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Apple recently issued a critical security warning to iPhone users about sophisticated spyware capable of compromising devices without any user interaction. This revelation has sent shockwaves through the tech community, raising concerns about the vulnerability of even the most secure smartphones. This spyware, identified as Pegasus, developed by the Israeli firm NSO Group, can potentially grant attackers complete access to your iPhone, including your personal data, messages, calls, and even your camera and microphone. This isn’t the first time Pegasus has made headlines. It has been allegedly used in various targeted attacks against journalists, activists, and political figures worldwide. What makes this recent warning particularly alarming is the discovery of a new “zero-click” exploit, meaning the spyware can infect your device without you even clicking a malicious link or downloading a compromised file. This invisible threat has raised the stakes significantly, making it crucial for iPhone users to understand the risks and take necessary precautions. What is Pegasus and how does it work? Pegasus is a highly sophisticated spyware program that can infiltrate iPhones and other devices, turning them into surveillance tools. It exploits vulnerabilities in the device’s software to gain access to a treasure trove of personal information: The recent discovery of the “zero-click” exploit signifies a new level of sophistication. Previously, Pegasus relied on social engineering tactics, tricking users into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments. This new method bypasses any user interaction, making it incredibly difficult to detect and prevent. Who is at risk? While anyone with an iPhone can potentially be targeted by Pegasus, the primary targets tend to be: However, it’s important to remember that anyone can become a target, especially with the rise of “zero-click” exploits. What can you do to protect yourself? While the threat of “zero-click” spyware is daunting, there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk: What is Apple doing about it? Apple is actively working to address the threat of spyware like Pegasus. They have a dedicated security team that investigates and patches vulnerabilities. They also collaborate with security researchers and organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats. In response to the recent Pegasus attacks, Apple has released security updates and is actively suing NSO Group to prevent further abuse of their technology. My personal experience: As a tech enthusiast, I’ve always been mindful of online security. However, the news of “zero-click” spyware was a wake-up call. It made me realize that even the most secure devices can be vulnerable. I immediately updated my iPhone and reviewed all my app permissions. I also started using a VPN for added security. While these measures may not guarantee complete protection, they certainly provide an extra layer of defense. What does the future hold? The battle between security researchers and spyware developers is an ongoing arms race. As security measures improve, attackers find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. It’s crucial to stay informed about the latest threats and take proactive steps to protect yourself. The threat of spyware like Pegasus highlights the importance of digital security awareness. By staying informed and taking precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Key takeaways: Remember, staying vigilant and informed is your best defense against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
FBI says criminals are exploiting GenAI to scale up fraud schemesQuanex Building Products Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call Schedule
Venlo, the Netherlands, Nov. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced the launch of two new tools for designing and ordering custom solutions that can be used to support microbial analysis of bacterial, fungal and viral targets. These new tools enable researchers to customize their assays and panels for use on the QIAcuity digital PCR system as well as on any third-party next-generation sequencing (NGS) system. They also build on more than 700 digital PCR assays that are currently available for microbial targets through the GeneGlobe platform at https://geneglobe.qiagen.com . The new products make nanoplate digital PCR (dPCR) suitable for even more microbial targets in applications ranging from wastewater testing to food production to analysis of human pathogens. With nanoplate dPCR, rare targets in low-biomass samples with high levels of PCR inhibitors can be measured without a standard curve and with high accuracy and precision. “The demands for microbial detection, tracking and scientific research can be extremely specialized. Reliable and accurate tools that can be customized give scientists the flexibility they need to outpace pathogens and accelerate the tempo of discovery,” said Nitin Sood, Senior Vice President and head of QIAGEN’s Life Sciences Business Area. “With the launch of our design tool for Custom dPCR Microbial Assays and the new QIAseq xHXB panels, we are addressing the demands of our customers. QIAGEN will continue to expand our offering of accurate, reliable and easy-to-use solutions.” The new tools are: Design tool for Custom dPCR Microbial Assays – The first-of-its-kind custom assay design tool enables users to design primers and probes for their specific microbial targets of interest and is tailored specifically for bacterial, fungal and viral targets. The design tool software is powered by a sophisticated and thoroughly tested algorithm developed specifically for microbial applications. Researchers can benefit from a user-friendly and intuitive tool that helps them quickly obtain custom assays with optimal sensitivity, specificity and accurate off-target prediction. QIAseq xHYB Custom Microbial Panels – Customers can completely design their own NGS panels, overcoming limitations of panels offered by other vendors, which are designed against a few genomes of a given target and thereby often cause large gaps in coverage. The QIAseq xHYB Custom Microbial Panels advanced algorithm enables researchers to design their assays against many whole genomes at once, allowing them to achieve the highest possible resolution in applications such as microbial detection. QIAGEN continues to expand its portfolio dPCR assays, supporting laboratories to increase their detection capabilities and improve their results. In September, the company added over 100 new validated QIAcuity digital PCR assays for cancer research, inherited genetic disorders, infectious disease surveillance, and other applications. These newly launched cancer and microbial assays meet the level of quality, multiplexing capabilities, customization, precision and sensitivity associated with all QIAcuity products. Customizable digital PCR assays and the customizable panels and assays are now available on QIAGEN’s GeneGlobe web portal ( https://geneglobe.qiagen.com ), which integrates pre-designed assays with a database of more than 10,000 biological entities including genes, miRNAs and pathways. About QIAGEN QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare) and Life Sciences (academia, pharma R&D and industrial applications, primarily forensics). As of September 30, 2024, QIAGEN employed more than 5,800 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at https://www.qiagen.com . Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's products, timing for launch and development, marketing and/or regulatory approvals, financial and operational outlook, growth and expansion, collaborations, markets, strategy or operating results, including without limitation its expected adjusted net sales and adjusted diluted earnings results, are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics), variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes, the commercial development of markets for our products to customers in academia, pharma, applied testing and molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN's products to integrated solutions and producing such products; the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate and protect our products from competitors' products; market acceptance of QIAGEN's new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses; actions of governments, global or regional economic developments, weather or transportation delays, natural disasters, political or public health crises, and its impact on the demand for our products and other aspects of our business, or other force majeure events; as well as the possibility that expected benefits related to recent or pending acquisitions may not materialize as expected; and the other factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: QIAGEN N.V. Category: CorporateLONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.).NVIDIA Corporation NVDA shares are trading higher on Monday after the Biden administration announced a trade investigation into China’s semiconductor industry. What To Know: The “Section 301” investigation focuses on China’s production and trade practices for “legacy” semiconductors, which could lead to higher U.S. tariffs on these components according to Reuters. The probe aims to protect U.S. semiconductor producers from China’s state-driven industry expansion and examines the impact of Chinese chips on critical sectors such as defense and automotive. The U.S. has already increased export restrictions on advanced AI and memory chips to China and imposed a 50% tariff on Chinese semiconductors starting Jan. 1, with the potential for higher tariffs in the future. China’s Commerce Ministry has criticized the U.S. investigation, stating that it will disrupt the global chip industry and supply chains. The broader context potentially includes escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and China, with China retaliating by restricting exports of critical minerals used in chip production. NVIDIA’s stock is rising amid the semiconductor industry’s response to these developments, reflecting optimism about reduced competition from Chinese producers and potential benefits for U.S. chipmakers. NVDA Price Action: Nvidia shares were up 3.24% at $139.06 at the time of writing, according to Benzinga Pro. Read next: Luigi Mangione, Suspected CEO Assassin, Pleads Not Guilty In New York Court Image Via Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI has released the latest version of its highly anticipated Sora video generator to the public, stepping into an increasingly crowded field of AI tools that has raised concerns about disruption to creative industries. The company behind ChatGPT said its latest version, dubbed Sora Turbo, offers significant speed improvements over the February preview model and can create high-definition videos lasting up to 22 seconds. While tech giants Google and Meta have also announced similar video tools, none have yet met the huge expectations set for AI since the launch of ChatGPT two years ago. In a launch demonstration, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the video technology’s early stage but insisted that “it’s going to get a lot, lot better.” The service will be available to ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers, though notably absent from European and British markets for now. “We’re going to try our hardest to be able to launch there,” Altman said in a livestream. Basic subscribers can generate up to 50 videos monthly at standard definition, with options to create content in various aspect ratios and incorporate existing media. OpenAI has implemented safeguards against misuse, including verification metadata and visible watermarks. The company is temporarily restricting the generation of videos featuring real people while it strengthens anti-deepfake measures. Despite the launch, Sora still faces technical challenges. Early reviews note inconsistent realism and difficulties with complex sequences. An OpenAI employee tempered expectations in the announcement livestream: “If you come into Sora with the expectation that you’ll just be able to click a button and generate a feature film, I think you’re coming in with the wrong expectation.” — AFP
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The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania’s 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a parliamentary election on December 1 a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Mr Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis,” he said. “It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romania’s 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It is widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it is entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns”. Romania was plunged into turmoil after Mr Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the December 8 run-off, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race. “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Mr Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Mr Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organise the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighbouring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all politicians from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.Opera Steamboat has announced four new members to the Board of Directors. The new members include soprano Hilary Ginther, soprano Solveig Olsen, business consultant Richard A. Spires, and professional snowboarder Spencer Tamblyn. Ginther has had a professional career in the U.S. and abroad while Olsen has performed with Chicago Opera Theatre, Caramoor Festival, Santa Fe Symphony, and New Millennium Orchestra, among others. Spires is the author of “Government Can Deliver” and “Success in the Technological Field.” Finally, Tamblyn enjoyed a career as a freestyle snowboarder and also worked as an international elite Olympic-level coach. Categories
Smile, were you and your phone caught out on Macquarie Pass?Brian Dowling says ‘it will take more than this to dampen our spirits’ amid travel chaosGM abandons robotaxi operations derailed by accidentCOOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson had 20 points in Tennessee Tech's 90-75 victory against Presbyterian on Wednesday. Johnson also contributed 10 rebounds and eight assists for the Golden Eagles (4-3). Daniel Egbuniwe added 16 points while going 5 of 13 from the floor, including 2 for 7 from 3-point range, and 4 for 4 from the line and also had six rebounds. Kyle Layton shot 5 for 10, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 15 points. Kaleb Scott finished with 14 points and seven rebounds for the Blue Hose (5-4). Jaylen Peterson added 11 points and 11 rebounds for Presbyterian. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Quarterbacks in spotlight when No. 6 Miami visits SyracuseOpera Steamboat Names Four New Board MembersAutos of Dallas now offers valuable, time-saving research on the pre-owned Mercedes-Benz GLC series – a market-leading, luxurious, small SUV. DALLAS , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Autos of Dallas , a trusted name in pre-owned luxury vehicles, is excited to unveil its latest research on the used Mercedes-Benz GLC for sale near Dallas . This sophisticated SUV series blends performance, style, and technology, making it a favorite among luxury enthusiasts. "We're excited to share our research on used Mercedes-Benz GLC SUVs near Dallas . We found great deals on this popular luxury SUV, letting buyers get a premium vehicle at a lower price. This research helps our customers buy with confidence." —Autos of Dallas -Explore the Elegance of the Mercedes GLC Series The Mercedes GLC lineup offers unparalleled versatility, appealing to families, professionals, and adventurers alike. Its refined exterior features bold grille designs, sleek LED headlights, and a sculpted silhouette that exudes modern luxury. Inside, the Mercedes GLC 300 raises the bar for comfort with premium materials, advanced infotainment, and an intuitive touchpad controller. The series also includes the sporty Mercedes GLC Coupe , which pairs aerodynamic design with coupe-like aesthetics for an extra touch of sophistication. Additionally, Autos of Dallas highlights the popular Mercedes GLC 300 Coupe for sale in their inventory. It offers drivers a thrilling mix of turbocharged power and dynamic handling, perfect for Dallas roads and highways. -Affordability Meets Luxury with a Used Mercedes-Benz GLC Buying pre-owned offers a smart, cost-effective way to experience the luxury of a Mercedes SUV. Autos of Dallas ensures their inventory of Mercedes GLC for sale meets high standards for quality and reliability. Starting at a fraction of the price of new models, these pre-owned vehicles provide exceptional value. Each model also undergoes rigorous inspections to ensure it delivers top performance. The dealership's extensive selection means you're sure to find the ideal Mercedes GLC near Dallas for your needs. -Shop Luxury with Confidence at Autos of Dallas Whether you're looking for a Mercedes GLC Coupe or the family-friendly GLC 300, Autos of Dallas has options to suit your lifestyle. Visit their current inventory or learn more about the GLC's standout features in a detailed blog entry. To discover why the used Mercedes-Benz GLC for sale near Dallas is a standout choice, visit Autos of Dallas today. Their knowledgeable team is ready to help you find the luxury SUV that fits your needs and budget. - About Autos of Dallas Autos of Dallas is a renowned pre-owned luxury dealership in Dallas, Texas , committed to delivering top-quality vehicles and exceptional customer service. With a passion for excellence and an extensive selection of luxury brands, we strive to provide an unparalleled automotive experience. Trust Autos of Dallas to fulfill your automotive desires. Luxury vehicle owners looking for high-quality pre-owned vehicles are welcome to visit Autos of Dallas . The dealership has a large selection of many kinds of luxury makes and models. Interested parties can contact the dealership by dialing 972-484-9200 for further information. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallas-mercedes-benz-glc-autos-of-dallas-research-saves-you-time--money-302338590.html SOURCE Autos of Dallas
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