A vulnerability in the SYNC 3 infotainment will not have a negative effect on driving safety, says Ford.
Ford has released information about a buffer overflow vulnerability in its SYNC 3 infotainment system.
Ford learned from a supplier that a security researcher had discovered a vulnerability in the Wi-Fi software driver supplied for use in the SYNC 3 infotainment system available on some Ford and Lincoln vehicles. The company said it started an investigation and subsequently decided that the vulnerability does not affect vehicle driving safety.
Ford’s SYNC 3 system exists in Ford models from 2015 onward. Other than recent vehicles that have the newest version, most Ford vehicles have SYNC 3. If you have a Ford Owner account, you can go to the Vehicle Dashboard to see what version of SYNC your car has.
Lincoln drivers can check their version on the Lincoln Support site (you will need to enter your VIN number).
The SYNC 3 vulnerability is CVE-2023-29468: a vulnerability in the TI WiLink WL18xx MCP driver. An attacker within wireless range of a potentially vulnerable device can gain the ability to overwrite memory of the host processor executing the MCP driver. Exploiting this vulnerability involves a malicious actor crafting a specific frame to trigger a buffer overflow, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE).
A buffer overflow is a type of software vulnerability that exists when an area of memory within a software application reaches its address boundary and writes into an adjacent memory region.
Ford’s assessment of the vulnerability is that it is highly unlikely to be exploited, since it requires a highly skilled attacker within close proximity of the target vehicle, and the vehicle need to have the engine running and WiFi support enabled. Ford said it isn’t aware of any instances of exploitation.
And even if an attacker were to gain RCE on the SYNC 3 system using this vulnerability, the potential damage would be limited, since the system is isolated from critical control functions like steering, throttling, and braking.
Ford says that if drivers are worried, they can disable the WiFi support in the SYNC 3 infotainment system in the Settings menu, which will stop an attacker from being able to exploit the vulnerability.
Ford is still working on a patch, which is expected in the coming weeks and will be presented including instructions how to manually install the patch using a USB flash drive.
We don’t just report on encryption—we offer you the option to use it.
Privacy risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep your online privacy yours by using Malwarebytes Privacy VPN.
The Google Pixel 7a is now official, and actually available for purchase. So after you purchase your new Pixel 7a, you’ll want to pick up a new case or two for your phone. Here, we are rounding up the very best cases for your new Pixel 7a. So you can get the perfect case for you. Whether you need a rugged case, a clear case, or something customizable like dbrand’s Grip Case.
The Poetic Neon Series case is a durable and stylish case that is perfect for protecting your smartphone. It is made of a two-layer design that provides superior protection from drops and bumps. The outer layer is made of a hard polycarbonate shell that absorbs shock, while the inner layer is made of a soft TPU material that provides a snug fit and protects your phone from scratches.
The Poetic Neon Series case also features a raised lip around the screen that helps to protect it from scratches and cracks. It also has precise cutouts for all of your phone’s ports and buttons, so you can easily access them without having to remove the case.
The Poetic Neon Series case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
The dbrand Grip case is a premium smartphone case that is designed to provide maximum protection and grip. It is made of a durable, impact-resistant composite material that can withstand drops from up to 10 feet. The case also features a textured surface that provides a secure grip, even in wet or sweaty conditions.
The dbrand Grip case is available for a wide range of smartphones, including Google Pixel 7a. It comes in a variety of colors and finishes, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style.
One of the best things about the dbrand Grip case is its price. It’s very affordable, making it a great option for budget-minded shoppers.
If you’re looking for a durable, protective, and stylish case for your smartphone, the dbrand Grip case is a great option. It’s affordable, durable, and available in a variety of colors and finishes.
The Ringke Fusion case is a great option for Google Pixel 7a users who are looking for a protective and stylish case. It is made of a durable two-layer design that provides superior protection from drops and bumps. The outer layer is made of a hard polycarbonate shell that absorbs shock, while the inner layer is made of a soft TPU material that provides a snug fit and protects your phone from scratches.
The Ringke Fusion case also features a raised lip around the screen that helps to protect it from scratches and cracks. It also has precise cutouts for all of your phone’s ports and buttons, so you can easily access them without having to remove the case.
The Ringke Fusion case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
The i-Blason ArmorBox Lite case for Google Pixel 7a is a great option for users who want a protective case that doesn’t add a lot of bulk to their phone. The case is made of a durable, impact-resistant TPU material that can withstand drops from up to 6.6 feet. It also has a raised lip around the screen and camera to protect them from scratches and cracks.
The i-Blason ArmorBox Lite case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
The Spigen Ultra Hybrid case for the Pixel 7a is a great option for users who want a protective case that doesn’t add a lot of bulk to their phone. The case is made of a durable, impact-resistant PC and TPU material. It has a raised lip around the screen and camera to protect them from scratches and cracks.
The Spigen Ultra Hybrid case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
The Ringke Onyx case is a great option for Google Pixel 7a users who are looking for a protective and stylish case. It is made of a durable two-layer design that provides superior protection from drops and bumps. The outer layer is made of a hard polycarbonate shell that absorbs shock, while the inner layer is made of a soft TPU material that provides a snug fit and protects your phone from scratches.
The Ringke Onyx case also features a raised lip around the screen that helps to protect it from scratches and cracks. It also has precise cutouts for all of your phone’s ports and buttons, so you can easily access them without having to remove the case.
The Ringke Onyx case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
Spigen Liquid Air is a popular case that is known for its slim profile and durable construction. It is made of a TPU material that is both flexible and protective, and it has a raised lip around the screen and camera to protect them from drops.
The Liquid Air case is available in a variety of colors, so you can find one that matches your phone’s style. It is also very affordable, making it a great value for your money.
The EU was able to successfully twist Apple’s arm and make it adopt the USB-C technology for the upcoming iPhone 15. The company wasn’t happy about it, and it even wanted to develop a new standard called USB-C for iPhone. While it’s not doing that, a mysterious 3LD3 chip was spotted in the iPhone 15 along with the other charging components.
In case you don’t know, the EU has been working to make USB-C the standard across the continent. So, it’s not targeting Apple specifically. Basically, any and all devices that could be powered by a USB-C port will be. Larger devices and appliances are excluded from this list, of course; your refrigerator won’t be powered by a USB-C port.
Mysterious 3LD3 chip was found in the iPhone 15
This report comes to us from Majin Bu on Twitter (via Phone Arena). The post shows us a series of leaked images of the iPhone 15’s charging components. Along with those, there’s this random chip. We see that it’s an Apple-made chip, and it has the text 3LD3 on it.
At the moment, we don’t know what its purpose is. However, it’s rather convenient that this chip pops up right when Apple needs to reluctantly switch to a new charging standard. One thing that Apple Analyst Ming-Chi-Kuo noted is that Apple will make Apple-certified USB-C cables. People who use those cables will have faster charging and data speeds.
If that’s the case, then this chip could be used to tell if the user is using an Apple-certified cord or a third-party cord. This is probably the next best thing to create a standard specifically for iPhones. This will push people to pay for Apple-made cords over third-party cords. That might seem weird, but it’s not very different from how things are with the lightning cable. Many companies make third-party lightning cables, but Apple also sells its own.
PCMag readers named Malwarebytes the #1 most-recommended security software vendor in its list of Best Tech Brands for 2023.
PCMag, one of the most trusted publications by IT professionals, named Malwarebytes the #1 most-recommended security software vendor on its list of Best Tech Brands for 2023.
The ranking is based on a Net Promoter Score (NPS), a composite rating based on customer reviews from PCMag’s Reader’s Choice and Business Choice surveys, meaning the score reflects real user feedback.
Malwarebytes ranked #3 out of ALL tech brands, ahead of Apple and Bose, with a NPS score shooting up from 77 in 2022 to 83 in 2023 for security suites, demonstrating the growing trust IT teams and MSPs place in our EDR and MDR solutions.
Why readers chose Malwarebytes
There are a number of reasons why PCMag readers ranked Malwarebytes as the #1 cybersecurity brand ahead of vendors like Webroot and Bitdefender. It all starts with superior prevention.
The behavior-based detection techniques and proprietary anti-exploit technology of Malwarebytes EDR is proven to detect and block more malware and advanced threats than any other vendor.
But todays IT constrained organizations need endpoint security solutions that not only prevent the most advanced threats, but that are easy to use as well. Malwarebytes’ customers rank our EDR highly for its ease-of-use, remediation capabilities, and total ROI.
Award-winning EDR Solution
Malwarebytes EDR has been recognized for having the Best Support, being Easiest to Do Business With, having the Easiest Admin, being the Easiest to Use, Most Implementable, and the Easiest to Set Up.
“The Nebula console is one of the most user-friendly interfaces we’ve come across. We can’t recommend it enough.” – Justin N.
“Malwarebytes makes it simple to deploy. Additionally, the user interface has minimal impact on the end-user, so its win-win. Support are happy to help when you do hit the occasional bump and the portal is easy to use and very responsive.” – John K.
We remediate better
Unlike other EDR solutions, Malwarebytes is born out of remediation, with a long history of finding and fixing what other solutions miss—as seen in our Remediation Map of Malwarebytes’ superior detection in action.
Automated and thorough malware removal is hard, and vendors too often focus only on deleting the active malicious executables. Malwarebytes’ proprietary technology removes dynamic and related artifacts to thoroughly remediate infections and prevent reinfection.
“Prior to Malwarebytes, we spent many hours and days cleaning up viruses and malware that other products failed to identify and remediate. We now have close to zero need for after infection cleanups which frees us up to do other things.” – Ron M.
Highest ROI
Ranked #1 EDR in G2’s Summer 2023 report, Malwarebytes provides the best estimated ROI of all endpoint protection suites based on a unique combination of rapid implementation and time to ROI.
“The best part about Malwarebytes is the set it and forget it. It has saved us so much time on deployment and remediation that it pays for itself in no time at all.” – Ron M.
“It keeps our working environment much more secure than our previous solution. Much easier to manage in real time. This thing is a money saver and pays for itself.” – Tyson B.
“Cyber threats are 24/7, and my team needs to sleep. The MDR team watching our network around-the-clock gives us a chance to sleep without worry. With Malwarebytes MDR backing us up, I also finally got to step away and take a two-week vacation. I’m just glad to know that we have a security team watching over our shoulder and making sure it’s all clear.” – Dennis Davis, IT Systems Manager, Drummond
Try Malwarebytes for Business today
Most of all, we appreciate the trust and support of our customers in making Malwarebytes the #1 cybersecurity solution for IT teams and MSPs.
Interested in seeing why PCMag readers recommend Malwarebytes? Learn more below.
AI is not a craze, it’s not a phase, it’s here to stay. More companies are hopping onto the generative AI train, and it was a matter of time before WhatsApp hopped on. Thanks to a new report from WABetaInfo (via 9To5Google), WhatsApp could let you use AI to generate stickers to use in chat.
Tons of features enter beta for WhatsApp, but not all of them make it to the public. These AI stickers are also in beta testing, so there’s no telling if the general public will see them. In any case, with how explosive the AI boom has been, it seems likely that the company will push this to the stable version.
WhatsApp could use AI to generate stickers
We’ve all scrolled through a feed of stickers to find the right one to express our moods. However, there are times when we just don’t find the right one. While there are a ton of stickers out there, it’s still a finite amount.
This is where generative AI comes in. It was spotted in the WhatsApp beta version 2.23.17.14, and the folks at WABetaInfo were able to get it working. In the screenshot, we see an open chat. When in the Stickers section on the keyboard, you’ll see a banner stretch across the top of the keyboard. It prompts you to generate your own sticker with the “Try it” text in green. Under that, you’ll see a Create button with the classic sparkle icon that’s become the standard icon for generative AI.
When you do that, you’ll see a new page with a text field up top. Here, you’ll describe what you want WhatsApp to create. Under that, you’ll see your sticker as the result.
The speed of generative AI has improved since the early DALL-E days and, since we’re talking about generating a tiny picture, we shouldn’t expect the app to take long to make your sticker.
At this point, we don’t know when WhatsApp will launch this feature if it decides to. Right now, it’s being tested with a limited number of users, so if you’re on the beta, you can check and see if you have it.
Healthcare data is one of the most sensitive pieces of information. However, in a recent development, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) fell victim to a malicious supply chain attack, resulting in the breach of sensitive medical and health information belonging to millions of Americans.
How did the breach work?
The notorious hacking group, Clop, which previously targeted various financial institutions, including 1st Source and First National Bankers Bank, has claimed responsibility for this attack.
To execute the breach, the threat actors exploited a zero-day vulnerability in IBM’s MOVEit file transfer software, which the HCPF used to manage vulnerable demographics, such as low-income families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities, under the Health First Colorado (Medicaid) and Child Health Plan Plus programs. While the exact extent is still a subject of debate, reports suggest that the breach has impacted over four million customer records. These records include full names, Social Security Numbers, income specifics, demographic details, birthdates, physical addresses, and other means of contact.
To make matters worse, hackers also managed to access critical Medicaid and Medicare ID numbers alongside health-related and insurance data. The substantial volume of compromised data could potentially facilitate identity theft by threat actors.
Furthermore, the vulnerability, known as CVE-2023-34362, has highlighted broader risks associated with the MOVEit software, as threat actors can use it to acquire additional privileges, thereby gaining unauthorized access to even more sensitive environments.
Response to the breach
In light of the breach, HCPF has committed to providing two years of credit monitoring services through Experian. And although these measures may appear modest, the department is actively enhancing its cybersecurity defenses and managing the repercussions stemming from the MOVEit supply chain breach. Furthermore, HCPF has issued a warning to victims, advising them to take proactive measures to safeguard their personal information, such as monitoring account statements, reviewing free credit reports, and placing fraud alerts.
Samsung announced today that it is bringing Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5, Watch 6 and Tab S9 features to older Galaxy devices, thanks to the wider rollout of One UI 5.1.1 and One UI 5 Watch.
Samsung says that One UI 5.1.1 will start to roll out to the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 devices this month. With Galaxy Z Fold 3, Flip 3, Fold 2 and Flip getting the update a bit later on. As far as tablet updates go, Samsung is going to be updating the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, Tab S8 Ultra, Tab S7, Tab S7+, Tab S7 FE, Tab S6 Lite, Tab A8, Tab A7 Lite, Tab Active 3 and Tab Active 4 Pro. Though Samsung is not specifying when these devices will be updated just yet.
Finally, when it comes to One UI 5 Watch, the Galaxy Watch 5 series, and Watch 4 series will get updated. This update does include Wear OS 4.0, which came standard on the Galaxy Watch 6 series.
One UI 5.1.1 will bring personalized panel management and better multi-tasking. With the update, users will be able to choose whether they want to show or hide the panel when in Flex Mode. Users will also be able to see the media play bar within the Flex Mode panel when watching videos. With the new multi-tasking features, Samsung is making it easier to browse the internet on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Flip 4 and Tab S8 devices. So that users are able to simultaneously watch content, giving users a more intuitive multi window practice and a seamless drag-and-drop action too.
One UI 5 Watch brings more sleep capabilities and fitness tools
Now when it comes to One UI 5 Watch, it does bring Wear OS 4 from Google. But in addition to that, it also brings in some nice new sleep capabilities. Samsung is introducing new sleep management features including Sleep Score Factors, Sleep Consistency readings and Sleep Animal Symbols analyses. This is all in addition to the sleep coaching access and sleep mode invisible LED infrared sensor that helps users optimize their night of sleep.
One UI 5 Watch also brings some new fitness tools to Galaxy Watch owners. This includes a personalized heart rate zone, irregular heart rhythm notifications, the ability to track run and custom workout features. Meanwhile, Galaxy Watch 5 Pro users will get access to their GPX file database, which will allow them to explore new workout routes.
LG is bringing its wonderfully weird StandbyMe Go TV to the US later this month, and although it might seem like a very strange product (because it is), it’s also a cool product that could easily have many practical uses.
The StandbyMe Go from LG is a TV in a briefcase that feels like the sort of TV you might find being carried around in a 60s Bond film. You know, because Bond gets all those cool gadgets that look like other things but really aren’t those things. At first glance this is just a simple briefcase. But then you open it up and surprise, it’s not a simple briefcase. Instead, it’s a portable TV with a 27-inch 1080p LED display. Powered by LG’s webOS, and housing a battery that lasts for up to three hours.
The display is touch-enabled too, so you could technically use this browsing the web, or just interacting with other apps. It even has built-in 20-watt speakers and has support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos according to LG’s press release. Plus, there’s one single HDMI port. So this would be the perfect companion for, dare I say it, console gaming on the go. It’s the kind of bizarre product that you don’t see come around too often but you’re glad it did.
The LG StandbyMe Go launches later this month
LG initially launched this TV internationally earlier this year, and now it’s making an official US debut later this month. It’s up for pre-order right now for $999 and is supposed to ship by August 28. LG is also giving those who pre-order a free XBOOM 360 Bluetooth speaker (normally $299).
While $999 seems pricey for a small, portable TV, it’s worth remembering what this will allow you do. It’s a full-fledged TV. So that means watching anything you want on things like Apple TV+, Netflix, Prime Video and other apps as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection. All on the go. And because it has an HDMI port you could use this for hooking up your PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch. Should you want to pack those things up to go along with this thing.
If you have the dock you could also hook up the Steam Deck which is infinitely more portable than the PlayStation or Xbox consoles.
LockBit’s leadership vanished for two weeks in August 2023. This suggests that the gang may have been compromised or that there was internal conflict.
LockBit has been unable to consistently publish victim data. This has led to victims refusing to pay ransoms and affiliates leaving the program.
LockBit’s updated infrastructure is not as effective as it claims to be. This is evidenced by the fact that LockBit is still struggling to publish victim data.
LockBit’s affiliates are leaving for its competitors. This is because LockBit is not providing the support and resources that affiliates need.
LockBit ransomware gang missed its most recent release date. This suggests that the gang is struggling to develop new ransomware variants.
LockBit wants to steal ransomware from its rivals. This is a sign that LockBit is desperate and is willing to resort to unethical tactics to stay ahead of the competition.
LockBit, a prominent but infamous ransomware gang that has wreaked havoc across numerous industries, recently vanished from the cybercriminal scene, leaving affiliates and partners in a state of uncertainty. However, their reemergence after a brief hiatus has raised questions about their operational integrity.
A new report from Jon DiMaggio, Chief Security Strategist at Analyst1, “Ransomware Diaries: Volume 3 – LockBit’s Secrets” exposes LockBit’s activities, their targets, and the challenges they’ve been facing.
Dimaggio delved deep into LockBit’s operations and uncovered critical shortcomings within the gang’s modus operandi. In his extensive report, the researcher has highlighted LockBit’s struggles with data publication, deteriorating affiliate partnerships, and a lack of timely support responses. DiMaggio believes LockBit may have been compromised.
In 2022, LockBit reigned as the foremost ransomware group and Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) provider globally. In a shift from traditional ransomware groups, LockBit’s unique approach involves maintaining the ransomware’s functionality, leasing access to it, and assisting affiliates in deploying attacks.
The model has enabled LockBit to foster a wide network of attackers, resulting in diverse tactics, techniques, and procedures employed during ransomware incidents. Affiliates employing the LockBit RaaS model have targeted entities spanning various sectors, including finance, education, healthcare, and government, leaving no industry immune to its malicious grip.
However, Lockbit’s reputation as a ransomware group has taken a serious hit following a series of events that DiMaggio’s exposé of the gang reveals. Earlier this year, they successfully breached and compromised Royal Mail, the United Kingdom’s largest postal service provider, and Maximum Industries.
The gang went on to claim to breach an aerospace manufacturing company with connections to SpaceX. But they failed to publish the data? This, too, after numerous claims that the data will be publicly available if ransomware demands were not met.
LockBit did the same in April 2023 when it announced compromising Darktrace, a British cybersecurity company. The claims were investigated and quickly dismissed by the company, and researchers never saw the claimed data. Instead, publicly available photos of Darktrace founder Poppy Gustafsson were published by the gang.
Photos of Poppy Gustafsson published by LockBit as proof of hack (Screenshot: Hackread.com)
Intriguingly, LockBit has started to rely on empty threats and propaganda to pressure victims into paying the ransom, even though it struggles with publishing victim data consistently due to backend limitations and bandwidth issues. This strategy, coupled with a strong narrative on criminal forums, is an attempt to maintain LockBit’s reputation which frankly, everyone can see through.
Not to mention, instead of the usual roster of legitimate victims, LockBit populated its site with entirely fictitious company names and websites, such as “1.com” and “123.com.” The situation took a funnier twist when LockBit issued a deadline for these fabricated entities to pay a relatively modest $60,000 ransom or face the publication of their nonexistent data.
A threat intelligence company casts doubt on the claims of the LockBit ransomware gang.
The abnormality of the situation became apparent to keen observers. First, the choice of victims itself raised eyebrows – LockBit was demanding an unusually low ransom, inconsistent with their usual greedy demands. Cybersecurity analysts noted that if this had been a genuine case, LockBit would have typically demanded a much larger sum.
Seeing LockBit’s dramatic antics and failure to live up to expectations, affiliate partners, essential for LockBit’s operations, are increasingly dissatisfied due to the gang’s struggles with data hosting and communication.
The research indicates that many affiliates have left LockBit’s program in favour of its competitors, driven by frustrations with unresolved support queries and the gang’s inability to deliver on its data publication promises.
The gang’s use of the secure communication application Tox has led to a growing issue of prolonged wait times for affiliates seeking support. LockBit’s high volume of attacks and expanding partner network has overwhelmed its communication infrastructure, resulting in frustrated affiliates struggling to obtain timely responses to critical queries.
While LockBit has hinted at the possibility of implementing a ticketing system, challenges in ensuring security and confidentiality remain a significant obstacle.
LockBit’s supposed commitment to innovation is challenged by its inability to release significant ransomware updates. Despite their previous successes with LockBit Red and LockBit Black, recent attempts at an update have fallen short, and the gang was found to be using outdated or stolen ransomware from other criminal groups.
According to DiMaggio, the once-feared LockBit ransomware gang appears to be grappling with a cascade of issues, from faulty data publishing and strained communication to outdated ransomware variants and attempts to acquire competitors’ technology.
Overall, the report paints a picture of a ransomware gang that is in decline. LockBit is facing a number of challenges, including technical problems, internal conflict, and competition from other ransomware gangs. It is likely that LockBit will continue to lose ground in the coming months.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released an announcement stating that cybercriminals are using mobile-beta testing applications to target victims for malicious purposes. These apps are often distributed through phishing or romance scams.
These applications are capable of stealing personally identifiable information, financial account access, or device takeovers. The mobile-beta testing application resides inside a mobile-beta testing application environment.
Cybercriminals communicate with the victims luring them to test these mobile applications as they promise large incentives and financial payouts. Most of these applications are cryptocurrency exchanges that enable the theft of personal data and money.
Victims are contacted by dating and networking apps directing them to download these malicious applications. Lack of awareness among some victims leads to providing their original account details in those cryptocurrency investment apps.
Victims believe that their money is invested in cryptocurrency, but instead, the application extracts money from the victim as the applications lure for fake investments, as stated by the FBI.
Red Flag Indicators
Identifying malicious applications can be accomplished by paying attention to key warning signs, such as abnormal depletion of mobile battery life, the appearance of unauthorized apps that the user did not install, recurring ad pop-ups, and apps with a high number of downloads but very few reviews.
These indicators may suggest that the app is up to no good and could pose a security threat to the user’s device and personal information.
Recommendations
To prevent this kind of malicious applications, always
Check for the legitimacy of the developer of the application before downloading the app.
Do not download applications from any third-party websites
Do not provide any personal information through email or message
Do not respond to unsolicited emails including links
Be aware of emails that shows a sense of urgency or threats as they are potentially phishing emails
Restrict unwanted app permissions and uninstall applications that are no longer used.
Do not click on any URLs from unsolicited emails
Never open any attachments from senders that you may not know
Users should take up any cybersecurity awareness training and be aware of these kinds of emails to prevent threat actors.