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Warning for Samsung Galaxy Users: Spyware ‘Landfall’ Found Stealing Data for Nearly a Year

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Cybersecurity researchers from Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 have discovered a dangerous Android spyware called Landfall, which has been targeting Samsung Galaxy devices for nearly a year, stealing sensitive user data without detection.

The spyware spread through a malicious DNG image sent via messaging apps like WhatsApp, exploiting a zero-day vulnerability — unknown to Samsung at the time — to take full control of the infected device.

Once activated, Landfall could access photos, messages, contacts, call logs, location data, and even the microphone. According to the report, the first signs of the campaign appeared in July 2024, but Samsung only patched the flaw (CVE-2025-21042) in April 2025, leaving users exposed for months.

The vulnerability resided in ‘libimagecodec.quram.so’, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code without user interaction. The main affected models include the Galaxy S22, S23, S24, and some Galaxy Z devices running Android 13 to 15.

Researchers believe the campaign was a targeted espionage operation, primarily affecting users in the Middle East, and possibly linked to private-sector offensive actors (AOSP).

It remains unclear who developed Landfall or how many users were affected, but senior researcher Itay Cohen described it as a “precision attack” rather than a widespread infection.

Samsung has released a security patch, and experts strongly advise all Galaxy users to update their devices immediately to stay protected.

Underwater Cables: The Hidden Arteries of the AI Boom and Global Internet

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Deep beneath the oceans lies one of the most crucial — yet least visible — components of modern life: underwater communication cables. Nearly 95% of the world’s international data and voice traffic flows through this vast network of almost one million miles of fiber-optic lines connecting continents.

These cables carry everything from financial transactions and government communications to video calls, cloud services, and AI data transfers. As artificial intelligence grows more data-hungry, investment in subsea infrastructure is accelerating at record speed.

Between 2025 and 2027, global spending on subsea cables is expected to reach $13 billion, nearly double the investment made over the previous three years, according to TeleGeography.

“AI is increasing the need that we have for subsea infrastructure,” said Alex Aime, vice president of network investments at Meta. “Without that connectivity, you just have expensive warehouses.”

Tech giants are now the biggest investors. Meta’s Project Waterworth, a 50,000-kilometer cable linking five continents, will be the longest in the world. Amazon’s Fastnet, connecting the U.S. and Ireland, will deliver speeds equivalent to streaming 12.5 million HD movies simultaneously. Google has funded over 30 subsea systems, while Microsoft has invested in others to bolster its Azure cloud network.

But as global reliance on these cables deepens, so do concerns about security and resilience. Damaged or sabotaged cables can cut off entire nations — as seen when Tonga lost internet access after a volcanic eruption in 2022.

While most damage stems from accidents — fishing nets or dropped anchors — analysts have noted a rise in suspected sabotage near Taiwan and in the Baltic Sea, often coinciding with geopolitical tensions. In response, NATO launched “Baltic Sentry” in early 2025 to protect critical subsea infrastructure.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has also tightened rules on foreign ownership of cable systems, citing threats from China and Russia. “We’re making it difficult to connect undersea cables directly from the U.S. to adversary nations,” said FCC Chair Brendan Carr.

From the 1850 telegraph line between Dover and Calais to AI-era fiber networks, subsea cables remain the unseen lifeline of global communication — and the quiet battleground of the world’s next digital conflict.

Report Claims Meta Earned $16 Billion in 2024 from Fraudulent Ads on Facebook and Instagram

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Meta Reportedly Made Billions from Fraudulent Ads Across Facebook and Instagram in 2024

A new report has alleged that Meta Platforms — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — earned a significant portion of its 2024 revenue from fraudulent and prohibited advertisements. According to internal projections, about 10.1 percent of Meta’s total revenue for the year reportedly came from ads linked to scams and banned goods. The findings suggest that certain internal practices and oversight failures allowed these fraudulent ads to remain active on its platforms, despite clear violations of company policy and advertising regulations.

Citing internal company documents, Reuters reported that Meta failed to effectively detect or block deceptive advertising for a range of illegal or misleading products and services. These included fake e-commerce listings, fraudulent investment schemes, unlicensed online casinos, and even banned medical products. The issue reportedly persisted for at least three years across Meta’s major apps — Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp — raising concerns about the company’s ad moderation and accountability practices.

The internal projections also claimed that around $16 billion (approximately ₹1.41 lakh crore) of Meta’s total 2024 revenue stemmed from these fraudulent ad sources. The report further alleged that Meta was hesitant to remove or suspend accounts, even those identified internally as “the scammiest scammers.” Executives reportedly feared that taking strict action against these advertisers would lead to a noticeable decline in ad revenue, which could in turn impact the company’s heavy investments in artificial intelligence (AI) development and infrastructure.

These revelations have sparked fresh debate about Meta’s commitment to user safety and transparency in digital advertising. Critics argue that prioritizing profits over consumer protection undermines trust in its platforms, especially as users increasingly encounter scams disguised as legitimate promotions. While Meta has yet to issue a detailed public response to these allegations, the report adds pressure on the company to tighten its ad screening processes and demonstrate stronger ethical oversight in its rapidly expanding AI-driven advertising ecosystem.