Live Nation Entertainment has confirmed what everyone has been speculating on for the last week: Ticketmaster has suffered a data breach.
In a filing with the SEC, Live Nation said on May 20th it identified “unauthorized activity within a third-party cloud database environment containing Company data (primarily from its Ticketmaster L.L.C. subsidiary)” and launched an investigation.
The third party it refers to is likely Snowflake, a cloud company used by thousands of companies to store, manage, and analyze large volumes of data. Yesterday, May 31st, Snowflake said it had “recently observed and are investigating an increase in cyber threat activity” targeting some of its customers’ accounts. It didn’t mention which customers.
In the SEC filing, Live Nation also said:
On May 27, 2024, a criminal threat actor offered what it alleged to be Company user data for sale via the dark web. We are working to mitigate risk to our users and the Company, and have notified and are cooperating with law enforcement. As appropriate, we are also notifying regulatory authorities and users with respect to unauthorized access to personal information.
The user data likely refers to the sales ad for 560 million customers’ data that was posted online earlier this week by a group calling themselves ShinyHunters. The data was advertised for $500,000 and says it includes customer names, addresses, emails, credit card details, order information, and more.
Post on BreachForums by ShinyHunters
Bleeping Computer says it spoke to ShinyHunters who said they already had interested buyers, and believed one of the buyers that approached them was Ticketmaster itself.
Ticketmaster says it has begun notifying its users of the breach. We are likely to hear more in the coming days, and will update you as we do.
For now, Ticketmaster users should keep an eye on their credit and bank accounts for an unauthorized transactions and follow our general data breach tips below.
Protecting yourself after a data breach
There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.
Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened, and follow any specific advice they offer.
Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify the identity of anyone who contacts you using a different communication channel.
Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
Consider not storing your card details. It’s definitely more convenient to get sites to remember your card details for you, but we highly recommend not storing that information on websites.
Set up identity monitoring.Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.
Scan for your exposed personal data
While the Ticketmaster data is yet to be published in full, it’s likely you’ve had other personal information exposed online in previous data breaches. You can check what personal information of yours has been exposed with our Digital Footprint portal. Just enter your email address (it’s best to submit the one you most frequently use) to our free Digital Footprint scan and we’ll give you a report.
These are turbulent days in the smartphone repair segment. In a recent development, Google has updated its Pixel repair policy regarding devices with unauthorized parts. The previous version of the policy said that the company could keep your smartphone if they detected unofficial parts.
Negative news has recently emerged regarding device repairability. These have mainly affected Samsung, with the termination of its partnership with iFixit. Also with the shutdown of its ASP program on Best Buy service centers. Now, it is Google who is the protagonist, since it has been forced to clarify a thorny clause in its repair policies.
Pixel repair policy no longer suggests that Google could steal your phone
Recently, some noticed that Pixel devices’ repair policies indicated that the company would not return your phone if they found unauthorized parts. More specifically, it said this: “Unauthorized Parts: You will not send in a Device containing non-Google-authorized parts — if You do, Your Device will not be returned to you.”
Interpreting the clause literally, you can conclude that the company reserves the right to steal your smartphone if it finds non-OEM parts. Of course, this created quite a stir among users of Pixel products. That said, a Google spokesperson contacted Android Authority to give a statement to calm the waters. The company spokesperson clarified that Google will not keep your smartphone in any way. He also stated that they would soon update the repair policy to make things clearer.
That update finally took place. Now, the repair policy section says that “If You send a Device containing non-Google-authorized parts for repair, in certain situations (e.g., safety), Service Provider may not be able to repair Your Device. Service Provider will return Your Device except when health or safety requirements prevent us from doing so. If Service Provider can’t return Your Device, Google will work with You on next steps.”
Google may (or may not) repair your phone if it detects non-OEM parts
So, instead of keeping your phone, Google reserves the right not to repair it. Even so, it leaves the possibility open to fix it and send it to you. Google adds that the only way it could retain your device is for health or safety requirements. However, in those specific cases, the company will contact you to try to find a solution.
The way in which the Pixel repair policy regarding unauthorized parts was written in the previous version is still striking. It would be interesting to know if there is any case where the company has ever made it effective to the letter. Hopefully, there is no one out there who has been left without their phone after sending it for repair to an official service center.
Lately, Samsung users have been missing out on repair options for their devices. Now it is Best Buy that is ending repairs for Samsung devices through the ASP program. Previously, iFixit had parted ways with Samsung due to the cost of parts and difficulty in obtaining them.
Samsung’s ASP (authorized service provider) program turned some Best Buy stores into a kind of official repair center. The devices were repaired by so-called “Geek Squad” agents. Geek Squad is the name that Best Buy gives to its device repair and technical service team. However, the ASP program allowed them to access original parts and training from Samsung.
Best Buy ends repairs benefits of the Samsung ASP program
That said, it seems like all this has ended abruptly. Initially, The Verge spotted some posts on Reddit about the possible shutdown of Best Buy’s Samsung repair program. The source later confirmed the news through a Geek Squad employee who sent a screenshot of an email saying that “Samsung ASP is ending in all SASP locations.”
As mentioned at the beginning, Samsung device users have already lost the option to access official parts through iFixit, and now it is Best Buy that ends the ASP program. Currently, owners of the brand’s products can still go to UBREakiFix locations. However, it is not good news to have lost two other options in a short period of time.
According to the report, the Best Buy page dedicated to locating ASP centers is unavailable. Also, Samsung’s authorized service center locator has already delisted Best Buy locations.
Source: The Verge
Consequences for users
Best Buy shutting down Samsung’s ASP program has some consequences for users. Before, you could set up a Samsung device repair at Best Buy ASP locations no matter where you purchased it. Now, they will only repair phones purchased at Best Buy for those who paid for the Geek Squad Protection plan. In addition, replacing the device may now involve a cost. The price ranges from $199 to $249, depending on the model.
Official statements from Best Buy and Samsung
The Verge contacted both Samsung and Best Buy for a statement on the situation. None of the responses obtained denied the ASP program shutdown in Best Buy locations. However, they mention being “in discussions” or “working together” on how to handle Samsung customer service from now on.
Mario Renato de Castro, Samsung’s head of mobile customer care, said: “We’re in discussions with Best Buy to determine how Samsung can best support our customers moving forward.” He also added that the company has “more than 9,000 Samsung Mobile-certified technicians in the U.S. providing walk-in, mail-in and We Come to You van services.”
On the other hand, Katie Klister was the spokesperson for Best Buy. She said: “We know how important it is to our customers that we’re there for them with the right services and expertise for their technology, and we’re currently working together with Samsung to evaluate the best way to support our mobile customers with authorized services and repairs.”
Google has been quietly working on a significant improvement for its Messages app. According to a recent report, a new feature is in the works that will transform how photos are sent and received within RCS (Rich Communication Services) messages.
Currently, when users send multiple photos in a single RCS message, each photo is sent individually, cluttering the chat and making it difficult to follow the conversation. However, a recent APK teardown revealed that Google is finally addressing this issue.
In the upcoming version of Messages (v.20240603), photos sent in a single message will be grouped together in a grid format. This new layout not only provides a cleaner and more organized chat experience but also ensures that text and photos remain connected, making it easier to find the context of each image.
Grouped images in Google Messages RCS chat | Credit: Android Authority
This improvement will apply to messages with two or more photos, so even sending just a couple of pictures will trigger the grid view instead of the current one-by-one delivery. While this feature is not yet available to the public, the code is already present in the app, suggesting that it could be rolled out in the coming weeks.This is just the latest in a series of updates Google has been making to its Messages app. Recently, the company added the ability to edit messages up to 15 minutes after sending, and it continues to work on expanding RCS availability and features to more users and regions. With this latest photo fix, Google is further enhancing the messaging experience for Android users, making it easier to share and enjoy multimedia content with friends and family.
While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact release date for this feature, it’s clear that Google is committed to improving the Messages app and making it a more competitive and user-friendly alternative to other messaging platforms. Users can look forward to a more streamlined and enjoyable photo-sharing experience in the near future.
For years I’ve sat in your run-of-the-mill gaming chairs with that racing seat design that you see in so many photos and stream setups, but after sitting in a Herman Miller chair, I never want to go back to anything else. I have to admit, some of the racing-style chairs have a cool aesthetic. But here’s the thing, most if not all of them have terrible spinal and lumbar support. I say this as someone who sat on the same racing-style gaming chair for four years. Not just while gaming, but while working the entire day for this site, then gaming afterward.
This was often most of the week for years. Which ended up wrecking my back and neck. After I finally got rid of that chair, I went through a few different options, mostly through reviews here on AH. I’d always heard great things about Herman Miller and was told I needed to try one. I was finally lucky enough to review the Vantum back in 2023. Which so far, had been the best gaming chair I had ever sat in. A gaming chair that didn’t look like your traditional gaming chair, backed by Herman Miller’s expertise in the areas of back health and comfort.
The Vantum is a great chair, but it wasn’t the Embody gaming chair. The chair I had been chasing since Herman Miller announced it was partnering with Logitech to release the gaming edition a few years ago. Now that I’m sitting in one, I’m convinced there is no better option for many gamers out there. Now, that said, the Embody gaming chair isn’t going to be perfect for everyone. So let’s dive into this review and take a closer look at how well the Embody stacks up and if it’s worth your money.
Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair Review: Hardware and Design
There’s a lot that goes into the design of the Embody and the materials used are just as important as the design of the chair itself. Herman Miller prides itself on the Embody’s design, which was originally a collaboration between Herman Miller and 30 physicians and PhDs in biomechanics, vision, physical therapy, and ergonomics. After the success of the original Embody, it partnered up with Logitech to come out with the Embody gaming edition. There are a few changes here from the original, but for the most part, everything is the same.
Down to the PostureFit spinal support and Backfit adjustment. Herman Miller says it researched how gamers sit to provide them with an enhanced option that caters to their needs. This comes through in more functional changes like the seat materials, but also in the design of the back and other small aesthetic details.
Materials
The back and seat feature Herman Miller’s Sync fabric and upholstery which is made from 100% polyester. It’s very smooth to the touch and is honestly the most comfortable fabric I’ve had on a gaming chair. Leather and synthetic leathers can feel nice at times, but they can get uncomfortable if you get too warm. Other chairs like Herman Miller’s own Vantum use 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric, which was nice, but could get a tiny bit uncomfortable after very long hours. I often sit with one foot under my leg, sometimes for hours at a time. And once in a while, this would make my foot or ankles feel a little itchy.
The fabric on the Embody gaming chair isn’t like that at all. It feels very soft against the skin so I can pop up my foot up like usual and not feel any discomfort even many hours later. The sync fabric also just looks really nice, especially with the design of these inset lines that travel width-wise across the back and seat. The chair also uses a die-cast aluminum frame and base, with high-quality plastic for things like the arms and seat depth handles. The tops of the armrests also feel nice and cushy yet still firm. Whereas other chairs I’ve tried have varied from too firm to downright uncomfortable.
On the backside of the chair, the real magic is in the translucent flexible polymer material that’s attached to the back structure. This moves with you as you move in the chair and it sets the stage for giving you proper support.
No headrest means no neck support if you lean back
There’s a reason Herman Miller didn’t include a headrest with the Embody gaming edition or the original for that matter. The chair was designed to help ensure you’re sitting correctly, whether you’re using an active posture or sitting upright, or leaning back and relaxing. Having a headrest may not be as ergonomic and could impact the overall ergonomic health the chair is intended to provide. That being said, I think this is mostly dependent on how often a headrest would be used.
After using the Embody for weeks now, I find I don’t really like using a headrest while I’m working or even when I’m gaming most of the time. Something which I did initially enjoy with the Vantum, which comes with a headrest. But longer hours using it over time started to cause a little soreness in my neck. However, sometimes I want a headrest for when I’m lean-back gaming or simply relaxing to watch a movie. And I’ve found myself wanting this neck support for those situations. Even if it’s not for long.
I’m no stranger to leaning back and plowing through a few hours of TV. But without a headrest on the Embody, I haven’t been leaning back in the chair as often or for as long. This is the one downside of the chair that I wish was different (other than the cost). However, I do appreciate that not having one on this chair has helped me to sit correctly the rest of the time.
Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair Review: Features
A thicker seat for active posture support
I’ve never sat in the original Embody, so I can’t say how padded or comfortable the seat was on that model. But I can say the seat on the Embody gaming edition is superb. Herman Miller added an additional layer of foam to the seat on the gaming edition which is supposed to support a more active posture. A majority of gamers are going to sit with a more active posture while gaming. To put it another way, you’re likely to be in a more upright position when gaming than you are when you’re working.
This added layer of foam was designed to give you that extra support. I’ve spent the last few weeks sitting in this chair for close to 13 hours a day. About 9 hours of work and then 4 hours of gaming. This isn’t every single day, but it is most days. Normally I’d want a break for a couple of hours before signing off of work and logging into whatever I’m playing for the night. But so far, I haven’t felt the need for that with the Embody. I still get up and move around throughout the day. But even after a long shift at the desk, I can still feel supported by the seat following a few hours of gaming.
This is even more apparent on days off where I sometimes play games for most of the day. More importantly, I don’t feel like my butt or the underside of my legs get numb or sore from sitting for so long. This plays right into the next improvement Herman Miller made in the Embody.
The copper-fused cooling foam is subtle, but it’s noticeable
Another big change with the seat on the gaming edition of the Embody is the copper-fused cooling foam. This is designed to prevent heat from building up under you while you’re gaming. When you sit in it, you aren’t going to notice an immediate rush of a cooling sensation or anything like that. It’s a subtle addition to the seat that works to keep you cool, but not by putting out a cooling effect.
The copper-fused foam actually draws heat away from the body to keep your body temperature down. So it kind of works more in the background and is something you don’t really think about too much. And I think this is a top-notch execution of such a feature. It isn’t trying to be front and center. It’s doing the job it’s supposed to do without you having to think about it. So you can focus on gaming. Herman Miller has also added this copper-fused foam to the back so any part of your body that’s touching either the seat or the back is having heat drawn away from it.
Again this isn’t like feeling a cooling effect. However, I have noticed that my body has stayed at a more comfortable temperature after long gaming sessions. It’s not overly warm here yet, so I suspect I’ll get to really see how well this works once the Summer hits. But so far, it’s done an outstanding job at preventing me from feeling too warm or working up a sweat. It’s a different approach to the way Mavix went about trying to keep you cool with the M9 chair, which used cooling gel in the seat for a similar purpose. But I think Herman Miller’s approach is a substantial improvement.
The PostureFit spinal support has done wonders for my back
There are lots of ergonomic and gaming chairs out there each with their own interpretation of back and lumbar support. I truly feel though that Herman Miller’s PostureFit system tops them all. At least from the chairs I’ve tried. When you sit in your chair for as long as I do every day, you want your spine to be supported. Your health is extremely important. And it’s easy to forget that sitting incorrectly or not having enough spinal support can impact this heavily.
This is why I really love the PostureFit system. It was designed to mimic the strong posture you have when standing. So sitting for long hours gaming won’t result in back soreness because of worse posture. For me, this has just resulted in no back pain after a long day. This is something that I experienced with the Vantum too. Although the support wasn’t as good as it is with the Embody. The mesh chair back also didn’t really move with you all that much. The Embody’s translucent polymer material is different. It moves and flexes with you if you move around.
For example, there are times during the day when I will readjust my back just by moving around in the chair. And the polymer material flexes just enough to allow for this readjustment while keeping my back and lumbar pretty well-supported. The Top part of the back also flexes quite a bit and this feels great when I lean back a bit.
Backfit adjustment
The Backfit adjustment is a feature you’re going to want to spend some time with right when you get this chair. Its purpose is to ensure you have a neutral, balanced posture at all times. It’s important that you get this right from the start. So that if it ever needs to be adjusted again later on, you know what you’re working with.
What I did was I sat down in the chair and then made sure I was seated all the way back in the seat. I then sat up straight and adjusted the Backfit knob until the back of the chair was just barely touching my back. I found this to be the most effective way to find a good balance. Everyone’s spinal curve is different so you’ll use this knob to adjust the fit of the chair back to your spine. Depending on what kind of game I’m playing, I’ll adjust this knob to account for how I’m sitting. Sometimes I lean back just a little when I play with a controller. But I’ll adjust it again when I’m sitting with a more active posture and playing games with mouse and keyboard.
I can’t stress this enough either. Take the time to find where the Backfit adjustment should be for your back specifically. At first, my back would feel a little sore after sitting in the Embody all day. But this was simply because I was spending so much time sitting incorrectly in cheaper chairs. It’s extremely important you figure out these settings from the start. Then just ride out any discomfort or soreness, as it won’t stick around. Eventually, your spine will adjust and correct and you’ll be glad you have the kind of support this chair offers.
Adjustable height, width, and depth of the seat and arms
Like most ergonomic chairs, you can adjust the height and width of the seat and arms on the Embody gaming chair. You can also adjust the seat depth, which isn’t something you’ll see in every chair. For me, the height of the seat was already where it needed to be at its lowest point. As I’m not too tall and didn’t need it to go any higher. The seat does go higher if needed, however, and it’ll support people that are up to about 6 feet two inches. So there’s a pretty wide range. It also supports up to around 300 pounds.
If you’re bigger than that this might not be the best option. But as someone right around 200 pounds, it feels great. As for adjusting the seat depth, you want your legs at a 90-degree angle. So you’ll want to make sure there’s a little bit of room between the front of the seat and your calves. At least this is the recommendation. For me, I found this to be spot on. You can easily adjust the seat depth by pulling up and either forward or back on the two front handles. For me, this took a little getting used to. But once you get the hang of adjusting the depth it’s a pretty fluid motion. I was also able to easily adjust the depth without getting up off the chair.
Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair Review: The arms are well-suited to any type of gaming
The arms are one of my favorite parts of the Embody gaming chair. The arm height adjustment is perfectly fine and I do like it, but there’s nothing much to say about it as it’s not that special. The arms go up and down without issue. What makes the arms so good is the width adjustment. One big problem I have always had with every chair, including the Vantum, is the width of the arms. There’s always some form of discomfort for a certain type of gaming. For me, this was most commonly coming through whenever I would try to play games with a controller or when playing mobile games.
The problem is that the arms were never really close enough to where my arms and elbows felt entirely supported. This is especially noticeable when I try to play mobile games because my arms need to be closer to my body. And every other chair I have ever used just didn’t support my whole arm.
The embody doesn’t have these issues. The arms come in very close to the body so I can move them inward almost all the way, and my arms are completely supported when holding my phone. The same thing goes for when using a controller. I can have my arms fully supported so I don’t have to partially hold them up for hours on end. If I switch back to playing on PC, I can adjust the width outward all the way so my arms are fully supported when holding the mouse and keyboard. This is extremely important, and I’ve not found another chair that implements this feature so well.
Arm width adjustment is a little stiff, but this is a good thing
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally pushed the arm width outward on past chairs because the adjustment was too loose or easy to move. You most certainly will not have this issue with the Embody gaming chair. The arm width adjustment can feel a little stuff at first, but this isn’t really a bad thing in my opinion. It does make it a little harder to adjust the width with one hand, but only until you get used to how much pressure needs to be applied.
The benefit of this stiffer adjustment is that you aren’t going to accidentally push the arms outward. This happened to me so much with other chairs when I was playing PS5 or when using a controller with PC. Any sort of movement had the potential to accidentally push the arms out a bit, then I would have to stop and readjust them inward. This was incredibly annoying to deal with. So I’m glad it’s not a problem with the Embody. Some may not like this but I absolutely feel like this is a benefit. And trust me once you use it, I think you’ll feel the same.
Herman Miller Embody Gaming Chair Review: This chair is built to last
Another big problem with most gaming chairs is durability. Not only does the Embody feel like it was extremely well-made thanks to the materials, but it was built to last and that shows with the included 12-year warranty.
If anything goes wrong with the chair that wasn’t caused by user damage in any way, Herman Miller will cover repairs. The company wants this to be the last chair you ever buy. And while I can’t say for certain that I will never need to buy a new chair, I strongly feel like I won’t have to for a long, long time. As long as I take care of it, the Embody should last me for well over a decade. And then some. Which is something I have never had before. In short, yes the Embody gaming chair costs a lot. But it’s designed to be something you won’t have to ever replace. At the very least, something you won’t have to replace for a long time.
That should give you an unparalleled level of peace of mind. Because if you’re spending a few hundred on one chair and then you have to replace it every few years, you end up spending close to or more than the amount of the Embody anyway. Plus you potentially end up with pain in your back, neck, arms, and joints from incorrect posture or improper support. I believe it’s worth investing in a chair that’s going to last for a long time, especially if you’re going to be sitting in it for long periods every day.
Should you buy the Herman Miller Embody gaming chair?
Like I said at the beginning of this review, I don’t think the Embody gaming chair is perfect for everyone. But I do believe that it’s perfect for a wide range of gamers. This is a chair that’s an investment in your health, and I think that warrants spending a little more to ensure you stay healthy.
If you sit in a chair a lot, working from home and/or gaming for very long hours, then this is a chair worth buying. That being said, you might not like that there’s no headrest. You might not like the way this chair leans back or that it doesn’t have a locking reclined position. While it is nice to have those things, I don’t think they’re needed. The benefits of the Embody gaming chair outweigh the lack of those features and the cost.
Buy the Herman Miller Embody gaming chair if:
You play games for long hours and want something comfortable that also provides incredible support
You’ve been dealing with back and neck pain from sitting in your current chair
You want something with a lot of adjustments
Don’t buy the Herman Miller Embody gaming chair if:
Hacktivist groups are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure’s Operational Technology (OT) systems, motivated by geopolitical issues that, unlike traditional website defacements, can disrupt essential services and endanger public safety.
The success of high-profile attacks on Industrial control systems (ICS) by groups with minimal technical expertise highlights a worrying evolution in hacktivism, which necessitates reevaluating hacktivist tactics and their growing role in the cyber threat landscape.
They are increasingly targeting OT systems, critical infrastructure that controls physical processes, and their goal is to disrupt operations and gain media attention for their cause.
These groups may be state-backed and can launch denial-of-service attacks or exploit vulnerabilities.
While some boast more than they achieve, successful OT attacks pose serious threats like water utility disruption, while social media amplifies the impact of these incidents, creating a cycle that encourages further attacks.
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CyberAv3ngers, an anti-Israel hacktivist group, targeted industrial control systems manufactured by Unitronics as they compromised programmable logic controllers (PLCs) using brute-force attacks and exploited default credentials, which resulted in manipulation of human-machine interfaces (HMI) in critical infrastructure like water treatment facilities.
The attacks disrupted operations in multiple locations globally, including the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa and the Drum/Binghamstown Water Scheme, highlighting the ability of hacktivists to leverage basic techniques for significant impact and potentially inspiring future large-scale attacks.
CyberArmyofRussia_Reborn, a pro-Russian hacktivist group likely affiliated with APT28 and Sandworm, has been targeting critical infrastructure since 2023.
In January 2024, they compromised water treatment plants in Texas by exploiting vulnerabilities in VNC technology to manipulate water tank controls.
Subsequent attacks on US, Polish, and French OT environments suggest broader disruption efforts, as this hacktivist group demonstrates a concerning evolution, employing sophisticated tactics against critical infrastructure for potential political gains.
Pro-Ukraine hacktivist group Blackjack launched a cyberattack on Moskollektor, a Russian infrastructure management organization. Using custom Fuxnet malware to target Moskollektor’s OT monitoring network, Blackjack potentially countered the ongoing geopolitical conflict.
According to Dragos, Fuxnet specifically exploited vulnerabilities in Moskollektor’s system and likely requires modification for broader attacks.
Blackjack claimed to have disrupted sensors, infiltrated emergency services, and compromised access credentials, though the extent of the damage is uncertain, which highlights the increasing sophistication of hacktivist operations and the influence of media coverage in amplifying their impact.
Hacktivist groups are showing increasing sophistication in their attacks on Operational Technology (OT) systems, as early groups like CyberAv3ngers exploited weaknesses in OT systems to cause disruptions, and later groups, possibly inspired by these tactics, used similar methods with more sophistication and potentially state backing to launch broader attacks.
Now, groups like Blackjack are developing and deploying custom malware, potentially targeting physical systems, which suggests that hacktivists are more capable of causing real-world damage through cyber attacks.
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June 7, 2024 – Google has announced it will delete Location History (Timeline) data and store new data locally, starting December 2024.
June 6, 2024 – Car parts provider Advance Auto Parts seems to be the next victim of a major data breach related to cloud provider Snowflake.
June 6, 2024 – A husband, now indicted, allegedly used seven Apple AirTags to stalk his ex-wife over a period of several weeks. His trial begins this month.
June 6, 2024 – A worried researcher has created a tool to demonstrate exactly how much of a security backdoor Microsoft is creating with Recall.
June 5, 2024 – Financially motivated sextortion of teenage boys is the fastest-growing global cybercrime, according to the FBI and Homeland Security.
Here, we’ll be comparing the very best of Google and Huawei… at the moment. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. These are the two flagship smartphones from these two companies. Two extremely compelling phones, which are also entirely different at the same time. They’re both running Android, but considerably different versions, not to mention that they look and feel entirely different too.
All that should make for a rather interesting comparison, of course. We’ll first list the specs of both phones, as per usual, and will then move to compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, camera performance, and audio output.
Specs
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, respectively
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Design
You’ll see a ton of differences in the design department the moment you lay your eyes on these two phones. Both of them are made out of aluminum, but their backplates are different. The Pixel 8 Pro has glass on the back, while the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra includes vegan leather aka eco-leather on the back. Both phones do have flat displays, with a centered display camera hole at the top, but those panels are quite different in terms of how they’re implemented.
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra has quad-curved glass on top of its display, which makes it look entirely different than the Pixel 8 Pro’s panel. There’s more of a curve on the sides. The bezels are also thinner on the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, compared to the Pixel 8 Pro. Both phones do offer uniform bezels, though. Huawei’s flagship also has a more aggressive curve on the corners, though not by much.
Now, when we flip the two phones around, you’ll spot even more differences. The Pixel 8 Pro has a camera visor on the back, which is covered by metal, and which connects to the phone’s frame on the sides. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, on the other hand, also has a rather unique-looking camera setup, but it’s a lot different. It is a camera island in the top-left corner, which has several layers, and a different design to anything else on the market.
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra’s backplate is curved proportionally to the front, so it is curved on the edges from all sides. That makes the phone extremely comfortable to use, and eco-leather helps with grip. It’s a lot less slippery than the Pixel 8 Pro, and it also a lot more comfortable to use. The two phones are identical in terms of height, and yet the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra does seem smaller in the hand, despite the fact it’s a bit heavier. The Pixel 8 Pro is wider, while they’re almost identical in terms of thickness. Both phones also offer an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Display
The Google Pixel 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display. This panel is flat, and it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. HDR10+ content is supported, while the panel’s brightness goes up to 2,400 nits. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 87%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The Gorilla Glass Victus 2 from Corning is here to protect the Pixel 8 Pro’s display.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 6.8-inch 2844 x 1260 LTPO OLED display. That display is also flat, and it can project up to 1 billion colors. It has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, while HDR content is supported. The peak brightness of this display is set at 2,500 nits. The screen-to-body ratio here is around 89%, This panel is protected by the Kunlun Glass, which has proven to be very, very tough.
Both of these displays are great, to be quite honest. You’d have to be really nitpicky to say that one is better than the other. Both are immensely bright, very sharp and have great viewing angles. The colors are very vivid, while the blacks are deep. Both displays also offer good touch response, not to mention that they have good display protection as well. There’s really not much to complain about here, if anything.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Performance
The Google Pixel 8 Pro is fueled by the Google Tensor G3, the company’s very own silicon. That is a 4nm chip. The phone also includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. Huawei’s Pura 70 Ultra handset is fueled by the Kirin 9010 SoC, a 7nm processor. The phone also comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and it also utilizes UFS 4.0 flash storage. Neither of these two chips is the best one out there, but the one in Huawei’s handset is quite dated at this point.
Having said that, does that mean the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra offers inferior performance? Well, it all depends on how you look at it. I’d say no, and here’s why. While you will see a difference in benchmarks, that’s not something you’ll notice in day-to-day use. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra flew threw everything I threw at it, and then some. Both phones did a great job in jumping between apps, while the same can be said for browsing, multimedia consumption, image editing, and pretty much everything you can think of.
There was some difference on the gaming side of things, but truth be said, neither phone is really made for gaming. Also, do note that the AppGallery is somewhat limited in terms of games, but you can always reach for third-party stores or sideload them. Both phones did a good job, but differences were noticeable when it comes to the most demanding games. The Pixel 8 Pro handled them better, though not perfect. For the vast majority of people, however, both phones will do a fantastic job. Just note that the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra comes without Google services, so without the Google Play Store. It does include Huawei’s own services, though.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Battery
Google’s flagship includes a 5,050mAh battery on the inside. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 5,200mAh battery pack. Out of the two, the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra not only has a larger battery pack, but it can also hold a charge for longer, at least in our experience. The Pixel 8 Pro usually flies under 7 hours of screen-on-time, at times even under 6.5 hours of SoT, even without gaming.
The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, on the other hand, can usually comfortably go over the 7-hour screen-on-time mark. The thing is, the Pixel 8 Pro’s battery life changed since its launch, and it keeps changing. Google is probably constantly tweaking something on the software side of things. It was better before, to be quite honest. Either way, if you end up running a lot of demanding tasks on both phones, those numbers quickly go down. Gaming in particular does have a considerable effect on battery life.
When it comes to charging, it’s not even a competition. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra wins… easily. It supports 100W wired, 80W wireless, 20W reverse wireless, and 18W reverse wired charging. On top of that, it does include a charger in the box. The Pixel 8 Pro supports 30W wired, 23W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It does not have a charger in the box. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra can charge itself a lot faster, both via a wire and wirelessly. It can also charge other devices faster too.
Google Pixel 8 Pro vs Huawei Pura 70 Ultra: Cameras
Both of these phones have three cameras on the back. Granted, those cameras are fairly different. The Pixel 8 Pro features a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (126-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom). The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra includes a 50-megapixel main camera (variable aperture, sensor-shift OIS), a 40-megapixel ultrawide unit, and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (3.5x optical zoom).
Huawei Pura 70 Ultra
These two phones provide considerably different photos. The Google Pixel 8 Pro shots look contrasty and processed, though not in a bad way. If you like the general image style that Pixel phones provide, you’ll love what the Pixel 8 Pro has to offer. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra likes to keep things closer to real life, but the photos still end up looking lively and nice. It pulls slightly towards warmer colors. Both smartphones provide sharp images, with plenty of details. They’re also great in low light, though the Pixel 8 Pro tends to brighten up low-light scenes a bit too much at times. Both main cameras do a fantastic job overall, though.
Ultrawide cameras do a great job of keeping up with the main shooters in terms of colors. The lower quality is noticeable in low light, however. Both telephoto cameras do a fantastic job up to 10x, but from that point on the quality dip is quite noticeable. The Huawei Pura 70 Ultra is the phone to get if you like taking macro photos, however. Its telemacro camera is great for such photography.
Audio
You will find a set of stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. There are two on each phone, and both sets are well-balanced. The thing is, the Pixel 8 Pro speakers are louder than the ones on the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra. Both sets are loud enough, but there’s a difference.
Neither phone has an audio jack, unfortunately. You can use their Type-C ports for wired audio connections, or you can opt for a wireless setup thanks to Bluetooth. The Pixel 8 Pro offers Bluetooth 5.3, while the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.2.
Narwal makes one heck of a robot vacuum, but today the company has announced the launch of something a little different with the S10 Pro. It’s an upright vacuum and mop combo that you manually use to clean your floors. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s an upright vacuum though. There’s still plenty of neat features baked in that make this better than your average upright. Most of this comes from Narwal’s expertise with robotic vacuums and mops, like the Narwal Freo X Ultra we reviewed earlier this year.
With the launch of the S10 Pro, Narwal promises an effortless clean that’s “perfect for busy parents, pet owners, or those who love a pristine home.” The Narwal S10 Pro is a cordless vacuum and mop solution so it’s convenient to use and easy to move around the whole house. Not having to plug it in also means not having to spend that extra time unwrapping the cord or wrapping it back up when you’re done. Let alone moving the plug to multiple outlets. Instead, you simply place the vacuum back on the charging station to recharge the internal battery.
Narwal says it can last for about 50 minutes on a single charge, which is enough to clean a 3,200 sqft home. This also makes it perfect for apartments since most apartments aren’t anywhere near that size. And at under $450, the price is pretty reasonable.
The Narwal S10 Pro launch starts today
With the launch of this new vacuum Narwal is entering into the more mainstream vacuum market. The S10 Pro launches officially today and is already available from Amazon as well as Narlwa’s online store. It retails for $429.99 which is well under the price of its flagship product, the Narwal Freo X Ultra. And although it doesn’t clean your floors for you, it’s very capable of getting them spotless. So long as you’re willing to put in the effort to push it around.
The nice thing is that the S10 Pro is self-propelled. So you won’t have to push that hard, or barely at all. “It practically glides across floors,” Narwal says. That will definitely help with making the task of vacuuming effortless. But it’s not the only feature that will do so. The S10 Pro features a pretty powerful 14,000 PA. For comparison, the Freo X Ultra has an 8,200 PA and we found that to be very thorough in getting just about everything off the floors. Save for a little bit of pet hair that was stuck onto the kitchen rug.
The mopping system also has a downward mopping pressure of 17N. That’s enough to remove even the most stubborn stains according to the company. It even uses intelligent water-spraying algorithms to make sure the brush is moist until you’re done cleaning.
It’s not a robot vacuum, but it’s still smart
Since this is an upright vacuum you wouldn’t expect it to be packed with smart tech. On the contrary. Narwal has shoved quite a few smart features into this vacuum and mop combo. This includes the intelligent water-spraying algorithms mentioned above. But the S10 Pro also features the AI Dirt Sense technology that made the Freo X Ultra so good. This tech uses sensors to scan and analyze the floors to see how dirty they are.
Once it knows, it’ll use that information to adjust the suction power and how much water is dispensed. Ensuring your floors are spotless by the time you’re done. It also toggles through its five different cleaning modes as needed during the entire process. Additionally, you can see the dirt level on the LCD screen that’s on the top of the handle.
To top everything off, the S10 Pro has a self-cleaning system that you can engage once it’s docked at the charging base. This system automatically scrubs, cleans, disinfects, and dries not only the roller brushes but also the pipes and filters using electrolyzed water. It’s not a robotic clean, but it is a smart and efficient clean.
Google is taking a significant step toward modernizing emergency communication by upgrading the humble 911 text message. Through a partnership with emergency technology company RapidSOS, Google Messages will soon support Rich Communication Services (RCS) for 911 texts, bringing a host of new features and benefits to those in need.This rollout, beginning this winter, will initially focus on areas where texting 911 isn’t currently possible, effectively closing gaps in coverage and offering a new lifeline to those who may not have access to traditional voice calls. While calling 911 remains the most reliable way to get help in an emergency, texting can be crucial when voice communication is impossible or unsafe.
The existing SMS-based 911 text service has significant limitations, reaching only about half of U.S. emergency centers and lacking support for multimedia. RCS changes that, allowing users to send high-resolution images and videos that can provide critical information to first responders. This visual context can be extremely useful for figuring out the situation and dispatching the appropriate resources.
Texting 911 via RCS will allow you to send high quality photos of your current situation | Image credit: GoogleIn addition to multimedia support, RCS will also provide delivery confirmation for emergency texts, easing the uncertainty of whether a message has been received. Furthermore, Android Emergency Location Service will automatically share the user’s precise location and other relevant details, such as language settings and opt-in medical information, further aiding emergency responders.
Google’s commitment to user safety is evident in this initiative, and their collaboration with RapidSOS highlights the importance of industry-wide cooperation in improving emergency services. By making RCS the standard for emergency texting, Google aims to ensure that everyone has access to reliable and effective communication channels in times of crisis.
While the rollout is gradual, the impact of this technology could be far-reaching. It’s a reminder that even the most basic communication tools can be enhanced to provide critical assistance when it matters most. Whether it’s a car accident in a remote area or a medical emergency where speaking is difficult, the ability to text 911 with the added capabilities of RCS could be the difference between getting the help you need or not.
