Microsoft Layoffs Amid Record Profits- Wait, What? | Tech News of the Week
Welcome back to another Tech News of the Week. We're trying a blog post approach this week for those who like to read instead of listen to things- you weirdos. This week, we dive into a whirlwind of AI hypocrisy, corporate greed, malware mishaps, and never-ending chip vulnerabilities.
First up, irony reigns supreme as college students using ChatGPT found themselves enraged by professors doing the exact same thing. A Northwestern University student even filed a formal complaint, claiming hypocrisy when a professor used AI tools to generate lecture notes while banning its use for assignments. The student demanded a tuition refund. Predictably, the request was denied, but the incident raised an important question: if AI is good enough for teaching, why isn’t it good enough for learning? This is just another example of “do as I say, not as I do,” now powered by machine learning.
Next, Microsoft posted record profits for Q3, $70.1 billion in revenue and $25.8 billion in net income, to be exact. That’s an 18% increase year-over-year. Naturally, the company celebrated this massive success the only way tech giants know how- by laying off 6,000 employees. Microsoft's justification? Streamlining operations to stay competitive. Because obviously, $70 billion just isn't quite enough to keep the lights on. It’s a stark reminder that corporate growth and employee security are inversely proportional.
In the world of virtualization, RVTools a staple for VMware administrators, got infected with Bumblebee malware. The worst part? It came directly from the official RVTools site. A quick-acting researcher spotted the bloated file size and red flags from antivirus scanners before it could cause significant damage. Thankfully, the download was only live for a few hours, but it’s a sobering reminder that even trusted sources can go sideways. Trust but verify, and scan the hell out of everything.
Finally, Intel continues to be haunted by new Specter-based vulnerabilities. ETH Zurich researchers uncovered Branch Privilege Injection (BPI), and VUSEC in Amsterdam found another flaw called Training Solo. Both allow malicious actors to peek into sensitive memory—an ongoing issue that Intel has yet to fully resolve. The company responded with microcode patches and some comforting words, but let’s be honest—if you’re still rocking Intel- and I know most of you are, you might want to double-check OS settings and firmware levels.
That’s the rundown for this week’s Chaos Lever. Got opinions? Drop them in the comments or share this post with someone who enjoys a side of sarcasm with their tech news. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a rant.
Ok. That's it. We're done now. Go away.
Like seriously. This is getting weird.
Ned Bellavance
Curious Human
Ned is an industry veteran with piercing blue eyes, an indomitable spirit, and the thick hair of someone half his age. He is the founder and sole employee of the ludicrously successful Ned in the Cloud LLC, which has rocked the tech world with its meteoric rise in power and prestige. You can find Ned and his company at the most lavish and exclusive tech events, or at least in theory you could, since you wouldn’t actually be allowed into such hallowed circles. When Ned isn’t sailing on his 500 ft. yacht with Sir Richard Branson or volunteering at a local youth steeplechase charity, you can find him doing charity work of another kind, cohosting the Chaos Lever podcast with Chris Hayner. Really, he’s doing Chris a huge favor by even showing up. You should feel grateful Chris. Oaths of fealty, acts of contrition, and tokens of appreciation may be sent via carrier pigeon to his palatial estate on the Isle of Man.
Are IT Certifications Still Worth It?
