Technology

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• macOS faces an emerging ransomware threat, NotLockBit
• NotLockBit malware demonstrates file-locking capabilities
• Apple's built-in protections face issues from evolving ransomware threats

For years, ransomware attacks have predominantly targeted Windows and Linux platforms, however cybercriminals have begun to shift their focus toward macOS users, experts have claimed.

The recent discovery of macOS.NotLockBit suggests a shift in the landscape, as this newly identified malware, named after the notorious LockBit variant, could mark the beginning of more serious ransomware campaigns against Mac users.

Discovered by researchers at Trend Micro and later analyzed by SentinelLabs, macOS.NotLockBit shows credible file-locking and data exfiltration capabilities, posing a potential risk to macOS users.

macOS.NotLockBit threat

Ransomware targeting Mac devices tends to lack the necessary tools to truly lock files or exfiltrate data. The general perception has been that macOS is better protected against these kinds of threats, partially due to Apple's built-in security features, such as Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) protections. However, the emergence of macOS.NotLockBit signals that hackers are actively developing more sophisticated methods for targeting Apple devices.

macOS.NotLockBit functions similarly to other ransomware, but it specifically targets macOS systems. The malware only runs on Intel-based Macs or Apple silicon Macs with Rosetta emulation software installed, which allows it to execute x86_64 binaries on newer Apple processors.

Upon execution, the ransomware collects system information, including the product name, version, and architecture. It also gathers data on how long the system has been running since its last reboot. Before locking the user’s files, macOS.NotLockBit attempts to exfiltrate data to a remote server using Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3 storage. The malware employs a public key for asymmetric encryption, meaning decryption without the attacker’s private key is nearly impossible.

The malware drops a README.txt file in directories containing encrypted files. The encrypted files are marked with an “.abcd” extension, and the README instructs victims on how to recover their files, typically by paying a ransom. Additionally, in later versions of the malware, macOS.NotLockBit displays a LockBit 2.0-themed desktop wallpaper, co-opting the branding of the LockBit ransomware group.

Thankfully, Apple’s TCC protections remain a hard nut for macOS.NotLockBit to crack. These safeguards require user consent before granting access to sensitive directories or allowing control over processes like System Events. While this creates a hurdle for the ransomware’s full functionality, bypassing TCC protection is not insurmountable, and security experts expect that future iterations of the malware may develop ways to circumvent these alerts.

Researchers from SentinelLabs and Trend Micro have not yet identified a specific distribution method, and there are no known victims at present. However, the rapid evolution of the malware demonstrated by the increasing size and sophistication of each new sample indicates that the attackers are actively working on improving its capabilities.

SentinelLabs identified multiple versions of the malware, suggesting that macOS.NotLockBit is still in active development. Early samples appeared lighter in functionality, focusing solely on encryption. Later versions added data exfiltration capabilities and began employing AWS S3 cloud storage to exfiltrate stolen files. The attackers hardcoded AWS credentials into the malware to create new repositories for storing victim data, though these accounts have since been deactivated.

In one of its most recent versions, macOS.NotLockBit requires macOS Sonoma, indicating that the malware developers are targeting some the latest macOS versions. It also showed attempts at obfuscating code, suggesting that the attackers are testing various techniques to evade detection by antivirus software.

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• AI investments aren't slowing, despite skepticism and real world dangers
• AI is expected to be an integral part of most industries
• Tech giants are going nuclear to manage electricity demands

Despite the wide-ranging potential applications of AI technology, concerns remain about its reliability, the legality of training models on copyrighted data without permission, and environmental impact.

In face of this, many investors believe generative AI will become integral to industries such as business analytics, creative services, and automation.

Analysts predict 60% of current skeptics will embrace generative AI within the next few years, knowingly or not, and investors are not slowing down as they continue to throw their hat in the ring.

The rapid expansion of Generative AI

New figures from PitchBook hae claimed investment in generative AI startups remains robust, with venture capitalists pouring $3.9 billion across 206 deals in the third quarter of 2024. US-based companies attracted the lion’s share, raising $2.9 billion across 127 deals and this does not include OpenAI’s notable $6.6 billion round.

Some standout funding rounds include Magic, a coding assistant startup that secured $320 million in August, and Glean, an enterprise search company, which raised $260 million in September.

Meanwhile, Hebbia, a business analytics firm, drew $130 million in July. Furthermore, investments extended beyond the U.S., with China’s Moonshot AI raising $300 million and Japan’s Sakana AI closing a $214 million round focused on scientific discovery.

Unfortunately, the rapid expansion of generative AI also brings challenges, particularly regarding energy consumption. According to Bain & Company, companies deploying AI at scale will require gigawatt-scale data centers, which consume up to 20 times the power of typical data centers today. This demand risks straining global electricity and labour markets.

The reliance on data centers has already prolonged the use of coal-fired power plants, with Morgan Stanley warning greenhouse gas emissions could triple by 2030 if the trend continues unchecked.

In response, major data center operators like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are turning to nuclear energy to offset their environmental impact. Microsoft, for instance, announced plans to source power from the controversial Three Mile Island nuclear facility, though such projects could take years to become operational.

Despite these environmental and technical hurdles, investor interest in generative AI remains high. ElevenLabs, known for its viral voice-cloning tool, is reportedly seeking to raise funds at a $3 billion valuation. Black Forest Labs, the company behind a controversial image generator on the X platform, is also in talks for a $100 million funding round.

Via TechCrunch

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 15.

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Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #553) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• THUMB
• KEY
• LEAF
• STYLE
• MACE
• MAR
• FLAIL
• FLIP
• SPEAR
• CLOVE
• TANK
• PEPPER
• RIFFLE
• FLOUNDER
• NUTMEG
• FLOP

NYT Connections today (game #553) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Seasonings
• GREEN: Below par
• BLUE: Browsing
• PURPLE: Popular vocalists

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #553) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: SPICES
• GREEN: PERFORM POORLY 
• BLUE: SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGES 
• PURPLE: POP SINGERS MINUS "S" 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #553) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #553, are…

• YELLOW: SPICES CLOVE, MACE, NUTMEG, PEPPER
• GREEN: PERFORM POORLY FLAIL, FLOP, FLOUNDER, TANK
• BLUE: SKIM THROUGH, AS PAGES FLIP, LEAF, RIFFLE, THUMB
• PURPLE: POP SINGERS MINUS "S" KEY, MAR, SPEAR, STYLE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

As someone who is known to PERFORM BADLY at Connections, it’s no surprise that I landed on the Green group first today – although I did momentarily think the connection was “Things you do when drunk”.

POP SINGERS MINUS “S” was a good one, especially as SPEAR could have been a weapon along with RIFLE and MACE.

I’m off to listen to Empire State of Mind.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, 14 December, game #552)

• YELLOW: FISH FLUKE, MULLET, SOLE, TANG
• GREEN: WORDS IN AN AUCTION-ENDING PHRASE GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE
• BLUE: GLOBAL CURRENCIES POUND, REAL, SOL, YUAN
• PURPLE: WORDS BEFORE "CUP" BUTTER, DIVA, SOLO, WORLD

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #287) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Moonlighting

NYT Strands today (game #287) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• QUEST
• TEAR
• BEST
• RESCUE
• TAPE
• NEAR

NYT Strands today (game #287) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Satellite stages

NYT Strands today (game #287) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 5th row

Last side: right, 5th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #287) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #287, are…

• FULL
• WANING
• WAXING
• GIBBOUS
• QUARTER
• CRESCENT
• SPANGRAM: LUNAR PHASE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Many wonderful songs mention the moon – Moon River, Fly Me to the Moon, Moondance, Bad Moon Rising – but few mention a particular LUNAR PHASE, today’s Spangram.

A couple of exceptions…

The fabulous Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys, is a tribute to someone with greater otherworldly talent than the singer, Mike Scott. “I sighed, you swooned," he croons. "I saw the crescent / You saw the whole of the Moon”.

Another favorite is Easy from Now On by Emmylou Harris, which describes running away from a bad relationship and finding yourself beneath a “Quarter moon in a ten-cent town”.

Finally, a tune about the phase of the moon when it appears bulging outward but is not yet full: the off-kilter lament Gibbous Moon by Momus: "This world is lugubrious/ Aghast beneath a gibbous moon/ Waxing and waning with the death of all feeling/ But we will be free soon.”

Thank you, Strands, for this little Spotify rabbit hole.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, 14 December, game #286)

• FIRE 
• PASSION
• DRIVE 
• DEVOTION
• INTENSITY
• PURPOSE
• SPANGRAM: GO GETTER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1056) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1056) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.

Quordle today (game #1056) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1056) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1056) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• D

• S

• L

• G

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1056) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1056, are…

• DROVE
• STILT
• LINEN
• GIANT

I started with Point and Break today. There are no repeat letters, so it’s not a bad punt – and well, it’s my tribute to one of the greatest films of all time.

But where did my gamble get me? I went to the red zone as I ran out of lines for LINEN and climbed on board the last train to Loserville.

As the rain thunders down on my laptop and the waves crash, there is only one thing left to say word-surfing Quordle friends…

Vaya con Dios.

How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.

Daily Sequence today (game #1056) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1056, are…

• SHARD
• CHURN
• MACRO
• PRANK

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #10545, Saturday 14 December: SPIEL, ONSET, TIGER, DITTO
• Quordle #1054, Friday 13 December: ERECT, REBAR, MOIST, IDIOM
• Quordle #1053, Thursday 12 December: MILKY, CRIER, STORK, DRIER
• Quordle #1052, Wednesday 11 December: BRIAR, NASAL, SHARD, FLUFF
• Quordle #1051, Tuesday 10 December: BEGAN, TRIAL, IDEAL, GUIDE
• Quordle #1050, Monday 9 December: TITAN, FORTE, SPEED, BRIAR
• Quordle #1049, Sunday 8 December: BUNCH, SHINY, MOULT, INTRO
• Quordle #1048, Saturday 7 December: SHAKY, CROOK, GHOUL, VERSE
• Quordle #1047, Friday 6 December: BRAWL, UNTIL, DOWRY, STING
• Quordle #1046, Thursday 5 December: AGING, BICEP, CLOVE, SPILL
• Quordle #1045, Wednesday 4 December: JUDGE, GIVER, GNASH, CLOAK
• Quordle #1044, Tuesday 3 December: FUDGE, THICK, CRANK, STASH
• Quordle #1043, Monday 2 December: TROPE, HOVER, SAUNA, SHAPE
• Quordle #1042, Sunday 1 December: NAIVE, CIRCA, STEAD, MICRO
• Quordle #1041, Saturday 30 November: MAMMA, SNUCK, CRYPT, TAROT
• Quordle #1040, Friday 29 November: JOIST, DROOL, DUSKY, GLIDE
• Quordle #1039, Thursday 28 November: GRADE, WORRY, NOISE, DAISY
• Quordle #1038, Wednesday 27 November: HEART, ROGUE, INEPT, UTILE
• Quordle #1037, Tuesday 26 November: PRIED, FAINT, HURRY, WOOER
• Quordle #1036, Monday 25 November: NUDGE, SNOOP, SHACK, DRYLY

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