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EU opens Digital Services Act probe into Booking.com over fraud, phishing and ads
On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, the European Commission opened formal proceedings against the Dutch-based travel platform over fake listings, phishing risks and how sponsored search results are labelled.
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange team up for European satellite spectrum
Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange signed a letter of intent on Monday, 19 October, to bid jointly for radio frequencies for mobile satellite services in Europe. The spectrum is expected to become free in 2029 and is currently used for purposes such as in-flight internet.
PHP2Shell flaws prompt website shutdowns worldwide as attackers tried exploits days earlier
Attackers tried to exploit the PHP bugs on 17 October, four days before disclosure. Banks, airlines, government services and websites in several countries went offline while operators applied fixes.
Cyberattack pushes French supermarket fridges to 50 degrees Celsius, as Dutch chain shuts systems
Attackers took remote control of refrigeration systems in hundreds of French stores on Monday, 12 October, and France's cybersecurity agency says the campaign may still be running. Intermarché alone reported losses of tens of millions of euros in a single day.
Orange mobile network outage cuts calls and data across France
Orange restored calls, texts and mobile data on Wednesday evening after a nationwide fault that also hit its low-cost Sosh brand. The operator said the problem came from equipment at the centre of its mobile network.
Israeli firm Discover-Tech allegedly used online ads to deliver spyware to devices
Researchers at Citizen Lab say Discover-Tech placed manipulated ads that could infect phones and laptops without a click. At least 45 Al Jazeera devices were hit in 2024 and 2025, and Google has blocked the firm from its ad platforms.
Greece signs 2.1 million euro deal for camera-recorded driving tests and digital plates
The 2.1 million euro contract, signed on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, adds random examiner draws, recorded practical tests and fully digital number plate replacement over 24 months.
Portugal's national health system goes down, blocking prescriptions and patient records
The outage began around 10:00 on Monday, 19 October 2026, and Fnam says thousands of patients were left without consultations and medicines. SPMS blamed problems at its data centre, and some systems were back by 12:00.
YouTube tests moving the dislike button into the three-dots menu
Users on X and Reddit report that the dislike button now sits inside the three-dots menu beside Report on some videos. YouTube has not confirmed the test or said how many users see it.
Albert Heijn online orders stay suspended until Tuesday 20 October after cyber incident
Albert Heijn has suspended home delivery and new online orders until Tuesday 20 October, after its systems went offline on Sunday, 11 October. Shelves in stores are restocked, and the chain has found no indication so far that customer personal data was involved.
Albert Heijn and Delhaize hit by cyber incidents, apps and online orders down
Albert Heijn's app, website and loyalty savings stopped working on 12 October, and online orders cannot be delivered. Its sister brand Delhaize in Belgium reported an IT incident the same day, while stores in both countries remain open.
WhatsApp lets account holders invite non-users into voice and video calls
WhatsApp users can now send a call link to anyone, including people without an account, who join once the host approves them. The free feature has no time limit, and guests can join from a computer browser without installing the app.
Xbox unveils the Nano Controller, its smallest pad, with a built-in battery at $49.99
Xbox has announced the Nano Controller, a pocket-sized pad with a rechargeable battery that goes on pre-order at $49.99 in the US and 49,99 euros in parts of Europe. US shipping is set for 4 November 2026, with wider availability following in November.
Romania's Central Depository hit by cyberattack, investor personal data exposed
Romania's Central Depository, which settles trades on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, says attackers viewed personal data of users of its investor app. The application is offline while specialists work on the breach.
Cyberattack halts work on Fehmarn Belt tunnel between Denmark and Germany
Employee ID cards and offshore equipment at the Fehmarn Belt tunnel site stopped working after a cyber incident, according to the investor. Sund & Baelt says it is in dialogue with contractor FLC, and no one has yet been identified as behind the attack.
WhatsApp tests scheduled messages on Android beta, with delivery up to two weeks ahead
WhatsApp is testing a feature that lets users schedule messages between 10 minutes and two weeks ahead. Access is limited to some Android beta testers for now, with wider rollout expected in the coming weeks.
Microsoft says Windows 11 is up to 20% more responsive, with memory gains for 8GB PCs
Microsoft says memory changes make Windows 11 up to 20% more responsive, a difference it calls especially meaningful on PCs with 8GB of RAM, as memory prices climb.
About 300 Batam residents storm a data centre compound after three months without tap water
About 300 residents of Batam, Indonesia, stormed a compound housing data centres at Nongsa Digital Park, saying their home taps had produced no water for three months. Authorities blame a prolonged dry spell.
Google Cloud London outage disrupts Revolut, Lloyds and HSBC services across the UK
A power-related fault at a Google Cloud data center near London disrupted online banking and other services on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, with Revolut, Lloyds and HSBC among those hit.
Spain's commercial calls must use the 400 prefix from Saturday, 17 October
From Saturday, 17 October 2026, companies in Spain that make sales calls must use nine-digit numbers beginning with 400. Telecom operators will block commercial calls from other numbers, and 400 lines can receive calls but not make them.