Official Gaming Mouse Software Hosted Malware For Weeks - 1

Image by Sean Do, from Unsplash

Official Gaming Mouse Software Hosted Malware For Weeks

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The official software of Endgame Gear hosted XRed malware for two weeks, which endangered user security, until the clean file was reuploaded.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Endgame Gear mouse software hosted malware for at least two weeks.
  • The infected file came from Endgame Gear’s official content delivery network.
  • Antivirus tools caught malware, protecting many users during the infection window.

The Endgame Gear OP1w 4K V2 gaming mouse software download from the official manufacturer site contained malware for at least two weeks, as first reported by PCGamer . The dangerous XRed remote access trojan (RAT) malware enabled attackers to gain control of compromised computers.

Reports first surfaced on the MouseReview subreddit, where users noticed the configuration tool contained malicious code. According to Redditor Admirable-Raccoon597 , the infected version was available for download from at least July 2 until July 17, 2025.

The infected file came directly from Endgame Gear’s official content delivery network (CDN), not a third-party source, as noted by PCGamer.

The official Endgame Gear representative validated the problem through Discord before uploading a clean version of the file. PCGamer notes that the company has not released any official announcement about the incident to the public.

Broadcom , a cybersecurity firm, explained the XRed backdoor has “sophisticated capabilities as it collects system data information that it transmits the data using SMTP to email addresses.” The malware also hides itself using hidden directories and registry keys, and can spread via USB drives like a worm, as noted by PCGamer.

Fortunately, many users were likely protected, as antivirus tools like Windows Defender and Google Chrome flagged the malware.

The incident demonstrates that official software downloads can create security threats, which underlines the need for antivirus protection and careful monitoring among gamers.

AI Restores Her Voice Post-Cancer, but Coverage Remains Out Of Reach - 2

Image by Catherine Breslin from Unsplash

AI Restores Her Voice Post-Cancer, but Coverage Remains Out Of Reach

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Generative AI voice technology allowed Sonya Sotinsky to speak again after her cancer surgery took away her voice.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • She used AI to recreate her voice using pre-recorded samples.
  • The AI voice is deployed via a text-to-speech app called Whisper.
  • She pays $99/month for her AI voice and now advocates for broader access.

After being diagnosed with Stage 4 tongue cancer, Sonya Sotinsky underwent a life-saving surgery that removed her tongue, larynx, and voice box. The procedure took away her voice, yet she found a way to maintain her ability to speak.

Sotinsky started voice banking during the five-week period between her diagnosis and surgery. She recorded herself saying everyday phrases and reading children’s books, preserving her unique tone and sarcastic delivery.

“Your voice is your identity,” she said to NPR , which first reported this story. “When you can’t use your voice, it is very, very frustrating,” she added.

The speech technologies available at the time of her surgery, in early 2022, were limited and robotic. Additionally, standard electrolarynx devices failed to work for her because she had no tongue.

But by mid-2024, advances in generative AI had made it possible to replicate natural human voices with far greater accuracy. NPR reports that an AI company developed a custom voice model using her banked recordings. This allowed text-to-speech functionality through the Whisper app on her phone.

The result was striking. Her daughter, Ela Fuentevilla, described the moment: “She got her sass back […] It’s crazy similar,” she told NPR.

However, this level of voice restoration comes at a personal cost. NPR reports that the initial assistive voice technology cost Sotinsky $3,000. She now spends $99 per month for ongoing use.

The health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, refused to cover the expense. NPR reports that they argued that assistive communication tools do not meet their criteria for medical necessity.

This isn’t the first time AI has played a role in restoring voices. Earlier this year, scientists at Radboud University and UMC Utrecht developed a brain implant that translates neural signals into real-time, natural-sounding speech. The AI model decodes brain waves in just 80 milliseconds and can even replicate a patient’s original voice using pre-injury recordings.

NPR reports that Sotinsky stepped back from her career to advocate for voice banking and improved access to AI-based tools. She works with researchers who hope that clinical trials will help make such technology more accessible, and eventually eligible for insurance coverage.