Microsoft says it will not pursue security researchers after zero-day backlash

A batch of cybersecurity stories: Microsoft publicly pledged not to pursue security researchers amid backlash after multiple zero-day vulnerabilities and working proof‑of‑concept exploit code were published (via GitHub). Separately, researchers attribute a suspected Pakistan‑linked cyberespionage campaign (reported as SideCopy) targeting Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance and provincial officials. An unidentified threat cluster has been conducting nearly two years of operations against Russian maritime universities and diplomats, with educational institutions heavily impacted. Cruise operator C