###### February 4, 2025

[Opera](https://www.opera.com/de) has introduced [Opera Air](https://www.opera.com/es/air), an all-new browser that integrates mindfulness techniques directly into the browsing experience to support mental health. To help users focus and reduce stress, the lightweight browser incorporates soundscapes, breathing techniques, binaural beats, and pause reminders.

Opera Air's sleek, semi-transparent design integrates mindfulness elements into a floating sidebar that gives users quick access to Aria AI, Messenger, and WhatsApp, as well as Pause Reminders and Boosts, a carefully chosen mix of music, ambient sounds and binaural sounds. beats.

Similar to a usage tracker, the “Take a break” function encourages users to take a breather after prolonged browsing. It signals when a break is needed via a three-bar system that gradually decreases over time. Users can choose how long they want to browse continuously before receiving a reminder, or they can turn off the service completely.

Opera Air offers breathing techniques, meditation, neck stretches, and full-body scans for breaks, allowing users to choose an activity that meets their needs. Additionally, the browser has optional camera-based posture guidance with real-time feedback on neck stretches. There are now only guided exercises in English, but more language materials are being developed.

The Boosts feature provides preset soundscapes that combine music, background noise and binaural beats to improve focus. Frequency levels, audio components, and playback duration, which can vary from 15 minutes to indefinitely, can all be changed by users. You can control boosts directly from the sidebar.

Opera created Opera Air as a standalone mindfulness product rather than adding these features to its already existing browsers. This browser is designed to provide a peaceful, distraction-free experience, unlike the productivity-focused Opera One or the gaming-focused [Opera GX](https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/07/gaming-browser-opera-gx-integrates-chatgpt-powered-ai-feature/).

Given that Opera's other browsers offer feature-rich environments that consumers are accustomed to, user acceptance will be a major hurdle. But according to the company, Opera Air is a special desktop solution that combines attention and stress management, making it ideal for people who want to navigate more mindfully.

Stay tuned for the [latest in tech](https://codelabsacademy.com/en/news), powered by [Code Labs Academy](https://codelabsacademy.com/en).


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Opera Air: The New Mindfulness-Focused Browser for Improved Mental Well-being


Security experts have discovered a hacking operation that targets websites using outdated WordPress versions and plugins to modify content and trick users into installing malware. Simon Wijckmans, founder and CEO of online security startup c/side, [told TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/29/hackers-are-hijacking-wordpress-sites-to-push-windows-and-mac-malware/) the effort is still ongoing. Attackers intend to distribute malware that steals passwords and personal information from Windows and Mac users. C/Side has discovered that some infected websites are among the most popular on the Internet.

Himanshu Anand, a researcher at c/side, [described the operation](https://cside.dev/blog/10-000-wordpress-websites-found-delivering-macos-and-microsoft-malware) as a “spray and pay” strategy aimed at infecting any visitor to these sites rather than specific targets. Infected WordPress sites present users with a fake Chrome update message which, if accepted, results in the download of a malicious file disguised as an update. Wijckmans alerted Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, and provided them with information about the malicious sites.

Although Automattic representative Megan Fox declined to comment, c/side found more than 10,000 potentially affected websites. The organization detected malicious scripts on numerous domains through web scans and reverse DNS lookups, leading to the discovery of additional affected sites.

This hacking campaign promotes two types of information-stealing malware: Amos, which targets Mac users, and SocGholish, which targets Windows users. According to SentinelOne's [May 2023 report](https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/atomic-stealer-threat-actor-spawns-second-variant-of-macos-malware-sold-on-telegram/?ref=content.cside.dev), Amos is an information stealer intended to collect sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and digital currency credentials, which could lead to breaches of additional accounts. macOS security specialist Patrick Wardle pointed out that installing Amos requires many steps, indicating that Apple's security defenses are resilient.

Despite the simplicity of the hacking tactic, which relied on deceptive update prompts, the campaign reiterates the importance of using genuine [software updates](https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/29/hackers-are-hijacking-wordpress-sites-to-push-windows-and-mac-malware/) and downloading trusted apps to protect personal devices. This type of malware and credential theft has been associated with major hacks and data breaches, including the major [2024 incident involving Snowflake](https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/05/snowflake-customer-passwords-found-online-infostealing-malware/) and its customers' stolen passwords.

Learn about Code Labs Academy’s[ Cybersecurity Bootcamp](https://codelabsacademy.com/courses/cybersecurity) and start your career in cybersecurity today!


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Hacking Alert: Outdated WordPress Sites Targeted for Malware Distribution by Cybercriminals

The tech industry is currently in deep discussion following the release of the R1 reasoning model by Chinese AI company [DeepSeek](https://www.deepseek.com/). Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen hailed the open version of the concept, released earlier this week, as a big technological breakthrough. The R1 model is known for its cost-effectiveness, with a development budget of around [$5.6 million](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/china-ai-deepseek-chatbot-6ac4ad33?st=wNw4tu\&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink), much lower than that of leading US AI companies.

This advancement is particularly notable given current U.S. sanctions, which restrict the sale of advanced chips to Chinese companies. According to the [MIT Technology Review](https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/24/1110526/china-deepseek-top-ai-despite-sanctions/), these limitations have prompted companies like DeepSeek to expand and optimize the use of their resources. While some, like Curai's Neal Khosla, are suspicious of this exploit, suggesting that the Chinese company may have ulterior intentions to threaten American dominance in AI, others deny the reality of these accusations.

[Yann LeCun](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yann-lecun_to-people-who-see-the-performance-of-deepseek-activity-7288591087751884800-I3sN/), chief AI scientist at Meta, emphasizes the need to focus on the global benefits of such developments rather than framing them as a conflict between the United States and China. He says DeepSeek's success can be attributed in part to the use of open source technologies and collaboration, both of which have been key to achieving breakthroughs.

The advent of DeepSeek's AI assistant, which immediately became the top free app in Apple's App Store, surpassing even ChatGPT, suggests that consumers are very interested in this new technology. As the industry evaluates these developments, it is clear that DeepSeek's new strategy is changing attitudes and has the ability to reshape the competitive environment for AI technology.

The release of the model not only demonstrates major advances in AI using fewer resources and processing power, but it also has huge economic ramifications. The effectiveness of the model had a significant impact on semiconductor industry leader Nvidia, whose stock fell 16.9% and [lost approximately $600 billion](https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NVDA/?guccounter=1\&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90ZWNoY3J1bmNoLmNvbS8\&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAL8TiSCZ6xTAgYckUoWey0R3BgMHkDdxfzUZvDRrQ4FiNj0WIoB-1wjtcttEvfRZLvwYhA8MEJqzREks_jldbUCHDJZ1mWb4b6TnLQisLKrPYwi2IjJ9OYCMmdWzEuNDqQRxZAV_FyHAczGA8wNcQzMVWvqRjEb2Evi80mn_d1f) in market capitalization following the announcement. The upheaval comes at a politically tense moment, as US policy shifts from severe limitations on the export of AI chips under former President Biden to a massive $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure in the part of President Trump's new Stargate project. These advances mark an important moment in AI, with the potential to reshape the global technological leadership and economic dynamics of the semiconductor industry.

Leverage the power of AI and data with Code Labs Academy’s[ Data Science & AI Bootcamp](https://codelabsacademy.com/courses/data-science-and-ai).


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Release of DeepSeek’s R1 Model Shakes Up the AI Industry


[Neko Health](https://www.nekohealth.com/gb/en), a Stockholm-based company co-founded by [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/intl-de)'s Daniel Ek, received a significant investment, raising $260 million in a Series B round. The investment boosted the company's post-money valuation to $1.8 billion. The company is at the forefront of the body scanner market, capitalizing on consumers' interest in understanding and preventing health problems before they become serious.

This significant financial contribution will allow Neko to expand its operations into new markets, notably in the United States, and to further strengthen its diagnostic capabilities, possibly through acquisitions. In addition, to meet the growing demand for its services, the company plans to open new clinics. In a [conversation with TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/22/neko-the-body-scanning-startup-co-founded-by-spotifys-daniel-ek-snaps-up-260m-at-a-1-8b-valuation/), CEO Hjalmar Nilsonne said the company surreptitiously purchased another startup that creates sensors, improving Neko's ability to collect data, while the details of the deal are unknown.

With a rapidly growing waiting list of more than 100,000 people, up from 40,000 just months ago, Neko Health has successfully scanned and examined 10,000 patients at its Stockholm and London clinics. The demand for a creative approach to healthcare is clear, and Neko is well positioned to meet this demand by expanding its presence and continuing its pioneering work in the healthcare sector.

Lightspeed Venture Partners led the Series B fundraising, which included contributions from General Catalyst, O.G. Venture Partners, Rosello, Lakestar and Atomico. This follows a successful Series A round in 2023 that attracted $65 million from big-name investors such as Lakestar, Atomico and General Catalyst, as well as early seed funding from Prima Materia, which Daniel Ek also co-founded.

This increased investment comes at a time when the global healthcare industry is focusing on preventative care and adopting new technologies to better detect and manage health conditions. As Neko Health grows and innovates, it emerges as a pioneer in integrating technology and healthcare to provide proactive solutions that have the potential to transform the way health problems are predicted and prevented.

Be at the forefront of tech with [Code Labs Academy](https://codelabsacademy.com/en).


Opera Air: The New Mindfulness-Focused Browser for Improved Mental Well-being

Hacking Alert: Outdated WordPress Sites Targeted for Malware Distribution by Cybercriminals

Release of DeepSeek’s R1 Model Shakes Up the AI Industry

Neko Health Secures $260M to Enhance Body Scanning Technology