Tech Spite

The company's anti-union tactics at retail outlets have drawn government scrutiny and are fueling a drive to get a new labor bill through Congress. from Wired https://ift.tt/jcXeJEM

2023 could very well be the biggest year ever for cybercriminals, new figures have claimed. According to SonicWall’s latest figures, cybercrime is on the rise across the board, but trends are slowly shifting which is something IT security teams should keep in mind. More precisely, hackers are opting for a “slow and low” approach, keeping stealthy while trying to achieve financially-motivated goals. That being said, the company found that the total malware volume was up 2% in 2022, after three straight years of decline. Ransomware up in volume Overall, the entire European continent saw increased levels of malware (10%+), with Ukraine suffering a record 25.6 million attempts. Certain countries, such as the UK (-13%) and Germany (-28%) fared quite well last year. Across the pond, the U.S. experienced 9% lower malware volume, compared to 2021. Ransomware , arguably one of the most popular attack vectors out there, saw a global decline of 21%, but total volume that surpassed that of ...

One million species are at risk of extinction, but a handful of charismatic creatures get all the hype. A new conservation strategy has a different focus. from Wired https://ift.tt/NAg9yZH

The upcoming LG G3 OLED uses a Micro Lens Array panel in order to boost brightness, the company has confirmed to TechRadar. It’s rare for LG Electronics to ever confirm what sort of OLED panel it’s using, and it had been extremely cagey about what was in the G3, but the company explained that some sizes (explained below) of the G3 will use so-called '3rd-gen OLED' panels from LG Display – the latter is the part of LG that actually makes OLED screens (its panels are used in almost all the best OLED TVs ), and operates separately to LG Electronics, which makes the TVs. LG has been showing the G3 off at recent events, and the headline news is that the TV looks set to match or even exceed the (perhaps briefly) world's-best brightness of the Samsung S95C , which we measured during the testing time of our early hands-on Samsung S95C review .  The 55, 65, and 77-inch versions of the G3 appear to use a Micro Lens Array panel (though not the 83-incher) – these are the only size...

Data stolen from top gaming publisher Activision by hackers has now appeared for download on a popular dark web forum. The breach, which occurred in December 2022, was confirmed by the videogame publisher several days ago . Now, it looks as if the worst case scenario has become reality. The data, which the hackers claim was stolen from Activision's instance of the content delivery network ( CDN ) Azure , apparently includes nearly 20,000 records of employee details, including full names, email addresses, phone numbers and office addresses.   Contradicting reports Rather than being sold for a price, the data here is being offered for free to all users of the forum, in the form of a text file. Threat finders FalconFeedsio were the first to report the post on Twitter . read more > Riot Games delays game patches following security breach > Top gaming companies hit by major data breach, one million employees affected > These mods for popular online game Dota 2 c...

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), a sector within the Department of Justice, has been hit with what it describes as a “major” ransomware attack, in which sensitive employee data might have been taken. Department spokesperson Drew Wade confirmed the incident, which he said took place on February 17, was a “ransomware and data exfiltration event affecting a stand-alone USMS system”. That system has since been disconnected from the wider USMS network, while the organization investigates the aftermath. Apparently, employee data was taken, together with sensitive data on the department’s work.  Unknown threat actors "The affected system contains law enforcement sensitive information, including returns from legal process, administrative information, and personally identifiable information pertaining to subjects of USMS investigations, third parties, and certain USMS employees," Wade said. BleepingComputer reported that sources “close to the incident” confirmed the attackers...

The iPhone SE 4 lives...maybe. In a recent Twitter thread, reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that the tech giant has restarted development on the iPhone SE 4 – two months after it was reportedly canceled. The reason the project was axed in the first place, according to Kuo’s post on Medium , was because Apple wanted its mid-range device to house its first in-house 5G baseband chip so the company wouldn’t have to rely on Qualcomm. However, the hardware just wasn’t “up to par with Qualcomm’s [tech]” so the whole thing got scrapped back in early January. But now it appears Apple has a solution . Instead of making everything from scratch, the iPhone SE 4 will now reportedly be a modified version of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 . Kuo claims the device will come equipped with the aforementioned “baseband chip produced by a 4nm process”; however, it will only support sub-6GHz 5G and not the faster mmWave spectrum, just like the previous model . The biggest change as Kuo points out is...

The actor and new parent talks about her TV network, giving Black creators opportunities, and a group text her sisters and friend didn’t add her to. from Wired https://ift.tt/CWJMZxg

Sitting in on a Q&A session fronted by several members of Oppo's senior product and strategy teams on day one of Mobile World Congress this year, we were treated to illuminating insight on the company's current approach to the foldable market and why it feels the time isn't right for such technology to trickle down to the mid-range space. Although we've had the ability to fork over cash for foldables for about three years, the materials, engineering and hardware that go into such devices still render them notably more expensive than similarly-specced alternatives that don't have to bend at the waist. A week prior to MWC 2023, Oppo unleashed its first foldable clamshell on the world, the Oppo Find N2 Flip . Despite being a great value for a folding smartphone (at £849 in the UK), it still prices-out plenty of users that would otherwise welcome the convenience of a compact foldable in their pocket. The Oppo Find N2 Flip (Image credit: Future | Alex Walk...

A major copy and paste shake-up is on the way for some Windows users that may have them breathing a major sigh of relief. The company has announced that it will be bringing the "paste as plain text" option to Windows 11 and Windows 10 apps with PowerToys, giving users of the open source platform a much smoother experience when copying information over. Previously, PowerToys users were slightly hampered by the lack of a full paste function, which would allow users to simply copy text as it is, without retaining any formatting such as size, color or other differences. PowerToys copy and paste The update was discovered in a Github post , where the developers responsible outlined how the feature, triggered by the familiar Ctrl+Win+V key presses (although users will be able to tweak and create their own custom shortcut), will work in any app where PowerToys works. "This is heavily based on the work done for the "Text Extractor" module then ripping out anythi...

Telus has confirmed it recently discovered a database being sold on the dark web that apparently contained employee contact information as well as other sensitive data.  The comms giant is currently investigating the matter to see how big the potential breach is, but preliminary reports suggest that no corporate or retail customer data was taken.  Still, whoever buys the database could wreak serious havoc. SIM swapping API The company confirmed the news in a statement to The Register : "We are investigating claims that a small amount of data related to internal Telus source code and select Telus team members' information has appeared on the dark web," Telus spokesperson Richard Gilhooley said. "We can confirm that to this point our investigation, which we launched as soon as we were made aware of the incident, has not identified any corporate or retail customer data ." So what data was taken? As per the ad posted on BreachForums, the attacker is selling 7...

Microsoft may be adding a new customization option in an upcoming Windows 11 update – one that could address a feature that a good amount of users find annoying. According to Twitter user @PhantomOfEarth and reported on by MSPowerUser , the Windows 11 Dev Insider build 25300 contains three strings that make turning off the date and time on the system tray on the right side of the Taskbar an option. Those strings are ‘Hide taskbar clock,’ ‘Hide time and date in the system tray,’ and ‘Turn this on to hide your time and date information in the corner of your taskbar.’ Most likely the setting will be located on the Taskbar, as other settings that configure it are located there.  However, this is all still mere conjecture at this point. Finding these strings inside the build doesn't guarantee implementation. And even if it was confirmed the feature would be coming to Windows 11, we still don’t have a release date. What does this mean for Windows 11? Personally, I find the date and...

Cisco reckons it has found the next hybrid working trend, and it’s partnering with Mercedes-Benz to start delivering it, but spoiler alert: it’s not the first to have thought this up. The two companies have joined forces at MWC 2023 to bringing its video conferencing platform Webex to mid-size Mercedes E-Class sedan vehicles. In a press release, Cisco notes explains how hybrid workers “expect an exceptional experience regardless of how and where they work - and the car is no exception.” Cisco Webex in Mercedes E-Class The company added that it wants its business users to be able to “take a meeting between visiting a client and picking up the kids from after school care”, opening up a new type of time optimization that flexible workers could only have dreamt of up until recently.  Workers whose companies use Webex will be able to take part in “frictionless” meetings and calls on the go, benefitting from the platform’s noise cancellation technology which will be tapped into...

Netflix has revealed three new characters who will appear in The Umbrella Academy season 4 – and I'm not sure what to make of them. The streaming giant has confirmed that Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally and David Cross have signed on to appear in The Umbrella Academy 's fourth and final season. According to Netflix's press release, Offerman and Mullally will play community college professors (and husband and wife) Doctors Gene and Jean Thibedeau. Cross, meanwhile, will portray a shy businessman called Sy Grossman, who longs to be reunited with his lost daughter. So, what's the problem? First, let me say this: I have nothing against this talented trio. Offerman is a fantastic hire for one of the best Netflix shows around – his performances in The Last of Us , Parks and Rec , Devs , and many other productions are proof of that. Mullally – Offerman's fellow Parks and Rec alumnus – is equally wonderful in Bob's Burgers , and Will and Grace among others, while, ...

We're all aware of the need to keep our computing devices secure, with a range of security solutions available for PCs and laptops - but what about our mobile devices? Smartphones have made huge leaps forward in terms of power and capabilities over the past decade, becoming high-level computing devices in their own right, holding not just our apps, photos and games, but also becoming an entry point for work. With many of us now embracing hybrid working, having a smartphone geared for work is a crucial tool, but they also need to be kept safe from cyber-threats - so here's some tips to keep your mobile devices safe and secure. Keeping safe online Sadly, some parts of the Internet aren’t really a safe place to visit, and this can be true when mobile browsing as well as being on a PC. Dodgy websites can look to infect your device with malware or other malicious software, installing trackers or keyloggers, with phishing websites looking to scam their victims out of their hard...

When OnePlus teased its OnePlus 11 Concept ahead of MWC 2023 earlier this month, we were quick to speculate that the mysterious device looked more like a gaming PC than a phone .  Well, as it turns out, that assessment wasn’t too far wrong. Having now handled the OnePlus 11 Concept for ourselves at the annual Barcelona trade show, we can confidently say that this phone is indeed the most gaming PC-like handset we’ve ever seen. But hold the applause, because we also know that the OnePlus 11 Concept definitely won’t be earning a spot on our list of the best gaming phones any time soon.  Unfortunately, the OnePlus 11 Concept is just that: a concept. In essence, it’s a prototype version of the OnePlus 11 (you can read our thoughts on that phone in our OnePlus 11 review ) that’s intended to demonstrate how gaming PC-style liquid cooling technology can be applied to future OnePlus smartphones – which is certainly a neat idea, albeit one in the early stages of development. ...

If you're already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously.  As you might imagine, it's hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues , you'll probably need some for Quordle too. I'm a Quordle and Wordle addict who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #399 and bookmark this page so you can easily return tomorrow.  SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.  Quordle today (game #399) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4 *. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometim...

While most of the gadget world celebrates New Year with the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, for the phone world there is Mobile World Congress (MWC), the huge show in Barcelona focused on mobile technology. We're on the ground in Spain covering the latest phone launches and forward-looking technology news, including flashy new devices from Xiaomi and OnePlus, and a race to talk to satellites.  We've already seen the newest phones from Xioami, the Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro, plus the rebadged Xiaomi 13 Lite. These phones made a big splash in Xiaomi's home market of China, and now that they are going global we've gotten a hands-on look.  We're also expecting news from OnePlus, which has been teasing its OnePlus 11 Concept phone for the MWC show. We should have all the details, including whether this is even a phone we'll be able to buy, before the show is over.  We're expecting announcements from almost every major phone maker that isn't Samsu...

Construct this cute arcade machine to play all your favorite games from old consoles. from Wired https://ift.tt/hVawOLA

Reports that the JWST killed the reigning cosmological model have been exaggerated. But there’s still much to learn from the distant galaxies it glimpses. from Wired https://ift.tt/nV6w0FS

This heavy, powerful electric utility bike has an accessible price point and attractive features, but it isn’t our pick for new or lighter riders. from Wired https://ift.tt/yWPtDeT

WIRED's spiritual advice columnist on AI and what may happen if humans can't read code anymore. from Wired https://ift.tt/yl07YVL

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is back, promising a slew of big launches across the phones space including new handsets, new technologies and more.   It's the biggest mobile tech show of the year, when major players from all across the industry get together to show off products, make deals, and check out some of the innovations that will be making their way to consumer devices over the next 12 months. In recent years, we've seen fewer smartphone launches at MWC – these now tend to be at separate events, including Samsung Unpacked – but there will still be a lot of news and announcements coming out of the event across several days. We'll be on the ground at MWC as always, and will be bringing you all the big news as it happens. Ahead of the official start of the event, here are the most exciting launches to look out for. When is MWC 2023? MWC 2023 runs from Monday, February 27 to Thursday, March 2 – though expect most of the big announcements to happen towards the start ...

The CEO of chip giant AMD has said that the high-performance computing (HPC) industry needs to start becoming significantly more efficient, or it will need to turn to nuclear energy. AMD CPU and GPU performance typically double every 2.4 years which is good progress by any means, but power efficiency has not seen such considerable improvements.  Speaking at International Solid-State Circuits Conference, Dr Lisa Su noted that with zettaflop HPCs on the horizon, we should turn our attention to performance per unit of energy in order to make zettaflop computation a reality. Going nuclear According to current trends and assuming that progress doesn’t slow down, AMD reckons that zettaflop computation could be here in about a decade (although Intel reckons it could be here in about half that time). The reality is that when they arrive isn’t as important as when they will become available on a usable, energy-efficient scale. Currently, Su generously estimates that an HPC capable of...

If you're already a Wordle addict then Quordle could be your next must-play game. This spin-off takes the familiar Wordle format and makes it harder by giving you four puzzles to solve simultaneously.  As you might imagine, it's hard! So if you already find yourself searching for Wordle clues , you'll probably need some for Quordle too. I'm a Quordle and Wordle addict who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #398 and bookmark this page so you can easily return tomorrow.  SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.  Quordle today (game #398) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today? • The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4 *. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometim...