Month: February 2024
Lazarus hackers return and hijack a Windows security flaw
North Korean hackers were seen disabling antivirus programs, possibly paving the way for more dangerous attacks.
The infamous Lazarus Group is exploiting a zero-day vulnerability to disable antivirus programs on targeted Windows endpoints, new research has claimed.
Cybersecurity experts from Avast said they observed a new campaign from the North Korean state-sponsored hackers, which now leverages a flaw in the Windows AppLocker driver. This flaw, tracked as CVE-2024-21338, allowed them to gain kernel-level access to the device. They used it to disable any antivirus programs installed on the device, opening the doors for more disruptive malware.
The flaw was found in the appid.sys driver, a component of Windows AppLocker that handles whitelisting.
Who are Lazarus Group?
To exploit the zero-day, Lazarus used a new version of FudModule, its proprietary rootkit which was first spotted in late 2022. In previous attacks, the rootkit abused a Dell driver, in what’s known as Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attack. Now, FudModule is stealthier and more functional, offering more ways to avoid being detected and turn off endpoint protection solutions.
Apparently, the group used it to disable products such as AhnLab V3 Endpoint Security, Windows Defender, CrowdStrike Falcon, and the HitmanPro anti-malware solution.
Avast notified Microsoft of its findings, which released a fix for the flaw as part of its February 2024 Patch Tuesday cumulative update. This is also the only way to remain secure, so applying the patch without hesitation is advised.
Lazarus Group is one of the world’s most prominent, and infamous, cybercriminal organizations. Researchers believe it is under the direct control of the North Korean government, and it often uses its skills for cyber-espionage, but as well as money heists.
The group is known for its “fake job” attacks, where they promote fake jobs on social media sites and engage in multiple rounds of negotiations with potential candidates, usually software developers. One such attack against a cryptocurrency business resulted in the theft of more than half a billion dollars in various crypto tokens.
Via BleepingComputer
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EQ Tickets combines cheaper sports and event tickets with a social network
A startup that aims to combine the ticket-buying experience online with a social network, EQ Tickets, is today emerging out of stealth to help make discovering shows and other live events a more social activity. What’s more, the company promises to offer ticket prices that undercut some of its competitors operating similar secondary ticket marketplaces.
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
A startup that aims to combine the ticket-buying experience online with a social network, EQ Tickets, is today emerging out of stealth to help make discovering shows and other live events a more social activity. What’s more, the company promises to offer ticket prices that undercut some of its competitors operating similar secondary ticket marketplaces. […]
© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.
GitHub besieged by millions of malicious repositories in ongoing attack
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Apple’s self-repair program now covers M3-powered MacBook Pros and iMacs
Apple has been steadily expanding its Self Service Repair program since spinning it up two years ago. Starting today, you can access the tools, parts and repair manuals you need to fix the latest MacBook Pros and iMacs that run on the company’s M3 chips.
As of sometime next month, folks with M3 systems will be able to use Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair on their systems too. The web-based tool gives end users the same capabilities as the company’s authorized service providers and independent repair shops to pinpoint parts that may need to be repaired, as well as to test for “optimal part functionality and performance,” Apple says. The company debuted this tool for iPhone and Mac last year.
On top of that, Apple notes that it’s trying to improve the Mac repair process and make it more efficient through tweaks to system configuration procedures. As of early March, you’ll no longer need to contact its Self Service Repair team to carry out the final step of a repair. However, the team will still be available in case you need a hand.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-self-repair-program-now-covers-m3-powered-macbook-pros-and-imacs-165109070.html?src=rss
Apple has been steadily expanding its Self Service Repair program since spinning it up two years ago. Starting today, you can access the tools, parts and repair manuals you need to fix the latest MacBook Pros and iMacs that run on the company’s M3 chips.
As of sometime next month, folks with M3 systems will be able to use Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair on their systems too. The web-based tool gives end users the same capabilities as the company’s authorized service providers and independent repair shops to pinpoint parts that may need to be repaired, as well as to test for “optimal part functionality and performance,” Apple says. The company debuted this tool for iPhone and Mac last year.
On top of that, Apple notes that it’s trying to improve the Mac repair process and make it more efficient through tweaks to system configuration procedures. As of early March, you’ll no longer need to contact its Self Service Repair team to carry out the final step of a repair. However, the team will still be available in case you need a hand.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apples-self-repair-program-now-covers-m3-powered-macbook-pros-and-imacs-165109070.html?src=rss
Control this car with nothing more than your phone and your eyes
HONOR’s amazing car control experiment is a glimpse of your future phone
How’s this for magic: with nothing more than the HONOR Magic 6 Pro phone, an auto expert controls a full-sized family car simply by looking at the phone’s selfie camera. It’s no trick: HONOR really did this at the MWC exhibition in Barcelona, and it’s a glimpse of the future. With powerful phones, incredible AI and accurate eye-tracking, controlling cars is just the start.
You can check out the video below:
What’s so incredible about HONOR’s AI
The same tech that HONOR used to control the car could soon be used for our everyday apps. Imagine scrolling through a recipe with your eyes when your hands are busy preparing dinner, or opening a message with your eyes while steering your shopping cart through a supermarket. And that’s just the beginning of what AI is going to bring to our phones.
There are no tricks here, no gimmicks, no CGI: just the HONOR Magic Pro 6, its AI and its eye tracking. By tracking which bit of the screen you look at, the phone enables you to send commands to the car instantly: engine on, engine off, move forward and move backward. And there’s no need to worry about accidentally sending commands by mistake either: the eye tracking can tell the difference between a deliberate gaze and an accidental glance.
The Magic Portal that’ll power up your phone
(Image credit: HONOR)
That’s because the Magic Portal understands intent: not just what app you’re in but what you want to do. Instead of you having to carry out multiple steps to get things done, Magic Portal knows what the most likely goals will be and shows you the most appropriate options. It’s like having a personal assistant that knows exactly what you want, whenever you want it, wherever you need it. Imagine Iron Man’s Jarvis – but without you having to clomp about in a giant metal suit.
One of HONOR’s latest innovations is called the Magic Portal, and it’s an AI-powered feature that can understand what you’re trying to do and make it happen. So for example if you wanted to drag content from a website and share it on your socials, or see if a really nice bag is available on eBay, or get your friend’s address from your messaging app, send it to Maps and start navigation straight away, the Magic Portal would do all of that instantly and effortlessly.
(Image credit: HONOR)
The future of phones knows just what you need
At the moment, most smartphones rely primarily on screen taps and simple voice commands. But as HONOR is demonstrating with its MagicOS 8.0, the phones of the future will pay much more attention and respond much more intelligently. They’ll listen to your words, they’ll track your eyes and they’ll look at your fingers to automatically identify not just what you’re doing but what you want to do.
The difference between what HONOR is demonstrating and what existing tech offers is that HONOR’s MagicOS has what the firm calls a “multimodal intent recognition engine”. That uses multiple sensors to track your gestures, follow your eye position and to listen to your voice in real time with incredible accuracy.
That enables your phone to know exactly what you’re doing, and to pass that information directly to the Magic Live AI Engine. That’s where the magic of MagicOS lives: it’s an enormously powerful and incredibly clever AI system that can turn those inputs into action, whether that’s sending an image to an app, adjusting the text as you read or controlling an entire car.
(Image credit: HONOR)
We’ve seen the future, and it’s looking good
What’s really exciting about this is that MagicOS will also be able to lend that power to all kinds ofapps – the apps you use to communicate with your friends or family, the apps that you use for work or for travel, the apps that you use for entertainment and adventure. By enabling your apps to understand you better, HONOR is paving the way for the next generation of apps – apps that’ll make life easier, more interesting and a lot more fun.
Click here to find out more about HONOR’s amazing car experiment, its innovative MagicOS and how AI and intent analysis will transform the way we use our phones – and maybe our cars too.
Adobe previews cutting-edge generative AI tools for custom audio
Adobe has announced new experimental generative AI tools the company hopes will revolutionize how people create and edit custom audio.
The post Adobe previews cutting-edge generative AI tools for custom audio appeared first on ReadWrite.
Adobe has announced new experimental generative AI tools the company hopes will revolutionize how people create and edit custom audio.
Called Project Music GenAI Control, the tools allow users to generate original music simply by providing text prompts. Users can then finely edit the AI-generated audio to fit their exact needs.
The new tools build on Adobe’s Firefly image generation system which has already been used to create over six billion images. Adobe says Project Music GenAI Control makes generative AI a “co-creator” that assists people in crafting customized music and audio for projects like podcasts and videos.
Explore the future of sonic creativity with Project Music GenAI Control! Emerging experimental tech from the Adobe Research team can create audio tracks using text prompts and even transform your music based on reference melodies. Learn more: https://t.co/hy9J4qOXfO pic.twitter.com/6HBBIxsptF
— Adobe (@Adobe) February 28, 2024
“With Project Music GenAI Control, generative AI becomes your co-creator. It helps people craft music for their projects, whether they’re broadcasters, or podcasters, or anyone else who needs audio that’s just the right mood, tone, and length,” says Nicholas Bryan, Senior Research Scientist at Adobe Research and one of the creators of the technologies.
How does Adobe’s Project Music GenAI Control work?
After entering a text prompt like “suspenseful rock” or “cheerful pop”, the AI generates a unique audio clip. A simple interface then allows for granular editing changes – transforming melodies, adjusting tempo and song structure, extending length, remixing sections, and more. This gives users pixel-level control similar to Photoshop but for audio waveforms instead of images.
The tools aim to solve workflow issues around producing custom intro/outro music and background audio. Rather than manually editing existing songs, Project Music GenAI Control makes it easy to generate precisely what you need.
The technology was developed alongside researchers from UC San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University. The research team claims AI co-creation can enhance human creativity rather than replace it. Time will tell if that is the case.
Adobe says transparency and ethics are crucial, so AI-generated content will include “nutrition label” metadata showing its origins.
Featured image: Adobe
The post Adobe previews cutting-edge generative AI tools for custom audio appeared first on ReadWrite.
DLSS? FSR? Microsoft aims to end the PC gaming upscaling wars with “DirectSR”
Currently, game developers need to support each upscaling method individually.
Enlarge / Midrange GPUs like AMD’s Radeon RX 7600 or Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 4060 can benefit a lot from DLSS and FSR upscaling, which can improve image quality and framerates beyond what the hardware can render natively. (credit: Andrew Cunningham)
One of the most interesting developments in 3D gaming in the last half-decade or so is the advent of advanced upscaling technologies—features like Nvidia’s Deep-Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR), and Intel’s Xe Super Sampling (XeSS). These technologies all aim to provide better, sharper image quality when playing at non-native resolutions, and when they’re working well, they can boost frame rates and help squeeze a bit more life out of an older or lower-end GPU.
The problem has been that game developers need to actually support these technologies in their games, and it’s incumbent on developers to support each individual upscaling technology. DLSS usually looks a bit better than FSR, but it requires an Nvidia GPU; FSR works on just about anything but doesn’t look quite as good. (Intel’s XeSS exists somewhere in the middle, in that it works with any modern GPU but looks best when it can leverage Intel’s GPU hardware).
Microsoft is stepping in to try to straighten up this muddle of conceptually similar, executionally different technologies with a new API called DirectSR (the SR is for Super Resolution). The new API was announced in a blog post about Microsoft’s 2024 Game Developers Conference sessions, and it was developed by Microsoft “in partnership with GPU hardware vendors.”
‘Anyone Rooting Against Self-driving Cars is Cheering For Tens of Thousands of Deaths, Year After Year’
Journalist Eric Newcomer, writing at The Free Press: There was a time when I believed that self-driving cars should be held to the standard of airplanes. Every mistake needed to be rigorously understood and any human death was unforgivable. But my view has evolved over time as human drivers have continued to kill tens of thousands of people a year. We need a solution that’s meaningfully better than human drivers, yes, but we shouldn’t wait for perfection before we start getting dangerous human drivers off the streets.
Lost in all the fulminating about automation and big-tech tyranny is the fact that self-driving cars are an attempt to solve a very serious problem. Traffic fatalities are a leading cause of death in the United States for anyone between the ages of 1 and 54. About 40,000 people die in car crashes a year in the U.S., with about one-third involving drunk drivers. There’s a natural, though irrational, human bias toward the status quo. We tend to believe that things are the way they are for a good reason. But of course, technology has drastically improved human lives and human life spans already. Why stop now that more powerful computer chips and sophisticated artificial intelligence models open up new possibilities?
[…] Leaving aside seething hostility toward tech and private capital, and worries over job losses, the most credible objection to self-driving cars from the left is the fear that deploying them means doubling down on roads and sprawl, and undermining support for public transportation projects. But there’s no reason self-driving cars and public transportation need to be at odds. They can fulfill different needs. Autonomous vehicles are being deployed in San Francisco in fleets through ride-hailing programs, reducing the need for personal car ownership. If we can get self-driving cars working, self-driving buses on regular routes should be even easier.
And contrary to the view that driverless cars are being deployed unilaterally by tech billionaires, the people’s representatives — government officials — gave Alphabet-owned Waymo a license to operate. Our roads and motor vehicles are tightly regulated. Single incidents have derailed self-driving car projects, from Uber and more recently, GM-owned Cruise, while human drivers kill tens of thousands a year unimpeded.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Journalist Eric Newcomer, writing at The Free Press: There was a time when I believed that self-driving cars should be held to the standard of airplanes. Every mistake needed to be rigorously understood and any human death was unforgivable. But my view has evolved over time as human drivers have continued to kill tens of thousands of people a year. We need a solution that’s meaningfully better than human drivers, yes, but we shouldn’t wait for perfection before we start getting dangerous human drivers off the streets.
Lost in all the fulminating about automation and big-tech tyranny is the fact that self-driving cars are an attempt to solve a very serious problem. Traffic fatalities are a leading cause of death in the United States for anyone between the ages of 1 and 54. About 40,000 people die in car crashes a year in the U.S., with about one-third involving drunk drivers. There’s a natural, though irrational, human bias toward the status quo. We tend to believe that things are the way they are for a good reason. But of course, technology has drastically improved human lives and human life spans already. Why stop now that more powerful computer chips and sophisticated artificial intelligence models open up new possibilities?
[…] Leaving aside seething hostility toward tech and private capital, and worries over job losses, the most credible objection to self-driving cars from the left is the fear that deploying them means doubling down on roads and sprawl, and undermining support for public transportation projects. But there’s no reason self-driving cars and public transportation need to be at odds. They can fulfill different needs. Autonomous vehicles are being deployed in San Francisco in fleets through ride-hailing programs, reducing the need for personal car ownership. If we can get self-driving cars working, self-driving buses on regular routes should be even easier.
And contrary to the view that driverless cars are being deployed unilaterally by tech billionaires, the people’s representatives — government officials — gave Alphabet-owned Waymo a license to operate. Our roads and motor vehicles are tightly regulated. Single incidents have derailed self-driving car projects, from Uber and more recently, GM-owned Cruise, while human drivers kill tens of thousands a year unimpeded.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
No More Texting? Yolk.fm raises $1.25M for text-free social app to make messaging fun and engaging
Since Friedhelm Hillebrand invented short message service (SMS) four decades ago, text messages have become essential parts of our everyday lives, with people checking their mobile phones frequently and almost immediately. Globally, approximately 23 billion text messages are sent every day.
The post No More Texting? Yolk.fm raises $1.25M for text-free social app to make messaging fun and engaging first appeared on Tech Startups.
Since Friedhelm Hillebrand invented short message service (SMS) four decades ago, text messages have become essential parts of our everyday lives, with people checking their mobile phones frequently and almost immediately. Globally, approximately 23 billion text messages are sent every day. […]
The post No More Texting? Yolk.fm raises $1.25M for text-free social app to make messaging fun and engaging first appeared on Tech Startups.
Quick! The best TV deal of 2024 just dropped – save over $1,000 on LG’s 65-inch C3 OLED
I’ve just spotted the best TV deal of 2024 at Amazon – get LG’s stunning 65-inch C3 OLED on sale for a new record-low price of $1,393.35.
The best TV deal of 2024 just dropped at Amazon, and no, I’m not exaggerating. I just spotted LG’s stunning and highly-rated 65-inch C3 OLED TV on sale for $1,393.35 (was $2,499.99) when you apply the additional $203.64 at check out. That’s a total savings of $1,106.64, a new record-low price, and an incredible deal for a feature-packed OLED display.
The LG C3 OLED TV is a successor to last year’s best-rated TV, the LG C2, and includes upgrades such as the brand’s latest and greatest image processor, the Alpha9 Gen6 chip – which delivers a gorgeous picture with improved brightness and contrast. The LG C3 also packs a new webOS experience and four HDMI 2.1 ports, which gamers will love for next-gen consoles, plus Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos support inside an ultra-thin, sleek design.
This is the best TV deal of the year because you’re getting a gorgeous, high-end OLED display at an incredible price. This limited-time offer from Amazon beats the current deal at Walmart and Best Buy, and we don’t know how long the retailer will have the LG C3 OLED at this record-low price.
The best TV deal of 2024 – LG’s C3 OLED
LG C3 65-inch OLED TV (2023): was $2,499.99 now $1,393.35 at Amazon
Amazon now has the highly-rated LG 65-inch C3 OLED TV on sale for $1,393.35 when you apply the additional $203.64 coupon at checkout. That’s a total savings of $1,106.64 and a new record-low price, making it the best TV deal I’ve spotted this year. The stunning OLED TV features a brilliant picture with bright colors and powerful contrast, thanks to LG’s latest Alpha9 Gen6 chip. Plus, you’re getting four HDMI 2.1 ports for the best gaming experience on next-gen consoles, a sleek, thin design, and an updated webOS experience.
Price check: Best Buy – $1,699.99 Walmart – $1,689.99View Deal
More OLED TV deals
Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV: was $2,099.99 now $1,699.99 at Best Buy
The Samsung S90C OLED is TechRadar’s best TV of the year, and Best Buy has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,699.99. That’s the best deal you can find right now and $100 more than the record-low price. Our Samsung S90C review awarded this one five stars, praising its gorgeous picture, extensive gaming features, and super slim design.View Deal
LG C2 65-Inch 4K Smart TV (2022): was $1,899.99 now $1,396.99 at Amazon
The LG C2 OLED was rated as last year’s best TV, and Amazon has the 65-inch model on sale for $1,396.99. The gorgeous display is praised for its intense brightness and vivid colors in our LG C2 OLED review. The 65-inch TV also packs an a9 Gen5 AI Processor, Dolby Atmos, and voice control – all for under $1,400.View Deal
Hisense 65-Inch U6 Series 4K TV: was $749.99 now $549.99 at Amazon
If you’re looking for a big-screen budget display, you can’t get much better than this 65-inch Hisense 4K TV on sale for $549.99. In our Hisense U6 Series review, we praised it for its excellent picture quality at an affordable price. You also get support for both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ for improved colors, plus the Google Assistant for hands-free voice control, and Game Mode Plus for a smooth gaming experience on PS5 and Xbox Series X.View Deal
Samsung 75-inch 4K Smart Tizen TV (2022): was $749.99 now $549.99 at Best Buy
This Samsung Crystal 4K smart TV is a Best Buy top-seller, and the retailer has the 75-inch model on sale for $549.99. That’s the best deal you can find for this specific model and an incredible price for a 75-inch 4K TV. The Samsung display packs a solid ‘Crystal’ UHD 4K processor, an easy-to-use Tizen operating system, and full HDR support.View Deal
LG B3 Series 77-inch OLED TV: was $2,899.99 now $1,999.99 at Best Buy
If you’re looking for a massive display, Best Buy has LG’s 77-inch B3 OLED TV on sale for $1,999.99. The LG B3 not only features a gorgeous display (120Hz refresh rate, 8.3 million self-lit pixels) that provides rich contrast and color, but the LG B3 also comes with Nvidia G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and VRR built-in. There are also four HDMI 2.1 ports, making it perfect for gaming.View Deal
You can see more of the best cheap TV deals and OLED TV deals happening right now.