Tag: CPU

One of Sony's consoles was almost not released outside of Japan due to its military capabilities

The PlayStation 2, released in the year 2000, marked a milestone in the history of video games, becoming one of the most beloved consoles and selling over 160 million units worldwide. Its arrival was considered a true technological revolution, thanks to its innovative Emotion Engine, which promised to take 3D graphics to levels never seen before. However, this advancement also raised concerns in the Japanese government, which considered the possibility of restricting its export due to fears that its technology could be used in military applications. A console with a CPU with capabilities […]

The PlayStation 2, launched in 2000, marked a milestone in the history of video games, becoming one of the most beloved consoles and selling over 160 million units worldwide. Its arrival was considered a true technological revolution, thanks to its innovative Emotion Engine, which promised to take 3D graphics to levels never seen before. However, this advancement also raised concerns in the Japanese government, which considered the possibility of restricting its export due to fears that its technology could be used in military applications.

A console with a CPU capable of guiding missiles

Japan debated the need to grant special permits for the export of the console, due to the capabilities of its chips, which could be adapted for calculations aimed at guiding missiles, something that became especially relevant after the sinking of a North Korean spy submarine in 1998, which revealed Japanese technology. In light of this situation, an agreement was reached that allowed the international sale of the product, although with the condition of banning countries like Iran and North Korea from trading the console.

Rumors circulated about alleged massive purchases of PlayStation 2 by Saddam Hussein, who supposedly acquired 4,000 units to control drones. Although these claims were denied by intelligence agencies, in the United States there was an attempt to use the console for technological purposes: between 60 and 70 units were acquired to create a supercomputer, although this attempt was unsuccessful.

The fear that video game technology will be used for military purposes remains relevant; for example, since 2008, a control device similar to video game controllers has been used in military machinery. Moreover, in the current conflict in Ukraine, modified Steam Decks have been observed as remote control devices, highlighting the intersection between entertainment and the military realm in the modern era.

PlayStation App DOWNLOAD

Now it is possible for them to hijack your computer at the CPU level

Ransomware, a malicious software designed to take control of computers and data and extort victims, continues to evolve alarmingly. Recently, researcher Christiaan Beek has shared his concern about new vulnerabilities arising in the microcode of processors, a code that sits just above the hardware and regulates its operation. There is no way to defend oneself completely. Beek has developed a method capable of hijacking microcode updates and installing ransomware directly on the processor. This new form of attack adds to those that have already been […]

Ransomware, a malicious software designed to take control of computers and data and extort victims, continues to evolve alarmingly. Recently, researcher Christiaan Beek has shared his concern about new vulnerabilities arising in the microcode of processors, a code that sits just above the hardware and regulates its operation.

There is no way to defend oneself completely

Beek has developed a method capable of hijacking microcode updates and installing ransomware directly on the processor. This new form of attack adds to those that have already been revealed, such as an exploit in the BIOS that allows modification of microcode in some AMD processors. “From my experience in firmware security, I thought: ‘I can write ransomware for CPUs,'” Beek told the media. Although there are no plans to publicly disclose the tool, it has been confirmed that the researcher has managed to create ransomware that hides in the microcode of processors.

The importance of this innovation lies in the fact that ransomware operating at the CPU level could bypass almost all established security measures. Becker warned that if there is direct access to the machine, the impact of these attacks is even more severe. However, the researcher also emphasized that the fight against ransomware cannot be relegated to technology, highlighting a serious lack of cyber hygiene among users. “Most problems are due to user errors or their lack of action,” he stated.

The current situation reflects a standstill in the battle against ransomware. Beek noted that by 2025 we should not be talking about these types of problems, lamenting that more than a decade after the first major attacks, the foundations of cybersecurity are still not well established. With the constant technological evolution and the arrival of new trends such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, there is still a long way to go in protecting against these threats.

Windows 11 DOWNLOAD

Doom: The Dark Ages arrives on Steam with serious technical issues

The highly anticipated release of DOOM: The Dark Ages has triggered a series of technical issues in its Steam version, causing great frustration among players who had pre-ordered the title. Since its early launch, which began today for those who pre-purchased editions of the game, significant bugs related to graphics settings have been reported, hindering the gaming experience for many users. The culprits? Nvidia drivers One of the most common errors involves unexpected game crashes, as well as freezes that force players to return to the Windows interface, which […]

The highly anticipated release of DOOM: The Dark Ages has triggered a series of technical issues in its Steam version, causing great frustration among players who had pre-ordered the title. Since its early launch, which began today for those who pre-purchased editions of the game, significant bugs related to graphic settings have been reported, hindering the gaming experience for many users.

The culprits? Nvidia drivers

One of the most common mistakes involves unexpected game crashes, as well as freezes that force players to return to the Windows interface, which is attributed to issues with the new Nvidia drivers 576.40. Although these drivers are designated as Game Ready for DOOM: The Dark Ages, they have caused conflicts that prevent players from fully enjoying the game. Both id Software and Nvidia have acknowledged these issues and are working on a hotfix to resolve them.

Due to the inability to play, many users have found that reverting to the previous version of the drivers, 576.28, can eliminate the issues, although not everyone has had success with this solution. Despite the game’s warnings about using outdated drivers, players are encouraged to temporarily ignore these notifications for the sake of a better experience. It is also recommended to perform a clean installation of the new drivers, disable integrated graphics cards in the CPU, and use feedback forms to report errors, so that manufacturers can provide quick solutions.

In addition, other graphical issues have been reported that affect not only Nvidia users but also those with AMD cards. The complaints are varied and range from low performance to conflicts that can lead to blue screens. Developers are attentive to the complaints and are looking to implement improvements that can alleviate the situation; in the meantime, players must be patient and make use of the available temporary solutions.

Steam DOWNLOAD