2K confirms its support desk was hacked to send malware to gamers

Video game publisher 2K is warning the public not to open any emails from its support account after confirming it had been hacked. “Earlier today, we became aware that an unauthorized third party illegally accessed the credentials of one of our vendors to the help desk platform that 2K uses to provide support to our customers,” the official 2K Support Twitter account posted on Tuesday.

News of the security breach broke yesterday after Bleeping Computer shared screenshots of phishing emails sent to 2K customers. The emails took the form of unsolicited support tickets. Those who opened the message were subsequently sent a second email prompting them to download “the new 2K games launcher.” Putting the 107MB executable through VirusTotal and Any.Run, Bleeping Computer found it contained malware designed to steal any passwords its target may have stored on their browser.

For anyone who may have clicked on a link in the emails, 2K recommends immediately changing any passwords stored in your browser, enabling two-factor authentication where possible, installing anti-virus software and checking that the forwarding settings on your email accounts haven’t been changed.

2K shares the same parent company as Rockstar Games. Over the weekend, the studio suffered an unprecedented security breach that saw early gameplay footage of Grand Theft Auto VI shared widely online. While there’s no evidence to suggest the two incidents are linked, the Rockstar Games hacker claimed they were also responsible for the recent Uber security breach. On Monday, the company said it was working with the FBI to investigate the incident.

James Webb Space Telescope captures the best image of Neptune's rings in decades

The James Webb Space Telescope’s tour of the Solar System just shed light on the most distant planet in our cosmic neighborhood. Researchers have shared the observatory’s first image of Neptune, and it offers the best view of the icy world’s rings in over 30 years. The picture is not only clear, but offers the first-ever look at the dust-based rings in the near-infrared spectrum. At these wavelengths, the planet doesn’t look blue — it absorbs so much infrared and visible red light that it takes on a dark, ghostly appearance.

The image also shows seven of Neptune’s 14 confirmed moons, including Triton (the ‘star’ at top) as well as Galatea, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Proteus and Larissa. The bright spots and streaks on the planet represent methane-ice clouds, including a swirl surrounding a vortex at the south pole. Triton’s attention-grabbing look is the product of both the James Webb telescope’s telltale diffraction spikes as well as a condensed nitrogen surface that typically reflects 70 percent of sunlight.

Neptune captured by James Webb Space Telescope
A closer view of Neptune and six of its moons (Galatea, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Proteus and Larissa).
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Neptune is a particularly important target for scientists. At roughly 2.8 billion miles from the Sun, it’s far enough to deal with conditions that aren’t present for nearer planets, such as very low temperatures and a very long (164-year) orbit. Triton’s odd retrograde orbit even suggests might be a Kuiper Belt object that succumbed to Neptune’s gravitational pull.

This is just the start of studies using the James Webb telescope, and researchers expect to collect more observations of both Neptune and Triton within the next year. As with the recent looks at Mars and Jupiter, astronomers are only collecting preliminary data at this stage. You may have to wait a while before there are further insights that could improve our understandings of Neptune and space at large.

You've Never Seen Neptune Look Like This

The Webb Space Telescope has produced yet another view of a solar system planet, and you may not be able to guess the world from the image alone. The new portrait of Neptune shows its dramatic and often overlooked rings, and the European Space Agency says this is the clearest view of the planet since 1989.

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New York AG Files Civil Suit Against Donald Trump, 3 Of His Kids

Giant Centrifuge Startup That Wants to Hurl Things Into Space Raises $71 Mil

SpinLaunch said on Tuesday that it raised $71 million in funding during its second round of financing. The California-based company said it will use the funds to further develop an unconventional system for launching small payloads to Earth orbit.

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Who Made Brian Baumgartner Break Character on The Office?

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Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond are coming to 'FIFA 23'

Ted Lasso is coming to FIFA 23 and he’s bringing AFC Richmond with him. EA teamed up with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to include the stars of Ted Lasso in the game — Warner Bros. is one of the producers and distributors of the Apple TV+ hit. You’ll be able to play as Roy Kent et al in several modes, including Career Mode, Kickoff, Online Friendlies and Online Seasons.

FIFA 23 will make Richmond kits, tifos, manager items (including Coach Beard ones) and other content available to unlock through FIFA Ultimate Team and Pro Clubs. Richmond’s Nelson Road stadium will be in the game too. Hopefully, we’ll hear a Roy Kent chant or two from the crowd.

As for Ted Lasso himself, you’ll be able to select him as the manager of Richmond or any other team in Career Mode. Alternatively, any other manager, including a created one, can take control of Richmond. You can also have your own created player take to the pitch alongside the likes of Jamie Tartt, Sam Obisanya and Dani Rojas. EA released a trailer that features Wayne Rooney, Jack Grealish and Trent Crimm (formerly of The Independent):

“It is so f***ing cool to be in FIFA. I’m not sure this is going to help dispel the CGI rumors but f*** it, totally worth it,” Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent, said in a statement. “I look forward to beating my nephew in a game with me as Roy Kent and him as Jamie Tartt. He’s gonna be furious.”

FIFA 23 is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC (where it will have EA’s new anti-cheat tech) and Stadia on September 30th. It might not be Ted Lasso’s only appearance in a video game, though. Leaks have suggested he’ll be a playable character in Warner Bros’ crossover fighting game MultiVersus at some point.

Russians Rush For Flights Out Of Country Amid Partial Reservist Call-Up

Flights to Serbia are sold out, and one-way tickets to to Istanbul or Dubai are going for more than $9,000.

The Flash's Final Season Will Bring Back Another Member of the Rogues

The Sanderson sisters tell you why you should watch Hocus Pocus 2. Stargirl and Titans could be teaming up. Plus, Khary Payton teases what to expect from Invincible’s future, what’s coming on Quantum Leap, and more info about the return of Chucky. Spoilers now!

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TikTok Cracks Down on Political Content

Ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, TikTok announced some changes to its content policy. The social media giant is now barring videos that contain political fundraising and mandating verification for U.S.-based government and political accounts.

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