The landscape of malware analysis has significantly evolved, driven by the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the advanced techniques being developed to combat them. Malware attacks on US businesses this year have increased by 30% in the last year with many organizations experiencing data theft from such attacks1. In Q3, 2024 the average weekly cyber attacks per organization increased to an all-time high of 1,876, a 75% increase from the same period in 2023 and a 15% increase from the previous quarter 2. This article explores the key trends shaping the field of malware analysis, highlighting the challenges and innovations for business and cybersecurity leaders. AI-Powered Malware One of the most notable trends in 2024 was the rise of AI-powered malware. These malicious programs leverage artificial intelligence to adapt and evade traditional security measures. AI-powered malware can learn from its environment, making it more difficult to detect and neutralize. This poses significant challenges for cybersecurity professionals, who must develop equally advanced techniques to counter these threats. The dynamic nature of AI-powered malware requires continuous monitoring and adaptation of security protocols to stay ahead of potential attacks. Fileless Malware Fileless malware is another growing concern in the cybersecurity landscape. Unlike traditional malware that relies on files stored on a disk, fileless malware operates entirely in memory. This makes it difficult to detect using conventional methods, as there are no files to scan. Instead, advanced memory forensics and behavioral analysis are required to identify and mitigate fileless malware. This type of malware often exploits legitimate system processes, further complicating detection efforts. Quantum-Resistant Encryption As quantum computing advances, so does the need for quantum-resistant encryption. Emerging malware strains are beginning to use quantum-resistant encryption to protect their communication channels. This presents a new challenge for malware analysts, who must develop techniques to decrypt and analyze these communications. The adoption of quantum-resistant encryption by malware underscores the importance of staying ahead of technological advancements in the field of cybersecurity. IoT Malware The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has created a proliferating attack surface for cybercriminals. IoT malware targets these devices, which often have diverse architectures and limited security measures. Effective analysis of IoT malware requires specialized tools and techniques tailored to the unique characteristics of IoT devices. As the number of connected devices continues to grow, so does the importance of securing them against malware attacks. Supply Chain Attacks Supply chain attacks have become increasingly prevalent, exploiting trusted software distribution networks to insert malware into legitimate applications. These attacks can have far-reaching consequences, as they compromise the integrity of widely used software. Analyzing supply chain attacks requires new techniques to scrutinize software supply chains and identify potential vulnerabilities. The complexity of these attacks highlights the need for comprehensive security measures throughout the software development lifecycle. Polymorphic and Metamorphic Malware Polymorphic and metamorphic malware are designed to constantly alter their code structure to evade detection. Polymorphic malware changes its appearance with each infection, while metamorphic malware rewrites its code entirely. These techniques make it challenging for traditional signature-based detection methods to identify the malware. Hybrid analysis methodologies that focus on invariant components of the malware are essential for effective detection and mitigation. Cross-Platform Malware Cross-platform malware is capable of infecting multiple operating systems, posing a significant threat to diverse computing environments. This type of malware requires analysts to have a deep understanding of various platforms and develop versatile analysis tools. The ability of cross-platform malware to spread across different systems underscores the need for comprehensive security strategies that encompass all potential targets. Conclusion The trends in malware analysis reflect the increasing complexity and sophistication of cyber threats. AI-powered malware, fileless malware, quantum-resistant encryption, IoT malware, supply chain attacks, polymorphic and metamorphic malware and cross-platform malware all present unique challenges for cybersecurity professionals. To combat these threats, advanced techniques and continuous adaptation are essential. To this point, 7 out of 10 business executives will deploy Gen AI tools for cyber defense within the next 12 months3 to offset an ongoing worker shortage. In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, threat intelligence plays a crucial role in understanding the broader context of attacks. By gathering and analyzing data on emerging threats, cybersecurity professionals can develop proactive defense measures and enhance their malware analysis capabilities. Threat intelligence enables organizations to stay ahead of potential attacks and respond effectively to new and evolving threats. Sources: 1. Check Point Research, Check Point Research Reports Highest Increase of Global Cyber Attacks seen in last two years – a 30% Increase in Q3 2024 Global Cyber Attacks, July 2024 2. Check Point Research, A Closer Look at Q3 2024: 75% Surge in Cyber Attacks Worldwide, 3. PWC, 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights , October 2024.John Stossel: Your tax dollars not at workArkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong said Tuesday that he is entering the NFL Draft. Later in the day, a school spokesman told reporters that Armstrong will skip the Razorbacks' bowl game. The destination isn't yet known. Armstrong led the Southeastern Conference in both receptions (78) and receiving yards (1,140) but caught just one touchdown in 11 games this season. His catches and yardage were both second-most in Arkansas history behind Cobi Hamilton, who had 90 receptions for 1,335 yards in 2012. "It's been a journey for the books and I wouldn't trade it for anything because it has made me into the man I am today," Armstrong said of his Razorbacks tenure in a social media post. "... I will never forget all the moments that were shared here in Fayetteville." Armstrong played two seasons at Texas A&M-Commerce before transferring to Arkansas ahead of the 2023 season. In two seasons with the Razorbacks, he caught 134 passes for 1,904 yards and six scores. --Field Level Medias777 。

Trump Pays Tribute to Late President Jimmy Carter, Dubbing Him 'A Good, Consequential Man'

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Patrick Fishburn played bogey-free for an 8-under 64 for his first lead after any round. Joel Dahmen was 10 shots behind and had a bigger cause for celebration Friday in the RSM Classic. Dahmen made a 5-foot par putt on his final hole for a 2-under 68 in tough conditions brought on by the wind and cold, allowing him to make the cut on the number and get two more days to secure his PGA Tour card for next year. He is No. 124 in the FedEx Cup. “I still got more to write this weekend for sure,” said Dahmen, who recently had said his story is not yet over. “But without having the opportunity to play this weekend, my story would be a lot shorter this year.” Fishburn took advantage of being on the easier Plantation course, with trees blocking the brunt of the wind and two additional par 5s. He also was helped by Maverick McNealy, who opened with a 62 on the tougher Seaside course, making two bogeys late in his round and having to settle for a 70. Fishburn, who already has locked up his card for next year, was at 11-under 131 and led McNealy and Lee Hodges (63) going into the weekend. Michael Thorbjornsen had a 69 and was the only player who had to face Seaside on Friday who was among the top five. What mattered on this day, however, was far down the leaderboard. The RSM Classic is the final tournament of the PGA Tour season, and only the top 125 in the FedEx Cup have full status in 2025. That's more critical than ever with the tour only taking the top 100 for full cards after next season. Players like Dahmen will need full status to get as many playing opportunities as they can. That explains why he felt so much pressure on a Friday. He didn't make a bogey after his opening hole and was battling temperatures in the low 50s that felt even colder with the wind ripping off the Atlantic waters of St. Simons Sound. He made a key birdie on the 14th, hitting a 4-iron for his second shot on the 424-yard hole. Dahmen also hit wedge to 2 feet on the 16th that put him on the cut line, and from the 18th fairway, he was safely on the green some 40 feet away. But he lagged woefully short, leaving himself a testy 5-footer with his job on the line. “It was a great putt. I was very nervous,” Dahmen said. “But there's still work to do. It wasn't the game-winner, it was like the half-court shot to get us to halftime. But without that, and the way I played today, I wouldn't have anything this weekend.” His playing partners weren't so fortunate. The tour put three in danger of losing their cards in the same group — Zac Blair (No. 123), Dahmen and Wesley Bryan (No. 125). The cut was at 1-under 141. Blair and Bryan came to the 18th hole needing birdie to be assured of making the cut and both narrowly missed. Now they have to wait to see if anyone passes them, which is typically the case. Thorbjornsen in a tie for fourth and Daniel Berger (66 at Plantation) in a tie for 17th both were projected to move into the top 125. Dahmen, indeed, still has work to do. Fishburn gets a weekend to see if he can end his rookie year with a win. “I've had a lot of experience playing in cold growing up in Utah, playing this time of year, kind of get used to playing when the body’s not moving very well and you’ve got to move your hands,” said Fishburn, who played college golf at BYU. “Just pretty happy with how I played.” Ludvig Aberg, the defending champion and No. 5 player in the world competing for the first time in more than two months because of knee surgery, bounced back with a 64 on Plantation and was back in the mix. Aberg played with Luke Clanton, the Florida State sophomore who looks like he belongs each week. Clanton, the No. 1 player in the world amateur ranking who received a sponsor exemption, had a 65 at Plantation and was two shots off the lead. Clanton already has a runner-up and two other top 10s since June. “Playing with him, it's pretty awesome to watch,” Clanton said. “We were kind of fanboying a little it. I know he's a really good dude but to be playing with him and to see what he's done over the last couple years, it's pretty inspirational.” AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Chad Chronister, Donald Trump's pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Tuesday he was withdrawing his name from consideration, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being nominated for a position. Chronister, the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County, Florida, said in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called “the honor of a lifetime.” “Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate, and Trump's transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Trump's pick of Chronister for the post drew backlash from conservatives, including for past comments he made that his sheriff’s office was not focused on enforcing federal immigration laws. RELATED STORY | Trump nominates South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead Homeland Security Chronister follows former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz , Trump's first pick to serve as attorney general, in withdrawing his name for a post in the administration. Gaetz withdrew following scrutiny over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation’s chief federal law enforcement officer. The DEA post requires Senate confirmation.TransMedics Appoints Gerardo Hernandez as Chief Financial Officer and Provides Updated 2024 Financial OutlookMatt Berkey was becoming suspicious. Berkey, a 42-year-old poker pro known for his presence in some of the highest-stakes cash games in Las Vegas, was playing in a well-known casino poker room over the summer. One player in the game who wasn't particularly familiar to Berkey and other regulars at the table, but who was believed to be an amateur based on his play style, was displaying some strange behavior. For one, the player was wearing earbuds—typically a no-no in these kinds of semi-private games where many players have existing friendships. "Nobody has headphones on during our games," Berkey says. "The player in question had... WIRED

Elon Musk hits out at Sydney Morning Herald for ‘boring audiences to death’

Chad Chronister, Donald Trump’s pick to run the DEA, withdraws name from considerationTesla Inc TSLA is the top stock pick in the automotive sector for 2025, Morgan Stanley analysts led by Adam Jonas said in a note covering electric vehicles (EVs). Tesla Top Stock Pick: Jonas’ note came ahead of Tesla hitting new all-time highs Wednesday. Jonas reiterated an Overweight rating on Tesla and raised the price target from $310 to $400. "Elon Musk's entry into the political sphere has expanded investor thinking around Tesla's fundamental outlook," Jonas said of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Tesla stock rallied since the 2024 presidential election. The big question is whether the move is temporary or the start of more to come. "Will Tesla begin to play a greater role in the US renewable/autonomous industrial complex?" Jonas asks. Jonas said client conversation see enthusiasm for AI, data centers, renewable energy and robotics. The conversations acknowledge that it's important for the U.S. to be a leader in these sectors, Jonas added. "Based on our discussions, at least, Tesla is very frequently excluded from the potential paths of expression in a portfolio." Tesla's total addressable market outside of its core automotive market is likely to expand. It might not be included in financial models for the stock, Jonas said. Jonas said there could be risks on Tesla's autonomous vehicles and more items over time. But the close relationship between Musk and President-elect Donald Trump could prove key to unlocking value. Government and industrial partnerships could prove key for growth in EVs, autonomous vehicles and robotics, Jonas added. "Elon Musk's emergence from a political ‘outsider' to having a voice in potential policies may, at some level, accelerate Tesla's journey beyond autos." You may not be a billionaire like Elon Musk, but you can uncover hidden gems in the stock market using our proprietary data and pattern recognition — check out five stocks flying under the radar that deserve your attention. Other Auto Picks: Outside of Tesla, Jonas and team see a "bumpy road" ahead for EVs and autonomous vehicles. "The US election result has extended the ‘ICE is Nice' trade for a bit longer but keep on the lookout for hidden value in the EV ecosystem into the 2H," Jonas said. Jonas upgraded General Motors GM from Underweight to Equal-Weight and raised the price target from $46 to $54. The analyst said smaller EV companies could be the most at risk with the new administration. Trump promised to end EV credits . "While Tesla may see share gain long term even with a less supportive EV regulatory backdrop, smaller scale EV start-ups Rivian and Lucid may see greater risks to production." Jonas has an Equal-Weight rating on Rivian Automotive RIVN and an Underweight rating on Lucid Group LCID . Rivian's valuation has the appropriate risk/reward for the balance between trying to achieve profitability and trying to get value out of its technology, the analyst added. Price Action : Tesla stock closed Wednesday 5.93% higher at $424.77, hitting new all-time highs of $424.88 during the trading session. Tesla stock is up 71% year-to-date in 2024. Read Next: Tesla Q3 Earnings Highlights: EPS Beat, Revenue Miss, Shares Climb On 2025 Timeline For Lower-Cost EVs Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Shares of Boeing ($BA) were on retail watch following the South Korea air crash of a Jeju Air Flight 2216 on Sunday that killed at least 179 people after the reported failure of its landing gear. The FLight 2216 was reportedly a Boeing 737-800 plane model that is widely used by many airlines across the world. About 15% of passenger planes in service globally are Boeing 737-800 across nearly 200 airlines, Mint reported citing Cirium, an aviation data provider. Retail sentiment on the stock turned ‘extremely bearish’ from ‘bearish’ a week ago. Message volumes climbed into the ‘extremely high’ zone from low. Earlier this month, Boeing stock received a couple of price target upgrades: Morgan Stanley raised its price target to $175 from $170 with an ‘Equal Weight’ rating, according to The Fly. TD Cowen also raised its price target to $200 from $190 with a ‘Buy’ rating on the shares following a transfer of coverage. Boeing stock is down 28% year-to-date. For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<

Groundbreaking Directive Ensures ALS Patients on Medicare Advantage Gain Access to QalsodyGophers defensive lineman Luther McCoy enters transfer portal

Bears general manager Ryan Poles was granted a reprieve complete with a second swing at hiring a head coach in Chicago. Poles will interview candidates and select a replacement for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday after the Bears' sixth consecutive loss and fourth of the season decided on a final play. "Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears," president and CEO Kevin Warren said Monday. "Ryan will serve as the point person of our upcoming search for a head football coach. We will closely, we will work together on a daily basis to make sure we have the right person as our head football coach." Warren said the McCaskey family provided "all the resources" to build a championship environment. He confirmed that Thomas Brown, who a month ago was passing game coordinator before replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and shift from the press box to the sideline starting this week. Warren did not say whether Brown would automatically receive an interview for the full-time coaching position, which he said "will be the most coveted head coaching job in the National Football League." Poles said consideration will be given to candidates with the plan to develop rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but there are no set plans to involve the quarterback in the interview process. He said the Bears showed great progress through two seasons but couldn't sustain growth. "At the end of the day, we just came up short too many times," Poles said of firing Eberflus, his pick to be the Bears' head coach in January 2022. Brown promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to interim offensive coordinator on Monday and announced that defensive coordinator Eric Washington will be the defensive play caller, a role Eberflus previously held. Trailing 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears were within field-goal range when quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked. With 32 seconds remaining, Eberflus elected not to use his final timeout as Williams heaved an incompletion down the right sideline as time expired. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, detailing to finish in some of those moments. We all know a lot of games come down to those critical moments where we weren't able to get over the hump," Poles said. Eberflus said after the game that everything was handled properly and held a press conference via Zoom on Friday voicing confidence he'd have the team ready to play the 49ers this week. But three hours later, he was fired. Warren admitted the franchise could've handled the timing better, but clarified there was no decision on Eberflus' status at the time of his media session. "The decision was made to terminate the employment of head coach Matt Eberflus," Warren said 72 hours later. "We try to do everything in a professional manner. That decision was made on Friday." "Coach Eberflus had his press conference, we had not made a final decision. I think you know me, you know Ryan you know George McCaskey. One thing we stand for is family, integrity, doing it the right way. In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely." Eberflus, 54, went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. The Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco (5-7) in Week 1. --Field Level MediaPOET Technologies Completes US$25 Million Registered Direct Offering‘We didn’t have a good day’: Greens set to suffer significant election losses

Government excels at NOT getting things done. But politicians promise more things anyway. Kamala Harris declared that our government would “build thousands of miles of fiber-optic cable!” This “Broadband Connectivity Agenda” was supported by “every House Republican on Energy and Commerce,” write Republican representatives. Three years later, not a single person has been connected. Why? Because, as Milton Friedman put it, “Few people spend other people’s money as carefully as they spend their own.” Private individuals and businesses constantly adjust to save time and money. But politicians, spending your money, have little interest in that. They routinely add rules that make everything take longer. You have to “hire certain people based on their color, their sex,” complains investor Matt Cole in my new video . “You already have a talent problem, now you’re looking at only being able to recruit from a very small minority of individuals. Then you have to do climate pledges. Then you have to hire from unions.” “But diversity is good,” I push back. “That doesn’t mean that you should hire someone because of their race or skin color ... You have all these companies that could actually (build broadband), but its unimplementable with the restrictions. They just walk away.” Eventually, I assume the government will install at least some broadband. By then, their cables may be unnecessary, because of satellite internet, like Starlink, which doesn’t require digging up streets. “They could do it literally today,” says Cole. “You could have devices in these people’s homes within the next couple of months.” Why don’t government officials do that? At first, Biden bureaucrats said, “Starlink failed to demonstrate that it had the technical and financial ability.” When it became clear that Starlink obviously did, the administration suddenly called it a monopoly. The FCC chair sneered, “Our economy doesn’t benefit from monopolies.” “First, they’re not functional, now it’s a monopoly,” says Cole. “The reality is, they didn’t want that to be the solution.” Didn’t want it to be because Biden Democrats didn’t want to give money to Elon Musk. Now Musk has a friend in government. Maybe things will change. But government giving contracts to friends is not good policy. It’s also not a smart way to get things built. Government pumped billions into “high-speed rail.” Fifteen years later, they’re still talking about the future. Bureaucrats wasted $500 million of your money on the solar company Solyndra, which then went bankrupt. They wasted millions more trying and failing to create “synthetic fuel.” More recently, Biden doled out $7 billion to build 500,000 EV charging stations. Two years later, they’ve built seven. Republicans joined Democrats in funding a CHIPS Act, meant to bring chipmaker jobs to America. It isn’t working. Most chips are still made in Taiwan. “Even if they get what they promise,” I point out to Cole, Congress appropriated “$53 billion for 115,000 promised jobs. Almost half a million dollars per job!” “You expect nothing else from government,” he replies.” With Republicans in charge, some say things will be better. But the problem isn’t just Democrats; it’s government. Trump’s steel tariffs destroyed American jobs by raising the price of steel. Politicians should just stop subsidizing certain businesses. Related Articles Commentary | Progressivism and the murder of a health insurance CEO Commentary | After so many years of failure, time’s up for California Democrats Commentary | Vince Fong: We don’t need Newsom to lecture us. We need him to listen to us. Commentary | Deregulation rather than fossil fuel controls needed to fix California insurance market Commentary | The FBI has been political from the start Maybe Elon Musk will convince Trump to do that. He’s actually tweeted the U.S. should “remove subsidies from all industries,” including his own! Good for him. That would be great. End the $30 billion handed to Big Agriculture, useless subsidies for “clean” energy, government-guaranteed loans politically to connected businesses, etc. Maybe Trump will end that part of the Deep State. But I won’t hold my breath. Once politicians are in power, they always want to do more. With your money. Every Tuesday at JohnStossel.com, Stossel posts a new video about the battle between government and freedom. He is the author of “Give Me a Break: How I Exposed Hucksters, Cheats, and Scam Artists and Became the Scourge of the Liberal Media.”President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks have been mostly great so far, but Trump has a history of making bad choices. One of those bad choices, according to conservatives, is Trump's nominee for Surgeon General. No, it's not Ben Carson ... it's Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, whose resume during the COVID-19 lockdowns isn't stellar. Why? Here's Nesheiwat on Fox Business praising Facebook's approach to censoring anti-vaccine "disinformation" and hoping that other social media platforms would follow suit. Trump's pick for Surgeon General, Janette Nesheiwat, praised Facebook for censoring anti-vaccine information, adding that she will "hope and pray" other social media companies do the same. pic.twitter.com/Zqpz6ktLWs Nesheiwat was also a BIG fan of masking and social distancing. Janette Nesheiwat endorsed masks for children, promoted COVID vaccination for all age groups, and approved of censorship by social media companies. pic.twitter.com/8UHq7B4YLk Look, there's a lot we didn't know about COVID. But we know it now, so why regress? This is like when former Planned Parenthood President Dr. Leana Wen told CNN in December of 2021 that "cloth masks a little more than facial decoration" and don't work — after we'd all been forced to wear cloth masks. Or when President Joe Biden promised you wouldn't contract or spread COVID if you got the vaccine. Then Biden got COVID at least twice despite double-masking and getting every booster available. But no, we don't want anyone who praised social media for censoring discussion of the vaccine and its effectiveness. Trump's pick for Surgeon General, Janette Nesheiwat, praised Facebook for censoring anti-vaccine information & accounts like mine and RFK’s specifically, adding that she will "hope and pray" other social media companies do the same. Pick someone else🙏 pic.twitter.com/r2gEekxwm9 I don't want her anywhere near health policy This is totally unacceptable Disastrous pick. What is DJT doing? I will contact everyone I can to prevent her confirmation. Let's hope she has revised her stance on these things in light of all the new information that has come out since the time of this interview. She allegedly has ... but to praise Facebook's censorship efforts? That's hard to forgive. This really is a pretty bad pick. Don't know who was pushing this with Trump but they should be fired. Hard to find a worse pick for this position. So disappointing. Pull this nomination back immediately! Absolute garbage pick. I can't - no sane person said this or believed it - she can't be anywhere near health. She's as bad as Fauci. Here's co-founder of "far-right terrorist organization" Moms for Liberty, Tiffany Justice: Never again. Masks are not source control. They do not stop transmission. Masks harmed our children and we will NEVER allow this to happen again. Unacceptable choice for Surgeon General. So disappointing. https://t.co/fDjbQDRK01 To be clear, I have met Janette and she couldn’t have been nicer. She has been very loyal to President Trump which is wonderful and incredibly important. The problem is her position on the forced masking of children. So many children have been hurt. Parents won’t forget that. There were many other more qualified physicians who could have been appointed to this role. A lot of people in the replies favor Florida’s Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who was handpicked by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the country's best governor. So Nesheiwat was a clueless as everyone else during the pandemic, but word is that she's changed? But why her when there are so many other options? ***