Today’s highlights include Cloudflare’s DNS outage caused by a legacy configuration error, impacting global internet access, and Linux surpassing 5% US desktop market share amid Windows decline. Additionally, Ukrainian hackers destroyed 47TB of Russian drone data, and Google plans to replace ChromeOS with Android for better device integration.
▶️ Internet Infrastructure
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS Service Outage Caused by Legacy Configuration Error
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS Resolver suffered a 62-minute global outage on July 14, 2025, due to a legacy configuration error causing route withdrawal and DNS resolution failure.
- Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 DNS Resolver experienced a global outage on July 14, 2025, from 21:52 to 22:54 UTC, lasting 62 minutes
- The outage was caused by a misconfiguration in service topology related to a legacy system, not an attack or BGP hijack
- The configuration error involved inadvertent inclusion of 1.1.1.1 prefixes during a service topology update, leading to route withdrawal and service unavailability
Linux Gains 5.03% US Desktop Market Share Amid Windows Decline
Linux reached 5.03% desktop market share in the USA in June 2025, surpassing the “Unknown” category, with broader ecosystem share around 7.74%, driven by Windows issues, gaming, and Linux’s evolution.
- Linux achieved 5.03% desktop market share in the USA as of June 2025, according to StatCounter.
- When combined with Chrome OS (2.71%), the broader Linux ecosystem accounts for approximately 7.74% of the US desktop market.
- Linux’s growth reflects declining Windows share (63.2%), with increased adoption driven by Windows’ end-of-life concerns, gaming via Steam Deck, and Linux’s improved usability and privacy features.
Ukrainian Hackers Destroy 47TB of Russian Drone Manufacturer Data
Ukrainian hackers, supported by military intelligence, destroyed 47 TB of data of Russian drone maker Gaskar Integration, halting operations and exposing production and cooperation details.
- Ukrainian hackers, in cooperation with military intelligence, attacked and destroyed over 47 TB of data from Russian drone manufacturer Gaskar Integration.
- The cyberattack paralyzed the company’s internal systems, halted production, and compromised technical documentation and employee data, including 10 TB of backups.
- The attack targeted the network and server infrastructure, disrupting internet, production, and development activities, and revealed cooperation between the Russian manufacturer and China.
Google to Replace ChromeOS with Android for Better Device Integration
Google plans to replace ChromeOS with Android to enhance device integration, leveraging Android’s Linux kernel and open-source AOSP, with driver support and app ecosystem improvements likely.
- Google’s Android president confirms platform will replace ChromeOS, timing unspecified
- The move aims to improve integration with Android devices and smartwatches to rival Apple
- ChromeOS is based on Linux with
glibc,upstart, and a Gentoo foundation; Android runs on a Linux kernel with Bionic libc
Cloudflare DNS Outage Disrupts Global Internet for Three Hours
Cloudflare’s July 14, 2025, DNS outage, caused by a misconfiguration of legacy systems and configuration errors, disrupted global internet access for about three hours, affecting the 1.1.1.1 resolver service.
- Cloudflare experienced a global outage on July 14, 2025, caused by a misconfiguration of legacy systems, affecting the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver service from 21:52 to 22:54 UTC.
- The outage lasted approximately three hours, during which internet services were unavailable for many users worldwide due to DNS resolution failure.
- The root cause was an internal configuration error linked to a June 6 update that inadvertently included prefixes connected to the 1.1.1.1 resolver, compounded by a July 14 configuration change that triggered the impact.
Google and Westinghouse Use AI to Accelerate Nuclear Reactor Construction
Google and Westinghouse are deploying AI models trained on 75 years of data to accelerate nuclear reactor construction and optimize operations, amid increasing energy demands for AI datacenters.
- Google Cloud partners with Westinghouse Electric to integrate generative AI models, including Westinghouse’s HiVE GenAI and bertha LLM, for nuclear plant construction and operation optimization.
- The AI system is trained on “75 years of proprietary data” and aims to streamline AP1000 reactor construction, support smaller reactors like AP300 and eVinci microreactors, and enhance plant performance.
- Westinghouse has six operational AP1000 reactors in the US and China, with additional units planned in Poland, Bulgaria, and Ukraine; the design features passive safety systems.
- The collaboration achieved a proof-of-concept generating optimized work packages for AP1000 construction using Westinghouse’s WNEXUS platform combined with Google Vertex AI, Gemini, and BigQuery.
- Google has committed over $3 billion in a 20-year PPA to supply up to 3,000 MW of hydroelectric power from Pennsylvania facilities to support AI datacenter energy needs, amid rising energy demands from AI development.
Europol Dismantles Russian Hacktivist Network and Disrupts DDoS Attacks
Europol’s Operation Eastwood dismantled over 100 servers of the NoName057(16) hacktivist network, arresting two suspects and disrupting their botnet used for DDoS attacks against Ukraine-supporting websites.
- Europol-led Operation Eastwood involved 19 countries, resulting in two arrests of Russian nationals in France and Spain
- Over 100 servers belonging to the pro-Russian NoName057(16) network were shut down
- The group, estimated to have 4,000 supporters, built a botnet of several hundred servers for DDoS attacks targeting websites supporting Ukraine, primarily causing brief outages
Google Detects UNC6148 Hackers Exploiting Fully Patched SonicWall VPNs with Zero-Day Attacks
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group reports UNC6148 hijacked fully patched SonicWall VPNs, deploying OVERSTEP rootkit via credential theft and zero-day exploits, enabling persistent backdoor access and data theft.
- Attackers exploited fully patched SonicWall VPNs, including end-of-life SMA 100 series, using stolen credentials and possibly zero-day vulnerabilities to deploy a backdoor and rootkit.
- The malware, named OVERSTEP, modified the appliance’s boot process, maintained persistence through system log manipulation, and enabled theft of credentials, security certificates, and OTPs.
- Google’s Threat Intelligence Group attributes the campaign to UNC6148, active since October 2024, with high confidence that the group used stolen credentials, known CVEs, and potentially zero-day exploits to establish reverse shells and evade detection.
▶️ Open Source
Google Launches AI Business-Calling Feature for U.S. Users
Google introduces an AI-powered business-calling feature for U.S. users, enabling automated calls to local businesses for availability and pricing, with calls announced as automated, and enhances Search’s AI Mode with Gemini 2.5 Pro and deep research capabilities.
- Google is rolling out an AI-powered business-calling feature to all users in the U.S., announced on July 16, 2025.
- The feature uses AI to call local businesses on behalf of users to gather information about availability and pricing.
- The new AI calls begin with an announcement that they are automated, and the feature was tested since January via Search Labs.
▶️ Management and Leadership
HPE Forms Strategy Committee with Elliott to Boost Software and Value
HPE partners with Elliott Investment Management to establish a strategy committee led by Robert Calderoni, focusing on value creation and software growth, with key members including Reiner, Lane, and Noski.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) announced the formation of a new strategy committee and will collaborate with activist investor Elliott Investment Management to enhance company value.
- Robert Calderoni, former CEO of Citrix Systems, will join as a director and chair the strategy committee; other members include Gary Reiner, Raymond Lane, and Charles Noski.
- The initiative aims to develop strategic plans to boost HPE’s software division and overall corporate performance.
Scale AI Cuts 14% of Staff After Meta’s $14.3B Investment
Scale AI is cutting 14% of staff and halting work with 500 contractors after Meta’s $14.3 billion investment and CEO hiring, amid strategic restructuring.
- Scale AI laid off 200 full-time employees (14% of its global workforce) and ceased work with 500 contractors following Meta’s $14.3 billion investment.
- The layoffs occurred one month after Meta Platforms Inc. invested heavily in Scale AI and hired its CEO.
- Severance will be provided to affected employees, and the company will reduce its contractor engagements.
TikTok and Major Firms Push for Full-Time In-Office Work in the US
TikTok will enforce a five-day, eight-hour in-office requirement for US e-commerce employees, reflecting a broader trend of major corporations returning to full-time office work amid post-pandemic policies.
- TikTok plans to require US e-commerce staff to work five days a week, eight hours daily, with specific hours between 4-7 p.m. PT.
- Major companies like JPMorgan, Amazon, and Ford are mandating full or partial return to office, with some requiring five days a week.
- Several firms, including Apple, Google, and Salesforce, are tightening hybrid policies, increasing in-office days, and monitoring attendance.
Ex-OpenAI Engineer Reveals Rapid Growth and Organizational Chaos
A former OpenAI engineer revealed rapid, uncoordinated growth, decentralized project management, reliance on Azure, Slack for communication, and GPU costs dominating expenses, highlighting organizational chaos.
- Former OpenAI engineer Calvin French-Owen described rapid growth, chaotic project initiation, and lack of oversight at OpenAI, which now has over 3,000 employees.
- OpenAI’s culture is bottoms-up, with independent research and iterative progress, resembling a government research lab rather than a traditional company.
- The company relies exclusively on Azure for infrastructure, with limited in-house identity management and no equivalents to major cloud services; nearly all operations run on Slack, with GPU costs being the dominant expense.
▶️ Technology
Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Launches to Boost Business Productivity with Custom AI Agents
Amazon’s Bedrock AgentCore platform allows organizations to create adaptable AI agents supporting multiple protocols, aiming to transform workplace productivity despite employee adoption challenges.
- Amazon Web Services launched Amazon Bedrock AgentCore, a platform for building customizable AI agents supporting MCP and A2A protocols, with background operation up to eight hours.
- The platform enables organizations to deploy AI agents that analyze data, write code, and perform tasks, supporting any framework or model outside of Bedrock.
- Amazon also introduced a dashboard for performance tracking and a marketplace for buying and selling agents, amid industry competition from Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI.
ASML Shares Fall 8% Amid Tariff Uncertainty and Revenue Shift Toward China
ASML’s stock fell over 8% due to tariff uncertainties affecting sales, despite AI growth, with 25% of revenue expected from China in 2025, down from nearly 50% in 2024.
- ASML shares declined over 8% after warning of increased tariff-related trade uncertainties and a decline in net sales compared to the previous quarter
- Despite AI-driven growth in logic and memory chips, CEO Christophe Fouquet highlighted potential negative impacts from US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies
- For FY2025, ASML expects at least 25% of revenue from China, down from nearly 50% in early 2024, amid US export restrictions; Q2 net income was €2.3 billion on €7.692 billion revenue, with Q3 forecasted sales between €7.4 billion and €7.9 billion, and annual revenue expected to rise 15% over 2024