Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has slowly been moving away from news-related content due to various reasons. Now, as part of its efforts to realign investments, Meta has announced that it will discontinue Facebook News in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, starting in early December.
The company first introduced Facebook News in 2019 as a dedicated news section for publishers residing within the main Facebook interface and serving as a platform for both local and international news. However, shortly after its launch, the platform came under scrutiny from countries such as Canada, which demanded that the company must equally compensate publishers. This resulted in Meta blocking news content in Canada.
In contrast, the company’s decision to discontinue news content in these European countries stems from its strategic direction to allocate resources toward services and products that align more closely with users’ preferences. This is because news content currently constitutes less than 3% of what users encounter in their Facebook feeds. Therefore, instead of focusing on news content, the company will shift its attention to short-form videos and explore new interests.
“We know that people don’t come to Facebook for news and political content – they come to connect with people and discover new opportunities, passions and interests,” reads the company’s blog post.
What will happen to the existing agreements?
Despite the plans for the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, Meta has confirmed that it will honor the existing agreements with publishers in these countries. However, the company has pointed out that it does not foresee the introduction of new Facebook products specifically tailored for news publishers in the future.
Additionally, Meta has also clarified that it is not blocking access to articles or publishers’ pages in the affected European countries. Moreover, publishers will continue to have access to their Facebook accounts and Pages, allowing them to post links to their stories and direct users to their websites like any other individual or organization.
Just like every other phone, the iPhone 15’s biggest feature is going to be the camera. And we’re hearing from some analysts that the cameras are going to be the “star of the show” on September 12. With TrendForce stating that the upgrades are a “pivotal factor” and it could “tip the scales for potential buyers”.
So what are we expecting out of these cameras this year? Let’s start with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. These phones are getting the upgraded 48-megapixel main sensor that the iPhone 14 Pro series got last year. So that’s a 48-megapixel sensor with a f/1.6 aperture. It is also getting the same 12-megapixel ultrawide sensor, with a f/2.4 aperture.
Why is this 48-megapixel camera important on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus? Well, because it gives these phones a decent zoom. It will give them a 2x telephoto zoom without a telephoto lens. Since Apple will crop in on that 48-megapixel sensor. So it’s still a good zoom, without adding a third camera.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max get the real upgrades
Now moving onto the Pro models, both of these are apparently getting the same sensors, with the Pro Max getting a periscope lens. But let’s break it down.
The iPhone 15 Pro is getting a 48-megapixel Sony IMX803 main sensor, with a f/1.78 aperture. There’s a 12.7-megapixel telephoto lens with a f/2.8 aperture and then a 13.4-megapixel ultrawide camera with a f/2.2 aperture.
Over on the iPhone 15 Pro Max (or Ultra, if it does get renamed), we’re looking at the same Sony IMX 803 48-megapixel main sensor with the f/1.78 aperture. It also has the same ultrawide camera that’s 13.4-megapixels and a f/2.2 aperture. But the telephoto lens is a bit different. It’s a 12.7-megapixel f/2.8 aperture periscope lens.
According to MacRumors, this new periscope lens is going to be “entirely new” and does confirm from a number of other leaks and rumors we’ve seen lately about the phone. This new periscope lens could allow for 5x or even 10x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That would be a big upgrade from the 3x that’s currently available on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 series on September 12, along with a few other products.
MITRE has CISA (America’s cyber defense agency) unveiled a collection of plugins designed to extend the capabilities of Caldera into the Operational Technology (OT) environment.
MITRE Caldera is a cyber security platform designed to easily automate adversary emulation, assist manual red teams, and automate incident response.
These plugins promise to bolster the defense mechanisms and testing capabilities within critical infrastructure systems.
Contained within the “caldera-ot” repository, these plugins serve as essential tools for securing OT environments.
They are available as Git submodules, making them easily accessible to security professionals and researchers.
Installation Made Simple
To install the full suite of Caldera for OT plugins, users can employ the following command:
Alternatively, individuals can set up specific plugins individually, tailoring their OT security approach to their precise needs.
Currently, three key plugins are available:
BACnet Catering to Building Automation and Control Networks (BACnet) protocol.
DNP Addressing the Distributed Network Protocol 3 (DNP3).
Modbus Supporting the Modbus protocol.
These plugins are poised to bring a new level of sophistication and customization to OT security strategies.
Unifying and Exposing Open-Source OT Protocol Libraries
MITRE’s Caldera for OT plugins serves to unify and expose open-source OT protocol libraries, offering them as protocol-specific plugins.
Each plugin provides comprehensive documentation, including high-level README.md files, source code-specific README.md files under /src, and Caldera Field Manual documentation under /docs.
Enhanced Security and Training
The motivation behind these plugins lies in enabling adversary emulation within the OT environment.
This empowers organizations to bolster their security defenses and prepare for potential threats effectively.
Moreover, it supports traditional Caldera use cases, such as operator training and comprehensive testing of security measures.
MITRE’s initiative represents a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to safeguard critical infrastructure systems and bolster security within the OT realm.
For those seeking more detailed information, MITRE has also provided a presentation on “Emulating Adversary Actions in the Operational Environment with Caldera (TM) for OT.”
Stay tuned for further updates as the security community explores the potential of these Caldera for OT plugins in fortifying critical infrastructure against emerging threats.
The OnePlus 12 design already surfaced back in July. That design was based on CAD-based renders, and the images were shared by @OnLeaks. Well, the same source now brings us an updated design, and this one seems to be final.
Seemingly final OnePlus 12 design is here
The differences between the previous design and this one are not that big. The only place you’ll see the difference is in the camera department. The overall design of the module did not change, but the sensors within it did.
The previous design showed us two cameras in the first row, and one in the bottom row, along with a metallic accent in the background, as shown below.
This design has a mysterious fourth sensor on the back
Now, the new design has two cameras in the first row, one in the second, and a mysterious fourth sensor next to it. The first design obviously had a periscope camera in the second row, but we don’t see it here.
Neither of the three sensors we’re seeing here has the elongated shape of a periscope camera. Perhaps that mysterious fourth sensor has something to do with it? Still, the periscope camera is still expected to be present.
The phone is expected to reach global markets in Q1 2024
The OnePlus 12 will launch in China before the end of the year, and it’s expected to launch globally in Q1 next year. It will, most likely, arrive in January, but we’re still not sure.
This smartphone will be made out of metal and glass, and will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It will have a curved display, with thin bezels, and a centered display camera hole.
The phone is rumored to offer up to 16GB of RAM, and three cameras on the back. A 50-megapixel main camera is tipped, along with a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 64-megapixel periscope camera.
A 5,000mAh battery was also tipped, as was 120W wired, and 50W wireless charging.
With the transition to ARM-based chips, MacBooks have quickly gone from laptops meant for general-purpose use to now being one of the most powerful and efficient devices in the market. However, according to a new report from Digitimes (via MacRumors), Apple is now considering the launch of a new, low-cost MacBook, which would take the crown from Chromebooks in the education sector.
This report corroborates an earlier Bloomberg article that suggested Apple could unveil a 12-inch MacBook either by late 2023 or in early 2024. Although analyst Ming-Chi Kuo contradicted these claims later, the new reports indicate that Apple is actively developing a low-cost MacBook with more budget-friendly components.
“It hasn’t been confirmed until the product launch yet, but the parts and major activities previously seem to be preparing a new product. As early as the second half of this year, it will be confirmed whether the actual mass production will be carried out instead of the actual preparation level,” reads the report.
Why’s Apple making a budget MacBook?
If the rumours are true, the primary driving force behind Apple’s decision would be the dominance of Chromebooks in the education sector. These devices primarily rely on web-based applications, often offering limited RAM and storage capacities, and typically do not offer a premium build quality. Therefore, even with a 3-year-old M1 chip, a budget MacBook from Apple could outperform recently launched Chromebooks.
Furthermore, the appeal of affordable MacBooks extends beyond the education sector. This is because even in developed countries, the base M1 MacBook represents a significant financial commitment for many consumers. As a result, Apple’s entry into the affordable laptop market could sway these potential buyers toward the Mac ecosystem, offering them a compelling alternative that doesn’t break the bank.
However, it is important to note that these are still rumours, and no official reports have confirmed the production of these speculated low-cost MacBooks.
Disney+ is today swimming against that current… kind of with a sweet new promotion aimed at both all-new and “eligible” returning subscribers. That’s not as good as, say, a permanent discount for new and existing customers, but it’s arguably the next best thing and it can save you quite a bit of money during your first three months (or your first three months after a while away) on the platform.
If you don’t have a (big) problem with ads, you can now opt for a Disney+ Basic plan in the US and pay a measly $1.99 a month as part of a welcome offer set to expire on September 20. That reduced price will go away after three months of ad-supported access to “thousands of exclusive movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic”, as well as “exciting new releases every week.”
Normally, you’d need to cough up $7.99 a month for that service tier, which means that you’re looking at saving a grand total of 18 bucks here. That’s definitely nothing to sneeze at in an industry where all the top players seem focused all of a sudden on getting more money from their subscribers through any means possible rather than boosting those all-important subscriber numbers themselves.
Of course, if Disney+ can do both things at the same time, that’s even better, with many new and returning subscribers tempted by this introductory offer likely to stay on the platform after the discounted 3-month period and start paying full price.
Keep in mind that said full price will be automatically charged to your credit card after the promotional window closes, and there are currently no deals to be had for the Premium plan (with no ads), which costs $10.99 a month before going up to $13.99 soon.
The usage of Blueshell malware spikes up by various threat actors to target Windows, Linux, and other operating systems across Korea and Thailand.
Blueshell backdoor malware has been active since 2020 and written in GO language, believed to be created by a Chinese user, which is available on the GitHub repository.
Though the original GitHub repository was deleted, BlueShell’s source code can still be accessed from other repositories.
AhnLab Security Emergency Response Center (ASEC) monitors APT attack cases using BlueShell and has released the summarized report of APT attack cases using BlueShell.
Considering the functionality of the Backshell, it is designed and uses TLS encryption to circumvent network detection with the C&C server.
The Remote command execution, file download/upload, and Socks5 proxy were executed by the attacker through commands.
Blueshell Malware Config
BlueShell has three configuration data: the C&C server’s IP address, port number, and waiting time.
The research revealed the usage of blue shell malware by Dalbit Group during the attack against the Windows platform.
The Dalbit Group is a China-based threat group that mostly targets vulnerable servers to steal information containing critical data to demand money.
“While ASEC was monitoring BlueShell targeting the Linux environment, it identified a customized form of BlueShell from VirusTotal.”
The attacker first created Dropper malware and used it to install BlueShell, which is responsible for creating and executing BlueShell like a regular dropper.
But the main difference is that it sets and executes an environment variable named “lgdt” when running.
The generated BlueShell obtains the “lgdt” environment variable, decrypts it, and uses it as the C&C server address. Accordingly, BlueShell alone cannot verify the address of the C&C server.
After revolutionizing the video-based social media space, TikTok may now be looking to enter the messaging industry. The app already has a messaging function, but the company appears to be preparing to make it more robust. Its Chinese parent ByteDance is hiring engineers and product managers to work on advanced messaging features.
ByteDance has published a slew of new job openings for a new internal team called “TikTok Social.” First spotted by Axios, most of these roles are focused on improving the app’s messaging experience. “We are the messaging team on TikTok,” the introduction for an engineering lead role says. “Our team’s mission is to facilitate meaningful user connections through TikTok’s messaging experience, which is still in its infancy.”
A listing for a product manager says the team would work on expanding “the boundaries of TikTok by encouraging building meaningful social connections between users.” Other job descriptions also hint at new messaging features and more ways for users to connect on the platform. “Some core features and components we build and maintain include User Profile, Story, Inbox, Messaging, Follow, Like, Comment, Tag, etc.,” ByteDance says.
Unfortunately, the company doesn’t directly tell what it’s up to. The Chinese firm told Axios that it might experiment with new features, but entertainment is still the core of TikTok. “Being an entertainment channel has always been and remains the core of TikTok’s business model even as we experiment with new features to enhance the user experience,” the official statement reads.
New messaging features might help TikTok become a complete social media package
TikTok ushered the social media industry into short-for vertical videos, which are now found on almost every platform. Several established players copied the feature, including YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. Since these platforms already boast many other features, copying TikTok helped them improve their feature set and stop users from fleeing to TikTok or other similar apps.
It appears the ByteDance-owned now wants to copy them and grow into a complete social media package. There are already hints of its working on a music app, as well as shopping, podcasts, and text post features for TikTok. A robust messaging system could be the next step forward. Unfortunately, details are scarce at the moment. It’s unclear whether the Chinese platform will add everything from encrypted one-to-one chats and group chats to communities, stories, and more. Things might get clearer in the coming months.
Walking through the bustling aisles of IFA 2023, I was caught off guard by the familiarity of a brand that many of us have grown up with, Eureka. Long associated with home cleaning, they have reinvented their presence in the tech-savvy world of modern cleaning gadgets, as their booth pulled me in for a closer look.
At first glance, the Eureka e10s instantly drew me in, it is evident that Eureka isn’t skimping on power. With a staggering 4000 Pa suction, it effortlessly handles dust and debris. The bagless design speaks not just to economic efficiency but also to environmental considerations. Considering competitive robot vacuums averaging 70 dollars of annual invisible fees in bag changing, going bagless is good for cutting unwanted expenses and maintenance. And unlike your run-of-the-mill robot vacuums that depend on disposable bags, the bagless design makes life easier. Just hit a button to empty the dust cup—no fuss, much like what you’d expect from a modern cordless vacuum. It is also paired with a unique multi-cyclonic dust separator, which promises fewer blockages and more efficient cleaning by effectively isolating particles during its self-emptying process. The docking station is decked out with this separation tech, evidently a must-have feature in top-tier vacuums—as the function is exceptionally good at separating dust from the air, maintaining both a robust suction and long-lasting filters. So, you get high performance without the headache of frequent filter maintenance, which is also promising in sustainability.
Another trait that stands out is its advanced navigation. Equipped with advanced LiDAR and side-positioned PSD lasers, the e10s seemed adept at dodging the most inconspicuous obstacles, even in dimmer environments. And the price? At a competitive 479 euros, this advanced robotic cleaning device wouldn’t break the bank.
Switching my attention to the Eureka NEW400. A versatile machine designed to tackle both wet and dry messes, a tantalizing solution to the dilemmas of household cleaning, its key features piqued the interest of tech aficionados and homemakers alike. The two-tank system, promising constant fresh water cleaning with a more than 90 percent water recovery rate, seemed to stand out as a direct solution to the age-old mopping problem of merely moving dirty water around. Couple that with a powerful 120W motor, and stubborn water stains are swiftly addressed. For those longer cleaning sessions, the generous 600ml tank, which offers 20 to 30 minutes of high-powered cleaning, comes in handy. As if those weren’t enough, the New400 takes a step further with its self-propelled function, ensuring a more effortless cleaning experience. And to top it all off? Premium features, at a price point of just $199, rendering high-tech cleaning affordable. In my opinion, the lightweight nature and mess-free installation certainly make it quite an attractive piece for city dwellers like me.
Eureka’s collaborative moves with local German establishments for hands-on trials underscored the brand’s confidence. It’s a savvy strategy, letting potential consumers get up close and personal, while Eureka reaps the benefit of direct feedback. Their collaboration with pub/cafe Kin Za is a genius blend of tech marketing and pure fun. Hosting an after-party, Eureka invited attendees to a night of relaxation, tech-fueled entertainment, and yes, free beer. The highlight? A sand painting station using coffee grounds as a canvas. As guests dove into artistic expression, Eureka showcased its products in real time, ensuring that every spill and scatter was cleaned up in a jiffy, allowing the party to continue uninterrupted.
As participants crafted their coffee-ground masterpieces, the New400 and e10s sprang into action, demonstrating their aptitude in maintaining a clean environment, reinforcing that with Eureka, creativity and cleanliness can coexist. This blend of interactive experience and product showcase was not only engaging but also effectively communicated the brand’s capabilities.
Eureka’s showcase at IFA 2023 has painted a promising picture of the future of cleaning tech. Their pairing of innovative design with user-centric features hints at a future where cleaning is not just a chore but a seamless part of modern living. The backing of the Midea Group, an undeniable titan in tech, bodes well for Eureka’s push into cutting-edge cleaning solutions. As I took in the buzz around Eureka’s booth at IFA, their commitment to advancing cleaning technology felt palpable. Only time will tell if they can fully deliver on this promise, but for now, Eureka’s vision is captivating.
Facebook is making a lot of changes to the way it operates in the EU due to the local regulatory entities. Besides taking into consideration paid versions of Facebook and Instagram in Europe, Meta is also removing the new tab in some countries later this year.
Meta announced today that it will discontinue the Facebook News dedicated tab in the UK, France and Germany in early December. The move seems to be an attempt to cut costs and focus instead on the products that bring the company a steady flow of income.
According to Meta, news make up less than 3 percent of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed, which basically means that news discovery is a very small part of the experience offered by the social network for the majority of its users.
The company also said that it must focus its time and resources “on things people tell us they want to see more on the platform, including short form video.” Meta acknowledged that people don’t come to Facebook for news and political content, but to connect with people and discover new opportunities and interests.
While we’ll be deprecating Facebook News in these countries, we will honor our obligations under all existing Facebook News deals with publishers in the UK, France and Germany until they expire. However, to ensure that we continue to invest in those products and services that drive user engagement, we will not enter into new commercial deals for news content on Facebook News in these countries.
Even though Facebook users in the UK, France and Germany will lose access to the Facebook News dedicated tab, but they will still be able to view links to news articles on Facebook.
Additionally, Facebook confirmed that European news publishers will continue to have access to their accounts and pages, where they can post links to their stories and direct people to their websites.
