Best Mother’s Day Gifts – 2023

andreasc
-
0
Best Mother’s Day Gifts – 2023
[ad_1]

Mother’s Day is, believe it or not, right around the corner, on May 14. So now is the time to start looking for a gift to get your mom. And we have quite a few good options to pick up for your mom this year.

Whether that be a robot vacuum, so she can sit on the couch drinking wine while it cleans, or a new phone to replace her aging one, or something else. We have loads of ideas here, and there’s something for every budget.

Best Mother’s Day Gifts

As mentioned, this list has a ton of different gifts, all of which are going to be great to get your Mother this year for Mother’s Day. Now these are mostly tech centric Mothers Day gifts. So do keep that in mind.

CostWhere to Buy
Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum$999Samsung
CamelBak 25oz Insulated Water Bottle$29.99Target
BlendJet 2 Portable Blender$49.99Target
Google Pixel Watch$349Best Buy
Theragun mini (1st Gen)$179Best Buy
iRobot Roomba j7+$799Amazon
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra$1,199Samsung
iRobot Braava Jet M6$449Amazon
Sony A9G$1,096Amazon
Ring Solar Pathlight$25Amazon
LIFX Beam$239Amazon
Anker Nano Pro$36Amazon

Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum

VR50T95735W 01 White SCOM

The Samsung Jet Bot AI+ is one of the best robot vacuums that you can get your mom, this Mother’s Day. It’s pretty pricey, but not too pricey for a robot vacuum, actually. So as the name indicates, this robot vacuum does use artificial intelligence. That is used to recognize objects and avoid them. So you don’t need to worry about it running over cords, running into shoes, scales and a whole lot more.

There is a camera included on the vacuum, that’s part of how it is able to recognize objects. That camera can also be used to stream the cleaning when you’re not home. So you can see what it is getting stuck on, or seeing what it’s doing and much more. It does have some pretty good suction power, and an automatic self-empty station. Making cleaning even easier for Mom.

Samsung Jet Bot AI+ Robot Vacuum – Samsung

CamelBak 25oz Insulated Water Bottle

GUEST f8483d66 3b37 42d1 9146 aa39fe977977

  • Price: $29.99
  • Where to buy: Target

Who doesn’t need an insulated water bottle? No matter how old your mom is, this is a great gift for Mother’s Day. It’s available at Target, and it’s available in a slew of different colors.

CamelBak 25oz Insulated Water Bottle – Target

BlendJet 2 Portable Blender

GUEST 1d66e2f0 302f 4d64 87b9 d9e3baf1c58d

  • Price: $49.99
  • Where to buy: Target

With the BlendJet 2, you can blend smoothies, protein shakes, lattes, and so much more, on-the-go. It’s battery powered, and can last for about 15 blends. It is also powered by USB-C, so the same charger you use for your smartphone, will work here.

As if that wasn’t enough reasons to buy the BlendJet 2, it can also clean itself. Just add in some water, a drop of soap and blend.

BlendJet 2 – Target

Google Pixel Watch

6521697cv2d

The Google Pixel Watch is a great gift for Mom this year, because it’s a smaller smartwatch and it also looks more like jewelry than some other smartwatches.

This is Google’s first smartwatch, which was released last year, and offers up some really great features. Like Fitbit being built in. Allowing you to track your heart rate, sleep, activity and so much more. You can also use Google Assistant, Google Pay and much more here.

Google Pixel Watch – Best Buy

Therabody Theragun mini (1st Gen)

6400567cv18d

The Theragun Mini is a great gift for anyone, even something you might want to snag for yourself. It’s a handheld portable massage gun, that has a 150-minute battery and comes with a travel pouch. This is great to use after working out, as well as when you’re getting old and everything starts to hurt.

It has three speeds, so you can customize treatments on the go. It’s also small enough that it can fit in a gym bag – or let’s face it, most purses.

Theragun Mini – Best Buy

iRobot Roomba j7+

7100nUB3hjL AC SL1500

  • Price: $799
  • Where to buy: Amazon

The new iRobot Roomba j7 uses a camera in the front, which is able to identify obstacles better, in your home. Obstacles like cords, shoes and even pet waste. In fact, iRobot is so sure that it will avoid pet waste, that it is guaranteeing that it will avoid it.

It does come with a new auto-empty dock that can still hold up to 60 days of dirt and debris. It’s a great option for hands-free cleaning, as it can empty itself and avoid other obstacles around your home. Of course, if you don’t want to get the auto-empty dock you can get it with the regular dock for a few hundred bucks less.

iRobot Roomba j7+ – Amazon

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Review AM AH 09

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is no surprise as our pick for the best overall smartphone right now. It checks literally every box out there, including having a stylus. And that makes it the perfect gift for Mom.

Samsung has outfitted the Galaxy S23 Ultra with a massive 6.8-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, starting at 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It does go up to 1TB of storage though, for additional costs. It also has some slightly updated camera sensors compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and the S Pen is no built-in. And no longer an additional purchase.

Galaxy S23 Ultra – Samsung.com

iRobot Braava Jet M6

best irobot vacuums

  • Price: $449
  • Where to buy: Amazon

Technically, this is not a robot vacuum. But we’d thought we would include it since a lot of the mopping on other robot vacuums that include it, just isn’t good. But with the Braava Jet M6, it is really good. You can often times bundle this with another Roomba robot vacuum at a pretty good price, so that is worth checking out.

The Braava Jet M6 on the other hand, is pretty incredible. It has a precision jet spray, which is good for getting up tough grease and other dirt off the floor. It still uses the smart mapping that other iRobot Roomba’s use, so it can run back and forth until it has cleaned the entire house.

Finally, this is really great for open spaces. Obviously, it is not something that a lot of people are going to buy, unless the majority of their house is not carpeted. If just your kitchen and bathroom are not carpet, then it’s not really worth it to buy this.

iRobot Braava Jet M6 – Amazon

Sony A9G

91e1nDHTBUL AC SL1500

  • Available in: 55, 65 & 75-inches
  • Price: Starting at $1,098
  • Buy: Amazon

Why not get your mom a new TV for Mother’s Day? The Sony A9G is the newest OLED TV from Sony, and it’s one of the best OLED TVs out there right now. Of course, it’s price does indicate that.

This is part of the MASTER series from Sony, which means that it was calibrated by film makers to make sure that you see the picture they intended. Meaning that the picture is more true-to-life than almost anything on the market.

It’s powered by the X1 Ultimate processor, which is Sony’s best processor and it analyzes content to bring out OLED’s intense contrast with pure blacks, peak brightness and natural colors. It’s also a really great TV to pair with the PlayStation 5. With a dedicated gaming mode for a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.

Sony A9G – Amazon

Ring Solar Pathlight

best smart lights

If you have a nice pathway from the curb or sideway, to your front door, then you’ll want to grab the Ring Solar Pathlight. These are pretty inexpensive at $25 each, and also are smart. So they can turn on whenever you need them too. Whether that is when you get home from work, or when the sun goes down.

But perhaps the best part of this light is the fact that it is solar-powered. So you won’t need to worry about paying electricity for leaving these on all night long. That is really nice.

If you own other Ring products, like the doorbell, or floodlights, then this is the route to go. As it does also work with your other Ring products, all within the same app.

Ring Solar Pathlight – Amazon

LIFX Beam Seamless Light Module

best smart lights

LIFX Beam is another one of our favorite smart accent lighting pieces that you can pick up for Mother’s Day. These can be placed anywhere really, but honestly, it’s great to put on the wall behind a TV, or around a door frame. Giving you a really cool look.

The LIFX Beam is super simple to setup. Beams click together end to end. Included command strips allow you to place them exactly where you want. Simply download the app, connect to Wi-Fi and you’re ready to go.

Connected Lighting and scenes for your space, time of day, and mood. Choose from 16 million colors with flexibility to dim. And it works with your favorite digital assistants, no matter what platform you use.

LIFX Beam Seamless Light Module – Amazon

Anker Nano Pro

61fyytAQE3L AC SL1500

Anker has been embracing GaN chargers in the last couple of years, and the Nano Pro is a really impressive charger from the company. It’s a dual USB-C charger, so you can charge two USB-C devices at the same time here. It can output 40W total, or 20W each port. So even if you plug in something else, you’re still going to get the full 20W.

This is a great charger for everyone, whether you use an iPhone, Galaxy, OnePlus or even want it for a laptop. Though it will charge a laptop pretty slowly since it is only 20W.

Anker Nano Pro- Amazon


[ad_2]
Source link

Twitter and eToro to join forces for improved stock and crypto trading

andreasc
-
0
Twitter and eToro to join forces for improved stock and crypto trading
[ad_1]
If you are among the people, who are interested and actively participating in the trading of stocks, crypto and even NFTs, then you know how important it is to have access to up-to-date and reliable information. Hence, Twitter is often a go-to choice.

But users also need a solid and reputable platform, where they can apply that knowledge in order to gain… well, literal gain. One of the most popular choices is eToro, which offers insight, the ability to trade and even the ability to copy someone else’s trading habits.

After all that info, in the specific phrasing, do you see how it makes sense for the two companies to join forces? This new collaboration opens the door to improved $Cashtags — think hashtags, but for financial stuff — the way the information is displayed and a nifty little button that would take users straight into eToro so that they can act as quickly as possible.

That being said, the general info, which cashtags use will still be provided by the same platform, namely — TradingView. The changes here are meant to improve the clarity of the information and the accessibility of action related to the latest market trends.

While this doesn’t mean that eToro is truly integrated into the Twitter platform, it does still improve the way the two apps interact with each other. For example, this would in theory increase monetary gains from campaigns such as referral bonuses, which are typically expressed through user-generated links and shared on social media.

Given how Twitter looks to be the ultimate place for such activities, there may be some gain for the company there as well. Especially when we take into consideration the change that cashtag related data is reportedly going to be more up-to-date than ever.

It feels refreshing to share a story about Twitter, which isn’t related to the now pedestrian drama surrounding Musk’s takeover of the company. That being said, this is an interesting direction for the platform and it will be interesting to see where the developers take it from here on out.


[ad_2]
Source link

Microsoft Patch Tuesday April Fixed 97 Flaws Including 1 Zero-Day

andreasc
-
0
Microsoft Patch Tuesday April Fixed 97 Flaws Including 1 Zero-Day
[ad_1]

This week marked the scheduled release of monthly security updates from Microsoft. With April 2023 Patch Tuesday updates, Microsoft addressed 97 different security flaws across different products. The most notable fix includes a zero-day patch for a privilege escalation vulnerability that remained unexploited despite disclosure.

Microsoft Patch Tuesday April Updates

As elaborated in Microsoft’s advisory, an important severity privilege escalation flaw affected the Windows Common Log File System Driver. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-28252, could allow an attacker to gain system privileges on the target device.

According to ZDI, fixing a similar vulnerability in a two-months time hints the repatching of the same issue as the previous one didn’t work. However, Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed anything in this regard. Whether it’s the same issue or not, the fact remains that the Windows CLFS driver developed a zero-day twice within a short time.

Besides this important update, Microsoft patched 96 other vulnerabilities across different products, including 7 critical severity vulnerabilities. All the vulnerabilities could lead to remote code execution when exploited.

Alongside these bug fixes, the tech giant patched 89 other important-severity vulnerabilities, fixing a bunch of security issues in Windows Kernel, Windows DNS Server, Microsoft PostScript and PCL6 Class Printer Driver, and more. The impact of these vulnerabilities following malicious exploitation ranged from remote code execution to privilege escalation and information disclosure.

One of these flaws includes an RCE bug in Microsoft Word. Identified as CVE-2023-28311 (CVSS 7.8), the vulnerability seemed easily exploitable as an adversary could trigger the flaw by merely luring the target user into clicking a maliciously crafted document. Nonetheless, Microsoft confirmed discovering no active exploitation for the flaw before the fix.

Alongside these bug fixes, the April Patch Tuesday also includes patches for some already-known low-severity vulnerabilities in Microsoft Edge.

Although, the entire update bundle would reach Microsoft users automatically. Yet, it’s still safe to ensure updating the systems manually to receive the bug fixes soon and avoid malicious attacks.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


[ad_2]
Source link

Credential Harvesting & SMS Hijacking Malware Sold on Telegram

andreasc
-
0
Credential Harvesting & SMS Hijacking Malware Sold on Telegram
[ad_1]

The new Python-based Legion malware is being linked to a potential Indonesian developer.

Cloud forensics and incident response platform startup, Cado Security Ltd., has revealed details of a new credential harvester and hacking tool called “Legion.”

According to researchers, Legion is being sold on Telegram and is designed to exploit various services for email abuse. The tool is believed to be linked to the AndroxGh0st malware family which was first reported in December 2022.

The use of Telegram for selling Legion malware should not come as a surprise, as the popular messaging platform has often been associated with illegal activities. In fact, just last week, it was reported that threat actors are leveraging Telegram to automate phishing attacks, highlighting the platform’s role in facilitating cybercriminal activities.

Legion specifically targets web servers running content management systems, PHP or PHP-based frameworks. It has the ability to retrieve credentials for a wide range of web services, including email providers, cloud service providers, server management systems, databases, and payment platforms like Stripe Inc. and PayPal Holdings Inc. Additionally, Legion can hijack SMS messages and compromise Amazon Web Services Inc. credentials.

One notable feature of Legion is its availability of modules that can enumerate vulnerable SMTP servers, conduct remote code execution, exploit vulnerable versions of Apache, and brute-force cPanel and WebHost Manager accounts.

It also interacts with the Shodan Search Engine‘s API to retrieve a target list and has modules focused on abusing AWS services. Researchers have also highlighted Legion’s ability to send SMS spam messages to mobile network users in the United States across all carriers, which sets it apart from other similar tools.

Legion is being sold on various Telegram channels and is being promoted on YouTube through tutorial videos, suggesting that it is widely distributed and likely paid malware.

While the origin of the malware is not confirmed, comments found in Bahasa Indonesia suggest that the developer may be Indonesian or based in Indonesia. A GitHub Gist link leads to a user named “Galeh Rizky” with a profile indicating residence in Indonesia.

As a precaution, Cado Security researchers recommend in their report that users of web server technologies and frameworks like Laravel review their existing security processes and ensure that credentials are appropriately stored.

Ideally, sensitive information such as credentials should be stored in a .env file outside of web server directories to prevent unauthorized access.

Legion: Credential Harvesting & SMS Hijacking Malware Sold on Telegram
Legion splash screen (Cado Labs)

The discovery of Legion highlights the ongoing threat of credential harvesting and hacking tools in the cybersecurity landscape. It serves as a reminder for organizations to prioritize robust security measures and stay vigilant against evolving cyber threats.

On the other hand, the trend of using Telegram as a platform for buying and selling malware is concerning, as it provides a convenient and anonymous means for cybercriminals to conduct illicit activities.

  1. 360 Million WhatsApp Records Leaked on Telegram
  2. Hackers turn to Telegram to assist Iranian protestors
  3. Telegram and Discord Bots Drop Infostealing Malware
  4. Fake Telegram and WhatsApp clones steal crypto funds
  5. 21M SuperVPN, GeckoVPN user data leaked on Telegram

[ad_2]
Source link

ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review: A Gaming Powerhouse

andreasc
-
0
ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review: A Gaming Powerhouse
[ad_1]

ASUS has returned this year with the ROG Phone 7 and the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate to follow up last year’s ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro. As one would probably expect, the new device duo from one of gaming’s most premium brands has quite a few improvements. Promising an even better mobile gaming experience than before. But not just a better mobile gaming experience, a better overall phone experience.

That being said, this is still a gaming phone. Most features are going to be gaming-centric. Even the design is tailored to the mobile gamer. While this is a smartphone first, gaming is the main focus. And it shows with the advancements ASUS has made to the device this year. Like past devices though, the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate are going to be expensive. Are they worth all that money? Is this a device that you should consider buying?

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks using this phone as my daily driver so I could answer those questions. So let’s dive in see what makes this phone great, and where it can improve.

ASUS made the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate with gaming-centric ergonomics

AH ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review 4

As with past devices, the design of the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate features ergonomics that cater to mobile gamers. What I mean by this is that the design moves beyond having those typical “gamer” aesthetics you might expect to see. The gamer aesthetic is definitely still there. An RGB ROG eye logo can be seen on the back of the ROG Phone 7. While the ROG Vision display is on the back ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. Other more subtle details, like the Republic of Gamers branding, are still present as well.

But that’s not what I mostly want to focus on here. It’s the ergonomics. ASUS specifically designed the ergonomics of the ROG Phone 7 and 7 Ultimate to cater to landscape mode. Because most AAA mobile games are designed to be played this way. Big surprise right?

With that in mind, the latest ROG phones continue to offer features and ergonomics that work well with the phone being held this way. For starters, the AirTriggers are still up top for additional controls. Which I find come in really handy when playing Call of Duty: Mobile. I use these as my aim down sight and fire controls. So my thumbs can stay on the movement.

The side-charging USB-C port makes a return as well so you can plug the device in and keep the battery topped up while you play. Or, you can simply use this with bypass charging to power the phone instead of juicing up the battery. You’ll also notice two new magnet connector pins. These are for the AeroActive Cooler 7, which now includes a 5-magnet super linear subwoofer for enhanced audio during gaming. Plus you still have front-facing stereo speakers tuned by Dirac for exceptional audio without the subwoofer.

All of these things might seem small. But when you put them together, they make a really big difference if you play a lot of mobile games. And bigger aspects of that ergonomic design, like the AirTriggers and side-facing USB-C port for charging ensure you can hold the phone as comfortably as possible while you play.

ROG Phone 7 Ultimate design

For the most part, nothing has really changed here. ASUS kept the same design for the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate as it had for the ROG Phone 6 Pro. Save for two things – the new magnet connector pins on the side and the AeroActive Portal on the back. Aside from those two things, the design doesn’t change much.

And that’s a good thing because the design last year was great. You still have the metal frame with rounded corners, bottom-facing off-center USB-C port and bottom-facing 3.5mm audio port. There’s also Gorilla Glass Victus covering the display and Gorilla Glass 3 on the back. Even the colors are the same as last year. Phantom Black and Storm White. Although the Ultimate model only comes in Storm White. There are of course very subtle differences in the design compared to the ROG Phone 6 series.

The back of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate for instance now has a large ‘ROG’ branding slapped across the bottom edge. ASUS also took away most of the line graphics. Both the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate now feature a two-toned color scheme as well. The colors are still technically the same, but one side of the back has more of a matte finish while the other side gives off a slight but noticeable sheen.

It’s still very much a gaming-style aesthetic but just a little less loud. Overall it’s a nice design and I hope ASUS continues this trend for future phones. I definitely don’t want to see them going back to style of design that was present on the ROG Phone 2.

The AeroActive Cooler 7 feels less needed than ever, and that’s a good thing

There was a time when the ROG Phones were not only exceptionally powerful mobile gaming devices, but they also became quite hot. To the point that they were uncomfortable to hold after only an hour’s worth of playing games.

Every year ASUS has improved the cooling of its ROG Phones to counteract this. And while they have gotten better, the phones still needed a little extra help. So ASUS began packaging the devices with the AeroActive Cooler. This year’s model, the AeroActive Cooler 7, is the best it’s ever been. Using the same Peltier cooling chip-based design as with the AeroActive Cooler 6 for advanced airflow and cooling.

But, it just doesn’t feel as needed as it used to be. Don’t get me wrong, I still often like using it. Because in the end it cools the phone better than without it. But if you don’t use it, I’ve noticed less heat buildup than on the ROG Phone 6 Pro after longer gaming sessions. And a significant improvement over the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate and previous devices.

This is all thanks to the new GameCool 7 cooling system. ASUS revamped the internal structure so that heat dissipation is more efficient. It also redesigned the ROG Rapid-Cycle vapor chamber with special liquid return channels that help to dissipate heat up to 2.1 times more. This is in addition to using larger graphite sheets to help spread heat more evenly. This way heat doesn’t get trapped in the middle of the phone like it did before.

The end result, is a cooler phone under extended heavy loads with AAA, graphically demanding games. Though as I mentioned before, there are still reasons to use and enjoy the AeroActive Cooler 7 attachment. Even if it isn’t really needed as much as it used to be.

Why you should consider using the AeroActive Cooler 7

Even though the phone doesn’t get as hot without this excellent accessory as past devices did, you should still consider using it. The phone doesn’t feel as hot to the touch anymore. But that doesn’t mean that heat is not still impacting the device in other ways. The most significant of these is performance. The hotter the chip gets, the likelier it is you’ll see dips in performance over time. Which isn’t what you want if you’re in the thick of a gaming session. Especially if those games are competitive in nature.

Aside from helping the phone stay cool more efficiently, it also has the added back buttons you can map to on-screen touch controls. Plus, this new model includes the subwoofer for enhanced audio. It doesn’t make a massive difference to the sound. But it does improve it and it just makes the experience better. In addition to these things it also includes a bottom-facing 3.5mm audio port. So if you decide to use wired headphones, you can plug them in on the bottom instead of on the side.

It’s definitely a bigger cooler attachment than last year’s. But definitely worth carrying around with you if you have a bag or sling to slip it into.

Stellar battery life as expected

AH ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review 9

One of the best things about ASUS’s ROG Phone series is the battery life. Both the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate and the ROG Phone 7 feature the same 6,000mAh capacity battery as past devices. Letting you game for hours upon hours or just have a phone that lasts for literal days.

There’s not really a whole lot to say about the battery here since it’s the same battery as the ROG Phone 6 series. Which is a 6,000mAh dual-cell battery module that supports 65w Hyper Charging. Basically the battery is just as good as last year’s and once again makes the ROG Phone a standout device when it comes to how long the battery lasts.

There is one notable improvement though. It charges up faster than before. According to ASUS, the ROG Phone 7 series will charge from 0% to 100% in just 42 minutes. Which is about 10 minutes faster than the ROG Phone 6 series. That might not make a huge difference for every user. But faster charging is faster charging. And I certainly did appreciate the phone getting back to full quicker than I was used to.

Near stock Android software with that gamer touch

AH ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review 8

The software experience on ASUS’s ROG Phone series has always been pretty decent, and the same is true with the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. You get your choice of the ROG UI or the updated Zen UI. The two are pretty similar but the Zen UI has a more stock Android look and feel.

Which is what I personally prefer and have used on this device throughout my time with it so far. The device comes with Android 13 out of the box so you get all the benefits of that as well.

But where the software really shines in my opinion is with the Game Genie. While the Game Genie isn’t new there are some new features being added to it this year. X Sense and X Capture are two that could end up being pretty cool for some gamers. With X Sense, it lets the software detect key moments throughout your game. It can then use those detections to aid you with what to do next. X Capture meanwhile also detects key moments, but instead of assisting with decision making it saves clips for you to share.

The only problem is that right now the support for these seems to be limited to a very small number of games. X Capture for instance only seems to support the Garena version of Arena of Valor. And I suspect X Sense is the same way. There’s also Background Mode, which simply keeps the game running in the background.

The most interesting is the new Vibration Mapping feature. With this you can set zones on the device where the haptics will come into play so the vibration interacts with what’s happening in your game at certain moments. This can give your games a more immersive feel and I think it’s probably the best of the new features. All-in-all the software is good just like it was last year.

Should you buy the ROG Phone 7 or ROG Phone 7 Ultimate?

AH ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate Review 7

ASUS has outdone itself once again when it comes to making what really does feel like the best phone available for mobile gaming. With a few key improvements to the cooling, and updated hardware for even better performance, the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate are the cream of the crop in this small niche of the smartphone market.

But neither phone is perfect and they won’t be for everyone. No matter how good the device is, there are simply going to be more suitable options for some users. And that’s ok. Not everyone is into mobile gaming or into it enough to warrant spending the higher price that ASUS demands. Not to mention the camera definitely takes a backseat to all the gaming features. While more than fine for my personal needs, there are better smartphone cameras out there. And you may be a user that values that more than what ASUS is offering here.

ASUS plans to launch the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate in the US sometime in late Q2. Which probably puts the official US release closer to Summertime. As for pricing, the phone will start at $999.99 for the ROG Phone 7. Pricing for the Ultimate model hasn’t been confirmed yet. If you don’t want to wait for the new model, ASUS is still selling it’s excellent ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro devices.

Buy the ASUS ROG Phone 7 or ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if:

  • You want the best mobile gaming phone there is
  • Battery life is important to you
  • You want the extra features and accessories geared towards gamers

Don’t buy the ASUS ROG Phone 7 or ROG Phone 7 Ultimate if:

  • You want a better smartphone camera
  • The price is more than you’re willing to spend
  • You don’t play a whole lot of mobile games

[ad_2]
Source link

iPhone SE 4 may not arrive before 2025; custom 5G modem tipped

andreasc
-
0
iPhone SE 4 may not arrive before 2025; custom 5G modem tipped
[ad_1]

Apple rumors have been a real rollercoaster lately. The iPhone 15 Pro drama surrounding solid-state buttons is currently in, and now we have some iPhone SE 4 info to share. The iPhone SE 4 won’t arrive before 2025, if the latest rumor is to be believed.

The iPhone SE 4 may not launch before 2025

This information comes from a well-known analyst, Jeff Pu (via MacRumors). The analyst says that the iPhone SE 4 will launch “with a custom-designed 5G modem in 2025”.

Why is this odd? Well, for one, the phone was previously rumored to launch next year, in 2024. The source of that info was probably the best-known Apple tipster, Ming-Chi Kuo. The same source said that Apple canceled the iPhone SE 4, which was back in December. Since then, the company obviously changed its mind.

In any case, if Jeff Pu is to be believed, the iPhone SE 4 won’t arrive as soon as we thought. A 2025 launch is what he thinks we’ll see. It remains to be seen if Ming-Chi Kuo will have a response to this.

In any case, the phone is also expected to get a custom-designed 5G modem, as Apple will sort of test it via that phone. The company is probably looking to move further away from Qualcomm.

It will be the first ‘SE’ device to feature a different design

The iPhone SE 4 will be a rather interesting launch, as it will be the first ‘SE’ device from the company to feature a different design. The first three models offered the iPhone 8 design, so it’s time for Apple to change things up.

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to look more like the iPhone 14, than the iPhone 8. It may not be the same chassis, Apple may use chassis from one of the previous iPhones, as they’re all very similar. It remains to be seen.

That means it will be considerably larger than the previous iPhone SE models. It likely won’t have a horrible battery life, though, and will finally adopt an OLED display.


[ad_2]
Source link

Malicious ChatGPT & Google Bard Installers Distribute RedLine Stealer

andreasc
-
0
Malicious ChatGPT & Google Bard Installers Distribute RedLine Stealer
[ad_1]

Cybercriminals are hijacking Facebook pages and using sponsored posts to offer downloads of ChatGPT and Google Bard AI, which in reality spread RedLine Stealer malware.

According to a report from security automation startup Veriti, threat actors are attempting to exploit the popularity of OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT and Google Bard to distribute malware and steal sensitive data. These attempts underscore the risks associated with generative AI platforms.

It should come as no surprise that ChatGPT’s popularity has been exploited for malicious purposes since its launch. As a result, OpenAI, ChatGPT’s parent company, recently introduced its first-ever bug bounty program.

Attack Mechanism

Veriti researchers have observed that attackers first hijack Facebook business or community pages, carefully selecting pages with thousands of followers. They then post seemingly legitimate sponsored ads on these pages, offering free downloads of ChatGPT and Google Bard. Unsuspecting visitors fall into the trap and download the malicious files, which then unleash the RedLine information-stealing malware on their devices.

Facebook pages hacked to spread Redline malware via ChatGPT and Google Bard AI
Compromised Facebook pages spreading RedLine stealer (Via: Veriti)

“These posts are designed to appear legitimate, using the buzz around OpenAI language models to deceive unsuspecting users into downloading the files. However, once the user downloads and extracts the file, the RedLine Stealer malware is activated and can steal passwords and download further malware onto the user’s device,” reads Veriti’s report.

For reference, RedLine Stealer is sold on online hacker forums as a malware-as-a-service (MaaS) platform, with a primary focus on targeting browsers to collect users’ data. This commoditized malware is often favoured by cybercriminals due to its low cost, priced at $100 to $150.

What are the Dangers?

When a victim installs the malicious file from one of these sponsored ads, their device is hijacked by the RedLine infostealer, which can then steal confidential data, disrupt critical infrastructure, and compromise financial accounts.

By targeting web browsers on the infected device, RedLine Stealer can steal credentials, credit card information, or other payment card details, as well as conduct system inventory to identify vulnerabilities for further attacks.

Furthermore, RedLine Stealer has the capability to upload/download files and execute commands, providing even novice hackers with extensive opportunities to carry out various types of cyberattacks.

Who are the Targets?

Researchers detected this campaign in January 2023 and observed a peak in March. So far, dozens of Facebook accounts have been hijacked across ten countries to distribute RedLine Stealer through malicious ads.

The highest number of victims were identified in Greece, followed by India, Mexico, the USA, and Bangladesh. Approximately 77% of the attacks were observed in the USA, with Canada at 9%, Mexico at 6%, India at 4%, and Portugal at 2%.

This campaign serves as an early warning of what may lie ahead, as the soaring popularity of AI-based chatbots has made them lucrative targets for threat actors. They can exploit the versatility of these products, which can be packaged in different forms such as open source or mobile applications, allowing them to create trojanized downloads.

The potential impact is significant, as attackers can steal anything from private to financial data and target critical infrastructure.

Researchers suggest that enterprises should upgrade their cybersecurity practices, educate employees about the risks associated with downloading files from unauthenticated or unknown sources, and ensure strong security configurations to prevent system compromise.

Limiting the downloading of executables and implementing sandboxing of executables before downloading can also reduce the risk of infecting corporate IT infrastructure.

  1. Bard AI Causes Google Losses of $100 Billion
  2. Scammers Pose as ChatGPT in New Phishing Scam
  3. ChatGPT Clone Apps Collect Data on iOS, Play Store
  4. Fake ChatGPT Extension Hijacks Facebook Accounts
  5. Researchers create Blackmamba malware with ChatGPT

[ad_2]
Source link

Some ASUS ZenFone 10 specs confirmed by Geekbench

andreasc
-
0
Some ASUS ZenFone 10 specs confirmed by Geekbench
[ad_1]

The ASUS ZenFone 10 has surfaced on Geekbench, and some of its specs got confirmed that way. The phone appeared on the benchmarking platform under the ‘ASUS_AI2302’ model.

Some ZenFone 10 specs got revealed by Geekbench

First and foremost, let’s just say that the phone managed to score 2,008 points in the single-core test, and 5,454 points in the multi-core test. Those are excellent results, though unsurprising, as the device will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC. Keep in mind this is not a final unit, though, so don’t pay much attention to those benchmarking scores.

That is actually one detail that this benchmarking site revealed, the phone’s SoC. Another detail that popped up is its RAM count. The ZenFone 10 will include 16GB of RAM in one of its models. That will probably be the highest-end offering, as the ZenFone 9 also offered up to 16GB of RAM.

Android 13 is listed here for the device, and that’s the OS it will run once it launches, as it’s expected to arrive in the summer. The ZenFone 9 launched in July last year, so the ZenFone 10 is expected around that time this year. ASUS may, of course, change its release cycle, but that’s not as likely.

It will be considerably larger than its predecessor, allegedly

Now, based on previous leaks, the ZenFone 10 will be larger than its predecessor. The phone is tipped to include a 6.3-inch panel. The ZenFone 9 arrived with a 5.9-inch display, that’s quite a change, needless to say.

The device will feature a 120Hz display, and offer 256GB/512GB of internal storage. A 200-megapixel main camera with OIS support was also mentioned, as was IP68 certification. Take that info with a grain of salt, though, of course.

We are only a couple of months away from the launch event, so more info should start coming in soon, including the phone’s design.

ASUS ZenFone 10 Geekbench


[ad_2]
Source link

Huawei unveils FreeBuds 5 with odd, but interesting design

andreasc
-
0
Huawei unveils FreeBuds 5 with odd, but interesting design
[ad_1]

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 truly wireless earbuds are now official. The company announced a new pair of its open-fit earbuds. These are the company’s flagship open-fit earbuds, by the way. The ‘Pro’ series has a silicone seal, these ones do not.

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 are official with a rather odd design, and various improvements

The FreeBuds 5 have changed quite a bit compared to the FreeBuds 4. If you check out the images below, you’ll notice how odd these look. Huawei refers to this design as the “droplet-shaped design”.

The company claims that it is a result of “tens of thousands of ergonomic simulations and hundreds of optimizations”. It is supposed to ensure that the double-C curves fit the contours of the ears.

This design is essentially expected to reduce strain, and ensure a breathable wearing experience, according to Huawei. The arc-shaped stem is here to ensure that the pressure is evenly distributed when you tap an earbud. We cannot confirm this just yet, but a review unit should be in soon.

The frequency response is 50% higher compared to the FreeBuds 4

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 comes with an ultra-magnet dynamic driver, which is equipped with bass turbo technology. That tech produces bass tones that drop as low as 16Hz. The frequency response is 50% higher than the FreeBuds 4, thanks to the dual circuit magnets, says Huawei.

Huawei FreeBuds 5 image 9

The triple adaptive EQ is also included. It is supposed to optimize sound quality in real time, from 100Hz to 2,000Hz. The FreeBuds 5 also support the L2HC and LDAC codecs. These earbuds got certified by both HWA and Hi-Res Audio Wireless, in case you were wondering.

Huawei also said that the audio transmission rate on the FreeBuds 5 is up to 990 kbps and 96kHz/24-bit HD audio is supported here. On top of everything, you’ll also find an adaptive tri-mic hybrid noise cancellation here, with “intelligent dynamic ANC”.

They offer a 200% faster charging rate than the previous model

The company also enhanced the battery life of these earbuds. Huawei claims you can get 30 hours of use on a full charge. A 5-minute charge can provide up to 2 hours of listening time. The FreeBuds 5 also have a 200% faster charging rate than the FreeBuds 4.

The Huawei FreeBuds 5 come in Ceramic White, Coral Orange, and Silver Frost colors. The case has also been changed, it’s now egg-shaped, it reminds us of the Pixel Buds case.

These earbuds will go on sale on April 17 in Europe. They’ll be priced at €159/£139.99, and available from the Huawei Store and selected retailers.


[ad_2]
Source link

Don’t plug your phone into a free charging station, warns FBI

andreasc
-
0
Don’t plug your phone into a free charging station, warns FBI
[ad_1]

The FBI warned consumers against using free public charging stations, stating that criminals have managed to hijack public chargers to infect devices with malware.

In a recent tweet, the FBI office in Denver warned consumers against using free public charging stations, stating that criminals have managed to hijack public chargers with the objective of infecting devices with malware or other software that can give hackers access to your phone, tablet or computer.

“Avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels or shopping centers. Bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices. Carry your own charger and USB cord and use an electrical outlet instead.”

When asked, the FBI’s Denver field office said the message was meant as an advisory, and that there was no specific case that prompted it. The method the FBI is referring to is often referred to as “juice jacking.”

Imagine that the battery of your phone is dying and you’re nowhere near a power outlet, would you connect your phone to any old USB port? A juice jacking attack uses a charging port or infected cable to exfiltrate data from the connected device or upload malware onto it. The term was first used by Brian Krebs in 2011 after a proof of concept was conducted at DEF CON by Wall of Sheep. When users plugged their phones into a free charging station, a message appeared on the kiosk screen saying:

“You should not trust public kiosks with your smart phone. Information can be retrieved or downloaded without your consent. Luckily for you, this station has taken the ethical route and your data is safe. Enjoy the free charge!”

While there are no known, recent cases of juice jacking, it’s best to be aware of potential cyberattacks—you never know what will trigger the transformation of the hypothetical to the real. To avoid inadvertently infecting your mobile device while charging your phone in public, learn more about how these attacks could happen and what you can do to prevent them.

How would juice jacking work?

As you may have noticed, when you charge your phone through the USB port of your computer or laptop, you are also able to move files back and forth between the two systems. That’s because a USB port is not simply a power socket. A regular USB connector has five pins, where only one is needed to charge the receiving end. Two of the others are used by default for data transfers.

schematics of a USB connection cable

USB connection table courtesy of Sunrom

Unless you have made changes in your settings, the data transfer mode is disabled by default, except on devices running older Android versions. The connection is only visible on the end that provides the power, which in the case of juice jacking is typically not the device owner. That means, any time a user connects to a USB port for a charge, they could also be opening up a pathway to move data between devices, with the following consequences:

  • Data theft: during the charge, data is stolen from the connected device.
  • Malware installation: as soon as the connection is established, malware is dropped on the connected device. The malware remains on the device until it is detected and removed by the user.

Data theft

In the first type of juice-jacking attack, cybercriminals could steal any and all data from mobile devices connected to charging stations through their USB ports. But there’s no hoodie-wearing hacker sitting behind the controls of the kiosk, so how would they get all your data from your phone to the charging station to their own servers? And if you charge for only a couple minutes, does that save you from losing everything?

Make no mistake, data theft can be fully automated. A cybercriminal could breach an unsecured kiosk using malware, then steal the information from connected devices. There are crawlers that can search your phone for personally identifiable information (PII), account credentials, banking-related or credit card data in seconds. There are also many malicious apps that can clone all of one phone’s data to another phone, using a Windows or Mac computer as a middleman. So, if that’s what hiding on the other end of the USB port, an attacker could get all they need to impersonate you.

Cybercriminals are not necessarily targeting specific, high-profile users for data theft, either—though a threat actor would be extremely happy (and lucky) to fool a potential executive or government target into using a rigged charging station. However, the chances of that happening are rather slim. Instead, hackers know that our mobile devices store a lot of PII, which can be sold on the dark web for profit or re-used in social engineering campaigns.

Malware installation

The second type of juice-jacking attack would involve installing malware onto a user’s device through the same USB connection. This time, data theft isn’t always the end goal, though it often takes place in the service of other criminal activities. If threat actors were to steal data through malware installed on a mobile device, it wouldn’t happen upon USB connection but instead take place over time. This way, hackers could gather more and varied data, such as GPS locations, purchases made, social media interactions, photos, call logs, and other ongoing processes.

There are many categories of malware that cybercriminals could install through juice jacking, including adware, cryptominers, ransomware, spyware, or Trojans. In fact, Android malware nowadays is as versatile as malware aimed at Windows systems. While cryptominers mine a mobile phone’s CPU/GPU for cryptocurrency and drain its battery, ransomware freezes devices or encrypts files for ransom. Spyware allows for long-term monitoring and tracking of a target, and Trojans can hide in the background and serve up any number of other infections at will.

Many of today’s malware families are designed to hide from sight, so it’s possible users could be infected for a long time and not know it. Symptoms of a mobile phone infection include a quickly-draining battery life, random icons appearing on your screen of apps you didn’t download, advertisements popping up in browsers or notification centers, or an unusually large cell phone bill. But sometimes infections leave no trace at all, which means prevention is all the more important.

How to avoid juice jacking

The first and most obvious way to avoid juice jacking is to stay away from public charging stations or portable wall chargers. Don’t let the panic of an almost drained battery get the best of you. I’m probably showing my age here, but I can keep going without my phone for hours. I’d rather not see the latest kitty meme if it means compromising the data on my phone.

If you feel going through a part of your life without a phone is crazy talk and a battery charge is necessary to get you through the next leg of your travels, using a good old-fashioned AC socket (plug and outlet) will do the trick. No data transfer can take place while you charge—though it may be hard to find an empty outlet. While traveling, make sure you have the correct adapter for the various power outlet systems along your route. Note there are 15 major types of electrical outlet plugs in use today around the globe.

Other non-USB options include external batteries, wireless charging stations, and power banks, which are devices that can be charged to hold enough power for several recharges of your phone. Depending on the type and brand of power bank, they can hold between two and eight full charges. Power banks with a high capacity are known to cost more than US$100, but offer the option to charge multiple devices without having to look for a suitable power outlet.

If you still want the option to connect via USB, USB condoms are adaptors that allow the power transfer but don’t connect the data transfer pins. You can attach them to your charging cable as an “always on” protection. Using such a USB data blocker or “juice-jack defender” as they are sometimes called will always prevent accidental data exchange when your device is plugged into another device with a USB cable. This makes it a welcome travel companion, and will only set you back US$10–$20.

Checking your phones’ USB preference settings may help, but it’s not a foolproof solution. There have been cases where data transfers took place despite the “no data transfer” setting.

Finally, avoid using any charging cables and power banks that seem to be left behind. You can compare this trick to the “lost USB stick” in the parking lot. You know you shouldn’t connect those to your computer, right? Consider any random technology left behind as suspect. Your phone will thank you for it.

Malwarebytes removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW


[ad_2]
Source link
1...1,3231,3241,325...1,480Page 1,324 of 1,480