Jan 23, 2025Ravie LakshmananPhishing / MalwareCybersecurity researchers are calling attention to a new malware campaign that leverages fake CAPTCHA verification checks to deliver the infamous Lumma information stealer."The campaign is global, with Netskope Threat Labs tracking victims targeted in Argentina, Colombia, the United States, the Philippines, and other countries around the world," Leandro Fres, senior threat research engineer at Netskope Threat Labs, said in a report shared with The Hacker News."The campaign also spans multiple industries, including healthcare, banking, and marketing, with the telecom industry having the highest number of organizations targeted."The attack chain begins when a victim visits a compromised website, which directs them to a bogus CAPTCHA page that specifically instructs the site visitor to copy and paste a command into the Run prompt in Windows that uses the native mshta.exe binary to download and execute an HTA file from a remote server.It's worth noting that a previous iteration of this technique, widely known as ClickFix, involved the execution of a Base64-encoded PowerShell script to trigger the Lumma Stealer infection.The HTA file, in turn, executes a PowerShell command to launch a next-stage payload, a PowerShell script that unpacks a second PowerShell script responsible for decoding and loading the Lumma payload, but not before taking steps to bypass the Windows Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI) in an effort to evade detection."By downloading and executing malware in such ways, the attacker avoids browser-based defenses since the victim will perform all of the necessary steps outside of the browser context," Fres explained."The Lumma Stealer operates using the malware-as-a-service (MaaS) model and has been extremely active in the past months. By using different delivery methods and payloads it makes detection and blocking of such threats more complex, especially when abusing user interactions within the system."As recently as this month, Lumma has also been distributed via approximately 1,000 counterfeit domains impersonating Reddit and WeTransfer that redirect users to download password-protected archives.These archive files contain an AutoIT dropper dubbed SelfAU3 Dropper that subsequently executes the stealer, according to Sekoia researcher crep1x. In early 2023, threat actors leveraged a similar technique to spin up over 1,300 domains masquerading as AnyDesk in order to push the Vidar Stealer malware.The development comes as Barracuda Networks detailed an updated version of the Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) toolkit known as Tycoon 2FA that includes advanced features to "obstruct, derail, and otherwise thwart attempts by security tools to confirm its malicious intent and inspect its web pages."These include the use of legitimate possibly compromised email accounts to send phishing emails and taking a series of steps to prevent analysis by detecting automated security scripts, listening for keystrokes that suggest web inspection, and disabling the right-click context menu.Social engineering-oriented credential harvesting attacks have also been observed leveraging avatar provider Gravatar to mimic various legitimate services like AT&T, Comcast, Eastlink, Infinity, Kojeko, and Proton Mail."By exploiting Gravatar's 'Profiles as a Service,' attackers create convincing fake profiles that mimic legitimate services, tricking users into divulging their credentials," SlashNext Field CTO Stephen Kowski said."Instead of generic phishing attempts, attackers tailor their fake profiles to resemble the legitimate services they're mimicking closely through services that are not often known or protected."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Square Mile signs off guidance to encourage developers to hit key environmental benchmarksNew developments in the City of London will need to achieve embodied carbon targets or make other sustainability contributions under planning rules set to come into force in the coming weeks.The City has voted to approve new sustainability guidance for planning applications which will affect how newbuild and refurbishment schemes in the Square Mile are designed and built.Source: ShutterstockThe City has approved new guidance on the environmental impact of both newbuild and retrofit schemesDevelopers will be expected to demonstrate at the planning stage that schemes can achieve new embodied carbon benchmarks aligning with Greater London Authority benchmarks.If they do not meet this target, developments will be expected to go above and beyond in delivering wider environmental benefits for the City.This could include creating or extending local energy networks, upgrading public realm to support transport routes, supporting climate resilience infrastructure or providing skills and training in sustainable construction.Newbuild office schemes will now also be expected to hit a five-star rating on the NABERS tool for measuring environmental impact and energy efficiency, while retrofit projects will need to achieve a four-star rating.Shravan Joshi, chairman of the Citys Planning and Transport Committee, said the vote was a major step forward for the Square Miles sustainability goals.This new guidance provides transparency to the built environment sector, encouraging it to come with us on this journey, as we see continued confidence and demand for high quality, sustainable office space in the Square Mile, he said.The City of London is home to some of the most sustainable commercial buildings on the planet and as it continues to be a hugely attractive place for office occupiers, we are setting the pace globally for sustainable design, with the delivery of the next generation of new and retrofit developments, to attract the best global talent, innovators and high growth businesses.

Nuclear power plants, trainlines and wind farms would be built quicker under new rules, government saysThe government has announced plans to speed up the construction of major infrastructure projects by reducing the ability of activists to challenge them in the courts.Keir Starmer said proposals to be included in the upcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill will take on the NIMBYs and a broken system that has slowed down our progress as a nation.The new planning rules would mean schemes such as nuclear power plants, trainlines, roads and wind farms would not be delayed by a challenge culture, the prime minister said.Sizewell C was put in limbo for two year by legal challenges described by a High Court judge as utterly hopelessInfrastructure schemes can currently be challenged in the courts three times, through a written submission to the High Court, attending an oral hearing and appealing through the Court of Appeal.The government is proposing to scrap the written stage, meaning opponents to schemes would have to convince a judge in person, while the ability to appeal would also be removed if challenge is deemed totally without merit.Legal challenges are a significant factor in slowing down the delivery and increasing the cost of large infrasstructuer schemes.More than half, 58%, of all decisions are taken to court, with each legal challenge taking around 18 months to be resolved on average, with many taking more than two years.Examples include the Sizewell C nuclear plant, which was left in limbo for two years during a legal challenge brought by activists which was later dismissed by a High Court judge as utterly hopeless.A wind farm project in East Anglia and the A47 National Highway Project were also blocked for more than two years by opponents.The governments announcement comes after a review by planning lawyer Lord Banner, who concluded delays to major infrastructure schemes were causing real detriment to the public interest.Reducing the number of permission attempts to one for truly hopeless cases should weed out the worst offenders, without risking inadvertent delays because judges choose to err on the side of caution, he said.The move has been widely welcomed by the construction industry, with Balfour Beatty chief executive Leo Quinn describing it as a vital step towards speeding up important projects while keeping safeguards in place.Reducing the uncertainty that delays progress and drives up costs should help unlock significant economic benefits and enable faster delivery of the critical infrastructure that the UK urgently needs, he said.Connor Teskey, president of Brookfield Asset Management, also welcomed the proposals, calling planning reforms a key priority for the firms business in the UK.British Property Federation chief executive Melanie Leech added: From power stations to bypasses, we take longer to deliver important national projects than other developed nations, and that has to change.If we want to grow the economy and fund vital public services, then we have to better balance environmental and community interests with the benefits of development, and do so in a clear and timely way.Reducing the scope for vexatious and unmerited legal challenges, whilst retaining a right to appeal, is a very positive step in achieving this.

Water Row, Govan, by Collective Architecture Source:&nbsp Keith HunterIn 2025 our aim is to bang the drum for the profession, spelling out how architects can be pivotal to solving the housing crisis in a sustainable way, says Emily Booth Housing (or the lack of it) is one of the defining national issues of our time. The AJ is kicking off the new year with a focus on what architects can bring to help solve the housing crisis: design quality, sustainable approaches, an understanding of the importance of place, delivery expertise and drive, to name a few.Whether the governments target to build 1.5 million new homes within the next five years is achievable is up for debate. There is also a massive climate challenge here you cant build 1.5 million brand new homes and stay within critical carbon budgets. Yet homes are desperately needed; theres a moral imperative to provide them and they should be decent, well-built and supported by proper, sustainable infrastructure.Perfection should not be the enemy of the good when facing a challenge of this magnitude. While shoddy, cheap, gas-guzzling homes are a short-term sticking-plaster, what is key is an environmentally-sensitive build quality that is also deliverable. There is a need and an opportunity for good architecture here, prioritising retrofit and reuse techniques and sustainable M&E wherever possible.AdvertisementOver the following pages youll see examples of where architects have played crucial roles in successful schemes. Its interesting to see common themes emerge often using historical precedent for practical inspiration. If something has worked well before, why not riff off the theme? Everything that has worked before, weve done again, says Maes Alex Ely, commenting on the latest phase of the ambitious regeneration with Hawkins\Brown of the Agar Grove Estate for Camden Council. And Pitman Tozers Bulrush Court for The Guinness Partnership, the latest addition to the Leaside Lock development in Tower Hamlets, uses the 1930s mid-rise mansion block as a tried-and-tested model. Were very interested in how it provides density but on a relatively human scale, says Luke Tozer. Previous examples by the practice include two schemes for Peabody which, each in its own way, reclaimed notably difficult sites for dwellings on a relatable scale.There isnt time to waste in squaring up to the housing and climate challengeWhile pattern books of architectural designs evoke mixed feelings and mindful of the many specific challenges facing individual sites there is surely something in the notion of sharing learning and maximising efficiency where possible. There isnt time to waste in squaring up to the housing and climate challenge, and streamlining best practice makes sense.Good housing, then, will be a topic we put our editorial energies into through 2025 and beyond. Our aim is to bang the drum for the profession, spelling out how architects can be pivotal to solving this national crisis in a sustainable way.AdvertisementWere keen to spotlight the challenges of designing and delivering quality housing, celebrate proven successes and promote positive case studies to decision-makers and influencers beyond the immediate architectural community. Were pleased to be working with the Architects Action for Affordable Housing campaign in this endeavour and we look forward to hearing more about your stand-out schemes.The January edition of the AJ is out now. Subscribers can read the digital edition here, or copies of the printed magazine can be purchasedhere. An AJ subscription is better value click here to view our packages.2025-01-23Emily Boothcomment and share

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Sports streaming bundles are on the rise, and Comcast is now joining the game. Launching Thursday, the company is offering Xfinity Sports & News TV, a new package that includes more than 50 channels and an ad-supportedPeacock Premium subscription for $70. Viewers can watch live NFL, MLB, NHL, MLB and college games along with TV shows and feature films. The price is the same as DirecTV's brand-new MySports streaming offering which provides programming from ABC, Fox, NBC, ESPN, TNT and more.What comes with the Xifnity bundle? Available for new and existing Xfinity internet customers, it includes 300 hours of DVR. Subscribers get access to local broadcasts such as ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Telemundo along with a selection of news channels like CNBC, Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Sports fans can stream a lineup of networks that includes ACC, ESPN, SEC Network, Big Ten and FS1. Additionally, the package has a roster of 100-plus FAST channels.The added perk of getting Peacock means fans can watch the platform's originals, theatrical releases from Universal, and content from NBC, Bravo, WWE and more. Peacock Premium alone is $8 monthly or $80 per year.Xfinity customers have other options such as the StreamSaver bundle or access to a free Peacock subscription. If you're not an Xfinity subscriber but want to check out other streaming packages, there's the newStarz and Max bundle, an upcoming sports platform from Fubo, a Max-Disney-Plus-Hulu bundle and a selection of streaming deals.

January 23, 20256 min readDo Chatbots Just Need More Time to Think?A technique called test-time compute can improve how AI responds to some hard questions, but it comes at a costBy Lauren Leffer edited by Ben Guarino Moor Studio/Getty ImagesTechnology trends almost always prioritize speed, but the latest fad in artificial intelligence involves deliberately slowing chatbots down. Machine-learning researchers and major tech companies, including OpenAI and Google, are shifting focus from ever larger model sizes and training datasets to instead emphasize something called test-time compute.This strategy is often described as giving AI more time to think or reason, though these models work more rigidly than human brains do. Its not as though an AI model is granted new freedoms to mull over a problem. Instead test-time compute introduces structured interventions in which computer systems are built to double-check their work through intermediate calculations or extra algorithms applied to their final responses. Its more akin to making an exam open-book than it is to simply extending a time limit.Another name for the newly popular AI-improvement strategy (which has actually been around for few years) is inference scaling. Inference is the process by which a previously trained AI crunches through new data to perform a freshly prompted task, whether thats generating text or flagging spam e-mails. By allowing additional seconds or minutes to elapse between a users prompt and the programs response, and by providing extra computational power at the programs critical moment of inference, some AI developers have seen a dramatic jump in the accuracy of chatbot answers.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.Test-time compute is especially helpful for quantitative questions. The places weve seen the most exciting improvements are things like code and math, says Amanda Bertsch, a fourth-year computer science Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University, where she studies natural language processing. Bertsch explains that test-time compute offers the most benefit when theres an objectively correct response or a measurable way of determining better or worse.OpenAIs recently released o1, its latest publicly available model powering ChatGPT-style bots, is much better at writing computer code and correctly answering math and science queries than its predecessors, the company claims: a recent blog post describes o1 as up to eight times more accurate in responding to prompts used in programming competitions and nearly 40 percent more accurate at answering Ph.D.-level physics, biology and chemistry questions. OpenAI attributes these improvements to test-time compute and related strategies. And a follow-up model called o3still undergoing safety testing and planned for release later this monthis nearly three times as accurate as o1 in responding to certain reasoning questions, says Lindsay McCallum Rmy, a communications officer at OpenAI.Other academic analyses, most released as preprint studies that have not yet been peer-reviewed, have reported similarly impressive results. Test-time compute could improve AI accuracy and its capacity to tackle complex reasoning problems, says Aviral Kumar, an assistant professor of computer science and machine learning at Carnegie Mellon University. Hes excited about his fields shift toward this strategy because it grants machines the same grace we give people when they take an extra beat to tackle tough questions. He thinks this could bring us closer to models with humanlike intelligence.It seems like they all make models a little bit better. And we really don't understand what the relationships are between them. Jacob Andreas, associate professor of computer scienceEven if it doesnt, test-time compute offers a practical alternative to prevailing methods of improving large language models, or LLMs. The costly, brute-force approach of building ever larger models and training them on increasingly massive datasets is now offering diminishing returns. Bertsch says test-time compute has proven its worth in making consistent performance gainswithout inflating already-unwieldy models or forcing developers to scrounge additional high-quality data from a dwindling supply. Yet increasing test time cant solve everything; it has its own trade-offs and limits.A Big UmbrellaAI developers have multiple ways to adjust the test-time compute process and thus improve model outputs. Its a really broad set of things, Bertsch says, pretty much anything where youre treating a model like part of a system and building scaffolding around it.The most rudimentary method is something anyone with a computer can do at home: asking a chatbot to produce many responses to a single question. Generating more answers requires more time, which means the inference process takes longer. One way to think about it: the user becomes a layer of human scaffolding that guides the model to the most accurate, or best-suited, answer.Another basic method involves prompting a chatbot to report the intermediate steps it takes to solve a problem. Called chain-of-thought prompting, this strategy was formally outlined in a 2022 preprint paper by Google researchers. Similarly, a user can also simply ask an LLM to double-check or improve an output after it has been generated.Some assessments indicate that chain-of-thought prompting and related self-correction methods improve model outputs, though other research demonstrates that these strategies are unreliableprone to producing the same sorts of hallucinations as other chatbot outputs. To reduce unreliability, many test-time strategies use an external verifieran algorithm trained to grade model outputs, based on preset criteria, and to select the output that offers the best step toward a specific goal.Verifiers can be applied after a model has generated a list of possible responses. When an LLM generates computer code, for example, a verifier could be as simple as a program that runs the code to make sure it works. Other verifiers might guide a model through each juncture of a multistep problem. Some versions of test-time compute combine the logic of these approaches by using verifiers that evaluate a models output in both ways: as a stepwise process, with many possible branching paths, and as a final response. Other systems use verifiers to find errors in a chatbots initial output or chain of thoughtand then give the LLM feedback to correct those problems.Test-time compute is so successful for quantitative problems because all verifiers hinge on the existence of a knowable, correct answer (or at least an objective basis for comparing two options), Bertsch says. The strategy is less effective for improving outputs such as poems or translations, in which ranking is subjective.In a slight departure from all of the above, machine-learning developers can also use the same sorts of algorithms to hone a model during development and training and then apply them during test time.Right now we have all of these different techniques, all of which have in common that you just do extra computation at test time and which share basically no other technical features, says Jacob Andreas, an associate professor of computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It seems like they all make models a little bit better. And we really don't understand what the relationships are between them.Shared LimitsAlthough the methods vary, they share the same inherent limitations: slower generation speeds and the potential need for more computational resources, water and energy. Environmental sustainability is already a growing issue for the field.It might take about five seconds for an LLM to answer a single query without any added test-time compute, says Ekin Akyrek, a computer science Ph.D. candidate at M.I.T., who is advised by Andreas. But a method developed by Akyrek, Andreas and their colleagues raises that response time to five minutes. For certain applications and prompts, increasing how long inference takes simply doesnt make sense, says Dilek Hakkani-Tur, a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hakkani-Tur has worked extensively on developing AI conversational agents that speak to users, such as Amazons Alexa. There, speed is of utmost importance, she says. For complicated interactions, a user might not mind a few seconds pause for a bots response. But for a basic back-and-forth, a human might disengage if they must wait for what feels like an unnaturally long time.More time also means more computational effort and money. Having o3 perform a single task could cost OpenAI $17 or more than $1,000, depending on the version of the software that is used, according to estimates from the creator of a popular AI benchmarking test, who was granted early access to the AI. And in cases where a model will be queried millions of times by a large user base, shifting the computational investment from training to inference would make all those prompts quickly add up to a major financial burden and a massive energy suck. Querying an LLM such as ChatGPT already uses an estimated 10 times the power of a Google search. Going from five seconds of computation to five minutes increases in-the-moment energy demand dozens of times over, Akyrek says.But this isnt a definite downside in every case. If boosting test-time compute allows for smaller, models to perform better with less training, or if it eliminates the need to keep building and training more models from the ground up, then the strategy could potentially lessen generative AIs energy consumption in some instances, Hakkani-Tur says. The final balance depends on factors such as the intended use, the frequency with which a model is queried and the question of whether the model is small enough to be run on a local device instead of a distant server stack. The pros and cons need to be carefully computed, she adds. I would look at the bigger picture of how I am going to use a model. That is to say, AI developers should think long and hard before encouraging their creations to do the same.

January 23, 20258 min readHow Dark Patterns in Sports Betting Apps Keep Users GamblingMobile sports betting apps frictionless designs, personalized notifications and 24/7 availability have many gambling addiction experts worriedBy Allison Parshall edited by Jeanna Bryner Bluecinema/Getty ImagesSports betting is everywhere now. Advertisements for betting apps starring famous athletes play during game broadcasts and on social media. Commentators discuss betting odds live on air. The National Basketball Associations streaming app League Pass allows fans to place live bets while watching a basketball game.This explosion has followed a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down a law that had prohibited most states from legalizing sports betting. So far 30 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized online betting on sports, and the nascent U.S. industry is worth $10 billion and growing. According to a 2024 survey, one in five people have an account with an online sports betting service, and most of those people use a betting app on their smartphone.These mobile apps have made sports betting quicker and more accessible than ever. They have also granted companies access to troves of data on their customers behaviors, which they can use to keep people bettingmaking it easier than ever to fall into problematic behaviors, experts say, and harder than ever to quit.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The features that make these products exciting and engaging are also the features that make them addictive, says Heather Wardle, a policy researcher studying gambling at the University of Glasgow.Getting HookedGambling in any form can be addictive. The thrill of a win activates the brains reward system in a way that can warp someones perception of risk. There are three phases to developing a gambling problem, explains Lia Nower, who leads the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University. First, a person starts to overemphasize their wins, leading them to gamble more. As they play more, they will inevitably enter the losing phase and may begin chasing lossesgambling more in the hopes of recouping those lost funds. This then causes a downward spiral into desperation and hopelessness, which can lead to financial or even physical harm for the person and those around them.Like addiction to substances such as alcohol or opioids, gambling addiction is considered a mental health disorder. But a gambling problem doesnt have to reach this level of severity before it can cause harm. Research from the past decade has shown that the harms are much wider and much more broadly distributed than previously assumed, Wardle says. Gambling can impact entire families and communities. It increases the risk of suicide and domestic violence. Perhaps most devastatingly, gambling problems are most common among people who have the least money to lose.Researchers are already observing financial harms as states have legalized online sports betting. In a recent working paper that was posted to the repository SSRN and has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers found that four years after a state legalizes online sports betting, consumers average credit score drops by an average of 1 percent, and the likelihood of filing for bankruptcy increases by 25 to 30 percent.Dark PatternsNot all forms of gambling carry the same levels of risk. Engaging in a game of poker with friends, for example, is less dangerous than playing a slot machine. Slots have long been casinos greatest moneymaker because of their addictive potential. Jamie Torrance, a psychologist studying gambling at Swansea University in Wales, chalks this up to the machines incredible paceunlike in a game of poker or blackjack, only seconds pass between placing a bet and winning or losing. This makes the experience more immersive, leading some slot players to enter a trancelike state called dark flow in which they become completely absorbed by the game, Torrance says. The fast turnarounds can closely link the act of pressing the button with the rush of dopamine of a potential win, conditioning a person to keep pulling the lever.Sports betting was once a slow form of gambling, with people mainly betting on the outcome of a game or race in person or with a phone call. With digital apps, people can bet 24/7 and are also now putting money on smaller events, such as which team will score first or whether someone will miss a free throw. And they can string these micro bets together into one big bet called a parlaya popular feature that has big potential winnings but usually doesnt pay off.Sports betting is becoming far more rapid, Torrance says. Its not as harmful as a slot machine, but its moving in that direction.Still, these apps can do something that slot machines, or even the bookies and casinos of old, cant: track users betting activity in incredible detail. Sports betting outlets, or sportsbooks, are able to use information about how and when someone bets and what that person bets on to determine what offers they send, Wardle says. To her, this consumer profiling is one of the more concerning aspects of these online gambling products.Imagine what the tobacco companies would have done if they had known every single time you took a cigarette out of a packif theyd have known exactly how much you smoked, when you smoked, how often you smoked, the circumstances around your smoking, she says.Wardle recently co-led a commission on gamblings risks to public health. In their report, published in October in the Lancet, she and her colleagues referred to some of these apps features as dark patterns, a term used in product design for a user interface that exploits cognitive biases to get people to act outside of their best interest. A 2022 audit of 10 online gambling apps available in the U.K. identified common deceptive marketing and design practices that could cause harm, including:A sign-up process that is frictionless and often lacks effective age verificationDeposit or bets with a default amount that is higher than the actual minimum amount, which leads people to choose the higher amount because of a principle called anchoringDeposits and bets that can be placed with one clickSafety tools that are hard to findA minimum account balance that is required to withdraw moneyPrompts to place another bet that appear immediately after a previous oneThe absence of a feature that displays how much a user is losing during gameplayPush notifications and e-mails that stress the urgency and scarcity of betting offersAccounts that are hard to close or immortal (meaning they can never be fully closed)These kinds of features encourage customers to spend more time and money betting, Torrance says. The gambling companies, he says, have all of this knowledge about how the human mind works, how human behavior works, and they essentially use that knowledge for profits.And some of these features can make it challenging for people with gambling problems to quit in the first place, let alone to stay away. A lapsed customer who receives a push notification, e-mail or text with an enticing limited time offer for 10 free bets might be someone with a gambling problem who is trying to quit.Imagine someone with alcohol use disorder who has been sober for two weeks, Torrance says. Theyre on their way to work, and the person who works in their favorite pub or bar comes out and says, I have a free shot of tequila; please have it.... Its going to be very hard for that person to deny that.Whos Responsible?Joe Maloney of the American Gaming Association, a trade group that represents the U.S. legal gambling industry, says that sportsbooks use these features in part because they exist in a competitive marketplace. Sportsbook operators are competing not only with other with their peers but also with illegal gambling operators that offer slick and innovative user experiences, he says. To the extent you continue to introduce friction into the legal, regulated gaming experience, you are potentially risking losing that customer.Customers have also come to expect personalized prompts and frictionless experiences in their digital lives, and gambling apps are no different, Maloney says. People don't want to be served the Australian Open right now [if theyre] not interested in tennis, he says. It is about meeting the consumer where they are. He also stresses that the apps should be thought of as entertainment and not a way to generate wealth.When asked about whether the same design and marketing strategies should be used for an addictive product such as gambling, Maloney points to the apps many safety features, which are required by law in some states. Customers can choose to limit the amount of time and money they can spend or even to voluntarily ban themselves from the app.In her research, Nower has found that bettors infrequently use these safeguards. She and her colleagues analyze every sports bet placed in New Jersey each year to create reports for the states gambling regulators. They have found that across years, only around 1 to 4 percent of people under age 25 use any of the safety features, she says.The gambling industry stresses the importance of playing responsibly. But Nower, Torrance and Wardle each criticize that industry for putting all of the responsibility on individuals. Its very simple to say, Its all about individual responsibility, Wardle says. Its very good for the industry to do that because it then absolves them from the corporate responsibility that they bear as the ones designing, promoting and providing their products.Gambling is also becoming more popular among young people, who are more vulnerable to addiction. In a survey conducted from December 2020 to May 2021, Nower and her colleagues found that among New Jerseyans who gambled, 33 percent of those aged 18 to 24 only gambled online, a proportion nearly five times higher than in 2017 and higher than in any other age group. And 19 percent of the 18-to-24-year-old group that gambled reported high-risk behavior and experiences that could be indicative of a gambling disorder.Though the legal gambling age is 21 in most statesincluding New Jerseyit isnt hard to get around age verification. A child or teenager might have access to the identification, credit cards or accounts of an adult, with or without their consent. Theres no way to know if this person [placing a bet] is 50 or 15, Nower says. There are also internationally registered sports betting sites that are available to people 18 and older in the U.S.Children are also being exposed to gambling at younger ages through video games. In many ways, gambling and video gaming are now indistinguishable, Nower says, thanks to common features such as loot boxes and skin betting, a form of gambling in which virtual items are used as in-game currency. And popular social sportsbook apps can allow users to place sports bets with virtual currency without age verification. Its getting you used to losing money but continuing to play, Torrance says. And that feeling is going to cross over then when youre actually playing with your own money.So far regulations on gambling ads in the U.S. have been spotty. Ohio has banned the marketing terms free bets and risk-free, and New York State recently passed a law requiring ads for gambling to warn consumers about its potentially dangerous effects. Other countries have widespread restrictions: the U.K. banned gambling advertisements featuring celebrities in 2022, and Italy banned gambling ads altogether in 2018.Torrance advocates for regulations that would reduce the speed and ease of placing bets on mobile apps. Australia, for example, requires people to place bets over the phone once a game has already begun. Regulators could also impose a delay on bank deposits into gambling apps. Nower suggests that requiring people to opt out of safety features such as deposit limits rather than opt in could also reduce the risk of harm.In the U.S., legal sports gambling is still in its infancy. Torrance hopes that the country can learn from the mistakes made in the U.K., where sports betting has long been legal and has completely saturated the world of sports. I really hope that the U.S. gambling industry understands that if consumers are exploited, then its not good for anyone, he says.

Palworld developer discusses game's "ending", says it's been "mapped out for quite some time"Rooby Tuesday.Image credit: Pocketpair News by Victoria Kennedy News Reporter Published on Jan. 23, 2025 Palworld recently celebrated its first anniversary, and to mark the occasion developer Pocketpair outlined its plans for the game's second year, with a roadmap that includes co-op crossplay and an "ending scenario".But, why add an 'ending' now? Could it be because of Nintendo's impending legal action against the game? Well, Pocketpair community manager John "Bucky" Buckley tells Eurogamer this 'ending' has actually been "mapped out for quite some time" - and even though it is on its way, it certainly doesn't mean this is 'the end' of Palworld.Let's play Palworld. Watch on YouTube"The World Tree, where the 'ending' takes place, has been visible since day one," Bucky tells me. "Many players suspected their journey would end there, and we've been asked repeatedly about when the World Tree will become available so we're pretty excited to finally be opening the area up for players!"Bucky admits "ending" may not actually be the best way to phrase things, but says he "can't think of a better one" right now."While the World Tree will mark the conclusion of this particular journey, it's by no means the end of Palworld," he assures.As for what else is still to come in Palworld, Bucky promises "exciting things" in the pipeline. "We might have announced the Terraria collaboration a bit prematurely," he admits, "but everyone, including Re-Logic, was so excited that we thought it'd be fun to share early!"Pocketpair remains "really excited about the direction [its] headed", Bucky continued, including Pocketpair's newly-announced publishing division "which aims to fund and support developers in creating cool games". Image credit: PocketpairOf course, Palworld's first year has not been without its challenges."There were so many challenges, to be honest," he tells me. "Pre-launch, we started gaining traction online, which was new for us and brought its own difficulties. Post-launch, we faced server problems, bug reporting issues, countless accusations... It was a lot to handle."While those issues haven't entirely gone away, they've definitely become more manageable."Those accusations mostly came with a Pokmon-flavoured edge to them. Before the game was released in early access last January, many dubbed it 'Pokmon with guns' due to the familiar designs of some Palworld creatures and some in-game mechanics. Nintendo announced it was suing Pocketpair for infringement of "multiple" patents back in September, and it was later confirmed the lawsuit is targeting three patents in particular. As part of an update in December, Pocketpair subsequently removed the ability to summon creatures by throwing Pokball-style Pal Spheres. Image credit: PocketpairSo, what has the team learned from the last 12 months? After all, no one - even Bucky - expected Palworld to take off quite as much as it did. As a reminder, Palworld became the first big mega-hit of 2024, surpassing 2m concurrent players on Steam last January. It was only the second game to ever achieve this, the other being PUBG."As a company, we've learned how to structure our processes better," Bucky tells me. "People often forget that Pocketpair is quite a small team. The methods we've used for our previous games worked well, but Palworld put a spotlight on both our weaknesses and strengths. This year really brought the team together and made us more effective in our workflows."But, for Bucky personally, he now appreciates the "importance of asking for advice and help as soon as possible" adding: "There are so many incredibly knowledgeable people in this industry."If you're playing Palworld, but feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all right now, be sure to check out our guides. Here's one on Palworld Breeding Combos and how to breed Pals to get you started.

Microsoft's Xbox portfolio of games is under the spotlight this evening as it airs a new Developer Direct at 6pm UK time. We'll be covering everything live as it happens, right here, as well as talking with you about the things that do. Why not join us? Crack some jokes! We like jokes.But what is going to happen? We know a few things. We know the tasty-looking Doom: The Dark Ages will be a central focus and that we're probably going to get a release date for it - reportedly 15th May - and we know we're getting a better look at Southern American folklore action adventure South of Midnight, which I think looks great. A release date more specific than 2025 would be welcome.The other named game on the slate for tonight is promising turn-based role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which Ed has been keeping a close - and interested - eye on, and which again, we could use a more specific release date for. Those are the named games. But we're also promised a look at a fourth game that's, as yet, a bit of a mystery. Could it be a game like Avowed or Fable, or are we going to see something completely new? Maybe it's time to wheel out the Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remake that's been speculated about.That's the general shape of things but there could be other surprises too. Join us just before 6pm UK time as we prepare to find out.Watch on YouTube14:57 pmUTCOneAyedPirate says: I'm calling FF7 Remake and Rebirth, both out now on Xbox. Either that or it's a remaster of SHOGOWhether or not its those games, you make a good point: the platform holders love a shadow drop. What may be suddenly releaased tonight, I wonder? Robert Purchese14:55 pmUTCFTJT says: Mystery fourth game's not going to be anything huge - so an old, dormant-ish Japanese IP that's not tethered to Sony or Ninty, and isn't going to be a big multiplat announcement, but is still going to have a *bit* of sizzle to it. Sure, it's probably Ninja Gaiden. But if it's Phantasy Star, I get bragging rightsFTJT is calling it! Mark it down on your bingo cards. Robert Purchese14:02 pmUTCjohndoree says: NintendogsXbogs? Robert Purchese14:02 pmUTCCarl Sheen says: The secret game is rumoured to be a new entry in a succesful Japanese franchise.Ninja Gaiden?And also been rumblings of more than 1 suprise in the presentation as well.Could it be? Granny's Gaiden. Robert Purchese