Lenovo Legion Go S is first officially licensed third-party PC handheld to use SteamOSConsole will launch in May for $499Image credit: Lenovo/Steam News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 8, 2025 The recently announced Lenovo Legion Go S is the first third-party PC handheld licensed to use Valve's SteamOS.In a blog post, Valve said the operating system that runs on Steam Deck has been updated to fully support the Legion Go S, a smaller version of Lenovo's Legion Go which launched in 2023.As reported by The Verge, the SteamOS Legion Go S will be released in May for $499. A Windows 11 version of the console will launch this month.Valve said it is also planning to expand the capabilities of SteamOS to other third party devices. It will be shipping a beta version of SteamOS for users to download and test.No timeframe has been announced for the SteamOS beta.

Jar of Sparks halts production on debut game as it looks for new publisherStudio was founded in 2022 as a first-party developer for NetEaseImage credit: Jar of Sparks News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 8, 2025 Seattle-based studio Jar of Sparks has stopped development on its first project as it looks for a new publisher.In a statement posted to LinkedIn, founder and CEO Jerry Hook said team members would be "exploring new opportunities" as the studio looks for a publishing partner "who can help bring [its] creative vision to life.""Throughout this journey, our passionate, driven, and innovative team took bold risks and pushed boundaries, striving to create something truly new and exciting for the industry," wrote Hook."As we prepare for this next step, our talented team members will be exploring new opportunities."It is unclear how many employees have been affected by the decision.In a separate post on LinkedIn, Hook noted that the studio would be "working over the next few weeks to find all of [its] team new homes" as the project comes to a close.Jar of Sparks was announced in 2022 as an in-house studio for NetEase led by Hook. He was joined by creative director Paul Crocker, executive producer Greg Stone, and gameplay director Steve Dyck.Hook previously worked for 343 Industries as head of design on Halo Infinite. He also worked as business director for the Destiny franchise at Bungie and spent 11 years at Microsoft.

Chris Kerr, News EditorJanuary 8, 20252 Min ReadImages via Lenovo / ValveSteamOS is officially expanding beyond the Steam Deck with the arrival of the Lenovo Legion Go S.The Legion Go S was unveiled at CES 2025 and will become the first officially licensed third-party handheld to leverage Valve's operating system.Notably, Valve has pledged to fully support the device to "improve compatibility with other handhelds." It will ship a beta version of SteamOS that can be used on other handheld devices before the Legion Go S launches in May 2025.That's big news for anybody who wants to start tinkering with the operating system on third-party hardware. "The same work that we are doing to support the Lenovo Legion Go S will improve compatibility with other handhelds," said Valve."Ahead of Legion Go S shipping, we will be shipping a beta of SteamOS which should improve the experience on other handhelds, and users can download and test this themselves. And of course we'll continue adding support and improving the experience with future releases."Valve pitches a 'seamless experiences' across third-party devicesValve explained it wants SteamOS to "provide the same seamless experience customers expect" across an array of hardware. As it stands, the OS only officially ships on Steam Deck, but Valve is committed to expanding support.The operating system is Linux based and according to Valve "runs the vast majority of the Steam library" thanks to a Proton compatibility layer. "This allows developers to ship games for Windows without worrying about porting to Linux, and games will seamlessly work on SteamOS," added the company.Titles that run well on SteamOS are handed a 'Deck Verified' seal of approval by Valve so Steam Deck owners know what sort of experience they're likely to have before splashing the cash.The Steam Deck had sold "multiple millions" of units as of November 2023.That vague metric was dished out by Valve, which hasn't provided precise sales figures but has boasted about increasing production over the years. It has also expanded the Steam Deck lineup with the launch of an OLED model.About the AuthorChris KerrNews Editor, GameDeveloper.comGame Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, andPocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.See more from Chris KerrDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Home appliance manufacturer Bosch is showing off its first Matter-enabled appliance on the show floor at CES this week. The 100 Series Frech Door Bottom Mount Refrigerator launched in November and should be available to buy in the US this spring. The fridge retails for $2,500 and has a chip on board that supports Matter. A firmware update to the smart home standard will come this summer, says Eelco Lammertink of BSH, which owns Bosch, Siemens, Thermador, and Gaggenau.The 100 series is the sister product to the Matter-enabled Siemens XXL Fridge I spotted at IFA in Berlin last November. That built-in model will come to the European market on a similar timeline. Lammertink tells me BSH plans to bring Matter to all its appliances across its Bosch, Siemens, and Thermador lines, starting with refrigerators this year, one more appliance category next year, and three in 2026.This Bosch fridge will work with Samsung SmartThings and Amazon Alexa this year. Bosch was demoing the integrations at CES via a SmartThings map view on the screen behind it and an Echo Show on the table. Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The VergeThe 100 Series will support Matter 1.3, allowing you to control the temperature remotely and receive notifications from the fridge on your smart home platform of choice. That way, a smart speaker can announce when the door has been left open, if you want. While many smart fridges already have these features, with Matter, the connection between the appliance and the ecosystem becomes local making it faster and more secure. Currently, only Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant support appliances in Matter, but Lammertink tells me that Amazon will support them this year. There is no word on Google Home or Apple Home yet.Lammertink says the plan is to bring energy reporting and energy management capabilities to the fridge. This would enable it to be part of a Matter-enabled whole home energy management system. Sadly, he said they won't be updating existing appliances to Matter (bad news for my Thermoador range and dishwasher.) The challenges are too big, he said. We just can't risk bricking your fridge.What is Matter?Matter is a smart home interoperability standard designed to provide a common language for connected devices to communicate locally in your home without relying on a cloud connection. It is built to be secure and private, easy to set up, and widely compatible.Developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung (and others), Matter is an open-sourced, IP-based connectivity software layer for smart home devices. It works over Wi-Fi, ethernet, and the low-power mesh networking protocol Thread and currently supports most of the main device types in the home. These include lighting, thermostats, locks, robot vacuums, refrigerators, dishwashers, dryers, ovens, smoke alarms, air quality monitors, EV chargers, and more.A smart home gadget with the Matter logo can be set up and used with any Matter-compatible ecosystem via a Matter controller and controlled by more than one with a feature called multi-admin. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home are some major smart home platforms supporting Matter, along with hundreds of device manufacturers.

Washington state is suing T-Mobile for allegedly failing to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities that enabled a hacker to expose the personal data of 79 million people nationwide. The consumer protection lawsuit filed by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday stems from a cyberattack that began in March 2021 and went unnoticed until T-Mobile disclosed the breach in August.The filing asserts that T-Mobile failed to address certain security vulnerabilities that the company was aware of for years, and did not properly notify more than two million Washington residents who were impacted by the breach. The lawsuit accuses T-Mobile of downplaying the severity of the breach, which exposed the personal information of current, former, and prospective customers including their names, phone numbers, physical addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and drivers license / ID numbers.The notifications that T-Mobile issued about the data breach violated the Consumer Protections Act by omitting key information that made it difficult for people to assess if they were at risk of identity theft or fraud, according to the filing. The lawsuit also says that T-Mobile did not meet industry standards for cybersecurity for years prior to the hack, and used obvious passwords to protect accounts that could access consumer information.This significant data breach was entirely avoidable, Ferguson said in a statement. T-Mobile had years to fix key vulnerabilities in its cybersecurity systems and it failed.This isnt the first time that Washington state has taken action against T-Mobile, with Ferguson having successfully persuaded the company to make clear the limitations of its no-contract wireless service plan back in 2013.Fergusons latest lawsuit is seeking compensation for customers impacted by the 2021 breach and a court order that would force T-Mobile to bring its cybersecurity practices in line with industry standards, alongside improving transparency and communication around future data breaches. This follows T-Mobile paying $350 million in 2022 to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from the 2021 hack, and a further $15.75 million fine last year over an FCC investigation into its repeated cybersecurity incidents.

Its long been rumored that Nvidia is planning to break into the consumer CPU market in 2025, and we may have already had our first look at its new processor.On Monday at CES, the company unveiled Project Digits, a $3,000 personal AI supercomputer powered by a new GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip. Reuters reports that yesterday Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hinted to investors and analysts that there are bigger plans for the Arm-based CPU within that chip, co-developed with MediaTek.You know, obviously we have plans, Huang said during an investor presentation, referring to the new 20-core desktop CPU, but that he would wait to tell you what they are.Co-developer MediaTek has its own ambitions though, and Huang suggested that it may also bring the CPU to market, independent of Nvidia. Now they could provide that to us, and they could keep that for themselves and serve the market. And so it was a great win-win, Huang said.Nvidias Project Digits AI computer, featuring a new 20-core Arm CPU. Image: NvidiaProject Digits itself isnt a mass-market product, costing $3,000 and running on a custom Linux system designed specifically for AI developers. But Nvidias consumer CPU ambitions have been rumored since October 2023, when Reuters reported that the company, alongside rival AMD, was working on Arm-based chips to launch in 2025.Qualcomm has currently cornered the market on Arm-based CPUs for Windows PCs, boosted by last years launch of the Snapdragon X Elite processors. Those chips provided the sort of performance and power efficiency previously only available with Apples MacBooks, and put real pressure on Intel and AMDs x86 systems.2024 was the year that Windows on Arm finally achieved its potential, and with increased competition from Nvidia and others, 2025 could mark a turning point in the battle between x86 and Arm.

A mockup of the Nintendo Switch 2 has appeared at CES this week and the company behind it insists its based on the real thing.Gaming accessories maker Genki is showing off its Switch 2 mockup to press at the Consumer Electronics Show, and based on a report from French publication Numerama, it has plenty to say about Nintendos unannounced next-gen console.According to Numerama, Genki said the Nintendo Switch 2 launches in April, and that its mockup, which you can see in the images in this article, is based on a real Switch 2. Genki also claimed the rumored optical sensor on the Joy-Con (more on that below) is indeed a new feature for the console, but does not know what the mysterious C button on the right side of the Joy-Con is for.Videos of this Switch 2 mockup show how the Joy-Con clip onto the console via magnets, with a button to press for release. As has been reported, the Switch 2 is bigger than the Switch, with a second USB-C port on the top.Genki has even gone as far as to publish a video allegedly showing a render of the Switch 2 on its website, designed to promote its Switch 2 accessories.Its been a busy week for Switch 2 leaks. Following the appearance of alleged images of the Nintendo Switch 2s internals, fresh images allegedly showing the next-generation consoles Joy-Con 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.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.There are what look 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, but no-one seems to know what this is for.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.

It is 2025. Heaven help us. A year that not long ago sounded like science fictionand well beyond even Stanley Kubricks musings for the world of tomorrowhas come. And with it is a film and television industry in a state of upheaval or perhaps dawning opportunity.After spending the first half of this decade recovering from one crisis after another, be it COVID, self-inflicted delays in negotiating the 2023 strikes, or just the continued fallout from streamings ascent (and more recent bumpy plateauing), many in Hollywood and beyond are hoping 2025 marks a fresh start. Survive until 2025 was a rallying cry last year among movie theater exhibitors recognizing that 2024 would see a year of diminished output in the cinematic pipeline. But this mantra also could just as easily apply to the streamers who began bundling together and reconfiguring their release strategies. Even Netflix these days is in the midst of spacing out Cobra Kai Season 6 over nearly as many weeks as a network TV show.The times they are a-changin, and as they shift we thought it might be fun to muse on a few things wed like to see in the year to comeA Wide Release for Rian Johnsons Next Benoit Blanc MovieIn 2022, early reports suggested Netflix and theater owners were close to releasing Rian Johnsons Glass Onion, a sequel to 2019s delightful holiday sleeper hit, Knives Out, in theaters for 45 days ahead of its Christmastime premiere on the streaming service. In the end, Netflix released the movie theatrically for only five days in November at 600 domestic theaters (with sporadic special screenings for the rest of the holiday season). During five days in a less-than-ideal wide release, it grossed about $15 million. Which is all to say it probably would have been another holiday hit for Johnson and Daniel Craigs buoyant Benoit Blanc had Netflix wanted a theatrical hit.They didnt. With the 600 screens seen by many in the industry as a nominal courtesy to Johnson, Glass Onions muted theatrical release appeared to be yet another casualty from a strategy that Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos has more than once described as thus: Driving folks to a theater is just not our business. Having big new desirable content drives value for our members and drives value for our business.Fair enough, but in addition to keeping auteurs like Rian Johnson happyor for that matter Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig, and Martin Scorsesemight we suggest evidence is increasingly showing that splashy theatrical releases can drive value to the streaming business? And this applies just as much to theatrical flops as hits. Look no further than this past holiday season when Amazon-MGM took a gamble on releasing their new streaming original film starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, Red One, into theaters. The movie suffered a rather infamously weak opening weekend, and was quickly swallowed up by Wicked and Moana 2 shortly thereafter.Nonetheless, by virtue of being a theatrical release with the marketing push that goes with it, the film got a lot of attention ahead of its limited theatrical window of 27 exclusive days in cinemas. It still grossed $185 million globally and provided major value to Amazons Prime Video service. So much so it became Amazons biggest streaming debut ever, with the company crowing more than 50 million people watched the film in its first four days on the service, beginning on Dec. 12.Even a streaming film that few people liked (at least among critics) can become a global event on the service if it has a decent theatrical debut. Now imagine if you did the same thing with a film audiences were actually excited about. Say, for example, the nextOr, for that matter, the next horror movie from an auteur as beloved as Guillermo del Toro, who is making for Netflix a film based on one of the greatest horror stories of all time: Frankenstein. Suddenly, Netflix is more than just paying lip-service to the talents perceived vanityor giving cinephiles the chance to see these films the way they were intended; streamers are also adding value to their brand. Isnt that a win-win?Read more A Full Return to Gothic HorrorWhile on the subject of Guillermo del Toro and Frankenstein, lets return to the one genre that has proven reliably dependable for more than a century: horror. While some prognosticators strangely think the sky could finally fall on horror simply because it is one of the few genres that dependably still work as original stories in the theatrical space, the truth is 2024 was a banner year for frights. Plenty of originals and indies hit it big, be it Longlegs, potential awards darling The Substance, and even the unrated bloodbath that was Terrifier 3. But while horror remains healthy, trends and tastes ebb and flow, change and cycle through.And we think were on the cusp of a renaissance for Gothic horror. In fact, it might have already begun as seen in the runaway success of Robert Eggers Nosferatuin the last 18 months alone! Luckily, it was also the first Dracula movie in a long time to really go for it and treat the subject matter with the grandeur and conviction its Gothic source material warrants. Not since Francis Ford Coppolas Bram Stokers DraculaJoin our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Similar to the 1990s, which also saw Gothic-infused hits like Interview with the Vampire and Sleepy Hollow, among others, 2025 could prove a sumptuous turning point where horror returns to its roots. The biggest 2025 example of this is again del Toros Frankenstein, which like Eggers doing Nosferatu/Dracula, sees a beloved auteur with marquee panache tackling one of the cornerstones of the genre. But Maggie Gyllenhaal is doing her own riff on Frankenstein via The Bride! with Jessie Buckley and Christian Bale. And beyond the literary classics, Ryan Coogler is seeking to keep vampires in their spooky, moldering roots with an original undead chiller, Sinners. Given it is from the director-and-star team of Coogler and Michael B. Jordanthe same duo who gave us Fruitvale Station, Creed, and the best villain in the MCUthere is every reason to suspect their latest film will have strong creative and commercial bite.Further down the road in 2026, another Gothic masterpiece is getting reimagined for Gen-Z with Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) putting her own spin on Emily Bronts Wuthering HeightsThe Definition of What an IMAX Movie Is ExpandsIn 2023, Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruises wildly entertaining Mission: Impossible Dead ReckoningOppenheimer, a talky, three-hour, R-rated drama about apocalyptic weapons of mass destruction. So the choice was made that an action movie could debut without the premium IMAX format.Lets just say in 2025 theres a reason Mission: Impossible The Final ReckoningOppenheimer, it provides new tools to filmmakers who want to paint on a larger canvas.So its exciting to hear that as Nolan gears up to shoot his next epic, an adaptation of Homers The Odyssey, he and cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema are pioneering new ways and enhancements to existing IMAX cameras in order to take them to sea. However, its just as exciting to hear that the New Year will see the Canadian IMAX company debut four more IMAX cameras. For context, there are currently only eight 65mm film IMAX cameras in use around the world. This means the number of film productions that can shoot in IMAX will increase from from one to two at any given time, potentially doubling the number of celluloid IMAX movies released in a calendar year.In a modern film industry where audiences are more inclined to show up in a theater for an IMAX release, this is good news. And more IMAX cameras (hopefully) also means our definition of what an IMAX movie can expand. It already began a few years ago when Nolan became the first director to shoot a pensive, character-driven adult drama in the format usually associated with big studio blockbusters. And just as Nolan being the first Hollywood director to tackle using this technology in the realm of superheroes and action movies via The Dark Knight in 2008, wed love to see 2025 have more filmmakers following in Nolans footsteps by telling sweeping adult-oriented stories in the IMAX format, complete with 65mm lenses.We admit this could be woefully naive since the IMAX company ultimately decides which films get to use their camerasand the safer bet for them as well as studios is on blockbusters. But Oppenheimer proves the definition of what a blockbuster is might be expanding in the decade after COVID, and there are other directors outside of Nolan who could have the cache to eventize a film. Imagine Greta Gerwigs next film after Narnia being marketed as a movie shot in IMAX; or Coogler; or Eggers; or Jordan Peele. Brady Corbets brooding drama The Brutalist is a vision and Oscar contender in 70mm. Maybe his next three-hour epic could play on IMAX screens for longer than a handful of days if it was shot in the format?It Is Confirmed James Bond Will Return SoloIts been more than three years since Daniel Craig hung up the tuxedo in fiery fashion during No Time to Die. Yet there is still no new Bond movie in development, announced, or even cast. There were almost four years exactly between Pierce Brosnans last outing as 007 in 2002 and Craigs debut in 2006, but at this rate, that much time will likely pass without audiences even getting to speculate about the next guy in the suit.Recently, we seemed to learn why. According to The Wall Street Journal, big tech behemoth and the new owner of MGM, Amazon, has been pushing the rightsholders of the James Bond character, Eon Productions heads Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, into expanding 007 into a bonafide cinematic universe. Reportedly pitches included a Moneypenny streaming series on Prime Video and spinoff movies about other 00 agents. One wonders why not a return of childrens cartoon James Bond Jr. while theyre at it?Apparently, Broccoli has so far said absolutely not and allegedly called Amazon execs pushing for supersizing 007 fucking idiots.Good for her. While things have certainly dragged into the longer side at this point between No Time to Die and announcements regarding what could be called James Bond 26, weve mostly enjoyed the pause, even writing there is something refreshingly retro about having to wait years instead of months or weeks for the next installment in a franchise. There is a quasi-bespoke, handcrafted quality to Eons Bond films, whether perceived or real. They certainly remain a family business which in the world of modern streaming services and tech mergers feels as antiquated as an artisanal shop where James might pick up his suits or caviar.Its also fair to note the James Bond movies are among the oldest of modern movie franchises, one which has shamelessly recycled plots and concepts time and again. But the relative rarity with which they do so makes each return charming and like a visit from an old friend. The thought of that occasional fondness being ground to powder by ceaseless corporate exploitationas with what happened to Star Wars vanished splendor after five movies and 10 TV shows inside of a decadeis frankly distasteful. And the thing about James is his taste is impeccable.A Superman Movie That Sticks the Landing in This CenturyFinally, we cannot look forward to 2025 and not think about the caped elephant in the room. This year indeed feels like a make or break one for superhero movies. Two years ago proved that the genres popularity has limits after a string of flops were released between the now defunct DCEU and the MCU (with the lions share on the DC side of the street). But 2024 showed its popularity is still strong if you make a movie folks dig, a la Deadpool & Wolverine.2025 is thus a chance to see how Marvel and the newly rechristened DC Studios will transition into the next 10 years, beginning perhaps most crucially with a new Superman actor and continuity being launched in James Gunns Superman reboot due out in July. We could bore you here by repeating how much financially and creatively is riding on a film that is supposed to introduce Gunns vision for the new DC Universe going forward. But we really just want to take a breath and say all we hope for is a great Superman movie. Even a good one would be a nice change of pace, because in spite of the guy in the red cape being one of the most recognizable and beloved superheroes ever created, Kal-El has proven remarkably challenging to translate to the big screen in this century. It is yet another testament to Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner that they made it look effortless in 1978, as we were happily reminded of last year in the excellent Super/Man documentary about Reeves life.Yet while every Superman-adjacent movie released since 2006s Superman Returns had at least one standout sequence, casting, or Hans Zimmer score to recommend it, none of them have made the character fly back into our hearts. And the thing about Superman is he should soar there. Judging by all the goodwill generated from the Superman trailer, it seems a lot of other people out there are ready to believe a man can fly again. Let this be the year that he does.

The iPhone 16 is still banned from sale in Indonesia, despite Apple promising to invest a billion dollars in the countrys economy.Apple had initially had offers of first $10M and then $100M rejected by the Indonesian government, before offering a cool billion dollars worth of manufacturing which is exactly what the country demanded The saga so farThe governments of populous countries are getting increasingly savvy about seeking a quid pro quo for giving Apple access to their markets, demanding inward investment in return.For example,Indiafamously refused permission for Apple stores in the country until the iPhone maker set up large-scale manufacturing within the country.Indonesia started out with a more modest demand for Apple to invest $109M ina developer academy there, with a further $10M manufacturing spend.However, when this target wasnt quite hit, the government upped the ante dramatically. Itbanned the iPhone 16 from sale, and demanded afarlarger investment.Apple initially offered $100M, but the government said that wasnt enough. It then said it wanteda billion dollar manufacturing spendin the country. We heard last month thatApple had agreed to this, and it was subsequently revealed that this would take the form of large-scale AirTag manufacturing.Government rejects billion dollar dealHowever, despite Apple agreeing to the request sum, Reuters reports that the government still refuses to un-ban the iPhone 16 for a bizarre reason.That reason? Indonesia now specifically insists that Apple manufacture iPhone parts in the country; AirTags dont count.Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said Apple had struck a deal to build a facility producing its Airtag tracking device on Indonesias Batam island, close to Singapore, but that still would not count as a locally-made iPhone part.There is no basis for the ministry to issue a local content certification as a way for Apple to have the permission to sell iPhone 16 because (the facility) has no direct relations, he said, adding the ministry would only count phone components.9to5Macs TakeIndonesia was already playing hardball here. The government could have threatened to ban iPhone sales unless Apple agreed to its demands, and perhaps implemented the ban during negotiations to show that it was serious and to accelerate the process. Instead, it imposed a ban as its opening move.Its no surprise that the country wanted a decent chunk of investment by Apple. Indonesia is the fourth most populated country in the world, behind China, India, and the USA. It has seen the Indian government successfully pressure Apple into making massive manufacturing investments there, and figured it also deserved a decent slice of the pie in return for access to its market of 284M people.But one might wonder why it cares what is made there? A billion dollars of AirTag production spends just like a billion dollars of iPhone component production. My theory is that it is playing a high-stakes poker game. It wanted Apple to first commit to the AirTag plant, and then play the iPhone card to obtain even greater investment.Ultimately, Indonesia is likely to win. It may or may not get another billion dollars, but with so many potential iPhone 16 customers at stake, Apple will for sure offer something more.Photo byAlimonUnsplashAdd 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

Jan 08, 2025The Hacker NewsMalware Analysis / Threat Intelligence2024 had its fair share of high-profile cyber attacks, with companies as big as Dell and TicketMaster falling victim to data breaches and other infrastructure compromises. In 2025, this trend will continue. So, to be prepared for any kind of malware attack, every organization needs to know its cyber enemy in advance. Here are 5 common malware families that you can start preparing to counter right now.LummaLumma is a widely available malware designed to steal sensitive information. It has been openly sold on the Dark Web since 2022. This malware can effectively collect and exfiltrate data from targeted applications, including login credentials, financial information, and personal details.Lumma is regularly updated to enhance its capabilities. It can log detailed information from compromised systems, such as browsing history and cryptocurrency wallet data. It can be used to install other malicious software on infected devices. In 2024, Lumma was distributed through various methods, including fake CAPTCHA pages, torrents, and targeted phishing emails.Analysis of a Lumma AttackProactive analysis of suspicious files and URLs within a sandbox environment can effectively help you prevent Lumma infection. Let's see how you can do it using ANY.RUN's cloud-based sandbox. It not only delivers definitive verdicts on malware and phishing along with actionable indicators but also allows real-time interaction with the threat and the system.Take a look at this analysis of a Lumma attack.ANY.RUN lets you manually open files and launch executablesIt starts with an archive which contains an executable. Once we launch the .exe file, the sandbox automatically logs all processes and network activities, showing Lumma's actions.Suricata IDS informs us about a malicious connection to Lumma's C2 serverIt connects to its command-and-control (C2) server. Malicious process responsible for stealing data from the systemNext, it begins to collect and exfiltrate data from the machine.You can use the IOCs extracted by the sandbox to enhance your detection systemsAfter finishing the analysis, we can export a report on this sample, featuring all the important indicators of compromise (IOCs) and TTPs that can be used to enrich defenses against possible Lumma attacks in your organization.Try all features of ANY.RUN's Interactive Sandbox for free with a 14-day trialXWormXWorm is a malicious program that gives cybercriminals remote control over infected computers. First appearing in July 2022, it can collect a wide range of sensitive information, including financial details, browsing history, saved passwords, and cryptocurrency wallet data. XWorm allows attackers to monitor victims' activities by tracking keystrokes, capturing webcam images, listening to audio input, scanning network connections, and viewing open windows. It can also access and manipulate the computer's clipboard, potentially stealing cryptocurrency wallet credentials. In 2024, XWorm was involved in many large-scale attacks, including ones that exploited CloudFlare tunnels and legitimate digital certificates.Analysis of a XWorm AttackPhishing emails are often the initial stage of XWorm attacksIn this attack, we can see the original phishing email, which features a link to a Google drive.A Google Drive page with a download link to a malicious archiveOnce we follow the link, we are offered to download an archive which is protected with a password.Opened malicious archive with a .vbs fileThe password can be found in the email. After entering it, we can access a .vbs script inside the .zip file. XWorm uses MSBuild.exe to persist on the systemAs soon as we launch the script, the sandbox instantly detects malicious activities, which eventually lead to the deployment of XWorm on the machine.AsyncRATAsyncRAT is another remote access trojan on the list. First seen in 2019, it was initially spread through spam emails, often exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic as a lure. Since then, the malware has gained popularity and been used in various cyber attacks.AsyncRAT has evolved over time to include a wide range of malicious capabilities. It can secretly record a victim's screen activity, log keystrokes, install additional malware, steal files, maintain a persistent presence on infected systems, disable security software, and launch attacks that overwhelm targeted websites.In 2024, AsyncRAT remained a significant threat, often disguised as pirated software. It was also one of the first malware families to be distributed as part of complex attacks involving scripts generated by AI.Analysis of an AsyncRAT AttackThe initial archive with an .exe fileIn this analysis session, we can see another archive with a malicious executable inside.A PowerShell process used for downloading a payloadDetonating the file kicks off the execution chain of XWorm, which involves the use of PowerShell scripts to fetch additional files needed to facilitate the infection.Once the analysis is finished, the sandbox displays the final verdict on the sample.RemcosRemcos is a malware that has been marketed by its creators as a legitimate remote access tool. Since its launch in 2019, it has been used in numerous attacks to perform a wide range of malicious activities, including stealing sensitive information, remotely controlling the system, recording keystrokes, capturing screen activity, etc.In 2024, campaigns to distribute Remcos used techniques like script-based attacks, which often start with a VBScript that launches a PowerShell script to deploy the malware, and exploited vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-11882 by leveraging malicious XML files.Analysis of a Remcos AttackPhishing email opened in ANY.RUN's Interactive SandboxIn this example, we are met with another phishing email that features a .zip attachment and a password for it.cmd process used during the infection chainThe final payload leverages Command Prompt and Windows system processes to load and execute Remcos.MITRE ATT&CK matrix provides a comprehensive view of the malware's techniquesThe ANY.RUN sandbox maps the entire chain of attack to the MITRE ATT&CK matrix for convenience. LockBitLockBit is a ransomware primarily targeting Windows devices. It is considered one of the biggest ransomware threats, accounting for a substantial portion of all Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) attacks. The decentralized nature of the LockBit group has allowed it to compromise numerous high-profile organizations worldwide, including the UK's Royal Mail and India's National Aerospace Laboratories (in 2024).Law enforcement agencies have taken steps to combat the LockBit group, leading to the arrest of several developers and partners. Despite these efforts, the group continues to operate, with plans to release a new version, LockBit 4.0, in 2025.Analysis of a LockBit AttackLockBit ransomware launched in the safe environment of the ANY.RUN sandboxCheck out this sandbox session, showing how fast LockBit infects and encrypts files on a system.ANY.RUN's Interactive Sandbox lets you see static analysis of every modified file on the systemBy tracking file system changes, we can see it modified 300 files in less than a minute.Ransom note tells victims to contact attackersThe malware also drops a ransom note, detailing the instructions for getting the data back.Improve Your Proactive Security with ANY.RUN's Interactive SandboxAnalyzing cyber threats proactively instead of reacting to them once they become a problem for your organization is the best course of action any business can take. Simplify it with ANY.RUN's Interactive sandbox by examining all suspicious files and URLs inside a safe virtual environment that helps you identify malicious content with ease. With the ANY.RUN sandbox, your company can:Swiftly detect and confirm harmful files and links during scheduled checks.Investigate how malware operates on a deeper level to reveal its tactics and strategies.Respond to security incidents more effectively by collecting important threat insights through sandbox analysis.Try all features of ANY.RUN with a 14-day free trial.Found this article interesting? This article is a contributed piece from one of our valued partners. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE