Sonic movie franchise grosses over $1bn at global box officeThird instalment generated $211.5 million worldwide during its first week in cinemasImage credit: Paramount Pictures News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 6, 2025 Paramount Pictures' Sonic film franchise has surpassed $1 billion at the box office worldwide.As reported by Eurogamer, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 grossed $336.3 million globally following its December 20 debut, reaching $211.5 million during its first week in cinemas.The first and second Sonic films, released in 2020 and 2022, generated $725.2 million combined and have since amassed $181 million in consumer spending for online purchases and rentals.The third film, which stars Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog, was critically well-received with an 86% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A fourth film is currently in development."We are so overjoyed with the amazing response to the Sonic the Hedgehog films from audiences and fans around the world, and are proud to be part of the incredible, world-class filmmaking team that has come together to build this franchise," said producers Neal H Mortiz and Toby Ascher."We make these movies for the fans; and their passion, support, and love for these characters is what drives us every day to continue creating the fast, funny, and action-packed stories that make up the ever-expanding Sonic universe."

Resident Evil 4 Remake had sold over 9 million copies worldwide as of December 19, 2024.That's according to an X post from the development team at Capcom, which thanked players for their support at the turn of the year. The horror title launched in March 2023 and eclipsed 8 million sales in October 2024.Resident Evil 2 Remake remains the best-selling franchise entry with over 13.9 million lifetime sales, although it took the title five years to reach that milestone.In June last year, Capcom confirmed Resident Evil Village had become the fastest-selling title in the series after topping 10 million sales in three years.Given Resident Evil 4 Remake has sold more than 9 million copies in under two years, it's possible the project could eventually take that crown.To date, only three Resident Evil titles have exceeded 10 million sales: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil 2 Remake, and Resident Evil Village.In its latest fiscal report, Capcom said it had been conducting "proactive promotional campaigns" to gain wider recognition of key properties such as Dragon's Dogma and Resident Evil and drive "series title sales." The Japanese studio pointed to the continued success of its catalog titles as evidence of that approach paying off.

Paramount Pictures has hailed the success of the Sonic movie franchise after Sonic the Hedgehog 3 helped it pass $1 billion at the global box office.Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which adds Keanu Reeves as Shadow to the cast, recently surpassed $100 million at the international box office, and has earned over $187 million domestically for a cumulative worldwide gross to-date of over $336.3 million. Sonic 3 grossed an estimated $51.2 million during its second weekend in 61 markets, with three markets still to go including China on January 10.The first Sonic the Hedgehog launched in February 2020 starring Jim Carrey as Robotnik. The sequel followed in April 2022, with both movies earning a combined $725.2 million globally, with an additional $181 million in consumer spending from home entertainment rentals and purchases.Spinoff series Knuckles hit Paramount + last April and became the number one kids and family series ever in terms of hours on the streamer.Sonic the Hedgehog 3 launched in December. Paramount said the film is performing better than Sonic 2 on a like-for-like basis. It came as no surprise when Paramount announced that development is underway for a fourth installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog film series, given Sonic the Hedgehog 3s ending teases yet another new Sonic character for that film.Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic.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.

Minecraft creator Markus Persson has said he basically announced Minecraft 2 after polling his social media followers on what game theyd like him to make next.Two options were listed in the poll: a roguelike mixed with a tile-based first-person dungeon crawler, and a a spiritual successor to Minecraft, which in the poll was called Minecraft 2. At the time of this articles publication, 81% had picked Minecraft 2 after 282,968 votes.In a subsequent tweet, Notch admitted he basically announced Minecraft 2, and insisted he was 100% serious about the poll.I thought that maybe people ACTUALLY do want me to make another game that's super similar to the first one, and I'm loving working on games again, he continued.I don't super duper care exactly which game I make first (or even if I make more), but I do know I'm making one, so I figured I'd absolutely be willing to give it an honest shot in the form of a spiritual successor to Minecraft and put up a poll about it.My intentions are to be clear and honest about it, saying that spiritual successors are usually kind of... you know... washed up. Tragic. The things I'm fearing my next game is going to be anyway and try to push myself to avoid. So why not do the thing that people DO want and are willing to give me, somehow, even MORE cash for.I intend for the money to the [sic] spent for good, but my god have I learned I fail a lot. Winning is failing until you make yourself succeed.Oh and I also very much value being a man of my word, so I also intend to do this in a way that in no way tried [sic] to sneakily infringe on the incredible work the Mojang team is doing and that Microsoft is successfully doing the Microsoft shittification about.And I respect them for doing that. It's their job. And they, from what I understand, let the studio do things their way, which seems very fair to me.Notch says he intends to make 'Minecraft 2.' Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images.Based on that, then, Notch is indeed setting out to work on a spiritual successor to Minecraft a decade after selling Mojang to Microsoft for $2.5 billion. Mojang continues to work on the eternally popular Minecraft, of course, putting out multiple updates each year across all the platforms the sandbox game is available on. Minecraft is officially the best-selling video game of all time, with an incredible 300 million copies sold. Microsoft has made no indication that it intends to release a Minecraft 2, which comes as no surprise given how popular Minecraft remains. Perhaps that leaves the door open for Notch to fill a gap from the original creator.As Notch noted himself, it remains to be seen whether this Minecraft 2 ever sees the light of day. Since selling to Microsoft, the Swedish developer has started and stopped a number of games, including space sandbox game 0x10c (pronounced "Ten to the C). However, in another tweet, Notch said the odds of him finishing projects now are higher than they were because he has employees he feels responsible for.In later tweets, Notch answered questions from followers on social media about this Minecraft 2, and insisted he doesnt want to use anything too similar to the stuff I sold, in this new game. He also said his Minecraft 2 wouldnt be a story game, suggesting a new sandbox of some kind. I'd make a similar game [to Minecraft] based on what I think the audience that says they want that game might enjoy, he explained. Probably do early access to make sure we're on track.Notch even went on to say that if Minecraft ever wanted him to make an official Minecraft 2 and both parties agreed on terms, I'd absolutely be willing to to that.I'd even give them a much bigger share than I'd feel obliged to just to make it clear I'm not doing it with ill intent, he continued, before adding: But I'll be a bitch to work with.It seems unlikely that Microsoft would work with Notch, given it removed his name from the opening credits of Minecraft following various controversial statements he made in the years following the sale of Mojang.Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images,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.

Following the appearance of alleged images of the Nintendo Switch 2s internals, fresh images allegedly showing the next-generation consoles Joy-Con have appeared online.The images, which show a left Joy-Con, were reportedly first posted to a Chinese social media website before they made their way to the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit and western social media. Images of the right Joy-Con have yet to emerge.As youd expect, these images are being analysed to within an inch of their life, with most leaning towards their legitimacy. They include larger SL and SR buttons than on the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, which youd expect given the Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly a bigger console than the original. These new Joy-Con allegedly ditch the railed lock method used by the current Switch in favor of electromagnetic suction controllers.Internet sleuths are also trying to make sense of what looks like soft rubber glide pads at the top and bottom of the side of the Joy-Con, and what looks like a sensor of some kind, perhaps for connecting to other devices or for 3D gesture-controlled input.Some are speculating the Switch 2 Joy-Con could be used as a mouse if turned on its side and placed on a flat surface.Last week, an image of what appeared to be the Switch 2s internal components tallied with information suggested by previous image leaks that have helped give us a decent idea of what to expect from Nintendos next-gen console.In September, unverified images a mix of Computer-aided design (CAD) images and printed circuit board (PCB) photos that were said to have originated from a Chinese website before making their way onto Reddit, depicted a device similar to the existing Switch console but with a larger screen and magnetic Joy-Con. There is reportedly a USB-C port on the top and bottom of the console, too.Accompanying the images was an alleged specifications list that mentioned 12GB of RAM (the original Switch has 4GB), and 256GB of internal storage (the original Switch has 32GB). Theres a new "C" button on the right Joy-Con, allegedly.We also have a patent, filed July 2023 but published for the first time last week, that describes AI image upscaling technology that would help keep video game download sizes small enough to fit on a physical game cartridge while offering up to 4K textures.Heres what we know for sure: Nintendo has confirmed that the yet-to-be-announced Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has also said it will announce the Switch 2 by the end of March 2025, which means the reveal is fast approaching. As for a release date, the console is not expected to launch during Nintendo's current financial year, so it will arrive April 2025 at the earliest.We even have developers outright saying they plan to release their upcoming games on the console, with others teasing a Switch 2 release for their games. When Switch 2 does eventually come out, Nintendo expects to have plenty of stock available, which in turn will hopefully combat scalping.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.

Twenty years ago, Bill Murray sat perfectly center of frame in an ornate Italian theater near the Mediterranean. In the reality of this shot, he was portraying a storyteller within a storya filmmaker named Steve Zissou, who after enjoying decades at the top of the international film scene has entered a fallow period. We later learn its been nine years since his last hit documentary and his reputation as a Jacques Cousteau-like oceanographer-turned-director died at roughly the same time as disco. Yet there he was still in the gilded halls that a filmmaker like Wes Anderson would recognize fresh off an Oscar nomination for his last movie, The Royal Tenenbaums.In his follow-up, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Anderson begins his story at the glitzy world premiere of Zissous latest doc, Adventure No. 12: The Jaguar Shark (Part 1), a seemingly idyllic odyssey at sea until the sudden ending where Steves best friend and colleague, Esteban du Plantier (Seymour Cassel), is devoured whole by a so-called Jaguar Shark. We dont see the death in the movie-within-a-movie, just a sea of gushing crimson as Steve splashes to the surface calling for his mentor. The sedate audience within the auditorium barely reacts.In an obligatory Q&A following the screening, one of the only meaningful questions Steve fields is was it a deliberate choice not to show the Jaguar Shark? With his usual understated detachment, Murray responds, No, I dropped the camera. Only then does the crowd respond with a wave of giggles. Why are they laughing? Steve whispers to his moderator.One senses Anderson could relate to the scene and Steves bafflement even before The Life Aquatic opened to what was at the time the worst reviews in his young career.There is, indeed, something innately silly about the pretensions and decorum of film premieres, particularly for filmmakers carrying around as much prestige and baggage as Steve Zissou. And in The Life Aquatic, the intent is to create a character whos bought into that hype enough to not only be perplexed by the arbitrary nature of fame and adulation, but also hurt and affected by its subsequent absence. When we meet Steve, he seems as much wounded by the critical reception of his latest doc as he is by the death it preserved for all-time. Even so, he insists in the same scene he knows what his next film must be about: like Ahab he will hunt down and kill the fish that hurt him.What would be the scientific purpose of killing it? he is asked. Revenge.Its a hell of a line that still slays thanks to Murrays natural aloofness matching Andersons visual deadpan. And it is a piece with Andersons best films, which in our estimation also include Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Unfortunately, ever since its own real-life cool reception, The Life Aquatic has rarely been mentioned in that company. To this day, it even sits at a glum 57 percent positive on Rotten Tomatoes. But after the films 20th anniversary last month, it is time to finally give Steve the flowers he so desperately craves. It is time to put Life Aquatic on the A-squad.A Filmmaker Trying to Build His Little WorldBy design, The Life Aquatic invites the audience to see the parallels between the characters of Team Zissou and Andersons own band of tight-knit collaborators. For instance,The Life Aquatics cinematographer, Robert D. Yeoman, has been with Anderson since the beginning on Bottle Rocket in 1996, and thats carried on through 2023s Asteroid City and Henry Sugar short films; Murray of course first appeared in Rushmore in 1998 and has turned up in nearly every Anderson joint since; and costume designer Milena Canonero began a collaboration with Anderson here, building a foundation to a relationship thats lasted also through Asteroid City.Anderson knows what it means to be a storyteller who assembles a trusted team. But at least when Life Aquatic came out, he didnt know what it meant to be a middle-aged artist who the press had turned on. Thats because he was not making a film about himself in 2004 or at least not about his process for making movies. The more interesting reading of The Life Aquatics setup is instead about how it studies just one fundamental muse of any director: the ego, and all the absurdity it and auteur theory invites in.Andersons movies are of course unmistakable. His affinity for symmetrical compositions, often while featuring pleasing straight lines and patterned set designs, are instantly recognizable. And theyve become virtual case studies in understanding what an auteurs stamp means for film students around the world. But they are not the beginning and end of his vision. In fact, theyre often just supplemental expressions of the broader stories and worlds they inhabit. They are extensions of characters who are trying to control their world via manners and affectations as tidy and beatific as Anderson and Yeomans framings. By and large, these characters are also men who yearn to live in a world of artifice. And save perhaps for the bitter reality that creeps into M. Gustavs 1930s grand hotel, Steve Zissous search for his own white whale is Andersons frankest admission to the limitations of these daydreams.What makes The Life Aquatic both so funny and tragic is its portrait of a sad, vain man who cannot control anything in his life despite forcing everyone around him to be branded with his mark. Whether its during a paramilitary rescue operation on a pirate-infested seaside resort, or the aforementioned film premiere, each and every character is forced to wear Steves bright red beanie as if they were serfs subject to his beneficence. And when he decides to accept a sweet man named Ned Plimpton (Owen Wilson) as his long-lost adult son, he immediately demands this grown adult also don the hat, the blue swim trunks, and eventually Steves last name in spite of the fact that Zissou refused to meet Ned 30 years prior.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Steve lives in a wonderful Anderson world where all the fish, including that loathed Jaguar Shark, are claymated confections colored in pastels, or lit with inner-luminescence as seen in the glowing jellyfish on an Italian beach. Steve captures it all in his (and Andersons) own pleasing image. Think of the tour de force tracking shot of Steves ship, the Belafonte, which through clever set design, animation, and camera movement is revealed to have a gourmet kitchen located right next to a library stocked with first editions, and an editing bay/recording studio where 35mm assembly cuts of his films can be spliced together on the day.Anderson tracks the immaculate beauty of this world with a gliding tracking camera on an elaborate set-build thats revealed behind a rising curtain. After the showstopper is done though, the camera pulls back and the light on the obvious soundstage where much of this was built is dimmed. Steve has constructed a magnificent but insular bubble around his life. Its his own little world that is as beautiful, and fleeting, as a night at the theater. When the show is over, there is nothing left to experience.And when the curtain is down, the reality is also not nearly so clean. In fact, the first time Anderson indulges another of his signature tracking shots, following Steve across the real upper deck of a ship that is supposed to house all these wonders, the pacing is harried and the energy frantic, as underscored by the crescendo of David Bowies Life on Mars. Moments earlier, Steve was forced to realize he has just met the thirtysomething man who might be his son, and his bubble is burst. He flees across the deck to escape the reality of the moment, hiding against a railing that is lit by Christmas lights. Nonetheless, all around him is darkness.Later the clash between Steves perfectly curated fantasy of what he thinks his life is, and the bitterness of real life-and-death stakes outside that pretty picture, comes to a surreal head when pirates board his ship and spill intern blood on the Belafontes decks. They also trapp Steve and his crew in a brutalist desaturation uncharacteristic of most Anderson films. When Steve is able to take control of the situation by grabbing a gun and going Rambo long enough to save everyone except his Bond Company Stooge, the colors return to the warm oversaturation weve come to expect from the film, but it is still a lie Steve is telling himselfone as delusional as thinking getting revenge on a fish will bring meaning to his sadness and midlife ennui.In the end, Steve even claiming Ned as his son is a fallacy; we learn from his long-suffering wife and producer, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston), that Ned cannot be his child because Eleanor discovered years earlier that her husband is shooting blanks. Apparently he spent too many days in a wetsuit. By this point though, Neds dead, and like everything else about this sad, great artistes life, Eleanor is letting him live in a fantasy divorced from the colder truth around him.Out to Sea with Amazing CollaboratorsThematically, The Life Aquatic is a richer film than it often gets credit for, but it is also a hilarious one that marked the last of Andersons early nimbler efforts. Like Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, and The Royal Tenenbaums before it, Aquatic was written in collaboration with another filmmaker with his own distinct sensibility, in this case Noah Baumbach a year before breaking out as an indie darling in his own right via The Squid and the Whale.The future co-writer of movies like Frances Ha and Barbie pairs well with Anderson, complementing the Texan directors usual melancholic nostalgia for bygone curios and eras of pop culturein this case 1960s and 70s Cousteau documentarieswith the kind of narrative freewheeling nature that enlivens most of Baumbachs comedies. In other words, The Life Aquatics script takes delightfully weird detours and swerves, such as when those pirates commandeer the ship, massacre all the boy toys of rival documentarian Alistair Henessey (Jeff Goldblum), and then invite a climactic rescue mission where Steve goes back to save that goddamn Bond Company Stooge like this was the third act of a 2004 Bruce Willis movie.Through it all, the ensemble of actors are fully served by the screenplay in a way which has escaped Andersons most recent 2020s feature films. Cate Blanchetts journalist Jane Winslett-Richardson allows the actress to do the rare thing and abandon her naturally regal Australian accent for a nasally Londoner lilt; she is a pregnant woman in desperate search for a good story and a baby for this father; Wilson likewise was cast against the type he embraced in his previous Anderson collaborations by here playing a square, straight-as-an-arrow former military pilot of a Midwestern disposition; and of course Huston and Goldblum are on hand to offer their usual charms.My personal favorite remains Willem Dafoe as Klaus Daimler, the anxious and overeager hanger-on that clings so desperately to Steves coattails and favor that he stops in the middle of a gun fight to sulk, Thanks a lot for not picking me. Im sick of being on B-squad. Its one of the scripts many golden lines, up there with Steve telling his interns, Im not going to flunk you but I cant give you full credit either. Youre all getting incompletes; and Goldblum shrugging, Weve never made great husbands, have we? Of course, I have a good excuse. Im part gay.The Most Bill Murray of Wes Anderson FilmsAbove all else, and the other brilliant castings like Michael Gambon as Steves dubious agent and Brazilian musician Sue Jorge as Pel, Team Zissous resident David Bowie cover artist, The Life Aquatic remains ultimately Andersons tribute to his most frequent collaborator in front of the camera, Bill Murray.The relationship between the two has been long and fruitful, beginning in Rushmore where Murray played the unlikely romantic rival to a diabolical teenager (Jason Schwartzman), and it continues to this day. The Chicagoan actors naturally sardonic, and sometimes withering, comic timing proves a perfect weapon for Andersons own sense of visual drollness, and its killing shots can be delivered wryly, cruelly, and even pitifully, a la Murrays aged and unlikely older husband to Gwyneth Paltrow in The Royal Tenenbaums or his enraged mild-mannered father in Moonrise Kingdom.But those are all supporting roles, and sometimes little more than cameos. In The Life Aquatic though, Anderson crafted a starring vehicle for Murray that leans into the actors acerbic wit as well as the wistfulness which only began being noticed by critics in Rushmore and then in the best performance of the actors career, courtesy of Sofia Coppolas Lost in Translation. Steve Zissou is not quite so perfect a second-skin for Murray as Bob Harris, but he still fits Murray like a glove (or slimming wetsuit), whether its when Steve is attempting to look cool in front of a reporter while grooving to music piped into his underwater gear or in a moment where the character can no longer put on any airs as he mourns the man he thinks is his son in front of the same woman.Its a poignant creation between director and muse that makes The Life Aquatic a milestone film in both mens filmographies.Portuguese BowieFinally, The Life Aquatic also still features Seu Jorge singing acoustic covers of David Bowie classics in Portuguese, often with Jorges own lyrics invented on the day. Thats cool enough for its own subhead.

Whether its the thank God thats not me aspect; a national curiosity about the murkier side of life; the fact that detective stories have a built-in dramatic structure with mystery, tension and resolution; or simply that commissioners shovel them onto screens in such volume that audiences cant help but eat them up crime drama is riding high on UK television, and by the looks of the list below, going nowhere in 2025 and beyond.Including true crime, cosy crime, period-set crime, comedy crime and more, here are the new British crime TV series on their way this year and next. From Scandi Noir adaptations to two new takes on Agatha Christie, to a refreshed Sherlock Holmes, and several modern gangster series aiming to fill the Peaky Blinders hole, find something to suit your taste below.Well keep this list updated as cast and release date information arrives, and new commissions are announced. For a look at everything new coming to UK TV in 2025, heres our New British TV Series list, and to see which shows are due to return this year and beyond, heres our Best Returning British TV Series list.RELEASE DATES CONFIRMEDMissing YouIts a new tradition: a new Harlan Coben crime thriller on Netflix with which to nurse your hangover on New Years Day. 2025s is Missing You, which stars Slow Horses Rosalind Eleazar as DI Kat Donovan, a no-nonsense detective whose love life has been drifting ever since her fianc left her without a word over a decade ago. Now hes just reappeared on an online dating app, the man who murdered her father is about to die in prison, and a university professor has gone missing how all these things connect is for viewers to find out over five episodes. Jan 1, NetflixPatienceBased on the French-Belgian series Astrid et Raphalle, this six-part British crime drama stars A Kind of Sparks Ella Maisy Purvis as a police archivist with autism whose talent for crime-solving is discovered by a detective (Laura Fraser). Together, they sleuth around the beautiful historical city of York, solving murders. Jan 8, Channel 4An T-Eilean/The IslandTrumpeted as the BBCs first Gaelic-language drama, this crime series is set on the beautiful Scottish islands of Lewis and Harris, and follows the return of a young detective to the isles after she left abruptly years earlier. Back at home, Sorcha Groundsells character investigates a murder centring around a stately home. Jan 14, BBC Four & iPlayerBergeracBeing Humans Damien Moloney puts on the leather coat and gets behind the wheel of the Triumph Roadster to play Jersey-based detective John Bergerac, a staple of 1980s British television originally played by John Nettles in the long-running detective series. This six-part reboot comes from Being Human, Doctor Who and The Red King writer Toby Whithouse. Feb, U&Drama & URELEASE DATES TBCAdolescenceIf youve yet to watch Boiling Point, director Philip Barantinis ultra-tense restaurant-set feature film, then rectify that asap and follow it up by the similarly great BBC One continuation series. Then, youll know why the combination of Barantini with screenwriter Jack Thorne (Best Interests, His Dark Materials) is something to get excited about. For Netflixs Adolescence, they team up with actor-producer Stephen Graham to tell the four-part story of a teenager accused of murdering his schoolmate. NetflixBookishAs well as winning Olivier awards and spooking us with his yearly Christmas ghost stories, actor-writer-director Mark Gatiss has returned to the world of crime fiction with his new series Bookish. Set in 1946, its the story of Gabriel (Gatiss), a seller of antiquated books who helps the local police solve crimes using his vast library and esoteric knowledge. Gabriels a gay man forced to live in the closet due to the eras bigoted laws against homosexuality, and is in a lavender marriage with his wife to help him to remain hidden. Alibi & UCatch You LaterJason Watkins and Robson Green star in this four-part Channel 5 thriller about a retired detective (Watkins) whose suspicions are aroused when a new neighbour (Green) uses a phrase that featured in a famously unsolved murder from years earlier. Has his chief suspect just moved in next door? Channel 5Code of SilenceNot to be confused with the ropey 2021 Kray Twins movie or the similarly ropey 2021 Maine-set redemption feature of the same name, Code of Silence will be a six-part ITV thriller starring EastEnders actor, Strictly Come Dancing champion and deaf activist Rose Ayling-Ellis. Its the story of Alison, a deaf caterer hired by the police to work as a forensic lip reader, and who develops feelings for one of the main suspects. Filming began in October 2024, so dont expect to see this one until later in the year. ITVJoin our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Cold WaterThe Walking Deads Andrew Lincoln returns to UK drama in this six-part ITV crime thriller about a couple (played by Lincoln and Indira Varma) who uproot themselves and move to a remote Scottish island in the hope of a fresh start. There, Lincolns character strikes up a fast friendship with their oddball neighbour (played by Euan Bremner), which sends alarm bells ringing in his wifes mind. ITVDeath ValleyThis six-part BBC Two/BBC Wales series features a Welsh detective and a retired actor famous for playing a detective teaming up to solve crimes. Written by Trollieds Paul Doolan, it stars Timothy Spall as national treasure John Chapel, beloved for fictional television show Caesar, and Gwyneth Keyworth as DS Janie Mallowan. BBC Two/BBC WalesDepartment QNetflix has transported the action of Jussi Adler-Olsens Danish noir novels to Scotland for this English-language adaptation of the popular crime series. A Discovery of Witches Matthew Goode plays Carl Morck, a detective traumatised by a previous case in which one colleague died and another was paralysed. Goode stars alongside Scottish acting greats Mark Bonnar, Kelly Macdonald, Shirley Henderson and Kate Dickie. NetflixDope GirlsBad Wolf, the Wales-based producers of His Dark Materials, A Discovery of Witches and now, Doctor Who, are behind a new 1920s-set crime drama. Pitched as a spiritual successor to Peaky Blinders, its about the female gangs who operated in Londons Soho after World War One, and was inspired by Marek Kohns 1992 non-fiction book of the same name, subtitled The Birth of the British Drug Underground. Mare of Easttowns Julianne Nicholson and Little Womens Eliza Scanlen star. BBC OneDown Cemetery RoadAdapted from a book by Mick Slow Horses Herron by one of that shows writers Morwenna Banks, Down Cemetery Road has plenty to recommend it before we come to a cast including Emma Thompson, Ruth Wilson, Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Tom Riley, Tom Goodman-Hill and many more familiar names. Coming to Apple TV+, its the story of Sarah (Wilson), a woman who becomes obsessed with the disappearance of a young girl after an explosion, and who teams up with a police detective (Thompson) to get to the truth. Filming wrapped in autumn 2024. Apple TV+Get Millie BlackThis HBO/Channel 4 co-production already aired in the US in November 2024, so there shouldnt be too long a wait for it to arrive in the UK. Its the story of a Jamaican-born detective whos forced out of her job in London and has to return home to Kingston where her work on the missing persons unit leads her to a Scotland Yard detective. The five-part drama was written by Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James. Channel 4FearA three-part psychological thriller set in Glasgow is coming to Prime Video, starring Line of Dutys Martin Compston, Vigils Anjli Mohindra and Game of Thrones Daniel Portman. Fear is adapted from the novel by Dick Kurbjuweit and tells the story of a family who relocate to Glasgow from London to make a fresh start, but whose lives become a nightmare of suspicion and terror after accusations fly from a neighbour. Prime VideoHow to Kill Your FamilyBella Mackies take on Ealing comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets was a huge hit in publishing, and theres no reason that this Netflix TV adaptation wont perform just as well. After all, it stars Anya Taylor Joy (Furiosa, Dune II, Peaky Blinders, The Queens Gambit) as lead Grace, the illegitimate daughter of a mega-rich man who cruelly left her and her mother out in the cold. Determined to get her revenge on his whole family, Grace sets about doing just that with murderous results! NetflixI Fought the LawSome true crime for you now: Sheridan Smith plays real-life figure Ann Ming, a legal campaigner who fought to overturn the UKs double jeopardy law (in which a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime) following the mistrial of her daughters murderer. With a screenplay by Jamie Crichton inspired by Mings own memoir For the Love of Julie, this four-parter promises to be emotional. ITVIn FlightFrom the makers of Marcella comes In Flight, the story of an air stewardess who is blackmailed into smuggling drugs by a criminal gang whove framed her son for a crime thats left him serving a 15-year sentence in a Bulgarian prison. Filming began on the series in November 2024. Channel 4LegendsHeres one to keep an eye out for: Netflixs Legends is the work of Guilt and The Gold writer Neil Forsyth, which guarantees itll be clever, funny, exciting and worth your time. The six-parters premise looks promising too its inspired by the true story of a group of Customs employees who went undercover in some of the UKs most dangerous drug gangs. With only basic training, these amateur spies were sent in under assumed identities to try to crack the drug smuggling trade. Theres no cast announced as the commission was only announced in August 2024, but with a Forsyth script and Netflix money, its sure to attract some great names. NetflixMintIf youve yet to see Charlotte Regans BAFTA-nominated film Scrapper, about a young girl using her wits to survive following the death of her mother and a reluctant reunion with her estranged father, its highly recommended. No surprise then, that the BBC has snapped up Regans TV series Mint, which follows the children, mother and grandmother of a firmly entrenched crime family. With eight half-hour episodes, this ones being billed as a crime drama about love, darkness, humour and the plain weirdness of living alongside that world. BBCPenanceBookTok star Eliza Clark, whose debut novel Boy Parts went huge on the platform, had more success with her second novel Penance. As these things go, thats now being developed for the screen, with novelist and screenwriter Juno Dawson behind the adaptation. Penance is fiction but styled as a true crime novel, and is a North Yorkshire-set story about the murder of a teenager by three of her school friends. Its in the early stages yet, so cast and filming details will follow. PlaydateFrom the producer of Netflixs massively popular Harlan Coben thrillers, this five-part Disney+ series is a child-abduction story with a top cast including Strike and The Captures Holliday Grainger, This is Going to Hurt and One Days Ambika Mod. Its about a mother who realises her daughter has been taken when she goes to collect her from a sleepover at a friends house, and comes adapted from Alex Dahls bestselling novel of the same name. Disney+ProtectionAnother ITV crime drama here, this one focusing on the world of witness protection. Inspired by the real-life experience of a witness protection officer, its the story of a detective inspector caught up in police corruption and forced to protect individuals who are far from innocent. Even if all that sounds pretty generic, theres a top cast involved that should excite matters, including Happy Valleys Siobhan Finneran, Peaky Blinders Charlotte Riley, The Long Shadows Katherine Kelly and Champions Nadine Marshall. This is another ITVX streaming drama thatll arrive on the terrestrial channel at a later date. ITVXReunionAnn-Marie Duff, Eddie Marsan and Rose Ayling-Ellis will star alongside Matthew Gurney and Lara Peake in BBC One thriller Reunion. This four-part drama centres around a recently released prisoner unravelling the truth behind the events that led him to being sentenced for a heinous crime. Its set to foreground several British Sign Language-speaking and deaf actors, and comes from a script by by Sheffield-born deaf writer William Mager. Filming began in May 2024. BBC OneRead more A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis StoryWhy Didnt They Ask Evans? Lucy Boynton will play Ruth Ellis, the last woman to have been hanged by the state in England in this four-part ITV true-life drama, also starring Mr Bates vs. the Post Offices Toby Jones. Ellis was a nightclub manager in a violent relationship with a man she killed, and her 1955 sentencing was subject to a legal battle aiming for her release. Its written by Des, The Long Call and Baptiste writer Kelly Jones, and will play out over two timelines. ITVSuspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de MenezesTrue crime veteran screenwriter Jeff Pope (The Walk-In, The Reckoning, Four Lives) is bringing the London 2005 shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes to the small screen for Disney+. The shooting of an innocent Brazilian national who was wrongly suspected of being a terror suspect was the event that inspired Jed Mercurio to create Line of Duty, and now will receive the Jeff Pope treatment in this drama, which has the co-operation of the Menezes family. Disney+The AssassinImagine if you found out your mum was once an international assassin? Youd have questions, wouldnt you? Thats the case for Freddie Highmores character in this new six-part Prime Video series from the makers of The Missing, The Tourist and many more. Highmore (Bates Motel) plays Edward, the son of Keeley Hawes Julie, both living on a Greek island when Julies past catches up with her and throws a spanner in the peaceful mother-son relationship. Filming began in August 2024. Prime VideoThe ChoiceFor fans of Netflixs glossy political thrillers about women with amazing blow-drys in dreadful dilemmas, The Choice will star Julie Delpy and Suranne Jones as, respectively, the French and British prime ministers, whose lives are thrown into disarray when a kidnapping happens at an international summit. It comes from Bridge of Spies screenwriter Matt Charman, and began filming in March 2024 so may arrive on the streamer sooner. Netflix The Crow GirlInterestingly, we have Slash of Guns N Roses fame to thank for this one. The guitarist-turned-producer reportedly bought the rights to the Swedish psychological thriller novel from which this detective series was adapted, and sold them on to its production company. The Crow Girl comes written by Cliques Milly Thomas, and stars Eve Myles and Katherine Kelly as a DCI and a psychotherapist who join forces to hunt a killer of young men. Paramount+The Seven Dials MysteryFormer Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnalls next TV project is this Agatha Christie adaptation for Netflix. Its the 1920s-set story of a prank that leads to murder in a country house, and stars How to Have Sex Mia McKenna-Bruce, alongside Helena Bonham Carter, Martin Freeman and Edward Bluemel. It was filmed in and around Bristol and Bath in summer 2024, so there shouldnt be too long a wait now for it to arrive on the streamer. NetflixThe RumourThis couldnt sound more Channel 5 if it tried glamorous mums locked in a spiralling psychological drama about secrets, lies, online rumours and murder! Emily Atack, Rachel Shenton and Joanne Whalley play the leads in a story adapted from Lesley Karas novel of the same name, about a woman who moves to a quiet town with her young son, but who gets into a sticky situation when she uses a rumour about a local child killer to ingratiate herself at the schoolgates. Channel 5The Puzzle LadyThe wonderful Phyllis Hughes (Guilt, Downton Abbey) will lead this six-part Channel 5 crime drama adapted from a best-selling series by US author Parnell Hall. Hughes will play Cora Felton aka The Puzzle Lady, a crossword aficionado who assists the police with murder mysteries in the sleepy town of Bakerbury. It all sounds as cosy as a hot chocolate wrapped in a wool blanket, and will be one for fans of Agatha Raisin perhaps. Channel 5.The Au PairLadies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr David Suchet back to TV! The Poirot star is returning to screens in the role of George, the diabetic father of Zoe (Sally Bretton), a woman who appears to have it all, but whose life unravels after she hires a beguiling French au pair, played by Lupins Ludmilla Makowski. Channel 5The UndertowJamie Dornan fans stand by, because youre about to get double Dornan. The Tourist and The Fall star is playing identical twin brothers in this English-language remake of Norwegian series Twin. Coming to Netflix, the Sarah Dollard-adapted series tells the story of Adam (Dornan) and Nicola (Mackenzie Davis), a couple living in the Scottish highlands in a loveless marriage whose lives are shaken up when Adams twin Lee comes to stay. NetflixThe WitnessComing to Netflix this year is a three-part true crime drama based on the tragic murder of Rachel Nickell on Wimbledon Common, London, in 1992. The Victim writer Rob Williams is behind the script for the miniseries, which stars Peaky Blinders Jordan Bolger and Invasions Max Fincham as Nickells partner Andr Hanscombe at different ages, alongside Neil Maskell, Mark Stanley, Kerry Godliman and more. NetflixThis City is OursFrom writer Stephen Butchard (The Last Kingdom, Shardlake) comes Liverpool-set BBC One crime drama This City is Ours, an eight-episode thriller that looks well-suited to fans of Gangs of London and Peaky Blinders. It stars Sean Bean as the head of the Phelan family of lifetime criminals, and is set between Liverpool and Spain. Filming took place in May 2024 so there shouldnt be too long a wait to see this one. BBC OneTowards ZeroThe Seven Dials Mystery isnt the only Agatha Christie adaptation arriving this year; BBC One also has one in the form of Towards Zero, adapted by Rachel Bennette from Christies 1944 novel. The cast here looks great, not only thanks to the presence of Anjelica Huston, but also one of the best new young actors around Ella Lily Hyland, who made an excellent debut in Prime Video tennis coach abuse drama Fifteen/Love and was one of the highlights of Netflixs Black Doves. BBC OneTuvaWill Deans Dark Pines the first in his crime series about deaf investigative journalist Tuva Moodyson was published in 2018, and is currently being adapted into a six-part TV series that relocates the action from Sweden to the UK. Rose Ayling-Ellis (see Code of Silence above) is attached to play the lead role of Tuva, who investigates a local serial killer poised to strike again. As this ones still being developed, its unlikely to air before 2025, but when it does, its being planned as a returning series. Under Salt MarshYellowstones Kelly Reilly returns to the UK inUnder Salt Marsh, in which she plays Jackie Ellis, a former detective who became a teacher after her career fell apart following the disappearance of her niece. When one of Jackies pupils drown in a storm out at sea, her old partner (Rafe Spall) leads the investigation in the small town of Morfa Halen. Sky.Untitled Guy Ritchie ProjectFollowing the success of The Gentlemen on Netflix, Guy Ritchie is now taking the crime family genre to streamer Paramount+, and with quite a cast. Tom Hardy, Dame Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan are among those attached to star in the Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels directors next TV project. Its the story of two warring clans and the fixer (Hardys Harra Da Souza) tasked with protecting them. Paramount+VirdeeAmit Dhand is the novelist behind the Bradford-based DI Harry Virdee detective series, and hes currently working on a screen adaptation for BBC One. Doctor Who and Wolfs Sacha Dhawan is set to star in the six-episode dramas title role, playing a detective inspector investigating the kidnap of a local MPs daughter. We dont know much more about this one, but with Dhawan as its star, its on our radar. BBC OneYoung SherlockSpeaking of Guy Ritchie (see above), the director has another project in the works, this time for Prime Video. Young Sherlock is adapted from the Andrew Lane novel series following the Great Detective while at university in his pre-Baker Street days. Ritchie is set to direct and produce the eight-part series, and has gathered a starry cast including Colin Firth, Joseph Fiennes, Natascha McElhone and actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Google his full name, its worth it), nephew to Joseph and Ralph. Prime VideoRETURNING UK CRIME TV SERIES After The Flood Series 2 Beyond Paradise Series 3 Death in Paradise Series 14 Father Brown Series 12 Gangs of London Series 3 Karen Pirie Series 2 Grantchester Series 9 Miss Scarlet Series 5 Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators Series 5 Sherwood Series 3 Silent Witness Series 28 The Bay Series 5 The Madame Blanc Mysteries Series 4 Trigger Point Series 3 Unforgotten Series 6

Rewards with Xbox are our way of, well, rewarding you for your love of gaming, and today were thrilled to announce new ways for players to earn points. From expanding Quests to PC Game Pass, to reimagining the Game Pass Quests you use to earn points, to weekly Rewards for all Xbox players 18 and older, there are lots of new ways to earn points through your play time.Lastly, today were sharing an important update on earning Rewards with Xbox. This update aligns more closely with our continued commitment to foster positive, age-appropriate gaming experiences by making points earned through play activities available only to players 18 years and older.Game Pass Quests Arrive on Your PCPreviously exclusive to Game Pass Ultimate members, Quests unlock opportunities to earn even more Rewards with Xbox. Starting to roll out on January 7, Quests are also available for PC Game Pass members. Now you have more ways to earn Rewards points on PC in addition to console and mobile. The new Game Pass Quests will also launch in Japan, bringing the region the full Rewards with Xbox experience.If youre an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass member 18 years or older, starting to earn is simple:Explore the new Quests by navigating to your Xbox profile and accessing the Rewards Hub, which is available across console, the Xbox app on mobile, and the Xbox app on Windows PC.Earn points by playing your favorite games with Game Pass.Claim your points on the Rewards Hub.Once youve earned enough, redeem your points for Xbox gift cards to use for games, in-game content, donations to your favorite causes, and more.As part of these changes, minimum playtime is required to earn points through gameplay. For now, Quests are only available for titles in the Game Pass catalog, and this does not include PC games that require third party launchers or are played on Battle.net. Check Xbox.com/Rewards for more details.Download the Xbox app on mobile and the Xbox app on Windows PC to start earning more today.New Game Pass Quests AvailableWe have reimagined Game Pass Quests, making them easier to use, and more fun to play weve made it possible to earn even more points, simply by playing games you love and discovering your next favorite games. Quests offer daily, weekly, and monthly opportunities to add to your Rewards, and weve also brought back a player favorite: weekly streaks.Heres how Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can now earn points (and remember, Rewards offers may vary by region and may change over time. Check terms and conditions here):Daily Play Earn 10 points a day by playing any game from the Game Pass catalog for at least 15 minutes.Weekly Streaks Play for at least five days a week to complete your streak. The more days you play, the more points you earn. Now comes the challenge: maintain your streak week over week to unlock bigger point multipliers. A 2-week streak will earn 2x the base streak points, a 3-week streak will earn 3x the base streak points, and anything beyond a 4-week streak will earn 4x the base streak points.Monthly 4-Pack Explore the Game Pass catalog by playing four different games (for at least 15 minutes each) every month.Monthly 8-Pack Push your gaming further and play eight different games (for at least 15 minutes each) every calendar month. Dont worry, the 4 games from your 4-Pack count towards the 8-Pack, too.New Ways to Earn Rewards for AllBeyond changes to the exclusive Quests for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members, were also bringing new ways to earn points for all players. Starting January 7, 2025, all Rewards members 18 years and older will be able to access the new PC Weekly Bonus, awarding them 150 points when playing (for at least 15 minutes) for 5 days or more.With this update, were also rebalancing points from the current Console Weekly Bonus to 150 points and the Daily PC Play to 10 points.Play and Earn UpdateWe are constantly evaluating the Xbox platform to ensure our continued commitment to foster positive, age-appropriate gaming experiences for our players to enjoy. Starting today, earning Rewards points via gameplay will only be available to Xbox players 18 years and older. With these changes, the Rewards Hub used for tracking and earning points on Xbox console, the Xbox app for Windows PC, and the Xbox app for mobile will no longer be available to players under 18 years old.This update will not impact existing Rewards and points previously earned by players, and going forward players under 18 will still be able to earn Microsoft Rewards points via parentally approved purchases of eligible items on the Microsoft Store, eligible searches on Microsoft Bing and other non-gameplay activities, such as completing the Microsoft Rewards Daily Set. They can continue to track and redeem their available Microsoft Rewards at Rewards.Microsoft.com.We cant wait to see all the great Rewards youll redeem, simply by playing with Xbox. Youre already playing, so now start earning!Learn more on: Game Pass Quests: Play Games & Earn Rewards | Xbox or our Xbox Support page.

A pair of reports suggest we can expect to see three changes to the materials Apple uses in the casing of at least some iPhone 17 models.The latest of these concerns the way that the sides of the phone blend in with the rear casing, with a smoother transition promised Weve already heard two previous reports on changes Apple is reportedly planning to the materials it uses in the iPhone 17 the frame, and the back.A switch from titanium to aluminum frameA report from late last year suggested that Apple would be swapping out the titanium frame used in the Pro models for the aluminum it uses in the standard ones.Apples other iPhone models will also undergo significant design changes next year. For instance, theyll all switch to aluminum frames from stainless steel and titanium, one of the people said.However, we noted that this might not mean what The Information thinks it means.The first point to make is that some potentially ambiguous language is being used.The Information said the frame would be aluminium, but in Apples terminology it already is. Apple refers to the band (aka the casing surrounding the display) as titanium, while describing the internal aluminum metalwork as the frame or substructure.A switch to a part-aluminum, part-glass backThe back of current iPhones is glass, in order to support wireless charging. The same report said that this is going to change, Apple switching to aluminum for a larger camera module at the top, with glass below this. The back of the Pro and Pro Max models will feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top of the back will comprise a larger rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass. The bottom half will remain glass to accommodate wireless charging, two people said.A smoother transition between sides and rearA new report today indicates that Apple is planning to use a new method of joining the rear of the casing to the sides, and that this would result in a smoother transition. Weibo leaker Fixed-focus digital made the claim.The splicing materials of the iPhone series have been shared before The key is that the connection area between the Deco of the fuselage and the back shell is a slope rather than a step.Automated translations from the Chinese are rather clunky, but the post appears to refer to a more seamless join. While the existing join is not exactly visually obtrusive, this could potentially make the new models more comfortable to hold.Image: 9to5Mac collage of images from Apple and Jeremy BishoponUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre 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. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Every tap, click, and swipe we make online shapes our digital lives, but it also opens doorssome we never meant to unlock. Extensions we trust, assistants we rely on, and even the codes we scan are turning into tools for attackers. The line between convenience and vulnerability has never been thinner.This week, we dive into the hidden risks, surprising loopholes, and the clever tricks cybercriminals are using to outsmart the systems we depend on.Stay with us as we unpack what's happening behind the screen and how you can stay one step ahead. Threat of the WeekDozens of Google Chrome Extensions Caught Stealing Sensitive Data The challenges with securing the software supply chain reared once again after about three dozen extensions were found surreptitiously siphoning sensitive data from roughly 2.6 million devices for several months as part of two related campaigns. The compromises came to light after data loss prevention service Cyberhaven revealed that its browser extension was updated to include malicious code responsible for stealing credentials for Facebook and OpenAI ChatGPT and other data. The attack was made possible through a spear-phishing email sent to one of the company's employees, urging them to take immediate action for failing to comply with Google Chrome Web Store policies. A link in the email led to a Google consent screen requesting access permission for an OAuth application named Privacy Policy Extension. Once granted access, the rogue application gave the attacker the ability to push a malicious version of Cyberhaven's Chrome extension to the Chrome Web Store. Since then, it has emerged that several other extensions have been targeted in a similar manner. One of these extensions, named Reader Mode, is also said to have been targeted along with a few others as part of a related data-gathering activity that started no later than April 2023. The malicious code, which appears to be part of a monetization library, is designed to log every website visited on the browser. The development is another sign that browser add-ons are a weak link in the security chain. Top NewsApple Settles Siri Privacy Lawsuit Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit in the U.S. over claims that its voice assistant Siri routinely recorded private conversations. A payment of up to $20 per Siri-enabled device is expected for those submitting valid claims, with each affected U.S.-based customer limited to a maximum of five devices. The proposed settlement, currently pending approval by a federal judge, involved cases where Siri would be inadvertently activated and capture sensitive data without the users' knowledge. The lawsuit was filed in August 2019 following a report from The Guardian that the recordings were apparently prompted without users ever saying the wake words, "Hey, Siri." The report also alleged third-party contractors "regularly hear confidential medical information, drug deals, and recordings of couples having sex" while working on Siri quality control. It's currently unknown how many customers were affected. Apple isn't acknowledging any wrongdoing in the settlement.LDAPNightmare Exploit Could Crash Windows Servers A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit has been released for a now-patched security flaw impacting Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) that could trigger a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2024-49113 (CVSS score: 7.5), was patched by Microsoft last month, along with CVE-2024-49112 (CVSS score: 9.8), a remote code execution flaw in the same component. Organizations are recommended to apply the patches as soon as possible to avoid potential exploitation risks.U.S. Treasury Sanctions Beijing Cybersecurity Firm The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company known as Integrity Technology Group, Incorporated for orchestrating several cyber attacks against U.S. victims. The attacks have been publicly attributed to a Chinese state-sponsored threat actor tracked as Flax Typhoon (aka Ethereal Panda or RedJuliett), which has controlled an Internet of Things (IoT) botnet called Raptor Train. A government contractor with ties to China's Ministry of State Security, Integrity Group has been accused of providing infrastructure support to Flax Typhoon cyber campaigns between mid-2022 and late-2023."DoubleClickjacking" Bypasses Clickjacking Protections Security researcher Paulos Yibelo has demonstrated a new type of browser-based attack called DoubleClickjacking that exploits the time delay between two successive clicks during a double-click sequence to trick users into performing unauthorized actions. The attack is notable for the fact that it gets around various defenses such as X-Frame-Options, SameSite cookies, and client-side protection. The development comes weeks after Google-owned Mandiant disclosed a "novel" technique to circumvent browser isolation by using machine-readable QR codes to send commands from an attacker-controlled server to a victim device, ultimately allowing a bad actor to remotely commandeer a compromised device. Browser isolation is a critical security mechanism that separates web browsing activity from the user's local device in a sandboxed environment to combat phishing and other threats. "Instead of returning the C2 data in the HTTP request headers or body, the C2 server returns a valid web page that visually shows a QR code," Mandiant said. "The implant then uses a local headless browser (e.g., using Selenium) to render the page, grabs a screenshot, and reads the QR code to retrieve the embedded data. By taking advantage of machine-readable QR codes, an attacker can send data from the attacker-controlled server to a malicious implant even when the web page is rendered in a remote browser."Chinese Threat Actors Target the U.S. Treasury Department The U.S. Treasury Department revealed it suffered a "major cybersecurity incident" that allowed suspected Chinese threat actors to remotely access some computers and unclassified documents. The incident took place in early December 2024 after the threat actors gained access to a Remote Support SaaS API key associated with BeyondTrust that allowed them to reset passwords for local application accounts. BeyondTrust has not disclosed how the key was obtained, but said the API key has since been revoked and that impacted customers have been notified. The latest development comes at a time when the U.S. is already battling cyber attacks from other Chinese hacking groups tracked as Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon, both of which have targeted critical infrastructure and telecom networks in the country. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, the telecom-related hacks are so "severe" that "the U.S. may never be able to say with certainty that the Chinese hackers have been fully rooted out." Some of the other targets of Salt Typhoon hacks included Charter Communications, Consolidated Communications, and Windstream. "In the telecom attacks, the hackers exploited unpatched network devices from security vendor Fortinet and compromised large network routers from Cisco Systems," the deepdive report said. "In at least one case, they took control of a high-level network management account that wasn't protected by multi-factor authentication, a basic safeguard." Volt Typhoon, on the other hand, is said to have targeted several entities in Guam, including Guam.gov and Docomo Pacific. China has denied any involvement in these attacks, even going to the extent of branding the Volt Typhoon as a disinformation campaign. Trending CVEsYour favorite software might be hiding serious security cracksdon't wait for trouble to find you. Update now and stay one step ahead of the threats!This week's list includes CVE-2024-43405 (ProjectDiscovery Nuclei), CVE-2024-54152 (Angular Expressions), CVE-2024-12912, CVE-2024-13062 (ASUS router AiCloud), CVE-2024-12828 (Webmin CGI), CVE-2024-56040, CVE-2024-56041 (VibeThemes VibeBP), CVE-2024-56042, CVE-2024-56043, CVE-2024-56044, CVE-2024-56045, CVE-2024-56046 (VibeThemes WPLMS), CVE-2024-56249 (Webdeclic WPMasterToolKit), CVE-2024-56198 (path-sanitizer npm package), CVE-2024-55078 (WukongCRM), and CVE-2024-12583 (Dynamics 365 Integration plugin). Around the Cyber WorldTwo Indian Nationals Charged in the U.S. The U.S. Department of Justice has announced charges against two Indian nationals, Ahmed Maqbul Syed, 57, and Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, 27, for orchestrating a tech support fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the U.S. Both have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Syed has also been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Each of these charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In the operation, victims were lured through bogus pop-up notifications on their computers, warning that their machines had been hacked and instructing them to contact tech support or government representatives to resolve the problem. The defendants then asked the victims to withdraw funds from their accounts, or purchase gold under the pretext of securing their assets. They also urged them to purchase gift cards from various private businesses and transfer the gift card numbers to people who they said would help them. In at least one case, a victim was asked to make cash deposits into a Bitcoin ATM.FTC Orders Marriott and Starwood to Address Security Failures The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered Marriott International and its subsidiary Starwood Hotels to define and implement a comprehensive data security program following security lapses that led to at least three separate data breaches from 2014 to 2020. The incidents enabled malicious actors to obtain vast amounts of personal information from hundreds of millions of consumers, including passport information, payment card numbers, and loyalty numbers affecting 344 million customers worldwide. The order also requires them to set up a link on their website for U.S. customers to request for personal information associated with their email address or loyalty rewards account number to be deleted. "The companies are also prohibited from misrepresenting how they collect, maintain, use, delete or disclose consumers' personal information; and the extent to which the companies protect the privacy, security, availability, confidentiality, or integrity of personal information," the FTC said. In October 2024, Marriott agreed to pay a $52 million penalty to 49 states and the District of Columbia to resolve the data security allegations.U.S. Army Soldier Arrested Over AT&T, Verizon Hacking Federal authorities have arrested and indicted a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier named Cameron John Wagenius (aka Kiberphant0m) for his alleged involvement in selling and leaking sensitive customer call records stolen earlier this year from AT&T and Verizon. The arrest took place on December 20, 2024. According to security journalist Brian Krebs, Wagenius is a communications specialist who was recently stationed in South Korea. He is also said to have worked with Connor Riley Moucka (aka Judische), a Canadian cybercriminal who was arrested in late October 2024 for stealing data from and extorting dozens of companies that stored the information at the cloud service Snowflake. A third accused of being involved in the Snowflake incident, U.S. citizen John Erin Binns, was arrested by the Turkish authorities in May in connection with a separate 2021 attack on T-Mobile.$494 million Stolen in Wallet Drainer Attacks in 2024 Malicious actors stole $494 million worth of cryptocurrency in wallet drainer attacks last year that targeted more than 332,000 wallet addresses. The figure represents a 67% increase year-over-year. The largest single thefts amounted to $55.48 million and $32.51 million in August and September, respectively, accounting for 52% of the year's total large-scale (above $1 million) losses, per Scam Sniffer. A noteworthy trend is the increased use of malicious ads on Google, X, and Telegram to direct traffic to phishing websites. In a related report, CertiK revealed that 760 Web3 security incidents resulted in losses totaling over $2.3 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2024. "The average amount lost per hack in 2024 was $3,108,880 and the median amount stolen was $150,925," it said. "Ethereum experienced the highest number of security incidents, with a total of 403 hacks." Phishing and private key compromises were the top attack vectors.EC2 Grouper Actor Targets the Cloud A threat actor known as EC2 Grouper has been observed leveraging AWS Tools for PowerShell to carry out their attacks, Fortinet FortiGuard Labs said. The intrusions entail the likely use of AWS keys available on GitHub repositories, followed by executing commands to inventory Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) types within the environment and facilitate remote access. "It could be either that EC2 Grouper is selective in their escalation or compromised accounts were detected and quarantined before they had the opportunity to escalate," the company said. "Despite this, resource hijacking is likely the general objective. However, to what end is currently unconfirmed." Expert WebinarFuture-Ready Trust: Manage Certificates Like Never Before Trust is the foundation of every digital interaction, but managing it across users, devices, and systems is harder than ever. Join our webinar to see how DigiCert ONE simplifies certificate management, automates trust operations, and ensures complianceall in one powerful platform. Discover how to future-proof your organization's digital trust strategy with ease.AI in Cybersecurity: Insights from 200 Cybersecurity Experts AI in cybersecurity: game-changer or just hype? Join us to uncover insights from 200 industry leaders, explore real-world AI applications in vulnerability management, and gain actionable strategies to enhance your security. Don't miss this chance to cut through the noiseregister now. Cybersecurity ToolsAdalanche is a powerful open-source tool designed to simplify Active Directory security. It provides instant visual insights into permissions, helping you uncover who can access or control accounts, machines, or even the entire domain. With its all-in-one binary, Adalanche collects and analyzes data effortlessly, highlighting vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. Hawk-eye helps you find hidden secrets and sensitive data (PII) across your entire system in no time. From cloud storage to databases and files, it scans everything with precision, using smart tools to keep your data safe. Quick to set up and easy to use, Hawk-eye makes protecting your digital world simple and effective. Tip of the WeekUpgrade Your Network Security Take your network security to the next level with powerful, free tools designed to keep threats at bay. Use PfSense for enterprise-grade firewall protection and pair it with Suricata or Snort for real-time threat detection. Detect rogue devices with WiFiGuard and suspicious Wi-Fi activity with Kismet. Secure your communication with ZeroTier for private networking and encrypt DNS queries using DNSCrypt-Proxy or NextDNS to block malicious domains.Plant decoys using Canarytokens to catch intruders, monitor activity with Wireshark, and safeguard SSH with Fail2Ban against brute-force attacks. Strengthen Wi-Fi with WPA3 and 802.11w Management Frame Protection, and track your network's health in real-time using Netdata. These free tools give you enterprise-level defense at no costyour network's secret weapon.ConclusionThat's a wrap for this week! If there's one thing we've learned, it's that staying safe online isn't just about techit's about the choices we make every day. Whether it's ignoring a shady email, keeping your apps updated, or thinking twice before clicking "yes," small steps can make a big difference.The digital world moves fast, but with a little care and attention, we can stay ahead. Keep asking questions, stay alert, and rememberwe're all in this together. See you next week with more updates to keep you informed and ready.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.