Thanks to a combination of luck and Freund’s watchful eye, he discovered that the issues were due to updates of xz Utils in Linux.
Three days ago, researchers revealed the discovery of an intentionally placed backdoor in xz Utils, an open-source data compression utility available in almost all Linux installations and other Unix-like operating systems.
It is likely that the person or people behind this project have invested years in it. And it is likely that they were about to incorporate the backdoor update into Debian and Red Hat, the two largest Linux distributions, when a sharp-eyed software developer discovered something suspicious.
Researchers have spent the weekend gathering clues and Ars Technica has masterfully summarized it. This is what is known so far.
? URGENT SECURITY ALERT!
Secret backdoor found in XZ Utils compression library used by major #Linux distros, like Fedora, Kali Linux, and openSUSE. Attackers could breach SSH and take control of systems.https://t.co/lnZC90oC2k
xz Utils is almost ubiquitous in Linux. It provides lossless data compression on virtually all Unix-like operating systems, including Linux.
xz Utils provides critical functions for compressing and decompressing data during all kinds of operations. xz Utils also supports the legacy .lzma format, making this component even more crucial.
What has happened?
Andres Freund, a developer and engineer working on Microsoft’s PostgreSQL offerings, was troubleshooting performance issues experienced by a Debian system with SSH, the most widely used protocol for remotely logging into devices over the Internet.
Specifically, SSH logins consumed too many CPU cycles and generated errors with valgrind, a utility for monitoring computer memory.
Vamos a resumir el más reciente problema de seguridad en #Linux RedHat lanzó el viernes una alerta de seguridad urgente advirtiendo que dos versiones de una popular biblioteca de compresión de datos llamada XZ Utils contenían código malicioso que permitía acceso no autorizado.… pic.twitter.com/gKwzsnLNjc
Thanks to a combination of luck and Freund’s attention, he discovered that the problems were due to updates of xz Utils. On Friday, Freund turned to the Open Source Security List to reveal that the updates were the result of someone intentionally introducing a backdoor into the compression software.
What does the back door do?
The malicious code added to versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1 of xz Utils modified the software’s operation when performing lzma compression or decompression operations. When these functions involved SSH, they allowed executing malicious code with root privileges.
This code allowed someone in possession of a default encryption key to log into the system with a backdoor via SSH. From that moment on, that person would have the same level of control as any authorized administrator.
Halo Infinite has announced its upcoming battle pass, Cyber Showdown III, promising a cyberpunk aesthetic and a new and fascinating level.
Halo Infinite didn’t have the best of starts. With a troubled development, a less than ideal presentation, and a reception that was more lukewarm than expected, the game failed to attract the audience like previous games in the franchise. But that doesn’t mean it’s dead. Or that 343 Industries won’t give it their all to make it the best game possible.
343 Industries has just announced Cyber Showdown III, the second of its Operations updates. With 20 free tiers, the Cyber Showdown III battle pass focuses on the designs they have called “viral machine”, based on CHIMERA armor with organic elements that give the characters a distinctive cyberpunk style. As usual, you can play to unlock everything, or pay 2,000 in-game credits to unlock everything and get an exclusive item.
In addition, with Cyber Showdown III a new map will be introduced, called Elevation. Focused on intense indoor combat, it will also be possible to venture into the outdoor area of the map. Although at the cost of perhaps exposing ourselves too much to crossfire.
The first quarter of 2024 has left us with great candidates for the Game of the Year (or GOTY) award. Games like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Helldivers 2, or Final Fantasy VII Rebirth currently have all the chances of winning said award. Well, almost all. Because less than two weeks ago, another huge contender was released: Dragon’s Dogma 2.
The talk of social media for various reasons (both good and… not so good), the sequel to Dragon’s Dogma has arrived with a bang. But what’s its secret? If you ask me, this humble writer who invested hundreds of hours in the first Dragon’s Dogma, the answer is clear: Capcom has taken the first part of the saga and improved it in every way.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has managed to adapt a huge amount of gameplay features and mechanics from its first installment, adjusting them to a new world, a new environment, and a new story. In this way, those who already played Dragon’s Dogma back in the day will find a game that will feel familiar to them in many aspects. But what characteristics from the first Dragon’s Dogma are repeated in this sequel? These are the 4 most outstanding ones.
Pawn system
Dragon’s Dogma introduced us to the pawn system back in the day. At the beginning of the game, our Arisen (a human whose heart was stolen by the Dragon, making them immortal) meets/creates their pawn, a being similar to humans that will accompany us in all our adventures, leveling up and improving their skills just like the Arisen themselves.
The particularity of these beloved companions is that we can share them with other users (including our friends), accompanying them in their adventures as well. Although the online aspect of this system is at least limited, by sharing our pawns we can obtain rift crystals, a special currency in the game that we can use to buy unusual items. If you find yourself stuck with a boss, try summoning a pawn to help you in your battle.
Scaling enemies
Do you see that giant enemy? You can climb it. Yes, you heard right: you can climb an enemy as if it were a mountain in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While it is a mechanic that we have already seen in games like the beloved Shadow of the Colossus, climbing enemies is possibly one of the hallmarks of the Dragon’s Dogma series, and one of the most beloved aspects by its fans.
Most enemies have weak points that you can attack to make battles easier. Cyclops, for example, are weak in their eye, while griffins will fall to the ground if you damage their wings (or set them on fire). Depending on your class, you can attack them from a distance with arrows or magic, but what can you do if you can’t? Climb their bodies and hit them hard with your weapon. Just be careful with your energy.
Transporter Crystals
In the first Dragon’s Dogma, the community was divided between those who loved its fast travel system and those who deeply hated it. Are you one of those who liked it? I hope so, because Dragon’s Dogma 2 brings it back. The fast travel system in the Dragon’s Dogma saga revolves around crystals and teleportation stones; to travel from one place to another in an instant, you will have to use teleportation stones, which you can find in dungeon chests and some stores, and with which you can travel to the crystals you have placed on the map.
Yes, placed. The peculiarity of this fast travel system is that you will have to place the fast travel points yourself, manually placing them wherever is most convenient for you. While we will collect quite a few transport stones on our adventure, finding the crystals will not be so easy, and we can only place a maximum of 10. Think carefully about where you want to put them, and remember that you can pick them up whenever you want and move them to any other location.
The Piélago
Do you remember those games where you die when you fall into the water (your character can’t swim, you know) or where a message pops up telling you that you can’t go any further? In the Dragon’s Dogma saga, there is a similar limitation: the dreaded Brine. The Brine is Dragon’s Dogma’s way of not letting you venture into certain areas by swimming, preventing you from going into deep waters under the threat of being swallowed by a mysterious… “something”.
This thing will swallow us if we swim where we shouldn’t, it will leave us on the shore and send our pawns back to the fault. The positive aspect of this is that it also affects enemies, so if you want to get rid of an enemy “easily”, grab it and throw it into the water (if it’s small) or lure it to take a deadly plunge (bye bye, griffins).
As you will see now, the demand is quite something, as it seems to be about freedom of expression when in reality it’s just an excuse for hate speech.
Today’s news is from Sunday afternoon, when one is tired of the whole weekend and thinks that nothing can surprise them. Hold on to your seat, there are some twists coming.
Elon Musk has a lot of money and likes to be the protagonist of all scandals. He also owns a couple of companies that have a lot of money. One of those companies, X, is using some of its money to finance another lawsuit and, in this case, the defendant is the creator and genius Jack Dorsey.
The lawsuit was filed by Chloe Happe against her former employer Block (yes, the Block that was founded by Jack Dorsey, the person who founded X when it was Twitter). As you will see now, the lawsuit is quite something, as it seems to be about freedom of speech but it’s actually an excuse for hate speech.
An absurd lawsuit and a lost fight
In the lawsuit, Happe accused Block of firing her for making two posts on X in her personal time: one in which she pretended to be a citizen of Kurdistan and referred to the refugees fleeing Gaza after the October 7 Hamas attacks, and another in which she used disabling language and insults against transgender people in reference to gender-neutral bathrooms. Both were made from pseudonymous accounts.
X is funding a lawsuit filed today by Chloe Happe against her former employer, Block.
Block fired Chloe because of the political opinions she expressed on X. Chloe had two pseudonymous accounts on X, @bronzeageshawty and the now-deprecated @samsarashawty. She did not reference…
The lawsuit alleges that she was unlawfully terminated in violation of Block’s own employee expression policy and “several constitutionally protected freedoms, including freedom of thought, freedom of belief, freedom of expression, and freedom of expressive association” because neither of the two messages mentioned Block, she posted them during her personal time, and “voluntarily deleted” both messages a few days after posting them.
According to the complaint, Block’s human resources department said they received reports about Happe’s messages. When Block obtained the deleted posts and showed them to Happe, she denied making them and “claimed that an abusive ex-boyfriend must have impersonated her online”.
“some of the opinions she expressed did not conform to the political orthodoxy”
hilarious that you think there isn’t a company in the world that wouldn’t rightly sack a person for posting this on social media. pic.twitter.com/iaB2WLr44f
A few days later, Block fired Happe. Happe claims that Block fired her without compensation solely because she “expressed her political views, opinions, or beliefs in the form of satire,” which Block disagreed with.
“X is funding a lawsuit filed today by Chloe Happe against her former employer, Block,” X’s account posted on X. “Block fired Chloe for the political opinions she expressed on X. Chloe had two pseudonymous accounts on X, @bronzeageshawty and the now obsolete @samsarashawty. Neither of them made any reference to Block or her own identity before Block fired her. But because some of the opinions she expressed on her X accounts did not conform to the prevailing political orthodoxy, Block fired her, violating the law. X supports her lawsuit to vindicate her rights.”
Happe wants to get her job back and be compensated for the loss of salary. Block has not made any public statement about the lawsuit and did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable.
If you have come this far, you may be wondering what Elon Musk and X have to do with this lawsuit, the answer is nothing. They have nothing to do with it, so financing something like this is just another measure to get attention and be, once again, on the wrong side of history.
At Sony, they dare to launch a PS5 Pro in the middle of its cycle, and at headquarters, they are designing what will be its successor: the PlayStation 6.
The PlayStation 5 is selling much better than anyone could have imagined considering it was released during a pandemic, with a severe shortage of semiconductors and a global crisis.
Despite everything, it has sold like crazy and the numbers continue to improve month after month. This has led Sony to launch a mid-cycle PS5 Proand they are currently designing its successor at the headquarters: the PlayStation 6.
In a recent statement, Sony’s Senior Vice President, Naomi Matsuoka, stated: “looking ahead, PS5 will enter the final phase of its life cycle.” Many in the industry interpreted that as meaning we could have news about the next PlayStation console sooner rather than later.
?[RUMOR] Sony will release its next-gen console the PlayStation 6 in 2027 with a price tag of $599
Taking into account that Sony has not yet broken its naming convention, it is reasonable to assume that the future home console will be called PlayStation 6. But not only has the name not been officially confirmed, but there has also been no mention of a next-generation PlayStation console or even a PS5 Pro.
It’s almost a guarantee, but technically nothing is set in stone. Rumors and possible leaks have already started to generate excitement, so let’s see what the future of PlayStation could be according to the rumors.
Possible release date of PlayStation 6
The biggest clue about when a PS6 could be released, or at least could have been planned at some point, points to 2027. This information comes from an official Microsoft court document in the context of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard: “By the time SIE would release the next generation of its PlayStation console (which would probably happen around 2027), it would have lost access to Call of Duty.”
The date is stated here, and detectives have connected the dots between this and the agreement that Microsoft offered to Sony to keep Activision Blizzard games on PlayStation consoles until 2027. This suggests that, at the earliest, Microsoft did not believe there would be a new PlayStation before 2027.
If we look at past generations, that time span coincides with the lifespans of previous generations. The PlayStation 4 was around for seven years before the PS5 was released, and the PlayStation 3 was also around for seven years before its successor appeared.
The PS5 was released in 2020, which means that 2027 would leave us with a seven-year console cycle again. We wouldn’t bet for sure on 2027, but anything from late 2027 seems like a safe bet.
How much will the PS6 cost?
It is impossible to accurately estimate the price of PS6. Until we know all the details about its specifications, we can’t even begin to make rough calculations to determine its cost.
However, considering the previous prices and the rumored specifications, it is difficult to imagine it costing less than 500 dollars at the time of its launch, if not closer to the dreaded 600 dollars.
Specifications and new features
The exact specifications of the PS6 are a bit scarce. Moore’s Law is Dead has claimed to know “with 100% certainty that Sony will continue its partnership with AMD to power the PS6 and the PS5 Pro”.
This would make sense, since it is the same chipset used in the PS5, so sticking with it would make things like backward compatibility and cross-generational games much easier. The next generation of AMD chips is expected to be released in 2025, so the PS6 could be manufactured with them.
We suspect that a new SSD will be included, as it was one of the main drivers for the PS5 to reduce loading times, but nothing has been leaked about it.
By the time PS6 is released, we can also expect at least 1 TB of storage, especially if the console ends up being digital-only.
Insider Gaming claims to have a document about a very exclusive feature that is being worked on for the PS6, called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). According to Insider Gaming, this technology will allow games to run at 4K and 120 frames per second (fps) or at 8K and 60 fps.
A trimmed-down version of PSSR is supposedly being implemented in the PS5 Pro, but it will be fully utilized in the PS6.
Few artists have managed to transcend in the same way that Akira Toriyama did in his lifetime. Millions of children and teenagers have experienced countless adventures through the strokes of the beloved mangaka, who passed away on March 1, 2024. Although the majority will recognize him for Dragon Ball, the truth is that pieces of Toriyama can be found in many places, such as video games (Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger…). However, what brings us here is one of his lesser-known works, Sand Land.
On the occasion of the arrival of Sand Land to Disney +, we will review the manga, its plot, the premiere of its series, and finally, the highly anticipated video game by Bandai Namco.
Toriyama’s wit is palpable in all his stories, and this is also true in Sand Land. First published in the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2000, it is a self-contained story that, although not as popular as Doctor Slump or Dragon Ball, remains an essential work for the mangaka’s fans.
Sand Land is set in a distant future, devastated by wars and natural disasters where humans and demons coexist. The world, turned into a desert wasteland, suffers from a great water shortage. It is the king of Sand Land who controls its supply and, moreover, takes advantage of the situation to sell it at a high price.
Here we will follow Rao, an old commissioner, and Beelzebub, the eccentric prince of demons. Together, they will embark on a journey in search of the great spring to save their people from drought and desperation. We must not forget characters like Thief, Beelzebub’s servant who accompanies us in the manga.
As they say, appearances can be deceiving and that’s what happens with Beelzebub. Despite his mischief and continuous water thefts, his strong moral convictions make him a very different demon from the rest of his kind.
Sand Land: The Series
On March 20th, the Sand Land anime landed on Disney+. It has 13 episodes, of which the first seven became available on the same day of the premiere. After this, we will get to enjoy one episode per week until May. In Spain, it can be watched through the Star Anime Series section, within Disney+.
If, like a good Toriyama fan, you also watched the Sand Land movie, it’s more than likely that what you see on screen will sound familiar. And that’s because the first six episodes have been taken from there. It’s from the seventh episode onwards that the story begins to take other paths. It’s worth mentioning that the conception of the series arises thanks to the enormous success of the Sand Land movie in Japan, released in 2023.
The series also features unpublished material that will further expand the Sand Land universe. This new story also has Toriyama’s approval, a very important detail to keep in mind.
What do we know about the Sand Land video game?
If you need more doses of Sand Land, you’ll be glad to know that the release of its video game is coming soon. Here we will find an adaptation of the original manga story, full of references and locations that fans will instantly recognize. We will control Beelzebub and travel through the desert, while facing numerous enemies and searching for the legendary spring.
Sand Land is an ARPG developed by ILCA and published by Bandai Namco that puts the player in front of a gigantic world. Its division into regions and its beautiful artistic section will invite us to explore all the areas we see.
Inside Sand Land we will find all kinds of pieces and resources that will allow us to build tanks, weapons and even battle robots. Each vehicle is adapted to different terrains and situations. For example, the motorcycle will help us move quickly around the map. However, the tank will be more useful for firing cannons left and right.
However, driving a vehicle won’t make you invincible. Luckily, you can reverse the damage thanks to the repair kits. In addition, vehicles are customizable and we can add stickers, change patterns, etc.
The game will also include an exclusive area called Forest Land, a new biome exclusive to the game and the Disney+ series. There we will also find new characters, such as Ann, General Bred, or the champion Muniel. In this trailer, you can appreciate it in great detail.
Within Sand Land, we can also set up a base camp in the city of Spino. According to the Bandai Namco website, “watch as the city and its possibilities grow thanks to the exiles you will bring from the desert.” Listening to the inhabitants and fulfilling their requests will unlock useful materials to make Sand Land “a prosperous place.”
Beelzebub primarily uses melee combat and also employs dark magic to defeat his enemies. On the other hand, Rao and Thief will dedicate themselves to giving you advice and providing support during battles. Our enemies will be dinosaurs, scorpions, and all kinds of bugs, each one more entertaining than the last.
Prices and versions of Sand Land
For a few days now, we have a demo available, just an hour long, which, although not much, will allow us to taste the world of Sand Land. However, to fully enjoy Sand Land, we have to wait a little longer. The game’s release date is set for April 26, 2024 and it will be playable on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Unfortunately, Nintendo Switch users will miss out on trying Sand Land.
As for prices, we can tell you that it won’t be exactly cheap. The standard version of Sand Land will cost €69.99 and will include three types of vehicle colors. On the other hand, the Deluxe Edition will cost €79.99 but will also give us a little more: Military Base furniture set, Lair, demon of speed set, Beelzebub stickers set, and the vehicle colors. On Steam, you will have the option to pre-purchase Sand Land for €59.99 and the Deluxe Edition for €69.99, which is slightly cheaper than the console version.
If you consider yourself an absolute fan of Sand Land, you can always go for its Collector’s Edition, which includes a steelbook, set of postcards, an exclusive box, a 20 centimeters Beelzebub figure and the game in its Deluxe version. However, prepare your wallet: its official price is 139.99 €. You can always choose the Steam version, which is digital and costs 129.99€.
That this generation still has more console models to show is a reality. The much-talked-about PlayStation 5 Pro that we all already knew about, now adds to it one that, perhaps, we did not expect at the party in this way – according to leaked documents – but that makes perfect sense: a completely digital Xbox Series X.
The publication Exputer has shared some first images of a Xbox Series X without a physical disc drive. Additionally, the other major difference compared to the current version is that this Xbox Series X Digital is white in color. This color change is not a coincidence, as the white used is the same as we can see in the Xbox Series S, Microsoft’s digital console. In other words, the same color is being used to create a consistent range for the digital versions.
Continuing with the information published by Exputer, this Xbox Series X Digital would be released during the next month of June or July. The price at which it would be released would be between 50 and 100 dollars below the Xbox Series X with a disc drive, making it more affordable for everyone.
Supuestamente esta seria la Xbox Series X digital que se lanzará en un futuro cercano, no tiene pinta de ser mas que una Series X sin lector, posiblemente con vistas de abaratar su coste. Fuente @eXtas1stvpic.twitter.com/uNp96NVH31
It is worth noting that this completely digital Xbox Series X is not the console that was leaked in the FTC papers. That model, codenamed Brooklin, was also going to be digital, but the design remained black and cylindrical, instead of the rectangular one we have now. Likewise, this model also included a new version of Xbox Wireless 2, a change that, for now, is not present in this Xbox Series X Digital. The release of Brooklin was scheduled for November of this year, so 2024 was still on the radar.
While we wait for Microsoft to confirm or deny the news, all we can do is wait. However, we can do it by playing Diablo IV on Xbox Game Pass, available since last night.
Here the writer has a predilection for video game development diaries. For this reason, the news that Square Enix has announced today is received with great enthusiasm, especially considering that it is their latest major production: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.
The Japanese company has announced that the documentary series that covers the creation of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is now available in its entirety. To do this, the studio has divided all the material into four distinct episodes, each one addressing a specific topic.
For example, episode 1 focuses on the game’s scenarios, art, or music, while chapter 2 delves into the characters or the story. The best part? Well, we won’t have to wait for them to be released week after week, because they are already available on Square Enix’s own channel. Below, you can find all four episodes ready to watch.
It should be noted that throughout this documentary series, the main faces of development will appear. These are the following:
Naoki Hamaguchi (direction)
Yoshinori Kitase (production)
Tetsuya Nomura (creative direction)
Makoto Ise (sound direction)
Keiji Kawamori (music supervision)
Mitsuto Suzuki (composition)
Takako Miyake (environment direction)
Iichiro Yamaguchi (lighting direction)
Shintaro Takai (art direction)
Mizushi Sugawara (environment art supervision)
Teruki Endo (battle direction)
Motomu Toriyama (co-direction)
Kazushige Nojima (STELLAVISTA LTD.) (story and script)
Dai Suzuki (main character modeling and character art lead)
