Dec 16
José Ángel Hernández, better known as “Flow La Movie,” produced songs such as “Te Boté” for artists Bad Bunny and Ozuna.
Dec 16
A semi hit by high winds rolled onto its side in eastern Iowa, killing the driver.
Dec 16
The National Archives made public secret cables, internal memos and other documents to satisfy an order by President Biden.
Dec 16
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Dec 16
American professional rally driver Ken Block has a new toy for Hoonigan’s next Gymkhana series of videos. After drifting all over the place while climbing Pikes Peak in Climbkhana, German automaker Audi wants Block to do it all over again with an all-electric vehicle. As expected, Block’s new car needs a name after passing on his beloved 1965 Ford Mustang … Continue reading
Dec 16
<img width=”1280″ height=”720″ src=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jeep2523-1280×720.jpg” class=”webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image” alt=”Jeep patent image” style=”margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%” data-attachment-id=”702901″ data-permalink=”https://www.slashgear.com/jeep-patent-shows-off-doors-bronco-fans-will-recognize-16702875/jeep2523/” data-orig-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jeep2523.jpg” data-orig-size=”1440,810″ data-comments-opened=”0″ data-image-meta=”{“aperture”:”0″,”credit”:””,”camera”:””,”caption”:””,”created_timestamp”:”0″,”copyright”:””,”focal_length”:”0″,”iso”:”0″,”shutter_speed”:”0″,”title”:””,”orientation”:”0″}” data-image-title=”jeep2523″ data-image-description=”” data-image-caption=”
Dec 16
Google researchers have described NSO Group’s zero-click exploit used to hack Apple devices as “incredible and terrifying,” Wired has reported. Project Zero researchers called it “one of the most technically sophisticated exploits we’ve ever seen” that’s on par with attacks from elite nation-state spies.
The Project Zero team said it obtained one of NSO’s Pegasus exploits from Citizen Lab, which managed to capture it via a targeted Saudi activist. It also worked with Apple’s Security Engineering and Architecture (SEAR) group on the technical analysis.
NSO’s original exploit required the user to click on a link, but the latest, most sophisticated exploits require no click at all. Called ForcedEntry, it takes advantage of the way iMessage interprets files like GIFs to open a malicious PDF file with no action required from the victim. It does so by using old code from the 1990s used to process text in scanner images.
Once inside a device, the malware can set up its own virtualized environment and run javascript-like code, with no need to connect to an outside server. From there, it gives an attacker access to a victim’s passwords, microphone, audio and more. The exploit is extremely hard to detect and is “a weapon against which there is no defense,” Project Zero researchers said.
Apple recently filed a lawsuit against the group to “hold it accountable” for governments using it to spy on iOS users. Apple alleged that targets are often activists, journalists and other critics of regimes that routinely suppress political dissent. It also accused NSO of “flagrant violations” of federal- and state-level laws in the US. Last month, the US Department of Commerce added NSO Group to its “entity list”, essentially banning it for use in the US.
Dec 16
Ransomware has been a recurring problem throughout 2021, and the latest attack could be particularly severe for some workers. NBC Newsreports workforce management heavyweight Kronos has suffered a ransomware attack that could affect its ability to handle hours and payroll at well-known companies like GameStop, Honda and Whole Foods. With many final pre-Christmas paychecks slated to arrive this week, there’s a concern some employees might not get paid in a timely fashion when they need it most.
Kronos reported the attack on December 11th, but it wasn’t until December 13th the company warned it might take “several weeks” to fully restore functionality. The company didn’t identify the perpetrators. It also couldn’t completely rule out a connection to the recent Log4j vulnerability, but went through “rapid patching” and supply chain checks to make sure its systems weren’t susceptible.
It’s not clear how soon hours and payroll functionality might come back. In the meantime, though, companies have had to scramble to find alternatives. Whole Foods told NBC it had found a way to pay staff this week, but Honda only said it was “taking steps” to mitigate any problems. One anonymous Whole Foods worker said teammates had been asked to rely on paper punch sheets and handwritten schedules.
The Kronos incident illustrates the sheer breadth of ransomware victims in recent months, including a meat supplier and a key oil pipeline operator. It also underscores the fragility of modern workplace technology. While a payroll company might not be considered critical infrastructure like food or fuel providers, a cyberattack against it can still deal significant economic damage.
Dec 16
As part of its years-long podcast push, Spotify has been constantly adding new features for users on top of steadily expanding its library of 3.2 million shows. Today, the service is debuting yet another tool for listeners to offer feedback on the podcasts they listen to: ratings. The company says the ability to offer 1-5 star ratings will roll out to users “over the coming days.” The feature will be available in all markets where podcasts are available on the streaming service.
Spotify says features like its podcast charts have helped users find new shows, and the same goes for the service’s personalized recommendations. However, until now, there was no real way for listeners to see what other people thought of a show in the company’s apps. The star rating system will be familiar to podcast listeners as platforms like Apple Podcasts also use the scoring metric. Like Apple, Spotify will display the number of ratings in parenthesis beside the average score on each show’s page. Of course, the system will also allow creators to see how their podcast is performing among listeners, directly from the people who are listening to the show.
Dec 16
Pixelmator Photo has been available for pros and enthusiasts who want to work with photos on their iPads, and now it’s an option in their pockets. Pixelmator has released a version of Photo for the iPhone that brings the advanced image editor to smaller screens. Much like the tablet app and Pixelmator Pro, you can make a wide range of non-destructive edits to photos either from the phone (including ProRAW from some iPhones) or from 600-plus RAW formats from dedicated cameras.
You’ll most likely be using some of the 30-plus color adjustments, including basics like exposure and white balance through to a wheel-based color balance system like you’d find for video grading. However, Pixelmator Photo also makes use of some helpful (if increasingly familiar) AI editing features, including object removal and upscaling for low-resolution shots. You can also expect fairly tight integration with Apple’s Photos and iCloud, such as saving edits to (or opening images from) your library.
Pixelmator Photo normally sells for $8, but it’s available for $4 to help spur iPhone buyers. The app is a free update for those already using the iPad version. This probably won’t tear you away from Adobe Lightroom and other pro photo editing apps, but Pixelmator’s classic strategy might still apply here. It’s offering an affordable, pay-once alternative to Lightroom’s Premium membership and other subscriptions you frequently need for this level of editing.
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