Security News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

In the world of cybersecurity, the market for zero-day exploits is booming, with prices skyrocketing for hacks targeting popular devices and software. Crowdfense, a startup specializing in acquiring and reselling zero-day vulnerabilities, recently unveiled its latest pricing list, revealing staggering sums for exploits targeting iPhones, iMessage, and more.

Sunbird, once infamous for its security flaws while attempting to bring iMessage to Android, is making a comeback. Despite its troubled past, Sunbird has announced its plans to relaunch its iMessage for Android services on April 5.

During this week, Apple’s Chief Executive Tim Cook sold 196,410 shares of the company’s stock. Based on the average sale price of the transaction, the total value of these shares is $33.2 million, which is a massive payday for the CEO of the world’s most valuable company, but he will not pocket the entire amount.

Samsung generated an abysmal $556.5 million in operating profit when it announced its Q1 2023 earnings call, resulting in an eye-watering 96 percent decline compared to the previous quarter. At the time, it appeared that the best days were behind the company, but mimicking Huawei’s comeback, the Korean giant quickly phased past all the negatives and expects to post a whopping 931 percent profit in its upcoming Q1 2024 financials.

Venture capital firm A16Z Games has invested $75 million into its third annual accelerator for pre-seed game startups.

If you're a Nintendo fan, you may be aware of a certain incident that occurred last year that caused both Nintendo Live 2024 and the Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals to be canceled, with the company claiming that it couldn't ensure the safety of guests or staff if they were to go ahead. That was down to anonymous "threatening behavior" that targeted Nintendo staff, which eventually extended to Splatoon Koshien 2023 National Finals audience members.

One of the big stories of the past year has been the collapse of Embracer Group, as the failure to secure a major $2 billion investment resulted in the company cutting loose several major studios, either by selling or shuttering them, and laying off 1,400 employees. One of the studios Embracer let go of was Saber Interactive, which was sold to new company Beacon Interactive for a relatively meager $247 million (Embracer originally paid $525 million for them). You’d think the head of Saber might be bitter about this, but instead the company’s founder Matthew Karch is still singing Embracer’s praises in a new GamesIndustry.biz interview.

Dataminers have found a new Nintendo patent, that solves a common issue for Nintendo Switch owners.

The recent warning issued by the Indian government has put Apple iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Vision Pro headset users on high alert due to a critical vulnerability identified in their devices. The warning, issued by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), emphasizes the risk associated with remote code execution.

A mysterious found footage short titled Exposure shot entirely on home security cameras has randomly appeared on YouTube, and it's the most terrifying thing we have seen today. 

In recent years, there have been instances when governments around the world have asked Apple to aid in their investigations by unlocking the accused's iPhone, with some of them even approaching the court in a bid to convince Apple to follow their instructions. The company also revealed that it had indeed cooperated with governments in about 70 such past instances. However, in recent times, Apple has simply denied the requests, suggesting the importance it gives to privacy.

Helldiver's 2's latest, most relentless campaign continues as «Operation Swift Disassembly» develops. This time, the mission objective is nothing less than the complete eradication of the Automatons for good. And while the war is still far from over, lovers of liberty can sleep soundly tonight, comforted by the joyous news that Malevelon Creek is finally free of the machine menace.

Microsoft has unveiled the Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, an upcoming Xbox Wireless Controller colorway that features an attractive smokey green design.

Developer Certain Affinity is laying off 25 members of staff.

Certain Affinity, the support studio for Halo Infinite, has announced it will be laying off 25 employees; 10% of its workforce.

The advancement in technology, while making our lives easier, has also given rise to a new type of threat - cyber threat. Threat actors are committing fraud using the latest means such as QR codes and artificial intelligence (AI). The ICICI Bank has issued an advisory, urging citizens to be vigilant of a scam involving malicious files and links that could drain their bank accounts, dealing them financial blows.

It appears that Gmail and Microsoft 365 accounts are in danger because of a newly discovered phishing kit that could put your accounts in a lot of danger. Now, most of our accounts are protected by two-factor authentication, and for the most part, it is one of the safest ways to prevent anything wrong from happening to your account. However, Tycoon 2FA, which is a new adversary in the middle, is now a threat to both of the aforementioned accounts.

The NDTV Gadgets360 Awards created a new history in the tech space. After a break of seven years, the most prestigious awards were back to decide the winners in 25 categories, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, Smart TVs, wearables, and more. The event was filled with excitement and nervousness, all eying to see who won India's most coveted awards. We all thank our jury members and our dear readers for selecting the winners in an unbiased way. So, without wasting much time, let's see the Winners of this year's NDTV Gadgets360 Awards. 

Easter is coming early this year, which means Easter sales are available to shop right now from all your favorite retailers like Godeal24. To help you find all the best offers in one place, this guide is here with the best 2024 Easter sales and stand-out deals for MS Software keys - Godeal24 Easter Deals. Windows 11 Pro is built for business. Simple and flexible management - Windows 11 Pro is user-friendly and flexible: connect to business resources with Azure Active Directory. Windows 11 Pro from Godeal24 is no longer out of reach.

AT&T has taken swift action to reset customer account passcodes following the disclosure of a data breach dating back to 2019. The breach, affecting a staggering 73 million current and former users, marks a significant security lapse for the telecom giant, with leaked data including sensitive personal information such as names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and social security numbers.

The government has issued a warning urging citizens to be cautious when using public phone charging stations in places like airports, cafes, hotels, and bus stands. The advisory comes amidst growing concerns over the "USB charger scam," a tactic cybercriminals use to exploit unsuspecting individuals who rely on these stations while on the move.

In a world where privacy is necessary, iOS users have long awaited a solution to safeguard and conceal their apps. While Face ID and Touch ID offer some protection, not every app supports these features, leaving gaps in security. Enter "App Lock" – a straightforward yet robust app designed to fortify your iPhone and iPad privacy. Let's explore how this innovative tool works and why it's a game-changer for iOS users.

U.S enhances restrictions on AI chip exports to China; US Congress enforces ban on Microsoft's AI Copilot for staff usage; CPI(M) introduces AI anchor 'Samata' for upcoming Lok Sabha elections; NYC to pilot AI gun scanners in the subway; All this, and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

A recent report hinted at the arrival of new iPad Pro and iPad Air models from tech giant Apple, which were reportedly scheduled for late March or early April. However, an update suggests a potential delay in the launch, pushing it to May, reported 91mobiles. Here's a look at what we can expect from the next Apple iPads.

The Samsung Galaxy M55 5G is the latest Samsung smartphone to gather hype online, with rumors and leaks circulating about its upcoming launch. Recent leaks have given information on its design and critical specs, implying an upcoming release.

TimeSplitters Rewind — the fan-made recreation of TimeSplitters 1, 2 and 3's multiplayer, which has been in development since 2013 — has reemerged with its first update video in over the year, offering a fresh look at the project and an urgent call for assistance as its developers find themselves in an «incredibly challenging space» due to the current state of the industry.

Two new weapons have been added to Helldivers 2, with players now able to grab themselves a new Heavy Machine Gun and powerful new Quasar Cannon as support weapon stratagems.

Sega has announced another 240 job cuts for its UK-based studios, and is selling off Company of Heroes developer Relic Entertainment, with the studio now going independent.

Japanese publishing giant Sega is selling strategy specialist Relic Entertainment as part of yet another huge shakeup.

Poco's newest offering for budget users, the Poco C61 goes on sale in India today. This smartphone is designed to redefine the budget segment by offering exceptional performance, stylish design, and an unbeatable price point, enhancing the overall smartphone experience for users.

Today, workers at Sega of America union AEGIS-CWA have announced they have ratified their first contract with Sega, less than a year after their recognition as a legal union.

In order to get your Sparks of Awakening in Season 4, players will need to complete a weekly open world quest which seems to rotate from week to week!

Cyber threats aren’t just an abstract thing that affects big companies and financial institutions. In fact, from 2020 to 2022, Canadians who experienced cybersecurity incidents increased from 58 percent to 70 percent in 2022, according to Statistics Canada, which explains how important your operating system is! MS Windows 11 Pro, chosen by most people, is the most popular operating system. Windows 11 Pro takes a proactive approach to safeguarding your PC. The inclusion of BitLocker, Microsoft's encryption tool, ensures that your data remains secure, even in the event of a device theft or loss. Virtualization-based security (VBS) and Windows Defender Antivirus further fortify your system against evolving cyber threats. For businesses handling sensitive information, these security features make Windows 11 Pro an indispensable choice.

Intel's next-generation Battlemage "Xe2-HPG" GPUs have potentially been spotted within the SiSoftware Sandra database.

WhatsApp is on the brink of a groundbreaking shift in user interaction by integrating Meta AI directly into its search bar. This bold move promises to streamline access to AI assistance within the app, eliminating the need for users to navigate to a separate Meta AI conversation.

AI roundup: While multiple sectors have been integrating AI into their products, a new study highlights that generative AI has the potential to revamp the healthcare sector in India. It is predicted to improve efficiency in how doctors provide treatment. In other news, the UN General Assembly encourages the safe use of AI which will also benefit sustainable development. Know about more such AI news today. 

Microsoft has been in the news for a long time regarding its Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. Now, the company has announced the devices and they tout artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. Microsoft says the laptops include several requested features in terms of features, performance, and advanced security. Microsoft's first-ever AI PCs are also powered by new Intel Core Ultra processors which are integrated with neural processing unit (NPU) to provide advanced AI features. Check out the specifications of Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6.

Apple has rolled out the latest iteration of its operating system for iPhone users, iOS 17.4.1, following closely on the heels of the recent iOS 17.4 release. The update, which is now available for download, brings a slew of bug fixes and security enhancements aimed at improving the overall user experience.

Apple has just released iOS 17.4.1 to the general public, which includes a boatload of essential fixes for bugs and performance enhancements for the iPhone. The update was released without beta cycles for developers, which means that the update was not big enough for the company, but it could include a handful of updates that will improve the user experience. However, we have seen some iOS updates bring a handful of bugs to the operating system, which poses a question for users as to whether they should upgrade to the latest iOS 17.4.1 platform for the iPhone.

Lava Mobiles has officially launched its newest smartphone, the Lava O2, today at 12 PM in India. Sporting a robust UNISOC T616 processor, this device packs a punch. Boasting 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, it's available in three striking colour options: Imperial Green, Majestic Purple and Royal Gold. Amidst numerous speculations and rumours, the veil has finally been lifted on the Lava O2. Its price, specifications, features, and sale date have all been revealed. If you're on the hunt for a feature-rich smartphone, the Lava O2 might just have what you're looking for.

MediaTek might be the first company to confirm the use of NVIDIA's next-gen RTX & AI GPU IP for its upcoming Dimensity SOCs for automobiles.

On Sunday, the world of video games was shaken by a hacking and cheating scandal.

The Leaderboard Legends competition is now in full swing, running from March 19 to April 2. The competition lasts for two Gauntlet rotations and gives players who secure the #1 spot in any bracket the chance to win a personalized, custom-autographed poster from Micah Ulrich. Diablo 4 Gauntlet and Leaderboards Guide Diablo 4 Gauntlet Tier List

Helldivers 2 players have finally secured undeniable proof of blue lasers and flying Terminids appearing in the game, much to the dismay of the game's director.

EA has deployed what it called the first in a “layered series” of Apex Legends security updates amid growing concern about the safety of the battle royale.

Some GTA 6 developers are passionately rejecting Rockstar's guidance that the push for workers to return to office will ultimately help make a better sequel.

Apex Legends' developers have deployed the "first of a layered series of updates" designed to protect players from hacks after two professional players fell victim to foul play mid-tournament over the past weekend.

The now features password-free sign-in thanks to the new Passkey system. Players can enable this new feature for easier logins to their PlayStation Network accounts, replacing clunky old passwords with simpler solutions such as biometric sign-ins and PINs. At the same time, Sony also makes the case that passkeys are more secure, making it harder for malicious third parties to access your account information.

The first wave of voice actors confirmed to be cast in the upcoming Among Us animated series has been revealed, and it's a surprisingly star-studded affair. With luminaries from across film, TV, and video game voice-acting serving as suspects, it's safe to say this particular mystery has managed to secure some serious talent.

After a few weeks in Steam beta, Bethesda Game Studios has released the next update for Starfield across all platforms, with one change addressing the Security minigame.

The finest democracy spreaders in Helldivers 2 have all but been dancing in the streets on the heels of a big win that saw six planets liberated, two defended, and two sectors captured, and game master Joel has turned up right on cue to put them straight back to work. A new major order has arrived, and it's a doozy. Players have 72 hours to liberate both Fori Prime and Zagon Prime, and they'll get 35 medals if they pull it off. 

AMD's "gold rush" time in the AI markets might finally come, as industry reports that the firm faces massive demand for its cutting-edge MI300X AI accelerators.

Security software company Denuvo has introduced new watermarking tech designed to identify leakers.

If you’re about to switch to Windows 11 Pro, now is the right time. Godeal24 Spring Sale offers Windows 11 Pro at a special price of $13.55. It is a real opportunity for those who want to update their computer without spending a fortune. But it’s not just the price that makes this offer a must-have but the Windows 11 Pro itself.

We've got some good news for Dragon's Dogma fans in the UK, as it has been discounted for both Xbox and PS5 before its release day this week. All you need to do is use code FRESH20 when preordering the game from The Game Collection via eBay, and rest assured your order will arrive for release day on March 22. This will bring the game down to just £50.36 (see here) on PS5, and £49.36 on Xbox, and a huge saving of around £20 when compared to buying the game digitally at £69.99.

A number of professional Apex Legends players were hacked mid-match during the game’s Global Series, putting a stop to the tournament and sparking concern about the security of some EA games.

Reddit said Friday that the Federal Trade Commission has opened an inquiry into the social media platform's sale, licensing or sharing of its users' posts and other content to outside organizations for use in training artificial intelligence models.

The Among Us TV show now has a voice cast — though only time will tell which of them are imposters.

In a big move that will positively impact students, ITIs across India are set to integrate 'AI for all' in the circurriculum; a new study suggests AI could harm quality of life; AI powered patch aids speech for voice disorder patients; Woman communicates with deceased mother using AI chatbot- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.

Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden says he sees "consolidation to be the enemy of creativity," as the company's outgoing boss Jim Ryan shares his enthusiasm for Microsoft's Call of Duty deal with PlayStation.

Microsoft has announced that its generative artificial intelligence (AI) solution for security professionals, the Microsoft Copilot, will be available globally soon. In the last few months, the Washington-based tech giant has been making efforts to incorporate AI into its suite of products. It has brought its AI services under one umbrella - Microsoft Copilot. This even includes its AI chatbot which is taking on the likes of ChatGPT and Google Bard. In a new development, another Microsoft service, known as Copilot for Security, has been made available to the public.

Intel has managed to secure itself from another "wave" of US regulations, as the firm won't face trouble selling its CPUs like AMD to Chinese-sanctioned firms like Huawei.

In a rare display of bipartisanship, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill that seeks to ban TikTok in the United States or force its sale to a non-Chinese entity. The newly advanced legislation poses another in a long list of hurdles for TikTok's stateside ambitions.

Samsung released the Galaxy S24 series earlier this year, but the company doesn't just sell premium flagship phones. Samsung has a few budget smartphones under the Galaxy A lineup, and now the Galaxy A35 and A55 phones are on the way.

Blizzard has formally announced the Leaderboard Legends contest, running from March 19 to April 2! While teased during the latest Campfire Chat, until now we didn't have full confirmation of the rules and prizes relating to this contest. It seems this contest is also not just available in the US — which is a departure from previous requirements! Good luck to all participants!

Rise, wanderer. Starting on March 19, sealing your legacy in the absolute highest spot of each Ladder will earn you the ultimate spoil of war. Until April 2, if you secure the absolute top spot of any Ladder and are eligible for entry within the Official Rules, you’ll receive a personalized, custom autographed poster from the incredible Micah Ulrich.

The United States House of Representatives has passed the “TikTok bill” that would effectively ban the short-form video-sharing app if owner ByteDance doesn’t divest. Representatives voted on Wednesday on the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, pushing it forward with a majority vote of 352 to 65. The bill is expected to move onto the Senate for another vote if Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) brings it to the floor. President Biden said he’d sign the bill should it reach his desk.

Microsoft Windows 10 has been a very popular version despite the rollout of Windows 11. Now, as the company is working to launch Windows 12, it may stop its support for the older Windows 10 versions. Notably, Microsoft has recently announced that it will stop rolling out updates for Windows 10 version 21H2 which was rolled out in November 2021. It is reported that the end of support for this version will affect education and enterprise customers. Check out the date and who will be affected by this move.

The Dimensity 9300 has set the stage for MediaTek, howling that it is back in the premium Android smartphone segment, and it intends to make its rivals nervous with the Dimensity 9400 launch. With the exception of Google and Apple, the Taiwanese firm has signed on every other phone maker as its customer, but Vivo is rumored to want a first crack at the company’s flagship silicon, and it may have already secured the first batch for itself. A new report also compares the performance differences of the Dimensity 9400 with the Dimensity 9300, claiming a 20 percent improvement.

We've been raving about Dragon's Dogma 2 during its recent previews, and it's already looking like an iconic RPG experience (especially if that in-depth character creator is anything to go on). There's also some good news for PC gamers; for a limited time and while stock lasts, Dragon's Dogma 2 preorders are down to just $57.39 at Green Man Gaming (or £44.26 in the UK on PC, and £51.99 on console).

Online service providers around the world have been integrating Multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security in their offerings to users when they sign in. The same has become even more important in the age of artificial intelligence-powered tools and OpenAI has just taken a big step to safeguard your ChatGPT account. Yes, AI tools such as ChatGPT also require extra security features just like the old world portals to be secure. And now, OpenAI has announced the inclusion of Multi-factor authentication to ChatGPT. This security feature will keep your account secure from hackers or those who may have surreptitiously obtained your credentials. Know more about ChatGPT Multi-factor authentication and how to enable this security feature.

U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Monday that TikTok was a national security threat but also said that a ban on the popular app would hurt some kids and only strengthen Meta Platforms' Facebook, which the Republican has harshly criticized.

Samsung has introduced its latest smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy M15 5G, in select global markets, boasting noteworthy features that promise an enhanced user experience. The device, part of the Galaxy M-series, comes equipped with an octa-core chipset and a triple rear camera setup, spearheaded by an impressive 50MP primary sensor. The Samsung Galaxy M15 5G is not just about its powerful camera; it also features a sleek water-drop-style display design and is available in three distinct colours- Light Blue, Dark Blue, and Gray. However, details regarding the phone's pricing and release date are still under wraps. Let's delve into the details that make the Samsung Galaxy M15 5G a standout device.

Looking for an affordable yet powerful productivity software suite? Office 2021 Professional is your best choice! Compared with Microsoft 365, Office 2021 is more suitable for users who like traditional software licenses and do not need access to the latest features or updates. Microsoft plans to reinvent productivity with artificial intelligence and show how its ChatGPT-like AI will work in Office productivity suites like Teams, Word, and Outlook. With Godeal24's Spring Sale, you can get the latest Office 2021 Professional for only $26.75!

WhatsApp has been working to enhance its security for users by introducing new features and upgrades. Now, the app is rumored to develop a new feature which will showcase that the user's chats are encrypted. Chat encryption is an integral part of any messaging application to maintain user privacy and that the conversation stays protected. WhatsApp has already included chat encryption to the app, now it is working to increase its visibility and expand the feature for enhanced user privacy. Know more about the new encryption indicator feature that may be rolled out in a WhatsApp update soon.

PUBG is set to get several new features throughout 2024 that promise to change the game significantly.

At this point, the success of Helldivers 2 is staggering. The co-op-focused shooter topped the PS Store sales charts for February in both North America and Europe. Of course, it did have most of the month to secure the number one spot — releasing on the 8th — but it's still an impressive result for a game that seems to be utterly thriving through positive word of mouth.

Deviation Games, the new studio partnered with PlayStation, has shut down just a few years after saying its Sony collaboration would bring "complete financial security." 

As I'm sure you've noticed by now, Astarion is a pretty popular character among the Baldur's Gate 3 playerbase. However, as Astarion romancers know all too well, there is one downside to securing the best ending for the beloved vampire - his smile gets all weird. For some reason, when Astaron beams at the player at the end of the game, he pulls what fans have taken to calling his "Grinch face", and it's a little unsettling. So, one player has decided to do something about it.

Microsoft has admitted that a January cyberattack allowed hackers to eventually gain access to the company's «source code repositories and internal systems.» Microsoft says the attack was carried out by hacking group Midnight Blizzard, which is supported by the Russian government.