Cybersecurity company Trend Micro has uncovered details of a new type of ransomware it found targeting the Windows ‘Everything’ search tool to attack English and Russian-speaking Windows users.
The malware was first observed back in June 2022, and has been “deleting shadow copies, terminating multiple applications and services, and abusing Everything32.dll functions to query target files that are to be encrypted.”
The researchers also found that some of the code is shared with the notorious Conti ransomware, which was leaked in early 2022 after a host of high-profile attacks.
Mimic Windows Everything
Trend Micro has denoted the ‘Mimic’ name to the ransomware, which it says is based on a string it found in its binaries.
It notes how Mimic arrives at an affected user’s computer as an executable (though it’s not confirmed if this is via email, a download, etc), which “drops multiple binaries and a password-protected archive (disguised as Everything64.dll)”.
The findings uncover that the attack is largely made up of legitimate files, however one file contains the malicious payloads.
Trend Micro says this combination of multiple running threads and the way it abuses Everything’s APIs allows it to run with minimal resource usage, resulting in a more efficient execution and attack.
The solution? As ever, the company reckons a multilayered approach will provide the best security, including applying data protection, backup, and recovery measures, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments, and patching systems as soon as security updates become available.
There’s also a whole range of software designed to prevent and deal with attacks on personal and business computers for an additional layer of protection.
I’ve never finished the single-player part of GoldenEye, even though I’ve been playing it since 1999 – and that’s mainly due to how good the multiplayer side is. For so long now, I’ve had to dig out a Nintendo 64 and four controllers just to play Rare’s game from 1997 with friends to grab the golden gun, but finally, that’s no more.
However, with the game available to play on any device that can run Game Pass from the cloud, such as the Steam Deck and Android handhelds, I thought I’d try out GoldenEye on an iPad Pro with my 8BitDo Pro 2 controller connected, and I was blown away by how far we’ve come in the 25 years since the game’s release.
Move over Tina Turner
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Although my dog Jolly likes to wake me up early, today I didn’t mind, as I could try out the game on both Switch and iPad. Oddly, the control scheme on the Switch is clunky, with the left trigger for fire, and just one analog stick to control your movement.
Yet on iPad via Xbox Cloud it’s a treat, with dual-analog control that reminded me of Halo, and the fire action correctly placed on the right trigger of my 8BitDo Pro 2. Connecting to 5G and Wi-Fi wasn’t an issue with GamePass – while the latency wasn’t as good as my experience with GeForce Now, I completed the first three levels with no issue.
As Xbox Cloud also has touch controls, playing with these on the first level wasn’t as big an issue as I expected either – everything worked as intended, and if some buttons were too far apart, I could easily customize them to bring them closer.
However, as I played the game on my iPad, I’m reminded how much of a challenge this must have been for Nintendo, its original publisher, Rare its developer, and MGM, the owner of the rights to James Bond.
There was a remaster being developed for the Xbox 360 toward the end of the noughties, but allegedly rights issues got in the way, and it was scrapped. This one is a different effort it seems – while there’s native widescreen here, none of the textures and graphics have been redone to cater to HD televisions.
But that doesn’t matter – I can now play the single-player campaign on my iPad, and play multiplayer, both offline and online with my Switch, wherever I am, and that’s glorious to me.
Now if Rare can look to bring Perfect Dark and Blast Corps to the same platforms again, that would be great and I wouldn’t ask for anything more, apart from a remaster of Tomb Raider II from 1997 perhaps.
Intel has announced its end-of-year figures for 2022, revealing that its total annual revenue was $63.1 billion, down 20% from $79 billion in 2021, with net income and earnings per share both down 60% compared with the year prior.
The fourth fiscal quarter of 2022 was also a tough period for the company, which reported a 32% drop in revenue during the three-month period, but even so, it was a time of testing boundaries.
A partnership with Asus saw the company push its 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K processor past the 9GHz mark, while the family of 13th Gen Intel Core K Series processors became available for desktops.
Intel forecasts for 2023
Despite officially posting what was one of the worst performing years in a long time, it’s clear that the company remains optimistic. In Q1 2023, Intel released its latest-generation Xeon Scalable processors with performance computing and servers in mind.
“Despite the economic and market headwinds, we continued to make good progress on our strategic transformation in Q4, including advancing our product roadmap and improving our operational structure and processes to drive efficiencies while delivering at the low-end of our guided range,” said Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger.
It’s Gelsinger’s next words that give us a glimmer of hope, though, as he continued to explain that the tech giant will continue to navigate the short-term challenges to meet its long-term commitments.
There’s no denying that a tough period remains ahead of us, but Intel’s prediction that this is a short-term struggle should see things return to some sort of normality sooner rather than later… we hope.
A majority of people remain wary of AI-generated content, with many still not sure when they see it, and want to know when it is presented them.
TechRadar Pro surveyed 1,000 people regarding AI-produced content to see how often they are exposed to it and how they feel about it.
Over half of our respondents said that they wanted content written by AI – such as news, reviews and features – to be clearly labelled as such, and when asked how often they had been come across AI-produced content, a third said they weren’t sure.
Exposure and transparency
Another third said that they were exposed to such content every day, and a fifth encountered it every month. Only 8.7% said that they hadn’t come across AI-produced content recently.
In considering what constituted AI-produced content, most felt it had to be the work of artificial intelligence either entirely or to a large degree (43.1% and 47.4% respectively). Only 9.5% thought it had to have only minimal input from AI.
Given the amount of content people are exposed to that is generated by AI, its no wonder they want to have it confirmed, especially when popular AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are capable of writing content in various styles which can be indistinguishable from that crafted by humans.
What’s more, AI has been known to get things wrong. This is yet another reason why people want to know when when the content they read is AI-generated. Their judgment and trust in it will alter depending on that fact, just as people naturally judge a piece of content’s validity based on its source and who it was written by.
Popular tech site CNET recently started experimenting with an AI engine to write certain articles on its site, causing outrage as it didn’t exactly disclose the fact in a transparent fashion. Also, articles that were written by it contained some pretty basic errors.
The popular chatbot ChatGPT fairs no better when it comes to factual accuracy. Its fumbles so far include getting basic geographical facts wrong (opens in new tab)and giving coding advice so erroneous that it was banned altogether from Stack Overflow.
Of the other opinions concerning AI content, a fifth of respondents said they were fine with it and didn’t care whether or not its creator was made known to them, and only 7.5% thought it was superior to human writers and should be encouraged. 17%, on the other hand, were quite against it, saying autogenerated content should be banned as they felt it crossed an acceptable line.
A while ago, one leak suggested Google might be working on a Pixel Tablet Pro alongside the standard Pixel Tablet, but now it looks like that standard slate has been scrapped, with only the Pro remaining.
This claim comes from Twitter user Kuba Wojciechowski (opens in new tab), who says that the only major difference between the standard Pixel Tablet and the Pixel Tablet Pro is the chipset – with the former using the original Tensor chipset found in the Pixel 6 series, and the Pro using the Tensor G2, found in the Pixel 7 series.
So unless Google is aiming for a budget slate, it makes sense to cancel the Tensor G1-powered model – as it apparently has done – as that would be a too dated by launch time.
As it turns out, Google initially created “tangor” (T6) with a first-generation Tensor chip (as I also leaked before https://t.co/lQJDAz61Re) but then cancelled the project in favour of a Tensor G2-powered “tangorpro” (T6P).January 26, 2023
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Google, for its part, has already confirmed that the Pixel Tablet will use the Tensor G2, so there’s not much new here. We also wouldn’t expect the slate to launch with ‘Pro’ in the name – that element was seemingly used in the codename to differentiate it from the Tensor G1 model but if only one lands, there’s no real need to flag it as a Pro version.
Still, there is some genuinely new stuff here too. The same poster claims to have learned about some additional specs from an anonymous source, saying that the Pixel Tablet apparently has a 1600 x 2560 LCD display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.
There will also apparently be two different docks for the device. One of these – the Charging Speaker Dock – has already been revealed by Google, but there’s apparently also one that just charges it and doesn’t have a speaker. In both cases these allow the slate to double as a smart home display.
Finally, Wojciechowski has included some new images of the Pixel Tablet and one of its docks, but Google has already shown these elements off, so there’s nothing more really new to see.
I have also been provided with a few photos of the device. pic.twitter.com/ctKWQoVDCTJanuary 26, 2023
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Analysis: shaping up to be a OnePlus Pad rival
A recent teaser and specs leaks for the OnePlus Pad suggest that OnePlus’s upcoming Android tablet could be a mid-range device, and what we’re seeing of the Pixel Tablet also points in that direction, so these two slates could be directly competing with each other.
If the leaks above are right, then Google’s has a surprising amount of storage – unless lower capacities are also made available – but otherwise looks to be packing fairly mid-range specs.
It could have the edge over the OnePlus Pad in certain ways, most notably its skills as a smart display, but then the OnePlus Pad may well have an OLED screen – which is typically superior to the LCD rumored here.
OnePlus’s tablet will almost certainly launch sooner too. It’s landing on February 7 alongside the OnePlus 11, while the Pixel Tablet’s launch date is currently unknown.
Keeping your browsing history a secret just got a little easier on Android, as Google Chrome will now hide your Incognito Mode tabs behind a biometric lock
Those of you using one of the best Android phones should be getting an upgrade to your Chrome browser app (if you haven’t already) that will allow you to secure your Incognito Mode tabs behind a fingerprint scan. Once the feature is turned on, whenever you want to return to any open Incognito tabs after a break in browsing the internet you’ll need to pass the biometric scan to see the pages.
If you’re trying to keep your browsing history a secret from other users who might borrow your smartphone – like a partner that you’re buying a present for – this should make it a little easier to keep that information hidden.
Interestingly, Google Chrome users who own one of the best iPhones have been able to take advantage of these biometric locks for almost a year now – well ahead of people using the app on devices running Google’s own OS.
To turn the feature on you’ll need to head to the Chrome browser’s Privacy & Security settings. These are found by pressing the three-dots icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then selecting Settings from the menu that appears, and then Privacy & Security. If you’ve received the update you should see an option to toggle on Lock Incognito tabs when you close Chrome.
The Google blog post (opens in new tab) highlighting the feature says it’s currently “rolling out to Android users”, so it might not be available on your phone just yet – you might need to check back over the next few days to see if you’ve received the update.
Analysis: Still not truly Incognito
While this is certainly going to be a welcome change for many Chrome users, it doesn’t alter the fact that Incognito mode isn’t quite as private as the name suggests.
Sure, the feature allows you to hide your browsing history from other people using the same device, but it doesn’t obscure that data from the view of Google or your internet service provider. Given the name, the misunderstanding is understandable – Google is actually facing a $5bn lawsuit over the issue – but know that the data from your browsing in Incognito Mode doesn’t stay in Incognito Mode.
There are options to keep your info completely hidden though, in the form of one of the best VPN services.
What you really need is ExpressVPN, not Incognito Mode (Image credit: ExpressVPN)
While many people rely on VPNs – short for virtual private network – to bypass geo-locked content so they can more easily watch content such as the best Netflix shows and best Prime video shows in regions they might be locked out from, you can also use these tools to browse the internet anonymously.
A VPN operates by routing your data through its encrypted servers before it goes to the website you’re trying to visit. If you’re also using one of the most private VPNs, which all offer strict no-log policies, then no one along the chain (the VPN provider, the website, your ISP, or your browser) will know anything about your device type, your location, or your browsing history.
Our favorite VPN is Express VPN but there are several great options out there. If you’re looking for an actual Incognito Mode, then these are the apps you need to download.
HBO Max is gearing up to stealthily remove The Dark Knight trilogy from its back catalog.
In a surprising move, HBO Max will no longer carry Christopher Nolan’s iconic Batman film series on its service from Saturday, February 11. That means – at the time of writing – viewers in HBO Max-supported territories have 16 days left to stream some of the best superhero movies of all time. In the UK, the film franchise will still be available to watch on Now TV.
The Dark Knight trilogy – Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises – revived Batman’s big-screen fortunes after two critically panned mid-90s offerings. The trio amassed $2.46 billion cumulatively between 2005 and 2012, winning multiple awards along the way. Surprising no one, Nolan’s films subsequently feature high up in our best Batman movies ranked article.
The Dark Knight is the best Batman movie of all time (Image credit: Warner Bros.)
Nolan’s critically-acclaimed works also helped to usher in the current era of gritter, neo-noir detective-style Batman movies. That includes Ben Affleck’s turn as the Caped Crusader in Zack Snyder’s Justice League (among others) and 2022’s The Batman, which starred Robert Pattinson, while in our review of The Batman, we called it a “stunningly meticulous and tension-filled DCEU movie that doesn’t lose sight of the iconic vigilante’s comic book roots.”
The Dark Knight trilogy‘s forthcoming removal from HBO Max is a strange decision. The films aren’t available to stream on HBO Max’s rivals, such as Netflix or Prime Video. Additionally, none of the world’s best streaming services will become the new home for Nolan’s movies after February 11. The reason for the trio’s impending departure, then, is unclear, as is when they could return to the streaming service.
We’ve reached out to Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which owns HBO Max, for comment, and we’ll update this article if we get a response.
A not-so-super(hero) back catalog
Titans’ run on HBO Max is also drawing to a close (Image credit: Netflix)
The Dark Knight trilogy isn’t the only superhero project whose time on HBO Max is coming to an end.
Yesterday (January 25), it was confirmed that two of the best HBO Max shows – Titans and Doom Patrol – would end after their fourth seasons have aired. The comic book entities made the jump to HBO Max after their original home, aka DC Universe, was shuttered in January 2021. However, despite their popularity, The Hollywood Reporter (opens in new tab) (THR) revealed that neither show would be moving forward once their fourth seasons conclude.
In a statement, an HBO Max spokesperson told THR: “While these will be the final seasons of Titans and Doom Patrol, we are very proud of these series and excited for fans to see their climactic endings.
“We are grateful to Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for making such thrilling, action-packed, heartfelt series. We thank Titans showrunner Greg Walker, executive producers Greg Berlanti, Akiva Goldsman, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Richard Hatem, and the team at Weed Road Pictures. For Doom Patrol, we celebrate showrunner Jeremy Carver and executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Geoff Johns, Chris Dingess and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson.
“For four seasons, fans have fallen in love with the Titans and Doom Patrol, investing in their trials and tribulations, and in their legendary battles saving the world time and time again.”
Doom Patrol season 4 will be the show’s final instalment. (Image credit: DC Universe/StarzPlay)
In the aftermath of WBD’s announcement, online rumors suggested that the pair were being canned as a result of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new plan for the DC cinematic universe (DCU). However, Gunn took to Twitter to confirm this wasn’t the case, adding that the decision to end the shows “precedes us [myself and Safran]”.
The decision to end the series precedes us. But I certainly wish the best for the talented group of creators, actors, and the rest of the crew that produced both shows. https://t.co/jdqDc9TqU1January 26, 2023
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Regardless, The Dark Knight trilogy‘s forthcoming departure, plus the end of Titans and Doom Patrol, means HBO Max’s superhero back catalog won’t be as strong as it’s previously been.
Sure, there are still plenty of superhero movies and shows to stream on the platform, such as Joker, Wonder Woman, and Teen Titans. But, considering that Nolan’s films and the aforementioned shows are incredibly popular, it seems like a misstep to remove them from, and bring their to an end, on HBO Max respectively.
But, given that Nolan’s films and the aforementioned shows are incredibly popular, it seems like a misstep on the part of HBO Max to remove the former entirely, and bring the latter’s runs to an end.
One of the most irritating (and slightly painful) parts of joining a Microsoft Teams call could soon be fixed by a new update.
The video conferencing service is a popular choice for many companies, meaning calls with large numbers of participants joining at the same time, and from the same location (such as a meeting room) are a common occurrence.
However, often when multiple people join a meeting in the same room, a feedback loop is created, which causes echo, which in most cases quickly escalates to howling – with Microsoft likening the noise to when a musician holds the mic too close to a loudspeaker.
Teams’ howling
Fortunately, a new fix is coming for Microsoft Teams users. In its entry in the official Microsoft 365 roadmap (opens in new tab), the new “Ultrasound Howling Detection” describes how it aims to prevent this noise for users on Windows and Mac across the world.
Microsoft says that the update should mean if multiple users on laptops join from the same location, it will share with the user that another Teams Device is detected in their vicinity and is already joined with audio to the current meeting.
If a user has already joined with their audio on, Microsoft Teams will automatically mute the mic and speakers of any new the person who then joins the call, hopefully putting an end to the howling and screeching feedback.
Thankfully, the update is already listed as being in development, with an expected general availability date of March 2023, so users shouldn’t have to wait too long to enjoy.
The new updates are the result of using a machine learning model trained on 30,000 hours of speech samples, and include echo cancellation, better adjusting audio in poor acoustic environments, and allowing users to speak and hear at the same time without interruptions.
Retaining users’ trust is the first element when it comes to privacy. The best VPN providers, those responsible for building the software meant to protect anonymity online, know this very well.
So, just weeks after NordVPN passed its third no-logs audit, another VPN service called an external cybersecurity company to verify it actually treats subscribers’ data as it claims.
As its most recent initiative to promote transparency, our favorite cheap VPN app Surfshark has just aced an independent no-logs audit.
After a thorough inspection of Surfshark’s IT systems, industry-leading auditing firm Deloitte confirmed that the provider complies with the data-handling practices stated in its privacy policy (opens in new tab).
While Surfshark’s security infrastructure has already been verified in the past, this is the first time the provider has undergone such an audit on its privacy statement.
Surfshark’s no-logs policy — more than just words! Auditing firm @Deloitte confirms that we have both the means and the will to carry it out. That’s another proof of us valuing our customers’ privacy! https://t.co/Q28xlVk2GMJanuary 25, 2023
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Evidence of top privacy and quality standards
“Working in an industry that highly relies on trust and transparency, we understand that it takes more than just words to validate our efforts,” commented Surfshark’s VPN Product Owner Justas Pukys.
“The positive result from Deloitte’s no-logs assurance report provides factual evidence to our users and future customers that Surfshark operates on the highest privacy and quality standards.”
A strict no-log policy is one of the most important features for a truly private VPN provider. It’s the users’ sole guarantee that no identifiable information is ever retained about their online activities.
Subscribing to a trustworthy no-log VPN is vital to make sure that even if a hacker or government manages to seize the service, no sensitive data can be leaked. That’s simply because such details won’t exist in the first place.
Deloitte conducted its assurance procedures between November 21 and December 2 last year.
To successfully verify Surfshark’s privacy claims, the auditing experts closely reviewed Surfshark server’s configuration and deployment process, while conducting interviews with responsible employees.
They also checked whether or not the relevant IT systems are designed to match the company’s privacy policy. These include both its standard VPN servers, static IP and MultiHop structure.
More details about Deloitte’s audit can be found here (opens in new tab).
“Based on the procedures performed and the evidence obtained, in our opinion, the configuration of IT systems and management of the supporting IT operations is properly prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with Surfshark’s description of its no-logs policy,” concludes the report.
Showing a continuous effort to transparency, Pukys from Surfshark said: “We will continue to perform various audits and tests to get independent verification of our security and privacy measures.”
Airtel rolled out its 5G service in Jammu and Srinagar last month. The company has now expanded its 5G footprint in seven cities of Jammu and Kashmir. The telecom operator has rolled out the Airtel 5G Plus service in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur & Khour. Customers with 5G-enabled smartphones can access Airtel 5G service at the above-mentioned locations. Airtel users must remember that they don’t need a new SIM card to access the 5G services. Subscribers can avail of the 5G services on their existing 4G SIM. Also, presently the telecom operator is offering 5G services at no additional cost. So, the users don’t have to pay extra money to access Airtel 5G Plus.
Commenting on the launch, Adarsh Verma, COO, Bharti Airtel, Jammu, Kashmir & Ladakh said, “Connectivity to our customers in the Valley is in line with our commitment to bridge the digital divide and connect communities who need it the most. I am thrilled to announce the launch of Airtel 5G Plus in Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Akhnoor, Kupwara, Lakhanpur & Khour. Customers in these cities can now experience ultrafast network and enjoy speeds upto 20-30 times faster than the current 4G speeds. We are in the process of lighting up the entire Union territory which will allow customers to enjoy superfast access to High-definition video streaming, gaming, multiple chatting, instant uploading of photos and more.”
Download the Airtel Thank app to check 5G availability in your area Airtel has also updated its Thanks app which now allows users to check the 5G compatibility of their smartphone. Users can also check the availability of Airtel 5G Plus in their location with the help of the app. Just make sure that you have a 5G-enabled handset to use the 5G services. Also, you can click here to check our brand-wise guide on how to enable 5G on your smartphone.
