Ransomware hackers get their money, then ask for more
Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita is the latest to be targeted by ransomware hackers, local news channel KWCH 12 reports. Unlike other recent attacks, however, the Wichita attackers never made good on their end of the deal. Instead of restoring access to hospital systems after receiving their ransom, they simply demanded more money.
According to Hospital President Dr. Greg Durick, Kansas Heart initially paid “a small amount” in ransom, but the hackers refused to decrypt the hospital’s hijacked files. The hospital shut down negotiations after the second ransom demand, saying it no longer felt “this was a wise maneuver or strategy.” As Durick told KWCH, Kansas Heart had a backup plan that immediately went into action and, “I think it helped in minimizing the amount of damage the encrypted agent could do.” The hospital says patient information was never in jeopardy and operations were never impacted.
While the Wichita hackers may have been playing dirty, the makers of the “uncrackable” TeslaCrypt ransomware virus recently handed over the keys to allow anyone affected to retrieve their files. A ransomware attack on Congress was reportedly thwarted earlier this month as well, but a hospital in Los Angeles had to fork over 40 bitcoin (about $17,000) after falling victim to a similar attack in February.
Google’s Paris HQ raided by French tax authorities
French authorities have raided Google’s Paris headquarters as part of an ongoing investigation into the company’s tax affairs in the country. In February, reports claimed the government believed Google owed 1.6-billion Euros ($1.2-billion) in back taxes. According to The Guardian, investigators were on the scene at Google’s Paris headquarter at around 5am this morning, with the raid involving up to 100 investigators, reports in Le Parisien.
This isn’t the first time a tech giant has come under fire for its tax dealings in Europe. Apple was fined $347-million in Italy, and Google’s UK operations were squeezed for $185-million in a deal with the British government. Many large US firms base their European operations in Ireland (including Google), which offers more favourable tax conditions, but that’s a situation which might not last much longer. In a statement given to Reuters, the French prosecutors believe the Irish-based European headquarters isn’t full-filling its fiscal obligations in the country. We’ve reached out to Google for comment.
Hyperloop pods will be coated in Vibranium. No, really
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has announced a new technology that’s going to raise the hackles of Marvel’s lawyers. The company, in collaboration with Slovakian materials firm c2i, has created a carbon fiber composite that’ll cover the inside and outside of its capsules. The only issue is that some bright spark decided to call this wonder material Vibranium. As in the Wakandan rare earth metal that helps Captain America and Black Panther beat down their foes.
Unlike its fictional namesake, this Vibranium is embedded with a series of sensors that monitor stability, temperature and integrity. These sensors are intended to provide continuous feedback to HQ, so that if a pod gets damaged in transit, it’ll be pulled from service as soon as it hits the dock. The company claims that the material is 10 times stronger than steel and weigh five times less than aluminum. The plan is that HTT’s capsules will use two skins of vibranium the material — one on the outside, and one to protect the passenger compartment.
One of the reasons that HTT is working with a Slovakian company is because it signed a deal in March to partner with the local government. It’s currently researching the potential to build two Hyperloop routes that would unite Slovakia’s capital city, Bratislava, with neighboring capital cities Vienna and Budapest. Given that the distances involved are reasonably small, this three-city loop would be an ideal testbed for the technology.
‘Battlecast’ turns ‘Skylanders’ into a collectible card game
Activision Blizzard has seen a ton of success with two franchises in recent years: Skylanders, which kicked off the toys-to-life craze, and Hearthstone, which made collectible card games (CCG) accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Now, it’s mashing the two together for Skylanders Battlecast, a CCG aimed at children. Announced last summer, it’s finally available across North America and Europe from today.
Just like regular Skylanders games, Battlecast is very much focused on you buying real-world items. The game itself will be available on iOS or Android (both Google and Amazon flavours) as a free download. To make the most of it, you’ll need to buy cards. There are 24 character cards to collect, along with numerous Spell, Gear and Relic cards that will allow you to attack enemies, change stats or modify the playing field. Think Magic: The Gathering’s Equipment, Artifacts and Enchantments and you won’t be far off.
In battles, you’ll have a 30-card deck containing just three characters and a mix of Spells, Gear and Relics. Each character has basic attack and health stats, and every move will cost you “crystals,” (think Mana). You’ll need to decide which cards to use and when in order to win battles.
Although the basic setup will be familiar to anyone that’s played Hearthstone, Magic or Pokémon Trading Card Game, Battlecast has its own twist: augmented reality. You play via the official application, which will turn the cards into 3D models on your device’s screen.
There are 300 cards in total to choose from, but you’ll need to splash out a lot of money to get close to that figure. They’ll come in Battle Packs (two are available, each priced at $9.99 / £9.99 for 22 cards including three characters) and Booster Packs ($4.99 / £4.99 for a random selection of eight cards). To add them to your collection, you just scan them with the app.
There are five “layers of collectability,” ranging from “Common” to to “Foil,” the rarest of which will only be available through Booster Packs. Simple math will tell you that, even with the best luck, you’re still likely to be spending a couple hundred dollars to fill out your collection.
You might have already thought of a problem with this scanning system — what’s stopping you from just scanning any card, or even a photo of a card? Well, each card has a unique identifier hidden on it, and can only be used with one account at a time. As such, the Battle Packs come with a “trading shield” that prevents sneaky players from scanning cards into their system and essentially stealing the right to use them. You can get around that by forgoing the physical realm and buying Battle and Booster Packs in digital form through the app, but that kinda takes away the fun of it all in my mind.
There’s a big focus on player-vs-player in Battlecast, with casual and ranked matches online, as well as an option to play gamers on your friends list. If you’re more the solitary type, you there are 60 solo missions to run through, with pretty much endless replayability if you approach them with different decks.
Skylanders Battlecast is available from today on iOS and Android in Europe and North America. If you live in New Zealand of Australia, it soft launched there last month.
Otterbox’s new case lets you use accessories without removing it
Ah yes, phone cases. A necessary purchase if you’re accident prone or tend to drop your handset on the regular. Unfortunately, adding that accessory usually makes for a headaches whenever you try to use another mobile add-on like a thermal camera or lens clip. Typically, you would have to remove your protective case before you could use any of those other gadgets. Well, Otterbox is looking to rid you of that frustration with the new Universe system and it’s swappable “accessory modules.”
On the back side of the phone case, there’s a slot that allow you to attach add-ons like a super compact speaker, Square reader or additional memory. The full line also includes things like Olloclip lenses, a Seek Thermal camera, tripods and more that can all be used without having to take you phone out of the main case. Otterbox’s Universe system is available May 29th for iPhone 6/6s and iPhone 6 Plus/6s Plus with the case itself priced at $50. There’s a collection of 15 accessories that work with the case that are available at launch, except for the Goal Zero battery which will arrive in June. Here’s the full list and pricing info:
- Square contactless and chip card reader: $50
- Olloclip 4-in-1 lens: $80, includes fisheye, wide-angle, 10x and 15x zoom options
- SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive: $60-$120, available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities
- Nite Ize Steelie vent mount kit: $40
- Goal Zero slide battery: starting at $60, adds a full charge to your iPhone
- Manatee Works StingRay barcode scanner: $95
- Seek Thermal compact camera and case: starting at $249
- Influx WiFi booster: $40
- PolarPro Trippler tripod: $50
- PolarPro Stance compact tripod: $30
- PolarPro PowerPack removable battery pack: $50
- PolarPro Beat Pulsar wireless mobile speaker: $60
- PolarPro Fisheye wide-angle lens: $30
- PolarPro Trail Blazer armband: $35
- PolarPro Stash Slim mobile wallet: $20, stores cards on the back of the case
Prototype iPhone 6 with ‘Switchboard’ OS Listed on eBay for $4,999
An alleged prototype version of Apple’s “vintage” iPhone 6 has appeared in an eBay auction with a starting price of $4,999.
The device has the Apple logo and “iPhone” branding, but no FCC logos, serial number or IMEI on the rear, and appears to be in very good condition.
The handset apparently runs a much-sought-after hackable debugging OS called “SwitchBoard” and features a red lightning dock port with a serial number of C39NW00KG876. The seller claims to have bought it from a friend. The auction currently has one bidder.
In October 2014, a similar prototype iPhone 6 with red Lightning port was offered on eBay by someone claiming to have received the handset by accident. The auction garnered almost 200 bids and reached over $100,000, before being pulled by eBay, likely at Apple’s request.
(Via 9to5Mac)
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Parallels Access 3.1 Brings 3D Touch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro Support
Parallels, the company behind the popular virtualization software of the same name, has updated its iOS app Parallels Access, which allows iPad and iPhone owners to remotely access their Mac or Windows apps on their mobile device.
The app allows users to interact with their desktop apps in the same way they would interact with their iPad apps, with the full range of iPad gestures available for compatible apps. Parallels Access translates what would usually be mouse clicks and movements into iPad-friendly alternatives.
The 3.1 update means the app now officially supports the virtual keyboard and full screen resolution of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, so users can view an undistorted image of a 27-inch (non-Retina) iMac screen on the larger tablet using “Same as Computer” mode, which accompanies the existing “More space” and “Best for iPad” viewing modes.
Other new features include support for 3D Touch on iPhone 6s and 6 Plus handsets, support for Apple Pencil and other stylus devices, folders on the App Launcher, support for cursor movement using the on-screen keyboard as a trackpad in iOS 9, and support for Windows 10 Tablet Mode. Parallels Access still doesn’t support Split View on iPads however, since it would require changing the screen resolution of the remote computer.
The app is $19.99 a year, or monthly for $2.99 to get unlimited use of Parallels Access for up to 5 computers. Parallels also offers a free 14-day trial that allows users to test the app before purchasing.
Parallels Access is available for iPad and iPhone on the App Store [Direct Link]
Tag: Parallels
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iDevices’ New ‘Socket’ Turns Traditional Light Bulbs into Smart Bulbs
iDevices today announced the launch of its latest HomeKit product, a smart light bulb socket able to turn any standard bulb into a smart bulb. The iDevices Socket, first announced at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, is a simple Wi-Fi light bulb adapter that connects to a standard bulb and gives it the ability to interface with Siri and other HomeKit-connected products.
Priced at $79, the iDevices Socket is not cheap and is in fact more expensive than other HomeKit-compatible products like Wi-Fi-enabled bulbs and smart plugs, but it does include dimming capabilities and a customizable color light ring that can be used as a night light or to add ambiance to any room. It is able to fit into any conventional lighting receptacle and is compatible with standard Edison style bulbs up to 60 watts.
The Socket can be controlled using Siri voice commands, through the iDevices app, or through any other HomeKit app. Like other HomeKit-connected products, the Socket can be organized into specific rooms and is able to be used in Scenes, timers, and other HomeKit features.
The iDevices Socket joins the company’s existing line of HomeKit products, which includes the iDevices Thermostat and the iDevices Switch. In the future, iDevices plans to release additional HomeKit accessories like a wall switch and a wall outlet.
Customers can pre-order the iDevices Socket for $79 from the iDevices website starting today.
Tags: HomeKit, iDevices
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Apple MacBook Pro 2016: Goodbye physical keys and hello OLED touch bar?
The next update to Apple’s MacBook Pro line could be one of the most significant so far. Reportedly, Apple is ditching the function keys in favour of a new OLED display touch bar.
While Apple will no doubt roll out updates to its MacBook Pro line this year, and likely offer the rumoured 13-inch and 15-inch enhanced Skylake variants, this OLED claim is bold.
The rumour comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo who also claims the new line will be thinner, lighter and feature Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint recognition hardware, previously only found in mobile devices.
This outlandish claim of an OLED touch bar might not be as far fetched as it sounds. Kuo says it will be featured above the keyboard and will “replace physical function keys”. This may help condense the overall design and work better with the injection mould-made hinges and butterfly-mechanism keyboard that was in the 12-inch MacBook and should feature in the Pro line.
Also expected are Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports, faster Skylake processors and AMD 400-series Polaris graphics for the top of the line models.
Apple is reported, by the source, to reveal these new MacBooks in the fourth quarter, suggesting they may not appear at WWDC from 13 June.
READ: WWDC 2016: Apple’s launches, announcements and what to expect
Eight tips for lighting your home
Walk into a room, flick a switch, and your room is normally filled with light. Is it the right light though? Could it be designed to help your health and well-being? Are there any rules or recommendations you should follow when installing new lights in your home?
We put all of these questions and more to Mary Rushton-Beales, a lighting designer and founder of Lighting Design House, a bespoke lighting practice based in the UK. Rushton-Beales has spent the last twenty years working with architects, interior designers, engineers, landscape architects and retail experts to create lighting projects ranging from installations on the London Underground through to airports to homes.
“We need light for so many reasons from health to making our lives work better,” explains Rushton-Beales when we asked why lighting is so important. “We have evolved to respond to a natural cycle of light and dark, day and night, that changes gently but dynamically over time.
But in our very recent history we have deliberately ignored these natural rhythms and we expect our bodies to cope with instant and prolonged high levels of artificial lighting. It is like fast food: many of us are getting the wrong light, at the wrong time. We need to think about the amount and quality of light we need and avoid bingeing on it.”
Pocket-lint
Light demands in our home have changed
In the home, one of the the simplest things you can do is to have enough light to do what you want to do, according to Ruston-Beales. It sounds like an obvious thing, but it’s surprising how many people don’t do it in their homes.
For many people, the average home hasn’t fully caught up with our changing work and leisure behaviours, and in particular our urge to work from home some, if not all of the time. According to a report in 2014 by the Office of National Statistics in the UK, 4.2 million, that’s about 13.9 per cent, of the UK workforce worked from home. That’s a lot of people potentially working in poorly lit environments.
“Go to John Lewis or Ikea, for example, and look at how they’ve lit their rooms to see what their settings are like,” says Rushton-Beales.
The idea is that by looking at what others have done, you should be able to get some idea of what you can achieve in your own home in the same way you would when it comes to buying a piece of furniture. Once you’ve worked out what kind of lights you like, you then need to look at the light itself and what light it provides.
“50 to 100 lux is good for general living, but for working, the recommended levels are around 300-500 lux. Make sure you have extra light to do specific tasks and the lights you are buying are up to the job,” Rushton-Beales tells Pocket-lint.
“Light to do homework in should be colder and brighter if possible. If you can, change the light every hour to give you and your family a break, whether that’s going into a different room or stepping outside. Being able to vary the colour of light is really good. That’s what happens in the real world, so replicating that in the home is really nice.”
The lighting designer continues: “Research has shown that you can stimulate the brain when it wants to rest, using a bluer, cooler light to increase alertness.”
Lighting designers have embraced the offer of multi-colour ascents and app controlled lighting to help “paint” rooms with washes of colour that can be changed or adapted to suit the mood or needs of the environment’s inhabitants.
“Psychologically, light can have a huge effect on your wellbeing,” adds Rushton-Beales.
Pocket-lint
Eight tips for lighting your home
That’s the why, but what about the how? Here are eight tips from Rushton-Beales that you should try and follow when adding new lights to your home.
1. In the kitchen, try and light the working surfaces. Use everything you can: pendants, down lighters, strips under the above cupboards. It is about creating layers of light rather than it just coming from a single source.
2. Do everything you can before you add downlights. They are the easiest and cheapest option, but are very boring. Nobody has ever said “don’t those down lighters look good”. You’ll get a functionally lit place, but it won’t be exciting.
3. Think about how are you going to control the lights. Is that by two-way lighting switches or something else? Also, you should think about where the switches are going to be. Do you need them by the door? Should they be low-level for kids? Do you even need them at all?
4. Maximise daylight. It sounds silly, but eat near the window if you can, and if you can’t, make sure you go for a walk first thing. It will get your body working and up to speed.
5. If you are doing a new-build or an extension, don’t leave it too late before you start thinking about lighting. Make sure it’s one of the first things you do. If you can, make sure you factor in the depth of the ceiling and any access you need. In the case of the Philips Hue lights, the light strips need a plug socket. Many people love the idea of a fancy light dome or special fitting only to find that there isn’t enough space to fit it when it comes to it and then have to change their plans at the last minute.
6. Look around you to see what others are doing, not just in department stores, but in restaurants, bars and hotels to get ideas. Public spaces have a much faster turnover and the designers are happier to take risks. That gives you a huge canvas to pick and choose what will work well for you in your environment.
7. In a kitchen don’t use cabinet lights if you’ve got solid shelves, and if you can, add lights under the cabinets to light your work surfaces.
8. Sleep in complete darkness or use red/amber shades of low-level light. Of all the research Rushton-Beales has done on how light affects our bodies, she has found the physiological need for darkness is almost more important than the need for brightness and variety of light. When our bodies are properly asleep, natural healing hormones are released. These regulate our body clock, reduce the risk of depression and some studies show they can fight cancer and reduce susceptibility to lots of other illnesses. We really do “feel better after a good nights sleep”!
Pocket-lint
The Pocket-lint Philips Hue installation
For Pocket-lint’s installation, Rushton-Beales first analysed the space and then worked with us to find our needs. She then used lighting heat maps and 3D CAD drawings to create and design a suitable lighting environment.
For us, the most cost effective and dynamic way to proceed was to use the Philips Hue lightbulbs that allowed the kitchen/family room to be used in a variety of ways.
The installation, one of Rushton-Beales’ most adventurous designs to date, includes 24 Hue lights in total. Light strips, down lighters, uplighters, and pendants have all been used to create layers of light that can not only be turned on via a central switch panel, but can also be changed and adapted via the Philips Hue app, either as part of a scene or individually.
The Philips Hue light strips, recessed into the ceiling, add accents of colour to the experience, while still providing an ambient light when there isn’t a need for the two Philips Hue Beyond lights that sit over the 3-metre long kitchen island to be on.
Those Philips Hue Beyond lights offer up to 500 lux of light giving plenty of light to work or prepare food.
In addition, there are six Philips Hue GU10 down lighters in the room that can be lit when specific light is needed, either over the work tops or the kitchen table. A further four Philips Hue GU10 bulbs are installed in the floor, bridging the divide between inside and out. The idea is to help convince the eye, along with matching floor tiles and a large sliding patio door, that the kitchen and the outside patio are a single space.
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