This article contains major spoilers for Paradise season 1 episode 8.In Hulus eight-episode post-apocalyptic murder mystery Paradise, Agent Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) is a secret service agent tasked with protecting President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) in a society created under a sealed dome after a series of natural disasters led to the end of the world. The slow-burn series kicks off with President Bradford (whose code name is Wildcat) being murdered, then reveals more details behind what happened to the world outside the dome, who killed the president, and how each character ended up in this simulated new environment with each episode.Along the way, Paradise viewers are treated to literary and musical references that help provide clues, including a heavy lean into Roald Dahls James and the Giant Peach in Episode 1 and a musical soundtrack filled with classic tunes and haunting covers that allow parts of the story to unfold in a new way as the series goes on. Its a show where viewers can never be sure who has pure motives and whos up to something, and it keeps everyone guessing all the way up to the season finale.Heres how things shake out in Hulus post-apocalyptic whodunnit.Who Killed Wildcat?The first episode of Paradise sets the tone of the series: a murder mystery with an end-of-the-world twist. President Bradford is found murdered in his bedroom by his number one secret service agent, Xavier Collins, who breaks protocol to investigate the crime scene on his own before making an official report. The premiere episode carries on, leaving viewers with the impression that were experiencing the United States as we know it, but the final minutes offer a major shake-up. This society exists after an apocalyptic event and the people who live in this idyllic town are actually beneath a protective dome, surviving after the end of the world.Not only is the town a glorified fallout shelter, but the people within it are not always what they seem. Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson), the worlds richest self-made woman who helped build the dome, becomes a prime suspect, as her cutthroat motives for maintaining order become apparent. Theres also the presidents mistress Nicole Robinson (Krys Marshall), a high-ranking secret service official who often seems suspicious, and Agent Billy Pace (Jon Beavers), who has his own share of secrets and a shady past to contend with. In fact, Xavier struggles to trust everyone through the course of the series, and viewers are given a glimpse into the suspicious behaviors of Xaviers own daughter, Presley Collins (Aliyah Mastin), leaving even the kids under the dome looking like murder suspects at times.But the twists and turns of the murder of the president come to an end in episode 8, when it becomes clear who killed Wildcat. Turns out, the president was murdered by the librarian beneath the dome, Trent (Ian Merrigan), who isnt actually supposed to be in the society at all. In the final Paradise season 1 episode, we learn Trent was among a set of construction workers who helped build the structure, but was dismissed from his position once he found out the construction area was toxic and making workers sick. This led Trent down a path of conspiracy theories and attempts to alert others of the presence of the dome, which would eventually house just 25,000 people at the end of the world. Also of note? Theres a flashback to the assassination attempt on Wildcats life where Xavier took a bullet for the president in episode 1, and its revealed in the season finale that the shooter was Trent, who at the time was trying to stop the construction.When the predicted events of world devastation began, Trent murdered a couple whod been chosen to enter the dome, stole their paperwork, and assumed the mans identity a librarian chosen to maintain the books and other media resources after the end of the world. Trent murdered Wildcat after realizing hed become complacent and happy beneath the dome, wanting to exact revenge against the person he blamed for picking and choosing whod get to survive the end of the world at the expense of everyone else.Did the Worlds All-Time Greatest Cheese Fries Help Identify the Murderer?Among the most intriguing characters in Paradise is Dr. Gabriela Torabi (Sarah Shahi), a therapist we learn was Sinatras grief counselor before the worlds end, who was recruited to help design the happiest, most liveable post-apocalyptic society possible. Gabriela also helped choose the 25,000 people whod be allowed to enter the dome, and she becomes a love interest for Xavier, whose wife did not make it to safety due to planes being grounded when the devastation began, early on in the series. In episode 3, we learn all about Gabrielas involvement, and how she created everything from thriving marketplaces for shopping to outdoor spaces with simulated cricket chirping to keep everyone happy.As it turns out, one of Gabrielas seemingly silliest creations helped identify Cals murderer. In episode 3, she tells Xavier she designed the diner beneath the dome, right down to its worlds all-time greatest cheese fries, which she later takes him to try. Since foods beneath the dome needed to be shelf-stable, eliminating fresh items like dairy or meat, these cheese fries are smothered in cashew-nut cheese. Early on, we learn that Gabriela has bonded with a waitress at the diner, Maggie Davis (Michelle Meredith), and the pair often shares a plate of cheese fries when she stops in.Its when Robinson visites Gabriela at home (after learning the presidents murderers DNA didnt match anyone approved to be under the dome) to inquire about whether or not anyone she interviewed as people checked in for the dome on the day the world ended seemed suspicious, that Gabriela pulls up her computer and begins going through people her team spoke with that day. When she sees a flag under Maggie-the-waitress profile that says she has a tree nut allergy, has visited the emergency room multiple times for anaphylaxis, and uses an epi-pen, she realizes her waitress friend cannot be who she claims to be, since they are both big fans of cashew cheese.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!This leads to Maggies confession that she met Trent on the day of the apocalyptic event, and that he offered her the chance to enter the dome as his wife, since hed just murdered a couple and stolen their dome-admittance paperwork and wristbands. Maggie may not be the murderer, but she knows who is, and the cheese fries helped Gabriella and Robinson figure it out, too, just in time to save Xavier, who was tied up by Trent in the library when he went to look for a clue left there by Wildcat. After Xavier is freed, Robinson and Xavier follow Trent to a break in the dome, where he ends his life trying to escape capture.A truly gutting final episode, in the finale of season 1 of Paradise we learn that while experts had predicted thered be plenty of notice and time to prepare once the world-ending disasters began, the world fell apart in a matter of hours. Tsunamis, widespread panic, and the firing of nuclear weapons led to a chaotic evacuation of the White House, but not before Wildcat addressed the nation, suggesting the threat of extermination was very real and they should surround themselves with loved ones as they await the end. His admission caused a flurry of panic, with many realizing there was a bunker where some were headed to safety, but they were not.During this time, we see the heartbreaking background of Xaviers wifes not being under the protection of the dome: Teri Rogers-Collins (Enuka Okuma) was on business travel to Atlanta at the time of the disaster and, since planes were grounded due to the unfolding tragedy, she was not able to make it in time for the flight to Colorado where the dome is located. Xavier blames Wildcat for Teris death because he knew the end was near and did not share this information with Xavier or tell him not to allow his wife to travel, but learns in the final episodes that all may not be lost where Teri is concerned.Throughout Paradise Season 1, there are hints that the world may not be completely destroyed, from learning that Billy accompanied researchers outside of the dome on a mission and was ordered by Sinatra to shoot and kill them once it was discovered that life existed outside the dome to Sinatras admission to Xavier that Teri and others are alive and communicating from survivors settlements around the country via radio waves. In the season finale, we learn that at the last minute while flying to Colorado to enter the dome, the president made the decision not to fire nuclear weapons at other countries to protect the dome, but instead to shut down all electricity and power throughout the world to stop everyone from firing weapons and give humanity a fighting chance to survive. The most important thing we learn about the apocalypse in the Paradise finale is that some people did survive and theres a world outside the dome, although we dont know the state of it.Whats Next for Agent Collins and Sinatra?Season 1 comes to a close with Xavier using instructions left behind by Wildcat (hidden before his death inside a book in the library) to open the dome and fly a helicopter into whats left of the world outside. Sinatra has been shot by Agent Jane Driscoll (Nicole Brydon Bloom), who tells Sinatra her wounds will lead to a long recovery, but that shes of no use to Jane dead, only alive, so shes been spared, for now.As Xaviers children, Gabriela, Robinson, and the others beneath the dome await news of what kind of world lies outside of the dome, the population living beneath it have been alerted that Wildcats death was, indeed, a murder, and that theres more to the world than theyve been led to believe for the last three years.Will There Be a Paradise Season 2?Ahead of the season 1 finale, it was announced that Paradise has been renewed for a second season. The shows creator, Dan Fogelman, who created This Is Us, has revealed he has a three-season plan for the series. Production on Paradise season 2 is expected to begin in spring 2025, with a season premiere some time in early 2026.All eight episodes of Paradise Season 1 are available to stream now on Hulu.

SummaryTony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Battle.net, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on July 11 and itll arrive day one with Game Pass.This new game is faithfully remade from the ground up, adding new skaters, new parks, new music, and much more.Pre-order today to access the Foundry Demo in June or pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition for three days of Early Access, Doom Slayer & Revanant playable skaters, and more.The Birdman returns on July 11 Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 is back. Launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Battle.net, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and available day one with Game Pass, THPS 3+4 is at once a faithful remake of the original classic skateboarding games, but expands on the experience with new parks, skaters, and music, as well as cross-platform multiplayer, new creation tools, a New Game+ mode, and more.Rebuilt from the ground up, THPS 3+4 will include parks from the original games as well as new locations (more on that later), plus a Career Mode that includes the original tours from both. Playing with friends? Cross-platform multiplayer supports up to 8 skaters at one time, meaning youll have plenty of competition.Multiple new skaters are joining the original line-up, and youll also be able to create your own skater, not only customizing their appearance, but their hometown, skating style, and more. And of course, no Tony Hawk game would be complete without music, and youll be skating along to tracks from the original soundtrack, as well as new tracks.THPS 3+4 builds on the work started by Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2, bringing the easy-to-learn, hard-to-master controls and handling youd expect and for those taking on the series for the first time, an in-depth tutorial from Tony Hawk himself will walk you through exactly how to play.Welcome to WaterparkYou may have caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar location in todays reveal trailer this is Waterpark, a new level added to THPS 3+4. Introduced as part of the revamped THPS 4 Tour, this is a broken-down, dried-out park in the heart of the Mojave desert perfect for budding skaters.The rides might not be functional any more, but theyre more than open for finding lines and trick opportunities. Six rides are open for you to try and trick off of Down the Drain, Peak Cyclone, Twisted Vipers and more offer challenging trips down to ground level. Just skate to the entrance of each one, and youll be transported to the top to try your luck.If youre looking for something a little more chill, take a trip down the Lazy River, which snakes around the entire map, head to the Marquee for a ramp-filled area perfect for combos, or find a way to open up the Castle Slide for even more opportunities to earn points.Pre-Order Now for Early Access and MorePre-orders for Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 open today, and will give you access to the Foundry Demo (not available on Nintendo Switch). Kicking off in June, this demo will include two skaters and two parks to try out and your pre-order will also net you an extra in-game shader for Tony Hawk at full game launch.Pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe Edition will give you three days of Early Access to the full game as well as some far more unexpected bonuses. Play as both the Doom Slayer (with two outfits, two unique tricks, and a hoverboard) or a Revenant (with its own two unique tricks), not to mention themed skate decks, Create-a-Skater items and bonus soundtracks.And if you want to go all-out, the Collectors Edition of Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 will come complete with a limited-edition, full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck (deck-only, other skateboard components not included) featuring a reissued version of the iconic Wings graphic and a printed Tony Hawk autograph. The Collectors Edition includes a physical copy of the game, and all the Digital Deluxe Edition benefits.Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on July 11. Pre-orders open today. Learn more on tonyhawkthegame.com.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Digital Deluxe EditionActivision Publishing Inc.$69.99Pre-orderPre-purchase and receive: Early Access get the game 3 days early* Access to the Foundry Demo** Wireframe Tony ShaderPurchase the Digital Deluxe Edition to skate as the Doom Slayer and rip and tear through a ton of additional content.The Digital Deluxe Edition includes: Cross-Gen Bundle of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Includes Xbox One, Xbox X|S and PC (Microsoft Store) versions of the game The Doom Slayer and The Revenant playable skaters, each includes 2 secret moves. The Doom Slayer includes 2 unique outfits and the Unmaykr Hoverboard skate deck. Additional songs included with the in-game soundtrack Exclusive Doom Slayer, Revenant, and Create-a-Skater skate decks Exclusive themed Create-a-Skater ItemsGet hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more. Reunite the crew with cross-platform online Multiplayer*** for up to 8 skaters in new and returning game modes. Drop in to new parks or tear it up across the timeless parks from both Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 & Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4, authentically remade in jaw dropping 4K**** resolution with streamlined goals and the epic 2-minute format. Hit em with some drip in the expanded Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes, including the ability to create custom goals to share with friends for the first time ever. Shred harder than ever with more challenging goals and an enhanced New Game+ mode. Whether youre a total casual or a grungy pro, the same smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls from Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 will have you shredding like a Pro.Alert the neighborhood watch and grab your skate buddies because the shreds not dead. Its back and better than ever.*Actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.**Foundry Demo availability and launch date(s) subject to change. Internet connection required. This pre-purchase will grant you access to that demo, when released. See www.tonyhawkthegame.com for details.***Activision account and internet required for online Multiplayer and other features. A Game Pass subscription may be required for Multiplayer and other features (sold separately). Activision may modify or discontinue online services in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued to to factors including number of players.****The Xbox Series X version of the game will run native 4K at 60FPS in Fidelity Mode. The Xbox Series S version will render at 1440P and upscale to 4K. 4K output requires a 4K compatible device or display.For more information, please see www.tonyhawkthegame.com. 2025 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION and PRO SKATER are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. TONY HAWK is a registered trademark of Tony Hawk, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4Activision Publishing Inc.Get it nowGet hyped for the legendary franchise to return with Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4. Everything you loved is back, but revamped with more skaters, new parks, gnarlier tricks, eardrum shattering music, plus a whole lot more. Reunite the crew with cross-platform online Multiplayer* for up to 8 skaters in new and returning game modes. Drop in to new parks or tear it up across the timeless parks from both Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 & Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4, authentically remade in jaw dropping 4K** resolution with streamlined goals and the epic 2-minute format. Hit em with some drip in the expanded Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes, including the ability to create custom goals to share with friends for the first time ever. Shred harder than ever with more challenging goals and an enhanced New Game+ mode. Whether youre a total casual or a grungy pro, the same smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls from Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 will have you shredding like a Pro.Alert the neighborhood watch and grab your skate buddies because the shreds not dead. Its back and better than ever.*Activision account and internet required for online Multiplayer and other features. A Game Pass subscription may be required for Multiplayer and other features (sold separately). Activision may modify or discontinue online services in the future, which may impact the continued availability of online gameplay. Online services may be discontinued to to factors including number of players.**The Xbox Series X version of the game will run native 4K at 60FPS in Fidelity Mode. The Xbox Series S version will render at 1440P and upscale to 4K. 4K output requires a 4K compatible device or display.For more information, please see www.tonyhawkthegame.com. 2025 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION and PRO SKATER are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. TONY HAWK is a registered trademark of Tony Hawk, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Its no secret that European tech has a gender equity problem. Men dominate the leadership of most companies in the sector. Women founders struggle to raise VC money, and theres a stark pay gap between male and female workers. This gender imbalance is especially glaring in the STEM-dominated world of deep tech.Women lead just 22% of European deep tech companies, according to a new report from the EU-funded GENDEX project, released today. Securing funding remains a challenge, with women-led firms taking six months longer to sign their first term sheet. Over the past decade, women-led companies raised 1.8 times less capital than those led by men. Even those that get funded often face less favourable terms.European deep tech gender inequity limits diversity of thought and stifles innovation. Its also pouring hundreds of billions of euros in potential revenue down the drain.Data from the GENDEX report shows that women-led deep tech companies have generated over 11% of the total value raised at non-IPO exits in the past decade a disproportionately low figure. However, these firms account for just 0.6% of such deals, highlighting the outsized value created when women take the lead.Group BundlesAchieving greater representation of women-led companies at the exit stage both IPO and non-IPO over the past decade would have unlocked an estimated 198.8bn in additional value, GENDEX found.This data proves we need structural change, said Tanya Suarez, the chair at GENDEX, as well as the CEO of consultancy firm BlueSpecs and founder of tech accelerator IoT Tribe. Not only is it needed to fairly represent women, but evidence shows a gender-balanced ecosystem delivers the best results.Restricting European deep tech talentWhile women make up 42% of STEM graduates in Europe, their representation drops sharply in the workforce. The GENDEX report finds that women account for just 24% of patent applicants, highlighting a talent drain that limits deep techs potential.Tapping into Europes diverse talent pool in the tech and investment sectors in the broadest and most effective way possible is vital if we are to capitalise fully on our many strengths in innovation, said Stphane Ouaki, head of department at the European Innovation Council, which funded the report.The deep tech gender imbalance reflects broader societal gender issues. There is no quick fix addressing it requires systemic change across education, investment, and workplace culture.However, GENDEX makes four key recommendations to remedy the problem. First, investors should demand that companies report on gender diversity before deploying capital. Second, more funding should be allocated to women-led teams, which have been shown to deliver better outcomes. Third, better legal and funding support is needed for women to secure IP rights. Finally, government co-investment should require gender-balanced portfolios to ensure accountability in public funding. This years TNW Conference features a Women in Tech ticket. The pass provides 50% off access to the event, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with

It appears Apple will have its day in court to challenge the UKs not-so-secret-anymore order demanding a backdoor into iCloud.The Financial Times reports that Apple has filed a complaint to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that could see the British governments order overturned.The iPhone maker has made its appeal to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, an independent judicial body that examines complaints against the UK security services, according to people familiar with the matter.The Silicon Valley companys legal challenge is believed to be the first time that provisions in the 2016 Investigatory Powers Act allowing UK authorities to break encryption have been tested before the court. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal will consider whether the UKs notice to Apple was lawful and, if not, could order it to be quashed.The FT adds that Apples legal complaint was filed last month, and that the case could go to court this month. The Financial Times is the first to report that a legal complaint was filed. Its not known if the hearing will become public knowledge beyond reporting.Last week, the Trump administration voiced concerns that the secret request for an iCloud backdoor may have broken a privacy agreement between the United States and the UK.Apple responded to the demand by removing the Advanced Data Protection feature for iCloud backups for customers in the UK. The move takes Apples most comprehensive end-to-end encryption feature off the table in the UK for now rather than compromising privacy and breaking encryption globally.Best Apple accessoriesFollow Zac Hall on X, and listen to Runtime with co-host Sophia Tung on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.Add 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

Apple has just released public beta 2 for iOS 18.4, bringing a variety of new features and changes for users in the public beta program. Heres everything thats new.New features in iOS 18.4 beta 2The first beta of iOS 18.4 was packed with new features, but Apple has even more in store for the latest beta.Heres whats new:Visual Intelligence expands: iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16e users can now use Visual Intelligence without needing Camera Control on their device.New emoji: Seven emoji have been added to the emoji keyboard, including an exhausted face that may be popular.Apple Vision Pro app: Like the existing Watch app, users can now enjoy a dedicated Apple Vision Pro app for browsing spatial content and more.Shortcuts app actions: New actions in the Shortcuts app give us a glimpse at Siri upgrades expected to arrive soon.Control Center additions: Beta 1 brought new Ambient Music controls, and beta 2 adds ones for Visual Intelligence and Talk to Siri.Custom Priority Notifications: You can now choose which apps are included and excluded from the AI Priority Notifications feature.EV routing improvements: Apple Maps will soon improve its support for EV chargers.Plus there are a handful of other smaller changes.Overall, its a strong beta 2 update that further expands the new capabilities offered by iOS 18.4.Installing iOS 18.4 and public launch dateIf youve previously installed the iOS 18.4 public beta, or another recent public beta, updating is easy. Just go to Settings General Software Update on your iPhone, and beta 2 should appear there.However, if youd like to join Apples public beta program for the first time, you first need to enroll here.For anyone not willing to risk installing beta software that could bring bugs and performance issues, Apple has said the public launch of iOS 18.4 is set for early April. So you wont have to wait too long to try out these new features.What are your favorite changes in iOS 18.4 beta 2? Let us know in the comments.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 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

Crypto prices are on a veritable roller coaster ride as president Donald Trump's initiatives and deregulation embolden crypto whales to funnel billions into digital currency a space that advocates say is poised to become the legitimate business they've long predicted, but which keeps attracting scams and crime.And not all crypto-criminals are hiding behind a computer screen, a lesson that famed OnlyFans creator Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa found out the hard way on Sunday, when she says home invaders dragged her out of bed at gunpoint.They weren't there to boost cash or electronics, but apparently to nab the password to Siragusa's phone holding her crypto wallet: the only thing standing between them and apotential $20 million payout."They beat me before this video and pistol whipped me the pummeling felt like it would never end," she wrote after the ordeal. "They brought duct tape and masks and were armed with handguns."The popular streamer claimed to have shot one of the assailants in a series of erratic posts on X-formerly-Twitter."I believe I shot one of them they wanted crypto is what they were yelling they pulled me out of bed," Siragusa wrote. "They kept shooting my bedroom door and then finally kicked it in."The police in Houston later acknowledged the incident, calling for "any information about this aggravated robbery / home invasion." Given the gang-like nature of the attack and the fact that the robbers apparently made Swiss cheese of Siragusa's bedroom door it's a miracle the streamer was able to live-post the attack on X.It's unclear whether the assailants got what they came for, but the brazen attack is just one of many to plague the ever-tumultuous world of digital currency as IRL crimes become increasingly commonplace.Assuming one takes the proper precautions, blockchain currency can be very secure from outside actors. Instead of a few centralized banks holding huge sums for customers in juicy bank vaults, crypto custody is spread among individuals. Unfortunately, that's driving thieves to seek more personal avenues of approach, a practice crypto-nerds call "wrench attacks" a fun way to say "no password is safe from physical violence."In all of 2024, there were 24 reported wrench attacks, according to reporting by Fortune. In January 2025, there were eight alone. If this pace keeps up throughout the year, the figure could approach a hundred armed crypto heists in 2025.One of those was the shocking kidnapping of French crypto mogul David Balland, along with his wife, by a gang of armed thieves. Balland, a cofounder of the billion-dollar crypto hardware company Ledger, was held as ransom in exchange for a $100 million Bitcoin ransom, a grisly point made clear when Ledger cofounder ric Larchevque received Balland's severed finger in the mail.Though Balland and his wife were found alive after the French police and crypto industry bent over backward to find the multi-millionaire and save Larchevque's crypto holdings, smaller-time crypto holders may not be so lucky.Case in point, Siragusa, also a multimillionaire in digital holdings though with decidedly less political and industry influence was likely targeted after flashing her crypto wallet full of millions in Bitcoin and Ethereum.As crypto enthusiasts of all kinds enjoy a heightened market thanks to the White House's exceedingly visible hand, savage crypto crimes like these may just be the tip of the iceberg.Share This Article

Elon Musk has been something of a thorn in NASA's side since long beforehe became an unelected government official but it sounds like anger is now bubbling over at the space agency.According to former NASA astrobiologist Keith Cowing, who for years since his service at the agency has documented its internal politics and drama online, a "round of boos was heard" upon mention of Musk's name during an all-hands meeting at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland yesterday.Those jeers, Cowing wrote on hisNASA Watchblog, were in response to mention of Musk's newly reiterated directive demanding all government employees explain what they did the week prior in bullet points to justify their jobs or risk being fired.Over the weekend, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent a second threatening email to federal employees, instructing on Musk's behalf that they explain what they did at work last week to keep their jobs. While that first missive was amended to say that the demand was "strictly voluntary," this new one has no such language."The NASA administrator will not be providing any further guidance to NASA employees regarding the latest [five] bullet email that everyone got over the weekend," Cowing wrote, "so NASA employees are pretty much left to make a personal choice."During the meeting, the NASA staffers were also warned that the youthful hatchet menfrom Musk's Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have badges to enter the facility at any time they choose, without needing to inform anyone of their entrance.That's not all the bad blood Musk has kicked up at NASA lately. The billionaire also enraged a cadre of former astronauts last month by issuing repeated digs, including the erroneous claimthat Boeing Starliner astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams had been left stranded on the International Space Station for "political reasons.""When you finally get the nerve to climb into a rocket ship, come talk to [us]" former NASA astronaut and senator Mark Kelly tweeted in response to the world's richest man amid insults about his colleague, former ISS commander Andreas Mogensen, and his twin brother and fellow astronaut Scott Kelly.And even actions at NASA that aren't directly tied to Musk, like reports of leadership at the space agency ordering employees to throw out their LGBTQ pride swag, feel tightly bound up in his ideological mission to crush "wokeness" out of the federal government.All told, it's an extraordinary villain arc. Just a few years ago, Musk's work at SpaceX was a shining example of NASA working with the private sector to push the frontiers of America's space capability. Now, it seems that a mention of his name at a NASA meeting is enough to draw heckling.More on Musk cuts: Even NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Is Getting Its Budget SlashedShare This Article

Mar 04, 2025Ravie LakshmananCybercrime / Threat IntelligenceThreat actors deploying the Black Basta and CACTUS ransomware families have been found to rely on the same BackConnect (BC) module for maintaining persistent control over infected hosts, a sign that affiliates previously associated with Black Basta may have transitioned to CACTUS."Once infiltrated, it grants attackers a wide range of remote control capabilities, allowing them to execute commands on the infected machine," Trend Micro said in a Monday analysis. "This enables them to steal sensitive data, such as login credentials, financial information, and personal files."It's worth noting that details of the BC module, which the cybersecurity company is tracking as QBACKCONNECT owing to overlaps with the QakBot loader, was first documented in late January 2025 by both Walmart's Cyber Intelligence team and Sophos, the latter of which has designated the cluster the name STAC5777. Over the past year, Black Basta attack chains have increasingly leveraged email bombing tactics to trick prospective targets into installing Quick Assist after being contacted by the threat actor under the guise of IT support or helpdesk personnel.The access then serves as a conduit to sideload a malicious DLL loader ("winhttp.dll") named REEDBED using OneDriveStandaloneUpdater.exe, a legitimate executable responsible for updating Microsoft OneDrive. The loader ultimately decrypts and runs the BC module.Trend Micro said it observed a CACTUS ransomware attack that employed the same modus operandi to deploy BackConnect, but also go beyond it to carry out various post-exploitation actions like lateral movement and data exfiltration. However, efforts to encrypt the victim's network ended in failure.The convergence of tactics assumes special significance in light of the recent Black Basta chat log leaks that laid bare the e-crime gang's inner workings and organizational structure.Specifically, it has emerged that members of the financially motivated crew shared valid credentials, some of which have been sourced from information stealer logs. Some of the other prominent initial access points are Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) portals and VPN endpoints."Threat actors are using these tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) vishing, Quick Assist as a remote tool, and BackConnect to deploy Black Basta ransomware," Trend Micro said."Specifically, there is evidence suggesting that members have transitioned from the Black Basta ransomware group to the CACTUS ransomware group. This conclusion is drawn from the analysis of similar tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) being utilized by the CACTUS group."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.SHARE

Merry Christmas!(Wait, what month is it?)Apparently no one told my local gas station that its early March. Because they are still sellingElfbranded Maple Syrup Grahams Goldfish crackers, inspired by the beloved 2003film starring Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human man-child who grows up at the North Pole with Santa Claus and his elves, and thenexperiences quite a culture shock when he ventures into modern society for the first time in his life.Part of that shock comes fromBuddys diet, which is informed by elves eating habits which consist ofnothing but sweets and carbs. In one ofElfs most famous scenes, Buddy makes himself a breakfast of spaghetti, candy, crumbled Pop-Tarts, and maple syrup.As he stuffs his mouth with the sickly sweet concoction, the spaghetti strands dangle from his lips, coating his entire chin in syrupy goo.The whole joke is that Buddys concept ofgood food is disgusting. And yet asElfhas grown into a modern classic, more and more companies have offeredElf-branded food items. Recent offerings includeElfsugar cookies,Elfgingerbread Fudge Stripes,Elfcandy canes, and evenElf breakfast cereal. (Thankfully, it was not spaghetti flavored.)If you can sellElfbreakfast cereal,why notElfmaple syrup Goldfish too? Clearly, if they slap theElfbrand onanything food-related,someone will buy it. And that someone is me, the dummy whopurchsed these things (even though their expiration date is less than a month away!) when I saw them this week at my local convenience store.Granted, I am not just doing this out of morbid curiosity or because I hate myself, although thosewere definitely both contributing factors to my decision. I also did it because I do my best to eatall foods inspired by movies. Why? Well, someone has to. Or maybe Im just stupid. I dont even know anymore.Below you can watch my first taste and review ofborderline staleElf Goldfish crackers...READ MORE: I AteSquid Game Beef JerkyIwill give the ad wizards behind this quasi-monstrous creation this much credit: They didnt justgo for a flavor profile that evokes the movie.By invoking the phrase maple syrupGoldfish,they really captured the I-just-threw-up-in-my-mouth-a-little vibe of that scene with Buddy and the breakfast spaghetti. Maple syrup Goldfish sounds like the galaxy-brainedinvention of a lunatic who has spent his life being raised at the Arctic Circle by Ed Asner.Plus the actual taste was not nearly as terrible as I expected. The texture, with all that heavy dust getting all over my hands, I could have lived without. Im just not a fan of dusty foods; its the main reason Im not a huge Cheetos guy either.(I swear to Ed Asner: If they makeElf Cheetos, Im out of here.) Still, this is far from the worst thing I have eaten for this job.Now if youll excuse me, Im off to go find theHarry Potter butterbeer-flavored Goldfish. And to all, a good night.Get our free mobile appOnce-Beloved Fast Food Items That No Longer ExistThese defunct fast food items have gone down in history. Wouldnt you love to eat them again?

Huluis packed with fascinating horror films. Before we get into a list of the absolute best options on the streaming service, let's cover some worthy alternates.Hulu is home to David Cronenberg's Crimes of the Future (2022) and Fede lvarez's Alien: Romulus (2024). There's also the satirical horror film American Psycho (2000), twisty thriller Barbarian (2022) and romance-gone-wrong Fresh (2022). Finally, you should check out Cuckoo (2024), Humane (2024) and Immaculate (2024), starring Sydney Sweeney.Now, onto a roundup of the best horror movies on the streamer. All these films scored higher than 70 on Metacritic. Umbrella Entertainment Late Night with the Devil (2023) A possessed girl is a special guest on a 1977 talk show in this horror flick that gradually gets more intense. The film stars David Dastmalchian as Jack Delroy, a charismatic host who wants to boost his ratings. If you're craving supernatural horror, stay seated forthis terrifying Halloween special. See at Hulu IFC Films Hatching (2022) This Finnish creature movie is plucked straight from your feathery nightmares. The flick introduces Tinja, a 12-year-old girl who discovers a strange egg that hatches into a monstrous bird. The horrendous creature contrasts greatly with her family's expectations of perfection. So it's kind of like a cursed version of E.T. Well, maybe not. You can watch and come to your own conclusions. See at Hulu Neon Longlegs (2024) This bleak thriller from writer-director Osgood Perkins delivers twists, haunting visuals and a highly unsettling villain. The flick follows a young FBI agent looking into multiple baffling family murders. Nicolas Cage stars as the sufficiently startling titular character. See at Hulu Neon Infinity Pool (2023) Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgrd star in this disturbing film directed by Brandon Cronenberg (son of horror filmmaker David) about a vacationing couple that ventures outside their island resort and accidentally commits a crime. You won't be able to take your eyes off scream queen Goth, and Succession fans will enjoy more of the talented Skarsgrd. See at Hulu Piggy (2022) A teenage girl is viciously bullied at a local pool and then happens upon a stranger abducting her three tormentors. This gripping, Spanish-language movie is based on a short film and stars Laura Galn. See at Hulu Hulu Prey (2022) If you count incredibly capable,invisible killing machines as scary, you may be watching some of the scenes in Prey through your fingers. This addition to the Predator franchise takes place in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago and centers on a young warrior named Naru. Watch this one for a compelling underdog story about a human determinedly fighting against a powerful alien. See at Hulu 20th Century Studios The First Omen (2024) This flick stars a captivating Nell Tiger Free (Myrcella Baratheon in Game of Thrones) as an American woman working in Rome who uncovers a scheme to birth the Antichrist. It's a prequel to 1976's The Omen. See at Hulu You Are Not My Mother (2021) You Are Not My Mother introduces Char, a bright teenage girl who's living with her grandmother and mentally ill mother, Angela. Angela disappears, and when she returns, she acts eerily different. It's a creepy, slow-burn mystery you'll want to stick with, anchored by a strong central character. See at Hulu More horrific recommendations