Nov 11, 2024Ravie LakshmananMalware / SEO PoisoningIn an unusually specific campaign, users searching about the legality of Bengal Cats in Australia are being targeted with the GootLoader malware."In this case, we found the GootLoader actors using search results for information about a particular cat and a particular geography being used to deliver the payload: 'Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?,'" Sophos researchers Trang Tang, Hikaru Koike, Asha Castle, and Sean Gallagher said in a report published last week.GootLoader, as the name implies, is a malware loader that's typically distributed using search engine optimization (SEO) poisoning tactics for initial access.Specifically, the malware is deployed onto victim machines when searching for certain terms like legal documents and agreements on search engines like Google surface booby-trapped links pointing to compromised websites that host a ZIP archive containing a JavaScript payload.Once installed, it makes way for a second-stage malware, often an information stealer and remote access trojan dubbed GootKit, although it has also been observed delivering other families such as Cobalt Strike, IcedID, Kronos, REvil, and SystemBC in the past for post-exploitation.The latest attack chain is no different in that searches for "Do you need a license to own a Bengal cat in Australia" surface results that include a link to a legitimate-but-infected website belonging to a Belgium-based LED display maker, from where victims are prompted to download a ZIP archive.Present within the ZIP archive is a JavaScript file that's then responsible for kicking off a multi-stage attack chain that culminates in the execution of a PowerShell script capable of harvesting system information and fetching additional payloads. It's worth noting that an identical campaign was documented by Cybereason earlier this July.Sophos said it did not observe the deployment of GootKit in the case the company analyzed, thereby preventing the download of additional malware."GootLoader is one of a number of continuing malware-delivery-as-a-service operations that heavily leverage search results as a means to reach victims," the researchers said. "The use of search engine optimization, and abuse of search engine advertising to lure targets to download malware loaders and dropper, are not newGootLoader has been doing this since at least 2020."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Some 25 years in the making, Ridley ScottsGladiator II finally arrives in theaters later this month. (For context: When the first film debuted in theaters in the summer of 2000 Chappell Roan was ... two years old.)The film is still about a week and a half from release, but the first reviews are in: Thecritics whove seen the film so fararemixed. Most say the film is entertaining, if a bit familiar. (A fair number compare it to a remake, even though it is technically a sequel, featuring Paul Mescal as the adult version of a character from the original film.) The person drawing the most praise so far is Denzel Washington, whos getting very solid notices for his performance as a former slave with grand designs for Mescals character.The reviews also praiseScotts action and spectacle across the board, although some do say the whole affair feels a bit too close to the original movie in terms of structure. One critic said watching the movie is akin todj vu.Gladiator IIParamount Picturesloading...READ MORE: The Best Movies of the Year So FarHeres a sampling of theGladiator IIreviews so far.Caryn James, BBC.com:By far the best popcorn film of the year.Siddhant Adlakha, Inverse:It's a darker, more vicious film for a darker, more vicious time, a relevancy that has only grown in recent days.Tim Grierson, Screen International:UltimatelyGladiator IIis diminished by a nagging recognition that this material felt fresher in the first film.Owen Gleiberman, Variety:David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter:Theres a dj vu quality to much of the new film, a slavishness that goes beyond the caged men forced to fight for their survival, and seeps into the very bones of a drama overly beholden to the original.Gladiator IIParamountloading...Ross Bonaime, Collider:A grand epic that cant escape Maximus shadow.Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly:What elevatesGladiator IIin the cinematic arena is the ways its themes and dialogue underpin its outrageous spectacle.Brian Truitt, USA Today:Yes, we are entertained again by outrageous sequel.Chris Evangelista, /Film:Scott and Scarpa should've jettisoned the first two acts of the film and made the final act the main focus.Liz Shannon Miller, Consequence:We are less entertained.Gladiator IIopens in theaters on November 22.Get our free mobile appFamous Movies Featuring Once-Beloved Products That No Longer ExistThese movies now work as time capsules, capturing a time when these now-defunct products existed.Filed Under: Denzel Washington, Gladiator, Gladiator 2, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Ridley ScottCategories: Movie News

Mattel has had to apologize for a major error on the packaging for their line of dolls from the upcoming movie version ofWicked, after concernedcustomers discoveredthat a website listed on them directed people not to asite for the film but to a similarly titled porn page.Oops.This could prove to be a costly error. TheWickedfilm looks to be one of the biggest movies of the fall and the line of toys could be a hot item this holiday season after kids see the film, which is about the relationship between Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande) and the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) in the years prior to the events ofThe Wizard of Oz.There have been reports online that the items are already being pulled from store shelves. The products were widely available on Target and Amazons website as of a few days ago, but all appear to be taken down as of this writing.Anecdotally, my daughter received one of theWicked dolls for her birthday last week and after news broke, I checked the discarded packaging to see what it said. Sure enough the website listed there takes you not to an official site for the film but to a porn site of a very similar name. (I had to investigate for journalism purposes, you see.)WICKEDUniversalloading...READ MORE: We Tried Starbucks TwoWicked DrinksHere was Mattels statement on the issue...Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the officialWickedMovie.comlanding page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.Wickedopens in theaters on November 22. And just for the record, the official website for the movie is WickedMovie.com. Make sure you put movie in there. If you dont, something else might be defying gravity.Get our free mobile appThe Worst Parts of 15 Great MoviesThese movies are terrific. Theyre not perfect, though. Filed Under: Mattel, WickedCategories: Movie News

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), CST (UTC -6), MST (UTC -7), PST (UTC -8), AKST (UTC -9), HST (UTC -10), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3The CompanySimplyAnalytics is a powerful spatial analytics and data visualization application used by thousands of business, marketing, and social science researchers in the United States and Canada. It comes pre-packaged with 200,000+ data variables and allows our users to create maps, charts, tabular reports, and crosstabs. We are passionate about creating outstanding software, and we believe in test driven development, continuous integration, and code review.As a smaller company, each of our developers has an important role to play - at SimplyAnalytics, you are not just another cog in the wheel, you are an integral member of our team. You will be working on valuable features and making key decisions that impact the direction of the product and our users. In addition, we provide an excellent work-life balance, with 100% remote work, 20 personal days off, flexible work hours, a collaborative work environment, and quarterly professional development days to explore and share your interests with the rest of the team.The RoleWe're looking for a Senior Frontend Developer to take on an important role in the development and maintenance of our cutting edge analytics and data visualization application. You'll be developing and maintaining production-quality in-house tools and customer-facing features within a large shared code base.The ideal candidate has experience working on complex single-page applications, is a self-starter, has a high level of attention to detail, is comfortable asking questions, enjoys working with talented colleagues, and has an interest in analytics and data visualization.This is a 100% remote position. Our employees can live and work anywhere in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, or South America. This is a full-time salaried position. When applying, please include a cover letter.Responsibilities:Design, develop, and test features, both in-house and customer-facingWrite modern high-quality, clean, scalable, and maintainable codeContribute ideas for new features or improvements to existing featuresAssist colleagues through code-review, collaboration, and troubleshootingRequired:8+ years of professional software development experience on large, structured code bases using vanilla JavaScript (this is not a React, Angular, Node.js, or full-stack position)Strong UI development skills (CSS & HTML)Open to learning new technologiesSelf-starter who gets things doneAttention to detailBonus:Experience implementing data tables, charts, graphs, or other data visualizationsExperience working on complex analytics, data visualization, or mapping applicationsD3.js experienceMapLibre GL JS or Mapbox GL JS experienceExperience with geospatial, demographic, business, marketing, or health dataExperience with TypeScriptComfortable using Linux CLI

About Horizon BrandsReady to Build the Next Big Thing? Join Horizon Brands on Our $1 Billion Mission! Fresh off the sale of our 8-figure brand, we're embarking on our boldest challenge yet: building multiple 9-figure brands and redefining the CPG industry. Our goal? To launch game-changing brands that will collectively generate over $100 million in annual sales.Were seeking exceptional, driven individuals to join our powerhouse team. Here, youll collaborate with some of the brightest minds, shape the future of CPGs, and play a pivotal role in disrupting how brands are developed and scaled on Amazon.If youre ready to push boundaries, think beyond limits, and be part of a fast-paced, innovative journey toward a $1 billion valuation, we want to hear from you. Lets create something extraordinarytogether.The RoleWe seek a strategic and experienced Social Media Strategist to oversee and guide our influencers' and brand ambassadors' content creation efforts. In this role, you will develop data-driven strategies, provide creative direction, and use analytics to optimize campaigns for maximum impact and brand growth. This position requires creative and analytical expertise to craft campaigns that capture attention and drive sales.Key Responsibilities:1. Cohort DevelopmentIdentify and define specific consumer cohorts based on brand objectives, audience demographics, and consumer behavior data.Develop strategies tailored to different cohorts, considering their unique preferences and how they interact with various social platforms.Continuously refine cohort definitions using data insights and market research to ensure content remains relevant and engaging.2. Content Strategy and GuidanceDevelop and communicate content strategies to influencers and brand ambassadors, ensuring they understand the nuances of different social media platforms (e.g., TikToks short videos, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts).Provide clear briefs and creative direction, including key messages, desired outcomes, and platform-specific guidelines.Stay updated on social media trends and provide brand ambassadors with fresh and engaging ideas to keep content relevant and compelling.3. Data Analysis and InsightsAnalyze performance metrics of content produced by influencers and ambassadors, using insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.Implement post-creative strategy (PCS) by reviewing audience feedback and engagement data and sharing insights with content creators to guide future projects.Use analytics to inform decisions about which types of content to amplify and where to allocate resources for maximum impact.4. Amplification and Paid MediaIdentify high-performing content created by influencers and amplify it through strategic ad campaigns.Oversee paid social media strategies, ensuring content is effectively distributed to target audience segments.5. Collaboration and Relationship ManagementBuild and maintain strong relationships with brand ambassadors and influencers, acting as the main point of contact for content-related inquiries and support.Host regular check-ins with content creators to provide feedback, discuss new ideas, and align on upcoming campaigns.Coordinate cross-functional efforts between marketing, creative, and social media teams to ensure cohesive messaging.6. Brand Building and Consumer EngagementDevelop strategies to ensure content created by influencers enhances brand relevance and builds trust with the audience.Monitor cultural trends and audience preferences to guide content direction and maximize engagement.Utilize cohort development to tailor content strategies for specific demographics, ensuring messages resonate with different audience segments.Qualifications:Minimum of 3 years experience in social media strategy, influencer marketing, or related fields.Strong understanding of platform-specific content strategies and how to guide content creators effectively on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.Proficient in using analytics tools (e.g., TikTok Analytics, Instagram Insights, Google Analytics) to evaluate performance and inform strategy.Experience managing relationships with influencers, brand ambassadors, or external content creators.Excellent communication and leadership skills to inspire and guide content creators.Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and stay ahead of social media trends.Willing to work ES time zone.Preferred Skills:Familiarity with brandformance strategies (balancing brand building and performance marketing).Knowledge of interest-based algorithms and how to leverage them through influencer collaborations.Experience in coordinating multi-platform campaigns and optimizing content for maximum impact.Why join Horizon Brands?The opportunity to develop your team of brand ambassadors and influencers.You will be working with several brands in the CPG space.Expert knowledge from highly experienced Amazon Sellers, ranking among the top 1% of FBA Sellers worldwide.Working with us will be a significant learning experience. We are committed to fostering the professional growth of our team members, empowering them to excel in their careers, whether within our company or beyond.Competitive compensation increases as you advance with the company, plus twenty-one days of paid vacation.Stability and long-term opportunity we have over nine years of success, with most of our team members staying for over five years. Your strong performance can lead to great success in this company.

Tutorial: Ever written code like this?

Tutorial: Caught yourself making this coding mistake?

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. What Africa needs to do to become a major AI player Africa is still early in the process of adopting AI technologies. But researchers say the continent is uniquely hospitable to it for several reasons, including a relatively young and increasingly well-educated population, a rapidly growing ecosystem of AI startups, and lots of potential consumers. However, ambitious efforts to develop AI tools that answer the needs of Africans face numerous hurdles. The biggest are inadequate funding and poor infrastructure. Limited internet access and a scarcity of domestic data centers also mean that developers might not be able to deploy cutting-edge AI capabilities. Complicating this further is a lack of overarching policies or strategies for harnessing AIs immense benefitsand regulating its downsides. Taken together, researchers worry, these issues will hold Africas AI sector back and hamper its efforts to pave its own pathway in the global AI race. Read the full story. Abdullahi Tsanni Science and technology stories in the age of Trump Mat Honan Ive spent most of this year being pretty convinced that Donald Trump would be the 47th president of the United States. Even so, like most people, I was completely surprised by the scope of his victory. This level of victory will certainly provide the political capital to usher in a broad sweep of policy changes. Some of these changes will be well outside our lane as a publication. But very many of President-elect Trumps stated policy goals will have direct impacts on science and technology. So I thought I would share some of my remarks from our edit meeting on Wednesday morning, when we woke up to find out that the world had indeed changed. Read the full story. This story is from The Debrief, the weekly newsletter from our editor in chief Mat Honan. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Friday. The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Canada has recorded its first known bird flu case in a human Officials are investigating how the teenager was exposed to the virus. (NPR)+ Canada insists that the risk to the public remains low. (Reuters)+ Why virologists are getting increasingly nervous about bird flu. (MIT Technology Review)2 How MAGA became a rallying call for young men The Republicans online strategy tapped into the desires of disillusioned Gen Z men. (WP $)+ Elon Musk is assembling a list of favorable would-be Trump advisors. (FT $) 3 Trumps victory is a win for the US defense industry Palmer Luckeys Anduril is anticipating a lucrative next four years. (Insider $)+ Heres what Luckey has to say about the Pentagons future of mixed reality. (MIT Technology Review)+ Traditional weapons are being given AI upgrades. (Wired $)4 This year is highly likely to be the hottest on recordThis weeks Cop29 climate summit will thrash out future policies. (The Guardian) + A little-understood contributor to the weather? Microplastics. (Wired $)+ Trumps win is a tragic loss for climate progress. (MIT Technology Review)5 Ukraine is scrambling to repair its power stations Workers are dismantling plants to repair other stations hit by Russian attacks. (WSJ $)+ Meet the radio-obsessed civilian shaping Ukraines drone defense. (MIT Technology Review)6 We need better ways to evaluate LLMs Tech giants are coming up with better methods of measuring these systems. (FT $)+ The improvements in the tech behind ChatGPT appear to be slowing. (The Information $)+ AI hype is built on high test scores. Those tests are flawed. (MIT Technology Review)7 FTX is suing crypto exchange BinanceIt claims Sam Bankman-Fried fraudulently transferred close to $1.8 billion to Binance in 2021. (Bloomberg $) + Meanwhile, bitcoin is surging to new record heights. (Reuters)8 What we know about tech and lonelinessWhile theres little evidence tech directly makes us lonely, theres a strong correlation between the two. (NYT $) 9 Whats next for space policy in the US If one persons interested in the cosmos, its Elon Musk. (Ars Technica)10 Could you save the Earth from a killer asteroid? Its a game thats part strategy, part luck. (New Scientist $)+ Earth is probably safe from a killer asteroid for 1,000 years. (MIT Technology Review) Quote of the day Conflict of interest seems rather quaint. Gita Johar, a professor at Columbia Business School, tells the Guardian about Donald Trump and Elon Musks openly transactional relationship. The big story Quartz, cobalt, and the waste we leave behind May 2024 It is easy to convince ourselves that we now live in a dematerialized ethereal world, ruled by digital startups, artificial intelligence, and financial services. Yet there is little evidence that we have decoupled our economy from its churning hunger for resources. We are still reliant on the products of geological processes like coal and quartz, a mineral thats a rich source of the silicon used to build computer chips, to power our world. Three recent books aim to reconnect readers with the physical reality that underpins the global economy. Each one fills in dark secrets about the places, processes, and lived realities that make the economy tick, and reveals just how tragic a toll the materials we rely on take for humans and the environment. Read the full story. Matthew Ponsford 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 tweet 'em at me.)+ Oscars buzz has already begun, and this years early contenders are an interesting bunch.+ This sweet art project shows how toys age with love + Who doesnt love pretzels? Heres how to make sure they end up with the perfect fluffy interior and a glossy, chewy crust.+ These images of plankton are really quite something.

With the increasing demand for sustainable and efficient solutions, more and more professionals are discovering the benefits of combining RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright and the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system to boost the performance of photovoltaic roofs What key benefits does RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright offer for your solar projects?Reduced temperature for better performance: RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright membrane helps to lower the temperature on the roof surface, thus promoting a cooler environment for the solar panels. This results in higher energy efficiency and a longer life for the modules.Increased light reflection towards the solar panels: thanks to its high reflectance, RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright allows the solar panels to capture more light from different angles, improving their overall performance and ensuring higher energy production.Create the perfect synergy for your solar projectBy combining RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Bright and the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system, you can create a comprehensive solution that optimises the photovoltaic performance of your project and ensures long-lasting and sustainable waterproofing.The RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Solar system: lightness and reliability without perforationsIt is the modular and lightweight fastening that guarantees an installation without perforations and completely watertight, some of the benefits it offers are:Light load: less than 17kg/m2.Modular and adaptable to the integration of solar panels.Fast, simple and reliable installation.No ballastBe one of the professionals who already use our roofing solutions, contact us.2024-11-11AJ Contributorcomment and share

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