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During the rise of DeepSeek, Elon Musk lost $90 billion; see what Bezos and Zuckerberg lost instead.

Tech billionaires lost $94 billion as a result of the Chinese AI business DeepSeek. Larry Ellison, the billionaire and chief technology officer of Oracle, lost almost $9 billion. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, is among the IT giants who have lost billions of dollars as a result of China’s DeepSeek’s breakthrough achievement this year. Fortune reports that the world’s richest person lost $90 billion. According to reports, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg lost $20 billion and $11 billion, respectively. Nvidia was the most severely impacted by the billion-dollar AI startup’s ascent to prominence, which led to a sell-off in the AI chip manufacturer and a $600 billion decline in its market value—one of the worst decrease in US stock prices in the history of the market, according to Bloomberg. Moreover, at the beginning of February, Bloomberg assessed Musk’s net worth to be around $433 billion, but on February 28, it decreased to $349 billion. Within the same period, Zuckerberg’s net worth plummeted from $243 billion to $232 billion. Larry Ellison, the billionaire and chief technology officer of Oracle, lost almost $9 billion. According to Fortune, DeepSeek collectively wiped off $94 billion from tech billionaires’ wallets. Despite the sharp decline in his and his company’s wealth brought on by DeepSeek, Huang lauded the Chinese firm on Nvidia’s most recent earnings call, claiming it had “ignited global enthusiasm.” “It’s a great invention, but more significantly, it has made a top-notch AI reasoning model publicly available,” he stated. For a tenth of the price, DeepSeek had unveiled a sizable language model that could compete with those of competitors like OpenAI. According to CNBC, Nvidia’s biggest clients, Meta, Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, appear unfazed and plan to spend over $320 billion on AI and data centre expansion.

Protect Yourself Online Matrimonial frauds – Information Security Awareness

Online matrimonial frauds is on the rise these days, posing a huge threat to individuals looking for a partner through online platforms. Fraudsters take benefit of the vulnerabilities of unknowing people, causing them financial loss, emotional distress, and potential harm. Over two decades, online matrimonial sites have gained popularity in India where most marriages are still arranged by parents. The whole traditional matchmaking process changed and was set aside when the wave of online matrimonies came into existence. For Indian bachelors looking to explore and find a lifelong partner, online matrimonial sites offer the right fusion of modern technology and traditional Indian traditions. This increased demand for online services that run searchable databases of marriage-related content, such as Shaadi.com, Jeevansathi.com, and Matrimony.com Ltd. But, matrimonial sites are not completely safe. There is a possibility that you will regret not taking certain precautions. The number of people falling for marriage website scams has gone up. Dangers Financial Loss Emotional Manipulation: Identity Theft: Blackmail and Extortion: Vulnerable Groups: People Looking for Companionship: People who are searching for a relationship or who are emotionally fragile may be more prone to falling for fraudulent schemes and scams. Elderly People: Due to their possible substantial financial holdings and low understanding of contemporary technology, the elderly are frequently targeted since they may be more trusting and less accustomed to internet platforms. The present scenario Online matrimonial frauds Matrimonial sites come under ‘intermediaries’ within the IT Act 2000. They are responsible for the frauds that are perpetrated through their sites. Matrimonial sites. However these websites do not have any stringent KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures in place and hence readily accept documents/facts provided by fake profiles, which results in fraud being committed. With the increase in frauds through matrimonial sites, Cyber Law Due Diligence becomes a very important way to put an end to the use of matrimonial and dating sites as means of deception and fraud. The Information Technology Act, of 2000 is the Cyber Law of India that mandates observance of Cyber Law Due Diligence and Internet Intermediary Obligations in India. Cyber Law Due Diligence means taking proper and Reasonable Care and Caution while dealing with Online/Technological Transactions and Activities. Modus operandi With the minimal KYC/verification procedures in place to register on online matrimonial websites, the fraudster usually follows the following modus operandi: The fraudster initially creates a fake profile with attractive descriptions. In most cases, the person seems to be settled or working abroad, thus making actual meetings difficult. Later they look for gullible profiles to fall into their trick. In most cases, the targets are widows or divorced while some are elderly women looking for life partners. Also, they look for targets who are economically sound. Later, phone numbers, and email addresses are shared to increase personal communication and gain trust. Once the communication is established the fraudsters delete the profiles on the online matrimonial website and only communicate through phones, emails, or phone messengers. After gaining trust, money is demanded on various pretexts like customs clearance of costly gifts or as conversion charges for foreign currency, government clearance for diamonds, gold, or inherited wealth. All this money is asked as an online transfer and the person never meets the victim. Once they receive the money they never respond to the victim which makes it difficult to trace. Warning Signs Be alert to the red flags that can help you identify online matrimonial fraudsters: Are not willing to show their face and avoid face-to-face meetings, they are also reluctant to come on video chat, profile photo may not be theirs. Ask for a money transfer, citing some emergency, initially a small sum and later a large amount May not have a social profile or have few friends on social media Hesitate to share family/ workplace details Express “love” too quickly even before fully understanding each other The profile looks too good to be true for that person to express interest to you They call from multiple numbers. They usually don’t give a number to call back. Even if they give you a number, they don’t pick up when you call. Later, they call you back from a new number It sounds inconsistent or confusing when you ask for personal details, and their information is marked with inconsistencies. Are you in a mad rush for early marriage, without a valid reason Request for deletion of your profile immediately after getting in touch with you Ask for email username/ password or credit card/ bank account details Come up with false stories to gain sympathy How to save yourself Explore the various available online matrimonial websites Do a good Google search about the available Online matrimonial frauds platforms. Check for reviews from registered users and find a suitable one. Also, most matrimonial websites add a verified batch of profiles that are checked by their team. If you see a verified batch, you can go forward with the person without thinking much. Check out how genuine the website is before you register. Make sure the site has good reviews from registered members. Do a profile check. While you rely on online ways to find your life partner you must take this responsibility and do a thorough profile check. Check every detail carefully. Do a proper check on current and permanent address, education workplace etc. At any point you think there is a mismatch, feel free to question the other person. Once you decide to go ahead, find out whether details given about the individual’s qualification, job, family background and such details are indeed true to avoid regrets at a later stage. Verify the details mentioned in the profile you are interested in, and do a profile check on social media platforms for further information about the person. If you do not find details on any social media, it is a red flag Slow and steady wins the race Marriage is a lifetime decision and you cannot take a chance here. Life is not a race, ensure

CloudSEK Report: India estimated to lose Rs 20,000 crore to cybercrimes in 2025

India to Lose Rs 20,000 Crore to Cybercrimes in 2025, with Brand Abuse Accounting for Over Rs 9,000 Crore, Warns CloudSEK Report India is estimated to lose about Rs 20,000 crore to cybercrimes in 2025, as stated by a recent report by cybersecurity firm CloudSEK Report. The survey predicts that phishing scams, brand abuse, and phoney domains will be the general tactics used by cybercriminals this year. It is anticipated that when artificial intelligence (AI) develops further, hackers will employ sophisticated social engineering strategies to conduct fraudulent activities. Notably, it is estimated that brand name abuse alone will have a financial impact of more than Rs 9,000 crore. Our analysis has shown that cybercrime has caused financial damages of over Rs 20,000 crore, of which Rs 9,000 are attributable to brand name abuse alone. This is the greatest finding. The fact that brand abuse is linked to an astounding 70% of high-value scams and roughly one-third of all cybercrime events should serve as a wake-up call for India, according to Pavan Karthick M, Threat Intelligence Researcher at CloudSEK Report . The growing economic impact of cyber crimes in India is highlighted in CloudSEK Report white paper, which was published on Friday. It emphasizes how illegal use of trusted brand names for fraudulent purposes has grown to be a significant avenue for exploitation. Cybercriminals use phoney website names and fraudulent mobile applications in addition to brand impersonation to trick people. The financial industry is predicted to face the highest portion of these losses, accounting for Rs 8,200 crore, or 41% of the total, according to a sector-by-sector analysis in the research. Government services may sustain financial losses of Rs 3,400 crore, or 17% of the total impact, while the retail and e-commerce industries are expected to sustain a combined 29% of losses. The conclusions are based on information gathered from 200 firms, which includes 16,000 cyber threat occurrences involving brands and more than 5,000 domain takedowns. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which reported financial losses of almost Rs 11,333 crore in the first nine months of 2024 with a sharp increase predicted in 2025, is another source of official data cited in the article. CloudSEK Report in Businesses will experience reputational harm in addition to financial repercussions when their names are utilized fraudulently. According to the research, businesses may have to pay Rs 6,000 crore for legal actions, customer compensation, remediation activities, and improvements to security infrastructure. Individuals are anticipated to be most affected by these losses, though, with personal financial damages likely to approach Rs 14,000 crore by 2025.

Maharashtra sets up Cyber Corporation to tackle digital frauds, launches 1945 helpline

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated on February 28, 2025, that Maharashtra had established a “cyber corporation” to combat digital fraud and that two other states had also provided a comparable service. The Navi Mumbai facility will serve as the state’s cybercrime headquarters. “I envision a time when cybercrime would account for 70% of all crimes and street crime will make up for 20% to 30% of all crimes. He stated during the Mumbai Tech Week 2025 event that Cyber Corporation is the greatest platform in India for integrating social media handles, banks, and non-banking financial organizations (to track crimes). “We have all the necessary licenses and the best tools in the world.” A single (helpline) number, 1945, has been acquired. Fadnavis did list the states that reached out to Maharashtra to establish a comparable facility. Digital fraud and other cybercrimes have surged across the nation. In the Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), there were 36,075 frauds in the banking industry, more than four times the number in the previous five years. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s annual report, frauds involving digital payments (card or internet) rose from 2,677 in FY20 to 29,082 in FY24. Startups leaving Maharashtra Fadnavis said the state did not create sufficient infrastructure Maharashtra in Mumbai between 2009 and 2014, leading to a high cost of living and start-ups moving to cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. “The IT-enabled industry could no longer afford to remain in Mumbai.” Our ineffective work caused the IT (information technology) revolution to spread to several cities. However, we began addressing that after 2014. The state would build a start-up incubator dubbed M-Hub, according to Fadnavis, who was first appointed chief minister in 2014 and is currently serving his second term after a hiatus. In Navi Mumbai, we intend to develop a large amount of plug-and-play space. It will be similar to Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Pig butchering scam: New cyber fraud targets unemployed youth, students, housewife’s

The government has issued an alert about a new cyber fraud scheme called the ‘pig butchering scam,’ which targets unemployed youth, students, and vulnerable individuals. Victims not only lose money but are also forced into cyber slavery. NEW DELHI: The government has warned of a new cybercrime scheme known as the “pig butchering scam,” which preys on vulnerable people, students, and jobless youth. Victims not only lose money but are also forced into cyber slavery, officials said on 27 February 2025. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs claimed that this was also emphasized in their most recent annual report, which was released last month. They also mentioned that dishonest people and organizations have been observed using Google services platforms to commit these crimes. A senior official stated, “Reports from the cyber intelligence wing indicate that a new online fraud module, called ‘Pig Butchering Scam’ or ‘Investment Scam,’ has been observed circulating in cyberspace. It targets unemployed youths, housewives, students, and those in need, who are either tricked into losing large sums of money every day or lured into engaging in cyber slavery.” “The Google Ads platform offers a convenient way to post targeted ads from across the border,” he stated. the “Pig Butchering Scam” or the “Investment Scam,” this scam is a global phenomenon that involves widespread money laundering and even cyber slavery. According to sources, it is believed that this kind of scam began in China in 2016. They claimed that in these fraud modules, criminals prey on unsuspecting people, with whom they gradually gain trust, then persuade them to invest in cryptocurrency or another profitable scheme before embezzling the money they have earned. The fattening of pigs before their slaughter is the source of the comparison to pig butchering, according to the officials. According to the officials, cybercriminals use this fraud model to deceive victims by gaining their trust and then using them as slaves to commit various online crimes. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) within the MHA cooperated with Google to share threat intelligence for periodic prompt action to successfully deal with the danger when the trend became apparent, according to the officials. In addition to Google, the officials stated that sponsored Facebook links are being aggressively detected and shared with the social media platform for appropriate action. These connections are being used by hackers to initiate illicit financing applications in India.

Mr Shah for use of AI to combat cyber fraud, mule accounts

According to Mr Shah, on February 11, 2025, the government developed a strategy to deploy Artificial Intelligence tools to identify and close “mule accounts” before they are used to launder money through cybercrime. Mr Shah Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary meeting for MHA on “Cyber Security and Cyber Crime,” Mr Shah stresses how India’s digital infrastructure has grown quickly, increasing technological risks. He underlined that combating cyber fraud requires an all-encompassing strategy that incorporates software, services, and user awareness. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi The federal minister said that it’s cybersecurity framework, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, through some initiatives, the federal minister said. various initiatives According to Mr Shah, cybercrime is a “borderless” and “formless” danger that crosses national borders. He stresses the crucial role of important organizations like the Ministry of Electronics and IT in collaborating with ministries like banking and telecom to combat cyber threats. He asked committee members to spread the word about the I4C hotline number 1930, which provides financial fraud prevention services, including banning illegal transactions. To stop their misuse before they start operating, Shah also emphasized attempts to employ artificial intelligence to identify mule accounts in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India and other institutions. He reaffirmed the government’s pledge to use Prime Minister Modi’s “STOP-THINK-TAKE ACTION” campaign to increase public awareness of cyber threats. The home minister gave important data on cybersecurity efforts, pointing out that 1.43 lakh FIRs had been filed on the I4C portal, which has over 19 crore subscribers. For national security grounds, 3,266 internet URLs and 805 apps have been prohibited following the I4C’s recommendations. To combat cyber fraud, 399 banks and financial intermediaries have also teamed up, identifying nearly 19 lakh mule accounts and stopping suspicious transactions totalling ₹2,038 crore. Mr Shah also described the government’s commitment to cybercrime forensics, noting that 33 states and union territories now have Cyber Crime Forensic Training Labs. More than 1 lakh police personnel have signed up for training on the “CyTrain” platform, and its Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) program has produced 78,000 diplomas.

For obscene content, the Maharashtra Cyber Cell files a formal complaint against Ranveer Allahabadiya and others.

Complaint Against Ranveer Allahbadia: Maharashtra Cyber Cell Acts on ‘India’s Got Latent’ for Offensive Content Following violent comments by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, comedian Samay Raina, and many others, the Maharashtra Cyber Department has filed a formal complaint against them. The case was filed under the appropriate IT Act provisions.After one of its episodes had sexual content, comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube talent program India’s Got Latent has drawn harsh criticism. According to reports, the show’s hosts and judges, Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, and Apoorv Makhija, have been charged with fostering sexually explicit conversations by the Guwahati police. In response to public outrage over the objectionable content shown on India’s Got Latent, officials have registered an FIR and summoned several participants, ordering the removal of all 18 episodes of the show from YouTube. The Maharashtra Cyber Department has taken decisive action against the involved parties, including YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia and comedian Samay Raina, due to accusations that their content on the show included obscene language and inappropriate material. After several complaints from viewers and advocacy groups who felt the video was obscene and disrespectful, the FIR was filed on 11 Feb 2025 under the applicable sections of the IT Act. The FIR mentions 30–40 guests who appeared in episodes 1–6 and are currently being brought in for questioning, as well as the names of the show’s principal creators. According to authorities, the judges and special guests both used harsh and disparaging words during the show. This legal action follows a separate incident in Assam, where police recently filed a case against Ranveer Allahbadia for his controversial comments. Increasing public and political pressure has led to calls for the show’s 18 episodes to be taken down from YouTube. In response, YouTube has already blocked the objectionable episodes, and law enforcement officials were seen at Allahbadia’s residence on 11 Feb 2025. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also expressed concerns. The NCW vehemently disagrees with the offensive remarks made on the program. The NCW issued a statement denouncing the abusive comments made by producers Tushar Pujari and Saurabh Bothra, as well as by Ranveer Allahabadiya, Samay Raina, Apoorv Makhija, Jaspreet Singh, and Ashish Chanchlani. On February 17 at noon, the Commission invited these people to come in person for a hearing in its New Delhi headquarters.According to Section 66(A) of the IT Act 2000, the law under which the FIR was lodged, sending objectionable material via computers or other electronic devices is illegal.

TGCSB organizes Cyber Awareness Day to tackle digital frauds

Telangana Cyber Security Bureau Launches ‘Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas’ to Combat digital arrest Scams The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) started the New Year with a special initiative called ‘Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas’. On 08/01/2025, the bureau held 394 meetings and 23 awareness rallies across the state. These events aimed to educate people about the risks of digital arrest scams, reaching 35,700 participants from all walks of life. The campaign focuses on teaching citizens about emerging cyber threats and promoting public safety online. It emphasizes the importance of practicing good cyber hygiene, being cautious while using the internet, and understanding the dangers of sharing personal or financial details with strangers. Throughout January, TGCSB will continue its mission to spread awareness about digital arrest scams. This will include organizing workshops, community outreach programs, and additional rallies to educate more people. These scams involve fraudsters pretending to be law enforcement officials. They claim that the victim is under investigation or has an outstanding arrest warrant and demand payments through RTGS or NEFT to avoid immediate arrest. Scammers often use fake documents, spoofed caller IDs, or video calls to make their claims appear legitimate. The bureau has issued a reminder to the public: no police officer or law enforcement agency will conduct investigations over phone or video calls, or demand money transfers for any reason. Genuine officers do not ask for payments to cancel warrants or settle cases. In its advisory, TGCSB urged citizens to stay alert and avoid falling prey to such digital arrest scams. “Be skeptical of any calls, messages, or emails claiming to be from law enforcement or government agencies that request immediate payment or sensitive information,” the bureau advised. By staying informed and cautious, people can protect themselves from these fraudulent schemes.

Chinese Hackers Double Cyber-Attacks on Taiwan

Taiwanese government networks experienced a daily average of 2.4 million cyber-attacks in 2024, most of which were attributed to Chinese state-backed hackers. This represents double the daily average from 2023 which saw 1.2 million daily attacks targeting government networks, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau said in a new report. “Although many of those attacks have been effectively detected and blocked, the growing numbers of attacks pinpoint the increasingly severe nature of China’s hacking activities,” the Bureau warned. The report also highlighted a substantial rise in People’s Republic of China (PRC) cyber-attacks targeting critical industries in Taiwan. These include telecommunications (650% increase), transportation (70%), and defined supply chain (57%). Security researchers have also observed significant Chinese cyber-attack activity in Taiwan over recent years amid rising geopolitical tensions around the Island territory’s self-governing status. How Chinese Hackers Target Taiwan The report highlighted a range of techniques employed by People’s Republic of China (PRC) hackers and noted that attacks against Taiwanese government agencies are typically designed to steal confidential data. The Bureau said the People’s Republic of China (PRC) hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in Netcom devices and utilize evasion techniques such as living off the land. Social engineering techniques have also been deployed which target the emails of Taiwanese civil servants for espionage purposes. China uses a range of tactics to infiltrate and compromise Taiwan’s critical infrastructure systems, such as highways and ports, to disrupt the Island’s transportation and logistics. Other cyber-attack tactics include phishing attacks, compromise of zero-day vulnerabilities, and use of Trojans and backdoors. Additionally, DDoS attacks are used to “harass” and “intimidate” Taiwan when carried out in the Island’s transportation and financial sectors. At the same time, China conducts military drills in the area, the Bureau noted. Other commonly observed Chinese attacks against Taiwanese targets include: Ransomware and other cybercrime techniques against manufacturing companies Theft of information about patented technologies developed by start-ups Stealing personal data of Taiwanese nationals and selling that information on the dark web The Bureau said the hack and leak of Taiwanese citizens’ data helps generate profits and are also designed to undermine the credibility of the Taiwanese government. “China has continued to intensify its cyber-attacks against Taiwan. By applying diverse hacking techniques, China has conducted reconnaissance, set cyber-attack ambushes, and stolen data through hacking operations targeting Taiwan’s government, critical infrastructure, and key private enterprises,” the Bureau wrote. The report also highlighted the success of Taiwan’s joint security defines a mechanism for ensuring that threat information is shared in real-time among intelligence sources and government agencies.

BSF Inspector duped of over Rs 70 Lakh after making ‘digital arrest’ in Gwalior

Bhopal: A Border Security Force (BSF) official in Gwalior was held in the longest digital arrest for 32 days before his son came to his rescue. The victim identified as Absar Ahmed, posted as an inspector in the BSF Training Centre, Tekanpur, was under digital arrest from December 2, 2024, and was duped of Rs 71.25 lakh in 34 transactions during the period, police said. “We have received the complaint regarding the digital arrest of a BSF official. The crime branch has registered a case and the probe is on,” Gwalior district superintendent of police (SP) Dharamveer Singh said. According to the police, the BSF official, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, had received a WhatsApp call at 11.29 am on December 2, 2024. The identified Mumbai cyber and crime branch officer told the victim that an arrest warrant had been issued against him and his family members in connection with a money laundering case. The BSF official was told that he was being interrogated virtually and he and his family members would be arrested if he informed other people. He was asked to transfer money to particular accounts as part of the probe and the money would be returned if he was found innocent. Under psychological pressure, Ahmed sold his flat in Delhi exhausted all his savings, and transferred Rs 71.25 lakh to the accounts mentioned. His son rushed to Gwalior on January 2 after learning about it and asked him to file a police complaint.

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