All articles tagged with #false positive
The WHO says the Hondius hantavirus outbreak is down to 10 cases after a US case was ruled a false positive; repeat testing on onboard physician Dr. Kornfeld was negative, evacuation is complete, and authorities warn more cases could appear due to a six-week incubation while 41 exposed individuals remain under monitoring.
An American doctor on the MV Hondius who initially tested positive for hantavirus has since tested negative, with Nebraska officials saying the first result was likely a false positive. He remains in quarantine as 41 Americans in 12 states are monitored for potential exposure from the cruise, while researchers determine whether he had any prior exposure.
Microsoft Defender’s late-April 2026 signature update wrongly flagged two DigiCert root certificates as malware (Trojan:Win32/Cerdigent.A!dha), quarantining their entries in Windows’ AuthRoot/Certificates store and risking SSL/TLS validation and code-signing for enterprise software. A corrective definition update (.430) began restoring the certificates, with automatic remediation rolling out and admins advised to verify restoration via certutil and Advanced Hunting logs. This incident underscores the risks of false positives in automated security responses targeting core Windows components.
Recent research suggests that the previously detected hints of alien moons in the Milky Way may not actually exist. The evidence for two distant moons orbiting exoplanets outside the Solar System is now believed to fit better with other explanations. However, the techniques used to rule out the presence of these moons can be used in future observations to find exomoons. While finding exomoons is challenging due to their small size and proximity to their host exoplanets, the discovery of even one exomoon would be significant and provide exciting opportunities for exploration.
Huawei, Honor, and Vivo smartphones and tablets are displaying false security alerts warning users to delete the Google app, claiming it is detected as the 'TrojanSMS-PA' malware. The alerts suggest that the app is secretly sending SMS messages and engaging in malicious activities. Google denies that its app triggered the alerts and recommends contacting the device manufacturer for further information. Users have reported the issue on various forums, and a proposed solution involves clearing the cache or reinstalling the Huawei Optimizer app. Huawei and Vivo have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The Galleri liquid biopsy, a blood test that can screen for over 50 types of cancers, has gained popularity among affluent and health-conscious individuals seeking early cancer detection. However, while some doctors and patients believe in its potential benefits, others caution against its use due to the lack of evidence showing it can prevent cancer deaths and the risk of false positive or negative results. The test's proponents argue that catching cancer earlier outweighs these concerns, but critics emphasize the need for further research and FDA approval. The test is not recommended for pregnant individuals, those under 21, or those undergoing active cancer treatment.
VoIP/PBX software provider 3CX was aware that its desktop app was being flagged as malware but decided to take no action for a week when it learned it was on the receiving end of a massive supply chain attack. Users soon decided the detection was a false positive triggered by a glitch in the SentinelOne product. However, it would be another 24 hours before the world learned that SentinelOne was right and the people suspecting a false positive were wrong. The breakdown involving the disregarded detection by 3CX and its users should serve as a cautionary tale to both support teams and end users.
Microsoft Defender is mistakenly flagging legitimate links as malicious, causing some customers to receive dozens of alert emails. The company is investigating the issue as a false positive and has confirmed that users can still access the legitimate URLs despite the false positive alerts. Microsoft is reviewing service monitoring telemetry to isolate the root cause and develop a remediation plan. The impact is specific to any admin served through the affected infrastructure.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro canceled his attendance at the Ibero-American summit after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result, though he has since tested negative twice, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Saturday. His attendance would have marked his first foreign trip this year.