The Federal Police of Brazil announced the arrest of the hacker linked to a breach that leaked 2.9 billion records that included sensitive personal information, including some Social Security numbers. The data from that hack, which came to light in August, was put for sale on the dark web in April by an entity identifying themselves as USDoD.

As pointed out by Bleeping Computer, according to a machine translation of the department’s press release, the hacker was linked to “two publications selling” federal police data. The hacker also boasted of disclosing the personal data of 80,000 members of the FBI’s InfraGard program, the department said.

Security researchers at Atlas have created a tool to search the leaked records and told PCMag that the leak contains about 272 million unique SSNs, along with as many as 600 million phone numbers. National Public Data and its parent company, Jerico Pictures, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, facing a flood of lawsuits and potential penalties over the incident.

“The person under investigation must answer for the crime of hacking into a computer device, qualified by obtaining information, with an increase in the sentence for the commercialization of the data obtained,” according to the translation. The operation to arrest the hacker was called “Operation Data Breach.”

The federal police says it will continue to investigate if the hacker made any other breaches.

Hot on the heels of China’s accusations that Volt Typhoon is actually a CIA asset, a group of cybersecurity experts from the Cyber Security Association of China (CSAC) have now claimed Intel products sold in China contain “frequent vulnerabilities and high failure rates.”

CSAC also said Intel products present “serious risks to national security,” alleging the US semiconductor manufacturers installed an NSA backdoor “in almost all” of its central processing units (CPU) since 2008 to create a “next-generation security defense system.”

“This poses a huge security threat to the critical information infrastructure of countries around the world, including China,” CSAC said as part of its accusations on the organization’s WeChat account.

Push to open investigation

Gaming laptop deals are still expensive if you’re after a machine that won’t have trouble running today’s video games. That’s why you shouldn’t let opportunities at savings pass, and Amazon’s Woot is offering discounts on various gaming laptops in its . Here’s a great offer that we’re recommending: the Acer Nitro 16 at 17% off, slashing its price to $810 from its original price of $978 to make it cheaper by $168. The event runs until October 21, but you’ll want to complete your purchase quickly because stocks may run out at any moment.

Why you should buy the Acer Nitro 16 gaming laptop

For a gaming laptop that lets you play the best PC games, go for the Acer Nitro 16. Inside it are the AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card, which is a decent combination for modern video games. However, the gaming laptop only comes with 8GB of RAM — gamers can make do with this by making sure that there are no other apps running in the background while you’re playing, but we highly recommend upgrading RAM to at least 16GB when budget permits.

The Acer Nitro 16 gaming laptop looks pretty stylish with its RGB keyboard and bright 16-inch screen with WUXGA resolution. The machine also features a chassis with a dual-fan, dual-intake, and quad-exhaust port design for efficient cooling, so you can play for several hours without worrying about overheating. The Acer Nitro 16 comes with a 512GB SSD, which will provide enough storage space for you to install several games, including their required updates and optional DLCs.

There are all kinds of laptop deals in the New Laptops sale at Amazon’s Woot, including offers for gamers. A 17% discount on the Acer Nitro 16 is one of them, and we think it’s going to draw a lot of interest because you’ll be getting the gaming laptop for a reasonable $810 instead of its sticker price of $978. There are still a few days left before the event ends, but if you want to make sure that you pocket the $168 in savings, you should push forward with the transaction right now as there’s no telling when stocks will sell out.

Today, OnePlus has officially announced the launch date of OxygenOS 15. The company will launch its next-gen smartphone software, OxygenOS 15, on October 24, 2024. For those unaware, the OxygenOS 15 is based on Android 15 which we expect to see on the upcoming OnePlus 13.

OnePlus to launch OxygenOS 15 on October 24 with AI features and refreshed UI

Besides announcing the launch date, OnePlus hints that the OxygenOS 15 will pack AI features and refreshed UI making it the most under-friendly OS to date. In an official statement, OnePlus has also mentioned the inclusion of AI features in the OxygenOS 15.

The company adds that the latest AI features aim “at empowering users with advanced technology. These features are strategically designed across multiple common scenarios to maximize productivity and creativity, making life easier for each user. The new OxygenOS 15 will be a perfect combination of speed, performance, and intelligence.”

While the company says that the OxygenOS 15 will feature new animations to offer a smoother and more fluid interface, it hasn’t revealed any of the features yet. But, that doesn’t mean you have to wait to know about the features, all thanks to previous leaks.

Be ready to see some iOS and HyperOS-inspired features

The OxygenOS 15 will reportedly include a revamped Control Center that would look similar to that of iOS and HyperOS. That means in the new layout, the notification window will open when swiping down from the left of the screen. On the other hand, swiping down from the right would open the Control Center.

Another leak hints that the OxygenOS 15 could bring a new volume slider that might expand and shrink with taps. Moving on, the new OS could offer a new customization option on the lock screen. You might also be able to adjust the font, position, and color of the lock screen clock.

Besides, you might be able to add a depth effect that brings a 3D-like feel to the lock screen. The OxygenOS 15 might also bring a “Live Photos” option to the camera app and Dynamic Island-like features. Moreover, you can watch the OxygenOS 15 launch event on the company’s official online platforms, including its YouTube channel, starting at 3:30 PM (GMT) on October 24.

Ghost Bike is dead; long live Wheel World. The scenic cycling adventure from the creators of Nidhogg was revealed in 2023 with a darker storyline. After design pivots to “make it more fun to play” (always a good idea!), the new naming convention matches its lighter tone. Initially slated for this year, the Annapurna-published game will now arrive in early 2025.

Wheel World is developer Messhof’s first 3D game and its first with a big team. The studio made its bones with Nidhogg, a side-scrolling sword-fighting game with old-school Atari-style graphics. With Wheel World, the team shifts gears (sorry) to a gorgeous cel-shaded art style. Unlike Messhof’s previous titles, this one will have a narrative — with characters and dialog boxes!

Messhof explained its rebranding in a press release. “[Ghost Bike] was a game about dying on a bike after being hit by a car and ending up in a cycling valhalla,” Messhof’s Mak Essen and Kristy Norindr wrote. “While it wasn’t directly based on real world ghost bikes (those white bikes memorializing cyclists killed by drivers), there was enough overlap to feel like the name was justified and the associations would be a positive one from both directions. But as things changed in the gameplay (to make it more fun to play), and thus the story (especially in tone) it fit less and less.” Wheel World, it is.

You play as Kat, a young cyclist determined to “save Wheel World from total collapse.” Its gameplay combines racing, bike upgrades, recovering stolen parts and ultimately performing “The Great Shift ritual” to save the world.

The trailer also showcases a roaming mode for times when you want a relaxing gaming experience. An original soundtrack from the electronic label Italians Do It Better helps you chill out while cruising the beautifully cel-shaded countryside.

When it arrives in early 2025, Wheel World will be on Game Pass on day one. In addition to the Xbox Series X/S, it will also be available on PS5 and PC.

Activision will have a new user interface for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and it will require a beefy preload starting on Monday.

It’s time to clear out your storage. You can download this pre-launch update to check out the new UI and be ready to play Black Ops 6 as soon as it releases on October 25.

To prepare for launch, Activision is delivering an update that combines the preload of Black Ops 6 and the rollout of the new Call of Duty user interface into a single download.

This is one of the last steps in the roadmap to Black Ops 6 the company discussed in August, with more coming in Season 01. Once the download is completed, players can check out the new UI immediately and be ready to play Black Ops 6 as soon as it is released.

Here’s what you can expect in the pre-launch update arriving on Monday. The download will be available for preload on Monday, October 21, at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

On most platforms, Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone are separate downloads, offering more control over the files. You can keep the titles and individual modes that you’re currently playing and uninstall the rest to free up storage space.

You can access the new user interface, with featured titles and modes on your Home page, previous titles under All Games, and the latest purchasable content under Store.

Activision said you will be able to instantly load up Black Ops 6 at launch. Starting with Season 01, you can instantly access Call of Duty: Warzone as well.

Preloading for Black Ops 6 begins for all platforms this Monday at 9 a.m. Pacific. Players who have pre-ordered the game or subscribe to select Game Pass plans can download Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies so they’re ready to go when Black Ops 6 officially releases on October 25.

To make the preload as smooth as possible, players who pre-ordered Black Ops 6 and already have Call of Duty installed will receive the Black Ops 6 preload as an automatic update to their existing install, similar to previous Call of Duty updates.

Players who pre-ordered Black Ops 6, but don’t already have Call of Duty installed can initiate the preload from their platform storefront.

The download will be larger for players who already have Call of Duty installed as they’re getting the new UI and Black Ops 6 at the same time.

Call of Duty: Warzone — A separate download

Call of Duty: Warzone content is not automatically included in the default download for Black Ops 6.

However, players who don’t already have Call of Duty: Warzone installed can still choose to download it alongside Black Ops 6 by selecting it in the platform’s install manager. Players can also download Call of Duty: Warzone at any point after their initial Black Ops 6 install from within the new Call of Duty user interface.

Activision encourages players to download Call of Duty: Warzone to get the most out of their Call of Duty experience and prepare for some updates coming in Season 01.

There will be no impact to this change for players who already have Call of Duty: Warzone installed – you will continue to receive game updates automatically as you have in the past.

Downloading Black Ops 6 with Call of Duty: Warzone

On most platforms, Black Ops 6 content will not be included in new Call of Duty: Warzone downloads. However, on PlayStation, Call of Duty: Warzone players will still download some Black Ops 6 content:

PlayStation 5: PlayStation 5 players who don’t purchase Black Ops 6 will still download Black Ops 6 Multiplayer and Zombies as part of their Call of Duty install. This optimizes the Black Ops 6 download experience for PlayStation 5’s content delivery system. Players can choose to uninstall Multiplayer and Zombies after their initial install or keep them for easy access to free trial weekends or for a future Black Ops 6 purchase.

PlayStation 4: PlayStation 4 players who don’t purchase Black Ops 6 will still download some content that is shared between Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. This facilitates content optimizations that benefit all players on PlayStation 4.

Managing Call of Duty storage space

With Black Ops 6 on the way, Call of Duty will take up more space on your device if you choose to keep all of your previous content installed since a new game is being added on top of your existing files.

You can prepare for the Black Ops 6 download and future Call of Duty updates by actively managing what you have installed. To free up additional space, you can remove content that you’re no longer playing, including full titles and individual modes (e.g. uninstalling single player once you’ve finished the Campaign).

Players can uninstall content within the Call of Duty user interface or via their platform’s install manager. After content is removed, you can reinstall it at any point if you wish to return to those games or modes in the future.

A Tour of the New UI

On October 21, players can check out the new Call of Duty UI — formerly known as Call of Duty HQ — after downloading the pre-launch update.

At launch, the new interface will include three main hubs: Home, All Games, and Store. Each hub displays all of its content on one page, eliminating the need to scroll. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll find in each section.

Home

The new UI features a landing page that brings together a variety of Call of Duty content. The Home tab showcases various tiles which each serve different purposes:

Game Tiles – Unlike the previous Call of Duty UI, players will now be able to directly access games, which have their own self-contained user interfaces. The newest annual title – Black Ops 6 starting on October 25 – and Call of Duty: Warzone will be shown on the Home tab. Other games are accessible via the All Games tab.

Featured Tile – This tile can showcase a variety of top content such as modes, maps, and Battle Passes depending on what is new and most relevant at the time.

What’s Hot Row – Similar to today’s What’s Hot row, these tiles highlight new playlists, bundles, etc. and give players easy access to that content.

Last Played Tile – This tile gives players quick access to what they played most recently. When you first log in to the new interface, this tile will be a fourth What’s Hot option until you’ve played a game within the UI

Depending on your preference, you can access game content through both the Game Tiles and any modes or playlists that are elevated to the Featured Tile or What’s Hot Row.

All Games

Cycle to the All Games tab to view your full library of Call of Duty titles dating back to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019). Cross-launch into owned titles, purchase unowned titles, and manage your installations from here.

Store

This tab will give players a path to access the Call of Duty in-game stores and showcase any other top purchasable content. The full Call of Duty in-game stores will be accessible at the game-level of the UI within Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, etc. This tab sends players to those full stores.

The new UI will evolve over three initial phases, reaching its full capabilities with the start of Season 01.

Phase 1: Pre-Black Ops 6 Launch (October 21 – October 24)

Initially, there will be a transition period from October 21 through 24 when the new UI goes live before Black Ops 6 launches.

During these few days, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone will be the primary Game Tiles on the Home tab and players will cross-launch into those games. Modern Warfare III will retain its legacy UI. Call of Duty: Warzone will retain its legacy UI until the Season 01 update.

The Store tab will direct players into the full Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone in-game stores via cross-launch.

Phase 2: Post-Black Ops 6 Launch (October 25 – [Redacted])

When Black Ops 6 launches, it will replace Modern Warfare III, making Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone the primary Game Tiles on the Home tab. Players will be able to instantly access Black Ops 6 and cross-launch into Call of Duty: Warzone.

Players who wish to continue playing Modern Warfare III can access it via cross-launch on the All Games tab or the Last Played Tile if that’s the content you’ve played most recently.

For players who have purchased Black Ops 6, the Store tab will now direct you to the full Black Ops 6 in-game store.

Black Ops 6 will have its own individual user interface designed to easily get players into the modes and content they want to play. Players can access Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies from the Black Ops 6 game UI. Look out for new updates to the gunsmith, playlist selection, and social showcase within Black Ops 6!

Phase 3: Season 01 ([Redacted])

When Season 01 begins, the UI will enter its fully realized state. Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone will continue to be the primary Game Tiles on the Home tab and players will be able to instantly access both Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone for a faster, more direct path to gameplay.

The Store tab will now direct all players to the full Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone in-game stores based on what you have installed.

A Battle Pass tab will be introduced in Season 01 with similar functionality as the Store tab, directing players to the full Battle Pass within Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty: Warzone.

With the Season 01 update, Call of Duty: Warzone will also have its own individual user interface with improvements similar to the Black Ops 6 UI.

Changes to features and settings management

Players will be able to manage some global settings at the top Call of Duty level of the UI that apply to all games. Settings in this bucket will be automatically imported from your previous title.

Other settings that are more game-specific can be managed at the individual title levels of the UI (e.g. gameplay settings related to new mechanics like Omnimovement). Settings at this level will not be automatically imported from prior games.