Aeternum C2 Botnet Stores Encrypted Commands on Polygon Blockchain to Evade Takedown

Aeternum C2 Botnet Stores Encrypted Commands on Polygon Blockchain to Evade Takedown

Cybersecurity researchers have disclosed details of a new botnet loader called Aeternum C2 that uses a blockchain-based command-and-control (C2) infrastructure to make it resilient to takedown efforts. "Instead of relying on traditional servers or domains for command-and-control, Aeternum stores its instructions on the public Polygon blockchain," Qrator Labs said in a report shared with The

Apple Watch Series 11 drops to $299, plus grab deals on titanium styles

Apple Watch Series 11 drops to $299, plus grab deals on titanium styles

Amazon's popular $299 Apple Watch Series 11 deal has returned as February winds down, saving you $100 as shoppers embark on spring fitness journeys. Save up to $100 with month-end Apple Watch deals. Amazon's Apple Watch deals have ramped up as the month reaches an end, with the Apple Watch Series 11 returning to the best price on record at $299 . Buy Apple Watch S11 for $299 Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Burger King will use AI to monitor employee 'friendliness'

Burger King will use AI to monitor employee 'friendliness'

Burger King, the chain that leans into creepy when others don't dare, is at it again. The Verge reported on Thursday that the company is rolling out a new voice-controlled AI chatbot for its workers. That may sound like business as usual in 2026, but this assistant doesn't just help with meal prep and monitor inventory. It also has an unsettling habit of surveilling employees' voices for "friendliness." The voice-controlled chatbot will live inside employees' headsets. The company said the AI is trained to recognize when its low-paid workers utter phrases like "welcome to Burger King," "please" and "thank you." Managers can then keep tabs on their location's "friendliness" performance. "This is meant to be a coaching tool," Thibault Roux, Burger King's chief digital officer, told The Verge . However, he added that the company is also "iterating" the system to detect tone in conversations. Is there a chatbot that can warn Burger King executives about off-putting ideas? Burger King retired its Creepy King mascot in 2025. Burger King / YouTube (Commercial Ads) The OpenAI-powered assistant's other duties sound potentially useful (and decidedly less creepy). It can answer workers' meal prep questions, like how many strips of bacon to put on burgers or instructions for cleaning the shake machine. It's also integrated into the chain's point-of-sale system, so it can tell managers when items are out of stock or machines are down. The "Patty" chatbot is part of a broader BK Assistant platform the company is launching. It will roll out to all US locations by the end of 2026. Meanwhile, its "restaurant maintenance with a side of mass surveillance" chatbot is currently being piloted in 500 restaurants. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/burger-king-will-use-ai-to-monitor-employee-friendliness-173349148.html?src=rss