Author: NEWS

  • This VPN allows anyone to use your internet connection. What can go wrong?

    This VPN allows anyone to use your internet connection. What can go wrong?

    2024-12-19 11:00:00

    According to the Kela analysis, cybercrime forum users have recommended Big Mama in other posts over the past year or shared tips on what configurations people should use. In April this year, security company Cisco launched Talos said it had seen traffic from the Big Mama Proxy, along with other proxies, being used by attackers trying to brute force their way into various corporate systems.

    Mixed messages

    Big Mama has few details on its website about its ownership or leadership. The company’s terms of service state that a company called BigMama SRL is registered in Romania, although an earlier version of the company website from 2022And now at least one live pagelists a legal address for BigMama LLC in Wyoming. The US-based company was dissolved in April and is now listed as inactive on the Wyoming Secretary of State’s website.

    A person using the name Alex A responded to an email from WIRED about how Big Mama operates. In the email, they say that information about free user connections sold to third parties through the Big Mama Network is “duplicated multiple times in the app marketplace and in the application itself,” and that people must accept the terms and conditions to use to be able to use the VPN. They say that the Big Mama VPN is officially only available through the Google Play Store.

    “We do not and have never advertised our services on the forums you mentioned,” the email states. They say they were not aware of Talos’ findings in April about the use of their network as part of a cyberattack. “We block spam, DDOS, SSH, as well as local network, etc. We record user activities to cooperate with law enforcement authorities,” the email said.

    The Alex A persona asked WIRED to send him more details about the ads on cybercrime forums, details about Talos’ findings and information about teens using Big Mama on Oculus devices, and said they would be “happy” to answer further questions. However, they did not respond to further emails asking additional details about the investigation results and questions about their security measures, whether they believed someone was posing as Big Mama to post on cybercrime forums, the identity of Alex A, or who runs the company.

    During the analysis, Trend Micro’s Hilt says the company also found a security vulnerability within the Big Mama VPN, which could have allowed a proxy user to gain access to someone’s local network if exploited. The company says it reported the error to Big Mama, who fixed it within a week, a detail Alex A confirmed.

    Ultimately, Hilt says, there are potential risks when someone downloads and uses a free VPN. “With all free VPNs there is a trade-off between privacy or security concerns,” he says. That goes for people loading them onto their VR headsets. “When you download applications from the Internet that are not from the official stores, there is always the risk that it is not what you think it is. And that even applies to Oculus devices.”

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  • In the Dark: How Rolling Blackouts Changed Life in Ecuador | Drought News

    In the Dark: How Rolling Blackouts Changed Life in Ecuador | Drought News

    2024-12-19 20:48:00

    As Ecuador’s historic drought continues, power outages could last until April, says energy consultant Jorge Luis Hidalgo.

    For decades, experts have urged authorities to boost Ecuador’s energy supply by expanding solar and wind energy capacity and strengthening thermoelectric plants.

    But Hidalgo said electricity and fossil fuel subsidies have left energy prices in Ecuador among the lowest in the region, with residents and businesses paying only about $0.10 per kilowatt houraccording to government estimates.

    That lack of revenue has in turn discouraged the private sector from investing in alternative energy, Hidalgo said.

    “As long as Ecuador continues to give away energy, this situation will continue,” he said.

    A protester in Ecuador holds up a handwritten sign with the words
    A protester in Quito on November 21 held a sign that read: ‘Come together Ecuador. Noboa = chaos’ (Christina Noriega/Al Jazeera)

    As the population grows, demand for energy has exceeded supply over the years, Hidalgo added. It is a problem that President Noboa himself has acknowledged.

    In October, he posted a video on social media explaining that Ecuador is currently a energy shortage that fluctuates between 1,000 and 1,400 megawatts.

    This means that Ecuador’s electricity needs exceeded production capacity by more than a tenth. From 2022, the country could only produce approximately 8,864 megawatts in total.

    The shortage has created a political crisis for Noboa, which has faced protests in the streets due to government-imposed power cuts.

    These demonstrations come at a delicate time for Noboa. He will be re-elected in 2025, as his current mandate is to complete the remainder of his predecessor’s term.

    Protesters even marched to the presidential palace in Quito in November and chanted, “There is no light. There is no education. And you have the guts to seek re-election?”

    In December, Noboa pledged to end government blackouts. “We will live a normal life again,” he promised.

    In November, Noboa announced that his government had spent $700 million on maintaining Ecuador’s aging thermoelectric power plants, intended to support Ecuador’s hydroelectric system during dry spells.

    Currently, hydroelectric dams are responsible for generating about 70 percent of Ecuador’s energy.

    Noboa also reached an agreement with Colombia to continue buying energy from the neighboring country. Earlier this year, Colombia had that too reduce electricity exports to Ecuador because of its own drought issues.

    The Ecuadorian government has also brought in a floating thermoelectric power plant from Turkiye producing 100 megawatts, and 23 power generators producing a total of 80 megawatts.

    In addition, Noboa has abolished an energy subsidy for mining companies.

    “The mining companies in Ecuador use more energy than a hospital needs to function. And yet their energy rate is subsidized by the state,” says Noboa wrote on social media in October. “The subsidies should reach those who need them most.”

    But for the families hardest hit by the power outages, like Samueza’s, the changes may come too late.

    Brandon Samueza poses for a photo outside in Quito
    Brandon Samueza, 26, is currently working for a taxi app while looking for a longer-term job (Christina Noriega/Al Jazeera)

    Since he was fired, his wife has become the family breadwinner and works as a treasurer at a logistics company. Samueza, meanwhile, tries his hand at driving for a taxi app, which has so far paid him less than a minimum wage.

    With a tighter household budget, Samueza says the holidays will likely come and go without much fuss.

    But he is optimistic that by the new year the power outages will have stopped and the economy will have recovered enough that he might be able to find a job.

    Still, he feels frustrated with the government because of his current situation.

    “There should be no power outages,” Samueza said. “A government must be prepared for these types of cases, especially because we already experienced the same thing in April and May. The fact that they have done nothing to adapt speaks poorly of the government.”

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  • “He does what he wants!” Solanke gives Spurs three points!

    “He does what he wants!” Solanke gives Spurs three points!

    2024-12-19 21:20:00


    Dominic Solanke scores Tottenham’s third goal against Manchester United in the League Cup.

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  • NASA postpones the return of stranded Starliner astronauts until March

    NASA postpones the return of stranded Starliner astronauts until March

    2024-12-18 22:17:00

    NASA has done it again has postponed the return to Earth of Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams astronauts stranded on the international space station after Boeing’s Starliner capsule malfunctioned middle of this year.

    The spacecraft crew arrived at the ISS in June. The goal was to test the Starliner’s extensive capabilities, including launch, docking and return systems. The mission would last a week. Five of the capsule’s 28 thrusters failed to function before arriving at the ISS. Boeing claimed that its technology could guarantee the safe return of the astronauts. However, NASA expressed doubts and concluded that the risk was too high. The agency entrusted the task to SpaceX.

    Elon Musk’s company launched the Crew-9 mission in September to bring back Williams and Wilmore, among others. Until now, that’s what the stuck astronauts were planning to do return in February aboard the Crew Dragon rocket. However, NASA has announced that it expects the expedition to return to Earth’s surface following the arrival of Crew-10, which will not be shipped until late March 2025 at the earliest.

    The adjustment will allow SpaceX and NASA engineers to complete development of a new Dragon spacecraft, which will be shipped to the Florida factory early next month.

    “Manufacturing, assembling, testing and ultimately integrating a new spacecraft is a painstaking undertaking that requires close attention to detail,” Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said in a statement. “We appreciate the SpaceX team’s hard work to expand the Dragon fleet in support of our missions and the flexibility of the station program and expedition crews as we work together to complete the flight readiness of the new capsule.”

    NASA said the crews of Crew-9 and Crew-10 will have to go through a “handover period,” during which the ISS residents share experiences and knowledge with the newcomers. This process ensures the proper conduct of scientific experiments on board and the maintenance of the orbital complex.

    NASA and SpaceX specialists evaluated several options for coordinating the next crewed delivery. They determined that launching Crew-10 in March was the “best option to meet NASA’s requirements and achieve the space station’s 2025 goals,” according to an agency news release.

    A long distance

    The ISS underwent two resupply flights in November, ensuring crew members had sufficient food, water, clothing and oxygen. However, some experts have warned of possible health risks for Wilmore and Williams after spending more than nine months in space.

    The scientific community has been studying the effects of spaceflight on the human body since the 1970s. In the years since the first moon landing it is has established circumstances such as loss of bone mass, weakened heart function, visual problems and the development of kidney stones.

    This is evident from recent research by University College London reveals that the structure and function of the kidneys can also suffer permanent damage, although this is particularly aggressive in the case of astronauts who become too far from Earth, which is not the case on the ISS.

    NASA points out that expedition crews to the ISS typically make longer stays, with an average duration of six months. It adds that some astronauts have carried out missions of up to one year to contribute to research into human adaptation to spaceflight, with a view to future explorations of the moon and Mars.

    This story originally appeared on WIRED in Spanish and is translated from Spanish.

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  • A plane crash in New York near the Bills Star lot leaves one dead, police say

    A plane crash in New York near the Bills Star lot leaves one dead, police say

    2024-12-19 21:01:00

    A plane crash on property of Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins left one person dead Thursday, officials in New York said.

    The Buffalo Niagara International Airport issued a warning around 11:16 a.m. ET that the plane was having mechanical problems as it tried to reach White Plains, East Aurora Police Chief Patrick Welch said. The plane originated from Lansing, Michigan.

    About six minutes later, East Aurora dispatch received a call about a small plane crash in a wooded area, he added.

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    Dion Dawkins at the Pro Bowl

    AFC tackle Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills during Pro Bowl Games practice at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., Feb. 4, 2023. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

    The plane crashed between two properties and in “close proximity” to Dawkins’ home, Welch said. WKBW-TV reported it was owned by Dawkins, citing ownership records.

    The offensive lineman was excused from practice for personal reasons.

    Welch said fire officials who responded to the crash reported a “fully involved fire” upon arrival.

    BILLS’ JOSH ALLEN GUSHES ABOUT COVER HAILEE STEINFELD AND HER IMPACT ON HIS STELLAR SEASON

    The pilot, the only person aboard the 1979 Beechcraft A36, died, officials said, but was not immediately identified.

    The National Transportation Safety Board said it would investigate the crash.

    Dawkins, a three-time Pro Bowler, spoke about the crash as he returned to practice.

    Dion Dawkins at training camp

    Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins puts on the helmet. (Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle/USA Today Network)

    “I still wonder why things happen in life, but tragedies happen all the time. The main point is that I hope the pilot’s family is doing well. I hope they are doing well, because today someone for lost his life for a while.” accident,” he said, via Syracuse.com. “I’m glad everything is going well with my family.”

    The bills have been preparing for a Sunday night game against the New England Patriots.

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    Buffalo is 11-3 on the season and New England is 3-11.

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports reporting on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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  • How to make your holiday as waste-free as possible: DIY tips and advice

    How to make your holiday as waste-free as possible: DIY tips and advice

    2024-12-19 19:52:00

    For example, instead of a ribbon, use compostable rope or rope with a cutting (a sprig of holly, a cutting of eucalyptus or the branch of a fir) in it. It has a rustic look that will hold up even if you pack well in advance. You can also add something less hardy, such as flowers or berries, just before handing out the gifts.

    Don’t forget tape!

    The last thing you want to do is make all these adjustments and ruin them by using standard plastic tape that cannot be recycled. Sellotape now offers one plastic-free version of its famous tape, which is 100 percent plant-based and fully compostable. You can also consider paper-based options such as washi tape. These often come in pretty patterns too, which can also help brighten up plain brown paper.

    Send fewer cards, or go digital

    If you have a family that loves Christmas cards, this can be a tough habit to break, but approximately 2.65 billion Christmas cards are sold in the U.S. each year, and sending one less card would mean 50,000 cubic yards save paper. , according to Stanford University.

    It helps that there are now fantastic digital options that can be sent via email to friends and family, completely eliminating waste – and can be sent at the last minute when it’s too late to post something. Make the extra effort to discuss with your loved ones in advance whether you will all go the digital route for greater environmental benefit.

    If you can’t bear to disrupt family tradition, make sure you choose your cards as carefully as you choose your wrapping paper. Avoid glitter and foil and look for cards labeled as recyclable. Even better: also look at products made from post-consumer recycled materials. You can even buy cards embedded with seeds and cans be planted!

    Of course, you only have control over the cards you send. If you receive cards that are not recyclable, consider holding them and cutting them up so you can reuse the Christmas symbol pieces as gift tags for next year.

    Choose a real Christmas tree, if you have one

    It may seem counterintuitive, but even though real trees are only used once before being thrown away, they create less waste than their artificial counterparts. That’s because a real tree can be completely recycled if disposed of properly, and can be used for things like firewood, wood chips or compost.

    Fake trees, on the other hand, are made from materials that cannot be recycled and only go to landfill when the time for spreading Christmas cheer is over. The Carbon Fund estimates that you need to reuse an artificial tree between seven and twenty times (depending on its size) to offset the carbon footprint generated by its production, packaging and shipping. When you buy that real tree (if you haven’t already), make sure you buy something that is locally grown, which is the more sustainable choice because it doesn’t have to be shipped as far.

    Get started with decorations

    The same rules apply when decorating your tree and your home. Plastic and foil are banned, and being creative is the best way to reduce waste. For great DIY ideas, I’ll send you to YouTube, which is full of DIY holiday decorating tutorials: paper streamers, hanging paper dreidels, salt dough ornamentsA DIY Kwanzaa kinaraand scores more. These decorations may not stand the test of time if stored, but they will be completely recyclable and compostable after the holidays, meaning you can consciously switch up your color theme each year.

    Store-bought holiday crackers (cardboard tubes that you pull on both ends to pop open) should be avoided. Traditionally they use shiny and glittery materials, which, like cards and wrapping paper, makes them not recyclable. Not to mention the horrible, often plastic gift inside, which usually ends up in the trash almost immediately.

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  • Anthony Gordon reacts to Sandro Tonali almost scoring

    Anthony Gordon reacts to Sandro Tonali almost scoring

    2024-12-19 14:39:00

    Newcastle United secured a 3-1 victory over Brentford last night to send them into the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

    Italian midfield maestro Sandro Tonali was in particularly good form for Eddie Howe’s side, scoring two goals in the win at St James’ Park, and he also came pretty close to a hat-trick!

    Tonali hasn’t had many opportunities to establish himself at Newcastle due to the betting ban he took at the start of last season, shortly after joining the Magpies from AC Milan.

    Newcastle United star UNHAPPY under Eddie Howe

    But now the 24-year-old is back in the team and playing at a very high level, and it’s clear he has the support of his teammates.

    See below how Gordon was so excited to see Tonali score her hat-trick in last night’s game against Brentford…

    Newcastle could be Carabao Cup contenders again

    Newcastle looked in great shape to beat a strong Brentford side, and players like Tonali and Gordon could surely make this team Carabao Cup contenders this season.

    Sandro Tonali celebrates and Anthony Gordon reacts
    Sandro Tonali celebrates and Anthony Gordon reacts (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

    NUFC notably reached the final of this competition in the 2022/23 season, losing to Manchester United on that occasion, but they will no doubt be desperate to get their hands on some silverware, and they have the looks good enough to do it.

    It hasn’t been the most consistent season for Howe’s side, but they have shown how good they can be on their day, and a cup competition might suit them more than chasing a top four finish in the Premier League.



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  • Your feed was burned

    Your feed was burned

    2024-12-19 21:13:00

    Your feed is ready!

    We remember the page status and when new links appear on it, we send a message to this feed! Enjoy!

    Attention!

    We only check one page, the one you specified when creating the feed! We don’t scan the entire site!!! Please remember!!! Add the NEWS or ARTICLE page to the feed generator

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  • Liverpool want to sign ‘monstrous’ £57m Nunez upgrade

    Liverpool want to sign ‘monstrous’ £57m Nunez upgrade

    2024-12-19 20:45:00

    Liverpool entered the holiday season at the top of the Premier League And Champions League tables, with the midweek win over Southampton putting them into the Carabao Cup semi-finals to boot.

    Everything is going pretty well for Arne Slotwho has the tactical acumen, adaptability and mental fortitude to overcome the adversity encountered with such a prestigious job and perhaps even lead Liverpool to silverware success before the end of the season.

    Remarkably, the Reds have undergone only the lightest summer renovations, signing of Federico Chiesa from Juventus for £12.5m in August. It makes an interesting comment on Slot’s abilities, but the Dutch manager won’t be able to keep Liverpool up to par without making a big signing at some point.

    Liverpool manager Arne Slot reacts

    While Liverpool boast a top-class frontline, Darwin Nuñez continues to divide opinions and Slot may think landing an upgrade would be the right move.

    Liverpool eye Nunez upgrade

    Nunez scored against Southampton but his overall performance still left a lot to be desired, with the Charlie Gordon of the Daily Express noted that Nunez is “such a powerful runner but he can be so finicky with his last ball”, epitomizing his journey in this Liverpool team.

    Darwin Nunez celebrates for Liverpool

    Slot’s patience will have no limits, and FSG seem to be considering replacements, with Spanish sources claim than that of Atalanta Ademola Lookman is on Anfield’s radar and that Slot’s side are seriously considering making a formal bid in the new year.

    The Nigerian striker is the talk of the town after his performances last year and is also attracting interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. with Atalanta valuing him at 70 million eurosit’s unclear whether teams would be willing to pay.

    Liverpool have an adaptable frontline, with Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota all used as centre-forwards this season while possessing properties suited to other areas as well.

    In this sense, it is not implausible that a dynamic star such as Lookman could be targeted, as he has proven himself among the most clinical players in Italian football and is furthermore a big-match talent.

    What Ademola Lookman would bring to Liverpool

    Broadcaster Maximiliano Bretos hailed Lookman for his “monster year” 2023/24, winning the Europa League and scoring 27 goal contributions through 45 matches in all competitions.

    After single-handedly dismantling Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final, Lookman deservedly secured 14th place in the rankings. Final ranking of the men’s Ballon d’Or.

    This year, he continued his momentum, posting 11 goals and five assists in 19 appearances as Gian Pieri Gasperini’s side strive for a historic Serie A title, currently top of the table after 16 matches.

    According to FBrefLookman actually ranks in the top 2% of forwards in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year in goals scored, top 4% in assists, top 1% in attempted passes and shot-creating plays. and 2% for progressive actions. door and tackle by 90.

    A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent’s goal at least 10 meters from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.

    A man of many talents. So much so that Lookman was hailed as a “superstar” by 90 mins: Sean Walshand given the underlying data, it’s hard to dispute that he is one of the continent’s elite strikers.

    Ademola Lookman – Career Statistics by Position

    Position

    Applications

    Goals

    Aids

    G/A rate

    Left winger

    100

    28

    7

    0.35

    Second attacker

    66

    23

    10

    0.50

    Right winger

    62

    10

    12

    0.35

    Center forward

    37

    15

    9

    0.65

    Attacking midfielder

    15

    2

    3

    0.33

    Statistics via Transfer market

    Number nine may not be his natural placement, but he has been more clinical as a central leader than in any other area during his career. This may seem obvious, but many good wide strikers are unable to translate their power to center forward, as it requires the use of a different range of skills.

    If Liverpool are serious about getting a deal done, they could even get their own version of Bukayo Sakawho is certainly not a striker, although listed as the player most comparable to Lookman by FBref, with his dynamic attacking qualities and progressiveness merging to offer a unique and deadly talent.

    Lookman-Atalanta-Liverpool

    Saka, 23, is well above the lion’s share of Premier League wingers and would probably be considered the cream of the division without a certain Egyptian feel, with the Arsenal star the lynchpin of the rise of Mikel Arteta in recent years. .

    He is scored nine goals in 23 appearances this season while making 13 assists, and it is now clear that the Three Lions gem is destined for greatness.

    Economical in his movements, with only one dribble per elite match this year, according to SofascoreSaka is elite in the way he applies his skills, and the same goes for Lookman, who is becoming a destructive force in full command of his menacing weaponry.

    ademola lookman

    By signing Lookman, Liverpool would complete their frontline with a player operating well above the current level of Nunez, who is tenacious and lively but lacks certain fundamentals a striker needs to excel in the Premier League.

    Finding a Saka-type striker who is capable as a striker will only ensure that Liverpool are in the race for the biggest prizes over several years, and that’s something Richard Hughes and his colleagues need to do – particularly with their division rivals. also hunting.

    Related

    Liverpool could ax one of Trent’s ‘closest friends’ by signing £40m star

    Liverpool need to make a signing or two in 2025 to consolidate their position of power.



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  • Micron is heading for its worst day since 2020 after disappointing expectations

    Micron is heading for its worst day since 2020 after disappointing expectations

    2024-12-19 20:41:00

    Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron, speaks before President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the CHIPS and Science Act and his Investing in America agenda, at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum in Syracuse, New York, April 25, 2024.

    Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images

    Micron Shares tumbled 16% on Thursday – on track for their worst day since March 2020 and the start of the Covid pandemic – after the chipmaker issued disappointing second-quarter guidance in its earnings report.

    The stock fell to $86.78 in early afternoon trading, down about 45% from its all-time high in June.

    For its second fiscal quarter, Micron expects revenue of $7.9 billion, plus or minus $200 million, and adjusted earnings per share of $1.43, plus or minus 10 cents. Analysts had expected revenue of $8.98 billion and earnings per share of $1.91, according to LSEG.

    During the earnings call, CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said the company, which provides computer memory and storage, is seeing slower growth in parts of consumer devices and is experiencing “inventory adjustments.”

    “Micron expects further slowdown in the PC refresh cycle and cites an increase in customer inventory on smartphones,” analysts at Stifel wrote in a report to clients. The company maintained its buy rating on the stock, but lowered its price target to $130 from $135.

    Micron reported an improvement in earnings from the first quarter, with earnings per share of $1.79, higher than the average analyst estimate of $1.75. Revenue rose 84% from a year earlier to $8.71 billion, in line with expectations. The growth was driven by a 400% increase in data center revenue, largely due to demand for artificial intelligence. Micron said.

    “We continue to gain share in the strategically important, highest-margin parts of the market and are exceptionally well positioned to leverage AI-driven growth to create substantial value for all stakeholders,” the company said in its report.

    WATCH: Micron shares plummet

    Micron shares tumble after weak second-quarter guidance

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