Technology

Instagram co-founder: Zuckerberg saw us as a ‘threat’ to Facebook

Published

11 months ago

April 23, 2025

Instagram co-founder: Zuckerberg saw us as a ‘threat’ to Facebook

When Instagram was acquired for $1 billion in 2012, co-founder Kevin Systrom believed that joining Facebook would help Instagram’s “skyrocketing growth” reach even greater heights.

In some ways, it did. Instagram now has billions of users and has since “generated many multiples of that price and then some,” Systrom said on Tuesday from a Washington, DC courtroom. But according to him, that success often came in spite of, not because of, Facebook’s help.

While testifying in the Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit to force the spin-off of Instagram and WhatsApp from Meta, Systrom said that CEO Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly withheld critical resources from Instagram and constrained its growth to avoid harming Facebook’s engagement. To the chagrin of Meta’s attorneys, Systrom also made predictions about how, in hindsight, Instagram would have probably still succeeded on its own.

Over the course of about six hours, Systrom remained steady and confident on the witness stand. Zuckerberg himself sat in the same seat last week, describing how Instagram would likely not have become the social media powerhouse it is today without his help. In contrast, Systrom’s testimony portrayed Zuckerberg as a withholding and jealous boss. He described how he and Instagram’s other co-founder, Mike Krieger, quit in 2018 after growing increasingly frustrated with Zuckerberg’s meddling in Instagram’s operations.

In court, Systrom was presented with an internal chart from that same year detailing the feature integrations Facebook had made with Instagram. With the help of features like notifications promoting Instagram within Facebook and cross-posting between the apps, Instagram experienced growth, while Facebook saw a neutral effect.

Systrom said that, shortly before he and Krieger quit, Zuckerberg decided to end the feature integrations because, in Systrom’s view, he didn’t want Instagram to grow at the expense of Facebook. “We were a threat to their growth,” Systrom testified.

“If Instagram didn’t grow as quickly, Facebook wouldn’t shrink as quickly, or plateau as quickly,” Systrom said in court. “I don’t think he [Zuckerberg] ever said it out loud that way, but that was the only reason we were having this discussion.”

At the time, Instagram had just reached one billion users, which was about half of Facebook’s user base, with a fraction of the employees. Systrom felt that Zuckerberg was “underinvesting” in Instagram and giving it “zero resources,” which Systrom thought was “in stark contrast to the effort I was putting in.”

According to Systrom’s telling, ego played a role. Zuckerberg was “very happy to have Instagram in the family,” he testified. “But also, I think as the founder of Facebook, he felt a lot of emotion around which one was better, meaning Instagram or Facebook, and I think there were real human emotional things going on.”

“I think there were real human emotional things going on”

Systrom recalled other instances where Instagram was denied the resources it needed. When Mark Zuckerberg declared that video would be the next big shift in social networking, Facebook started allocating internal resources towards the push. The company initially allocated 300 employees to making video a prominent part of Facebook, while Instagram received no additional headcount.

Following the Cambridge Analytica data scandal that embroiled Facebook in controversy over its privacy practices, Systrom stated that his organization received “zero” of the billions of dollars in trust and safety resources that Zuckerberg had publicly committed to spending. Instead, he said Instagram was given access to a centralized team that was more focused on Facebook. He also described how, years earlier, Zuckerberg suddenly yanked members of the Facebook growth team who had been deployed to help Instagram.

During cross-examination, Meta attorney Kevin Huff attempted to discredit Systrom’s testimony. He hardly gave an inch by maintaining that Instagram would have likely been successful as an independent company. “You deal in a world of probabilities,” he said. “You can never be sure. Some things you can be more sure of.”

Huff’s questioning of Systrom got tense on several occasions. His stone-faced, one-liner responses prompted rounds of laughter in the courthouse media room, though Judge James Boasberg rarely cracked a smile. When Huff brought up an early email Systrom sent to Zuckerberg crediting an integration with Facebook for much of Instagram’s early growth, Systrom said he was only emphasizing the benefit to appease Zuckerberg.

Huff then asked Systrom if he was lying to Zuckerberg in the email. Seemingly irritated, Systrom stared back and simply said, “Sir.”

Technology

Apple launches iOS 26.4 with AI playlists, purchase sharing, and more

Published

10 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Apple launches iOS 26.4 with AI playlists, purchase sharing, and more

iOS 26.4 is here, and it comes with a bunch of small but notable updates. That includes a new Playlist Playground launching in beta in Apple Music, which uses AI to generate a song playlist — complete with a title, description, and tracklist — based on a text prompt.

Apple Music is also adding a new concert discovery feature, allowing you to find nearby shows featuring artists from your library, as well as new ones recommended by the app. Other updates include full-screen backgrounds for album and playlist pages, along with a new Offline Music Recognition tool that “identifies songs without an internet connection and delivers results automatically when you’re back online.”

Apple’s Family Sharing feature, which allows you to share Apple subscriptions with up to six other people, will now let each adult member add their own payment methods to make purchases (instead of just using the method belonging to the group organizer). Additionally, iOS 26.4 adds eight new emoji, including an orca, trombone, landslide, ballet dancer, and distorted face. It also improves the accuracy of its keyboard when typing quickly, according to Apple.

There are a few new accessibility features, too, including an update to Apple’s “reduce bright effects” setting that now minimizes flashes that occur when tapping on certain elements like buttons. Apple is making subtitle and caption settings easier to find as well, and says its “reduce motion” setting now “more reliably reduces the animations of Liquid Glass.”

Apple released its macOS 26.4 update as well, which introduces a new compact tab bar option in Safari and the ability to set charging limits from 80 to 100 percent to help preserve the lifespan of your device’s battery.

Technology

DocuSign email scam targets healthcare workers

Published

40 minutes ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

DocuSign email scam targets healthcare workers

Cyber expert shares tips to avoid AI phishing scams

Kurt ‘The CyberGuy’ Knutsson shares practical ways to avoid falling victim to AI-generated phishing scams and discusses a report that North Korean agents are posing as I.T. workers to funnel money into the country’s nuclear program.

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Most of us sign documents online without thinking twice. A quick DocuSign request appears in your inbox. You click the link, review the document and move on with your day. That convenience is exactly what scammers rely on. Recently, we received a message from a CyberGuy reader that shows how convincing these scams can look. In this case, the email appeared to come from a health licensing authority and asked the recipient to review a document tied to a professional license renewal.

Here is the email we received from Susie, a registered nurse in Florida who nearly fell for the scam.

“I am a Registered Nurse, and my bi-annual renewal is approaching. Last month, I received a surprising (at least to me) email with a document to DocuSign from the state Board of Health. It didn’t feel right, even though I have used DocuSign multiple times in the past. Those experiences were known transactions. I contacted the state board, and they confirmed that it IS a SCAM. I sent them screenshots, etc. and reported the message for phishing. I want to thank you, Kurt, because it was thanks to you that I questioned the veracity of this outreach. Reading the articles and tips you provide saved me a great deal of trouble. Thanks again, and all you nurses out there renewing your license, be wary.” – Susie C, Orlando, FL

Susie did exactly what security experts recommend. She paused and verified the message before clicking anything. That one step likely prevented a phishing attack.

SCAMMERS ARE USING DOCUSIGN EMAILS TO PUSH APPLE PAY FRAUD

Security experts warn that DocuSign scams exploit routine online habits to steal passwords and access personal or professional accounts. (ilkercelik/Getty Images)

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What the suspicious DocuSign email looked like

Susie also shared a screenshot of the message she received. At first glance, the email looks familiar. The blue layout resembles real DocuSign notifications. There is even a large yellow Review Document button. But one detail stood out immediately.

The email address sending the message was:
info.florida-department-of-health-email-notification@cc.ncu.edu.tw

That address has nothing to do with a U.S. state health department.

Why DocuSign scams work so well

DocuSign is used by millions of businesses and government agencies. Because people expect these requests, they often click without hesitation. Scammers exploit that habit. A typical DocuSign phishing email tries to create urgency. It may claim a license renewal, a contract update, or a payroll form requires immediate action. Once you click the button, several things may happen:

You may land on a fake login page designed to steal your email password.
The site may prompt you to download a malicious file.
The link may redirect you to several phishing pages.

In many cases, the goal is simple. Attackers want your email credentials so they can take over your account or launch more scams.

10 WAYS TO PROTECT SENIORS FROM EMAIL SCAMS

A Florida nurse avoided a DocuSign phishing scam after spotting a suspicious email tied to a fake health license renewal request. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Red flags in the DocuSign scam email

A few warning signs can help you spot a fake request quickly.

Suspicious sender address

Always look closely at the sender’s domain. Government agencies rarely send messages from foreign academic domains like .edu.tw. That alone signals something is wrong.

Unexpected documents

Legitimate DocuSign requests usually follow a known interaction. For example, a contract you discussed or paperwork you expect. An unexpected document should always raise questions.

Pressure to act quickly

Many phishing emails include language that urges immediate action. The goal is to stop you from thinking. Take a moment before clicking any button.

Generic document descriptions

The message shown in the screenshot simply states that a document is ready to review. It provides no real context or explanation. Legitimate documents often include details about the transaction.

How clicking the link could compromise you

Many people assume they will recognize a fake page. In reality, phishing sites look very convincing. Some scams even use cloned DocuSign pages. Once victims enter their credentials, attackers gain access to their email accounts.

From there, criminals can:

Reset passwords for financial services
Send phishing emails to contacts
Search inboxes for sensitive documents

In healthcare professions, that risk can also expose licensing information or patient-related communications.

APPLE APP PASSWORD SCAM EMAIL WARNING

Cybercriminals are using fake DocuSign emails to trick users into clicking malicious links and handing over sensitive login credentials. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ways to stay safe from DocuSign phishing scams

Fortunately, a few habits can dramatically lower your risk.

1) Verify the request separately

If a document claims to come from a government agency or employer, contact them directly using a known phone number or website. Never use the contact information inside the suspicious email.

2) Hover over links before clicking

Move your cursor over the button and check the destination link. If the URL looks unfamiliar or unrelated to DocuSign, do not click it.

3) Don’t click links and use strong antivirus software

If an email seems suspicious, do not click the link or open any attachment. Strong antivirus software can help block malicious downloads, warn you about dangerous websites and catch threats before they spread across your device. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

4) Use a data removal service

Scammers often gather personal details from data broker sites and public records to make phishing emails seem more believable. A data removal service can help reduce your exposed information online, which may make it harder for criminals to target you with convincing messages. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

5) Access documents through official accounts

If you regularly use DocuSign, sign in directly at the official website and check your pending documents there. That approach avoids email traps entirely.

6) Report phishing attempts

Forward suspicious messages to your organization’s security team or the Federal Trade Commission phishing reporting system at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also advises forwarding phishing emails to the Anti-Phishing Working Group at reportphishing@apwg.org. Reporting scams helps protect others from the same attack.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Scams succeed because they blend into everyday routines. Signing documents online has become normal for work, healthcare licensing and financial paperwork. That convenience also gives criminals a perfect disguise. Susie’s story shows how a small moment of doubt can stop a phishing attack before it begins. A quick call to the licensing board revealed the truth. The message was never legitimate.

Now the question is one every reader should consider. If a DocuSign email arrived in your inbox right now, would you notice the warning signs before clicking the button? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Technology

The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US

Published

12 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

The US government just banned consumer routers made outside the US

In December, the Federal Communications Commission banned all future drones made in foreign countries from being imported into the United States, unless or until their maker gets an exemption. Now, the FCC has done the exact same for consumer networking gear, citing “an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

If you already have a Wi-Fi or wired router, you can keep on using it — and companies that have already gotten FCC radio authorization for a specific foreign-made product can continue to import that product.

But since the vast majority — if not all — consumer routers are manufactured outside the United States, the vast majority of future consumer routers are now banned. By adding all foreign-made consumer routers to its Covered List, the FCC is saying it will no longer authorize their radios, which de facto bans new devices from import into the country.

Now, router makers need to A) secure a “conditional approval” that lets them keep getting new products cleared for US entry while they work to convince the government that they’ll open up manufacturing in the US, or B) make the decision to skip selling future products in the US, like dronemaker DJI already did.

Like with the foreign drone ban, the FCC has a National Security Determination that it says justifies these actions, one which claims that “Allowing routers produced abroad to dominate the U.S. market creates unacceptable economic, national security, and cybersecurity risks,” and that “routers produced abroad were directly implicated in the Volt, Flax, and Salt Typhoon cyberattacks which targeted critical American communications, energy, transportation, and water infrastructure.”

“Given the criticality of routers to the successful functioning of our nation’s economy and defense, the United States can no longer depend on foreign nations for router manufacturing,” reads another passage.

It is true that a great many router vulnerabilities have surfaced over the years, which make them a popular target for hackers and botnets. It is also true that one China-founded company, TP-Link, is dominant in the US consumer market; US authorities had previously considered a specific TP-Link ban due to that dominance and national security concerns. (TP-Link has been attempting to distance itself from China, splitting off from the Chinese entity in 2022, establishing a global headquarters in California in 2024, and suing Netgear in 2025 for suggesting that TP-Link had been infiltrated by the Chinese government.)

It is not clear how simply moving production of routers domestically would make them safer. In the Volt Typhoon hack, Chinese state-sponsored hackers primarily targeted Cisco and Netgear routers, routers designed by US companies, according to the Department of Justice. They were vulnerable because those US companies had stopped providing security updates to the specific targeted routers, which had been discontinued by those companies.

While the FCC’s Covered List makes it sound like the US is banning all “routers produced in a foreign country,” it’s defined a bit more narrowly than that. It’s specifically banning “consumer-grade routers” as defined in NIST Internal Report 8425A, which refers to ones “intended for residential use and can be installed by the customer.”

“Virtually all routers are made outside the United States, including those produced by U.S.-based companies like TP-Link, which manufactures its products in Vietnam,” reads part of a statement from TP-Link via third-party spokesperson Ricca Silverio. “It appears that the entire router industry will be impacted by the FCC’s announcement concerning new devices not previously authorized by the FCC.”

Update, March 23rd: Clarified how TP-Link has distanced itself from China, and added company statement.

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