News

Academic researchers found a way to broadcast sensitive data from airgapped systemsIt involves having malware installed on the computer, and an accompanying smartwatchThe attack is rather difficult to pull offSecurity experts claim to have found a way to steal sensitive data from airgapped systems using smartwatches.Airgapped computers are physically isolated from the wider internet, and cannot be accessed remotely. They are usually used in high-security environments and critical infrastructure, to protect sensitive data and various operations.University researchers led by Mordechai Guri, a specialist in the field of covert attack channels, discovered a method that allows threat actors to exfiltrate login credentials, encryption keys, or keyboard strokes.Listening to secretsThe method, which they named ‘SmartAttack’, does come with quite a few caveats, but in theory, it sees a threat actor finding a way to either access the target computer physically, or have someone (an unsuspecting, or disgruntled employee) access and deploy a piece of malware.That malware will first act as an infostealer, gathering valuable information for exfiltration. Then, it will use the computer’s speakers to emit ultrasonic sounds, inaudible to the human ear, to the environment.The sounds would be played in two frequencies - 18.5 kHz, and 19.5 kHz. These two form the binary system, with the former being the zero, and the latter - the one.The final step is for the watch to pick the sounds up. It, too, needs to have a special app installed on it, so it either needs to be compromised itself, or it needs to be worn by the attacker.If that didn’t sound difficult enough, the watch needs to be facing the speakers, and should be placed in a range between 6-9 meters from the speakers. The data transmission rate also ranges between 5bps and 50bps, depending on the distance.There are different ways to prevent SmartAttacks on airgapped systems, from preventing people from wearing smartwatches, to removing speakers from the computers. Sound jammers could also work.Via BleepingComputerYou might also likeEuropean government systems hit by air-gap malware attackTake a look at our guide to the best authenticator appWe've rounded up the best password managers

If you’re looking for a versatile new wireless controller that isn’t exclusive to a particular platform, 8BitDo’s various pads are always worth considering. And Amazon’s current deal on the brand’s Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller is nearly the cheapest we’ve seen. Right now, if you pick up the controller in either its Purple or Green colorways, you’ll pay $25.49, as opposed to $30 or above (the special edition Black Wukong version costs $35) for the other available colors. The lowest price we’ve ever seen this model at is $25.

If you’re a console gamer you’ll need to look elsewhere, but the Ultimate 2C plays nice with Android devices and Windows PCs, connecting either via Bluetooth in the case of the former, or over 2.4G or a wired connection for PC. There’s also a mode switch button to make it easy to hop between devices. The controller offers extra bumpers that sit next to the standard left and right bumpers, and these can be remapped without the need for additional software, while the Hall Effect joysticks are precise and reassuringly durable.

The Ultimate 2C is compatible with devices running Windows 10 and above, and Android 9.0 or above. You can expect 32 hours of playtime over a Bluetooth connection, or 19 hours when using the wireless 2.4G adapter.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/8bitdos-ultimate-2c-controller-drops-to-25-144020474.html?src=rss

Just in time for a last-minute Father's Day gift (or perhaps a little treat for yourself, because you deserve nice things), Apple's AirPods 4 have dropped back down to their lowest price to date. You can snap up a pair for $99. That's $30 off the list price.

This discount is for the base version of the earbuds without active noise cancellation (ANC). All the same, this is a good deal on our pick for the best budget AirPods, especially if foregoing ANC doesn't bother you too much.

We gave the AirPods 4 a score of 88 in our review. The improved fit and comfort, and upgraded sound quality compared with the previous version are definite plus points.

The AirPods 4 include features seen in the higher end AirPods Pro 2 but, unfortunately, not that model's onboard volume controls. The lack of wireless charging and Apple's Conversation Awareness feature are also negatives.

However, due in large part to the H2 chip that's included in the AirPods 4 (the same one that powers AirPods Pro 2), you'll get features such as Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, "cinema-quality" audio for FaceTime, Adaptive EQ and Voice Isolation (which helps eliminate background noise). With Siri Interactions, you can nod or shake your head to accept or reject calls, and respond to or dismiss messages and notifications.

When Apple rolls out iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26 this fall, the company will release a firmware update for AirPods 4 (as well as AirPods 4 with ANC and the second-gen AirPods Pro). This update will bring new features to the earbuds, such as the ability to use them to control iPhone and iPad cameras. Apple is also promising "studio quality recording" that should help creators better capture sound, even in noisy environments. Audio quality upgrades are on the way too.

Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-airpods-4-earbuds-are-cheaper-than-ever-right-now-144223181.html?src=rss

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: key information- Will launch worldwide in late July- Trailers released in February, April, and June- Main cast confirmed in February 2024- Story synopsis revealed- Takes place in a parallel universe to the MCU- Other plot details teased- Should directly lead into the events of Avengers: DoomsdayThe Fantastic Four: First Steps isn't far away now. The third and final Marvel movie of 2025 will be released worldwide on July 25, so the countdown is on until its achieves lift-off.Before the next Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film takes flight, you'll want the definitive lowdown on The Fantastic Four's next big-screen adventure. In this guide, you'll find plenty of details concerning its trailers, confirmed cast, story specifics, and potential impact on future MCU projects.Full spoilers follow for Thunderbolts*. Potential spoilers are also discussed for First Steps.The Fantastic Four: First Steps release dateA post shared by Fantastic Four (@fantasticfour)A photo posted by on As mentioned, The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in theaters on Friday, July 25. It was originally due out last November, but Marvel revised the launch date of its Fantastic Four movie last February.The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailerMarvel unveiled The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer in early February, and it revealed official looks at Marvel's iconic quartet of superheroes, the movie's Big Bad in Galactus, and John Malkovich's mysterious character.Two months later, Marvel debuted First Steps' official trailer, which revealed first looks at Reed Richards' stretchy powers, The Silver Surfer, and other Galactus-sized teases.That teased also contained footage first presented at CinemaCon 2025, with both trailers confirming a big fan theory about Sue Storm. I'll explain more about that in this article's plot section later on.In early June, Marvel released one final trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which confirmed two of the movie's worst-kept secrets, too. Check it out below:The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast: confirmed and rumoredThe latest actors to play Marvel's First Family were unveiled in February 2024 (Image credit: Marvel Studios)Here's the confirmed cast for Marvel's latest Fantastic Four movie reboot:Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister FantasticVanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible WomanJoseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human TorchEbon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The ThingRalph Ineson as GalactusJulia Garner as Silver SurferMatthew Wood as H.E.R.B.I.EMark Gatiss as Ted GilbertJohn Malkovich as TBCPaul Walter Hauser as TBCNatasha Lyonne as TBCSarah Niles as TBCAhead of the first four actors' official unveiling as the titular team, there were an avalanche of casting rumors that sent MCU fans into a tailspin. However, Moss-Bachrach has since told The Jimmy Kimmel Show that he officially signed on in August 2023. One month earlier, Kirby told TechRadar "it would be an honor" to play Sue Storm, which all but confirmed her hiring.Pascal reportedly held talks with Marvel about joining the cast in November 2023. Then, a February 2024 report revealed Pascal had signed on to play Richards, so the sting was taken out of that surprise. The only shock reveal was Quinn's, with the Stranger Things actor announced as Johnny Storm last February.World devouring cosmic villain is it? I’ll see what I can do https://t.co/QhCk2v8VCcMay 10, 2024On the villain front, The Office UK's Ralph Ineson voicing Galactus, aka the movie's villain-in-chief and a regular foe of Marvel's First Family. Ineson will be joined on antagonistic duties by Ozark's Garner, who'll play a gender-swapped version of the Silver Surfer, aka the Herald of Galactus.Supporting character-wise, Matthew Wood will voice The Fantastic Four's robot assistant H.E.R.B.I.E (per Empire) and, as the second trailer revealed, Mark Gatiss is also involved. He'll portray a news anchor who interviews the titular group.Hauser, Malkovich, and Niles are also part of the cast and, while their roles remain a mystery, Quinn accidentally revealed (per Omelete.br) that another villain – Mole Man – will feature. Maybe Hauser or Malkovich is playing this individual, then.Lastly, Poker Face and Russian Doll's Natasha Lyonne is involved, too. Her role hasn't been publicly disclosed either, but Marvel fans think Lyonne would be perfect for a very specific role.Robert Downey Jr is back in the MCU, but not as Tony Stark/Iron Man (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios)And what of Doctor Doom, another of the team's legendary villains and one of Marvel's most iconic villains? With none other than Robert Downey Jr – yes, he of Iron Man and Avengers fame – playing Doom, who is now the Multiverse Saga's new main villain, he should cameo, right?Speaking to Empire magazine (as reported by comicbookmovie.com), First Steps director Matt Shakman denied Downey Jr will appear, saying Doom isn't "part of my purview". I wouldn't be surprised if Doom appears in one of the film's end credits scenes, though, especially if Avengers: Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo shot such a scene. After all, they filmed Thunderbolts' post-credits scene, which ties into First Steps' plot. Speaking of which...The Fantastic Four: First Steps story synopsis and speculationSue Storm and company will already possess superhuman abilities at the start of the film (Image credit: Marvel Studios)Here's The Fantastic Four: First Steps' official story brief: "Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family... as they face their most daunting challenge yet."Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer. And, if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal."The first thing to note about this Marvel Phase 6 project is it isn't an origins story. Other Fantastic Four films have already covered their space radiation-based superpowered beginnings in a live-action capacity, so don't expect this movie to re-tread old ground. As Shakman told Entertainment Weekly (EW): "There's a lot of well-known narrative that leads into that moment, right? And then you're making up your new story starting basically at the end of the first act, and we thought 'Well, let's just start this thing off on a completely new foot. So we are beginning after that.'"If you're concerned about watching it with little to no knowledge of the titular team, don't fret. Marvel is due to release a First Steps prequel comic book that'll explain how the quartet acquire their superhuman abilities, the universe they inhabit, and more. So, be sure to pick up a copy if you need to.🔥🔥🔥🔥 #TheFantasticFour Celebrate 4-4 Day at: https://t.co/0L6vmfvKPN pic.twitter.com/byRvjcbsNfApril 4, 2024First Steps will not only be a period piece, but is also set in a parallel universe. That much was made clear in the movie's first official artwork (see the X/Twitter post above), which depicted a different New York to the one we're used to seeing in the MCUFans have long predicted that the group will eventually cross over into the MCU (designated Earth-616 by Marvel) as part of the ongoing Multiverse Saga. The aforementioned artwork, trailer, and the first poster for Marvel's new Fantastic Four movie poster suggested this would be the case, but Thunderbolts' end credits scene practically confirmed this would happen. For more details, read my Thunderbolts* ending explained article.Prepare for an intergalactic adventure like no other in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Image credit: Marvel Studios)There have been plenty more hints about the film's narrative in the run-up to release.For starters, Marvel teased some key story details about The Fantastic Four: First Steps in April 2024 by making some iconic Fantastic Four comic books available to download and read for free. Those literary works feature Galactus and the Silver Surfer as the villains of those issues, so it appears Shakman and company have taken lots of storytelling inspiration from their pages.Then there's the big fan theory about Sue Storm that was proven correct by First Steps' second trailer – that being, Sue and Reed will welcome their first child, Franklin Richards, during this movie.If online rumors are to be believed, he'll be an important part of the plot, too, which would tie into the 'personal' element of First Steps' story synopsis. That particular piece of gossip was reportedly part of a major plot leak that The Fantastic Four: First Steps suffered in late May – but, don't worry, you won't find any major spoilers here or the previously linked-to article.Regardless of whether the Franklin-related story rumors are correct or not, The Fantastic Four's latest silver screen outing will lean heavily into the familial aspect that's made them such an iconic group in Marvel's library of superheroes.Indeed, Shakman and the film's main cast have stressed the importance of examining the team's familial dynamics in separate chats with Entertainment Weekly and Collider. Whether it's Sue and Johnny's sibling bond, Sue and Reed's marriage, or Reed and Ben's friendship, you can expect one of The Fantastic Four's core themes to be explored at length in First Steps.Where can I watch the previous Fantastic Four films?You can watch The Fantastic Four's other live-action adaptations on Disney+ (Image credit: Marvel Studios)You can stream 2005's Fantastic Four, 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and 2015's Fantastic Four on Disney+ no matter where you live. As long as you're subscribed to one of the world's best streaming services, you can watch it in the US, UK, and Australia.How will The Fantastic Four impact the MCU?Trying to work out how the Marvel multiverse will be impacted by The Fantastic Four: First Steps like... (Image credit: Marvel Studios)The short answer is: we don't know. If, as it's been heavily rumored, the group will become part of the MCU after The Fantastic Four: First Steps, they'll have a big role to play in the Multiverse Saga's final projects, including Avengers: Doomsday.We know that the foursome will appear in Avengers 5, too. Indeed, The Fantastic Four were announced as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast in late March. Throw in their spaceship-based appearance in the MCU in Thunderbolts' post-credits scene, and the long-awaited arrival of Marvel's First Family in the comic giant's cinematic juggernaut is finally happening.As for potential First Steps spin-offs, a Silver Surfer TV show was reportedly in development for Disney+. We've heard little about this possible project since, so it's unclear if it'll ride the crest of The Fantastic Four: First Steps' wave and see the light of day.For more Marvel-based coverage, find out how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Alternatively, read more about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, see if you agree with my ranking of the best Marvel movies, or see why Marvel should do the unthinkable with First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday.