Samsung is pushing a second Android 14-based update to the Galaxy S23 series in some markets. While the previous release was a major update with One UI 6.0 on top, the company is only pushing the latest security patch this time around. The November SMR is also available for the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A52, while the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is now getting it outside the US.
The Galaxy S23 series gets the November security update
A couple of weeks back, Samsung released the Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update for the Galaxy S23 series. The rollout began in Europe and gradually expanded to other markets. It reached the US last week. While the update came complete with the November security patch stateside, it wasn’t the case in other markets. Users got the October security patch there.
Samsung is now separately updating them to the latest SMR. As of this writing, the November update is rolling out to the Galaxy S23 lineup in Europe and Asia with the firmware build number S91*BXXS3BWK5. As said earlier, the US versions have already received the latest security patch, so they won’t get this update. Users in other markets who received Android 14 with the October patch can expect the new release in a few days.
The second Android 14-based update for the flagship trio has an OTA (over the air) download size of around 340MB (via SamMobile). As expected, the changelog mentions nothing more than the latest security fixes. It’s worth noting that One UI 6.0 has yet to reach the Galaxy S23 series in a few markets, including South Korea and China. Samsung will probably bundle the November SMR with the big update in these countries.
The new SMR is available for more Galaxy devices
Samsung is also pushing the November SMR to a few more Galaxy devices. Namely, the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A52 (4G) are picking up the latest security patch. The former is getting the update in Latin America with the build number A546EXXS5AWJ4. The rollout is live in Europe for the latter. It’s receiving the new SMR with firmware version A525FXXS6DWK1. The 5G version of the Galaxy A52 has yet to get it.
The Galaxy Z Flip 5, meanwhile, is receiving the November update in international markets. Samsung updated the latest clamshell foldable to this month’s security patch in the US last week. It’s now pushing the new SMR to the phone in Asia, Africa, Europe, and other regions. The new build number is F731BXXS1AWJ1. The Galaxy A54 5G, Galaxy A52, and Galaxy Z Flip 5 will all get Android 14 in the coming weeks.
With the holidays just around the corner it means the holiday shopping season has arrived, and for many it’ll be time for you to start thinking about what to get for your loved ones. Whether it’s gifts for friends, family or a significant other, we have you covered and are here to help you find the best gifts for those you plan to get gifts for. We’ll have a range of different guides up across a number of different product categories, and this one will be focusing on the best gaming headsets for PC, console, and mobile devices.
Gaming takes many forms these days and that includes what platforms and devices people play on. For some it’s PS5. For others it’s strictly mobile devices. Or if you’re like me then you play on just about any platform. The headsets we’ve picked for this guide are what we feel are the very best for each platform. Though most if not all will be multi-platform headsets. Our aim with these picks is to help you narrow down your choices. With that said, we’ve rounded up five of the best gaming headsets available along with some honorable mentions.
Best Budget Headset: HyperX Cloud Stinger
HyperX pushes the limit on how much quality you can fit into an affordable headset
There’s a few reasons why we chose this headset and right off the bat we’re going to hone in on the price first. Price is always generally a factor when buying new products and that doesn’t stop with gifts. Normally the HyperX Cloud Stinger is priced at around $50. And at that price we’d have still included it here because it has incredible value for that cost. Right now though it’s an even better value because it’s on sale for $19.99. And for an entry level gaming headset of this quality that’s something you do not want to pass up.
Outside of price, the HyperX Cloud Stinger has a great set of features for its price point. What I personally really liked was how comfortable it is. Which honestly isn’t always something you see when a headset is priced at $50 or below. In fact in my experience headsets around this price range are usually a lot less comfortable, and noticeably so. But that is definitely not the case here with the Cloud Stinger. The large cushioned ear pads are made from memory foam so they never felt too firm or abrasive on my ears.
The headset also comes with a nice stainless steel headband which helps with durability. I like this kind of rigidity in gaming headsets because I don’t have to worry about them breaking. And yet because it’s stainless steel it’s still flexible and easy to stretch a bit when you need to put it on your head or take it off. Worth noting of course is that the inside frame of the headband is what’s stainless steel while the outside is plastic with a cushy leatherette portion that rests against the top of your head.
Another thing I really love about this headset is that it’s compatible with basically all platforms. It’s a wired headset so you do have to plug it in. And that’s a big reason why it’s as inexpensive as it is. That being said, this also makes it really easy to fit with just about any platform. I have a PC, a Nintendo Switch, a PS5, a Steam Deck, and mobile devices that I play games on. And the Cloud Stinger is a headset that works with all of them. The only catch here is that whatever your device you’re trying to use it with needs to have a 3.5mm audio port to plug in the headset. Luckily, all of the platforms I mentioned do support 3.5mm audio.
The last reason I want to focus on this headset as one of our picks is the mic audio quality and the actual sound audio quality coming from the earcups. First things first, the audio quality is great. It’s not going to be top of the line premium sound. But that’s not what you expect when you buy a headset that costs around $50. You do however want it to be good and it definitely is good. The mic is also good when it comes to audio quality and I had no issues with people hearing me in voice chat. And my absolute favorite part about the mic is that it uses a flip-to-mute system. No tiny buttons to press.
Just flip up the mic and it’s automatically muted. This also makes it really easy to shove a few snacks in your mouth quickly as you can flip it up and flip it back down when ready. All-in-all the HyperX Cloud Stinger is a standout gaming headset and a perfect gift for gamers. It’s an awesome value and great quality and works with basically anything.
The great thing about less expensive wired headsets is that there are a TON of options available for consumers. Most brands will have more than one budget option and this makes for a great selection. However, that many options can make it easy for the best ones to be drowned out. While the HyperX Cloud Stinger is our pick for best budget headset, the Logitech G432 is our honorable mention. It’s about the same cost when they’re both available at normal price and can be picked up for $49.99. The reason we think this is a great budget pick is because above all else the sound quality is great for its price and it’s incredibly comfortable. We also love the flip-to-mute mic.
The Barracuda X gives you the best bang for your buck in entry-level wireless options
Razer’s Barracuda X has a lot going for it and if you’re looking for something that’s still entry-level but has the added benefit of wireless, it’s hard to beat the Barracuda X. Normally coming in at $99, it’s currently on sale at Amazon for $79.99. Now the Barracuda X is not alone in its category for headsets that offer wireless with similar features at this price point. SteelSeries actually makes a really good headset in the Arctis Nova 4 that sits at $120. However, the Arctis Nova 4 doesn’t have Bluetooth and is 2.4GHz only. So you need to have the USB-C adapter plugged in for it to be usable in a wireless state. And that’s a shame. Because sometimes the adapter is just cumbersome to use.
This is where the Barracuda X has the advantage as it offers both the 2.4GHz low-latency audio and the Bluetooth connectivity. This makes it perfect for using the headset on the PS5 and PC with the adapter. But then you can easily use it via Bluetooth for the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. Even the Steam Deck. In my own experiences it was overall better having the Barracuda X connected to mobile devices and handhelds via Bluetooth since there was no fiddly USB-C adapter to deal with. On the go the adapter is just one more thing to lose. And if you want a little more peace of mind then Bluetooth as an option is a nice addition.
The Barracuda X is made primarily of plastic so it isn’t necessarily built for durability. But the use of plastic does help keep the headset pretty lightweight at just 250 grams. And that lightweight build is going to be perfect for longer gaming sessions and bringing the headset with you from place to place. From my experience the breathable memory foam ear cushions also help to keep your ears comfortable while you game but they don’t cause too much heat buildup. So your ears stay cooler for longer periods of time and that adds to the overall comfort factor.
Also worth noting is that the mic is flexible so you can move it back and forth to be closer or further to your mouth. Which makes it easy to move it away if you want to take a bite of something or have a sip of water without it getting in the way. It’s also detachable on the Barracuda X so you can also just remove it entirely if you prefer.
When it comes to audio quality the Barracuda X is pretty good and delivers a good amount of bass. And this is great if you like really bass heavy audio from your gaming headsets. If you prefer something more precise with directional audio, the Barracuda might not fit your needs. It’s not bad but I have used headsets that are noticeably better both in and above this price point. So that is something to keep in mind if you want a headset that will work well for more competitive types of games like first-person and third-person shooters. Where I feel like the Barracuda X really does shine is with battery life. Razer says it lasts for up to 50 hours and I found this to be mostly accurate Getting about 47 on average.
Overall this is a solid headset in the upper entry-level spectrum of gaming headsets and for around the $80 to $100 range, this will be hard to beat due to the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity alongside good audio and good comfort.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 4 is another really solid gaming headset for around this price as it sits at $119.99. There are lots of things to love about this option. It has the ComfortMax system that debuted on the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless which is excellent for adjustability and comfort, and it offers 360-degree spatial audio which is better for directional awareness if you’re playing shooters. I also really love that it has a retractable mic instead of a detachable one because with this style of headsets for SteelSeries the mic goes flush into the left earcup. And this is great to ensure you never misplace it yet it’s almost as if it’s not there when not in use.
Additionally the Arctis Nova 4 comes with the Nova acoustic system which I feel is a tad bit better than what you get on Razer’s Barracuda X. However, it only connects via 2.4GHz and does not have Bluetooth. And while it does work with multiple platforms, the loss of that Bluetooth just makes it a little less convenient. If you don’t care about the Bluetooth connectivity then this is an excellent option around this price. But if you want the Bluetooth go with Razer’s Barracuda X.
Best Headset for Competitive Games: Logitech G Pro X 2 Lightspeed
Logitech set out to build a headset that helps you win and it succeeded
The original G Pro X Lightspeed has been one of my favorite gaming headsets that I’ve ever tested and while a tad pricey it was well worth it. The G Pro X 2 Lightspeed ups the ante with improved features and better materials that make up the components. Specifically the use of graphene drivers that provide a much more rigid consistency of the driver as it moves up and down. And that results in a more precise audio output so your sounds are as accurate as they can be when playing.
This isn’t going to matter for every single game but, if you play a lot of competitive shooters, like Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Battlefield 2042 or any other shooter out there, then this is a big deal. This is one of the best headsets I’ve tried when it comes to the output of directional audio. And if you like to play off audio cues in games, such as footsteps and enemy gunfire, these definitely make a big difference.
Outside of the audio quality, which you can enhance through the G Hub PC software by the way (and there are TONS of different settings and things to tweak), the G Pro X 2 Lightspeed has great battery life and range. These would last me upwards of 50 hours on a single charge. Which meant I could usually game with them for close to a week before needing to plug them in. Your mileage may vary based on how much you play every day or if you play every day. So that’s worth keeping in mind. The short of it is though these last a while.
These are also incredibly comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions. Logitech packs two sets of ear cushions in the box. There’s the leatherette ear cushions which are a little better for comfort in my opinion, but they can get a bit warmer after a few hours. There’s also a pair of velour cushions which are more breathable and will be the option you want to use if your ears tend to get hot. Both however are memory foam and are very comfortable in general.
These are 345 grams so when it comes to weight, this is a pretty heavy headset. And for some that might translate to fatigue during longer gaming sessions. I will say though from my experience the weight wasn’t too much of a factor and didn’t really cause them to be uncomfortable for me. The reason these are heavier though is because of the durable metal construction. The headband and ear cup hinges that make up the main frame of the headset are metal. It’s a very sturdy headset and you won’t have to worry about it accidentally snapping in half if you tend to yank your headsets off. Speaking of the hinges they’re rotatable so the earcups can lay flat when the headset is around your neck. And this makes a big difference for comfort if you slide the headset off your head for a quick break.
As with all of the other headsets these are also multi-platform so they’ll work with PC, PS4, and PS5. They unfortunately don’t work for Nintendo Switch or Xbox. So there’s one downside to these. But don’t worry as we have other options in this guide for those two platforms.
Gaming earbuds aren’t for everyone but they’ve gotten better and better over the past couple of years. And the $199 INZONE Buds from Sony are probably the newest pair out there. I’ve used these quite a bit over the past couple of weeks for gaming on my PS5 and on PC, and a little bit here and there with the Switch and mobile. They work great across all of those platforms but it is worth noting that if you’re using these via Bluetooth, the device needs to support Bluetooth LE, which the iPhone does not support. So unfortunately you can only use these on iPhone with the USB-C adapter.
When it comes to battery life it’ll vary based on your connection method. You get about 24 hours on Bluetooth or 48 hours with the included charging case. Or if you’re using the USB-C adapter that gets cut in half to 12 hours and 24 hours respectively. Comfort-wise these are pretty darn comfortable and I was able to wear them for hours without any discomfort. That being said the reason to want these really are the audio quality. The use the same drivers as Sony’s 1000-XM5 earbuds which are very good quality for sound.
They also feature spatial audio when you’re using them on PC and they support the 3D audio on PS5. So either way you get directional audio for games where that matters. And it really adds to the immersiveness of the experience. The last thing worth mentioning is that these also feature Active Noise cancellation and an ambient noise mode. So you can block everything out or let a little bit of sound in when needed. In short, they’re comfortable, sound great, and really deliver on comfort and audio on supported platforms. However, if you need something that is a little more versatile there are better options in this guide.
Best Overall Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless outshines the competition in just about every way
If you’re looking for the best overall gaming headset, then stop reading after you’ve finished reading about the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless because this is the best gaming headset on the market across the board. That isn’t to say it couldn’t be improved. But all of the good stuff outweighs the bad and it still comes out on top.
For starters, this headset is the most comfortable gaming headset I have ever worn. The super plush leatherette memory foam ear pads and the ComfortMax system SteelSeries uses on this headset make it possible for me to wear this thing all day and never get tired of it being on my head. I have worn this through multiple day-long gaming sessions with friends in Destiny 2 without breaking a sweat. And I never feel like I have had to take the headset off. It also uses a very convenient extendable adjustment system for tightness around your noggin.
Going beyond the comfort, battery life is one of the best things about this headset. Now, on a single charge the headset would only last about 20-22 hours for me. Which is ok, but not excellent. Where this headset shines is that it actually runs off of a removable, rechargeable battery. So when one dies, you can simply plug it into the base station that comes with the headset to charge the dead battery, and then pop in the charged one and get back to your audio.
The batteries are also hot swappable. And if you swap them out within about 8 seconds or less the headset won’t power down. There is a slight connection delay of a second or so to bring the audio back. But the headset stays on which is the important thing. It’s this method of charging that makes the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless unrivaled when it comes to gaming headsets. It’s neat, it’s convenient, and you literally never have to plug the headset itself into a USB-C cable.
You simply swap batteries until the end of time. When you’re done playing, just turn off the headset and hang it wherever you put your headset. Then power it up again and use it till the battery needs to be swapped and then repeat.
Now let’s talk about the base station (the DAC) that comes with the headset. This serves multiple functions. It acts as a charging station for the batteries, yes, but it also acts as your hub for all the adjustable audio settings. There’s a small touch control button and an adjustable dial for interacting with moving through the menus and settings. And the dial also controls volume. The base station is also what allows you to connect to your PC and console wirelessly with low-latency audio. I have it plugged into my PC and my PS5. But SteelSeries also makes a version that works for PC and Xbox.
Additionally, the headset has Bluetooth audio which means it can connect to your smartphone or tablet, and your Nintendo Switch. Where it gets even better is the simultaneous audio mixing from both sources. So you can hear the audio from your PS5 or Xbox and the audio from your phone at the same time. This is extremely useful for getting the game audio and having Discord or something else from your phone while you play.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the audio on the Arctis Nova Pro is really very good. And it gets much better on PC where you can use the SteelSeries GG software and tune the sound to your liking with the SteelSeries Sonar features. You can adjust all kinds of stuff on both the earcups and the with the mic. And it all leads to just an overall exceptional gaming audio experience. If you’d like to read more about the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless you can check out our full review.
Master & Dynamic isn’t your typical gaming headset company. They specialize in high-end luxury headphones. But back in 2021 the company released a gaming headset. The MG20. These are just as high-end as some of the company’s best headphones. And with that comes a luxury price tag as these are set at $449.
In most cases I wouldn’t say these are the best fit for the majority of gamers. Even those looking to spend hundreds are better off with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. But, the MG20 is still a great gaming headset. It’s one of the most comfortable pairs I’ve worn and that’s in large part due to the premium materials used in building it. The nice thing too is that these double as a really stylish high-end pair of headphones when you aren’t gaming. Which are great for travel and general day-to-day use. If you’re in the market for something high-end that can be for stuff other than gaming, these are a solid pick.
Best Mid-Range Multi-Platform Headset: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X
A high-end headset masquerading as a mid-range headset
To round out this guide we’re picking the Arctis Nova 7X from SteelSeries. Two headsets from SteelSeries in one guide and an honorable mention on top of those? Yep. And that’s because SteelSeries makes a phenomenal gaming headset. It’s currently at the top of its game with what’s released this past year. There are a lot of really good headsets out there for gaming but out of the ones we’ve tested, we felt we picked the best ones for multiple price ranges. And for around $160 (normally $180) the Arctis Nova 7X is really just too good to pass on.
Now the Arctis Nova 7X model in particular is meant for the Xbox. But SteelSeries does make a version for PlayStation called the Arctis Nova 7P, and then there’s just the regular Arctis Nova 7. So you can choose which one fits your situation. There’s a lot of really great features in this headset that trickle down from the Arctis Nova Pro wireless and that’s one of the reasons why we think it deserves to be in this guide.
While it doesn’t have the hot swappable batteries it does have a pretty long battery life at up to 38 hours on a single charge. It also has the SteelSeries Sonar software features built-in. So when you use it on PC and load up the SteelSeries GG software, you can click over to the Sonar tab and adjust all kinds of sound settings for both the ear audio and the mic audio. Things like mic monitoring are present too so you can make sure you sound your best for voice chat.
Additionally, the Arctis Nova 7X and the other two headsets in the series use the ComfortMax system. This stretchy band on the inside of the headband can notch into three different positions based on your preferred level of tension. And then you can still extend or shorten the headband length. Depending on how big or small your head is and how much you need to make the headset fit just right. Then to top it all of the ear cups will swivel and lay flat if you need them too. And this is perfect for both when you hang them up since they look nicer, and for when you slide them off your head to wear around your neck during short breaks.
The other really awesome feature that carries over is the simultaneous connection with the 2.4GHz low-latency and Bluetooth. So you can mix audio from both your game and your phone. As noted with the Arctis Nova Pro this is excellent if you want to connect the headset to your phone for voice calls or voice chat with Discord or other apps while you also hear the game audio from your console or PC. And believe me this is extremely useful.
Worth noting is that if you have an Xbox and a PlayStation console, this is the model you want to get. As this will work with Xbox and PlayStation. Whereas the PlayStation model will not work with Xbox because of the proprietary tech. All-in-all this is an excellent gaming headset for the mid-tier range. And a nice alternative to the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless if you don’t want to spend $329 but still get most of its best features.
The BlackShark V2 Pro has a lot going for it in its latest iteration. Its standout features though are definitely the really clear mic audio and the comfort. It might be a tad pricey at $199 when compared to our main pick. But it’s an excellent option if you want to spend between $20 and $40 more. Not only is it comfortable, it also has compatibility with PS4 and PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile. This is one you definitely won’t be dissatisfied with.
Researchers spotted a couple of security vulnerabilities in PureVPN Desktop clients for Linux that impact users’ privacy. While PureVPN patched one flaw, another RCE vulnerability remains unpatched.
Numerous PureVPN Vulnerabilities Affected Linux Clients
Security researchers Rafay Baloch and Muhammad Samaak discovered two different vulnerabilities when analyzing PureVPN Linux clients. In his blog post, Baloch specified the two issues as an IP leak and a remote code execution (under certain conditions).
The IP leak issue was caused by the improper handling of DNS queries by the PureVPN Linux client. Consequently, the vulnerability allowed VPN tunnel bypass, exposing the DNS queries to the ISP or the default DNS servers leaking users’ original IP addresses.
The researchers could verify this vulnerability through a simple IP leak test via Ipleak.net. As demonstrated, the original IP address from Pakistan clearly appeared in the DNS leak test despite being connected to a PureVPN server with Indian IP.
Talking to LHN, Baloch deemed this vulnerability “as severe as an RCE” because it fails to serve the entire purpose of using a VPN.
The second vulnerability is a remote code execution that existed due to how the PureVPN Linux client works. An adversary could exploit this vulnerability for malicious purposes, such as stealing credentials, bypassing app whitelists, and triggering denial of service. Describing the exact issue, the post reads,
When the login button is activated, a system call called ‘opennat()’ is initiated. This system call aims to load the ‘libnssckbi.so’ shared library file from a location that allows user-writable access… However, it is essential to note that the specified path lacks the existence of the ‘libnssckbi.so’ file. This presents a security vulnerability, potentially enabling malicious actors to execute arbitrary code by placing a file named ‘libnssckbi.so’ in the designated path.
The following video serves as a PoC for the PureVPN remote code execution flaw.
PureVPN Patched The IP Leak – But The RCE Awaits An Appropriate Fix
Upon discovering the flaws, the researchers reported the matter to PureVPN. In response, PureVPN fixed the IP leak issue but refused to address the RCE flaw.
Despite being a severe issue, exploiting the RCE flaw requires local access to the target system. Besides, analyzing the root cause of this code execution vulnerability made evident a broader issue affecting many other applications too. This vulnerability didn’t typically affect PureVPN; rather, it existed in Chromium’s Electron software framework that powers PureVPN, Google Chrome, Slack, and more, making all the apps similarly vulnerable.
That’s what PureVPN and Google Chrome highlighted in their responses to Baloch’s report. Consequently, while PureVPN put the onus of addressing the flaw on Google, the latter simply deemed the matter as out of the scope of its threat model.
However, Baloch noted that the vulnerability shouldn’t be taken lightly for a critical application like PureVPN. Commenting on his interaction with PureVPN regarding the bug disclosure, Baloch told LHN,
The response was satisfactory; however, I expected a more aggressive response given that they are a security company, and user privacy is their primary concern. The RCE has been marked as “Won’t fix.” However, especially for a VPN service that users rely on for enhanced privacy and security, this should have been addressed.
Watch Out For VPN Issues
While security vulnerabilities are always risky, they are particularly dangerous for VPN users as they directly impact users’ online privacy. Therefore, whenever such reports surface online, users must pay attention to the matter and ponder over continuing their VPN use until bug fixes.
For example, in September, AtlasVPN made it to the news for a zero-day affecting its Linux clients. While the service pledged to deliver a fix, it took them a few days to release the patch. Until then, the users remained vulnerable to exploits unless they stopped using the service.
In the case of the recently discovered PureVPN vulnerabilities, the unpatched RCE flaw isn’t as dangerous since it typically requires local access from an attacker. Nonetheless, users who cannot surely prevent unwarranted local access to their devices must remain careful about PureVPN’s use until the matter gets fixed.
Samsung‘s Galaxy A25 5G might go official sooner than expected. Following our exclusive leak last week where we revealed the phone’s official renders, the device picked up the FCC certification. It confirmed some specs, including the charging speed. Now, most of its key specs have been leaked. The new report also gives us a rough pricing structure for the phone.
Galaxy A25 5G specs leaked ahead of launch
Rumors about the Galaxy A25 5G have been around for a few months now. During this time, we saw the phone in a few benchmark listings as well. So we already have a fair idea of its specs. A new report by Appuals now gives us a round-up of all the available information, along with some additional details.
For starters, the upcoming mid-range Samsung phone will be powered by the company’s in-house Exynos 1280 processor. It’s a 5nm chipset with a peak CPU speed of 2.4GHz. The Korean firm will sell the phone in 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB memory and storage configurations. The FCC recently revealed that the Galaxy A25 5G will feature a microSD Card slot, so you can expand the storage space externally.
The phone sports a 6.5-inch display with an FHD+ resolution. It should be a Super AMOLED panel with at least a 90Hz refresh rate, if not 120Hz. As for cameras, Samsung is keeping the same 50MP primary shooter as the Galaxy A24. It’s paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro camera, and a 13MP selfie camera. The main rear camera should support OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).
The new report adds that the Galaxy A25 5G will pack a 5,000mAh battery with 25W wired charging, something the FCC certification has already confirmed. Samsung is readying the handset in Black, Blue, Silver, and Yellow colors. We have already revealed its renders in all four shades. It plans to price both storage versions of the phone between €300 and €400. If the device is sold in the US, it may start at around $300.
Samsung might unveil the new phone earlier than its predecessor
Interestingly, the report says that the Galaxy A25 5G will ship with Android 13 onboard rather than Android 14. If this is true, Samsung may be planning to launch the phone earlier than its predecessor. The Galaxy A24 debuted in April this year. While the company usually follows up with a succeeding model a year later, we don’t see the Korean firm releasing a phone with Android 13 in April 2024. We will let you know when we have more information.
OpenAI’s LLM is already insanely packed with knowledge, but the company is not stopping the pursuit of knowledge. It’s still looking for new ways that it can train its AI to bring it closer to human sentience. According to a new report, OpenAI is working with different organizations to help create new datasets to train its AI.
This is something that all AI companies are trying to do; stuff as much knowledge into their LLMs to keep up with the competition and protect their revenue (oh yeah, and maybe push AI forward). There’s a massive amount of human data floating around in these LLMs from Meta, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, X Corp, and others. However, there’s not enough for them to be satisfied.
The dream for most of these companies is to develop AGI (artificial general intelligence). When that’s achieved, an AI will basically be as smart as a human being. That’s still several years away, however.
OpenAI is looking to create new datasets to train its LLM
OpenAI is on the prowl for more information to train ChatGPT and other products. It recently began reaching out to private and public organizations for them to submit datasets. These datasets could really be about anything, according to the company. They just need to represent human knowledge. That’s pretty broad, and it shows that the company isn’t being picky about the data.
However, it is looking mostly for data in the Icelandic language. So, it looks like the company is addressing a gap in its knowledge. Representatives from public and private organizations can submit their datasets to OpenAI today.
This is all a step forward to help the company improve ChatGPT and other chatbots. It’s also a way for the company to obtain data with the consent of others. Right now, companies acquire their data by scraping websites for their data. This is something that these companies have gotten in trouble for doing.
The notorious Lockbit ransomware group has leaked a trove of data belonging to the leading global aerospace company Boeing, apparently following failed ransom negotiations.
The notorious LockBit ransomware group has struck again, and this time, its victim is aerospace giant Boeing. The ransomware gang infiltrated Boeing’s systems and stole a significant amount of sensitive data.
Timeline of the attack and data leak
On October 27, 2023, the hackers mentioned Boeing on their data leak website, and gave the firm a 2nd November deadline, revealing to have exfiltrated a tremendous amount of sensitive archive and backup data. The company was given 48 hours to contact LockBit.
On November 2nd, 2023, as reported by Hackread.com, Boeing acknowledged that it suffered a cyberattack but did not confirm whether it was a ransomware attack and if Lockbit’s claims were authentic.
Later, the group removed Boeing from its site, claiming that negotiations had started. Then, the company reappeared on November 7 with another message from LockBit stating that the company ignored warnings.
The hackers then published 4GB of data as a sample, which comprised backup files of different systems featuring an October 22 timestamp. Boeing’s continued silence on the incident prompted LockBit to release all the stolen data on their website on November 10.
This included Boeing’s IT management software’s configuration backups, and auditing/monitoring tools logs. It also included Citrix appliances’ backups, sparking speculation that the hackers might have exploited the Citrix Bleed vulnerability (CVE-2023-4966).
According to MalwareHunterTeam’s assessment, most of the exposed files are associated with a Boeing-owned aviation and aerospace parts manufacturer called Aviall.
Boeing, one of the world’s leading aerospace firms that operate defence systems and commercial aeroplanes, has confirmed the hacking, stating that it is investigating the incident to verify LockBit’s claims and “determine the scope of any potential data breach.”
The company intends to take “appropriate steps” to protect its customers and information. Boeing has also stated that the incident doesn’t threaten aircraft or flight safety.
Boeing’s services websiteis down currently. This is a developing story, and Hackread will update you about the incident when there’s some clarity about the root cause of the hacking.
The LockBit ransomware gang has been active since 2020 and claimed several high-profile victims, including DXC Technology, Accenture, and the German government, via double extortion. As per CISA’s advisory, since 2020 LockBit targeted 1,700 US firms and made around $91 millionin ransom payments.
What Experts Have to Say!
Comparitech’s head of data research, Rebecca Moody, shared an exclusive comment on this incident with Hackread.com, stating that LockBit has emerged as one of the most prevalent ransomware-as-a-service operators this year.
“LockBit has been particularly prevalent this year when it comes to the confirmed ransomware attacks we’ve tracked worldwide. So far this year, we’ve recorded 122 confirmed LockBit attacks,” Rebecca said.
Rebecca further revealed that “In 2022, we recorded 97 LockBit attacks throughout the entire year. The number of confirmed records impacted by these breaches has skyrocketed, too. In 2022, LockBit is confirmed to have stolen 957,438 records across 26 attacks (creating an average of 36,825 records per attack).”
“This year, just over 9.3 million records are confirmed to have been impacted in 20 attacks (465,194). Adding to this are the huge ransom demands being made by the cybercriminals. So far, LockBit has demanded a whopping $196.6 million in ransoms across 15 attacks alone (an average of $13.1 million per case). In 2022, $137.4 million was demanded across 18 cases (an average of $7.63 per case),” she explained.
Nevertheless, while not new to cyberattacks, when it comes to cybersecurity, it is a challenging day for Boeing. It will be crucial to see how the company responds to the situation.
Stepping ahead to enhance users’ privacy, WhatsApp improvises its call feature security by launching two new features. These features facilitate users in hiding their location during calls and block calls from unknown numbers.
WhatsApp Rolls Out Location Hiding And Spam Call Block
Earlier this year, WhatsApp launched the “Silence Unknown Callers” to let users block unknown calls. First announced in June, the new feature appears in the WhatsApp Privacy settings under the “Calls” section as a toggle on/off menu.
Enabling this feature prevents calls from unknown numbers from ringing, saving the users from unwanted interruptions. Moreover, this feature also protects users from potential cyber threats originating from malicious calls, such as social engineering and malware/spyware attacks.
Explaining this feature’s importance in a blog post, Meta stated that the loads of protocols used in calling software increase the attack surface as criminal hackers can exploit unpatched vulnerabilities for malicious purposes. At times, the target users don’t have to interact with incoming calls as the attackers trigger zero-click attacks.
Although numerous call-silencing features already exist with calling software, they merely silence the incoming calls from ringing without preventing potential bug exploits.
However, WhatsApp’s “Silence Unknown Callers” not only prevents calls from unlisted numbers but also bypasses the normal call flow. WhatsApp implements a “specialized protocol for delivering stripped-down, silenced call notifications to recipients,” protecting the recipient device from attacker-controlled data.
After successfully launching this feature, WhatsApp has introduced the location hiding feature during a WhatsApp call. Specifically, this feature hides the users’ IP addresses by relaying calls via WhatsApp servers without disturbing the usual end-to-end encryption.
However, this feature isn’t specific to WhatsApp since other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram offer call relays already. Nonetheless, it will serve as another good reason for privacy-savvy WhatsApp users to continue using the app, besides the Proxy feature rolled out in early 2023.
Last week, we gave you exclusive official renders of Samsung’s upcoming mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy A25 5G. Today, we bring you an exclusive look at another upcoming Samsung handset courtesy of our trusted, confidential source. This time, we have official renders of the company’s next rugged phone, the Galaxy Xcover 7.
Galaxy Xcover 7 exclusive official renders
Samsung’s Xcover lineup has given us some of the most durable Android smartphones over the years. The Galaxy Xcover 7 fits the bill perfectly with its rugged build. It features a sturdy frame and rear panel with a grooved design and raised corners for better grip and shock absorption. The rear panel is user-removable, which should mean a removable battery too. The battery capacity and charging speed are not known.
The phone has a single camera on the back, along with a dual-LED flash unit. The camera ring has a red accent, something we have seen on previous Xcover phones too. The same hue is also found around the customizable Xcover key on the left side. Users can set the key to execute a specific function, including opening apps, Push-to-Talk, barcode scanning, and more. The power and volume buttons are on the right side.
The Galaxy Xcover 7 has sizable display bezels, which is common on rugged smartphones. Like the rest of the specs, we don’t have details about the display size and resolution. However, Samsung should offer heightened touch sensitivity so the screen is usable with wet hands or with gloves on. Overall, we are expecting a MIL-STD-810H-compliant build quality with IP68 dust and water resistance and drop-to-concrete resistance.
It might be an affordable rugged smartphone
The Galaxy Xcover 7 will succeed Samsung’s Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro launched in June last year. While we don’t have the specs of the upcoming phone, it might not be a direct sequel to the 2022 model. The new Xcover bears the model number SM-G556B, while that of the previous-gen device is SM-G736B. Based on the Korean firm’s convention, we might be looking at the sequel to 2021’s Galaxy Xcover 5 (SM-G525F). This is perhaps why it lacks the Pro branding.
Of course, this is not set in stone yet. But if things turn out this way, the Galaxy Xcover 7 should cost less than the Galaxy Xcover 6 Pro, which debuted with a price tag of $600. A single camera on the back is another hint that the new model is a more affordable rugged smartphone. However, we will know for sure only when more details about the phone emerge. Stay tuned and we will let you know as soon as we have additional information.
Amazon patent infringements are again costing the giant retailer a sum of money. A Delaware federal court has ruled that Amazon should pay $46.7 million to Nuance Communications-owned VB Assets over violating the rights of four patents used in Amazon’s Echo smart speakers and Alexa. VB Assets says it had a meeting with Amazon in 2017 to discuss the patent rights.
VB Assets, previously known as VoiceBox Technologies, filed its lawsuit in 2019. The company then claimed it held the rights to a circular speaker that can connect to the web and answer questions with a female voice. This is similar to Amazon’s Echo speakers and Alexa voice assistant. VB Assets claims it had developed the prototypes of such a product long before Amazon announced its products.
Alexa and Echo smart speakers cost Amazon $46.7 million in a patent infringements case
The VB Assets’ prototype, dubbed “Cybermind,” already appeared in a YouTube video. In that video, someone asks a speaker, “Computer, what is the NBA schedule?” and “Computer, what is the forecast for Sunday?”. Other prompts such as “Computer, find me a good recipe for chocolate cheesecake.” are also asked from the alleged speaker. The speaker then answers the questions by finding responses on the Internet.
As per the lawsuit, VoiceBox has developed a voice assistant for Lexus cars called Alexus “that showcased the power of its conversational Voice technology.” The company now argues the Alexus concept was made public over six months before Amazon introduced its Alexa voice assistant. Additionally, VoiceBox’s founders reportedly started to add natural language processing to computer applications in 2001.
The lawsuit further adds that the VoiceBox team met with Amazon in 2011 “to explore a potential business relationship where VoiceBox Technologies would provide core [natural language understanding] services to Amazon.” Echo speakers and Alexa were launched in 2014.
The Delaware federal court ordered Amazon to pay the compensation through running royalty rather than a lump sum. While VoiceBox had previously accused Amazon of infringing six patents, the court found the retailer guilty of infringing only four patents. Amazon didn’t respond to requests for comment, but it still has time to appeal the ruling. VoiceBox can also seek reimbursement for related costs.
Samsung has released its official Android 14 update calendar for Galaxy devices. The big update, which comes with One UI 6.0, will roll out to most eligible devices before the end of the year, at least according to the current roadmap. The company may delay the update for some models if it discovers major bugs or other issues.
Android 14 will reach most Samsung phones this year
Samsung started pushing the stable Android 14-based One UI 6.0 update to its phones in late October. To be precise, the Galaxy S23 series got the update on October 30. The company has yet to release the new Android version for any other model. It appears that was the plan all along. The roadmap, posted by a Samsung Community Manager shortly after the update was released for the Galaxy S23 series, says so.
According to the official calendar, the next Galaxy devices to receive Android 14 are Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy A34 5G, and Galaxy A54 5G. Both of these devices are supposed to get the update today, November 13. As of this writing, the rollout hasn’t begun, but there’s still time. Hopefully, Samsung hasn’t delayed the update, as it did for the Galaxy S23 lineup in its home country.
Following the latest foldables and mid-rangers is the Galaxy S22 series, which should pick up Android 14 later this week. The Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 3, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy S21 FE, and all eligible A-series phones from the past couple of years are also expected to make the jump to Android version 14 this month. The remaining few devices will follow in December. You can see the full calendar below.
This roadmap may not apply globally
It’s worth mentioning that Samsung released this Android 14 update calendar specifically for Europe. The roadmap may not apply globally. Some of these devices weren’t sold in other markets, while a few phones sold in other regions never arrived in Europe. The precise release date could differ depending on the total number of eligible devices and other factors.
However, the One UI 6.0 release timeline should roughly match this calendar in most countries. Samsung appears to be planning to push the big update to most of the eligible Galaxy phones and tablets before stepping into 2024. It will begin the new year with the Galaxy S24 launch, reportedly on January 17. We will keep you posted as Samsung updates more phones to Android 14.
