Greg Olijnyk is no stranger to the possibilities of a single, seemingly simple material. In his ever-evolving world of robots, machines, insects, and buildings, cardboard proves endlessly versatile. He meticulously cuts, folds, and glues tiny pieces to resemble everything from rivets and windows to columns and balustrades.The Melbourne-based artists most recent works play with unexpected juxtapositions, like a classical cathedral dome with the base of a missile, a gothic tower fitted with jet propulsion boosters, and a lighthouse on a ship being guided through a craggy canal. Find more on his website and Instagram.Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article From Tiny Strips of Cardboard, Greg Olijnyk Fashions Fantastical Monuments appeared first on Colossal.

Tech Airlines eye weight-based fees: Will heavier passengers pay more? Weigh and pay: The controversial future of airline pricing Published February 21, 2025 6:00am EST close Laura: We need total transparency to restore trust in aviation Fox News host Laura Ingraham asks why there are so many plane crashes on 'The Ingraham Angle.' In 2008, American Airlines became the first major U.S. carrier to charge for checked bags, introducing a $15 fee as part of a cost-cutting measure. Since then, other airlines have adopted similar fees, with prices steadily increasing over the years. Now, a new debate has emerged about whether airlines should charge passengers based on their weight to help reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions. In 2013, Samoa Air introduced a "fat tax" where passengers paid based on their weight. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson) The changing landscape of airline weight policiesIn 2013, Samoa Air introduced a "fat tax" where passengers paid based on their weight, but it didn't catch on widely.In February 2024, Finnair expanded its weight data collection initiative. The airline is now asking passengers to voluntarily weigh themselves along with their carry-on luggage at Helsinki Airport. This data collection will take place over three months, covering both short Schengen-area flights and longer-haul routes.Finnair's approach is designed to be anonymous, with only age, gender and travel class recorded alongside the weight data. The collected information will be used to update the airline's aircraft balance and loading calculations for the period from 2025 to 2030.These developments indicate a growing interest in the airline industry in exploring weight-based strategies for both operational efficiency and potential future pricing models. Researchers believe its important to discuss weight-based pricing as a way to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Weight-based airline pricing divides opinionA recentstudy asked 1,012 U.S. adults for their opinion on charging based on weight. It looked at three pricing options: a regular fare with a set luggage limit, a "weight threshold" where passengers over 160 pounds would pay extra and a "body weight" model where ticket prices would depend on each persons weight.The results showed that lighter passengers were more in favor of weight-based fees, while heavier passengers preferred the current system. However, almost half of the heavier respondents were still open to the idea.Younger travelers, frequent flyers and wealthier passengers were more likely to support weight-based charges.The study also revealed concerns about fairness, with nearly 60% worried about possible discrimination. Despite these worries, researchers believe its important to discuss weight-based pricing as a way to reduce the environmental impact of air travel. The airline industry faces the challenge of balancing environmental responsibility, economic efficiency and inclusive customer experience. (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Ethical and environmental implications of weight-based airline pricingThe potential implementation of weight-based airline pricing extends beyond simple economics, touching on complex environmental and social justice considerations. Climate researchers suggest that such a model could significantly reduce carbon emissions by creating a more direct correlation between passenger weight and fuel consumption. Environmental experts calculate that every additional pound on an aircraft increases fuel burn, with some estimates suggesting that a reduction of 1% in total aircraft weight could lead to approximately 0.75% fuel savings.This data provides a compelling scientific argument for weight-sensitive pricing strategies. However, the approach raises critical ethical questions about body diversity, accessibility and potential discrimination. Disability advocates argue that such pricing could disproportionately impact individuals with medical conditions or physical differences beyond their control.Emerging technologies like advanced lightweight materials and more fuel-efficient aircraft designs might ultimately provide alternative solutions to reducing aviation's carbon footprint, potentially rendering weight-based pricing unnecessary in the long term. As the debate continues, the airline industry faces the challenge of balancing environmental responsibility, economic efficiency and inclusive customer experience.Kurts key takeawaysAlthough there's interest in weight-based charges, societal norms and the potential for discrimination make it challenging to address. As airlines continue exploring new ways to reduce fuel costs and environmental impact, its clear that any move toward weight-based pricing will need to carefully consider fairness and public perception.Do you think airlines should focus on weight-based pricing to cut emissions, or are there better ways to make air travel more eco-friendly? Sound off atCyberguy.com/ContactFor more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading toCyberguy.com/NewsletterAsk Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

Wednesday 19 February 2025 marked the first anniversary of Operation Cronos, a multinational cyber law enforcement action led by the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) with support from global partners, which disrupted the activities of the notorious LockBit ransomware crew in a targeted operation that has had a lasting impact on the ransomware economy.Looking back to 2023 and earlier, LockBits effectiveness and influence cannot be understated. According to the Counter Threat Unit (CTU) at Secureworks, now part of Sophos, LockBit attacks accounted for 25% of all listed victims on ransomware leak sites in 2023, with its closest competitor at the time, ALPHV/BlackCat, managing just 12%.LockBit targeted organisations across Britain and around the world, with its arguably most prominent UK victim the Royal Mail, which rejected an extortion attempt of more than 60m described at the time as absurd after the crews ransomware downed IT systems at its Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre in January 2023, paralysing international deliveries for weeks.Reflecting on the success of Operation Cronos, Secureworks CTU senior researcher Tim Mitchell said: When we coordinated our research alongside law enforcements seizure of the LockBit leak site on February 19, 2024, we knew it was a significant moment in time in the fight against cyber criminals.It was the first step in a steady march of operations against ransomware, its enablers and cyber crime more broadly. And the most obvious result is the mark its left on the landscape, with affiliates scattering to new schemes or turning to independent operations.Paul Foster, head of the NCAs cyber crime unit, said that during the investigation leading up to Operation Cronos, he too had a distinct feeling that the agency was on the verge of a significant coup de grce.We knew, in the context of ransomware, that we had a unique opportunity to have a significant impact on the threat, he told Computer Weekly. How often do you get the opportunity to look at the threat landscape and say we can probably take out if we do it well and right 25% of that threat?Greg Linares, now principal threat analyst at US-based managed security platform provider Huntress but at the time working elsewhere, also remembers the events of 19 February clearly. We had a feeling this was going to occur, he said. We had FBI contacts that we worked with But we didnt know how big it was going to be. And it was a massive operation, it was really well executed.But of course the immediate headline action was only part of the story, and much hinged on delivering the right blows at the right time to maximise the hoped-for results not to do so would risk things backfiring, or missing the opportunity altogether.To get the best results, the NCA elected to significantly broaden the scope of its activity against the gang.We could have put everything into trying to find out who was behind LockBit and effectively take out the kingpin, said Foster.Similarly, we could have gone down a technical route and taken down the leak site, their splash pages, etcetera. Alternatively, we could have gone out and hoovered up lots of people and tried to make arrests all around the world, and indict people and sanction people.Actually, it was a combination of all of those things delivered in a sequenced way, combined with a very clear public articulation of what wed done, and that together delivered a significant disruptive effect.Foster also singles out the work of the NCAs partners, security researchers, the wider private sector industry, and even the technology and national media whose reporters swarmed the story in short order, for amplifying the impact of Operation Cronos, and even building on it.All of that together said that good quality cyber crime operations in the future need to be multifaceted, not linear. I think it was the multifaceted nature of Operation Cronos that was one of the key reasons as to why it was so successful.After the first flush of excitement had faded and the news stories started to drop off the top of Google searches, Operation Cronos kept on keeping on, with the NCA and others particularly its US partners keeping up a constant drumbeat of anti-ransomware law enforcement activity.Over the course of 2024 further announcements, indictments, and even arrests, were made against LockBit and its affiliates. Significantly, the investigators named-and-shamed LockBit ringleader LockBitSupp as a Russian national named Dmitry Khoroshev.Theauthorities also proved long-suspected links between the gang and the Russian government after demonstrating connections between LockBitSupp and Evil Corps Maksim Yakubets, who likely had access to senior Kremlin officials through his father-in-law, an ex-intelligence man, and may even have received tasking from Russias spy agencies.Other operations also targeted leak site operators and the money launderers who helped the likes of LockBit wash its ill-gotten gains. Most recently, in February 2025 the British government announced sanctions against Russian infrastructure services provider Zservers and its UK representative, XHOST, the bulletproof hosting service that allegedly facilitated LockBit attacks against targets in the UK.The most obvious result is the mark its left on the landscape, with affiliates scattering to new schemes or turning to independent operations, said Mitchell at Secureworks.With these disruptions to the status quo, it has added friction and increased the cost for the cyber criminals, which ultimately makes such operations more challenging to successfully execute. The more collaboration we see across the industry and with law enforcement will lead to making it harder for cyber criminals to succeed.Foster added: Our overall assessment of the threat landscape for ransomware is that it has plateaued, but not decreased. Thats good news though, because it was accelerating at some rate. In the run up to our LockBit disruption, it was unequivocally true that the threat from ransomware was going up and up.That ransomware attacks have levelled off in their volume is not just a consequence of Operation Cronos, said Foster, but also a reflection of other operations conducted last year, and significantly increased awareness of the ransomware threat in relevant stakeholder communities, which is to say, among CISOs and others empowered to take steps to address the threat.However, said Foster: I am concerned that it [the ransomware threat] will continue to rise in the future, and I think we would reasonably expect it to unless we can continue to maintain our disruptive impact and disruptive effect, which means more of these operations, fundamentally based on more joint collaboration and information sharing across law enforcement, with government partners [and] between the public and the private sector.This is never a one organisation mission, without a doubt. Its everybodys challenge. And I think if we can keep that up, hopefully we can continue to suppress the threat.Evidence gleaned through Secureworks telemetry at first glance supports the plateauing of ransomware attack volumes, but it also reveals that even though LockBits demise did cause a slowdown in the wider landscape, December and January bucked the trend with a 61% year-on-year increase in the number of victims listed on leak sites in December, and an 80% increase in January.Also noteworthy is a significant increase in the number of operational gangs, said Mitchell. So, what is going on here?The first months of the year invariably see the publication of multiple annual threat and ransomware reports from security suppliers which usually say exactly the same thing Mitchell explained, and in early 2025, most of them pointed to a fragmentation of the ecosystem, which tracks with the idea that many individuals associated with LockBit have scattered to the four winds.The increase through the year in the number of schemes operating is indicative of that fragmentation in the landscape. And its important to remember that a victim is named on a leak site when they havent paid a ransom, so an increase in victim numbers could mean that the number of victims paying is actually decreasing, he said.On the flipside, Linares at Huntress said that, unfortunately, LockBit also proved more defiant and resilient than many had hoped.Its interesting how LockBit has handled this takedown. It [Operation Cronos] was very successful but as we all know, LockBit hasnt gone away, he said. They have put themselves back together again. They have reformed and stayed vigilant and persistent.Thats a testament to how well theyre able to perform their activities. Unlike many other groups, they are well organised and this is not their first rodeo.He said other gangs, such as RansomHub, Play, and even Cl0p, have all incorporated elements of LockBits playbook into their own, and learned lessons from its downfall. One notable effect of this is likely a widely observed decrease in dwell times, the amount of time between when ransomware gangs first access a future victims network and when they execute their attack.Weve [also] seen groups even skip out of ransomware entirely now and just go for straight extortion, because they find out that theyre getting caught at the level when they drop ransomware. LockBit has absolutely fuelled some of these trends, said Linares.Foster at the NCA is sanguine on the fact that the LockBit gang or people claiming to be associated with them still pop up regularly, often trying to counter the NCAs narrative with their own viewpoints, and recently teasing a return to business and a new locker malware, LockBit 4.0.When we did this we knew we would never be able to obliterate LockBit completely because of course, theres legacy code, once somethings online it is, to a degree, permanently so, and its very easy for people to adopt the brand or try to find new things they could put out there. We accept the fact there will always be a bit of a legacy of LockBit floating around the system, he said.I think whats clear though is that whatever it is thats left of LockBit, through a cyber criminal lens, has got very little credibility if any. That plays out in what were seeing in the victim reporting, certainly in the UK.I understand LockBit recently launched its new version a couple of weeks ago. Were not seeing any effect from that. There hasnt been a known, reported LockBit attack in the UK for over four months now and our international partners are seeing similar trends, he added.This is not to say no LockBit ransomware attacks are taking place. Linares said that while the NCA operation credibility damaged the credibility of LockBit and LockBitSupp, even now theres still some gang activity.We have seen them in government and hospitals, mostly, he said. One thing that has happened post-their takedown is they started only going after targets that were much larger to help their credibility and also to help them recoup money and lost income.A couple of weeks ago, he said, Huntress started to see evidence of the previously-trailed version of LockBit 4.0, now dubbed LockBit Green a LockBit 4.0 Black version may also be available according to some sources being used in the wild.Were starting to see some activity there. So, I believe while [Operation Cronos] helped discredit LockBitSupp unfortunately theyre still ransoming people, said Linares.The jury is still out on whether or not LockBit 4.0 is a severe threat, but Secureworks Mitchell said we must remember the wider ransomware threat has not gone away.Far from it, he said. Although the impact of such attacks on individual victims might be reduced, experiencing a ransomware incident is still a very bad day in the office.Organisations should be prioritising the basics including regularly patching internet-facing devices, implementing phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication [MFA] as part of a conditional access policy, and monitoring the network and endpoints for malicious activity.Organisations should also have an incident response plan in place, battle-tested regularly to ensure theyre prepared to respond a cyber attack with speed and precision, he said.Foster also urges defenders to prioritise their own cyber resilience and ransomware response plans, describing law enforcement as merely one weapon in the fightback, albeit a very important one.We will never not keep an eye on LockBit, that would be nave, but there are other ransomware strains that my team and I are far more concerned about at the moment, he concludes.Read more about ransomwareA ban on ransomware payments by UK government departments will be extended to cover organisations such as local councils, schools and the NHSshould new government proposals move forward.NCA-led Operation Destabilise disrupts Russian crime networks that funded the drugs and firearms trade in the UK, helped Russian oligarchs duck sanctions, and laundered money stolen from the NHS and othersby ransomware gangs.An individual associated with the LockBit ransomware gang has broken cover to tease details of a new phase of the cyber criminal operations activity, which they claim isset to begin in February 2025.

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A hot potato: Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has described 2025 as "an intense year" as the company looks to streamline its business. Part of that involves laying off 5% of its workforce, close to 4,000 people. The company is also giving its executives more money, having just approved a plan giving them bigger bonuses up to 200% of their base salary. According to an SEC filing submitted yesterday, Meta has approved an increase in the target bonus percentage for its annual bonus plan for executives.The new plan increases execs' bonus packages from 75% to 200% of their base pay.The filing states the Compensation, Nominating & Governance Committee of the Company's Board of Directors approved the plan on February 13. It determined that the target total cash compensation for Meta executives was at or below the "15th percentile of the target total cash compensation of executives holding similar positions" at peer companies.The new plan is designed to "motivate its executive officers to focus on company priorities and to reward them for company results and achievements."The bonus scheme does not apply to Zuckerberg. The CEO has chosen to take a symbolic $1-per-year salary since 2013, with the majority of this wealth coming from his ownership of Meta stock. // Related StoriesIt's certainly not like Zuckerberg needs bonuses. With his net worth tied to Meta's performance, he is now worth $245 billion. That makes him the world's second-wealthiest individual ahead of Jeff Bezos ($243 billion) and behind leader Elon Musk ($397 billion).In January, Zuckerberg said that Meta made the decision to move out its low performers faster. That meant 5% of its workforce, or around 3,625 people, were being let go.While Meta claimed only low-performing workers were being laid off, Business Insider reported that several employees who said they received positive performance ratings in their midyear reviews last year lost their jobs.Eight terminated employees said they received "At or Above Expectations" ratings the middle tier in Meta's three-level midyear review system in their 2024 assessments. Meta's response was that just because someone had a history of meeting or exceeding expectations, it does not mean they continue to consistently meet the bar."Employees at Meta have always been held accountable to a goal-based culture of high performance," the company added.Meta also said those being released would be replaced by new hires in 2025, though Zuckerberg's appearance on the Joe Rogan show to extol the benefits of AI and how it can replace mid-level engineers doesn't exactly instill confidence. No wonder he was recently deemed more disliked than Elon Musk.Masthead: Hunters Race

Forward-looking: Major League Baseball is testing a computerized system for calling balls and strikes during spring training exhibition games. This Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which has been in development for four years in the minor leagues, could aid MLB home plate umpires as early as 2026. The ABS uses a network of cameras installed in stadiums to track each pitch and determine whether it crosses home plate within the strike zone. The current iteration uses Hawk-Eye pose-tracking cameras, with most spring training ballparks equipped with eight cameras, though the Diamondbacks/Rockies stadium boasts 12. Before a team's first test game, each batter is measured with shoes off to calibrate their individual strike zone, a process that takes less than a minute.The latest version of ABS introduces a challenge system, adding a new dimension to the game. During spring training, human umpires will continue to call every pitch, but each team will have two challenges per game. Only batters, pitchers, or catchers can initiate a challenge within two seconds of a call, signaling with a tap of their helmet or cap.When a challenge is made, a graphic of the pitch and strike zone will be displayed on the scoreboard and broadcast feed. The umpire then announces the updated count. MLB estimates this process takes an average of 17 seconds.MLB has installed the ABS system in 13 spring training ballparks, home to 19 teams across Florida and Arizona. Approximately 60 percent of spring training games are scheduled for ABS testing, though the number of games with the system varies significantly between teams.The ABS strike zone has undergone several modifications since its inception. Initially set at 19 inches wide in 2022, it was narrowed to 17 inches to match home plate width. The top of the strike zone was raised from 51 percent to 53.5 percent of a batter's height in 2024 following pitchers' complaints. // Related StoriesUnlike the human-called strike zone, which is typically oval-shaped, the ABS zone is rectangular. The system makes ball/strike decisions at the midpoint of the plate, contrasting with the rulebook definition of the strike zone as a cube.MLB began experimenting with ball/strike technology in the independent Atlantic League in 2019. The system was gradually introduced to minor league levels, reaching all Triple-A stadiums by 2023.In the 2023 Triple-A season, teams had a 51 percent overall success rate with challenges. Challenges were more frequent later in games and on critical counts, with 8.2 percent of full-count pitches being challenged.The introduction of ABS has led to slight increases in both strikeout and walk rates. In full ABS games, strikeout rates increased by 0.5 percent, while walk rates rose by one percent. In challenge games, walk rates increased by 0.8 percent.To prevent fans from potentially influencing challenge decisions, MLB is exploring various broadcast alternatives. These include showing the strike zone box without the ball, displaying the ball without the box, or only showing the corners of the box.MLB has also implemented a system for players to provide feedback on the ABS. An application called ProTABS, available on dugout iPads, allows players to review pitches against their individual strike zone and comment on both single pitches and the overall system.

Table of ContentsTable of ContentsGet AppleCare+Go to an Apple StoreTry a third-party repair shopGet one of Apples DIY kitsApples best MacBooks have earned a reputation for generous software support and top-tier build quality, two factors that mean they often last far longer than their rivals. But the flipside of the coin is the fact that MacBooks are incredibly difficult to repair, requiring specialized tools, complex disassembly and the enduring patience of a saint.That idea has been reinforced by a recent report (PDF download) from the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund, which found that Apples MacBooks are the second-worst laptops in terms of repairability, with only Lenovo scoring lower. Worst of all, most of Apples poor score came from an extremely low disassembly rating, which will be ominous reading for anyone about to undertake the challenge of tearing down their pricey laptop.Recommended VideosBut if that sounds like you, theres no need to despair. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available if you want to repair a broken MacBook, and most of them dont require any technical work from you at all. Here, well show you all of your best options. AppleWhen you buy a new Apple product, youre able to buy AppleCare+ alongside it. This is essentially an extended warranty for your Mac (and is available for other Apple products, too), and it provides a lot of benefits in return for your money.Prices vary depending on your MacBook model. The 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, for example, while the 13-inch MacBook Air is priced at $6.99 a month or $69.99 a year.AppleCare+ provides cover for unlimited incidents of accidental damage while its active (subject to a $99 excess fee for screen damage or $299 for anything else, plus tax). Repairs or replacements will be available for the Mac itself, its battery, its accessories (including the power adapter), its memory, and any USB SuperDrives youre using.AppleAny repairs are carried out by Apples own technicians using official, legitimate parts. Theyll also give you help with macOS and Apples apps, and you can get service anywhere in the world.That means if youve got AppleCare+ and your MacBook needs to be repaired, the simplest solution is to head down to an Apple Store and get them to take a look. That way, it doesnt matter that MacBooks arent particularly repairable since youre letting the professionals take over, without you ever needing to worry about how to take your laptop apart and fix it up.Usually, you need to buy AppleCare+ within 60 days of buying your MacBook. However, theres a chance you can get covered outside this window, providing your Mac is in good condition and isnt showing any signs of damage. I was able to get AppleCare+ for my Apple Watch Series 10, for example, just by asking for it at an Apple Store, despite my Watch being several months outside the 60-day window. Its always worth a try.Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images / .You dont need to have bought AppleCare+ to get your MacBook repaired at an Apple Store. Even if its not covered, Apples staff will take a look and offer to perform any necessary repairs. This has many of the same benefits of using AppleCare+, in that you get genuine parts and help from knowledgeable staff.Unfortunately, its also a lot more expensive to pay for repairs this way. Apple is known for its high prices, and theres no exception here. If you want to get things done the official way, its certainly worth considering just be ready for the sticker shock.Maria BuloczkaIf you baulk at Apples eye-watering repair prices, the next best thing is to try a third-party repair shop. Doing it this way could save you money and still result in a satisfactory repair job.Start by looking at Apples network of Authorized Service Providers. These repair shops work with Apple to train staff on how to properly fix Apple devices, and in return are provided with authentic parts, tools and manuals. You get many of the benefits of going the official route, but it can often work out cheaper than going directly to Apple. You can find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider on Apples website.Another option is to try the more standard level of repair shops. If they dont have Apple Authorized Service Provider status, they wont have access to genuine Apple parts and tools. That could wind up saving you money, but youll want to make sure you check reviews before going ahead to see what other people think.AppleApple is known for locking down its devices, but that stance has started to weaken in recent years. Now, the company offers self-service repair kits for MacBook users, allowing you to get hands-on if you feel like doing the repair yourself.First, youll need to go through Apples Mac laptop manuals on its website, which will show you the steps and parts required to carry out your repair. Once you know what you need, you can purchase parts and tools from Apples Self Service Repair Store. After youre finished, you can return the broken parts to Apple to be refurbished or recycled. Some returned parts can even earn you credit from Apple.However, this process is intended for more experienced users who know exactly what theyre doing, and anything that goes wrong is on you. That means that most people will be better off getting Apple or a repair shop to fix their MacBook. If you have the skills and confidence, though, Apples self-service repair kits could be a good choice.Editors Recommendations