantities of imported products in its core markets of the United States, Europe, and Japan.

According to EcomCrew, over 63 percent of all third-party Amazon sellers are from China (including Hong Kong).
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Amazon’s recent censorship of a book review critical of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the CCP raises questions about bias.

Paul Kenchington, a reviewer from Britain, attempted to publish his review of Benedict Rogers’ “China Nexus: Thirty Years In and Around the Chinese Communist Party’s Tyranny” on Feb. 6, and was informed by Amazon on Feb. 9 that it was rejected due to “inappropriate content.”

The reviewer resubmitted it without his name at the bottom—which he thought could have been the problem—and the review was again rejected, this time with a threat to remove his community privileges.