News
- ShortLeash gives hackers root-level stealth and blends malicious activity into everyday network traffic
- LapDogs uses fake LAPD certificates to disguise malware, bypassing even the best endpoint protection systems
- The malware quietly hijacks routers and devices that often go unmonitored for months
A recently disclosed cyber espionage operation, dubbed LapDogs, has drawn scrutiny following revelations from SecurityScorecard’s Strike Team.
The operation, believed to be conducted by China-aligned threat actors, has quietly infiltrated over 1,000 devices across the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
What makes this campaign distinctive is its use of hijacked SOHO routers and IoT hardware, transforming them into Operational Relay Boxes (ORBs) for sustained surveillance.
Stealth, persistence, and false identitiesLapDogs is an ongoing campaign, active since September 2023, targeting real estate, media, municipal, and IT sectors.
Devices from known vendors such as Buffalo Technology and Ruckus Wireless have reportedly been compromised.
The attackers use a custom backdoor named ShortLeash, which grants extensive privileges and stealth, allowing them to blend in with legitimate traffic.
According to the report, once a device is infected, it may go undetected for months, and in worst-case scenarios, some are used as gateways to infiltrate internal networks.
Unlike typical botnets that prioritize disruption or spam, LapDogs reveals a more surgical approach.
“LapDogs reflects a strategic shift in how cyber threat actors are leveraging distributed, low-visibility devices to gain persistent access,” said Ryan Sherstobitoff, Chief Threat Intelligence Officer at SecurityScorecard.
“These aren’t opportunistic smash-and-grab attacks—these are deliberate, geo-targeted campaigns that erode the value of traditional IOCs (Indicators of Compromise).”
With 162 distinct intrusion sets already mapped, the structure of the operation suggests clear intent and segmentation.
What is especially unsettling is the spoofing of legitimate security credentials.
The malware fabricates TLS certificates appearing to be signed by the Los Angeles Police Department.
This forgery, combined with geolocation-aware certificate issuance and assigned ports, makes it extremely difficult for conventional detection systems to flag malicious behavior.
Even the best endpoint protection tools would be challenged in spotting such well-disguised intrusions, especially when activity is routed through compromised home routers rather than enterprise assets.
SecurityScorecard compares LapDogs with PolarEdge, another China-linked ORB system, but emphasizes that the two are distinct in infrastructure and execution.
The broader concern raised is the expanding vulnerability landscape. As businesses rely more on decentralized devices and fail to update embedded firmware, the risk of persistent espionage increases.
The report calls on network defenders and ISPs to review devices across their supply chains.
SecurityScorecard compares LapDogs with PolarEdge, another China-linked ORB system, but emphasizes that the two are distinct in infrastructure and execution.
The broader concern raised is the expanding vulnerability landscape. As businesses rely more on decentralized devices and fail to update embedded firmware, the risk of persistent espionage increases.
The report calls on network defenders and ISPs to review devices across their supply chains.
This means there is a need to reconsider reactive solutions and focus on more proactive infrastructure-level measures, such as the best FWAAS and best ZTNA solution deployments.
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- Windows users warned of major security issue - here's why FileFix attack could be a big concern
- Reports of various Nvidia GPU scams keep surfacing, and scammers find new ways to trick shoppers
- Some buyers claim to have received old GPUs or a bag of rice instead of the card they expected to get
- Shopping and selling second-hand is riddled with tricky situations, too — my friend got scammed out of $1,900
It's definitely not a buyer's market for GPUs right now, which might explain why scams are running rampant. I keep hearing about new ways in which scammers target buyers (and sellers) of the best graphics cards, and honestly, some of them are truly baffling.
Some people are getting bags of rice and pasta instead of a high-end GPU; others get a backpack; and some get what looks like a graphics card, but the insides reveal that it'll never work.
To help you navigate the obstacle course of buying and selling GPUs right now, here's a guide to all of the main scams to watch out for – and how to avoid the fate of two of my unfortunate friends.
What kind of GPU scams are out there?I started noticing the scams in the early days following the launch of the RTX 5090. While trying to find one for sale on eBay, I noticed a lot of listings at MSRP – but checking those listings revealed that people weren't selling the GPU, but rather a printed photo of the card. Yes, a photo, for $2,000 and up.
Since then, I've heard of over a dozen innovative scams. Our sister site Tom's Hardware recently reported on an Amazon customer who ordered a Gigabyte Aorus RTX 5090 graphics card, but upon arrival, found the box to be filled with pasta, rice, and an old, dusty GPU.
I made the wonderful mistake of ordering a 5090 from Amazon Netherlands... from r/pcmasterraceMeanwhile, an unlucky Micro Center customer got several backpacks instead of the Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 Solid OC they expected to receive.
Northwest Computer Repair recently shared another scam that seems to have migrated from the RTX 4090 to the RTX 5090. The repair shop is receiving cards that have been stripped of the GPU and the memory die, leaving behind an empty shell that looks convincing enough … up until you try to use it, that is.
Another hardware repair YouTuber, this time based in China, was sent four RTX 4090 graphics cards that were reportedly in need of repair, but opening them up revealed modded RTX 3090 and RTX 3080s; three of the cards were beyond saving (via Tom's Hardware).
Buying second-hand isn't a lot easier. A friend of mine recently tried to buy an open-box RTX 5080 from a local Facebook group. He met up with the seller, paid the full price, and went home with a GPU that didn't work. He's now having to turn to the authorities for help in recovering his money.
I got scammed buying at Micro Center in Santa Clara today. from r/MicrocenterEven selling your GPU makes you vulnerable to scams. Another friend once tried to sell his RTX 3090 during the GPU shortage of 2021.
The person he met up with reportedly didn't have cash and instead showed him their banking app, confirming the transfer of £1,400 (around $1,900). It looked legitimate, so he believed it, but it was a fake app, and the money obviously never arrived. Checking Reddit shows me that this scam still exists to this day.
How to stay safe and get a legitimate GPUMany of the scams I outlined above originated from platforms you'd normally trust. Amazon and Micro Center are both trustworthy, and yet, things like this can happen, so it's important to stay vigilant.
On Amazon, I recommend buying from sellers you know and trust (or directly from Amazon). Smaller sellers, especially those with unintelligible names, are best avoided if the listing sounds too good to be true. The same rule applies to retailers: look into return policies and don't buy suspiciously cheap GPUs.
(Image credit: Shutterstock / Aleksandr Grechanyuk)Given the rising number of scams that involve the GPU box containing something other than what you ordered, make sure to film the whole unboxing process. Ideally, start filming the moment you receive the package, then show step-by-step as you open it. A photo won't suffice, as that's too easy to tamper with. If buying in store, open the box in front of an employee and inspect the contents.
Buying second-hand can be a nightmare. Even meeting up with sellers doesn't always mean that you'll get a GPU that actually works and is real. Your best bet is to meet up at a place that lets you test the GPU before picking it up, but that opens a whole new can of worms, as you'll need to enter a stranger's home. An easier way is to buy through platforms that offer buyer protection and film yourself receiving and opening the GPU.
As a seller, don't be fooled by legit-looking banking apps or promises of sending you money when they get home. Use a platform that protects both you and the buyer. It can be a hassle, but it's wild out there right now, so it's truly for the best.
You might also likeAs the mercury rises in the Northern Hemisphere, so does anticipation for the next iPhone, which we’re currently calling the iPhone 17. But as temperatures increase, I also get hot under the collar.
The thing that piqued my temper is kinda not a thing at all... it's the lack of any rumors of a high-refresh rate display for the iPhone 17 and its Plus compadre. It’s been literally years that I’ve bemoaned the lack of a 90Hz or 120Hz display on non-Pro iPhones, and it wasn't until the iPhone 13 Pro that we had such displays even in the most premium iPhones.
Comparatively, Android phones pushed into 90Hz years before Apple followed suit, and now all of the best Android phones offer 120Hz displays, often with adaptive technology, for prices that undercut the standard iPhone 16.
My hope is that Apple will finally move towards a high-refresh rate display for its standard and Plus iPhones, and I'm crossing my fingers in hope that this happens as soon as the iPhone 17.
What brought this to mind was a recent article from my colleague Thomas Deehan who questions the need to go Pro when the standard iPhones are rather good. While I agree with him in part, I also agree with some of the comments on that article which note the non-Pro phones lack the slick displays of their more expensive stablemates and come without the telephoto camera; two things I rather like on my iPhone 16 Pro Max.
But while I can live without a telephoto camera - the telephoto camera on the iPhone 16 Pro still uses a 12-megapixel sensor - I cannot swallow a 60Hz display. Neither should you.
I absolutely get that there are still swathes of people - less tech-savvy - who might not care about their display's refresh rate. Compared to the old Android phones that used a 60Hz display, Apple manages to make its standard iPhones feel smooth and responsive; such is the nature of iOS and Apple having a tight grip over both its phone software and hardware.
I want a refreshing change (Image credit: Future)I also understand that sticking with a 60Hz display can help get as much life out of a battery on a single charge as possible.
But having used 120Hz displays on a range of phones for some time now, I feel that rate, or at least 90Hz, should be the minimum standard for phone screens.
Not only does it make the whole experience on both iOS and Android feel notably slicker and more responsive, it's also more comfortable on my eyes.
The best phones with high-refresh rate displays I'd reccomendI really think I’d struggle going back to 60Hz - but this article is more about why I think others should be able to enjoy higher refresh rates, especially if you are locked into the Apple ecosystem or can’t fork out the cash for an iPhone 17 Pro.
What’s more, when Apple adopts a technology or a technique, it achieves mastery, even if it’s late to the party. I reckon the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max offer some of the best high-refresh rate OLED displays on any smartphones.
By making 90Hz or 120Hz the iPhone screen standard, Apple could help see the tech improve, perhaps making it more efficient or finding ways to reduce eye strain.
The year is 2025 and I think Apple really needs to move past 60Hz displays when the rumored iPhone 17 arrives. Doing so will make the next-generation iPhone the best showcase for iOS 26 and potentially usher in a chapter where iPhones again feel fresh, and not like an iterative update.
You might also like- Arriving on Prime Video in mid-2026
- A prequel spinoff TV show of '00s movie, Legally Blonde
- Lexi Minetree will star as Elle Woods
- Plot will follow Elle Woods' high school years
- No official trailer released yet
- With season 1 yet to air, there's no word on more seasons to follow
Legally Blonde is an iconic early '00s movie that made us believe it really could be that easy to get into Harvard after being crowned sorority queen, having the best friends and all while pursuing the man of our dreams.
I mean, I don't think I've ever stopped trying to master the "bend, and snap!" And now, Elle the prequel spinoff TV show is on its way – arriving on Prime Video, one of the best streaming services, in mid-2026.
Sure, there's been Legally Blonde 2 and Legally Blondes, but nothing has been quite as iconic as the first movie – arguably, not even close. Although, that may about to change.
Elle sees a young Elle Woods in her high school years, giving an insight into her earlier life. And it's got the OG Elle magic behind it with Reese Witherspoon acting as executive producer alongside her own production company, Hello Sunshine.
Here's everything we know so far about Elle from release date, confirmed cast, plot, trailer and more.
Spoilers to follow for Legally Blonde.
Elle: is there a release date?A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)
A photo posted by on
There's no specific Elle release date just yet, but there is a release window – and that's sometime in mid-2026.
While Prime Video announced plans to produce a Legally Blonde prequel series last year, it followed up on May 12 during the Upfront presentation that Elle would be dropping on the streamer next "summer". This likely refers to the northern hemisphere's summer and so will be sometime from June to August.
And, as of April, Reese Witherspoon took to Instagram to announce: "Harvard was hard. High School was harder. Our new series, Elle, is now in production!"
I'll be sure to update here when we get a more specific date to write on our calendar with our pink fluffy pen.
Elle: has a trailer been released? There's no Elle trailer to share just yet (Image credit: Prime Video )With filming of Elle only commencing in April, there's no official trailer to share. As is the case with most Prime Video shows, it's most likely to drop in the months approaching the show's release. So, check back here in the first half of 2026.
Elle: confirmed castA post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)
A photo posted by on
There's been a lot of announcements for the Elle cast, but none quite as big as Reese finding her Elle Woods. Here's who we is so far confirmed to be starring in the Legally Blonde prequel:
- Lexi Minetree as Elle Woods
- June Diane Raphael as Eva, Elle's mom
- Tom Everett Scot as Wyatt, Elle's dad
- Gabrielle Policano as Liz
- Jacob Moskovitz as Miles
- Chandler Kinney as Kimberly
- Zac Looker as Dustin
- Jessica Belkin as Madison
- Logan Shroyer as Josh
- Amy Pietz as Donna
- Lisa Yamada as Amber
- Chloe Wepper as Ms. Burke
- David Burtka as Chad
- Brad Harder as Charlie
- Kayla Maisonet as Tiffany
As a prequel series, it seems pretty unlikely that any of the original Legally Blonde movies cast will return. Though I'd love to see Jennifer Coolidge's Paulette one more time.
Instead, casting has been focused on finding the younger version of Reese Witherspoon's Elle, of which there were an abundance of audition tapes. Lexi Minetree (Law & Order: SVU, The Murdaugh Murders) was given the titular role and, as seen in the Instagram post above, they're eerily similar!
Elle: story synopsis and rumorsPrequel series, Elle, follows Elle Woods' high school years (Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)Full spoilers for Legally Blonde to follow.
As the prequel spinoff TV show for Legally Blonde, Elle will reportedly head back in time to Elle Woods' high school years, documenting her younger life before Harvard Law School.
As per the series official logline, it "follows Elle Woods in high school as we learn about the life experiences that shaped her into the iconic young woman we came to know and love in the first 'Legally Blonde film."
Speaking to Variety, Reese revealed: "Fans will get to know how Elle Woods navigated her world as a teenager with her distinct personality and ingenuity, in ways that only our beloved Elle could do."
And, as Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, calls it, viewers are being treated to Elle's "origin story".
A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon)
A photo posted by on
In true Elle Woods' fashion, Reese has been excitedly vocal and incredibly bubbly about the show's arrival – taking to Instagram to share her delight.
And in a clip that Legally Blonde fans will recognize as a tribute to the opening credits of the original movie, Reese can be seen getting ready in bright pink with a top secret (and also pink) script.
The caption reads: "Before she became the most famous Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Law, she was just a regular '90s high school girl. And all of you are going to get to know her, next year on Prime Video. I'm so excited!"
Will there be more seasons of Elle?No news yet on future seasons of Elle (Image credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)Considering Elle season 1 won't be reaching Prime Video until mid-2026, there's no news yet of a possible renewal.
As is the case with many new shows to streamers, it'll likely rely on how well it performs once it hits the platform.
Though with the persuasive powers and adorable charm of Elle Woods behind it, I feel pretty confident that Legally Blonde fans and anyone new to the character will be eager for more to come.
For more Prime Video TV-based coverage, read our guides on The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, Mr and Mrs Smith season 2, The Rings of Power season 3, and Fallout season 2.
- GMKtec EVO T1 delivers high-end performance, AI power, and expandability
- Supports local AI tasks, high-speed storage, and multiple 4K displays
- The mini PC offers USB4, dual LAN, OCuLink, and up to 128GB RAM
In recent years, we've seen mini PCs come a very long way, from being simple systems for basic tasks, to now being powerful enough to handle creative workloads, multi-tasking, local AI processing, and even high-end gaming.
With many users turning away from bulky desktops, the appeal of compact systems with full-scale capabilities keeps growing.
The GMKtec EVO T1 is a clear example of how small machines can deliver big performance, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, which includes 14 cores and reaches up to 5.1GHz.
Demanding AI tasksThe chip is part of Intel’s newer lineup, and is designed to handle demanding AI tasks like local LLM inference. GMKtec claims its new mini workstation can run Deepseek 32B at 15 tokens per second with 77 TOPS AI compute.
The EVO T1 can support up to 128GB of DDR5 RAM and it comes with three M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots.
The inclusion of an OCuLink port also allows for external GPU use, which opens the door to advanced rendering tasks and even a spot of AAA gaming.
Dual 2.5Gbps LAN ports support fast networking, while USB4 promises data transfer at up to 40Gbps.
The EVO T1 can drive up to four displays at once, thanks to HDMI and DisplayPort support.
Something this powerful obviously needs decent cooling to keep system performance steady under load, and the EVO T1 offers a dual-fan system that balances airflow and noise.
There’s no word on pricing or availability yet, but GMKtec says it’s coming soon.
The company’s new AI Max+ 395 powered EVO-X2 AI mini PC, with 64GB and 1TB SSD, has an MSRP of $2199 (it’s currently on sale at $1499), so it’s likely the EVO T1 will come in at around $1299, perhaps as low as $999 with pre-sale discounts.
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