Path of Exile 2 developer Grinding Gear Games has issued more emergency changes to the action role-playing game amid a backlash to the nerf-heavy Dawn of the Hunt update that has caused recent Steam user reviews to plummet to ‘mostly negative.’Dawn of the Hunt launched earlier this month and quickly sparked a backlash among the Path of Exile community. The expansion added the new Huntress class, a Spear and Buckler user specialising in hybrid melee and ranged combat. Elsewhere, there are five new ascension classes: the Ritualist, Amazon, Smith of Kitava, Tactician, and Lich. And along with all that are mechanical overhauls, over one hundred new unique items as well as significantly expanded crafting options.What should have been a hugely positive moment for Path of Exile 2, its developers and its players became something else entirely, however, as the community complained that GGG had slowed the pace of the game down to the point where it became a “total slog.”PlayThe ‘most helpful’ review of the last 30 days on Steam is a negative one that outlines the current problems with the game:Every boss fight is incredibly longer than it needs to be. Most of the skills do little to no damage. I understand they said they wanted to slow gameplay down, but I don't think I will even make it more than one week in this league at this point. It just feels incredibly awful right now, IF you can even get the game to run and be stable. That is a HUGE if.“If you're a masochist who enjoys being punished for little to no reward, this game is for you,” reads another negative review. “If you're not, it's likely that you won't enjoy the game.“The release version (0.1) already had a lot of issues in relation to the size of the areas (too large), the slow movement (which makes those large areas feel even worse) and forced combo gameplay (which was optional thanks to some "unintended" build options found by players).“However, in this new version (0.2 - Dawn of the Hunt), just as many other reviewers have mentioned, the game was slowed down considerably.“The loot, which wasn't too common in 0.1, but acceptable, was nerfed by quite a lot, to the point where you kill a rare monster or boss and get no rare items or crafting currencies.“The forced combo gameplay is back in full force, with the developers wanting to pigeonhole us into this type of gameplay, which is in direct contrast to what an ARPG of this kind is supposed to be. You're supposed to have freedom to make your build how you like to play it and not be forced to play only the way the developers have intended.“Players keep complaining about the map size and slow movement and the developers largely ignored these comments until the community backlash was too much to keep ignoring.“I have 5k hours in PoE 1 and it's my favorite game of all time. I love GGG but honestly, I cannot recommend this game to almost anyone as it is now.“Hopefully they will be able to fix these issues in the future and make the game more enjoyable.”In response, GGG had already outlined a list of changes, but it has now revealed more coming as part of the 0.2.0e due out tomorrow, April 11.The question for Path of Exile 2 players now is, are these changes meaningful enough to stem the tide of complaints and get the game back into a positive setting? It’s worth noting that Path of Exile 2 has been a hugely successful release for GGG, to the point where it struggled to cope with the sheer number of players at launch. But this success has brought with it additional problems that have even impacted the development of Path of Exile 1, which retains a sizeable and loyal audience.Path of Exile 2 update 0.2.0e patch notes:Monster Speed ChangesMany players have been reported being overwhelmed by monsters. The cause of this is a variety of factors and we are addressing them on a case by case basis. We have listed monster changes act by act below, but we also made the following changes more generally.Many human monsters including the Cultists in Freythorn, the Faridun and the Tribal Humans in Act Three have behaviour where they can interrupt their melee attacks if the player moves too far out of range during the attack, especially for attacks that have multiple hits like a swipe left into swipe right. These interrupt events have been primarily removed especially on things that were attacking very fast as it caused the monsters to be relentlessly able to pursue and attack you giving you no time to engage or use skills between their attacks.The Haste Aura monster modifier no longer appears on monsters that are already fast.Act 1Werewolf Prowlers and Tendril Prowlers now will enter a walking stance (as opposed to running) after performing a melee action, they will only begin running again if you get a certain distance away from them. This behaviour has been applied to many faster monsters.Hungering Stalkers now have 12% less Life and Damage, they were already relatively weak but we have lowered it a bit further to account for their high movement speed and attack speed. They are intended to engage and attack quickly, but be weak and die fast.Reduced the number of Bloom Serpents in The Red Vale.Halved the number of Venomous Crabs in the Hunting Grounds.The Cultists in Freythorn no longer have interrupt events on their attacks as described above.The Cultists in Freythorn wielding Axes and Maces in Freythorn now walk after performing a Melee Action, only running again once you exit a certain distance.Blood Cretins on death Blood Pools have had their duration decreased from 6 seconds to 4 seconds, and fixed the area of effect to match the visual more closely.Reduced the overall density of more challenging monsters in Ogham Manor.Act 2The Boulder Ants in Titan Valley have been replaced by Risen Maraketh, as the area had too many monsters that had irritating movement.The Faridun have all been modified to remove the interrupt events on their attacks as described above..Act 3Diretusk Boar and Antlion Charger's are now more likely to push you to the side instead of pushing you along with them when they charge you.The Lost City monster pack composition has been adjusted to result in less ranged monstersMassively adjusted the Azak Bog, firstly by the aforementioned changes to interrupt events, but also changed the monster composition of the area to have less Ranged and Elite monsters.Fixed an issue where the Slitherspitter's poison spray in Venom Crypts was dealing Chaos Damage instead of Physical Damage unintentionally.We have also identified another issue that affects some areas in which potential monster spawn locations have inconsistent density in different rooms. This leads to situations where some rooms are much denser with monsters than others in an unintended way. We have a fix for this problem but it did not make it into this patch, and will be deployed in a later patch.These are not the only changes that we will be making to monsters. Further changes will come in later updates. Some changes we didn't get time to make today, and others require new animations that will take a little longer.Boss ChangesViper Napuatzi is one of the more challenging bosses for players, so we made the following change.Lowered the amount and size of Chaos Rains (the purple ones) in the Viper Napuatzi fight, and cleaned up the visual left afterwards faster to make the following drop locations more obvious.Uxmal had various quirks that made him somewhat annoying to fight. We have made a few changes.Reduced the number of times Uxmal changes locations through the fightUxmal can no longer recharge Energy Shield while in the air.Uxmal uses his Flame Breath less oftenXyclucian had some issues with visibility of his effectsThe arena of Xyclucian has had its ground foliage removed in order to make his effects more visiblePlayer Minion ChangesWe have changed the way that minion revive timers work. When your first minion dies, it sets the revive timer to 7.5 seconds as before, but each successive minion that dies increases it by less and less (still capped to a max of 7.5 seconds). This should heavily mitigate the situation where most of your minions are dead, but the revive timer keeps resetting to 7.5 seconds over and over.Disenchanting a Bind Spectre or Tame Beast gem will unbind them, allowing you to use them again.Tamed beasts can now fit through gaps of the same size that the player can.Other Player BalanceWe don't have a lot of other player balance changes on top of the ones described yesterday, but we did manage to sneak in the following additional changes:Rally support is no longer restricted to Strikes or Slams, and can now support any Melee Attack you use yourself.Glory (Used by Hammer of the Gods and Spear of Solaris) is now no longer consumed if you are interrupted while using the skill.Fixed a bug where Blood Boils from the Ritualist ascendancy didn't propagate if the monster exploded on death, such as when using Herald of Blood.Crafting ChangesWe have now finished adding all of the mods to runes for caster weapons. Desert, Glacial, Storm, Iron, Body, Mind, Rebirth, Inspiration, Stone and Vision runes all now work on Wands and Staves, with their own set of modifiers.Renly's abandoned shop in the Burning Village now also has a Blank rune which Renly can forge into any elemental rune of your choosing in case you didn't find any up to that point. As mentioned yesterday, 12 Artificers Orb's now drop at fixed locations through the campaign in addition to the random drops and salvageable ones.Performance ImprovementsThe ground foliage in many areas has had an optimisation pass to improve performance.0.2.0E Deployment TimelineAnd that's all that made it for 0.2.0E. The patch will be deployed at around 10AM NZT. We have also made some more changes internally, but they didn't make it in time for the patch.The following lists the changes that will be deployed after the weekend. These are not the only changes that will be in that patch. These are just the changes that we already have.Charm ChangesCharms are a system that we never adequately expanded on, and have had several problems that we will finally be addressing. Overall we want charms to be more useful, and for you to be more easily able to use more of them.First, the changes to charm slotsCharm slots on belts are now granted by implicit mods that are added to belts depending on the level of the area that dropped them. The number of slots is random up to a cap depending on how high level the belt is. You can use a Divine Orb to reroll the number of slots.Belts have 1 charm slot until level 32, up to 2 until level 64 and up to 3 from level 65 and onwards.Unique Belts can always have up to 3 charm slots.For now, Unique Belts with mods that increase the number of charms will still be capped to 3, later on we will remove the cap.Then changes to the charms themselves.Several charms were not protecting you from the hit that activated them, these cases have been fixed to work properly.We have also done a pass on Charm mods to make them more powerful and rewarding.Stash Tab AffinitiesWe are adding Stash Tab Affinities for the following categories of itemsSocketablesFragments [Which includes Tablets and Trial Keys]BreachExpeditionRitualWe will also be allowing Charms to go in the Flask stash tab or any tab with the Flask affinity.Atlas BookmarksWe have added the ability to bookmark locations on your atlas to find them easily later.Right clicking a node will allow you create a bookmark by picking an icon and optionally adding a label you can type in.You can have up to 16 bookmarks at a time.They will appear as icons around the outside of the screen with a direction allowing you to scroll to them easily, or you can click on them to instantly take you thereYou can also view a list of bookmarks under the legend and click them to go there.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

This article contains spoilers for the Black Mirror episode “USS Callister: Into Infinity.” Throughout its seven-season run, Black Mirror has covered a lot of ground. From sapphic digital afterlives to video game haunted houses to fulfillment center post-apocalypses, Charlie Brooker’s sci-fi/horror anthology has a penchant for boldly going where few have gone before. Still, even with a Netflix-era mandate to explore and experiment, the sixth and final episode of the show’s seventh season ventures into the most exotic storytelling location yet: an episode-opening recap. Yes, “USS Callister: Into Infinity” is the first-ever direct sequel to a Black Mirror episode and it has an honest-to-goodness “previously on” to prove it. That segment turns out to be pretty important to boot as the original “USS Callister” premiered way back on December 29, 2017 and was quite an ambitious undertaking. That first installment in the USS Callister duology followed Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), the brilliant, yet reclusive co-founder and lead programmer of the massively multiplayer online game Infinity. A grubby little incel, Daly deals with his real world frustrations by uploading digital clones of his co-workers onto a modded build of the game that resembles his favorite show, a Star Trek-esque sci-fi adventure called Space Fleet. From the comfort of his privateUSS Callister tortures his crew of co-workers. Thankfully, new employee Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti) leads an uprising that culminates with the physical and digital death of Daly and unleashes the cloned crew of the USS Callister out into Infinity‘s procedurally generated universe. “USS Callister: Into Infinity” is not the only time Black Mirror has tinkered with own past. Hell, it’s not even the first time the show brings back an existing character this season. Brooker and his collaborators have continually made good faith efforts to maintain a canon for the anthology’s sci-fi universe. Those collecting easter eggs can craft a Black Mirror reference map that, with some creative accounting, reveals something resembling a timeline. But respecting the canon is one thing and attempting a full-blown sequel is another. And “Into Infinity’s” pure embrace of the sequel format makes it the most exciting episode of the show overall since…well, “USS Callister.” Freed from the usual Black Mirror trappings and brave enough to follow its characters’ lead, “USS Callister: Into Infinity” is simply a delightful watch. Things pick up with newly-minted Captain Cole and her surviving crew (Michaela Coel’s Shania Lowry doesn’t return due to a scheduling conflict and Jimmi Simpson’s James Walton is dead…or so the Callister thinks) finding out that being alive isn’t all its cracked up to be. As the only five “real” beings capable of permadeath on a server of players who can always log back in, the Callister crew has to eke out a living as pirates, robbing fellow players of their credits even as the game’s increasingly aggressive micro transactions shrink the galactic economy. Unfortunately, their status as “No_Tag_Error” entities makes them a popular target for the gamers’ they’ve bilked and they quickly come across the radar of the game designers in the real world. Even The New York Times is #OnIt, sending a reporter to grill CEO James Walton about the presence of gamertag-less rogues in Infinity and tying it to the rumor that Robert Daly had access to banned digital cloning technology. Nanette and company soon come to realize that the only way out of their situation is to hack into Infinity‘s servers to carve out their own slice of digital heaven. To do so, they’ll need to get their James Walton back and then brave the Heart of Infinity where an old adversary awaits. The logical blending of the real world and Infinity server plots allows “Into Infinity” to recapture the creative energy of its progenitor while still covering new ground. The Callister crew’s newly-mortal status also imbues the proceedings with some real stakes. After more than a decade’s experience with the format, viewers have been trained to keep any new Black Mirror characters at an emotional arm’s length, knowing that they are more likely to fall victim to hubris than they are to come out on top of the show’s latest morality tale. “Into Infinity,” however, is different. These digital clones are likable folks just trying to make their way through impossible circumstances. And more importantly: we know them from last time! It certainly helps that there is a murderer’s row of talent involved in bringing these characters to life once again. The Penguin‘s Milioti continues her path of genre TV domination in playing two versions of Nanette: the “real” office drone who hasn’t quite reached her full potential (and never will thanks to Walton’s treachery), and the digital captain who will go to the ends of the universe to keep her people safe. Jimmi Simpson also pulls compelling double duty as both the episode’s big bad and the USS Callister‘s only salvation. The discovery that a marooned Walton’s friend “Rocky” has a conspicuous hole in the back is maybe the best comedic moment in Black Mirror history. Osy Ikhile, Paul G. Raymond, Milanka Brooks, and Billy Magnussen fill things out nicely as the rest of the crew who mostly just want to watch Real Housewives of Atlanta. Despite an inflated runtime and some slick outer space gunplay, there’s nothing inherently flashy about “USS Callister: Into Infinity.” It is largely a conventional science fiction story with a light Black Mirror sheen. But there’s something about that conventionality that makes it endearing. We already know that Black Mirror can do Black Mirror. Finding out that Black Mirror can also do Galaxy Quest not just once, but twice, is kind of like discovering your dog can do your taxes. Sure, you could have gotten an accountant to handle that, but it’s really cool when the dog does it. Virtually every moment of “USS Callister: Into Infinity” is more creative and intriguing than the last. Brooker and fellow writers Bisha K. Ali, William Bridges, and Bekka Bowling are able to craft a character-driven narrative that incorporates spectacle as a spice and not as a crutch. Things happen in this episode because the characters’ will it, not because the “sci-fi moral of the story” demands it. Director Toby Haynes once again paints a vibrant, colorful world, though this time the style is more akin to a No Man’s Sky-esque open world game rather than the Star Trek pastiche of the original. This includes a handful of aerial battle sequences that capture a real sense of danger and escalation. Join our mailing list Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox! If “Into Infinity” is missing anything from the original at first glance, it’s only a sense of timing. Arriving at the peak of the #MeToo movement, “USS Callister’s” depiction of a powerful man living out a sick adult Toy Story fantasy hit particularly hard. Still, even as the rightful outrage of that era movement fades into the political background, the damage wrought by Robert Daly and his ilk continues to linger on for both the USS Callister and ourselves. Outside of the reveal of which industry pioneered the banned digital cloning technology (Take a guess. Literally one guess.), the world of “USS Callister: Into Infinity” feels vaguely apolitical. But of course, many political things often do. “Into Infinity” also features a tense and emotional ending that in many ways surpasses the original. The Heart of Infinity, as it turns out, is simply a recreation of Robert Daly’s garage, featuring yet another digital version of the creep, who Walton forced the real Daly to create so that a copy of his brilliant brain would always be available to generate new worlds for Infinity. Plemons’ return is more than welcome here (“Sometimes I think Mr. Walton exploited me,” this Daly mumbles to Nanette with aching sincerity). And Milioti’s regard of him as something between a predator to be feared and a wretch to be pitied is remarkable stuff. The garage setting also serves as a commentary on the rotten misogynistic fruit at the core of the Silicon Valley founding myth. Founders at HP, Apple, Google, and more claimed to build a bright “don’t be evil” future from humble garages but instead ended up enthusiastically participating in the same old patriarch robber baron bullshit of old. It’s terrifying, yet creatively invigorating to see Daly present himself as a helper in this carport context before switching to exploitation the moment he realizes he has power over a woman. Thankfully, Nanette opts for a very direct solution to the threat at hand by driving a Star Fleet replica space axe through Daly’s digital forehead. The final moments of “USS Callister: Into Infinity” present no clues as to whether Black Mirror wants to turn its Callister duo into a trilogy. In fact, most signs point away from the possibility with Infinity receiving a “606 Fatal Content Error,” Walton being hauled off to prison, and the Callister crew Being John Malkovich-ing the real Nanette’s body. Based on the clear levels of fun had by all here, however, Brooker and company will probably find a way to pilot the USS Nanette once again. All six episodes of Black Mirror season 7 are available to stream on Netflix now. Learn more about Den of Geek’s review process and why you can trust our recommendations here.

Growing up in Georgia, April meant two things: the return of pollen and the Masters Tournament. Kentucky may have the Derby, but Georgia has the Masters, and if you’re asking me to pick a favorite, the Masters wins every time. The whole state buzzes with excitement as the world’s best golfers and their entourages—not to mention tons of celebrities and the most glamorous of the seen-and-be-seen crowd—descend upon the not-so-tiny town of Augusta, Georgia. As a kid, I loved watching for the spectacle of it all. My grandfather would excitedly point out all the different golfers and their stats, rattling off their handicaps and where they were most likely to make a blunder—thus, ruining their chances at winning the iconic green jacket—but I was always watching the background, entranced by the blooming azalea bushes and dogwood trees, not to mention the parade of fashion that accompanies such a gathering. You haven’t seen just how elegant athleisure can be until you’ve watched the Masters. So if you’re like me, obsessed with the colors, pageantry, sights, sounds, and bites of the Masters but not so much the golfing action itself, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’m rounding up six paint colors that capture the essence of the Masters, from the flowers to the food, so that you can keep that spirit of Augusta National going all year. On the hunt for more paint content? Check out our best designer-approved color guides below. 1Green Meadows by Benajmin MooreShop at Benjamin MooreThe iconic Masters green. While it may have its own Pantone color, Benjamin Moore’s Green Meadows is the closest you can get in the paint world. A happy mid-tone green with a touch of blue makes it a chameleon shade, both bold and ready-to-fade-away. 2Shy Boys by BackdropShop at backdrophome.comThe Masters simply wouldn’t be the Masters without blooming azalea bushes filling your visual field at any given moment. I mean, how does the ground crew ensure they’re always blooming perfectly just in time for the tournament? Regardless, this slipper pink shade from Backdrop is a must for any true Masters (flower) devotee. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Siesta Rose by GliddenShop at Home DepotIf the azalea bushes don’t hold your attention, then maybe the drink will. The iconic cocktail, aptly named The Azalea, is a deeper pink and mimics the darker shade of flower found on some bushes. Did you know azalea bushes typically come in three shades: white, light pink, and a darker pink that sometimes looks red?4High Reflective White by Sherwin-WilliamsShop at Sherwin-WilliamsNext to the chicly clad golfers and onlookers, you’ll see an army of people dressed in bright white jumpsuits—the official uniform of Masters’ caddies. Their white outfits contrast so starkly against the lush, verdant background of Augusta National that it’s no wonder that they’ve become go-to costumes for fans and family members alike. (Artist Teil Duncan Henley dressed her brood in them in years past to support her husband, golfer Russell Henley, who is making his ninth Masters appearance this year.) Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Osage Orange by Sherwin-WilliamsShop at Sherwin-WilliamsIf the sights and scenes don’t entice you to watch the Masters, then the promise of pimento cheese sandwiches just might. This pleasant orange perfectly mimics the creamy, mayonnaise-laden cheese spread that has become synonymous with the four-day golf tournament. 6Fashion Gray by BehrShop at Home DepotThe stunning Amen Corner at Augusta National is perhaps the most iconic scene in all of golf. Set against a beautifully manicured forest, it spans three different holes and has both sand traps and water features. The most stunning parts of the corner, though, are the dual bridges, dubbed the Hogan and Nelson Bridges, after former Masters winners Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson. The walk over their rocky gray sides can spell doom or glory for competitors, so it only feels right we honor them here with this chic warm gray.Anna LoganSenior Homes & Style EditorAnna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.  

ChatGPT is everywhere, from the web to desktop and mobile devices. However, when it comes to the official app, it only runs on the latest iPhones and iPads as it requires iOS 17 or later. But a 17-year-old developer has now created an alternative ChatGPT app that runs on really old iPhones, such as the iPhone 3GS. ChatGPT for Legacy iOS brings AI to older iPhones Called “ChatGPT for Legacy iOS,” the app works as a ChatGPT client for devices that are not supported by the official app. The app is powered by the OpenAI API, so it works in pretty much the same way as the official ChatGPT app. According to the developer, the app is more than a “proof of concept” as it supports things like ChatGPT’s contextual memory and chat history. Users can even upload images, which enables visual search on devices that were discontinued a long time ago. ChatGPT for Legacy iOS is a client for older versions of iOS that allow you to interact with the OpenAI API in many ways. ChatGPT for Legacy iOS supports most things that you already know from modern chatbot apps, such as thorough text conversations with context, image analysis by ChatGPT and image generation. Your conversations are also always saved automatically and can always be returned to whenever you want to. The ChatGPT Legacy app is compatible with iOS 6 and later, which means it runs on devices like iPhone 3GS and later. Unfortunately, since it’s no longer possible to distribute apps for these devices through the App Store, installing ChatGPT for Legacy iOS requires a jailbroken device. After installing the app, you need to log in using a ChatGPT API key, which can be obtained from the OpenAI website. You can find more details on how to install and use the app on this webpage. It’s worth noting that the app is open source, so you can find it’s source code on Github. Gadgets I recommend: Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Overview of the PlayPraetor Masquerading Party Variants CTM360 has now identified a much larger extent of the ongoing Play Praetor campaign. What started with 6000+ URLs of a very specific banking attack has now grown to 16,000+ with multiple variants. This research is ongoing, and much more is expected to be discovered in the coming days. As before, all the newly discovered play impersonations are mimicking legitimate app listings, deceiving users into installing malicious Android applications or exposing sensitive personal information. While these incidents initially appeared to be isolated, further investigation has revealed a globally coordinated campaign that poses a significant threat to the integrity of the Play Store ecosystem. Evolution of the Threat This report expands on the earlier research into PlayPraetor, highlighting the discovery of five newly identified variants. These variants reveal the campaign's increasing sophistication in terms of attack techniques, distribution channels, and social engineering tactics. The continuous evolution of PlayPraetor demonstrates its adaptability and persistent targeting of the Android ecosystem. Variant-Specific Targeting and Regional Focus In addition to the original PlayPraetor Banking Trojan, five new variants—Phish, RAT, PWA, Phantom, and Veil—have been identified. These variants are distributed through fake websites that closely resemble the Google Play Store. Although they share common malicious behaviors, each variant exhibits unique characteristics tailored to specific regions and use cases. Targeted regions include the Philippines, India, South Africa, and various global markets. These variants employ a mix of credential phishing, remote access capabilities, deceptive web app installations, abuse of Android accessibility services, and stealth techniques that hide malicious activity behind legitimate branding. Attack Objectives and Industry Focus While each variant has unique features and regional targeting, a common theme across all PlayPraetor samples is their focus on the financial sector. Threat actors behind these variants seek to steal banking credentials, credit/debit card details, digital wallet access, and, in some cases, execute fraudulent transactions by transferring funds to mule accounts. These monetization strategies indicate a well-organized operation focused on financial gain. Variant Summary and Detection Insights The five new variants—Phish, RAT, PWA, Phantom, and Veil—are currently under active investigation. Some variants have confirmed detection statistics, while others are still being analyzed. A comparative table summarizing these variants, their capabilities, and regional targets is included in the following section, along with detailed technical analysis. Variant Name Functionality Description Target Industry Detected Cases (Approx.) PlayPraetor PWA Deceptive Progressive Web App Installs a fake PWA that mimics legitimate apps, creates shortcuts on the home screen, and triggers persistent push notifications to lure interaction. Technology Industry, Financial Industry, Gaming Industry, Gambling Industry, e-commerce Industry 5400+ PlayPraetor Phish WebView phishing A WebView-based app that launches a phishing webpage to steal user credentials. Financial, Telecommunication, Fast Food Industry 1400+ PlayPraetor Phantom Stealthy Persistence & Command Execution Exploits Android accessibility services for persistent control. Runs silently, exfiltrates data, hides its icon, blocks uninstallation, and poses as a system update. Financial Industry, Gambling Industry, Technology Industry These variants are currently under investigation to determine their exact identities. PlayPraetor RAT Remote Access Trojan Grants attackers full remote control of the infected device, enabling surveillance, data theft, and manipulation. Financial Industry PlayPraetor Veil Regional & Invitation-based Phishing Disguises itself using legitimate branding, restricts access via invite codes, and imposes regional limitations to avoid detection and increase trust among local users. Financial Industry, Energy Industry Geographic Distribution and Targeting Patterns CTM360's analysis indicates that while PlayPraetor variants are being distributed globally, certain strains exhibit broader outreach strategies than others. Notably, the Phantom-WW variant stands out for its global targeting approach. In this case, threat actors impersonate a widely recognized application with global appeal, allowing them to cast a wider net and increase the likelihood of victim engagement across multiple regions. Among the identified variants, the PWA variant emerged as the most prevalent, with detection across a wide array of geographic regions. Its reach spans South America, Europe, Oceania, Central Asia, South Asia, and parts of the African continent, underscoring its role as the most widespread variant within the PlayPraetor campaign. Other variants showed more specific regional targeting. The Phish variant was also distributed across multiple regions, though with slightly less saturation than PWA. In contrast, the RAT variant exhibited a notable concentration of activity in South Africa, suggesting a region-specific focus. Similarly, the Veil variant was observed primarily in the United States and select African nations, reflecting a more targeted deployment strategy. How to Stay Safe To mitigate the risk of falling victim to PlayPraetor and similar scams: ✅ Only download apps from the official Google Play Store or Apple App Store ✅ Verify app developers and read reviews before installing any application ✅ Avoid granting unnecessary permissions, especially Accessibility Services ✅ Use mobile security solutions to detect and block malware-infected APKs ✅ Stay updated on emerging threats by following cybersecurity reports Read the full report to explore variant behaviors, detection insights, and actionable recommendations. Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter  and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

John Edwards, Technology Journalist & AuthorApril 10, 20254 Min ReadRebecca Fox, NCC GroupRebecca Fox is group chief information officer at cybersecurity consulting firm NCC Group. Responsible for technology and application strategy and delivery, she has over 15 years of experience leading technology functions, sales, and commercial teams. During her career, Fox has led digital transformations, system implementations, organization design, and complex and diverse technical and development teams on a global scale. Fox has a technical development background, yet her experiences include large-scale project/program/portfolio management, data management and strategy, and service operations. In an online interview, Fox relates her experience trying to successfully assemble a high-stakes puzzle that was critical to her enterprise's long-term success. She notes that the project, while immensely challenging, would ultimately benefit both the organization as well as her personal expertise and confidence. What's the biggest challenge you ever faced during your tenure? A post-M&A integration -- specifically, trying to consolidate CRM platforms across multiple businesses with different cultures, processes, and emotional states. I was tasked with delivering one system, fast. On paper, it looked like a straightforward strategic priority. In reality, it pushed me and my leadership to the edge. Related:What caused the problem? I tried to move faster than the business could absorb. I had the solution, I had the plan, but I hadn’t built enough of the runway. I underestimated the emotional impact of M&A and overestimated the readiness for change. I hadn’t done the people work first. It’s like giving a child bitter medicine -- it may be the right thing, but if you don’t wrap it in understanding, empathy, and communication, they're going to spit it out. How did you resolve the problem? I had to hit pause and reframe the whole project. I focused on outcomes, not process. I also became a lot clearer on the outcome and why. But above all I prioritized relationships, because without trust, there’s no traction. What would have happened if the problem wasn't swiftly resolved? We would have launched a platform no one used. Worse, I would have burned out the team, damaged relationships, and lost momentum at a time when unity was non-negotiable. Change would have stalled, and cynicism would have grown. How long did it take to resolve the problem? The platform landed within months and was received better because of the tension and disagreement that forced us to get aligned. But the leadership lessons? That evolution has taken a career. That M&A moment was just one chapter -- a pivotal one -- but part of a much longer journey in learning how to lead through people, not just through plans. Related:Who supported you during this challenge? My team, even when I didn’t get it right the first time, and a few brave peers who gave me the kind of feedback that stings in the moment but sticks because it's true. Did anyone let you down? Yes -- me. I let myself down by pushing too hard, too fast. I let my team down by not giving them the space to speak up sooner. I’ve had to own that, grow from it, and lead differently since. What advice do you have for other leaders who may face a similar challenge? Build the relationships before you need them. The role of CIO today isn't just about technology, it’s about influence, resilience, and focus. You are the negotiator, the connector, the cheerleader, and you must anchor everything to the big three: grow revenue, increase margins, and reduce risk. That clarity makes it easier for everyone to understand the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’ Is there anything else you would like to add? It took me too long to realize that relentless focus on the customer is what cuts through the noise. We’re not here to launch platforms. We’re here to make the business better, and that starts by aligning every decision to the outcomes that matter. Progress is messy, tension is necessary, and leadership is about showing up -- especially when it’s hard. Related:About the AuthorJohn EdwardsTechnology Journalist & AuthorJohn Edwards is a veteran business technology journalist. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and numerous business and technology publications, including Computerworld, CFO Magazine, IBM Data Management Magazine, RFID Journal, and Electronic Design. He has also written columns for The Economist's Business Intelligence Unit and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Communications Direct. John has authored several books on business technology topics. His work began appearing online as early as 1983. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he wrote daily news and feature articles for both the CompuServe and Prodigy online services. His "Behind the Screens" commentaries made him the world's first known professional blogger.See more from John EdwardsWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore ReportsNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also Like

Why does this role exist We are seeking experienced and driven Account Executives who are passionate about helping fast-growing businesses achieve their goals. Our AEs serve as delegation consultants, focusing on understanding client needs, aligning tailored solutions, and driving long-term success.As an Account Executive, you will own the end-to-end sales cycle—from initial outreach and discovery to closing and onboarding—while consistently creating value and fostering lasting client relationships.This role is designed for high achievers who thrive in fast-paced, high-growth environments, are driven by results, and are committed to continuous improvement.Key Areas of Impact and Focus: Sales Cycle Ownership: Take full responsibility for the sales process—from lead generation and discovery to deal closure and onboarding, conducting 15+ discovery calls weekly.Product Expertise: Master Magic’s products, services, and market trends to confidently position solutions that deliver measurable results.Consultative Selling: Dive deep into client pain points, ask the right questions, and present tailored solutions that directly address their challenges.Client Engagement: Maintain consistent communication with leads and clients, ensuring their needs are met and expectations exceeded.Pipeline Management: Proactively manage your pipeline, ensuring every lead has a clear next step with no opportunities left unattended.Hunter Mindset: Proactively identify new opportunities for growth, both within your pipeline and through strategic outbound initiatives.Continuous Learning: Share insights, adopt new strategies, and consistently refine your approach to sales excellence.Accountability: Maintain accurate records in our CRM, report on progress weekly, and own your targets with a results-oriented mindset.Qualified Candidate Requirements: Experience: 2+ years of B2B sales experience targeting SMB and Mid-Market clients in North America.Industry Knowledge: Proven success selling SaaS, subscription services, or outsourcing solutions to executive-level buyers (C-Level, VP, Directors).Consultative Selling Skills: A relationship-first sales approach with a focus on active listening, building trust, and delivering value.Resilience: Grit, resourcefulness, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment.Strategic Thinking: Ability to anticipate client needs, navigate objections, and craft creative solutions.Organization & Discipline: Proficiency in planning your day, prioritizing tasks, and managing your pipeline with focus and precision.Tech Savviness: Familiarity with CRM tools (HubSpot preferred) and a willingness to adopt and adapt to new technologyWork with U.S. clients within a 9-hour shift schedule kicking off between 9am and 10am EST, Monday to FridayAvailable to start on May 5, 2025Required education: Bachelor's degree in any courseYour superpowers are… Owning and excelling across the entire sales process from lead to onboarding.Building trust quickly and deeply understanding client pain points.Balancing multiple priorities while maintaining clarity and focus.Demonstrating a consistent track record of exceeding sales targets.Thriving under pressure without compromising quality or results.Embracing feedback and applying it to improve performance.Proactively identifying and seizing new opportunities for growth.Communicating with empathy while driving actionable outcomes.Adapting quickly to shifting strategies and processes.Personal Qualities Strategic Mindset: You think like a chess player, always planning two steps ahead.Curiosity: You ask thoughtful questions and seek clarity before taking action.Ownership: You hold yourself accountable for results and follow through on commitments.Team Player: You share insights, celebrate team wins, and contribute to collective growth.Adaptability: You excel in fast-changing environments and embrace the challenge of uncertainty.Drive: You are hungry for success, and it shows in your effort and persistence.Grit: You push through obstacles with determination and optimism.What to Expect:Salary Range: $1.5k - $2.5k / monthTotal Compensation Range Including Commission: $2.5k - $4.5k / monthUncapped commissionCommission structure varies from 15% to 25% based on the plan, with an average commission of $1.5k to $2k. Our uncapped system rewards performance and emphasizes targeting the right deals.Continuous personal and professional growth within the organization.Apply NowLet's start your dream job Apply now Automatically Apply to Remote Sales and Marketing JobsLet your copilot automatically search and apply to remote jobs from We Work Remotely

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. How AI can help supercharge creativity Existing generative tools can automate a striking range of creative tasks and offer near-instant gratification—but at what cost? Some artists and researchers fear that such technology could turn us into passive consumers of yet more AI slop. And so they are looking for ways to inject human creativity back into the process: working on what’s known as co-­creativity or more-than-human creativity. The idea is that AI can be used to inspire or critique creative projects, helping people make things that they would not have made by themselves.The aim is to develop AI tools that augment our creativity rather than strip it from us—pushing us to be better at composing music, developing games, designing toys, and much more—and lay the groundwork for a future in which humans and machines create things together.Ultimately, generative models could offer artists and designers a whole new medium, pushing them to make things that couldn’t have been made before, and give everyone creative superpowers. Read the full story.—Will Douglas Heaven This story is from the next edition of our print magazine, which is all about creativity. Subscribe now to read it and get a copy of the magazine when it lands! Tariffs are bad news for batteries Since Donald Trump announced his plans for sweeping tariffs last week, the vibes have been, in a word, chaotic. Markets have seen one of the quickest drops in the last century, and it’s widely anticipated that the global economic order may be forever changed.   These tariffs could be particularly rough on the battery industry. China dominates the entire supply chain and is subject to monster tariff rates, and even US battery makers won’t escape the effects. Read the full story. —Casey Crownhart This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review’s weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, sign up here. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump has announced a 90-day tariff pause for some countries  He’s decided that all the countries that didn’t retaliate against the severe tariffs would receive a reprieve. (The Guardian)+ China, however, is now subject to a whopping 125% tariff. (CNBC)+ Chinese sellers on Amazon are preparing to hike their prices in response. (Reuters)+ Trump’s advisors have claimed the pivot was always part of the plan. (Vox)2 DOGE has fired driverless car safety assessorsMany of whom were in charge of regulating Tesla, among other companies. (FT $)+ The department is being audited by the Government Accountability Office. (Wired $)+ Can AI help DOGE slash government budgets? It’s complex. (MIT Technology Review)3 The cost of a US-made iPhone could rise by 90% Bank of America has crunched the numbers. (Bloomberg $)+ Even so, an American-made iPhone could be inferior quality. (WSJ $)+ Apple has chartered 600 tons of iPhones to India. (Reuters)4 The EU wants to build its own AI gigafactories In a bid to catch up with the US and China. (WSJ $)5 Amazon was forced to cancel its satellite internet launch A rocket carrying a few thousands satellites was unable to take off due to bad weather. (NYT $) 6 America’s air quality is likely to get worseThe Trump administration is rolling back the environmental rules that helped lower air pollution. (The Atlantic $) + The world’s next big environmental problem could come from space. (MIT Technology Review)7 Spammers exploited OpenAI’s tech to blast customized spamThe unwanted messages were distributed over four months. (Ars Technica) 8 Chinese social media is filled with memes mocking Trump’s tariffsFeaturing finance bros and JD Vance unhappily laboring in factories. (Insider $) 9 Do you have a Fortnite accent? Players of the popular game tend to speak in a highly specific way. (Wired $) 10 An em dash is not a giveaway something has been written by AI Humans use it too—and love it. (WP $)+ Not all AI-generated writing is bad. (New Yorker $)+ AI-text detection tools are really easy to fool. (MIT Technology Review) Quote of the day “Entering a group chat is like leaving your front door unlocked and letting strangers wander in.” —Author LM Chilton reflects on the innate dangers of trusting that what you say in a group chat stays in the group chat to Wired. The big story Digital twins of human organs are here. They’re set to transform medical treatment. Steven Niederer, a biomedical engineer at the Alan Turing Institute and Imperial College London, has a cardboard box filled with 3D-printed hearts. Each of them is modeled on the real heart of a person with heart failure, but Niederer is more interested in creating detailed replicas of people’s hearts using computers. These “digital twins” are the same size and shape as the real thing. They work in the same way. But they exist only virtually. Scientists can do virtual surgery on these virtual hearts, figuring out the best course of action for a patient’s condition.After decades of research, models like these are now entering clinical trials and starting to be used for patient care. The eventual goal is to create digital versions of our bodies—computer copies that could help researchers and doctors figure out our risk of developing various diseases and determine which treatments might work best.But the budding technology will need to be developed very carefully. Read the full story to learn why.—Jessica Hamzelou We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or skeet 'em at me.) + Good news pop fans: Madonna and Elton John have ended their decades-long feud.+ It’s time to take a trip to all 15 of these top restaurants across the world.+ These tales of cross-generational friendships are truly heartwarming.+ I’d love to know the secret behind America’s mystery mounds.

Operating profit down by 90% and turnover 14% in eight months to March last yearTurnover at Squire & Partners dropped by 14% and the firm’s operating profit by 90% in the eight months to March 2024. The practice’s latest accounts covering the period to 31 March 2024 show global income of £8.47m, compared to £14.8m in the 12 months to 31 July 2023. Squire & Partners’ recently completed refurbishment of the Conran Building Its UK income during the eight month period was £6.77m, less than half of the £13.7m earned in this country in the previous 12-month period. This equates to a 25% drop in revenue in the UK. Operating profit fell from just over £670,000 in 2023 to just £40,400 in the eight months to March 2024. The average number of staff at the practice also fell from 87 in the 12 months to 31 July 2023 to 80 last March. However, the accounts also show the firm was owed £6.4m in deferred income for services which are yet to be represented in the accounts. Squire & Partners has been contacted for comment. The firm’s recently completed projects include a refurbishment of the grade II-listed Conran Building in Shad Thames. The office block was designed by Michael and Patty Hopkins and built in 1991, before being acquired by Terence Conran in 1996.

Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of architects say clients’ lack of appetite for greener buildings is one of the biggest barriers to sustainability, while 41 per cent identify a lack of regulation as a major blocker, according to a new survey by NBS.  According to the research, which was carried out in association with Glenigan and the RIBA, architects have different views to other built environment professionals when asked to pick the three biggest obstacles to sustainability.  Across the sector as a whole, cost came up as the biggest barrier according to 63 per cent of respondents, while lack of client demand was named by 50 per cent of all those surveyed. Sustainable products being value engineered out was listed by 41 per cent — including 40 per cent of contractors. Advertisement The least-cited factors were limited sustainability skills (24 per cent), lack of time (21 per cent) and lack of management commitment (17 per cent). Half of the clients surveyed said that the complexity of sustainability calculations was a major barrier.  ‘The gap between intention and practice remains’ Elsewhere, the survey found that 43 per cent of all the built environment professionals surveyed thought sustainability was ‘usually or always achieved on their projects’, an increase of 10 per cent from the NBS’s previous survey in 2021.  However, though the vast majority of respondents (84 per cent) said sustainability should be considered during the strategy and brief stage of a project, only 62 per cent said sustainability was ‘sometimes’ considered at this point.  NBS head of sustainability Lee Jones said: ‘There’s a strong need for the industry to adopt sustainability at the very beginning of the process, during the strategy and brief stages.  ‘The fact that so many professionals agree that sustainability should be addressed earlier is promising, but the gap between intention and practice remains.Advertisement ‘Only by embedding sustainability from the very start, as outlined by frameworks like the RIBA Plan of Work, can we ensure that the buildings and infrastructure of tomorrow will truly meet the environmental and social challenges of the future.’ Clients Sustainability 2025-04-10 Will Ing comment and share TagsClients Sustainability