Look at this guy. If I told you he was the 17th pick in this year’s NBA draft, you would probably ask some questions like, “Did he go to a Division III school?” Was he convicted of a heinous crime? Did he average seven points per game last year and come out of nowhere?”

No, he was a Naismith Trophy finalist at Tennessee who averaged 21.7 PPG in eight 30-point games while shooting 45.8% from the field and 39.7% from three games. He was the country’s leading scorer and almost single-handedly took the Vols to the Elite Eight. His only flaw is that he’s not an 18-year-old, but a polished, professional basketball player.

I understand why NBA teams want young, high-caliber talent who have what it takes to become superstars, but Knecht was clearly a player you could integrate into your team and produce from day one. Especially at a time when it seems like teams are finally starting to see the value of players who have spent multiple years in college but are clearly just great basketball players – Jalen Brunson, Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, Kawhi Leonard – I was shocked, Knecht fell so far that he was clearly one of the top three or four players available in the draft. Is it really much better to get a raw teenager that you hope will be something in four or five years than to have Knecht already able to do most of the things you would want at 23 years old ?

I don’t know, man. I really hope all the other teams are happy with their lottery picks of players like Tidjane Salaun and Bub Carrington. Maybe one day they will become the player that Knecht already is.

Chris Pratt has admitted he was “moved to tears” by his new sci-fi film The Electric State.

The upcoming Netflix film starring Millie Bobby Brown follows a futuristic world of robots and humans as a teenager searches for the brother she thought was dead.

Pratt spoke at New York Comic Con about reading the script by writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based on the illustrated novel by Simon Stålenhag, and said it was atypical of the current film landscape.

Related: Best streaming services in 2024

“It’s not what’s normally made into a blockbuster film like this,” he said Bang Premier). “It’s so original, it’s a huge swing.

“I thought that these kinds of films could be my last opportunity to act in a big film like this. I have to take every opportunity like that. And that’s what I did. It’s just a great story. I was moved to tears reading it.”

The Electric State follows Brown’s Michelle as she “navigates life in a society where sentient robots resembling cartoons and mascots that once served peacefully among humans now live in exile after a failed uprising.”

Related: Chris Pratt Talks Returning Jurassic World 4

She is visited by the robot Cosmo, who was controlled by her seemingly dead brother, and together they venture into the exclusion zone where robots rule alongside the smuggler Keats (Pratt) and the robot pal Herman (Anthony Mackie).

A first trailer for the film was released this week, set to a version of “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis.

Also included are Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan, The boys‘ Giancarlo Espositos and The Hunger Games‘ Stanley Tucci, while Marvel’s Joe and Anthony Russo direct.

Related: Chris Pratt would ‘naturally’ move to DCU after visiting James Gunn’s set

“It felt like a story about broken families and broken people trying to find each other in a broken world,” Joe Russo recently explained Vanity Fair of the project. “It also felt like we were raising our children in a technology-heavy world.

“It could be an aggressive theme if the story were set in the present. Sometimes we find that if you put it in a fable and take it out of its immediacy, you can create space for people to process it differently.”

The Electric State will be released on Netflix on March 14th.

The TCU Horned Frogs will face it Utah Utes on Saturday, October 19th. Here are some key players on the Utah team that TCU fans should know before the game.

The Horned Frogs had a bye week last week, so we’ll see how well they prepared for Utah.

Isaac Wilsona 6-foot, 200-pound freshman quarterback and younger brother of the NFL QB Zach Wilsonhas stepped up for Utah this season. With starting quarterback Cam Rising out due to injury, Wilson has been thrust into the spotlight and shown plenty of potential. His speed and agility, coupled with a big arm that can make explosive plays, make him a dynamic threat on the court. Wilson has shown maturity beyond his age, and with TCU having struggled against mobile quarterbacks in the past, they must be well prepared to contain him or face a tough challenge.

Isaac Wilson’s career statistics	yards	touchdowns	Interception	Quarterback Rating
2024	830	6	7	43.7

Micah BernardAt 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, he has developed into one of Utah’s most versatile and dangerous offensive weapons this season. A true multi-talented player, Bernard excels not only in rushing, but also in pass blocking and catching passes from the field. His speed and straight-line attack allow him to break off big plays, while his patience allows him to excel in catch-and-play situations. Being particularly dangerous in run situations and keeping the defense on their toes To stay ahead, the Frogs will have to find a way to slow it down, considering they’ve struggled with competition this season and have some momentum win back.

Micah Bernard’s career statistics	Carries	yards	touchdowns	Average
2019	0	0	0	0
2020	15	76	0	5.1
2021	87	523	2	6.0
2022	106	533	4	5.0
2023	16	76	1	4.8
2024	103	676	2	6.6

At 6’0″, 177 pounds, Dorian Singer has been Utah’s biggest threat this season. Although he is not the tallest receiver, his long arms help him play much taller than his stature suggests. Singer has strong hands and is an exceptional route runner, especially on deep routes, making him a constant threat to opposing defenses. His speed off the line often leaves defenders behind, giving him a dangerous advantage in one-on-one situations. TCU will have a lot to contend with, but taking out Singer would be a crucial first step in slowing the Utes’ offense.

Dorian Singer career statistics	receptions	yards	touchdowns	Average
2021	18	301	0	16.7
2022	66	1,105	6	16.7
2023	24	289	3	12.0
2024	30	434	0	14.5

At 6’2″, 236 pounds, tight end Brant Kuithe He may not have the greatest frame for his position, but he more than makes up for it with his smooth route running and reliable hands. Strong and confident, Kuithe excels at making difficult catches in traffic. He is particularly dangerous in the open field and has great ability to find space and get into the open. His speed also allows him to be a weapon that can be used effectively both from position and on the move. With his veteran knowledge, Kuithe has been one of Utah’s most reliable red zone threats this season. TCU will need to keep a close eye on him and ensure the right matchups are crucial to preventing him from doing any damage in the end zone.

Brant Kuithe’s career statistics	receptions	yards	touchdowns	Average
2018	20	227	1	11.4
2019	34	602	6	17.7
2020	25	236	0	9.4
2021	50	611	6	12.2
2022	19	206	3	10.8
2023	0	0	0	0
2024	20	313	4	15.6

Second year safety Tao Johnson has been a standout weapon for Utah’s defense this season. Known for his speed and physicality, Johson excels at covering large areas of the field, making him a disruptive presence in both the running and passing games. He currently leads the team in total tackles and shows his ability to consistently make plays. Johnson is also a major threat to opposing quarterbacks as he has a keen eye for tracking down balls in the air and creating turnovers. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover must be precise with his throws as he can turn mistakes into costly turnovers.

Tao Johnson’s career statistics	Solo tackles	Total tackles	Forced fumble	Interception	Pass deflections
2023	16	33	0	0	5
2024	22	36	0	1	1

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Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay up to date on the latest TCU news! Keep following KillerFrogs Facebook And Instagram as well as.

The role of the CISO continues to expand due to the increasing number of breaches and cyberattacks such as ransomware, as well as the SEC’s requirements for public organizations to disclose material breaches.

The fastest-changing frontiers in enterprise cybersecurity include mobile systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), and operational technology systems (OT). Today, 96.5% of people access the Internet using a mobile device, while 59% of Internet traffic is generated via mobile devices. Meanwhile, OT and cyber-physical systems, once isolated and isolated from the Internet, have quickly become integrated into corporate networks where threats can proliferate.

To shed light on this emerging threat landscape, the Zscaler ThreatLabz research team conducted a detailed analysis of mobile and IoT/OT attack trends from June 2023 to May 2024.

Overall, ThreatLabz saw an increase in financially motivated mobile attacks – with a 111% growth in spyware and 29% growth in banking malware – most of which can bypass multifactor authentication (MFA). Meanwhile, IoT attacks increased 45% year-over-year, and ThreatLabz identified pervasive security risks in OT environments.

Below we summarize the key findings of the report. Download the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Mobile, IoT and OT Threat Report for a comprehensive understanding of mobile and IoT/OT trends, case studies and best practices to protect your business.

Top mobile and IoT/OT trends

1. Increase in financially motivated mobile threats, including a 111% increase in spyware and a 29% increase in banking malware.
   • Despite an overall decline in Android attacks, financially motivated mobile threats are on the rise, with most able to bypass MFA.
2. IoT attacks increased 45% compared to our 2023 report based on blocked attempts in the Zscaler cloud.
   • Zscaler blocked 45% more IoT malware transactions than last year. ThreatLabz also observed a 12% increase in attempts to deliver malware (payload deliveries) to IoT devices.
3. ThreatLabz discovered over 200 fake apps in the Google Play Store.
   • This includes Anatsa, a well-known Android banking malware that targeted more than 650 financial institutions by using PDF and QR code readers to spread.
4. Older and outdated operating systems (OS) make OT systems vulnerable.
   • OT and cyber-physical systems, previously separated by air ducts and isolated from the Internet, are increasingly integrated into corporate networks, leading to the proliferation of threats.
   • In an analysis of large-scale OT deployments, ThreatLabz found that 50% or more of OT systems use an end-of-life operating system, many with known vulnerabilities. East-West OT traffic is now teeming with risky protocols and services.

Top mobile and IoT/OT destinations

5. India was the main target of mobile attacks, accounting for 28% of all attacks, followed by the US, Canada, South Africa and the Netherlands. The United States remains the main target of IoT attacks, accounting for 81% of all attacks, followed by Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.

Zscaler

6. Manufacturing experienced the highest volume of IoT attacks, accounting for 36% of all IoT malware blocks observed, followed by transportation (14%) and food, beverage and tobacco (11%). The technology and education sectors were the most affected by mobile threats.

Zscaler

Secure mobile, IoT, and OT without trust

As cyberattacks targeting mobile and IoT/OT resources become more sophisticated, companies need a way to reduce cyber risk while leveraging IoT and OT connectivity to drive their business. In fact, not only are IoT attacks increasing, but threat actors are also actively targeting OT devices and critical infrastructure, something CISA has warned about. Meanwhile, enterprises need a way to reliably secure mobile connectivity to any SaaS or private application, whether in the cloud or in the data center. To protect these devices and systems, organizations should adopt a zero trust approach that mitigates cyber threats and improves their security posture:

• Discover, classify and inventory IoT and OT assets: Work to gain complete visibility into your IoT and OT attack surface; This includes discovering, classifying and inventorying both managed and unmanaged or “shadow” devices. With such a holistic view, defenders can prioritize their efforts, identify key vulnerabilities and develop a proactive approach to securing these assets.
• Enable zero trust connectivity: Leverage a robust zero trust architecture that enables adaptive access decisions based on real-time security and status of user devices, risk factors and device telemetry, ensuring secure direct connectivity between endpoints and applications – never to the underlying network.
• Enforce zero trust device segmentation: Apply least privilege access controls for device-to-application, user-to-application, and application-to-application segmentation. This granular level of segmentation eliminates lateral movement, minimizes data exposure, and strengthens your overall security posture by reducing the risk of a single compromised device compromising the entire network. This should include isolating and fully segmenting agentless IoT/OT devices into a secure “Network of One,” including legacy servers and headless machines.
• Maintain consistent Zero Trust security policies: Ensure zero trust access policies are consistently enforced across all environments, whether users are at headquarters, at brand locations, or accessing applications remotely.

With mobile and IoT/OT threats on the rise, it’s important to understand the latest trends, the impact of these types of attacks, and the best practice strategies you can adopt to protect your organization from a variety of threats.

Get your copy of the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Mobile, IoT and OT Threat Report today.

by CommonWealth Staff, CommonWealth Beacon
October 18, 2024

by CommonWealth Staff, CommonWealth Beacon
October 18, 2024

This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Google is testing a major update to Google Photos that could significantly improve the experience of watching videos and navigating within the app.

According to recent discoveries by Android expert Assemble Debug, Google Photos will soon get a revamped video player that will offer much-needed quality of life improvements that make controlling video playback easier.

New features include:

• A redesigned search bar that you can touch with your fingertip as you navigate your video
• Updated control buttons
• Double-tap to quickly skip forward or back five seconds in the current video

Google Photos: New video navigation controls

Perhaps the most significant upgrade is the new “dotted” search bar, the control that lets you move back and forth through a video as it plays. The current search bar appears as a solid line with a dot moving along it to indicate your position in the video. You can touch the search bar anywhere along this line to jump to that location, or move your finger left and right to scroll through the video and find the section you want.

The new version replaces that solid line with a series of dots that move from right to left as the video plays. You can move the row of dots left or right with your fingertip to move through the video, while a subtle vibration effect helps you “feel” the movement, more like interacting with something tangible than just dots on a screen.

Interestingly, the new search bar doesn’t seem to show your current position in the video, as there is no longer a dot moving along the line indicating you.

Also new is the ability to jump forward and backward in five-second increments by double-tapping on the left or right edge of the video during playback. A similar function already exists within the YouTube app, where you can jump forward or backward ten seconds within the video by double-tapping. However, the YouTube app takes it a step further by letting you add additional taps to increase the jump size in ten-second increments. So, tap three times to skip forward 20 seconds, or tap five times quickly to skip 40 seconds. Whether additional tapping will have a similar effect in Google Photos’ video player remains to be seen.

Google Photos: New video control buttons

In the current video player layout, the play/pause button always appears exactly in the middle of the video you want to watch. When you pause a video to take a closer look, the play button appears in the middle of the screen, covering part of the video until you resume playback. The new layout moves this button to the bottom of the screen so that it is no longer visible in the image.

The mute button has been moved from the right side of the search bar to the left. The report now refers to this as a volume button rather than a simple on/off control for the sound. It’s currently unclear whether the new button controls now allow for volume control rather than just muting or activating. However, the physical volume control on your smartphone already handles this function very well, so a secondary volume control on the screen seems unnecessary.

However, moving the mute button to the left makes room for a new loop button: Currently, videos automatically loop endlessly when played in Google Photos. Tapping the loop button will probably disable this repeat feature, allowing the video to play once and then stop.

These unreleased updates currently remain hidden in the code of version 7.4 of the Google Photos app for Android. They are not yet available to most users, but Assemble Debug has enabled them and reviewed them before publishing. This means Google still has time to make changes before rolling them out to users. Therefore, the update may look slightly different when it is finally released.

Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.

ForbesGoogle Photos helps users identify AI-created imagesFrom Paul MoncktonForbesGoogle announces new video features for Google Photos: Here’s what they’re doingFrom Paul Monckton

Texas State University is on track to become a top research institution as its officials aim for R1 Carnegie classification by 2027.

The R1 designation measures a university’s public and private sector investment in supporting research conducted by faculty and students.

Texas State is currently classified as an R2 university, but the R1 designation means Texas State has a reputation for research excellence, said Chief Research Officer Shreek Mandayam.

“It’s not about being better, it’s about being different,” Mandayam said.

The big picture

University faculty members receive grants from the state, federal government, or private sector to fund undergraduate and graduate student research. Researchers try to solve problems of interest to society, Mandayam said.

To receive an R1 designation, universities must have at least $50 million in research expenditures and earn an average of 70 doctoral degrees each year for three consecutive years, Mandayam said.

Texas State reached the $50 million mark in 2016 and continues to increase its research spending, investing $160 million in 2024. The 2024 reporting period was also the first year in which the university awarded over 70 doctoral degrees – a milestone that university officials say must continue over the next two years.

We [had] 71 this year and if we keep the momentum going, we will make it,” Mandayam said.

Although the University has met its initial criteria by receiving the R1 award, it must continue to invest in its new and existing doctoral programs.

The view

Mandayam said the university has invested $18 million in the existing thesis. Programs through fellowships, fellowships, and graduate student assistantships. Candidates.

Texas State has also invested $50 million in new graduate students. programs – which will double the amount offered next year.

Mark a milestone

The State of Texas’ Next is Now capital campaign, which ended August 31, aimed to achieve the R1 designation.

According to a press release, the campaign launched publicly in October 2021 and raised a total of over $275 million.

During the 88th Texas Legislature, legislators also passed the Texas University Fund (TUF), which provided for a constitutional amendment – ​​Proposition 5 – to be submitted to Texas voters in November 2023 to grant research universities.

Texas State was one of four universities to receive $1 billion in TUF funding to fund new graduate students. programs, recruit staff and provide teachers with the resources they need to receive federal grants, Mandayam said.

The effect

Mar Huertas Pau, associate professor of biology, said receiving R1 status as a designated Hispanic institution would help the university redouble its efforts in serving the Hispanic community.

Carlton Fong, associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, said the R1 classification would open up additional support, resources and opportunities.

He said it would also enable the university to attract and retain the best talent to help them continue to achieve their goals.

“We work to make education systems more equitable by maximizing the potential for all learners and educators, especially those who have been historically excluded or institutionally marginalized,” Fong said.

Looking ahead

Mandayam said he would like to quadruple the number of graduate students. programs that Texas State offers and will increase research spending by an additional 50% in the future.

The state of Texas will also focus on the semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability and water research, Mandayam said.

“We place great emphasis on the digital humanities and want to recruit scholars from across the country into the humanities,” he said.

Former Target Vice Chairman Gerald Storch warned Thursday that holiday spending is likely to disappoint this year as inflation-hit consumers run out of savings and curb spending due to geopolitical uncertainties.

“It’s very clear that consumers are running out of money,” Storch, also the former CEO of Toys R Us in the 2000s and early 2010s, told FOX Business. “They are increasingly stressed by inflation and the depletion of their pandemic-era savings.”

When asked about his expectations for the Christmas business this year, Storch was blunt: “[I don’t expect] Too much, honestly.”

Storch pointed to persistent inflation that has kept prices high – putting a strain on consumers’ wallets – and a tense geopolitical atmosphere as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris remain neck-and-neck ahead of the election. Races are going on and war is raging in Gaza and abroad in Ukraine.

The longtime retail executive’s dire warning comes shortly after a string of strong economic data.

Retail sales rose 0.4% in September, beating expectations and painting a picture of a resilient consumer, according to a Commerce Department report released Thursday.

While jobless claims rose shortly after Hurricane Helene’s devastation hit southeastern states, the number of Americans filing unexpectedly fell last week, another good sign for the economy.

But Storch said those numbers aren’t so reassuring when put into context.

“If you look at the last few years, what you see month after month, what everyone is talking about, consumer spending is still there,” he said. “That may be true, but they are spending less as inflation increases.”

For example, while retail sales rose 1.7% last year, the inflation rate was 2.4% over the same period, Storch said.

So consumers are “spending more and getting less” as prices rise faster than sales, he said.

U.S. holiday sales are expected to rise as much as 3.5% this year, the National Retail Federation predicted Tuesday.

While this forecast signals revenue growth, it predicts the slowest growth rate in six years.

NRF CEO Matthew Shay said he expects consumers to be price-conscious and pragmatic and to prioritize discounts and deals when searching for holiday gifts.

“I would think so [if] We can achieve growth [the] “At a 2.5% range that would be pretty good, but that’s not very good,” Storch told FOX Business. “In the heyday there, we really wanted to see something more like 4% growth.”

Not only is a decline in consumer spending challenging for retailers, they are also facing a particularly tense holiday season.

“By the way, they have the shortest holiday season you could possibly imagine, so that’s a disadvantage for retail,” Storch said. “Now and the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is very, very short, so it’s going to be bad.”

Consumers are likely to become more cost-conscious as geopolitical tensions brew in the U.S. and around the world.

“The election will put a strain on things and also the geopolitical situation, so I think it will be a pretty weak Christmas,” Storch said.

Meanwhile, retailers are already in a weak position as they prepare for a busy holiday season.

Pharmacy chains — including Rite Aid and CVS — have closed stores. Just this week, Walgreens announced it will close 1,200 stores over the next three years.

Home furnishing chains like Big Lots and LL Flooring have filed for bankruptcy and announced plans to close stores.

And Dollar Tree plans to close nearly 1,000 of its discount stores.

“Many of these retailers expanded very quickly. Walgreens has about 4,000 stores – that’s incredible. The same goes for Family Dollar,” Storch said. “This big bet on physical locations [came] Just as the consumer was slowing down and of course the internet was growing.”

Nine monkeys – including three of an endangered species – who died this week in Hong Kong’s oldest zoo was infected with an endemic disease, officials said Friday.

The animals at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens may have contracted melioidosis after some digging near their cages, which later led to sepsis, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Kevin Yeung said in a news conference.

Yeung emphasized that such infections typically arise through contact with contaminated soil and water and that there is generally no danger to humans from contact with infected animals or people.

“We are saddened by the deaths of the nine monkeys,” he said.

Eight monkeys were found dead on Sunday and another died on Monday after exhibiting unusual behavior, officials said earlier this week. The deceased animals included a Brazza monkey, a squirrel monkey, three cotton-top tamarins and four white-faced sakis.

Cotton-top tamarins – a species of small arboreal monkeys native to the tropical forests of South America – are considered one of the most endangered primate species in the world.

According to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, there are fewer than 6,000 monkeys left in the wild.

What is melioidosis?

According to the Hong Kong Center for Health Protection, melioidosis is caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is widespread in soil and muddy water.

Yeung said the park conducted digging work to repair some irrigation pipes under the flower bed near the monkey cages in early October and that the deaths may be related.

He said the monkeys may have come into contact with the bacteria after park employees went into their cages with possibly contaminated shoes. Another possibility is that some infected monkeys had close contact with other monkeys, he said.

“The incubation period for melioidosis in primates is about a week and this is consistent with the period after soil excavation work,” he said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other animals known to suffer from melioidosis are sheep, goats, hogs, hogs, wild boars, horses, cats, dogs and cows. The disease is mainly found in tropical climates, particularly southern Asia and northern Australia.

Edwin Tsui, the center’s director, said the incident only occurred in a single zone and its impact on Hong Kong residents was very small.

Yeung held an urgent interdepartmental meeting on the deaths on Monday with the Department of Recreational and Cultural Services, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation and the Department of Health.

Another De Brazza monkey also exhibited unusual behavior and appetite, but officials said its condition remained stable Friday.

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens – the oldest park in the former British colony – opened fully to the public in 1871. It is a rare urban oasis in the central downtown district of the financial hub, which fell back under Chinese rule in 1997.

The deceased monkeys were among 93 mammals kept at the zoo, which also houses reptiles and birds.

After Soulja Boy claimed he was the first rapper to fly a plane, fellow rapper Ludacris chimed in with a correction, calling him the true pioneer rapper pilot.

It’s no secret that Soulja Boy is infamous for being the first rapper to do many things – so much so that he released a track titled “First Rapper” in 2021. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old musician took to Instagram on October 13 with his latest claim. Sitting on the flight deck of a plane with a uniformed pilot, the musician said: “I was the first rapper to fly a plane.”

What’s notable is that the video was taken while the plane was on the ground, not in the air. In the clip’s many comments, Ludacris left a skeptical “thinking” emoji that questioned Soulja’s latest boast. The latter rapper eventually admitted that he wasn’t the first rapper in this case. He responded to Luda, writing, “I just saw your video, you did it first,” adding a gold medal emoji.

Elsewhere in the comments, fans also jokingly highlighted Snoop Dogg’s acting performance as Captain Mack in 2004 Soul level.

Does Ludacris have his pilot’s license?

Ludacris, born Christopher Brian Bridges, stated in 2021 that he owns an airplane and is working toward obtaining his pilot’s license. When appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Showhe openly shared what curbed his desire to pilot his private jet.

“I actually own an airplane, but in all these years I never wanted to be a pilot because you can’t drink alcohol within eight hours of flight,” Luda said. “Who wants to go on vacation and not drink before leaving?”

“Long story short, this is the first of many,” he said while discussing viral footage of himself flying in the air. “But I plan to get my pilot’s license soon. It’s still a work in progress, it will take some time.”