Identity Data Management and Analytics Provider Radiant Logic Joins Okta and Ping Identity in Partnership with Badge to Enable Privacy-Preserving Authentication
Badge Inc., the award-winning privacy company enabling Identity without Secrets™, today launched a new Partner Program and welcomed Identity Data Management and Analytics provider Radiant Logic as its newest partner. Radiant Logic joins Badge’s partner network alongside marquee identity partners, Okta and Ping Identity. The new Badge Partner Program further accelerates the adoption and integration of Badge’s privacy-preserving authentication, enabling even more users to benefit from seamless MFA experiences across any device or application without storing user secrets or private keys.
“We are thrilled to be working with Badge, enabling a best-in-class authentication solution that builds on top of our market-leading identity data management and identity analytics capabilities to provide greater privacy and security to our customers,” said Wade Ellery, Field CTO, Radiant Logic.
The integration of Badge brings downstream value to Radiant Logic customers, allowing employees to enroll once and log into any application via RadiantOne using their preferred biometrics and factors of choice for a safe and holistic user experience across any device. By eliminating passwords and stored secrets, Badge bolsters Radiant Logic’s extensible identity data platform to accelerate strategic initiatives such as digital transformation, Zero Trust, automated compliance, and data-driven governance.
Zero Code Integration, SCIM Support, Resource Portal
The Badge Partner Program extends best-in-class security platforms such as Radiant Logic, Okta and Ping Identity with unprecedented MFA experiences.
Benefits of joining the Badge Partner Program include:
Prioritized access to new features and capabilities leveraging Badge’s unique differentiator, enabling every user to be their own cryptographic root of trust.
Zero-code integration using standard protocols, including OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML, FIDO, TLS, Kerberos, and others, offering effortless compatibility and enhanced functionality across a variety of systems and platforms.
SCIM (System for Cross-Domain Identity Management) support quickly syncs users from an organization’s primary directory, eliminating the need to manually create users and automatically ensuring the right users always have access to Badge.
Dedicated partner portal with relevant marketing materials to help streamline collaboration and empower partners in promoting Badge’s solutions effectively.
Library of technical documentation support to configure Badge in various customer environments, including Windows desktop login, web application single-sign-on, passkeys, legacy applications, etc.
Video demos and solution briefs illustrate end-user onboarding and authentication experiences for common use cases, such as uninterrupted device transitions for frontline workers, phishing-resistant account recovery, integration for removing private keys from workflows, etc.
“As organizations continue to realize the importance of privacy-preserving, secure, and user-friendly authentication solutions, our Partner Program is a response to new alliances and integrations with key players across the security ecosystem, moving Badge closer to our vision of becoming the identity backplane of the Internet,” said Charles Herder, Badge Co-founder and MIT Cryptography Ph.D. “By fostering collaborations with industry leaders like Radiant Logic, Okta and Ping Identity, who have some of the largest footprints in the industry, we’re building a world where trust and privacy improve user experience and drive business value instead of being in tension with each other. This sets the stage for a more connected and secure online future for everyone.”
Badge renders PII and biometric credential storage obsolete, eliminating passwords, device redirects, and knowledge-based authentication (KBA). With Badge, the user simply enrolls once, then seamlessly authenticates across ecosystems on any device using authentication factors that are unique and inherent to them. Biometric factors such as fingerprint or face can be combined with other factors to create a strong and convenient MFA method that does not rely on a specific device or token to authenticate users. Badge empowers users to move freely across devices and platforms without losing access to their accounts or compromising security.
For more information on Badge’s Partner Program including how to join, please contact [email protected] for more information or to schedule a demo.
About Badge
Badge enables privacy-preserving authentication to every application, on any device, without storing user secrets or PII. Badge’s patented technology allows users to derive private keys on the fly using their biometrics and factors of choice without the need for hardware tokens or secrets. Badge was founded by field-tested cryptography PhDs from MIT and is venture-backed by tier 1 investors. Customers and partners include top Fortune companies across healthcare, banking, retail, and services. Learn more atwww.badgeinc.com.
The Play ransomware group leaked around 65,000 documents belonging to the federal government, including classified documents and login credentials, which were published on its dark web leak site on 14 June 2023.
Following the cyberattack on Swiss IT service provider, Xplain, details of the leaked data have been disclosed in a press release from the Swiss National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC) – The Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS) has also taken part in the investigation.
The department analyzed the data leaked stolen by the Play ransomware group from Xplain, which is a “major provider of IT services to national and cantonal authorities,” the department confirmed.
Background
Back in May 2023, hackers exploited a vulnerability to target Xplain servers hosting applications for cantonal services, blocking access until a key or unblocking tool is sent in exchange for ransom. The attack, carried out by the Play ransomware group, had far-reaching consequences, impacting the Federal Office of Police, the Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection, Swiss Federal Railways and Aargau cantonal authorities.
In June 2023, Swiss federal government websites and the Swiss Federal Railways’ online portal were targeted in DDoS attacks, causing several websites to be unavailable. The finance ministry reported on 12 June 2023 that a pro-Russian group, “NoName,” claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel and that no data was lost in the attack. This group was also involved in the attack on the Swiss parliament website earlier in June 2023.
The Play ransomware group leaked around 65,000 documents belonging to the federal government, including classified documents and login credentials, which were published on its dark web leak site on 14 June 2023.
As per NCSC’s press release published earlier today, the BACS then took over the coordination of incident response within the federal administration and analysis of leaked data. A policy strategy crisis team was formed on 28 June and an administrative investigation was launched officially on 23 August to find out details of data leak at Xplain.
Official dark web leak site on the Play ransomware group (Screenshot: Hackread.com)
Report Details
The BACS emphasized that the report focuses on data types and analysis challenges, not the content of leaked data. Around 70% (around 47,413) of files belong to Xplain and 14% (9,040) to the Federal Administration. Hackers have leaked 95% of the 9040 files belonging to the Swiss federal government, mainly from the Federal Department of Justice and Police, Federal Office of Justice, Federal Office of Police, State Secretariat for Migration, and ISC-FDJP.
Around half of the Federal Administration’s files contain sensitive content like personal data, technical information, classified information, and passwords, with 4,779 files containing personal data, and 278 files containing technical information. 121 objects were dubbed classified under the Information Protection Ordinance with 4 of them containing readable passwords.
The department aims to collaborate with authorities and Xplain to address potential consequences. This investigation is expected to be completed in March 2024.
About Play Ransomware Group
The Play ransomware group is believed to be based in Russia and is responsible for around 300 successful attacks on businesses and critical infrastructure in North America, South America, and Europe from June 2022 to October 2023. The group uses a double extortion model, ranging from unauthorized access to external services like RDP and VPN.
discovery+ is the latest streaming service to hit the Internet, and as you’d expect by the name, it brings along with it a ton of Discovery shows and networks. discovery+ essentially includes all of the content from its parent company, Discovery, in a single streaming service and at a pretty low price.
It’ll offer over 55,000 episodes across 2,500+ shows. And that doesn’t include the long list of exclusives that it’ll be adding in the very near future. The exclusives will include content from personalities like the Irwins, Jonathan and Drew Scott, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Bobby Flay, Ree Drummond, Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis, Lieutenant Joe Kenda, and so many more – all in one place.
So we’re here to break it all down for you. I would like to see if discovery+ is a streaming service worth subscribing to.
discovery+ will cost you $4.99 per month. Though that is for an ad-supported experience. There is an ad-free version that will cost you $8.99 per month.
This makes discovery+ one of the cheapest streaming services around, but that may not last long given the long list of exclusive shows that it plans to add in the future. And we’ve seen plenty of price increases from other streaming services.
Is there a free trial?
discovery+ does offer a free seven day trial for its streaming service. You can opt for either the ad-free or ad-supported version for your trial. Once the seven days are up, you’ll start paying your monthly fee.
Keep in mind that if you decide not to keep discovery+, to cancel it before that seven days is up. Otherwise, you’ll be charged for your first month.
Does Verizon give me discovery+ for free?
Verizon is giving its customers up to 12 months of discovery+ for free. This is going to depend on the Unlimited plan you are on, whether you get six or twelve months free of discovery+. It’s important to remember that after your free six or twelve months are up, it will auto-renew at $6.99 per month as Verizon is giving you the ad-free version of discovery+.
If you are a FiOS or 5G Home customer, you can also get 12 months free.
For more information on how to get discovery+ free from Verizon, click here.
Can I share my account with my family?
With discovery+, you’ll be able to share your account with up to five people. However, you can only have four concurrent streams.
So you’ll be able to share with your family. And if you get the ad-supported one, and share it with five people, that’s only a buck per person, per month, which makes this service really impressive.
It’s not what you think. You won’t be able to watch TLC live on your discovery+ streaming service.
discovery+ channels are similar to what Pluto TV and Tubi TV offer on their services. Basically, they are non-stop streams of your favorite shows, and they are available 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. So you can tune to your favorite shows’ channel and watch it whenever you want. Instead of just watching it on demand. If it’s a show that you don’t care to watch in order, then this is a really cool feature to have.
discovery+ channels will be available on January 29, 2021. About three and a half weeks after the service’s launch.
Will they be in 4K?
Some content is going to be available in 4K resolution. However, that will mostly pertain to Nature and Animal shows. So don’t expect to see 90 Day Fiancee available in 4K.
Additionally, this will only be available on Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV at launch. But Discovery plans to bring that to more devices in the coming months.
There were no plans announced to film all of its exclusives in 4K, however. So the majority of the content available on discovery+ will likely stay in 720p or 1080p.
discovery+ is going to provide you with all of your favorite Discovery networks. This includes HGTV, Food Network, TLC, ID, OWN, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, to name a few.
There will be over 55,000 episodes from more than 2,500 shows across these channels. And new episodes will be added as they air.
Is CNN coming to discovery+?
Yes. Following the closure of CNN+ back in the Spring of 2022, and after the merger between Discovery and WarnerMedia, forming Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN Originals are coming to Discovery+.
The company announced that on August 19, CNN original series are going to be available on discovery+ as part of a new hub. Some of those titles include: “Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy,” ”Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown,” ”United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell,” and ”This is Life with Lisa Ling”. While some HLN original series will also make their way to discovery+, those include “How It Really Happened,” ”Death Row Stories,” ”The Hunt with John Walsh” and ”Very Scary People.”
Interestingly, there won’t be any live news on the CNN hub, but that could be coming later on. Especially as things heat up with the midterms happening in November.
What exclusives are coming to discovery+?
discovery+ surprisingly, has a long list of exclusives that will be coming in 2021. In fact, Discovery claims that it will add over 1,000 hours of exclusive content to discovery+ in 2021. Which is pretty incredible. It’ll mostly consist of verticals and spin-offs from the company’s already mega-popular shows. Like plenty of spin-offs in the “90 day universe” as Discovery calls it.
Below is a list of everything that discovery+ will be adding:
Love and Relationships
90 Day Bares All: Get ready for your favorite 90 Day couples to bare it all – the lies, the secrets and everything we couldn’t show on TV. Hosted by Shaun Robinson, this companion series to 90 Day Fiancé will put cast members in the hot seat where they reveal pivotal new information and speak completely uncensored. Exclusive content, must-see footage and all the stories behind 90 Day Fiancé!
90 Day Diaries: an intimate look into the lives of our couples, told from their perspective. Without producers or crew, the cast members film themselves in their day-to-day lives as they continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and all of the new challenges it brings to their relationships.
90 Day Journey: The ultimate collection of 90 Day Fiancé stories for the 90 Day Superfan are now on demand! Each curated mini-series is made up of every single scene a beloved couple has appeared in across each show in the 90 Day Universe. Now fans can watch each couples’ story from the very beginning how and when they want to.
The Other Way Strikes Back!: Viewers will get a fresh look at the duos that fans have come to know and love, sharing their home lives, behind-the-scenes details missed by cameras and addressing some of the most outrageous, cringe-worthy moments and sassy social media and pillow talk commentary of the second season of The Other Way.
Food
Amy Schumer Learns to Cook: Uncensored: discovery+ offers an updated and uncensored look at the Emmy-nominated series.
Bobby and Giada in Italy: Longtime friends Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis take viewers on a culinary tour of Italy. It’s the ultimate road trip across the most delicious country on earth.
Cakealikes: This comedic, ultimate cake off competition challenges experts to create life-size cakes that are the spitting image of famed celebrities. Hosted by Tregaye Fraser and judged by hyper realistic cake artist Natalie Sideserf, hilarious food commentator Kalen Allen, and a rotating guest judge, this panel will keep you laughing through every red carpet cake-win and cake-fail!
Chopped Challenge: Chopped Challenge brings the high drama of Chopped episodes into the homes of Judges Maneet Chauhan, Scott Conant, Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy, Marcus Samuelsson and Geoffrey Zakarian as they use their culinary mastery to create delicious and inventive recipes from three rounds of mystery basket ingredients. Intercutting self-shot footage, the judges compete against the clock to answer the ultimate Chopped aficionado question…what would the judges make?
Lovely Bites with Chef Lovely: Lovely Bites invites viewers to the Lovely home and lovely world of Chef Connie “Lovely” Jackson as she prepares fabulous bites for special occasions.
Tregaye’s Way in the Kitchen: Tregaye Fraser is a youthful, modern mom – and professional chef! – who’s not afraid to push the boundaries of traditional cuisine… and not afraid to push her kids’ palates, finally solving the age-old question of “Mom, what’s for dinner?”
True Crime
American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda: Joe Kenda, one of the toughest, most experienced homicide detectives in ID history, is back exclusively on discovery+ with an all new series. Over the years, Kenda has heard about cases that defy logic – investigations so confounding that they feel more scripted in Hollywood than reality. In American Detective, Kenda trades in his own case files to bring viewers astounding investigations from across the country, with each episode featuring a different homicide detective whose tireless efforts helped put a killer behind bars and bring justice for the victim.
Onision: In Real Life: Greg Jackson, known to the world as “Onision,” discovered YouTube when the platform was still burgeoning in the digital world. And as the power of YouTube grew, the character “Onision” grew with it. Jackson amassed millions of subscribers across multiple channels, luring in viewers with his off-kilter, opinionated and dark humor. But while his channels were twisted, his real life might be more sinister. This cutting-edge investigative series explores the mystery, controversy and alleged criminality surrounding Greg Jackson, bringing forward new research and revelations about the man that the YouTube community loves to hate.
Home
Frozen in Time: Maureen McCormick and designer Dan Vickery overhaul homes that are stuck in a design time warp. Dan will update the structure, while Maureen sources beautiful decade-specific pieces to give the home a refreshed look and a wink to its original era.
House Hunters: Comedians on Couches Unfiltered: America’s favorite past time—watching and commenting on House Hunters—will get a fun new twist in this pithy new series led by comedians Dan Levy and Natasha Leggero. The series will feature eight popular comedians as they deliver hilariously unfiltered color commentary on classic episodes of House Hunters. The celebrity lineup includes Seth Rogen, John Mulaney, Ali Wong, JB Smoove, Chelsea Peretti, Whitney Cummings, Margaret Cho and NBA star-turned-comic, Blake Griffin.
Home Town: Ben’s Workshop: Master woodworker Ben Napier will share his expertise in craftsmanship and carpentry with celebrity guests including astronaut Scott Kelly, tennis legend Martina Navratilova, comedian Loni Love, and country singer Chris Lane. In this four-episode series, Ben’s visitors are in for a fun Southern experience – building iconic wood projects and making surprise visits to donate them to the community or a neighbor.
HGTV’s House Party: This exciting new talk show features interviews with top HGTV talent, including David Bromstad, Tarek El Moussa, Jasmine Roth, Alison Victoria and more. Stephen “tWitch” Boss, Allison Holker Boss, Derek Hough and Margaret Cho are among the many HGTV superfans who stop by to join the fun. Each episode features games, DIY challenges and some good old-fashioned gossip.
Tarek’s Flip Side: Star house-flipper Tarek El Moussa has a lot to celebrate in his personal life. In this series, the real estate and home renovation expert shares the stories behind his proposal to fiancée Heather Rae Young and candidly reveals a few wedding plans. Along the way, Tarek takes his daughter Taylor on a tour of his latest house flip. He wants to know what she thinks of the project and hopes he can inspire her to get an early start in the family business.
Christina: Stronger By Design: Christina Anstead, star designer and home renovation expert, starts a fresh chapter in her life and reflects on what inspires her as she as rethinks her own home’s design, including a bedroom refresh and a beautiful tablescape for her backyard. Christina also shares her personal wellness journey, her routine for self-care and a few of her favorite go-to beauty regimens with her makeup artist and best friend Shannon. The pair, along with friend Cassie, chat about life, motherhood, friendships and new beginnings.
Magnolia Network Preview
Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: Infused with her warmth and passion for all things family, Joanna Gaines spends time in the kitchen sharing her favorite recipes, where they come from, and why she finds herself returning to them time and time again. New episodes will rollout weekly.
Magnolia Network: A Look Ahead: Chip and Joanna give a first look at some of the stories, people and projects that inspired the couple to create a network.
Road to Launch: Chip and Joanna catch up with some of the extraordinary storytellers and highlight the exciting selection of shows coming to Magnolia Network.
The Courage to Run with Chip Gaines and Gabe Grunewald: In this documentary special, Chip Gaines fortuitously meets professional runner and rare cancer fighter Gabe Grunewald. Together they set out to train for a marathon, and along the way find a friendship that alters Chip’s perspective forever.
Premiere episodes from 10 upcoming Magnolia Network original series, including:
The Lost Kitchen: In brave pursuit of following her passion, Erin French opened a restaurant in her hometown of Freedom, Maine. Travelers from all over the world gather at The Lost Kitchen to enjoy Erin’s locally-inspired and sourced menu.
Family Dinner: Host Andrew Zimmern visits families across America to explore how the cultural, regional, and historical facets of who we are inform what and how we eat.
The Fieldhouse: At The Fieldhouse, physical and personal challenges are tackled head-on. Owner Justin Bane and his staff change lives by restoring and rehabilitating clients from the inside out at this cutting-edge fitness facility in Abilene, Texas.
First Time Fixer: First-time house flippers take their home renovation dreams into their own hands and experience the risk and reward that comes with trying something new.
Home on the Road with Johnnyswim: Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano Ramirez of the musical duo Johnnyswim document their three-month cross-country tour, while juggling their growing family and finding new adventures in each city along the way.
Restoration Road with Clint Harp: Carpenter Clint Harp hits the road in search of incredible historical structures across the country that are in need of restoration, while exploring their origins and dreaming of their futures.
Super Dad: Father and DIY expert Taylor Calmus, along with his team of skilled builders, help aspiring DIY dads turn their kids’ outrageous backyard dreams into playtime realities.
Point of View: A Designer Profile: Giving a behind-the-curtain look into the mind of interior designers, this anthology series lets in on their creative processes and introduces the inspirations and influences that shape their designs.
Self Employed: Entrepreneur Jonathan Morris travels the country to share the inspirational stories and new challenges of small business owners and their journeys to building their dream jobs.
Growing Floret: Erin and Chris Benzakien have spent the last decade building their family-run business Floret Farms in the fertile Skagit River Valley of Washington State. Now considered one of the most well-known flower farms in the world, they’ve decided to risk everything by adding and rehabilitating 24 new acres of land to expand their business.
Lifestyle
Say Yes to the Dress: In Sickness and In Health: During the COVID epidemic, brides have had their wedding dreams crushed. The team of Randy Fenoli and Hayley Paige will stop at nothing to help these women still have their special day.
Pimple Popper: This is Zit: Dr. Sandra Lee shares all the gory details behind some of her most difficult pops. Watch intimate excavation videos of blackheads so big and cysts so goopy, they have to be seen to be believed.
Adventure
Gold Rush: Freddy Dodge’s Mine Rescue: Gold recovery expert Freddy Dodge helps struggling mine owners in this six-part series. If he can increase the owner’s weekly gold haul, he gets a cut of the profits, but if he fails… he doesn’t charge a dime.
Race Across the World: How would you race across the globe… if you couldn’t fly and didn’t have a phone? In this real-world adventure series, five teams of two are racing from point A to B… without flying. Each team must travel across the globe by whatever means they can: foot, car, bicycle, boat, bus, ferry, motorbike, horse … with only the price of a flight ticket in their pocket (which will have to cover their food and accommodation), it’s set to be the ultimate globe-trotting expedition. Who will make it in the quickest time and win a big cash prize?
Nature, Science & Animals
Mysterious Planet: Narrated by David Schwimmer, Mysterious Planet is an epic journey to the ends of the earth. Combining humor with the awe and beauty of the natural world, this special looks to unlock the greatest mysteries behind the world’s most incredible species.
Six Degrees with Mike Rowe: Mike Rowe poses questions that no one has ever asked, and then, (with a little help from his old buddy Chuck), provides unforgettable answers that prove every single thing is connected.
BattleBots: The Bounty Hunters: Builders from around the globe get a chance to call their shot in a series of six all-new, two-hour events. Six of the most feared Bots in the sport of robot combat. Six one-of-a-kind bounty prizes.
Elephant Hospital: Take a trip to the world’s largest hospital devoted solely to treating elephants: the Elephant Hospital in Lampang, Northern Thailand, which cares for over 100 sick, injured or neglected animals each year. With unique access to the daily challenges faced by the vets and volunteers on site, this is a heart-warming series full of uplifting, extraordinary and unexpected stories.
Documentaries
S., Burn This Letter Please: A box of letters, held in secret for nearly 60 years, ignites a five-year exploration into a part of LGBTQ+ history that has never been told. The letters open a window into a forgotten world where being yourself meant breaking the law and where the penalties for “masquerading” as a woman were swift and severe.
Restaurant Hustle 2020: All on the Line – Director’s Cut: a self-shot documentary from Executive Producer and Co-Director Guy Fieri that follows four of America’s favorite chefs – Maneet Chauhan, Antonia Lofaso, Christian Petroni and Marcus Samuelsson, as they each picked up a camera and with the help of friends and family, documented the challenges their restaurants faced as COVID-19 swept across the United States.
The Impossible Row: Documenting adventurer Colin O’Brady and his crew’s attempt at the world’s first completely human powered ocean row across The Drake Passage, the most dangerous 600 miles of open ocean on Earth.
Beyond Borders: More people have been to space than flown around the world in a single prop plane. And this was not lost on filmmaker Juan-Peter Schulze (JP) and influencer / travel vlogger Louis Cole as they set off on a dangerous mission to circumnavigate the world in a single-engine, 1974 Cessna T210L airplane named Baloo. This adventure wasn’t just to see if it was possible, but to experience the many cultures and societies that make up our beautiful planet. The trip was emotionally and physically draining, pushing them to their limits and forcing the pair to face situations which, if handled badly, could have had dire consequences. From losing critical equipment over oceans, past the point of no return, to confronting fighter jets at ten thousand feet on the other side of the world. This is Beyond Borders.
Judi Dench’s Wild Borneo Adventure: Dame Judi Dench and conservationist David Mils are setting out on a trip of a lifetime to uncover the lush rainforests, magical wildlife and spectacular coastlines of Malaysian Borneo in this two-part series.
JonBenet Ramsey: What Really Happened?: This feature-length documentary exploring the JonBenet Ramsey case, one of America’s most notorious and captivating unsolved murder mysteries, showcases the exclusive and previously unheard audio diaries of legendary detective Lou Smit, who worked on 200 murder cases and was brought out of retirement in Denver to work on this homicide. Police immediately suspected her parents John and Patsy Ramsey of the murder, but after reviewing the evidence, Lou thought otherwise and he recorded it all.
Extreme Everest: An adrenaline-fueled adventure to the world’s highest peak. Ant Middleton isn’t afraid to take on a challenge. But there’s one dangerous mission he’s not yet carried out … to scale the most famous, unforgiving and tallest mountain in the world, Everest.
Automotive
Monster Garage: Jesse James team gets seven days to complete a project. If they succeed, they each walk away with $5K. If they don’t, Jesse’s free to destroy the monster – by blowing it up.
Auto Biography: A premium documentary strand that tells the most surprising and phenomenal stories about iconic cars and legendary drivers that have changed the motoring world and continue to do so today.
Paranormal & The Unexplained
Amityville Horror House: Exclusive archive reveals frightening, new secrets from George and Kathy Lutz’s brief stay in one of America’s most wonderous haunts.
Ghost Adventures: Cecil Hotel: The Ghost Adventures team investigates a LA hotel with a long history of unnatural deaths and dark forces have been looming over the hotel for over a century.
Ghost Adventures: Top 10: Zak, Aaron, Billy and Jay present the best evidence of the paranormal, the existence of these varied phenomena and the many ways the afterlife manifests.
Paranormal & The Unexplained
UFO Witness: Decades ago, the United States Air Force commissioned Project Blue Book, a top-secret investigation to review every UFO sighting on record. Now, one of the original scientists who worked on the project, Dr. Jennie Zeidman, has agreed to open up her archives to be reexamined by the next generations of UFO investigators.
Fascinating Families & Extraordinary Lifestyles
Toddler’s & Tiaras: Where Are They Now?: It’s been over 10 years since the brand-building hit first premiered, and this series catches up with some of our favorite toddler beauty queens – now young women
What are the top shows on discovery+?
Here are some of the more popular shows that we will see on discovery+. And you will be able to stream all of its episodes, at anytime.
Notably absent here is both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. It’s unclear if that will be coming in the future or not. But where discovery+ is available on Xbox consoles, it is likely coming soon.
Amazon has also confirmed that discovery+ will be coming to Prime Video Channels later this year. But not specify when. Adding it to Prime Video Channels, means that you can watch discovery+ content within the Prime Video app. And also activate and deactivate your subscription easier, within the Prime Video app.
Which countries is it available in?
Currently, discovery+ is available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and the US.
Internationally, the service will be available in the Nordics, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain. It will launch in Latin America and Brazil, as well as parts of Asia later this year. Though it’s currently unclear when it will hit those other countries.
Is it worth it, to subscribe to discovery+?
discovery+ is entering a very crowded streaming market right now. Which was tough for even HBO MAX and Peacock to enter. Which, HBO MAX was already something a lot of people were subscribing too. They just get even more content for the same price now. And Peacock is free for Comcast subscribers, or $5/month for everyone else. And both still had trouble gaining steam.
However, the difference for discovery+ is that it will be bringing a bunch of everyone’s popular shows to this streaming service. And it is only $4.99 per month (or $6.99 if you don’t want ads). Which makes it very enticing. Not to mention the number of exclusive shows it plans to launch in 2021 alone. Only time will tell us if it is worth it.
If you watch a lot of shows on TLC, HGTV, OWN, and other networks on Discovery, then this streaming service is going to be worth checking out.
The video discovery experience on Facebook is being transformed by Meta. With the help of an advanced AI model, the platform will markedly boost its aged recommendation system. Facebook’s chief, Tom Alison, disclosed his plans to overhaul the video recommendation algorithm to compete with modern social media apps. The news broke out during a tech conference hosted by Morgan Stanley in San Francisco.
AI Takes Over Video Recommendations on Facebook
An AI-driven approach has already been put into practice in Reels (a TikTok competitor owned by Facebook). The strategy will be expanding across the entire platform, including the main Facebook feed and Groups. Facebook has been trying to compete with TikTok whose algorithmic recommendations are unrivaled. Melded with AI, Facebook’s underperforming algorithm will leap to a new level.
Initial tests carried out on this new architecture showed a promising increase in viewership, bumping up by 8% to 10%. The boost in watch time indicates the true potential of this new model. The CEO also emphasized that the improved engagement metrics were because of the better learning capacities of artificial intelligence.
Different parts of the platform have historically had separate video recommendation engines for Facebook. A single AI-powered engine will not only create more interactive and responsive videos on Facebook but will also significantly improve efficiency.
Other Meta products may also get AI power-up
The recent popularity surge of AI technology, particularly after the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, has prompted Meta to include AI in its suite of products on a wider scale. The CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, says that the company is making significant investments in AI. The most notable of which are hundreds of NVIDIA GPUs for building and running complex learning models.
This initiative is part of Meta’s “technology roadmap” until 2026 aimed at enhancing and personalizing user experience. In its efforts to provide more matching video clips that users can find appealing, Facebook intends to leverage AI as it seeks to better engagement on its social media platforms.
Staying connected with friends and family on WhatsApp is about to get even easier as the popular messaging app looks to integrate call logs with Google’s native Phone app on Android. This change would put WhatsApp’s voice and video calls on equal footing with regular phone calls, allowing you to see all your call history in one place.
Currently, WhatsApp calls only show up within the app itself. This upcoming integration would streamline the process, especially if you primarily use WhatsApp for calls. The fact that @Kishore9196 on X noticed this (via Android Police) suggests that the feature might already be rolling out in a limited beta test.
Source: @Kishore9196 on X
In the screenshot provided, you can see WhatsApp calls appearing within the Google Phone app’s call log, conveniently marked with a “WhatsApp” tag to differentiate them from standard cell carrier calls. Once the feature is fully rolled out, it would make sense if tapping on one of these entries would give you the option to quickly initiate another WhatsApp call with that contact. It’s also likely that this integration won’t be limited to just WhatsApp, as other VoIP apps such as Telegram could follow suit as well, giving you a unified call log experience on your Android phone.
However, this feature isn’t entirely new. As the source pointed out, iOS already has this feature, which displays third-party VoIP calls in the iPhone’s native call history. Android users have been missing out on this convenience, although hopefully not for much longer.
Having this kind of interconnectivity between apps is a benefit that European users will soon enjoy in more areas, such as messaging, as the DMCA has ordered. Because of this, WhatsApp will also have the added benefit of including other messaging platforms within its own app, bringing about cross-platform usability. This is not to say that the integrated call log on the Phone app is a result of this, but it is a nice touch so that users won’t have to switch back and forth between apps as often.
This change will be a welcomed quality-of-life improvement for those who regularly use WhatsApp for calling. With the seamless integration of your call logs, staying connected within WhatsApp is about to get a whole lot smoother.
A new menace has emerged targeting unsuspecting Facebook Messenger users.
Dubbed the “Python Infostealer,” this malicious software is designed to pilfer credentials through sophisticated means, leveraging popular platforms like GitHub and GitLab for its nefarious purposes.
Stealthy Approach of Python Infostealer
The abuse of legitimate sites is at the heart of the Python Infostealer’s strategy.
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Threat actors exploit the trust users place in reputable public repositories and messaging applications, using them as part of their Command and Control (C2) infrastructure.
This makes maliciously using web-based repositories like GitHub and GitLab particularly insidious, as it can be challenging to detect.
Python Credential Harvester’s Chain Of Infection
The infection begins with a seemingly innocuous Facebook Messenger message, enticing victims to download archived files.
These files kickstart a two-stage infection process, deploying one of the Python Infostealer’s three variants, each with its unique characteristics and methods of operation.
Cybereason Security Services’ latest Threat Analysis Report illuminates this alarming development and offers insights and recommendations for safeguarding against this digital predator.
A Trio of Threats
The Python Infostealer comes in three variants, showcasing the adaptability and cunning of its creators.
The first two variants are regular Python scripts, while the third morphs into an executable assembled by PyInstaller for broader reach and impact.
Despite their differences, all variants share a common goal to harvest and exfiltrate user credentials to platforms like Discord, GitHub, and Telegram.
Variant One
Variant Two
Variant Three
GET request to ipinfo[.]io to identify geolocation of the victim.
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Bundled by PyInstaller
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Does not depend on Python packages to be installed locally
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Deploy files to subdirectory of C:\Users\Public
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Obfuscation of function and variable name
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Obfuscation via data compression
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Persistence via Startup Folder
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Staged payloads
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Targets Brave
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Targets Coc Coc Browser
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Targets Chromium
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Targets Facebook Cookies
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Targets Google Chrome Browser
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Targets Microsoft Edge
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Targets Mozilla Firefox
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Targets Opera Web Browser
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A particularly alarming aspect of the Python Infostealer’s operation is its use of legitimate platforms to transmit stolen credentials.
By exploiting the Telegram Bot API and other messaging applications, the malware sends harvested data to threat actors, making detection and prevention more challenging for security teams.
Recommendations for Protection
Cybereason recommends several proactive measures to combat the Python Infostealer.
These include enabling Application Control to block malicious files, activating Fileless Protection, and educating users on the dangers of downloading files from untrusted sources, especially on social media platforms.
Based on language clues in the malware’s code and naming conventions, analysis suggests that the developers or affiliates of the Python Infostealer may be Vietnamese-speaking individuals.
This insight not only aids in understanding the threat’s origins but also underscores the global nature of cybersecurity challenges.
Some of the names of repositories and accounts on GitHub and GitLab are written in Vietnamese.
One of the aliases for the GitLab account was Khoi Nguyen, a popular Vietnamese name and a common alias in the community.
GitLab Account Alias Khoi Nguyen
The emergence of the Python Infostealer as a threat to Facebook Messenger users highlights the evolving landscape of cyber threats.
These digital predators pose a real and present danger by leveraging legitimate platforms and employing sophisticated tactics.
Vigilance, education, and robust security measures are paramount in protecting against such insidious attacks.
You can block malware, including Trojans, ransomware, spyware, rootkits, worms, and zero-day exploits, with Perimeter81 malware protection. All are incredibly harmful, can wreak havoc, and damage your network.
Stay updated on Cybersecurity news, Whitepapers, and Infographics. Follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.
Pet retail company PetSmart has emailed customers to alert them to a recent credential stuffing attack.
Credential stuffing relies on the re-use of passwords. Take this example: User of Site A uses the same email and password to login to Site B. Site A gets compromised and those login details are exposed. People with access to the credentials from Site A try them on Site B, often via automation, and gain access to the user’s account.
If the user had different passwords on Site A and Site B, the attacker would have been stopped before they got in to Site B. This is why we are continuously telling people to not reuse their passwords. If all your logins are hard to remember (and they should be), you can use a password manager to help you.
We’d like to like to praise PetSmart for the way in which it handled the attack, setting a good example by warning customers.
We want to assure you that there is no indication that petsmart.com or any of our systems have been compromised. Instead, our security tools saw an increase in password guessing attacks on petsmart.com and during this time your account was logged into. While the log in may have been valid, we wanted you to know.
In an abundance of caution to protect you and your account, we have inactivated your password on petsmart.com. The next time you visit petsmart.com, simply click the “Forgot password” link to rest your password. You can also reset your password by visiting www.petsmart.com/account/.
Across the internet, fraudsters are constantly trying to obtain user names and passwords and they often try and test the credentials they find on various websites, like ours. To help keep your accounts secure, remember to use strong passwords for each of your important accounts.
Thank you for your understanding. If you have any questions about this, or any other issue, please feel free to contact us at customercare@petsmart.com or 888-839-9638.
Sincerely,
The PetSmart Data Security Team”
While we don’t agree with everything in the email—a strong password would not have made a difference here—it is informative, to the point, and helpful.
If you were one of those customers and the login was not you, that means the attacker knew your email and password. Maybe they found them in the proceeds of a previous data breach.
Malwarebytes has a tool that can help you find out how much of your own data is currently exposed online. Our free Digital Footprint scan scours the internet to find your exposed passwords and much more. Fill in your email address (it’s best to submit the one you most frequently use) and we’ll send you a report.
We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection.
Google is expected to announce two smartphones in October this year. Those phones are the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. In this article, we’ll focus on the vanilla model, the Pixel 9. At this point, we’re quite some time away from the launch period for the device, but some information has already surfaced. We’ll talk about that, try to fill in the gaps, and continually update the article as new information comes knocking.
The company will seemingly stick with releasing two flagship-grade smartphones, as it has been doing for years, since the Pixel 6 series, basically. Since then, Google has been releasing vanilla and ‘Pro’ Pixel models at the same time. This time around, the company is looking to change up the design a bit, which will be the biggest change since the Pixel 6. We’ll talk more about that and much more below. So, read on.
This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 9 (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. This is the initial version of the article.
When will the Google Pixel 9 be released?
At this point in time, a specific launch date for the Pixel 9 is not rumored. However, Google always announces its flagship smartphones in October, pretty much, so at least we have a general timeframe for the launch. The Pixel 6 series arrived on October 19, the Pixel 7 series on October 6, and the Pixel 8 phones launched on October 4. The launch dates have been moving closer and closer to September, but we believe Google will stick to an October launch date. We’ll see. Chances are we’ll have to wait until August or even September for a confirmation.
What models are coming?
The Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are coming, but we’re here to focus on the Pixel 9. We’ll have a separate article for the Pixel 9 Pro. In the last three years, the vanilla Pixels came in one RAM option, and two storage options. The same could happen with the Pixel 9. The last three models offered 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Google could end up sticking with 8GB of RAM, or up it to 12GB of RAM. It’s possible that the 128GB storage model will end up being the base model, but who knows? No specific information surfaced just yet. Google is, however, expected to use LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage.
How much will the Google Pixel 9 cost?
The Google Pixel 8 ended up being more expensive at launch than the Pixel 7. Its base model was priced at $699 in the US. With the Pixel 8, Google could keep that price tag, or move it up a bit. If we end up seeing a price bump, chances are Google will go up to $749, not higher. That’s only a guess, though, as the information regarding that has not surfaced yet. We doubt that the company will bump it up to $799, though it’s possible. We don’t expect it to go over $800 for the base model, though.
What will the Google Pixel 9 look like?
When it comes to the Pixel 9 design, well, it did surface. The phone appeared in CAD-based renders already, so we know exactly what to expect when it comes to its design. Google is looking to change things up a bit with the Pixel 9. The phone will feature flat sides, and that goes for its front, back, and frame. The frame will be slightly curved toward the edges, for comfort’s sake. The corners of the phone will be rounded too, and the frame will likely be made out of aluminum. Some metal is in play, that’s for sure.
Another visible change compared to the Pixel 8 is the phone’s camera island on the back. Google seems to be moving away from the camera visor that connects to the frame on the sides. The Pixel 9 will have a pill-shaped camera island on the back, which will be centered up top. The metal around the cameras will be a lot less noticeable than on the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9 will seemingly also have larger camera sensors, It will stick to two camera sensors, though, the same as the Pixel 8. The camera island will protrude on the back, and aside from being pill-shaped, it will have flat sides.
You’ll get a flat display with uniform bezels
A flat display will be in use on the front side of the phone. A centered display camera hole is also visible in the images provided below. The phone will have very thin bezels around the display, and those bezels will be uniform. You can also see the Pixel 9’s metal-clad physical buttons on the right-hand side. The power/lock button is positioned above the volume up and down keys. Google’s logo is a part of the package too, and it sits at the center of the phone’s backplate. That backplate will be made out of glass, by the way.
The phone will measure around 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm (12mm including the camera bump). 91mobiles claims that the display will be a 6.1-inch panel, but considering that the phone will be both taller and wider than the Pixel 8 (which has a 6.2-inch panel), we find that hard to believe. It’s more likely the phone will have a 6.3-inch display, but we’ll see. A rumor from last year also suggested that it will include a bigger display.
What specs will the Google Pixel 9 have?
The Google Tensor G4 will fuel the Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9. That is Google’s upcoming chip which will debut on the Pixel 9 series. Based on the latest information, it will be a 4nm processor based on Samsung’s process. Rumors are claiming that we’ll see a huge bump with the Tensor G5 that will be included in the Pixel 10 series, but some improvements are expected with the Tensor G4 as well.
A 6.2 or a 6.3-inch display is expected to be included on the front, and it will be a flat panel. Chances are that will be a fullHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. We’re expecting it to be an LTPO panel too, which means it will offer an adaptive refresh rate. That panel will also be quite bright. The Pixel 8’s display had a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, and the Pixel 9 is looking to up that even more.
It will likely have a slightly larger battery
We’re still not sure about the phone’s battery life, as no information surfaced. However, it’s expected to be slightly larger than the 4,575mAh unit included in the Pixel 8. The phone is also expected to support Qi2 wireless charging standard. So if you loved Apple’s approach to wireless charging, with magnets and whatnot, that will be supported on the Pixel 9 series too, including the Pixel 9.
Android 15 will come pre-installed on the device. This will be the first phone to offer that version of Android, in addition to its sibling. Stereo speakers will also be included, while the phone’s cameras are still a mystery. No information whatsoever surfaced regarding the cameras, so we’ll have to wait and see. We do know that it will include two cameras on the back and a single camera on the front.
The Google Pixel 9 is expected to measure 152.8 x 71.9 x 8.5mm (12mm with the camera bump). Its weight is still a mystery.
Should you wait to buy the Google Pixel 9?
At the time of writing this article, we’re still 6 months away from the Pixel 9 launch. We don’t have a lot of details about the device, so if you need a new phone, getting the Pixel 8 may not be a bad idea. It’s a solid smartphone with a good price tag, that’s for sure. If you really like the design the Pixel 9 will offer, and can wait a bit to see what will its camera setup be, it may be worth it. You’ll be good either way.
We’re all familiar with AI image generators, and what makes them a threat. However, it appears that AI companies aren’t working on making them as safe as they promise. A Microsoft engineer is Image Designer produces harmful content.
The engineer in question is named Shane Jones. He’s been working for Microsoft for six years and has been testing the Copilot Image Designer as a red teamer. In terms of AI, red teaming basically means feeding AI model prompts to get it to generate harmful content. This is how a company can see where its model could be improved.
A Microsoft engineer warns that Copilot Image Designer can generate harmful content
Ostensibly, OpenAI and Microsoft should share the blame in this respect. Copilot Image Designer uses OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 AI model.
Shane Jones has been on a long mission insisting that Microsoft take its Image Designer down for in-depth testing. Over the course of testing the image generator, Jones was able to generate some pretty shocking images.
According to the report, using the tool, he was able to produce images of underage drinking, underage drug use, sexualized images of women, teenagers with assault rifles, and others stirring images. “It was an eye-opening moment,” Jones told CNBC in an interview.
He’s trying to communicate with the companies
Since then, he has made multiple attempts to contact Microsoft to have the image generator taken down to be worked on. “Over the last 3 months, I have repeatedly urged Microsoft to remove Copilot Designer from public use until better safeguards could be put in place,”.
At that point, Microsoft referred him to OpenAI. Unfortunately, he was met with radio silence from OpenAI. After that, he posted an open letter to LinkedIn asking OpenAI’s board to take down DALL-E 3 for further investigation. At this point, it was clear that neither company wanted anything to do with his requests. Microsoft’s legal team told Jones to remove the post, and he did. However, Jones was not finished.
This Wednesday, Jones sent a letter to the FTC chair Nina Khan and Microsoft’s Board of Directors. The letter requested that Microsoft’s social and public policy committee investigate the legal department’s decisions and management. Also, Jones wants the company to begin “an independent review of Microsoft’s responsible AI incident reporting process.”
Jones continues to fight to spread the word that DALL-E 3, along with Copilot Image Designer could potentially be flawed. It could be extremely easy to produce harmful content using the tool.
It’s no secret that Elon Musk is a fan of dropping hints about his companies’ future plans on social platforms, and he is not one to shy away from hitting that “like” button in responses to his posts. And true to form, he recently did it again, where else but on his very own platform X (formerly known as Twitter). According to 9to5Mac, Tesla owners might soon find themselves controlling their cars using their Apple Watches if Musk’s response to a social media query is any indication. When asked about the possibility of Tesla adding Apple Watch integration, Musk simply replied, “Sure.”
While this could be an exciting prospect for Tesla users, it’s worth noting that there’s no clear timeline for this feature’s implementation. Musk’s response seems more like a spontaneous idea rather than a pre-planned development.In an ideal scenario, the Tesla app for Apple Watch could offer functions like unlocking the car, adjusting the cabin’s climate, toggling Sentry mode, and more. However, Tesla hasn’t officially confirmed the specifics of what users can expect. Nonetheless, many Tesla enthusiasts agree that an app for Apple Watch is long overdue.
There’s also been a call from Tesla owners for the addition of Live Activities to showcase their car’s charging progress, but the company has remained tight-lipped on whether this feature will materialize.
However, it is not all smooth sailing for Apple and Musk’s companies. Last year, Apple pulled the plug on advertising on X, following Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory posted there.
