TechRadar News

• Shuttle XH610G2 offers compact design supporting Intel Core processors up to 24 cores
• Exclusive heat pipe technology ensures reliable operation in demanding environments
• Flexible storage options include M.2 slots and SATA interfaces

Shuttle has released its latest mini PC, aimed at meeting the diverse demands of modern commercial tasks.

With a small 5-liter chassis and a compact design measuring just 250mm x 200mm x 95mm, the Shuttle XH610G2 employs the Intel H610 chipset, making it compatible with a broad spectrum of Intel Core processors, from the latest 14th Gen models back to the 12th Gen series.

The company says the device is designed to handle applications that require significant computational power like image recognition, 3D video creation, and AI data processing.

Shuttle XH610G2

The Shuttle XH610G2 comes with an exclusive heat pipe cooling technology which allows the workstation to operate reliably even in demanding environments, being capable of withstanding temperatures from 0 to 50 degrees Celsius, making it suitable for continuous operation in various commercial settings.

The Shuttle XH610G2 can accommodate Intel Core models with up to 24 cores and a peak clock speed of 5.8GHz. This processing power allows the workstation to handle intensive tasks while staying within a 65W thermal design power (TDP) limit. The graphics are enhanced by the integrated Intel UHD graphics with Xe architecture, offering capabilities to manage demanding visual applications, from high-quality media playback to 4K triple-display setups. The inclusion of dual HDMI 2.0b ports and a DisplayPort output facilitates independent 4K display support.

The XH610G2 offers extensive customization and scalability with support for dual PCIe slots, one x16 and one x1, allowing users to install discrete graphics cards or other high-performance components like video capture cards.

For memory, the XH610G2 supports up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM memory, split across two slots, making ideal for resource-intensive applications, providing the system with the necessary power to handle complex computational tasks efficiently. Running at a low 1.1V, this memory configuration also minimizes energy consumption, which can be a significant advantage in environments conscious of power usage.

In terms of storage, this device features a SATA 6.0Gb/s interface for a 2.5-inch SSD or HDD, along with two M.2 slots for NVMe and SATA storage options. Users are recommended to choose a SATA SSD over a traditional HDD to ensure faster performance.

The I/O options on the XH610G2 further enhance its flexibility, with four USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two Ethernet ports, one supporting 1GbE and another 2.5GbE, and an optional RS232 COM port offering enhanced compatibility for specialized peripheral connections, which can be particularly useful in industrial or legacy environments.

Furthermore, the compact chassis includes M.2 expansion slots for both WLAN and LTE adapters, providing options for wireless connectivity that can be critical in setups where wired connections are not feasible.

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• TeamGroup claims CAMM2 memory promises high-speed DDR5 performance
• Revolutionary design offers dual-channel operation in a single module
• Limited motherboard compatibility poses challenges for CAMM2 adoption

TeamGroup has introduced its Compression Attached Memory Module 2 (CAMM2), promising high-speed DDR5 performance with its new T-Create lineup.

The company says CAMM2 features a revolutionary design that offers significant advantages over traditional memory types like SO-DIMM, U-DIMM, and R-DIMM. It supports dual-channel operation with just one module, streamlining system architecture and lowering power consumption.

The built-in Client Clock Driver (CKD) boosts signal integrity, making CAMM2 well-suited for slim notebooks while its optimized thermal design enhances heat dissipation, allowing higher performance despite the smaller form factor.

CAMM2-compatible motherboards are very scarce

The T-Create CAMM2 modules are designed with DDR5-7200 specifications and a CAS latency of CL34-42-42-84, delivering remarkable read, write, and copy speeds of up to 117GB/s, 108GB/s, and 106GB/s, respectively.

This performance is achieved through manual overclocking, which has driven latency down to 55ns, a significant reduction compared to typical DDR5 JEDEC specifications. TeamGroup is now focused on pushing boundaries and the company says it is working to achieve even faster speeds, aiming to reach DDR5-8000 and even DDR5-9000 in future iterations.

One major setback for TeamGroup lies in the availability of CAMM2-compatible motherboards, which are currently limited. The T-Create CAMM2 memory was tested on MSI’s Z790 Project Zero, one of the few boards currently compatible with this new form factor.

Other brands, such as Gigabyte, hint at possible CAMM2-enabled designs, like an upcoming TACHYON board. However, the CAMM2 ecosystem is still emerging, and widespread adoption may depend on the release of more compatible boards and competitive pricing.

Nevertheless, TeamGroup expects to launch the first-generation T-Create CAMM2 modules by Q1 2025, with broader motherboard support potentially arriving as manufacturers introduce new CPU platforms. With AMD and Intel rumoured to announce budget-friendly CPUs at CES 2025, the rollout of mid-range boards compatible with CAMM2 could align with TeamGroup’s release plans, potentially helping CAMM2 secure a foothold in the market.

CAMM2 offers a couple of advantages over the widely used SO-DIMM, UDIMM, and RDIMM standards. Notably, CAMM2 modules operate in dual-channel mode while only occupying a single physical slot. Furthermore, they incorporate a Client Clock Driver (CKD), similar to CUDIMM memory, which bolsters signal integrity at high speeds, allowing for more reliable and faster memory performance.

These features make CAMM2 particularly appealing for laptops, which often face limitations with current SO-DIMM speeds or non-upgradeable LPDDR5/5X options.

Via Tom's Hardware

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• Fake text message alerts claim to be from legitimate courier service
• URL requests personal or financial information to arrange redelivery
• If in doubt, go to the official website and enter your tracking number

A new survey has revealed the fastest-growing type of scam and it’s probably one you’ve already received this month: a fake parcel delivery alert sent by text message.

According to research published by NatWest, a UK bank, fake delivery alerts are the fastest-growing con of 2024. The study combines industry data with feedback from a survey of 2,000 British adults.

These messages, delivered to your mobile phone by SMS, claim to be from a courier service. They state that a package delivery has been attempted and needs to be rescheduled. They then prompt the recipient to click a link.

This malicious URL leads to a phishing website designed to look legitimate. It will ask for personal details and usually request a fee payment to arrange the fictitious redelivery. If users submit their information here, including login credentials or credit card details, cybercriminals will be able to use them for fraudulent purposes, including purchases.

Companies commonly impersonated in examples we’ve seen include FedEx, DHL and UPS. Because it’s common to receive real redelivery alerts by SMS, it’s easy to be fooled by an apparently convincing message. It’s also easier to fake an SMS alert, because it contains fewer words and doesn’t include a logo.

The scheme uses tactics common to most phishing scams. The message creates a sense urgency, as most people will want to respond to a missed package and arrange its redelivery as soon as possible. They might also receive and read the SMS when they are away from home and distracted, meaning they don’t pay enough attention to whether it is legitimate.

The scam is particularly effective at this time of year, because many people will be expecting genuine deliveries ahead of the festive season. The scam also relies on emotional manipulation: a lot of these packages will contain presents for love ones, so people will be particularly keen to ensure that they are safely delivered.

As a result, recipients of the SMS may act quickly to resolve the apparent issue. This could cause them to overlook inconsistencies in the message, such as the lack of tracking number.

How to stay safe

Some examples of the kinds of scam 'missed parcel' SMS text messages you might see this holiday season (credit: National Cyber Security Centre). (Image credit: National Cyber Security Centre)

As with any SMS message or email you receive which claims to be from a real company, the most important step is to stop and think before clicking on a link. Be alert to tell-tale signs of a phishing scam, particularly any urgent requests for personal or financial information.

Stuart Skinner, a Fraud Expert from NatWest, advises people: “Think about it: would a real delivery company ask you to follow a link and make a payment?”

This statement from FedEx reflects the position of most courier services: “FedEx does not request, via unsolicited mail, email, or text, any personal information pertaining to your account credentials or identity.”

Once you’ve paused for thought, consider the details in the message and ask yourself a few questions. Are you expecting a delivery? If so, which company is handling that delivery? You should have received a confirmation when you placed your order, which should tell you the courier service and tracking number. If those don’t match up, then you’ve received a fake message.

You should also look out for grammatical errors in the message, as well as misspelled website addresses or variations of real URLs. If you’re uncertain about a link, don’t click it. Instead, head directly to the courier service’s official website and input your tracking number. This ensures you’re seeing genuine information about your package, including whether any action is required.

Most couriers offer advice about how to avoid fake delivery scams. For example, DHL states: “If you don't recognize the sender and don't expect the email or text message, there's a chance you're phishing.”

The United States Postal Inspection Service echoes this advice: “If you suspect the text message you have received is suspicious but are expecting a parcel, please do not click on any links. Rather, report it and visit USPS.com from your mobile device or computer for tracking and additional resources..”

UPS has a similar recommendation: “If you are unsure of the validity of a text, do not click or select any links or open any attachments as they may contain a virus.”

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• MobiSystems rebrands to MobiOffice
• Adds new MobiScan app for mobile document management
• Affordable pricing aims to attract a billion users worldwide

MobiSystems, known for its OfficeSuite software, has rebranded under a new unified platform to provide an integrated productivity experience that combines office software, PDF editing, and cloud storage within a single package.

The rebrand to MobiOffice will includes MobiPDF (formerly PDF Extra) and MobiDrive, all redesigned to offer a more integrated productivity tool experience.

With a user base of over 550 million worldwide, MobiSystems has now set its sights on the billion mark with the introduction of new products, including MobiScan, a mobile scanning app.

MobiOffice is here

MobiDocs offers a streamlined tool for document creation, supporting both basic text editing and advanced formatting options. Users can quickly create professional-grade documents, benefiting from customizable templates and an AI-powered paraphraser that adds sophistication and ease to the writing process.

For those focused on data management, MobiSheets provides straightforward tools for organizing home budgets and offers advanced data processing options like Pivot Tables for more complex business needs.

MobiSlides is designed to simplify the process of creating presentations, providing an intuitive design suite with customizable templates and options for animations, multimedia integration, and custom transitions.

Each of these components is also available as a standalone app on Windows, giving users the option to select the specific tools they need without purchasing the entire suite.

Formerly known as PDF Extra, MobiPDF lets users create and edit PDFs across platforms, including Windows, Android, and iOS. Built with an integrated mobile scanner, MobiPDF allows users to create high-quality PDFs from any document, including file conversion for over 20 formats, password protection, and advanced encryption, making it suitable for users who prioritize data security.

MobiDrive provides secure and scalable cloud storage, ranging from 20GB of free storage to 2TB paid plans. This service supports storage and conversion for over 1,200 file formats, making it a versatile option for users who need universal accessibility. MobiDrive is available on Windows, Android, iOS, and the web.

MobiOffice Premium is priced at $4.19 per month, or a one-time fee of $99.99 for lifetime access. For users who prefer individual apps, MobiDocs, MobiSheets, and MobiSlides are available at $2.49 per month each. MobiPDF is also priced affordably at $4.19 per month. Meanwhile, MobiDrive’s cloud storage options start at $4.99 per month for up to 2TB.

"In today’s fast-paced world, we provide a solution designed for everyone, helping people accomplish any task, from anywhere, on any device—so they can thrive in whatever they do," noted Justin Priestley, MobiSystems Chief Marketing Officer.

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• New QLC technology boosts storage capacity and performance
• High-Speed Link Startup Sequence reduces initialization time by 70%
• Enhanced security features protect sensitive user data effectively

The growing demands of mobile technology have increased the need for high-capacity and high-speed data storage, and as digital devices continue to advance, the industry seeks a way to handle larger data loads while delivering fast and efficient performance.

Kioxia has now launched the mass production of its latest innovation: the industry’s first QLC UFS 4.0 embedded flash memory device.

The new device is designed with quadruple-level cell (QLC) technology and comes with a higher bit density and increased storage capacity thanks to Universal Flash Storage (UFS) technology.

High-speed performance for demanding applications

With this new QLC UFS 4.0 device, Kioxia offers higher storage capacity within a compact structure which not only benefits compact devices like mobile phones and tablets but also PCs, networking systems, and emerging fields like AR, VR, and AI that require robust storage solutions.

Kioxia’s QLC UFS 4.0 device has impressive data transfer rates with the device reaching sequential read speeds of up to 4,200 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 3,200 MB/s. These speeds are achieved by utilizing the UFS 4.0 interface, which supports interface speeds as high as 23.2 Gbps per lane or 46.4 Gbps per device.

This combination of QLC storage with the latest UFS interface technology provides a significant performance boost, making it well-suited for data-heavy applications. As a result, users can expect faster file transfers, smoother streaming, and more efficient multitasking, particularly for mobile and high-performance computing devices.

Kioxia’s new QLC UFS 4.0 device is also built on its proprietary BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory, known for its durability and efficiency. Designed to meet the JEDEC standard, the UFS 4.0 package combines this advanced memory with a dedicated controller to optimize performance. With backward compatibility with UFS 3.1, Kioxia’s UFS 4.0 devices offer an upgrade path for users.

To enhance its practical application, Kioxia’s QLC UFS 4.0 device features a High-Speed Link Startup Sequence (HS-LSS), a new method that accelerates device-to-host initialization. By allowing link startup at a faster HS-G1 Rate A rather than the conventional slower speed, HS-LSS reduces link startup time by about 70%.

In addition to faster initialization, the device also includes enhanced security capabilities with Advanced Replay Protected Memory Block (RPMB) features. These security measures protect user data by securing access to sensitive information, such as credentials. With RPMB Purge, users can also ensure that discarded data is fully sanitized, adding another layer of confidence in data protection.

Furthermore, Kioxia’s QLC UFS Ver. 4.0 device supports an Extended Initiator ID (Ext-IID), which is designed to work with Multi Circular Queue (MCQ) in the UFS 4.0 host controller. This feature boosts random performance, a critical component for devices requiring fast and distributed access to data across multiple applications. With Ext-IID, the device is better equipped to manage complex data tasks, providing faster, more efficient performance for users with demanding workloads.

Via BusinessWire

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Yellowjackets season 3: key information

- Renewed in December 2022
- Will be released on February 14, 2025
- First trailer officially revealed
- Main cast expected to return
- Hilary Swank and Joel McHale to guest star
- No official plot details released yet
- Season 2 finale teases potential story threads
- Showrunners have plans for more seasons

Yellowjackets season 3 is undoubtedly hotly-anticipated considering it's one of the best shows on Paramount Plus. A delicious mix of survival thriller and coming-of-age drama, the show follows two timelines – one in 1996 as a group of female high school soccer players find themselves deserted in the wilderness after their plane crashes, and one, in the present day where they're attempting to cope with the fallout.

Season 1 and 2 laid out the girls fight for survival, resorting to cannibalism to stay alive. Yet, in the present-day timeline, the survivors are still trying to piece their lives back together, 25 years on, with the past coming back to haunt them. As the show’s official logline says, “the past is never really past”.

Season 3 returns on February 14, 2025. Yes, that's Valentines Day, and no, we're not expecting Yellowjackets to suddenly become a romance. Though, even as a show filled with horror and hard-to-watch moments, there's still a multitude of storylines to explore in season 3, one of which delves deeper into a connection. Here's everything you need to know from cast predictions, to plot speculation, and more.

Full spoilers follow for Yellowjackets season 1 and 2. Potential spoilers are also discussed for season 3.

Yellowjackets season 3 release date

A post shared by Yellowjackets (@yellowjackets)

A photo posted by on

Yellowjackets season 3 officially has a release date – and it's February 14, 2025. The show was renewed back in December 2022, before season 2 was even released, so it's no surprise that we've got news to share. The first two episodes will drop on Valentine's Day, if you're craving a thrilling night-in, and the rest will follow on February 16.

Entertainment Weekly previously reported a bonus episode was coming to bridge the gap between season 2 and 3, though Lyle confirmed: “The truth is that there is a bonus episode but we may need to wait a bit longer for it.” There's not long left for this secret drop to happen, but we'll keep our eyes peeled.

Yellowjackets season 3 trailer

The Yellowjackets season 3 trailer teases more spine-chilling savagery and was unveiled in early December, just a couple of months before season 3's arrival. Across 80 seconds, it hints that: “the past will come back to haunt you", which is suitably apt for the way Yellowjackets has gone so far.

It also continues to tease that someone is trying to kill the island’s survivors. And that's not the only threat as an unknown person is seen hiding behind a Yellowjackets survivors’ notorious cannibalism mask, meaning there’s most likely going to be more people-eating in season 3. Most notably though is a brief glimpse at Hilary Swank's guest-starring role. Though we don't know who she plays yet, it seems she's been bloodied by something and doesn't look particularly calm about it.

Yellowjackets season 3 confirmed cast

Taissa, Van, Jeff and Shauna in Yellowjackets season 3 (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Spoilers follow for Yellowjackets season 1 and 2.

Here's the confirmed cast for Yellowjackets season 3 so far:

• Melanie Lynskey as Shauna
• Christina Ricci as Misty
• Tawny Cypress as Taissa
• Simone Kessell as Lottie
• Lauren Ambros as Van
• Sophie Nélisse as young Shauna
• Sophie Thatcher as young Natalie
• Samantha Hanratty as young Misty
• Courtney Eaton as young Lottie
• Jasmin Savoy Brown as young Taissa
• Liv Hewson as young Van
• Steven Kreuger as Coach Ben
• Elijah Wood as Adam
• Hilary Swank as TBC
• Joel McHale as TBC

There’s two new cast members joining Yellowjackets season 3; Hilary Swank and Joel McHale. Deadline revealed in September 2024 that Swank was joining the cast as a recurring guest star. In the report, it also said: “I hear there is an option for her to become a series regular should the hit series get a fourth season.” From the trailer featured above, we know that she exists in the present-day timeline, though her character is yet to be revealed. For Joel McHale, as per Variety, Yellowjackets season 3 will also see the Community alum guest star. Though exact details of his character are also being kept firmly under wraps.

Yellowjackets season 3 story synopsis and rumors

What's next for Misty in Yellowjackets season 3? (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Full spoilers follow for Yellowjackets seasons 1 and 2.

There’s a lot to discuss when it comes to where Yellowjackets season 3 could take the story next. In an exclusive first look, Entertainment Weekly spoke to co-creator Ashley Lyle who revealed that, “there’s a little bit of a time jump in both timelines” in season 3.

The best place to start when it comes to the plot synopsis for Yellowjackets season 3 is by taking a look at the season 2 finale where both timelines were in trouble. In the past, the shelter where the girls had been staying was burnt to the ground in an epic finale. How? It appears as though Coach Ben was responsible, as well as locking the girls inside, since he was last seen standing outside with a box of matches. Very suspicious.

The group also have a new leader and Antler Queen – Natalie. While Shauna was left seething from the choice that Lottie made, there’s clearly some tensions to explore in season 3. During an interview with EW, Sophie Thatcher who plays young Natalie said: “I have no idea if people will actually follow through with her being leader. That’s exciting to think about. But the writers are always surprising us.”

Season 2 saw Lottie's wellness retreat take center stage (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

In the present-day timeline, Shauna became the next target as Lottie led the women on another hunt. Though she’s saved, by her daughter, just in time. Lottie, Van, Natalie, Misty, Taissa, and Shauna reunited at Lottie's sinister wellness retreat.

The reunion quickly took a turn when Lottie stated that they needed to sacrifice someone to the wilderness, beginning the ritual they created in the past. From this stemmed one of the most shocking parts of the season 2 finale, the death of Natalie (Juliette Lewis). Viewers witnessed as she was accidentally killed by Misty (Christina Ricci), who was trying to save her and kill Lisa instead. The repercussions of which are sure to play out in season 3.

Nickerson reveals plans to further explore Van and Taissa's relationship (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Plus, there’s the relationship between Van and Taissa to explore. Co-creator Bart Nickerson told EW: “One of the things that we have always been trying to play with, but maybe this season even more so is that, as a result of a lot of their experiences, they’ve obviously put a lot of terrible stuff away, but they’re also trying to recapture some of the best of themselves from that time, too. Some of that will be explored through that relationship.”

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Lyle said, when it comes to season 3, there's "at least two very big questions" that they'll be answering. Adding: "We are going to learn more about what happened in the wilderness that they are so afraid of coming out. We hope it will be both satisfying and at times unexpected." Plus, in a X/Twitter post, she said: "Are we gonna get weirder? Probably! Will the fallout of *redacted*’s death affect our (anti)heroes in massive ways? Will our girls’ struggle to survive against the elements (and themselves) get even down and dirtier? Do we still have to tell the story of Pit Girl? You betcha!"

Where to watch Yellowjackets season 1 and 2?

Yellowjackets is available for Paramount Plus with Showtime subscribers (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Wondering how to watch Yellowjackets season 1 and 2? Both seasons of Yellowjackets are available to stream for those with a Paramount Plus with Showtime subscription, one of the best streaming services right now.

Will Yellowjackets return after season 3?

For Yellowjackets, there's a lot more story to explore (Image credit: Paramount Plus)

While there's no official news around Yellowjackets season 4, the show was renewed for season 3 before season 2 even came out, so there could be something to share sooner rather than later. Though Melanie Lynskey, who plays Shauna, posted on X/Twitter: "Look I'll do this show forever if they let me."

And it appears while it may not be forever, there could at least be a couple more seasons of Yellowjackets coming. Speaking with EW, Lyle revealed: "The original plan was about five seasons, and we feel like we're still on track for that." Though she added: "There's always room for things,' though "we don't really see this as being more than a five-season show. I think that there are shows that can go forever, but I think that when you're telling such a deeply serialized story and it's about these characters' lives, you want to reach a satisfying conclusion and not just drag things out forever."

For more Max-focused coverage, read our guides on the best Max shows, best Max movies, The Last of Us season 2, and Peacemaker season 2.

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 #1062) - 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 #1062) - 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 1.

Quordle today (game #1062) - 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 #1062) - 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 3.

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 #1062) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• B

• S

• S

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

Quordle today (game #1062) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1062, are…

• STRIP
• BUDGE
• SAPPY
• SHELF

Having three words that started with the same letter was a big help today, as was getting all five letters of STRIP and four of SAPPY with my opening guesses.

My streak nearly ended when I gambled that there would be a second double-letter word, but I still made it home with a space to spare. More of this form and I might give Extreme a go.

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

Daily Sequence today (game #1062) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1062, are…

• CHECK
• TAWNY
• ERODE
• DRIED

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1061, Friday 20 December: PENAL, EAGLE, DILLY, QUITE
• Quordle #1060, Thursday 19 December: JEWEL, GNOME, TRAMP, IDLER
• Quordle #1059, Wednesday 18 December: LITHE, BIRTH, HUMID, ROBOT
• Quordle #1058, Tuesday 17 December: DOING, ENJOY, SNAKY, AMPLE
• Quordle #1057, Monday 16 December: HYDRO, CREAM, CHIDE, SLIME
• Quordle #1056, Sunday 15 December: DROVE, STILT, LINEN, GIANT
• Quordle #1055, 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

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 #559) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• BAND
• SLEIGH
• BALONEY
• PAN
• BUNK
• GROUCH
• CIRCLE
• CANOPY
• CROCK
• O
• STATUETTE
• POT
• RING
• MURPHY
• CASSEROLE
• HOOP

NYT Connections today (game #559) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Circumference
• GREEN: Bake off
• BLUE: Sleepy?
• PURPLE: What Academy and Wilde have in common

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 #559) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: LOOP 
• GREEN: COOKING VESSELS 
• BLUE: KINDS OF BEDS
• PURPLE: THINGS CALLED "OSCAR" 

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

NYT Connections today (game #559) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #559, are…

• YELLOW: LOOP BAND, CIRCLE, HOOP, RING
• GREEN: COOKING VESSELS CASSEROLE, CROCK, PAN, POT
• BLUE: KINDS OF BEDS BUNK, CANOPY, MURPHY, SLEIGH
• PURPLE: THINGS CALLED "OSCAR" BALONEY, GROUCH, O, STATUETTE

• My rating: Moderate
• My score: 1 mistake

Even though I only had eight words left I still struggled to find one of the two final groups of four today.

I knew BUNK and CANOPY were beds, but couldn't think of what the other two could be, and used a mistake guessing O, which I thought could be what you call those big circular beds that people with huge houses and extensive collections of soft toys might have. It’s not. But I discovered that the American name for those ingenious beds that fold up against a wall is MURPHY.

Google “Murphy bed” and you’ll discover that accidents, or fear of an accident, are a major concern for owners and prospective owners. It turns out their fears are unfounded – despite its slapstick reputation. A recent report studying 24 years of injuries found that zero fatalities were caused by Murphy Beds. Ceiling fans, on the other hand, cause approximately 25 deaths per year in the US. Every day’s a school day!

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, 20 December, game #558)

• YELLOW: CONCOCTION COCKTAIL, COMPOUND, MIXTURE, SOLUTION
• GREEN: TYPES OF SENTENCES COMMAND, EXCLAMATION, QUESTION, STATEMENT
• BLUE: KINDS OF BROS CRYPTO, FINANCE, PHARMA, TECH
• PURPLE: COMPLAINT HOMOPHONES GROWN,MOWN, WHALE, WINE

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Keeping the faith

NYT Strands today (game #293) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• MELT
• STEEP
• MORE
• SEEP
• SEED
• PREY

NYT Strands today (game #293) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Places of worship

NYT Strands today (game #293) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 6th row

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

NYT Strands today (game #293) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #293, are…

• ABBEY
• TABERNACLE
• MOSQUE
• TEMPLE
• MONASTERY
• SPANGRAM: SACRED SPACES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

Today’s theme was an obvious one, but for one fleeting moment I thought Strands could be paying tribute to the Northern Soul musical movement of the 1970s, whose slogan was Keeping The Faith.

The scene is quite an anomaly in the history of British music and was centered around a handful of SACRED SPACES (night clubs) in northern English towns, which put on all-nighters playing rare soul records – and the rarer the better. Despite being relatively short lived it had a huge legacy, thanks to the music and the passion and fervour of its followers.

Right, Strands done, I’m off to listen to Tainted Love.

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

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, 20 December, game #292)

• LOOP
• FLAKE
• CHARM
• SMACK
• PEBBLE
• CRUNCH
• CHEERIO
• SPANGRAM: CEREAL

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.

• Disney has created a fun, free, interactive game within Galaxy's Edge.
• With a MagicBand+ and smartphone, you can join the Bounty Hunters’ Guild.
• Thanks to technology in the band and around the land, you can explore and find bounty.

One of the best things about a Disney Parks visit is that you get immersed into the storyline of whichever park you’re in, and the company is known for going the extra mile. One of the best examples is Galaxy’s Edge, found at Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida.

The Imagineering arm spared no detail; I mean, you can walk right up to the Millennium Falcon – and pilot it or part of it with Smuggler’s Run – go on a mission in Rise of the Resistance, or simply walk around Batuu spending credits and drinking blue or green milk. You may even spot a Wookie, a resistance hero, or a Stormtrooper.

However, one of the more hidden-in-plain-sight, immersive aspects is the ability to become a bounty hunter, much like Mando in The Mandalorian. You can use your MagicBand+ with an iPhone or Android app (or just the latter) to join Bounty Hunters’ Guild and scour around Batuu searching for bounty.

It’s one of the many perks of a MagicBand+, which there’s a good chance you already have to gain entry in the park and can use to interact with other aspects around parks, including other attractions and even performing a mini light show during fireworks and parades.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

How does this work in Batuu, though? Well, when you enter Batuu at either Disney World or Disneyland, your MagicBand+ will glow, and you’ll need to find a terminal to enroll in the Bounty Hunters’ Guild. You’ll tap your band to the terminal and get a Bounty assigned. From there it’s sort of a treasure hunt – rather, bounty hunt – around the Black Spire Outpost area of Galaxy’s Edge at either park. As you get near where a bounty could be hiding, your MagicBand+ will light up and vibrate – either faster or slower – to basically tell you if you’re hot or cold.

Once you identify an area, you’ll take out your iPhone or Android phone and open up the ‘Play Disney’ app, which in turn transforms your phone into a Data Pad Scanner that the epic tech lets you scan and see behind doors or walls. You might just encounter the bounty you're after and can capture it. This is all possible thanks to AR (augmented reality) overlaying on your phone’s camera, but when you’re in the park, it pulls you further into your own Star Wars story.

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

It’s also an example of when technology isn’t front and center but creating some sense of wonder or magic behind the scenes, like Disney Imagineer’s lovely road to success. Through the power of the tech in wearable sensors that can interact with sensors throughout the land – while also simultaneously being your ticket into the park, payment, reservation unlocker, and more – it can also be used to deliver an interactive game.

If you’re at Galaxy’s Edge with a MagicBand+, I’d encourage you to give the Bounty Hunters’ Guild a go, and while it might not be as thrilling as a true ride, of which there are two to go on, it’s a bit more adventurous in that you never know what you might encounter.

After you’ve caught some bounty, you can go back to the terminal and see how many credits you might score. And the best thing? You can get another bounty and explore more of Batuu, and it’s very repeatable, with many different bounties to potentially score. And considering Star Wars: Batuu Bounty Hunters first hit the scene in 2022, it’s sort of a sleeper hit and leads me to wonder what experience might be cooked up next.

@jakekrol

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• 15% of Steam users' playtime dedicated to 2024 games
• 47% of playtime on games up to eight years old
• Many reasons for this, including more older games to play

Steam’s end-of-the-year review has always revealed some fascinating PC gaming trends and this year’s is no exception. According to 2024’s stats, only 15% of Steam users spent their total playing time on games that launched in 2024.

Looking further at the data that PC Gamer reports on, 47% of the total playing time on Steam was spent on games released in the last seven years, while 37% of that time was spent on games that launched eight years or more ago. Now the question is, why and what does this mean?

One possible explanation is that gamers could be focusing more on their backlogs rather than new releases. We do know that playtime for current releases is higher this year than in 2023, as there was an increase from 9% to 15%, which means players are buying new titles at least. There are other possibilities for this trend as well.

Other possibilities for this statistic

One reason could be that older games are easier to access due to their cheaper prices, especially due to the many Steam sales. There’s also the influence of the Steam Deck and what’s considered ‘Steam Deck playable,’ since many recent AAA games may be too demanding for a portable PC.

There’s also the fact that older live service games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and PUBG have made up Steam's Most Played charts, while newer titles have an incredibly difficult time breaking through and building a player base.

Another reason is that Steam has over 200,000 titles released over the course of decades, compared to the relatively paltry 18,000 games released in 2024 according to SteamDB. So naturally, more users will spend more time playing older games versus recent ones.

Regardless, 15% of playtime dedicated to new games is rather impressive, compared to 2022’s 17% stat. It means that the numbers are recovering after the massive dip in 2023. Hopefully next year we’ll see another increase, as gamers delve into more new titles.

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• OpenAI announced upcoming o3 and o3-mini AI models.
• The new models are enhanced "reasoning" AI models that build on the o1 and o1-mini models released this year.
• Both models handily outperform existing AI models and will roll out in the next few months.

The final day of the 12 Days of OpenAI, brought back OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to show off a brand new set of AI models coming in the new year. The o3 and o3-mini models are enhanced versions of the relatively new o1 and o1-mini models. They're designed to think before they speak, reasoning out their answers. The mini version is smaller and aimed more at carrying out a limited set of specific tasks but with the same approach.

OpenAI is calling it a big step toward artificial general intelligence (AGI), which is a pretty bold claim for what is, in some ways, a mild improvement to an already powerful model. You might have noticed there's a number missing between the current o1 and the upcoming o3 model. According to Altman, that's because OpenAI wants to avoid any confusion with British telecom company O2.

So, what makes o3 special? Unlike regular AI models that spit out answers quickly, o3 takes a beat to reason things out. This “private chain of thought” lets the model fact-check itself before responding, which helps it avoid some of the classic AI pitfalls, like confidently spewing out wrong answers. This extra thinking time can make o3 slower, even if only a little bit, but the payoff is better accuracy, especially in areas like math, science, and coding.

One great aspect of the new models is that you can adjust that extra thinking time manually. If you’re in a hurry, you can set it to “low compute” for quick responses. But if you want top-notch reasoning, crank it up to “high compute” and give it a little more time to mull things over. In tests, o3 has easily outstripped its predecessor.

This is not quite AGI; o3 can't take over for humans in every way. It also does not reach OpenAI's definition of AGI, which describes models that outperform humans in the most economically valuable projects. Still, should OpenAI reach that goal, things get interesting for its partnership with Microsoft since that would end OpenAI's obligation to give Microsoft exclusive access to the most advanced AI models.

New year, new models

Right now, o3 and its mini counterpart aren’t available to everyone. OpenAI is giving safety researchers a sneak peek via Copilot Labs, and the rest of us can expect the o3-mini model to drop in late January, with the full o3 following soon after. It’s a careful, measured rollout, which makes sense given the kind of power and complexity we’re talking about here.

Still, o3 gives us a glimpse of where things are headed: AI that doesn’t just generate content but actually thinks through problems. Whether it gets us to AGI or not, it’s clear that smarter, reasoning-driven AI is the next frontier. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see if o3 lives up to the hype or if this last gift from OpenAI is just a disguised lump of coal.

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• Asus' latest monitor releases come with a kit to mount a mini PC at the back
• There's also a groove to place your smartphone, plus an integrated USB hub
• Sadly it is not a 4K display, merely a full HD+ one

As Mini PCs are becoming increasingly powerful, offering a compact design and a wealth of ports, they offer a versatile solution for users who need a powerful setup but don’t necessarily have the workspace to dedicate to a traditional desktop PC.

Recognizing this trend, Asus has introduced two 24-inch monitors, the BE248CFN and BE248QF, which are designed to accommodate these miniature marvels. Each monitor includes a mounting kit to securely attach a mini PC at the back of the stand, positioned closer to the base for easier access.

The two monitors offer other practical features, including a groove at the base that you can use to stash a smartphone. There’s also an integrated USB hub for users managing multiple devices.

Not 4K, sadly

(Image credit: Asus)

Both models offer ergonomic adjustments to suit various viewing preferences. The stands support tilt from -5 to 35 degrees, swivel 180 degrees left and right, pivot 90 degrees in either direction, and 130mm of height adjustment. The IPS panels deliver wide 178-degree viewing angles and 16.7 million colors, with a 5ms response time, 350cd/m² brightness, and a contrast ratio of 3,000:1.

Rather disappointingly, the display resolution of the two screens is Full HD+ (1,920 x 1,200), rather than 4K upwards, which may limit their appeal to those requiring higher detail or sharper visuals, such as content creators, or those who like to have a lot of windows open on screen at the same time.

Connectivity varies slightly between the two models. The BE248CFN includes HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-C with a 96W power delivery function, a four-port USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub, and Gigabit Ethernet. The BE248QF adds a mini D-Sub 15-pin connector, catering to users with legacy hardware.

Both monitors incorporate 2W stereo speakers and Asus Eye Care technologies, such as Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light, which should make them comfortable to use during extended work sessions.

There’s no word on pricing or global availability as yet, but they should be on sale soon, starting in Japan, before hopefully heading to other countries.

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• Google Chrome is testing a new AI-powered scam detection feature
• It seemingly uses an on-device Large Language Model (LLM) to maintain user privacy
• AI-driven safety tools, including scam detection, help to fight the rise of AI-powered threats online

The world’s most popular browser, Google Chrome, is experimenting with a new AI-powered tool designed to help you avoid online scams.

The feature is currently being tested and apparently uses AI tech, specifically a Large Language Model (LLM) on the device, to analyze web pages and determine if they seem suspicious or scam-related.

This development was spotted by Leopeva64 on X, who regularly highlights web browser features which are being tested. What they actually discovered was a flag that can be enabled called ‘Client Side Detection Brand and Intent for Scam Detection,’ which is present in the latest version of Chrome’s experimental browser, Canary.

It looks like Chrome will also use AI to detect scams, there's a new flag in Canary that suggests this:https://t.co/uQb84zbqeW pic.twitter.com/7CyK5y4gtODecember 19, 2024

The new flag leverages an on-device LLM to investigate the content of any given web page and figure out what it's trying to do, and whether that content falls in line with the website’s supposed purpose or brand.

This is explained in the flag’s description, which reads: “Enables on-device LLM (large language model) output on pages to inquire for brand and intent of the page.”

(Image credit: Robinraj Premchand from Pixabay) On device is key to privacy

One key detail about this process is that it uses an on-device LLM, which means that the analysis of web pages happens on your device (as opposed to in the cloud somewhere, which would involve sending your browsing data to a third-party). In short, this means your data will stay private.

To try this feature out, you would have to install the latest Google Chrome Canary release, which is not something I’d generally recommend, unless you’re really keen (if so, you can follow Neowin’s advice on how to enable the new flag).

This is the latest in a series of AI-powered tools coming to Chrome, which also includes a ‘Store reviews’ feature that’s currently in testing. This capability uses AI to summarize reviews from platforms like Trustpilot or ScamAdvisor, helping users quickly check if an online store is reliable.

As ever, we don’t know if features in testing will make it through to release, but it’s likely these will - Google is keen on building out AI powers for its browser, and I expect we’ll see this scam warning system rolled out before too long. Unless the Google Chrome team finds some good reasons to go back to the drawing board.

Even though Chrome is the dominant web browser by a long way, Google shouldn’t rest on its laurels, and I think it’s very savvy of the company to keep improving its browser to stay in pole position. And with scammers and hostile actors now having AI-powered tools at their disposal, it’s good to see Google (hopefully) bringing LLMs in to help defend Chrome users from the unwanted attention of these nefarious types.

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• Lenovo Legion Go S may run SteamOS
• The handheld is also pictured with a Steam button
• Steam Deck designer attending Lenovo CES 2025 conference

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding Lenovo’s upcoming successor to its PC gaming handheld, the Lenovo Legion Go, being equipped with SteamOS. And now it seems there’s credit to these rumors, according to a new report.

One possible successor to the original handheld, the Lenovo Legion Go S, seems to feature SteamOS instead of the Windows 11 operating system that the Legion Go used. A new email circulating around Lenovo (shared by The Verge) may confirm that one of the designers of the Steam Deck — Pierre-Loup Griffais — will attend a Lenovo presentation at CES 2025 called ‘Lenovo Legion x AMD: The Future of Gaming Handhelds.’

The key takeaway is that Valve will have a presence at this event in the first place, which is what hints at the SteamOS news. There’s also another piece to the email, which allegedly shows a Legion handheld with a Steam button on it. Keep in mind that this SteamOS will most likely be for the Legion Go S, as previous rumors insist that the Legion Go 2 will stick with the Windows 11 OS.

What are Lenovo and AMD planning?

There will apparently be two Lenovo Legion Go sequels, the first being the Legion Go S and the second the Legion Go 2. The former is reported to have an AMD Ryzen Z2G APU with Zen 3+ CPU cores and Radeon 680M integrated graphics. It’ll also feature 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and an 8-inch IPS display with 1920×1200 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate.

The latter is more of a direct successor as it will be equipped with a more powerful APU, possibly the rumored Ryzen Z2 Extreme that features a Zen 5-based CPU and an RDNA 3.5-based iGPU. The Verge also stated that Legion Go 2 will also have an OLED display with deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and improved contrast over the original's IPS display.

This model will also keep the detachable controller from the original Legion Go but will have a more ergonomic design. However, there’s no mention of a dedicated Steam button on this handheld, which means it’ll most likely have Windows 11.

CES 2025 will also be an interesting event for AMD, as it’s planning to announce new tech like graphics cards and processors, including new RDNA 4 graphics cards. The tech giant might also drop some new mini gaming PC designs at the conference.

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• AMEC has been dropped from the DoD’s concerning companies list
• However the Chinese firm remains on the US Entities List
• Other companies have also have restrictions revised

US sanctions on chip and advanced technology shipments to China have ramped up in recent years, largely spurred on in the post-pandemic era and aimed at tackling the country’s technological advancement, which the US fears could fuel its military.

A report by the South China Morning Post revealed Advanced Micro-Fabrication Equipment (AMEC), a Chinese toolmaker, has now been removed from America’s list of concerning companies – dubbed ‘Chinese Military Companies operating in the US’.

Despite this, the company still remains on the Department of Commerce’s Entity List, continuing certain restrictions and sanctions imposed by the country.

AMEC no longer under DoD restrictions

The downgrade was confirmed via a US Federal Register filing on December 13, around 12 months after it was first listed. The company's inclusion on the list throughout 2024 meant the Department of Defense was banned from purchasing anything from AMEC, and other companies on the list, among other restrictions, depending on the company.

In the case of AMEC, it was also unable to buy technologies developed in the US, and as it is still included on the Entities List, suppliers from AMEC still need to acquire an export license to sell tools and materials to the firm – those licenses can be tricky to get, by all accounts.

Chinese investment firm IDG Capital was also removed from the list, though the Department of Defense did not give a specific reason to the downgrade.

Earlier in 2024, AMEC filed a lawsuit in the US against the DoD for its inclusion on the list in the first place.

This news comes just weeks after the US added even more companies to its list. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian previously criticized the US' measures as being harmful to global trade, adding that the country had been considering its own countermeasures.

The added complexity comes in the form of President-elect Trump – it’s unclear whether many of the restrictions that have previously been put in place will remain.

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• BeyondTrust says it spotted an attack in early December 2024
• It found some of its Remote Support SaaS instances were compromised
• It also found and patched two zero-day flaws

BeyondTrust has confirmed it recently suffered a cyberattack after spotting “anomalous behavior” on its network and uncovering some of its Remote Support SaaS instances were compromised.

In an announcement published on its website, the company, which provides Privileged Access Management (PAM) and secure remote access solutions, said a subsequent investigation uncovered that the threat actors accessed a Remote Support SaaS API key, which they used to reset local app account passwords.

"BeyondTrust immediately revoked the API key, notified known impacted customers, and suspended those instances the same day while providing alternative Remote Support SaaS instances for those customers,” the company said in its announcement.

It wasn't ransomware

The company said it found two vulnerabilities, which it patched. It doesn’t seem as if these vulnerabilities were used in the attacks, though.

In any case, BeyondTrust’s research uncovered a critical command injection flaw impacting the Remote Support (RS) and Privileged Remote Access (PRA) products. This flaw is tracked as CVE-2024-12356 and has a severity score of 9.8/10 (critical).

The second flaw is a medium-severity one, with a 6.6 score, and tracked as CVE-2024-12686. It allows attackers with existing admin privileges to inject commands and run as a site user on Privileged Remote Access (PRA) and Remote Support (RS).

The instances provide cloud-hosted solutions for secure, scalable remote support, allowing IT and service desk professionals to remotely access and troubleshoot devices or systems while maintaining strict security and compliance standards. BeyondTrust’s usual clients are large enterprises, government agencies, financial institutions, tech giants, and similar.

The company did not state if the attack trickled down to any of BeyondTrust’s customers, but it did stress that it “proactively completed” an update for its Secure Remote Access Cloud customers, tightening up on their defenses.

The nature of the attack is not known at this time, but the company did confirm to BleepingComputer that it was not ransomware.

Via BleepingComputer

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Usyk vs Fury 2 is almost here – which means it's time to figure out the best (and possibly cheapest) way to watch the big fight live on Saturday, December 21, from Riyadh.

The hotly-anticipated heavyweight clash between WBA, WBC, WBO, and Ring Magazine champion Oleksandr Usyk and former WBC champion Tyson Fury is expected to sell more than 1 million pay-per-views.

Boxing fans can watch it live on TV thanks to major sports networks such as DAZN, TNT Sports and Sky Sports, as well as online via their respective streaming apps.

Ready for a huge box office showdown? Stick with us for all the latest developments as excitement grows ahead of Usyk vs Fury 2...

Watching Usyk vs Fury 2: the essentials

• Date: Saturday, Dec 21
• Main event start time: 5.30pm ET / 10.30 pm GMT
• US PPV: DAZN
• UK PPV: DAZN, Sky Sports, TNT Sports
• Ukraine (no PPV): Megogo
• Our FULL GUIDE to Usyk vs Fury 2 live streams

What is the venue for Usyk vs Fury 2?

Oleksandr Usky vs Tyson Fury 2 takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the same venue as the first fight in May. This will be the third time each fighter has boxed in the Saudi kingdom.

Kingdom Arena is the largest fully-covered football stadium in the world with a capacity of stands 26,000 spectators.

(Image credit: Riyadh Season / DAZN )

When does Fury vs Usyk 2 take place?

Usyk vs Fury 2: Reignited – as it is officially known – takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, December 21. The undercard will begin at 5pm GMT / 12 pm ET.

The fight is a rematch of the the pair's May 18 bout in which Fury lost his WBC heavyweight title to Usyk in a split decision.

What happened in the first Fury vs Usyk 2 fight?

Since you’re getting ready to watch the Fury vs Usyk rematch, you might want to catch up with the events of May 18, when the pair first clashed.

Billed as 'Ring of Fire', Fury showboated his way through the first round but was soon struggling to hold his own against Usyk. The Gypsy King landed an uppercut in the sixth round but his momentum was short-lived. Usyk landed 14 punches in the ninth round and Fury was given a standing count.

After 12 rounds Usyk defeated Fury by split decision. It was first loss of Fury’s career and put an end to the undisputed heavyweight champion of boxing's four-belt era, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch.

When does the Fury vs Usyk 2 undercard start?

Fight card: 4pm GMT / 11am ET / 8am PT / 3am AEDT (Sun) / 7pm KSA / 7pm Riyadh time on Saturday, December 21.

(Image credit: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)

What time are main event ringwalks?

Good question. Being a live fight, timings are changeable and it's not unusual for big showdowns to start later (sometimes much later) than originally advertised.

What we know is that Tyson Fury (the challenger) will walk out first, followed by Oleksandr Usyk (the champion). Approximate timing are as follows:

5.20pm ET / 10.20pm GMT – 10 mins of live entertainment
5.30pm ET / 10.30pm GMT – Ringwalks (around five minutes each)
5.55pm ET / 10.55pm GMT – Fury and Usyk touch gloves in the ring

If you're planning on watching Usyk vs Fury 2, keep an eye on our live updates for the latest streaming info and PPV prices.

Is it true that Usyk vs Fury 2 will feature an AI judge?

Yes, the AI experiment will be "free from bias and human error" according to Turki Alalshikh the man behind the tool. You might be relieved to hear that the so-called 'AI judge' will not be used for official scorecards.

It's certainly an interesting idea but we're not convinced AI judges will solve boxing's scoring problem.

What time is the Fury vs Usyk 2 weigh-in?

The weigh-in takes place at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm GMT on Friday, December 20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That's 5am AEDT on Saturday for those of you in Australia.

Fingers crossed it's every bit as controversial as Thursday's utterly extraordinary 10-minute face-off...

Where can I watch the Usyk vs Fury 2 weigh-in live?

Fight fans can watch the weigh-in for free on the DAZN YouTube channel. It's due to start in exactly one hour's time – 1pm ET / 6pm GMT / 9pm KSA.

Usyk vs Fury 2 undercard

Saturday’s undercard features rising star Moses Itauma. The 19-year-old British boxing sensation has notched up 10 wins in 10 fights and there is now talk of him becoming the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson.

The latest news is that Israil Madrimov has withdrawn through illness and will be replaced against Serhii Bohachuk.

Andrii Novytskyi vs Edgar Ramirez - heavyweight

Daniel Lapin vs Dylan Colin - light-heavyweight

Peter McGrail vs Rhys Edwards - super-featherweight

Isaac Lowe vs Lee McGregor - featherweight

Johnny Fisher vs David Allen - heavyweight

Serhii Bohachuk vs Ishmael Davis - super-welterweight

Moses Itauma vs Demsey McKean - heavyweight

Usyk vs Fury weigh-in... live streaming on YouTube NOW!

But don't worry – you haven't missed anything. We're still waiting for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to hit the scales.

Elsewhere, the last-minute Peter McGrail vs Rhys Edwards fight has been confirmed as a super featherweight clash. McGrail says he's "ready" and has a lot of respect for Edwards, who steps in at late notice to replace Dennis McCann.

Fun fact: Tyson Fury's beard length was officially cleared and sanctioned yesterday. The Morecambe bomber's bushy visage attracted the ire of Usyk's camp, who are still protesting its length. Presumably they want Fury to get a better 'uppercut'?

Up next: Tyson Fury weighs in!

Hit play on the FREE DAZN live stream below as Tyson Fury, the man wants to be undisputed again, strips down and steps on the scales... Sweet Caroline is blasting out and Michael Buffer is about the introduce first Fury, and then Usyk. It's go time!

Fury weighs in at a career-heavy 20st 1lb

Fury was first to the scales and didn't even take his jacket off, nevermind his gold jewellery.

The Morecambe man weighs in at 20st 1lb or 281 lbs.

Fury weighed 18st 7lb when these two met back in May.

"Facts of the matter: tomorrow night we're gonna fight out who is the best," says promoter Frank Warren. "Tyson's favorite" for a TKO win, he adds. Hmmm... not sure about that, Frank. We'll find out tomorrow night.

(Image credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Is Usyk vs Fury 2 a pay-per-view?
Yep, it's a DAZN Pay-Per-View in over 200 countries including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and most of Europe.

What is the Pay-Per-View cost?
The Usyk vs Fury PPV will set you back £24.99 in the UK, $39.99 in the States and $29.99 in Australia. So, a bit less than the first fight. Which is nice.

What if I live in a really remote area such as Antarctica?
DAZN has you covered. The PPV price is set at $19.99 USD in a string of obscure locations around the world from Antarctica to Timor-Leste, Togo and mighty Vanuatu. Whether you can find a strong internet connection is, of course, another matter.

Which country has the cheapest PPV?
In Ukraine, fans can watch the fight live on local streaming service Megogo as part of the Optimal plan, which costs only 119 UAH per month – the equivalent of £2.27 / $2.84. You can watch lots of TV show and live sports, including boxing, on Megogo every month.

I'm from Ukraine but currently abroad
You can use a VPN! We find NordVPN (save up to 70%) works best. It will unblock your usual, geo-blocked streaming services, allowing you to use them from anywhere in the world.

SEE our full Usyk vs Fury 2 watch guide for your PPV options

Boxing fans warned against illegal streams

Saturday's Tyson Fury fight is expected to generate well over a million Pay-Per-View sales. But it's not just a bonanza for the sports networks; a YouGov poll revealed a reported 20 million illegal streams of the first Usyk vs Fury fight (per svgeurope.org).

Kieron Sharp, CEO of BeStreamWise partner FACT, has issued a warning to boxing fans: "Illegal streaming puts consumers at risk of malware, financial theft, and the compromise of personal data, such as emails, photos, and browsing history."

Beard-gate rolls on – and Team Usyk files another complaint

The furore over Tyson Fury's facial hair continues. Following today's weigh-in, Team Usyk once again protested the length of Tyson's beard.

Usyk's camp say the growth 'grossly violates' the 'beard rule' and they want it trimmed.

Are they wasting their time? Quite possibly. It's hard to imagine a multi-million dollar fight – on the 50th Anniversary of The Rumble of The Jungle – being cancelled over a fullsome beard.

Anyway, one sleep to go before Reignited... the anticipation is building.

Fury weighs in a STONE heavier than Usyk... fully clothed

At today's weigh-in The Gypsy King cut short his face-off with Oleksandr Usyk after just seven seconds. Not a patch on the 11-minute 20-seconder we got at Thursday's media conference.

The other surprise? Fury's weight. At 281 lbs, he's now at his career-heaviest.

But British-Irish former professional boxer Matt Macklin reckons it isn't a true reflection of what he'll weigh tomorrow.

"I think you've gotta take at least half a stone off, possibly 10lbs," Macklin told Sky Sports Boxing. "He has a massive coat, shoes, phone in the pocket, wallet, money... [that's] at least 7lbs. So what's that? 274... 273 lbs? I think that's probably his optimum fighting weight."

• Bluesky updated its slim verification system
• Domains remain critical
• It's also adding Mentions

Bluesky's soaring popularity as the social media platform of the moment has been somewhat hamstrung by frustrating verification problems. Simply put, there's no official verification system in place, at least not the traditional Blue Check you can find on Instagram, Threads, X, and TikTok. But now the distributed platform has made one relatively minor change that could have a big impact on protecting everyone's names from handle squatters.

In a relatively small update (1.96) released on Thursday, December 19, Bluesky announced that if you change your Bluesky handle to a domain name, the original handle, which might also feature your full name, will be reserved for you. You don't have to use it, but the old handle will never expire and, therefore, never fall into someone else's hands. It's the equivalent of forever ownership of site domains, which doesn't exist. If you stop paying for your website domain, it will go back on the market, and anyone else can take it.

In the case of Bluesky, the focus on domains is important because this is how Bluesky verifies accounts or at least provides a form of verification for account holders. Bluesky explains in a blog post, "On Bluesky, you can set your website as your username. This is one form of verification on Bluesky, and it's our version of a 'blue check.' We highly recommend that official organizations and high-profile individuals do this."

Get a domain check

Bluesky explains how to do this in the post and I walked through the process for myself here. In my case, my handle went from lance.ulanoff@bsky.social to @lanceulanoff.com. I already own my domain, but if you don't, Bluesky is now offering to search for and secure a domain for you.

It can be a little confusing because other social platforms seemingly make it easier, allowing you to verify full names and other custom handles. Bluesky is not, though, your average platform; it's built on the AT Protocol, the benefit being that your profile and social media activity are not owned by Bluesky and are actually portable to any platform built on that protocol. However, AT Protocol is designed to use domains for identification in part because it's a strong verification signal.

Bluesky's system still lacks a visual cue that a handle is verified, though. Of course, if you see a domain, well, you know it is. Even so, who doesn't like a Blue Check?

Bluesky did introduce a couple of other small updates, including a Mentions tab, which, yes, is reminiscent of other micro-blogging social media platforms. It lets you split your notifications into posts that specifically mention your handle.

Even as all these platforms grow (Threads just hit 300M users, Bluesky has around 25 million), these platforms become increasingly alike. As I continue to run X, Threads, and Bluesky, I sometimes struggle to tell which platform I'm in.

Surely, not all three can survive, and while I can't guess which platform wins, Bluesky is making the right moves to remain in the running.

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• $2.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen in 2024, up 21% year-on-year, report claims
• More than 300 separate incidents were tracked, 10x that of 2018 and 2019, Chainalysis found
• North Korea blamed for $1.34 billion in stolen crypto

More than $2.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from crypto platforms throughout 2024 as theft of the decentralized money continues to rise, new research has claimed.

The latest review from Chainalysis found theft rates are up 21%, with the number of hacks increasing from 282 incidents in 2023 to 303 in 2024.

More broadly, the trend of cryptocurrency theft continues to rise, though less sharply than the sudden surge seen during the early years of the pandemic. In both 2018 and 2019, only 35 instances occurred (totalling 70).

Cryptocurrency theft is hot right now

Interestingly, month-by-month cumulative funds stolen during 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 all continued up and to the right, however 2024 marked a sudden change to that trend. By July 2024, $1.58 billion had already been stolen, leaving just $0.62 billion (or $620 million) left to bring us to today’s total.

Major breaches like the $305 million hack of Japan’s DMM Bitcoin platform in May and the $235 million attack on India’s WazirX in July are both said to have influenced crypto thefts throughout the year.

Chainalysis cites geopolitical changes for the slowdown in cryptocurrency thefts, as while precise attack times and scales have varied, it identified one consistent trend: North Korean hackers continue to be invested in attacking crypto wallets.

Groups linked to the country’s government were responsible for a staggering $1.34 billion across 47 incidents – that’s double the sum linked to North Korea in 2023.

“US and international officials have assessed that Pyongyang uses the crypto it steals to finance its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles programs, endangering international security," the company added.

Chainalysis also highlighted North Korea’s affiliation with Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine since 2022.

Looking ahead, the researchers are urging public and private sectors to come together to establish data-sharing initiatives, real-time security solutions, advanced tracing tools, and targeted training.

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