Tech Times Weekly Recap: Russia-Linked Ransomware Gang Mass-Hacks US Institutions and More

Tech Times never fails to deliver the most important and interesting technological stories that rouse readers' curiosity every week - from the latest trends and cybersecurity topics to technological breakthroughs.

Now, here's a rundown of the most captivating stories from the world of technology from last week:

Applied Materials Sues Chinese-owned Competitor for Stealing Trade Secrets

Leading US supplier of chipmaking equipment Applied Materials has filed a lawsuit against Mattson, a Chinese-owned rival, accusing them of a 14-month-long scheme to steal priceless trade secrets. The complaint clarifies issues with China's attempts to circumvent US restrictions and create its own successful semiconductor sector.

According to Bloomberg, Applied Materials said in court documents that Mattson stole semiconductor equipment designs and poached employees.

The action, which had not previously been publicized, brought attention to the mounting worries over China's attempts to get under US restrictions and establish its top-tier semiconductor sector.

For a year, according to Applied Materials, Mattson recruited 17 of its most senior engineers, including a senior department manager and longtime collaborators, with access to confidential data, including chipmaking procedures and technological roadmaps.

According to the March 2022 filing by Applied Materials, "many" documents include highly secret technical knowledge, such as trade secrets and know-how, that might provide Mattson with a significant competitive advantage in developing its invention.

Mattson, a Fremont, California-based firm owned and controlled by Beijing E-Town Dragon Semiconductor Industry Investment Center, denies the accusations of its rival.

China's Green Light on Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Advances Clean Nuclear Energy

Chinese regulators' approval of the commissioning of the "Thorium Molten Salt Reactor-Liquid Fuel 1" (TMSR-LF1) marks a breakthrough in China's development of clean and effective nuclear energy. The reactor's success shows thorium's potential as a uranium substitute, per Interesting Engineering.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, thorium, an abundantly present silvery element in nature, is gaining attention owing to its benefits over more traditional nuclear fuels like uranium-235.

Russia-Linked Ransomware Gang Lists Victims of Mass-Hacks, Mostly in the United States

Clop, a Russian ransomware organization, has released a list of victims of mass hacking. The organization compromised several prestigious financial institutions, colleges, and businesses by taking advantage of a severe security flaw in MOVEit Transfer, a commonly used corporate file transfer program.

Although the precise number of victims is unknown, the attack's scope shows how urgently cybersecurity measures are required, according to Tech Crunch.

The list, which was made public on Clop's dark web leak website, included well-known banking firms, including 1st Source and First National Bankers Bank, Boston-based investment management company Putnam Investments, Dutch energy giant Landal Greenparks, and UK's Shell.

A non-profit offering benefits, GreenShield Canada, was initially identified as one of the victims of the breach but was later taken off. The attack also affected Datasite, a financial software provider; The National Student Clearinghouse, an educational non-profit; United Healthcare Student Resources, a student health insurance provider; Leggett & Platt, an American manufacturer; ÖKK, a Swiss insurance company; and the University System of Georgia (USG).

Numerous MOVEit servers that can be found, mainly in the US, suggest that additional victims may soon be identified. Clop exploited the MOVEit vulnerability for over two years, according to researchers.