AI generated Pentagon explosion photograph goes viral on Twitter

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AI generated Pentagon explosion photograph goes viral on Twitter
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We take a look at a viral hoax on Twitter which used AI generated imagery to claim an explosion had occurred close to the Pentagon.

Twitter’s recent changes to checkmark verification continue to cause chaos, this time in the realm of potentially dangerous misinformation. A checkmarked account claimed to show images of explosions close to important landmarks like the Pentagon. These images quickly went viral despite being AI generated and containing multiple overt errors for anyone looking at the supposed photographs.

How did this happen?

Until recently, the social media routine when an important news story breaks would be as follows:

  • Something happens, and it’s reported on by verified accounts on Twitter
  • This news filters out to non-verified accounts

“Verified” accounts are now paid for by anybody who wants to sign up to the $8 a month Twitter Blue service. There’s no real guarantee that a checkmarked video game company, celebrity, or news source is in fact who they claim to be. There have been many instances of this new policy injecting some mayhem into social media already. Fake Nintendo dispensing offensive images and the infamous “Insulin is free” Tweet causing a stock dive spring to mind.

People have taken the “anything goes in checkmark land” approach and are running with it.

What’s happening now is:

  • Fake stories are promoted by checkmarked accounts
  • Those stories filter out to non-checkmarked accounts
  • People in search of facts try to find non-checkmarked (but real) journalists and news agencies while ignoring the checkmarked accounts.

This is made more difficult by changes to how Twitter displays replies, as paid accounts “float” to the top of any conversation. As a result, a situation where a checkmarked account goes viral through a combination of real people, genuine “verified” accounts, and those looking to spread misinformation can potentially result in disaster.

In this case, several checkmarked accounts made claims of explosions near the Pentagon and then the White House.  Bellingcat investigators quickly debunked the imagery for what it is: Poorly done, with errors galore.

Despite how odd the images looked, with no people, mashed up railings, and walls that melt into one another, it made no difference. The visibility of the bogus tweets rocketed and soon there was the possibility of a needless terror-attack panic taking place.

Many US Government, law enforcement, and first responder accounts no longer have a checkmark as they declined to pay for Twitter Blue. Thankfully some have the new grey Government badge, and Arlington County Fire Department was able to confirm that there was no explosion.

What’s interesting about this one is that it highlights how you can post terrible, amateur imagery with no attempt to polish it and enough people will still believe it to make it go viral. In this case, it went viral to the extent that the Pentagon Force Protection Agency had to help debunk it. As Bleeping Computer notes, the PFPA isn’t even verified anymore.

There is no easy answer or collection of tips for avoiding this kind of thing on social media. At least, not on Twitter in its current setup. A once valuable source for breaking, potentially critical warnings about dangerous weather or major incidents simply cannot be trusted as it used to be.

The very best you can do is follow the Government or emergency response accounts which sport the grey badge. There are also gold checkmarks for “verified organisations”, but even there problems remain. A fake Disney Junior account was recently granted a gold check mark out of the blue and chaos ensued.

No, South Park is not coming to Disney Junior.

As for the aim of the accounts pushing misinformation, it’s hard to say. Many paid accounts are simply wanting to troll. Others could be part of dedicated dis/misinformation farms, run by individuals or collectives. It’s also common to see accounts go viral with content, and then switch out to something else entirely once enough reach has been gained. It might be about a different topic, or it could be something harmful.

Even outside the realm of paid accounts, misinformation and fakes can flourish. Just recently, Twitter experienced a return of fake NHS nurses, after having experienced a similar wave back in 2020.

Should any of the fake nurse accounts decide to pay $8 a month, they’ll have the same posting power as the profiles pushing fake explosions. Spam is becoming a big problem on publicly posted and private messages:

AI is already capable of producing realistic looking images, yet the spammers and scammers are using any old picture without care for how convincing it looks. The combination of “breaking news” messaging and an official looking checkmark easily tips it over the edge, and those liable to fall for it simply don’t examine imagery in detail in the first place. Twitter is going to have to invest some serious time into clamping down on spam and bots which naturally help feed the disinformation waves. The big question is: Can the embattled social media giant do it?

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Samsung makes more profit from Galaxy tablets than smartphones

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Samsung makes more profit from Galaxy tablets than smartphones
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Samsung is reportedly making more money off Galaxy tablets than smartphones. No, not the tablet business as a whole but per unit sold. According to Twitter tipster @Tech_Reve, the company’s operating profit margin for tablets was at around ten percent in the first quarter of this year. In comparison, the profit margin for smartphones and smartwatches was around 7-8 percent.

This is likely because of the stark difference in the market size of tablets and smartphones. When you go to buy a new Android tablet, there aren’t many options out there. In fact, Samsung is the only brand that regularly launches flagship Android tablets today. It is preparing to launch three new flagship models later this year (Galaxy Tab S9 series), following up on last year’s three Galaxy Tab S8 models.

On the other hand, the smartphone market is too crowded. There are dozens of options in every price range you look at. Even if you have strictly set your budget with no flexibility, you would find a handful of models to pick from. This stiff price competition makes companies keep their margins low so they can potentially sell more units. Smartwatches, meanwhile, don’t sell in huge volume, thus lowering their profitability.

Overall, Samsung made about KRW 300 billion (roughly $224 million) from tablets in Q1 2023. That’s almost half of the company’s total net operating profit of KRW 640 billion during that period. However, the Korean behemoth suffered massive losses from the semiconductor business in the first three months of 2023. We are talking about a loss of KRW 4.58 trillion (over $345 billion). So the profit from tablets is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. But the bottom line is that Samsung makes more money from each Galaxy tablet sold than a Galaxy smartphone or smartwatch.

The new Samsung flagship tablets may arrive in late July

As mentioned above, Samsung is gearing up to launch the Galaxy Tab S9 series later this year. The new flagship tablets will break cover during the company’s next Galaxy Unpacked event. Usually, the second Unpacked of the year takes place in August. But Samsung is said to be bringing it forward this year by 2-3 weeks. We are looking at a late July date. The new tablets will be accompanied by the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldables, as well as the Galaxy Watch 6 series. We might get a new pair of TWS earbuds as well. Stay tuned for the official date of the next Galaxy Unpacked.


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Android phones are vulnerable to fingerprint brute-force attacks

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Android phones are vulnerable to fingerprint brute-force attacks
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It’s no secret that over the past few years, the threat of hackers exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to information has prompted many smartphone companies to implement robust cybersecurity measures. However, researchers from Tencent Labs and Zhejiang University have discovered a new type of attack that targets fingerprint authentication systems on modern smartphones. Dubbed BrutePrint, the attack aims to bypass user authentication by repeated trial-and-error attempts, posing a significant threat to accounts and individuals.

How does the BrutePrint attack work?

To execute the BrutePrint attack, researchers identified and exploited two zero-day vulnerabilities named Cancel-After-Match-Fail (CAMF) and Match-After-Lock (MAL), which allowed them to overcome existing safeguards on smartphones, such as attempt limits and liveness detection. Additionally, the researchers also discovered that the data on fingerprint sensors’ Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) was unprotected, thus making it susceptible to an attack.

The attack functions by systematically attempting to unlock the device using databases sourced from academic datasets, leaked biometric data, and similar sources. However, it is important to note that the time required for a successful breach depends on the number of stored fingerprints. For example, on smartphones with only one registered fingerprint, the attack can take between 2.9 and 13.9 hours. However, on devices with multiple registered fingerprints, the attack only takes about 0.66 to 2.78 hours, as the probability of finding the right fingerprint increases dramatically.

Devices vulnerable to the attack

In their report, researchers stated that they tested the attack on ten popular smartphone models and found that all Android devices were vulnerable. Therefore, if an attacker gains access to your device, they would only need to disable the safeguards, have ample time, and minimal hardware costing around $15. On the other hand, iOS devices were much more secure, and the researchers could only gain ten additional attempts on iPhone SE and iPhone 7 models, rendering the attack ineffective.

While this type of attack might not appeal to the average hacker since it requires physical access to the smartphone, researchers have warned that state-sponsored actors and law enforcement agencies can exploit this technique to access data. Therefore, device manufacturers will need to act swiftly and patch these zero-day vulnerabilities as soon as possible.

bruteprint fingerprint attack devices


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Ford’s Level 3 driver-assist isn’t well-built for busy cities

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Ford’s Level 3 driver-assist isn’t well-built for busy cities
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One example of the many autonomous driving technologies out there is the Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature. This is the American automobile company’s take on autonomous driving currently making a wave in the industry. Well, despite the efforts Ford and its team of engineers have put into this feature, it still has its flaws.

These flaws hold it back from being put to use in very busy areas with lots of vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. An example of some areas where this driver-assist feature from Ford might flop is in high metropolitan cities. In an event that took place on Monday the 22nd of May, Ford gave out information on two autonomous driving systems.

Both systems will be available on future Ford vehicles with separate use cases. The first feature will handle braking, acceleration, lane keep assist, and automatic lane change when activated by the driver. But the second feature (Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature) under consideration in this article will take things a step further.

Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature is an engineering marvel that will need some work

The Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature and the BlueCruise Level 2 system are autonomous driving features from Ford. BlueCruise focuses on aspects of autonomous driving like acceleration, braking, lane keep assist, and so on. But the Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature is built to aid drivers in more complex driving situations.

Level 3 autonomous driving features are under strong criticism from experts as they pose a risk to drivers and other road users. These driving features assist drivers in busy areas with a lot of road users. It takes over the steering at the driver’s command while on the highway. With the use of sensors, it guides the car to its destination with minimal effort from the driver.

Lots of car manufacturers are working on or already have Level 3 autonomous driving systems. But regarding the Ford Level 3 driver-assist feature, the company’s vice president points out that it might be faulty under certain circumstances. For this reason, Ford plans to perfect this technology and users will wait till after 2025 to get this feature.

Whilst packing a ton of sensors and smart features, Ford’s L3 autonomous driving systems fail to understand certain things. These things are quite clear to the driver, but the system might overlook them, and this can be fatal. The system is not ready to handle busy city streets with lots of traffic signs, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Leaving driving to the Ford Level 3 system in a busy city will be a big risk. Ford will limit its autonomous driving system to steering, braking, acceleration, and lane-keep assistance on long rides to avoid such risks. In the coming years, Ford will work to perfect this system to make it more usable in big cities with little or no risk to the driver or other road users.


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Bard can now use Google Image Search

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Bard can now use Google Image Search
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After its little slip-up earlier this year, Google Bard is well on the way to becoming one of the most useful AI chatbots on the market. Shortly after we got news of a bunch of updates coming to Bard, Google gave it the ability to search for and give you images in your results.

If you’re looking to try out some of the new experiments that Google is doing with Bard, you can join the waitlist for the Google Search Labs. When you’re added on, you will be able to try out some of the new and experimental features that Google is trying out on the AI front. You can click here to sign up.

Google Bard can now search through Google Images

One of the main things about ChatGPT is the fact that it’s on an island. It can’t really connect or integrate with any other services as of yet. In the case of Google Bard, well, it has Google; so, it’s connected to pretty much everything. The search Bard can integrate with several Google products, and that includes Google Images.

According to Android Authority, Google Bard can now search Google images to give you a visual aid when you’re using it. Say, you are looking up popular tourist attractions. Bard can simply tell you, but it can also give you images to help you visualize what you’re searching for.

It will also give you the links to where those pictures are from. So, you’ll be able to navigate to the respective pages if you’re planning on visiting there. Bard will give you image results if your search happens to warrant images. However, you can simply type in “Can you show me images of…”, and it will bring them up as well.

This feature will actually work both ways; you won’t only be able to request images from Bard, but you’ll also be able to put images into it. You’ll use images as input and ask Bard to perform actions based on the image.

For example, say you enter an image of a forest at night. You’ll be able to ask Bard to write a poem based on what it is. Bard will use its intelligence to identify that it’s a forest in the nighttime. Then, it will be able to generate a poem based on the perceived mood of the picture. This feature isn’t out just yet, but Google will launch it in the near future. However, Bard can give you image results now.


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Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 rumors are early, and hint at new ‘Nuvia’ CPU

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 rumors are early, and hint at new ‘Nuvia’ CPU
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The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is coming later this year, and while we’re waiting for that to happen, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 rumors are already here. According to new info from a trusted source, Qualcomm may use its internally-developed Nuvia CPU for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could utilize a ‘Nuvia’ CPU, following a deal from 2021

As some of you may recall, Qualcomm acquired chip startup Nuvia back in 2021. There is one important reason why Qualcomm did that, to lower its dependence on ARM for its Snapdragon processors.

We’ve been waiting to hear more information about that, and here it is. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 may mark a new beginning for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips, in a way. This information comes from Digital Chat Station, by the way, a well-known Chinese tipster.

This processor allegedly has a model number SM8750, and it will utilize a dual 2+6 setup. That is basically all the specific info about this chip that we have at the moment.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will use a different core setup

Now, for those of you who don’t know, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 uses a Kryo CPU. Qualcomm utilized a different setup here, where it uses one prime core, four performance cores, and three efficiency cores. Therefore, we’re looking at a 1+4+3 setup here. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, do things differently.

That processor is not expected to debut until late 2024, so there’s still plenty of time until then. Things could change by then, though it’s quite interesting Digital Chat Station decided to share this so early.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, on the other hand, is tipped to utilize a 1+5+2 core structure. That chip is also tipped to have clock speeds at around 3.7GHz, so a bit faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.


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Roborock, Razer, Samsung, ECOFLOW & much more

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Roborock, Razer, Samsung, ECOFLOW & much more
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In today’s best deals, we have quite a few that you will want to take advantage of. Including the new Galaxy A54 5G from Samsung. This phone is now discounted to $374.99, that’s saving you $75 off of its regular price. Making this the lowest price ever for this phone.

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a great option for anyone looking for a new mid-range smartphone. It offers a number of features that make it a good value for the price, including a large and vibrant display, a powerful processor, and a versatile camera system.

Here are just a few reasons why you should buy the Galaxy A54 5G:

  • Large and vibrant display: The Galaxy A54 5G has a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display that produces stunning visuals. The display is also bright and clear, making it easy to see in direct sunlight.
  • Powerful processor: The Galaxy A54 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor, which provides plenty of power for everyday tasks and even some light gaming.
  • Versatile camera system: The Galaxy A54 5G has a quad-camera system on the back that includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 5MP depth sensor. This system takes great photos in a variety of conditions, and it also offers a number of creative features, such as Live Focus and Food Mode.
  • Long-lasting battery: The Galaxy A54 5G has a 5,000mAh battery that easily lasts a full day on a single charge. This makes it a great option for people who are always on the go.

If you’re looking for a new mid-range smartphone that offers a great value, the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a great option. It has a large and vibrant display, a powerful processor, a versatile camera system, and a long-lasting battery.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G – Amazon

Lexar ARES RGB 16GB DDR4 RAM

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Amazon’s Gaming Week continues with more deals on RAM. This time the Lexar ARES RGB 16GB DDR4 RAM is on sale, and it’s just $60.99. That’s going to save you $20 here. Not a huge deal, but still worth jumping on.

The Lexar ARES RGB 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 RAM 4000MHz CL18 Desktop Memory is a great option for anyone looking to upgrade their PC’s memory. It offers a number of features that make it a good value for the price, including a high clock speed, low latency, and a sleek RGB design.

Lexar ARES RGB 16GB DDR4 RAM – Amazon

Anker Nano 3 Charger

61JjQxOEVNL AC SL1500

We could all use an extra charger around our home, and Anker has the Nano 3 Charger (also called the Anker 511) on sale right now. So now’s a good time to grab one. This is a 30W charger, which is now on sale for $18.39. That’s only $4 off, but that does translate to 20% off. So it’s a bit of a bigger deal than it originally sounds like.

The Anker 511 charger is a great option for anyone looking for a fast and reliable charger. It is small and lightweight, making it easy to carry with you on the go. It also supports a wide range of devices, so you can use it to charge your phone, tablet, laptop, and more.

Anker Nano 3 Charger – Amazon

ECOFLOW River 2

61dWe2I3TpL AC SL1500

It’s almost camping season, and the ECOFLOW River 2 is a great option for any camper. Right now, it’s on sale for just $209, that is if you clip the $30 off coupon on the page. Which brings it down to $209. Now, it’s regular price is $289, so this is a great deal.

The EcoFlow River 2 is a portable power station that is perfect for anyone who wants to stay powered up on the go. It has a capacity of 2880Wh, which means it can power a variety of devices, including laptops, TVs, and even small appliances. The River 2 also has a fast charging speed, so you can be sure that your devices will be ready to go when you need them.

Here are some of the benefits of using the EcoFlow River 2:

  • Portable: The River 2 is lightweight and easy to carry, so you can take it with you wherever you go. It weighs just 26.4 pounds and measures 11.8 x 8.7 x 7.5 inches, making it easy to fit in your car or backpack.
  • Powerful: The River 2 has a capacity of 2880Wh, which means it can power a variety of devices. It can power a laptop for up to 12 hours, a TV for up to 6 hours, and even a small refrigerator for up to 4 hours.
  • Fast charging: The River 2 can be charged quickly using the included wall charger. It can be fully charged in just 6 hours, which is much faster than other portable power stations on the market.
  • Durable: The River 2 is made with high-quality materials and is built to last. It is IP67 rated, which means it is dustproof and water-resistant.
  • Affordable: The EcoFlow River 2 is very affordable, making it a great value for the price. It costs just $699, which is significantly less than other portable power stations on the market.

If you are looking for a portable power station that is powerful, portable, and affordable, the EcoFlow River 2 is a great option. It is a must-have for anyone who wants to stay powered up on the go.

ECOFLOW River 2 – Amazon

A few more deals you should be aware of

Here’s a handful of other deals that are available today, that you might want to take advantage of.


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Samsung unveils a rollable OLED display that expands 5X vertically

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Samsung unveils a rollable OLED display that expands 5X vertically
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Samsung is showcasing its latest innovations in display technology at the SID Display Week 2023, which begins today at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. The Korean firm has brought, among other things, a rollable OLED panel that can expand more than five times its vertical length. It has also put new foldable concepts in the exhibition at the event, which runs through Thursday, May 25.

Called Rollable Flex, Samsung’s latest display product aims to solve the portability issue with large-screen devices. In its full size, the device measures 254.4 mm (or ten inches) in length. But it can be rolled into a small 49 mm (less than two inches) tall display at will. An O-shaped axis at the bottom rolls in the extra screen space like a scroll. It can be similarly unrolled to get a bigger display whenever needed.

According to Samsung, the 5x scalability offered by the Rollable Flex makes it the ideal solution for portability issues. Conventional foldable or slidable displays only offer up to three times the scalability. The Korean firm previously showcased a couple of slidable panels that extend vertically and horizontally. But none of those solutions offer as much scalability as the Rollable Flex. No wonder the company itself calls it “the most eye-catching product” at the SID Display Week 2023.

“The biggest feature is that we were able to turn a difficult-to-carry large-sized display into a portable form factor by making it rollable,” Samsung Display said in a press release ahead of the display event in California. The company didn’t reveal any plans for the commercialization of the Rollable Flex, though. With the industry’s quest for more screen space in compact form factors growing fast, these kinds of display solutions may soon arrive as real-world products.

Samsung Rollable Flex SID Display Week 2023 exhibition

Samsung showcased more futuristic OLED display solutions at the event

Samsung Display’s booth at the SID Display Week 2023 is full of more futuristic display solutions. These include the Flex In & Out, a new foldable phone concept that can rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to fold the device both inward and outward. The company brought a prototype of this product to CES 2023 in January this year. It believes this tech will open up the possibility of lighter and thinner foldable phones in the future.

Additionally, Samsung is showcasing its Flex Hybrid and Slidable Flex Solo display products at the event. The former is a combination of foldable and slidable technologies, while the latter is a slidable tablet that expands from a 13-inch display to a 17-inch screen. The Korean firm debuted both of these panels at CES 2023 along with the Slidable Flex Duet, which slides out from both ends.


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World of Goo returns to Android, but there’s a catch

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World of Goo returns to Android, but there’s a catch
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Back in 2011, we were introduced to a fantastic game called World of Goo. This swiftly became a cult classic surviving several years as one of the most popular apps you could get. Now, World of Goo is coming back to the Play Store with remastered visuals. You can get it today, according to Android Police, but there is a catch.

If you’re unfamiliar with World of Goo, it’s a pretty straightforward game. It’s in the “Get the little guys to the exit genre” like Badland or Lemmings. When you start off around, you will see a bunch of little slime balls with eyes connected by lines. Dragging one of the slime balls will cause new lines to sprout from them similar to those bridge-builder games.

In fact, that’s pretty much what you’re doing. You’ll have to drag the Slime balls and build a bridge to the pipe on the other side of the stage. As you build more of the bridge, you’ll use up the little slime balls, and you need to be careful, as you need to get a certain amount of the little guys to the pipe in order to pass the stage.

This is a physics-based game, so gravity is going to be working against you. You need to build the bridge but make it sturdy enough so that it does not collapse on You.

World of Goo has been remastered

This is a very fun game, but it did come out back in 2011. Back then, the peak of mobile gaming Graphics was Temple Run. Playing this game today, you’ll definitely see how times have changed. However, the company behind the game gave it remastered graphics. This is great, as the game looks fantastic. The graphics were redone to look great on modern screens.

So, you can download World of Goo for free, however, there is a catch. This is one of the games that you need a Netflix account to play. That’s a bummer for people who don’t have one. If you don’t have Netflix, you are hardly going to get an account just to play this one game. However, if you have a Netflix account, and you miss playing this game, then you can get it today for free.

Download World of Goo


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