WTF?! EditThisCookie was a popular Chrome extension designed to edit cookie data stored in the browser's local database. Once used by over three million users, the extension has now been replaced by a counterfeit copycat that has no connection to cookies or browser security. On the contrary, it appears to undermine both. The original EditThisCookie extension is no longer available, giving way to a similarly named browser add-on, EditThisCookie. Google appears to have removed the original extension from the Chrome Web Store, yet the counterfeit add-on remains accessible for download. Unfortunately for Chrome users, the fake EditThisCookie is malicious and should never have been allowed on the Web Store in the first place.Before Google's removal, the malicious add-on had approximately 30,000 users. Now, the EditThisCookie page claims 50,000 users, promoting itself as a legitimate cookie manager. However, reviews are overwhelmingly negative, with users criticizing the extension for its malicious behavior and its status as a clone of the original.Malware analyst Eric Parker recently shared a YouTube video exposing the fake add-on, detailing its many hidden threats. The extension links to a fraudulent website, contains obfuscated code, and is capable of stealing sensitive information particularly when users visit Facebook. Additionally, it includes phishing routines and mechanisms for distributing advertisements.While there are no official explanations for the disappearance of the original EditThisCookie tool, the most plausible reason is its incompatibility with Google's Manifest V3 adoption. Google is determined to phase out the older Manifest V2 extension technology in favor of Manifest V3, which is claimed to offer improved security.The widely popular uBlock Origin was the first high-profile casualty of this migration, and EditThisCookie appears to be the next. Meanwhile, the cybercriminals behind the fake EditThisCookie extension have been resourceful or opportunistic enough to update their code to comply with Manifest V3 requirements. In contrast, the original developer may have chosen to focus on other priorities. // Related StoriesThe case of EditThisCookie highlights the glaring shortcomings of Manifest V3 in enhancing browser security. Despite Google's intentions, the new standard seems ineffective, and the situation could worsen as other popular Manifest V2 extensions vanish from the Chrome Web Store. Digital criminals are likely exploiting these gaps, keeping a close eye on the ongoing transition.In response, third-party browsers like Mozilla Firefox are offering a superior extension experience, supporting both Manifest V2 and V3 frameworks. This flexibility could attract users seeking a more secure and functional browsing environment.

RIGIf you just purchased a new gaming system from the PlayStation 5 deals, Xbox Series X and Series S deals, Nintendo Switch deals, gaming PC deals, or gaming laptop deals of the holiday season, we highly recommend investing in a gaming headset. Heres an offer from Best Buy that you shouldnt miss: the RIG 900 Max HX at half-price, so youll only have to pay $125 instead of $250. Were not sure how much time is remaining before the $125 discount disappears, so if youre interested, you should go ahead and buy it right now.The RIG 900 Max HX gaming headset is featured in our roundup of the best PS5 headsets, but it works for all of the major gaming platforms. Its actually designed for the Xbox, but its compatible with the PlayStation 5, gaming PCs, and gaming laptops through its USB-A 2.4GHz wireless adapter, and with the Nintendo Switch and mobile devices through Bluetooth. With 40mm audio drivers, youll fully enjoy the audio of your favorite video games.With its lightweight headband and earcups with breathable fabric, the RIG 900 Max HX gaming headset is comfortable to wear, but its also durable as its made of reinforced steel. Its got a battery life of up to 50 hours on a single charge, and once your gaming session is done, just set it on its charging stand so its ready for the next time you play. The gaming headset has an omni-directional microphone with noise rejection technology, so youll sound loud and clear during online multiplayer matches, and you can access features such as microphone sensitivity and equalizer settings through the 900 Max Navigator app.RelatedGamers who are on the hunt for gaming headset deals should set their sights on the RIG 900 Max HX, which is on sale from Best Buy with a 50% discount that slashes its price from $250 to a more affordable $125. Its an excellent purchase for any platform, but you need to act fast because theres no telling when this bargain ends. If you want to get the RIG 900 Max HX gaming headset at $125 off, you should add it to your cart and finish the checkout process as soon as you can.Editors Recommendations

We cover a lot of soundbar deals here at Digital Trends, and every once in a while, we see a promotion that makes us spin our heads! And, as it turns out, we came across one of these delightful surprises earlier today, and its for one of the best soundbars money can buy:For a limited time, when you purchase the Sennheiser Ambeo Max through Amazon, Best Buy, or Crutchfield, youll only pay $1,800. That may not sound like a great deal, but this hulking audio device normally costs $2,500. With the $700 you saved, you can invest in one of the best TV deals of the week for a complete home theater experience!Why you should buy the Sennheiser Ambeo MaxLets not beat around the bush: the Ambeo Max is a monster of a soundbar thats designed to not only enhance TV audio, but to virtualize a complete Dolby Atmos (or DTS:X) surround system. Delivering up to 500 watts at peak power, no one corner of your home theater space is left untouched by the Ambeo Max. And while most folks are going to use this beast for movies, shows, and video games, the Ambeo Max has Chromecast, AirPlay, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect built right in. With its five onboard tweeters, deep bass, and optional wired sub connectivity, your favorite tunes will never sound the same!RelatedOne recommendation from your DT pals: unbox this bad boy with a friend. Weighing just over 40 pounds, this soundbar definitely wears on the lower back if youre setting it up alone.Heres hoping this sale sticks around for a while because this is the best price the Sennheiser Ambeo Max has ever been (at least at Amazon)! Get this premium Dolby Atmos soundbar for just $1,800 while this markdown lasts, and be sure to check out our lists of the best Amazon deals and Best Buy deals for even more discounts on top tech!Editors Recommendations

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Defending the open Internet Appeals court blocks FCCs efforts to bring back net neutrality rules A three-judge panel ruled the FCC exceeded its authority reviving net neutrality. Ashley Belanger Jan 2, 2025 4:53 pm | 24 Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urged Congress to protect net neutrality. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg Jessica Rosenworcel, chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urged Congress to protect net neutrality. Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn Thursday, a three-judge panel struck down net neutrality rules that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had hoped would stop broadband providers from varying speeds for users when connecting to different websites.In his opinion, US circuit judge Richard Allen Griffin wrote that the FCC lacked the authority to impose the net neutrality rules under the "telecommunications service" provision of the Communications Act."The core of the dispute here," Griffin wrote, "is whether Broadband Internet Service Providers" like Xfinity or Spectrum offer a "telecommunications service" or an "information service." Because judges agreed they offer the latter, the court ruled that they could not be subjected to the FCC's net neutrality policies.In the ruling, Griffin explained how the FCC has gone back and forth between considering broadband providers as either a telecommunications or information service, changing its position on net neutrality depending on which party is in office since the Clinton administration. But the 6th Circuit's ruling means "we can end the FCCs vacillations," holding once and for all that "Broadband Internet Service Providers offer an information service and that mobile broadband is a private mobile service," and therefore net neutrality laws apply to neither."The key here is not whether Broadband Internet Service Providers utilize telecommunications; it is instead whether they do so while offering to consumers the capability to do more," Griffin wrote, concluding that "they do.""The FCC exceeded its statutory authority," Griffin wrote, at one point accusing the FCC of arguing for a reading of the statute "that is too sweeping."The three-judge panel ordered a stay of the FCC's order imposing net neutrality rulesknown as the Safeguarding and Securing the Open Internet Order.In a statement, FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel suggested that Congress would likely be the only path to safeguard net neutrality moving forward. In the federal register, experts noted that net neutrality is critical to boosting new applications, services, or content, warning that without clear rules, the next Amazon or YouTube could be throttled before it can get off the ground."Consumers across the country have told us again and again that they want an Internet that is fast, open, and fair," Rosenworcel said. "With this decision it is clear that Congress now needs to heed their call, take up the charge for net neutrality, and put open Internet principles in federal law."Rosenworcel will soon leave the FCC, likely replaced by Trump's incoming FCC chair pick, Brendan Carr.Carr helped to overturn net neutrality in 2017 and is expected to loosen broadband regulations if confirmed. Carr still must be approved by the Senate, but because Republicans hold a majority there, most of Trump's nominations are expected to go through, ABC News reported.Ashley BelangerSenior Policy ReporterAshley BelangerSenior Policy Reporter Ashley is a senior policy reporter for Ars Technica, dedicated to tracking social impacts of emerging policies and new technologies. She is a Chicago-based journalist with 20 years of experience. 24 Comments

I want to believe Why Half-Life 3 speculation is reaching a fever pitch again New leaks and cryptic clues point to active development the long-awaited sequel. Kyle Orland Jan 2, 2025 4:30 pm | 23 The Valve seems to be leaking... Credit: Geoff Keighley The Valve seems to be leaking... Credit: Geoff Keighley Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreThe more than two decades since Half-Life 2's release have been filled with plenty of rumors and hints about Half-Life 3, ranging from the official-ish to the thin to the downright misleading. As we head into 2025, though, we're approaching something close to a critical mass of rumors and leaks suggesting that Half-Life 3 is really in the works this time, and could be officially announced in the coming months.The latest tease came just before the end of 2024 via a New Year's Eve social media video from G-Man voice actor Mike Shapiro. In the voice of the mysterious in-game bureaucrat, Shapiro expresses hopes that "the next quarter century [will] deliver as many unexpected surprises as did the millennium's first (emphasis added)... See you in the new year."The post is all the more notable because it's Shapiro's first in over four years, when he concluded a flurry of promotional posts surrounding the release of Half-Life: Alyx (many of which were in-character as G-Man). And in 2020, just after Alyx's release, Shapiro told USGamer that he had recently worked on a "blast from the past" project that he would "announce... on my Twitter feed when I'm allowed to" (no such announcement has been forthcoming for any other game)."I was working on that game for quite a while before I knew [what it was]," Shapiro said at the time of the unannounced project. "There was a rehearsal and some recordings, and after one of the recording sessions I was having a drink with the director. He told me what the game was, and nobody knows that this is coming."This is going to be such a mindblowing re-up from what people have come to know," Shapiro continued in 2020. "It's going to really... it's going to make people have a complete re-understanding of what they thought they knew about the story in the game prior to it, and I don't even know if people are expecting it."Raised HLX-pectationsOn its own, a single in-character post from a voice actor would probably be a bit too cryptic to excite Half-Life fans who have seen their sequel hopes dashed so often over the last two decades. But the unexpected tease comes amid a wave of leaks and rumors surrounding "HLX," an internal Valve project that has been referenced in a number of other Source 2 engine game files recently.Those HLX references got a lot more attention about five months ago when noted Valve watcher Tyler McVicker posted a video analyzing the Valve code and concluding that the HLX project is "a fully-fledged non-VR Half-Life game." In subsequent videos, McVicker has gone into more detail on datamined code for everything from voxel-based deformation systems to zero-g and underwater navigation systems to "so much flammability stuff," all seemingly in service of "HLX.""It's obvious that Valve wants to be able to push the envelope in the same way that Half-Life 1 and Half-Life 2 did in their day," McVicker said in November in a video bluntly entitled "Valve Isn't Trying to Hide HL3 Anymore." McVicker now believes that "instead of pushing graphical fidelity like everybody else, it seems like Valve is pushing for physical fidelity" with its in-game systems and objects.Beyond those data-mined details, Valve-watching YouTuber "Gabe Follower" said in a video this week that "according to my information, in the last few months Valve has started active HLX playtests, now not only with people from other teams, but also friends and family members." That suggestion gains at least a little bit of extra credence given Gabe Follower's history of leaking early Valve content, including screenshots and information about Deadlock (originally code-named Citadel) well before it was officially revealed."It is a quite important stage for the project," Gabe Follower says of the reported friends and family playtesting. "If it survives the New Year holidays and there are no serious problems during the playtests with a close circle of people, then the development will continue at the right pace and the announcement in 2025 may turn out to be quite possible."Add that to leaks regarding a mysterious "Project White Sands" that Valve seems to be using in public hiring announcements, and you have enough smoke to suggest there might actually be some real Half-Life 3 fire burning at Valve this time around. We know it's easy to be gun-shy after so many years of false starts, but we hope you'll forgive us for still wanting to believe.Kyle OrlandSenior Gaming EditorKyle OrlandSenior Gaming Editor Kyle Orland has been the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica since 2012, writing primarily about the business, tech, and culture behind video games. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He once wrote a whole book about Minesweeper. 23 Comments

Jade is set to become a solo star following her success with Little Mix.Jade is expected to release her debut solo album in 2025. Courtesy of RCA Records Jade, aka Jade Thirlwall, broke into the music industry in 2011 as one-fourth of the popular British girl group Little Mix.Four became three in 2020, when Jesy Nelson left the group to make reductive hip-hop knock-offs. The remaining trio announced a hiatus in 2021 to focus on solo projects.Superstars have come out of groups in the past Beyonc from Destiny's Child, Justin Timberlake from *NSYNC, Harry Styles from One Direction and if Jade continues down the trail she's been blazing, she very well could be the next name on that list.The now-mononymous artist, 32, released three solo singles in 2024, each as thrilling as the last. The first, "Angel of My Dreams," was widely praised for its avant-garde music video, conceptual lyrics, and experimental structure; it was crowned as the year's No. 1 best pop song by Stereogum and third-best overall by The New York Times.Its follow-up, "Midnight Cowboy," is a bass-heavy banger that features a sexy spoken-word intro by "Barbie" star Ncuti Gatwa, while "Fantasy" is a disco-infused burst of energy that's spurred ahead by a set of remixes with Channel Tres and Alex Chapman.Jade is harnessing her existing star power in all the right ways: to execute outr ideas, bring in the coolest collaborators, and put a fresh spin on existing pop trends.Her debut solo album is expected to arrive this year, but fans won't have to wait long for another delicious breadcrumb; her new single, "It Girl," is already available to pre-save.