New malware will crash your PC if you try to thwart its digital coin mining

An aggressive form of malware designed to mine cryptocurrency is now crashing PCs when you try to remove it from the system. Dubbed “WinstarNssmMiner” by the 360 Total Security team, the malware essentially hijacks the target PC by consuming loads of processing power to mine the digital coins and attaching itself to the critical system services in Windows to prevent removal. 

“The distributor has made tremendous profit via mining Monero on infected computers,” the team said in a blog. “According to our statistics, 360 Total Security has intercepted its attack over 500,000 times in 3 days.” 

What’s not clear is how victims end up with this malware in the first place. Presumably, though, they are opening files in emails or through social media. Once it lands on a victim’s PC, it scans for antivirus software and will disable any solution not developed by Kaspersky, Avast, and other high-tier providers. If a high-profile antivirus solution is present, the malware doesn’t do anything while the antivirus software scans the file, avoiding detection. 

After that, the malware creates two system processes called “svchost.exe,” injects malicious code into these processes, and sets their attributes to “CriticalProcess.” One svchost process then begins too mine digital currency while the second svhost process keeps an eye on the installed antivirus software. If the antivirus wakes up, they stop in their tracks to avoid detection. 

That said, antivirus software doesn’t detect the new malware. But the side effect of mining digital currency is that the process eats tremendous loads of CPU horsepower, slowing down victim PCs to an annoying crawl. Device owners digging into the Task Manager will attempt to manually close the offending Service Host only to get the dreaded Blue Screen of Death. Ouch.

The cryptocurrency miner is connected to four mining pools, which are groups of miners who share their processing power and split the coin stash based on their contribution. It relies on an open-source cryptocurrency mining project called XMRig for digging up Monero coins. Given the heavy load XMRig throws onto the CPU, it’s originally designed to run on dedicated PCs, not laptops and desktops used for everyday tasks.  

This isn’t the first encounter with XMRig in malware. The WaterMiner trojan appeared in a user-made mod for Grand Theft Auto V in late 2017 by an alleged Russian hacker. After installing the mod, a hidden downloader retrieves the cryptocurrency miner and hides it as a legitimate application. It then proceeds to mine digital coins, slowing down the host PC. To avoid manual termination by the device owner, it halts once the victim opens Task Manager, disappearing from the Processes list. 

The distribution of cryptocurrency miners is a growing trend with hackers. Instead of leaking information on the black market for profit or hijacking PCs for ransom, many have taken to generating digital coins on target PCs. Current methods include malware distribution, fake browser extensions, infected advertisements, and special code embedded in malicious websites. 

So far the hackers behind the new WinstarNssmMiner malware have only generated around $28,000 in Monero coins. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google plans to ban cryptocurrency mining extensions from the Chrome Web Store
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A drone made out of pizza? This YouTuber shows you just how to dough it

How do you like your drones: Fixed-wing or multirotor? Civilian or military? Thin-crust or Chicago-style? That’s the question you’ll be asking yourself after a new video from unmanned aerial vehicle-centric Spanish YouTubers deDrones. Cutting out the unnecessary extra step between drones that deliver food and, well, the food itself, they recently set out to create a drone made out of pizza.

“I did it more than anything to entertain my YouTube audience,” deDrones creator Eric Ponce Rodríguez told Digital Trends. “On my channel, I have a section called ‘rare drones,’ which consists of trying to fly drones that are a bit out of the ordinary. In this case, I made a pizza and tried to make it fly. To do this, I baked the base of the pizza to be very hard, and then added all the components of a normal racing drone: Motors, ESCs (electronic speed controls), flight controller, propellers, camera, and a battery. Once I finished, I started to add cheese, pepperoni and green pepper as if it were a real pizza.”

Rodríguez said that he was interested in the challenge of whether such an unwieldy and impractical drone could ever fly. In the end, he was satisfied that a strong enough frame could indeed be created out of pizza dough. Not that it was easy to pilot.

“It was really difficult. The motors were placed as well as I could on a pizza, but the drone was vibrating a lot, and after I tried to make a roll, one arm broke and the drone fell to the ground.” In an attempt to make piloting it as easy as possible, Rodríguez used the camera to create what is surely another world first: The first flying pizza to be piloted using first-person-view goggles.

As Rodriguez noted, this isn’t the first unusual drone he’s created. His previous innovative creations have included a 3D-printed drone, a drone made out of a CD-ROM, and a cardboard drone. He told us that he also has “very good ideas” for other original drone concepts planned for the near future.

As for the million-dollar question of whether he got to tuck into his delicious drone creation? “It’s a good question,” he laughed. “My idea was to eat the drone after the maiden flight, but this was impossible because the drone was broken in 100 pieces. I had to make a replica — and yes, I ate that one!”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Do more with your drone: 5 things you can do with a UAV (aside from taking pics)
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• Switzerland’s new air traffic control system to put drones, planes in same skies
• Halo Drone Pro review

Samsung’s 49-inch display pushes horizontal resolution beyond 5,000 pixels

For future Samsung displays, prospective buyers can expect to have the option of a newly detailed panel with a horizontal resolution in excess of 5,000 pixels. The new resolution is being called “dual quad HD (DQHD) and will come out at 5120 x 1440. The panel will also sport Samsung’s own three-side frameless design, a 120Hz refresh rate, and an 1,800R curvature.

Building off past efforts, Samsung’s new focus with its panel development is in ultrawides. The format is becoming increasingly popular among business users and gamers and moving forward Samsung will cater to both those groups with, large, detailed ultrawides that also support high refresh rates. It will also offer curved models and more traditional flat panels.

Alongside the more common 16:9 and 21:9 aspect ratios, Samsung will be looking to produce more niche panels in formats such as 18.5:9 and 32:9, as per TFTCentral. With that in mind, one of the most intriguing new panels Samsung discussed in its latest release is its 49-inch VA panel which will have a resolution of 5120 x 1440. That represents a sizable increase in pixel density over the previous iteration’s resolution of 3840 x 1080. However, that size increase does come at a cost, as the panel will have a slightly reduced refresh rate of 120Hz, versus its predecessor’s 144Hz.

Another new panel Samsung discussed in its release is a 43.4-inch VA panel which will have the same 1,800R curvature of the 49-inch model, a 3840 x 1200 resolution, and the higher 144Hz refresh rate. Both will be released at some point in September 2018.

Coming before then is a new, 31.5-inch VA panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160, a 120Hz refresh rate and a massive 3,000:1 contrast ratio. That panel is slated to show up around July. It will be followed a month or two later by a new 34-inch panel based on its existing VA design, though it will be upgraded to a 144Hz refresh rate.

Whether any of these panels will make their way on to our list of the best ultrawides available today is anyone’s guess, but more options for gamers and enterprise users usually leads to a more competitive industry, which is anything but bad for consumers.

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Sennheiser’s CX Sport in-ears are tough enough to keep up with your daily run

True wireless earbuds might be great for some things, but if you’ve ever tried a pair, you’ve probably noticed that they aren’t ideal for your daily run. Sennheiser’s CX Sport in-ear Bluetooth headphones, the company’s latest in the CX line, aren’t fully wireless, but they are tough as nails and probably won’t fall out of your ears like your AirPods do.

“For many, headphones are a true workout essential. We have designed the CX Sport to deliver everything athletes need to get the most out of their workout session — great sound, secure fit and a robust but lightweight design,” Marcel Salzmann, Sennheiser product manager, said in a statement. To that end, the CX Sport headphones are both sweat- and-splash resistant, so you don’t need to worry about going for a run in the rain.

Fit is everything when it comes to in-ears, so Sennheiser has included four sizes of ergonomic ear adapters to make sure that not only do the CX Sport fit, but remain comfortable and sound great as well. The headphones include a cable that is meant to run either behind your head or in front of you, but you don’t want this to aid in pulling them out of your ears, so an included cable organizer helps you keep the cable at the perfect length, while an optional clip will secure them to your shirt.

Sennheiser’s CX Sport headphones feature Bluetooth 4.2 and aptX for the clearest sound possible over Bluetooth, with Qualcomm aptX low latency to keep everything in sync when you’re watching a video. The headphones feature multi-connection capability, allowing them to stay connected to two devices at once, while the handy three-button remote lets you manage volume, playback, and calls.

When it comes to battery life, Sennheiser claims up to six hours of playback time on a single charge, though factors like overall volume will impact this number. A short 10-minute charge will get you another hour of playback time, and the headphones can be fully charged in around 1.5 hours.

The CX Sport in-ear Bluetooth headphones retail for $130 and can be purchased now via the Sennheiser website. They will bedome available worldwide in June. If these aren’t quite your style, take a look at our list of the best headphones you can buy.

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Nest’s network failed and people’s smart home devices went dark for 3 hours

What happens when your smart home has a brain lapse? Nest product owners found out last night when the network went down, cutting the digital connection.

Nest customers were still able to set the temperature on thermostats and lock and unlock doors manually, according to The Verge. It’s uncertain, however, if Nest’s alarm systems were functional during the dark period. A Digital Trends staff member who has Nest Protect, the smoke alarm, did not receive any notification from her app, nor did she receive an email alerting her of any problems.

Nest has not issued a formal statement about the incident. A series of tweets on the Nest Support Twitter page do reveal part of the story, however.

The drama started on Wednesday night at 11:30 p.m. ET when Nest Support tweeted, “We’ve received reports from Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock customers who are unable to arm/disarm or lock/unlock via the Nest app. Physical controls aren’t affected. We’re currently investigating this issue and will provide more info when available.”

We've received reports from Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock customers who are unable to arm/disarm or lock/unlock via the Nest app. Physical controls aren't affected. We're currently investigating this issue and will provide more info when available.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

Shortly after the first message, Nest followed up, tweeting that customers were reporting problems with the Nest app, some of whom couldn’t get it to open.

Yep, we're also getting reports from some customers who are unable to load the Nest app at all. We're investigating this as well and will provide an update when more info is available. We're sorry for the inconvenience and we're working on a solution.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

More than an hour later, Nest updated its earlier message, saying its app was working again on iOS, Android, and the web. The company was also working on restoring functionality to its devices, particularly the Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock. 

Update: the Nest app should load again on iOS, Android, and the web. We're still working on bringing all devices back online and restoring arm/disarm and lock/unlock functionality for Nest Secure and Nest x Yale Lock. We'll post another update when we have more info.

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

The final update, at 2:28 a.m. ET, announced that the problem was over. “Update: this issue is now resolved–thanks for your patience. The Nest app should now be fully responsive, including being able to arm/disarm Nest Secure and lock/unlock the Nest x Yale Lock. If you’re still having any issues, contact us by visiting nest.com/help.

Update: this issue is now resolved–thanks for your patience. The Nest app should now be fully responsive, including being able to arm/disarm Nest Secure and lock/unlock the Nest x Yale Lock. If you're still having any issues, contact us by visiting https://t.co/mnq22BsNT5

— Nest Support (@nestsupport) May 17, 2018

So for approximately three hours in the middle of the night when many people were sleeping, the digital control and protection promised by Nest’s internet-connected devices failed. It’s a good thing that physical overrides were built in, or people might have been locked in (or out) of their own homes.

If and when Nest issues a statement about what actually happened, we’ll cycle back with an update.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Control front door security from your phone with the Nest x Yale Lock
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• Nest Temperature Sensor review
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Best Android Tablets in 2018

• Best overall
• Best smaller tablet
• Best on a budget
• Best for enthusiasts

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

See at Best Buy

The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen and software that uses every inch of it. That’s what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet.

An amazing screen from Samsung is no surprise. The 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED on the Tab S3 carries on the tradition, and it’s simply the best display on a tablet. Android and Samsung mesh to provide a great software experience and the new S Pen and its 4096-level pressure sensitivity makes taking notes or producing digital artwork a breeze.

Bottom line: The Galaxy Tab S3 is the best tablet Samsung has ever made, as well as the best Android tablet you can buy.

One more thing: The internal hardware is also top notch and will keep up with everything you would want to do.

Why the Galaxy Tab S3 is the best

It’s exactly what we want from a tablet.

In 2018, a tablet is no longer just a bigger version of a phone. They have to pull extra duty and be a media player, a book reader, a web browser, and a work tool without any complaints or complications. Some tablets are great at some of these things, but the Tabs S3 is great at all of them.

Working, whether it’s on a presentation for your boss or a paper for your professor, is very different on a tablet than it is on a more conventional computer. Apps are designed to be more simple and easy to use with a touch screen, while omitting many of the battery-hungry features you would find in their desktop counterparts. The biggest hurdle has always been finding a way to organize the things you’re doing on your screen while you’re doing them. Samsung has had this figured out for a while and with the debut of native features with Android Nougat, you’ll be able to run your apps just how you like to run them.

The S Pen takes things over the top. A tablet with a wonderful screen, a custom-fit keyboard and cover, and powerful hardware is made better with a fully capable digital pen. The excellent Wacom integration makes taking notes or using photoshop a fluid and enjoyable experience that you won’t find with any other tablet on the market.

Best smaller tablet

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

See at Amazon

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is an 8-inch tablet that would have been the best tablet you can buy last year. It’s the predecessor to our top pick, and shares features like an incredible screen, great battery life and plenty of power.

The Tab S2 may be a year old, but it’s still a great tablet if you’re looking for one in the 8-inch category. And the price won’t make you cringe — you can pick up a Tab 2 for under $300.

Bottom line: If you want something super thin and ultra-light, the Tab S2 is the best.

One more thing: The Tab S2 also has a fingerprint sensor!

Best on a budget

Amazon Fire HD 10

See at Amazon

The Amazon Fire HD 10 isn’t going to blow you away with speeds and feeds — that’s not why it exists. Instead, it’s simply the best budget tablet for doing many things, from watching movies and TV shows to playing mindless games. Best of all, at under $150, you can hand it to your kids and not worry about it.

Bottom line: The Fire HD 10 is one of the best values in technology products you’ll find.

One more thing: Did we mention that it’s under $150?

For the enthusiast

Google Pixelbook

See at Best Buy

Google, like Microsoft, thinks a two-in-one is the way to go and no longer makes an Android tablet device. Instead, the Pixelbook is just as slim and just as light as an average 10-inch tablet but also has the benefit of a desktop web browser because its software is both Android and Chrome OS. It’s on our list because the hardware is amazing.

Enthusiasts will love the Pixelbook because it offers current generation PC hardware, Android, and Chrome in one sleek package.

Bottom line: Google has left the traditional tablet form factor to other companies and its all-in-one Pixelbook is a great enthusiast’s tablet.

One more thing: Because this is a Chrome OS hardware product, it comes with six years of software support from Google..

Conclusion

Like most things, there is no one Android tablet that’s right for everyone. That’s one of the big reasons Google was able to break Apple’s dominance in mobile computing — it offers a choice for just about everyone. Whether you want the stylish look and thin profile of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 or the sort-of-tablet Pixelbook — or anything in between — there’s a tablet that will work for you.

Our pick with the Galaxy Tab S3 is tough to beat. Great construction, an awesome screen, and Samsung’s unique S Pen experience put it at the top of our list.

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy Tab S3

See at Best Buy

The two most important things to have in a full-size Android tablet are a great screen and software that uses every inch of it. That’s what makes the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 the best Android tablet.

An amazing screen from Samsung is no surprise. The 9.7-inch 2048×1536 Super AMOLED on the Tab S3 carrys on the tradition, and it’s simply the best display on a tablet. Android and Samsung mesh to provide a great software experience and the new S Pen and its 4096-level pressure sensitivity makes taking notes or producing digital artwork a breeze.

Bottom line: The Galaxy Tab S3 is the best tablet Samsung has ever made, as well as the best Android tablet you can buy.

One more thing: The internal hardware is also top notch and will keep up with everything you would want to do.

Update, May 2018: The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is still the best Android tablet you can buy right now.

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Today you can get big discounts on the Mohu Curve 30 HDTV antenna, pet cameras, Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS, and more! Don’t pass these up.

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Android Auto’s wireless mode to work on non-Pixel phones running Android P [Update]

It’s currently limited to just Pixel and Nexus phones.

Updated 5/17/18 — Since issuing its press release at I/O, Kenwood was told by Google that it’s “working with several smartphone manufacturers to bring wireless compatibility to devices with Android 8.0 OS. According to Google, this compatibility will be available on select non-Google smartphones soon.”

In mid-April, Google finally launched its wireless mode for Android Auto that was announced back at CES in January.

The feature’s currently exclusive to Pixel and Nexus phones, but later this year, it will open up to many more people.

According to a press release issued by Kenwood –

For other manufacturers, wireless Android Auto will be implemented with the adoption of Android OS 9.0 or higher.

Google previously noted that it was “actively working” with other OEMs to bring Android Auto’s wireless option to more devices, and rather than having to wait for individual brands to be supported, it looks like any phone running Android P or higher should work just fine.

Wireless Android Auto enables you to use your phone to power a supported infotainment system in your car with the Android Auto interface without having to physically plug in your phone. It’s a pretty slick setup, so it’s exciting to see that more people will get to join in on the fun once Android P’s officially released later this year.

What’s new in Android P at Google I/O 2018

Android P

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• Join the Discussion

Relay by Republic is a better smartphone for kids: What you need to know

This is a new effort to make phones for kids suck less, and it’s pretty cool.

If you want to be connected to your child when they leave the house but don’t want them to have a regular phone with unlimited access to the untempered schism that is the internet, your options are somewhat limited. Locking down a normal phone takes know-how and isn’t 100% effective. The giant kid smartwatches sold by several carriers aren’t great at making phone calls, which makes them less like a phone and more like a security bracelet for parents to track their kids.

The folks at Republic Wireless have a new solution for parents with younger kids in need of a connected device of some sort. It’s called Relay, and instead of taking up the standard smartphone shape and size it looks and acts more like a cellular speaker for quick communication.

Here’s everything we know about this new entry into the kid phone world!

See at Republic

What is Relay?

On a high level, Relay is a phone designed for what kids under age 12 and parents need to stay connected. Instead of a display, a secure version of Android, or a camera with safety features built in, Relay is a pocketable speaker with a single button on the top. From the kid’s perspective, it doesn’t get much easier than Relay. Keep it in your pocket or in your bag until you need it, and press the big button to ring Mom and Dad.

If you have multiple kids, you can give out multiple Relays and have them all work together. This means one kid with a Relay can call another kid with a Relay, as long as it was set up to do so by the parent. Kids can chat with one another walkie-talkie style just as easily as they can talk with parents, which is cool.

Republic Wireless claims Relay is “durable, water-resistant, and boasts all-day battery” on the website. With no screen to break, the all-plastic body can certainly take a drop or two without issue. Water resistant means it can be rained on a little or handle the occasional splash, but you can’t drop it in a puddle or a pool. The battery life will surely change with usage, though because recharging requires a special magnetic connector made by Republic Wireless you’ll have to be careful not to misplace it.

The default way to talk through Relay is the speaker which occupies the top of the device, but it is not the only way. A headphone jack on the side of the device lets you connect headphones, so if you need to scold your kid you don’t have to worry about embarrassing them in front of their friends.

Relay is available in five bright colors, so your kid can choose the best one for them and if you need more than one you can easily tell them apart. Those colors are:

• Blueberry
• Charcoal
• Mint
• Slate
• Brick

This “phone” uses Republic Wireless for 4G LTE service, but none of the phones connected to it need to be for this to work. And because this is Republic Wireless we’re talking about, when Relay is near a decent WiFi connection it will automatically connect to use that for calls instead of the cellular connection.

How is Relay better for parents?

The Relay app, which is available for Android and iPhone, is the central hub for communicating with Relay. Parents can use it for calling the Relays on your account when needed, but it also gives parents feedback about the status of each Relay. If your kid has walked into an area will low cellular service, parents will know about it. If the battery on a Relay is running low, parents will know about it.

Perhaps most important, Relay offers location services inside the app as well. You get access to a map in the app with the last known location of the Relay, and can use that to easily locate your kids when necessary.

What else can Relay do?

Since this system was designed entirely in-house by Republic, the company has started taking a lot of feedback from customers to build in new features as these new phones are used. While not available right now, in the not-too-distant future Relay will be able to:

• Access Google Assistant
• Play music on Relay
• Send and receive voice messages
• Communicate with friendly Relays not attached to your account
• Play audio-only games

All of these things are expected to be enabled with parental permission and set up, so Relay grows to feel more like a personal device for its owner.

How much does this cost?

A single Relay from Republic Wireless is currently $100 for the hardware and $7 per month for the cellular service. If you want more than one Relay, Republic Wireless offers a two-pack for $150 and a three-pack for $200.

Compared to the price of a single phone, even a used phone you currently have sitting in a drawer somewhere, Relay isn’t asking much here. You’re never going to find a cell plan that cheap for a regular phone, and a used phone is unlikely to hold up anywhere near as long as a phone with no display and a fresh battery like Relay.

See at Republic Wireless

YouTube TV adds The Young Turks and Tastemade channels

Tastemade on YouTube TV.

Politics and food. What else do you need?

YouTube TV has added a couple new channels to its lineup. Both are available in all regions (that’s not always the case when it comes to YouTube TV), and both are available now.

TYT — that’s short for The Young Turks — is the video arm of “the largest online talk, news and entertainment networks for the connected generation.” The progressive network boasts more than 200 million viewers a month and ranks highly among millennials.

The full TYT Network includes 12 owned and operated and partner shows such as The Young Turks, What the Flick?!, ThinkTank, TYT Sports, TYT Interviews, TYT Politics, TYT Investigates, Pop Trigger and Nerd Alert.

That takes care of the politics. Now it’s time for food.

Tastemade was born in 2012 and also sports some 200 million monthly viewers. It’s produced in 8 languages. It is, in their own words:

A community of creators, dreamers and explorers united by their love for great taste. We inspire people through engaging entertainment, exciting experiences and authentic products.

All right, then.

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