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Akira ransomware abuses CPU tuning tool to disable Microsoft Defender

Akira ransomware is abusing a legitimate Intel CPU tuning driver to turn off Microsoft Defender in attacks from security tools and EDRs running on target machines. The abused driver is 'rwdrv.sys' (used by ThrottleStop), which the threat actors register as a service to gain kernel-level access. This driver is likely used to load a second driver, 'hlpdrv.sys,' a malicious tool that manipulates Windows Defender to turn off its protections. This is a 'Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver' (BYOVD) at

Writing a Rust GPU kernel driver: a brief introduction on how GPU drivers work

This post is the second iteration of a series of posts that provide an in-depth look at the development of Tyr, a state-of-the-art Rust GPU driver for the Linux Kernel, supporting Arm Mali CSF-based GPUs. As promised in the first iteration, we will now explore how GPU drivers work in more detail by exploring an application known as VkCube . As the program name implies, this application uses the Vulkan API to render a rotating cube on the screen. Its simplicity makes it a prime candidate to be u

5 Apple products you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 7 to get instead)

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways New iPhones and Apple Watches are inbound, with the company expected to host an event in September. New AirPods Pro and HomeHub hardware are also rumored. Expect pricing tweaks to offset tariff costs, as well as changes to existing product lines. It's August, and that means we're now in the home stretch to Apple's biggest yearly update. New iPhones are weeks away, and it's likely we'll see new Apple Watches, and possibly new AirPods Pro and

9 Best Hotel Rewards Programs for Elevating Your Next Stay

Joining a hotel’s rewards program can feel like being admitted to an exclusive club. By frequently staying at a particular brand’s hotels, you can accrue points that are redeemable for all kinds of perks, including free or low-cost room upgrades, a meal on the house, and even a free night's stay. Choosing the best hotel rewards program for you depends on a variety of factors, most importantly, where and how often you travel. But just as crucial is your travel style: Are you content with small c

You’re the software head for Google Pixel: What would you add, revive, or copy from other phones?

Joe Maring / Android Authority 🗣️ This is an open thread. We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments and vote in the poll below — your take might be featured in a future roundup. I have a love/hate relationship with my Google Pixel. On one hand, I love the smaller software features that often go unnoticed but significantly enhance my experience. “Flip to Shhh” and “Now Playing” are just two examples. On the other hand, I do notice some concerning issues. The clean UI is a r

ReVault flaws let hackers bypass Windows login on Dell laptops

ControlVault3 firmware vulnerabilities impacting over 100 Dell laptop models can allow attackers to bypass Windows login and install malware that persists across system reinstalls. Dell ControlVault is a hardware-based security solution that stores passwords, biometric data, and security codes within firmware on a dedicated daughterboard, known as the Unified Security Hub (USH). The five vulnerabilities, reported by Cisco's Talos security division and dubbed "ReVault," affect both the ControlV

Japan: Apple Must Lift Browser Engine Ban by December

Readers may recall that Japan recently passed the Smartphone Act, officially the Bill on the Promotion of Competition for Specified Software Used in Smartphones. Among its most important reforms is a direct prohibition on Apple’s long-standing ban on third-party browser engines on iOS. This ban has functioned as an effective ban on browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave & Vivaldi, by forcing them to use Apple’s WebKit engine, which they cannot modify or control. This results in no ef

Software Rot

Software rot is generally thought of as degradation of software due to a changing environment. For example, a program written a decade ago may no longer work with new versions of the libraries it depends on because some of them have changed without retaining backwards compatibility. This kind of thinking encourages a culture where software becomes obsolete unless it is constantly maintained. A better approach might be to talk about the reliability of the environment the software depends on. Wou

‘Doctor Who’ Legend Matt Smith Is Joining the Villains of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’

Those long-forgotten rumors that Matt Smith would pop up in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker now feel more like a premonition. The Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star is entering the galaxy far, far away with a role in the Ryan Gosling-starring Star Wars: Starfighter, due in 2027 from director Shawn Levy. Deadline got the scoop. According to the trade, there are no character details yet, but “sources say he will play one of the villain roles.” It also relates that director Levy

Apple stops signing iOS 18.5, blocking downgrade from iOS 18.6

It’s been just over a week since Apple released iOS 18.6. Since the iPhone software update has shipped without issue, Apple has stopped signing the older iOS 18.5 software version. Apple stops signing versions of iOS due to security issues being disclosed in older software versions and patched in newer software versions. Apple released iOS 18.6 on July 29. The update included bug fixes, security improvements, and a fix for a performance issue with the Photos app’s Memories feature. The update

Analysis: The Trump administration’s assault on climate action

Last week, the EPA made lots of headlines by rejecting the document that establishes its ability to regulate the greenhouse gases that are warming our climate. While the legal assault on regulations grabbed most of the attention, it was paired with two other actions that targeted other aspects of climate change: the science underlying our current understanding of the dramatic warming the Earth is experiencing, and the renewable energy that represents our best chance of limiting this warming. Co

CTM360 spots Malicious ‘FraudOnTok’ Campaign Targeting TikTok Shop users

CTM360 has discovered a new global malware campaign dubbed "FraudOnTok" that spreads the SparkKitty spyware through fake TikTok shops to steal cryptocurrency wallets and drain funds. The unique spyware trojan discovered by CTM360 is specifically engineered to exploit TikTok Shop users across the globe. Dubbed as “FraudOnTok”, this highly coordinated scam operation employs a hybrid scam model that combines phishing and malware to deceive buyers and affiliate program participants on TikTok’s gro

The Heat Wasn't Just Outside: Cyber Attacks Spiked in Summer 2025

Summer 2025 wasn't just hot; it was relentless. Ransomware hammered hospitals, retail giants suffered data breaches, insurance firms were hit by phishing, and nation-state actors launched disruptive campaigns. From stealthy PowerShell loaders to zero-day SharePoint exploits, attackers kept defenders on their heels. This report breaks down the season's most high-impact incidents and what security teams need to do before the next wave hits. Summer Expose Healthcare's Growing Ransomware Risk H

Motorola, Swarovski Debut a New Razr Phone Adorned with Crystals

After teasing a new Motorola and Swarovski collaboration a few weeks ago, the companies on Tuesday are debuting new editions of the Razr phone and the Moto Buds Loop that are adorned with crystals. The phone and the earbuds are being sold in a $1,000 bundle called The Brilliant Collection, which features both devices in their new Pantone Ice Melt models. Motorola says that this edition of the Razr will have a leather-inspired finish that includes 35 Swarovski crystals, including one larger crys

This Galaxy Z Fold 7 model offers a much longer warranty

Ryan Haines / Android Authority TL;DR Samsung has launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7 Enterprise Edition in Europe. The phone comes with a three-year manufacturer’s warranty instead of the standard two-year warranty. The device is otherwise identical to the standard Galaxy Z Fold 7. Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 7 last month, and it offers a more durable folding screen than previous models. What if you want peace of mind regarding any issues, though? Well, the company offers Samsung Care Plus,

The history of the Schwartzian Transform (2016)

The History of the Schwartzian Transform The history of the Schwartzian Transform is fascinating, full of intrigue, competing philosophies, and cross-language reluctant cooperation. The Schwartzian Transform is the name applied to a particular implementation of a cached-key sorting algorithm. The first public appearance is probably Randal Schwartz’s Usenet post on December 16, 1994 in response to Ken Brown’s request for help: I’m having trouble sorting on the *last* word of the last field in

Oxmiq Labs Inc.: Re-Architecting the GPU Stack: From Atoms to Agents

Campbell – CA. Oxmiq Labs Inc., the all-new GPU software and IP startup founded by one of the world’s top GPU architects and visionaries, Raja Koduri, emerges from stealth after two years of intensive IP development. Raja has assembled a world-class team of GPU and AI architects with over 500 years of combined experience, hundreds of patents, and a collective track record of generating more than $100B in revenue at prior companies. The Opportunity: Modern computing has fundamentally shifte

Thingino: Open-Source Firmware for IP Cameras

Supported Hardware Please note that we list not only the camera model, but also its SoC, image sensor, Wi-Fi module, and flash chip size. These must match to be supported by the firmware. We have found that some manufacturers change the hardware in different batches of the same module without notice. Indoor IP Cameras Bulb IP Cameras Outdoor IP Cameras IPC Modules Web Cameras Development Boards Teacup T31X Conditionally Supported Hardware Some brands protect their cameras by writing a

Is It FOSS?

Where Projects are Evaluated To see if they're as free and open source as advertised The software rights of users are continously (and often opaquely) being eroded by the desire of growth. This website aims to push back against that by bringing transparency to FOSS software users.

The ‘Star Wars’ Slur That Has Been Mainstreamed by Anti-AI Discourse

“Clanker.” You’ve probably heard the term online a lot lately, as growing wariness of the acceptance of generative AI has led to an almost science-fictional world of anti-robot sentiment. It’s become an increasingly common derogatory term, growing beyond the constraints of referring to chatbots and image generators to refer to any kind of non-human robotic intelligence. It’s perhaps fitting then, as it penetrates increasingly mainstream social circles, that “Clanker” itself is rooted in science

Get a Free Storm Skin, Thor Skin and More in Marvel Rivals Season 3

Marvel Rivals season 2.5 may have taken our heroes off-world as they battled across Arakko, but season 3 is throwing us into the furthest reaches of space to fight a new threat: Knull and his symbiote army. Stopping one symbiote is tough enough. Fighting off an army of them is going to require a whole new wardrobe's worth of battle gear. Luckily for you, there are many ways to unlock some free skins in the hit hero shooter right now -- including the Milano Repair Logs event that evens the odds

The Revolution of Token-Level Rewards

Training large language models (LLMs) to master complex tasks, especially those requiring structured outputs like generating precise code or engaging in multi-step reasoning, is challenging even for current state of the art (SOTA) models. Reinforcement Learning (RL) offers a powerful theoretical framework for teaching models to do "what works", but applying these techniques to LLMs has been messy to execute in practice. We’ve run into this problem at our startup, Levro. We want to be the easies

OpenIPC: Open IP Camera Firmware

OpenIPC is an alternative open firmware for your IP camera. OpenIPC is an open source operating system from the open community targeting for IP cameras with ARM and MIPS processors from several manufacturers in order to replace that closed, opaque, insecure, often abandoned and unsupported firmware pre-installed by a vendor. OpenIPC Firmware comes as binary pre-compiled files for easy installation by end-user. Also, we provide full access to the source files for further development and improve

This Linux distro makes Slackware easier than ever

Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET ZDNET's key takeaways Slackel is a user-friendly take on the otherwise challenging Slackware. There are four different desktop variations to choose from. Slackel is a great distribution for learning Linux. Slackware has been around since 1993 and has served as the foundation for many Linux distributions, such as the early iterations of SUSE. What sets Slackware apart from other Linux distributions is that it tries to be more UNIX-like than not. Sla

New Plague Linux malware stealthily maintains SSH access

A newly discovered Linux malware, which has evaded detection for over a year, allows attackers to gain persistent SSH access and bypass authentication on compromised systems. Nextron Systems security researchers, who identified the malware and dubbed it "Plague," describe it as a malicious Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) that uses layered obfuscation techniques and environment tampering to avoid detection by traditional security tools. This malware features anti-debugging capabilities to

Open IP Camera Firmware

OpenIPC is an alternative open firmware for your IP camera. OpenIPC is an open source operating system from the open community targeting for IP cameras with ARM and MIPS processors from several manufacturers in order to replace that closed, opaque, insecure, often abandoned and unsupported firmware pre-installed by a vendor. OpenIPC Firmware comes as binary pre-compiled files for easy installation by end-user. Also, we provide full access to the source files for further development and improve