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Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Indian Express
Over 25 mn devices at risk: What is FatBoyPanel, the new malware targeting Indian users?
A dairy businessman, 44, from Dharashiv, received a WhatsApp call from someone posing as a bank official. The caller warned him that his account would be suspended unless updated immediately. When the victim panicked and asked how this issue could be resolved, the 'official' offered a simple solution – downloading a 'banking application,' the link of which would be shared on WhatsApp. The link reached him, and the victim downloaded the Android Package Kit (APK) file and installed it. What followed was 26 rapid transactions that drained his entire bank account. A sophisticated, malicious piece of software, called malware, was the reason. This isn't an isolated case. In recent years, scammers have increasingly targeted users through APK files laced with malicious software that hijack devices. This week, we take a closer look at one such malware: FatBoyPanel. What is malware? Malware, short for 'malicious software', refers to intrusive programs designed by cybercriminals to steal data or damage systems. Common types include viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, adware, and ransomware. Recently, in a blog post on the website of Zimperium, a tech company that provides AI-driven mobile security that protects devices and apps from phishing, malware, and zero-day threats, the company said that their research team has identified a malware that steals from the Indian bank accounts: FatBoyPanel. What is FatBoyPanel? Nico Chiaraviglio, chief scientist at Zimperium, told that FatBoyPanel is a mobile-first banking trojan that has been discovered across nearly 900 different applications, primarily targeting Indian users. The attack begins with social engineering: scammers pose as officials or trusted entities and approach users via WhatsApp. They then send a malicious APK, encouraging the user to install it. Once installed, the app gains access to sensitive data and steals one-time passwords (OTPs) to execute unauthorised transactions. 'FatBoyPanel is mobile-first, optimised for Indian banking apps, and even supports real-time session hijacking. That makes it especially dangerous in the hands of low-skilled attackers,' said Akshat Khetan, a cyber-legal expert and founder of AU Corporate Advisory and Legal Services (AUCL). What distinguishes this malware? 'It uses a centralised command structure that controls multiple variants across campaigns, abuses live phone numbers for OTP redirection, and has exfiltrated data from over 25 million devices. This makes it far more organised and dangerous than traditional banking trojans. It is also a new banker trojan that shows constant evolution of threat actors,' Chiaraviglio said. The malware requests permission to read SMS messages, enabling it to capture OTPs and bypass two-factor authentication in real time. 'It hides its icon after installation and disables Google Play Protect, allowing it to stay hidden and maintain access,' Chiaraviglio said. 'Once permissions are granted, it embeds itself into the system and communicates with its control panel,' Khetan said, Breach fueled by social engineering The attackers pose as government agencies or trusted services, sending fake APKs via WhatsApp. This social engineering drives up installation rates,' Chiaraviglio said. He also shared some numbers: Over 1,50,000 stolen messages were found on the attacker panel, with more than 25 million compromised device records, highlighting the massive scale of this breach. 'The breach exposes how easily users can be manipulated into side-loading apps and how SMS-based OTPs remain a weak link, especially in regions relying on them for banking authentication,' he said. Pavan Karthick M, threat researcher III at CloudSEK, said, 'This campaign, active since late 2023, uses consistent infrastructure across all samples–FatBoyPanel. It's part of a growing trend where everyday platforms host Command and Control (C2) servers, giving cybercriminals both scalability and operational cover.' Khetan elaborated on how the malware acts: 'Once deployed, the malware can intercept SMS-based OTPs, log credentials and perform keylogging. It may also use Accessibility Services to perform actions on behalf of the user such as initiating fund transfers within banking apps. In some cases, attackers use remote access tools (RATs) embedded in the payload to execute transactions manually from the victim's device, bypassing traditional fraud detection mechanisms. How to protect yourself – Avoid sideloading APKs: Only use official app stores. – Enable Google Play Protect: Keep it on to scan for harmful apps. – Use mobile security software: Opt for real-time threat detection. – Verify app sources: Never trust unknown or unofficial links. – Check app permissions: Avoid granting SMS, call, or gallery access to unverified apps. Some malware can even delete itself to avoid detection, making user vigilance critical. 'To better protect users, banks must move away from SMS-based OTPs and embrace stronger multi-factor authentication. In-app protections and local-language awareness campaigns are also key,' Chiaraviglio said. The Safe Side As the world evolves, the digital landscape does too, bringing new opportunities—and new risks. Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, exploiting vulnerabilities to their advantage. In our special feature series, we delve into the latest cybercrime trends and provide practical tips to help you stay informed, secure, and vigilant online.
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Google ‘Glasses' not happening. Android Auto 14.2 update drops all hints
Android Auto 14.2 is now being rolled out to users following its beta release earlier this month. If you haven't received the update yet, there's no need to be concerned, it's expected to become widely available in the coming days or weeks. Unfortunately, the update doesn't introduce any major new features. This update primarily addresses bug fixes and includes some minor adjustments. According to 9to5Google reports, the update does not include any significant changes for users, and most of the modifications are related to general stability and performance. As far as Android Auto drivers are concerned, there are no new features to discover this time around, and the update appears to be relatively short. Also read: Apple may launch sky blue colour option for iPhone 17 Pro in 2025: Report Although there is one notable change, it's the removal of the reference to "Glasses" within the Android Auto code. Previous reports on the APK (Android Package Kit) included mentions of "Glasses", which leads to speculation that a smart glasses feature was being developed for the platform. In the 14.2 update, these references have been removed, leading some to believe that the feature may have been dropped or delayed. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE launch delayed: Know when the cheaper foldable could arrive The first mention of "Glasses" was found in the Hindi version of the app, where the code referred to the ability to start navigation and launch "Glasses". This discovery led to rumours that Google could be working on integrating smart glasses with Android Auto. However, these references did not match up with the English version of the app, which raised questions about potential translation issues or misunderstandings in the code, Android Central reported. As a result, it's unclear whether Google is still considering such a feature, and it may not appear in the near future. Also read: How to use ChatGPT to colourise old black-and-white images: Step-by-step guide In other developments, Android Auto users can look forward to other improvements in future updates. Recent APK teardown reports have hinted at the addition of new features, including those related to air conditioning controls, such as recirculation and windshield defrosting options. Although the timeline for these updates remains uncertain, these additions could offer more convenience for drivers once they are officially released. For now, Android Auto 14.2 users can expect a smoother experience with bug fixes and minor tweaks, but the potential for new features, like smart glasses integration or enhanced climate control, remains uncertain. Mobile finder: Google Pixel Pro XL LATEST price, specs and all details
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Teachers raise concerns over sudden GIS mapping deadline and app download instructions
Mumbai: With the academic year-end workload already peaking, teachers across Maharashtra are facing additional stress over a last-minute directive from the state school education department to complete Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping of school infrastructure by April 25. The process requires uploading photographs of school facilities—such as name boards, classrooms, toilets, kitchen sheds, and drinking water sources—through a government app called Maha School GIS 1.0. However, the app is not available on the Google Play Store. Instead, an Android Package Kit (APK) file was circulated by the government for manual installation, prompting serious safety concerns. 'To install the APK, we were asked to allow apps from unknown sources, which compromises the security of our phones,' said a teacher from Thane district. 'The instructions were sent late Friday night via WhatsApp groups run by district education officers, and we were expected to begin work the very next day.' Teachers say the absence of an official government circular and the lack of technical support only worsened the confusion. 'Many of us use the same phones for sensitive work like banking. Why are we being asked to risk our devices for an unofficial app?' asked a teacher from Mumbai. The app requires OTP-based verification through the principal's registered number linked to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), creating further complications for teachers tasked with the on-ground data collection. Several teachers also questioned the need to re-submit infrastructure data, which they said had already been uploaded through the School Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) in recent months. 'This seems like a duplication of effort,' one teacher pointed out. Mahendra Ganpule, former vice-president of the State Principals' Association, criticised the rushed timeline. 'Earlier, GIS reviews were conducted once every three years through physical visits by zonal officers. Now, teachers who are already busy with exam duties, result compilation and mid-day meal reporting are expected to take on this added responsibility at short notice.' He added, 'Why repeat the same process through a privately-developed app without sufficient safeguards, and in such a tight window?' Sachindra Pratap Singh, commissioner, school education department defended the initiative, saying it would help in assessing the ground realities of school infrastructure and planning improvements accordingly. 'Saturday is usually a lighter work day, which is why it was selected,' he said. He further stated that app is using for internal purpose, and it is secured. He also said, 'This information will be helpful to the parents before take admission to their children in the school.'
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TikTok latest updates: Trump says he's 'spoken to many people' about buying the app, will likely decide this month
President Trump told reporters last month that he had "spoken to many people about TikTok and there is great interest" in the app. Trump did not offer any specific names, but said that "numerous people are talking to me, very substantial people, about buying it, and I will make that decision probably over the next 30 days." While signing executive orders on Feb. 3, Trump ordered the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a sovereign wealth fund that he suggested could buy TikTok. TikTok has dominated headlines since April, when then-President Joe Biden signed a law passed by Congress requiring the popular app, which is owned by a Chinese company, to be sold or be banned in the United States. In one of the first official acts of his second term in the White House, Trump signed an executive order delaying for 75 days the enforcement of the planned ban on TikTok — which had been set to take effect on Jan. 19 — and proposed that the U.S. should 'own 50%' of the platform in what he called a 'joint venture.' The Biden administration and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have argued that TikTok's Chinese ownership presents a potential threat to national security, and the Supreme Court agreed, moving to uphold the ban on Jan. 17. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, has said it has no plans to sell TikTok, citing in part the Chinese government's opposition to a sale. However, on Jan. 20, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that the decision 'should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles.' Follow along below for all the latest updates. Days after House lawmakers announced their plan to introduce a bill that would ban DeekSeek's chatbot from government-owned devices, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul banned and removed DeepSeek from state agencies, citing data privacy and censorship concerns, the Wall Street Journal reported. The policy is similar to the one that has been in place for TikTok on all federal government employee devices since 2022. DeepSeek, which is owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, skyrocketed in popularity in January and became the most downloaded consumer AI app in the U.S. In late December 2022, then-President Joe Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act that required all government employees to remove the app from their company phones and personal phones. Concerns were that ByteDance would give user data, such as browsing history and location, to the Chinese government or push misinformation to government officials, the AP reported at the time. Those national security concerns over China's involvement in the app are what eventually fueled the decision to ban the app entirely throughout the United States. Read more about DeepSeek from Yahoo News. Android users in the U.S. can now download the app through the company's Android Package Kit, which is accessible on web browsers, TikTok announced on Feb. 7. TikTok is still unavailable in the Apple App Store and Google Play after it was temporarily banned on Jan. 19. The kit allows users to download the full version of the app or the Lite version, which takes up less storage. The kit does not allow iPhone users to download the app since Apple does not allow app installation outside of its App Store unless you're in the EU. Elon Musk said during an economic summit late last month that he was not interested in buying TikTok. 'I've not put in a bid for TikTok, and I don't have any plans for what would I do if I had TikTok,' Musk said in a video released on Feb. 8 by the Welt Group, which hosted the summit in January. He later said that he doesn't use the platform and isn't familiar with it. 'I do not acquire companies in general, it's quite rare,' he continued, clarifying that his 2022 acquisition of X, formerly known as Twitter, was "unusual." Despite speculation that Musk could be a potential buyer, TikTok in January denied Musk's involvement, calling the reports 'pure fiction.' The parents of four British teenagers who died after participating in viral TikTok trends are suing the app and its parent company, ByteDance, accusing the platform of being responsible for the deaths. Social Media Victims Law Center, a U.S.-based group that files lawsuits against social media companies, filed the wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok on behalf of the children's parents on Feb. 6. The BBC reports the lawsuit alleges that the four teenagers died while attempting the "blackout challenge," a viral dare that challenges viewers to see how long they can hold their breath until they pass out due to lack of oxygen. The complaint claims the children's deaths were "the foreseeable result of ByteDance's engineered addiction-by-design and programming decisions," which were "aimed at pushing children into maximizing their engagement with TikTok by any means necessary." The challenge circulated TikTok in 2022, and in response to legal backlash from parents whose children were impacted, the platform told the Washington Post that it started to block users from searching the hashtag #BlackoutChallenge. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the concept isn't new and variations of the challenge have been around since 1995. Read more about the lawsuit from BBC News. President Trump has reportedly put Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Michael Waltz in charge of overseeing the potential TikTok sale, multiple sources told Punchbowl News and The Hill. If TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, reaches a deal to sell 50% of the app's ownership to a U.S.-based company, it will be allowed to stay active in the States. Vance was a venture capitalist before he was elected to the in 2022 and was involved in investments in platforms like Rumble, a YouTube competitor. President Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments to build the first U.S. sovereign wealth fund that, he said, could "perhaps" buy TikTok. A sovereign wealth fund is a government-owned investment fund that can take stakes in multiple financial assets. Most are in non-Western countries, with the largest in Norway, China, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. However, during the 2024 presidential election, both Trump and then-President Joe Biden expressed interest in establishing one. "I think it's about time that this country had a sovereign wealth fund," Trump said after signing the executive order. "I think in a short period of time, we'd have one of the biggest funds." It is still unclear where the money will come from to start the fund, though Trump has previously suggested it could be funded by "tariffs and other intelligent things," Reuters reported. The sovereign wealth fund will also require Congressional approval before it launches. "TikTok — we're going to be doing something, perhaps, with TikTok, and perhaps not, if we make the right deal we'll do it, otherwise we won't, but I have the right to do that," Trump told reporters. "We might put that in the sovereign wealth fund." President Trump told reporters on Monday that Microsoft is in talks to purchase TikTok and suggested that he would like to see multiple companies compete for the chance to acquire the app. 'I like bidding wars because you make the best deal,' he said. 'So if we have a bidding war, that's a good thing. But we have a lot of interest in it.' Microsoft has not publicly commented on whether it is currently seeking to buy TikTok. The company was one of the top bidders for the app in 2020, during Trump's first term, when he ordered TikTok to separate from ByteDance because of national security concerns. Back in 2021, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called the failed deal the "strangest thing I've ever worked on." Perplexity AI submitted a plan to ByteDance last week that proposed the U.S. government should own up to 50% of a new business that would be a combination of Perplexity and TikTok's U.S. business, the Associated Press reported. Now, the company has formally presented that plan to ByteDance. Perplexity AI is a conversational AI tool with an emphasis on providing proper citations and accurate information. Its CEO, Aravind Srinivas, previously worked at OpenAI and its CTO, Denis Yarats, was an AI research scientist at Meta. According to insiders who spoke to the AP, the Trump administration provided edits and feedback on Perplexity's proposal before it was sent to ByteDance. President Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One about the potential sale of TikTok, as he traveled from Las Vegas to Miami on Jan. 25. "Numerous people are talking to me," Trump said, referring to unspecified parties potentially interested in purchasing the app. "Very substantial people." He added that he expects a decision will be officially made "probably" within "the next 30 days." Despite previous reports that the Trump administration was seriously working with the Oracle Corporation, one of the world's largest software companies and one of the three major backers behind Trump's $500 billion AI infrastructure investment, Trump clarified that he had not spoken directly to Oracle's co-founder and chief technology officer, Larry Ellison. When asked about the TikTok deal at an earlier press conference on Jan. 21, Trump said, referring to Ellison, "I'd like Larry to buy it." President Trump this week questioned the idea that TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance could pose a threat to U.S. national security. In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Jan. 22, Trump asked: 'Is it that important for China to be spying on young people, on young kids, watching crazy videos?' Trump asked. 'They make your telephones and they make your computers and they make a lot of other things. ... Isn't that a bigger threat?' This came days after Trump signed an executive order to pause the social platform's ban for 75 days, saying his administration would figure out 'the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown' of TikTok. In 2020, Trump signed an executive order that warned China could use TikTok to conduct disinformation campaigns, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail and conduct corporate espionage. Many TikTok fans avoided deleting the TikTok app on their phones ahead of the ban on Jan. 19 — even though the app issued pop-up warnings about the shutdown and stopped working for several hours. But it was ultimately a good decision because TikTok quickly began operating in the U.S. again, specifically for people who kept the app. The Apple and Google app stores no longer offer the option to download the app, even if you have an account. Therefore, fans who deleted it in preparation for the ban can no longer access it. It's unclear when TikTok will return to app stores. President Trump on Monday signed an executive order that delays the ban for 75 days. As of Thursday, several used iPhones with the TikTok app are listed for sale on eBay, going for up to $10,000. It is unclear if any of these listings have been successful and sales have been made; eBay did not respond to Yahoo News' request for comment. But eBay's site notes the number of people who have viewed the listing and added it to their shopping cart. Read more about the temporary TikTok ban from Yahoo News: TikTok was officially banned Sunday morning, but did Trump save it? Here's where things stand. Seven families are suing TikTok in France, accusing the platform of failing to moderate harmful content to its young users. Out of the seven families involved in the lawsuit, two families have experienced losing their children to suicide. In its community guidelines, TikTok says it does not allow 'showing, promoting or sharing plans for suicide or self-harm.' 'We care deeply about your well-being and seek to be a source of happiness, enrichment and belonging,' the platform says in its mental and behavioral ealth section. The lawsuit, which was filed in November, alleges that TikTok's algorithm is intentionally trapping vulnerable users in depressing content. Laure Boutron-Marmion, a lawyer representing the families suing TikTok, told the Associated Press that the case is based on 'extensive evidence' and TikTok "can no longer hide behind the claim that it's not their responsibility because they don't create the content.' Read more from AP: Families sue TikTok in France over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content Multiple American companies and entrepreneurs have offered to buy TikTok from ByteDance, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, who in December pulled together a group of investors. One of those investors is Kevin O'Leary, a Shark Tank host, who told Yahoo Finance that the group is 'willing to pay up to $20 billion' for the app. Project Liberty announced last week that it had formally submitted a proposal to ByteDance to buy TikTok. YouTube's famous creator Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, posted on Jan. 15 that he had met with several billionaires and had 'an offer ready' to buy TikTok. He did not share much information about who he was meeting with or what the plan looked like. While it's been reported by other outlets that Donaldson has joined a group with investors to buy TikTok, his spokesman Matthew Hiltzik told Yahoo News that 'while several potential buyers are in ongoing discussions with Jimmy, he has no exclusive agreements with any of them.' Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese government officials allegedly discussed selling TikTok to Elon Musk, who also owns X. Musk has not commented on the reports but has publicly slammed the TikTok ban and said it was 'contrary to freedom of speech and expression.' General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford, who is a board member and one of the major investors in TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance, said at an Axios event in Davos, Switzerland, that he truly believes ByteDance will reach a deal selling TikTok. "We'll get on with it, as soon as maybe the end of the week in terms of negotiating what might work,' Ford said on Jan. 22. 'The Chinese government, the U.S. government and the company and the board all have to be involved in this conversation." Days after House lawmakers announced their plan to introduce a bill that would ban DeekSeek's chatbot from government-owned devices, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul banned and removed DeepSeek from state agencies, citing data privacy and censorship concerns, the Wall Street Journal reported. The policy is similar to the one that has been in place for TikTok on all federal government employee devices since 2022. DeepSeek, which is owned by Chinese hedge fund High-Flyer, skyrocketed in popularity in January and became the most downloaded consumer AI app in the U.S. In late December 2022, then-President Joe Biden signed the No TikTok on Government Devices Act that required all government employees to remove the app from their company phones and personal phones. Concerns were that ByteDance would give user data, such as browsing history and location, to the Chinese government or push misinformation to government officials, the AP reported at the time. Those national security concerns over China's involvement in the app are what eventually fueled the decision to ban the app entirely throughout the United States. Read more about DeepSeek from Yahoo News. Android users in the U.S. can now download the app through the company's Android Package Kit, which is accessible on web browsers, TikTok announced on Feb. 7. TikTok is still unavailable in the Apple App Store and Google Play after it was temporarily banned on Jan. 19. The kit allows users to download the full version of the app or the Lite version, which takes up less storage. The kit does not allow iPhone users to download the app since Apple does not allow app installation outside of its App Store unless you're in the EU. Elon Musk said during an economic summit late last month that he was not interested in buying TikTok. 'I've not put in a bid for TikTok, and I don't have any plans for what would I do if I had TikTok,' Musk said in a video released on Feb. 8 by the Welt Group, which hosted the summit in January. He later said that he doesn't use the platform and isn't familiar with it. 'I do not acquire companies in general, it's quite rare,' he continued, clarifying that his 2022 acquisition of X, formerly known as Twitter, was "unusual." Despite speculation that Musk could be a potential buyer, TikTok in January denied Musk's involvement, calling the reports 'pure fiction.' The parents of four British teenagers who died after participating in viral TikTok trends are suing the app and its parent company, ByteDance, accusing the platform of being responsible for the deaths. Social Media Victims Law Center, a U.S.-based group that files lawsuits against social media companies, filed the wrongful death lawsuit against TikTok on behalf of the children's parents on Feb. 6. The BBC reports the lawsuit alleges that the four teenagers died while attempting the "blackout challenge," a viral dare that challenges viewers to see how long they can hold their breath until they pass out due to lack of oxygen. The complaint claims the children's deaths were "the foreseeable result of ByteDance's engineered addiction-by-design and programming decisions," which were "aimed at pushing children into maximizing their engagement with TikTok by any means necessary." The challenge circulated TikTok in 2022, and in response to legal backlash from parents whose children were impacted, the platform told the Washington Post that it started to block users from searching the hashtag #BlackoutChallenge. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the concept isn't new and variations of the challenge have been around since 1995. Read more about the lawsuit from BBC News. President Trump has reportedly put Vice President JD Vance and national security adviser Michael Waltz in charge of overseeing the potential TikTok sale, multiple sources told Punchbowl News and The Hill. If TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, reaches a deal to sell 50% of the app's ownership to a U.S.-based company, it will be allowed to stay active in the States. Vance was a venture capitalist before he was elected to the in 2022 and was involved in investments in platforms like Rumble, a YouTube competitor. President Trump signed an executive order on Monday directing the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments to build the first U.S. sovereign wealth fund that, he said, could "perhaps" buy TikTok. A sovereign wealth fund is a government-owned investment fund that can take stakes in multiple financial assets. Most are in non-Western countries, with the largest in Norway, China, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. However, during the 2024 presidential election, both Trump and then-President Joe Biden expressed interest in establishing one. "I think it's about time that this country had a sovereign wealth fund," Trump said after signing the executive order. "I think in a short period of time, we'd have one of the biggest funds." It is still unclear where the money will come from to start the fund, though Trump has previously suggested it could be funded by "tariffs and other intelligent things," Reuters reported. The sovereign wealth fund will also require Congressional approval before it launches. "TikTok — we're going to be doing something, perhaps, with TikTok, and perhaps not, if we make the right deal we'll do it, otherwise we won't, but I have the right to do that," Trump told reporters. "We might put that in the sovereign wealth fund." President Trump told reporters on Monday that Microsoft is in talks to purchase TikTok and suggested that he would like to see multiple companies compete for the chance to acquire the app. 'I like bidding wars because you make the best deal,' he said. 'So if we have a bidding war, that's a good thing. But we have a lot of interest in it.' Microsoft has not publicly commented on whether it is currently seeking to buy TikTok. The company was one of the top bidders for the app in 2020, during Trump's first term, when he ordered TikTok to separate from ByteDance because of national security concerns. Back in 2021, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella called the failed deal the "strangest thing I've ever worked on." Perplexity AI submitted a plan to ByteDance last week that proposed the U.S. government should own up to 50% of a new business that would be a combination of Perplexity and TikTok's U.S. business, the Associated Press reported. Now, the company has formally presented that plan to ByteDance. Perplexity AI is a conversational AI tool with an emphasis on providing proper citations and accurate information. Its CEO, Aravind Srinivas, previously worked at OpenAI and its CTO, Denis Yarats, was an AI research scientist at Meta. According to insiders who spoke to the AP, the Trump administration provided edits and feedback on Perplexity's proposal before it was sent to ByteDance. President Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One about the potential sale of TikTok, as he traveled from Las Vegas to Miami on Jan. 25. "Numerous people are talking to me," Trump said, referring to unspecified parties potentially interested in purchasing the app. "Very substantial people." He added that he expects a decision will be officially made "probably" within "the next 30 days." Despite previous reports that the Trump administration was seriously working with the Oracle Corporation, one of the world's largest software companies and one of the three major backers behind Trump's $500 billion AI infrastructure investment, Trump clarified that he had not spoken directly to Oracle's co-founder and chief technology officer, Larry Ellison. When asked about the TikTok deal at an earlier press conference on Jan. 21, Trump said, referring to Ellison, "I'd like Larry to buy it." President Trump this week questioned the idea that TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance could pose a threat to U.S. national security. In an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity on Jan. 22, Trump asked: 'Is it that important for China to be spying on young people, on young kids, watching crazy videos?' Trump asked. 'They make your telephones and they make your computers and they make a lot of other things. ... Isn't that a bigger threat?' This came days after Trump signed an executive order to pause the social platform's ban for 75 days, saying his administration would figure out 'the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown' of TikTok. In 2020, Trump signed an executive order that warned China could use TikTok to conduct disinformation campaigns, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail and conduct corporate espionage. Many TikTok fans avoided deleting the TikTok app on their phones ahead of the ban on Jan. 19 — even though the app issued pop-up warnings about the shutdown and stopped working for several hours. But it was ultimately a good decision because TikTok quickly began operating in the U.S. again, specifically for people who kept the app. The Apple and Google app stores no longer offer the option to download the app, even if you have an account. Therefore, fans who deleted it in preparation for the ban can no longer access it. It's unclear when TikTok will return to app stores. President Trump on Monday signed an executive order that delays the ban for 75 days. As of Thursday, several used iPhones with the TikTok app are listed for sale on eBay, going for up to $10,000. It is unclear if any of these listings have been successful and sales have been made; eBay did not respond to Yahoo News' request for comment. But eBay's site notes the number of people who have viewed the listing and added it to their shopping cart. Read more about the temporary TikTok ban from Yahoo News: TikTok was officially banned Sunday morning, but did Trump save it? Here's where things stand. Seven families are suing TikTok in France, accusing the platform of failing to moderate harmful content to its young users. Out of the seven families involved in the lawsuit, two families have experienced losing their children to suicide. In its community guidelines, TikTok says it does not allow 'showing, promoting or sharing plans for suicide or self-harm.' 'We care deeply about your well-being and seek to be a source of happiness, enrichment and belonging,' the platform says in its mental and behavioral ealth section. The lawsuit, which was filed in November, alleges that TikTok's algorithm is intentionally trapping vulnerable users in depressing content. Laure Boutron-Marmion, a lawyer representing the families suing TikTok, told the Associated Press that the case is based on 'extensive evidence' and TikTok "can no longer hide behind the claim that it's not their responsibility because they don't create the content.' Read more from AP: Families sue TikTok in France over teen suicides they say are linked to harmful content Multiple American companies and entrepreneurs have offered to buy TikTok from ByteDance, including former Los Angeles Dodgers owner and Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, who in December pulled together a group of investors. One of those investors is Kevin O'Leary, a Shark Tank host, who told Yahoo Finance that the group is 'willing to pay up to $20 billion' for the app. Project Liberty announced last week that it had formally submitted a proposal to ByteDance to buy TikTok. YouTube's famous creator Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, posted on Jan. 15 that he had met with several billionaires and had 'an offer ready' to buy TikTok. He did not share much information about who he was meeting with or what the plan looked like. While it's been reported by other outlets that Donaldson has joined a group with investors to buy TikTok, his spokesman Matthew Hiltzik told Yahoo News that 'while several potential buyers are in ongoing discussions with Jimmy, he has no exclusive agreements with any of them.' Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese government officials allegedly discussed selling TikTok to Elon Musk, who also owns X. Musk has not commented on the reports but has publicly slammed the TikTok ban and said it was 'contrary to freedom of speech and expression.' General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford, who is a board member and one of the major investors in TikTok's Chinese parent company ByteDance, said at an Axios event in Davos, Switzerland, that he truly believes ByteDance will reach a deal selling TikTok. "We'll get on with it, as soon as maybe the end of the week in terms of negotiating what might work,' Ford said on Jan. 22. 'The Chinese government, the U.S. government and the company and the board all have to be involved in this conversation."
