First Apple-notarized porn app available to iPhone users in Europe - Related to blood, giant, tata, app, donation

First Apple-notarized porn app available to iPhone users in Europe

enhancement: Added statement from Apple below.

The first Apple-notarized porn app, "Hot Tub," is now available to iPhone people in Europe through the alternative app marketplace, AltStore PAL.

Apple does not allow pornographic or adult content apps on the official Apple App Store. However, to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is now required as a "gatekeeper" to allow sideloading of apps through third-party app platforms, which can offer these types of apps.

AltStore PAL launched in April 2024 and is an alternative app marketplace for iOS consumers in the EU, initially created to distribute the founder's Delta Nintendo emulator and the Clip clipboard manager for iOS.

The platform allows customers in the EU to install apps not available on Apple's official App Store, including those that may not meet Apple's content guidelines, such as adult content.

Today, AltStore revealed that they are now distributing the first Apple-Notarized porn app called "Hot Tub," which was developed by c1d3r.

"iPhone turns 18 this year, which means it's finally old enough for some more ~mature~ apps…," reads a post on Threads.

"Introducing Hot Tub by c1d3r, the world's 1st Apple-approved porn app! Try it now exclusively on AltStore PAL — just in time for the season of love."

The app is described as an ad-free "adult content browser" and has successfully passed Apple's notarization process, which reviews apps for security and privacy risks before they can be installed on iOS devices.

While the Hot Tub app has passed this process and thus is allowed to be installed on Apple devices, it does not mean Apple has approved it for its own app store.

For those looking to install the app, it is not visible by default in the AltStore PAL app store.

"Hot Tub is NOT visible in AltStore PAL by default, and it is not a Recommended Source," explains AltStore.

"You must explicitly add its source before it will appear in AltStore PAL — just like the majority of AltStore apps. This means you'll only see it if you want to."

As part of the app's launch, AltStore PAL says it will be donating all of its Patreon earnings to organizations supporting sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community.

Apple shared the following statement about the release of the "Hot Tub" app on the AltStore PAL.

“We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU people, especially kids," Apple told BleepingComputer.

"This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world."

"Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store. The truth is that we are required by the European Commission to allow it to be distributed by marketplace operators like AltStore and Epic who may not share our concerns for user safety.”.

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Indian tech giant Tata Technologies hit by ransomware attack

Tata Technologies Ltd. had to suspend some of its IT services following a ransomware attack that impacted the business network.

A subsidiary of Tata Motors, Tata Technologies is an Indian public multinational tech firm that focuses on automotive design, aerospace engineering, and R&D engineering in general.

It is one of India’s key tech developers and state project contractors, employs over 11,000 people, has an annual revenue of $600 million, and operates 18 locations in India, North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

The enterprise says in a notification today to India's national stock exchange that the ransomware attack that has temporarily affected IT assets that now have been restored.

Client delivery services remained fully operational through the cyberattack, though, causing no impact on customer operations.

“This is to inform you that the corporation has become aware of a ransomware incident that has affected a few of our IT assets,” reads the public notice.

“As a precautionary measure, some of the IT services were suspended temporarily and have now been restored. Our Client delivery services have remained fully functional and unaffected throughout.” the organization reports.

A detailed investigation is underway in collaboration with cybersecurity experts, and more details will be disclosed when available.

At the time of writing, no major ransomware groups have claimed the attack on Tata Technologies. It is also unclear if the attacker managed to steal any data from the business.

Ransomware attacks, even if caught before the encryption stage, typically involve data theft. In the case of tech firms, such incidents could result in corporate, confidential data being exposed, which could cause damage to their intellectual property and technological portfolio.

In October 2022, the now-defunct Hive ransomware group claimed an attack against Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power corporation.

The threat actor stole and leaked data on its extortion portal on the dark web, including engineering schematics, financial and banking records, as well as personal client information.

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Ransomware attack disrupts New York blood donation giant

​The New York Blood Center (NYBC), one of the world's largest independent blood collection and distribution organizations, says a Sunday ransomware attack forced it to reschedule some appointments.

NYBC collects almost 4,000 units of blood products every day and serves more than 75 million people in more than a dozen states. It also provides transfusion-related medical services to over 500 hospitals nationwide.

On Wednesday, NYBC stated it detected the attack after noticing suspicious activity on its IT systems over the weekend, on January 26.

"We immediately engaged third-party cybersecurity experts to investigate. This investigation has confirmed that the suspicious activity is a result of a ransomware incident," NYBC expressed in a Wednesday statement. 'We took immediate steps to help contain the threat, including taking certain systems offline. We are working diligently with these experts to restore our systems as quickly and as safely as possible."

However, the organization still accepts donations but warned that some might have to be rescheduled. NYBC added that it already had to cancel some blood donor appointments and blood drives following the attack because of ongoing disruptions to its operations.

The attack came days after NYBC introduced a blood emergency after a nearly 30% drop in blood donations that led to 6,500 fewer donations and "crippled the region's blood supply."

The blood center has yet to disclose whether the attackers stole or accessed donors' personal and health information. While no ransomware operation has claimed the attack until now, the vast majority of ransomware gangs also steal sensitive information from victims' compromised systems before encryption and use it as leverage for extortion.

"We understand the critical nature of our services, and the health of our communities remains our top priority," NYBC added on Wednesday. "We remain in direct communication with our hospital partners and are implementing workarounds to help restore services and fulfill orders."

Earlier this month, major blood-donation non-profit organization OneBlood also notified an undisclosed number of donors that their personal information was stolen in a ransomware attack last summer.

London hospitals also faced blood shortages in early June 2024 after pathology provider Synnovis was hit by a ransomware attack linked to the Qilin (Agenda) Russian cybercrime group. Following the incident, England's NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) urgently called for universal blood donors to book appointments.

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