The Ballistic Bobcat is an Iran-aligned APT group, and initially, about two years ago, cybersecurity researchers at ESET tracked this threat group. Here below, we have mentioned all the other names of the Ballistic Bobcat APT group:-
APT35
APT42
Charming Kitten
TA453
PHOSPHORUS
Recently, cybersecurity analysts at ESET found a new Ballistic Bobcat campaign, Sponsor Malware, via which threat actors are actively targeting several entities in:-
Brazil
Israel
The United Arab Emirates
Security experts uncover Sponsor, a new backdoor deployed by the Ballistic Bobcat APT group, from an interesting sample on an Israeli victim’s system in May 2022.
Timeline & Victimology
During the pandemic, it actively targeted COVID-19-related organizations globally, including WHO and Gilead.
Ballistic Bobcat and Sponsor backdoor campaigns overlap, revealing a clear pattern in tool development. Four more versions of Sponsor were found, deployed in Brazil, Israel, and the UAE, targeting 34 victims.
Here in the below image, the complete timeline is given:-
Timeline (Source – WeLiveSecurity)
Ballistic Bobcat exploited Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities, often opportunistically, in a campaign named “Sponsoring Access.”
Sponsor backdoor employs innocuous configuration files and a modular approach to evade scans, a tactic frequently used by Ballistic Bobcat for over two years, alongside open-source tools on compromised systems.
Besides this, among the 34 victims, the maximum number of them were located in Israel, while only two of the victims were from other countries:-
Brazil, at a medical cooperative and health insurance operators United Arab Emirates, at an unidentified organization
Verticals targeted in Israel
Here below, we have mentioned all the verticals that were targeted in Israel:-
Automotive
Communications
Engineering
Financial services
Healthcare
Insurance
Law
Manufacturing
Retail
Technology
Telecommunications
Moreover, security analysts discovered that Ballistic Bobcat hit an Israeli insurance marketplace in August 2021 by exploiting the CISA’s reported tools and found the following IOCs:-
MicrosoftOutlookUpdateSchedule
MicrosoftOutlookUpdateSchedule.xml
GoogleChangeManagement
GoogleChangeManagement.xml
In the Sponsoring Access campaign, several open-source tools were used by the operators of Ballistic Bobcat, and here’s the full list:-
Sponsor backdoors in C++ include compilation timestamps, PDB paths, and version info for tracking changes. While the Sponsor collects host info, sends it to the C&C server, and records the node ID in node.txt.
Ballistic Bobcat piggybacked on PowerLess C&C and introduced a new server, using multiple IPs for tools, which are now inactive.
OnePlus has been known to troll its competitors on their big day. From trolling Samsung during the Unpacked event back in February, talking about how expensive the Galaxy S23 Ultra was, compared to the OnePlus 11. Now, OnePlus is at it again, ahead of the Apple event, which is set to get going in a little over an hour.
OnePlus posted on X and Threads, saying “Guess who introduced USB-C to flagship phones in 2015?” and then has a screenshot of their original Twitter post about the OnePlus 2 having USB-C. This was way back in June 2015, so they had to dig for a bit to find it.
Of course, USB-C is not new to Android users, and honestly, it’s not even new to Apple users. Since the MacBook and iPad all use USB-C and have for quite some time. And just about every Android phone released over the last four or more years, have used USB-C. But it’s still a big day for Apple and the iPhone 15, since Apple really only changes ports about every 10 years.
The USB-C iPhone is coming today!
Obviously, a big reason why the iPhone is going USB-C is because of the European Union forcing them too. Though, Apple has been working on a USB-C iPhone for many years, and even when they announced lightning on the iPhone 5, they said it was for the next “10 years”. Which was in 2012, it’s now been 11 years, so it’s definitely time.
Getting USB-C on the iPhone is going to be huge for carrying only one cable when you travel. As you’ll be able to charge your laptop, tablet and phone, no matter the brands, with the same cable. This was the originally promised future of USB-C many years ago. And it’s finally starting to come to fruition in 2023.
In a recent update, Jean-Francois Baril announced the coming of the HMD smartphone brand. This new brand will kick off HMD’s partnership with partners that’ll help in the development process of these coming smartphones. From the official statement from the CEO of HMD, it is clear that this new brand will launch affordable and sustainable smartphones.
So it is safe to see this coming brand launch mid-range devices to compete with other brands in the smartphone industry. In the area of sustainability, HMD aims to make these coming devices repairable and upgradeable. This means that those who will purchase these HMD devices will receive steady software and security upgrades.
Another impressive feature of these devices will be the fact that they’ll support a 5G connection. This will stay true to HMD’s reputation of being the fastest-growing 5G smartphone manufacturer year-on-year. Well, this coming HMD smartphone brand might raise questions in users’ minds regarding Nokia and their devices.
The coming HMD smartphone brand will not bring an end to the Nokia partnership
With this new smartphone brand, HMD aims to focus on customer needs. To this aim, they’d ensure to make the devices from this brand not only affordable but also very sustainable. From available information regarding this coming brand, it is clear that it will be a bit similar to the Nokia brand.
Already HMD is the home of Nokia phones, and it has held this title for over six years. During this period, the company has been able to make Nokia a household name in certain regions. Not only are Nokia devices affordable, but they are also very sustainable.
Nokia’s devices are sure to get about two years of software and security updates.
These devices from Nokia are also very repairable and are built to last a long time. In terms of software, Nokia devices run on a stock Android with no bloatware and a ton of security features. For these reasons, lots of people have chosen to go with Nokia smartphones in place of other more expensive or similarly priced options.
The coming HMD smartphone brand might also stick to this line of operation. However, the birth of this brand will not end the HMD and Nokia partnership that has given fans lots of impressive devices over the past six years. Both brands will exist together and help strengthen HMD’s ever-growing presence in Europe and other parts of the world.
With a focus on affordability, there might not be a flagship device coming from this new brand. More details on the HMD smartphone brand will become available in the coming months. Will you be happy to try out a device from the HMD smartphone brand once available?
Yeedi has quickly established itself as one of the better brands of robot vacuums, and the company is back with its latest product, the Yeedi Cube. It’s Yeedi’s most advanced robot vacuum to date and comes with quite a few upgrades over past models.
Like a self-washing feature to clean the mopping pad after use, and even a drying unit to ensure that the wet pad doesn’t get moldy and create unpleasant smells. It’s these little quality of life changes that really aim to put the experience of using the Yeedi Cube over the top. You could easily just take off the mop mat yourself and wash it. And with plenty of robot vacuums, that’s what you do. But having the base do this task for you adds a level of convenience that’s quite honestly, really nice to have. Though to be clear, you may still want to give it a proper wash every once in a while. I’d say every couple of weeks.
These are of course, just a couple of the many things about the Yeedi Cube that are worth discussing. And in our time with it for review, it’s been a big help in keeping the apartment cleaner. With all of that said, let’s dive in and take a look at everything the Yeedi Cube has to offer. Not to mention how it performs overall. Is it worth the money and should you consider buying one? We go into all of that in this review.
The Yeedi Cube has a big focus on being hands-free
Convenience is the cornerstone of any robot vacuum. But not all robot vacuums are created equal in this way. Some are much more convenient than others. And from personal testing, the Yeedi Cub is very, very high on the list of available options out there today. Right from the start Yeedi makes things convenient with even something as simple as the packaging. The box that everything came in was quite big, but it wasn’t overly secured with packing tape to keep everything sealed up.
Instead, Yeedi put together this thoughtful setup where the box had this pull tab at one end. You yank it across to the other side and voila. The box is now unsealed and you don’t have to mess with any tape. This also feels more sustainable and that deserves to be applauded. It was just a nice, easy way to get into the packaging that you don’t see too often.
Beyond the packaging, there are other instances of convenience with the unit. Sure everything was packed up nice and neat and as efficiently as possible. But everything was also labeled so you knew exactly which pieces were what and where they go. For example, the edge brushes are color-coded. One is green and one is red, and these correspond to their placement on the underside of the vacuum. They were also separated this way in the box. Yeedi also had tiny stickers over all the sensors to ensure safe packing and to prevent damage. Again, thoughtful packaging here. These are little things, but they add up.
The carry handle is probably the best design choice of any vacuum I’ve seen
The carry handle is one of the better design choices I’ve seen on any robot vacuum. If you think about these vacuums and their size, they’re both relatively small and at the same time, annoying to carry around to a new location if you’re doing spot cleaning. Or if you need to carry it up or down the stairs should you live in a multi-story home. Not with the Yeedi Cube. Instead, Yeedi provided the carry handle. This serves two purposes.
Firstly, it’s an easy way to grab and pull out the water tank. Which secures into the top of the vacuum. There’s also this little latch at the front of it. You push the latch button back and simultaneously pull the handle up. The water tank comes right out. On a past Yeedi vacuum I tried, the water tank was in the back. Not necessarily complicated to get to, but certainly less convenient than this.
Secondly, the handle is your way to pick the vacuum up and carry it around for any reason at all. Sometimes during testing the vacuum would get stuck on things. I had forgotten some stuff was hiding under one of the couches and needed to pull the vacuum out. Thanks to the handle this was much easier to do. Of course more commonly, you will likely use the handle to pick the vacuum up and transfer it to another part of the home. Yeedi intended this to be used for spot cleaning and moving it up or down to different floors. And trust me, this is going to make having a robot vacuum in a multi-floor home way easier.
The self-emptying features are the epitome of convenience
For more than a year my main vacuum was Yeedi’s Vac Station. Which came with a self-emptying dust bin and I thought to myself, “this is the best thing ever.” Well, it turns out that it’s not the best thing ever. Because the best thing ever with regards to a robot vacuum is the new omni station that comes with the Yeedi Cube. Not only does it have a self-emptying dust bin, but it has a self-emptying water tank.
If you set the vacuum to vacuum and mop modes, the Yeedi Cube will make its way around your home, sucking up dust and debris and mopping the floors with water from the tank. After 20 minutes or so it’ll go back to the omni station and empty the water tank into the dirty water container. The omni station just sucks it right up. And it’s fantastic. My only complaint is that 20 min. is the max time before emptying. With the dust bin, the vacuum will simply finish the entire clean first.
Now, you’ll eventually have to empty the dirty water container. So you could argue that this is the same as just emptying the tank from the get-go. But it’s not. Because there’s enough water in the vacuum’s tank to do multiple mopping sessions. And this way you’re only emptying the dirty water container when absolutely necessary. I do it every few cleanings as that’s when the container starts to get close to full. The dust bag meanwhile doesn’t need to be replaced until about two months later. However, the vacuum only comes with the one bag. So you will probably want to buy more right away and just have them ready for when you need them.
Don’t worry about odors and mold on the mop pad
Honestly, this is one of the more ingenious ideas Yeedi had for this unit. I can only imagine the eventual smells that could come from the mop pad after multiple days or weeks of use. Even if you did wash the pad semi-regularly. That doesn’t really have to be a concern with the Yeedi Cube.
Because the omni station has a self-cleaning scrubber. Whenever the vacuum wheels itself back into position at the omni station, it does so where the mop pad fits right over this little scrubber. After every single mop session, the scrubber goes to work to clean the mop pad. And to prevent odors or mold, the omni station also includes a self-drying feature. Once the scrubbing is done, the hot air dryer kicks in and gets up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) to dry the pad off. This way the water from the mopping session and the scrubbing don’t set in and get that old musty water smell.
If you notice a slight whirring noise from the omni station after the vacuum goes back to charge, after the emptying of the water tank and the dust bin, and after the scrubber has done its job, that’s the hot air dryer. I found this all works reasonably well together and it just makes general maintenance and care of the vacuum and its parts a lot simpler to deal with. It means less things for you to clean overall. And I don’t know how I will ever go back.
The battery seems to last longer than past Yeedi vacuums
Like any other robot vacuum, the Yeedi Cube has an internal battery. So it won’t last forever and will eventually have to recharge. But, the battery does seem to last longer than the last two robot vacuums I used from Yeedi. The Vac Max and the Vac Station.
I mean it’s going to charge at the end of every single cleaning sessions regardless. So really, there’s not much to worry about in this area. It will always be charged the next time you clean. But the important take away is that because the battery seems to last longer, it can keep the Yeedi Cube cleaning longer before it goes back to the omni station to charge. And that means I can be assured that the floors throughout the apartment will be cleaned before that happens.
Even if I have to send it through on another pass. For those with larger spaces, like multi-floor or single-floor homes, I can’t guarantee the vacuum will last for multiple passes but it should have no issue cleaning the entire home at least once. Naturally this will depend on how big your home or apartment is. If it’s a few thousand square feet, the Yeedi Cube may need to charge and resume cleaning. But average-sized homes or apartments shouldn’t have to worry about this at all. As it wasn’t a big issue for me personally.
Setting things up was super simple with the app
My only reservation with robot vacuums a lot of the time comes down to the app. Even if the vacuums perform only to mediocre standards, chances are they’re still good to have around when you don’t want to vacuum yourself. Because it’s better than not vacuuming at all. Where the experience I feel like can be downgraded is if the app is just not good. The Yeedi companion app is the exact opposite of that. It’s a really well-made and well-designed app that’s easy to use and that makes a huge difference.
It took maybe two minutes to connect the Yeedi Cube and have everything ready to go. From there, you can customize your clean with different parameters. This includes whether or not you want to have the Yeedi Cube vacuum only or vacuum and mop. You can also change the level of water used and how much suction there is during cleans. Additionally, the app lets you set up scheduled cleanings (which I think could be better), and wall off rooms.
There’s a lot of control here and it makes using the Yeedi Cube that much better. In particular, one of my favorite features is the ability to designate sections of the home that you don’t want the vacuum to go into. I live in a three-bedroom apartment and two of those rooms I wall off regularly. The Yeedi Cube stays out of them entirely and just goes about cleaning the rest of the place. Simple pinch and expand gestures in the app will make the area larger or smaller too. Then you just hit save and the closed off section will stay there till you remove it.
You can even use the app to manually do a wash or dry of the mop pad if you just feel like doing it an extra time. What’s more, is that you can set up scheduled drying and washing times. And there’s a toggle for auto-empty too if you want to disable it. Whatever you need seems to be there. As Yeedi appears to have thought of everything.
Got pets? It’s not a problem for the Yeedi Cube
One thing I was glad to have but less impressed with on past Yeedi Vacuums was how it cleaned up pet hair. It’s important to note that this was mostly limited to a very low pile rug we have in the kitchen. Which just seems to grab onto pet hair and never let go. And I almost always had to go over the rug multiple times to get most of it. And even then, there was still some left and if I wanted it as clean as possible, I’d need to run over it with our standard vacuum.
The Yeedi Cube however, appears to pull up more of this pet hair from the same rug than the last two Yeedi Vacuums I used. And that’s an amazing feeling because it means I can let the Yeedi Cube do most of the vacuuming throughout the apartment. I still vacuum some small parts of my bedroom because I need to move things about to get everywhere. But the Yeedi Cube handles everything else.
Now, it doesn’t get all the hair off that one rug. But it does the best job so far and I’m overall happy with the results. And again, I think this is more of an issue with the rug than the vacuum. While my standard push vacuum does clean the hair better, the Yeedi Cube does a great job on the hardwood, the carpets, and other rugs in the apartment. Overall there’s no disappointment here. If you’re worried about pet hair, you shouldn’t be. The Yeedi Cube likely won’t have any problems cleaning it up.
Scheduled cleanings didn’t work as well as I’d hoped at first
Scheduled cleanings are an awesome feature. Normally. They allow you to configure the vacuum to clean the home at the same time everyday. This way you don’t even have to think about starting the clean.
Nearly everything becomes automated with this. So all you have to do is empty the tanks and dust bin from time to time. Except that isn’t what happened with my experience. Half the time the scheduled cleans just never initiated. The other half were fine. On at least one occasion I had to change the scheduled cleaning time to get it to start. Although the next day it once again skipped my designated cleaning time.
There is good and bad news with this. The bad news is that it’s possible others may run into this issue. The good news is that this is a bug with the app and Yeedi confirms it will be fixed in a future update to it. There’s also a way to fix the problem in a roundabout way. You just have to go back into the time zone section under the vacuum’s settings and in the “About Vacuum” section, and switch the time zone to something else, then save, and then back to your actual time zone again and save once more. This fixed the issue for me and it now starts cleaning on time with scheduled sessions.
The carpet detection helps prevent wet carpets
Having an all-in-one mopping and vacuuming robot vacuum means it does both jobs at once. And that’s great. Unless it mops your carpets and rugs too and gets them soaked or damp.
One feature I really appreciate is that Yeedi Cube was designed to prevent this. There’s a feature in the advanced settings of the app where you can set the vacuum to avoid carpets altogether. If you want to. Although we don’t know why you would since you’d just have to vacuum those yourself.
But you can also choose the “Across carpets” option for the carpet detection avoidance mode. And this allows the vacuum to go across carpets to complete the clean, but also lift the mop pad and only vacuum in those areas. So in short, if it detects carpet or rugs, the mop pad will lift up, it will stop mopping, and only vacuum. This way your carpets don’t get soaked. This one thing I was worried about when I first started using the vacuum and I’m overjoyed that this was baked in.
The omni station takes up less space than you’d think
I will admit I was a little worried about the size of the omni station at first. Because it does take up more space than the last Yeedi vacuum I had. And that’s understandable considering all the extra tech and features. Surprisingly however, it doesn’t take up that much extra space. And in fact it’s the smallest omni station on the market. Other robot vacuums are either taller, wider, or both. And this is great because it means you can more easily fit it into your own home’s unique space. For smaller apartments especially this will be a nice surprise.
Even if the space factor isn’t a big deal to you, trust me when I say you’ll be happy the omni station isn’t some large hulking mass of plastic. It’s still relatively compact and can be tucked in a corner so long as there’s room for the vacuum to get out and do its job.
Should you buy the Yeedi Cube?
Personally, I think anyone looking for a capable robot vacuum that does more than just vacuum should consider the Yeedi Cube. It’s not the only option with features such as integrated mopping and self-emptying bins and water tanks. But it does offer these things at a lower price than some competitors and does just as good of a job at cleaning. There’s also just too many nice convenience features to overlook the Yeedi Cube.
The carry handle, the mop pad scrubber and hot air dryer, and the omni station’s dirty water tank and dust bag are all excellent features. And then little things like the lifting mop pad when going over carpets really just turns things up a notch. And as silly as it may sound, I think the carry handle is the best part. Robot vacuums are small compared to regular vacuums. And chances are they’re lighter than many of them too. But it’s still a pain to move them between floors for a full clean or to just different rooms if you’re doing spot cleaning. The carry handle makes this a breeze.
But at the end of the day, only you can decide if the Yeedi Cube is right for you. We do think it’s worth it though.
Buy the Yeedi Cube if:
– You want a robot vacuum with a mopping feature
– You value convenience
– The self-empty and self-cleaning features are desirable to you
Today, September 12, 2023, starts one of the biggest tech trials to date. DOJ (Department of Justice) has raised a lawsuit against Google. One expert actually referred to this trial as the “antitrust trial of the century”. This is basically a major tech monopoly trial, as the US will try to take control. This is a trial against Google, but many other companies are a part of the equation. In this article, we’ll go a bit deeper on what exactly is going on, and will keep you up to speed on the proceedings. This trial could go on for quite some time, so get ready.
Why is it happening?
Why did the Department of Justice raise an antitrust lawsuit against Google? Well, the DOJ will try to prove that Google violated anti-monopoly law. Google has a number of exclusive agreements with smartphone manufacturers and browser makers, which make its search engine default for consumers. Yes, Google pays Apple and other companies to keep things the way it is. DOJ will argue that those deals are freezing out competitors, basically. Google, of course, disagrees, and claims the market is wide open.
What is Google’s stance?
Google believes there’s no wrongdoing here. The company says that using Google is not mandatory on any smartphone, and that all of this is by choice. That the arrangement it has with companies is perfectly legal. People can choose different web search engines at any time, nothing is stopping them. They choose to use Google.
Who exactly is suing Google?
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is behind this lawsuit, but that’s not the whole story. The DOJ is in coalition with 39 states from the US. In other words, this is a huge case, and something that will be in the focus of the public until it’s over.
How dominant is Google?
Google holds about 88% of the domestic (the US) search market, based on the Public Data Sources. The rest falls on Bing, DuckDuckGo, and others. In other words, Google is very dominant in that regard. The company also has over 70% of the US search advertising market, the ads you see when you search.
The US vs Big Tech?
Many see this trial as the US vs Big Tech trial. Why? Well, it will kind of show whether the US has the legal authority to take some control from the big tech companies, essentially. Big tech companies basically control how we access information these days, and this trial will show whether the US can take some control away from them. It may not have legal grounds to do so, we’ll have to wait and see.
DOJ hopes to be more successful than the FTC
FTC (Federal Trade Commission) tried to block a number of acquisitions for Big Tech, but it failed to do so. FTC tried to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, which is a monstrous $69 billion deal. The same happened with Meta’s Within deal, and more. Analysts do believe this is a whole different ballpark, though, and that the DOJ has a case here.
When did this all start?
This lawsuit originates from 2020, back when the Trump Administration was in control. Two separate complaints are actually in question here, but in time, they became a single case that is presented here. Back in 2020, the DOJ and dozens of states accused Google of its dominance in online search. They alleged that Google is harming the competition by making deals with wireless carriers and smartphone makers. They alleged that those deals made Google Search the default or exclusive option for people.
We’ve seen semi-similar lawsuits in the past
This course of events will seem familiar to the older generations. Every 20 years or so, the DOJ decides to take on the dominant force(s) in the tech industry. DOJ did that with IBM at the end of the 1960s, and then it was Microsoft’s turn at the end of the 1990s. Granted, many see this as a much bigger case than those were, and they’re probably right. It is worth noting that DOJ lost both of those cases, as IBM and Microsoft won. The thing is, those cases did affect both companies in a rather negative way, and they did lose their momentum in the process.
What’s at stake for Google?
What’s at stake for Google here? Well, experts don’t see the outcome of this trial as the main problem, believe it or not. They see the trial’s existence as a huge problem as it is. As already mentioned, both IBM and Microsoft lost their momentum during their trials, and the same could happen to Google. This, of course, is an entirely different case decades after the first two, so… we’ll see. There are many outcomes to this. If Google loses the case, things could become really problematic. The outcome will affect not only Google, but many other companies included in the process. Including Apple, Mozilla, and more.
What’s Google’s plan of defense?
Google considers this case to be “deeply flawed”. The company laid out its plan of defense quite recently, actually. It was laid out by the company’s president of global affairs, Kent Walker. Google will argue that its distribution agreements haven’t harmed the competition for search. Google also plans to mention Amazon and some other companies for simple reasons. Around 60% of users start their product searches on Amazon, in the US. The company will make sure to point out that browser and device makers choose Google amongst the competition, and that their choice is “based on the quality of products” Google offers. Walker also pointed out that Google isn’t the only company that pays for prominent placement on browsers.
Another point that Google plans to make is that Google’s payments to device makers and carriers to promote its search product and browser are just marketing, simple marketing. Consumers can easily change their search engines should they choose to do so, Google is not preventing them or anything like that. Several other details have been highlighted by Walker, but this is the gist of things.
How long will the trial last?
The trial is expected to last around two months. The exact dates have not been predicted, of course. Following the trial, appeals will be a possibility, of course. Either side will have the option to file an appeal on the outcome.
More than a week after Disney pulled the plug on its 25 channels for Charter Spectrum users due to a major contract dispute, the two companies have finally reached an agreement.
The crux of the matter
The dispute began when Charter Spectrum, in an effort to control costs, decided to renegotiate its deal with Disney, which would provide access to Disney’s ad-supported streaming services, such as Disney+ and ESPN+, without any additional charges. Although both companies eventually agreed on the financial aspects, they couldn’t come to terms regarding the streaming conditions, ultimately leading Disney to remove all its channels.
However, despite the issue, Disney took steps to ensure that its content remained accessible to viewers. This included introducing a special promotional offer for Hulu + Live TV, available at a discounted rate of $50 per month for three months, down from the regular $70.
What does the new agreement include?
This new agreement aims to address most of these concerns and also offers exclusive benefits to Spectrum users. These benefits include access to the highly-anticipated standalone ESPN streaming service, set to launch in the near future, and access to Disney+’s ad-supported basic tier for Spectrum TV Select subscribers. Additionally, for Spectrum TV Select Plus plan subscribers, the agreement includes access to ESPN+ as part of their package.
Furthermore, this deal will bring back 19 networks, including ABC-owned stations such as the Disney Channel, FX, and the Nat Geo Channel. However, it’s important to note that while many previously available channels have returned, some channels like Baby TV, Disney Junior, Disney XD, Freeform, FXM, FXX, Nat Geo Wild, and Nat Geo Mundo are no longer accessible through the cable service.
“Our collective goal has always been to build an innovative model for the future. This deal recognizes both the continued value of linear television and the growing popularity of streaming services while addressing the evolving needs of our consumers,” said Disney CEO Robert A. Iger.
If you’re looking for a new robot vacuum, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll be listing the best deals that you can find on the iRobot Roomba robot vacuums. Whether you’re looking for something cheap like the iRobot Roomba i3, or something expensive like the Roomba S9, everything that iRobot has is available on this list.
iRobot does typically discount its robot vacuums, so you can almost always find some sort of a deal on at least one of their products. Of course, the best times to buy one are near shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday. But you can still find them on sale at other times of the year.
Best iRobot Roomba robot vacuum Deals
iRobot is one of the most popular robot vacuum companies out there. Whether they are the best, is up for debate. As some people might prefer another brand over iRobot and some might prefer iRobot. But it is the most synonymous brand with robot vacuums.
iRobot has been around for nearly 30 years, surprisingly. And has been making robot vacuums the entire time. So it does have the experience, compared to the competition.
The lineup from iRobot ranges from the i3 to the i9, and there’s even some others available like the S9. Now iRobot does offer a self-emptying dustbin, however it is not included with most of its robot vacuums. The plus models do come with the self-emptying dustbin, which is what makes it a plus model. So definitely keep that in mind here. That self-emptying dustbin does make it a bit more expensive. If that’s not as big of a deal for you, you do have the option of getting the same model without that self-emptying dustbin.
So without further ado, here are the best deals that you can currently find on iRobot Roomba robot vacuums.
Over the past few weeks, leading up to today’s ‘Wonderlust‘ event from Apple, we’ve heard that Apple is ditching leather and going with a new material for its cases and watch bands – called FineWoven. Which looks odd, since Apple doesn’t usually capitalize a letter in the middle of a word.
Now today, we’re seeing some more images of a FineWoven Apple Watch Band, surfacing on X (formerly Twitter). This new material is expected to replace leather for Apple’s first-party accessories, and it does look pretty good. This leak comes from X user @KosutamiSan, who posted a couple pictures of the Watch band, one with it laid out flat and one with it attached to an Apple Watch Ultra.
The design is quite similar to the leather band, in fact it looks the exact same. But a little more felt-like. It’ll be interesting to see what the bands actually feel like, in person.
Ditching the leather watch bands are definitely going to leave a hole in the market, but there’s plenty of great leather watch bands available from other companies – like Nomad. Which makes a really great leather band for the Apple Watch.
FineWoven coming to phone cases too
In the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen a ton of leaks of cases for the iPhone 15 series that are using the FineWoven name. They look to be a cross between alcantara and a silicon case. Of course, we’ll know for sure in the next few hours, as Apple actually makes it official.
According to many analysts, Apple is likely dropping leather as an environmental decision. Leather has a rather high carbon footprint. So while the environment might be the reason that Apple gives on stage, the likely answer is they are moving to another premium material. It’s no secret that Apple’s leather cases have been pretty terrible over the last few years. So it’s a good move, especially if these can hold up better.
Software as a Service (SaaS) security refers to the measures and practices employed to protect SaaS solutions’ data, applications, and infrastructure.
SaaS is a cloud computing model where software applications are hosted and delivered over the internet, rather than installed and run on individual devices or servers.
While SaaS offers numerous benefits, such as scalability and accessibility, it also introduces security challenges that organizations must address to safeguard their data and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
The software under this architecture is hosted centrally, with the service provider responsible for everything from database management to network administration to availability checks and infrastructure maintenance.
Data is often kept on centralized servers spread across numerous data centers and accessed by users via a web interface.
SaaS typically employs multi-tenancy, a deployment model in which a single software instance serves numerous customers whose data and settings are isolated.
Virtualization, load balancing, and backup storage are all part of this architecture’s strategy for delivering scalable, dependable, and readily available software solutions on demand.
Following the SaaS security checklist helps you understand the blind spots and focus on securing your SaaS apps and data.
Why is SaaS Security important?
Software as a service (SaaS) applications frequently deal with sensitive data, ranging from personal information to confidential corporate details, making SaaS security essential.
Due to their internet-based nature, these apps are vulnerable to data theft and denial-of-service attacks.
Data loss, financial consequences, legal issues, and reputational harm are all possible outcomes of a hacked SaaS service.
In addition, due to the shared nature of SaaS’s basic infrastructure, a single vulnerability might affect several users.
Moreover, while convenient, attackers may easily exploit SaaS due to its reliance on centralized data storage. Robust security for SaaS protects users and inspires confidence in the digital economy overall.
It’s also a legal need for many businesses. Therefore, SaaS providers must place a premium on security to preserve credibility, safeguard customers, and guarantee the smooth running of operations.
To Protect Your SaaS Apps and data, Download the free Enterprise SaaS Security Technical Guide here.
Challenges and Risks for Security in SaaS
SaaS’s cloud-based, sharing nature (Software as a Service) raises security concerns and hazards.
SaaS security checklist – Challenges and Risks
Data breach risk is significant since SaaS services are easily breached due to centralized storage.
The multi-tenancy framework might cause data leakage if clients are not adequately segregated.
Data breaches might occur due to insufficient access restrictions, and when using third-party infrastructure, you have to put your faith in their safety precautions.
SaaS Insecure Application Programming Interfaces APIs, which might open them to cyberattacks if they are not properly secured.
Due to an increasing number of off-site data storage, often in separate countries, ensuring continued regulatory compliance is a challenging task.
DocumentGet a Free Demo
DoControl provides a unified, automated and risk-aware SaaS Security Platform (SSP) that secures business-critical applications and data.
Top SaaS Security Checklist 2023
Deploy a trusted SaaS Security Vendor
Data Encryption
Regular Security Audits
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)
Set Identity and Access Management Rules
Data Backups and Disaster Recovery
Secure Application Development
Endpoint Security
Training and Awareness
Monitor and Alert
Deploy a trusted SaaS Security Solutions
DoControl SaaS Security Platform
Employee LeadingSaaS security vendors such as DoControl offer a SaaS Security Platform (SSP) that protects business-critical apps and data by being unified, automatic, and aware of the risk.
By working with DoControl, you can reduce risk, stop data breaches, and deal with insider threats without slowing down business support.
Businesses of all sizes frequently rely on DoControl to secure their most sensitive SaaS apps and data.
Through OAuth, oControl compiles a complete list of authorized and unauthorized SaaS applications, users, external collaborators, assets, third-party websites, and more.
Full visibility and data are provided for security audits, off-boarding suppliers, proving compliance, and responding to incidents.
DoControl’s 2023 SaaS Security Threat Landscape Report(Download) finds that 50% of enterprises and 75% of mid-market organizations have exposed public SaaS assets.
Short Features:
Unified Data Access Controls: DoControl uses a centralized system to regulate access to all your data across all your SaaS applications, and high-risk actions and events in SaaS can activate an automated Workflow.
Prevent Data Loss in SaaS Ecosystems: All files stored in a SaaS service are scanned and identified in real-time for sensitive data categories like PII, PCI, and PHI.
Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Explore the complete SaaS attack surface, evaluate leading threat models, remediate in bulk, and repeat the process automatically.
Protect SaaS-to-SaaS: DoControl scans and monitors critical SaaS application data activity, performs end-user behavioral analytics to avoid insider threats, and automatically initiates safe procedures to protect sensitive enterprise data.
Incident Response: Discover all the SaaS apps that integrate into the mainframe, identify the ones that aren’t complying, and give them a risk score to authorize or cancel access to use an application.
2. Data Encryption
Encryption plays an essential part in the security of SaaS data by transforming it into a code that unauthorized parties can’t decode.
It may be used both “at-rest,” to protect information while it remains in storage like a database or a file, and “in-transit,” to keep data safe while it is being transmitted across a network.
Protecting encryption keys and using robust encryption algorithms are two of the most critical features of any encryption system.
By performing so, firms establish a solid barrier against data breaches and leaks, guaranteeing that essential information for SaaS settings stays unreadable and safe even if intercepted. To avoid illegal decryption, proper data management is necessary.
Short Checklist
Encrypt data both in transit and at rest.
Implement access controls and least privilege principles to restrict data access.
Regularly audit and review user access to data.
Use data loss prevention (DLP) tools to prevent the unauthorized sharing of sensitive.
3. Regular Security Audits
The security posture of a SaaS application is routinely and systematically assessed as part of best practices for SaaS (Software as a Service) security.
During these inspections, vulnerabilities in the system’s software, hardware, or operational processes and violations of regulatory standards will be sought out and fixed.
The primary objective is to guarantee the SaaS service has a reliable firewall to prevent cyberattacks.
In most cases, external organizations or internal security departments are the ones to do audits to ensure the safety of a system.
These audits help find mistakes, reduce risks, and strengthen security by assessing, testing, and analyzing the system.
Regular audits are crucial for guaranteeing ongoing security awareness in SaaS settings, especially given the ever-changing nature of cyber threats.
Short Checklist
Ensure you follow your business’s rules, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
Audits and reports of compliance should be kept on file.
Follow the rules about how long to keep data and how to get rid of it.
4. Enforce Strong Authentication
SaaS (Software as a Service) security best practice that uses several authentication aspects to determine a user’s identity is called multi-factor authentication (MFA).
To validate user authenticity, multi-factor authentication (MFA) involves knowledge (password) and possession (security token or smartphone app) or identification (fingerprint or facial recognition).
MFA drastically minimizes the danger of unauthorized access, even if an attacker obtains one of the authentication elements, by employing several levels of authentication.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is essential in SaaS settings because it strengthens security by preventing unauthorized access to systems due to compromised credentials.
Short Checklist
Use robust and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users.
Use role-based access control (RBAC) to handle user permissions.
Immediately close accounts that aren’t being used.
Review and change user access rights often.
5. Set Identity and Access Management Rules
The term “Identity and Access Management” (IAM) is used to describe a set of procedures for controlling who may access what data in a SaaS (Software as a Service) environment.
Identity and access management (IAM) is a broad term that includes features like user authentication, role-based access control, and auditing.
IAM rules that specify who has access and under what circumstances control access to apps, data, or features in a SaaS environment.
The danger of unauthorized access or accidental data breaches may be reduced by implementing strict IAM rules that allow enterprises to manage user access based on roles, responsibilities, and business demands.
Only authenticated, authorized users can access a SaaS platform’s resources if IAM is appropriately deployed.
Short Checklist
Use an identity and access management (IAM) system that is controlled.
Automate the process of adding and removing users.
Set up single sign-on (SSO) to make entry easier.
Teach people how important it is to have strong, unique passwords.
6. Data Backups and Disaster Recovery
When discussing SaaS (Software as a Service) security practices, terms like “data backups” and “disaster recovery” are frequently used to describe measures taken to prevent data loss, corruption, or interruption in the case of an emergency.
Data backups allow for rapidly restoring vital information in a system breakdown or cyberattack.
However, disaster recovery plans provide a thorough strategy for restarting operations after a significant disruption, such as failovers to secondary systems.
In SaaS settings, combining these procedures is a crucial first line of defense for protecting the organization’s honesty and its constituents’ confidence.
Test data recovery processes to verify data integrity.
Maintain a disaster recovery plan for SaaS application outages.
7. Secure Application Development
Construction of Safe Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Applications The Security Practices Guide highlights the significance of including security measures throughout the SDLC.
Developers no longer consider security a secondary concern; instead, it is a primary concern from the start.
This method comprises regularly performing code reviews, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing to detect and fix security vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
Also essential are developer education and training in secure coding methods and CI/CD pipelines that include security tests.
If SaaS providers prioritize security from the outset, they can safeguard their consumers effectively from cyberattacks and earn their trust and confidence.
Short Checklist
Stay up to date on security changes and patches for SaaS apps.
Apply fixes quickly to close security holes.
Before patches are put into use, they are tested in a non-production setting.
8. Endpoint Security
The importance of endpoint security for SaaS (or cloud computing) The phrase “security practice” describes the process of protecting the various endpoints used to access the SaaS program.
Networked PCs, tablets, cellphones, and anything else are all examples of endpoints. Antivirus programs, firewalls, and encrypted VPNs are just a few tools to keep data safe online.
This procedure prevents attacks on the SaaS infrastructure from unauthorized devices or networks.
Endpoint security helps businesses protect their SaaS applications and the data they store by blocking unauthorized users and decreasing the possibility of malware attacks.
Short Checklist
Protect the computers and mobile devices that are used to access SaaS apps.
Use antivirus and antimalware tools to protect your computer.
Set up the device so it can be locked or erased remotely if lost or stolen.
9. Training and Awareness
Training and Awareness of SaaS (Software as a Service) Employee and user education on security risks and effective practices is emphasized in security policies and procedures.
Human mistake is still a significant risk, even with the most innovative technical protections. Employees who receive regular training are better prepared to identify and respond to threats like phishing and malware attacks.
Campaigns to raise the public’s awareness stress the need for constant alert and caution in the face of evolving risks.
By encouraging a security-aware company culture, SaaS vendors may reduce the probability of accidental insider attacks, promote more secure usage patterns, and strengthen the safety of their products.
SHort Checklist
Train your staff frequently on security awareness.
User education on phishing and social engineering is essential.
Foster an environment where safety is prioritized.
10. Monitor and Alert
SaaS security best practices “Monitor and Alert” involves constantly monitoring system activity and creating alerts for unusual occurrences.
System logs, human activity, and network traffic are some of the data monitored by monitoring programs. When the system identifies a possible danger or suspicious conduct, it immediately notifies the appropriate administrators.
This preventative method shortens the window of opportunity that attackers might exploit in case of a security breach or system breakdown.
Such monitoring management is essential in the framework of SaaS for protecting user information, keeping the system running smoothly, and preventing disruption.
Conclusion
Using SaaS (Software as a Service) industry standards Data integrity, availability, and privacy can never be guaranteed without security.
Strong identity and access management, multi-factor authentication, and routine security audits are just some of the many tactics included in this category.
Further, they highlight the value of education and training in creating a culture of security awareness. Businesses can protect themselves and their customers from cybercriminals by taking a precautionary, comprehensive approach that considers both technological and responsible governance measures.
Future OPPO flagship smartphones will get to use Sony’s Lytia image sensors. OPPO and Sony have just announced a strategic partnership regarding that.
Future OPPO flagships are set to use Sony’s Lytia image sensors
Sony’s Lytia image sensors are dual-layer stacked sensors, and they show a lot of promise. OPPO says that these sensors will “unlock the next era of computational photography”.
In such sensors, the transistors and photodiode layers are separated. That basically allows for physically larger diodes, and thus such sensors can capture more light and allow for better low-light performance.
As a reminder, Vivo announced a similar partnership with Sony earlier this summer. The upcoming Vivo X100 flagship (series) will utilize custom Sony stacked CMOS sensors. In regards to OPPO we don’t know which phone will be the first to use such a sensor. Perhaps the OPPO Find X7 (Pro)? It’s anyone’s guess.
Vivo has a similar agreement with Sony
Vivo and OPPO, as many of you know, are sister companies. Both companies are owned by BBK Electronics, and have a tendency to share tech. So… this is not really all that surprising.
The Sony Xperia 1 V flagship that was announced earlier this year uses one such sensor, actually. The ExymorT IMX888 is a stacked CMOS sensor with 2-layer transistor pixel technology. Sony is planning to release two additional sensors with such a design, the IMX903 and IMX907.
Both of those sensors are expected to trump the IMX888, so chances are that OPPO and Vivo aim to use one of those two. We’ll have to wait and see. These are great news for smartphone photography, though.
Smartphone photography keeps moving forward
Every time we start to think that smartphone photography tech has reached its peak, or at least came to a temporary halt, new tech rears its head. 1-inch camera sensors made the difference with the right software, and so have multi-stop variable aperture setups.
Xiaomi even combined the two in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, though sadly only a 2-stop variable aperture setup was implemented. Huawei offers a 10-stop setup, but without a 1-inch camera sensor.
It will be interesting to see these Lytia image sensors in smartphones from other companies, which are well-known for excellent smartphone photography, such as OPPO and Vivo.