New movements by the cybercriminal group “FamousSparrow,” an APT (prolonged and stealthy cyberattack) where an intruder gains access to a network and remains hidden for a period of time to steal data or spy, have been revealed, reported ESET, a leading company in proactive threat detection. This time, ESET discovered that the group has deployed a new backdoor — hidden code in a program or system that allows unauthorized access and bypasses security — targeting several Latin American countries, at least since August 2025.

“We believe this geographic focus is not accidental and likely reflects China’s response to various recent US initiatives in the region. In fact, Donald Trump’s second presidential term has seen an aggressive reassertion of US interests in Latin America, which puts several strategic investments that China has developed on the continent over the last decade in sectors such as energy, mining, and telecommunications at risk. We suspect that FamousSparrow’s activities aim to help China better monitor and anticipate the reactions of local governments to current US pressure,” commented the ESET research team.

FamousSparrow is a Chinese-linked cyberespionage group believed to have been active since at least 2019. Initially known for targeting hotels worldwide, it has also targeted governments, international organizations, trade associations, engineering firms, and law firms.

Currently, the group appears to be focusing on high-profile targets in Latin America. This trend reportedly began in July 2025 and has continued with the arrival of a new backdoor dubbed SparroWocky by ESET. In fact, between mid-2025 and 2026, 90% of the group’s targets recorded in ESET telemetry were located in the region.

Prolonged and stealthy cyberattack

ESET observed the deployment of the new backdoor against government entities in Argentina, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. This is an unusual case among the Chinese-linked APT groups that the research team had been monitoring, as their operations were typically spread across different regions of the world over extended periods.

While ESET states that it is still unclear whether the group’s apparent focus on Latin America is due to a formal geographic mandate or a temporary priority driven by current geopolitical circumstances, some cases seem to support the latter hypothesis. For example, one of the Panamanian entities identified by ESET as a target is directly involved in the trade dispute surrounding two major ports in the canal area, which until recently were operated by a Chinese-based company.

Given that the concession granted to that company was legally questioned by the Panamanian government at the beginning of 2025, ESET comments that it could be likely that the FamousSparrowgroup operation sought to obtain advance and privileged information about the intentions of local authorities regarding this matter.

Regarding the novelty of this discovery by ESET is the identification of SparroWocky, a new custom backdoor developed in C++, which incorporates more sophisticated evasion techniques to go unnoticed. This backdoor with extensive capabilities manipulates low-level structures in memory and modifies code at runtime to evade detection.

Additionally, it has the ability to load and run Beacon Object Files (BOF), a special type of executable file supported by numerous network teaming and penetration testing tools. The backdoor allows FamousSparrow to have the development capabilities necessary to integrate code from open source projects directly into its own custom backdoor.

ESET invites you to learn more about computer security and this finding by visiting: https://www.welivesecurity.com/es/investigaciones/famoussparrow-america-latina-sparrowocky/.

To obtain other useful preventive data, it is also available in Venezuela: https://www.eset.com/ve/, and its social networks @eset_ve. Also Instagram (@esetla) and Facebook (ESET).

With information and reference images provided by ESET and Comstat Rowland

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The US Federal Reserve decided to raise interest rates to the 3.75 %-4 % range in a scenario characterized by high inflation.

This is the Fed’s first rate hike since July 2013 and one of the most controversial decisions by the new chairman of the agency, Kevin Warsh.

The rate increase could “intensify the differences with President Donald Trump, who has publicly pushed for lower rates.”

BREAKING: The Federal Reserve unanimously raised interest rates by a quarter percentage point and penciled in an additional hike later this year.

Follow our coverage for live updates ⤵️ https://t.co/Ii2fx5RPVG

— Bloomberg (@business) September 16, 2026

Projections point to a further increase before the end of 2026, although indicators such as inflation, employment, consumption, and financial conditions in the coming months will be crucial.

M.Pino

Source: diariobitcoin

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On September 2, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General Licenses 51D, 54C, and 55A, which ease sanctions applied to the coal and minerals industry in Venezuela, including gold.

The licenses pave the way for “international commercial operations, service provision, and investments with state-owned companies such as Carbones del Zulia S.A. (Carbozulia) and CVG Compañía General de Minería de Venezuela C.A. (Minerven) with U.S. entities.”

Specifically, License 51D “authorizes the export, re-export, purchase, sale, transportation, and refining of Venezuelan coal and minerals and stipulates that all monetary payments to blocked individuals or state entities must be deposited in Foreign Government Deposit Funds, preventing the direct transfer of foreign currency without oversight,” and establishes the obligation that any litigation or arbitration be resolved in courts in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, or Singapore.

On the other hand, License 54C allows the provision of “goods, services, technology, software, and preventive maintenance or repair of equipment necessary for mineral exploration and processing in the country.” However, it stipulates that “companies providing these services must submit reports every 90 days to the Department of State and the Department of the Interior detailing the parties involved, volumes, amounts, and taxes paid.”

Finally, LG 55A allows the negotiation and signing of “letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and bid offers for future investments or the creation of joint ventures,” with the essential condition that “the execution of any new project will depend on additional specific authorization or a license from OFAC.”

Among the applicable restrictions are prohibitions aimed at containing the influence of countries it considers non-aligned and untraceable payment schemes. The new licenses prohibit any transaction, joint venture, or refining involving individuals, companies, or governments from Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and China. It also restricts any payments in cryptocurrencies or Venezuelan government tokens (including the Petro), as well as debt swaps or in-kind payments.

M.Pino

Source: contrapunto

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La entrada OFAC issues licenses easing sanctions on Venezuela’s mining sector apareció primero en Bitfinance.

With 370 votes in favor and 48 against, the US House of Representatives passed a resolution on Tuesday, September 1st, to extend the federal budget, effective from September 30th to December 11th.

This extension, which had already been approved by the Senate in August, prevented a government shutdown before the November 3rd midterm elections and its consequences for the country, such as the suspension of salaries for thousands of federal workers and the closure of numerous agencies nationwide, among others.

As you may recall, in 2025 the longest government shutdown in U.S. history occurred, lasting 43 days, due to the lack of agreement between Republicans and Democrats to extend subsidies for health plans under the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.

Members of Congress appear to be taking more cautious measures given the approaching midterm elections, which will determine the Republican majority in Congress, a majority that supports the Trump administration’s agenda.

M.Pino

Source: swissinfo

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The Chinese company Huawei and the US company HP signed a multi-year global cross-licensing agreement for WiFi technology standards.

According to the statement released last Wednesday, “the agreement will allow HP, a computer company based in Palo Alto, California, to use certain Huawei patents related to WiFi in its computers and peripherals, while the Chinese technology company will in turn obtain rights to patents from the US company,” according to a statement from the Chinese company.

The two companies have joined forces in a patent licensing agreement covering essential standards for Wi-Fi technology, used throughout the industry and particularly by companies whose products connect to these types of networks.

 “Huawei is among the largest international patent applicants, standing out as the top applicant in 2025, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), along with South Korean companies Samsung and LG. These three companies filed the most applications last year with the European Patent Office (EPO).”

Furthermore, it maintains bilateral agreements and participates in patent pools to license mobile communications, Wi-Fi, and audio and video encoding technologies. In this regard, it currently holds 165,000 active patents granted worldwide, according to internal sources.

M.Pino

Source: intereconomia

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La entrada Huawei and HP sign WiFi patent licensing agreement apareció primero en Bitfinance.

The BankChain Alliance, formed by 39 banking associations in the United States, is scheduled to launch in 2027. They aim to give the industry its own blockchain network to establish smart payments, tokenized deposits, and stablecoin transactions.

The BankChain Alliance is “an industry-owned, industry-designed, and industry-governed network,” operating within the regulated sphere of national banking. Kathy Kraninger, CEO of the Florida Bankers Association, was selected to lead the project.

The official described it as “a secure and regulated network for banks of all sizes, including those in rural communities.”

Currently, there is no technology partner, so the changes have not yet been described. In any case, it is expected that BankChain Alliance will be able to operate with other blockchain systems.

“If the project moves forward, the competition will not only be between crypto companies and banks, but also between banking rails for tokenized money and public networks.Until there is a technology partner, a pilot program, or a concrete implementation, BankChain remains a project under development, although the announcement shows that traditional banking is looking to take a more active role in blockchain-based financial infrastructure.”

M.Pino

Source: cripto247

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The governments of Venezuela and the United States announced on Friday, August 28, the signing of a historic agreement for the United States to control 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan crude oil reserves for 25 years, as clarified by interim president Delcy Rodríguez this weekend.

.@POTUS: “Última hora: ¡Los Estados Unidos de América acaba de llegar a un acuerdo con Venezuela, el mayor acuerdo petrolero de la historia mundial! Bajo mis instrucciones, @SecRubio y @SecWar, trabajando estrechamente con la muy respetada Presidenta Interina de Venezuela, Delcy… https://t.co/TzrlvimgQv

— Embajada de los EE.UU. en Caracas (@usembassyve) August 28, 2026

The announcement has generated strong criticism and opposing opinions, leading some to believe that the agreement is a new strategy by Donald Trump to gain majority control of Venezuela’s oil reserves.

On the other hand, speculation regarding the real benefits of these revenues for the average citizen has been swift.

In any case, Venezuela maintains that this agreement aims to boost investment and promote the recovery of the oil industry.

According to Rodríguez, “the agreement will bring investments of more than $100 billion, as well as tax revenue for the Venezuelan state of approximately $209 billion.”

Although the interim president insists that “Venezuela retains ownership and sovereignty over its resources,” Trump made it clear that his administration will control 50% of a joint venture that will be formed after the agreement is signed.

M.Pino

Source: BBC

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Last week, Meta agreed to pay $18 billion to settle a lawsuit filed by 29 state attorneys general in the United States, who accused the platform of maintaining an addictive design harmful to children and young people on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Brussels is demanding that the protection offered by the tech company be permanent.

The European Commission stated this on Thursday, August 27, urging Meta to “offer permanent commitments to protect minors in the European Union (EU), unlike the settlement reached this week by the company in the United States, which provides protections limited in time.”

The Commission indicated that Meta must respect regional legislation. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnie said, regarding the agreement reached by Mark Zuckerberg’s company last week, that there is nothing new, ongoing dialogue is being maintained, and that “Brussels seeks to guarantee at least an equivalent level of protection for European minors” after it was concluded that social networks like Facebook and Instagram are addictive and violate the Digital Services Act (DSA).

The official insisted that risk mitigation measures, as established by the DSA, must be taken, and that prescriptive measures like those in the United States should not be the only option.

M.Pino

Source: swissinfo

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Japan announced on Wednesday, August 26, a plan to diversify its crude oil sources in order to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. The plan includes working with Middle Eastern countries to build pipelines.

According to the Nikkei business daily, “the energy measures include subsidies for companies that purchase crude oil and refined products such as naphtha without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, to offset the increased transportation costs.”

The Japanese government’s search makes more sense than ever, considering that 90 % of its crude oil imports come from the Middle East.

In this regard, the archipelago is currently exploring alternative routes to obtain crude oil, including loading tankers at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or the port of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, as well as considering other sources such as the United States, Algeria, and Peru.

“Under the direction of the state-owned Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), the plan also includes undisclosed financial aid to fund the construction of pipelines in the Middle East.”

M.Pino

Source: swissinfo

(Reference image source: Jason Rost on Unsplash)

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La entrada Japan to seek other crude oil suppliers apareció primero en Bitfinance.

A new rule approved on August 14 by the US Treasury Department permanently exempts US companies and citizens from reporting beneficial ownership, as required by the Corporate Transparency Act.

The measure, which also includes the deletion of previously submitted data, maintains obligations for foreign companies registered to operate in the country.

With the approval of this regulation, the deletion of previously submitted data on US citizens is expected. On the other hand, the requirement remains in place for foreign companies to register to do business in the United States, subject to disclosure to FinCEN.

The decision reduces the domestic scope of one of the broadest corporate disclosure rules recently passed in the United States. However, it “does not completely eliminate the transparency regime, because companies formed under foreign laws that register to operate in the country will retain their reporting obligations to FinCEN.”

Under the new legal tool, the concept of “reporting company” is redefined to exclude any entity formed under U.S. state or tribal law.

M.Pino

Source: diariobitcoin

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