☕️ Computer crisis averted

How one guy prevented a major cyberattack... April 06, 2024 [View Online]( | [Sign Up]( | [Shop]( [Morning Brew]( PRESENTED BY [Boka]( Good morning. Seismic activity will be felt across the US for the second time in three days tomorrow, when Caitlin Clark and Iowa take on undefeated South Carolina in a women’s college basketball championship for the ages. Last night, South Carolina defeated NC State, while Iowa won a thriller against UConn. NC State and UConn are still alive in the men’s tournament, though. In the Final Four tonight, the Wolfpack will face Purdue and the Huskies meet Alabama. —Matty Merritt, Sam Klebanov, Molly Liebergall, Abby Rubenstein, Neal Freyman MARKETS Nasdaq 16,248.52 +1.24% S&P 5,204.34 +1.11% Dow 38,904.04 +0.80% 10-Year 4.378% +6.9 bps Bitcoin $67,792.60 -1.06% Tesla $164.90 -3.63% *Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 3:00am ET. [Here's what these numbers mean.]( - Markets: Stocks pulled it out for a Friday [win]( after the government dropped encouraging economic data. But all three major indexes were still down for the week, with the Dow enduring its worst of 2024. - Stock spotlight: Tesla took a wild ride, plunging after Reuters reported it had scrapped plans to produce its long-awaited Model 2 affordable EV only to regain some ground after Elon Musk denied it. The company then jumped after hours because Musk said it’ll debut a robotaxi on August 8.  TECH [Lone guy thwarted a global cybersecurity attack]( [Red cursor blocked by transparent square in front of Microsoft logo]( Scialabba It’s not often a guy on a computer is the hero of the story. Andres Freund, a Microsoft developer, [found]( a malicious backdoor in popular open-source software last week. Programmers scrambled to fix the problem but warned that if they hadn’t, it could have led to hundreds of millions of compromised devices and a catastrophic cybersecurity breach. Freund [told]( the New York Times that he first noticed an unusual error message while doing routine maintenance on the Linux operating system—a vital software used by banks, governments, and corporations around the globe. At first, he wrote it off, but a few weeks later, he noticed an application used to log into computers remotely was using a lot more power in the system than it was supposed to. A lesson in following your gut To most people, Freund’s observations hardly seem like red flags. But they led the seasoned developer down a rabbit hole, pulling apart every piece of code until he discovered that a bad actor had slyly inserted a backdoor that would allow a hacker to remotely access many of the world’s computers using the software. The (apparent) culprit: Signs point to a user with the pseudonym Jia Tan. Open-source software is primarily maintained by volunteer developers, but it takes a lot of work to become the person who hits the “publish” button. Tan had spent three years working alongside the code’s gatekeepers and gaining their trust. It’s unclear who Tan really is, but cybersecurity experts say that because of the project’s complexity, it’s probably a group of hackers working for an extremely powerful group or even a nation. Big picture: The fact that a handful of overworked volunteer developers is the only thing standing in the way of a potentially devastating attack on global cyber infrastructure is often joked about in the industry—especially with giants like Microsoft making billions building off those same open-source systems.—MM WORLD [Tour de headlines](#) [Sign that says “now hiring”]Francis Scialabba The labor market is still red-hot. The latest report from the Department of Labor [showed]( that the US added 303,000 jobs last month—more than expected. The unemployment rate fell to 3.8% from 3.9% the month before. But this time, the good news didn’t make investors so nervous that it might stop the Fed from cutting rates that stocks fell (they actually went up). Why? The happy update might give Jerome Powell more motivation not to rush into anything but, because the report also found more people joining the workforce and a slowdown in wage growth, it could mean the labor market can grow without spurring more inflation. Israel dismissed two officers as outcry over killing of aid workers grows. Israel’s military released [a statement]( saying its drone attack that killed seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, which prompted calls for a cease-fire, including from President Biden, was a “grave mistake” that stemmed from errors and violations of its own procedures. The military said it would fire two officers and reprimand three others. The aid group, led by celebrity chef José Andrés, continued to call for an independent investigation into the attack. The charity has suspended operations in Gaza, and other aid groups also pulled back in the area in the wake of the attack. McDonald’s is buying back its Israeli franchises. The burger chain said it reached [a deal]( to buy its 225 Israel locations after its franchisee Alonyal’s support of the Israeli military prompted boycotts. The boycotts, which took place around the globe but were particularly large in majority Muslim countries, were a response to the Israel franchise’s decision to give free meals to Israeli soldiers in the early days of the Israel–Hamas war. McDonald’s is not the only global brand to face [backlash]( related to the war: Starbucks has also been the target of pro-Palestinian boycotts. PRESENTED BY BOKA [A non-toxic alternative for kids and kids at heart]( [Boka]( Looking for a kids’ toothpaste that’s safe to swallow AND delicious? Boka’s kids toothpastes are fluoride-free, made with nano-hydroxyapatite, and dentist approved. And with Orange Cream and Watermelon Mint flavors, they taste so good your kids will be begging to brush. P.S. Adults love them too! Boka’s Kids Toothpastes are: - powered by n-Ha, a revolutionary ingredient that remineralizes teeth, mimics tooth composition, and supports overall oral health - fluoride-free, non-toxic, and safe to swallow - made with natural fruit flavors - not training toothpastes; they’re just as efficacious as adult toothpaste - free from endocrine disruptors, parabens, SLS, and artificial flavors Get your little ones into a routine that maintains healthy teeth and gums with 15% off your order on [Amazon]( or [boka.com]( with code MBREWBOKA. INTERNATIONAL TRADE [Janet Yellen tells China’s factories to chill out]( [Janet Yellen]( Pardo/Getty Images Janet Yellen’s current China visit may not involve [magic mushrooms]( but it does have finger-wagging. Between dining with Vice Premier He Lifeng and diplomatizing with other Chinese officials yesterday, the treasury secretary [cautioned]( China against flooding the world with cheap exports. Yellen has long been worried about how China’s intensifying manufacturing binge will affect the US economy and that of countries like Mexico and Japan. - Generous government subsidies allow Chinese producers to beat foreign competitors’ prices, hurting sales for businesses worldwide. - The US is particularly concerned about bargain Chinese solar panels and EVs undermining its own efforts to become a green technology hub. The treasury secretary suggested that China recover from its economic woes by promoting consumer spending domestically instead. Not just words Authorities in several countries from Brazil to the UK are investigating claims that Chinese manufacturers are “dumping,” aka illegally selling goods at a loss to drive competitors out of business. Chinese state media and other critics say that the US should look in the mirror since it’s also subsidizing key industries. China recently filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, claiming American EV subsidies unfairly exclude cars made with Chinese parts. Looking ahead...Yellen said she wouldn’t rule out restricting Chinese imports if her warnings go unheeded.—SK TOGETHER WITH BEAM [Beam]( Treat yourself to better sleep. Beam Dream is [a delicious nighttime hot cocoa]( clinically shown to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed. With all natural ingredients, zero added sugars, and guilt-free flavors like Sea Salt Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter. For the next 24 hours only, [get up to 40% off + a free mystery gift ($60 value)]( with code BREW at checkout. ENTERTAINMENT [Everyone is panicking over this Aussie cartoon’s future]( [Bluey]( Studio, BBC You know you’re getting old when kids’ favorite blue cartoon dog is no longer the one that finds clues—it’s Bluey, the star of the Australian children’s show of the same name that’s built an estimated $2 billion international [empire]( has an unclear path ahead, Bloomberg reported this week. Bluey is kind of like Peppa Pig, except the family members are Australian blue heelers, and the show’s value has risen faster. The company behind Peppa Pig was sold to Hasbro for $4 billion in 2019, 15 years after the show premiered, whereas Bluey has only been around since 2018. It’s a streaming sensation: - Bluey was the second-most streamed show in the US last year, behind Suits. - The show accounted for 29% of all TV views on Disney+ in the final quarter of 2023, according to Circana. Disney is also rumored to be interested in buying the franchise. Its fans (both kids and adults) are devoted. Thanks to the popularity of Bluey-branded toys, tourist attractions, music, and countless other products, BBC Studios—which owns distribution rights outside Australia—is planning to double revenue by 2028. But next season hasn’t been confirmed, leaving fans worried that the Season 3 finale, premiering on April 14, could be the show’s last episode. Looking ahead…BBC Studios is pouring tens of millions of dollars into its search for the next Bluey, the broadcaster [announced]( last month.—ML GRAB BAG [Key performance indicators](#) [A character from Money Heist jumping into a vault onto a pile of cash]Money Heist/Netflix via Giphy Stat: Authorities may want to check whether Danny Ocean has an alibi for Easter Sunday, because that’s when someone stole $30 million in cash from a secure California facility. In one of the largest [cash heists]( in Los Angeles’s history, the burglar(s) somehow managed to get in and out of both the building and its safe undetected: The site operator only discovered the money was missing when they opened the vault. The cash storage facility in suburban Sylmar is operated by the well-regarded private security firm GardaWorld. Quote: “I thought maybe a train was passing by or it was just something that happens at that office, even when the doctor was like, ‘I think this is an earthquake.’ I figured he was messing with me, but he had to stop because everything was shaking.” If they gave out a prize for finding yourself in the most awkward place during [an earthquake]( Justin Allen—who was in the middle of getting a vasectomy when the Northeast [shook]( from New England to NYC to Washington, DC, yesterday—would probably win. Despite freaking out a coast that expects this sort of thing to happen only in California, the 4.8 magnitude quake in Lebanon, New Jersey, didn’t cause much damage. But in addition to pausing Allen’s surgery (he’s recovering well), it also disrupted air travel and made X feel relevant again. Read: Welcome to the age of ultra-nepo babies: Every billionaire under the age of 30 inherited their fortune. ([Fortune]( NEWS [What else is brewing](#) - [The Biden administration]( is preparing to try again to wipe out student loan debt on a large scale, with new proposals expected to be announced on Monday. - [Apple]( is laying off more than 600 employees in California, but they don’t work at its Cupertino headquarters, which suggests they might have worked on its now-scrapped car project. - [Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon]( was found liable for fraud by a New York jury in a civil lawsuit brought by the SEC. The disgraced crypto entrepreneur did not attend the trial, as he’s being detained in Montenegro, where a court is weighing extradition requests from the US and Korea. - [Bronny James]( the son of LeBron James and a USC basketball player who suffered a heart attack, will enter the NBA draft. But it’s not clear where he’ll end up taking his talents, since he plans to keep his college eligibility and enter the transfer portal. - [Walmart shoppers]( who bought weighted groceries or bagged fruit can claim a piece of the $45 million settlement of a lawsuit claiming the chain advertised lower prices than it charged customers. You can learn whether you’re eligible and submit a claim [here](. - [A New York court]( struck down the state’s restrictions on marketing cannabis, finding in favor of the website Leafly. RECS [Saturday To-Do List graphic] Style inspo: Lessons on [how to dress]( from George Costanza. Watch: Our video team asks, “Should politicians be allowed to [trade stocks]( Learn: What happens when a plane gets [struck by lightning]( Get eclipsed: Can’t make it to the path of totality IRL? Watch NASA’s [eclipse livestream]( instead. Arouse the whole you: This FDA-registered [vibrating ring for women]( adjusts to your vulva shape for distributed external stimulation and magnified sensations everywhere you want them. Even better? [Take 25% off today]( *A message from our sponsor. GAMES [The puzzle section](#) Brew crossword: No need to go to Spotify—Mary’s already curated your eclipse playlist in today’s crossword puzzle. [Get your moondance on here](. Open House Welcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that wants everything on stilts. We’ll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price. [North Carolina beach home that has pool in courtyard.]OBAR/Zillow Today’s tall [home]( is in Kitty Hawk, a beach town on that wispy strip of islands, dunes, and shores surrounding North Carolina. The 2,496-square-foot home was built in 2023 and is filled with corny signs you could only find at a coastal TJ Maxx. Amenities include: - 5 beds, 5 baths - Blue roof - Too many beams (a phrase you’ll probably never see again in this newsletter) How much for the Southern getaway? SHARE THE BREW [Share Morning Brew]( with your friends, acquire free Brew swag, and then acquire more friends as a result of your fresh Brew swag. We’re saying we’ll give you free stuff and more friends if you share a link. One link. Your referral count: 0 [Click to Share]( Or copy & paste your referral link to others: [morningbrew.com/daily/r/?kid=4904f90a]( ANSWER $2.95 million Word of the Day Today’s Word of the Day is: wispy, meaning “fine, feathery.” Thanks to Morgan from San Diego for the delicate suggestion. Submit another [Word of the Day here](. Written by [Neal Freyman]( [Abigail Rubenstein]( [Matty Merritt]( Sam Klebanov, and [Molly Liebergall]( Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up [here](. Get smarter in just 5 minutes - Money & Career: [Money With Katie](  [Bossy]( Interested in podcasts? - Check out ours [here]( [ADVERTISE]( // [CAREERS]( // [SHOP]( // [FAQ]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here](. View our privacy policy [here](. Copyright © 2024 Morning Brew. All rights reserved. 22 W 19th St, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011