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Hackers targeted BMW, Hyundai in hunt for trade secrets

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BMW declined to comment on the specific case, saying instead that it had “structures and processes” that both limited external hacking attempts and would let it quickly spot and recover from intrusions. Hyundai hasn’t responded to requests for comment so far.

The culprits may have been easy to identify, though. OceanLotus (aka APT32 or Cobalt Kitty) has been around since 2014 and is believed to be a Vietnam-backed group that typically targets dissidents and threats, and has lately targeted car brands that might include Toyota and Lexus. Conveniently, Vietnam recently launched its own automaker with BMW as a key supplier. The country may be trying to fast-track its growth by swiping ideas from rivals.

It’s not certain if Mercedes-Benz, VW or other brands were targeted. However, this follows a longstanding pattern of corporate espionage hacks on the part of countries that want to understand how certain businesses work. This certainly puts BMW in a difficult spot. It’s in a partnership where a supposed ally might be hacking its systems, and confronting its partner could create massive headaches.

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Ericsson will pay over $1 billion to settle US corruption charges

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The settlement leaves Ericsson largely free of criminal convictions that could have led to sanctions and other stiff penalties, although its Egyptian branch pleaded guilty to violating the FCPA. It’s paying about $520.6 million to the DOJ, while the remaining $539.9 million goes to the SEC. For contrast, companies like HP have paid ‘just’ tens of millions to settle smaller bribery charges.

Ericsson chief Borje Ekholm (who took the role in January 2017) told the media that he considered the corruption “completely unacceptable,” pointing out that some of those involved were executives. The company also said it had taken steps to improve both its ethics and its monitoring.

The deal likely won’t make everyone happy. Ericsson’s behavior went on for the better part of two decades, but the company will largely be off the hook — the company said it could handle the settlement with “available funds.” Still, the payout is significant enough that it might give other tech firms pause if their anti-corruption policies are lax.

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Apple’s redesigned Mac Pro will be available to order December 10th

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The Pro Display XDR is easier to figure out. It’ll start at $4,999 for a standard model, and $5,999 with nano-texture glass that reduces glare without resorting to a coating. And yes, that infamous stand will set you back $999 if the $199 VESA mount doesn’t do the trick. This is a professional display meant for people who would otherwise spring for a reference monitor in the five-digit range, and they’re likely the sort of person whose computer budget makes a pricey stand seem trivial. Like, say, a superstar DJ.

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‘Free Guy’ trailer shows a video game NPC without chains

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The storyline on display is predictable, but that’s clearly part of the point. Really, the focus here is on nods to the absurd game logic that wouldn’t hold up in real life. Who in their right mind would treat non-stop gunfights and car crashes as normal? There are also cute touches, such as the feeling you’d get from using a video game medkit (spoiler: it’s like getting high on drugs).

The movie hits theaters on July 3rd, 2020. We wouldn’t expect a profound meditation on the philosophies of gaming, and even its “question the status quo” message isn’t particularly deep. It might just be fun, though, and might be appealing if you thought Reynolds’ other video game movie wasn’t your cup of tea. With that in mind, life-is-a-video-game movies have mixed track records. For every well-received production like the Wreck-It Ralph series, there’s a Pixels just waiting to sour your opinion of video game movies for years — let’s hope this is more like the former.

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Porsche tests a four-motor powertrain for electric SUVs

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The technology doesn’t need additional sensors, and the software control can redistribute power “within milliseconds” instead of the relatively pokey limited-slip differential found in gas cars. Porsche said it has been testing the system over the course of two winters.

There’s one, overriding question: which model gets a four-motor system first? Porsche has already confirmed that a Macan EV is in the works, but it’s also a crossover aimed at the (relatively) entry level crowd. It wouldn’t be surprising if the company instead focused on larger SUVs, whether it’s an EV variant of the Cayenne or a completely new design. Whichever model gets first dibs, it might make a convincing case for electric SUVs by providing all-weather abilities that just aren’t available for combustion-powered vehicles.

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‘The Boys’ season 2 teaser hints at more blood-soaked mayhem

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There’s still no release date for the new season beyond “2020.” Having said that, The Boys‘ new season could easily snag one of Amazon’s premier launch windows. While it’s not certain just how many people have seen the first season so far, there’s little doubt that it was hyped-up — and there are many questions left unanswered. Throw in a plot that doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects (we don’t just mean violence) and it will likely be one of Prime Video’s most important shows for next year.

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OnePlus may return to low-cost phones with the 8 Lite

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However, there are signs that you might not have to compromise too much. It would have a hole-punch front camera as expected with other OnePlus 8 models, and the lack of an obvious fingerprint reader suggests the Lite would use under-screen tech like existing models. This more affordable model might still have a 6.4- or 6.5-inch screen, too, although we wouldn’t count on a silky-smooth 90Hz OLED panel.

It’s not certain whether this would launch alongside the rest of the 8 series, assuming the rumor is accurate in the first place. With that said, we wouldn’t be shocked if there was an 8 Lite. It’s no secret that OnePlus’ pricing has creeped upward over the years, to the point where you’re paying nearly $700 for a flagship like the 7 Pro. The 8 Lite could fill the gap for those customers who miss OnePlus’ early days of bargain-basement prices, or just those who like OnePlus’ software but can’t justify the outlay for its higher-end hardware.

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Tesla will start charging $10 per month for ‘Premium’ in-car data

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It might not be quite as bad as it sounds. The only features you’ll never have access to in the basic tier (Standard Connectivity) are satellite maps and live traffic visualizations. Media streaming, web browsing and Caraoke are still available — you’ll just need to be connected to WiFi to use them. You This suggests that you could reclaim most of the functionality by using your phone’s data, although the typical caps on hotspot usage make it unlikely that you’ll rely on your phone get through a Grand Tour episode.

We’ve asked Tesla if it can comment.

You could see this coming. Tesla sent word of the tier changes in June of last year, and it started displaying its own data caps in September. The company is clearly concerned about mounting data costs, and it wants drivers to shoulder some of that burden. This isn’t a horrendous burden for many of Tesla’s customers. If you bought a luxury EV, you can probably spare $120 per year to have music and satellite data during your commute. Still, this could be rough for some buyers. No-charge access to data features has been a mainstay of Tesla for years, and now customers will have to accept that some perks will sit behind a paywall.

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‘Fortnite’ will premiere a ‘Star Wars’ scene with J.J. Abrams’ help

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Fortnite‘s tie-in with Star Wars is about to extend beyond a stormtrooper skin. Gamers have discovered that Disney is premiering a scene from The Rise of Skywalker at the game’s Risky Reels drive-in theater on December 14th at 2PM Eastern, with ‘doors’ (such as they are) opening at 1:30PM Eastern. This isn’t just playing a clip, either — director J.J. Abrams will also be present in some capacity. If you don’t mind spoiling some of the movie, it might be a good respite from the usual battle royale brawl.



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Twitch streamer DrDisRespect is creating a TV show

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The series will focus on “how the doctor became the doctor” and will explore the character’s backstory. Skybound co-founder and CEO David Alpert said in a statement: “There are lots of incredibly talented streamers, but there’s something special about what Guy has done in creating this character. We really believe there’s a unique world around the doctor.”

The project is still in its very early stages, however, so it doesn’t have a network yet. Its format also remains up in the air, though Beahm told THR that there were “some early discussions around animation.” He’s also hoping that the project will “have an effect that reverberates and legitimizes the world of streaming.”

Beahm is far from the only high-profile Twitch streamer who’s recently taken on something new. Unlike ZeRo or Disguised Toast who both switched platforms for potentially lucrative deals, though, he’s still staying with Twitch. He said the Amazon-owned website has been “extremely flexible” in providing the chances for him to work on the series.

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