Is the innovative Runes protocol on Bitcoin a cybersecurity concern waiting to happen? Cybersecurity experts at Resonance Security warn of potential phishing risk within its URL metadata functionality.
A recent analysis by cybersecurity firm Resonance Security warns of potential dangers within the exciting new Runes protocol. As the talk around Bitcoin amplifies, blockchain developers worldwide are exploring innovative ways to expand the cryptocurrency’s functionality.
Among the latest developments capturing the attention of the tech community are the Ordinals and Runes protocols, both introduced by developer Casey Rodarmor. While Ordinals has been noted for inscribing data such as images or videos onto Bitcoin’s blockchain, Runes introduces a method for creating fungible tokens, potentially transforming how digital assets are managed on the platform.
Runes operates by embedding specific metadata into the Bitcoin blockchain, including URLs, which can link to additional content or information. This feature, while seemingly beneficial, poses significant cybersecurity risks including URLs within token metadata that can be exploited by malicious actors to direct users to malicious websites, potentially leading to phishing attacks, malware distribution, and other security breaches.
As per Resonance Security’s technical blog post, the protocol’s reliance on the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model for the creation and transfer of tokens integrates seamlessly with Bitcoin’s existing structure.
However, the inclusion of URLs in this process introduces a vulnerability not in the protocol itself, but in how it could be misused. For example, a seemingly benign token could carry a URL that, when clicked, redirects a user to a phishing site where sensitive information could be stolen.
This potential for misuse is not just a theoretical concern but a plausible scenario that could affect unsuspecting users. The blockchain’s firm nature means that once a malicious URL is embedded into a token’s metadata, it remains there indefinitely, posing a long-term risk for anyone interacting with it.
While the Runes protocol marks a significant step forward in the versatility and functionality of the Bitcoin blockchain, it also highlights the ongoing need for robust cybersecurity measures in the blockchain ecosystem.
Users, developers, and cybersecurity professionals must remain alert, constantly evaluating new technologies for potential vulnerabilities and threats. Adopting a security-focused mindset is essential in navigating and safeguarding the growing nature of blockchain technology.
As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the community must prioritize security to protect against the misuse of innovative features like those introduced by the Runes protocol. By staying informed and proactive, the tech community can help ensure a secure and resilient digital future.
UPDATE (May 28, 2024): The Huawei Watch Fit 3 has started receiving a new update, a new version of HarmonyOS 4.2. You can read more about it at the very end of the article.
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is the company’s new smartwatch focused on fitness. This smartwatch managed to raise a lot of dust when it started leaking out, for a good reason. It resembles the Apple Watch a lot. There’s no tiptoeing around it, and Huawei was probably well-aware of what it was doing. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Huawei already offers a great number of smartwatches with round displays, some of which are outstanding. So why not offer something with a square display to its users, and if this is the best way to go about it design-wise, users won’t complain. In fact, this smartwatch could appeal to Android users who like the design of the Apple Watch. Perhaps that’s what Huawei was aiming for, at least partially.
Just to be perfectly clear, it’s also compatible with iOS, but it works much better with Android, as do all other non-Apple Watch smartwatches. With that being said, the Huawei Watch Fit 3 is here, I’ve been using it for a while now, and this is our review of it. Spoiler alert, it’s a compelling product, that’s for sure. It may not be for everyone, but it sure is worth considering. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Table of contents
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Hardware / Design
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 has a square display and a square body. Huawei doesn’t really release smart wearables with that shape all that often, the company prefers to offer smartwatches with a round face. We’ve already mentioned that the Watch Fit 3 resembles the Apple Watch in the introduction, there’s no denying it. The experience using the Huawei Watch Fit 3 is entirely different, though, mainly because of its software. More on that later.
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is made out of aluminum and resembles Apple’s offering
This smartwatch comes with a body made out of aluminum. At the bottom, a heart rate sensor is placed, and you’ll also notice one button on each side, near the connection points for the watch band. That’s because the Huawei Watch Fit 3 uses proprietary connectors for watch bands, unfortunately. That may be odd for some of you, as Huawei smartwatches usually have standard watch bands on them. Well, this is more of a cross between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch, and it goes the route of its predecessor, the Huawei Watch Fit 2.
It has a speaker and two physical buttons
On the left-hand side sits a speaker, while a microphone is located on the right with two buttons. The top button doubles as a rotating crown, and the bottom one is customizable. By default, it’s set to open sports modes, for quick access. The buttons are plenty clicky, and feel like quality implementations, like they did on previous Huawei smartwatches. I don’t expect issues with them. What you may find a bit odd when it comes to this watch is the fact its bezels are not uniform, but we’ll talk more about that in the display section, actually.
It’s actually very light and comes in several different versions
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is only 9.9mm thick, and it weighs only 26 grams. It’s actually the thinnest and lightest square-face smartwatch the company launched. I didn’t feel it on my wrist at all, though do keep in mind I’m used to heavier smartwatches, so… that’s not exactly surprising. It was immensely comfortable to wear, at all times, that includes sleeping. As you can see in the provided images, we’ve received the model with a Gray Nylon Strap, which is also quite comfortable, though it’s not my first preference for a watch strap. I tend to shower with my watches, so I do prefer silicon watch bands. There’s nothing wrong with this one, though, it’s perfectly fine if you prefer something like that.
Huawei will offer you a chance to buy different watch bands on the side, of course. Overall, the build quality of the watch is really good. It is light, but it feels like a solid piece of tech. I don’t really have a major complaint when it comes to this design, other than the extreme resemblance to a watch from the competition.
What’s in the box?
The Huawei Watch Fit 3’s retail packaging includes the watch itself, with pre-installed watch band. You’ll also find a magnetic charging connector on the inside, which has a USB-A connection. Other than that, only paperwork is located in this rather compact retail box. That’s it.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Display
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 includes a 1.82-inch AMOLED display with 2.5D curved glass on top of it. The screen-to-body ratio here is 77.4%, and the watch is offering a 10% increase in display area compared to its predecessor. This panel goes up to 1,500 nits of brightness max, which is not too shabby. This display is plenty sharp, let me just get that out of the way. The display is also really nice, though I’ve used better, of course. It’s not bad by any means though, and it does get reasonably bright when it needs to. The viewing angles are also good, as is its touch response.
The bezels are not uniform, but that’s not a big problem
The first thing I noticed when I powered on the display was the bezels around it. Not because they’re particularly thick or anything like that, but because they’re not uniform. We’ve all gotten used to seeing uniform bezels on wearables, at least most of them, so that was definitely something that jump in front of my eyes. The top and bottom bezels are a bit thicker than the side ones. That’s not a big deal at all, though, as the bezels in general are not thick. Other than the first impression, I stopped noticing the difference really fast, almost instantly. The edges of the display are not sharp either, thanks to that 2.5D glass, so it’s really satisfying to use/swipe from the sides. It’s a good display overall, that’s for sure.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Performance
Right off the bat, the performance on this watch is great. That’s something we’re used to at this point when it comes to Huawei smartwatches. We’re not really sure what chip Huawei used. It could be the Kirin A1 again, a chip that Huawei tends to use in its wearables, but we don’t know for sure. You’re getting 4GB of storage on the inside. If you’re not planning on playing music straight from the watch, that won’t be much of a limitation, but it’s considerably less than on some more premium Huawei smartwatches.
The device did a great job in the performance department
The performance of the watch was very smooth. One thing that I did notice is that button presses were a bit slower to register than on some other Huawei wearables I’ve used in the last year or so, but that could be due to software. Huawei could still iron things out in that regard, as it’s possible yet another update is planned before the watch ends up in the hands of consumers. I also noticed that some notifications vibrated the watch on two separate occasions, but that happened only twice during my use, and once again, this is likely a tiny bug that will get ironed out. That was the case on some previous wearables from the company.
Other than what I’ve mentioned, I’ve had a great time using the device. The UI keeps on getting better and better when it comes to Huawei smartwatches, and that’s nice to see. We’ll talk more about HarmonyOS, which comes pre-installed on the device, later on.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Battery
This smartwatch has a 400mAh battery on the inside. Huawei says that you can get 7 days worth of battery life under ‘typical usage’ and 10 days of “maximum battery life” under certain conditions. Conditions for both are indicated by Huawei on the official website. The same goes for the estimate of a 4-day battery life with AOD enabled. This would be great as it is, but Huawei has a tendency of underestimating the battery life of its wearables, and the same happened here, at least from what I’ve experienced.
The battery life was even better than Huawei suggested
After 10 days of use, with usage more intense than what Huawei indicated, I still stood at around 22-23% of battery charge left. Most people will end up charging this thing after two weeks, I reckon, unless you’re pushing it really hard. I could have, of course, killed the battery sooner if I wanted to, but there was no need. If I disabled some aspects of the watch, like continuous heart rate tracking or auto SpO₂ measurement, for example, the battery life would be even better. There are a ton of such settings considering all the features that the watch offers, and I reckon most of you will disable some of them, because you won’t need them. I usually do it for my personal use, but I was in the testing phase, so… this watch certainly delivered in terms of battery life.
This device offers magnetic charging via pogo pins
In terms of charging, Huawei said that it takes 10 minutes of charging in order for the watch to provide a full day’s worth of battery life. That’s easily true, easily. The watch charges via an included charging cable, which has pogo pins on one end, which magnetize to the bottom of the watch. So the charging is not truly wireless, as it is on some other watches from the company, but that’s not really a problem. You may have to clean those pogo pin connectors from time to time, depending on your usage.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Software
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 comes with HarmonyOS pre-installed, of course. Over the years, Huawei kept improving HarmonyOS, and it’s actually an OS that fits smartwatches beautifully. If you’ve used any of Huawei’s more modern watches, you’ll be right at home here. There are a bunch of watch faces to choose from on the watch and tons more to grab from the Huawei Health app. Many of them are actually free, so you’ll have a lot of choices. The variety is wide, and some of them even signalize when you have unread messages, and so on. Many watch faces are focused on health info, which may seem the right fit for the Huawei Watch Fit 3.
HarmonyOS has improved a lot over time, it’s very compelling at this point
HarmonyOS worked beautifully, I didn’t notice any lag. Your notifications are accessible via a simple swipe up, while the opposite brings down quick toggles. To the left, you’ll find a vertical list of widgets, while to the right you’ll be able to scroll between your customizable widgets (horizontally). You can stack up a bunch of pages of them, if you need to do that. Even if you haven’t used a Huawei smartwatch, such a setup will seem familiar, as a number of other smartwatch OS’ use something similar.
The notifications work great, though in a specific way
In terms of functionality, this HarmonyOS build offers everything you may need. The notifications are prompt and easily readable. You can also reply to them via quick replies, emoticons, and so on. One thing to note when it comes to notifications is that your actions on the watch won’t mirror to your notification shade on the phone the watch is connected to. So if you dismiss all your notifications, they’ll still be there on the phone. That is my preferred way of handling things, otherwise I forget to address the notifications that have arrived. If you’re used to mirroring on both sides, well, this is not a device for you.
This watch allows for app installations, but that’s not the focus here
All the standard apps come pre-installed. They range from a compass and a stopwatch, to a flashlight shortcut and a music player. Speaking of apps, don’t expect to get access to apps for well-known apps here. There are some apps included in Huawei’s app store, but not many. I never had the habit of using third-party apps on my smartwatches, but this is definitely worth noting. Many of you probably need access to some apps directly on the watch, and this is out of the question here (for many services). Your music player, be it YouTube Music, Spotify, or whatever else, will register nicely on this watch (via the integrated player), though, for example. So there’s no need to worry about that sort of thing.
HarmonyOS is one of the best options out there, as far as smartwatch OS’ go
There’s not really much to complain about. HarmonyOS worked beautifully on this watch. Just remember that installing apps directly on the watch is possible, but chances are you won’t find many you’re looking for. If you don’t really care about that, HarmonyOS is a great option and one of my favorite (if not my favorite) smartwatch OS. Huawei will also be bringing HarmonyOS to its global smartphones (it’s already running on the company’s phones in China), that move is expected to happen next year, though it remains to be seen when exactly.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Health/Fitness
The name of this smartwatch suggests it’s focused on fitness, and thus health in general. And yes, that is the case, but it’s the case with other Huawei smartwatches from the past years too. Huawei usually places plenty of sensors in its smartwatches and offers tons of health and fitness features as part of the package. The same is the case here. There is an optical heart rate sensor placed at the bottom of the watch, while an ambient light sensor is also included. On top of that, you’ll also find a 9-axis IMU sensor, which includes an Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Magnetometer sensors. The watch is also 5 ATM rated, so you can technically go diving with it to a certain level (50 meters).
You have over 100 sports modes at your disposal
The watch offers over 100 sports modes that you can use. So chances are you’ll find your workout whatever it may be. We could not test all of those sports modes, of course, not even close. I did, however, delve into indoor and outdoor walks, a short run, a bicycle ride, and some weight lifting on the side. I was more than happy with the watch’s delivery. Yes, it does have GPS built-in, and it did a nice job keeping up with my bike ride. Do note that I didn’t wear another watch on my wrist in order to directly compare. I did, however, notice that the results are close to what my usual watch, the Huawei Watch GT 4, shows.
I didn’t experience any disconnects while health tracking (or in general, to be accurate). That is always good to know. The heart rate tracker has been quite accurate. Huawei is offering ‘multi-channel signal enhancement algorithm’ for hear trate tracking. It is boosted by AI in order to offer more accurate heart rate readings. I’m sure this had something to do with it, but the results were actually spot on.
Sleep tracking was very, very good
What about sleep tracking? Well, first and foremost, thanks to TruSleep 4.0, you’ll be getting more information than ever before. You’re getting sleep stages info, sleep quality, and sleep health, along with additional information, of course. The watch even supports nap detection now. It can also detect breathing interruptions and much more. I found that sleep tracking was quite accurate, actually. That was one of my complaints in the past when it comes to Huawei smartwatches. Lately, however, the company improved in that regard, quite a bit. I’m not sure about naps, as I don’t take them, but it did a great job of tracking my night’s sleep.
Huawei Watch Fit 3 Review: Audio
I don’t really like talking about the audio aspects of smartwatches for obvious reasons. Some of you are always interested in this aspect, though. That’s why we always include it. Yes, there is a speaker on the Huawei Watch Fit 3. Yes you can use the watch for voice calls thanks to a built-in microphone. Should you do that? Well, probably not. The speaker is not bad considering what it is, you can only expect so much from a smartwatch speaker. Generally speaking, though, of course, it’s not good. The people I talked to knew that something was off about the sound too. I sounded “distant” and the experience was not the best. Granted, the situation improved when I was in a quiet environment. Still, you’d be better off using your smartphone or headphones/earphones to conduct voice calls.
Huawei Watch Fit 3: Should you buy it?
Should you buy the Huawei Watch Fit 3? Well, I’ll tell you one thing, it’s an easy watch to recommend. The price is not bad at all considering what the watch has to offer. It offers a really good display, which is also quite touch-responsive. The battery life is excellent, while the fitness/health aspect is commendable as well. There’s not much you can criticize the Huawei Watch Fit 3 for, to be quite honest.
If you like the Apple Watch design, but you’re an Android user, this is easily the best alternative you can get for your Android smartphone. It’s a great smartwatch, and it actually performed even better than I expected it to. It’s easily rivaling even the best offerings from Huawei. The same goes for various other offerings outside of Huawei’s ecosystem. I’m still more of a round smartwatch kind of user, but if you like square ones, this is one of the best ones out there. As I said at the beginning of this section, it’s an easy recommendation.
You should buy the Huawei Watch Fit 3 if you:
…like the design of the Apple Watch, but are an Android user …want a watch with top performance, but don’t want to pay the premium …prefer square smartwatches …do a lot of exercise and want a fitness-focused watch …plan to do light diving
You shouldn’t buy the Huawei Watch Fit 3 if you:
…like using your standard watch bands …like round smartwatches
…
Updated May 28, 2024:
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is now receiving HarmonyOS 4.2 version 4.2.0.150(C00M00). This update actually seems to be identical to the version 4.2.0.139(C00M00) that landed earlier this month. WEll, at least in terms of the changelog. Improved system stability and enhanced display layouts are both mentioned. That’s pretty much it, no additional details ended up being mentioned here. The update weighs 62.93MB, so even the download file is not that big. You can now grab this update via the Huawei Health app, or grab it directly from your watch, which will also utilize Huawei Health, though. Do note that the update is rolling out in stages, though.
Check Point warns users of a zero-day vulnerability in its Network Security Gateway that the threat actors are actively exploiting. This vulnerability exposes certain information on Internet-connected Gateways with VPN.
Check Point Confirmed Active Exploitation Of Network Security Gateway Zero-Day
According to its recent post, Check Point has warned Network Security Gateway products’ users of a serious vulnerability under attack. As explained, the vulnerability – precisely, a zero-day – typically impacts Network Security Gateway products, allowing an adversary to read certain information on Internet-connected Gateways.
Specifically, the vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-24919, impacts any Security Gateway in either of the following two conditions.
The product has IPSec VPN Blade enabled in Remote Access VPN Community.
The product has Mobile Access Software Blade enabled.
Initially, Check Point’s team detected the exploitation attempts with remote access setups and old VPN local accounts with unrecommended password-only authentication. Consequently, Check Point alerted the users while releasing an easy fix to prevent the exploits.
However, investigating the matter further made them identify the root cause behind the exploits and develop an appropriate patch. According to Check Point’s support article, the firm deployed a hotfix for this vulnerability, with subsequent updates released for all eligible products (CloudGuard Network, Quantum Maestro, Quantum Scalable Chassis, Quantum Security Gateways, Quantum Spark Appliances). This hotfix blocks local accounts from authenticating via passwords to access Remote Access VPN, particularly those with the password-only setup.
According to the details shared via a separate FAQ page for this zero-day, Check Point’s analysis shows that the first exploitation attempts of CVE-2024-24919 date back to April 30, 2024. This vulnerability has received a high-severity rating with a CVSS score of 8.6.
Users Must Patch The Eligible Devices With The Hotfix
Users running the following Security Gateways can deploy the Hotfix to secure their systems.
Whereas for the users running older or end-of-life versions, Check Point recommends upgrading to a version supporting the Hotfix, or disabling the Remote Access and Mobile Access functionalities on their devices to prevent exploits.
Back in February, we reported on malicious ads related to utility bills (electricity, gas) that direct victims to call centers where scammers will collect their identity and try to extort money from them.
A few months later, we checked and were able to find as many Google ads as before, following very much the same pattern. In addition, we can see that miscreants are trying to legitimize their operations by creating fake U.S.-based entities.
Utility-based ads targeting mobile phones
It only took us 15 minutes to find about a dozen fraudulent ads on Google related to utility bills. This campaign is targeting mobile devices only, as far as we can tell, and U.S. residents. All the ads seen below belong to different advertisers based in Pakistan.
Some of those advertiser accounts have a fairly large footprint with several hundred ads.
Most often, the ad is not associated with a landing page (although a URL is displayed); instead clicking on the ad will bring up the phone number and prompt you to dial. Having said that, the domains used belong to the scammers and are often fairly new.
We also saw several ads that at first appear somewhat legitimate. They are registered to advertisers based in the US and their websites look almost authentic. But when you start checking the details, you realize some things don’t add up, such as an address that leads to an apartment complex.
Consumer protection
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has an article about utility scams, however the technique mentioned there is about scammers calling victims, rather than the other way around. For good reason many people won’t answer the phone when it shows an unknown number as it is likely yet another telemarketer. Certainly, there are victims that will answer the phone but the scam is much more effective when you are the one to initiate the call.
We have reported the fraudulent advertiser accounts to Google while we are also adding related domains to our blocklist. Remember to be extremely vigilant before calling anyone, especially if that number came from an advertisement. If in doubt, go directly to your utility company’s website using a computer and then look for a form or phone number that you can verify before dialing.
TCL is more known for being a TV company, but it’s expanded its business over the past couple of years and provided us with some compelling mobile devices. It has a line of tablets called the TCL Tab series. Well, TCL partnered with Verizon to bring the TCL Tab 10 NXTPAPER 5G for a low price.
Talking about the numbers, this tablet doesn’t cost much. Buying it outright will only cost you $240. However, you can also get this tablet on a contract for only $6.66/month. The contract is for 36 months, so that’s something to keep in mind. Sadly, there’s no option for a 24-month contract.
Since this is a 5G device, you’ll be paying for the data connectivity. Your tablet will be connected wherever you go. So, if you’re a person who works on the go constantly, and you don’t want to be tethered to Wi-Fi, then this will be a great choice for you.
Get the TCL Tab 10 NXTPAPER 5G from Verizon at a low price
So, what does this tablet have to offer? The TCL Tab 10 NXTPAPER 5G isn’t the most powerful or fully-featured tablet on the market, but it does have some nice features up its sleeve.
For starters, there’s the display. TCL has its proprietary NXTPAPER display technology. This is the technology that makes it feel like you’re using a piece of paper. Firstly, it’s glare-free, so you will be able to enjoy more of your content when in a bright environment. Secondly, the screen greatly reduces the harmful blue light that’s emitted by most screens. This is better for your eyes.
That screen has a resolution of 2000 x 1200, so it’s just above 1080p resolution. It’s not the most pixel-dense, but it’s still nice. One thing that makes it nicer is the 90Hz refresh rate.
Powering it, there’s an unnamed MediaTek processor, but it’s paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Those are typical mid-range specs. Also, it has microSD card expansion up to 1TB.
Other specs include a 6,000mAh battery, an 8MP camera, and Android 14 out of the box. So, if you want a decent 5G-connected tablet for a good price, you should check this out.
US federal agencies are tightening regulatory scrutiny on tech biggies, particularly their roles in shaping the AI industry. The FTC recently launched an antitrust investigation into Microsoft over its deal with Inflection AI. The investigation is part of an agreement with the DOJ, which will examine the conduct of Nvidia, the biggest maker of AI chips. The FTC will also investigate OpenAI, the firm behind the ChatGPT AI chatbot. Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest investor.
FTC and DOJ divide responsibility to scrutinize Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI
Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI are currently seen as the three biggest stakeholders in the AI industry. The former makes the most advanced GPUs for AI devices and systems. The unprecedented rise in generative AI applications over the past two years has helped it almost triple its sales in no time. The company’s stock price also soared more than 200 percent, with its market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion for the first time, surpassing Apple.
Nvidia’s dominance in the AI chips market has got industry players worried. The company allegedly locks customers into using its chips through software tools, thus stifling competition. Its distribution strategy is also an area of concern for some. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) will look into all of this. If the agency finds Nvidia abusing its dominance to gain an unfair advantage over its competitors, it may file an antitrust lawsuit against the company.
Microsoft is another tech biggie with the power to potentially shape the AI industry to its benefit. Like Nvidia, it also entered the AI fray early, investing a whopping $13 billion in OpenAI, a portion of which came before ChatGPT‘s launch. The Windows maker has also struck deals with other AI companies. In March, it hired almost all of Inflection AI’s employees, including the two co-founders, and paid the company $650 million to license its AI technologies.
The FTC is studying this deal to determine whether Microsoft deliberately structured it this way to avoid potential antitrust inquiry. Instead of acquiring the firm, the company only hired its employees and signed a tech licensing deal. Inflection AI says it is still a completely independent company. However, the FTC isn’t buying anything and is seeking relevant documents to ascertain if Microsoft has gained control over the AI startup while dodging regulatory review.
The FTC will also investigate OpenAI
Microsoft owns 49 percent of OpenAI, whose ChatGPT powers several AI tools. American regulators are worried that Microsoft may be able to influence OpenAI’s technologies and developments. The FTC will investigate this partnership over potential antitrust violations. These investigations don’t necessarily mean the two regulatory agencies will file cases against the three companies. However, the FTC and DOJ did something similar in 2019 and proceeded to sue Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta, so you never know.
A new change is coming to WhatsApp due to certain U.S. states passing age verification laws. The changes are aimed at protecting children online, and different laws and legislation bills are currently in progress.
Now, Meta is getting WhatsApp ready for these changes. In a recent beta version for Android (v.2.24.12.25) of the app, WABetaInfo discovered code that is meant to make WhatsApp ask you for your birth year. The prompt warns that the year cannot be changed later, and you need to provide it to continue using WhatsApp.
Here’s how the prompt may look like when released publicly (Image Source – WABetaInfo)
For now, this feature is not available to the public. Although there’s no official reason given for this feature, it’s most likely connected to the laws that are currently in the works in the U.S.
It seems that Meta will not be showing your birth year within WhatsApp, and this prompt seems to only be for compliance with local laws.
It’s probable this prompt will appear to you if you live in a state with age verification laws (or you’re visiting).
These are currently the US states where verification laws have been passed:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Nebraska
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
This means when this update rolls out publicly, you’ll probably see the prompt if you live in one of them. Of course, as with anything currently in beta, we don’t know exactly when this feature will be officially released. However, it’s probably going to be sooner rather than later so that WhatsApp can be compliant with the legislation.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master’s degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She’s also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it’s walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
SMS scammers are using cloud storage from Google, Amazon, and IBM to trick you! Learn how they’re doing it and how to protect yourself from these sneaky cloud phishing scams.
The threat intelligence unit at Enea, a software security firm based in Stockholm, Sweden, has uncovered a concerning trend: cybercriminals are exploiting cloud systems to perpetrate SMS scams including Smishing or SMS phishing.
According to the investigation by the company’s threat intelligence team, cloud storage services like Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, and IBM Cloud Object Storage are being exploited to redirect users to malicious websites, stealing their information through SMS.
(Screenshot: Enea)
How Cloud Storage is Exploited?
Cloud storage allows organizations and individuals to store, access, and manage files, including static websites. However, cybercriminals have exploited this facility to host static websites with embedded spam URLs in their source code.
These URLs are distributed via authentic text messages, bypassing firewall restrictions. Mobile users click on links containing cloud platform domains, which direct them to the static website stored in the storage bucket, automatically forwarding or redirecting them without user awareness.
The Scam: From SMS to Fake Websites
According to Enea’s blog post that the company shared with Hackread.com ahead of publication on Thursday 23rd, 2024, the attackers prioritize two main objectives: delivering scam messages without network firewall detection and convincing end users to perceive the messages or links as trustworthy.
The scam starts with a seemingly harmless text message (SMS). These messages often contain enticing offers or create a sense of urgency, tricking recipients into clicking a link. This link redirects them to a malicious website cleverly disguised as a legitimate one.
As per the research, Google Cloud Storage’s domain, “storage.googleapis.com,” is used by attackers to link to a static webpage hosted in a bucket on the platform. The spam website is loaded from that webpage using the “HTML meta refresh” method, a technique used in web development to automatically refresh or redirect a web page after a certain time period.
These fake websites, typically hosted on cloud storage buckets with names like “dfa-b.html” on Google Cloud Storage, aim to steal personal and financial information once users enter it. Users are directed to fraudulent websites offering gift cards to trick users into revealing personal and financial information.
These SMS scammers have also been observed using links to static websites hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, and Blackblaze B2 Cloud.
Malicious text messages sent through popular cloud storage services (Screenshot: Enea)
Mitigation Strategies
Detecting and blocking URLs containing genuine Google Cloud Storage domains is challenging due to their association with legitimate domains from reputable companies. To protect yourself from cloud phishing scams, be cautious with suspicious SMS links, check website legitimacy before entering personal information, and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
Back when Xiaomi unveiled the first Poco phone, the term “Flagship Killer” was in full swing. Be that as it may, we were still surprised with the specs that the company was able to pack into that phone. More than half a decade has passed since then, and the definition of a Flagship Killer has shifted a bit. Well, does the Poco brand still live up to that title? Let’s find out in our review of the Poco F6.
Times have changed a lot since the mid-2010s, and that’s extremely evident in the affordable phone market. Flagship phones have always been the most feature-packed and expensive devices, but when we dip below the $500 line, things get a bit chaotic. We see phones that are unapologetically mid-range with all of the typical trademarks; mediocre display, choppy performance, bad speakers, the list goes on.
However, we also see phones that make us question why Samsung and Apple can get away with charging more than $1,000 for their phones. These are phones that just barely nip at the heels of $500, but they offer some insane hardware, displays, performance, speakers, and software on the market.
Enter the Poco brand! This is a brand that, like OnePlus back in the old days, is characterized by its rebellious nature of offering $800 worth of phone for under $500. Its first phone cost about $299 when it launched back in 2018, and it had some of the best specs of the day.
Fast forward to 2024, and the Poco brand is alive and well. I’ve been using the Poco F6, and I had the same response to its specs that I had back when I saw the Poco F1. While I’ve seen a ton of killer phones for under $500 in my day, phones like these still impress me. But, as we know, there’s more to a phone than its specs. So, let’s dive to see if Poco delivered a powerful experience along with its specs.
Poco F6 Review: Design
When it comes to the design, there’s a bit of a clash between two design aesthetics. Going by the overall shape and arrangement of elements, I’d say that it’s a pretty elegant-looking device. The cameras are a bit large, but they work well with the overall design, and I like how they (along with the flash) make sort of a triangle on the back.
Poco is showing a nice bit of restraint with the text on the back, opting to only show the Poco branding and the camera resolution. This gives the phone a subtle beauty that pervades minimalist phone designs. The phone itself is boxy, but it’s also rounded at the same time with the back plate curving to meet the frame. I also like how the color of the backplate and frame share the same color.
So, there’s a very straightforward and professional beauty to the Poco F6. However, that’s juxtaposed to this very pretty and flashy back plate. The back glass plays with the light in a way that almost makes it look glittery. While the phone has a boxy and elegant design, it has this “Look at me!” feeling.
This phone isn’t just a piece of tech, it’s a piece of jewelry. It’s like the phone version of a diamond-studded necklace, and I’m here for it. I love the mixed mentalities in the design. It’s bold, but it’s also very pretty. You can admire it for Poco’s masterful restraint while also liking it because it’s…. shiny! This is the beauty of the phone.
Poco F6 Review: Build Quality
The build quality is where most Flagship Killers tend to fall short. While the internals can be premium, we start to see where the company had to cut corners to keep from charging Galaxy S prices. In the case of the Poco F6, the company did a good job of delivering a solidly built device, but it’s nothing to write home about.
In terms of the overall construction, it’s put together rather nicely. The buttons are clicky, and I don’t hear any creaks or groans when I pick it up or interact with it. I did a little bit of a bend test and bent it from the front and the back. I didn’t go too far, but I bent it past the point where most people would be comfortable bending it.
The phone fared well for the most part, though I did hear a little bit of creaking when bending it from the front. I hear just a little bit coming from the backplate. It’s not bad, but it’s just a bit more than I’d typically hear from other phones I reviewed.
As for the overall feeling in the hand, the fact that this is an affordable phone becomes evident pretty quickly. It doesn’t feel bad at all, it’s just that you won’t be fooled into thinking you’re holding a flagship once you pick it up. When you buy a more expensive phone, some of the money you’re paying is for luxury. Some of that premium goes towards the glass back and metal frame.
So, when you’re dealing with a more affordable phone, there are certain materials you should expect, and one of them is plastic. When I picked up this phone for the first time, it was evident that much of it was made from plastic. It lends to an overall lighter feeling in the hand. It doesn’t take away from the overall experience, but you’ll definitely notice it if you’re used to more expensive phones.
The exterior, while beautiful, won’t give you that premier feeling in the hand. I won’t dock points for that. The main thing is that it’s a solidly built phone that will definitely last you.
Poco F6 Review: Display
Moving onto the display, it’s fair to say that affordable phones are no longer cursed to have crappy displays. OLED technology has long adorned cheaper phones, and the companies making these phones have mastered how to calibrate them (Looking at you, Tecno!). So, going into this review, I didn’t expect any surprises with the Poco F6’s display.
To be quite honest, nothing about the display particularly blew me away, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not a nice screen.
Brightness
We’re at a point with smartphone technology where affordable phones are coming with pretty bright displays. They used to be overshadowed by more expensive phones, but they’re reaching more than 1,000 nits of peak brightness.
In the case of the Poco F6, I think that the brightness is decent, but not great. When I take the phone outside, I see it boost the brightness to compensate for the sunlight, and it does a pretty good job. However, I was able to get brighter displays from the likes of Tecno and Infinix. It’s not as bad as years back when the screen would be extremely washed out in the sun; there’s definitely some improvement in that department. I just wish for a little more juice out of the display.
One thing that confused me was the fact that Poco advertises this phone’s display as peaking at 1,400 nits of brightness. I don’t think I’m getting a brightness that high.
In any case, I think that the screen does a fine job out in the sun, and you’ll be able to watch videos and play games with relative ease.
Colors
When it comes to the colors, it’s a little difficult to give a definitive answer. This is mostly because of the amount of settings that you can do to tweak the colors. Out of the box, the colors are set to the original mode. This is meant to produce the most realistic colors that the display can. As such, they’ll be pretty toned down. With the toned-down colors, you’ll get a picture that’s similar to what you would get with an LCD display.
So, judging the display by its out-of-the-box settings, the visuals aren’t too appealing. However, I set the colors to the Saturated mode. This, of course, boosted how punchy the colors were and made it a more engaging viewing experience. Even at its highest saturation setting, the colors remained overall balanced. There didn’t really seem to be any colors that stuck out among the others. I think that the saturated color setting still showed some restraint. The colors are nice, but I think they could use just a little bit more punch.
Color settings
Xiaomi gave the Poco F6 a large array of settings to adjust your display’s color. These settings surpass the likes of Samsung and other companies. Firstly, there are three color saturation modes. There is the Original Color Pro (which gives colors a more natural look), Vivid, and Saturated. These three modes allow you to adjust the color temperature throughout the interface Under that, you will have the advanced settings.
Once you go into these settings, you will be able to choose between P3 and sRGB color gamuts. Under that, you can adjust the RGB color space by adjusting the red, blue, and green levels individually. The fun doesn’t stop there, as you have a hue slider, saturation slider, value slider, contrast slider, and Gamma slider.
These settings allow you to fine-tune the colors being displayed on your screen. It has plenty more than other phones that I’ve reviewed.
Overall, you won’t find much of an issue with this phone’s display. It is a nice and Punchy OLED panel that gives you some pretty colors. I’ve definitely seen better displays from companies selling comparable devices, but the Poco F6 is no slouch. You’ll have no problem enjoying watching content using this display.
Poco F6 Review: Speakers
OEMs often have to sacrifice certain aspects of their phone in order to keep the price down, and speakers are often on the chopping block. However, some companies wind up giving their phones a nice pair of speakers regardless of their price.
In the case of the Poco F6, I didn’t really know what to expect with the speakers. Having reviewed several mid-range phones in the past, I was not expecting much.
In order to test these speakers, I listened to a set of specifically tuned audio tracks that are meant to accentuate different aspects of audio. These are volume, distortion, base, treble, vocals, and immersion.
Volume
The volume is one aspect where I feel like Poco could have pushed just a bit more. When I have the volume turned to full, I don’t get the sense that the volume is at its full setting. The highest volume is still plenty high, but it reminds me of the Galaxy S24+. It’s not terrible, but it could have been better.
I placed the sound meter about a foot away from the phone and played the first test piece. It reached about 84dB, max. Other phones I reviewed were able to peak at a few decibels higher than that.
Distortion
All speakers experience distortion and higher volumes, and this one was no different. However, I didn’t hear much distortion with this phone’s higher notes. The speakers do a good job of reducing the distortion. Overall, I will definitely say that these speakers are good when it comes to reducing distortion.
Bass
Moving on to the bass, this is one area where I was pleasantly surprised. The speakers are able to produce a fair amount of depth which was very pleasant to hear. The example I used strongly emphasized lower instruments, and I could hear all of the instruments clearly. Not only that, but I could hear a lot of detail in their sound.
Treble
Just like with the bass, I was very happy with these speakers’ performance in the treble department. When it comes to higher tones, I think that Poco did a good job. The higher-pitched notes project clearly throughout the sound, they sound Pleasant. I wouldn’t say that the treble is the best on the market, but it’s very good nonetheless.
Balance
In terms of balance, neither the treble nor the base particularly steals the show. I think that Poco gave this phone a very nice set of speakers for listening to all types of music.
Immersion
All the other aspects come together to create an overall immersive sound. The sound is punchy, with nice attention paid to both the low-end and high-end audio. Everything from music to movies to podcasts sounds great, and I was pleasantly surprised by these speakers’ performance. The speakers and the Poco F6 are some of the best that I’ve tested on a mid-ranger.
Poco F6 Review: Performance
Affordable phones have come a long way in terms of performance. While other companies give their affordable phones lower-end hardware, the Poco F6 is running the very fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s gen 3. At the time of writing this review, this is one of the most powerful chips on the mobile market.
This is something that defined the Poco series when the Poco F1 launched. While mid-range chips offer good performance, there’s no doubt that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 delivers some blazing-fast speeds.
When it comes to general use, I had no issues with this phone whatsoever. Everything from navigating the software to using apps was perfectly smooth. I didn’t run into any lag or stutters while using the phone. Everything went perfectly smoothly.
Other mid-range phones have at least some degree of lag or stutter throughout the software. However, in the case of the Poco F6, the performance was flawless.
Numbers
We all know that benchmarks don’t properly describe a phone’s user experience. However, it is still nice to see some numbers to see how this phone stacks up against the competition.
I ran this phone through Geekbench 6 and through 3D Mark. As for the Geekbench scores, this phone scored a single core score of 1,949. That score is better than most other phones on the market. It beat out other phones like the Galaxy S24+. It actually came shy of the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 2172 score.
Moving on to the multi-core score, this phone scored a whopping 4,920. It was beat out by both a Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S24 Plus. So, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is packing some serious power.
Moving on to 3D Mark, I ran this phone through the Wildlife Extreme Stress test. It got a best Loop score of 3,109 and its lowest Loop score of 2,511. Again, those scores are definitely up there with Android flagships.
All in all, even though the numbers don’t tell us much about the real-world experience, they still show that the combination of Poco’s software optimizations and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 makes for an extremely powerful experience.
Poco F6 Review: Gaming
It came as no surprise that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 power came in handy when it comes to gaming. So, if you’re thinking of using the Poco F6 as a gaming device, you will not be disappointed. Using it to play Simple 2D games, there was no issue whatsoever. Even games like Survivor.io ran perfectly, even though games like those tend to have a lot of Sprites on the screen.
Loading up a couple of 3D games like Asphalt 9, Sky: Children of the Light, and Dragon Ball Legends, it was no different. This phone is a snappy performer, and I did not have any issues with them at all. Those three games are pretty graphically intensive, and the Poco F6 was able to tackle them like a champ.
However, this will not be a gaming review without reviewing games like Genshin Impact and Star Rail. Starting off with Genshin Impact, I had zero issues playing that game. It started up quickly and, from the moment I started it up, it ran perfectly smoothly. It didn’t matter if I was in closed-off areas or wide-open spaces. I was able to get a consistent 60 frames per second while playing.
The story was much the same for Star Rail. The game loaded up quickly, and everything was smooth for the most part. However, I did have the occasional dropped frame here and there. Instances of these were few and far apart.
It’s also important to mention that this phone comes with a boosted gaming mode that will push the chip to its fullest capacity. That’s What I tested these games on. So, this mode pushes the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 to its absolute limit.
Poco F6 Review: Battery
So far, this review has been pretty positive for this phone, and I’m not going to rock the boat when it comes to the battery life. I’ve reviewed numerous devices with affordable price points, and some of them do pretty decent when it comes to battery life. They’re nowhere near what you get with a modern Galaxy S device or iPhone, but they’ll definitely get you through the day with moderate to light usage.
However, in the case of the Poco F6, this phone gets extremely close to the numbers that we get from more expensive devices. I charged the phone to 100% and played a 24-hour video until it completely died. Several phones I reviewed struggle to get past the 10-hour Mark, and some do a little bit better. The Galaxy S24 was able to get 20 hours of battery life, and the S24 Ultra was able to top 25 hours.
The Poco F6 was able to hit a sweet spot between those groups of phones. The phone lasted more than 18 hours before giving up the ghost. This means that you will comfortably be able to get more than a day and a half of moderate usage before having to plug it in. On heavier days, you should still get past the one-day mark. Also, if you’re being frugal, you should have no issues hitting the two-day mark.
When it comes to charging, I was, unfortunately, not able to test the full charging capabilities. This phone came with a bonkers 90W charger in the Box. However, it was not a charger compatible with a US Outlet. In any case, with such fast charging, you should be able to top the phone off completely within an hour.
Poco F6 Review: Camera
More affordable phones seem to falter when it comes to camera technology. It’s one of the main things that keep people from buying mid-rangers. While there are some standout phones with decent shooters in the mid-range market, they’re never quite up to par with more expensive Galaxy phones or iPhones.
In the case of the Poco F6, you get a pretty decent shooter, but this is not the kind of camera that will stand out amongst the others.
Exposure/contrast
One thing I found while using this phone was the fact that the camera tends to be a bit bright. While I did take these shots out in the bright daylight, the camera seemed to punch up the exposure just a bit. This makes for some pleasing shots that really emphasize the bright sunlight. However, there were some shadowy spots that were a bit brighter than they should have been. While the camera did expose a bit brighter, I did not get too many blown-out highlights.
In terms of contrast, I’ve definitely seen better contrast from the likes of Tecno, mainly, the Tecno Camon 30 Premier. With the Poco F6’s camera, shots were a bit washed out when they should have been more contrasty. The example below showing the rocks made it seem like it was pretty overcast. However, it was in direct sunlight.
Another example is the picture of the grass with the sun and shadows. I feel like the Shadows could have been lowered just a bit more to create a crisp contrast.
In general, the exposure and contrast can be a little bit inconsistent. This picture of the tree is rather dark. I would have liked to see the software lift the shadows just a bit. Also, the picture of the wall with the trees behind it suffers the same issue.
Colors
When it comes to the colors, I think that the pictures are similar to the phone’s display. You do get some nice juicy colors, and they’re pleasantly represented. I do feel that they’re toned down ever so slightly. They give them more of a natural look, which is welcomed. The company kept from going overboard with the colors.
I particularly like how the sky is exposed. The blue in the sky is punched up just a bit, but it keeps from being cartoonish. The color shows restraint and responsibility, and I do like that.
The picture of the yellow flower below is probably my favorite picture in terms of color. The yellow is warm and beautiful while the green has a little bit of punch to it. Overall, if you’re looking for tasty social media-ready colors, you won’t get them from this camera natively. You may want to boost them in a photo editing program. However, overall, the colors are very nice.
Details
When it comes to details, I didn’t really have an issue. I was able to find some decent details. Zooming into this picture of these flowers, I’m able to make out fine details like the little hairs at the end of the leaves and the buds. I’m also able to make out dirt granules.
So, I have no complaints about the details. Also, if you want even more details, you can simply switch to the 50MP mode.
Low light
As for low light performance, I think that the camera does a good job of retaining details even when the lights go down. Taking pictures of certain objects, I was able to get some nice crisp details like the weaving on the top of my speaker. Also, there’s not much noise in the images.
Overall
I wouldn’t say that this camera blows any other mid-range camera out of the water. However, that’s not to say that it’s bad. It’s a solid shooter that gives you some pretty nice results. The exposure and contrast can be a bit inconsistent, so that’s something you’ll need to keep in mind. However, the colors come out nicely and the camera produces some nice results in low light. You shouldn’t have any issues using this as your primary camera.
Poco F6 Review: Software
In terms of software, this phone is running Xiaomi’s hyper OS version 1.0.3.0. The software on this phone is rather beautiful with fluid animations, nice UI elements, and an overall unified experience. There are certain neat animations I love like how the clock smoothly grows as you summon the notification shade. Once you close the notification shade, the time shrinks back to its original spot on your taskbar.
It’s an incredibly fluid software, and I think that Xiaomi is going in the right direction with its Android skin.
I do have a few gripes, however. Firstly, and this is an issue that most people have when using Tecno or Infinix devices, the notification shade is split into two sections. You have to swipe down on the top right corner of your screen to access your quick settings and swipe down on the top left corner of your screen to access your notifications. We would all prefer to having notifications and quick settings in one view.
Next, there recent apps screen is a little annoying to get used to. Most people are used to swiping upwards to swipe away apps on the snap screen. However, you have to swipe either left or right. It’s a bit counterintuitive, and it takes some getting used to. It’s not a deal breaker, but it shows that the company could have just stuck with a more traditional way of swiping away apps.
You’re able to change it to a vertical swipe in the system settings. However, since this is an out-of-the-box setting, I have to mention it.
My main gripe is the monumental amount of bloatware on this phone. I had to uninstall what felt like more than 20 pre-loaded apps from this phone. Some of the apps seemed like system apps, but I found that they didn’t serve any purpose. If you get this phone, be prepared to delete a ton of apps.
Final verdict
Most of the time, when I’m reviewing an affordable device, there are certain caveats that I have to overlook. Obviously, I can’t expect a $300 phone to be perfect. So, I’ve developed a bit of a standard level of expectation with affordable phones.
However, there are those phones that deliver much more than what they should based on their price. The Poco F6 is one of them. This is a phone that overachieves in several areas. It’s an extremely powerful and smooth performer with a beautiful screen, amazing speakers, a luxurious design, a solid camera, and great software. It’s an extremely compelling offering, and I highly recommend that you get this phone.
London hospitals crippled by cyberattack! This incident highlights the growing threat of ransomware on healthcare systems worldwide.
London’s healthcare system, NHS (National Health Service), has been thrown into chaos after a crippling cyberattack disrupted operations and diverted emergency patients, affecting tens of thousands of patients.
According to reports, two London hospital trusts, Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals Foundation Trusts have been forced to cancel all non-emergency operations and blood tests due to a “major” cyberattack occurring on 3rd June 2024.
The attackers targeted Synnovis, an outsourced lab service provider to NHS hospitals in South-East London, in what is believed to be a ransomware attack targeting its ICT systems. Synnovis supplies blood tests, swabs, and bowel tests for London NHS, serving patients across six London boroughs.
Additionally, impacted hospitals include Guy’s Hospital, Evelina, Harefield Hospital, King’s College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Royal Brompton Hospital, St Thomas’ Hospital, and primary care services across South-East London.
The incident has significantly impacted the delivery of services, particularly blood transfusions and test results, and left hospitals unable to connect to the servers of the private firm providing their pathology services. GPs are advised to cancel non-emergency pathology appointments, while hospital staff are instructed to request emergency blood samples only for patients requiring transfusions.
Major London hospitals experienced significant disruptions, including postponed procedures and diverted emergencies. These disruptions put patients at risk, increased stress, and added strain on already stretched healthcare resources. The National Cyber Security Center is investigating the incident whereas, NHS England has declared it a level three incident, the 2nd highest alert level.
Expert Comment
Gerasim Hovhannisyan, CEO & Co-Founder, of EasyDMARC, commented on the incident and stressed the unfortunate and vulnerable state of the healthcare industry.
“Unfortunately, attacks against healthcare facilities are continuing to increase. Today’s outage in London is yet another reminder of the challenges healthcare systems face around the globe. As critical services stall, the impact on patient care and safety is clear, underlining the necessity for robust cybersecurity measures and detailed incident response plans,” said Gerasim.
“As healthcare systems become increasingly digitised, the risk of cyber attacks escalates, and their impact can be more significant. Aside from the need for more investment, the inevitability of cyber threats requires a proactive approach. It is no longer a matter of if, but when, a cyber attack will occur. As a result, healthcare providers must be prepared to maintain operations and protect patient safety even in the absence of digital systems. This level of preparedness is essential to safeguarding patients in the case of future attacks,” he concluded.
Sophos’ State of Ransomware 2024 and Healthcare
The attack has indeed highlighted the vulnerability of hospitals to ransomware attacks, which is a growing cause of concern within the UK. According to Sophos’ State of Ransomware 2024 report, around 63% of UK healthcare organizations experienced ransomware attacks in 2023, with secure access for remote users being the top perceived cybersecurity risk.
The report revealed that the average ransom payment increased 500%, with organizations paying an average of $2 million, up from $400,000 in 2023. 63% of ransom demands were for $1 million or more, with 30% for over $5 million with exploited vulnerabilities being the most commonly identified root cause for these attacks.
The findings and the recent ransomware attack on London NHS highlight the need for robust cybersecurity measures in healthcare institutions. Hospitals should prioritize cybersecurity investments, implement advanced security solutions, and train staff on best practices to prevent such attacks.
