Author: TechBrunch

A federal judge has ordered Google to open up its app store to rivals and give Android users more options when downloading apps. Judge James Donato issued a final ruling in the Epic vs. Google case Monday, detailing how Google must change the way it operates Google Play. Google will be prohibited from paying developers to release apps exclusively on Google Play for the next three years, starting November 1, according to the filing. The company also cannot force developers to use Google Play's billing system and must allow developers to notify users of other payment methods. Google must also…

Last weekend, news broke that Chinese-backed hackers had penetrated the eavesdropping systems of several U.S. telecommunications and internet providers, presumably to collect information about Americans. Required by a 30-year-old U.S. federal law, wiretapping systems are among the most secretive systems within a telecommunications or Internet provider's network, typically allowing a select few employees to monitor Internet traffic. Allows nearly unlimited access to information about customers, including: and browsing history. But for technologists who have long been sounding the alarm about the security risks of backdoors, news of the breach is the “I told you so” moment they hoped would never…

In September, Apple released a new version of its computer operating system, macOS 15, also known as Sequoia. This broke the functionality of several cybersecurity products, including CrowdStrike and products from Microsoft. Three weeks later, on Friday, Apple released its first update to macOS 15, claiming to have fixed those issues. Apple says in its macOS 15.0.1 release notes that the update “improves compatibility with third-party security software.” Apple reported the update in an email to TechCrunch on Thursday, but a spokesperson did not respond to a follow-up request for further information. Patrick Wardle, founder of macOS and iOS security…

U.S. utility giant American Water announced last week that it discovered hackers had infiltrated its internal network and had disconnected some systems. American Water, which provides drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across the United States, acknowledged the security incident in an 8-K regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The New Jersey-based company said in a filing that its water and wastewater facilities are unaffected “at this time” and continue to operate without interruption, but that at this time “there is no immediate response to this incident.” It is not…

The future of space is ripe for reinvention, and TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 brings together two visionaries determined to reimagine how we reach and operate in orbit. Kelly Hennig, COO of Stoke Space, and Muhammad “Mo” Shahzad, President and CFO of Relativity Space, join us on the Space Stage to explore how emerging technologies, software, and automation are redefining the future of space access. Masu. See how these industry leaders are navigating the challenges of the growing space industry and turning ambitious visions into reality. Demand for launch capabilities continues to grow. While great advances have been made over the past…

Earlier this year, Kobold Metals discovered one of the largest high-grade copper deposits in history, with the potential to produce hundreds of thousands of tonnes per year, the company's CEO said. Now, just eight months later, Kobold is closing in on more than $500 million in funding. The funding should help the company develop its vast copper resources while pursuing dozens of other exploration projects. The mineral discovery startup has already raised $491 million of its targeted $527 million round, according to an SEC filing. A previous round of $195 million valued the company at $1 billion post-money, according to…

We’re excited to announce the debut of the ScaleUp Startup Exhibitor Program at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024! Join us at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30 to meet an exciting lineup of startups that are poised to make their mark in the tech world. The ScaleUp Startup Exhibitor Program offers Series A and B startups a prime opportunity to exhibit in the bustling Expo Hall, where they can showcase their groundbreaking innovations to over 10,000 Disrupt attendees. It’s also a powerful program for startups to make valuable connections with investors and tech leaders eager to back the next big…

US telecommunications giant Comcast has warned that cybercriminals have stolen the personal data of more than 230,000 customers in a ransomware attack on a third-party provider of debt collection services. The breach is related to a February cyberattack on Financial Business and Consumer Solutions (FBCS), a Pennsylvania-based debt collection agency used by Comcast. In a filing Friday with the Maine attorney general, Comcast said FBCS initially told the company in March that the security incident did not involve Comcast customer data. In late July, FBCS notified Comcast that customer data had indeed been compromised. Comcast said 237,703 subscribers were affected…

Fledgling fintech startup OpenBB is revealing the next steps in its plan to take on the heavyweights of the investment research world. The company is launching a new free version of its product that will open up its arsenal of data and financial tools to more users. OpenBB is the brainchild of software engineer Didier Lopes, who launched it in 2021 as a free way for amateur investors and enthusiasts to conduct investment research using a variety of datasets via a command line interface (CLI). We launched a Python-based platform. The company has since raised $8.5 million in seed funding…

Ultrasound is perhaps best known as the technology that enables non-invasive body scans, underwater communications, and helps park cars. A young Norwegian startup called Sonair wants to adapt Sonair for another use: 3D computer vision for use in autonomous hardware applications. Knut Sandven, founder and CEO of Sonair, said the company's application of ultrasound technology, a breakthrough approach to reading sound waves and detecting people and objects in 3D with minimal energy and computational requirements, is today We believe it could be the basis for a more useful and significantly cheaper solution. A more standard approach using LIDAR. Sonair has…