All articles tagged with #firmware
Texas Attorney General Paxton filed suit against TP-Link Systems, alleging the company marketed routers as secure while hiding Chinese-sourced components and firmware flaws exploited by state-backed hackers, tying TP-Link to a credential-theft botnet; the suit seeks civil penalties and injunctions to disclose origins and curb data collection.
A Hackaday piece describes upgrading a MacBook Pro by replacing its original Core Duo with a Core 2 Duo from a dead motherboard, a process that requires desoldering and careful preheating due to moisture ingress; after a firmware update the system recognizes the new CPU, and the article notes these older machines can run open firmware and serve as Linux machines despite hardware limits.
Sony releases PS5 system software version 26.01-12.60.00, adding optional read receipts for messages and a minor Welcome Hub improvement that lets you jump from the Friends Activity widget to the games friends are playing; the update also includes general UI tweaks and performance/stability improvements, and weighs in at about 1.3 GB with a gradual rollout.
Libreboot 26.01-rc1, a new release of the open-source boot firmware, adds support for several older systems including the Lenovo ThinkPad T580 and HP Pro 3500 Series, along with improvements and bug fixes, with a stable release planned by the end of January.
The issue of disappearing SSDs in Windows 11 after the August 2025 update is caused by preliminary firmware versions on certain SSDs, not the update itself. Updating the SSD firmware can resolve the problem, and users should back up data before doing so.
Phison confirmed that the SSD failures and corruption issues linked to Windows 11 updates were caused by the use of engineering preview firmware in testing, not the final consumer firmware, and that the failures do not occur with retail versions of the drives.
The recent Windows 11 24H2 update caused SSD problems, but the root cause appears to be pre-release engineering firmware used in some SSDs, not the final production firmware. Users with retail SSDs should be unaffected, but updating firmware and backing up data is recommended for those experiencing issues.
Millions of Dell PCs with Broadcom chips, specifically the BCM5820X series used in ControlVault3 secure enclaves, are vulnerable to critical security flaws that could allow attackers to take over devices, steal sensitive data, and implant backdoors. Dell has issued updates to address these vulnerabilities, but the risks include remote exploitation and physical tampering, emphasizing the importance of applying firmware updates and disabling certain security features like fingerprint login in high-risk environments.
Nintendo released a new update (Version 1.2.1) for Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury on Switch 2, fixing system behavior issues and maintaining compatibility with previous versions, following recent updates that enhanced visuals and performance on the new console.
Samsung has potentially released a stable version of One UI 8 for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, indicated by a non-beta firmware build, suggesting the official rollout may be imminent, possibly alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The update includes features like adaptive clock styles, gallery-based wallpaper suggestions, and live captions during calls.
Nintendo has released a new firmware update (ver. 20.1.5) for the Switch 2, focusing on general system stability improvements, with no additional details provided. This is the first update since launch day, which introduced key features like GameChat and backwards compatibility. The update should automatically download or can be manually installed via system settings.
Nintendo Switch has released firmware version 20.1.0, featuring visual updates to parental controls, a new sound for the Online app launcher, and general system stability improvements, following previous updates that added virtual game cards and support for Switch 2 transfers.
A recent firmware update for QNAP NAS devices caused access issues for many users, prompting the company to withdraw the update and release a fixed version within 24 hours. Despite QNAP's quick response, users reported problems across various models, including access denial and boot issues. The company's support response has been criticized, leaving some users concerned about the reliability of their storage systems.
A low-cost humidity and temperature sensor, similar to Xiaomi's, can be reprogrammed for custom use. Maker's Fun Duck demonstrates how to modify the device's firmware, which includes an ARM Cortex M0 processor and Bluetooth capabilities, to expand its functionality beyond the vendor's app. The sensor, priced at about a dollar, offers potential for various applications with custom firmware, despite its basic LCD and sensor accuracy concerns.
Samsung has begun rolling out the July 2024 security update for the international variants of the Galaxy S21 series in Europe, addressing 58 security issues. The update changes the firmware versions to G991BXXSCGXF5, G996BXXSCGXF5, and G998BXXSCGXF5 for the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra respectively. The update is expected to expand to other regions soon, and the Galaxy S21 series is anticipated to receive One UI 6.1.1 by the end of the year.