Month: November 2025

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Microsoft Warns That Windows 11 AI Might Install Malware On Your PC

https://kotaku.com/microsoft-warns-that-windows-11-ai-might-install-malware-on-your-pc-2000645293

Microsoft’s push to make Windows 11 a fully AI PC operating system continues, with the company planning to roll out new AI agents that can complete tasks and make changes on your behalf. But the company isn’t turning the AI feature on by default because there’s a risk of it downloading and installing malware. Oops!

As spotted by Windows Central, Microsoft recently published a lengthy warning about the AI agents it will soon add to Windows 11. In the post, Microsoft explains that agents will have their own accounts on your Windows 11 PC. They’ll also have “limited access to your user profile directory” and, if needed, will be granted read and write access to certain folders, including Documents, Downloads, and Desktop. And while Microsoft claims that all AI decisions must be approved by a human and all actions will be logged and reported, the tech giant acknowledges that activating these agents could be a bad idea.

In the warning, Microsoft straight up says that its AI agents introduce “novel security risks” like, oh, I don’t know, being able to send off your data without you realizing it, being tricked by online commands, or even installing harmful software. Here’s the full warning:

As these capabilities are introduced, AI models still face functional limitations in terms of how they behave and occasionally may hallucinate and produce unexpected outputs. Additionally, agentic AI applications introduce novel security risks, such as cross-prompt injection (XPIA), where malicious content embedded in UI elements or documents can override agent instructions, leading to unintended actions like data exfiltration or malware installation.

Now that seems very bad to me, a person who likes to keep malware off my PC. And Microsoft agrees, because when these agents are added in a future update, they will need to be manually activated by the user. So at the very least, if you are running Windows 11, you don’t have to worry about AI agents installing some malware on your PC while you’re off grabbing a snack. For now. Microsoft is pushing AI hard in all its products, including Xbox, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day these AI agents in Windows 11 are just turned on by default. Anyway, remember how Xbox is teasing that its next console will basically be a Windows-powered PC? Cool stuff. So happy about that.

via Kotaku https://kotaku.com/

November 18, 2025 at 04:45PM

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WhatsApp’s biggest privacy disaster ever: 3.5 billion profiles exposed

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2976420/whatsapps-biggest-privacy-disaster-ever-3-5-billion-profiles-exposed.html

Researchers from the University of Vienna and SBA Research did something pretty astonishing: they were able to retrieve all existing WhatsApp numbers. In fact, they were able to view and analyze an incredible 3.5 billion WhatsApp profiles, making this one of the largest data collection efforts in history.

According to the researchers, all existing WhatsApp profiles were unprotected on the web and they were able to download all phone numbers and their associated profile data. The researchers informed Meta (owner of WhatsApp) about this leak back in September 2024, but Mark Zuckerberg’s company didn’t respond at first. (Incidentally, Meta is being sued by a former WhatsApp security chief!)

Meta’s initial lack of interest is all the more surprising when you consider everything that emerges from this freely accessible data. For example, we can determine how many WhatsApp users there are per country and how they’re distributed between Android and iOS. India has the most WhatsApp users, followed by Indonesia and Brazil.

The association of WhatsApp accounts to certain countries isn’t as harmless as it may sound. In authoritarian states where the use of WhatsApp is banned and/or monitored—such as North Korea, China, and Myanmar—it can be life-threatening for the owners of certain phone numbers if state surveillance bodies can analyze this data.

Sensitive data freely accessible

Around 30 percent of WhatsApp users have entered detailed information about themselves in their WhatsApp profiles, including sexual orientation and/or political views. Some users have even mentioned their drug habits, while others (who are obviously drug dealers) have mentioned their drug supply and operations. Links to Tinder and OnlyFans posted on WhatsApp were also freely accessible.

Some WhatsApp profiles were also registered using email addresses associated with government and military organizations. Many profiles contained photos in which the users can be clearly identified.

In other words, all of this freely accessible WhatsApp data could be used to synthesize full identities complete with phone numbers, photos, preferences, and email addresses. The researchers also found security problems with some public keys of WhatsApp accounts.

What you can do about this

Based on the findings, we recommend that all WhatsApp users keep their profile information as limited as possible and refrain from posting photos in which they can be identified. Also, don’t provide any links to dating profiles or other sites that could be detrimental to you.

The full research paper—entitled “Hey there! You are using WhatsApp: Enumerating Three Billion Accounts for Security and Privacy”—is published for free on GitHub.

via PCWorld https://www.pcworld.com

November 18, 2025 at 11:15AM

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A California Startup Just Flew Its $190,000 All-Electric Flying Car for the First Time

https://www.autoblog.com/news/a-california-startup-just-flew-its-190000-all-electric-flying-car-for-the-first-time

A California-based startup has completed a public test flight of its single-seat, all-electric flying car, taking a major step toward consumer-oriented personal aviation. The demonstration, held at the Center for Automotive Research in Northampton County, North Carolina, saw the craft climb to roughly 150 feet and complete a low-altitude circuit. Priced around $190,000, the vehicle is aimed at individual owners rather than air-taxi fleets, and the company’s test pilot went as far as saying, “Everybody’s going to have one.”

The prototype, developed by Pivotal Aero, uses a lightweight electric VTOL layout and reportedly offers about 25 miles of range with speeds near 60 mph. Under current FAA ultralight-style rules, early models may not require a traditional pilot’s license, though flights are restricted to uncongested areas and daylight operation. The company is pitching it as a recreational or short-hop personal aircraft while it pursues broader approvals.


A Glimpse Into the Future of Flying Cars

The test flight arrives at a moment when hype around airborne personal vehicles is increasing again, especially after claims like those surrounding Tesla’s next-generation Roadster. While Tesla’s concept leans more toward futuristic hovering technology than true eVTOL operation, it reflects the same momentum now seen in Pivotal’s real-world prototype.

Still, the practicality of these machines is far from proven. Regulatory oversight, infrastructure gaps, and the limitations of current battery technology are major hurdles, and safety remains a central question. Recent incidents across the emerging eVTOL field, including a recent one in China, show the need for strong certification and reliability standards before any mass rollout.



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Why This Matters

Pivotal’s prototype suggests that the “personal flying car” niche may grow faster than expected, but only for affluent early adopters. The current price, short range, and restricted-use rules make it more of a specialized recreational aircraft than a mass-market mobility product.

Still, the significance goes beyond hobbyist appeal. As major automakers push into electrification, including Toyota’s new mainstream efforts, the broader transportation landscape is shifting rapidly. Personal electric aircraft represent another branch of that evolution, merging automotive-style usability with simplified aviation.



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What Comes Next

To move beyond demos, companies like Pivotal must secure FAA certifications, expand battery capacity, boost flight time, and build the infrastructure for charging and maintenance. Urban airspace regulation, noise standards, and emergency procedures will also shape how, and where, these vehicles can fly.

Even with massive hurdles ahead, the successful test flight is a reminder that the line between cars and aircraft is blurring. Whether these machines become common or remain niche, the first wave of all-electric flying cars has officially left the ground.

via Autoblog https://ift.tt/ZyKbquw

November 17, 2025 at 02:04PM

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Open-Source Software for 3D Printing with Multiple Materials

https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/54191-open-source-software-for-3d-printing-with-multiple-materials

Tech Briefs: What got you interested in this project?

Charles Wade: I’ve always been interested in 3D printing in general, especially the design side. Growing up I struggled to understand engineering, especially math, but 3D printing provided a tactile and visual way to do it. So, that’s what got me into this — I can do what I do as a computer scientist, write code, and also fabricate something in the real world that I can touch and feel.

via NASA Tech Briefs https://ift.tt/GTKRd7E

November 13, 2025 at 06:55AM

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California Startup Flies Military Version of Its Air Taxi for the First Time

https://gizmodo.com/california-startup-flies-military-version-of-its-air-taxis-for-the-first-time-2000686221

Just three months after announcing a partnership with defense contractor L3Harris, Joby Aviation flew the new hybrid version of its flying car concept that’s been repurposed for military use.

The first flight of the turbine electric, autonomous vertical take-off and landing aircraft took place on November 7 at the company’s facility in Marina, California, Joby announced on Thursday. The California startup is known for developing all-electric air taxis for short, yet pricey, trips in places like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Its new hybrid aircraft, however, is geared toward defense customers.

“It’s imperative that we find ways to deliver new technology into the hands of American troops more quickly and cost-efficiently than we have in the past,” JoeBen Bevirt, CEO and founder of Joby, said in a statement.

Prepare for takeoff

The new aircraft builds on Joby’s existing technology for its air taxis, integrating a hybrid turbine powertrain with the company’s SuperPilot autonomous flight system. That way, the new aircraft is designed to carry heavier payloads and travel longer distances than the current battery-powered version.

Through its partnership with L3Harris, Joby will also add sensors, surveillance, communications systems, and mission equipment onto the aircraft so that its vehicle can be repurposed for use by the military.

“The magic of dual-use technology is that it creates value in both directions,” Bevirt said. “By building on our proven technology stack, our partners can rapidly deliver new capabilities for the Department of War while we benefit from advancing the maturity of our hybrid and autonomous systems.”

Joby is hoping to cash in on a growing demand by the U.S. military for autonomous and hybrid aircraft. The company noted that the government has allocated roughly $9 billion in the 2026 budget to go toward developing next-generation aircraft.

“The next generation of vertical lift technology enables long-range, crewed-uncrewed teaming for a range of missions,” Jon Rambeau, president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris, said in a statement. “We share a vision with Joby to deliver urgently-required innovation by missionizing VTOL aircraft for defense applications.”

Joby will continue to test its new aircraft on the ground and in flight, and the company is hoping to begin operational demonstrations with government customers by next year.

via Gizmodo https://gizmodo.com/

November 14, 2025 at 03:48PM

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Porsche’s New $8,000 Wireless Charger Could Change EV Ownership Forever

https://www.autoblog.com/news/porsches-new-8000-wireless-charger-could-change-ev-ownership-forever

A Potential Game Changer

A few months ago, Porsche showcased its wireless charging system for vehicles. It has all the potential to change the EV charging landscape, as it aims to reduce the need for wallboxes or large charging stations. With its compact packaging, Porsche says charging at home will be a lot easier. We also reckon it has a practical use in EV fleets, too.

It’s about to roll out soon and will be an optional extra for the upcoming Cayenne EV. The question is, how does it work?

Porsche

The Setup

The charging pad measures 2.3 inches tall, 78 inches wide, and 46 inches long. It’s then activated by the driver’s phone, and the charger and vehicle will request for a password to begin charging. Porsche says it only needs to be done once, and the system will automatically start the next time the vehicle drives over the pad thanks to an integrated wi-fi module.

The pad is plugged into a power source that then converts AC into DC voltage. The device weighs 33 pounds, or about as much as a toddler. One of the built-in safety features is that it automatically stops when an obstruction is detected (such as a pet or a curious child), and resumes once it’s no longer there.

Charge is transferred via two copper coils. A current is sent to one, while the second one amplifies it from the magnetic field generated by the system. That field allows wireless charging to be possible. It’s a similar arrangement to wireless chargers for mobile devices, but Porsche had to repackage it in a way that it remains compact enough for automotive application. Scaling up wasn’t an option.

Porsche

How’s the Charging Rate?

What’s interesting here is that charging plate has a voltage of 85 kHz and 2,000v in an oscillating circuit. That allows it to send a charge upwards into the vehicle’s battery if it’s not perfectly aligned by up to four inches. Of course, the car can’t trip up the charger if it’s way out of line.

All in all, the system produces 11 kW of charging power. For reference, most home charging systems out out 3 to 7 kW, while your typical public charging station does about 11 to 22 kW. Okay, it’s not a rapid charger, but at least it’s gentle on the vehicle’s batteries, ensuring battery health in the long run.

Porsche

Porsche says that it will continue to develop its vehicle wireless charging tech down the line. From there, we can expect quicker charging rates, as well as more clever packaging in years to come.

How much is it, then? It’s about $8,000 including installation at current conversion rates. Not exactly cheap as home chargers are about ten times less (sans installation), but at least it charges faster than most home systems. Well, nobody said that new technology ever came cheap.

As for the first-ever Porsche Cayenne EV, the full reveal will be on November 19.

Porsche

via Autoblog https://ift.tt/ZyKbquw

November 16, 2025 at 10:36AM