Etsy is making it easier for buyers to find and purchase items from domestic sellers as a way to blunt potential tariff-related price increases on imports. These include features for customers such as curated shopping pages and local seller spotlights. For sellers, Etsy is providing an online tariff handbook that provides information such as how tariffs are collected and the definition of the de minimis exception. According to Etsy data, 89% of its sellers work from home by themselves without complex overseas production lines and fulfillment requirements, and most source supplies domestically, which can help them remain “agile and resilient” even when there are shifts to global supply chains. Etsy said it is also “elevating seller voices” to advocate for public policies that reflect the “unique needs” of small businesses and protect their ability engage in global commerce. Etsy has been attempting to improve its search experience for customers and sellers. The e-tailer recently began letting customers browse by curated collections on its app, based on trends, aesthetics and occasions. The retailer, which also provides set of creativity standards for products sold on its site, optimizes its search results to showcase a broader range of items from more sellers. Etsy has also launched a search visibility page that provides specific actionable tips, including insights on listing image quality and quantity, return policies, message response times, and shipping prices, for certain seller listings.
Monte Carlo’s AI agents for observability investigate, verify, and explain the root cause of specific data quality issues while also providing the recommended next steps for resolving
Monte Carlo, the data + AI observability platform, announced the launch of observability agents, a suite of AI agents built to accelerate monitoring and troubleshooting workflows to improve data + AI reliability. Monte Carlo’s Monitoring Agent recommends data quality monitoring rules and thresholds, which can then be deployed with the push of a button. The Troubleshooting Agent investigates, verifies, and explains the root cause of specific data quality issues while also providing the recommended next steps for resolving them. Both agents are the first of their kind in that they are not just making simplistic recommendations based on data profiles, but leveraging a sophisticated network of LLMs, native integrations and subagents to gain full visibility into the data estate across data, systems, transformation code, and model outputs. Monte Carlo’s Monitoring Agent, now generally available, identifies sophisticated patterns and relationships across a dataset that would otherwise be missed by more traditional profiling methods. Monte Carlo’s Troubleshooting Agent, with a general release scheduled for Q2 2025, investigates, verifies, and explains the root cause of specific data + AI quality issues. The agent tests hundreds of different hypotheses across all relevant tables within a dataset to understand if the root cause of a specific issue is a result of receiving bad data from the source, an ETL system failure, a transformation code mistake, or incorrect model output. The observability agents automate powerful monitoring and resolution tasks, but never directly manipulate, change, or act upon your critical data and key systems (read-only). This ensures they don’t create more reliability issues than they help resolve.
Pillar Security’s tech auto-maps all AI-related assets across the organization and uses real-world threat intelligence to address AI-specific risks such as evasion attacks, data privacy and intellectual property leakage
AI security startup Pillar Security has raised $9 million in seed funding to expand its research and development (R&D) and go-to-market efforts. Pillar Security’s solution is designed to meet the needs of a new age in which “software has gained agency and data itself has become executable,” Pillar Security CEO and Co-founder Dor Sarig said. “Pillar’s technology, backed by real-world AI threat intelligence, is built with this understanding, delivering a new class of protection designed explicitly for AI-related security risks,” Sarig said. “We are redefining application security to match the agentic and autonomous software of the Intelligence Age.” The company’s security platform is specifically designed for AI-integrated software systems and addresses AI-specific risk areas like evasion attacks, data poisoning, data privacy and intellectual property leakage. The platform integrates with an organization’s existing code repositories, data infrastructures and AI/ML platforms, automatically maps all AI-related assets across the organization, tests AI models and deploys guardrails that proactively prevent failures.
Interlock ransomware group’s attack tactics evolve from initial social engineering involving browser update lures to software updates, masquerading as security products
Interlock, a sophisticated ransomware threat, has been expanding since its first appearance in September 2024. The malware uses a multi-stage attack chain, compromising legitimate websites to deliver fake browser updates to unsuspecting users. The group operates across various sectors in North America and Europe, using an opportunistic target selection approach. Interlock cannot be classified as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation, as no advertisements for recruiting affiliates have been discovered. The group maintains a data leak site called “Worldwide Secrets Blog” where they expose victim data and provide negotiation channels. Despite continuing operations, Interlock has claimed fewer victims than more prolific ransomware groups that claimed over one hundred victims in Q1 2025 alone. Sekoia Threat Detection & Research (TDR) team analysts have identified significant evolution in Interlock’s tactics since its emergence. The initial infection vector relies on social engineering, tricking users into downloading and executing fake browser updates. The attackers have evolved their tactics, switching from browser update lures to security software updaters, masquerading as security products.
Blackhawk Network launches sustainable, fiber-based gift card substrate offering a new level of card resilience and manufacturing compatibility through its unique 30-point thickness and proprietary treatments
Global branded payments provider Blackhawk Network (BHN) has partnered with Monadnock Paper Mills to introduce Renovo, a new sustainable, fiber-based gift card substrate that brings differentiated features to the global gift card market. A more eco-friendly alternative to PVC, Renovo also introduces a new level of card resilience and manufacturing compatibility through its unique 30-point thickness and proprietary treatments. Just over two years after formally revealing its public-facing initiatives to create a more sustainable future for the gift card industry, BHN has exceeded its goal to convert at least 75% of its globally distributed physical gift cards to fiber-based substrates by the end of 2024, with a current conversion rate of 85%. Renovo benefits include: 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber, Manufactured Carbon Neutral, Recyclable, Multi-Platform Coating for Printing Versatility, Seamless Transition from Plastic
Pillar Security’s tech auto-maps all AI-related assets across the organization and uses real-world threat intelligence to address AI-specific risks such as evasion attacks, data privacy and intellectual property leakage
AI security startup Pillar Security has raised $9 million in seed funding to expand its research and development (R&D) and go-to-market efforts. Pillar Security’s solution is designed to meet the needs of a new age in which “software has gained agency and data itself has become executable,” Pillar Security CEO and Co-founder Dor Sarig said. “Pillar’s technology, backed by real-world AI threat intelligence, is built with this understanding, delivering a new class of protection designed explicitly for AI-related security risks,” Sarig said. “We are redefining application security to match the agentic and autonomous software of the Intelligence Age.” The company’s security platform is specifically designed for AI-integrated software systems and addresses AI-specific risk areas like evasion attacks, data poisoning, data privacy and intellectual property leakage. The platform integrates with an organization’s existing code repositories, data infrastructures and AI/ML platforms, automatically maps all AI-related assets across the organization, tests AI models and deploys guardrails that proactively prevent failures.
Interlock ransomware group’s attack tactics evolve from ini tial social engineering involving browser update lures to software updates, masquerading as security products
Interlock, a sophisticated ransomware threat, has been expanding since its first appearance in September 2024. The malware uses a multi-stage attack chain, compromising legitimate websites to deliver fake browser updates to unsuspecting users. The group operates across various sectors in North America and Europe, using an opportunistic target selection approach. Interlock cannot be classified as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation, as no advertisements for recruiting affiliates have been discovered. The group maintains a data leak site called “Worldwide Secrets Blog” where they expose victim data and provide negotiation channels. Despite continuing operations, Interlock has claimed fewer victims than more prolific ransomware groups that claimed over one hundred victims in Q1 2025 alone. Sekoia Threat Detection & Research (TDR) team analysts have identified significant evolution in Interlock’s tactics since its emergence. The initial infection vector relies on social engineering, tricking users into downloading and executing fake browser updates. The attackers have evolved their tactics, switching from browser update lures to security software updaters, masquerading as security products.
New Gmail hack attack employs an OAuth application and “creative DomainKeys Identified Mail workaround” to fool victims into thinking a security alert email originated from Google itself
The latest Gmail hack attack involves a sophisticated phishing campaign that employs the use of an OAuth application and what has been described as a “creative DomainKeys Identified Mail workaround” to fool victims into thinking a security alert email originated from Google itself. In other words, it has managed to bypass the exact protections that Google has put in place to help prevent such attacks in the first place. Google says you have 7 days in which they can undo the damage and regain access to that hacked account. The good news is that Google has confirmed it is putting out updated protections that counter the threat methodology used in this attack. “These protections will soon be fully deployed, which will shut down this avenue for abuse.” Anyone who finds themselves locked out of their Gmail account following a successful attack, where the hacker has changed their account password and recovery methods, still has seven days in which they can undo the damage and regain access to that hacked account.
Kojo procurement platform for construction launches AI tool suite to instantly compare pricing across multiple suppliers; forecast material cost changes and availability; identify cost-saving opportunities
Kojo, the construction procurement platform, launched a new suite of AI-powered tools designed to help contractors reduce the impact of rising material costs. As pricing volatility driven by global tariffs continue to put pressure on margins, Kojo’s latest innovation gives contractors a competitive edge by making sourcing faster, smarter, and more cost-effective. Kojo’s AI tools are integrated directly into the workflows that field and office teams already use, so adoption is seamless. With over 500 contractors managing billions of dollars in material spend through Kojo, the platform is quickly becoming the industry standard for intelligent procurement. The new AI tools help contractors: Instantly compare pricing across multiple suppliers; Forecast material cost changes and availability; Identify cost-saving opportunities to source from your own warehouse and bulk buys; and Automate purchasing recommendations based on historical data and supplier trends. “Contractors are navigating one of the most volatile materials markets in decades,” said Maria Davidson, CEO of Kojo. “Our AI suite is designed to take the guesswork out of procurement. It puts real-time intelligence in the hands of project teams so they can stay ahead of price spikes, supply issues, and project delays.”
Vanguard Introduces Fixed Income Model Portfolios for Financial Advisors
Vanguard is launching the firm’s first dynamic asset allocation fixed income model portfolios. Vanguard Fixed Income Risk Diversification and Vanguard Fixed Income Total Return join the firm’s lineup of model portfolios that provide financial advisors with access to broadly diversified, low-cost, and high-quality Vanguard-managed solutions. “Model portfolios empower financial advisors with streamlined investment manager research and ongoing portfolio construction and monitoring, so they can spend time on the things that really matter to their clients—like ensuring they’re meeting their investment goals,” said Brent Beardsley, Head of Advisor Solutions for Vanguard. Built to serve a variety of investment time horizons and risk profiles, Vanguard’s model portfolios support financial advisors’ portfolio construction needs so they can spend more time scaling their practice and deepening client relationships. Deeper client relationships lead to improved client loyalty and trust, according to Vanguard’s Advisor’s Alpha research, which can then assist with asset retention and referrals. Vanguard Fixed Income Risk Diversification and Vanguard Fixed Income Total Return model portfolios seek to outperform a market-capitalization-weighted benchmark—the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Index and Bloomberg U.S. Universal Index respectively—and allocations are recalibrated throughout the year to align with the Vanguard Capital Markets Model® (VCMM) 10-year forecasts. Vanguard’s Investment Strategy Group oversees the asset allocations for the models and Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group manages the fixed income funds included in each portfolio. The Vanguard Fixed Income Risk Diversification model portfolio features a weighted average expense ratio of 0.05% and is constructed for advisors and their clients in search of a highly diversified fixed income portfolio with exposure to global investment grade bonds intended to provide ballast against equity market volatility. Vanguard Fixed Income Total Return model portfolio is designed for advisors and clients seeking wealth accumulation and risk diversification from the fixed income sleeve of their portfolio. This model portfolio contains exposure to global investment grade and high yield bonds at a weighted average expense ratio of 0.08%.