Maksim Yabubets, his father Viktor and brother Artem are accused of running Evil Corp
The UK, US and Australia have announced sanctions against 16 people authorities accuse of being part of the most wanted cyber crime gang in the world.
Russia-based Evil Corp is accused of stealing around $300m in nearly ten years of hacking.
The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) says it can now reveal the gang’s notorious leader, Maksim Yakubets, has been supported by his father Viktor Yakubets – something he had denied when interviewed by the BBC in 2021.
The information has been released as part of a large, multinational operation to disrupt Evil Corp and another notorious hacking group called LockBit.
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Known for their mafia-style of operation, Evil Corp has waged a campaign of destructive cyber-attacks worldwide for over a decade.
In 2019, Maksim Yakubets was sanctioned and a $5m bounty was put up for his arrest, along with another man called Igor Turashev.
Other Russian individuals, including Yakubets’ brother Artem, were also named as part of the US sanctions and designations.
In 2021 the BBC travelled to Russia to search for and interview members of the gang to get their side of the story.
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At a former home of Maksim Yakubets we found his father, who gave an impassioned defence of his son while claiming he was personally innocent.
But now the NCA says that Yakubets senior was a major part of the cyber-crime group, accusing him of aiding the gang in laundering some of its stolen funds.
NCA
Maksim Yakubets lived what’s been described as a playboy lifestyle in Moscow
As well as the Yakubets family members, Maksim’s father-in-law was also sanctioned for helping to protect and coordinate the group with his connections to the Russian security services.
Western authorities have now officially linked Eduard Benderskiy, a former high-ranking FSB official, to Evil Corp.
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“Maksim Yakubets and his Evil Corp gang has for years lived the archetypal Russian hacker playboy lifestyle seemingly untouchable to law enforcement but today’s announcement shows that we are still watching, digging and determined to disrupt them and bring them to justice,” said Will Lyne, Head of Cyber Intelligence at the NCA.
LockBit connections
Another of those sanctioned is Aleksandr Ryzhenkov, described by the NCA as the younger Yakubets’ right-hand man, and an affiliate of the notorious ransomware gang LockBit.
It’s the first time that a member of Evil Corp has been linked to another major gang and indicates that hackers are working across groups to carry out attacks.
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As well as the sanctions, four arrests were made, including two in the UK.
In August, the NCA executed a number of search warrants in the south of England and arrested a 46-year-old male who is suspected of being linked to a LockBit affiliate.
A 50-year-old female was also arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences.
They too were interviewed and later released under investigation whilst the criminal investigation continues.
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Both individuals were identified through the analysis and enrichment of data acquired during the course of Operation Cronos – the international police operation that brought down LockBit’s internal infrastructure.
“The action announced today has taken place in conjunction with extensive and complex investigations by the NCA into two of the most harmful cybercrime groups of all time,” said James Babbage, Director General for Threats at the NCA.
The NCA said Evil Corp’s links to the Russian links to the Russian state had been exposed.
“Today’s sanctions send a clear message to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate Russian cyber-attacks – whether from the state itself or from its cyber-criminal ecosystem,” said foreign secretary David Lammy.
The Bethany Beach firefly is in danger of flickering out and becoming endangered, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday.
The firefly, found in coastal Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, is one of around 170 firefly species in the U.S. The species is already considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Fish and Wildlife Service said it’s under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
It’s the first firefly species to be considered for protections under the act, according to a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson. If the species is listed, then federal agencies will be required to ensure their actions are unlikely to jeopardize the Bethany Beach firefly.
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There are currently more than 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened in the U.S. under the 1973 act.
The Bethany Beach firefly is not the only type of firefly at risk; about 10% of the firefly species in the U.S. are not doing well, Sara Lewis, author of “Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies,” told CBS News earlier this year. Some of the lightning bug species most vulnerable to extinction need very specific habitats to survive.
The Bethany Beach firefly, for instance, lives only in swales — low-lying freshwater marsh areas near coastal dunes, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Climate change is affecting the firefly habitat and around 76-95% of swales could be lost to high-tide flooding by 2100, according to climate models.
The firefly species also faces threats from development, light pollution, recreation, grazing by ponies, the use of pesticides and invasive plant species.
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Light pollution is a threat for a variety of fireflies because it can prevent male and female fireflies from finding each other so they can mate, reducing the population of the future generations of fireflies.
“Love can be hard to find for even the brightest of fireflies,” according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. “Even the interfering light of a full moon can outshine their visual morse code, making it impossible for males and females to recognize each other. Light pollution from towns, factories and roads have been seriously killing the buzz for these insects”
Candace Fallon, senior conservation biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, advises being conscientious of fireflies when taking care of lawns. She previously told CBS News that she suggests mowing less often or leaving the grass taller as a way to protect fireflies.
The advice applies year round, not just in the spring and summer when flashes of light are visible.
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“So many just people just think about fireflies when they’re these flashing adults for a few weeks in the summer, but the reality is that they’re present all year long, we’re just not noticing them or seeing them,” Fallon said.
Aliza Chasan is a Digital Content Producer for “60 Minutes” and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
Whether you’re wearing them for the morning commute, while traveling, or if you’re simply trying to find some peace and quiet while working at home, noise-canceling headphones are a more essential piece of kit nowadays than ever before. And you’ve got a slew of great options to pick from; it’s hard to make a bad choice.
There are longtime heavyweights like Bose and Sony to pick from. Apple has quickly carved into the market with the luxurious AirPods Max. And if you’ve got an ear that demands the best audio quality, headphones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sennheiser might appeal to you more than the mainstream contenders.
Not everyone loves the feel of earbuds, and there are scenarios where over-ear and on-ear headphones are just simpler or make more sense than wireless buds — particularly if lengthy battery life matters to you.
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No matter how you’re using them, the criteria for picking the best noise-canceling headphones haven’t changed.
What I’m looking for
Comfort
If headphones are causing a sore spot at the top of your noggin, what good are they no matter how good they sound or cancel noise? Traditionally the lighter they are, the more comfortable headphones will prove over extended listening sessions. But manufacturers can also help improve comfort by being thoughtful in the materials they choose for ear cups and the headband that wraps over your cranium. Clamping force is another important factor; some headphones will squeeze against your head firmer than others; this can be great if you want a pair to stay put for exercise, but not ideal if you’re just trying to relax and tune out the world.
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Noise cancellation
Practically any of our picks will do an excellent job at providing distraction-free listening when on a flight, at the office, or if you’re traversing city streets. Noise-canceling headphones work by using built-in microphones to listen to the sounds in your environment, and they invert those soundwaves to eliminate the cacophony of everyday life.
Sound quality
Having powerful noise-cancelling used to mean compromising on sound quality. but that’s simply not the case anymore. Most of today’s flagship ANC headphones provide dynamic, rich, and immersive sound. They support a variety of Bluetooth audio codecs, and some (like Sony’s LDAC and aptX HD) can deliver higher bitrates than the status quo AAC and SBC codecs. But don’t get bogged down in those details; headphones that are tuned well with the right components can make your music sound fantastic regardless of codecs.
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Battery life
One benefit of buying headphones instead of earbuds is that they can last much longer on a single charge. Whereas you’ll need to plop most earbuds back into their case after five hours or so, wireless headphones can keep the music going for around 20 hours. And some recent models can even exceed that and hit 30 hours.
Multipoint pairing
We all try to do our best at multitasking, and multipoint Bluetooth connectivity is essential for headphones to meet the same challenge. Multipoint allows your noise-canceling headphones to pair with two devices at the same time. This makes it easy to take a call on your phone and get right back to the music you were playing on your laptop without fussing with Bluetooth settings menus.
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Bonus features
Headphones are increasingly gaining features that are exclusive to individual manufacturer ecosystems. For example, the AirPods Max are capable of head-tracking spatial audio and other tricks like audio sharing — but only if you’re listening to them with one of the company’s other products like an iPhone, Mac, or iPad.
The “best” headphones for you will differ based on which of those factors you prioritize and care about most, but our overall pick for the best noise-canceling headphones remainsSony’s WH-1000XM5. They offer a combination of sound quality, comfort, and great noise cancellation that’s hard to beat.
The best wireless headphones for most people
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$398
With improved comfort, refined sound, and even better active noise cancellation, Sony’s WH-1000XM5 offer a compelling mix of features for the price.
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 have a completely different design from their predecessors. The changes result in greater comfort when you’re wearing them on your head for extended periods of time — like on a flight or if you’re at the office.
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Noise cancellation has been further improved from the already-stellar performance of the M4, putting Sony at the front of the pack compared to all major competitors. Sound quality is more detailed and balanced than the older 1000XM4; the low end is still punchy but tighter and less boomy than before. The M5 offer the best voice call performance in the 1000X series to date, and they can connect to two devices simultaneously, so you can stay clued in to what’s happening on your phone when you’re working away on your laptop or tablet.
Sony’s WH-1000XM5 are the best overall choice for noise-canceling headphones.Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Sony’s headphones also include unique features like “speak to chat,” which automatically pauses your music and pipes in ambient audio whenever you start talking. Or you can hold one hand over the right ear cup to activate quick attention mode, which is convenient when grabbing a coffee or listening to airport announcements. And like other high-end headphones, the 1000XM5 can detect when they’ve been removed from your ears for auto-pause.
The main downside of the WH-1000XM5 is that at $399.99, they’re more expensive than prior models. That’s a big reason to consider the 1000XM4, which were our previous top pick for noise-canceling headphones. They remain part of Sony’s lineup and can often be found on sale.
Bose’s latest flagship headphones are a replacement for the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 that offer a more travel-friendly design, spatial audio, better call quality, excellent comfort, and some of the best noise cancellation around.
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are basically a blend of the company’s prior Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and QuietComfort 45 that borrow the best traits from both — while throwing in a new “immersive audio” listening mode. Like past Bose cans, they’re very light and comfortable on your head, even when worn for long stretches of time. Best of all, unlike the Noise Canceling Headphones 700, these can be folded to make them easier to travel with.
Their 24-hour battery life is more than adequate, and Bose has added support for the aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec for improved audio fidelity on Android devices.
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
The immersive audio feature works well on some songs, but less so on others. It’s worth experimenting with, but even if you leave it off entirely, you’re left with best-in-class noise cancelation, pleasing sound, and a helpful “aware” transparency mode.
Apple’s AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation.
Battery life: 20 hours / Multipoint: No / Audio codecs: AAC, SBC Connectors: Lightning (audio and charging)
There was definitely some sticker shock when Apple introduced a $549 set of noise-canceling headphones in 2020. The AirPods Max cost significantly more money than any of our other recommendations. But Apple’s build quality is on another level: these trade the plastic you’ll find in many noise-canceling headphones for steel and aluminum, and the ear cups are a breathable mesh fabric. They’re hefty headphones, there’s no denying that. But aside from Apple refusing to include a headphone cable in the box, there’s nothing about the AirPods Max that feels cheap. And I appreciate the simplicity of using the digital crown for controls instead of relying on hit-or-miss gestures like taps and swipes.
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The most important part is that the AirPods Max deliver audio quality that’s up there with the best high-end Bluetooth headphones. They have an immersive, wide soundstage and fantastic dynamics, and you’ll find yourself hopping around your music library just to hear what they bring out in your favorite songs.
The AirPods Max have a stylish design and very premium build quality.Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge
Apple’s noise cancellation is on par with Sony and Bose, and no one does transparency mode better; at times, it can make you think you’re not wearing headphones at all. Extra features like Spatial Audio (surround sound for movies and TV shows) and automatic switching between Apple gadgets help make it a bit easier to swallow their daunting price.
But the AirPods Max do have faults. The carrying case is abysmal, battery life is only average for the category, and just like regular AirPods, they’re designed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind. It gets much harder to justify dropping $550 on them if you live outside the iPhone and Mac universe.
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Also, it’s worth noting that Apple recently introduced a new pair of the AirPods Max with USB-C charging and five new color options. We haven’t had an opportunity to test them yet, but given just how little they differ from Apple’s existing headphones, we don’t anticipate performance being any different. The question is whether you’re willing to pay the full retail price of $549 to rid your life of Lightning when the original Max can often be found on sale for less than $400, especially during events like Amazon Prime Day.
The PX7 S2e noise-canceling headphones from Bowers & Wilkins feature a luxurious design and improve on the previous S2 model with superior dynamics and richer overall sound quality.
If sound quality is priority number one, then Bowers & Wilkins has you covered with the PX7 S2e headphones. They exhibit superb, detailed sound quality that some people prefer to the AirPods Max. The Bowers & Wilkins cans are true to the company’s legacy and style, with a fine-crafted design that exudes quality. And the newer “e” variant has a revamped digital signal processing that can bring out the best audio quality from streaming music.
I prefer their physical buttons over the tap/swipe ear cup gestures of Sony’s 1000XM5. With 30 hours of battery life, they’re more than competitive with mainstream, less expensive picks. And the sound profile is delightfully warm and will bring out the most from your favorite music. The main downside of the PX7 S2e is that there’s no traditional 3.5mm or 2.5mm output for a headphone cable. You can still listen wired over USB-C, however.
The noise-canceling headphones with the best battery life
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With marathon 60-hour battery life and sublime comfort, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless also make good on the company’s reputation for detailed, expansive sound quality.
Sixty hours. They can last for up to 60 hours on a single charge. That’s really all you need to know about the Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones if you’re looking for an endurance champ. But they also sound terrific and prove extremely comfortable over long listening periods. This combination doesn’t come cheap, but you can find some good occasional deals on them.
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless headphones edge out Bowers & Wilkins on comfort thanks to their lighter design, and the noise cancellation is slightly better. Next to the Sonys and Bose’s QC Ultra Headphones, it doesn’t get much cozier. These are headphones you can wear for multiple hours without any fatigue or pressure on your ears.
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They lack the vintage style of prior Sennheiser cans (like the Momentum 3, left), but the Momentum 4 are far more comfortable.
Sennheiser’s sound signature is a bit more expressive and puts more emphasis on bass than B&W, but that upper treble range still comes through crystal clear. My only real nitpick with the Sennheisers is that they tend to occasionally power on inside the case for no obvious reason and automatically connect to my phone.
Both the B&W and Sennheiser headphones support multipoint connectivity and a range of Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive.
Marshall’s noise-canceling headphones stand out for their unusual look and easy-to-use joystick for controlling your music. They’re also a battery life champ with up to 45 hours of playback.
Marshall’s wireless headphones have proven surprisingly popular, and the company’s most expensive pair is also its best yet. The Monitor II ANC headphones are priced at $320, which puts them on the same playing field as Bose, Sony, and other tech companies that have been making premium noise-canceling cans for many years.
Marshall falls short of those brands in sound quality and ANC, but the Monitor II still provide warm, textured sound and perform decently at cutting down on ambient noise. But they definitely stand out from the pack in looks, with a design that speaks to the company’s heritage. The headphones fold up for easy carrying, and Marshall’s signature gold joystick makes the Monitor II simple to control.
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They can also last up to 30 hours with NC enabled or up to a staggering 45 hours if you’re already someplace quiet and can do without the feature. That impressive longevity beats our primary picks. A lack of AAC codec support at this price stings, but I’ve enjoyed the Monitor II every time I’ve put them on. They’re more than just an amp brand stamped onto an average pair of headphones.
Update, October 1st: Updated to reflect current pricing and mention Amazon’s forthcoming Prime Day sale. Brandon Widder also contributed to this post.
A quick ‘how to’ convert a HP Blade Server for use outside of it’s original Blade housing. Cheap and cheerful project which can easily out match a desktop PC in terms of huge amounts of RAM.
The full conversion can be seen on my blog post – http://ubl0g.blogspot.com/2020/10/project-blade-network-server.html
Background royalty free music courtesy of Enrique27Naveda from Pixabay
Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now nearly 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• A
• C
• T
• P
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Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #982) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #982, are…
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With two extremely common – and commonly spelled – words among today’s Quordle answers (in the form of CRANE and PRINT), this was a straightforward day for the game. Neither ARGUE or TOKEN are particularly hard either, although at least the latter has an uncommon letter in it to make the task a little harder. But really, this is about as simple as Quordle ever gets.
You probably have several of the most popular streaming servicesin your arsenal for getting your TV and movie fix, and if you’re reading this then Peacock TV is likely one of them.
Whether you’re trying to balance your budget, or you’ve run through the programming available, there are plenty of reasons to cancel your Peacock subscription. We’ve got the details for you here on how to cancel the service without any hassle.
Jen Karner / Digital Trends
If you signed up for Peacock through Apple’s interface on an iOS device, it’s easy to cancel the subscription in the same way. We have a full guide to canceling Apple subscriptions this way, but if you want to do it quickly, here’s what to do.
Step 1: Open the settings app on your iOS device.
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Step 2: At the top select your name to see your Apple ID settings. If you aren’t already signed into your Apple account on the device, you will need to do it at this point.
Step 3: Select Subscriptions from the first menu at the top of your profile.
Step 4: Select Peacock TV from your list of current subscriptions.
Step 5: Select Cancel Subscription and confirm that’s what you want to do.
Did you download and subscribe via the Peacock app from the Google Play Store, or sign up through your Android device? Here’s how to get it done quickly.
Step 1: Open the Google Play Store through your Android device.
Step 2: Select your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Select Payments & subscriptions.
Step 4: Select Subscriptions.
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Step 5: Select Peacock TV from the list of current subscriptions.
Step 6: Select cancel subscription to end the service and stop payments.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends
Anyone who signed up through a Roku streaming device can cancel their subscription in the same way. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Head to the Roku login page and log in with your information. It’s easiest to do this with your computer, but subscriptions can also be managed from the Roku platform on your TV.
Step 2: Select manage subscriptions from the menu.
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Step 3: View your subscriptions and their terms to find Peacock TV. Select unsubscribe next to the app.
Step 4: Select confirm to cancel your Peacock TV subscription.
1. Hot-swappable technology: The hot-swappable feature of this blade chassis allows components to be replaced seamlessly without interrupting ongoing operations. This means businesses can easily upgrade or replace server blades and modules while the system is still running, eliminating costly downtime.
2. Modular design: The blade chassis is designed to accommodate multiple blade servers and subsystems, making it highly scalable as per the requirements of the organization. This modular design ensures businesses can easily expand their infrastructure without major disruption or additional investment.
3. Managed infrastructure: The fully managed infrastructure of the server blade chassis brings a new level of control and optimization to the data center. With centralized management and monitoring, administrators can easily configure and control every aspect of the system, ensuring optimal performance and resource allocation.
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4. Energy efficiency: server blade chassis are designed to maximize energy efficiency. By consolidating multiple servers into a single chassis, enterprises can significantly reduce power consumption and CO2 emissions, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.
in conclusion:
In summary, the IDC Hot-Swappable 10-subsystem managed blade server chassis represents a significant advancement in data center technology. With its hot-swappable capabilities, modular design and fully managed infrastructure, this innovative solution provides enterprises with unparalleled flexibility, scalability and efficiency. As demands on data centers continue to grow, it is critical for organizations to adopt cutting-edge solutions like IDC blade server chassis to stay ahead of the curve. Evolution is inevitable, and the IDC Hot-Swappable 10-Subsystem Managed Blade Server Chassis is paving the way for the data center of the future.
NCA
NCA
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