Reddit CEO’s $193 million compensation draws tough scrutiny

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Reddit co-founder and CEO Steve Huffman’s compensation package for 2023 was a staggering $193 million. This has not only shocked the Reddit community but many internet users for quite a few reasons.

Reddit revealed Huffman’s pay package, which mostly includes stock options, in the mandatory U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing late last month. As the company nears its IPO (Initial Public Offering), this handsome figure has drawn severe criticism. Interestingly, Huffman has defended his compensation via a Reddit AMA.

Steve Huffman has justified his compensation package

As expected, Reddit CEO Huffman’s compensation package has drawn widespread criticism, especially on Reddit. It is important to note that moderators, who essentially manage and run the sub-forums, called sub-Reddits, continue to remain unpaid.

Specifically speaking, moderators have always been considered volunteers. They contribute as per their schedule. While there are strict rules about moderation, it is the moderators who ensure the sub-Reddits remain civil and active.

AM(almost)A answers, but make it video
byu/rddt_IR inRDDT

While avoiding justifying his salary while Reddit’s moderators remain unpaid, Huffman answered why he was awarded $193 million last year. It is interesting to note Reddit has officially admitted that “its results and user experience could be harmed if it were unable to keep a sufficient number of volunteer moderators.”

Could Steve Huffman’s compensation package hurt Reddit’s IPO?

Steve Huffman is Reddit’s CEO and co-founder. He goes by his Reddit username “spez” on the social media platform. He co-founded Reddit with his college roommate, Alexis Ohanian, in 2005.

Condé Nast acquired Reddit for a mere $10 million in 2006. Although this made Steve Huffman and Alexis Ohanian multimillionaires both have expressed regret at selling for such a small amount at the time.

Reddit rehired Huffman as CEO in 2015. Although the platform was growing, his primary objectives were to further propel the company, create a clear content policy, and stabilize infrastructure.

Since then, Reddit has banned thousands of communities for hate speech. The platform underwent a major redesign, and Huffman’s growth propelled him into Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list.

All this success for Reddit, however, hasn’t trickled downwards to its moderators, who continue to remain unpaid. They are still volunteers, who are slogging away for free to maintain the platform.

Hence, Reddit CEO Huffman’s handsome compensation package may invariably be compared to the lack of profit-sharing or compensation for moderators, threatening and occasionally even arm-twisting them. This may impact Reddit’s upcoming IPO.


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Galaxy S25 could get faster storage, UFS 5.0 coming in 2027

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UFS 4.0 flash storage has been around for a while now. It is about twice as fast as UFS 3.1 in terms of read and write speeds. All major flagships use it nowadays, and it has been that way for quite some time. Well, the Samsung Galaxy S25 could up the ante, and end up offering even faster storage.

The Galaxy S25 series could come with faster storage

Samsung Semiconductor has revealed a roadmap of sorts, which reveals the details. Next year, in 2025, Samsung plans to offer UFS 4.0 4-lane CS. This memory combines two UFS controllers for increased sequential read speed.

Samsung Semiconductor UFS 5 0 roadmap

It seems like UFS 4.0 4-lane CS will be capable of 8GB/s speeds, compared to 4GB/s of the current UFS 4.0 storage. So, it’ll be about twice as fast. Samsung highlights that this will help with loading times and on-device AI applications.

We’re not sure if this memory will be ready for the Galaxy S25, though. It is expected to arrive at some point in 2025, with production set in 2024. The Galaxy S25 series is expected in early 2025, most probably in January, so… it remains to be seen.

UFS 5.0 is not scheduled to arrive before 2027

We’ll have to wait until 2027 for UFS 5.0, though, according to Samsung’s roadmap. UFS 5.0 will be capable of offering 10GB/s speeds. So, the Galaxy S27 is expected to debut this storage, if everything goes according to plan, and Samsung sticks to its naming scheme.

Considering that the UFS 4.0 4-lane CS will offer quite a boost over UFS 4.0, we do expect many OEMs to utilize it starting next year. Many companies opt for the fastest RAM and storage when it comes to their flagship smartphones. That is to be expected considering the price tags flagship smartphones go for these days.


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Fully AI-generated games are 10 years away, says Nvidia’s CEO

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On Wednesday, we got the pretty interesting news that Nvidia showcased some generative AI tools that could be implemented into video games. These tools could help developers create AI-generated storylines and character dialogue. Well, Nvidia CEO, Jensen Huang, said that fully AI-generated games are no more than 10 years away.

Right now, we are still at the point where we’re wondering just how far generative AI will go. It’s already proven to be extremely capable and scary at the same time. The technology has already disrupted several Industries including journalism, art, music, Etc. Now, we’re all wondering what impact it will have on gaming.

We predict that more people will use AI for gaming in the future. However, we’re not certain that many people will use AI for actually coding the games. According to a recent study, most companies don’t like to use AI for coding.

Nvidia CEO believes that fully AI-generated games are less than 10 years away

Jensen Huang spoke at GTC, the GPU Technology Conference. Shortly after unveiling the new Blackwell GPUs for AI development, Huang answered a question in a Q&A session. During the session, after being asked if he sees a future where every pixel in the video game is generated, he said, “I think with almost, almost anything in technology, the S curve is not longer than a decade once it becomes true,”.

Basically, he’s saying that once the technology starts to take form, it’ll take less than a decade for it to fully become realized. So, according to his views, by the time 2034 rolls around, we could very well see games created from scratch via AI.

He did say that he didn’t really believe that we’d create games simply by adding a text prompt into a generator. However, he said ” I do think that, let’s say, DLSS 10 in the far future is going to be a completely neural rendering system that interfaces with a game engine in different ways.”

At this point, it’s really hard to tell where AI technology will be in 10 years. It seems that every month or so, companies are coming out with some huge innovation that pushes AI even further. Once we have the groundwork set for a certain technology, production only accelerates from there on. More people and companies are hopping on the AI train, so who knows if 10 years turns into 5 years? For all we know, AI could substantially influence video games just one year down the road.


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Hacker Pleads Guilty For Stealing 132,000+ Users Data

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Robert Purbeck, a hacker known as “Lifelock” and “Studmaster,”  hacked into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, a medical clinic in Griffin, and at least 17 other victims across the US. 

He stole the personal information of more than 132,000 individuals, pleaded guilty to federal charges of computer fraud and abuse and, breached computer systems nationwide, stole a massive amount of personal data, then extorted his victims by threatening to expose this sensitive information. 

The incident highlights the serious risk cyberattacks pose to healthcare facilities and government institutions.

Law enforcement is committed to working together to fight cybercrime and protect citizens’ personal information, read DoJ’s Press release.

The FBI’s Atlanta field office emphasizes its commitment to combating cybercrime and prioritizes apprehending cybercriminals and thwarting attacks on critical infrastructure.

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According to FBI Atlanta’s Special Agent in Charge, Keri Farley, the agency relentlessly pursues these criminals and disrupts their operations, ensuring they are brought to justice.

Focusing on victim safety translates to aggressive investigations, regardless of the criminals’ location, to hold them accountable under legal statutes.

Hacked into the Computer Servers 

Robert Purbeck engaged in cybercrime by acquiring unauthorized access to computer servers on the darknet marketplace, while in June 2017, he purchased access credentials for a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic’s server. 

Using these stolen credentials, Purbeck infiltrated the clinic’s computer systems and exfiltrated sensitive personal information belonging to over 43,000 individuals, which included names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers. 

Nearly a year later, Purbeck repeated the offense by acquiring access to the City of Newnan, Georgia, Police Department’s server in February 2018. 

After gaining unauthorized entry, he stole police reports and documents containing the personal information of more than 14,000 people.  

In an FBI investigation on August 31st, 2019, a federal search warrant was executed at Purbeck’s residence in Meridian, Idaho, and the FBI seized multiple electronic devices containing the personal information of over 132,000 individuals. 

A blank Federal Search warrant form 

The data was obtained through multiple breaches targeting entities like the City of Newnan, the Griffin Medical Clinic, and at least 17 other victims across the US.

As part of a plea agreement, Purbeck agreed to compensate the victims by over $1 million. 

A resident of Meridian, Idaho, 44-year-old Purbeck, is scheduled for sentencing on June 18, 2024, at 10:30 am for the case involving hacking computer systems belonging to the City of Newnan and a Griffin medical clinic in Georgia. 

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. will preside over the sentencing at the United States Courthouse in Newnan, whereas the FBI Atlanta Field Office pursued the investigation with support from the FBI Boise, Idaho Resident Agency. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herskowitz, Nathan Kitchens, Alex Sistla, and Nicholas Evert, along with Trial Attorney Brian Mund from the U.S. Department of Justice Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, are leading the prosecution of a case, with significant support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.

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Leaked renders reveal three colors for Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024)

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Samsung will soon launch a new mid-range Android tablet, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024). It is a refreshed version of a 2020 tablet of the same name. The device has been refreshed once in 2022, with the company upgrading the chipset and the OS version. Leaks suggest the 2024 model will be a similarly minor upgrade. There may be a new color option this time, though.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) may come in a new color

Renders leaked via X by @Sudhanshu1414 show the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) in three colors. These are reportedly named Chiffon Pink, Oxford Gray, and Mint. The former two colors were also available for the 2020 and 2022 versions of the tablet. However, the Mint option is new. It replaces Angora Blue as the third color variant for the device, which doesn’t see any aesthetic change.

This means the upcoming tablet will look identical to the one launched four years ago. It has a fairly slim profile with flat edges, rounded corners, and bulky but symmetrical display bezels. There is a single rear-facing camera without an LED flash. You get a camera on the front as well. The device supports S Pen and boasts AKG-tuned dual stereo speakers.

The power and volume buttons sit on the right side where you will also find a microphone hole and the SIM tray. There is a second microphone hole at the top, alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker. The bottom edge has room for the USB Type-C port and a speaker, while the left side is blank. You will find a Samsung logo and “Sound by AKG” printed on the back.

The internals of the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) also largely remain unchanged from the 2020 and 2022 versions. The display is a TFT LCD panel measuring 10.4 inches diagonally with a 1200 x 2000 pixels resolution. The rear camera is an 8MP unit while the selfie camera is a 5MP unit. The tablet is fueled by a 7,000mAh battery that, sadly, still charges at just 15W speed.

Samsung has upgraded the chipset again

The original Galaxy Tab S6 Lite shipped with the Exynos 9611 processor and Android 10. The 2022 version got Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 732G/720G and Android 12. The upcoming model will now ship with the Exynos 1280 and Android 14 out of the box. The RAM amount remains unchanged at 4GB, while you also only get 64GB and 128GB storage variants. The tablet supports a microSD card.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (2024) also upgrades from Bluetooth 5.0 to Bluetooth 5.3. You still get Wi-Fi 5 and miss out on NFC. Leaks say Samsung will release the tablet in Wi-Fi and 5G versions. The former will carry a starting price of €429 for the 64GB variant in Europe. The top-most variant (5G version with 128GB of internal storage) will reportedly cost €519. Stay tuned for the official launch.


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The GPT Store is filling up with spam GPTs

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This is an issue that any digital storefront has to deal with, spam. App stores and game stores have to deal with it, so it’s only logical that the new GPT store has to also deal with it. Yes! The GPT store, even though it’s only a few months old, is already being overrun with spam GPTs.

If you don’t know what the GPT store is, you might want to if you’re an avid ChatGPT user. A GPT is like a customized version of ChatGPT that is specialized to perform a specific function. Say, you’d like a version of ChatGPT that specializes in giving you facts about movies. You could also find one that specializes in accounting or paleontology.

You can access and install GPTs if you are a ChatGPT Plus member. There’s no word on whether the company plans on bringing this functionality down to free users. You will just want to be careful because a recent report found that several extensions and GPTs have led to people having their accounts hacked or stolen.

The GPT store seems to be filling up with spam

As much as we would like to believe the opposite, this was inevitable. Any sort of storefront is susceptible to spam from unsavory individuals. TechCrunch did an investigation into the GPT store, and it found several GPTs that should rightfully violate OpenAI’s terms of service. These are GPTs that can cause some serious copyright infringement. It found a generator that could create monsters in the style of Pixar’s Monsters Inc. There is also another GPT that can imitate Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. The list goes on, and it contains GPTs that could either get the creators sued or OpenAI sued.

Not only that but there are other GPTs that promise to bypass ChatGPT’s safety guardrails. That is just a breeding ground for all sorts of trouble. ChatGPT is able to create some rather inappropriate content, but there are still tough guardrails in place to keep things from getting even worse. So, imagine if the chatbot did not have a filter for inappropriate content. This is the kind of thing that many people want. Well, there are some GPTs out there that promise to let you do whatever you want.

Another type of GPT found is something that many of us have dealt with on app stores. These are GPTs that are basically just empty shells. They’re completely useless bits of code that are just a conduit to a paid service.

Unfortunately, there are many more spammy GPTs on the GPT store, and we predict that it’s going to get worse. Open AI said that there are about 3 million GPTs on the store, and we can expect that a good amount of them are spam.

How OpenAI moderates GPTs

In order for a GPT to be posted to the store, it has to go through an approval process. The company says that it uses a mixture of automated systems and human review to determine if a GPT is appropriate. However, it appears that many spammy GPTs are slipping through the cracks.

At this point, we don’t know what OpenAI is planning on doing to eliminate the risk of spammy GPTs. In the meantime, if you are using these, then you will just need to be careful with which ones you install.


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Nemesis Market: Leading Darknet Market Seized

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The infamous Nemesis Market, a leading figure in the darknet marketplace ecosystem, has been successfully seized.

This operation dismantles a major hub of illegal online trade, ranging from narcotics to stolen data, affecting thousands of users worldwide.

The Rise of Nemesis Market

Nemesis Market emerged as a dominant player in the darknet space, filling the void left by previous marketplaces that were taken down by law enforcement.

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It quickly gained notoriety for its sophisticated security measures, a wide array of illicit goods, and its ability to evade the authorities.

The platform was known for trading in drugs, weapons, stolen identity data, and other illegal goods and services.

The seizure of Nemesis Market was the culmination of Operation Dark Hunt, a coordinated effort by law enforcement agencies in several countries.

The operation involved months of meticulous planning, surveillance, and collaboration between various international cybersecurity units.

Details of the operation remain classified, but sources indicate that combining cutting-edge digital forensics and traditional detective work was vital to infiltrating the market’s defenses.

The breakthrough came when investigators traced transactions to the market’s administrators, leading to their identification and arrest.

According to a recent tweet by Dark Web Informer, the Nemesis Market, one of the top five online marketplaces on the dark web, has been taken down.

The Impact on the Darknet Landscape

The takedown of Nemesis Market sends a powerful message to the darknet community: no entity is beyond the reach of the law.

This operation has significantly disrupted the supply chains of various illegal goods and services, temporarily decreasing their availability on the dark web.

However, experts warn that the void left by Nemesis Market is likely to be filled by other emerging platforms.

The dynamic nature of the darknet means that as one market falls, others rise to take its place.

Law enforcement agencies know this cycle and continuously develop new strategies to combat illegal online trade.

The Future of Cyber Law Enforcement

The successful seizure of Nemesis Market highlights the growing sophistication and international cooperation of cyber law enforcement.

Agencies are increasingly relying on advanced technology and cross-border collaborations to tackle the challenges posed by the darknet.

As the digital landscape evolves, so do the strategies of those operating within it.

The battle against illegal online marketplaces is ongoing, with both sides continuously adapting to the ever-changing environment.

The seizure of Nemesis Market is a significant milestone in the fight against darknet marketplaces.

It demonstrates the effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation and the importance of staying ahead in the technological arms race against cybercriminals.

While challenges remain, the takedown of Nemesis Market is a testament to the global commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting citizens from the dangers of the dark web. 

Stay updated on Cybersecurity news, Whitepapers, and Infographics. Follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.


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OnePlus unveils Ace 3V, coming to global markets under a different name

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The OnePlus Ace 3V has been announced in its homeland, China. This smartphone is expected to arrive to global markets under a different name, with a ‘Nord’ branding. OnePlus will most likely use the OnePlus Nord 4 naming. There’s a chance the ‘Nord 4’ will be skipped, though, in favor of ‘Nord 5’, as the number 4 is considered to be unlucky in China.

The OnePlus Ace 3V is now official and will launch globally under the ‘Nord’ brand

With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the OnePlus Ace 3V. It has flat sides, with chamfered edges. All of its physical buttons sit on the right-hand side. There is an alert slider on the left, though.

A flat display sits on the front, with thin bezels, which are not uniform. A centered display camera hole is also located on the front. There are two cameras included on the back, and they’re vertically aligned.

Those cameras sit inside the same camera island. It is located in the top-left corner, and it does protrude on the back a bit. OnePlus’ logo is centered on the back side of the phone.

It’s fueled by the all-new Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor

The OnePlus Ace 3V is fueled by the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor. That chip actually got announced today, in case you were wondering. It’s Qualcomm’s new mid-range processor with a focus on AI.

OnePlus included a 6.74-inch 1.5K AMOLED display here. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and its refresh rate goes up to 1,100 nits. This panel is flat.

This smartphone also comes in several variants. It’s available with 12GB and 16GB storage options. The 12GB RAM model includes either 256GB or 512GB of storage, while the 16GB RAM variant is available in a 512GB storage flavor. OnePlus used LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage.

A 5,500mAh battery powers this phone, while the OnePlus Ace 3V supports 100W wired charging. The charger is included in the retail box, and will be with the global variant too.

It has two cameras on the back, and Android 14 comes out of the box

A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX882 sensor) is backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit (Sony’s IMX355 sensor). A 16-megapixel selfie camera (Samsung’s S5K3P9 sensor) is also a part of the package.

Android 14 comes pre-installed here, with OnePlus’ software on top of it. The device is also IP65-certified for water and dust resistance. OnePlus promises 3 major updates and 4 years of software support for the device. You’ll find a set of stereo speakers here too.

The OnePlus Ace 3V’s pricing starts at CNY1,999 ($278) in China, and goes up to CNY2,599 ($361). The phone comes in black and silver color variants, as you can see below. We’re not sure when will the global variant launch. The OnePlus Nord 3 launched in July last year, so we may have to wait until July 2024.


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DOJ wants ByteDance to sell TikTok rather than ban it in the US

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TikTok, the popular social media app that has been criticized for its ties to China, is at risk of being banned outright in the United States. The U.S. House of Representatives already voted in favor of a bill that would require TikTok to be divested to a U.S. company or be banned, and TikTok’s fate now rests with the Senate. But, Department of Justice officials are having secretive meetings this week to help avoid a TikTok ban, according to The Business Times. The DOJ has a clear preference to forcing ByteDance to sell TikTok, rather than banning it altogether.

ByteDance is based in China, and there are concerns that the country’s government could use TikTok to harm the U.S. This could be through collecting data from American users, or by influencing Americans with content shown on TikTok’s “For You” page. Either way, these fears have created tremendous pressure from the U.S. government. Part of the reason that the DOJ wants ByteDance to sell TikTok is due to the app’s data. Chinese laws can force companies to hand over data to the government, and ByteDance could have to comply with a request for data, if asked.

Lisa Monaco, the deputy attorney general, is leading the effort. Additionally, the report notes that lobbying is taking place now. In a shocking twist, there is bipartisan support for action against TikTok. But Monaco believes ByteDance can sell TikTok to avoid a ban. “What we have seen is the asset that is being sought by our adversaries is not the brick-and-mortar institution,” Monaco said, as reported by The Business Times. “The asset is the data itself.”

Will ByteDance sell TikTok after DOJ pressure?

Though the DOJ is lobbying for TikTok to be sold, it’s unlikely. There aren’t major benefits to selling TikTok for ByteDance. The app is used globally, which means U.S. users only make up a small portion of TikTok’s global user base. As such, ByteDance might rather TikTok be banned than be sold. There has been no indication that ByteDance intends to sell TikTok, even after DOJ pressure.

Additionally, leaders at ByteDance and TikTok have maintained that they plan to fight U.S. legal action. If the Senate passes legislation, TikTok and its owner will “exhaust all legal challenges,” according to Bloomberg. Similarly, TikTok has categorically denied the allegations posed by some U.S. lawmakers. The app’s algorithm is not directed by any government, it says. We’ll have to wait and see how the Senate proceeds, but a resolution could be months away.


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Samsung brings cloud gaming to Galaxy phones with Gaming Hub

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Gaming is a big deal on mobile devices, so for tech companies, it is crucial to make the experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Some of the best gaming phones come from Samsung’s flagship Galaxy series. Now, the Korean tech giant has announced that its Gaming Hub, formerly known as the Game Launcher app, is getting some new features.Samsung revealed that its Gaming Hub for mobile is expanding its reach to a broader gaming community by offering instant access to games through the cloud gaming-enabled Instant Plays feature, which is currently in beta in the US and Canada.

Samsung is expanding gaming access and fostering growth within its Galaxy ecosystem:


  • The Gaming Hub for mobile now includes Instant Plays, allowing users to instantly access games without installation, enhancing game discoverability.
 
  • Samsung’s cloud platform supports Android APKs, offers a cloud-based attribution solution with major mobile measurement partners, and maintains support for existing in-game monetization models, ensuring seamless integration with game publishers’ operations.

At the yearly Game Developers Conference, Samsung’s Corporate Vice President Jikhan Jung delved deeper into the company’s ongoing advancements in game streaming for both players and partners:

In 2022, Samsung unveiled the Gaming Hub, an integrated game streaming and discovery platform. Evolving from the Game Launcher feature on Galaxy devices, the Gaming Hub for mobile aligns with Samsung Gaming’s goal to provide users with diverse options for discovering and enjoying their favorite games.


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