Another day, another Play Store deletion.NurPhoto via Getty ImagesRepublished on March 15th with a new report highlighting dangerous apps.What a week for Play Store. Google has been busy with its delete button, with multiple threats sneaking their way inside Androids best secured app vault. Not a good look. And all this has come hot on the tail of the latest warning that Android is under attack.First came an ad fraud scheme leading to the deletion of 180 apps with 56 million downloads, then another dangerous Anatsa/Teabot trojan ejected from the store, we have even fake Play Store pages tricking users into high-risk installs.Now another threat has been outed, with Google confirming all the newly identified apps hiding a nasty new spyware have also been ousted from Play Store. This latest warning came courtesy of Lookout, which attributed the new KoSpy malware to the North Korean group APT37 [ScarCruft].The team says the spyware can collect extensive data, such as SMS messages, call logs, location, files, audio, and screenshots. Its a North Korean team effort with evidence of infrastructure being shared with APT43 [Kimsuky]The new malware attacks both English and Korean speakers, and seemingly dates back at least to early 2022 and is still in the wild now. KoSpy has been observed using fake utility application lures, such as File Manager, Software Update Utility and Kakao Security, to infect devices. The spyware comes with an impressive list of capabilities:"Collecting SMS messagesCollecting call logsRetrieving device locationAccessing files and folders on the local storageRecording audio and taking photos with the camerasCapturing screenshots or recording the screen while in useRecording key strokes by abusing accessibility servicesCollecting wifi network detailsCompiling a list of installed applications."While none of the identified apps remain on Play Store, they will be available elsewhere. KoSpy samples in Lookouts corpus masquerade as five different apps: (Phone Manager), File Manager, (Smart Manager), (Kakao Security) and Software Update Utility. If any are on your phone, delete them now."Play Store spyware appLookoutAs well as KoSpy, you should remove any of the ad fraud and Anatsa apps (per links above), which Google has also confirmed have been deleted from the store. You should also ensure Googles Play Protect is enabled at all times on your device.In response to Lookouts report, Google told me the use of regional language suggests this was intended as targeted malware. Before any user installations, the latest malware sample discovered in March 2024 was removed from Google Play. Google Play Protect automatically protects Android users from known versions of this malware on devices with Google Play Services, even when apps come from sources outside of Play.Google is updating Play Protect to make it easier to pause its defenses to facilitate sideloading. As this new warning clearly illustrates, you should never do this unless youre absolutely sure of the legitimacy of the app youre installing and the source. As Ive warned before, sideloading itself puts you at risk and this new option is dangerous and needs handling with care. Youre driving at speed, but removing your seatbelt.A timely new report from UCL in London has just warned that some unofficial parental control apps have excessive access to personal data and hide their presence, raising concerns about their potential for unethical surveillance as well as domestic abuse, highlighting that sideloaded apps are much riskier than those on Play Store.The new study is the first to compare official parental control apps available in the Google Play Store and sideloaded or unofficial parental control apps available from other sources The team found that sideloaded apps were more likely to hide their presence from the phone user [and] require excessive permissions, including dangerous permissions such as being able to access personal data, like precise user location, at all times. None of which should come as a surprise.This is just the latest report to highlight sideloading risks, which Google itself warns is dangerous. Whats interesting here is that parental control apps by their nature will ask for excessive permissions to operate. Its a boon for data harvesters to be able to operate in this way on your phone. But for apps in such a sensitive area to be able to lure users into installing, potentially disabling Play Protect in the process, is dangerous.Google has long promised to eradicate such abuse, removing these apps from Play Store and monitoring on-device behavior. But all this remains work in progress. Multiple warnings last year highlighted just how rife such Play Store abuse remains.

2025-03-15T08:43:01Z Read in app Leslie Redmond (right) and her husband. Courtesy of Leslie Redmond This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Leslie Redmond, 38, moved from Anchorage, Alaska, to Winnipeg, Canada, in 2022.Redmond said Canada is similar to the US but has more of a collectivist mentality.She feels caught in the middle of the tense, emotional Canadian-American tariff debate.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Leslie Redmond, a 38-year-old assistant professor at the University of Manitoba who moved from the US to Canada in 2022. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.I'm originally fromVirginia,but in2019, I moved to Alaska to work at the University of Alaska inAnchorage. I loved it there and thought it would be my forever home. But after three months, I met my future husband by coincidence,and everything changed.At the time, he worked for the federal government in the Yukon, a remote Canadian territory roughly an eight-hour drive from Anchorage. After a year of dating, we got married, which coincided with his placement in the Yukon ending in 2020. At that point, we had to decide what was next.We concluded that living in Canada made the most sense.As an academic, it would be easier for me to find a job there than for my husband to find one in the US. Being Canadian, he wouldn't immediately have had the same clearance or career opportunities in the federal government.Canada's culture also appealed to me, asit feels more progressive. As someone workingin public health nutrition, its collectivist mentality also aligns with my values.Immigrating to Canada was fairly easyI've always enjoyed adventure. I've moved around a lot, going to places I knew nothing about and where I knew no one.For me, moving to Canada was more exciting than stressful. The anxiety I felt mainly stemmed from the legal process there were so many details to manage.Living with my husband in the Redmond and her husband. Courtesy of Leslie Redmond There are several ways to immigrate to Canada, including marriage, but we didn't want to take that route. Instead, we applied through Canada's Federal Skilled Worker Program, designed for skilled professionals in high demand.The process is based on a points system, where factors like education and age can help you score highly. We felt my credentials were competitive, and this pathway would be faster than applying solely based on our marriage.Despite the paperwork, the process was relatively easy for me. I'm fortunate to be healthy, have English as my first language, and have plenty of resources. I recognize my privilege in having such an easy experience. I understand that people from countries with different governments or languages and fewer resources face far more barriers.In 2022, I moved to Manitoba, a prairie province of Canada, and received permanent residency. The process took significantly longer due to COVID since many workers were out or working from home, and the building had capacity limits, causing extended wait times. I believe the process has become more reasonable recently.Canadians have a 'collectivist mentality'If you can picture North and South Dakota, you can picture Manitoba. I live in Winnipeg, the capital city of about 700,000 people.Winters here are typically -20 Fahrenheit and can reach extreme lows, with prairie winds bringing temperatures down to -40 Fahrenheit.Many movies are made in Winnipeg, as the area is often used to represent historic downtowns ofChicago or Minneapolis. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Photo by Salvador Maniquiz/Getty Images I'm working as an assistant professor in nutritional science at the University of Manitoba. We live in a neighborhood near the university in a single-family, four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom home that we purchased for just over $500,000. You can definitely find homes here that cost much more.Our home is not a new build; it was constructed around 1984. Given the housing shortages and rising demand, it's possible the price was a bit inflated, but we still feel comfortable with what we paid and believe it was a fair value. The agriculture building at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. benedek/Getty Images I've noticed there are many similarities between the US and Canada, like higher education, career opportunities, and cultural values. From sports to music, the social and entertainment scenes are quite alike, making it easy for someone from the US to fit right in.The biggest difference, which I'm more attuned to because of my profession in nutrition, is the collectivist mentality here. The people I met in Canada seemed more focused on the common good. This is evident in aspects like healthcare, where many accept that it might be more expensive, but it's available for all.There's a sense of, "I'm not just being taken care of, but my neighbors are, too." Many people are generally happy to support systems that ensure access to healthcare and childcare. While this mindset exists in the US, I find it more prevalent here.The cost of living is rising in CanadaWinnipeg is considered one of the most affordable cities in Canada, and many people justify living here despite the harsh winters.However, I'd say it's more expensive than living in the States, mainly due to taxes that fund social services and various environmental initiatives, such as carbon taxes.Still, like many Canadians, I'm OK with it because I'm contributing to a system that benefits everyone. Redmond and her family. Courtesy of Leslie Redmond Food prices have risen recently, and grocery shopping in Winnipeg is significantly more expensive than across the border in North Dakota at least twice as much. However, my husband and I both have well-paying jobs, so we're in a good position to adapt to these challenges.Winter also brings added costs, like the need for winter tires and increased car maintenance something many living in a cold climate likely experience.On the bright side, heating and electricity are more affordable than expected, thanks to being primarily hydro-powered.Canadians aren't happy about US tariffsMany Canadians are confused about the tariffs and the presidential election. I often hear colleagues and friends express disbelief, asking, "How did America let this happen?"I can only speak from my own experience. As an American living here, I'm in a unique position, hearing perspectives from both sides of the border from my American and Canadian friends and family.I think many people in Canada initially saw American politics as a spectator sport, watching with interest, almost like reality TV, but remaining detached. I found that frustrating because I knew there would be consequences for everyone.Now, many Canadians are realizing they'll be affected. I hear strong opinions that are completely valid. President Donald Trump issued executive orders on February 1 to levy 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. Xinhua News Agency/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images Overall, my family and acquaintances here still see Americans as decent people but are shocked and disappointed by the presidential administration's lack of respect for Canada.This has become a rallying cry for many to unite, show patriotism, and take action. Many support Canadian-made products, buy locally, and stand firm rather than just complain.Moving to Canada was a great decisionMy husband and I plan to continue living in Canada despite the changes. We have an 18-month-old and another baby on the way.There are great benefits to raising children here. For example, I get a generous 12-month maternity leave with full pay, which is standard. There's also subsidized childcare, costing just a few dollars a day, compared to the several thousand a month my friends pay in the US.Looking back, I don't think I would have taken the initiative to move to Canada on my own. I would have kept quiet and just talked about it, but the opportunity to live here has offered many benefits.It was a great choice, and I don't regret it.

2025-03-15T08:38:01Z Read in app Rajan Chidambaram and Renzo Sanio bought undeveloped land in Virginia for $37,000. Courtesy of Rajan Chidambaram. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? Two college students bought undeveloped land in rural Virginia, hoping to build a luxury retreat.The two friends from high school reconnected in college and decided to start the venture together.Graduating in May, they plan to open their first cabin in July.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rajan Chidambaram and Renzo Sanio, two college students at the University of Virginia (UVA) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The two 22-year-old friends who met in high school are set to graduate in May. In July, they plan to open Royal Oak Retreat, a luxury cabin in Front Royal, Virginia, a rural town about 70 miles outside Washington, DC. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.Renzo: I've always been told when you're young, it's the best time to take risks. I was just waiting for the right opportunity to find a development deal that I could partake in.I went to college, studying physics, and eventually added Building Construction as my second major but it didn't seem creative enough. So, I added Real Estate as a second major in my sophomore year. I was excited because you can see the whole development process from the start.Rajan: Renzo and I actually reconnected in Texas. I was working in Dallas and visiting another friend in Austin. Renzo just happened to be there. That's where I first got introduced to real-estate development. Now, I'm majoring in IT and Real Estate.Renzo: I was working in a commercial-development internship in Austin. I shared the idea to buy investment land with Rajan while he was working at JP Morgan in Dallas, and that was, in a way, the start of our partnership.We wanted to diversify our investments with real estateRajan: I've been selling shoes for a very long time, and I saved up a lot of money over the last five years. I wanted to park some of it in real estate. The inspiration to get into real estate came from my dad who suggested I look into it. I already had a lot of money in the stock market, so I wanted to diversify a little bit. A drone shot of Chidambaram and Sanio. Courtesy of Rajan Chidambaram. I bought a property on my 21st birthday. It was a single-family townhouse for $295,000, about five minutes away from UVA, so it's holding its value very well. I rented it out to a family that lives there.Renzo: There was a 24-year-old in Texas who built a retreat for $2.5 million and then sold it two years later for $7 million. And I thought that if I could do a very similar thing, just in a market closer to where my home was, we would exceed.Rajan: Renzo brought me this deal. He's the one who found it, he's the one who sourced it, he's the one who did the research, and he just brought me along.My dad started his own company, and before I even explained it, he was like, "Just go do it." I'm very grateful that he had full faith in me to do my own thing.We think we can make $100,000 per cabin a yearRenzo: Our property is 2.5 acres in Front Royal, Virginia. We got it under contract for $37,000 right after Thanksgiving 2024. We bought it free and clear.Rajan: We closed on January 10. We've started clearing the land but have not started putting the foundation in yet.Renzo: The 2.5 acres are subdivided into four parcels, and the end goal is to have four luxury cabins.I bought the plans for the cabins for $2,000, probably six months before we bought the land. I had to buy them to know how much it would cost to build them, which would be used in our financial model. Chidambaram and Sanio expect to make $100,000 in annual revenue per cabin. Courtesy of Rajan Chidambaram. We're using a $300,000 construction loan to build the first cabin, which kind of maxes out our financial capacity. Our finances are limiting us in that sense, so we're going to build the remaining three in phases.We definitely needed cosigners for the loans some conversations with parents and easing their concerns opened up the possibility for us to see this through.Once we get full-time roles, our capacity for debt should increase. So, we might consider building all three at the same time.Our financial model projects $100,000 in revenue per cabin annually. While $100,000 looks sexy, hospitality is expensive to operate.We discovered Front Royal is one of Virginia's strongest short-term rental markets because it's so close to DC it's only one hour away.As for the market side, the downturns aren't really a concern. If the market dips and people find themselves in unfavorable financial situations, we expect that in-state travel will increase, which will benefit us.Rajan: We expect to be fully hands-on. This is not an investment; this is a business that we're starting.And I think it starts with the marketing. That's why I'm really pushing content out on my page. We also have a branded page for Royal Oak Retreat, and the whole point behind that is by the time we open, I want to build up our personal brand so big that when we open, we have a direct bookings funnel.We don't want to rely on Airbnb or Vrbo because they take a percentage of what we would charge. We want to have our own direct booking site.I think by the time we open, people are going to be so bought into our story. If you want to book out for a whole year, that's only 365 people, and right now, we have 47,000 people following our journey.

Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/@cghow/join Croc Attack in Unreal Engine 5.5 Niagara TrailerFull Video - https://youtu.be/oLCQUB7bnVk Download - https://shorturl.at/xlgPQ FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif NFT - https://opensea.io/CGHOW Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Support me on - paypal.me/9953280644 #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengineniagara #realtimevfxVisit - https://cghow.com/ Unreal Engine Marketplace - https://bit.ly/3aojvAa Artstation Store - https://www.artstation.com/ashif/store Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/

Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/@cghow/join Croc Attack in Unreal Engine 5.5 Niagara TrailerDownload - https://shorturl.at/xlgPQ FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif NFT - https://opensea.io/CGHOW Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Support me on - paypal.me/9953280644 #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengineniagara #realtimevfxVisit - https://cghow.com/ Unreal Engine Marketplace - https://bit.ly/3aojvAa Artstation Store - https://www.artstation.com/ashif/store Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/

Project Files: https://www.patreon.com/posts/124405519 .This is the 13th part of the tutorial series, where we are going to implement a Real Time Strategy game using Unreal Engine and C++. In the previous episode, we implemented a way to select multiple characters. A Box selection. Today, we are going to work on how to command those selected multiple characters simultaneously. We will be able to issue move command to all selected actors same time. Full C++ RTS Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou5_PYxEdjNbAgbVRn-daOga .Unreal Strategy game with Blueprints series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNTm9yU0zou4Eulmi8YIfzHiNZEzfbSMk // ! https://www.patreon.com/codelikeme Patrons will have access to project files of all the stuff I do in the channel and other extra benefitsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClb6Jh9EBV7a_Nm52Ipll_Q/join Like my facebook page for more content : https://www.facebook.com/gamedevelopersclub/ Follow me on twitter : https://twitter.com/CodeLikeMe2 Follow me on reddit : https://www.reddit.com/user/codelikeme #CodeLikeMe #unrealengine #ue5 #ue4 #indiegamedev

submitted by /u/The_VFX_Wizard [link] [comments]

Senior Character Artist Hamada Orabi showcased this fantastic 3D portrait of Angelina Jolie made with ZBrush, Maya, Mari, and Marvelous Designer.More renders: https://80.lv/articles/3d-artist-shared-realistic-portrait-of-angelina-jolie-made-with-zbrush/

Clark Coots invites you to take a closer look at the materials and assets he created for Sid Meier's Civilization 7.He made 300 unique materials and 1200 tinted variations: https://80.lv/articles/take-closer-look-at-materials-assets-created-for-sid-meier-s-civilization-7/

RTYuki ItoFoam #Houdini