Back in 2015, the two-person studio Metanet released N++, a brutally hard 2D platformer that was a decade in the making, building off of previous releases dating back to the freeware Flash title N. At the time, cofounder Raigan Burns issued some famous last words: “We hope it’s not another 10 years before we come up with a game.” But now here we are, more than a decade later, and N is getting another sequel. And this time the focus is on multiplayer.
Technology
Banking tech data breach exposes 672K in ransomware attack
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If you’ve ever trusted your bank to keep your financial data safe, this incident will hit close to home.
A behind-the-scenes tech company used by banks has revealed that more than 672,000 people had sensitive personal and financial information stolen in a ransomware attack. That includes details that criminals can use to drain accounts, open loans, or impersonate you.
What makes this more concerning is that the company is not a household name, so you likely never knew your data was even there.
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HOW TO SAFELY VIEW YOUR BANK AND RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ONLINE
More than 672,000 people had personal and financial data exposed after a ransomware attack hit Marquis, a little-known tech company used by banks. (ArtMarie/Getty Images)
All about the Marquis data breach
Marquis, a fintech company based in Texas, provides data analytics tools to hundreds of banks. Banks rely on Marquis to study customer behavior and improve services, which means Marquis has access to highly sensitive financial and personal data.
In August 2025, hackers reportedly gained access to Marquis’ systems and carried out a ransomware attack. The company now says at least 672,075 people were affected. More than half of them are in Texas, but customers across multiple regions are involved.
The stolen data reportedly includes names, dates of birth, home addresses, bank account details, debit and credit card numbers, and even Social Security numbers. That combination is enough to commit serious identity fraud.
Marquis later filed a lawsuit against its firewall provider, SonicWall, claiming that a security flaw may have allowed attackers to steal critical configuration files. According to the lawsuit, those files gave hackers a roadmap into Marquis’ network, which they used to steal data and deploy ransomware.
What the lawsuit alleges
The lawsuit goes further, alleging that SonicWall failed to properly secure its cloud backup system, which exposed firewall configuration files, encrypted credentials and detailed network architecture tied to customer environments. Marquis claims this level of access effectively gave attackers a blueprint of its defenses. Marquis also alleges that SonicWall knew its cloud backup service had been compromised but did not promptly disclose the full scope of the breach. According to the complaint, the company initially reassured customers that firewall protections were not affected, delaying Marquis’ ability to take protective action. The complaint further alleges gross negligence, arguing that SonicWall failed to uphold basic cybersecurity responsibilities expected of a security provider.
What Marquis says happened
CyberGuy reached out to Marquis for comment, and a spokesperson provided the following statement:
“In August 2025, Marquis Marketing Services identified a data security incident and immediately enacted our incident response protocols, including proactively taking affected systems offline to protect our data and our customers’ information. We engaged leading third-party cybersecurity experts to conduct a comprehensive investigation and notified law enforcement.
In September 2025, after the data security incident affected our systems, our firewall service provider, an industry-leading cybersecurity company, publicly disclosed that a threat actor had earlier in the year gained unauthorized access to its cloud backup service. Marquis had recently begun using this provider’s firewalls to help protect our network. While the provider initially reported that fewer than 5% of customers were affected, it later clarified in October 2025 that firewall configuration data and credentials associated with all customers using the cloud backup service, including Marquis, had been accessed.
We know our customers place great trust in us, and we take that responsibility seriously. Protecting information remains our highest priority, and we continue to enhance our security measures in response to the evolving cyber threat landscape. We are grateful for the cooperation, understanding and support of our employees and customers throughout this process.”
We also reached out to SonicWall for comment, but did not hear back before our deadline.
WHY SCAMMERS OPEN BANK ACCOUNTS IN YOUR NAME
A ransomware attack on Texas-based fintech firm Marquis exposed sensitive data that criminals could use to steal identities, open loans and target bank customers. (FreshSplash/Getty Images)
How the attack unfolded and why it matters to you
This attack did not target you directly. Instead, it hit a company that sits in the middle of the banking system. That is what makes it dangerous. Think of it like this: you lock your house, but someone breaks into the security company that manages keys for your entire neighborhood. Suddenly, they can unlock multiple homes without ever touching your door.
In this case, hackers reportedly gained access to firewall configuration files. These are like blueprints that show how a company’s defenses are set up. With that information, attackers can find weak spots and slip in without setting off alarms.
Security experts warn that when firewall configuration files and credentials are exposed, attackers can more easily map out a network, identify vulnerabilities and bypass protections that would normally stop an intrusion.
Once inside, they copied sensitive data and likely encrypted systems to demand a ransom. Even if the company restores operations, your data is already out there.
Criminals can use your Social Security number and financial details to open credit cards, take loans, or access your bank accounts. They can also combine your data with other leaks to create convincing scams that look legitimate. You might receive calls, emails, or messages that seem to come from your bank but are actually attempts to steal more information.
9 ways you can protect yourself from the Marquis data breach
If your information was exposed, or even if you’re not sure, taking action now can reduce your risk of fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized access to your accounts.
1) Check if your email and passwords are compromised
To see if your email was affected, visit Have I Been Pwned at haveibeenpwned.com. It is the first and official source for this newly added dataset. Enter your email address to find out if your information appears in the Synthient leak. When done, come back here for Step 2.
2) Change your passwords immediately
Start with your most important accounts, such as email, medical and banking. Use strong, unique passwords with letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid predictable choices like names or birthdays. Never reuse passwords. One stolen password can unlock multiple accounts. A password manager makes this simple. It stores complex passwords securely and helps you create new ones. Many managers also scan for breaches to see if your current passwords have been exposed. See my review of the Best Password Managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
3) Monitor your bank accounts closely
Check your transactions at least once every few days, not just when your monthly statement arrives. Look for small, unfamiliar charges because criminals often test accounts with tiny transactions before attempting larger withdrawals. Catching this early gives you a better chance of stopping further damage.
4) Place a fraud alert or credit freeze
If your Social Security number may be exposed, consider placing a fraud alert or freezing your credit. This makes it harder for criminals to open new accounts in your name. A freeze is a stronger protection because lenders must verify your identity before issuing credit.
WHY A CREDIT FREEZE ISN’T THE END OF IDENTITY THEFT
The Marquis breach shows how sensitive financial data can be exposed through third-party companies most bank customers never know exist. (sshepard/Getty Images)
5) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible, especially for banking and email accounts. This adds a second step, like a code sent to your phone, which makes it much harder for someone to access your accounts even if they have your password.
6) Check if your data is already circulating online
With breaches like this, your information can end up on the dark web without you knowing. If you find your information is out there, take it seriously and consider removing your data where possible or using a data removal service to limit further exposure. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
7) Watch out for targeted scams
With your personal details exposed in the Marquis data breach, scammers can craft messages that feel legitimate. Be cautious of calls or emails claiming to be from your bank asking for verification or urgent action. Always contact your bank directly using official numbers instead of responding to those messages. Also, avoid clicking links you don’t recognize. The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
8) Consider identity theft protection services
These services monitor your personal information across credit reports, dark web marketplaces, and financial systems. They can alert you quickly if your identity is being misused, giving you a chance to act before serious damage occurs. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com.
9) Keep your devices updated and secure
Make sure your phone, computer, and apps are up to date with the latest security patches. Install trusted antivirus software to detect malicious activity. While this breach did not happen on your device, attackers often follow up with malware-based scams.
Kurt’s key takeaway
This breach highlights a growing problem you rarely see. Your data does not just live with your bank. It is shared across a network of third-party companies that you have never heard of, yet they hold enough information to expose your entire financial identity. When one of them fails, the consequences fall on you. The legal battle between Marquis and SonicWall also raises a bigger question about accountability. When cybersecurity providers themselves are accused of exposing sensitive infrastructure and delaying disclosure, it shows how quickly trust can break down across the entire system.
Should companies that handle your financial data face automatic penalties when breaches expose hundreds of thousands of people? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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The new game is called, absurdly, N Plus Infinity Times Two. Whereas N++ was meant to be the ultimate single-player version of the N concept, this game is described as “the ultimate virtual couch party game with a low skill floor and no skill ceiling.” That means the same slick, acrobatic platforming action and gorgeous graphic design-inspired visuals, but now built around playing competitively or cooperatively with pals across a handful of different modes. It’s launching on the PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC at some point in 2027.
The duo at Metanet was up to a few different things over the last 11 years. In addition to uprooting from Toronto to Montreal, they’ve been prototyping ideas for a few potentially bigger projects, and last year released a 10-year anniversary update for N++. But then, “We started getting the ‘let’s take another crack at it’ bug in 2022,” Burns tells The Verge.
The studio operates in an unusual way, at least compared to most of the game industry. Despite having two hits in N+ and N++, Metanet hasn’t grown or scaled up in any way. And the reason comes down to the way they make games: It simply takes a lot of time to find a game idea that’s worth pursuing as a commercial project. “We’ve resisted doing something that would compromise our ability to keep iterating and prototyping until something good shows up,” says Burns.
“It’s important to feel that magic,” cofounder Mare Sheppard adds. “That’s what’s compelling about making games. That’s when we know that we’re doing it in a way that’s right for us.” Burns has a clear analogy for how they work: “We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.” This philosophy seems especially prescient given the state of the games industry, where even the biggest hits operate in a way that’s clearly unsustainable.
“We like being in a band. That’s fun. Being in a lot of meetings and doing a lot of managing: not fun.”
In the case of N Plus Infinity Times Two — unfortunately I can’t think of a good way to shorten that title — the spark came in part from watching how younger players interact with games. Even when they’re playing solo, kids are typically still chatting with friends on their phones, essentially turning everything into a multiplayer experience. Burns and Sheppard wanted to find a way to marry that idea with the couch co-op experiences they grew up on, which led to revisiting the N concept but with a multiplayer spin.
The two describe making N++ as a grueling experience. If you think the game’s levels are hard, just imagine having to playtest them over and over. Part of the excitement about N Plus Infinity Times Two wasn’t just finding a spin on the formula that would be fun to play, but also to develop. “This one really feels like we’re having fun,” says Burns. “We’re really fluent in this one instrument. So now the fun challenge becomes playing new styles of music we’ve never played before, but with this thing we’re really comfortable with.”
Image: Metanet Software
As creative industries from games to Hollywood become increasingly homogenous, Burns also believes that there’s something important about doing work that’s distinct, even if it means revisiting a previous idea, like through the multiple versions of N. It’s similar to titles like Hades II and Silksong: indie-developed sequels that iterated a core concept, but with a fresh angle that made them more than a by-the-numbers follow-up. “Being yourself is more fun and exciting anyways,” Burns explains. “But I honestly think it’s more commercially viable to do something only you can do, because then you have no competition.”
As for what’s next after N Plus Infinity Times Two, the pair obviously aren’t revealing anything just yet. There are a few bigger 3D game ideas kicking around, but those would necessitate some of that scaling up that the studio has so far avoided. What they won’t close the door on, however, is coming back to the idea of N again at some point in the future.
“If we can do something that expresses something new, or lets us see things in a different way, or we get a different perspective on what this game is or how to play it, that’s exciting,” says Sheppard. “I think we no longer think this is definitively going to be the last one. We’ve abandoned that idea. It doesn’t have to be.”
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Space changes the rules for almost everything, including how a robot should move. On Earth, legs help us stand, balance and walk across a room. In microgravity, those same legs lose much of their purpose.
That is why Orbit Robotics, an academic spinout from ETH Zurich, took a different approach with Helios. The robot was built with four arms so it can grip, brace and work inside a spacecraft. Two arms can hold on while the other two handle tools, cargo and equipment.
It is a smart design for a place where floating is easy and staying steady is the real challenge. Here is how Helios works and why it could change the way astronauts get help in orbit.
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IS THIS SPACE CAPSULE HOW WE WILL LIVE AND WORK IN ORBIT IN THE FUTURE?
Helios uses two arms to anchor itself while the other two move cargo, tools and equipment inside a spacecraft. (Orbit Robotics)
Why the Helios space robot has four arms
Helios uses two pairs of arms with different jobs. One pair can anchor the robot to interior surfaces. The other pair can handle tools, unload cargo, move equipment or perform other work inside a spacecraft.
That setup is important because stability and work need to happen at the same time in orbit. A floating robot cannot casually plant its feet, bend over and pick something up. It needs to hold on while it works.
That is where Helios makes sense. Two arms can keep it steady while the other two get the job done. In microgravity, legs become extra hardware unless they can grip, brace or manipulate objects. Helios skips that problem by turning the whole body into a tool for movement and work.
How this four-armed space robot works
Orbit Robotics says Helios uses a tendon-driven system. Instead of placing motors at every joint, the robot keeps many of those motors closer to the shoulders. Cables and pulleys then transmit force through the arms.
That design can reduce weight at the ends of the limbs. In space, heavy limbs can create awkward movement. A robot also needs control, especially when it is holding cargo or tools near expensive equipment.
Helios also uses a rolling-contact elbow joint. That may sound like a tiny detail. In orbit, it can make a big difference. A sudden jerk could destabilize the robot. It could also send whatever the robot is carrying drifting across a spacecraft. Smooth movement becomes a safety feature.
How IKARUS helped shape Helios
Before Helios, the team built an earlier robot platform called IKARUS. That project helped test ideas such as teleoperation, imitation learning and dual-arm manipulation. In other words, IKARUS gave the team a way to learn how a robot could move, copy tasks and handle objects in a space-like setting.
Those lessons helped shape Helios. That is important because space hardware rarely gets a second chance. A robot designed for orbit has to be reliable, compact and useful in cramped conditions. It also has to behave predictably around humans. Helios builds on that earlier work with a body that better fits the environment.
QUADRUPED ROBOT PLAYS BADMINTON WITH YOU USING AI
Why astronauts need robotic help in orbit
Orbit Robotics says its mission is to free astronauts, not replace them. That sounds reassuring. It also makes practical sense. Astronauts are highly trained people doing some of the most expensive labor imaginable. Yet a major chunk of crew time aboard the International Space Station goes toward maintenance.
Some estimates put maintenance at roughly 35% of crew time. At an estimated $140,000 per astronaut-hour, basic logistics can become shockingly expensive. That means sorting supplies, moving equipment or handling routine work can carry a huge price tag. Helios does not need to be a genius to help. It needs to move through narrow corridors, stay stable without gravity and manipulate objects with care. That is the point of the design.
Orbit Robotics built Helios with four arms so it can grip, brace and handle tools inside spacecraft in microgravity. (Orbit Robotics)
What Helios could do in space
The first job for Helios appears focused on interior spacecraft work. That could include unloading cargo, helping manage supplies, moving gear and assisting with routine maintenance. Those jobs may sound boring. In orbit, boring tasks still take time, training and attention.
Over time, Orbit Robotics sees a broader role for robots like Helios. That could include satellite servicing. It could also include in-space construction as commercial stations and orbital habitats become more common.
If launch costs keep falling, more equipment will head into orbit. More hardware means more maintenance. More stations mean more logistics. That creates a clear opening for robots like Helios, built for space from the start.
Why robots may take on more space work
Human spaceflight still captures the imagination. It always has. However, the human body has serious limits in space. Astronauts can face radiation exposure, bone loss, vision problems and cognitive effects linked to fluid shifts in the brain.
Those risks grow during longer missions. Robots do not need air, food, sleep or radiation protection in the same way humans do. They can also take risks that would be unacceptable for astronauts.
That does not make astronauts obsolete overnight. Still, it changes the conversation. If machines can handle more work in orbit, humans may spend less time on routine tasks and more time on science. That could mean more attention on research tied to aging, cancer treatments, organ bioprinting and other experiments that benefit from microgravity.
CHINA’S COMPACT HUMANOID ROBOT SHOWS OFF BALANCE AND FLIPS
Could space robots build the next space economy?
If commercial space stations grow, they will need constant care. Cargo will need to be sorted. Equipment will need to be moved. Structures may need inspection or repair. Satellites may need servicing. Future habitats may need robots that can assemble, maintain and adapt.
That is where a machine like Helios becomes more than a cool prototype. It could become part of the labor force that keeps space infrastructure running.
The big question is whether humans remain at the center of that work or move into a more selective role. We may still send astronauts into orbit, but their jobs could change dramatically.
Instead of doing every task by hand, they may supervise robots built for a place where the human body struggles.
The four-armed Helios robot was designed for zero gravity, where legs are less useful than gripping and bracing. (Orbit Robotics)
What Helios could mean for future space robots
Engineers are starting to design machines for specific environments instead of forcing them into human-shaped bodies. That shift could affect more than space exploration.
On Earth, robots already work in warehouses, factories, hospitals and disaster zones. In each case, the best design may not look human. It may look strange, specialized and a little unsettling.
Helios shows why that can be a good thing. A robot built for its environment can work more efficiently. It can also take on risky jobs and help humans focus on work that needs judgment, creativity or science training.
For space, that could mean safer missions. It could also mean fewer astronauts spending precious hours on routine maintenance.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Helios stands out because it was built for the place it is meant to work. In orbit, walking offers very little help. Gripping, bracing and handling equipment become much more important. That is what makes the four-armed design so practical. It gives the robot a way to hold on while it works, which is exactly what astronauts need in microgravity. Orbit Robotics says Helios is meant to help astronauts, not replace them. Still, this robot raises a bigger question. As machines grow more capable, they could take on more of the risky and repetitive work beyond Earth. That could give astronauts more time for science, discovery and decisions that need human judgment. It could also change how we think about sending people into space in the first place.
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Would you rather see astronauts doing the work in orbit, or robots taking over the risky stuff? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Whether you’re considering starting a Sonos speaker setup, or adding to an existing group, the Sonos Era 100 is worth picking up. The compact, capable smart speaker is currently marked down to $189 ($30 off) at a variety of retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Sonos. If you want an even lower price, Sonos is selling refurbished Era 100 speakers for just $134. They come with fresh accessories and packaging, and sport the same one-year warranty as its new speakers.
The wireless speaker has a rich, detailed sound profile, with room-filling audio despite its small size. You might be able to improve the sound further with the Sonos Trueplay feature, which uses either your phone or the speaker’s built-in microphone to automatically tune it to your space. The Era 100 can easily connect with other speakers in the Sonos ecosystem for multi-room play, even with different Sonos models.
The Era 100 has expanded functionality from previous entry-level Sonos speakers, adding in Bluetooth and USB-C wired audio, as well as improved onboard controls. While the speaker features built-in voice assistant support for both Sonos and Alexa, you can flip a switch on its back to cut power to the microphone.
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