A recently declassified report [PDF] from Romania’s Intelligence Service (SRI) has revealed that the election’s infrastructure was targeted by over 85,000 cyberattacks over the run up to election day.
The primary concern from these attacks is the state-sponsored online influence campaign promoting the election of front-runner and Pro-Moscow candidate Călin Georgescu. Access credentials for election websites were stolen by threat actors and leaked on a Russian hacker forum, which is a worrying development given the volatility of the region’s political landscape.
The SRI confirmed that an attack on the IT infrastructure of the Romanian Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) compromised a server which mapped data connected to the AEP’s network, which occurred on November 19th. In light of these developments, the election has since been cancelled by Romanian courts to allow for a re-run of the presidential election first round.
Significant breachesBetween the initial breach and November 25th, which was the end of the first round of Presidential elections, BleepingComputer reports that the 85,000 attacks were targeting the information systems which support the electoral process. Analysts have confirmed that the scale of the campaign would point to a state actor.
"Romania—along with other states on NATO's eastern flank—has become a priority for Russia's hostile actions; there is a growing interest in the Kremlin to influence (at least) the mood and agenda in Romanian society in the electoral context through propaganda and disinformation." the report confirms.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said that anulling the election was "the only correct decision," with the judges of the Constitutional Court citing the same report as a factor in its decision making.
It’s important to note that the SRI has not directly attributed these attacks to a specific threat actor, but geopolitical tensions do seem to suggest that they’re looking in a specific direction.
Russian cyber influence campaigns have been reported during the US election cycle, so there is precedent for similar incidents. Russia has denied any interference with Romanian elections.
Romania’s infrastructure is still being affected by vulnerabilities, the agency warned, and these could be exploited heading into the second round of the election.
More from TechRadar ProAccording to new information revealed by Ars Technica, Broadcom has reversed its plans to take its 2,000 biggest customers directly, instead taking just 500 and leaving channel partners to pick up the rest.
It’s believed that Broadcom is branding the change as one that will drive additional value for money to customers through partner-driven deals, which it hopes will keep customers using its services rather than looking to migrate.
Since its acquisition of VMware a little over a year ago, Broadcom has caused uproar in the virtualization world by implementing a series of changes it said were meant to simplify its portfolio, but the reality has been increased costs for many customers.
Broadcom giving VMware deals back to partnersSome of the changes affecting customers have included the company’s decision to end perpetual licenses and move to subscription-based models, the bundling of multiple products into fewer (and more expensive, in some cases) SKUs, and the termination of the channel partner program.
Broadcom’s decision to reintroduce channel partners is likely a strategic move to help it maintain business and not lose any more customers.
The firm said in a statement: “We announced a program that is currently in development to offer qualified VCF customers a 15 percent professional service entitlement of their annual contract value to access partner-delivered or Broadcom professional services. This will help customers improve both time to value and ROI.”
Speaking about the change, Canalys Chief Analyst Alastair Edwards said that Broadcom handing back 1,500 big customers back to channel partners and giving its channel 15% of the value of deals they win would be its best defense against potential migrations.
However, posting on LinkedIn, Edwards said that Broadcom CEO Hock Tan’s efforts to “strip out layers of cost and complexity” have so far “come at the expense of customer and partner relationships.”
You might also likeIt appears that the looming threat of a US ban has only served to accelerate DJI's drone production, as yet another new drone has seemingly leaked – the DJI Mavic 4 Pro.
Prominent DJI leaker @JasperEllens shared on X (formerly Twitter) a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filing in the US of DJI's latest flagship camera drone, the Mavic 4 Pro, which comes just a few days after an all-new foldable DJI Flip was leaked in the same way.
A double whammy of what could be two of the best DJI drones is certainly something for fans to get excited about, especially given the Flip is a mysterious new model, while the Mavic 4 Pro would succeed the superb Mavic 3 Pro, the world's first triple-camera drone that was launched in April 2023.
We awarded the Mavic 3 Pro both best drone and best camera in the TechRadar Choice Awards 2023 – it's that good. The Mavic 4 Pro has a tough act to follow then, so what can we expect from DJI's next flagship camera drone? There are a few leaks that hit the feeds of DJI leakers on X on the same day, so let's see what we can learn already.
A serious flagship on the horizonSuddenly a #wild 'Drone' registration appears. All with censored white pages and a 'empty' FCC label. But then... BINGO. It is the #Mavic4 PRO label. It's coming.... Will they actually launch it before the USA DJI ban in 2025? Exciting times. Cheers Jasper pic.twitter.com/i3VjtC3FfsDecember 5, 2024
There's not much by way of product info to learn from these first leaks, besides two FCC filings suggesting that the Mavic 4 Pro is coming soon, possibly in two iterations, and that it packs a beefier 6654 mAh battery to the Mavic 3 Pro's already impressive 5000 mAh battery.
A new battery unit suggests a new design, and we were given a glimpse of the product itself in a video shared on X that seemingly shows a DJI staffer packing the Mavic 4 Pro drone away, covered in development stickers, after a test flight.
Another blurry image of what appears to be the same drone in flight shows a spherical camera unit which looks a little different to the one in the Mavic 3 Pro, so perhaps we can anticipate a new camera array.
That's not a lot to go on right now. But as with all recent DJI product launches, we can expect plenty more leaks in the build up, when we will find out more about what could be the best drone in 2025.
You might also likeAccording to Pluralsight, of the 45,000 people who wanted to learn about artificial intelligence, only a mere 1.8% actively searched how to adopt AI responsibly.
The study revealed a rise in interest surrounding generative AI, machine learning and AI for cybersecurity, however Pluralsight Chief Content Officer Chris Herbert said that no significant interest in ethical AI was seen on the platform.
Herbert added: “It’s crucial that learners understand the risks and pitfalls associated with AI so they can adopt it ethically.”`
We’re not interested in ethical AIThe report highlights Google DeepMind research showing how AI can be misused, manipulated and exploited. Herbert said we should be focusing on “mitigating its risks and negative consequences while maximizing its positive outcomes.”
Lead Content Strategist Adam Ipsen also noted Accenture research reveals that more than three-quarters (77%) of global consumers believe organizations should be held accountable for AI misuse, highlighting the need for greater awareness.
The reality is that four in five executives and nearly as many (72%) IT practitioners say their organization often invest in new tech without considering employee training. In a similar vein, only 12% of execs have significant experience working with AI.
Consequences for not adopting AI ethically are also set to have a financial value, with the EU AI Act entering force in August 2024 and gradually seeing enforcement increased over the course of the next few years. Maximum fines stand at €35 million or 7% of global turnover.
Looking ahead, Ipsen urges businesses not to see AI as a “one and done” project, but one that requires constant upskilling. Those who take the time to learn will realize the true benefits of AI rather than see it become a liability that causes them to face legislative and regulatory hurdles.
You might also likeThe Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could be the best Android phone of 2025. At the very least it will probably be in the conversation, but while we’re still in 2024 at the time of writing, you probably won’t have to wait very long for this phone, as it’s likely to land near the start of 2025.
Between leaks and past form we have a very good idea of when the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra could be announced, right down to a potential day. And based on that we can also take some educated guesses as to when pre-orders will open and when it will ship.
So to find out when you might be able to purchase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, read on. And check back soon, as we’ll be updating this article whenever we hear any new release date information.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra announcement date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)Our best guess for when the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be announced is January 22. A source with a good track record for Samsung leaks points to that January 22 date, and that also matches with another leak, which technically said the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra would be announced on January 23, but once you account for time differences (as that source is in South Korea) it becomes January 22.
This is the only specific date that’s been leaked, so with no conflicting reports and two sources pointing to January 22, we’d say that’s a very likely date.
Plus, in recent years Samsung has always announced its new Galaxy S models in either January or February, so a January announcement would make sense.
More specifically, the timing has always recently been between mid-January and mid-February, which again fits with January 22, and that date also gives the announcement enough breathing room from CES 2025, which runs from January 7-11.
Samsung is likely to announce various smart home products and TVs there, and likely wouldn’t want to take attention from them with a phone launch, but by January 22, CES will be long finished.
All that said, while we think Wednesday, January 22 is very likely, we’re not certain of it. But at the very least, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will probably be announced sometime between mid-January and mid-February, alongside the Samsung Galaxy S25, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, and perhaps the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra pre-order date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)Samsung usually lets you pre-order its new Galaxy S phones the same day as they’re announced. So based on the above, the most likely pre-order date for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is January 22, but it could be anytime between roughly January 15 and February 15.
So you’ll probably be able to place your order soon, but hopefully you’ve been saving, as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra price could be very high.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra on-sale date predictions The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)There tends to be a roughly two week gap from when new Galaxy S models are announced to when they go on sale.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy S24 went on sale exactly two weeks after its announcement, on January 31, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Samsung Galaxy S22 both went on sale 16 days after they were announced, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 went on sale 15 days after it was announced.
So assuming the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is announced on January 22 it will probably ship sometime around Wednesday, February 5, which is two weeks later, and we’d imagine no later than Friday, February 7, since it’s not likely to hit stores on a weekend, and any later would be a change from Samsung’s usual patterns.
Of course, it could be announced earlier or later than January 22, but assuming an announcement sometime between mid-January and mid-February, the on-sale date will likely be between late January and early March.
You might also likeThe OnePlus Watch 3 rumors continue to gather pace, after a listing for a new watch was spotted on US government website, having been filed by OnePlus.
One of our best Android watches of 2024, the OnePlus Watch 2 was a terrific Wear OS watch, rated very highly, which managed to squeeze 100 hours of battery life thanks to a large 500mAh battery and a secondary, low-power operating system used when Wear OS wasn't needed.
The listing on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website, a necessary bit of paperwork for telecomms devices, suggests a new watch with a 631mAh battery life, indicating this watch will have even more staying power.
The FCC listing, first spotted by AndroidHeadlines, also give us a few details on sizes. Only one size is mentioned in the listing, like the OnePlus Watch 2 before it: 46.6mm x 47mm x 11.76mm. That's pretty similar again to the OnePlus Watch 2's 47 x 46.6 x 12.1 (mm size.
There's no word yet on when the watch might be released, but rumors point to January, when we expect OnePlus to debut the global version of the currently China-exclusive OnePlus 13 handset.
Analysis: Still only one sizeWe loved the OnePlus Watch 2, but one aspect of its design that bothered us was its size. Its simply too big for users with smaller wrists, and alienates those users, who'll have to make do with a Pixel Watch. But even the Google Pixel Watch 3 introduced a second size, now packing a choice between 41mm and 45mm displays.
Similarly, Samsung does its watches in two different sizes (with the exception of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra) as do Apple and Garmin. Now that OnePlus has a serious contender of a smartwatch (we gave it 4.5 stars in our review) I would have expected the team behind the watch to have introduced a second size for smaller wrists. It's possible OnePlus may yet surprise us, but this becomes unlikely as we get closer to the rumored January reveal.
You might also like...Whether you're an adrenaline junkie or not, you'll definitely enjoy Prime Video's high-octane trailer for new police procedural On Call.
On Call thrusts us into the action-packed heart of policing as the series follows a veteran and rookie police duo as they respond to emergencies in Long Beach, California. On Call isn't all about sleuthing detectives and murder mysteries, it's actually an exciting and visceral take on the patrol side of policing through the use of hand-held cameras, body cam, and dash-cam footage to create a cinema verité effect.
In the heart-pounding trailer (see below), Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars) plays seasoned cop Traci Harmon and Brandon Larracuente (The Good Doctor) stars as her partner-in-training Alex Diaz as they go on patrol together chasing criminals and saving citizens. We also get glimpses of Lori Loughlin (Full House) as Lieutenant Bishop and Chicago Fire star Monica Raymund in her guest starring role of Officer Maria Delgado. It's definitely a busy day at the office!
What is On Call about?On Call is described as an "adrenalized and visceral police drama," which aims to add some realism to the format with a "cinema verité effect" by using a mixture of hand-held cameras, bodycam and dash-camera footage. The imaginative series also explores "the morality of protecting and serving a community".
Bellisario stars as "hard-charging but protective veteran officer" Traci Harmon, who struggles to fit in at the department while training the future generation of officers. Meanwhile, Larracuente portrays Alex Diaz, "an ambitious rookie" who who grapples with holding onto his optimistic views as he faces tough challenges in today's society.
With an intriguing twist on the cop drama genre, On Call has the potential to become one of the best Prime Video shows, but we'll just have to wait and see when it debuts on one of the best streaming services on January 9, 2025.
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