North Korea suspected of stealing millions in bitcoin from South Korean exchange

In February 2017, an attack on the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb saw some $7 million in bitcoin and ethereum stolen, although the theft wasn’t actually detected until June. Now, there are signs that the criminals responsible are based in North Korea.

Bithumb is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the country, and indeed one of the top five worldwide. It’s being theorized that North Korea may have carried out the attack in response to financial sanctions put in place as a result of its development of nuclear weaponry, according to a report from BBC News.

Bitcoin has had a record-breaking year, and is currently approaching the $20,000 mark – something that few would have expected would happen so quickly, given the fact that it hadn’t hit $1,000 as of the beginning of 2017. This is especially pertinent to this theft, as it’s thought that the funds that would have been worth around $7 million at the time would now be valued at around $82.7 million.

Digital currency wasn’t the only thing that was stolen in the attack. The hackers also made off with the personal information of over 30,000 users, and apparently demanded a ransom of $5.5 million from the proprietors of Bithumb to ensure that they would delete these records.

South Korean authorities have since determined that the company did not do enough to protect its users, given that their private data was unencrypted, according to a report from Chosun. The government imposed $55,000 in fines on the firm on December 13.

Up until now, digital currencies have not come under scrutiny from South Korea’s financial authorities, but that’s all set to change in the wake of this high-profile situation. This attack could serve as a warning of things to come elsewhere in the world, as criminal activity associated with cryptocurrency seems to be growing in prominence, and various governments seem eager to nip it in the bud.

Bitcoin mining marketplace Nicehash was recently hit by an attack that saw almost $64 million worth of cryptocurrency go missing. As values continue to rise, this kind of crime will only become more lucrative, so we can perhaps expect to see more situations of this nature.

Editors’ Recommendations

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NYX Professional Makeup brings virtual reality makeup tutorial to select stores

With social media, it’s now easier than ever to access a broad range of makeup tutorials — complete with information on exactly which products are being used. To take the experience to the next level, NYX Professional Makeup has officially rolled out its virtual reality makeup tutorial in partnership with Samsung Gear VR in select stores.

The “Impossibly NYX Professional Makeup” experience allows you to watch makeup tutorials by three different beauty vloggers. Using the Gear VR Controller, viewers can select different products being used within the tutorial to learn more information.

NYX showed Digital Trends a demonstration of the tutorials using Samsung Gear VR. In the beginning, you’re asked to fill out your basic information and answer a quick survey about your skin type. You’re then greeted by three different makeup vloggers — Kristen Leanne, Mykie, and Karen Sarahi Gonzales — and can choose which tutorial you’d like to experience based on the different looks each one has to offer.

Using the controller, you can swipe over one of the three vloggers to learn more about their social media following and see a preview of the finished look. As you watch the tutorials, you’ll see each product float across the screen in front of you — giving you an up close look along with details like pricing and exact names.

But the tutorial is filmed a bit differently than the ones you might be used to seeing on Instagram or YouTube. Rather than shooting close up, they sit farther back at a table while still explaining the process and making it more informative.

Our favorite feature was the ability to pause the tutorial to zoom in on the fully made-up face. Using the controller, you can see parts of the look in more detail such as eye shadow and contouring. Once you’re done, you can then choose to head back to the tutorial to finish up the rest of the look.

NYX’s launch into the technology space with the help of Samsung isn’t a first for makeup brands. Last month, MAC Cosmetics launched its own beauty mirror with the help of ModiFace’s AR technology. Rather than physically trying on makeup, customers can use the mirror to preview what a specific product would look like.

With the NYX VR experience, customers can use it to preview different types of looks that are possible with NYX makeup products. Since you’re already in the store, you can then easily purchase the exact products to create the same look.

The “Impossibly NYX Professional Makeup” is currently available for use in select stores within New York City and Los Angeles. It will also roll out across all of the brand’s retail locations throughout 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• MAC Virtual Try-on Mirror review
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No, those aren’t giant hands — the Tiny T1 is the world’s smallest mobile phone

As hard as it may be for younger readers to believe, there was a time before “phablets” became a thing, when cellphone companies were in a race against one another to see who could create the world’s smallest handset. Jump forward a decade and a half, and that particular fed has gone the way of nu metal, “bullet time” effects, and personalized ringtones — but one company wants to bring it back, and they’ve created the “world’s smallest mobile phone” to show just how serious they are.

“The creation of the Zanco Tiny T1 was motivated purely by the challenge of whether or not it was possible to create a phone so small,” Robert Lattibeaudiere, operations manager at creators Clubit New Media, told Digital Trends. “In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum, ‘We spent so long figuring out if we could, we never stopped to ask if we should.’”

Compared to your shiny new iPhone X, the Tiny T1 can’t do a whole lot. You won’t be unlocking it with your face or using it to check out the latest apps — but that’s kind of the point. Instead, it can store up to 300 phone numbers and 50 SMS, while being tiny enough that you can take it with you at times when you don’t necessarily want to be carrying around a larger, expensive new handset. Its Kickstarter campaign also notes that it, “will work with any mobile phone network. You can change the nano-SIM at any time if you want to change your network, too. The tiny phone operates on the 2G network. The battery has 3 days standby and 180 minutes talk time.”

Lattibeaudiere points out that the device is also good news for parents who want a way of being able to contact their young kid, without necessarily exposing them to the dangers of online influences and cyberbullying.

While Kickstarter campaigns can be unpredictable, Lattibeaudiere assures us that the Zanco Tiny T1 is currently a fully functioning prototype, and is ready to go into mass production. “Once the Kickstarter has ended it will only be an estimated 14 weeks to produce and deliver to backers,” he said. “It has taken 2 years of research and development to get to this point. The Kickstarter is to ascertain if the world is ready for a phone so small.”

If you’d like to get your hands (or, well your fingers) on the Tiny T1, you can place a pre-order on Kickstarter, where prices start at 30 British pounds ($40). Shipping is set to take place in May 2018.

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No, those aren’t giant hands — the Tiny T1 is the world’s smallest mobile phone

As hard as it may be for younger readers to believe, there was a time before “phablets” became a thing, when cellphone companies were in a race against one another to see who could create the world’s smallest handset. Jump forward a decade and a half, and that particular fed has gone the way of nu metal, “bullet time” effects, and personalized ringtones — but one company wants to bring it back, and they’ve created the “world’s smallest mobile phone” to show just how serious they are.

“The creation of the Zanco Tiny T1 was motivated purely by the challenge of whether or not it was possible to create a phone so small,” Robert Lattibeaudiere, operations manager at creators Clubit New Media, told Digital Trends. “In the immortal words of Jeff Goldblum, ‘We spent so long figuring out if we could, we never stopped to ask if we should.’”

Compared to your shiny new iPhone X, the Tiny T1 can’t do a whole lot. You won’t be unlocking it with your face or using it to check out the latest apps — but that’s kind of the point. Instead, it can store up to 300 phone numbers and 50 SMS, while being tiny enough that you can take it with you at times when you don’t necessarily want to be carrying around a larger, expensive new handset. Its Kickstarter campaign also notes that it, “will work with any mobile phone network. You can change the nano-SIM at any time if you want to change your network, too. The tiny phone operates on the 2G network. The battery has 3 days standby and 180 minutes talk time.”

Lattibeaudiere points out that the device is also good news for parents who want a way of being able to contact their young kid, without necessarily exposing them to the dangers of online influences and cyberbullying.

While Kickstarter campaigns can be unpredictable, Lattibeaudiere assures us that the Zanco Tiny T1 is currently a fully functioning prototype, and is ready to go into mass production. “Once the Kickstarter has ended it will only be an estimated 14 weeks to produce and deliver to backers,” he said. “It has taken 2 years of research and development to get to this point. The Kickstarter is to ascertain if the world is ready for a phone so small.”

If you’d like to get your hands (or, well your fingers) on the Tiny T1, you can place a pre-order on Kickstarter, where prices start at 30 British pounds ($40). Shipping is set to take place in May 2018.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Developer claims ‘Project Phoenix’ creator stole from Kickstarter
• The Unihertz Jelly phone packs a lot of features in a tiny body
• Amazon can now ship a house to your home, though delivery costs $3,700
• Performance artist serves itty-bitty empanadas, more from a tiny street kitchen
• Spire’s tiny health tracker tags can smarten up your dumb clothes

No mo’ FOMO — here’s how to delete your Snapchat account

Snapchat is one of the more popular social media networks, particularly for the younger demographic. While at times controversial, the multimedia messaging app, known for its ephemeral messages (usually referred to as a snap) and wacky filters, is a fun way to share your life as it happens. With the app’s Stories feature, you can post pictures or videos of your daily activities, for anyone who follows you to see (but they will still disappear after 24 hours).

But we recognize that Snapchat isn’t for everyone. If you’ve found yourself perplexed with the inner workings of the app, or you have grown tired of the stickers and snaps you receive, deleting your account might be the best way to preserve your sanity. It’s estimated that the average Snapchatter spends 25 to 30 minutes in the app every day, and opens it an average of 18 times. Deleting your Snapchat account could save you a lot of time and battery power in the long run.

Ready to ghost? Here’s how to delete your Snapchat account.

Time to pull the plug

Step 1:  Unfortunately, Snapchat doesn’t allow you to delete your account directly from the mobile app. Instead, you’ll need to head over to Snapchat’s website using your browser — this should work in just about any browser, including the ones on your phone.

Step 2: Once you are on the correct page, enter the appropriate credentials (username or email, and password), and click the Log in button.

Step 3: Next, locate the “Delete My Account” button near the bottom of the resulting menu. You have to enter your password one more time.

Step 4: If you see the image above, then you’re done. Snapchat will immediately deactivate your account, but you have to wait 30 days before the account is permanently deleted. This is somewhat of a safety feature, in case you change your mind and can’t live without dancing hot dogs or some other filter. If you choose to do so, you may reactive your account by logging back in. Note: You won’t be able to retrieve or change your password while your account is deactivated.

Social media can be a great way to connect with friends or build your personal network, but sometimes we can find ourselves lost in all the noise. All it takes is one bad experience or the desire to be more productive, to encourage people to step away from their phones once in a while. No matter what your reasons are for taking a break, we’re here to help.

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New microscope uses A.I. smarts to diagnose deadly blood infections

As technology goes, microscopes are pretty smart, allowing us to examine samples blown up thousands of times their original size. But what if a microscope was able to identify what it was looking at? And what if this capability could be used to save people’s lives?

That’s the idea behind new work carried out by microbiologists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a teaching hospital at Harvard Medical School. Researchers there have developed a microscope that’s enhanced by machine learning technology to help diagnose potentially deadly blood infections, greatly improving patients’ odds of survival in the process.

“When someone has an infection in the hospital, patient samples are sent to a microbiology laboratory, where a diagnosis is made,” Dr. James Kirby, director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at BIDMC and associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School, told Digital Trends. “There are different types of infections including bacterial, fungus, and parasites. These could be bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, or diarrhea. The patient sample is examined under a microscope by a microbiology technologist, who recognize shapes, colors, and patterns of the organisms, and determines the class or type of infectious agent. This critical information is used by physicians to choose effective treatment.”

So why use artificial intelligence (A.I.)? The reason is that it takes years to become an expert who can accurately and consistently recognize microbes. It also takes a long time to review a sample — something that’s less and less easy to do in busy modern labs. To create a high-tech alternative, the researchers trained a convolutional neural network to recognize infectious agents in patient samples by showing it 100,000 training images. In tests, it was an astonishing 95 percent accurate at making diagnoses.

“We can envision an A.I. that makes a primary diagnosis once it goes through its full pace of training and becomes expert,” Kirby continued. “However, one thing we are really excited about is something we call ‘technologist assist.’ The idea is to combine the skills of a microbiology technologist and A.I. Specifically, an automated microscope will capture hundreds of images from the patient specimen. The A.I. program would then identify select images containing microbes and present them to a technologist on a computer screen with a proposed diagnosis. The technologist would then scan the on-screen images and confirm the diagnosis. Microbes are often very rare in specimens, and it may take a long time for a technologist to identify microbes through the standard manual way. Technologist assist would reduce the technologist time needed for a diagnosis to seconds.”

A paper describing the project was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

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Artificial intelligence now used in new tools to sharpen your debating skills

The Center for Argument Technology (ARG-tech) located at the University of Dundee now provides tools based on in-house artificial intelligence designed for arguments. While that may sound completely useless given humans do extremely well at arguing each other, this AI is meant to make those arguments more productive, so everyone involved can reach an agreement.

According to ARG-tech director Chris Reed, his group first turned to the BBC’s Moral Maze 10 years ago. They created large “maps” based on every debate that took place on the show, and turned those maps into infographics using an algorithm to “determine the most central themes.” From that data, the team pulled important issues, where participants stood, the highest points in conflict, and more.

The first public look into ARG-tech’s argument technology appeared on a special edition of Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 in October. It was followed by the team’s BBC-backed Argument Analytics page that digs into that specific episode along with a similar topic that aired five years ago. This page shows a timeline starting on October 11, the participants in the debate, a detailed map of all arguments made, a timestamped timeline of all recorded arguments, and a conflict hotspot timeline.

But you can also participate in virtual arguments to sharpen your skills. The Test Your Argument page on the BBC’s website pits you against virtual participants in a specific argument, and allows you to make three attempts to plead your case and convince others of your personal view. The current debate will last until around April and focuses on anti-abortion in the United Kingdom. You must argue in defense of this specific topic: “The unborn fetus should have human status in its own right.”

Another argument-based tool is called Debater, which is hosted by ARG-tech. Here, you sit in the middle of a virtual Moral Maze debate inhabited by virtual panelists and witnesses. The two available subjects also deal with abortion in the United Kingdom: this should be a decision made only by women, and a collection of cells create a human. After selecting the topic, you choose witnesses and/or panelists to virtually join the discussion.

“Ultimately, the goal is not to build a machine that can beat us at an argument. Much more exciting is the potential to have A.I. software contribute to human discussion — recognizing types of arguments, critiquing them, offering alternative views and probing reasons are all things that are now within the reach of A.I.,”  Reed said.

He views teams of humans and machines working together to intelligently combat complex issues, a move that could change the way humans interact with artificial intelligence. Relying on machines for points of view could be extremely helpful: Their analysis is based on data that is not intertwined with emotions. But that sterile input could also raise additional arguments, especially when topics involve morals and health.

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Artificial intelligence now used in new tools to sharpen your debating skills

The Center for Argument Technology (ARG-tech) located at the University of Dundee now provides tools based on in-house artificial intelligence designed for arguments. While that may sound completely useless given humans do extremely well at arguing each other, this AI is meant to make those arguments more productive, so everyone involved can reach an agreement.

According to ARG-tech director Chris Reed, his group first turned to the BBC’s Moral Maze 10 years ago. They created large “maps” based on every debate that took place on the show, and turned those maps into infographics using an algorithm to “determine the most central themes.” From that data, the team pulled important issues, where participants stood, the highest points in conflict, and more.

The first public look into ARG-tech’s argument technology appeared on a special edition of Moral Maze on BBC Radio 4 in October. It was followed by the team’s BBC-backed Argument Analytics page that digs into that specific episode along with a similar topic that aired five years ago. This page shows a timeline starting on October 11, the participants in the debate, a detailed map of all arguments made, a timestamped timeline of all recorded arguments, and a conflict hotspot timeline.

But you can also participate in virtual arguments to sharpen your skills. The Test Your Argument page on the BBC’s website pits you against virtual participants in a specific argument, and allows you to make three attempts to plead your case and convince others of your personal view. The current debate will last until around April and focuses on anti-abortion in the United Kingdom. You must argue in defense of this specific topic: “The unborn fetus should have human status in its own right.”

Another argument-based tool is called Debater, which is hosted by ARG-tech. Here, you sit in the middle of a virtual Moral Maze debate inhabited by virtual panelists and witnesses. The two available subjects also deal with abortion in the United Kingdom: this should be a decision made only by women, and a collection of cells create a human. After selecting the topic, you choose witnesses and/or panelists to virtually join the discussion.

“Ultimately, the goal is not to build a machine that can beat us at an argument. Much more exciting is the potential to have A.I. software contribute to human discussion — recognizing types of arguments, critiquing them, offering alternative views and probing reasons are all things that are now within the reach of A.I.,”  Reed said.

He views teams of humans and machines working together to intelligently combat complex issues, a move that could change the way humans interact with artificial intelligence. Relying on machines for points of view could be extremely helpful: Their analysis is based on data that is not intertwined with emotions. But that sterile input could also raise additional arguments, especially when topics involve morals and health.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Fujifilm Instax SQ10 is a digital-print hybrid that prints edited photos, too
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Elevate your photography with the 20 best camera apps for the iPhone

There’s an old adage amongst photographers that goes, “The best camera is the one you have with you.” The point being that when the perfect scene pops up, any camera is better than no camera at all. And since most of us carry our smartphones with us everywhere we go, the best camera we have is often an iPhone. Moreover, the camera on the newly-launched iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X — and those adorning nearly all recent iPhone models — are nearly as powerful as the point-and-shoots of yesteryear, with a massive selection of sophisticated apps that render them even more versatile. Whether you’re looking for a new way to shoot, edit, or organize your photos, these are the best camera apps for the iPhone that’ll turn any boring shot into a masterpiece.

Looking for Android apps? We have a list of those, too.

Camera+ ($3)

Even with the latest iOS update, Apple’s native camera app is rather anemic when it comes to features. Thankfully, Camera+ provides a wider range of exposure controls and advanced tools such as continuous flash, frontal flash, touch-focus adjustment, 6x digital zoom, a timer, and preset filters. The well-organized interface also makes it a breeze to utilize, whether snapping or sharing shots on social media.

Download now from:

iTunes

ProCamera ($5)

When iOS 8 launched, rather than updating the existing ProCamera app, developer Cocologics decided to go ahead and make an entirely new app. The new app — now optimized for iOS 10 — still sports a minimalist interface, with a host sophisticated features for setting exposure time, tint, ISO sensitivity, and more. It even features a night camera and full-resolution previews in addition to robust exposure control and more than 70 unique filters and effects.

Download now from:

iTunes

Darkroom

The name might be a bit misleading considering the lack of any analog aesthetics, but Darkroom takes a literal approach with a blacked-out interface designed to let your photos shine. The experience is similar to that of Lightroom, in that you can control everything from hue, saturation, and luminosity (HSL) sliders to curves, but also has a touch of other apps such as VSCO with its integrated filter collections. With a 4.9 rating out of 5 in the iOS App Store, it’s a no-brainer — especially considering it’s free.

Download now from:

iTunes

Halide ($5)

Halide is the perfect camera app for beginners who want to start with automatic and slowly work their way up to manual mode. An automatic mode makes it easy to capture great photos on the fly, but tools like focus peaking, RAW capture, and more give ultimate creative control in an easy to navigate app. Halide even includes portrait effects, such as those touted alongside the latest iPhones.

Download now from:

iTunes

Pro HDR X ($2)

ProHDR X is easily one of the most fully-featured apps we’ve encountered in the HDR category. Unlike its predecessor, ProHDR X has completely redesigned its UI to create an interface that’s far more approachable to the casual photographer. It also offers you a wider range of control over exposure adjustments, tone-mapping settings, and the ability to transport your DSLR images (up to 24 megapixels) to the app’s built-in photo library. It also features an array of beautiful preset filters for you to use, if you’re into that sort of thing, along with options for digitally zooming, cropping, captioning, and setting a self timer, among other features.

Download now from:

iTunes

Adobe Photoshop Express

When it comes to photo editing software, nobody does it better than Adobe. Though the mobile version of their renowned desktop software offers a smaller work space than most apps, it’s still one of the most capable after-effects programs you can buy. Popular Photoshop features such as layers, selection tools, and adjustments all make an appearance, as do options for adding text, applying effects, and blending images. Unfortunately, many features are locked behind in-app purchases, so be ready to spend some dough if Express is your photo editor of choice.

Download it now from:

iTunes

Adobe Lightroom

Although many of Lightroom’s tools require a newer model of iPhone to run, it remains one of the most feature-rich apps on our list, particular for photographers who want to edit their workflow while on the move. The app automatically syncs images with its desktop counterpart – whether you’re using images shot on your smartphone or raw images from a DSLR – allowing you to quickly edit, enhance, and share your photos using a variety of familiar tools. With iOS 10, Lightroom now supports RAW image capture and editing.

Download it now from:

iTunes

This $20 LG external DVD writer works great with laptops that no longer have optical drives

Finally you can bust out that dusty movie collection.

This LG 8X USB 2.0 ultra slim portable external DVD writer is down to $19.99 on Amazon. It normally sells for $25. This is a match for a price it only dropped to briefly over the Black Friday weekend. Before that, the last time this DVD writer dropped even as low as $23 was back in 2016.

An external drive like this would be a great way to make music mixes for a long road trip so you don’t have to listen to the radio, or to make some DVDs to watch at home with your favorite digital movie downloads. Or if you have a new laptop that doesn’t have an optical drive, you can use this to install software or watch movies you already own.

Features include:

• 14mm Height Ultra Slim Portable DVD Writer Drive
• USB 2.0 interface (up to 480Mbits/s, USB 3.0 Compatible)
• Max 8x DVDR Write Speed
• Max 24x CD Write Speed

The drive has 4 stars based on more than 2,600 user reviews.

Grab 30 blank discs for $21 to get started with your new drive.

See on Amazon