New Play Store warningNurPhoto via Getty ImagesGoogles new updates have made Android safer and more secure than ever before. This weeks identity check update, protecting your data even if someone has your PIN, is just the latest advance. And Android 15 now finally making its way onto Samsungs does finally narrow the gap to iPhone. But its not all good news theres a major issue that is keeping Android stuck materially behind iPhone, and it needs to change.Were talking permission abuse, which has always been a serious threat to users. A new report is just the latest alarming wake-up call, uncovering alarming security and privacy concerns. This latest research has also exposed hardcoded secrets embedded within some apps which poses a serious risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.The report is from Leakd, which investigated 51 top downloaded crypto apps from Google Play. The teams focus was how these apps manage permissions, network configurations, embedded trackers, and hardcoded secrets. And their findings are both surprising and concerning; many apps overreach by requesting unnecessary permissions, show glaring security weaknesses, and fail to adhere to even basic privacy standards, putting you at considerable risk.Crypto apps number of trackers found LeakdMORE FOR YOUiPhones are far from perfect, but theyre better. The hope is Googles new live threat detection is the beginning of an on-device permission abuse crackdown. But I fear that its not at least not yet. This report follows a similar one from last year that looked at some of the most popular apps in general, and found much the same. I have asked Google for any comments on these latest findings. Clearly, something needs to change.Leakd says these vulnerabilities arent just theoretical. Excessive permissions and insecure configurations can lead to: data theft sensitive user information, including identity documents and private keys, can be intercepted; account takeovers hardcoded secrets and weak authorization controls provide attackers with easy entry points; and privacy breaches overuse of trackers undermines user anonymity, exposing personal activity to third parties.Trackers and permissions are readily understood, silently collecting data about how you interact with an app and sometimes even your activities outside of it trackers often go unnoticed, harvesting information that can paint an intimate picture of your behavior, habits, and preferences. Its this abuse that is behind the collection of sensitive location data, that promoted NSA to warn users to disable such settings and enabled an alarming data breach earlier this month.But Leakd also looked into app code exposure. While trackers quietly collect data in the background, hardcoded secrets present a more overt and critical threat to your security. These embedded secrets including API keys, authentication tokens, and sensitive system configurations are directly baked into the app's code. If exposed, they provide attackers with a straightforward route to compromise critical systems, gain unauthorized access, or manipulate app functionality.Crypto apps number of permissions per appLeakdThats worrying, but its permission abuse that is the more serious and widespread threat and should be the easier problem to solve. We can see the permissions each app seeks and AI-fueled defenses are not yet successfully asking why. One of the most disturbing issues identified was the sheer number of permissions requested by the apps. On average, each app requested around 22.9 permissions, with some going as high as 45 These excessive permissions create a large attack surface, making you more vulnerable to exploitation.Given the sensitive nature of these crypto apps, Leakd recommends you do the following:Be Permission-Conscious: Before installing an app, check the permissions it requests. Avoid apps asking for irrelevant permissions.Opt for Secure Options: Choose apps with a proven track record of security and transparency.Use Separate Wallets: Avoid storing large amounts of cryptoassets in apps with questionable security.You should also limit the number of these apps that you keep on your phone you certainly do not want to collect multiple apps highlighted in the report to compound the risk. You should also check each of the apps you have for access to sensitive permissions. This means location, phone and messaging data, and access to content such as contacts that is not needed for the core functionality of the app itself. I have reached out to Google for any comments on this latest report.

A surge in sales of electric vehicles in the final months of last year could continue well into 2025, as consumers continue to take advantage of federal tax incentives while they last, according to a report by the Associated Press.On the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Unleashing American Energy, which says the government is considering the elimination of unfair subsidies and other ill-conceived government-imposed market distortions that favor EVs over other technologies.Recommended VideosDuring his campaign, Trumps team said it was planning to end the Biden administrations $7,500 tax credit on the purchase or lease of an EV, although it did not provide a timeline for doing so.Please enable Javascript to view this contentAmericans rushed to take advantage of the incentive, helping fuel a surge of more than 15% in EV sales in the fourth quarter, according to Cox Automotive.Recent surveys show that incentives have played a major role in fueling EV sales over the past few years, and that a majority of Americans are in favor of government incentives to help with the purchase of an EV.Meanwhile, the wording in Trumps executive order, which says his administration is still considering its options, leaves room for ambiguity about the timing of its application.Temporarily, sales of EVs could skyrocket as car-buyers rush to take advantage of existing tax credits, the report by the Associated Press says.In order to repeal the EV tax credit, the Trump administration will need to obtain the approval of congress. The process will likely take place as part of broader negotiations on extending Trumps first-term tax cuts, which are due to expire near the end of 2025.Its also not entirely clear if the Trump administration will seek to end the whole of the $7,500 EV tax incentive. In order to obtain the incentive for the purchase of an EV, restrictions apply for high-income households and for EVs with non-U.S. made batteries. But those restrictions dont apply to leasing an EV.According to Cox Automotive, members of the Trump administration are particularly keen on ending this leasing loophole, which was created partly to appease Korean and Japanese automakers, who have invested billions in U.S. EV manufacturing.Ending rebates and other subsidies for EVs is also likely to meet challenges, be they legal or political, from different actors.The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group whose members include the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, has come out in support of incentives for both the production and the sale of EVs.ZETA says the incentives for both EV and battery-makers have led to enormous investments and job gains in Republican-dominated states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia.Editors Recommendations

Ukraine took a huge risk attacking into Russia and taking territory last year.It has had positives and negatives for both countries.But if it still holds enough of the territory as Trump pushes for negotiations it could pay off.Ukraine's risky gamble to seize Russian territory could ultimately pay off, if for no other reason than the timing.Ukrainian forces rolled the dice on a gamble and advanced into the Russian region of Kursk in August. They opted to use precious manpower and weaponry in a bold play to divert Russian resources, create a buffer zone, seize the momentum, and take land and prisoners that could be exchanged in future negotiations. The move into Kursk was a shocking development in the Ukraine war, the front lines of which had been static for months.But the results of the surprise incursion have been mixed. While war experts have said it was a reasonable call given the morale and momentum wins, as well as the upsetting of Russia's war plans, the move hasn't significantly relieved pressure on the front lines in Ukraine, and the Ukrainians have struggled to hold a lot of what they captured.Despite the setbacks, the timing of this thing could make it worthwhile. Right now, Ukraine is holding Russian territory amid a new push to end the war through negotiations.Whoever holds territory in Kursk "is going to be in the box seat for any ceasefire negotiations," Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a defense expert and a former commander for the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear forces, told Business Insider.New talk of negotiationsTim Willasey-Wilsey, a conflict resolution expert at King's College London and a former British diplomat,saidthis month that for Ukraine, the Kursk operation was "quite deliberate" because it was "trying to take some territory which could lead to bargaining."And now Trump's re-election has created new talk of efforts to revolve the war through negotiations.Trump has repeatedly said that he would end the war through negotiations. This week, he said he would put more economic pressure on Russia to get it to make a deal.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also signaled an increased willingness to enter talks.Zelenskyy said in November the parts of Ukraine still under its own control could be taken "under the NATO umbrella" as part of an agreement that still holds Ukraine's borders as its internationally recognized borders. He said Ukraine could then negotiate the return of its own territory that was still under Russian control "in a diplomatic way."De Bretton-Gordon said Zelenskyy's comments reinforce that "Kursk is absolutely key."A "victory plan" Zelenskyy unveiled in October also called for the continuation of Ukraine's work in Kursk, hinting at its value. De Bretton-Gordon said it shows Zelenskyy may be seeing Kursk as "a key bargaining chip."Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI that given Trump is "almost certain" to push negotiations, "it's good to have this bargaining chip." Plus, he said, negotiations are likely to take place sooner than they would have under a Kamala Harris presidency, making it more likely that Ukraine could hold on to a significant chunk of Kursk."It could work out well" for Ukraine, he said.Kursk holds significance for the Russians, as it was a key battle and turning point in World War II. Holding Kursk gives Ukraine, which has often been on its back foot, something it can use in negotations.Russia may want to fight over KurskThere's no guarantee it gets to negotiations, though. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson said last month that Russia sees "no grounds for negotiations yet." Putin has signaled that he doesn't want to slow down and take his foot off the gas.George Barros, a conflict expert at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI Kursk "certainly can" play a role in negotiations, but he suspects that Russian President Vladimir Putin would rather fight rather than negotiate for Kursk.Negotiating over his own territory would be a "massive humiliation for Putin," he said.Russia hasn't pushed as hard as it could in Kursk. Barros said "it's quite clear to me that Kursk has not been a primary objective." Were that to change, it could have significant effects.There are limits to what Russia can do. Focusing on Kursk could mean taking more troops out of Ukraine something Ukraine wants as it takes the pressure off its forces. That might open the door for Ukraine to take back more of its own territory. It's hard to know.Negotiations might still be a long way offIf there are negotiations, they may not be immediate, and Ukraine will need to be holding a good-sized chunk to use Kursk as a bargaining chip.Ukraine has lost much of what it held, though warfare experts said it likely gave some of that up willingly to strategically defend other parts. Some experts are still bullish about what Ukraine is holding. De Bretton-Gordon, for instance, said "Ukraine's still holding a significant amount."And Ukraine also executed a new offensive push in Kursk this month. The move was "likely to grant Kyiv diplomatic leverage," Can Kasapolu, a political-military expert at the Hudson Institute, wrote recently.But for the gamble to pay off for Ukraine in terms of timing, Ukraine still needs to be holding ground if negotiations turn real something Trump advisors said could take months more. That could be a tall order, but with the possibility of talks being openly discussed, that makes Kursk even more important.

2025-01-25T10:23:02Z Read in app An illustration of the hybrid tank prototype. Landships.info This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.Have an account? The US military sought to develop a tank to break the trench warfare stalemate during World War I.British and French tanks inspired the US Army to design their own armored vehicle.The US tractor-turned-tank failed but influenced future tank and armored vehicle development.The US military sought an armored weapon to bypass the heavily defended trenches along the Western Front during World War I.Traditional infantry and cavalry tactics weren't cutting it against the heavy artillery and especially machine guns, calling for shielded firepower to strike fortified positions. The emergence of British and French tanks prompted the US Army, which lacked experience with tank development, to design a tank of their own to overcome the stalemate.But the US' ambitious endeavor to create a successful armored vehicle fell short, with a prototype that was impractical for combat just as the war was ending.Nonetheless, the failed prototype laid the groundwork for tanks and armored vehicles of the future. Tractor turned tankA 1917 Holt gun tractor on display at a fair in Dorset, England. Matt Cardy/Getty Images Leveraging its domestic transportation industry, the US military partnered with Holt Manufacturing Company, known for its tractors used to tow artillery.They developed a prototype built off of an existing Holt Model 75 tractor powered by a modified hybrid gas-electric engine. The four-cylinder gasoline engine supplied power to two General Electric motors that drove each track individually for improved mobility and had enough space at the front to accommodate its main cannon.Tracked treads better distribute weight than wheels and allow a vehicle to cross more types of terrain an especially important quality for heavy vehicles whose weight is measured in many tons.DesignSketches that detail the design of the Holt hybrid tank prototype. miSci- Museum of Innovation & Science/Google Arts and Culture Protected by a layer of 15mm steel armor, the tank could accommodate a crew of six commander, driver, two machine gunners, a main gunner, and a loader.It was armed with a Vickers mountain cannon at the front and two machine guns on either side of the boxy tank.The tank was a response to the annihilating firepower seen on the Western Front, where artillery barrages were commonplace and advancing columns of foot soldiers were mowed down by emplaced machine gunners.The sheer scale of the carnage was shocking. In the Allied offensive known as the Battle of the Somme in 1916, an estimated 620,000 British and French troops were killed or wounded.A shielded hull was intended to carry troops past deadly machine gun nests and target those positions with heavy fire, clearing the path for infantry.ProblemsThe tank prototype rolls over a hill. Landships.info However, its bulky armor and equipped weaponry made the prototype of the hybrid tank far too heavy, weighing about 25 tons. Its 90-horsepower engine struggled to propel the tank, which moved at a top speed of 6 mph and was practically immobile on an incline.That was hugely underpowered. A modern M1 Abrams, the US Army's main battle tank, moves its 68-ton bulk around with a 1,500-horsepower engine.A more successful variationPeople ride atop two tracked vehicles, one of which has an electrically propelled gun mount. miSci- Museum of Innovation & Science But the US military didn't give up. Instead, it chose to create a variation of the first design by adding just an electrically propelled gun mount to the gas-electric tractor.While more successful than its predecessor, the armed tractor ultimately never made it to combat since it was completed after the armistice was signed and WWI came to an end.Poor timingA person riding the hybrid tank shows their head above the vehicle. miSci- Museum of Innovation & Science Though the hybrid tank didn't appear on the battlefield, it did appear on the silver screen.American animation studio International Film Service, owned by media magnate William Randolph Hearst, produced a miniseries in 1917 that featured vehicles similar in design to the Holt tank.The series' final battle featured US troops ahead of a twin-turreted prop tank, though much of the footage for the series has been destroyed or lost in the last century.

A $100 price rise for video games is good for everyone Readers FeatureGameCentralPublished January 25, 2025 9:00am Would you pay 100 for GTA 6? (Rockstar)A reader argues that rumours of GTA 6 costing up to 100 could be good for gaming, if it ends the need for live service games and microtransactions.Theres a lot of rumours that go around in the video game world and a lot of them seem to come true just ask Nintendo. One thats been around for a while now is the idea that Rockstar Games is going to charge $100 (so likely 100) for GTA 6. It was just a rumour and not from one of the better sources, so a lot of people dismissed it even though you can totally imagine it as something theyd want to do.Now, this week, I read that analysts have hope that not only is GTA 6 going to cost that much but that other games will be able to charge that much as well and the ones that cant justify it can at least increase their price by $10/10. So 80 would probably become the new norm, with 100 reserved for the very biggest games (Id imagine Call Of Duty and EA Sports FC, for example).I honestly think this would be a good thing. I know what youre thinking but hear me out, because I know Im not the first to say that games need a price rise, and that theyve become completely disconnected from the amount of time and money need to make them. Which is why we have so few new ideas and too many microtransactions.The most obvious argument in favour of a price rise is that games have barely increased in price since they were invented. Back in the day, new SNES games were either 50 or 60, so prices actually went down at the start of the PlayStation era. I dont remember how much Starwing (aka Star Fox) was at the time, but I do know it was more expensive than even that.60 in 1992 is 130 when adjusted for inflation, so not only are games today still cheaper than they were back in the 90s but even increasing them to 100 would be a lot less than even just a standard game back in the cartridge days.I dont know why publishers dont constantly try to increase the price. Youd think doing it by just a few pounds every couple of years would get people used to the idea and mean no sudden leaps. But they havent done that and so whenever there is a price increase people get very angry.Im not in favour of this because Im rich or anything but were constantly told that most people only buy a few games each year, so in that sense a modest increase doesnt seem so bad. Its not like Im advocating increasing your grocery bill by double every week. Call Of Duty is already 70 (Activision)But I believe that many of the problems we have with games at the moment is because publishers are struggling to make enough money from them and have to constantly invent things like DLC and microtransactions to get more money out of people. No game is ever complete nowadays, without buying extra content and the idea of having unlockables that are free just doesnt happen anymore.Theyre always looking to nickel and dime us and, to be honest, I can kind of see why. Before you think Ive gone crazy Im not saying everything should be 100 but if something like GTA 6 has taken $2 billion and a decade to make Im fairly confident its going to be worth it.Not every game is going to be in that situation though and I think one of the main benefits of the price increase is that it could pay for the other games. A lot of people dont realise that most games make little or no profit, most publishers only have one or two big games that make the money and thats why publishers are so desperate to have a hit live service game, despite it being so unlikely.A price rise would mean they no longer need to chase that rainbow, plus they can make smaller and more experimental games a lot easier. They wouldnt do being this out of a love of gaming but simply because they know they need new blood and its getting harder and harder to afford taking that chance.More TrendingI for one would be very happy if a 100 EA Sports FC, for example, ended up paying for EA to make some new games and try and stop fleecing everyone. If we know how much a game is going to be upfront and theres absolutely no hidden extras, I think thats a lot better situation to what weve got today.By reader Grackle Would you pay more for EA Sports FC 25s sequel? (EA)The readers features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you wont need to send an email.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Full Video - https://youtu.be/R1DBsm3Zlwg FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif NFT - https://opensea.io/CGHOW Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Support me on - paypal.me/9953280644Create Portal Gate Energy Effect in Unreal Engine 5.4 Niagara Tutorial #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengineniagara #realtimevfxVisit - https://cghow.com/ Unreal Engine Marketplace - https://bit.ly/3aojvAa Artstation Store - https://www.artstation.com/ashif/store Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/

Full Video - https://youtu.be/Et_-Mhu7aCo FAB - https://www.fab.com/sellers/CGHOW Whatsapp - https://bit.ly/3LYvxjK Patreon- https://www.patreon.com/Ashif NFT - https://opensea.io/CGHOW Twitter - https://twitter.com/cghow_ If you Liked it - http://bit.ly/2UZmiZ4 Channel Ashif - http://bit.ly/3aYaniw Support me on - paypal.me/9953280644Water Material in Unreal Engine 5.4 Tutorial #cghow #UE5 #UE4Niagara #gamefx #ue5niagara #ue4vfx #niagara #unrealengineniagara #realtimevfxVisit - https://cghow.com/ Unreal Engine Marketplace - https://bit.ly/3aojvAa Artstation Store - https://www.artstation.com/ashif/store Gumroad - https://cghow.gumroad.com/

Organisms from three different natural kingdoms battle it out for the title "deadliest food."

3D Artist Chiro Fujita, Principal Character Artist at 1047 Games who worked on Splitgate 2 and an ex-Blizzard employee, showcased a comic-style artwork depicting an anthropomorphic fox based on character design by Satoshi Matsuura.The artwork is titled Hunter and, according to the creator of the original design, is an interpretation of a mythical creature.The comic-style artwork by Chiro Fujita is a take on the artists previous recreation of the character. Chiro shared that the tutorial on the art is coming soon:Check out other incredible artwork created by the artist:The creator also shares tips on using Blender:Visit Chiro Fujitas ArtStation to see more artwork anddont forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our new Discord server, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Telegram, TikTok, and Threads, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Splitgate 2 Creator Unveils Comic-Style Artwork of Mythical Fox Hunter appeared first on CG SHARES.

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