France’s National Agency for Security of Information Systems has issued an urgent warning about sophisticated spyware attacks targeting high-profile iPhone users. The agency specifically named surveillance tools like “Pegasus, Predator, Graphite, and Triangulation” as threats aimed at journalists, lawyers, activists, and politicians, describing them as “particularly sophisticated and difficult to detect.”

On September 3, Apple sent threat notifications to affected iPhone users, though the company did not disclose how many individuals received these alerts. In its statement, Apple emphasized the severity of these threats, saying, “The extreme cost, sophistication, and worldwide nature of mercenary spyware attacks makes them some of the most advanced digital threats in existence today.”

Apple explained that these attacks represent highly funded operations that continually evolve, making detection challenging. The company noted that their threat notifications are “high-confidence alerts that a user has been individually targeted” and should be taken seriously. Apple also warned users about verification, stating that legitimate notifications will never request clicking links, installing apps, or providing passwords, and can be verified by signing into account.apple.com.

Previously:
• FTC settles with Lenovo over selling laptops deliberately infected with Superfish spyware
• Israeli spyware firm NSO Group ‘re-acquired’ by founders
• Investigators into mass murder of Mexican student teachers were attacked with NSO’s government spyware

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A recent blog post from the European Central Bank (ECB) raised alarms about the implications of the US dollar’s dominance in the stablecoin market, especially in light of President Donald Trump’s recent signing of the GENIUS Act into law.

This trend could allegedly lead to increased borrowing costs for European nations, diminish the autonomy of the European Central Bank, and deepen geopolitical dependence on the United States. 

European Union Urged To Fast-Track Digital Euro

The ECB’s adviser, Jürgen Schaaf, claimed that the strategic advantages afforded to the US through its “stablecoin dominance” could allow it to finance its debt more cheaply while extending its global influence.

The post emphasizes the potential consequences for Europe, warning that reliance on dollar-based stablecoins for payments and savings could undermine the ECB’s control over monetary policy. 

According to Reuters, the market for euro-denominated stablecoins is currently minimal, with a market capitalization of less than 350 million euros, compared to similar cryptocurrencies from companies like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC). 

In light of this competitive landscape, the ECB’s adviser urged the European Union to accelerate the development of a digital euro and encourage the creation of more euro-based stablecoins.

Amid these tensions, the recently enacted GENIUS Act in the US has ignited fresh interest among traditional finance firms in dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies. 

Wall Street Giants Explore Opportunities In Stablecoins

Interactive Brokers Group, a brokerage firm with a market capitalization of around $110 billion, is reportedly considering launching its own stablecoin. 

The firm’s founder, Thomas Peterffy, indicated that while they are still evaluating how to implement these assets for customers, they recognize the transformative potential of blockchain technology in the broader financial landscape.

Interactive Brokers has already established partnerships with crypto platforms like Paxos and is an investor in crypto exchange Zero Hash, enabling it to offer trading in various cryptocurrencies. The firm is now focused on creating a system for instant, 24/7 stablecoin funding for brokerage accounts. 

However, Peterffy also expressed caution about the rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies, noting, “It’s basically hard to grasp its fundamental value.” He emphasized that while he is open to the idea of stablecoins, he remains skeptical about their intrinsic worth.

In a parallel development, Robinhood has launched its own stablecoin, the Global Dollar Network, in collaboration with other crypto platforms such as Kraken and Galaxy Digital. 

This stablecoin, issued by Paxos, is pegged to the US dollar and aims to facilitate transactions without the need for traditional banking systems. Similarly, asset manager and crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) issuer WisdomTree recently unveiled its own stablecoin, USDW.

These developments are part of the progressive steps being taken in the US toward a more accommodative digital asset environment. Wall Street firms like JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs are also exploring the potential of these assets for their operations. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

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JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and TD Bank are disclosing data breaches that are placing some customers’ accounts and personal information at risk.

In new filings with the Massachusetts state government, Chase says at least four customers in the state are affected by multiple breaches.

In two incidents, Chase says employees improperly accessed customers’ credit and debit card information and triggered fraudulent transactions, prompting the bank to close the affected cards, issue replacements, and reimburse the customers.

In the other two incidents, the bank says it mistakenly posted transaction details, including names, addresses, account numbers, and transaction amounts, to other customers’ accounts. At this point, no misuse due to those errors has been detected.

Meanwhile, Bank of America says documentation relating to at least one customer’s savings bonds was lost in transit on February 14th.

Attempts to recover the documentation, according to the North Carolina-based lender, have proved unsuccessful.

“According to our records, the information involved in this incident was related to your Savings Bonds and included your first and last name, address, Social Security number, and account number.”

The lender says it is monitoring the customer’s banking account for any suspicious activity and is committed to resolving any unauthorized transactions.

Lastly, TD Bank says a former employee improperly accessed a customer’s personal information between December of 2024 and January of 2025.

The information may have included the customer’s name, address, phone number, social security number, account number, and transactional data.

TD Bank says it’s monitoring the account for fraud and is offering the customer a complimentary two year membership to an identity theft protection and recovery service.

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A US bank is warning thousands of customers that their sensitive information may be at risk following an “administrative error.”

In a new filing with the Office of the Maine Attorney General, Bluestone Bank says an error in late February led to the unauthorized disclosure of personal data belonging to 7,605 customers.

According to the Bridgewater, Massachusetts-headquartered bank, personal and confidential information belonging to its customers was inadvertently sent to an unintended recipient on February 28th of this year.

“The personal information that may have been accessed includes the data we have on file for you, such as your name, address, social security number, and account number(s).”

Bluestone Bank says it has taken various steps to minimize the risk of potential harm to customers.

“The individual who received the information has signed a Certificate of Destruction, confirming that all information was promptly and securely destroyed and no information was retained…

We have further addressed this incident by reinforcing proper data handling procedures and mandating retraining on the appropriate management of customer data. In addition, we have evaluated and enhanced our existing protocols and controls to ensure this will not happen again.”

To prevent possible misuse of personal information following the incident, Bluestone Bank is offering its customers a complimentary membership to an identity-monitoring service for one and a half years.

Customers also have the choice of closing and reopening their bank accounts as a safety precaution.

Bluestone Bank had $1.5 billion in total assets as of November of 2024.

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Several Wall Street banks including JPMorgan Chase are abruptly changing their forecasts for the US stock market.

JPMorgan Chase’s head of global market intelligence Andrew Tyler says the lender’s trading desk is flipping short-term bearish on the stock market amid a deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop, reports Bloomberg.

All in all, the US stock market has wiped out $3.4 trillion this year, giving up all of the gains witnessed since Trump won the election in November.

Tyler’s team sees President Donald Trump’s trade war as a headwind that could limit the US economy’s growth.

“With this in mind, we are changing our view to tactically bearish… Given the uncertainty, positioning, and potential for a negative feedback loop to push people to using the recession playbook, we think the bearish position makes the most sense.” 

Earlier this week, Trump imposed 25% tariffs against both Canada and Mexico, leading to a 500-point drop in the Dow, alongside small drops in the Nasdaq and S&P 500.

As the equity market retreats, Goldman Sachs analyst David Kostin says in an investor note that equity valuations are not yet low enough to trigger a significant bounce. He also believes that the stock market will only regain bullish momentum if the US economy begins to show signs of strength.

“An improvement in the US economic growth outlook will be required to fully reverse the recent equity market weakness.”

On his forecast for stocks this year, Kostin says,

“Equity returns will be more modest than last year and match the trajectory of earnings growth.”

Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley believes that the stock market will see “muted” gains this year. Andrew Slimmon, the firm’s head of applied equity advisors team, says stocks have been in a bull market since 2023, leading to concerns that the market may be overvalued.

Slimmon also says that the third year of an equities bull market typically prints mediocre gains on average based on historical data.

“With enough negatives out there, including higher-for-longer interest rates and geopolitical noise, to cause a subpar year, the recently minted optimists could revert to being skeptics, only to have the market roar again in 2026. In that case, 2025 could be more of a pause year than anything more sinister.”

Last year, all three firms predicted that the S&P 500 would soar to greater heights this year, believing that a Trump presidency would create a favorable macroeconomic environment. JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley predicted that the S&P 500 will reach a new all-time high of 6,500 points in 2025.

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