A report published on March 30, 2026, highlights the rising threat of webcam hacking in Bangladesh, where cybercriminals secretly gain access to laptop cameras through phishing links, fake software, or malware. Once inside, they can record videos, capture screens, or steal personal data without the user’s knowledge. The article warns that this invisible surveillance is becoming increasingly common, particularly among young users who rely on free or cracked software and often ignore basic cybersecurity practices.

The report explains that signs of hacking—such as sudden webcam light activation or slow device performance—may not always be visible, as skilled hackers can conceal their activities. To stay protected, users are advised to cover webcams when not in use, keep operating systems and antivirus software updated, avoid suspicious links, and refrain from using pirated software. Regularly checking app permissions and using strong, unique passwords are also recommended.

Experts cited in the article emphasize that awareness, not fear, is the key to safety. They stress that technology itself is not dangerous, but careless use can make it risky.

Bangladesh Bank has introduced a new policy titled “Cybersecurity Framework, Version 1.0 (2026)” to address growing cyber risks in the country’s financial sector. The framework, issued on Sunday, requires all scheduled banks, financial institutions, mobile financial service providers, payment service providers, and payment system operators to fully implement the guidelines by December 31, 2026. The central bank stated that the expansion of online services, digital platforms, and interconnected networks has increased both efficiency and cyber threats.

According to the circular, cyberattacks such as hacking, phishing, malware, ransomware, and data theft pose significant risks of financial loss, reputational damage, and service disruption. The framework emphasizes safeguarding customer data, ensuring system integrity, and maintaining technological resilience. It includes provisions on governance, risk management, data protection, network security, access control, incident management, third-party risk, compliance, and staff training.

The framework sets minimum cybersecurity standards for financial institutions, aiming to strengthen resilience and protect sensitive information. Institutions are instructed to adopt effective risk management strategies, conduct regular monitoring, and promote awareness through training programs.

A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and Alphabet’s Google liable for $3 million in damages in a landmark social media addiction case. The verdict, delivered after more than 40 hours of deliberation, held the companies responsible for the addictive design of their platforms. The plaintiff, a 20-year-old identified as Kaley, said she became addicted to YouTube and Instagram at a young age, worsening her mental health. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified during the trial, while YouTube’s chief executive did not.

Kaley’s legal team argued that features such as notifications and autoplay were intentionally designed to hook young users. Jurors were instructed not to consider user-generated content due to Section 230 protections. Meta maintained that Kaley’s mental health issues stemmed from other causes, while Google argued YouTube is a video platform, not social media. Google said it disagreed with the verdict and planned to appeal. Snap and TikTok had previously settled with the plaintiff before the trial.

Legal experts said the decision could shape future litigation against social media companies, with additional bellwether trials and a federal case scheduled later this year.

The Babylon.js team has announced the release of Babylon.js 9.0, described as its most feature-rich and powerful update yet. The new version introduces a range of enhancements aimed at improving performance, visual fidelity, and creative flexibility for web-based 3D rendering. Key additions include a Clustered Lighting system for faster multi-light scenes, emission texture support for area lights, and a new Node Particle Editor that allows visual creation of complex particle systems. The update also debuts Flow Maps, gravity attractors, and a Volumetric Lighting system for realistic atmospheric effects.

Further advancements include the full release of the Frame Graph system, which provides fine-grained control over the rendering pipeline and significant GPU memory savings. Babylon.js 9.0 also adds animation retargeting, enabling animations to be shared across characters with different skeletons, and extends Gaussian Splatting capabilities with new file formats, shadow support, and composable volumetric scenes. The developers expressed gratitude to the community and contributors for their ongoing support.

The release marks a major step toward Babylon.js’s mission to deliver an open, high-performance web rendering engine that empowers developers to create immersive, next-generation experiences.

Iranian hackers have breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, according to a statement confirmed by FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson. The hackers reportedly accessed and released photos and information dating from 2011 to 2022, including personal, business, and travel-related materials. Williamson stated that the FBI has taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks and confirmed that no government information was compromised.

The cyberattack has been attributed to a group known as the Handala Hack Team, which claimed responsibility for the breach. The group said Patel would now find his own name among the list of hacking victims. Earlier this month, the same group allegedly carried out a cyberattack that disrupted operations at a major U.S. medical equipment manufacturer.

The incident underscores ongoing cybersecurity threats targeting high-profile U.S. officials and institutions, though the FBI emphasized that the breach involved only personal data and posed no direct threat to government systems.

A new digital platform called the 'Live Fuel Monitoring System' has been launched in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, to reduce public inconvenience caused by fuel supply shortages. Through this system, users can check via smartphone which fuel stations currently have supplies, where deliveries are ongoing, and the latest stock status. The initiative aims to save time and effort for residents who previously had to wait in long lines or return empty-handed.

According to the Fatikchhari Upazila administration, the system will enhance transparency and discipline in fuel management while improving public service efficiency. The platform was voluntarily developed by local technology entrepreneur Injamam Apu (Space Kahaf) with technical support from Fatikchhari Dot Com. Upazila Executive Officer Said Mohammad Ibrahim described the system as an easy and effective service that strengthens accountability and modernizes local service delivery.

Users can access the platform through a designated website on their smartphones to view real-time information on fuel availability, delivery schedules, and stock conditions across different pumps in Fatikchhari.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Railways, Habibur Rashid, has acknowledged flaws and weaknesses in the railway’s online ticketing system that have allowed a group to sell tickets at inflated prices. Speaking to reporters during a visit to Chattogram Railway Station on Friday morning, he said software limitations were causing tickets to sell out quickly, after which they were being resold at higher prices. The ministry has already held several meetings to address the issue and is working to make the system more transparent and efficient.

The minister stated that instructions have been given to improve the software and strengthen monitoring to prevent black marketing and irregularities, ensuring passengers can easily obtain tickets. He also mentioned that preparations are underway to introduce Wi-Fi service on three trains on a trial basis, with plans to expand it gradually if successful.

According to the minister, these initiatives are part of the government’s broader effort to modernize railway services, making them more accessible, affordable, and passenger-friendly for the general public.

Brazil has implemented new regulations restricting minors' access to social media, effective from Tuesday. The rules aim to protect children and teenagers from exposure to violent and illegal content. The law, passed last year following a scandal involving the sexual exploitation of minors on Instagram, is now being enforced across the country.

Under the new system, users under 16 must link their accounts to those of their legal guardians, and digital platforms are required to introduce effective age verification mechanisms to prevent users under 18 from accessing pornographic or violent material. The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) will oversee enforcement, with its director Iage Miola confirming that self-declaration of age is now prohibited. Companies violating the law could face fines of up to nine million US dollars, account suspensions, or bans for repeated offenses.

A transition period has begun to clarify the technical aspects of implementation. Experts note that Brazil’s approach extends beyond social media to broader internet regulation, setting it apart from other countries’ measures.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced that it has confiscated hundreds of Starlink systems capable of connecting to the internet via satellite networks. According to the ministry, the devices were illegally brought into the country by the United States and Israel. The announcement was reported by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency.

The ministry stated that the search for illegal Starlink systems will continue until all satellite internet terminals serving what it called “enemy services” are fully identified. It further declared that possessing or using Starlink systems constitutes a crime that could warrant the “harshest punishment” during wartime, particularly for individuals linked to or working on behalf of hostile entities.

The statement underscores Iran’s ongoing efforts to control access to foreign communication technologies and to prevent what it describes as external interference through satellite-based internet systems.

Iranian authorities have arrested a 37-year-old man accused of selling internet access through Starlink terminals, according to the state news agency ISNA. The man was detained in the city of Shiraz and allegedly built a network across several provinces to provide unrestricted internet connections using Starlink equipment. Officials did not disclose the exact date of the arrest.

The report noted that Iran has faced near-total internet blackouts since the start of the current conflict, prompting many citizens to seek alternative access through SpaceX’s Starlink service. However, the use of Starlink in Iran is officially banned, and such activities are treated as criminal offenses.

Earlier in January, following anti-government protests, Iranian authorities imposed an 18-day nationwide internet shutdown, reflecting the government’s continued control over online communications.

An Iran-affiliated hacking group named Handala has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on the US medical technology company Stryker. The group announced on Wednesday that it stole 50 terabytes of data as retaliation for a military strike in Iran. According to AFP, Handala said the operation was carried out in response to an attack on Iran’s Minab School that killed at least 150 people and as a counter to ongoing cyberattacks on Tehran-backed groups.

Stryker confirmed that the incident caused a global network disruption in its Microsoft environment but reported no evidence of ransomware or malware, stating that the situation was under control. The group warned Israeli leaders and lobbyists that this marks the beginning of a new chapter in cyber warfare. Handala, named after a Palestinian symbol, has recently claimed attacks on companies in Israel and the Gulf region.

Cyber intelligence experts and reports cited in the source describe Handala as one of the most notorious Iran-linked hacking groups, known for data theft and spreading fear and uncertainty.

Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC, a state-owned company under the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, has announced two special incentive packages to make international bandwidth use more affordable. The initiative, effective from March 10, 2026, aims to support the government’s election pledge of ensuring fast and reliable internet for all. Internet service providers (ISPs), international internet gateways (IIGs), and telecom operators will benefit from reduced costs when purchasing new bandwidth capacity.

Under the first package, customers purchasing new IPLC capacity on the SEA-ME-WE-4 Cox’s Bazar–Singapore route will receive bonus capacity—such as 100G free for every 200G purchased or an additional 10G for each 10G bought. Customers with outstanding dues can also qualify if they submit post-dated checks with a repayment schedule within 2026. The offer applies only to new capacity purchases on a first-come, first-served basis.

The second package, effective April 1, 2026, offers up to 70% free limited destination bandwidth for prepaid customers with zero dues under the company’s IP transit service. The company expects these incentives to lower bandwidth prices below Tk 90 per megabit and support the growth of a knowledge-based digital economy.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan has said that achieving a global standard in information sharing is essential for delivering modern government services. He stated that such progress would allow talent to flourish even at the village level. The minister made these remarks on Friday while addressing an iftar gathering organized by the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli was also present.

Swapan noted that information sharing currently operates through a hybrid system and that in today’s device-based society, the exchange of information has become much more extensive. He emphasized the need for regular consultations with journalists to address issues facing the media sector.

The minister added that solving media-related problems requires a proper understanding of their structure, comparing it to diagnosing and treating an illness. He urged journalists to submit specific proposals to help resolve their professional challenges.

Global digital operator VEON Limited has partnered with the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation to jointly finance innovative digital projects in Bangladesh and Pakistan. The agreement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed during the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Present at the signing were GSMA’s Chief Regulatory Officer and Foundation President John Giusti, Jazz CEO Amir Ibrahim, and Banglalink CEO Erik Aas.

Under the agreement, Jazz and Banglalink will co-finance selected Bangladeshi and Pakistani startups during the 2026 funding round. In addition to financial support, VEON and its subsidiaries will contribute to ecosystem development and capacity building, enabling selected ventures to expand more rapidly.

The GSMA Innovation Fund identifies and supports startups in developing countries that address socioeconomic and environmental challenges. Projects are selected through a transparent and competitive process following each funding round announcement, with final selections made after rigorous evaluation by the GSMA Mobile for Development Foundation.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to introduce a mobile application called 'Nagarik Seba' aimed at addressing urban issues faced by city residents. According to an invitation letter from the party’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit, the app will allow users to report problems such as mosquito infestations, waterlogging, garbage accumulation, and damaged roads in their local areas. The launch event is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, at 11 a.m. at a residence on Progoti Sarani’s main road in Dhaka’s J Block, Bajidhara.

The initiative is being organized by Jamaat’s Dhaka Metropolitan North division, with its Ameer, Mohammad Selim Uddin, expected to inaugurate the app. The invitation stated that a dedicated team will work to resolve reported issues promptly through the app. The announcement highlights Jamaat’s effort to engage with urban communities through a digital platform focused on civic problem-solving.

The launch marks a move by the party to use technology for community service and local engagement in Dhaka’s urban management context.