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Researchers from Kaspersky have identified malware being distributed within apps on both Android and iOS mobile storefronts. Dmitry Kalinin and Sergey Puzan shared their investigation into a malware campaign, which they have dubbed SparkCat, that has likely been active since March 2024.

“We cannot confirm with certainty whether the infection was a result of a supply chain attack or deliberate action by the developers,” the pair wrote. “Some of the apps, such as food delivery services, appeared to be legitimate, whereas others apparently had been built to lure victims.”

The Kaspersky duo said SparkCat is a stealthy operation that at a glance appears to be requesting normal or harmless permissions. Some of the apps where the pair uncovered malware are still available to download, including food delivery app ComeCome and AI chat apps AnyGPT and WeTink.

The malware in question uses optical character recognition (OCR) to review a device’s photo library, seeking screenshots of recovery phrases for crypto wallets. Based on their assessment, infected Google Play apps have been downloaded more than 242,000 times. Kaspersky says “This is the first known case of an app infected with OCR spyware being found in Apple’s official app marketplace.”

Apple often promotes the rigorous security of the App Store, and while instances of malware appearing have been rare, this discovery is a reminder that the walled garden is not impervious to attacks.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/kaspersky-researchers-find-screenshot-reading-malware-on-the-app-store-and-google-play-211011103.html?src=rss 

The M2 MacBook Air is on sale for just $800 via Amazon. This is a decent discount, as this model has been going for around $1,000 lately. The well-reviewed laptop is actually on sale for $950, but there’s a clippable coupon worth $150. The only caveat to this sale is that the coupon doesn’t work on the midnight black model, but all other colorways are fair game.

The laptop easily found a spot on our list of the best MacBooks. It lacks some of the punch of last year’s M3 MacBook Air but the M2 chip is no slouch. This computer is fast and should be able to handle most everything you throw at it. This particular model includes 8GB of RAM and 512GB of solid-state storage.

We heaped a whole bunch of praise on Apple’s M2 MacBook Air upon the initial release, calling it a “near-perfect Mac.” The screen is bright and colorful, the battery lasts 18 hours per charge and the computer is both thin and light. As previously mentioned, the performance is speedy, even when using software like Logic Pro X.

The only downsides? This isn’t Apple’s latest MacBook Air and it only comes with 8GB of RAM. Most MacBooks come with 16GB nowadays. The webcam is also on the drab side. If you find yourself in a lot of Zoom meetings, look into purchasing a standalone webcam.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-m2-macbook-air-drops-to-800-195140269.html?src=rss 

Tubi isn’t the only service touting its Super Bowl LIX presentation prowess ahead of Sunday’s big game. If you have the right setup, the whistles, slamming helmets and quarterback play-calls in this year’s matchup could sound a bit more immersive. Comcast said on Wednesday that it will not only offer Dolby Vision, as it did in 2023, for the big game. This year, the showdown between the Chiefs and Eagles will also add Dolby Atmos for the first time.

The pairing is part of Comcast’s Enhanced 4K programming for X1 customers. The feature, which debuted at last year’s Paris Olympics, uses Dolby Vision HDR and Atmos surround sound for “crisp quality, brighter colors and immersive audio.” Enhanced 4K streams in “ultra-low latency” at higher bitrates than traditional 4K.

To get in on the jazzy presentation, you’ll need to be an Xfinity X1 subscriber with a checklist of required hardware. That starts with a 4K TV, 4K HDR set-top box (Xfinity X1, XG1v4 or Xi6) and a 4K-capable HDMI cord. In addition, your TV, external speakers or soundbar will need to support Dolby Atmos for the virtual surround sound experience. X1 subscribers can also get Enhanced 4K through the Xfinity Stream app.

Fox, which has the broadcast rights to this year’s Super Bowl, will also show the game for free in 4K on Tubi, which it owns. This will be the first time the streaming service has shown the big game — quite the departure from its usual fare of ad-supported Dog the Bounty Hunter and Duck Dynasty reruns.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/the-super-bowl-is-being-broadcast-with-dolby-atmos-audio-for-the-first-time-180035421.html?src=rss 

Amazon is set to show off some new stuff later this month. The company has scheduled a devices event for February 26 in New York City. The company’s hardware chief, Panos Panay, and his devices and services team will be on hand. The event will start at 10AM ET.

The event invitation that Amazon sent to the media doesn’t give much away. It includes the date, the Amazon smile/arrow logo and a tagline that reads “See what’s next.” Some swoopy blue lines are in the background.

It hasn’t been too long since Amazon refreshed the Kindle lineup, so it seems a little unlikely that we’ll see new e-readers from the company later this month. Instead, Amazon may finally be ready to spill the beans about the long-gestating next-gen Alexa, which it reportedly planned to reveal last October before a delay. The head of Amazon’s artificial general intelligence said in January that the company had been dealing with technical difficulties, such as incorrect or false results that tend to be an issue for generative AIs.

If, indeed, the next-gen Alexa is the focal point of the event, Amazon may have new audio gear to show off. As such, new Echo speakers and Echo Buds could be on the agenda. We might also learn just how much Amazon plans to charge for a subscription to this turbocharged version of Alexa.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/amazon-is-holding-a-devices-event-on-february-26-164421400.html?src=rss