A data leak led to around 800,000 Volkswagen (VW) electric vehicles (EVs) having their location exposed online for several months, according to a report by German news magazine Der Spiegel.The global incident impacted owners of EVs from VW, Audi, Seat, and Skoda, with real-time location showing for the affected vehicles, whether they were at home, driving along the street, or, in the words of Der Spiegel, parked in front of the brothel.Recommended VideosVW collects data including GPS coordinates after a car owner sets up the VW app, which allows them to do things like preheat the car, monitor the battery charge level, and check the remaining range. This builds a data set that can then be used to create a detailed profile of someones daily movements, Der Spiegel said.Please enable Javascript to view this contentThat may already be news to some owners, but the really alarming element of this story is that due to an error, the data was publicly accessible. In fact, several terabytes of information linked to around 800,000 EVs remained exposed on Amazons cloud storage system for several months.Before the vulnerability was closed, Der Spiegel said it was able to reproduce it, claiming that accessing the system would not have been a significant challenge for intelligence services, spying VW competitors, criminals, or even bored teenagers. Everything was out in the open, you just had to know where to look.The news site said that much of the vehicle data could be linked to the names and contact details of the owners, and in some cases included email addresses, home addresses, and cell phone numbers.The error reportedly occurred because a VW subsidiary called Cariad, which created a software platform for the auto groups EVs, failed to notice an error that entered the system last summer. In fact, the breach only came to light after a whistleblower alerted Der Spiegel and also the Chaos Computer Club.The news report lists a number of scenarios where the data if it fell into the wrong hands could be utilized for nefarious purposes. Foreign intelligence operatives, for example, could track politicians or other targets, while blackmailers could go after individuals found to be visiting places that theyd rather keep secret.Asked by Der Spiegel about the collection of driver information, Cariad said that it collects pseudonymized data on customers charging behavior and habits, using it to improve batteries and the associated software.It added that following the data exposure, customers are not required to take any action, insisting that no sensitive information such as passwords or payment details are affected. It added that owners can choose whether they use VW products and services that require the processing of personal data, as all vehicles with online functions offer a deactivation option.VW has yet to comment publicly on the incident. Digital Trends has contacted the automaker and will update this article when we hear back.The incident highlights the ongoing issue of data collection by automakers, which has been made possible by advances in connectivity and sensor technology in modern vehicles. Cars really seem to have flown under the privacy radar, the research lead of a study on the matter said last year.Editors RecommendationsThe locations of over 2 million Toyota cars were exposed for 10 years

China wants the chips inside EVs to be Chinese-made, while the U.S. is objecting to the countrys push for self-sufficiency in the $80 billion business.

10. The characters in "Mother of the Bride" lacked depth and complexity.Miranda Cosgrove and Brooke Shields in "Mother of the Bride." Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 13%Summary: In "Mother of the Bride," Brooke Shields stars as Lana Winslow, the mother of the bride-to-be and lifestyle influencer Emma Winslow (Miranda Cosgrove). As part of Emma's six-figure sponsorship deal, she and her fianc RJ (Sean Teale) head to Thailand for their wedding ceremonyThe milestone event becomes complicated when Lana learns that RJ's father is Will Jackson (Benjamin Bratt), her college boyfriend who broke her heart.Critics said the film ticked off the boxes of a typical rom-com but recycled the genre's familiar tropes without adding anything memorable. Even a cast of seasoned actors like Shields and Bratt couldn't do much for the underdeveloped, dull characters."No matter how contrived this premise may feel, 'Mother of the Bride' skids off into its many equally predictable subplots with abandon, despite none being staged with the kind of charm required for us to forgive their inevitability," Manuel Betancourt wrote for The A.V. Club. 9. Lindsay Lohan's latest holiday rom-com "Our Little Secret" disappointed critics.Ian Harding as Logan, Lindsay Lohan as Avery, and Jon Rudnitsky as Cameron in "Our Little Secret." Bob Mahoney/Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 35%Summary: "Our Little Secret" stars Lohan and "Pretty Little Liars" actor Ian Harding as exes Avery and Logan, respectively, who unexpectedly spend the holidays together because their new partners are siblings.Avery and Logan try to keep their past relationship a secret, but when they reconnect, they realize that they may be more compatible now than they were 10 years ago when they broke up.Critics felt that Lohan, who carved out a space for herself as Netflix's latest rom-com queen, and Kristin Chenoweth, who plays the fiery potential mother-in-law, stood out in the cast. Overall, though, the movie fell short of expectations."The screenplay, from Hailey DeDominicis, lacks the vibrancy you expect from a lighthearted holiday movie," Emily Zemler wrote for The Observer. "Sure, there are a few genuine emotional moments and Lohan aptly gives Avery as much dimension as possible, but there's only so much she and Chenoweth can do to liven things up." 8. Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron's combined star power wasn't enough to save "A Family Affair."Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, Joey King as Zara Ford, and Zac Efron as Chris Cole in "A Family Affair. Tina Rowden/Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 36%Summary: Personal assistant Zara Ford's (Joey King) dynamic with her self-absorbed, high-maintenance movie star boss Chris Cole (Zac Efron) becomes complicated when he starts dating her mom, a writer and widow named Brooke Harwood (Nicole Kidman).Although some critics said the movie had a few redeeming qualities, "A Family Affair" was largely deemed a dud and devoid of the chemistry Kidman and Efron shared when they last played romantic interests in the 2012 film "The Paperboy.""Despite a starry cast and endearing performance from Joey King, 'A Family Affair' is as messy as the conflicting professional and personal relationships it depicts," Hanna Ines Flint wrote for IGN. "A convoluted and superficial script and yawning direction fail to deliver character stakes worth getting behind." 7. "Lonely Planet" was heavy on gorgeous scenery but low on chemistry.Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in "Lonely Planet" Hilary Bronwyn Gayle/Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%Summary: "Lonely Planet," written and directed by Susannah Grant, follows a reclusive novelist named Katherine (Laura Dern) who goes to Morocco for a writers' retreat.Katherine, who's older than the other retreat attendees, just wants a quiet place to snap out of her writer's block and has no interest in participating in group activities. But while there, she develops a connection with Owen (Liam Hemsworth), a man in finance who's at the retreat with his girlfriend Lily (Diana Silvers). As Owen's relationship with Lily falters, he and Catherine get swept up in an age-gap affair.The movie which falls more into the romantic drama category than the rom-com group doesn't generate enough steam between the two main characters or tell a memorable story."If the Netflix romance depicts a once-in-a-lifetime encounter, the experience of actually watching it is decidedly more mundane," Angie Han wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. "Neither dull enough to be painful nor fun enough to be engaging, it's simply too bland to make much of an impression at all." 6. "Irish Wish" was charming and watchable.Ed Speleers as James Thomas and Lindsay Lohan as Maddie Kelly in "Irish Wish." Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 42%Summary: Lohan stars as a book editor named Maddie Kelly who is in love with Paul Kennedy (Alexander Vlahos), an author she's worked with for years. Before Maddie can tell Paul how she feels about him, Paul falls in love with her best friend, Emma (Elizabeth Tan) and they get engaged.When the trio head to Ireland for Paul and Emma's wedding, Maddie makes a wish on an ancient stone and wakes up as Paul's bride-to-be.Critics said that Lohan's chemistry with Ed Speelers, who plays the photographer that audiences know Maddie is bound to actually fall in love with, made the movie enjoyable amid its clichs."The movie is as frothy as the foam on a pint of Guinness, as formulaic as the last disposable Netflix rom-com," Owen Gleiberman wrote for Variety. "Yet these two make you believe that they belong together, and not every romantic comedy does that." 5. "Find Me Falling" failed to balance its romantic tone with serious subject matter.Agni Scott as Sia and Harry Connick Jr. as John in "Find Me Falling." Pavlos Vrionides/Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 43%Summary: In "Find Me Falling," real-life musician Harry Connick Jr. plays John Allman, a rock star in a career slump. So, he moves to a home in Cyprus with a picturesque view to take a break from his career. Unbeknownst to John, he got a good deal on the property because the cliff-side area is known as a "suicide hot spot."As fate would have it, he bumps into an old flame named Sia (Agni Scott), who he met years prior and inspired his most popular love song.Critics said that one of the film's biggest flaws was its mishandling of the subject matter."The subplot about suicide just outside John's doorstep feels strangely glib, dampening the mood of this escapist rom-com from the jump: the movie is called 'Find Me Falling after all," Monica Castillo wrote for RogerEbert.com, adding that this aspect of the plot is "played for laughs" at times. 4. Netflix's PG holiday riff on "Magic Mike," titled "The Merry Gentleman," didn't sizzle enough.Chad Michael Murray in "The Merry Gentlemen." Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 44%Summary: After a Broadway dancer named Ashley Davis (Britt Robertson) is replaced by a younger performer, she returns home for the holidays. When she learns that her parents' venue, The Rhythm Room, is in danger of shutting down due to overdue bills, Ashley concocts a plan to bring in money and save it before Christmas: an all-male revue called "The Merry Gentleman."Along the way, she develops feelings for Luke (Chad Michael Murray), an attractive local carpenter and handyman who reluctantly agrees to participate in the show.Critics said the film was formulaic with little excitement to offer audiences beyond the male characters baring their abs while dancing shirtless onstage."Murray and Robertson feel tired as leads, and while Murray is making it work onstage, the more conventional scenes all feel like they're missing some holiday spice (among other things)," Samantha Bergeson wrote for IndieWire. 3. Gina Rodriguez anchored the flawed but serviceable rom-com "Players."Gina Rodriguez and Damon Wayans Jr. in "Players." K.C. Bailey / Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 53%Summary: "Jane the Virgin" star Gina Rodriguez plays Mack, a 33-year-old sportswriter who has spent years creating successful hookup schemes as part of a playbook with her friends. When she sets her sights on Nick Russell (Tom Ellis), a war reporter and eligible bachelor, Mack and her crew devise a plan to reel him in. As Mack starts falling for Nick, she realizes that she wants a serious relationship.Critics had mixed feelings on "Players," but many agreed that Rodriguez's charm, along with other winning components, made the film worth watching."It's not reaching for unique twists or spectacular splashes. It's not trying to reinvent, reimagine, or re-do anything about the pursuit of love," Lovia Gyarkye wrote for The Hollywood Reporter. "No, it's trying to win you over with the basics: attractive leads with chemistry, a bit of triangular tension, a gallery of witty friends, and a lesson tucked into a heartwarming story." 2. "Meet Me Next Christmas" was a breezy and entertaining holiday film.Devale Ellis as Teddy and Christina Milian as Layla in "Meet Me Next Christmas." Sophie Giraud/Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%Summary: In "Meet Me Next Christmas," Christina Milian stars as Layla, a woman who has a magical encounter with a man named James (Kofi Siriboe) at an airport lounge.The pair make a deal to meet up again next Christmas at the concert of the a cappella group Pentatonix, but when the time comes, Layla's dismayed to learn that tickets are all sold out. Determined to reconnect with her dream guy, Layla taps a concierge service to help her get a coveted ticket to the show.But along the way, Layla finds herself torn by her feelings for James and Teddy (Devale Ellis), her concierge.Critics said that "Meet Me Next Christmas" contained familiar rom-com tropes, but it was an enjoyable watch."While it certainly isn't breaking new ground in any capacity, the movie is a feel-good moment that gets us into the holiday spirit," Ben Gibbons wrote for Screen Rant. 1. The premise of "Hot Frosty" was so silly that it worked.Dustin Milligan as Jack Snowman and Lacey Chabert as Kathy Barrett in "Hot Frosty." Netflix Rotten Tomatoes score: 76%Summary: "Hot Frosty" centers on Kathy Barrett (Lacey Chabert), a woman who magically brings a snowman to life two years after her husband's death. As Kathy helps the snowman-turned-human named Jack Snowman (Dustin Milligan) acclimate to real life, she finds herself laughing and falling in love again and desperate to save him from melting.Even with an absurdly goofy plot, "Hot Frosty" delighted critics."It's cheap and it's silly and it has a laughable premise that some people will mistake for terribleness. But it's also winking and whimsical. It knows what it's doing and it's doing it on purpose. Somehow it actually kind of works," William Bibbiani wrote for The Wrap.

UPFs, which contain additives, have been linked to cancer, diabetes, and depression.Nutritionist Rob Hobson tried to eliminate them from his diet as much as possible last year.Now, he incorporates them into his diet in a way that works for him.Since deciding to cut down on ultra-processed foods a year ago, nutritionist Rob Hobson has developed a more "realistic" view of how they fit into a healthy diet, he told Business Insider.UPFs have made headlines this year as public awareness grew of the potential health risks of eating too many. Studies have linked a diet high in UPFs to a higher risk of 32 illnesses, including type two diabetes, cancer, depression, and cardiovascular disease.UPFs tend to be highly marketed, shelf-stable, and hyper-palatable, making them easy to overeat, Hobson previously told Business Insider. Soda, candy, and fast food are obvious examples.At first, Hobson, who is based in the UK, tried to eliminate UPFs from his diet as much as possible and to cook everything from scratch. "I was like a vigilante," he said. But now he incorporates them into his diet in a way that works for him. "I eat less ultra-processed food, but in a way that still makes it easy and convenient to eat. So there's certain foods now that I don't worry too much about, the healthier UPFs," he said.Hobson, who still limits his intake, shared three changes he's made.Healthier' UPFs for cookingCooking from scratch three times a day simply became too time-consuming, Hobson said. So now he uses some "healthier" UPFs in his cooking to "make life easier."Previously Hobson would have been strict about only making a pasta sauce from canned tomatoes and fresh produce, for example, but now if he's strapped for time or energy, he's happy to pick up a pre-made sauce from the store. However, he still checks labels and looks for the items with the fewest ingredients."I still believe the first port of call is cooking everything as much as you can from scratch. But I'm not going to give myself a hard time about buying a tomato sauce, I'll just buy the best one I possibly can," he said.Some UPFs are nutritiousFoods like packaged wholemeal bread, and baked beans, which are popular in the UK, might be considered ultra-processed because they contain additives, but unlike soda and cookies, they do have nutritional value."These foods still have a lot of fiber. They still contain protein. But they do contain a few additives," Hobson said.He includes UPFs he considers healthier in his diet if he doesn't have time to cook from scratch or simply is craving them, he said. But he'll still aim to make it a balanced meal by adding some vegetables, a side salad, or some grains.Eat unprocessed no cooking requiredOver the past year, Hobson learned that putting different foods together on a plate is the easiest way for him "to eat unprocessed.""Just putting plates together rather than thinking you have to create a proper big meal with lots of ingredients," works well, he said. Cooking a piece of fish or chicken and pairing it with some potatoes and vegetables is simpler than following a recipe and making, say, a pasta dish or a curry, he said. Hobson often adds bags of pre-cooked grains, too."It's great to spend time in the kitchen when you have the time, but then when you don't, you have to find all these ways of eating that are really simple," he said.

Nature, Published online: 19 December 2024; doi:10.1038/d41586-024-04194-43D models of Australopithecus afarensis suggest the muscular adaptations that made modern humans better runners.

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A Hideout in Path of Exile 2 is a personal, customizable hub area where all crafting facilities, merchant NPCs, and the end-game mapping function can be accessed. Players who haven't yet unlocked their hideout will want to know how to go about obtaining one of their own.

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