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FBI Issues Photo Attack Warning For Facebook, LinkedIn And X Users

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Updated December 9 with details of a second FBI warning alongside comments and advice from a cybersecurity expert regarding the photo-based attacks currently targeting social media users.

There has been no shortage of cybersecurity-related public service advisories from the Federal Bureau of Investigation over the last few weeks, with the holiday season firmly upon us. From retail brand impersonation scams, cash-stealing malware that can empty your bank account, and even fake Feds compromising passwords. But the latest, published December 5, has to be the most insidious and disconcerting yet. Here’s the social media photo attack that the FBI has warned all citizens to take steps to mitigate against.

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Altered Social Media Photos Used In Attacks, The FBI Has Confirmed

While we the media, at least the part most interested in the consumer cybersecurity sector, have a tendency to focus headlines on things such as password compromise and Windows security updates, the breadth of attack types and sheer depth of depravity to which cybercriminals turn are almost endless. If ever there was a reminder of this, then the FBI public service alert I-120525 is it.

Criminals are “altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams,” the FBI has now confirmed.

Such virtual kidnapping is not, in and of itself, new. However, the now ubiquitous nature of social media networks, whether in the form of Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or others, has escalated the threat to a point where the FBI has felt the need to issue a critical warning for every citizen.

The threats actors will, the FBI said, contact people through messaging that claims a loved one has been kidnapped, and include “seemingly real photos or videos of victims along with demands for ransom payments.”

Leveraging threats of harm, significant claims of violence are the precise words used in the FBI PSA, an immediate payment is demanded and hence the pressure piles on. “Criminal actors will sometimes purposefully send these photos using timed message features,” the FBI warned, “to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images.”

ForbesBeware The Pay-And-Spray Parcel Hack Attack This Holiday SeasonBy Davey Winder

Second FBI Cybersecurity Warning In As Many Days – What You Need To Know

The FBI has now issued a second cybersecurity public service advisory, described as a national warning to all U.S. citizens. The December 8 PSA stated that cyber threat actors are “increasingly use pressure tactics and artificial intelligence to defraud Americans out of their hard-earned money,” warning that everyone must “protect themselves and their families from fraud this holiday season.” The particular threat is a lot more commonplace, and one would hope familiar, to anyone reading this: phishing scams.

“If you feel pressured to act fast, pay money, or turn over personal information, take a beat,” FBI Director Kash Patel said, adding that the public should “stop and assess if what you’re being told is real.” A different cyber threat, but the same advice applies as it does to the virtual kidnapping attacks using social media photos as leverage. Question everything, especially where urgency is being applied to give you an itchy clicker finger.
FBI Issues Social Media Photo And Virtual Kidnap Attack Mitigation Advice

“Scammers rely on panic,” Pieter Arntz, a malware intelligence researcher at Malwarebytes, confirmed, adding that “they push tight deadlines, threaten violence, and try to force split-second decisions.” Arntz called this, quite aptly, “emotional pressure,” and it is front and center in the social engineering attack playbook.

ForbesFBI Hack Attack Warning — Apple, Nintendo And Samsung Buyers BewareBy Davey Winder

FBI Issues Social Media Photo And Virtual Kidnap Attack Mitigation Advice

The FBI has recommended the following actions to mitigate falling victim to such a virtual kidnap scam:

  • When posting missing person information online, be mindful that scammers may contact you with fake information regarding your loved one.
  • Avoid providing personal information to strangers while traveling.
  • Establish a code word only you or your loved ones know that you can use to communicate.
  • Stop and think; do the kidnapper’s claims make sense?
  • Always attempt to contact your loved one before considering paying any ransom demand.



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vivo X300 Ultra’s Battery and Charging Speeds leaked Ahead of Launch

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December 11, 2025

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While it is clear that the launch will not happen this year, vivo is clearing the last hurdles before making the X300 Ultra official. The phone, listed as model V2536A, has just been certified in China with support for 100W fast charging.

The certification confirms 100W USB PPS charging, rated at 20V at 5A. This will enable fast charging performance on par with vivo’s own FlashCharge system.

A recent leak claims that the vivo X300 Ultra will feature a large 7,000mAh battery.

The X200 Ultra had a 6,000mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 40W wireless charging.
The current vivo X300 Pro is equipped with a 6,510mAh battery in China, while the global version uses a smaller 5,440mAh battery.

A similar difference in capacity might apply to the global X300 Ultra as well, although there are no details yet. The vivo X300 Ultra is expected to be available globally.

The phone will use two 200MP sensors:

  • A large 1/1.12-inch sensor for the main camera
  • A 1/1.4-inch sensor for the telephoto camera

It will also include a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, which is larger than the main camera sensors on some recent flagships.

Unlike its X300 siblings, the Ultra is expected to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 instead of the Dimensity 9500.

The vivo X300 Ultra is expected to launch around the end of Q1 next year. The X200 Ultra launched in April, and the X300 Ultra is likely to follow a similar timeline.





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Oppo Reno 15c Specs, Variants and Colors Revealed Ahead of China Launch

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December 11, 2025

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The Oppo Reno 15c is confirmed to launch in China later this month, though the company has not yet shared any details about the phone. Oppo first teased the device during last month’s Reno 15 and Reno 15 Pro launch event.

Ahead of the official announcement, the Reno 15c has appeared in China Telecom’s database. The listing reveals its key specifications, RAM and storage options, and color variants.

Chipset, RAM, and Storage

According to the listing, the Reno 15c will be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC (SM7750). It will be available in two configurations:

  • 12GB RAM / 256GB storage
  • 12GB RAM / 512GB storage

Display and Software

At the front, the phone will feature a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with a 1.5K resolution. The panel could offer a 120Hz refresh rate.

The listing also indicates that the Reno 15c will run Android 16-based ColorOS 16.

Cameras

The Reno 15c will offer a 50MP front-facing camera.

On the back, it will feature a triple-camera setup with:

  • 50MP primary sensor
  • 50MP secondary sensor (telephoto)
  • 8MP ultrawide camera

Color Options

As per the listing, the Oppo Reno 15c will be sold in three color options:

  • Aurora Blue
  • Academy Blue
  • Starlight Bow

These details come from the China Telecom database, while Oppo is yet to provide official specifications.





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Realme 16 Pro Teaser Confirms Periscope Camera, Snapdragon Chip and Big Battery

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December 11, 2025

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The official launch date for the Realme 16 Pro series is still listed as “coming soon”, but Realme is increasing its teaser campaign. The Realme India online store already hosts a landing page for the upcoming phone, revealing several key details.

Camera

The teaser confirms earlier Periscope camera rumors. It shows 1x, 3.5x, and 10x magnification options. This suggests 3.5x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, although that is not explicitly stated.

For comparison, the Realme 15 Pro did not have a telephoto camera at all, while the Realme 14 Pro+ featured a 3x, 73mm periscope camera.

 Performance

The Realme 16 Pro will use a Snapdragon chipset. These models usually ship with a Snapdragon 7‑series chip. However, the teaser indicates that the Realme 16 Pro will use something more performant than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, which powered the Realme 15 Pro.

There is currently no Snapdragon 7 Gen 5 or 7+ Gen 4, so it is unclear which exact Snapdragon processor will be used.

Battery

The teaser also highlights a long-lasting battery. While it does not directly state the exact capacity, it suggests a capacity higher than 6,500 mAh. The teaser itself is vague on the figure.

Unofficially, 7,000 mAh is the number that has been mentioned so far, but this remains unconfirmed.

Rumors for the Chinese Variant

The Chinese variant of the Realme 16 Pro is rumored to have a 6.78-inch OLED display and a 200 MP main camera. It is not yet clear whether these specifications will apply to the Realme 16 Pro sold in India. These details are based on rumors and are not part of the official teaser.

The teaser confirms that the Realme 16 Pro will launch with Android 16. Realme will provide 3 years of OS updates and an additional year of security patches for the device.

Possible Launch Date

According to unconfirmed leaks, the Realme 16 Pro will arrive in India on January 6. The company has not yet officially announced the launch date. No update on the wider rollout of the device has been announced.





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