Valve catches and bans 40,000 accounts in 'Dota 2'

Image: Valve

Valve recently patched a known issue in Dota 2 that uses third-party software to cheat. At the same time, the developer set up a honeypot trap to catch players using the exploit. Valve has permanently banned over 40,000 accounts caught red-handed using the software to cheat. 

Valve said this cheat is giving users an unfair advantage by accessing information used internally by the Dota client that shouldn't be visible during gameplay. After investigating how it worked, the developer then identified and removed the "bad actors" from the active Dota player base.

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Classic 'Angry Birds' game gets delisted on Google Play

Graphic: Rovio

If you want to get your hands on the rebuilt version of the classic Angry Birds game on Android, you must do that quickly. Rovio Classics: Angry Birds will be delisted from the Google Play Store this Thursday due to "the game's impact" on Rovio's games portfolio. Strangely, the Apple App Store version will remain, but the developer plans to change the game's name to Red's First Flight.

The Verge speculates that Rovio is delisting the game, so people use its free-to-play titles that rely more on microtransactions. The Rovio Classics version is a one-time purchase, so it won't make them as much money as the other Angry Birds titles. It's unclear why Rovio didn't just decide to rename the game like on the Apple App Store. If you're looking for the game, it's technically listed as Rovio Classics: AB, making it look like Rovio is really trying to bury the title.

OnePlus 11 Concept gets PC-like LEDs on the back

Photo: OnePlus

OnePlus hasn't taken too many big leaps when it comes to the OnePlus 11's design. But it looks like it had other concepts in mind, specifically on a device aptly called the OnePlus 11 Concept. The company teases the smartphone ahead of Mobile World Congress on February 27. It features a rear design with LED lights akin to what you see on PCs. This "flowing back" look features a meandering stream-like LED pattern around the camera and through the unibody glass design.

With the OnePlus 11 packing in some gaming-worthy specs, this design seems to make sense. As Engadget pointed out, it seems reminiscent of the Nothing phone (1)'s transparent light-up back, which, as you may know, is from a company formed by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei. We don't know if this phone will be released or if it lives up to that concept name. Either way, we'll learn more on the 27th at 3 PM ET.

This is how much Meta's paid account verification badges cost

Graphic: Muhammad Asyfaul/Unsplash

We learn a bit more about Meta's new subscription service for Instagram and Facebook. Emulating Twitter's Blue service, Meta Verified allows you to pay to get verified on the services. It starts at US$11.99 per month on the web or US$14.99. On top of the badges, Meta promises extra protection from impersonation accounts and direct access to customer support. There will also be access to exclusive features like stickers for Stories and Reels and 100 star tokens (Meta's digital currency) which you can use to tip creators on Facebook. 

To prevent fake accounts, you'll need to provide a government ID that matches your profile name and picture and you must be over 18 to be eligible. Meta clarified in a statement that existing verified accounts won't be affected as these users are "authentic and notable." 

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