• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will receive aseven-day free trial next week
• The free begins on December 13 and will run until December 20
• Players will gain access to Multiplayer and Zombies mode

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set to receive a seven-day free trial across all platforms next week.

In a recent X / Twitter post, Activision announced that starting December 13 until December 20, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC users will be able to play Black Ops 6 for free for seven days.

During this time, users will gain access to the game's Multiplayer modes including Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Kill Order, and Prop Hunt, the latter of which will be introduced with Season One's mid-season update.

Six current and upcoming Multiplayer maps - Racket, Hacienda, Extraction, Hideout, Heirloom, and Nuketown Holiday, will also be available to play during the trial.

In addition, the free trial will also feature access to Zombies and its Standard and Directed modes, Liberty Falls and Terminus.

At this time, it's unclear if progress and XP will carry over to the full game if players choose to upgrade.

Black Ops 6 Season One: Reloaded is scheduled to launch later today and will introduce a host of new features, including the aforementioned maps, as well as Citadelle Des Mortes, new weapons, bundle, wildcard, and more.

The mid-season update follows Activision's announcement that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's launch month was the "biggest ever" in series history. The game was released on October 25 and reportedly has the number one total number of players, hours played, and total matches of any title in the series.

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• CISA added a number of high-severity flaws to its catalog
• One of the bugs is a 10/10
• One but is being exploited by Chinese state-sponsored actors

Multiple vulnerabilities plaguing solutions from Zyxel, North Grid Proself, ProjectSend, and CyberPanel, are being actively exploited in the wild to bypass authentication, mount XXE attacks, drop malicious JavaScript, deploy arbitrary files, and more.

Earlier this year, multiple cybersecurity researchers, vendors, and professionals, warned about these bugs at different times, with reports coming in from Sekoia, Censys, VulnCheck, and others.

Now, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added these flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list, confirming in-the-wild abuse. Federal agencies have a three-week deadline to patch the software up or stop using it altogether, which expires on December 25, 2024.

Earth Kasha

The most dangerous of the flaws is an incorrect default permissions vulnerability, discovered in CyberPanel. It has a severity score of 10/10 (critical) and is tracked as CVE-2024-51378. It can be used to bypass authentication and execute arbitrary commands using shell metacharacters.

Other notable mentions include an improper restriction of XML External Entity (XEE) reference vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-45727, with a severity score of 7.5. It affects Proself Enterprise/Standard Edition Ver5.62 and earlier, Proself Gateway Edition Ver1.65 and earlier, and Proself Mail Sanitize Edition Ver1.08.

Late last month, researchers from Trend Micro said that this bug was one of many that was being used by Chinese state-sponsored threat actors Earth Kasha (aka MirrorFace). The Chinese also used bugs in Array AG, and Fortinet FortiOS/FortiProxy, to establish initial access on their targets’ endpoints.

Furthermore, a bug found in ProjectSend versions prior to r1720 allows a remote, unauthenticated user to create accounts, upload web shells, and embed malicious JavaScript. It is tracked as CVE-2024-11680, and comes with a severity score of 9.8 (critical).

All the bugs recently added to KEV can be found on this link.

Via The Hacker News

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• Some details of the LG C5 and G5 OLED TVs have appeared in certification databases
• Photos of the G5 suggest the return of MLA OLED panels
• The G5 appears to have an even higher refresh rate than the G4

LG's C5 and G5 OLED TVs are likely to be among the very best TVs of 2025, and while they haven't been announced just yet some details of both models have leaked. We’ll need to wait for CES for the official launch, but the leaked data provides some interesting details.

As FlatpanelsHD reports, both the C5 and G5 have been certified for sale in South Korea. That certification means the model numbers are now listed in the Institute of Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Testing's database alongside some photos, and the photos suggest that we'll still have the distinction of the brighter MLA OLED panel in the G5, and the regular OLED panel in the C5.

That's not a definite; it's based on the dramatically different reflectivity of the two models in the photos. MLA OLEDs use a polarizer with different anti-reflective properties than regular OLED panels do, so the presence of MLA is an educated guess from the pictures. Most LG G4 models use MLA.

Some LG G5 specs have also leaked

A few details of the LG G5 have also appeared in a different database. VESA's ClearMR certification database details TVs that have been certified for motion clarity, and the 65-inch version of the G5 is in there.

According to the VESA database the OLED65G5 has a refresh rate of 165Hz at 4K. That's an improvement on the 144Hz of the 2024 model and a big jump from the 120Hz of earlier models.

As FlatpanelsHD says, that could be a typo – but the G5 also has a higher ClearMR score, up from 9,000 this year to 10,000 next. We don't have any details regarding the C5 refresh rate so far, however, as that's not currently listed in the same system. But if the 165Hz is indeed accurate than that's good news for gamers – or at least for PC gamers. The current crop of consoles can't output graphics that fast, peaking at 120Hz.

As ever we'd expect the LG G5 and C5 to make their official debut at the CES 2025 show in January – and as is often the case, we'd expect many more details to leak long before LG officially unveils them.

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• Windows 11’s Microsoft Store will soon update third-party apps, not just those hosted on Microsoft’s servers
• The update system will soon show third-party app updates alongside Microsoft apps, activated by clicking the 'Get updates' button
• This change makes it easier to manage all app updates in one place, saving time and reducing manual checks

Microsoft is working on improving Windows 11’s Microsoft Store by making it able to update apps that aren’t hosted on its own servers. Until now, this wasn’t the case and Windows 11 users could only update apps via the Microsoft Store that were downloaded from the company’s own servers. However, many app developers hosted their own apps, which meant that while they could be discovered and downloaded from the Microsoft Store, you could not easily update them.

Thankfully, in this update, the Microsoft Store will be able to show updates for third-party apps published and maintained by companies and developers other than Microsoft itself. The store’s update system will now feature these and they will appear in your Microsoft Store update list, which is generated when you click on ‘Get updates’ on the Downloads page in the Microsoft Store.

The new feature is currently being tested in all channels of the Windows Insider Program, with the Microsoft Store listing app updates provided by publishers and developers other than Microsoft as ‘provided and updated’ apps.

A little much-needed TLC for the Microsoft Store

This change seems pretty useful to me, making it easier to keep track of all of your app updates in one place whether they’re store-hosted or not. Now, clicking on ‘Get updates’ in the store will make updates for both types of apps appear, but only apps hosted by Microsoft will be updated automatically. Still, it’ll save you the time and trouble of having to seek out updates for different tools across different websites for each third-party app you’ve installed.

I’m always pleased to see Microsoft make Windows 11 more convenient to use and improve the oft-neglected Microsoft Store to become, as Windows Central calls it, a ‘one-stop shop’ for all the updates you might need and want. Of course, this only applies to apps you can get from the Microsoft Store in the first place, but this could encourage more third party app makers to bring their products to the Microsoft Store, confident in the knowledge that they can keep control over their app updates while still making it easy for their users to keep their software updated with new features and security fixes.

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A Fortnite Godzilla skin is set to be added to the game as part of Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1. It's not out yet, instead arriving midseason as the Bonus Reward. Epic Games is yet to announce the full details, but we do now know the Fortnite Godzilla release date, and how many associated rewards players will be unlocking.

Now that a brand new season of Fortnite has launched, there's a completely fresh map to try out, and the return of hitscan weapons. As part of the Demon Hunters update, there's a new Battle Pass to work through as well. It's regular refreshes like these that have cemented Fortnite onto our list of the best free games to play in 2024.

Here's everything you need to know about the Fortnite Godzilla skin, including when it's coming to the game, and a prediction on how you'll unlock it. As new info is revealed closer to launch, we'll be sure to update this page.

Fortnite Godzilla release date

Fortnite's Godzilla skin will release on January 17, 2025. This can be seen in the in-game calendar that's on the main menu screen before loading into a game. It's worth noting that timelines have shifted slightly in the past, so stay tuned for the finer details.

The best place to keep up on specific updates closer to the launch of the new season is the Fortnite Status Twitter account. We'll be sure to keep this page up to date as well.

How to unlock Godzilla in Fortnite

While we don't have full details on how Godzilla will be unlocked in Fortnite, it's very likely that he'll follow the same pattern as last season's bonus skins. This means that on January 17, 2025, a set of quests will be added to the Quest Tab. These will likely include using some of the new season's weapons and mechanics to earn XP. As you slowly complete the challenges, you will progress through the Godzilla mini-pass, with two pages of rewards to unlock.

Epic usually details the rewards associated with bonus skins like Godzilla closer to their launch date. On release, the Godzilla skin will have five additional rewards to earn, with five more being added a week after. This is how bonus skins have worked for quite a while, so hopefully Godzilla follows suit. If anything changes, we'll be sure to update this page.

It's worth noting that in the Fortnite: Demon Hunters trailer embedded above, we actually see Godzilla as a huge enemy on the map. Our guess is that unlocking Godzilla rewards will be closely associated with completing challenges around this roaming Godzilla enemy. We'll have to wait and see.

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• UK CMA gives the go-ahead for Vodafone and Three’s £15 billion merger deal
• The companies must invest in the UK network and cap their prices
• Together with VMO2, they expect to support 50 million customers

After a year-long investigation, Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given approval to the Vodafone-Three merger, a deal worth £15 billion ($19 billion).

By consolidating their UK operations, Vodafone and Three will become a market leader with 29 million customers, making the merged giant even bigger than EE, which claims to have 25 million customers.

As part of the process, the CMA stipulated that the two companies must “sign binding commitments to invest billions to roll out a combined 5G network across the UK.”

Vodafone-Three merger given the go-ahead

Under the agreement, Vodafone will have a 51% stake, with Three owner CK Hutchison taking the remaining 49%.

Previously concerned about the potential for higher prices due to decreased competition and less advantageous terms for virtual network providers, the CMA concluded: “The group has confirmed it is now satisfied that the proposed network commitment, supported by shorter term protections for both retail and wholesale customers, resolve its competition concerns.”

The CMA says that by upgrading their networks over the course of the next eight years, Vodafone and Three’s work would actually boost competition. As a component of the terms set out by the CMA, Vodafone and Three must also cap their mobile tariffs and data plans for three years to protect customers against sharp price rises in the early years of the merger.

Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry group leading the investigation, commented: “Having carefully considered the evidence, as well as the extensive feedback we have received, we believe the merger is likely to boost competition in the UK mobile sector and should be allowed to proceed – but only if Vodafone and Three agree to implement our proposed measures.”

Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle said: “Consumers and businesses will enjoy wider coverage, faster speeds and better-quality connections across the UK, as we build the biggest and best network in our home market.”

Given that Virgin Media O2 agreed earlier this summer to a long-term network-sharing agreement with Vodafone and Three, subject to the now-approved merger, an anticipated 50 million UK customers will see the benefits.

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• Nothing phone owners can now play Snake
• The game as available as a home screen widget
• It's been developed with input from the Nothing community

If you've got a hankering for classic mobile games of yesteryear and you own a Nothing phone, good news: the iconic Snake game made popular by Nokia handsets has made a return as a Nothing home screen widget.

Co-created by Nothing and its community members, the widget can be downloaded for free from Nothing's new Community Widgets app now (via Android Authority). It should work on every Nothing handset, including the latest Nothing Phone 2a Plus.

The Snake game first began as a concept put forward by Nothing user Rahul Janardhanan – together with nine other widget ideas – and has since been made a reality by developer Thomas Legendre on behalf of Nothing.

If you're too young to remember Snake, its appeal lies in its simplicity: you take charge of an ever-expanding and perpetually moving line of dots, and have to collect more dots without hitting the edges of the screen or the line itself.

Get involved

Right now, Snake is the only widget available in the Community Widgets app, but Nothing is promising that more are on the way – and if you have your own ideas for future widgets that could be included, Nothing wants to hear from you.

"Our ambition is to curate a selection of quality community created widgets and bundle them together into an app hosted on the PlayStore," Nothing says. "Keep those concepts coming – it could be your idea next!"

After installing Community Widgets, you can add Snake by tapping and holding on an empty part of the home screen, and choosing 'Widgets'. If you're using beta Nothing OS 3 software, you may need to reboot to see the widget, Nothing says.

You can move the snake left and right by swiping on the screen, and your challenge is to pick up as many red dots as possible before the game ends. Double-tapping on the screen pauses the action.

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• A new PS5 system update has been released
• The latest patch makes the data transfer process between consoles smoother
• Other features like usability have also been improved

Sony has released a new system update for the PlayStation 5, simplifying the data transfer process.

Version 24.08-10.40.00 is now live and is a fairly small patch that primarily aims at improving the process of transferring data from one PS5 to another, alongside messages and usability.

Now that the PS5 Pro is out in the wild, users will be looking to transfer their PS5 Pro-enhanced games and other data over to their new system, which can be a hassle.

Thankfully, Sony has made this task much easier, and explained in the patch notes that it's also "enhanced stability when transferring large amounts of data, such as captures".

PS5 Version: 24.08-10.40.00 - Patch Notes

• We've improved the process of transferring data from another PS5 and enhanced stability when transferring large amounts of data, such as captures.
• We've improved the messages and usability on some screens.

Earlier this week, Sony kicked off its PlayStation Store 30th Anniversary sale. Until December 20, users can take part in the massive sale which sees discounts for almost 500 games across PS4 and PS5, like The Last of Us Part 1, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

Elsewhere, a new leak claims that a black version of the PlayStation Portal will be released in "limited" quantities "soon" and be priced the same as the original white model.

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• My First Gran Turismo is arriving on December 6
• It offers a bite-sized, free-to-play version of Gran Turismo 7
• The demo includes a handful of race events and 18 cars t collect

Gran Turismo 7 is getting a free demo version as part of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary celebrations. And better yet, it's out very soon.

Titled My First Gran Turismo, the demo aims to give players a bite-sized version of the best racing game on PS5. In an official PlayStation Blog post about the game, series creator Kazunori Yamauchi describes it as "a special free-to-play invitation to dive into the exhilarating world of motorsports."

"This experience holds a special place in my heart," Yamauchi explains, "as it pays tribute to the origins of the first Gran Turismo, where players of all generations discovered the joys of driving. Whether it’s introducing kids to the joy of racing for the first time or reigniting a forgotten passion for driving, My First Gran Turismo was designed to be both approachable and immersive, created for everyone, with no limits on age or driving skill level."

My First Gran Turismo - as its title might suggest - seems designed to introduce new players to the sim racing series in a very beginner-friendly format. Developer Polyphony Digital looks to have gone above and beyond the effort placed into your average demo, with a bespoke user interface and its own suite of achievements related to progress throughout the experience.

In terms of content, My First Gran Turismo offers access to the License Centre tutorial, three race events, three time trials, three Music Rally stages and 18 cars to collect. As a bonus, the PS5 version of My First Gran Turismo will also include PSVR 2 support.

As for when you can play it for yourself, that's the best part. My First Gran Turismo will be available to download and play for free on December 6 on both PS5 and PS4. It also doesn't seem to be a limited time thing, unlike those PlayStation 30th Anniversary themes that you can access on PS5 right now.

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