Data Breach Roundup (Aug 28 - Sep 3, 2026)
This week saw data breaches from more hospitals, a toy company, an age verification service, an update to a French breach from last year, and more.
Privacy & Security News
RSS Feed • Follow @PrivacyNews@mstdn.plus on Mastodon • Find more news on the forum
Signal Android Beta Has Merged Support for Numberless Accounts, Although It's Not Enabled Yet
Signal has merged numberless accounts into the code as a feature in the upcoming Android beta 8.26, although you can't use it yet.
Google Messages Bug Sends Old Texts to Random People
A bug in Google Messages is causing some people's texts from months or years ago to be sent to random people instead.
Pixel 11 Has Hardware MTE Support, "May Still Be Usable" for GrapheneOS
After GrapheneOS previously hit a roadblock porting to the Pixel 11 due to a missing security feature, they found the hardware does have "at least bare minimum support for MTE."
Router Manufacturer Found With Multiple Backdoors in its Products
Researchers at VulnCheck found multiple backdoors in routers from Chinese manufacturer Zbtlink allowing a remote server root access to the router with no authentication.
GrapheneOS Unable to Complete Pixel 11 Port Due to Cut Security Feature
GrapheneOS has completed a partial port to the new Pixel 11 devices, but they say they're unable to complete it due to Google dropping ARM Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) support.
Data Breach Roundup (August 21 - 27, 2026)
Once again, multiple hospitals have been hit this week, as well as apparel companies, airports, and more.
Windows is Testing New Privacy Protections For Apps
Windows is making new app-level permissions such as location, camera, and microphone available to Windows Insiders users.
WhatsApp Offers Improved Security Features
Meta's end-to-end encrypted messenger remains popular around the world, so it's still a win that they offer additional protections to users.
X.com Sends Privacy Frontend Nitter a Cease and Desist, Permanently Shuts It Down
The popular privacy frontend Nitter has received a cease and desist letter from X Corp demanding a permanent takedown of the project's repository and all instances.
Android Car Head Units Are Getting Hacked Through Their Built-In Updates
Researchers at Securelist discovered a new type of Android malware that infects car infotainment systems without any user interaction using the built-in updater.
Plain English Words Used to Hide Windows Malware
In a currently active malware campaign, hackers are now hiding Windows malware inside lists of plain English words.
Data Breach Roundup (August 14 - 20, 2026)
The CEVA Logistics breach continues to impact companies, a people search site left their databases exposed, and a couple small updates on the scope of previously-disclosed breaches.
Windows Copilot Hacks Itself to Steal Your Data in a Single Click
CoSnitch is a one-click vulnerability discovered by researchers at Varonis Threat Labs and co-discovered by Copilot itself, that allows an attacker to exfiltrate sensitive data using Copilot's access to your computer.
Android Will Allow You to Lock Any App Behind Your Fingerprint or PIN
Android 17 QPR2 Beta 3 adds a native App Lock feature allowing you to lock any app you want behind your biometrics or phone PIN.
Meta Files Patent for Facial Recognition, Automatic Recording of People
Meta filed for a patent that includes a "memory recall" system that appears to detect people via facial recognition and record them automatically, and show you a highlights real later.
Microsoft Making Passkeys the Default for Microsoft Accounts and Phasing Out SMS Authentication
Microsoft says they'll soon stop sending SMS codes for authentication for personal Microsoft accounts and will transition to "passwordless accounts, passkeys, and verified email."
Data Breach Roundup (August 7 - 13, 2026)
A spike in attacks on shipping and logistics companies is likely to result in a lot of exposed data.
Google Announced the Pixel 11 With Their New Titan M3 "Quantum-Safe" Secure Boot
Google announced its new Pixel 11 series of phones that bring with them a big security boost in the form of the new Titan M3 security chip that supports post-quantum cryptography for secure boot.
Nightmare-Eclipse Releases Yet Another Devastating Windows 0-day Vulnerability
The prolific and controversial security researcher who goes by Nightmare-Eclipse released a ninth 0-day vulnerability that allows an attacker to gain SYSTEM level privileges.
Subscribe today!
Privacy Guides is the best place to learn about protecting your digital life. You can get more articles like these, straight to your inbox:
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.