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Types of mobile apps and how they combat social issues

Tech

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

Types of mobile apps and how they combat social issues

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Mobile devices have become an increasingly important part of our lives, thanks in large part to mobile apps. You can download apps for everything from breaking news updates to popular games.

Using the right apps can help you get the most out of your mobile devices. Despite the criticisms of society’s reliance on technology, a lot of positive things can come from the right apps. Below, I’ll detail how mobile apps have been used to address many social issues in the United States.

Types of Mobile Apps

There is a mobile app for just about anything you can think of. Most people rely on their mobile devices more than ever before, so a wide range of apps is necessary. Most apps can be categorized into one of these five areas:

– Education and Lifestyle
– Entertainment and Games
– News and Social Media
– Healthcare
– Activism and Government

The lines between categories can be blurry at times. Regardless of how you classify apps, there is no denying that every type of app can have a social impact. Even streaming services and gambling apps can have a positive impact on society.

Education and Lifestyle

It is not hard to see how education and lifestyle apps can have a huge social impact. They are designed to make our everyday lives easier.

Apps that make it easier to access education can provide new opportunities to larger groups of people and address educational inequality. Lifestyle apps, on the other hand, can help make other aspects of our lives more convenient. They cover a wide range of topics ranging from dating to grocery shopping.

Education apps can cover a wide variety of topics. Apps like Quizlet and Google Classroom are popular study tools at all levels of education. They were especially helpful during the pandemic when remote learning was a necessity.

Adults can also benefit from these apps, as evident by the popularity and success of companies like Duolingo. Lifestyle apps also serve to improve people’s lives by making it easier to access information and connect with people. These apps can cover a wide range of topics, including shopping apps, dating apps, and more.

Entertainment and Games

Arguably the most popular type of apps are those designed for entertainment purposes. Finding ways to keep yourself entertained is an important part of self-care and can help prevent burnout and depression. Thankfully, people in the US have a large range of entertainment-focused apps to choose from.

For example, there is no shortage of streaming apps for television and movies. You can even get apps for live television broadcasts.

Of course, there are other ways to entertain yourself than by just watching TV and movies. Mobile gaming apps exploded in the early 2010s thanks to apps like Candy Crush Saga and Angry Birds. Gaming apps have remained popular and only improved with time.

One of the biggest developments recently has been the growth of regulated betting apps. Changing legislation in the US has made it easier for land-based and online casinos to create mobile apps. Easier access to betting options has created unprecedented growth for the gambling industry in recent years.

News and Social Media

Another popular category of mobile apps is news-focused apps. Modern news apps allow users to stay up to date on the latest developments for any topic around the world. Social media apps provide a similar but more personalized experience.

The line between news and social media can be challenging to find. Many social media apps, like Facebook and the app formerly known as Twitter, are used to distribute news.

Many mobile devices even come with news apps already downloaded onto them. The ease of access to news updates has allowed more people to be informed about world events. But it can also have negative effects on our mental health, especially for teens and young adults.

In general, though, the increased flow of information and socialization afforded by news and social media apps is a positive. It can be vital during stressful times, like emergencies and natural disasters.

Healthcare

Medical apps can also have a huge social impact. Many home medical devices now include mobile apps that make the devices easier to operate.

A great example of this connection is healthcare apps for glucose monitors. These apps make it easier for people with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar levels. Other examples of common healthcare apps include:

– Exercise apps
– Menstruation tracking apps
– Medication reminder apps
– Medical ID apps
– Smoking cessation apps

Well-developed healthcare apps can help make their users’ lives easier. These apps are especially useful to US residents, given the cost of healthcare in America.

Healthcare apps are not a substitute for going to a doctor. But they can help you manage your medical needs between appointments. They can also help you stay on top of your medical needs and alert you to medical problems so you can seek treatment.

Activism and Government

Last but not least, there are mobile apps designed to facilitate social activism and political change. Likewise, the government also has its own mobile apps to help it connect with civilians.

Activism apps can make it easier for organizers to raise awareness about social issues and conservation efforts. Also, apps are great for networking and organizing events. Nonprofit charities can even use mobile apps to help collect donations while lowering their operating costs.

Not to be left out, many government agencies offer their own mobile apps. These can be great resources for people who want to stay up to date with government proceedings.

The White House even launched its own app back in 2010 during the Obama administration. It allowed users to keep up with the latest updates from the WH. You could even watch live press conferences and press briefings.

Are There Downsides to Mobile Apps?

Mobile apps can be great tools for connecting with others, getting news updates, and addressing social issues. These benefits are easy to access because apps are an important part of our daily lives. But there are some downsides to our growing reliance on mobile apps.

Social Impact

When used correctly, mobile apps can be the catalyst for a lot of positive social change. However, there are negative social impacts to the use of these apps, too.

For example, the decreased need for face-to-face interactions can impact our social skills. This can be especially problematic for younger users. Online interactions can also lead people to act in ways they otherwise would not have.

The increase in social media apps has already led to a rise in cyberbullying. According to a Pew Research Center study in 2018, 59% of teens reported experiencing cyberbullying.

The anonymity offered by internet apps can also create issues. Anyone who has browsed through online comment sections knows that anonymous users have little regard for social boundaries. On the bright side, there are more resources for combatting negative online experiences and cyberbullying than in years past.

Security Concerns

Another concern that has arisen from the growing use of mobile apps is the issue of security. Many people store a ton of personal data on their mobile devices. You may not even be aware of the type of information you are potentially putting at risk.

Unsafe attacks and cyber-attacks have created major security concerns over the years. Older generations who are unfamiliar with the technology they are using are uniquely vulnerable.

Even younger generations can be at risk if they are not careful. Complicated user agreements, cookies, and data mining are risks for everyone.

Thankfully, modern apps are only getting more secure. Major app stores like the Apple Store and Google Play also have strict criteria that developers must meet. These standards help to protect users by making sure that only safe apps are widely available.

Addiction

A third major concern about mobile apps is that they can be very addictive. This is not an accident, either, because developers design their apps to have addictive qualities.

The easiest example of addictive apps is mobile games. The rewarding nature of these games makes them fun to play, but it can also make them hard to put down. Many of these apps include microtransactions, too, which can quickly become expensive.

Addictive qualities are not limited to just mobile games, either. Social media apps are also infamous for their addictive qualities. Modern apps are even designed to appeal to users with shorter attention spans.

Of course, the allure of fame can also play into the addictive nature of mobile apps. Users will dedicate hours of their life trying to go viral and cultivate an online following. But these apps can also be used to create new career opportunities that did not exist before smartphones.

Which Mobile Apps Do You Use the Most?

Mobile apps are a great way to stay in touch with or escape from the world around us. There are apps for just about everything if you know where to look. In the right hands, apps can even be used to address pressing social issues in the US.

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How Apple fixed what Microsoft hasn’t with Thomas Reed

Malware

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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How Apple fixed what Microsoft hasn’t with Thomas Reed

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This week on Lock and Code, we speak with Thomas Reed about how Apple was able to previously address a security loophole that still persists on Windows, and what both companies get wrong (and right) about security.

Earlier this month, a group of hackers was spotted using a set of malicious tools—that originally gained popularity with online video game cheaters—to hide their Windows-based malware from being detected.

Sounds unique, right?

Frustratingly, it isn’t, as the specific security loophole that was abused by the hackers has been around for years, and Microsoft’s response, or lack thereof, is actually a telling illustration of the competing security environments within Windows and macOS. Even more perplexing is the fact that Apple dealt with a similar issue nearly 10 years ago, locking down the way that certain external tools are given permission to run alongside the operating system’s critical, core internals.

Today, on the Lock and Code podcast with host David Ruiz, we speak with Malwarebytes’ own Director of Core Tech Thomas Reed about everyone’s favorite topic: Windows vs. Mac. But this isn’t a conversation about the original iPod vs. Microsoft’s Zune (we’re sure you can find countless, 4-hour diatribes on YouTube for that), but instead about how the companies behind these operating systems can respond to security issues in their own products. Because it isn’t fair to say that Apple or Microsoft are wholesale “better” or “worse” about security. Instead, they’re hampered by their users and their core market segments—Apple excels in the consumer market, whereas Microsoft excels with enterprises. And when your customers include hospitals, government agencies, and pretty much any business over a certain headcount, well, it comes with complications in deciding how to address security problems that won’t leave those same customers behind.

Still, there’s little excuse in leaving open the type of loophole that Windows has, said Reed:

“Apple has done something that was pretty inconvenient for developers, but it really secured their customers because it basically meant we saw a complete stop in all kernel-level malware. It just shows you [that] it can be done. You’re gonna break some eggs in the process, and Microsoft has not done that yet… They’re gonna have to.”

Tune in today.

Show notes and credits:

Intro Music: “Spellbound” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Outro Music: “Good God” by Wowa (unminus.com)

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Here’s why Samsung didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5

Android

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Here’s why Samsung didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5

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Since the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, the company has been trying to gracefully implement the S Pen with its foldable phones. While it’s easy for us to imagine Samsung just sticking a stylus in its phone, there are things to consider. A Samsung executive explained why the company didn’t include an S Pen with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

This is the latest notebook foldable phone from Samsung. The company just announced the Galaxy Z Fold 5, and it brings some powerful specs. If you’re interested in pre-ordering this phone, click here. You can expect much the same experience with this phone as what you got with last year’s iteration. The company made several refinements to the hardware and camera technology, however. It starts at the same $1,799 price as well.

Here’s why Samsung didn’t stick an S Pen in the Galaxy Z Fold 5

You can’t say that Samsung hasn’t been trying to fit the S Pen inside the Z Fold 5. The company showed off a ton of different prototypes that it developed, and one of them actually had an S Pen built into it. It slid into the bottom of the phone just like it’s a Galaxy S23 Ultra. It looks like a logical way of going about including a pen.

While it might be possible to do this, it’s not as simple as that. Every action has a reaction, and putting an S Pen inside of the Z Fold would have certain consequences. TechRadar’s Lance Ulanoff spoke with Samsung Head of MX Design Hubert Lee about why the company didn’t include the S Pen with the phone.

He said that “There’s a lot to consider. You can’t just stick a pen in there. If you stick a pen in, there are other cost consequences.” Considering that prices on tech are creeping up each year, that’s a solid statement. The Galaxy Z Fold line of phones stayed at the $1,799 price tag, and that’s no small feat in this economy. Adding an S Pen would incur additional manufacturing costs. Those costs would more than likely trickle down to the user.

It’s unfortunate that Samsung wasn’t able to implement an S Pen into its phone, but who’s to say that next year’s phone won’t have one? We also can’t rule out other companies getting the jump on Samsung and implementing a stylus in their foldable phones.

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A week in security (July 24 – July 30)

Malware

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Last week on Malwarebytes Labs:

Stay safe!

Malwarebytes EDR and MDR removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW

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Razr Plus teardown shows similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

Android

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Razr Plus teardown shows similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

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Before the Motorola Razr Plus teardown video, Jerry Rig Everything has already put this device through a durability test. During the durability test, the new Motorola clamshell folding device’s cover screen cracked under pressure. This crack revealed the presence of a cavity just under the flexible AMOLED cover display.

In a bid to understand why this cavity exists under the screen, Jerry took on the task of tearing down this device. During this tear-down, fans get to see a similarity between the Motorola Razr Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. This similarity exists in one of the most vital parts of these devices’ anatomy.

The similarity in question might raise concerns among fans and netizens. Well, the presence of this striking similarity could be a partnership between the two companies. Let’s have a look at what areas these devices lend a thing or two to one another.

Details on the Razr Plus teardown shows off similarities with the Galaxy Z Flip 5

Taking apart the device revealed Motorola‘s moves to make it a more water-resistant design. These endeavors see the use of rubber gaskets that help maintain the device’s IP52 water resistance. Disconnecting these gaskets will help to free the cover display and give access to the components underneath.

These rubber gaskets serve as connectors and are around the wireless charging pad. This pad sits on the bottom folding half of the device, and on the top half of the device sits the motherboard. Since the cameras sit on the motherboard, pulling it out can reveal the 12MP main camera’s OIS feature.

The smaller portion of the battery also sits in the top half of the clamshell folding device. As for the second and larger battery pack, it sits at the bottom folding half of the device. Asides from the wireless charging connector and battery pack, there are also a few other parts in the bottom folding half.

By tearing down the display, it is clear that there is some gap between the cover display and the metal folding bracket. Proceeding with the teardown reveals the flexible AMOLED main screen, which might be sourced from Samsung. However, the similarity between the Motorola Razr Plus and the Galaxy Z Flip 5 is in their hinge folding mechanism.

A closer look at the hinge on both devices will show a very similar folding technology. Because Samsung has been making use of this technology, there might be some concern about Motorola copying their invention. It might also be possible that Samsung is responsible for the design of the hinge found in the Motorola Razr Plus smartphone.

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Supply chain attacks disrupt emergency services communications

Malware

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Supply chain attacks disrupt emergency services communications

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We take a look at a supply chain attack which disrupted two UK-based ambulance service’s ability to access customer records.

A supply chain attack rendered two ambulance trusts incapable of accessing electronic patient records in the UK. The two services, which operate in a region of 12 million people, were not targeted directly. Instead, the attack was aimed at a third-party technology provider used by both the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and the South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT).

According to reports, the systems were attacked sometime on the evening of July 18, impacting “customer systems within its hosted datacentre environment”.

The targeted organisation, Ortivus, has the following to say in a statement regarding the attack:

The electronic patient records are currently unavailable and are until further notice handled using manual systems. No patients have been directly affected. No other systems have been attacked and no customers outside of those in the hosted datacenter have been affected.

Ortivus are currently working in close collaboration with the affected customers to restore the systems and recover data. The affected customers are the ones using MobiMed ePR, electronic patient record systems in a hosted environment.

The organization behind the cyber-attack is not known at this stage and the incident has been reported to the authorities as a crime.

The targeted platform is called MobiMed. This is a “modular platform that connects and enable(s) real-time information sharing throughout the prehospital care chain”. It is claimed to be used by “over 12,000 paramedics in over 2,700 emergency vehicles”.

To lose access to patient record data under these conditions is clearly far from ideal. The Register reports that healthcare workers are having to resort to pen and paper, alongside staff being warned of the potential for phishing attacks.

While there is a backup system able to take MobiMed’s place “within 24 hours” of an attack, integration with other systems is not 100%. Until a full analysis of the attack has taken place, the backup system will remain in place.

Regular readers of the blog will know of the chaos that accompanies attacks on healthcare providers. If crucial systems are compromised, people’s lives are put at risk. It’s something of a hot-button issue for ransomware authors, to the extent that some of them will apologise and offer up free decryption tools. They have calculated that it is simply not worth the press heat and possibility of angering law enforcement. Much better to blame an affiliate (whether an affiliate is responsible or not) and try to salvage some good PR from the situation.

Supply chain attacks are another large wrinkle on top of the original problem. Whether the attacker knows their target is used for medical work or something else altogether, it impacts organisations along the supply chain either way. Everything from healthcare to fuel suppliers are at risk when the supply chain attacks come to town.

Securing your supply chain

Here’s how you can protect your organization from risks your suppliers might pose:

Know who your vendors are. Knowing this allows you to look for risks and vulnerabilities in the chain that threat actors might exploit.
Use EDR or MDR. Invest in an effective endpoint detection and response (EDR) system, or managed detection response (MDR) if you don’t have the expert staff to monitor EDR 24/7.
Segment your network. This limits attackers ability to move laterally, either stopping them or forcing them into actions your monitoring is more likely to pick up.
Develop an incident response (IR) plan. If you don’t know what framework to build on, check out this incident handling guide from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Include transparent and timely communication between your stakeholders and customers when something happens, so your business can provide steps to mitigate the problem if needed.
Have a plan for patching. Patching in an organisation of any size is difficult: You need a systematic way to understand what hardware you have, what software it’s running, what patches that software needs, how important they are, and what the risks of deploying them are.
Create and test offline backups. Speaking of backups, never assume they work, test them.
Apply the principle of least privilege. Give suppliers the access they actually need and nothing more.
Make multi-factor authentication (MFA) a norm. Supply chain attackers have been known to use stolen credentials to compromise systems. They know business systems trust credentials, regardless of who uses them.
Train your employees. Gaps in security hygiene practices can open up opportunities for attackers. It’s important to keep employees and partners aware of the possible risks and red flags associated with supply chain attacks.

Malwarebytes EDR and MDR removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+

Android

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest clamshell foldable smartphone on the market, at least at the time of writing this article. The phone got announced during Samsung’s second Unpacked event of 2023. Having said that, in this article, we’ll compare the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+. These two smartphones are direct rivals in the market, as direct as it gets, actually. That goes for the US market too.

One thing to note is that the Motorola Razr+ name is used in the US, while in most other regions the phone is known as the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. These two smartphones both have a large outer display, and have plenty to offer in general. We’ll first list out their specifications, and will then compare them across a number of different categories.

Specs

– Main display: 6.7-inch fullHD+ foldable Dynamic AMOLED (120Hz) / 6.9-inch fullHD+ LTPO AMOLED (165Hz)
– Cover display: 3.4-inch 720 x 748 Super AMOLED (60Hz) / 3.6-inch 1056 x 1066 AMOLED (144Hz)
– SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy / Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
– RAM: 8GB (LPDDR5X) / 8GB/12GB (LPDDR5)
– Storage: 256GB/512GB (UFS 4.0) / 256GB/512GB (UFS 3.1)
– Rear cameras: 12MP (wide, OIS, PDAF, f/1.8 aperture, 1.8um pixel size), 12MP (ultrawide, 123-degree FoV) / 12MP (wide, f/1.5 aperture, 1.4um pixel size, OIS, PDAF), 13MP ultrawide (f/2.2 aperture, 108-degree FoV)
– Front cameras: 10MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.22um pixel size) / 32MP (f/2.4 aperture, 0.7um pixel size)
– Battery: 3,700mAh (25W wired, 15W wireless, 4.5W reverse wireless), no charger / 3,800mAh (30W wired, 5W wireless), no in some markets
– Dimensions (unfolded): 165.1 x 71.9 x 6.9mm / 170.8 x 74 x 7mm
– Dimensions (folded): 85.1 x 71.9 x 15.1mm / 88.4 x 74 x 15.1mm
– Weight: 187 grams / 184.5/188.5 grams
– Connectivity: 5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3
– Security: Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS: Android 13 with One UI / Android 13
– Price: $999 / $999
– Buy: Amazon / Amazon

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+: Design

Both of these smartphones are made out of metal and glass, but they do feel different in the hand. The Motorola Razr+ has fewer flat sides, which is the main reason for a different in-hand feel. Both phones have a centered display camera hole on the inside, and they fold right down the middle. They also both have very thin bezels on the main display. When they’re open, and you look at them from the front, they’re extremely similar.

Now, the differences can be seen on the back, easily. They both do have two cameras on the back, which are horizontally aligned in the top-left corner. What’s different is their cover displays. They’re both quite large, but the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s has a folder-like shape, while the Motorola Razr+’s goes around the cameras, and has a rather normal shape for a display. It takes more room than the Galaxy Z Flip 5’s panel.

The Motorola Razr+ is a bit taller and wider than the Galaxy Z Flip 5, while they’re about the same in terms of thickness. That goes for both the folded and unfolded states. It is worth noting that the Motorola Razr+ has a larger main display too, which is the main reason for the size difference between them. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is IPX8 rated for water resistance, while the Motorola Razr+ has water-repellent coating.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+: Display

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a 6.7-inch fullHD+ (2640 x 1080) Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X display. That panel has a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support too. It goes up to 1,200 nits of brightness at its peak. A 3.4-inch cover display is also included. It’s a Super AMOLED panel with a 720 x 748 resolution, and that panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 AH 9 — Galaxy Z Flip 5

The Motorola Razr+, on the other hand, includes a 6.9-inch fullHD+ 2640 x 1080 Foldable LTPO AMOLED display. That panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and it’s a 165Hz unit. HDR10+ content is supported on this panel, and the display goes up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. The cover display on Motorola’s device measures 3.6 inches, and it offers a 1056 x 1066 resolution. Gorilla Glass Victus protects this display.

Both smartphones are well-equipped in the display category. Truth be said, they both do the job phenomenally. Neither display feels too plasticky or anything (in terms of foldable panels), and they’re all bright enough. Of course, don’t expect the same brightness as the most powerful (regular) smartphones out there offer, but it’ll be enough for most people. Touch response is also good, as are the viewing angles. The Motorola Razr+ allows you to run any app on the cover display, while the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will do the same soon, as soon as the Good Lock update arrives. You’ll need to enable that manually, though. The Motorola Razr+’s cover display does offer a considerably higher resolution, and refresh rate, though.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+: Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy fuels the Galaxy Z Flip 5. In addition to that, Samsung included 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage too. The Motorola Razr+, on the flip side, has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC on the inside. That chip is inferior to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but it’s extremely powerful nonetheless. Motorola offers 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM here, along with UFS 3.1 flash storage.

So, as you can see, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 does have more powerful internals. Does that mean it has a huge advantage in the performance department? Well, no, not really. Both phones perform admirably. They’re very smooth in day-to-day performance, and can even handle the most demanding games out there The Galaxy Z Flip 5 does usually open apps slightly faster, but that’s not something you’ll notice unless you run them side by side. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is more future-proof, in a way, thanks to the specs, but they both run beautifully at the moment.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+: Battery

Samsung’s latest clamshell foldable includes a 3,700mAh battery. The Motorola Razr+, on the other hand, has a 3,800mAh battery on the inside. The Motorola Razr+ actually offers really good battery life, at least it did during our testing. We were able to pull out 7.5-8 hours of screen-on-time from the device. Based on the specs alone, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 should be able to offer something similar.

We’re still testing the device, though, our verdict is not ready yet. From what we’re seeing, however, it still flies a bit under the levels of the Motorola Razr+. The battery life the phone provides is better than what the Galaxy Z Flip 4 had to offer. That may change, however, as we’re still in the early days of Galaxy Z Flip 5 usage. Our full review will reveal far more information, stay tuned for that.

When it comes to charging, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 offers 25W wired, 15W wireless, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The Motorola Razr+ supports 30W wired, and 5W wireless charging, no reverse (wireless) charging. Do note that the Galaxy Z Flip 5 does not include a charger in the box, while the Motorola Razr+ does, but only in some markets. That’s not the case in the US, however.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 vs Motorola Razr+: Cameras

Both smartphones include two cameras on the back, and one on the main display. You can, of course, use their rear-facing cameras as the only cameras, as you can use them in collaboration with cover displays on both phones. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 includes a 12-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (123-degree FoV). The Motorola Razr+ features a 12-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit (108-degree FoV).

When it comes to image quality, both smartphones are quite good. The Galaxy Z Flip does have a tendency to crank up the saturation, while the Motorola Razr+ images can look a bit muted sometimes. Neither phone is aiming for true-to-life portrayal, but both do a good job. In most situations, we end up preferring the Galaxy Z Flip 5 shots in daylight, and Motorola Razr+ shots in low light. Do note that we’ve recently started using the Galaxy Z Flip 5, though, so we’re not making our final impressions yet.

When it comes to ultrawide cameras, they do their best to follow the main shooters, but are a level below them. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 does offer a noticeably wider FoV, and we didn’t really use the Motorola Razr+’s ultrawide camera due to its (108-degree) field-of-view.

Audio

What about audio? Well, first and foremost, do note that there is no audio jack on either of these two phones. They do offer a set of stereo speakers, however. The Motorola Razr+ speakers do seem to be a bit louder, but both sets are very good in terms of quality.

If you’d like to hook up your wired headphones to either phone, you’ll have to use their Type-C ports. Wireless connections are an option too, of course. Both of these smartphones offer Bluetooth 5.3 for such purposes.

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AI made it easier for hackers to write malware, FBI says

Tech

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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AI made it easier for hackers to write malware, FBI says

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says hackers use AI to write malware. The agency declared AI tools have made it much easier for bad actors to write and spread malicious programs or phishing emails.

Every useful tool can become a dangerous weapon if it falls into the hands of the wrong people, including AI. Artificial intelligence can be used in various fields and for different purposes like healthcare or enhancing productivity. However, the FBI is now complaining about free, customizable open-source AI models that are writing malicious codes for hackers.

Hackers usually need a high level of programming knowledge to write strong, hard-to-detect malware. On the other hand, the currently available AI tools allow almost everyone to build a program (or malware) without having any programming knowledge. The generative AI placed at the heart of these tools can write or debug the codes like an experienced programmer.

FBI says AI is writing malware for hackers

The agency’s warning comes as cybercrime continues to rise and hackers become increasingly sophisticated in their methods. The malware created by AI is usually hard to detect and more difficult to delete once it has infected a system. AI also makes it easier for hackers to launch attacks on a larger scale, targeting multiple systems simultaneously.

Deepfakes are another tool that fraudsters use to their advantage. Deepfakes are movies or photos that have been artificially enhanced to make them look realistic. They can be used to mimic other people online or spread misleading information like propaganda or fake news. This way, a victim might be persuaded into performing specific actions, like making a payment or sending private information.

As AI is rapidly growing, many governments are still struggling with designing and implementing protective measures against potential harm. The White House has recently called for a “voluntary commitment” program to mitigate AI risks with the help of major tech companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, etc.

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Meta subsidiaries must pay $14m over misleading data collection disclosure

Malware

andreasc

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August 1, 2023

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Meta subsidiaries must pay $14m over misleading data collection disclosure

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We take a look at reports that Meta subsidiaries have been ordered to pay a sizeable fine relating to disclosure issues for a now discontinued VPN.

Meta has run into yet another bout of court related issues—two subsidiaries have been ordered to pay $14 million regarding undisclosed data collection. The Australian case, which has rumbled on for the best part of two and a half years, has focused on claims related to a now discontinued Virtual Private Network (VPN).

The subsidiary Onavo, acquired in 2013 by Facebook, was supposed to be keeping the VPN a separate brand from the main flagship company. Among various privacy based claims were “peace of mind when you browse” and “keep you and your data safe online”. It was certainly popular, with more than 270,000 downloads in Australia.

One of the app’s major selling points was that users were told their data would not be used for any purposes other than “the provision of Onavo Protect’s products”.

However the app, functional from 2016 to 2017, was found to be sending data to Facebook. This included user location, frequency using other apps, time, and also unrelated websites visited for the purposes of advertising. Here’s a rundown of some of the things the app was tracking, from the original research in 2018:

When a mobile is turned on and off
Daily Wi-Fi data usage (even when the app is off)
Daily cellular data usage (even when the app is off)
Amount of time the VPN connection is used

This was not what app users had signed up for, and so things quickly turned legal as a result. From the judgement:

Facebook Israel and Onavo admit that they offered, advertised and promoted Onavo Protect and made the app available to download by users in Australia via the App Store (for iOS users) and the Play Store (for Android users) during the Available Period.

Meta and Facebook Israel’s internal documents state that Onavo Protect was “a business intelligence tool” for Meta, which provided Meta with “a sample of users who we are able to know nearly everything they are doing on their mobile device” (which was in the form of anonymised, aggregated data). Meta then used anonymised and aggregated data derived from sets of the Onavo Protect Data (in the form of statistical information) for a range of purposes, including in relation to its advertising and marketing activities, improving its products and services and developing commercial strategies.

Disclosures related to how consumer data would be used for purposes other than providing Onavo Protect were listed in the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, in the form of website links promoting the product. Additionally, users were taken to a page containing said documents when using Onavo Protect for the first time after installation. However, the disclosures in question were not “sufficiently prominent or proximate to the listings”.

Back to the judgement, where there is every sense that those responsible have dodged a potentially much larger fine:

Facebook Israel and Onavo admit that, given the above facts, the Listings that contained the Statements were likely to mislead or deceive (within the meaning of s 18 of the ACL), and liable to mislead the public (within the meaning of s 33 of the ACL), in the absence of sufficient disclosures to Australian consumers (which they admit were not made in those Listings) of the fact that Australian users’ data would be used for purposes other than providing Onavo Protect.

Where the theoretical maximum penalty is in the billions or trillions of dollars, the overall maximum penalty will not be a meaningful factor in the court’s assessment. In these circumstances, the appropriate range is best assessed by reference to factors other than where the conduct falls in the range of seriousness of offending in relation to the maximum penalty.

Last year, Instagram received a record fine of $400m for the abuse of children’s data. Elsewhere, Meta was fined $277m for a data breach which impacted around 500 million users. Some believe that social networks simply consider fines like these to be the cost of doing business. A few million dollars here or there doesn’t necessarily convince those responsible to do anything about it.

Even so, the fines keep coming. It remains to be seen if the long-term impact will eventually amount to anything meaningful.

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The PS5 now supports Dolby Atmos thanks to the latest beta

Android

andreasc

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July 31, 2023

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The PS5 now supports Dolby Atmos thanks to the latest beta

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The PS5 is getting the latest beta software update today and it’s introducing quite a few new features, including Dolby Atmos support. This is one of the core new features, but it’s hardly the only noteworthy addition.

Sony is loading up a raft of new accessibility and UI features too. And for those with some money to spare, support for an 8TB M.2 NVMe SSD should they want to upgrade. This update won’t be available for most users for a while longer but if you’re enrolled in the beta, you might see these new features after installing the software.

Provided Sony has selected you to participate. The beta is also only available in a few different regions. This includes the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, UK, and France. All of which were available to participate in the last beta, Sony says. All of these new features definitely make the PS5 more capable than ever and enhance the overall experience. The upgraded storage capacity support in particular will be great for people who never want to worry about having enough space for games again.

An 8TB M.2 NVMe SSD will have to meet the console’s requirements though. And there aren’t many out there. Not to mention an 8TB NVMe SSD won’t be cheap. One of the SSDs we’ve recommended for example is the Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus. It’s available in an 8TB model and it does meet the PS5 requirements. But it’s also $999.99. And that’s without the $17 heatsink.

PS5 beta participants can use Dolby Atmos audio gear

The biggest feature addition is without a doubt the Dolby Atmos support. And with it, the PS5’s Tempest 3D Audio Tech will be compatible with Dolby Atmos devices. Such as sound bars, headphones, home theater systems, and TVs.

Sony says this will allow for even greater levels of immersion within games.

Search for games in your library and more

One of the many new features is the ability to search for games within your library. This is a simple change but a very useful one if you have a lot of games. There’s also a few new social features like the ability to add people to a closed party without adding them to the group.

Additionally, it’ll be much easier to join friends who are playing a game where you’re able to join. You can do this from the friends tab, and friends whose activities can be joined will be listed. You can view all the details of the beta update in the official blog post.

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