What if you could turn a PSP with a broken screen into a miniature PS2, connect a Bluetooth controller to it, and play PSP games on your TV? That’s the idea behind Retro Mod Works’ PS Placeable, a mod that “consolizes” the PSP and was featured yesterday in a video from the YouTube channel Macho Nacho Productions.

Retro Mod Works charges $274.99 for a prebuilt PS Placeable. Those are waitlisted at the moment, though — a message on the site says the project is a “one man show” and that the demand for the Placeable was higher than anticipated.

Retro also offers to mod customer-provided PSPs for $100 less, and there’s an option preorder DIY parts and do the conversion work yourself. The mod requires either a PSP-2000 or PSP-3000 revision, as the first PSP didn’t have a video output. It’s not clear when the DIY parts will ship — we’ve asked Retro Mod Works and will update if we get a reply.

The primary person behind the project, named Dan, told Macho Nacho host Tito Perez that he “hated the idea of buying digital games” for which he has physical copies, and wanted a way to add Bluetooth controller support while preserving the UMD drive. He’s also mentioned in replies on Reddit that his goal is to help people revive broken PSPs with the mod, which doesn’t need the console’s screen.

But buying one of these mod kits can be pricey or require skills most people don’t have. If you just want to play PSP games on your TV and don’t care about having a UMD drive, the PSP Go — which lacked Sony’s oddball optical drive but supported Bluetooth controllers and also had a way to output video — is still pretty easy to come by.

In a series of Threads posts this afternoon, Instagram head Adam Mosseri says users shouldn’t trust images they see online because AI is “clearly producing” content that’s easily mistaken for reality. Because of that, he says users should consider the source, and social platforms should help with that.

“Our role as internet platforms is to label content generated as AI as best we can,” Mosseri writes, but he admits “some content” will be missed by those labels. Because of that, platforms “must also provide context about who is sharing” so users can decide how much to trust their content.

Just as it’s good to remember that chatbots will confidently lie to you before you trust an AI-powered search engine, checking whether posted claims or images come from a reputable account can help you consider their veracity. At the moment, Meta’s platforms don’t offer much of the sort of context Mosseri posted about today, although the company recently hinted at big coming changes to its content rules.

What Mosseri describes sounds closer to user-led moderation like Community Notes on X and YouTube or Bluesky’s custom moderation filters. Whether Meta plans to introduce anything like those isn’t known, but then again, it has been known to take pages from Bluesky’s book.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making life easier not just for us but also for cybercriminals. 

It is enabling them to create elaborate campaigns to deceive people, efforts that would otherwise take months. Security researchers have discovered a new info stealer malware that masquerades as video-calling software. Hackers have built a whole website and set up companies using AI to make the malware appear harmless. 

They have even created social media accounts to add an extra layer of legitimacy. People are tricked into installing malicious video-calling software, and once they do, it steals their personal data and cryptocurrency.

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What you need to know about the malware

Cado Security Labs has uncovered a new, sophisticated scam targeting people. The scam involves a crypto stealer called Realst, which has versions for both macOS and Windows and has been active for about four months. 

The hackers behind this malware have gone all out, setting up fake company websites complete with AI-generated blogs, product content and social media accounts on platforms like Twitter and Medium. The company they’re pretending to be is called “Meetio,” though they’ve used different names in the past few months, including Clusee, Cuesee, Meeten and Meetone.

The scam works in a few different ways. Often, users are contacted on Telegram by someone pretending to be a friend or acquaintance. The scammers pitch a business opportunity and ask to schedule a call. In one case, the scammer even sent an investment presentation from the target’s own company, making the scam feel more real and personal. Other victims report being on Web3-related calls, downloading the software and having their cryptocurrency stolen.

Once the scammer makes contact, the target is usually directed to the Meeten website to download the malicious software. But even before the malware is installed, the website has JavaScript that can steal cryptocurrency stored in web browsers. It’s a multi-step scam that’s designed to trick you.

A woman working on several computers     (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How the malware works

Once victims are sent to the “Meeten” website, they’re given the option to download the software. The file they download contains a program called “fastquery,” though other versions of the malware come as a different file type (DMG) with a multi-architecture setup.

When the victim opens the program, two error messages pop up. The first one says, “Cannot connect to the server. Please reinstall or use a VPN,” and has a “continue” button. The malware also uses a macOS tool to ask the user for a password, a common trick in macOS malware.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

The malware then looks through various files on the victim’s computer to find sensitive information, such as passwords and account details. It creates a folder to store this stolen data, then compresses it into a zip file. This zip file, along with some system data, is sent to a remote server. The server receives information like the system’s build version, along with the stolen data.

Once the data is sent, the malware deletes any temporary files it created. The stealer is capable of grabbing sensitive information like Telegram credentials, banking card details and data from web browsers (like Google Chrome, Opera, Brave, Microsoft Edge, Arc, CocCoc and Vivaldi). It can steal things like saved passwords, cookies and browsing history.

A woman working on her laptop     (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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6 ways you can stay safe from sneaky macOS malware

1. Verify sources before downloading software: Always ensure that you are downloading software from legitimate, trusted sources. Be cautious of downloading anything from links sent via unsolicited messages or emails, especially if they involve urgent requests or business opportunities.

The best way to safeguard yourself against malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have 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 top picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2. Be cautious of unexpected contact: If you receive messages from unfamiliar contacts on platforms like Telegram or social media, especially those asking you to schedule calls or discuss business opportunities, verify the identity of the sender before taking any action. Cybercriminals often pose as friends or colleagues to gain trust.

3. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Use 2FA on your accounts, particularly for sensitive services like cryptocurrency wallets, banking and messaging apps. This adds an extra layer of protection in case your credentials are compromised.

4. Use strong and unique passwords: To protect your Mac from malware, it’s also crucial to use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and devices. Avoid reusing passwords for different sites or services. A password manager can be incredibly helpful here. It generates and stores complex passwords for you, making them difficult for hackers to crack.

It also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and automatically fills them in when you log into accounts so you don’t have to remember them yourself. By reducing the number of passwords you need to recall, you’re less likely to reuse them, which lowers the risk of security breaches. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2024 here.

5. Keep your software updated: Ensure that both macOS and all installed applications are up to date. Apple frequently releases security patches and updates that address vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates for macOS and your apps to stay protected without having to manually check for updates. If you need more help, see my guide on keeping all your devices updated.

6. Invest in personal data removal services: Consider services that scrub your personal information from public databases. This reduces the chances of your data being exploited in phishing or other cyberattacks after a breach and cuts down on the chances that potential attackers will find you or contact you in the first place. Check out my top picks for data removal services here. 

Kurt’s key takeaway

AI is enabling scammers to launch malicious campaigns at a scale we’ve never seen before, and it’s likely to get worse as AI models continue to improve. This makes it crucial to have tools that can detect AI-generated content, helping people better protect themselves against these scams. In the meantime, rely on your common sense, watch out for red flags and only install software from reputable platforms. For video calls, stick to well-known and trusted platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, Google Meet and Webex. If someone sends you a random video call link, politely ask them to schedule the call using one of these trusted platforms instead.

Should companies be doing more to help users detect and protect themselves from AI-powered scams? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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