University researchers have found a new vulnerability affecting Intel chips. This one, called "BranchScope," involves a susceptibility to side-channel attacks. Intel has been working on the issue and thinks the bug probably amounts no big deal.
More diplomatic reprisal against Russia for what US Defense Secretary Mattis calls the "attempted murder" in Salisbury bring the number of countries taking action above twenty-five. Russia denounces the moves as "senseless" and "boorish," and promises a response of its own. The US expulsion of sixty Russian diplomats is the Americans' largest such punitive action, ever.
Thales is making a run to acquire Gemalto, and Gemalto's board is commending the deal to shareholders.
Canadian advertising and software development firm AggregateIQ has denied connections with Cambridge Analytica as well as involvement in the ongoing data scandal. But code found by UpGuard in an exposed AggregateIQ database suggests there may be some connection. In the code was a string, "Ripon," and a username "SCL" (the name of Cambridge Analytica's corporate parent). The findings are small and circumstantial, but also interesting in the light of Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie's testimony in the UK that AggregateIQ was involved in US campaign operations.
Facebook puts its money where its mouth is with respect to its view that the data scandal is essentially an app scandal. It's offering researchers bug bounties for finding and reporting apps that collect and misuse data.
Members of Parliament affect shock at Facebook CEO Zuckerberg's refusal to testify before Westminister's inquiry into fake news.