behavior Archives

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Your Android phone could have stalkerware. Here’s how to remove it

Consumer-grade spyware applications, often referred to as "stalkerware" or "spouseware," pose significant risks to Android users by monitoring private messages, photos, phone calls, and real-time locations without consent. These apps are typically downloaded from outside the Google Play Store and can be stealthily installed, often disappearing from the home screen. Stalkerware exploits legitimate Android features, leading to unusual phone behavior such as excessive heat, sluggish performance, or unexpected data usage. To address spyware, users should establish a safety plan and trusted support before attempting removal, as this could alert the installer. Google Play Protect should be enabled to scan for harmful apps. Users should check for unfamiliar apps in accessibility services, review notification access for third-party applications, and inspect device admin app settings for unrecognized applications. Even hidden stalkerware apps will appear in the list of installed applications, which can be accessed through the settings menu. Strengthening device security, such as enhancing lock screen passwords and using two-factor authentication, is recommended. Resources for support include the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the Coalition Against Stalkerware.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Sony responds to Bungie vet Barrett’s $200m wrongful dismissal lawsuit

Sony has responded to a lawsuit from Christopher Barrett, a former Bungie employee, by revealing text messages that allegedly show his misconduct towards female colleagues. Barrett left Bungie in March 2024 amid accusations of inappropriate behavior and is seeking [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Sony has officially addressed the lawsuit brought forth by Christopher Barrett, a former employee of Bungie. In a recent legal filing, the PlayStation company has unveiled text messages exchanged between Barrett and female colleagues at Bungie, asserting that these communications illustrate a troubling pattern of misconduct. Details of the Allegations Barrett departed from Bungie in March 2024, a move that was later linked to accusations of inappropriate behavior towards female staff members. He has since initiated legal proceedings, seeking 0 million in damages. His claim hinges on the assertion that his dismissal precluded him from receiving million tied to Sony's acquisition of Bungie, which was finalized in 2022. In its response, Sony emphasizes that Barrett's termination was due to his alleged targeting of a junior female employee. According to the filing, Barrett began with seemingly innocuous conversations but gradually crossed professional boundaries, making comments about her appearance and expressing romantic interest. The company contends that he sought to foster an unprofessional level of intimacy with his alleged victims. Counterarguments from Barrett's Legal Team Barrett's legal representatives have countered Sony's assertions, claiming that the company is selectively presenting text messages and conversations to tarnish Barrett's reputation and rationalize his termination. They argue that the omission of complete text exchanges raises questions about the validity of Sony's claims. “It is telling that Sony does not include the full text messages as exhibits, or the full content of these conversations,” Barrett's lawyers stated. They maintain that nothing in Sony’s response substantiates a legitimate legal basis for terminating Barrett for cause. Furthermore, Barrett's team expresses confidence that a thorough examination of the evidence will reveal a coordinated effort by Sony to undermine Barrett's position and deny him the equity rewards he accrued over his 25 years of dedicated service to the company." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million in damages, claiming his dismissal prevented him from receiving million related to Sony's acquisition of Bungie in 2022. Sony asserts that Barrett was terminated for targeting a junior female employee, starting with innocuous conversations that escalated to inappropriate comments and romantic interest. Barrett's legal team argues that Sony is selectively presenting evidence to damage his reputation and that the omission of complete text exchanges questions the validity of Sony's claims. They believe a thorough examination of the evidence will show a coordinated effort by Sony to undermine Barrett and deny him equity rewards from his 25 years of service.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Minecraft Snapshot 25W08A Brings New Wolf Sounds, Spawn Egg Changes, and More

Minecraft Snapshot 25W08A introduces several new features, including six sound variants for wolves that allow them to express different traits through barks, growls, pants, and whines. The original white wolf retains its classic sounds, while the new variants include big, cute, public, angry, grumpy, and sad. Spawn eggs have been visually updated with unique textures and size variations corresponding to the mobs they spawn. Sheep wool color rules have been refined: in cold biomes, black wool is most common, followed by gray, light gray, white, and brown; in warm biomes, brown wool is most common, followed by gray, light gray, white, and black. Pink wool is the rarest across all biomes. Leaf litter now features shades that correspond to their respective biomes, and sheep can have dyed undercoats and consume fern blocks, aligning their behavior more closely with the Bedrock edition.

AppWizard

February 20, 2025

Delta Force’s Black Hawk Down campaign is a bizarrely slow, serious complement to the popcorn multiplayer mode

Delta Force's new Black Hawk Down campaign is a remake that emphasizes the intensity of real combat, contrasting with cinematic portrayals. The gameplay features tightly scripted levels that reflect the events of the original film and real-life incidents, focusing on methodical tactics in confined environments rather than expansive freedom. Players engage in slow, deliberate actions, requiring careful communication and coordination with squadmates. Key gameplay elements include crucial ammo management, teamwork for injuries, and strategic positioning against enemies. The game presents a stark portrayal of warfare but has predictable enemy behavior and lacks sophisticated AI, which may detract from immersion. The campaign consists of seven missions, taking approximately 4-5 hours to complete, and offers a brief yet intense experience, with multiplayer potential if monetization challenges are addressed.

Winsage

February 19, 2025

New Snake Keylogger infects Windows using AutoIt freeware

A new variant of the Snake Keylogger is targeting Windows users in Asia and Europe, utilizing the AutoIt scripting language for deployment to evade detection. This malware, built on the Microsoft .NET framework, infiltrates systems through spam email attachments, logging keystrokes, capturing screenshots, and collecting clipboard data to steal sensitive information like usernames, passwords, and credit card details from browsers such as Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. The keylogger transmits stolen data to its command-and-control server using methods like SMTP email, Telegram bots, and HTTP POST requests. The executable file is an AutoIt-compiled binary that unpacks and executes the keylogger upon opening. The keylogger replicates itself in the %Local_AppData%supergroup directory as ageless[.]exe and places a file named ageless[.]vbs in the Startup folder to ensure it runs automatically on system reboot. This persistence mechanism allows continued access to the infected machine without requiring administrative privileges. Once activated, the keylogger injects its payload into a legitimate .NET process, specifically targeting RegSvcs.exe through process hollowing. It logs keystrokes using the SetWindowsHookEx API with a low-level keyboard hook, capturing sensitive information. Additionally, it retrieves the victim's public IP address by pinging hxxp://checkip[.]dyndns[.]org for geolocation purposes.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Having spent many hours testing Avowed I’ve found these three top tips are the best way to boost the game’s performance

The gaming community has been discussing Avowed, the latest title from Obsidian Entertainment, which has shown mixed performance metrics on PC. A workaround to improve performance involves launching the game, enabling ray tracing, restarting, then disabling ray tracing and restarting again. Testing was done on a Core i5 13600K gaming PC with 32 GB of DDR5-6400 RAM and a Radeon RX 7800 XT graphics card at 1440p resolution. Adjusting graphics settings, particularly switching from the Epic preset to Medium Global Illumination (GI), resulted in a 24% increase in average frame rates and a 16% improvement in 1% lows. Lowering draw distance and shadow quality from Epic to High achieved an average frame rate of 72 fps and a 1% low of 40 fps, compared to 48 fps and 34 fps on the Epic preset. Caution is advised when tweaking settings, as significant disparities between average frame rates and 1% lows can affect fluidity, and gameplay may feel disjointed if the average frame rate exceeds 60 fps by a large margin.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Microsoft is pushing a security update to Windows 11 that breaks File Explorer

The KB5051987 patch for Windows 11 is a mandatory security update aimed at addressing vulnerabilities in the operating system. Many users have reported significant issues with File Explorer after installing this update, including it becoming unresponsive and unusual navigation behavior. There are also glitches affecting the Taskbar, and some users have experienced failed installations of the update. Users have the option to manually uninstall the patch, but this may expose their systems to security risks.

Winsage

February 18, 2025

Earth Preta APT Exploit Microsoft Utility Tool to Control Windows

Researchers from Trend Micro's Threat Hunting team have identified a cyberattack campaign by the APT group Earth Preta, targeting government entities in the Asia-Pacific region, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. The group uses spear-phishing emails and advanced malware to compromise Windows systems, notably employing the Microsoft Application Virtualization Injector (MAVInject.exe) to inject malicious payloads into legitimate processes. The attack typically begins with a malicious file, IRSetup.exe, which drops both legitimate and malicious files onto the system, often accompanied by a decoy PDF posing as an official document. Earth Preta utilizes a modified variant of the TONESHELL backdoor malware, sideloaded using OriginLegacyCLI.exe and a malicious DLL, EACore.dll. This malware communicates with a command-and-control server for data exfiltration and remote operations, offering capabilities such as reverse shell access, file deletion, and persistent storage of victim identifiers. The malware adapts its behavior based on the presence of ESET antivirus software, using different techniques for code injection. Trend Micro attributes this campaign to Earth Preta with medium confidence, noting that the group has compromised over 200 victims since at least 2022, primarily focusing on government entities and using phishing as the initial attack vector.

Tech Optimizer

February 17, 2025

McAfee+ Ultimate review: Comprehensive security that needs more polish

McAfee+ Ultimate includes: - Antivirus and malware protection - Link screening and firewall security - Password manager and VPN services - Identity monitoring on the dark web - Tracker removal and parental controls for family plans - Social Privacy Manager for social media privacy settings - Scam Protection for screening risky links in text messages - Online Account Cleanup and Personal Data Cleanup services Pricing for McAfee+ Ultimate is: - Individual subscription: [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: McAfee+ Ultimate stands as a formidable contender in the realm of cybersecurity, boasting an extensive suite of features designed to protect users from various online threats. The subscription includes essential tools such as antivirus protection, link screening, and firewall capabilities, but it goes beyond the basics with additional offerings like a password manager, VPN, and identity monitoring on the dark web. What does McAfee+ Ultimate include? The comprehensive nature of McAfee+ Ultimate is evident in its robust feature set. Users benefit from: Antivirus and malware protection Link screening and firewall security Password manager and VPN services Identity monitoring on the dark web Tracker removal and parental controls for family plans Additionally, McAfee offers tools such as a Social Privacy Manager, which provides privacy settings suggestions for social media, and Scam Protection, an AI-driven feature that screens for risky links in text messages. The suite also includes Online Account Cleanup and Personal Data Cleanup services, which help users manage their online presence and remove unwanted data from data broker sites. How much does McAfee+ Ultimate cost? Pricing for McAfee+ Ultimate is structured to appeal to both individual users and families. An individual subscription is priced at 0 for the first year, subsequently increasing to 0. For families, the initial cost is 0, rising to 5 in subsequent years. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, although users should note that auto-renewal is enabled by default, with charges applied 30 days before the current subscription expires. Key features of McAfee+ Ultimate Installation and user interface The McAfee app presents a modern aesthetic, yet some users may find its layout somewhat disorganized. The home screen features shortcuts to key functionalities, while a left navigation bar provides access to a broader range of tools. However, premium features are often located on the McAfee Protection Center portal rather than within the app itself, which can lead to confusion. Virus, malware, and threat protection McAfee+ Ultimate excels in real-time protection, continuously monitoring files and applications for unusual behavior. Independent testing has shown strong performance in detecting threats, although the interface limits user control over specific settings, such as folder protection and email scanning. VPN The VPN service can be accessed through the McAfee app or a separate download. While it offers a user-friendly interface, some users have reported bugs that hinder functionality. The VPN supports connections in 47 countries, providing users with a range of options for secure browsing. Password manager McAfee’s password manager, True Key, offers basic functionality but lacks advanced security features. Users have reported issues with login verification, which can be frustrating. For those seeking a reliable password management solution, standalone services may provide better performance. Parental controls Managed through the Safe Family software, McAfee’s parental controls allow guardians to set restrictions based on their children’s ages. While the interface is straightforward, some users may find the lack of a web interface limiting. Identity and financial protections One of the standout features of McAfee+ Ultimate is its identity and financial protection services. Users can monitor their personal information for breaches, track financial transactions, and receive assistance with identity theft restoration. The plan offers substantial coverage for losses related to identity theft and ransomware, making it a valuable asset for those concerned about online security. Performance In terms of performance, McAfee has demonstrated strong results in independent tests, effectively detecting a high percentage of malware and threats. However, its offline detection rate is notably lower, which may pose a risk for users without a constant internet connection. Additionally, the software can impact system performance during scans, particularly on mid-range and budget PCs. While McAfee+ Ultimate presents a comprehensive suite of features aimed at safeguarding users online, the overall experience could benefit from greater polish and refinement. As it stands, the service offers a solid foundation for online security, albeit with some areas needing improvement." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] for the first year, then .99 - Family subscription: [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: McAfee+ Ultimate stands as a formidable contender in the realm of cybersecurity, boasting an extensive suite of features designed to protect users from various online threats. The subscription includes essential tools such as antivirus protection, link screening, and firewall capabilities, but it goes beyond the basics with additional offerings like a password manager, VPN, and identity monitoring on the dark web. What does McAfee+ Ultimate include? The comprehensive nature of McAfee+ Ultimate is evident in its robust feature set. Users benefit from: Antivirus and malware protection Link screening and firewall security Password manager and VPN services Identity monitoring on the dark web Tracker removal and parental controls for family plans Additionally, McAfee offers tools such as a Social Privacy Manager, which provides privacy settings suggestions for social media, and Scam Protection, an AI-driven feature that screens for risky links in text messages. The suite also includes Online Account Cleanup and Personal Data Cleanup services, which help users manage their online presence and remove unwanted data from data broker sites. How much does McAfee+ Ultimate cost? Pricing for McAfee+ Ultimate is structured to appeal to both individual users and families. An individual subscription is priced at 0 for the first year, subsequently increasing to 0. For families, the initial cost is 0, rising to 5 in subsequent years. Each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, although users should note that auto-renewal is enabled by default, with charges applied 30 days before the current subscription expires. Key features of McAfee+ Ultimate Installation and user interface The McAfee app presents a modern aesthetic, yet some users may find its layout somewhat disorganized. The home screen features shortcuts to key functionalities, while a left navigation bar provides access to a broader range of tools. However, premium features are often located on the McAfee Protection Center portal rather than within the app itself, which can lead to confusion. Virus, malware, and threat protection McAfee+ Ultimate excels in real-time protection, continuously monitoring files and applications for unusual behavior. Independent testing has shown strong performance in detecting threats, although the interface limits user control over specific settings, such as folder protection and email scanning. VPN The VPN service can be accessed through the McAfee app or a separate download. While it offers a user-friendly interface, some users have reported bugs that hinder functionality. The VPN supports connections in 47 countries, providing users with a range of options for secure browsing. Password manager McAfee’s password manager, True Key, offers basic functionality but lacks advanced security features. Users have reported issues with login verification, which can be frustrating. For those seeking a reliable password management solution, standalone services may provide better performance. Parental controls Managed through the Safe Family software, McAfee’s parental controls allow guardians to set restrictions based on their children’s ages. While the interface is straightforward, some users may find the lack of a web interface limiting. Identity and financial protections One of the standout features of McAfee+ Ultimate is its identity and financial protection services. Users can monitor their personal information for breaches, track financial transactions, and receive assistance with identity theft restoration. The plan offers substantial coverage for losses related to identity theft and ransomware, making it a valuable asset for those concerned about online security. Performance In terms of performance, McAfee has demonstrated strong results in independent tests, effectively detecting a high percentage of malware and threats. However, its offline detection rate is notably lower, which may pose a risk for users without a constant internet connection. Additionally, the software can impact system performance during scans, particularly on mid-range and budget PCs. While McAfee+ Ultimate presents a comprehensive suite of features aimed at safeguarding users online, the overall experience could benefit from greater polish and refinement. As it stands, the service offers a solid foundation for online security, albeit with some areas needing improvement." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] for the first year, then 9.99 - Each plan includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and auto-renewal enabled by default. The VPN supports connections in 47 countries, and the password manager, True Key, has basic functionality but lacks advanced security features. Parental controls are managed through Safe Family software. The identity and financial protection services monitor personal information for breaches and assist with identity theft restoration. McAfee has shown strong performance in detecting malware and threats, although offline detection rates are lower, and system performance may be impacted during scans.

Winsage

February 16, 2025

Windows 11 KB5051987 breaks File Explorer, install fails on Windows 11 24H2

The release of Windows 11 KB5051987 in February 2025 has led to installation challenges and functionality issues for users. Some users report installation stalls at 96% and error messages indicating missing update files. File Explorer has been disrupted, preventing access to folders like Desktop and Documents, although it remains active in the background. Camera functionality has been compromised, with many users unable to detect their cameras, and performance issues such as mouse stuttering and typing lag have been reported. Users experiencing these problems are advised to uninstall the update and reboot their systems. Additional issues include problems with apps in Windows Sandbox, performance drops in gaming, glitches in the taskbar, and isolated cases of users being unable to boot into Windows post-update.