NationStates, a multiplayer browser-based game, has confirmed a data breach after taking its website offline earlier this week to investigate a security incident. [...]
Don't be scared of the digital dark – learn how to keep the lights on
Opinion Barely a month into 2026, electrical power infrastructure on two continents has tested positive for cyberattacks. One fell flat as attempts to infiltrate and disrupt the Polish distribution grid were rebuffed and reported. The other, earlier attack was part of Operation Absolute Resolve, the US abduction of Venezuela's President Maduro from Caracas on January 3.…
Nicki Minaj, Donald Trump’s “number one fan”, has fired homophobic abuse at Grammys host Trevor Noah after he poked fun at her support for the Republican president.
On Sunday (1 February), Noah, who returned to host the Grammys for the sixth year, made a comment about Minaj’s absence from the show, days after she appeared on-stage with Trump.
“She’s still at the White House with Donald Trump discussing very important issues,” the comedian joked, adding that the president, who said he wanted to grow his nails out to match the rapper’s long talons, would probably brag about having a bigger “a**” than Minaj.
Minaj was quick to fire back, taking to X to write: “Trevor refuses to come out the closet when everyone in the industry knows his boyfriend. Allegedly.”
The rapper included a photo of herself wearing a hat with the slogan “Nick was right about everyone”, along with images of rapper Jay-Z with his wife, Beyoncé, and late singer Aaliyah.
Trevor refuses to come out the closet when everyone in the industry knows his boyfriend.
Noah is not gay but has been a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and frequently uses his former platform on The Daily Show to criticise figures opposed to equal rights.
He told Scripps News: “So I said, why do African Americans support her, why do gay people support her, members of the LGBTQ community support her? You shouldn’t because she’s a homophobe and she’s a racist. She’s racist, I believe, against Black Americans.”
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
Les artistes Kévin Blinderman et Flora Citroën proposent de revenir en images sur l’histoire occultée de Milena Jesenská, intellectuelle tchécoslovaque du XXe siècle invisibilisée de son vivant et tuée par les nazis.
It sounds friendly, familiar and quite harmless. But in a scam we recently spotted, that simple phrase is being used to trick victims into installing a full remote access tool on their Windows computers—giving attackers complete control of the system.
What appears to be a casual party or event invitation leads to the silent installation of ScreenConnect, a legitimate remote support tool quietly installed in the background and abused by attackers.
Here’s how the scam works, why it’s effective, and how to protect yourself.
The email: A party invitation
Victims receive an email framed as a personal invitation—often written to look like it came from a friend or acquaintance. The message is deliberately informal and social, lowering suspicion and encouraging quick action.
In the screenshot below, the email arrived from a friend whose email account had been hacked, but it could just as easily come from a sender you don’t know.
So far, we’ve only seen this campaign targeting people in the UK, but there’s nothing stopping it from expanding elsewhere.
Clicking the link in the email leads to a polished invitation page hosted on an attacker-controlled domain.
The invite: The landing page that leads to an installer
The landing page leans heavily into the party theme, but instead of showing event details, the page nudges the user toward opening a file. None of them look dangerous on their own, but together they keep the user focused on the “invitation” file:
A bold “You’re Invited!” headline
The suggestion that a friend had sent the invitation
A message saying the invitation is best viewed on a Windows laptop or desktop
A countdown suggesting your invitation is already “downloading”
A message implying urgency and social proof (“I opened mine and it was so easy!”)
Within seconds, the browser is redirected to download RSVPPartyInvitationCard.msi
The page even triggers the download automatically to keep the victim moving forward without stopping to think.
This MSI file isn’t an invitation. It’s an installer.
The guest: What the MSI actually does
When the user opens the MSI file, it launches msiexec.exe and silently installs ScreenConnect Client, a legitimate remote access tool often used by IT support teams.
There’s no invitation, RSVP form, or calendar entry.
What happens instead:
ScreenConnect binaries are installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\ScreenConnect Client\
A persistent Windows service is created (for example, ScreenConnect Client 18d1648b87bb3023)
There is no clear user-facing indication that a remote access tool is being installed
From the victim’s perspective, very little seems to happen. But at this point, the attacker can now remotely access their computer.
The after-party: Remote access is established
Once installed, the ScreenConnect client initiates encrypted outbound connections to ScreenConnect’s relay servers, including a uniquely assigned instance domain.
That connection gives the attacker the same level of access as a remote IT technician, including the ability to:
See the victim’s screen in real time
Control the mouse and keyboard
Upload or download files
Keep access even after the computer is restarted
Because ScreenConnect is legitimate software commonly used for remote support, its presence isn’t always obvious. On a personal computer, the first signs are often behavioral, such as unexplained cursor movement, windows opening on their own, or a ScreenConnect process the user doesn’t remember installing.
Why this scam works
This campaign is effective because it targets normal, predictable human behavior. From a behavioral security standpoint, it exploits our natural curiosity and appears to be a low risk.
Most people don’t think of invitations as dangerous. Opening one feels passive, like glancing at a flyer or checking a message, not installing software.
Even security-aware users are trained to watch out for warnings and pressure. A friendly “you’re invited” message doesn’t trigger those alarms.
By the time something feels off, the software is already installed.
Signs your computer may be affected
Watch for:
A download or executed file named RSVPPartyInvitationCard.msi
An unexpected installation of ScreenConnect Client
A Windows service named ScreenConnect Client with random characters
Your computer makes outbound HTTPS connections to ScreenConnect relay domains
Your system resolves the invitation-hosting domain used in this campaign, xnyr[.]digital
How to stay safe
This campaign is a reminder that modern attacks often don’t break in—they’re invited in. Remote access tools give attackers deep control over a system. Acting quickly can limit the damage.
For individuals
If you receive an email like this:
Be suspicious of invitations that ask you to download or open software
Never run MSI files from unsolicited emails
Verify invitations through another channel before opening anything
If you already clicked or ran the file:
Disconnect from the internet immediately
Check for ScreenConnect and uninstall it if present
Run a full security scan
Change important passwords from a clean, unaffected device
For organisations (especially in the UK)
Alert on unauthorised ScreenConnect installations
Restrict MSI execution where feasible
Treat “remote support tools” as high-risk software
Educate users: invitations don’t come as installers
This scam works by installing a legitimate remote access tool without clear user intent. That’s exactly the gap Malwarebytes is designed to catch.
Malwarebytes now detects newly installed remote access tools and alerts you when one appears on your system. You’re then given a choice: confirm that the tool is expected and trusted, or remove it if it isn’t.
We don’t just report on threats—we remove them
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.
Last year Raspberry Pi announced price increases due to memory demand. Today they have announced another round of increased prices as a result of the memory shortages going on industry-wide...
John Lithgow has given an update on where he stands when it comes to JK Rowling‘s trans views, describing them as “inexplicable”.
Last year, the Shrek actor took on the role of Hogwarts’ Headmaster Professor Albus Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter TV series, currently in production. At the time the 80-year-old actor stated the series, set to film over the next eight to 10 years, will “define” his career in the “last chapter” of his life.
While attending the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) over the weekend to promote his film, Jimpa, which sees Lithgow star as a gay man living in Amsterdam, the actor was asked about his participation in the Harry Potter remake and his take on Rowling’s trans views.
“I take the subject and the issue extremely seriously,” he told an audience on Sunday. “JK Rowling has created this amazing canon for young people, young kids’ literature that has jumped into the consciousness of society. Young and old people love Harry Potter and the Harry Potter stories,” he said.
John Lithgow. (Getty)
The Hollywood Reporter reports Lithgow also said Harry Potter is about “acceptance”, “good versus evil”, and “kindness versus cruelty”.
He then went on to say: “I find it ironic and somewhat inexplicable that Rowling has expressed such views,” referencing Rowling’s well publicised views on the trans community. “I’ve read about them, and I’ve never met her,” he continued.
Lithgow said Rowling is “not really involved”, however HBO CEO Casey Bloys said previously that she was “fairly involved” as an executive producer”.
The Third Rock from the Sun actor also reacted to the backlash he and the HBO remake have had in general. Fans have strongly opposed the series since its announcement over Rowling’s views. Nick Frost, who’s playing Rubeus Hagrid in the series, disabled comments on an Instagram post because of fan reaction.
“Of course, it upsets me when people are vehemently opposed to my having anything to do with this,” Lithgow said. “But if you read through the Harry Potter canon, you see absolutely no trace of transphobic sensibility. She has written this great meditation on kindness and empathy and acceptance, which is why [her views are] so strange to me.”
The Harry Potter TV series is in production (Max)
Describing Dumbledore as “a beautiful role”, the actor reiterated his involvement was due to the show’s creators, not the author of the source material. “There’s so much more to it than I even realised, mainly because of these people who are creating the series,” he told the IFFR audience.
And in comments that contrast somewhat with his previous remarks on the matter, Lithgow said: “It was a hard decision on the basis of that [controversy].” In 2025, Lithgow said he didn’t understand why Rowling’s comments were “a factor at all”.
And whereas before he said “heavens no” when asked if the public backlash made him think twice about accepting the role, Lithgow has now said: “It made me very uncomfortable and unhappy that people were actively insisting that I walk away from this job. But I chose not to do that.”
Rowling has become the figurehead of the so-called ‘gender-critical’ movement in the UK since an infamous post on X/Twitter in 2019 in which she defended Sex Matters pundit Maya Forstater. She has since begun sharing her views on trans people on a regular basis.
Her rhetoric has led to public divisions with former Harry Potter stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, David Tennant, and more, as well as a variety of pundits, politicians, and celebrities.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
From jaw-dropping red carpet looks to major award wins, the 2026 Grammy awards were a sizeable success for queer musicians everywhere.
Huge queer stars including Lady Gaga and Lola Young won some of the night’s biggest accolades, while other LGBTQ+ musicians used the night of glitz and glamour to spotlight and call out US president Donald Trump’s ongoing ICE occupation. Elsewhere, Nicki Minaj got a ribbing for cozying up to Trump, while Chappell Roan’s nod to freeing the nipple got the internet talking.
The music industry is built on the talent of LGBTQ+ people, and the 2026 Grammys proved as such, with the swathes of this year’s winners identifying as queer.
Lady Gaga bagged three awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album for her bombastic 2025 record Mayhem and Best Dance-Pop Recording for “Abracadabra”, while Billie Eilish won the coveted Song of the Year accolade for her 2024 ballad “Wildflower”. Eilish and her brother Finneas became the first songwriters to win three times in the category.
Lola Young won her first Grammy, in the Best Pop Solo Performance category. (Getty)
Brits Lola Young and Yungblug won their first Grammy awards, with Young’s 2024 song “Messy” being named the Best Pop Solo Performance and Yungblud’s song “Changes” winning in the Best Rock Performance category.
Kehlani’s “Folded” won in both the Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song categories, while Cynthia Erivo and Doechii won their second Grammys; Erivo in the Best pop Duo/Group Performance for “Defying Gravity” with Ariana Grande, and Doechii for Best Music Video.
Chappell Roan’s wild red carpet moment
Pop provocateur and “Good Luck, Babe!” singer Chappell Roan took the Grammys 2026 red carpet by storm, arriving in a custom crimson sheer dress by Miguel Castro Freitas for Mugler.
The chiffon look was draped around the lower half of her body, and appeared to be held up by a neckline that was attached to her nipple rings.
Chappell Roan got tongues wagging with her red carpet look. (Getty)
The striking piece, which harked back to Thierry Mugler’s Spring/Summer 1998 couture nipple piercing garment, was complete with simple matching underwear and black shoes, plus her signature copper red hair and a flurry of temporary tattoos.
Billie Eilish, Kehlani and more call out ICE
The crackdown on immigration in the US, led by Donald Trump’s administration, offered an uncomfortable undertone to the Grammy’s glitzy event. Musicians including SZA, Olivia Dean, and Bad Bunny, whose album Debí Tirar Más Fotos became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year, spoke out against anti-immigrant sentiment and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Artists including Justin Bieber and Joni Mitchell attended donning ‘ICE Out’ pins.
After winning the Song of the Year accolade for “Wildflower”, Billie Eilish took to the stage alongside her brother Finneas, both wearing ‘ICE Out’ badges. After shouting out the other artists nominated in the category, Eilish took a moment to condemn Trump’s anti-immigration push.
“No one is illegal on stolen land. It’s just really hard to know what to do and what to do right now,” she said, to a rapturous audience response. She continued by urging her fellow artists to speak up.
“I feel really hopeful in this room and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting. Our voices really do matter, the people matter,” she said, before rounding off with a message that was bleeped out. It has since been confirmed that Eilish said “f**k ICE,” again to cheers from the crowd.
Eilish wasn’t the only artist to offer an expletive to ICE, which has come under increasing scrutiny following the shootings of US citizens Alex Pretti and Renée Good.
After winning the Best R&B Performance accolade for “Folded”, Kehlani rounded off their speech by urging the room to “speak out against what’s going on” in the US.
“What I wanna make sure that I say is that everybody is so powerful in this room and in this room later and together we’re stronger in numbers to speak against all the injustice going on in the world right now,” she said.
“So instead of letting it be just a couple of you here and there, I hope everybody is inspired to join together as a community of artists and speak out against what’s going on. And I’m going to leave this and say, f**k ICE.”
Durand Bernarr’s acceptance speech brings tears of joy
Singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr won his first ever Grammy Award, taking home the Best Progressive R&B Album accolade for his 2025 record, BLOOM. The queer artist, who released his first mixtape almost 20 years ago, took to the stage to urge his fellow “butch queens” to be who they are.
Leaping onto the stage, an aghast and breathless Bernarr declared: “Happy Black History Month for the rest of my life!”
“Listen, I wanna remind everyone that we are all we got, and we know who I’m referring to. So please give yourself some grace and extend your kindness to your neighbour who needs it, OK?”
Durand Bernarr won the Best Progressive R&B Album accolade. (Getty)
He then thanked the Recording Academy – via an impressive musical note – and his parents, for “loving me and supporting me in ways that will last me ten thousand lifetimes”.
He also thanked his team who helped “guide me forward,” before knowingly adding: “Never straight!”
His mother and father then joined him on stage, embraced him and yelped with joy, before Bernarr added: “One last thing. To all the independent artists out there, and to every butch queen who was made to feel like you was too much, I’m the proof that you needed and the sign that you’ve been waiting for. Be yourself! And speaking of yourself, I want to thank myself, because this was some hard work, y’all!’
Nicki Minaj gets a roasting
Controversial rapper Nicki Minaj became a hot talking point early on at the 2026 Grammy ceremony after host Trevor Noah mocked her recent meeting with Donald Trump at the Treasury Department summit last week.
“John Legend! Billie Eilish! Finneas!” Noah shouted at the camera during his opening monologue, celebrating artists who were in attendance. “Nicki Minaj is not here,” he continued, to a loud response from the audience. “She is still at the White House with Donald Trump, discussing very important issues.”
“Actually Nicki, I have the biggest ass,” he jested, putting on an impressive Trump impersonation. “Everybody’s saying it Nicki. I know they say it’s you, but it’s me. WAP WAP WAP, look at it. Look at it, baby.”
lol at the entire Grammys audience cheering when Trevor Noah announced that Nicki Minaj was NOT in attendance pic.twitter.com/RNQhZPanSd
Minaj has become known in recent months for her growing list of anti-LGBTQ+ remarks, which has included using a homophobic slur against journalist Don Lemon and mocking California governor Gavin Newsom’s support for trans youth.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
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