Feb 05, 2025Ravie LakshmananCryptocurrency / Data BreachThe North Korea-linked Lazarus Group has been linked to an active campaign that leverages fake LinkedIn job offers in the cryptocurrency and travel sectors to deliver malware capable of infecting Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.According to cybersecurity company Bitdefender, the scam begins with a message sent on a professional social media network, enticing them with the promise of remote work, part-time flexibility, and good pay."Once the target expresses interest, the 'hiring process' unfolds, with the scammer requesting a CV or even a personal GitHub repository link," the Romanian firm said in a report shared with The Hacker News."Although seemingly innocent, these requests can serve nefarious purposes, such as harvesting personal data or lending a veneer of legitimacy to the interaction."Once the requested details are obtained, the attack moves to the next stage where the threat actor, under the guise of a recruiter, shares a link to a GitHub or Bitbucket repository containing a minimum viable product (MVP) version of a supposed decentralized exchange (DEX) project and instructs the victim to check it out and provide their feedback.Present within the code is an obfuscated script that's configured to retrieve a next-stage payload from api.npoint[.]io, a cross-platform JavaScript information stealer that's capable of harvesting data from various cryptocurrency wallet extensions that may be installed on the victim's browser.The stealer also doubles up as a loader to retrieve a Python-based backdoor responsible for monitoring clipboard content changes, maintaining persistent remote access, and dropping additional malware.At this stage, it's worth noting that the tactics documented by Bitdefender exhibit overlaps with a known attack activity cluster dubbed Contagious Interview (aka DeceptiveDevelopment and DEV#POPPER), which is designed to drop a JavaScript stealer called BeaverTail and Python implant referred to as InvisibleFerret.The malware deployed by means of the Python malware is a .NET binary that can download and start a TOR proxy server to communicate with a command-and-control (C2) server, exfiltrate basic system information, and deliver another payload that, in turn, can siphon sensitive data, log keystrokes, and launch a cryptocurrency miner."The threat actors' infection chain is complex, containing malicious software written in multiple programming languages and using a variety of technologies, such as multi-layered Python scripts that recursively decode and execute themselves, a JavaScript stealer that first harvests browser data before pivoting to further payloads, and .NET-based stagers capable of disabling security tools, configuring a Tor proxy, and launching crypto miners," Bitdefender said.There is evidence to suggest these efforts are quite widespread, going by reports shared on LinkedIn and Reddit, with minor tweaks to the overall attack chain. In some cases, the candidates are asked to clone a Web3 repository and run it locally as part of an interview process, while in others they are instructed to fix intentionally introduced bugs in the code.One of the Bitbucket repositories in question refers to a project named "miketoken_v2." It is no longer accessible on the code hosting platform.The disclosure comes a day after SentinelOne revealed that the Contagious Interview campaign is being used to deliver another malware codenamed FlexibleFerret.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Feb 05, 2025Ravie LakshmananVulnerability / Data ProtectionVeeam has released patches to address a critical security flaw impacting its Backup software that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on susceptible systems.The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2025-23114, carries a CVSS score of 9.0 out of 10.0."A vulnerability within the Veeam Updater component that allows an attacker to utilize a Man-in-the-Middle attack to execute arbitrary code on the affected appliance server with root-level permissions," Veeam said in an advisory.The shortcoming impacts the following products -Veeam Backup for Salesforce 3.1 and olderVeeam Backup for Nutanix AHV 5.0 | 5.1 (Versions 6 and higher are unaffected by the flaw)Veeam Backup for AWS 6a | 7 (Version 8 is unaffected by the flaw)Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure 5a | 6 (Version 7 is unaffected by the flaw)Veeam Backup for Google Cloud 4 | 5 (Version 6 is unaffected by the flaw)Veeam Backup for Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager and Red Hat Virtualization 3 | 4.0 | 4.1 (Versions 5 and higher are unaffected by the flaw)It has been addressed in the below versions -Veeam Backup for Salesforce - Veeam Updater component version 7.9.0.1124Veeam Backup for Nutanix AHV - Veeam Updater component version 9.0.0.1125Veeam Backup for AWS - Veeam Updater component version 9.0.0.1126Veeam Backup for Microsoft Azure - Veeam Updater component version 9.0.0.1128Veeam Backup for Google Cloud - Veeam Updater component version 9.0.0.1128Veeam Backup for Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager and Red Hat Virtualization - Veeam Updater component version 9.0.0.1127"If a Veeam Backup & Replication deployment is not protecting AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, Nutanix AHV, or Oracle Linux VM/Red Hat Virtualization, such a deployment is not impacted by the vulnerability," the company noted.Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Much like the dinosaurs of theJurassic Park saga, theJurassic Worldfranchise refuses to stay dead.After the disappointingJurassic World Dominion, which was sold, now that I think about it, as The End of the Jurassic Era, the series is restarting yet again withJurassic World Rebirth.Life finds a way, I guess.While there are still plenty of dinosaurs, there is at least a new cast this time, led by Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, and Mahershala Ali. They play a team that heads back to the original Jurassic Parks research lab to rustle up some all-important dino DNA in order to create a miracle cure.The first trailer promises what weve come to expect from these movies: A group of oddball characters who insist everything will be safe and fine, and then tons of dinosaur-related chaos.You can watch for yourselfbelow:READ MORE:Man, it justnever goes well when you go to Jurassic Park. Wouldnt it be fun if one of these movies someone said Dont worry, everything will be fine, and then ... it just was? And they saw some nice dinosaurs and then went home? That would be hilarious.Here is thenew Jurassicsequelsofficial synopsis:Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planets ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.Jurassic World Rebirth is scheduled to open in theaters on July 2.JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTHUniversalloading...JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTHUniversalloading...Get our free mobile appThe Jurassic Park Sequels Ranked From Kind of Watchable to HorribleJurassic Park has produced five sequels, none of them wildly spectacular. Here they are, ranked from best (or okay-est) to worst.

Sorry, but not all McDonalds arches are golden.The McDonalds logo is right up there with Nike and Target in terms of being instantly recognizable.A pair of golden arches lets a hungry traveler or a fast food aficionado know exactly what to expect since the menu is fairly identical at nearly every McDonalds. Its predictable and, for the most part, dependable.But while the menu might be the same at every McDonalds, theirarches can actually be different colors.McDonald's signGetty Imagesloading...Why Some McDonalds Have Arches That Arent YellowIf youve never seen a McDonalds with arches that are a color besides yellow, youre not alone.Non-golden arches are fairly rare. There are only seven McDonalds restaurants in the world that use a color other than yellow on their signs.The reason behind the different colors of arches varies by location. In Sedona, Arizona, for example, there is a McDonalds with turquoise arches. The color scheme was an attempt by the city and the restaurants owner to match surrounding buildings in this picturesque part of Arizona.READ MORE: What It Means If You See A McDonalds With Turquoise Arches Instead Of YellowThen theres McDonald's restaurants like the ones in New Hyde Park, New York and Freeport, Maine that are housed in colonial-style buildings with no golden arches in sight. The 18th-century mansion McDonalds in New Hyde Park even has a grand staircase.Where Is The McDonalds With Black Arches?The location alone sets the McDonald's along Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, California apart from most locations. The restaurant is situated within a few steps from the beach and Monterey Bay.Unless you're looking for it, you might not even notice the building is a McDonald's. It doesn't really look like any fast food restaurant from the outside thanks to it's black, light brown and white color scheme.Exterior of McDonald's in Monterey CaliforniaGoogle Street Viewloading...Not only are parts of the buildings exterior black, but so are the famous McDonalds arches.The Monterey Herald reported the black arches were part of a compromise with the city, which isnt keen on having yellow on it's buildings. Considering the beautiful landscape in this part of California, the city is likely right on this one.Oddly enough, which the building doesnt have golden arches, they can still be found on a sign in the restaurants parking lot.McDonald's sign with gold arches in Monterey, CaliforniaGoogle Street Viewloading...While it may be the only one with black arches, theMonterey location is far from the only unique McDonalds in California.A McDonalds in Downey, California is believed to the be worlds oldest still in operation after first opening in 1953, just five years after the company was founded. The outside of the restaurant has a retro vibe including a sign featuring a character named Chef Speedee that welcomes guests.Look Inside The World's Oldest McDonald's in Downey, California The world's oldest McDonald's in Downey, California originally opened 1953, nearly five years after the company was founded. The location is like walking into a time capsule. Retro characters, a walk-up counter and a museum make this one of the most unique dining experiences for McDonald's lovers. Here is a look at what the Downey, California McDonald's looks like today.Gallery Credit: Rob CarrollGet our free mobile appREAD MORE: The Craziest Fast Food Menu Items EverThe Best 90s Happy Meal ToysThe 90s were the Golden Age of Golden Arches giveaways and here are 20 examples of great Happy Meal toys that prove it.

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), MST (UTC -7), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3, UTC -2, SBT (UTC +11), GMT (UTC +0), CET (UTC +1), EET (UTC +2), MSK (UTC +3)The Role We are seeking acustomer-obsessed, data-driven Product Manager who can deeply understand our customers, anticipate market trends, and drive differentiating innovation that delivers real value.This role is not about managing internal corporate tools and processes, its primarily about deeply understanding our customers, the competitive landscape and the overal AdTech/MarTech market to drive a market-leading product.About the roleDeep customer insights - Analyzing usage, expectations, feedback, and translating real-world pain points into product solutions.Competitive intelligence Continuously research industry, competitors, market trends and shifts to ensure ClickGUARD stays ahead.Data-driven prioritization Make product decisions based on analytics, user behavior, and business impact, not just internal stakeholder requests.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn and execute the product vision and roadmap based on market research, customer needs, and business strategy.Conduct customer interviews, surveys, and usability studies to ensure product decisions are grounded in real user experiences.Perform competitive analysis to identify opportunities for differentiation and growth.Work closely with marketing, sales, and customer success teams to ensure alignment between product strategy and go-to-market initiatives.Define and track key product metrics, ensuring that feature development leads to measurable improvements in customer retention and revenue growth.Translate strategic priorities into well-defined product requirements and work with the engineering team to execute efficiently.Stay ahead of industry trends, ensuring ClickGUARD remains the best solution on the market.What we're looking forProven track record as customer-facing SaaS Product Owner.Strong understanding of digital advertising, PPC campaigns is a plus.A passion for customer research Youre not just guessing; you want to find out.Analytical mindset with experience using product analytics tools.Strong business acumen You understand how product decisions impact growth, retention, and revenue.Ability to work lean and iterate quickly, balancing speed with delivering real value.Experience working in competitive markets where differentiation and positioning are key.Whats in it for you?Competitive salary - Compensation that reflects your expertise and contributions.High-impact role Youll be leading product decisions in a company that values speed, innovation, and customer obsession.Hands-on environment We operate lean, so your contributions will be direct and meaningful.Fast-growing industry AdTech / MarTech is a quickly evolving space, making this an exciting space to bein.If youre passionate about building products that solve real customer pain points, understand competitive markets, and thrive in a high-growth SaaS environment, wed love to hear from you!All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic.

After testing numerous iPhone 16 and 16 Pro cases, including budget-friendly options, these are CNET's current top picks for the iPhone 16 Series.

Couples know the struggle of finding a mattress that works for both of their sleeping styles, budgets and preferences. When my boyfriend and I moved into our new house, we began looking for a bed that we both enjoyed -- or, more accurately, one that I liked more than our current mattress. We had been sleeping on an olderCasper Select from Costco, and while it was perfectly within budget and my boyfriend didn't mind the feel, I wasn't the biggest fan of the all-foam design. My fellow CNET mattress experts Owen Poole, Dillon Lopez and I toured the 3Z Brands factory to see exactly how the mattresses are made. Dillon Lopez/CNETFortunately for me, as a mattress and sleep expert, I get to cut corners when it comes to finding a new mattress. I have tested around 80 different beds throughout the years, so I already know the exact type, feel and brand of mattress that I will enjoy. Additionally, in April 2024, I had the exciting opportunity of touring the 3Z mattress factory and testing almost all the beds the company produces. In the Helix showroom, once I laid down on the Helix Midnight Luxe, I said to myself, "This is my next mattress."Here's what I found after sleeping on this bed every night for about five months.Read more: We Tested the Saatva Classic Mattress (and Our Marriage) for a Month First impressionsLike most online mattresses, the Helix Midnight Luxe arrived at my doorstep in a box. The heavy package was dragged into my home, and my boyfriend and I ripped away the cardboard to find the mattress vacuum-sealed and rolled up. We moved our old mattress into a different room (we eventually donated it) and placed the massive cylinder on our empty bed frame. Once we removed all the packaging, we let it rise for a few hours before testing it out. Caroline Igo/CNETWhile I had seen and tested this mattress before, I was still impressed with the pillow top and cover. You can add an optional GlacioTex cooling cover to any Helix mattress, and since my boyfriend and I are both hot sleepers, we opted to do so. It is truly cool to the touch and feels slick when you drag your hand across it. The pillow top is also especially nice, and a defining reason why I chose the Luxe version of the Helix Midnight. The Midnight Core model is very similar but doesn't have the pillow top. I love how luxurious this pillow top looks, similar to more expensive models like Stearns & Foster or Avocado.Firmness and feel of the Helix Midnight LuxeTwo of the most important factors for finding a winning bed are feel and firmness levels that suit both your preferences and sleeping style. I'm a combination sleeper, meaning that I switch between my stomach and my side throughout the night. I need a mattress that is around a medium in terms of firmness, and I enjoy a feel that is neutral, pillowy and doesn't make it difficult to move around (such as dense memory foam). Here's how I found the firmness and feel of the Helix Midnight Luxe. Caroline Igo/CNETNot too soft, not too firmThe Midnight Luxe is a great mattress for couples because it feels around a medium. In other words, the bed is not too soft and not too firm. This middle-of-the-road firmness level can accommodate couples who have different sleeping styles. For example, I sleep on my stomach and my side, while my boyfriend sleeps on his back and his side. This firmness level supports his back and my stomach while still being soft enough to sleep on our sides.I think the Midnight Luxe is softer than our old bed, but my boyfriend says it feels the same to him. However, my body feels the difference. Sleeping on my side on this new bed is so much more enjoyable. The mattress provides enough pressure relief for my hips, but I still feel supported. On our old mattress, I tossed and turned, switching from one side to the other and would wake up with sore hips. While my boyfriend didn't have an issue with this, this can be due to our different sizes and weights. Firmer beds will feel firmer to a lighter individual, as opposed to someone who is average weight. Softer beds will feel softer to heavier individuals.The bed's cushiony, cool feelMy favorite aspect of this bed, by far, is its pillow top. Sleeping on my side has been a dream (pun intended) because the pillow top hugs my hips with subtle support. It feels as if the bed rises up to meet my body in all the right ways. When I'm on my stomach, my back feels properly supported, and my spine is aligned. My boyfriend says that he has never woken up with back pain from this bed, and I haven't either. Caroline Igo/CNETThe layer underneath the pillow top is made of cradling foam and underneath that is a layer of pressure-relieving memory foam. While there is memory foam within the top of the bed, this mattress has more of a neutral foam, cushiony feel. I sleep more on the pillow top rather than sinking into the middle of the mattress. When switching from my stomach to my side in the middle of the night, I don't feel the bed resisting me or that stuck-in-the-mud sensation. The last two layers of the bed are its steel coils and support foam. I never feel the coils poking at me, and besides the extra support, I forget that they are even there. Caroline Igo/CNETI don't heat up as much on this bed as on an all-foam mattress. The cooling cover is an excellent addition, and while we do use an Eight Sleep Pod cover to actively keep cool at night, the cover material does a good job of passively keeping me from getting too hot. It doesn't seem to hold in my body heat as much as an all-foam mattress with a knit cover. In fact, I noticed that I needed to make my Eight Sleep warmer because my usual settings made me too cold on the new bed. My boyfriend had the same experience. While the cooling sensation isn't as strong under sheets and bedding, it definitely performs. Helix Midnight Luxe performance Caroline Igo/CNETWhile the right feel and firmness affect how well a mattress will work for you, there are a few more aspects to consider. Here's how the mattress performed over the months I tested.Motion isolationMotion isolation refers to how well a bed deadens cross-mattress motion. For example, can you feel the bed move when a partner tosses and turns at night? We have two dogs who like to jump in bed with us in the mornings. I can feel it when one nestles into the other side of the bed. While this bed doesn't have the worst motion isolation I have ever seen, it doesn't perform as well as an all-foam mattress. I can sometimes feel my boyfriend turning to his side at night, but that is only when I'm already awake. The movement doesn't wake me up. If you are a light sleeper, this might be something to consider.Edge-to-edge supportAt CNET, we always test edge-to-edge support on each mattress we review. We do so by sitting on the side and then lying as close to the edge as possible to see how easy it is to roll off. I think the Helix Midnight Luxe performs well in this category. The edge material is pretty strong and durable, and I can get close to the edge without feeling like I'm going to slip off. This is an important feature for couples. If you are turning away from your significant other and trying to find your own space in the middle of the night, you don't want to accidentally fall out of bed.TemperatureAs I stated before, this bed comes with an optional GlacioTex cooling cover. As a hot sleeper, I appreciate the added layer of cool and believe it helps keep me temperature-neutral at night. In other words, it doesn't necessarily cool me down in the middle of the night, but it helps to keep me from getting too hot. It's breathable and doesn't hold onto my body heat like traditional memory foam mattresses. DurabilityThe Midnight Luxe is a hybrid mattress, meaning that it has both layers of foam and a layer of steel coils. In addition to providing more support to a mattress, coils also increase the durability of your bed. All-foam beds deteriorate faster over time due to constant pressure and use. This bed will last you longer than the core Midnight model.Who is the Helix Midnight Luxe best for?Sleeping positionThe Helix Midnight Luxe is around a medium in firmness, so here's which sleeping positions this bed best suits.Side sleepers: I spend about half the night on my side, and I find this bed to be great for pressure relief on my hips. Most side sleepers will be pleased with the medium firmness and overall support. However, if you are a strict side sleeper who prefers softer mattresses or are a petite body type, I recommend the Helix Sunset Luxe. It is the softest model and feels extremely comfortable on your side. I would have chosen this model if it was solely up to me, but my boyfriend doesn't like soft beds.Stomach sleepers: When I flip from my side to my stomach in the middle of the night, I still feel comfortable and supported. I like that the bed's pillow top is soft enough for me to lie down on my chest without any discomfort. However, strict stomach sleepers with back pain or those who are heavier should opt for a firmer bed in order to fully support their spines. If you need a firmer bed, I recommend looking at the Helix Dawn Luxe.Back sleepers: My boyfriend switches from his side to his back and has never experienced back pain on this bed. Sleeping on his back on this bed has been comfortable because, according to him, "the bed is not too soft, and it isn't too firm." However, strict back sleepers with back pain or those who are heavier should opt for a firmer mattress. A bed like the Helix Dawn Luxe will better support their spine. Combination sleepers: The Midnight Luxe is ideal for combination sleepers because it will work for multiple positions. Its firmness is at the perfect level of being comfortable on the hips and supportive enough for the spine. Most combination sleepers will enjoy this mattress. This bed may work for certain stomach sleepers like Louie. Caroline Igo/CNETBody typeYour body type, or the amount of pressure being exerted on a mattress, will greatly affect how firm or soft a bed feels to you. As a petite to average -size sleeper, the Helix Midnight Luxe felt just a tad firmer than medium to me. To my boyfriend, it felt like a solid medium.This mattress is suitable for petite to average-size sleepers. While it doesn't provide the level of support that heavier individuals will need, it holds up well for those in the average weight category. Petite side sleepers might need a softer mattress, and I recommend the Helix Plus Luxe for heavy sleepers. Helix Midnight Luxe pricing Size Measurements (inches)PriceTwin 38x75 inches$1,374Twin XL 38x80 inches$1,624Full 75x54 inches$1,999Queen 60x80 inches$2,374King 76x80 inches$2,874Cal King 72x84 inches$2,874Short Queen 60x74 inches$2,374RV King 72x80 inches$2,874 You can usually snag a queen size for around $1,700 to $1,900 during sales, such as Presidents Day. The optional GlacioTex cooling cover is an extra $249, but I've seen it be as low as $199 during these sales. Helix also offers a 100-night sleep trial, a limited lifetime warranty and free shipping.My thoughts after five months Caroline Igo/CNETMy boyfriend and I donated our old all-foam mattress in order to switch to the Helix Midnight Luxe. On our old bed, I was waking up with some pain, and I didn't enjoy the overall feel. I wanted a comfortable pillowtop that supported my joints, and I got just that with the Midnight Luxe.After all this time, I don't have many complaints about this bed. It is not too firm and has a plush pillow top and a neutral feel. The added cooling cover provides extra comfort for me as a hot sleeper, and while the steel coils are there for support, I love that I can't feel them under all the layers of foam. While I, personally, would have chosen a softer mattress, it is great for couples who can't agree on a firmness level. It is the perfect middle ground. We finally found a mattress that we both like or, in reality, a mattress that doesn't hurt my hips. I was the reason we needed to look for a new bed. My boyfriend is very laid back and probably would have slept on that Casper mattress for the foreseeable future if it was just him. That's the drawback of being a mattress expert -- you become very picky.I don't think this mattress is going anywhere.Helix Midnight Luxe mattress FAQs Is the Helix Midnight Luxe too soft? No. After months of testing, the Helix Midnight Luxe isn't too soft. Its firmness is around a medium, making it neither too soft nor too firm. This bed will suit some side sleepers and most, if not all, combination sleepers. Is the Helix Midnight Luxe good for back pain? The Helix Midnight Luxe is best for couples and combination sleepers. Those with back pain may need a firmer mattress or a bed specially made to decrease pain. Instead of the Helix Midnight Luxe, I recommend the Saatva Rx for back pain. How long does a Helix Midnight mattress last? The Helix Midnight Luxe mattress should have the average lifespan of a bed. Due to its hybrid construction, it should last anywhere from seven to 10 years. Does the Helix mattress sag? No, the Helix Luxe mattresses don't sag. They are very supportive, with great edge support, due to their construction and layer of steel coils.

Apex Legends season 24 sees Arsenals arrive and Assault Class Legends take center stagePlus new Mythic R-301 and the removal of helmets.Image credit: Respawn Entertainment News by Marie Pritchard Guides Writer Published on Feb. 5, 2025 Apex Legends has announced Takeover, the 24th season of Respawn's battle royale, which introduces a new way to grab weapons called Arsenals. Additionally, Assault Class Legends take center stage with several perk changes, while Ash and Ballistic gain strong buffs. POIs will now be visible from the drop ship so you'll be able to see exactly where you're headed. Finally, there's new ranked challenges and the introduction of Mythic weapons - in short, there's a lot to sink your teeth into.Arsenals will be available in all game modes across Apex Legends from the start of the season, as a new way of obtaining weapons once you land from the drop ship. They'll be across the map near POIs, be visible from the moment you exit the drop ship and they'll have map icons as well as HUD elements.In a nutshell, Arsenals are small weapon caches that you can visit to change the weapons in your inventory or those you pick up at the beginning of a match, somewhat reducing the chaotic scramble to grab anything before you get shot. Arsenal locations are fixed but the weapons stored in them will be randomised. In a recent press event attended by Eurogamer, we learned that this was designed in part to give players better chances for getting the weapons they want and are more comfortable with. Image credit: Respawn EntertainmentSpeaking of weapons, Mythic guns are being added that will serve as the best version of weapons already available in-game, with their own twists on the classics. These weapons will be inspired by individual Legends, and the Season 24 addition is the Mythic R-301 inspired by Wraith. Complete with a new void-inspired look, the Mythic version comes with new animations you can equip on other R-301 skins you own as well.In addition, every weapon this season has been buffed and most of them have received a damage increase as well as an alteration on their headshot multiplier. The Havoc, for example, is staying in the care package for this season and, while the Kraber remains a one-shot headshot weapon for most armor pieces it will become more than one-shot when faced with the new red helmet armor piece.White, blue and purple helmets will be fully removed for Takeover to make the headshow damage value consistent for each weapon; it will no longer be dictated by the helmet a target wears. However, the only way you can get one will be to grab the red mythic grade helmet that will only show in late game care packages and in mythic bins. Once equipped, this helmet will turn the rest of your armor red. This is the only way to get this level of armor in Season 24 and armor evolution for every player for white, blue and purple armor pieces will be capped at level three. To help you stay alive longer with these changes, Shield Cells, Med Kits and Syringes are now faster to use. Image credit: Respawn EntertainmentAssault Class Legends have been buffed with new perks for Takeover. In addition to being able to access red supply bins and carry one extra ammo per stack, the Combat Reserve perk means they'll also have two extra ordinance slots specifically for grenades. Battle Surge is gained after an Assault Legend cracks an enemy shield - once active, they'll get a temporary speed boost, faster reload speed, and highlight the cracked target for the rest of the team. The Stowed Reload perk will auto-reload any stowed weapon after two seconds.Ash and Ballistic in particular have seen more buffs for this season. Ash's ultimate will further and you can move through it faster with better end point detection, the tether will snare from its own location rather than at the enemy target's location. Her passive has changed, and she now has an omni-directional dash ability, Predator's Pursuit. Both Ash's ultimate and passive can be upgraded through the upgrade tree to have two charges. She'll still be able to see Deathboxes on the mini-map too.Ballistic's sling upgrade and dual tactical charge has now been integrated with his base kit, plus it can now carry crate weapons with unlimited ammunition when active. His upgrade that used to allow extra charges has been replaced with an upgrade that doubles his tactical charges, meaning at tier three Ballistic can carry four charges of his Whistler. His Tempest also now has a team movement speed bonus added to it too. Image credit: Respawn EntertainmentHowever, Support Class Legends have had their heal expert perk removed for the upcoming season to focus them more on reviving.Road to Ranked is a fresh way for new players to get into Apex Legends' ranked mode. The previous account requirements for joining ranked has been removed and replaced with a set of challenges designed for you to prove you can make it in ranked modes. Road to ranked challenges are for you to show you're a good enough teamplayer and have the skills, as well as experience, to succeed in ranked mode. However, if you're already a ranked player from previous seasons then you won't need to participate in these challenges - these are just for new players trying to get into ranked.Your starting skill value will be influenced by your performance in non-ranked modes across Apex and there will be more transparency in displays for the lobby as well as improvements made to the end of match summary screen, Respawn has said. Account progression has a dedicated home and access away from the main ranked lobby for Takeover. Finally, weapon mastery trials have changed, and the system itself has been simplified with some of the more intense and complicated challenges being removed.Apex Legends Takeover will see different creators from the Apex community helping to create and curate their own challenge and rewards all season. As well as a collection of new takeovers and limited-time modes. Some to look forward to are a second change mechanic and an OG-inspired loot pool takeover.Alongside the creator modes and challenges, starting at season launch Rampart Care Packages will appear in all PUBS modes for the first three weeks of the season. Within these care packages are Rampart-designed weapon variants and this time they'll be dropping with three mythic R-301 weapons. Each variant has its own unique perks, for example, the red vermillion has increased critical hit damage and triggers thermite on knocked enemies. Image credit: Respawn EntertainmentThere are more creator modes, challenges, events and rewards coming in Season 24.Apex Legends Takeover launches on Tuesday, 11th February 2025 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch.

RTX Mega Geometry in Alan Wake 2 - improved, faster, more efficient ray tracingAnd RTX 20-series and 30-series GPUs benefit most. Feature by Alex Battaglia Video Producer, Digital Foundry Published on Feb. 5, 2025 It's been over six years since the first consumer-level graphics cards arrived that supported hardware accelerated ray tracing and while hardware has improved massively since the launch of Nvidia's Turing architecture in 2018, this has been matched with innovations in the software space. RTX Mega Geometry was revealed at CES 2025 with a range of compelling demos, but now we have our first example of the technology in a shipping game: Alan Wake 2. There are quality, efficiency and performance upgrades but perhaps the biggest surprise in our testing is that it's the RTX 20-series and 30-series GPUs that benefit most.Let's start with the basics - what is RTX Mega Geometry? This requires an understanding of how RT actually works. As things stand, every game essentially creates two 3D worlds - the world as you see it in-game and a secondary 'BVH structure' which is typically a lower detail rendition of the environment. BVH stands for bounding volume hierarchy. Rays are projected into the BVH structure and their direction is then calculated. As you might imagine, RT itself is already computationally expensive, so creating and tracing into the BVH structure adds to the cost. Furthermore, there are limitations - while the game world may be animated, it does not mean the BVH will be, potentially leading to mismatches and loss of visual quality.Enter RTX Mega Geometry, which is basically a new API allowing for a new type and hierarchy to the BVH structure, containing the game world's geometry and assets. The focus is on animated geometry, support for a larger amount of level-of-detail transitions and adaptive tesselation where the amount of actual geometry per frame is constantly changing. Mega Geometry adds a new level to the BVH structure: the CLAS or Cluster Acceleration Structure. While the extra complexity adds to the time to trace rays, there's an extraordinary increase in detail and support for animated environments.Alex Battaglia and Oliver Mackenzie share notes on RTX Mega Geometry in Alan Wake 2.Watch on YouTubeRTX Mega Geometry is essentially an Nvidia-branded version of a fundamental change to RT APIs that will almost certainly be adopted by all vendors. In a world where mesh shading, Epic's Nanite and the basic requirement for animated environments come to the fore, the existing DXR APIs aren't really fit for purpose - all of which brings us to the specific implementation found in Remedy's Alan Wake 2.This title is an excellent use-case for RTX Mega Geometry as the game world is rich in detail via mesh shading and is highly animated. In Alan Wake 2, geometry is actually physically moving and transforming like a skinned character mesh, as opposed to 'faking' it with a vertex shader. All of which makes the implementation difficult with an existing BVH structure. A number of optimisations are in place to increase performance - such as decreasing the animation rate the further detail is from the player. The first 10 metres are full rate, followed by half, third and quarter rate further into the distance. On PS5, this is halved further. The closest detail runs at half rate, and only characters run at full rate.RTX Mega Geometry has clear and measurable improvement. Like for like, VRAM usage was reduced by around 300MB in my testing. In practical terms, the RTX 4060 now runs 42 percent faster using direct lighting and low quality indirect lighting as it's no longer running out of VRAM. Meanwhile, CPU performance improves too. On a lowly Ryzen 5 3600, I saw a 14 percent improvement to frame-rate in the custom bench sequence we built for our GPU reviews.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. For GPU performance, I benched with FSR upscaling and low path tracing with direct lighting, finding that the RTX 2080 Ti at native 1080p has a 13 percent improvement to performance. Outside of the benchmark scene and in actual gameplay at 1080p using DLSS quality mode, running through the first brings performance in the mid 20fps region up to 30fps. Moving on to the RTX 3080, performance improves by 10 percent. At 1080p DLSS quality mode, frame-rate is now north of 40fps and no longer dips beneath. Intriguingly, however, I noted no real performance gains whatsoever in the same tests running on RTX 4090 and RTX 5080. However, you do get all the quality gains I talked about previously.Beyond RTX Mega Geometry, the new version of Alan Wake 2 also ships with a new ultra ray tracing mode, but before I go on, I should stress that I still recommend optimised settings for those looking to experience RT in the game - so that's low RT with direct lighting enabled. This delivers the biggest bang for the buck, with anything further more in the realm of diminishing returns.Ultra RT is a nice addition to the settings though, adding extra fidelity that essentially adds final flourishes to the RT feature set. That starts with improvements to transparency ray tracing, allowing for more accuracy in the effect with multiple bounces. Secondly, indirect lighting is enhanced, resulting in better shading and more accurate bounce lighting. All told, both new features offer relatively conservative improvements but looking forward to an era where PCs can run this game with ease, it's nice to see 'luxury' features that scale into the capabilities of the hardware of tomorrow.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide The meta in Call of Duty: Warzone constantly changes thanks to the doses of weapon balancing applied by Raven Software as part of seasonal updates. For the majority of the Black Ops 6 cycle, the battle royale has been dominated by a limited selection of weaponry resulting in the meta becoming stale at a rapid pace.Season 2 introduced widespread buffs and nerfs affecting the dominant pairing of the XM4 and the Jackal PDW, much to the delight of fans. Following further adjustments, one assault rifle that continues to be ignored actually possesses the fastest time to kill (TTK) out of the entire category.According to TrueGameData, the AK-74 from Black Ops 6 has the best TTK when compared to other rifles proving a popular choice. Save Up to $1,200 on the Samsung Galaxy S25! Pre-order now and save big with trade-in and Samsung credit. Limited time only! *Includes trade-in value + $300 Samsung credit. At ranges over 60 metres, the AK-74 is capable of eliminating fully armoured opponents in approximately 1.1 seconds, making it the perfect weapon to use in long-distance combat. The TTK drops even further if players can keep the recoil under control and aim for the head.The AK-74 is better than ever / Image via TrueGameDataThe AK-74 has struggled to find its footing within the Warzone meta, which quickly became stale due to the XM4s 100-round magazine offering players the ability to take out whole squads without the need to take cover and reload in the heat of battle. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now With the XM4 possessing significantly less firepower than Season 1, theres hope some form of weapon variety will start to appear for the remainder of Season 2. Right now, the AK-74 is an incredible choice if youre looking to get ahead of the curve in the battle royale.Will the AK-74 dominate Warzone?Raven Software is sometimes quick to stop overpowered weaponry from dominating the Warzone meta but after its sluggish response to stop the XM4 dominance, theres a possibility of the AK-74 taking its place and topping the charts until the next major update.For now, the rifle is an excellent pick if you want the best possible performance in those competitive mid-range and long-range battles that will either add another kill to your tally or send you to the gulag.For more CoD intel, check out the best controller settings along with the best LR 7.62 loadout for long-distance duels.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share