Author: Trafficblast

There is a lot of of hoopla surrounding Spectre and Meltdown, the names given to vulnerabilities that affect practically every processor produced in the past two decades. Without taking a deep dive into the technical details, the short of it is that they could allow an attacker to pluck what was previously considered protected data from your CPU’s cache, including passwords, encryption keys, and other sensitive information.

Security researchers from Google’s Project Zero team discovered the vulnerabilities in 2017 and disclosed them to the public in early 2018. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix, as Spectre and Meltdown are part of the fundamental design of most modern processors. In fact, Intel takes issue with referring to these vulnerabilities as a “bug” or “flaw” in the actual design, though the semantics hardly matter—the bottom line is, your PC is probably affected.

Should you be worried? The good news in all of this is that there are no known exploits in the wild based on Spectre and Meltdown. However, at least two cybersecurity firms have identified proof-of-concept samples based on these vulnerabilities, most likely from security researchers scrambling to stay ahead of the situation.

Nevertheless, it’s a safe bet that attackers will eventually attempt to leverage Spectre and Meltdown. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to protect yourself. The biggest one is to make sure your OS has the latest updates. Microsoft is pretty aggressive about doling out automatic updates to Windows, so most users can sit back and let the OS patch itself. If you want to be proactive, however, manually check for updates to make sure you’re fully patched. The same goes for Linux, Chrome OS, and macOS—Spectre and Meltdown affect all operating systems, not just Windows.

You should also make sure your browsers are all up to date. Google recently updated its Chrome browser to version 64, and it incorporates patches to protect against Spectre and Meltdown. To make sure you’re running the latest build, click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner and go to Help > About Google Chrome. This will tell you what version you’re running, and initiate an update if one is available.

In Chrome 63 and later, there is also an experimental feature called Site Isolation that is disabled by default. Turning it on offers additional protection against certain types of web attacks based on Meltdown and Spectre, though it increases Chrome’s memory use by around 10-20 percent. If you’re okay with that, you can turn the feature on by typing chrome://flags into the URL bar, then scroll down to Strict site isolation and press the Enable button. Another way is to type (or copy and paste) chrome://flags/#enable-site-per-process into the URL bar.

There are no special flags in Firefox, Edge, Opera, or Safari. However, you should make sure you’re running the latest version of each. In Firefox, open up the menu and navigate to Help > About Firefox. Updating Opera is similar—click on the menu and select About Opera. Both Edge and Safari are updated by their respective OSes, Windows and MacOS.

One other thing you can do is check for BIOS updates for your motherboard. Several motherboard vendors have begun releasing updated firmware specifically to protect against Spectre and Meltdown. You can check for new BIOS releases by going to your motherboard manufacturer’s website and either looking up your motherboard model, or navigate to the support section.

Given that this is all rather new, it’s a good idea to do some research before applying a BIOS update. Specifically, you want to see if other users have reported any problems with the new BIOS, if one is available. Also, you should only attempt this if you are comfortable updating the BIOS. Otherwise, either skip this step, or have a tech-savvy friend help you. Either way, take note of your current BIOS settings before updating, as they don’t always carry over.

Beyond staying up to date, standard safe computing practices apply—avoid shadier sides of the web, be wary of clicking on links in emails and instant messages, and keep your antivirus software turned on.

Ahead of the digital release of Justice League comes a deleted scene that will have fans of the DC Extended Universe wondering why it wasn’t in the film. In the scene, Superman (Henry Cavill) is in the Fortress of Solitude after returning from the dead. While there, he sees a completely black version of his classic suit.

It’s the same suit that was teased by Cavill on Instagram over a year ago, during the movie’s production. At the time, many believed Superman would suit up in the darker costume in Justice League. However, once the film was released it was nowhere to be seen.

If anything, this deleted scene shows that a very different version of the movie exists. When original director Zack Snyder had to bow out of the project to deal with a family matter, Joss Whedon took over. However, it remains unclear how much of the finished product is Whedon’s and how much is due to Snyder.

One other element of the deleted scene is yet another costume, this one wildly different from what Superman usually wears. Instead of the form-fitting suit you’d expect from the superhero, the other costume is metallic and looks like some kind of spacesuit. This particular look is similar to a suit introduced in Superman: The Animated Series. It allowed the Man of Steel to venture around in space, breathe, and also record his words for transmission back to Earth.

Perhaps when the movie finally releases on digital on February 13, more deleted scenes will paint a clearer picture of the movie Justice League could have been. Until then, though, fans are left wondering what role either of these suits would have played–and which one would look better with Cavill’s mustache.

A live-action version of Cable blessed homes across the world recently when the trailer for Deadpool 2 hit the internet, and oh boy, Josh Brolin looks awesome as the time-travelling leader of X-Force. He’s going to be a major part of the newest superhero starring super-powered mutants.

But who is Cable, and where does he come from? Those answers aren’t simple, as many characters from the X-Men comics have overly complicated and convoluted backstories, especially Cable. We’ll do out best to fill you in and let you know everything you need to know about Cable.

Nathan Summers–the baby who would eventually become Cable–made his debut in The Uncanny X-Men #201 in 1986. His parents were Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor, a clone of Jean Grey. During the child’s early years, Mr. Sinister wanted to use Nathan as a weapon to destroy Apocalypse.

However, things didn’t go exactly as planned, and Nathan fell into the hands of Apocalypse. Being a bad guy in the X-Men world, Apocalypse infected Nathan with a techno-organic virus. It was incurable. In order to save the boy from dying, Askani–a women from the future who leads the fight against Apocalypse–instructs Cyclops to take Nathan 2000 years into the future.

It turns out Askani is Rachel Summers, the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from an alternate reality. Askani clones Nathan in case he doesn’t survive the virus. That clone was abducted by Apocalypse loyalists during an attack (more on that later). The real Nathan survives the disease and for some time, is raised by Askani.

The version of Cable we all know and love (created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld) debuted in New Mutants #87 in 1990. He was a really cool-looking character with a military mindset, who tried to take down the Mutant Liberation Front. Cable has several confrontations with the leader of the MLF, Stryfe. In issue #100 of New Mutants, Stryfe removed his helmet to reveal that he looks exactly like Cable. You probably know where this is going.

Cable moved on to lead a new X-Force team, with a slew of new mutants. During X-Cutioner’s Song, Stryfe goes undercover as Cable and attempts to kill Professor X. Meanwhile, Cyclops and Jean Grey get kidnapped, and the X-Men learn that Stryfe is behind it all. It turns out that Stryfe was that cloned baby of Cable from the future, which, at the time, was a shocker. Eventually, the story leads to an epic battle on the Moon where Cable seemingly sacrifices himself in order to kill Stryfe.

However, it turns out Cable wasn’t dead, and he was displaced in the future. For more than 20 years, there are stories with Cable teaming up and fighting other members of his lineage, taking on a new Mutant Liberation Front, and working with unlikely foes. It wasn’t until 2004 that comic fans got one of the character’s best series: Cable & Deadpool.

While the two characters met during Deadpool’s first appearance in New Mutants #98 back in 1991, the 2004 Cable & Deadpool series explored the relationship between them. It’s funny, bizarre, and while there aren’t any Earth-shattering stories that completely change the course of either character, it’s widely considered to be a brilliant, entertaining, and engaging series.

Back to the serious part of Cable’s history, one of his bigger stories comes in the aftermath of “Decimation,” a storyline where Scarlet Witch said the words “No more mutants,” thus causing all but 198 mutants in the Marvel Universe to disappear. Then, one day, a new mutant was born named Hope. Her town was attacked by The Purifiers–yet another anti-mutant terrorist group–but Cable showed up and saved her. He believed Hope was destined to save all of mutant-kind. However, others–like Bishop–thought differently, so Cable was tasked with taking care of her.

During this story, Stryfe shows back up and tries to kill Hope. He was stopped time and time again by Bishop, Cable, and the X-Force. After saving Hope again, Cable parted ways with her and went on to start a new X-Force team.

Cable’s abilities are a mixture of mutant powers and technological enhancements. As a mutant, he has telepathy and telekinesis, much like his mother–minus the whole demonic black magic thing Madelyne had as Goblin Queen. Cable’s mutant abilities are extremely powerful, and he has variations on both telepathy and telekinesis that many other mutants with his abilities don’t have, like precognition: being able to get visions from the past or–on occasion–being able to transfer his mind and powers into other people.

On the tech side of things, Cable has a metallic arm which gives him enhanced strength. In addition, he has a force field that protects him, like we saw in the Deadpool 2 trailer when someone shoots at him. (Depending on the comic, some creators have said this is part of his telekinetic powers though) Cable has a cybernetic eye. This eye allows him to see different spectrums that a human eye wouldn’t be able to see, and in addition, he’s been known to fire a laser out of it. Of course, he has other technological advantages, but none of them is more important than being able to travel through time, which doesn’t happen as often as you’d think in the comics.

Looking for some recommended reading? Check these storylines out!

• Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix: Cyclops and Jean Grey travel to the future to raise Cable. They meet Askani and Cable gets cloned in case he dies from the virus infecting him. Takes place in The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1-4.
• X-Cutioner’s Song: A man named Stryfe is trying to tear the X-Men apart and kill Cable. It’s a major story for the character that journeys through all the X-Men titles. Takes place in Uncanny X-Men #294-#297, X-Men #14-16, X-Factor #85-86, X-Force #17-19, and Stryfe’s Strike File.
• Cable & Deadpool: If Looks Could Kill: Cable and Deadpool’s first story from their new series. Deadpool is hired by a religious group to steal a virus, and Cable is learning how to used his newly-enhanced abilities. Of course, the two end up working together, and it’s just as bizarre as you think it is. Takes place in Cable & Deadpool #1-6.
• Messiah War: Set 1000 years in the future, X-Force is on a mission to retrieve Cable and Hope–the baby Cable has been protecting. However, Bishop, Apocalypse, and Stryfe are all after them as well. Takes place in X-Force/Cable: Messiah War, Cable #13-15, and X-Force #14-16.
• Ultimate X-Men: Cable: Cable appears in the Ultimate Universe, but with a big spin on the character. Takes place in Ultimate X-Men #75-78.

Ever since Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired in the middle of production of Solo: A Star Wars Story back in June, the reason for their dismissal has been a big topic of debate among fans. Now that production has wrapped under director Ron Howard and the first trailer for the film has been released, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is speaking out on the decision to change directions.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she says, “I think these guys are hilarious, but they come from a background of animation and sketch comedy and when you are making these movies you can do that and there’s plenty of room for improvisation, we do that all the time, but it has to be inside of a highly structured process or you can’t get the work done and you can’t move the armies of people to anticipate and have things ready. So, it literally came down to process. Just getting it done.”

In an initial statement, Lord and Miller said, “Unfortunately, our vision and process weren’t aligned with our partners on this project. We normally aren’t fans of the phrase ‘creative differences’ but for once this cliché is true. We are really proud of the amazing and world-class work of our cast and crew.” If all parties are to believed, it really does sound like it was creative differences that drove a wedge between the directors and the production company. Lord and Miller are accustomed to making movies one way, Lucasfilm prefers another.

However, when it came time to actually replace them, even Howard wasn’t sure if he was the man for the job. “I know Chris and Phil. They’re incredibly talented guys… But when I learned that this change was happening, it just came in a moment where I was working on lots of new projects for Imagine [the film and TV production company], and I had not planned to direct anything last year,” he explains. “So then this came my way… I was reluctant, but I also began to feel that I could help.”

As for how much of the movie was reshot and how much of Lord and Miller’s original version will remain in the final cut, there is no clear answer. Howard doesn’t think it’s important. “I don’t really want to be specific about that because, again, I don’t even want that to matter to fans,” he says. “I could understand why you’d ask, and some might even be curious, but look, everybody who has been involved in this has done nothing but love what this movie could be, and that’s been the vibe around it.”

However, he does admit that “Phil and Chris’s fingerprints are all over the movie, given how much they put into it and the time they put into it.” Whether that’s a good thing is up to the audience. Solo: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25.

The launch of the special new Outbreak co-op event in Rainbow Six Siege is drawing near, and Ubisoft is continuing to tease new details about what to expect. We’ve now gotten a new CG trailer that sets up some of the backstory of what’s going on in the new mode, which is dramatically unlike anything that’s been offered in Siege previously.

Dubbed Ash’s Briefing, the video provides a rundown on what’s happening with the quarantine zone located in the city of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. As we learned recently, the threat involves “an infestation of unknown origin” centering around the Apex parasite, which was unleashed when a space capsule crashes. Apex begins infecting humans, and the zombie-like menace threatens to pour over into Mexico, which is located just south of Truth or Consequences. Select Rainbow Six Operators are brought in to contain the situation.

Additionally, Ubisoft has detailed what to expect from the different enemy types. There are a total of five key variations, including the basic grunts that you’ll presumably be fighting the most. Here’s how Ubisoft describes them:

• Grunts
  • Grunts are common hostiles that become highly resistant when the parasite detects an enemy presence. To protect its host, the parasite armors its body and becomes more resistant to bullet wounds. Caution and stealth is recommended.
• Breachers
  • Breachers are proximity bombs that crater anything in their path. They make for a very agile opponent, but they launch themselves into the fray and blow holes in indestructible walls. Make sure you are nowhere close to them.
• Rooters
  • Rooters are a rarer type of hostile. They send out coral spikes from the ground to injure and immobilize their targets. Rooters are always on the move and will keep you on edge. Beware when dealing them the final blow; they become extremely lethal when on the brink of death.
• Smashers
  • Smashers are not discreet. The parasite reinforces its body under a massively thick hide, making it practically impervious to bullet wounds. They will also tear down walls without suffering any injuries.
• Apex
  • Apex is at the top of the hostile food chain. It sends waves of hostiles your way rather than attack you head-on. They can hurl blinding projectiles, which can only be countered by Finka and Doc. This opponent is a real test on your team’s communication skills.

Outbreak launches on March 6 and introduces a new three-player co-op mode. The action plays out on three exclusive maps that are described as larger and “more open” than those found in Siege’s PvP and Terrorist Hunt modes. You can expect the maps to also offer some sense of progression as you make your way through them, and you’ll still be able to take multiple paths and leverage the usual level destruction to do so.

As noted above, not every Operator in Siege can be played in Outbreak. Not everyone’s gadget lends itself to the style of gameplay here, so only a small group are supported. Aside from Ash, you’ll also be able to jump in with Smoke, Ying, Buck, Kapkan, Doc, Tachanka, and Glaz. Additionally, the two new Operators being introduced in Operation Chimera–the broader update for Siege that includes the Outbreak event–will be playable. If you don’t own any of these, or someone claims a character that you want to use, you can always use the generic Recruit character.

Outbreak will only be available for a limited time, running from March 6 – April 3 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. During the event, special loot boxes containing new cosmetics will be available that you’ll primarily obtain by purchasing them with real-world money. More details on Outbreak and Chimera are set to be announced during the upcoming Rainbow Six Invitational, which begins on February 13.

In Monster Hunter World, you can always use some extra help in taking down the big marks. Throughout your many adventures when not partnered up with other hunters, it’ll just be you and your Palico companion at your side, who’s ready to help out when you need it. While their cat-like looks and short stature might make them look out of their element, the Palico are totally capable of keeping up with your high-flying and weapon-wielding antics, and they even bring some useful skills of their own into the fold.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to find new gadgets for your Palico, and how they will help you during the more intense battles. Over the course of your travels, you’ll come across several Palico tribes that have their own aversion to outsiders–and you’ll have to jump through a few hoops in order to win them over. Here’s a quick rundown of all the gadgets and how you can get them.

Vigorwasp Spray

How it works: With the default gadget, your Palico companion can administer healing effects to you during battles. After increasing your proficiency to level 5, you will be able to manually call in a heal from your ally. At level 10, you can place a vigorwasp station to receive healing at a dedicated spot in the field.

Flashfly Cage

Location: In the Ancient Forest, you’ll need to reach the top of the giant tree in the center of the map to find the second gadget. After making it to the top, you’ll come across another Palico who will lead you to the new item.

How it works: Your companion throws a flashfly at your enemies, momentarily blinding them. At level 5 proficiency, you can activate the gadget on command, with the chance of your companion placing a Shock Trap as well. At level 10, Shock Traps from your ally can be placed manually.

Shieldspire

Location: In the northeastern end of area 8 in Wildspire Wastes, you’ll find a hole leading to a hidden cavern with a Palico protector offering a quest to look for his fellow companions. You’ll need to find all three of his protectors in Wildspire Wastes to complete the quest and earn the next gadget.

How it works: With this shield gadget, your Palico can defend itself against an attack and can also provoke nearby monsters. As your proficiency goes up, your ally can withstand more damage and can even attack enemies with the shield.

Plunderblade

Location: In order to find this gadget, you’ll need to clear through the story mission that unlocks the lower areas of the Rotten Vale and have a piece of raw meat in your possession. Speak to the Lynian Researcher who will inform you of the nearby Grimalkyne tribe known as the Plunderers. After leaving, explore the area and farm until a random event with a Odogaron occurs. Note that this event is time specific, so you may need to exit the area and re-enter to engage the scene.

Afterwards, explore further until you find a Grimalkyne lurking about. Follow it into the lower areas, and then place the raw meat on the ground where you lose sight of it. Move away from the meat and watch as the Grimalkyne return to eat the raw meat. Approach them to engage in conversation with them, and they will reward you with the Plunderblade.

How it works: This item will allow your Palico to steal items from monsters they attack. As your proficiency goes up, the number of items attained from their theft goes up.

Coral Orchestra

Location: In area 10 of the Coral Highlands, you’ll find a cave and encounter a pack of Shamos-riding Palico. Defeat the group and then follow them to their hideout to speak with them to earn a new quest. After completing the quest to hunt two Tzitzi-Ya-Ku, return to the Palico to claim your new item.

How it works: This gadget allows your Palico companion to buff your hunter with a number of attack and defense boosts, alongside resistances to negative status effects. Increasing your proficiency will allow these buffs to become more effective.

Meowlotov Cocktail

Location: In order to acquire this final gadget, you’ll need to have found all other Palico items. In Astera, talk to the Lynian Researcher to receive a quest for the Gajalaka Linguistics critical bounty. You’ll need to find 10 Gajalaka markings around the map (they’ll be marked) to complete the quest. You’ll immediately get another bounty tasking you to travel to the Elder Crossing. This portion of the mission must done at night, as you’ll have to sneak through the Palico camp to meet the leader. Once you do, you’ll complete the next portion of the bounty. Travel back to the Researcher to finish up and gain the final gadget.

How it works: The Meowlotov Cocktail is a bomb that causes explosive and fire damage to monsters. As you improve your proficiency, the blast strength will increase, making it more effective against breakable parts of the monster’s body.

For more info on Monster Hunter World, such as our general impressions and any help on the early or late-game quests and missions, we have a complete roundup of our Monster Hunter review and guides right here. Also, check out Mike Mahardy’s video on what Monster Hunter World gets right as an online game, and how it values your time spent. Along with that, we’ve got details on the Street Fighter V cosmetics on the way.