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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.Ancelotti hopes Mbappe injury not serious after Champions League win at Atalanta
Richard Drury Thesis Silvercrest Asset Management ( NASDAQ: SAMG ) is a wealth management firm with an excellent track record of retaining clients and growing their assets under management. Lately, they are targeting a new global equity strategy that is potentially going to Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Susan Shelley: We’re all-in to Make America Healthy AgainHow to get started with Bluesky
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AS CHRISTMAS approaches, t he Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) has launched its annual appeal for families in Limerick and the Mid-West region seeking help. SVP expects calls for help this December will exceed 25,000, which was last year’s record. This year, on the 180th anniversary of the SVP in Ireland, the annual appeal is focused on providing help and hope to struggling parents in the Mid-West and across Ireland. Regional president Teresa Ryan said: “The calls for help to our office and local conferences (branches) continue to increase. “Our theme for this year, The Wonder of Christmas, reflects the questions our volunteers face most regularly in the run-up to Christmas, including: I wonder will I have enough for food and toys? I wonder do the kids know we are struggling? I wonder If we will ever get us out of it?, among other things.” READ MORE: New look Limerick Yearbook hits the shelves across the county this week She went on to say that despite the one-off payments made by the Government coming this month and next, many people will continue to struggle to meet basic family expenses. “Those hardest hit will include one parent-families, low-income workers, households on fixed social welfare incomes, low-income households in rural areas; people with disabilities and their carers,” Ms Ryan said. “That is why we are seeking donations to help families pay for food, heat their homes and ensure their children get a decent Christmas.” Ms Ryan is appealing to businesses to support local SVP branches and for community groups and schools to take part in this year’s Gift of Choice campaign or wear a Christmas jumper for SVP. She said that the public and corporate response SVP has been “magnificent in the past” and that they are hopeful of another very positive reaction this year. “There is a warmth towards the work of the Society that is obvious and welcome” she said. Anyone finding themselves in need this Christmas in the Mid-West and anyone seeking assistance for the first time should phone 061 317327 to have their request processed.Humans of Rodrigues : Michel Samoisy, a man of his time
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GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany praised his veteran striker Thomas Muller who took advantage of a rare start this season to put the side ahead against Shakhtar Donetsk after they had gone behind early in their Champions League game on Tuesday (Dec 10). "His goal is a quality that he always had in his career, just the right moment, the right place and he scored the goal very efficiently," Kompany told reporters after the 5-1 win. "And then of course the energy, the passion, the leadership. For us it is very important to have a good balance between experienced players and young players who still have to grow." Muller had started only one of Bayern's previous five games in the competition but, with Harry Kane out injured, the 35-year-old stepped up and was in the perfect position to put Bayern in front just before half-time and begin the fightback. Kompany has given Muller just three starts in the Bundesliga this season but the manager was keen to emphasise the importance of the player to his squad, and his ability to still be there when it counted. "I think it has always been clear that he still plays a very important role for us, even if sometimes it is not every minute in the season, it is sometimes normal," Kompany said. "I think because he has so much experience, he knows how important these moments are. "He can turn a game but we play in the Champions League, you can't always have a totally dominant game without the opponents working out a chance. "At that moment it was his chance and he did something important for the team. Of course, I think overall that we were very dominant, that we played well and that was an important moment."
A study of hot spots for collisions between ships and whales around the world, including Canadian waters, offers a map for measures to prevent the deadly strikes that could drive some species to extinction, one of the British Columbia-based authors says. Chloe Robinson said reported strikes represent a fraction of their true extent, and a lack of protection measures leaves whales vulnerable as global shipping expands. The study found shipping takes place across 92 per cent of the ranges for humpback, blue, fin and sperm whales worldwide, but measures to reduce vessel strikes have been implemented in less than seven per cent of high-risk areas. “That could really spell, you know, potential extinction for some of these species,” said Robinson,director of whales for Ocean Wise, a B.C.-based organization that provided data for the paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. “A recent study estimated anything up to 20,000 whales are killed a year through ship strikes, globally, and that’s just an estimate, a best-case estimate.” Robinson said she was surprised to see Swiftsure Bank, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, emerge as a risk hot spot for strikes of fin, blue and humpback whales. The area is a “migration highway” for humpbacks, she noted. The study also identified a hot spot for the same three species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. “This is something that Ocean Wise has been looking into because a lot of the management measures occur offshore and not sort of within the Gulf of St. Lawrence itself and even the St. Lawrence Seaway, (which) leads down to the Great Lakes,” she said. “That was a huge hot spot, which was really interesting for me.” Robinson said there have been smaller studies on the risk of ship strikes in different regions, but the study published Thursday is the first to map the distribution of the four whale species, using a variety of data sources, then compare it with the Automatic Identification System, a tool used for tracking vessels worldwide. “This was really the first of its kind to map these two on top of each other,” she said. The researchers found the highest levels of risk in the Indian, western North Pacific and Mediterranean, while it also identified high-risk areas in the eastern North Pacific, North and South Atlantic Ocean along with the South China Sea. The Southern Ocean was the only region that did not contain any ship-strike hot spots due to low levels of shipping, despite high use by whales, the study found. Robinson said the findings support a strong case for maritime authorities to adopt measures such as whale alert systems, speed limits and no-go zones. “We know where there are areas where there are lots of whales and lots of ships, so this is where we need to target for management,” she said in an interview. Robinson said Canada is home to many “eyes on the water” and researchers exploring innovative techniques for monitoring whales. But the country lacks mandatory mitigation measures, and it’s not alone. “Next to none of the measures globally are mandatory. So, having voluntary measures (is) great, provided people comply,” Robinson said. Ocean Wise launched an alert system in 2018 that notifies large vessels of the presence of whales in Pacific Northwest waters, and Robinson said about 80 per cent of mariners from Washington state up to Alaska have signed up. The WhaleReport alert system mainly functions in what she describes as “inshore” waters around busy ports in Seattle, Vancouver and Prince Rupert. The Port of Vancouver has also seen a high rate of compliance for its ECHO program, Robinson noted. The program encourages vessels to take voluntary steps, such as slowing down or staying farther away from whales, in order to reduce underwater noise and the potential for strikes in busy shipping areas. Robinson favours a multi-pronged approach to reducing ship strikes, but she said one single measure she believes could have a big impact would be equipping vessels with an infrared camera to detect whales within several kilometres. “Maybe some mariners ... respond better to knowing there 100 per cent is a whale 200 metres in front of your vessel, versus, ‘slow down, there might be a whale here.’” Robinson said such cameras can cost betweenUS$50,000 and $75,000. But the cost was a “drop in the bucket” of major companies’ profits, she said. The cameras also present a public-relations opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves as operating in a more whale-friendly manner, Robinson said. “I know people who have had to go and have therapy after killing a humpback whilst at the helm,” she added. “I think there’s a lot to be said (for) the long-term benefits of this kind of technology.” The study also found areas with lower traffic that could provide refuge for whales, especially with added protections. It shows the Arctic Ocean, for example, has very few high-risk areas for vessel strikes, and Robinson said some researchers view it as potential sanctuary. But without protections, Robinson said Arctic waters could become the next high-risk hot spot as sea ice melts with climate change, opening up shipping routes. “Knowing the plans to expand shipping routes into these areas to cut shipping time, make things faster, right through prime whale habitat, I think this is a really good opportunity to get ahead of the issue before it becomes an issue,” she said. Whales play crucial roles in their ecosystems, including cycling nutrients that support other species, and they’re a boon for tourism, Robinson said. They’re also “magical” creatures that people feel connected to, she said, and they remain vulnerable after many species were hunted to the brink of extinction. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024.
Trump taps a Fox News personality, a surgeon and a former Congressman to lead public health agenciesThe University of Texas System will offer free tuition for undergraduates whose families make less than $100,000 per year. The Board of Regents’ Academic Affairs Committee gave preliminary approval to the “Promise Plus” program, the school system announced on Wednesday. Starting in the fall 2025, qualifying students at any of UT’s nine academic institutions across the state can participate in the program. Any student whose families have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less will not be charged with tuition or mandatory fees. If approved, the plan would direct “an immediate infusion” of $35 million to the campuses, making it the first in the state “to offer such a sweeping financial aid benefit,” Wednesday’s release said. Eligible students must be Texas residents, enroll full-time in undergraduate programs, and apply for applicable federal and state financial aid, according to the release. This move is an extension of the school system’s existing aid programs. In 2019, UT Austin students from families with incomes of $65,000 or less were offered free tuition and mandatory fees. That program was expanded to include all of UT’s academic institutions in 2022. The UT system has 256,000 students, making it the largest university system in Texas and one of the largest public university systems in the country. The new program is estimated to help an additional 3,000 students, according to UT News . “To be in a position to make sure our students can attend a UT institution without accruing more debt is very important to all of us, and as long as we are here, we will continue our work to provide an affordable, accessible education to all who choose to attend a UT institution,” Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the Board of Regents, said in a statement. UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken praised the board of regents’ decision and hailed the program as being able to impact current and future students. “What is particularly gratifying to me, and to UT presidents, is that the Regents are not only addressing immediate needs of our current students, but they are taking the long view, ensuring that future generations will continue to benefit from this remarkable program,” Milliken said. He added: “Across UT institutions, enrollment is growing, and student debt is declining, indicating success in both access and affordability. That’s a rare trend in American higher education, and I’m proud the UT System is in a position to be a leader.”
The pickleball boom isn’t dying anytime soon. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The pickleball boom isn’t dying anytime soon. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The pickleball boom isn’t dying anytime soon. That’s why The Picklr, an American pickleball chain, has updated its Canadian expansion plans to build two additional indoor facilities in Manitoba by 2030. Partnered with Winnipeg-based TPC Development Corp., The Picklr previously committed to opening 65 facilities across Canada, including two in Winnipeg, in the next five years. Now, those plans include three spaces in the provincial capital and another in Brandon. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES With the growing popularity of pickleball comes the demand for year-round facilities. “It’s just based on demand. Our goal is one six-to-eight-court facility for every 200,000 people. So that’s where, for Winnipeg, what seems like would be a viable option, as well,” Mark Arndt, chief growth officer for The Picklr Canada, told the Tuesday. “For Winnipeg, for sure we’d like to start with the two, see how those respond, and then take it to the third. And, I mean, we’re confident that there will be a third in Winnipeg and then Brandon would be a target area, as well.” Since its expansion plans became public in October, The Picklr has worked to sell its franchises to entrepreneurs across the country. Nothing has been built yet, but Arndt said the first chain is projected to open in Kitchener, Ont., next summer, with facilities in Mississauga and Vancouver close behind. There are more than 400 Picklr locations across nearly every state in the U.S. Most facilities house eight to 10 courts, and larger ones can hold 12 to 15. The initial Canadian franchises will reside in converted buildings such as empty mall anchors, vacant gyms and industrial warehouses. Arndt confirmed The Picklr has shortlisted three options in Winnipeg and renovations will take three to four months to complete once a space is confirmed. It is hopeful to open a Winnipeg location in time for next year’s indoor season, which typically begins sometime in September or October. “Just look outside right now. There are really no proper indoor facilities that are in Winnipeg or Manitoba, and our indoor season is a very long season,” Arndt said about what makes Winnipeg an attractive location for three facilities. “And then the overall interest and the growth potential for the sport and what’s happening on a worldwide basis — especially in the U.S. — and we’re following the U.S business model that really tells us that in similar climates to Winnipeg, that’s what the ratio is as far as facilities being built.” A public indoor facility dedicated to pickleball does not exist in Manitoba yet, although, the Pickleball Club of Winnipeg will open the first in Headingley early next year. The outdoor courts across the city are being used daily throughout the summer, and while there is a thirst to play year-round, there is limited availability for indoor court times, especially during the colder months. Pickleball Manitoba president Ted Fardoe said the growing demand has made indoor options a necessity, especially in the Prairies. “You only get four months of real good weather here to play outdoors. So there’s an eight-month window where you’re looking to play anywhere you can indoors, so having dedicated facilities, I don’t think there will be any problems filling these facilities and keeping them busy,” Fardoe said. “Our community is growing at such a pace, and there’s such a demand for places to pay at this point in time, that people aren’t getting their preferred times. They’re playing where there is availability to play at this point.” Pickleball’s participation has surged in recent years owing to a heightened interest among younger players. An estimated 1.37 million people play in Canada, according to a survey conducted by the Sport Information Resource Centre in January of 2023. That survey also concluded the growth is coming from younger adults, particularly those aged 18 to 34. Pickleball Manitoba’s membership has grown to nearly 2,000 members, but that number does not come close to representing the actual number of players across the province, Fardoe said previously. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The most serious players have expressed their desire to play as much as 16 hours per week during the indoor season, he said. “The bottom line is this: if they come in and they build two facilities, whether they got four courts or eight courts, the pickleball community will take anything they got. And they’ll fill them up... they’ll be busy all day long,” Fardoe said. “Guaranteed.” The Canadian Picklr locations will almost exclusively house indoor courts, but Arndt said outdoor court options will be explored if there is enough available land. Each Picklr facility will be available to the public on a membership basis. Pricing is still being determined but options will be tier-based, with several options available. joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the . Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. . Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the . Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He’s reported primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports and writes a weekly real estate feature for the business section. . Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementOCVarsity video: Steve Fryer and Dan Albano make their predictions for the CIF-SS football championships