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• Operation Serengeti has taken down multiple cybercriminal networks
• Over 35,000 victims were identified during the operation
• Interpol hit networks related to business-targeted cybercrime

Interpol have released details on Operation Serengeti - a major crackdown on organized cybercrime across Africa in collaboration with AFRIPOL.

The operation, which was coordinated with participation from the private sector and internet service providers (ISPs), culminated in the arrest of 1,006 suspects and the takedown of 134,089 networks and devices.

Operation Serengeti targeted cybercriminals specifically involved in ransomware, business email compromise (BEC), digital extortion and online scams.

$193 million financial losses

Operation Serengeti took place across 19 countries, with several large-scale cybercriminal operations raided and their infrastructure dismantled, resulting in the recovery of over $43 million in stolen assets. The operation also helped identify more than 35,000 victims worldwide who had lost a combined $193 million.

An $8.6 million credit card fraud ring was identified in Kenya, which used malicious scripts to change the banking systems security protocol to avoid detection before distributing the funds between multiple countries including the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and China through SWIFT payments.

“From multi-level marketing scams to credit card fraud on an industrial scale, the increasing volume and sophistication of cybercrime attacks is of serious concern,” commented Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL.

“Operation Serengeti shows what we can achieve by working together, and these arrests alone will save countless potential future victims from real personal and financial pain. We know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will continue targeting these criminal groups worldwide.”

AFRIPOL’s Executive Director Ambassador Jalel Chelba also congratulated the success of the operation, stating, “Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends. Our focus now includes emerging threats like AI-driven malware and advanced attack techniques.”

In early November 2024, Interpol’s Operation Synergia II took down over 22,000 crime-linked IP addresses and led to the arrest of 41 individuals for their involvement in phishing networks, infostealing malware, and ransomware campaigns.

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A group of artists invited to test OpenAI's Sora video generator ahead of its public release leaked access to the AI video model on Hugging Face for a few hours on Tuesday before being shut down. The "Sora PR Puppets" behind the leak used their access to enable anyone to generate 10-second videos from text prompts. The group's point was to push back against OpenAI over pressure to only talk about positive aspects of Sora and over a lack of compensation for their contributions.

"We received access to Sora with the promise to be early testers, red teamers, and creative partners. However, we believe instead we are being lured into 'art washing' to tell the world that Sora is a useful tool for artists," the group wrote in a post online. "Hundreds of artists provide unpaid labor through bug testing, feedback, and experimental work for the program for a $150B valued company. While hundreds contribute for free, a select few will be chosen through a competition to have their Sora-created films screened — offering minimal compensation which pales in comparison to the substantial PR and marketing value OpenAI receives."

For many, the biggest impact of the leak was a chance to play with the highly restricted Sora model. Until now, only professional filmmakers partnered with OpenAI had any real access. The results shared by those who had a chance to play with Sora before it shut down again are impressive, as can be seen below.

OpenAI's Sora LEAKED! https://t.co/X3EmAZAJk0November 26, 2024

More Sora: pic.twitter.com/8DRz1VTY7hNovember 26, 2024

Conirmed: OpenAI Sora really has been leaked https://t.co/Vh1zzsKgPT pic.twitter.com/mAN1Z4vGsNNovember 26, 2024

Sora protest

The fact that Sora was in the wild without OpenAI's permission underscores the difficulties companies trying to collaborate with artists will face when it comes to AI. Hollywood writers, performers, and animators have all gone on strike partly over concerns about AI being deployed to replace them, and there's every indication that technical improvements will only heighten the tension between artists and AI developers. That said, the long delay between the announcement of Sora and any general release suggests Sora is far from where OpenAI wants it to be.

While OpenAI has teamed with filmmakers to demonstrate Sora's capabilities, there have been no major partnerships announced. That's partly why the protesters leaked the model, to encourage a more open development approach by OpenAI. Whether it will motivate the company to do anything but kick them out of the program remains to be seen.

"This early access program appears to be less about creative expression and critique, and more about PR and advertisement," the group wrote. "We are not against the use of AI technology as a tool for the arts (if we were, we probably wouldn't have been invited to this program). What we don't agree with is how this artist program has been rolled out and how the tool is shaping up ahead of a possible public release. We are sharing this to the world in the hopes that OpenAI becomes more open, more artist friendly and supports the arts beyond PR stunts."

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Netflix has dropped the first trailer for its adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude, which is based on the best-selling novel by Nobel Prize–winning author Gabriel García Márquez, and I'm so excited to get drawn into the mythical town and all the magical elements that come with it.

This looks like another great series for one of the best streaming service, having also recently announced a new Harlan Coben thriller Missing You. The first part of One Hundred Years of Solitude will be released on December 11, with part two to follow in due course.

Take a look at the trailer below.

What do we know about One Hundred Years of Solitude?

One Hundred Years of Solitude is made up of eight episodes, all of which will be released on December 11. So, if you want a binge-watching session, you can settle in and watch them all from then.

According to Tudum, "The story follows cousins José and Úrsula, who get married against their parents’ wishes and leave their village to embark on a long journey in search of a new home. Accompanied by friends and adventurers, their voyage culminates with the founding of a utopian town on the banks of a river of prehistoric stones that they baptize Macondo.

"Several generations of the Buendía lineage will shape the future of this mythical town, tormented by madness, impossible loves, a bloody and absurd war, and a terrible curse that condemns them, without hope, to 100 years of solitude."

The adaptation is "one of the most ambitious productions in Latin American history", where it was filmed in Spanish and shot in García Márquez’s native Colombia with the support of the author’s family.

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• The foldable iPhone is rumored to be another step closer to launching
• Leaks around the device have been circulating for years
• The move may mean Samsung accelerates its own foldable plans

Given where we're at with the smartphone market now, it seems inevitable that Apple will eventually launch a foldable iPhone – if only to stop Samsung's jibes – and it appears that the device is now another step closer to launching.

According to well-known tipster Yeux1122 (via @Jukanlosreve), the folding iphone has now entered the "formal development process" with display manufacturers. That's according to a "supply chain source" (and Google Translate).

What does "formal development process" mean? Well, it's not exactly clear, but it sounds as though some kind of commitment has been made to actually get this device designed and manufactured, and put the necessary components on the production line.

In other words: Apple officially wants to make a foldable iPhone, if this leak is to be believed. According to the tipster (and Google Translate, again), Apple had previously been "responding piecemeal to technology and key requirements".

Apple vs Samsung again

Apple’s New Foldable Smartphone Enters Formal Development ProcessAccording to yeux1122, Apple has recently entered the official development process for foldable smartphones in collaboration with display manufacturers.In response, yeux1122 speculates that the timeline for form…November 27, 2024

There's another interesting tidbit in this leak, which is that Samsung is expected to bring forward the development of its own foldables – including next year's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 – to counter the threat of a folding iPhone.

We've previously heard Samsung is working on new form factors and different price points to expand its line-up of foldable phones, and it would appear that this expansion may now happen earlier because of Apple's decision to formalize its plans.

As for what we can expect from an iPhone Fold, take your pick from dozens of leaks and rumors down the years. Besides a multitude of launch date predictions, we've also heard the foldable could come with a self-healing screen and a wrap-around design.

If the formal process of making a folding iPhone has only just started, we're unlikely to see it next year. September 2026 is probably a safer bet for a launch window, which would mean the device making its debut alongside the iPhone 18. Although we've also heard rumors that it may not land until 2027.

Either way, it seems that a foldable iPhone – which feels like an obvious win for Apple, if not iPad sales – is taking its first tentative steps towards reality.

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• Intel’s Arc B580 GPU has been leaked via a Geekbench result
• The score itself is meaningless, but it provides key spec details
• B580’s core count could be lower than A580, but other specs might balance that out

Intel’s Battlemage graphics cards are supposedly set to launch in December if the rumors are right, and we’ve got another nugget suggesting that – a glimpse of the purported spec of the B580.

That Arc Battlemage B580 GPU is purportedly going to be the first of Intel’s 2nd-gen desktop graphics cards out of the door, and VideoCardz noticed that Tomasz Gawroński flagged up a Geekbench result on X.

Intel g21 battlemage 20core (160cu) at 2850mhz + 285k tested in geekbench. https://t.co/UJPG9iCjVV pic.twitter.com/G0emVzggN3November 26, 2024

The benchmark result itself is pretty meaningless – it’s a sample B580 (in theory, we should add – sprinkle seasoning liberally), and the OpenCL score is hardly a useful metric for a gaming graphics card anyway.

The key point here is the specs shown for the B580, which is apparently set to be loaded with 12GB of VRAM and a boost clock running up to 2.85GHz. We also learn that this GPU has 160 Compute Units (CUs).

As VideoCardz points out, this should mean the B580 has 20 Xe2 cores (with 8 CUs per core in theory).

It’s also worth noting that the video memory spec aligns with a previous leak about an ASRock B580 graphics card, which was also shown with 12GB. And at 2.8GHz, the previous clock speed was in the same area as this new leak too.

(Image credit: Intel) Analysis: Don’t panic over those specs

So how do these specs seem to be shaping up? There’s some consternation from some of those commenting online about the drop in core count compared to the existing Arc A580 GPU – as the A580 has 24 cores versus 20 here.

However, there’s give and take in these specs. If the core count is dropped to 20 (and it may not be), those are still next-gen Xe2 cores benefiting from a new, faster architecture. On top of that, the boost clock is much faster than the A580 (which is officially clocked at 1.7GHz, although third-party models ran at 2GHz or so – but 2.8GHz is a big leap over that).

Furthermore, you’ve got a more comfortable loadout of VRAM here at 12GB versus 8GB (even though, if the rumors are right, memory bandwidth will be a touch tighter with the B580 versus the A580).

All of this remains speculation, and we should bear in mind two points here. Firstly, the B580 will be appreciably faster than the A580, whatever happens. Intel would look foolish if it was otherwise, obviously enough. And secondly, no matter where the spec comes out, Intel can still attack at the low-end of the GPU market by pricing the B580 to undercut AMD and Nvidia’s budget offerings.

With all these leaks springing up around Battlemage in the past week or two, it seems fairly certain that we will see the B580 unveiled next month – but clearly, we can’t be sure of that (and even if it’s Intel’s intention right now, a last-minute delaying factor could still interfere).

It makes sense that Intel will want to grab the desktop GPU limelight for a while before AMD and Nvidia bring out their big guns (or medium-sized artillery, perhaps, in the case of RDNA 4) at CES 2025 in January as the grapevine insists.

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• Starbucks stores are using pen and paper to track employee hours after attack
• Third-party Vendor Blue Yonder hit with ransomware attack
• Retail stores in the UK and US affected

Starbucks may be the largest coffee chain in the world, but many of its stores have been forced to manually track employee’s schedules and payroll after a third party supply chain vendor was hit by a ransomware attack.

Blue Yonder confirmed it was the victim of a ransomware attack, and services are still being severely disrupted, with the company confirming it is “working around the clock to respond to this incident”.

The list of affected stores is growing, with UK retail giants Sainsbury’s and Morrisons also both reporting disruption. The stores have affirmed that backup processes and contingency plans are in place, so the impact on customers should be minimal.

Third party risks

It’s not yet clear exactly what the effects of the hack will be, and the extent of the disruption is yet to be seen. Ransomware is a costly business, with the average demand over $5 million in the first half of 2024.

Ransomware attacks are on the rise across the globe, and increasingly digital operations mean many companies are reliant on third party vendors, which can put companies at risk even if their own cybersecurity is airtight.

The risks can be mitigated by thoroughly assessing third party vendors and by ensuring contingency plans are in place, and CISOs are encouraged to collaborate with their peers in the industry to foster strong relationships.

"The Blue Yonder incident reminds all organizations that focusing only on the security and resilience of systems under your direct control is no longer an option.” said Matt Aldridge, Principal Solutions Consultant at OpenText Cybersecurity.

“Dependencies run deep and broad in the supply chain, so it is essential that all suppliers are thoroughly vetted on an ongoing basis, and that contingency plans are in place before going live with any major third-party solution.“

Via CNN

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• Leaked photos show the bottom half of a phone believed to be the Galaxy S25 Ultra
• The Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus has been benchmarked with high scores
• And the Samsung Galaxy S25 has seemingly been certified in the US

Following yesterday’s leaked video showing what's claimed the top half of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, we’ve now seen leaked photos that are said to show the bottom half of Samsung's next premium flagship.

These photos – shared with Android Authority – come from the same source as the video, and between the photos and the video we’ve now had a complete look at the design of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – though it’s odd that the source seemed unwilling to show the whole phone in a single photo or clip.

In any case, here we get a look at the bottom edge of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, complete with an S Pen slot, speaker, USB-C port, and SIM card slot. We can also see that the bezels appear quite small and uniform, and that there’s a new on-screen charging indicator when the phone is plugged in.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Android Authority / youtube.com/@MBernardK)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Android Authority / youtube.com/@MBernardK)

That indicator is part of One UI 7, which the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is expected to launch with, and which the source has also supplied some screenshots of. Details in these include a notifications dropdown that’s split in two, with notifications on one half and settings toggles on the other. Some apps also have new icons, although as Android Authority notes these details have all leaked previously.

Benchmarked and certified

In any case, this isn’t the only new Samsung Galaxy S25 series leak, as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus has also been benchmarked, as spotted by leaker @Jukanlosreve. This Geekbench listing shows a single-core score of 3,160 and a multi-core result of 9,941, both of which are extremely high scores, and are broadly in line with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra benchmarks.

Finally, Phone Scoop has spotted that a device it believes to be the base Samsung Galaxy S25 has been certified by the the FCC, the US telecoms regulator. There’s not much of interest here aside from a mention of support for satellite connectivity, but the fact that the phone has been certified means it will probably land soon, which is as we’d expect, with leaks pointing to a January 22 launch.

As ever, we’d take these leaks with a pinch of salt, but if the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is indeed going land in January then we shouldn't have long to wait before we get official information.

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• Generative AI could save the public sector billions in the next 5 years
• More routine tasks could be automated to free up time for creatives
• More than half of public sector jobs will be changed in some way in coming years

New research has revealed the UK public sector could save billions in expenditure by fully embracing generative AI technology.

The ‘AI & The Public Sector’ commissioned by Google Cloud has highlighted the ways the public sector could save around £38bn over the next 5 years by adopting more GenAI adoption.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report predicts that ‘automating routine tasks’ will be the future of AI tools in the workplace, and that over a third of daily tasks in the public sector could be performed by generative AI.

A new way forward

The report rightly points out many public sector organizations are under huge pressure, with 61% of public administration workers overworked, and 70% of respondents agreeing that employee morale has decreased.

To combat this, generative AI solutions should be embraced by public organizations, the report suggests. Currently, only 12% of public administrators say they have significantly deployed AI tools.

By letting generative AI automate administrative work, the public sector could unlock an extra 3.7 million GP appointments, the equivalent of 160,000 police officers, and a 16% increase in student to teacher ratio - a cumulative value of £358bn by 2034. This would free up 8.3% of the budget for re-investment into our public services, the report says.

“Now the digital centre of government, my department is testing how we can put AI to work in the public sector, whether that’s speeding up finding information on GOV.UK or empowering teachers by reducing administrative burdens, allowing them to dedicate more time to what they do best,” said UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

Job augmentation

Over half of public sector jobs (56%) are likely to be ‘augmented’ in some way by AI adoption, the report claims, optimistically predicting workers will be allowed more time for creative focus.

Even with full AI implementation, the report estimates that 38% of roles are ‘insulated’ and won’t be affected by AI adoption thanks to their inherent sensitivity. The remaining 6% of jobs will be ‘displaced’ or phased out.

However Google Cloud says the demand for public sector labour will grow, so displaced workers will simply be reallocated into new roles. This echoes other recent studies, which for example have shown IT service desks could ‘go extinct’.

Early stages of adoption

The study shows there are barriers to AI implementation that need to be addressed before the public sector is ready to embrace AI. Applicability is part of the concern, with over half of respondents (55%) agreeing they would need different or better structured data sets to use AI effectively.

Many workers are also uncertain about the security, legal liabilities, and costs of AI tools, and before workplaces take full advantage of AI, more education is needed, as over a third (34%) say they don’t have the skills to benefit from AI tech just yet.

There are significant concerns about the reliability of AI output too, but Google Cloud reassures these worries are ‘likely to fade on their own as the technology becomes more mature’.

Governments leading the way

Google Cloud has identified public sector AI adoption as a key driver to wider AI adoption across all industries. As part of Government commitments to using AI in public services, organizations should conduct AI adoption assessments in key sectors such as health, transport, and education.

This will allow agencies to identify barriers to AI deployment and address any roadblocks. Procurement teams should be 'empowered and upskilled' on the importance of AI adoption so that they can effectively assess their needs.

An overhaul of government IT systems is needed to efficiently adopt AI, says Google Cloud. Legacy IT systems, data storage capacity, and an absence of advanced cloud data analytics are all hindering the development of AI in the public sector, it says.

Untold costs

What the report doesn’t address, is the cost of generative AI adoption. The costs are multi-faceted, with AI demanding a huge amount of energy to run, and also an enormous amount of water to cool high performing hardware.

The AI industry is already in the midst of a serious sustainability crisis, so large-scale adoption in both the public and private sectors could have disastrous consequences for climate protection goals.

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The finance sector, widely regarded as a trend-setter for new and emerging technologies, is once again leading from the front. Since the rollout of the “open banking” initiative, which allows financial data to be shared between banks and third-party service providers, the pace of innovation in the sector has skyrocketed.

Credit scoring has become streamlined, anti-money laundering (AML) techniques have become more advanced, real-time trading is the new standard, and financial services companies like banks are competing to provide the best customer experience.

It's not just consumers that stand to benefit either. In the UK, where the concept of open banking experienced its first real breakthrough, the NatWest Group reports that 66% of businesses save roughly 150 hours every year on operational tasks thanks to open banking initiatives.

All of this is made possible through the use of Application Programming Interfaces, or APIs. APIs are software-based intermediaries that allow different applications to communicate and share data securely and efficiently. Not only does this create a more “joined up” financial ecosystem for business and customers, it paves the way for innovative new services, solutions and business cases.

Financial institutions like Standard Chartered have even established API marketplaces to streamline the integration of third-party services, promoting a more competitive and customer-centric financial ecosystem. This interconnectedness ultimately leads to improved user experiences and operational efficiencies, as well as a competitive edge for those finance companies with the ambition and resources to take advantage.

Payments and transactions

APIs have already revolutionized the way payments and transactions are handled in the financial sector, enabling smoother, faster, and more secure processes. For instance, companies like PayPal now release APIs to allow developers to integrate payment gateway services seamlessly into various platforms, allowing users to initiate transactions directly from apps or websites without being redirected.

This not only enhances user convenience but also boosts transaction speed and security. Real-time credit card processing, instant fraud detection, and integration with multiple payment gateways also significantly improves the overall transaction experience for both businesses and consumers. This is a perfect example of the flexibility and scalability that APIs can facilitate to allow businesses to change to meet market demands and customer expectations.

Trading and investments

Significant advancements in the trading and investment sector are also being driven by APIs, making services more accessible and efficient. Robinhood's launch of a crypto trading API is a prime example, offering users the ability to trade cryptocurrencies seamlessly through third-party platforms.

This innovation democratizes access to trading apps, allowing for real-time data exchange, automated trading strategies, and integration with financial advisory services. APIs enable traders to connect with multiple markets and data sources, ensuring they have the most accurate and up-to-date information to make informed investment decisions.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

APIs are quickly becoming essential tools in the fight against money laundering, offering real-time capabilities to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. By integrating APIs into their systems, financial institutions can quickly analyze large volumes of transaction data, identify suspicious patterns, and comply with regulatory requirements.

These APIs facilitate the seamless exchange of information between different platforms and databases, ensuring that potential money laundering activities are flagged and investigated promptly. Advanced machine learning algorithms can also be integrated via APIs to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of anti-money laundering efforts, safeguarding the financial ecosystem against illicit activities.

Credit scoring and the customer experience

Thanks to APIs, traditional credit scores, which often rely on limited financial data, are now being supplemented with alternative data from utilities, rent payments, and even social media activity. This creates a more holistic view of a customer's creditworthiness for lenders and reduces the time it takes to get approved.

APIs are also enhancing the customer experience by enabling personalized financial services, integrating customer data across various touchpoints and providing tailored advice and products that meet individual needs. The way is also being paved for the development of intuitive mobile apps and online platforms that allow customers to access and manage all their finances in one place, giving people greater control and flexibility over how they manage their money.

APIs are not just driving innovation in the financial sector; they are setting new standards for efficiency, security, and customer satisfaction. As long as financial institutions continue to leverage the power of APIs, opportunities for growth and transformation will follow.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

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