Socks5Systemz Proxy Hacked 10,000+ Systems World Wide

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Socks5Systemz Proxy Hacked 10,000+ Systems World Wide
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Proxy services let users rent IP addresses and provide online anonymity by disguising their traffic as regular IP addresses while hiding the true source or origin.

Bitsight researchers recently found a new malware sample distributed by the following two loaders:-

  • PrivateLoader
  • Amadey Loader 

It installs a proxy bot called “Socks5Systemz,” on infected systems, turning them into proxies for others.

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Besides this, threat actors often use all these loaders to build botnets, and not only that, it’s been reported that the Socks5Systemz breach has led to a hack of over 10,000 systems globally.

Socks5Systemz Login page (Source - Bitsight)
Socks5Systemz Login page (Source – Bitsight)

10,000+ Systems Hacked

Samples from PrivateLoader and Amadey drop and run “previewer.exe” which handles persistence and injects the proxy bot into memory with three command line options, reads the report.

Here below, we have mentioned those three command line options:-

  • /chk: Creates an empty file named “test” in the current directory and exit
  • -i: Install loader
  • -s: Start loader

The “install” option sets up persistence by copying the loader to C:\ProgramData\ContentDWSvc\ContentDWSvc.exe and creating a Windows service named ContentDWSvc. 

If this fails, it replaces GoogleUpdate.exe, and the loader then launches the proxy bot by loading and decrypting a DLL file in memory.

The proxy bot payload is a ‘300 KB’ 32-bit DLL, which starts by saving the filename, setting system architecture, and launching the main function in a new thread. 

It generates a client ID from the Windows directory creation date and stores the infection time in C:\ProgramData\ts.dat. 

Besides this, from the following address, it downloads a PDF and saves it in the “C:\ProgramData” folder:-

  • hxxp://datasheet[.]fun/manual/avon_4_2022.pdf?<client_id>
Downloading PDF (Source - Bitsight)
Downloading PDF (Source – Bitsight)

The downloaded PDF seems unremarkable, likely serving as a telemetry tool. The bot then attempts to locate an online C2 server by computing a domain with a generation algorithm and using DNS servers for resolution.

At the moment, the following commands are supported by the bot:-

  • idle: Do nothing
  • connect: Connect to a back-connect server
  • disconnect: Disconnect from the backconnect server
  • updips: Update IP addresses allowed to send traffic
  • upduris: This command seems not to be fully implemented

The crucial “connect” command instructs the bot to create a session with a backconnect server on port 1074/TCP. It registers the bot, making it available to forward traffic for clients.

Bot receiving a connect command (Source - Bitsight)
Bot receiving a connect command (Source – Bitsight)

The bot, on port 1074/TCP, gets a unique server port for receiving client traffic. Clients must know the backconnect server’s IP the bot’s assigned TCP port, and have whitelisted IPs or login credentials to use the proxy.

Overview of how the clients can use the proxies (Source - Bitsight)
Overview of how the clients can use the proxies (Source – Bitsight)

Infrastructure

Here below, we have mentioned all the servers that made up the infrastructure of this botnet network:-

  • Proxy bot C2 servers
  • Backconnect servers
  • Custom DNS servers (hardcoded in the proxy bot samples)
  • The server used by the bots to get the online C2 server address
  • A proxy checker application

Top Affected Countries

Here below, we have mentioned the top affected countries:-

  • India
  • Brazil
  • Colombia
  • South Africa
  • Bangladesh
  • Argentina
  • Angola
  • United States
  • Suriname
  • Nigeria

IOCs

Socks5Systemz proxy bot payload

  • fee88318e738b160cae22f6c0f16c634fd16dbf11b9fb93df5d380b6427ac18f

Proxy bot loader payload

  • dc262539467bf34e5059686955d6567efadd8e21c76be51eba94737d8c326720

Packed files distributed by Amadey and PrivateLoader

  • 78efcbb0c6eb6a4c76c036adc65154b8ff028849f79d508e45babfb527cb7cfe
  • 5b45926c91fe46b12dadd3dae6afa2cf76f91a8fed7c3aefdad7f8c1faa03919
  • 189af501e84dddc5af3f7a66dcdc5095d22570abad100575ade261698d199bf3
  • 2987dc6ea8908c9e80ee5cd15ae4b91d15c48d1d31f7dbc79e01864475f33247
  • 3222778fd2f0717284dedbbda7298abf17105881147832e7a1cdbddc24747b0a
  • d99188eb6d65ecfeb7586bfb3566766fd1c68f659fbc57c7ce2bf1580452fd69
  • eaaf1823c34ea385dc3fa483a071b9a5f6122c8ab347b83da00a887ade466a0b
  • d2eafbfcd0dc07d49081b9b8324b549b08eb7aefd87ca6175046a9dd11b1d350
  • 5b3b41fcfe12f7bf5f933d8dbd5d881a3c5391ffb0a71fc313ac456afe8d7510
  • 2acfc97589dfb9f01a4ad9919b6bd73b38f391343b2e952e7dec8bfb8318bf51
  • 09f3fa5267026b2a7a698517d21dec97594cf2623388b13f0091e09ecba85ee9
  • 34a818f4223d32179c774e5cc707410d448d4e72fff148c293f453179642c8e6
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  • 99c4c0abd02e05ce83b85184d4f49853674b63d1e402e5068992aabdd35109f8
  • 116db67b886d33dc3ce3892471ea70b652539fe3436aefbc6d4771cd72748bf1
  • 1ba2ae706f2e9b938f96b1d9baa63e302eb0b93c370d6a9b8c555065f90123dd
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  • 25e34355c90e9b96478a3a316c4b3280f3254e3677bc9c10e8146efbaaf29c39
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  • 1357aed783ad4b524540bcf99d980eaeac3aa21357b696b32c412ee44b925eab
  • ebca811f9da30028f61da7eb4e4d842eec9558a0c0b9e6c172c70095cbc8f4b9
  • 37f72d7cc30ac6952775a5972e510e0f2e0163b11ac7dea1e4dc0449dd8e633a
  • 3476601196502ae5aacb48ab2a6b0b1089100c0761f563c2cdb86861bc18798d
  • 6cccc777cf4eeebb2a17f4d13732f5dfeb0f6dbf50e6b96c743f101c481a44b6
  • 8dabf008e15a4822e0a34b1a998ce3522194128dffbab0401320c6fd21fa97df
  • c02e920086d41efee570ff2aa367640d63394f1ef86bffb1ced03aafa9bebf4b
  • 8458c1237cd94a1446468c7d615df01af8ef3ffc14c1033efeb61118bf4bd3b4
  • 3b5d15ed72a7aaf60ee447fade02e82e333e09c84ccd7ceca3b3594702da0c52
  • 70b3d99e5a06e20095f2919783b8afd9077e5a9a6aed92236605d69bcf424316
  • 2f255e9658e381d9c02499c30dcb07af2c7f5691fd6e5afd8ef35f3d284429f7
  • cb346f5850a116273a9a6fc0430d99e2b2d3a1f92a1742242499d67728efba1d
  • 779bc4fda3638f8adfba674f096475dc4e663fb45c962b5120b9c285dac87fe2
  • 71f6c61bc2314ab899d3e79ffe0cf9434106ae29f760a5e076dbf826a7dfda7e
  • 4847e2d370b72b717e85f289bf9daf22a39906fa99cedc8cda584a775ba571fb
  • 0cebb8519e93f4177b4ab6d82f59643de9940ac6acdd284c3c1f23019f203120
  • ae1b4b92fd179336c88340771c8c16492b6b3f80030735d770dafeef2558861a
  • 43ec23f5477e218b33003603458503d469804ab5a05ee97541402a2b7255627a
  • 23416440ae258c4a472c5c3c07bf7659190168277f8483dcd84d24fbcb83bbd4
  • 78ab98c5b5ead97ff7d245b9603bb5edc4d59d379e492049a3a958a8e48cb945
  • 1fa58cb939e9b5d0f7f0d5c78b437f62f182b5d3658e59729fda2f28eb8746da
  • 29122127b97c0810a564fe16d87faaa9c931e0e48ecd63271af86385a652baca
  • ae9aad29ad8bf58206a14b791b0ab0c842d745495762bf3fe092ce3be1f7fb0e
  • dc0cb777651c14ef9e44cad759ce2a9688872e56d241352e23a3ab3443b03f07
  • 15f4e20fb7971cbd61a7ba4f6ca0582286ff7ca332c17b7c5eef0c023f40bab0
  • 1f8ceb6cd9e01bfe384378c5ea66de52674e188103f5e438a6029680c0b3180f
  • 2e00197cd4b002cf65fc588be7c31b0b6c46f320885eddd6b7d71c8d2f98b36b
  • 3f321b0d86d3af5f72c328b445c07c9c423b47ee3faa89bd413fdd5486019a0f
  • 2d41e76e3200255d7a11e43c6b826bef6a91cabf451c66b3b36d6826cd56fb46
  • eb5dfd6a133128a5d2c7183940639ead5e3aa33aa5ba581ce8d91ee113e4931f
  • 8466c3b28b913e7e965b083b8a3174fbe12b76ed5e9f7d4d929a51cb660e326b
  • b1ed4acd9128d49b5a619e8607cac13b33a8743e717a937c9ee9e6d963375867
  • af766ba5f46115470242fa6033f4f4ba85c82b6d5a001ebfee8482e51d793e1d

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OnePlus 12 charging speed confirmed… it’s very fast

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OnePlus 12 charging speed confirmed… it’s very fast
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The OnePlus 12 charging speed has been confirmed thanks to a Chinese regulator. This information comes from the 3C authority, which confirms that the OnePlus 12 will support 100W wired charging.

The OnePlus 12 charging speed has been confirmed was ahead of launch

That is basically the same charging speed the OnePlus 11 offers. Do note that the OnePlus 11 supports 80W wired charging in the US, but 100W charging elsewhere. Needless to say, 100W charging is immensely fast.

It can fully recharge a phone in 25 minutes, while it reaches the 50% mark in only 10 minutes. Chances are that we’ll get similar numbers with the OnePlus 12, though the phone will have a larger battery based on rumors.

50W wireless charging is also expected

The phone will ship with a charging brick. It will include an 11V/9.1A charger, to be exact, the same as the OnePlus 12. What the 3C authority did not confirm, is wireless charging. However, according to trusted sources, the phone will support 50W wireless charging too.

As a reminder, the OnePlus 11 does not support wireless charging at all. OnePlus phones did support 50W wireless charging in the past, so it seems like OnePlus is bringing it back with the OnePlus 12.

The phone will include a larger battery pack than its predecessor

The device is tipped to utilize a 5,400mAh battery, and a 6.82-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone will include a Q1 display from BOE, which was announced recently.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor will fuel the phone. You’ll also get LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage, plenty of both. Android 14 will come pre-installed on the phone, along with OnePlus’ OxygenOS skin.

It will also be more expensive than the OnePlus 11

The OnePlus 12 will look rather similar to its predecessor, at least based on CAD-based renders. The price tag is still a mystery, but the phone is expected to cost more than its predecessor.

It will come with an upgraded camera setup, larger battery, improved display, and fast wireless charging, so the price change is not that shocking. Let’s just hope it will be a small price bump only.


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Apple’s new battery technology will be ready in 2025: Report

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Apple’s new battery technology will be ready in 2025: Report
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Batteries are perhaps the most important components of the electric world we are heading towards. But despite the research going into developing new battery standards, lithium-ion has always proven to be the most viable option, even after decades. However, all this could soon change as Apple is reportedly working on a new battery technology, which could reshape the industry as early as 2025.

While reports about Apple’s looking to make its own batteries have been circulating for some time, especially in relation to the Apple car, recent information from the Korean site ETnews suggests that Apple aims to revolutionize mobile battery technology by changing key raw materials and creating a battery that surpasses existing ones significantly in terms of energy density, output, and stability.

How will this be possible?

To develop the new standard, Apple is primarily focusing on the anode and cathode materials, which play a pivotal role in determining battery performance. Additionally, the company is investing substantial resources in researching new combinations and modifications of regular materials, including nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminium, as well as the potential integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

While the exact details of the material combinations Apple plans to use for its batteries remain unclear, the company does intend to use silicon on the battery anode instead of the industry-standard graphite. This switch alone has led to a big increase in battery capacity and faster charging times. However, it is important to note that silicon’s tendency to expand under heat has proven to be a challenge for Apple.

What is the endgame?

The demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged in recent years thanks to the ongoing electric revolution. However, the technology, initially introduced in 1976, is now struggling to meet the requirements of users who expect their cars and devices to last longer. As a result, if Apple succeeds, the implications could be massive for the entire electronics industry, as battery-powered devices like iPhones will not only last longer but also support faster charging times.


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Meta working on giving Threads users control (as it should) on whether their posts are shared on FB

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Meta working on giving Threads users control (as it should) on whether their posts are shared on FB
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Currently, there is a feature of Threads and Facebook that promotes Threads posts on people’s Facebook feeds. There is no option of opting out of this though, at this time. However, now it seems Meta is going to give that rightful choice to users, reports Android Headlines. The company is working on a way to let users choose how their posts get shared (and if they want that at all).

Threads users will have control over cross-posting on other platforms


At the moment, the update isn’t available officially. The new feature will give you the ability to choose whether you want your Threads post on other Meta platforms and if so, to which platforms you’d like to show it.
Currently, Threads posts are shared on Facebook and Instagram without users’ control, and this has been going on for a while (some people weren’t even aware their Threads posts were being cross-posted). The new update will give control back where it belongs – to the users and authors of posts. The info comes from Alessandro Paluzzi, a reverse software engineer who’s correctly shown features-in-the-works before.

You’ll be able to pick between Facebook and Instagram for post sharing. This feature was found under the “Suggesting posts on other apps” section of the Threads app, according to Paluzzi.

It is unclear when this feature will be available for all the users though. However, it won’t be too long for it to come.

The cross-posting feature exists mainly for the promotion of Threads on the other more popular social media apps by the company. Understandably, not giving the option to users to decide whether or not they want their Threads posts on other platforms is, however, not the best of moves. At least now the feature to fix this is in the works and probably will come soon.


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Corrupt Police Imprisoned for Revealing Investigation Secrets

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Corrupt Police Imprisoned for Revealing Investigation Secrets
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Natalie Mottram, a 25-year-old intelligence analyst who worked for Cheshire Police and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU), has been given a prison sentence of three years and nine months for her role in a serious security breach. 

She was convicted of accessing confidential information without authorization and alerting a criminal friend about a secret international investigation into serious and organized crime. 

The investigation, called Operation Venetic, was conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and aimed to take down the encrypted communications platform EncroChat.

Mottram’s actions were exposed when a leak compromised the operation. 

She revealed vital information about the secret operation to Jonathan Kay, 39, and told him that he was under the radar of law enforcement officers.

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This treachery endangered the whole investigation, allowing criminals to escape arrest and carry on their illegal activities.

The NCA caught Mottram on June 12, 2020, after they set up a trap to confirm her involvement in the leak.

Corrupt Police Imprisoned 

Surveillance showed her cooperation with Kay and his partner, Leah Bennett, 38, in exchanging classified information. 

The evidence against Mottram included examples of her talking about sensitive case files, buying drugs, and even posing with classified documents in the background.

Mottram’s actions could have ruined Operation Venetic, a remarkable investigation that resulted in the conviction of over 1,240 offenders, recovery of 173 firearms, and seizure of nine tonnes of heroin and cocaine. 

Moreover, the operation averted more than 200 threats to life, demonstrating its significant impact on public safety.

At her sentencing, John McKeon, head of the NCA’s anti-corruption unit, stressed the importance of keeping integrity within law enforcement agencies. 

He said, “There is no place for corrupt officers in UK law enforcement, and it was vital that this investigation uncovered her betrayal.”

This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of trust and integrity within law enforcement agencies. 

Mottram’s actions not only compromised the safety of the public but also tarnished the reputation of dedicated officers working tirelessly to protect communities from organized crime. 

As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains essential to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethics within the law enforcement community to maintain public trust and safety.

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Medical research data Advarra stolen after SIM swap

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Medical research data Advarra stolen after SIM swap
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Clinical research company Advarra has reportedly been compromised after a SIM swap on one of their executives.

SIM swapping, also known as SIM jacking, is the act of illegally taking over a target’s cell phone number. This can be done in a number of ways, but one of the most common methods involves tricking the target’s phone carrier into porting the phone number to a new SIM which is under the control of the attacker.

In the case of Advarra, the ransomware group ALPHV reportedly managed to transfer the executive’s cellphone number, allowing them access to the company’s resources and copy information that the group is now threatening to sell.

Advarra entry on the ALPHV leak site

Advarra entry on the ALPHV leak site

However, Advarra isn’t willing to play ball, saying it doesn’t “pay digital terrorists”.

Advarra said it’s business as usual:

“An Advarra colleague was the victim of a compromise of their phone number. The intruder used this to access some of the employee’s accounts, including LinkedIn, as well as their work account.

We have taken containment actions to prevent further access and are investigating with third-party cyber experts. We also notified federal law enforcement. At this time we believe the matter is contained. We further believe that the intruder never had access to our clients’ or partners’ systems and it is safe to connect to Advarra’s systems. Importantly, we have no evidence that the Advarra systems and products that clients use to interface with us were compromised or accessed. At this time, our business operations have not been disrupted as a result of this activity and we continue to operate as normal. In addition, we continue to take steps to enhance the overall security of our systems in line with industry best practices.

Our investigation remains ongoing, and we will provide additional updates as appropriate.”

Octo Tempest

We recently wrote about the growing concern around criminal gang Octo Tempest. In 2022, Octo Tempest began selling SIM swaps to other criminals and performing account takeovers of high-net-worth individuals in order to steal their cryptocurrency. Since then the group has expanded its range of activities to include targeting organizations providing cable telecommunications, email, and tech services, and partnering with the ALPHV ransomware group.

So it’s quite possible that here Octo Tempest used their SIM swapping knowledge to compromise the executive’s account and use that leverage to steal information, which is now being used to extort Advarra

Even if the incident didn’t go down exactly as we think, there are a few takeaways:

  • Social engineering has shown time and again to be the most reliable tool for cybercriminals. It can even hurt companies with enterprise grade security.
  • The security of your private accounts matters to the company you work for. A breach of one of your accounts can provide an entrance to your employer.
  • SIM swapping is one of the reasons why some forms of MFA are better than others. Spoiler alert: text messages and call-based verification are not the best options.

How to avoid ransomware

  • Block common forms of entry. Create a plan for patching vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems quickly; and disable or harden remote access like RDP and VPNs.
  • Prevent intrusions. Stop threats early before they can even infiltrate or infect your endpoints. Use endpoint security software that can prevent exploits and malware used to deliver ransomware.
  • Detect intrusions. Make it harder for intruders to operate inside your organization by segmenting networks and assigning access rights prudently. Use EDR or MDR to detect unusual activity before an attack occurs.
  • Stop malicious encryption. Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response software like Malwarebytes EDR that uses multiple different detection techniques to identify ransomware, and ransomware rollback to restore damaged system files.
  • Create offsite, offline backups. Keep backups offsite and offline, beyond the reach of attackers. Test them regularly to make sure you can restore essential business functions swiftly.
  • Don’t get attacked twice. Once you’ve isolated the outbreak and stopped the first attack, you must remove every trace of the attackers, their malware, their tools, and their methods of entry, to avoid being attacked again.

Malwarebytes Managed Detection and Response (MDR) simply and effectively closes your security resources gap, reduces your risk of unknown threats, and increases your security efficiency exponentially. Malwarebytes MDR staffs highly experienced Tier 2 and Tier 3 analysts who are hands-on with customer endpoints, ensuring critical threats are quickly identified and a thorough response is rapidly deployed.

Want to learn more about MDR? Get a free trial below.


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OnePlus 12 may skip Sony LYT-900 camera sensor after all

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OnePlus 12 may skip Sony LYT-900 camera sensor after all
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The OnePlus 12 won’t use the Sony LYT-900 sensor after all, at least based on a new rumor. This information comes from Yogesh Brar, a tipster. The device was expected to use the best Sony has to offer, but it seems like that won’t happen.

The OnePlus 12 possibly won’t use the Sony LYT-900 sensor after all

OnePlus did announce a partnership with Sony recently, where it was confirmed that a Sony LYTIA sensor will be used. Many people expected the Sony LYT-900 sensor to be used, which is considered to be the most powerful one in Sony’s lineup.

Based on this rumor, that will not happen, however. The OnePlus 12 will allegedly use the same main camera sensor as the OnePlus Open. In other words, the phone will utilize the Sony LYT-808 sensor.

Now, that is also a ‘Pixel Stacked’ CMOS sensor, and a very powerful sensor at the same time. Not many people will complain about it, but the phone was not expected to utilize that very same camera.

The Sony LYT-808 is also a very powerful camera sensor

To those of you keeping count, that is a 48-megapixel camera sensor. If it ends up having the same lens as the OnePlus Open, we’ll get an f/1.7 aperture lens. OIS is supported, while a 1.12um pixel size will be included, and multi-directional PDAF.

Why did OnePlus give up on a different camera sensor? Well, the tipster claims that OnePlus wants to get things right straight from the box this time around. In the past, the company’s flagships required several updates to tune the camera just right. Well, OnePlus seemingly wants to get everything ready out of the box this time around.

The OnePlus 12 is still expected to arrive in January next year. There’s a slight chance that OnePlus could announce it in December, as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 arrived sooner than expected.

It remains to be seen if OnePlus will once again launch its flagship in China first, or will we see a proper global launch from the get-go.


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Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot “loves sarcasm”

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Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot “loves sarcasm”
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AI chatbots are now on many social media platforms and Elon Musk’s Grok is preparing to arrive on X. The billionaire and owner of the X social media platform says that his new AI chatbot “loves sarcasm” and this becomes obvious in the way it responds to requests. Some users on the social media platform already have access to this feature and are putting it to the test.

This AI chatbot rolled out to X about a day ago, and Elon Musk sang its praises on the platform. In his post after its launch, Elon said “Grok has real-time access to info via the X platform.” According to the billionaire, this is a “massive advantage over other models” but this is just a mere claim without proper testing.

Users of the X platform will be able to put this AI chatbot to use as they search for what’s trending on the platform. With access to information millions of X’s users are spreading on the platform, the AI chatbot can figure things out and give responses to questions. You might already be asking yourself what good can come out of a bit of sarcasm from one of the most feared technologies in the world.

If you aren’t a big fan of sarcasm, the new Grok AI chatbot might not appeal to you

With the constant abuse of various AI technologies around the world, there’s a need for regulations. During the UK AI Safety Summit, Elon Musk had a few solid ideas regarding AI technologies. The billionaire hopes that more measures can be put in place to limit the abuse of these technologies.

Only a few days after the AI Safety Summit, Elon Musk heads over to X to launch his own AI chatbot. This isn’t the first time that Elon Musk has put his eyes out for AI technologies. Elon was one of the investors in OpenAI and he’s now preparing to give ChatGPT a run for its money on the X platform.

Back in July, the team behind Grok’s development was born. Now just about three months later, the team is out with the AI chatbot product which will be in use on the X platform. While this AI chatbot aims to help users find facts on the X platform, it does so in a sarcastic manner.

Some examples of the sarcasticness of this new AI technology model have already hit the internet. While this new feature is still in beta testing and not available to all X users, details on it are available. It is good to note that this chatbot will be built into the X app and might become available as a standalone app after its official release.

Regardless of the sarcasm or source of information, there are some concerns about this new chatbot. These might lie within the accuracy of information the Grok AI chatbot provides, as well as its manner of conversation. While it’s too early to criticize this new chatbot for the X app, netizens are itching to see what it offers.


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Google Password Manager’s revamp might be on the horizon

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Google Password Manager’s revamp might be on the horizon
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Managing all the passwords for various websites, apps, and social media platforms can be a real headache. That is why services designed to streamline this process are incredibly useful. Take Google, for example, with its Google Password Manager. While the tech giant is eyeing Passkeys as the default sign-in method for personal accounts, it seems a fresh design is in the works for its Password Manager.Detailed by the unofficial Google News Telegram group (via Android Police), the redesign involves breaking down the Password Manager’s core features into three tabs located in the bottom navigation bar—Passwords, Checkup, and Settings.

In its current form, the Checkup and Settings buttons are found on the main/home page of Google Password Manager. There is also a subtle tweak to the Search bar, now featuring an “Add password” button instead of the “+” present in the current version of Password Manager.

Google’s Password Manager has seen several updates for mobile and desktop users in the past year. Some nifty features include the ability to alert users when saved passwords have been compromised in a data breach or prompt password changes for those that are reused or considered weak.

The exact rollout date for this redesigned Password Manager remains unclear, but it could be part of a forthcoming app update since the changes align with Google’s Material Design 3 guidelines.

Material You 3, Google’s latest open-source design system unveiled at Google I/O 2023, is already integrated into various apps and products. For instance, WhatsApp is experimenting with Material Design tweaks on Android to align its appearance more closely with its iOS app.

With the introduction of Android 14, Google wanted to provide users with even more customization options for their phones. For example, paired with Material You 3, the color palette of your Android system will automatically synchronize with the wallpaper you have chosen.


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Canada Bans Kaspersky, WeChat On Govt. Devices For Spying

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Canada Bans Kaspersky, WeChat On Govt. Devices For Spying
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The Government of Canada officially bans using WeChat and Kaspersky apps on government devices, citing privacy risks. Users can no longer download the apps on government-issued mobile devices.

Canada Bans Kaspersky And WeChat

According to a recent press release from the Government of Canada, the authorities now prohibit using Kaspersky and WeChat applications on government-issued devices.

Specifically, Canada not only bans Kaspersky and WeChat but also removes the two applications from all devices where they are found installed, barring users from downloading these apps in the future.

The Canadian government took this decision after detecting potential privacy and security risks with these apps. They suspect that the apps gather device data by gaining “considerable access” to the contents, particularly when installed on mobile devices.

The ban went into effect on October 30, 2023 – the same day the Canadian Government announced this step. This urgency suggests the severity of the threat level the authorities suspect. Nonetheless, they assured the security and integrity of the Government of Canada’s networks, systems, and data.

While this ban typically applies to Canadian government officials, the state advises the public to remain cautious regarding their security.

Kaspersky Expresses “Disappointment” Over Canada’s Ban

Responding to the recent bans from Canada, Kaspersky issued a detailed statement expressing its disappointment. The firm debunked the claims regarding espionage and its possible link with the Russian government. Also, it deemed this step as a “response to the geopolitical climate” instead of a security measure.

As there has been no evidence or due process to otherwise justify these actions, they are highly unsupported and a response to the geopolitical climate rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the integrity of Kaspersky’s products and services.

WeChat is a popular messaging app from the Chinese firm Tencent, whereas Kaspersky is a Russian anti-malware service from the cybersecurity provider Kaspersky Lab. While both these apps seem legit, they often face backlash from the US, UK, and European countries for suspected state-backed espionage.

For instance, in 2020, the US Department of Commerce banned WeChat and TikTok (another popular social media app of Chinese origin) transactions, citing security concerns. Even before that, in 2017, the US government banned the use of Kaspersky Lab products on government systems. However, both services have almost always refuted such claims, assuring their private existence.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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