Dell announces UltraSharp 40 with double the refresh rate at CES

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Dell has been at the forefront of the PC market for decades and with good reason, because it’s consistently bringing top products to market, such as the new UltraSharp 40 curved display that it just announced at CES today. This new 40-inch ultrawide monitor is one of two new UltraSharp displays that Dell is introducing. The other is the UltraSharp 34. It’s a smaller display so it’s intended for those that are looking for something a little more compact, but not too compact. At 34 inches it’s big enough to fit all of your work on-screen without taking up too much space on your desk.

Both monitors are set to be released globally on February 27 of this year in the US. Both should also be available directly from Dell as well as various retail partners. They’ll come at a cost though. The Dell UltraSharp 40 will start at $2,399.99. And for a 40-inch monitor that’s certainly a bit of a steep price. The smaller UltraSharp 34 will retail for a starting price of $1,019.99 making it a little more manageable for the everyday consumer.

Something to consider though, is that both of these monitors are geared towards content creators and professionals. Specifically, those that want a monitor that delivers high color accuracy and vibrant, clear picture quality.

The Dell UltraSharp 40 announced at CES is the first monitor to come with a new screen health certification

Dell’s latest UltraSharp monitors are introducing a range of new improvements over past iterations. Such as a better refresh rate on the UltraSharp 40, which has been doubled, bumping up from 60Hz to 120Hz. This makes it a little more viable as a gaming monitor. If gaming is something you would do in your downtime. In addition to the boosted refresh rate, the UltraSharp 40 and the UltraSharp 34 come with a new ‘Eye Health’ certification from TÜV Rheinland.

This new industry standard, Dell says, aims to combat eye fatigue. If you’ve ever sat in front of a computer for long periods of time, day after day, then you may have experienced eye fatigue. These new monitors are designed to help reduce the signs of it. While not getting rid of eye fatigue altogether, the Eye Health-certified monitors should help lower the strain. And that should sound good to anyone who needs to work in front of a computer all day.

The Dell UltraSharp 40 is also a 5K monitor with a 5120 x 2160 resolution. Promoting enhanced clarity and detail with highly accurate color contrast. Additionally, it supports DisplayPort 2.1 and Thunderbolt 4. The Thunderbolt 4 port can even be used as a single cable for 140W power delivery.

Dell’s smaller UltraSharp 34 offers many of the same features

It won’t have the larger display or the 5K resolution panel (opting for a 2K panel instead), but it does come with the same Eye Health certification making it a good alternative. It has the benefit of taking up less surface area. But it also costs more than $1,000 less than its larger counterpart. Dell is also implementing the same Thunderbolt 4 support for single-cable power delivery up to 90W.


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Google Chrome Use After Free Flaw Let Attacker Hijack Browser

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The latest stable channel update for Google Chrome, version 120.0.6099.199 for Mac and Linux and 120.0.6099.199/200 for Windows, is now available and will shortly be rolled out to all users.

Furthermore, the Extended Stable channel has been updated to 120.0.6099.200 for Windows and 120.0.6099.199 for Mac.

There are six security fixes in this release. Three of these flaws allowed an attacker to take control of a browser through use-after-free conditions.

Use-after-free is a condition in which the memory allocation is freed, but the program does not clear the pointer to that memory. This is due to incorrect usage of dynamic memory allocation during an operation. 

Use after free in ANGLE in Google Chrome presents a high-severity vulnerability that might have led to a remote attacker compromising the renderer process and using a crafted HTML page to exploit heap corruption.

Google awarded $15,000 to Toan (suto) Pham of Qrious Secure for reporting this vulnerability.

CVE-2024-0223: Heap buffer overflow in ANGLE

This high-severity flaw was a heap buffer overflow in ANGLE that could have been exploited by a remote attacker using a crafted HTML page to cause heap corruption. 

Toan (suto) Pham and Tri Dang of Qrious Secure received a $15,000 reward from Google for discovering this vulnerability.

CVE-2024-0224: Use after free in WebAudio

A high-severity use after free in WebAudio in Google Chrome might potentially allow a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a manipulated HTML page.

Google awarded Huang Xilin of Ant Group Light-Year Security Lab a $10,000 reward for finding this issue.

A remote attacker may have been able to exploit heap corruption through a specifically designed HTML page due to high severity vulnerability in Google’s use after free in WebGPU.

The details about the reporter of this vulnerability were mentioned as anonymous. 

The use after free conditions existed in Google Chrome before version 120.0.6099.199. To avoid exploiting these vulnerabilities, Google advises users to update to the most recent version of Google Chrome.

How to Update Google Chrome

  • Open Chrome.
  • At the top right, click More.
  • Click Help About Google Chrome.
  • Click Update Google Chrome. Important: If you can’t find this button, you’re on the latest version.
  • Click Relaunch.

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Android 14 promises improved resource management

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Many Android users can relate to the frustration of dealing with poor resource management caused by bloatware or unwanted pre-installed apps. These preinstalled apps not only clutter the device but also impact the system performance and ultimately the user experience. It becomes especially noticeable in entry-level devices as they often get more pre-installed apps than the pricier models and have fewer system resources.

The good news is that Android 14 seems to address this longstanding resource management issue by introducing a dedicated feature designed to manage it efficiently, potentially enhancing both battery life and overall system performance. Back in October last year, Dave Burke, the VP of Engineering for Android talked about some significant performance gains that came as a result of a smart control on cached processes. This is also expected to be one of the reasons for the improved thermal management of the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Mishaal Rahman delves into the details of this Android 14 feature (via Wccftech), highlighting its ability to reduce memory and battery usage specifically for pre-installed applications. The operating system conducts a scan of system partitions during the device’s boot-up process. If Android 14 detects an app with “exported launcher activity” in this scan, it will place the app in a “STOPPED” state until the user actively opens it. This mechanism ensures that preloaded apps remain dormant, consuming minimal system resources until the user initiates their launch.

The success of the resource management feature in Android 14 will depend on the inclusion of apps in the allowlist

Described by Google as a feature that “significantly reduces the system resource usage,” this innovation has the potential to address long-standing concerns about bloatware’s impact on device performance. Google plans to incorporate this feature into the Android Open Source Project, allowing all Android Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) the option to opt-out. OEMs can even create an allowlist, designating specific preloaded apps that are necessary for a proper system operation to consume system resources while the rest remains “STOPPED”. Rahman notes that certain stock Google apps are already part of the allowlist in the Google Mobile Services bundle provided to various OEMs.

While the implementation of this feature depends on how OEMs choose to integrate it, its potential benefits could bring about significant improvements in the behavior of Android phones running Android 14 and future versions. Nonetheless, the success of this feature depends on widespread adoption and the inclusion of apps by OEMs in the allowlist.


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Dell refreshes XPS laptop portfolio with AI features at CES

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Dell is introducing a refresh of its XPS laptop lineup at CES today and there’s one central theme that seems likely to connect all of the laptops that will release in 2024, and that’s AI.

AI is at the heart of the new Dell XPS laptops thanks to the inclusion of Intel’s new Core Ultra processors. These new CPUs come with a neural processing unit that helps to offload some of the work that would generally be placed on the CPU or GPU. The end goal here is that the user gets a smarter PC that works just as efficiently if not more. All while sipping power compared to the previous generations. In short, more powerful laptops that have a longer-lasting battery.

All of the laptops in Dell’s 2024 XPS portfolio come with Intel Core Ultra CPUs. This includes the XPS 16 and the XPS 14 which are new screen sizes for the laptop family. As well as the XPS 13, which Dell rebranded from the XPS 13 Plus that it launched in 2022. You’re looking at similar features and specs across the board but each laptop also offers something a little different. For instance, the Dell XPS 16 can come with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU for graphics. The XPS 14 meanwhile comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, and the XPS 13 is running with Intel Arc graphics.

All three of the laptop models can come with up to 64GB of RAM too. With loads of storage at up to 4TB of space on a PCIe Gen4 SSD (this will be available post-launch for the XPS 13). Dell is also sticking with the large seamless glass haptic touchpad.

New Dell XPS laptops are powered by AI

Whether we like it or not, AI is becoming more prominent in today’s tech. Laptops and desktops are not exempt from these advancements. With the new XPS portfolio, the Intel Core Ultra CPU’s neural processing unit isn’t where the AI stops. It’s certainly a big part of the AI influences. However, users will see more AI features laced throughout the hardware. For Dell, this manifests in the form of Microsoft’s Copilot feature being baked in with Windows 11. And to make interacting with this as simple as possible Dell has added a dedicated Copilot key to the keyboard on each laptop.

In terms of the display, Dell is offering a few options with each model. The XPS 13 will get FHD+, QHD+, and 3K+ display options with the 3K+ display being an OLED panel. The XPS 14 meanwhile will have options for both FHD+ and 3.2K+ resolution displays. The top-end display resolution will once again be OLED. Dell follows the same formula with the XPS 16. Offering an OLED panel at the top-end resolution of 4K+, while also offering an FHD+ option for those that want to spend a little less money.

Dell plans to launch all three new XPS laptops sometime soon. It hasn’t announced launch dates yet, but it has announced pricing. The XPS 13 will start at $1,299, while the XPS 14 will start at $1,699 and the XPS 16 will start at $1,899.


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Save $50 on the incredible OnePlus Nord N30

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The OnePlus Nord N30 is a great smartphone, and now you can pick it up for just $249. That’s going to save you $50 off of its regular price. That is not quite an all-time low, but it’s pretty close. And the OnePlus Nord N30 will also work on AT&T and T-Mobile here in the US.

For a sub-$300 phone, the OnePlus Nord N30 has just about everything you could want. That includes a 6.7-inch FHD+ 120Hz display powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It is powered by a 5000mAh capacity battery that should get you through a full day and then some. Especially given the processor inside.

What’s absurd about this phone is that you’re getting a 108-megapixel camera here. On a $250 phone, that is pretty crazy. But it doesn’t stop there. It also has a 2-megapixel macro and a 2-megapixel depth sensor available too. And on the front, there’s a 16-megapixel selfie cam.

You can pick up your own OnePlus Nord N30 from Amazon today by clicking the link below.

Buy at Amazon


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Grab the new USB-C Apple AirPods Pro for only $189

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Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro with USB-C is still available at Best Buy for only $189. That is a really good price since Apple products rarely get discounted anyway. Best Buy will also let you trade in your old headphones for up to $80 off. Which can help bring down the price of the AirPods Pro even more.

Perhaps more importantly, you can still get them in time for the holidays. Best Buy has them available in-store, so you can purchase them online and pick them up later today. Or you can have them shipped to your home and have them arrive tomorrow. That’s some pretty fast shipping for Best Buy. But keep in mind that we are approaching the cut-off for Christmas.

These new AirPods Pro really don’t have much else new other than switching from Lightning to USB-C. However, if you are picking up the iPhone 15, this might be a good purchase. So you can completely ditch Lightning altogether.

Now, these do bring a new feature for Vision Pro, with Lossless audio for the Vision Pro. Unfortunately, no one outside of Apple can actually test that right now. However, the Vision Pro is expected to be released later this month.

You can pick up the new USB-C AirPods Pro from Best Buy today by clicking the link below.

Buy at Best Buy


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CISA Warns of Exploited Vulnerabilities in Chrome and Excel Parsing Library

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an urgent notice to federal agencies, setting a deadline of January 23 for mitigation efforts.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has identified and added two significant vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalogue. The vulnerabilities in question involve a recently patched flaw within Google Chrome and a bug affecting the open-source Perl library “Spreadsheet::ParseExcel,” designed for reading information in Excel files.

The specific vulnerabilities are as follows:

  1. CVE-2023-7024: Google Chromium WebRTC Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
  2. CVE-2023-7101: Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2023-7024:

CVE-2023-7024 was a critical vulnerability in the WebRTC component of Google Chrome, discovered in December 2023. It allowed attackers to potentially exploit a heap buffer overflow via a specially crafted HTML page, ultimately gaining control of a victim’s computer.

Google patched the security vulnerability in December 2023 and is no longer considered a threat for users who have updated their Chrome browser to the patched version. However, it’s important to keep your browser and other software up to date to protect yourself from future vulnerabilities.

CVE-2023-7101

CVE-2023-7101 is a critical vulnerability affecting Spreadsheet::ParseExcel, a Perl module used for parsing Excel files. It exposes a remote code execution (RCE) risk, allowing attackers to potentially take control of a vulnerable system through specially crafted Excel files.

The vulnerability allows attackers to upload a malicious Excel file to a vulnerable system. The vulnerability can also be exploited via the evaluation of Number format strings, leading to arbitrary code execution on the system. This could allow attackers to steal sensitive data (passwords, personal information, etc.), install malware, disrupt system operations and take complete control of the affected system.

Users operating systems with software dependent on Spreadsheet::ParseExcel version 0.65 are currently exposed to this security risk. This vulnerability extends its reach to various applications and frameworks developed with Perl, thereby potentially affecting a broad spectrum of systems.

A patched version, 0.66, has been released by Metacpan to address the identified vulnerability. As a precautionary measure, users are strongly advised to promptly update to this patched version. In cases where immediate updating is not feasible, it is recommended to implement mitigating measures such as restricting file uploads or disabling the functionality associated with Spreadsheet::ParseExcel.

CISA has issued an urgent notice to federal agencies, setting a deadline of January 23 for mitigation efforts. Agencies are instructed to follow vendor guidelines for resolving these vulnerabilities promptly or cease the use of the affected products.

For insights into the CVE-2023-7101 vulnerability, we reached out to Mr. Aubrey Perin, Lead Threat Intelligence Analyst at Qualys Threat Research Unit who told Hackread.com that, “CVE-2023-7101 is a Perl library vulnerability that has gained notable traction, evidenced by its usage in appliances by network and email security firm Barracuda.”

“Businesses are advised to thoroughly assess their environments for instances of ‘Spreadsheet::ParseExcel’ requiring updates or removal,” Aubrey advised. “Barracuda’s observations indicate that Chinese threat actors utilized this vulnerability to deploy malware. With the vulnerability now public, there is a heightened risk of ransomware threat actors leveraging it for their malicious tooling,” Aubrey warned.

  1. CISA Offers Recovery Tool for ESXiArgs Ransomware Victims
  2. CISA Publishes List of Free Cybersecurity Tools and Services
  3. FBI and CISA Issue Joint Advisory on Snatch Ransomware Threat
  4. New CISA Advisories Highlight Vulnerabilities in Top ICS Products
  5. CISA Warns of Flaws in Propump, Controls’ Osprey Pump Controller

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Samsung’s official Galaxy S24 cases will include a Suit Case

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Samsung is less than two weeks away from unveiling the Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. The flagship trio will break cover on January 17 at the Unpacked in San Jose, USA. However, there isn’t much that leaks haven’t already revealed. We know everything from the design and specs to key features and alleged prices. And if you think leaks can’t disclose more, think again. We now have details about the Galaxy S24’s official protective cases too.

Galaxy S24 official protective cases revealed

Samsung usually offers a wide range of official protective cases for its flagship phone. It will be no different this time around. According to the UK-based accessory retailer MobileFun, the company has prepared eight different cases for the Galaxy S24 series. There are a couple of transparent cases, a Shield Case, a Silicone Case, a Smart View Wallet Case, a Vegan Leather Case, a Standing Grip Case, and a Suit Case.

Apart from the transparent cases, of course, all other official Galaxy S24 cases will be available in multiple colors, with some getting as many as five different shades. The retailer hasn’t shared images to show the design of the new accessories. However, Samsung may not tinker much with the design from previous generations. Most of these covers are also available for the Galaxy S23 lineup, though the color options may vary.

The Suit Case appears to be a new addition, though. It could be something similar to the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s Flipsuit case. It is a transparent cover with swappable interactive cards, allowing for extensive customizations. However, the retailer has mentioned White and Yellow color options for the Galaxy S24’s Suit Case. It is unclear whether it will offer similar functionality as the foldable’s Flipsuit case or if it is something completely different.

Samsung will also offer an anti-reflective screen protector and S Pen

The report confirms that Samsung will also offer an Anti-Reflective Screen Protector for the Galaxy S24 lineup. The Ultra model’s S Pen, which comes built-in with the device, will also be available as a separate purchase in Black, Gray, and Yellow colors. The Korean firm is matching the stylus pen’s color with the handset. All of these accessories should be available from Samsung’s website and third-party retailers. The company will open pre-orders for the new flagships immediately after launch in most countries. General sales are expected to begin on January 30.


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Samsung Galaxy M55 is on the way with Wi-Fi 6, 8GB RAM

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A couple of days back, we exclusively leaked the official renders of Samsung’s upcoming premium mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy A55. The company will also launch an M series equivalent of the device. Aptly called the Galaxy M55, it will be a less premium model aimed at price-sensitive markets. While details are scarce, the phone has recently picked up the Wi-FI certification on its way to launch.

Samsung is preparing the Galaxy M55 for market release

The Wi-FI Alliance certified the Samsung Galaxy M55 with the model number SM-M556B (the Galaxy A55 is SM-A556B). The listing reveals that the device will boast Wi-Fi 6 with support for 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands and WPA3 security. There’s no Wi-Fi 6E, let alone Wi-Fi 7. Since it’s a mid-range phone, we don’t blame Samsung for not equipping it with the latest Wi-Fi standard.

This certification also confirms that the Galaxy M55 will be available in a dual-SIM variant. However, that is all we can make from the document published on the Wi-Fi Alliance’s website earlier today. Thankfully, we have seen the phone in several benchmark entries on Geekbench in the past. Those entries hint at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset for the upcoming Samsung mid-ranger.

The Korean firm will pair the chipset with 8GB of RAM, though there could be a 6GB RAM variant as well. Unsurprisingly, Samsung will ship the Galaxy M55 with Android 14 out of the box, likely with One UI 6.1 on top. The rest of the specs are still under wraps. If history is any indication, it will feature a large display, a big battery, and a high-resolution primary rear camera.

As revealed in our exclusive leak, the Galaxy A55 will feature a metallic frame, probably made of aluminum. We don’t expect Samsung to equip the Galaxy M55 with an aluminum frame, though. The M series has always been about affordability with beefy specs and fewer premium extras. A metallic build is something of a premium more than a necessity, so the company might overlook it for the Galaxy M55.

The device may still be several months away

Samsung launched the Galaxy M54 in March last year, a week after the Galaxy A54. Rumors are that the Galaxy A55 will be delayed until April this year. This likely means a delay for the Galaxy M55 too. We expect more leaks and rumors about the new mid-range phones in the coming months, particularly after the release of the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung will unveil the new flagships on January 17, with a market release expected on January 30.

Samsung Galaxy M55 Wi Fi certificate


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Four Cyber Criminals Convicted of Spreading ChatGPT Ransom

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Four Chinese cybercriminals were taken into custody after using ChatGPT to create ransomware. The lawsuit is the first of its sort in China, where OpenAI’s popular chatbot is not legally available, and Beijing has been tightening down on foreign AI.

On Thursday, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said that the attack was first reported by an unnamed company in Hangzhou, the capital of the province of eastern Zhejiang, whose systems had been blocked by ransomware. 

For access to be restored, the hackers wanted 20,000 Tether, a cryptocurrency stablecoin correlated one-to-one with the US dollar.

The suspects confessed to “writing versions of ransomware, optimizing the program with the help of ChatGPT, conducting vulnerability scans, gaining access through infiltration, implanting ransomware, and carrying out extortion” when the police apprehended them in late November in Beijing and two other locations in Inner Mongolia.

The report did not specify if the use of ChatGPT was included in the charges. Due to Beijing’s efforts to restrict access to foreign generative artificial intelligence technologies, it operates in a legal gray area in China.

Generative AI Stirred Up Multiple Challenges

Chinese users became interested in ChatGPT and related products after OpenAI launched its chatbot at the end of 2022. However, in sanctioned markets like North Korea and Iran, as well as in China and Hong Kong, OpenAI has blocked internet protocol addresses. 

Using virtual private networks (VPNs) and a phone number from a supported region, some users circumvent restrictions.

According to a legal firm, King & Wood Mallesons report, there are “compliance risks” for domestic businesses that construct or rent VPNs to access OpenAI’s services, such as ChatGPT and text-to-image generator Dall-E.

Given the popularity of generative AI, the number of legal issues concerning the technology has skyrocketed. Beijing police warned about ChatGPT’s potential to “commit crimes and spread rumors” in February.

This year, the US Federal Trade Commission released a warning regarding scammers using artificial intelligence (AI) clone voices to deceive consumers into real people. This may be done with just a brief audio sample of a person’s voice.

This week, the New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, the company’s primary investor, claiming that the firms’ potent models were improperly trained on millions of articles. The case is expected to be keenly monitored for its potential legal ramifications.

Recently, concerns about cybersecurity and intellectual property have increased due to generative AI, prompting policymakers to consider how to respond.


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