Social media remain a field for conflict among states and aspiring states, as ISIS resumes its push to inspire the disaffected, and disturbing levels of pro-Russian trolling resume in the Baltic States.

Pakistan considers its long-term interests in cyberspace as Google removes an app—SmeshApp—Pakistan's ISI allegedly used in espionage against Indian targets.

Anonymous undertakes an animal-rights campaign against Japanese targets.

Preliminary reports on the hack of Bangladesh's central bank suggest that the thieves were patient and sophisticated, covering their tracks and planting malware intended to support the apparent legitimacy of their fraudulent transactions. Reports differ on how much was stolen—they range from a low of $81 million to high of $101 million—but the crooks aimed much higher.

The US FBI is said to be assisting authorities in Bangladesh with the investigation. Suggestions that biometric data required to authenticate transactions were properly provided have, among other suspicions, moved Bangladesh's finance minister to assert that bank officials were complicit in the crime.

Administrators of the finance industry's SWIFT messaging system are working to reinforce recommended security measures with banks that use the system.

Pwn2own wrapped up last week. Observers see an increased interest in achieving privilege escalation by exploiting OS kernel flaws.

Late last week the Department of Justice asked for an evidentiary hearing in the case of the San Bernardino jihadist's iPhone. Apple is said to regard this as a sign that the Justice Department is losing confidence in its case. Hearings are set for this week.