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This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on all things vertical video, follow David Pierce. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here.

How it started

Steam discussion forums are being abused in ClickFix attacks that pretend to be fixes for game and computer problems but actually infect devices with cryptominers. [...]

It's been nearly five years since Ridley Scott first announced his plans for a TV spinoff of his sci-fi masterpiece Blade Runner (1982) and the 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049. It's finally here—or almost, anyway. Prime Video debuted the first teaser for the new ten-episode series, Blade Runner 2099,

This Week in 2016

• Cy Vance Still Arguing For Mandated Encryption Backdoors; Believes Third Party Doctrine Supports His Theory
• Sen. McCain Unhappy Apple Turned Down His Invitation To Be Encryption Hearing Punching Bag
• Cable Industry’s False Copyright Claims Are Killing Cable Box Reform Efforts
• Prenda (Mostly) Loses Again; Court Says…

Google's Vice President of Devices and Services, Shakil Barkat, all but confirmed in an interview with 9to5 Google that its next Pixel phone would cost more than the Pixel 10. Considering the ongoing RAM supply issues due to the explosion of AI data centers, the rumored price hike is not…

A massive malvertising campaign is using fake Solana, Luno, and TradingView webpages with malicious JavaScript that instructs browsers to assemble malware directly in memory. [...]

Oli Freke is a musician and journalist whose works have appeared in Sound on Sound, The Quietus, and Mixmag. This has included using math to explore the melodic potential of the Western 12-tone scale and deep dives on effects plug-ins. He's even written a book tracing…

With elements from synthesizers, loopers, and effects pedals, Teenage Engineering’s devices lie somewhere between musical instrument and modern art. These grooveboxes, as they’re often called, are capable of helping you produce songs in…

Threat actors are using email addresses exposed in data breaches leaked by the ShinyHunters extortion group to send sextortion emails demanding $2,000 in Bitcoin. [...]