NIPGroup said it has partnered with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) to drive gaming in Abu Dhabi in a $40M deal.Read More

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreMoving beyond talk: 93% of IT leaders will launch AI agents in the next two years, Salesforce saysEveryone is talking about AI agents. But so far, a lot of that has just been, well, talk.That is set to change in 2025, according to Salesforce AI agents are finally getting real. According to a new survey from its integration and automation software company Mulesoft, 93% of enterprise IT leaders have implemented or planned to implement AI agents in the next two years.Still, enterprises continue to struggle with delivery times 29% of projects, for instance, missed that mark in 2024 and 80% say data integration is one of their biggest challenges when using AI.Integration challenges hinder companies from fully realizing the technologys potential to create a limitless digital workforce, Andrew Comstock, SVP and GM of MuleSoft, told VentureBeat. Integration is incredibly foundational to making AI agents work because AI agent outputs depend on connected data that enables a comprehensive understanding of the context and nuances within user queries.Enterprises still struggle, but are seeing AI take shapeSalesforces 10th annual MuleSoft Connectivity Benchmark Report surveyed 1,050 enterprise IT leaders. One of the key findings was that organizations today use 897 apps on average. Further, the number of AI models organizations use has doubled (from nine in 2024 to 18 this year), and organizations using agents have roughly 22 AI models deployed, significantly more than those not yet using agents (15).However, only about 29% of those apps are connected, and the majority of respondents (95%) say they struggle to integrate data across systems.Comstock explained that such integration issues impact agent accuracy and usefulness; they need to gather structured and unstructured data from diverse sources, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and human capital management (HCM) platforms, as well as emails, PDFs, Slack and other systems to make decisions and take action.IT leaders do see great value in application programming interfaces (APIs) which allow different apps to talk to each other saying they are beneficial when it comes to improving IT infrastructure, sharing data across teams and integrating disparate systems.With correct integration and APIs, agents can interact directly with their existing systems, automations and other agents across the enterprise, so that they dont have to refit everything for the AI world, said Comstock.The survey also found that IT leaders are expecting an 18% increase in projects this year, and will spend an average of $16.9 million on IT staff in 2024, more than double that of 2023. Yet still, nearly 40% of IT teams time is spent on designing, building and testing new integrations between systems and data.Thats an incredibly high percentage to spend on cumbersome work, Comstock pointed out. Every IT has more work to do than resources available, leading to backlogs, delays and inefficiencies. Agents, we believe, can close the IT delivery gap.Indeed, the majority of IT leaders polled (93%) say that AI will increase the productivity of their developers over the next three years.A digital labor workforce can act autonomously in a business to successfully carry out both simple and complex tasks, enabling increased productivity and efficiency, said Comstock. He noted that enterprises will eventually move beyond simple AI agents to super agents, which dont just respond to a single command, but pursue a goal and perform complex human tasks.Bottom line: Enterprise leaders are already seeing and experiencing AI at work. As evidenced just as recently as this week, DeepSeek has changed the baseline of what we think we can do, said Comstock.Were seeing more readiness to talk about the things that AI is going to do, more than just sort of behind the scenes, he said. What were seeing from these benchmark studies is that IT leaders are ready for that conversation.How PenFed Credit Union and Adecco are using AI agentsPenFed Credit Union is one Salesforce customer already seeing the benefit of AI agents. In less than eight weeks, the countrys third-largest federal credit union set up two new support channels live agent chat and chatbots built on Agentforce with just one engineer.The company is using Mulesoft to gather data into one unified platform. This gives service agents a 360-degree view of member data, Comstock explained, allowing them to provide better and faster support with live chat and self-service support options. Branch representatives can also handle multiple types of customer requests in a single window.As a result, PenFed now resolves 20% of cases on first contact with AI-powered chatbots, increasing chat and chatbot activity by 223% in the past year. Coincidentally or not, the credit union has also increased membership by 31%.Members get channels of choice when they need help, Comstock explained. Theyre enjoying short wait times because theyre not repeating the same information when they talk to service representatives, because the information is being connected together more effectively.Leading talent company Adecco, meanwhile, is using Agentforce, MuleSoft and Salesforce Data Cloud to centralize more than 40 disparate systems. The company processes 300 million applications a year and places 1 million people daily. However, with its traditional tooling, its recruiters can only respond to a fraction of the applications it receives, unintentionally ghosting a significant number of candidates.To address this problem, Agentforce will autonomously and automatically sift through resumes and pull together shortlists of candidates based on preset criteria such as skills, experience or location. After passing that list off to human recruiters, the model will then notify candidates who werent a good fit and suggest alternative roles. The goal: To eventually respond to 100% of applicants, Comstock explained.Similarly, Agentforce will help with job postings, identifying the most effective job boards and platforms based on past success rates and regional needs. This will remove the need for recruiters to manually publish listings.Its about How effective can we make our employees and free them up to do the most important part of their job, the pieces that are really differentiating and providing value?, Comstock noted.He pointed to other examples where AI agents could reach out on behalf of a worker who is sick on a given day and needs to find a replacement. Or, a product agent can answer questions and provide documentation, and, when asked about something out of its purview, communicate with other agents to get the answer.You can attack customer service, you can attack employee success, you can attack a variety of different vectors, said Comstock.Feedback loops will speed up later adoptionAs enterprises adopt AI agents, theyll experience an accelerated feedback loop, Comstock noted: Their next set of deployed agents will only get faster and more intelligent.That cycle is something that were going to start seeing the best companies adopt, and its going to be an incredible differentiator for them as theyre thinking about how they build their business, he said.He pointed out that he doesnt see agents at least as theyre currently constructed replacing people. Instead its an incredible complement to what humans are doing, allowing them to scale more effectively and do the work theyve been wishing they could get to.Its exciting, because this is where its real, said Comstock. This is where its moving beyond the conceptual. People are putting agents in place and are able to measure positive returns, whether from a top line or bottom line impact to their business.Daily insights on business use cases with VB DailyIf you want to impress your boss, VB Daily has you covered. We give you the inside scoop on what companies are doing with generative AI, from regulatory shifts to practical deployments, so you can share insights for maximum ROI.Read our Privacy PolicyThanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Silent Hill 2 has shipped 2m copies | News-in-briefBloober Team's remake of the 2001 survival horror passed one million sales over a week after launch in October 2024Image credit: Bloober Team News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 29, 2025 This is a News-in-brief article, our short format linking to an official source for more information. Read more about this story by following the link below:Silent Hill 2 has sold 2m copies

Games industry contributed $5.1bn to Canada's economy in 20243% economic growth in sector since 2021 despite slight decrease in employment and number of studios Feature by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on Jan. 29, 2025 Canada's games industry contributed $5.1 billion to its GDP in 2024, reflecting a 3% increase in the sector since 2021.This is according to a new economic report conducted by Nordicity for the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), conducted between May and July 2024.The total contribution of $5.1 billion to Canada's GDP was estimated to be $3.9 billion directly from the sector, with an additional $1.2 billion from broader economic effects including the supply chain and employee wages.The survey also found that 88% of the industry's revenues come from exports, with 76% of companies remaining Canadian-owned.There was a slight decrease in employment last year, which was down 3.5% compared to 2021. However, this was offset by an increase in full-time employees from 81% to 86%, in addition to a 21% rise in average salary across all roles to $102,000 per year.The report suggested that the decline in employment is due to ongoing factors in the industry, including consolidation, studio closures, and layoffs.There are currently 821 studios employing 34,010 people in Canada. Ontario has the most studios at 276, while Quebec has the majority of employees at 15,200.However, the number of studios has declined by 9% since 2021, with the majority affected being in the "micro" category, consisting of two to four employees.The ESAC suggests that these studios "are likely to have closed or downsized," noting that solely-owned companies rose from 52 in 2021 to 103 last year."The video game industry is a cornerstone of Canada's digital economy, creating high quality jobs, driving innovation, and showcasing our creativity on the global scale," said ESAC president and CEO Paul Fogolin."Our video game studios have had to navigate significant challenges coming out of the pandemic, but this report shows the maturity of the industry overall, and the importance of continuing to invest in its growth and success."

Nvidias new RTX 5080 graphics card isnt as exciting as I was hoping it would be. While the sleek new Founders Edition redesign dramatically shrinks the size of the card compared to the RTX 4080 and RTX 4080 Super, youre getting the same 16GB of VRAM and only small performance improvements over the previous generation of cards.The RTX 5080, which arrives January 30th for $999, is about 15 percent faster than the RTX 4080 at 4K without the use of any AI-powered upscaling tricks. While the RTX 4080 managed to beat the RTX 3090, and the RTX 3080 dethroned the RTX 2080 Ti, the RTX 5080 isnt enough to topple the RTX 4090. Nvidia has built up an expectation that the 80-series card will surpass the previous generations flagship, and thats simply not the case this time around. The RTX 5080 does comfortably beat its only competition at this price point: the $999 AMD RX Radeon 9700 XTX. That makes the RTX 5080 a good card for 4K if youre willing to drop settings in some games and more GPU than you probably need for 1440p. For meaningfully better 4K performance, youll have to spend $2,000 on the RTX 5090. If youre upgrading to the RTX 5080 from the RTX 3080 or RTX 3080 Ti, expect to see average performance gains of more than 50 percent at 1440p and 4K. If you want more than that, youll have to rely on Nvidias new DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen to create more frames with AI models. As we work our way down the RTX 50-series lineup, it increasingly feels like Multi Frame Gen is going to be the main talking point.7Verge ScoreNvidia GeForce RTX 5080$1000$1000The GoodSleek two-slot designDLSS 4 and Multi Frame GenGood average power draw in gamesThe Bad16GB of VRAMNot a big performance boost over the RTX 4080$1000 at Best Buy$1000 at NvidiaHow we rate and review productsHardwareThe RTX 5080 Founders Edition model looks identical to the RTX 5090. Its dramatically thinner than the RTX 4080 it succeeds, shrinking from a three-slot design down to two slots. I really like this redesign, which includes double flowthrough fans that exhaust air above the RTX 5080 into the case instead of out of the top and back of the card.The RTX 5080 has an angled power connector.Just like the RTX 5090, Nvidia has slightly angled the power connector on the RTX 5080 so its easier to fit into a variety of cases. The included dongle, which converts three eight-pin PCIe power cables to fit the cards 12VHPWR connector, has slightly more flexible cables than the one that shipped with the 40-series cards. You can also ditch the dongle and get a 12V-2x6 or 12VHPWR cable that connects directly to your power supply.Its disappointing to see Nvidia has stuck with 16GB of VRAM on the RTX 5080. AMDs RX 7900 XTX offers 24GB, and while the RTX 5080 delivers better performance for now, it may well hit video memory limits in 4K gaming in the future.Nvidia has moved the RTX 5080 to a two-slot card.4K and 1440p performanceFor both my 4K and 1440p testing, Ive paired Nvidias RTX 5080 with AMDs latest Ryzen 9 9800X3D processor and Asus 32-inch 4K OLED PG32UCDP monitor. Ive put the RTX 5080 up against the RTX 5090 Nvidias current flagship as well as the RTX 4090, RTX 4080 and 4080 Super, AMDs Radeon RX 7900 XTX, and the RTX 3080 Ti from 2021.Without DLSS or ray tracing enabled, the results are largely consistent across both 4K and 1440p: the RTX 5080 is about 15 percent faster on average than the 4080 at 4K and 12 percent faster at 1440p. Its 12 percent faster than the Radeon RX 7900 XTX at 4K and 11 percent at 1440p, and it beats the RTX 4080 Super by 11 and 10 percent, respectively.1/9Test machine:CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3DCPU cooler: Corsair H150i Elite LCDMotherboard: Gigabyte Aorus MasterRAM: 32GB G.Skill DDR5-6000Storage: Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TBPSU: Corsair HX1000WCase: Streacom BC1 V2 open benchtableThats enough to make this the best $999 graphics card, but by historical standards, its disappointing. I really wanted to see the RTX 5080 beat the RTX 4090, but it lags the older card by about 18 percent. Maybe it was a big ask for a $999 GPU to beat a $1,599 last-gen flagship. The $1,199 RTX 4080 was faster than the $1,499 RTX 3090, but there was only a $300 gap there, not $600. Still, its the first time in a long time weve had such a paltry increase in an 80-series card.Nvidias top GPU, the RTX 5090, is 50 percent faster than the RTX 5080 at 4K resolution, but its also double the price. That certainly leaves the door open for an RTX 5080 Ti, priced between the 5080 and 5090, that can beat the RTX 4090.1/9The RTX 5080 makes the most sense if youre upgrading from the RTX 30 series or earlier. At 4K, without DLSS or ray tracing, its nearly 54 percent faster than the RTX 3080 Ti (56 percent at 1440p), and youll also be able to make full use of DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen if you upgrade.DLSS 4 and Multi Frame GenNvidia claimed the RTX 5080 would be twice as fast as the RTX 4080. For those kinds of numbers, youll need to turn to DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen.Nvidias new Multi Frame Generation tech uses the latest AI graphics models, powered by an updated transformer architecture, to generate up to three additional frames per traditionally rendered frame, pushing the RTX 5080s frame rates beyond what its normally capable of at 4K. Cyberpunk 2077 is the only game with official support for DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen before the RTX 5080s official launch on January 30th. In my testing, Ive found big frame rate increases at 4K with full ray tracing enabled, with fewer graphical glitches than Nvidias previous frame-generation tech thanks to the new transformer model. Without DLSS 4, Cyberpunk runs at an unplayable 19fps average with ultra settings and full ray tracing. DLSS 4 Multi Frame Gen x4 brings that up to a far more playable 128fps, but it isnt the same as a true 128fps.DLSS Super Resolution which renders the game at a lower resolution and then uses AI to upscale it bumps the frame rate up to 38fps. Multi Frame Gen creates the three extra frames to get to that 128fps mark. While motion does look smoother, in terms of input latency, it still feels like a 38fps game. Multi Frame Gen is far less noticeable when the base frame rate with DLSS Super Resolution is higher than 60fps, so at 4K, you might need to lower the quality settings to really see the benefits.Its this Multi Frame Gen that lets Nvidia say the RTX 5080 is twice as fast as the RTX 4080, with the previous-gen card managing 62fps on average in Cyberpunk 2077 with full ray tracing and Frame Gen x2. The RTX 5080 more than doubles this with x4 enabled.Its a better story at 1440p thanks to higher base frame rates. Without DLSS 4, Cyberpunk 2077 averages 39fps at 1440p with full ray tracing and ultra settings. DLSS 4 Multi Frame Gen x4 brings that all the way up to 225fps. While its still not a true 225fps, it feels a lot better than the 4K equivalent because DLSS Super Resolution gets the base frame rate up to 73fps before Multi Frame Gen kicks in. This is the ideal situation for Multi Frame Gen because youre getting the motion clarity benefits and the game still feels more responsive. Its obviously not as responsive as 225fps would be without Multi Frame Gen if you really dropped the settings, but in a game like Cyberpunk 2077, I think people are going to notice the motion clarity improvements more than the input latency.When the RTX 5080 launches on January 30th, therell be a new DLSS override feature inside the Nvidia app that lets you force games to use its new Multi Frame Gen and transformer models. I havent been able to test this yet, since its not available, but if it works, it could be a great way to improve DLSS image quality and Frame Gen in games before developers can officially patch them.I focus most of my GPU testing on gaming because thats what GeForce cards are designed for but the RTX 5080 is also very capable of video editing or AI workloads. I found that the RTX 5080 was nearly 10 percent faster than the RTX 4080 in PugetBenchs DaVinci Resolve test, and in Procyons AI XL (FP16) test, it was nearly 28 percent faster.The RTX 5080 isnt powerful enough to beat the RTX 4090.Power draw and heatNvidia recommends an 850-watt power supply for the RTX 5080, which is 100 watts more than for the RTX 4080 and 4080 Super. The RTX 5080s total graphics power is 40 watts more than the RTX 4080; it maxes out at 360 watts instead of the massive 575-watt power draw of the RTX 5090.Im glad to see that the RTX 5080 doesnt significantly increase the power draw over the previous generation. I only saw it hit 360W once, in the Metro Exodus extreme benchmark. Even in Cyberpunk 2077 running full path tracing and no DLSS, it only got up to 348 watts.More impressively, on average, the RTX 5080 drew 278 watts of power across the nine games tested without DLSS or ray tracing. Thats slightly less than the 281-watt average I found on the RTX 4080 but 12 watts more than the RTX 4080 Super. The RTX 5080 didnt heat up excessively in my open bench testing. The highest temperature I recorded was in Metro Exodus, where it reached 71 degrees Celsius (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The RTX 4080 reached 68C in this same test, and the RTX 4080 Super hit a maximum of 63C.The fans on the RTX 5080 push air out of the top.DLSS 4 is really the star of the show so far with the RTX 50 series, but there still arent enough games to test it with. Multi Frame Gen has shown early promise, and it makes a lot more sense at 1440p in Cyberpunk 2077 on the RTX 5080 than it does at 4K. Im waiting to test more games with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen or even the ability to force these options on with the Nvidia app.The RTX 5080 is the best $999 card on the market right now, beating AMDs Radeon RX 9700 XTX by an average of 11 or 12 percent across the games I tested, without DLSS or ray tracing. Its a significant upgrade over an RTX 30 series or earlier, with over 50 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 3080 Ti, plus access to the latest Multi Frame Generation technique. The 5080 offers about two-thirds the performance of the RTX 5090 for half the price and a little more than half the power draw. But Nvidia hasnt delivered the pure performance gains I was expecting. The RTX 5080 isnt the cheaper RTX 4090 many were hoping for. I wanted to see a more meaningful bump to 4K performance than just 15 percent over the RTX 4080 without DLSS. Im left wondering whether Nvidia will introduce an RTX 5080 Ti down the line and how close the upcoming $749 RTX 5070 Ti will get to the RTX 5080.See More:

Users should be able to browse more freely. albeit with a slower connection. | Image: NordVPNNordVPN has announced a new NordWhisper protocol that makes it easier to bypass networks that typically block VPN connections. The protocol operates differently from traditional VPN traffic patterns that can sometimes be detected by network administrators, and should provide a smoother and more consistent browsing experience in environments with restrictive internet security filters, such as airports, cafes, offices, and schools.The protocol is based on web tunnel technology that disguises hidden connection behaviors as ordinary internet traffic. The privacy-focused Tor Project introduced a similar bridging tech for its Tor Browser in March 2024. The mimicry makes it harder for advanced network filters to recognize VPN encryptions, but NordVPN says that the NordWhisper protocol may work slower than traditional VPN connections, and so should only be used when those are being blocked.The NordWhisper protocol is being rolled out gradually on Windows, Android, and Linux, with support for more platforms coming over time. No ETA has been provided. When it does arrive, NordVPN users will find the option to enable the new protocol within the NordVPN app connection settings.Its not just about getting around network restrictions, NordVPN CTO Marijus Briedis says in a statement. Its about empowering people to work, communicate, and access essential services securely and freely, even in the most restrictive environments.

Serena Dugan had always used her time on Shelter Island as an escape from professional life. The painter, textile designer, and entrepreneur typically rented a house in this low-key community near the north fork of Long Island for the summer season, relishing the chance to unplug, relax with family, and take a break from her busy professional life in California. However, in 2021, when it came time to choose her summer spot, Dugan found herself browsing Zillow instead of the rental listings. It was the first time I found myself itching for a creative outlet space in addition to a place to stay, and I couldnt find anything that worked, she explains. Dugan found the ultimate creative outlet: A historic shingle cottage with a magnificent porch that she renovated to her exact specifications. But now that she had made a dream gathering place for her family and friends, a place where she planned to spend more time in the future, the only thing missing was a space for Dugan to do her own work. To get that, she had to start from scratch.Built from the ground up, the new barn behind Dugans vacation home is her true sanctuary. Completed last year, the structure began as just a studio but quickly expanded into a gallery and hosting space on the weekends. If youre going to take the time to put a foundation in, why not make it two stories instead of just one, she says.CHRISTIAN HARDER The interior of Dugans barn studio. The sliding doors separate her current works in progress from her completed archive.CHRISTIAN HARDERDugans Shelter Island cottage is a high-low masterpiece. See Inside the House!Dugan, a cofounder of Serena and Lily, which she left in 2017, knows exactly what environment helps her creativity thrive. Im really thoughtful about how and when I produce my best work, Dugan explains. The time of day, the scent, the music, all of it was taken into consideration. Theres a kicking sound system, of course, and flexible tables that can be moved around to accommodate a variety of canvas sizes as well as Dugans shifting needs to view her work from different angles.Though Dugan is known for her love of color, the walls of the studio are a crisp white. This allows her to clearly see each paint color shes using and to channel inspiration without distraction. Im very superstitious about how I start a painting, everything has to be perfectly clean and in its proper place, Dugan says. (Her storage space reflects this: Her paint collection is housed in custom shelving.) But nothing is too rigidevery surface was made to be easily repainted. Dugan wanted to be able to adjust the space to different moods and artistic whims.Tucked away in an alcove at the backand painted blackis the area where Dugan stores her completed work. Inspired by libraries and the Smithsonian, Dugan wanted this archive to feel hushed and reverent. I wanted this barn to feel open yet compartmentalized, she says of the different spaces she carved out. You have every part of the creative processideation, creation, and then the archive.It was the first time I found myself itching for a creative outlet space in addition to a place to stay.CHRISTIAN HARDERThere arejars of brushes and pens on every one of Dugans tables.CHRISTIAN HARDERDugan with one of her own textile designs.CHRISTIAN HARDERBolts of fabric and paper are always within easy reach for when an idea strikes.CHRISTIAN HARDERA tray of pastels on one ofDugans work tables.Floor-to-ceiling windows (with custom blinds), overhead lighting, and a skylight allow the space to have natural light from three directions. This wasnt because Dugan is particular about the light in which she paints, but rather so that she could perfectly judge how her paintings would look in their eventual final home. She asks herself, Do colors appear the same under artificial light as they do under daylight, and does my barns daylight reflect general light in most people's houses? Am I seeing this the way most people will see it? CHRISTIAN HARDERDugans ideation space, which doubles as a guest room, houses all of her design books, inspiration sources, and the material library.Upstairs, Dugans office doubles as a guest room. Design books and textile swatches line the walls, while her desk is central and clutter-free. Dugan admits that she hasnt gotten much use out of this room yet; she hopes that the more time her family spends on Shelter Island, the more mental space shell have for ideation. Ideally, this is the room I plan in before I paint, she says. This is where I gather inspiration.You have every part of the creative processideation, creation, and then the archive.Unexpectedly, the space also serves as a wonderful place for a party. Dugan hosted her birthday in the space and was delighted by how well the barn became a dance floor. We turned the kitchenette into a bar and wheeled the tables out of the way to dance, she says. The barn is only a year old, and Dugan says shes still figuring out how she works best in the space, but so far shes the most inspired shes ever been. What's thrilling about this for me is the goal, which isnt necessarily to sell, its to unearth, she says. I want to find out what I have to say next. Only time will tell.CHRISTIAN HARDERWeather permitting, the barn doors are kept open to allow both air and light to flow through the open space.House BeautifulThe side of Dugans barn, which backs up to her driveway, includes a seating area for family and friendsand Dugan, when she takes a break from painting.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Along with threatening to impose a tariff on all goods from Canada and Mexico, Trump said this week that he also plans to impose duties of up to 100% on silicon chips imported into the US.Some are suggesting that this would affect the price of everything Apple makes, as its chips are made in Taiwan, but thats almost certainly not the case Threatened tariffs on imported chipsThe Register reports that Trump threatened to set the rate as high as 100%.In the very near future, we are going to be placing tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals to return production of these essential goods to the United States of America, the US presidentsaidwhile speaking during the House Republican Issues Conference.The incentive is going to be theyre not going to want to pay a 25, 50, or even a 100 percent tax, he added.A 100% tariff would double the cost of chips imported by US companies for use in American-made electronic products. Those increased costs would then be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.Unlikely to affect Apple devicesSome are suggestingthat because all Apple devices contain processors made in Taiwan, as well as a whole set of other chips mostly made in China, that the Cupertino company would be hit by these tariffs.However, the chips made by TSMC in Taiwan are then sent to countries like China, India, and Vietnam for use in devices assembled there. Those whole devices are then imported into the US.If chip tariffs were applied to every device containing chips, that would impact a massive swathe of products, ranging from smartwatches through washing machines to cars.This is very different from the tariffs Trump imposed on a huge range of products in his previous presidency. These taxes would indeed have hit Apple products, but the company managed to have most of its devices excluded after writing to Trump to explain the damage that would be done to the US economy.Trump has persistently misrepresented tariffs as a tax paid by foreign companies exporting goods to the US. The reality is that they are levied on imported goods at the point of entry, and paid by the American companies and consumers who import the products.Photo byGnustangonUnsplashAdd 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

A federal judge last summer ruled that the $20B+ Google pays to Apple to be the default search engine on the Cupertino companys devices was illegal.Several Apple execs testified in the case, but a request to present an additional three witnesses has been refused by the judge, saying Apple left it too late The story so farIf you carry out a web search by typing your query into the integrated Safari bar, that search will (unless you manually changed the default) be carried out on Google. Thats because Google pays Apple a multi-billion dollar sum each year for the privilege.Thats a great deal for Google, because it gets a huge amount of its search traffic from Apple users, and thus the ability to place ads in front of them. Apple customers are also a particularly valuable demographic for advertisers, thanks to the fact that they have higher than average incomes.Its also a great deal for Apple because its free money. They have to set a default, and Google is the best-known search engine, so theyd probably do it anyway.The exact amount has never been revealed, and Apple hides it inside its Services revenue, but it was estimated to have climbed from the low single-digit billions at the outset to over $20B today.Those estimates appear to have been pretty accurate, because the antitrust case against Google resulted in the accidental disclosure of the 2022 figure, which was indeed $20B.A judge found that Google was indeed breaking antitrust law by making the payment to Apple, and proposed that it must cease doing so for the next 10 years. That would mean a big hit to Apples Services revenue. The remainder of the case is about whether the proposed remedy will be finalized or modified.Apple wanted to add witnesses, judge refusedJust before Christmas, on December 23, Apple filed a last-minute request to present three additional witnesses, to help defend its own position. (To be clear, Apple is not accused of any wrong-doing by accepting the payment, but has an obvious financial interest in the outcome.)However, the Courthouse News Service reports that the judge has declined this request, telling the company it waited far too late to make it, as it would now add an unacceptable delay to the case.U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta explained in his ruling that Apples motion was untimely and thus he must deny the motion to intervene []Apple knew (or should have known) that waiting two-and-a-half months to intervene in a proceeding scheduled to last just eight months altogether would constitute a significant delay, Mehta said, referencing his expected remedy decision in August 2025.Mehta said that there would be the direct delay caused by additional testimony; likely additional delays caused by Apple not limiting its testimony to the specific issues raised; and by opening the floodgates to similar requests from other companies like Samsung and AT&T, with whom Google has similar arrangements.The judge will, however, allow Apple to submit an amicus brief, which he will consider in reaching his final ruling. An amicus brief literally a contribution from a friend of the court is a paper submitted by someone who is not a party to a trial but who believes they can provide context or advice that might prove helpful to the judge.Photo byFirmbee.comonUnsplashAdd 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

Ransomware attacks have reached an unprecedented scale in the healthcare sector, exposing vulnerabilities that put millions at risk. Recently, UnitedHealth revealed that 190 million Americans had their personal and healthcare data stolen during the Change Healthcare ransomware attack, a figure that nearly doubles the previously disclosed total. This breach shows just how deeply ransomware can infiltrate critical systems, leaving patient trust and care hanging in the balance.One of the groups that targets this already fragile sector is the Interlock ransomware group. Known for their calculated and sophisticated attacks, they focus on hospitals, clinics, and other medical service providers.Interlock Ransomware Group: An Active Threat to HealthcareThe Interlock ransomware group is a relatively recent but dangerous player in the world of cybercrime, known for employing double-extortion tactics. This method involves encrypting a victim's data to disrupt operations and threatens to leak sensitive information if ransom demands are not met. Their primary motivation is financial gain, and their methods are tailored to maximize pressure on their targets.Notable characteristicsSophistication: The group uses advanced techniques like phishing, fake software updates, and malicious websites to gain initial access.Persistence: Their ability to remain undetected for long periods amplifies the damage they can cause.Rapid deployment: Once inside a network, they quickly move laterally, stealing sensitive data and preparing systems for encryption.Tailored ransom demands: The group carefully assesses the value of the stolen data to set ransom amounts that victims are likely to pay.Recent Targets by Interlock Ransomware GroupIn late 2024, Interlock targeted multiple healthcare organizations in the United States, exposing sensitive patient information and severely disrupting operations. Victims included:Brockton Neighborhood Health Center: Breached in October 2024, with the attack remaining undetected for nearly two months.Legacy Treatment Services: Detected in late October 2024.Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service: Compromised data uncovered in the same period.Interlock Ransomware Group Attack ChainThe Interlock ransomware group begins its attack with a strategic and highly deceptive method known as a Drive-by Compromise. This technique allows the group to gain initial access to targeted systems by exploiting unsuspecting users, often through carefully designed phishing websites.Initial Attack of the RansomwareThe attack starts when the Interlock group either compromises an existing legitimate website or registers a new phishing domain. These sites are carefully crafted to appear trustworthy, mimicking credible platforms like news portals or software download pages. The sites often contain links to download fake updates or tools, which, when executed, infect the user's device with malicious software.Example: ANY.RUN's interactive sandbox detected a domain flagged as part of Interlock's activity, apple-online.shop. The latter was designed to trick users into downloading malware disguised as legitimate software. This tactic effectively bypasses the initial layer of user suspicion, but with early detection and analysis, SOC teams can quickly identify malicious domains, block access, and respond faster to emerging threats, reducing the potential impact on business operations.View analysis sessionapple-online.shop flagged as part of Interlock's activity inside ANY.RUN sandboxEquip your team with the tools to combat cyber threats. Get a 14-day free trial and analyze unlimited threats with ANY.RUN.Execution: How Interlock Gains ControlOnce the Interlock ransomware group breaches initial defenses, the Execution phase begins. At this stage, attackers deploy malicious payloads or execute harmful commands on compromised devices, setting the stage for full control over the victim's network.Interlock ransomware often disguises its malicious tools as legitimate software updates to deceive users. Victims unknowingly launch fake updaters, such as those mimicking Chrome, MSTeams, or Microsoft Edge installers, thinking they are performing routine maintenance. Instead, these downloads activate Remote Access Tools (RATs), which grant attackers full access to the infected system.Inside ANY.RUN's sandbox session, one of the updaters, upd_8816295.exe, is clearly identified within the process tree on the right-hand side, showing its malicious behavior and execution flow.Fake updater analyzed inside ANY.RUN sandboxBy clicking the Malconf button on the right side of the ANY.RUN sandbox session, we reveal the encrypted URL hidden within the fake updater. Analysts receive detailed data in a clear and user-friendly format, helping companies improve their threat response workflows, reduce analysis time, and achieve faster and more effective results when fighting against cyber threats.Decrypted malicious URL inside ANY.RUN sandboxCompromising Sensitive AccessThe next step of the attack is to steal access credentials. These credentials grant attackers the ability to move laterally within the network and further exploit the victim's infrastructure.The Interlock ransomware group used a custom Stealer tool to harvest sensitive data, including usernames, passwords, and other authentication credentials. According to reports, this stolen information was stored in a file named "chrgetpdsi.txt", which served as a collection point before exfiltration.Using ANY.RUN's TI Lookup tool, we uncovered that this Stealer was detected on the platform as early as August 2024.Interlock Stealer detected by ANY.RUNLateral Movement: Expanding the FootholdDuring the Lateral Movement phase, attackers spread across the network to access additional systems and resources. The Interlock ransomware group relied on legitimate remote administration tools such as Putty, Anydesk, and RDP, often used by IT teams but repurposed for malicious activities.Putty detected inside ANY.RUNData Exfiltration: Extracting Stolen InformationIn this final stage, attackers exfiltrate stolen data out of the victim's network, often using cloud storage services. The Interlock ransomware group, for instance, leveraged Azure cloud storage to transfer data outside the organization.Inside the ANY.RUN Sandbox we can see how the data is being sent to attacker-controlled servers. For example, here logs revealed information being transmitted to IP 217[.]148.142.19 over port 443 during an Interlock attack.Data sent by the RAT to attacker-controlled servers revealed by ANY.RUNProactive Protection Against Ransomware in HealthcareThe healthcare sector is a prime target for ransomware groups like Interlock, with attacks that jeopardize sensitive patient data, disrupt critical services, and put lives at risk. Healthcare organizations must stay cautious and prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect their systems and data.Early detection is the key to minimizing damage. Tools like ANY.RUN Sandbox allow healthcare teams to identify threats like Interlock early in the attack chain, providing actionable insights to prevent data breaches before they occur. With the ability to safely analyze suspicious files, uncover hidden Indicators of Compromise (IOCs), and monitor network activity, ANY.RUN gives organizations the power to fight back against advanced threats.Start your free 14-day ANY.RUN trial today and give your team the tools to help them stop ransomware threats before they escalate.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.