Updated BlackOS software available to cybercriminals for $3,800

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Mar 22, 2014 2:41 PM CDT

The malicious BlackOS software package has been updated and is now available on the cybercriminal underground for $3,800 per year.

As noted by Trend Micro, the updated software is better suited to process and manage website exploitation, providing a great return-on-investment for cybercriminals. A custom Web interface allows for better web traffic management and access to features that lead to redirected traffic and iframes injection.

"They do a mass attack, there are no specific targets as these websites are just a launch pad to perform their malicious attacks," said Chris Budd, Trend Micro threat communications manager, in a statement to SC Magazine. "They are usually looking for an easy access, once they are inside they will try to level up the privileges to gain root access on the machine and therefore be able to [make] use of the BlackOS features, which is inject a malicious IFrames in all web pages."

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Respawn to update Titanfall, will support 4K and other NVIDIA tech

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Mar 22, 2014 1:51 PM CDT

Titanfall will soon be updated, where we will see the first-person shooter include the ability to be played at 4K. Not only that, but Titanfall will finally support multi-GPU setups with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs.

NVIDIA's Manager of Developer Content and Technology, Ashu Rege, said: "Respawn will also release updates to support high-definition 4K display, and our SLI multi-GPU technology, for a fantastic high-end PC experience." Respawn and NVIDIA are also working together to see NVIDIA's GameWorks technologies built into the mech shooter.

This will see Titanfall include PhysX for clothing and destruction simulation, and VisualFX for hair, fire and liquid simulation. Not only that, but we'll also see Temporal anti-aliasing (TXAA), which will reduce screen flickering, and Horizon Based Ambient Occlusion+ (HBAO+) which will provide Titanfall with "more lifelike shadows."

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Apple rumored to release iTunes for Android as sales decline

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Mar 22, 2014 10:44 AM CDT

Revenues on music sales on iTunes continue to slide, but is Apple looking at releasing iTunes on Android? Billboard is reporting just that, looking to fill in some of its financial holes by expanding iTunes to Android, and launching a paid music subscription service.

It's not like the competition hasn't done this, as Google has its Google Play Music service on iOS, but for Apple to do it, it is almost unthinkable. The iPhone maker makes up around 40% of the US digital music market, but the market itself is seeing double-digit declines in revenue over the last couple of years. Apple currently has a free, ad-supported radio service with its iTunes Radio, but it secures most of its profits in media from the standard single and album sales through the iTunes Store.

If the company moves toward a flat rate subscription music service, it could create a new revenue stream for itself, but it wouldn't exactly stem the losses it is experiencing through iTunes. Expanding the service to Android on the other hand, could open the company up to hundreds of millions of new devices and consumers who wouldn't be buying content through the iTunes Store.

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IMAX, Disney announces new deal, includes Star Wars 7 and Avengers 2

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Mar 22, 2014 8:46 AM CDT

The ink is fresh on a new deal struck between IMAX Corporation and Disney to a new partnership which will see titles some of the most eagerly awaited upcoming theatrical releases remastered in the large screen IMAX format and some presumably filmed (at least partially) in the gargantuan format.

Forthcoming titles such as Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers: The Rise of Ultron, Tomorrowland and Star Wars Episode VII will all benefit from IMAX re-jigging, the latter at least which will also be released in the IMAX 3D format - surely the definitive way to view the film when it hits screens next year.

In further Star Wars news to come out of the house of mouse, the company have confirmed that the next episode will take place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, which will be perfect for stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher who are all of course 30 years older. Whilst the company has not made any official announcement, all three have alluded to their appearances and Hamill and Fisher have been assigned personal trainers and put on strict diets to get back in ship shape.

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Doesn't look like Pres. Obama is giving up BlackBerry just yet

Following a story indicating the White House will jump ship away from BlackBerry, follow-up reports indicate that BlackBerry will remain in the Oval Office.

The Department of Defense is reportedly testing smartphones from Samsung and LG, likely running the Google Android operating system, and losing the White House would be a major loss for the struggling Canadian smartphone maker. A White House spokesperson told the Washington Post that there is no pilot program currently underway to leave BlackBerry in favor of Samsung or LG devices.

A statement released by BlackBerry:

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Homeland Security busts child abuse ring that relied on Tor

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Mar 21, 2014 1:36 PM CDT

An online predator group targeting children as young as three years old utilizing Tor was recently busted by the US Department of Homeland Security. So far, 14 members accused of leading the child pornography website were arrested and face charges related to conspiracy to operate an organized child exploitation enterprise.

Operating from June 2012 to June 2013, the group had more than 27,000 members across the world, with access to at least 2,000 videos.

"These indictments represent a strong coordinated strike - by Homeland Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and several U.S. Attorney's Office around the country - against child pornography and those who allegedly seek to harm our most vulnerable citizens, our young children," said Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr., U.S. Attorney, in a press statement.

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NASA confirms another cooling issue aboard the ISS

Shane McGlaun | Science, Space, Health & Robotics | Mar 21, 2014 12:40 PM CDT

Back in December, the ISS had a significant problem with its cooling system. The issue required a couple spacewalks to repair. It appears that whatever the problem with the ISS coolant loop is, the issue has returned.

NASA has confirmed that a coolant loop problem has again reared its head aboard the orbiting space station. NASA says that on Wednesday one of the two coolant loops on the space station shut down. A NASA spokesperson said that at no time was the crew aboard the ISS in any danger.

As a result of the coolant issue, some non-essential equipment aboard ISS modules was shut down. Some of the equipment was also changed over to use the other coolant loop. NASA believes that the coolant issue is linked to a valve problem, which was the same sort of issue that caused the coolant problems late last year. Presumably, a space walk will be needed to fix the coolant system, but no announcement has been made at this time.

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Tablet shipments to hit 200M in 2014 says ABI Research

Shane McGlaun | Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones | Mar 21, 2014 10:04 AM CDT

ABI Research is a research firm that keeps a close eye on various markets in the technology world. The company has released a new report looking at the tablet market around the world for 2014. ABI is estimating that 200 million tablets will ship this year.

If that proves to be true, it will represent a 20% gain compared to 2013. In 2013, there were 166 million tablets shipped. The research firm is also predicting that North America will account for less than 50% of all global tablet shipments in 2014 for the first time.

That change is because tablet makers have spent significant money expanding their shipments and marketing into other countries. Intel has a chance to become a big factor in the tablet realm in 2014 according to ABI. If Intel can pull off its goal of shipping 40 million tablets using its processor tech it will become a major force in the tablet market.

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Winter temps decimate EV driving range says AAA

Shane McGlaun | Business, Politics & Money | Mar 21, 2014 9:03 AM CDT

There are many people out there this winter who can attest that living in a climate that gets really cold and has lots of snow can be bad for your mood and productivity. Lot of folks have dealt with record setting winter storms and cold temperatures for months now. If you live in these cold areas and have an electric vehicle, the weather is doubly bad for you.

AAA has released the results of a study that looks at the driving range of an EV in winter temperatures compared to more moderate temperatures. According to the study, an EV that can drive 105 miles per charge in 75-degree weather will only be able to go 43 miles when it's below freezing.

AAA says that its study shows driving range with temperatures of around 20-degrees are 57% shorter than when its 75-degrees out. The study also found that hot weather affects driving range, but not as much as cold weather. With most EVs in the country sold in temperate Southern California, I guess many don't have to worry about this.

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Report from CA Attorney General notes cybercrime as real threat

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Mar 21, 2014 4:20 AM CDT

Following years of burying their heads in the sand, lawmakers in the United States are finally taking cybercrimes seriously. As noted in the "Gangs Beyond Borders: California and the Fight Against Transnational Organized Crime" report released by California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The state of California led all states in organized attacks, with computer systems under threat from malware.

"With the rise of a global society connected by the Internet, criminal rings organized to commit hacking, fraud, pirating and other high-tech crimes across borders have rapidly profilerated," the report notes. "These rings operate frequently from Eastern Europe, but also from places as diverse as West Africa and China, and specifically target the citizens, computer networks, and companies of prosperous countries like the U.S."

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