imitation Archives

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

Blades of Fire just showed off its first five minutes of gameplay, and I think it might be channelling God of War too heavily

MercurySteam announced its new action RPG, Blades of Fire, which is a spiritual successor to Severance: Blade of Darkness. The game features protagonist Aran de Lira, who navigates a woodland landscape and engages in combat with goblin-like creatures and undead foes. The gameplay showcase highlighted similarities to God of War in combat mechanics, aesthetic choices, and environmental design, raising concerns about the game's originality compared to its predecessor. The original Severance was known for its darker tone, while the new footage lacks this ambiance. MercurySteam's creative direction may aim to attract a broader audience familiar with modern titles. Blades of Fire is set to release on May 22.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Badbox is back and a million Android devices were backdoored

Human Security's Satori research team has discovered a new variant of the Badbox malware, known as Badbox 2.0, which has infected nearly a million Android devices, forming a large botnet. This follows the initial outbreak in 2023, where around 74,000 devices were compromised. Badbox 2.0 targets devices running the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), including off-brand smartphones, internet-connected TV boxes, automotive tablets, and digital projectors. Over 200 applications infected with malware have been identified, primarily hosted on third-party app stores, often mimicking legitimate apps from Google’s Play Store. The operation is believed to involve collaboration among four distinct criminal factions, with all infected devices traced back to China. The botnet monetizes through hidden advertisements and ad-click fraud, while also having the capability to steal passwords from infected devices. Efforts by Human Security, Google, Trend Micro, and Shadowserver Foundation have reduced the number of infected devices by half. Many malware modules were labeled "test," indicating the botnet was still developing, and it is expected that the operators will attempt to revive their network using altered tactics. Additionally, a new variant of Mirai malware, named Eleven11bot, has emerged, compromising thousands of devices, particularly targeting HiSilicon-based hardware.

Tech Optimizer

February 8, 2025

New Attack Technique to Bypassing EDR as Low Privileged Standard User

A new cyberattack technique allows attackers to bypass Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems while using low-privileged standard user accounts. This method utilizes masquerading and path obfuscation to disguise malicious payloads as legitimate processes, misleading detection systems and analysts. Process creation events are crucial for identifying threats, with tools like Sysmon logging detailed information about process execution. Attackers can manipulate file paths to evade restrictions on placing payloads in protected directories. They create folders that mimic legitimate antivirus software paths using Unicode characters to resemble spaces. For example, a folder may be named C:Program[U+2000]Files, allowing the attacker to introduce their payload (SuperJuicy.exe) without raising alarms. The execution of the payload results in logs that appear legitimate, complicating detection efforts. This technique poses challenges for EDR systems, including confusion in log analysis, deceptive attribution to legitimate software, and prolonged dwell time for malicious payloads. Defensive strategies include enhanced logging rules to flag Unicode characters, adjusting log viewers to display these characters, and restricting folder creation permissions for standard users.

Winsage

February 7, 2025

Microsoft tries again with aggressive tactics against Google and Chrome, touting Edge’s “world-class performance” with a pop-up ad promo

Microsoft is intensifying efforts to promote Bing and Edge, encouraging users to stay loyal to Edge while searching for the Google Web Store via Bing. A pop-up message promotes Edge's advantages, contrasting with straightforward Google Search results that lack similar ads. Microsoft is also using its Bing Wallpaper app to recommend Bing as the default search engine and automatically adding the Bing extension to Chrome. The company has faced criticism for mimicking Google's interface, including replicating the Google Doodle, which Google Chrome lead Parisa Tabriz described as a "new low." Mozilla has raised concerns about Microsoft's misleading designs giving Edge an unfair advantage. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged that Google generates more revenue from Windows than Microsoft does.

Tech Optimizer

February 3, 2025

Thousands of WordPress sites hijacked to spread Windows and Mac malware – how to stay safe

Researchers from c/side have discovered a widespread campaign targeting WordPress sites, resulting in over 10,000 compromised sites that distribute info-stealing malware. The attack exploits outdated versions of WordPress and its plugins, employing a "spray and pay" method that affects anyone visiting the infected sites. Users encounter a fake Chrome browser page prompting them to download a malicious update, which steals personal information such as passwords. The malware includes Atomic Stealer, targeting macOS users, and SocGholish, aimed at Windows systems. To protect against these threats, users should verify download sources, keep software updated, use password managers, and consider identity theft protection services.

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Siliconera’s PC Game of the Year 2024

The PC has become a supportive environment for indie games, as seen in the finalists for this year’s PC Game of the Year. The game 1000xResist is noted for its compelling storytelling. Crow Country, created by SFB Games, is a tribute to PS1 survival horror games while offering a unique narrative. The winner of the 2024 Siliconera PC Game of the Year is Balatro, which has gained recognition and is compared to timeless classics like Tetris.

AppWizard

November 1, 2024

This “AI-Generated Game” Blatantly Rips Off Minecraft

Oasis is a project that closely resembles Mojang's Minecraft, described as the "first AI-generated game" and essentially a direct imitation of Minecraft. It has been developed through extensive training on Minecraft gameplay and user interactions, resulting in similarities in visual style, user interface, gameplay mechanics, fonts, visual effects, and animations. Oasis introduces a unique feature called AI hallucinations, causing environments to change unexpectedly when not observed, positioning it more as a proof of concept than a fully realized game. Notably, the developers have not mentioned Minecraft in any of their technical documentation or communications, raising questions about the project's originality. The developers view Oasis as a foundational step toward future AI-generated games, despite its reliance on existing game documentation.