Researchers discovered at least 33 malicious browser extensions in Google's Chrome Web Store that secretly stole sensitive data from 2.6 million devices over 18 months. One extension, updated on Christmas day, was active for 31 hours and affected 400,000 Chrome users with Cyberhaven software.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

Russia successfully launched its 2,000th R-7 rocket on Christmas Day, carrying a remote-sensing satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

Rumors and leaks suggest Half-Life 3 is in development and may be officially announced in the coming months, with the latest hint coming from G-Man voice actor Mike Shapiro's New Year's Eve social media post.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

AI-powered phishing scams are on the rise, targeting corporate executives with highly personalized emails that use information likely gathered through AI analysis of their online profiles. Companies like Beazley and eBay have reported this increase in sophisticated attacks.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

Developer Guillermo Rauch created a CAPTCHA that is a playable version of the classic PC game Doom, requiring users to kill three enemies to pass the test.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

In the US, works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 have entered the public domain in January, allowing people to publish, modify, and adapt these works without permission or royalties. This is due to the 1998 Copyright Term Extension Act that prevents new works from entering the public domain for 95 years after their release.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that Siri recorded private conversations without users' consent, which were then sold for targeted ads.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

Aylo, the owner of popular adult sites, has blocked access to its platforms in 16 US states, including Florida and South Carolina, due to age verification laws.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

The Hudsucker Proxy, a visually striking comedy, turns 30. The film, written by Joel and Ethan Coen, is an homage to classic Hollywood screwball comedies, inspired by Preston Sturgess and Frank Capra.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/

The editorial board of Elsevier's Journal of Human Evolution resigned en masse due to controversy over the scientific publishing industry's business models.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/author/benjedwards/