ICT news

• Crooks Made Millions By Breaking Into Execs' Office365 Inboxes, Feds Say

  01-10-2024 23:40 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Federal prosecutors have charged a man for an alleged "hack-to-trade" scheme that earned him millions of dollars by breaking into the Office365 accounts of executives at publicly traded companies and obtaining quarterly financial reports before they were released publicly. The action, taken by the office of the US Attorney for the district of New Jersey, accuses UK national Robert B. Westbrook of earning roughly $3.75 million in 2019 and 202
  
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• Microsoft Paint is Getting Photoshop-like Generative AI Fill and Erase Features

  01-10-2024 23:01 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft is bringing some new AI-powered Paint and Photos features to Copilot Plus PCs that could make creatives less reliant on more powerful image editing software. From a report: Generative Fill and Generative Erase -- which appear to be heavily inspired by similar AI tools in Adobe Photoshop -- are being introduced to Paint, allowing users to precisely add or remove objects in their images.
  Both tools utilize a size-adjustable brush to "paint" over specific areas of an image to edit. Genera
  
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• Ubisoft Investors Push For Company Sale as Shares Hit Decade-Low

  01-10-2024 22:25 via slashdot.org
  
  French video game publisher Ubisoft has delayed its upcoming "Assassin's Creed Shadows" by three months following disappointing sales of "Star Wars Outlaws". Ubisoft shares have hit a 10-year low as activist investor AJ Investments, backed by 10% of shareholders, pushes for a sale. "Star Wars Outlaws" sold just 1 million copies in its first month, far below expectations. TechSpot adds: Ubisoft has never had the best reputation among gamers. It's been voted the most-hated gaming brand in the worl
  
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• Chromebooks Are Getting a New Button and a Host of Google AI Features

  01-10-2024 21:48 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  Google is introducing a new "Quick Insert" button on Chromebooks, offering contextual AI tools across the operating system. The feature debuts on Samsung's Galaxy Chromebook Plus, replacing the traditional Caps Lock key. Older Chromebooks can access Quick Insert via a keyboard shortcut. The button opens an overlay providing access to emojis, GIFs, Google's Help Me Write AI feature, and recent web links. Future updates will include AI-generated image creation.
  Google is also rolling out new AI fe
  
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• Microsoft Exec Tells Staff There Won't Be an Amazon-style Return-to-Office Mandate Unless Productivity Drops

  01-10-2024 21:01 via slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft won't impose a new return-to-office mandate unless management concludes that productivity has dropped, a high-level exec has reportedly told workers. From a report: The software and cloud-computing giant currently allows employees to work remotely, with many new hires promised the flexibility of working from home at least half the week. But that isn't written in stone. According to two anonymous sources that spoke with Business Insider, executive vice president Scott Guthrie recently t
  
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• Windows 11 24H2, the Biggest Update in Two Years, Starts Rolling Out

  01-10-2024 20:34 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft launched its annual Windows 11 update today, introducing significant changes to the operating system. The Windows 11 2024 Update, or 24H2, will roll out gradually, starting with PCs running versions 22H2 or 23H2 that have opted for faster feature updates. Key additions include an Energy Saver feature, Wi-Fi 7 support, and 80Gbps USB4 Version 2.0 compatibility. Select high-end PCs meeting Copilot+ requirements will gain access to enhanced features like an improved Recall function and ge
  
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• Microsoft Is Discontinuing HoloLens 2, With No Replacement

  01-10-2024 19:20 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader shares a report: HoloLens 2 production has ended, Microsoft confirmed to UploadVR. Now is the last time to buy the device before stock runs out, the company has been telling its partners and customers. HoloLens 2 will continue to receive "updates to address critical security issues and software regressions" until December 31 2027. As soon as 2028 starts, software support for HoloLens 2 will end. For the original HoloLens headset from 2016, software support will end after Dece
  
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• Former US President Jimmy Carter Turns 100

  01-10-2024 18:45 via news.slashdot.org
  
  Jimmy Carter reached his 100th birthday Tuesday, the first time an American president has lived a full century and the latest milestone in a life that took the son of a Depression-era farmer to the White House and across the world as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and advocate for democracy. Associated Press: Living the last 19 months in home hospice care in Plains, the Georgia Democrat and 39th president has continued to defy expectations, just as he did through a remarkable rise from
  
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• Mount Everest Is Growing Even Taller

  01-10-2024 18:06 via news.slashdot.org
  
  The world's tallest mountain is getting taller. Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma, has grown about 15 to 50 meters (50 to 164 feet) higher over the past 89,000 years than expected, according to a modeling study released Monday. From a report: The culprit is a nearby river eroding and pushing down land, causing the ground under Mount Everest to rebound and lift. "It's a new additional component of uplift of Mount Everest," said Matthew Fox, study co-author and geologist at University Colle
  
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• Microsoft Copilot Can Now Read Your Screen, Think Deeply, and Speak Aloud To You

  01-10-2024 17:26 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Microsoft has unveiled new features for its Copilot AI assistant, including screen analysis and voice interaction capabilities. Copilot Vision, available to Copilot Pro subscribers, can analyze web content in Microsoft Edge and answer queries about on-screen information. The company said processed data is immediately deleted and not used for model training.
  A new Think Deeper function aims to tackle complex problems using advanced reasoning models. Copilot Voice introduces synthetic speech outpu
  
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• Russian Ransomware Hackers Worked With Kremlin Spies, UK Says

  01-10-2024 16:40 via news.slashdot.org
  
  A Russian criminal gang secretly conducted cyberattacks and espionage operations against NATO allies on the orders of the Kremlin's intelligence services, according to the UK's National Crime Agency. From a report: Evil Corp., which includes a man who gained notoriety for driving a Lamborghini luxury sports car, launched the hacks prior to 2019, the NCA said in statement on Tuesday.The gang has been accused of using malicious software to extort millions of dollars from hundreds of banks and fina
  
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• Sonos Unveils Overhaul Plan After App Debacle

  01-10-2024 16:05 via it.slashdot.org
  
  Sonos CEO Patrick Spence has unveiled a plan to address the fallout from the company's botched app release in May 2024. The audio equipment maker aims to overhaul its software development practices and rebuild customer trust after the controversial update sparked widespread criticism, The Verge reports.
  The company will extend warranties by one year for select products and implement more rigorous testing processes, including an expanded beta program. Sonos has also pledged to introduce major app
  
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• ASD’s ACSC, CISA, FBI, NSA, and International Partners Release Guidance on Principles of OT Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Organizations

  01-10-2024 14:00 via cisa.gov
  Today, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC)—in partnership with CISA, U.S. government and international partners—released the guide Principles of Operational Technology Cybersecurity. This guidance provides critical information on how to create and maintain a safe, secure operational technology (OT) environment.
  The six principles outlined in this guide are intended to aid organizations in identifying how business decisions ma
  
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• Verizon Leases Over 6,300 Wireless Towers To Vertical Bridge For $3.3 Billion

  01-10-2024 12:00 via slashdot.org
  
  Vertical Bridge has acquired the rights to lease and operate over 6,000 wireless towers from Verizon for $3.3 billion as part of a 10-year agreement, with potential extensions of up to 50 years. Capacity Media reports: "Upon the completion of this transaction, these assets, together with our existing portfolio which includes thousands of young, purpose-built towers, enhance Vertical Bridge's position as a fast, friendly, and flexible colocation partner to the wireless industry," said Ron Bizick,
  
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• Russia Is Banning Discord

  01-10-2024 09:00 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  Russian authorities are considering a ban on Discord, citing unspecified legal violations. According to the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant, the ban may happen "in the coming days." PC Gamer reports: The opening salvo has already been fired. The Russian state media regulator Roskomnadzor has issued five separate rulings relating to Discord since September 20, which can all now be used as justification for an upcoming ban. Say what you will about authoritarian regimes, but they love their bure
  
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• Switzerland and Italy Redraw Border Due To Melting Glaciers

  01-10-2024 05:30 via news.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: Switzerland and Italy have redrawn part of their border in the Alps due to melting glaciers, caused by climate change. Part of the area affected will be beneath the Matterhorn, one of Europe's tallest mountains, and close to a number of popular ski resorts. Large sections of the Swiss-Italian border are determined by glacier ridgelines or areas of perpetual snow, but melting glaciers have caused these natural boundaries to shift, leading to both
  
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• Google Wins Lawsuit Against Scammers Who 'Weaponized' DMCA Takedowns

  01-10-2024 03:25 via yro.slashdot.org
  
  Google has obtained (PDF) a default judgment against two men who abused its DMCA takedown system to falsely target 117,000 URLs of competitors' online stores. With none of the defendants showing up in court, a California federal court sided with the search engine. Through an injunction, the men are now prohibited from sending false takedown notices and creating new Google accounts. TorrentFreak reports: Last November, Google decided to take action against the rampant DMCA abuse. In a lawsuit fil
  
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• AI Chipmaker Cerebras Files For IPO To Take On Nvidia

  01-10-2024 02:59 via slashdot.org
  
  Cerebras Systems, an AI chip startup, filed (PDF) for an IPO and plans to trade under the ticker "CBRS" on Nasdaq. CNBC reports: Cerebras competes with Nvidia, whose graphics processing units are the industry's choice for training and running AI models. Cerebras says on its website that its WSE-3 chip comes with more cores and memory than Nvidia's popular H100. It's also a physically larger chip. In addition to selling chips, Cerebras offers cloud-based services that rely on its own computing cl
  
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• Amazon Is Launching Its Own Shark Tank Where Winners Get To Be Amazon Sellers

  01-10-2024 02:45 via entertainment.slashdot.org
  
  Amazon Prime is launching a new Shark Tank-style competition show where contestants pitch products to a panel of celebrity investors and a live audience called "The 100." If a product wins audience approval, it gets featured in Amazon's Buy It Now Store, accessible via QR codes during episodes. The show, called Buy It Now and hosted by JB Smoove, premieres on October 30, 2024. You can watch a trailer for it on YouTube. The Verge reports: The company announced the show earlier this year but has n
  
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• Arch Linux Is Now Working Directly With Valve

  01-10-2024 02:02 via linux.slashdot.org
  
  The Arch Linux team has announced a collaboration with Valve, working to support critical infrastructure projects like a build service and secure signing enclave for the Arch Linux distribution. Tom's Hardware reports: If you're familiar with Valve and Steam Deck, you may already know that the Deck uses SteamOS 3, which is built on top of Arch Linux. Thanks to the Arch Linux base and Valve's development of the Proton compatibility layer for playing Windows games on Linux, we now have a far impro
  
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• Raspberry Pi Launches Camera Module For Vision-Based AI Applications

  01-10-2024 01:20 via hardware.slashdot.org
  
  An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Raspberry Pi, the company that sells tiny, cheap, single-board computers, is releasing an add-on that is going to open up several use cases -- and yes, because it's 2024, there's an AI angle. Called the Raspberry Pi AI Camera, this image sensor comes with on-board AI processing and is going to cost $70. In more technical terms, the AI Camera is based on a Sony image sensor (the IMX500) paired with a RP2040, Raspberry Pi's own microcontroller c
  
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• Cruise Fined $1.5 Million For Failing To Report Robotaxi Crash Involving Pedestrian

  01-10-2024 00:40 via tech.slashdot.org
  
  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it has fined Cruise $1.5 million for failing to disclose that a pedestrian was seriously injured by one of its driverless vehicles in San Francisco last year. The Verge reports: Last October, a Cruise vehicle hit a pedestrian and then dragged her 20 feet after she was initially struck by a human driver in a hit-and-run incident. In the aftermath, Cruise disclosed that its vehicle had struck a pedestrian but omitted details about the
  
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• Apple No Longer In Talks To Invest In OpenAI

  01-10-2024 00:00 via apple.slashdot.org
  
  Apple has withdrawn from discussions to invest in OpenAI's $6.5 billion funding round, though reasons for the decision remain unclear. The company still plans to proceed with integrating ChatGPT into Siri. MacRumors reports: The development comes just a month after WSJ reported that Apple was considering an investment in OpenAI as part of a fundraising effort that could value the AI company at over $100 billion. The high valuation reflects the intense competition in the artificial intelligence s
  
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