Some T-Mobile customers might get better phone deals soon

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Some T-Mobile customers might get better phone deals soon
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According to some leaked documents from The Mobile Report, it looks like some T-Mobile customers might get access to better phone deals, soon. How soon? Starting around June 21.

Here’s what’s going on, according to some leaked documents from T-Mobile, the carrier is going to be changing how it figures out some subscribers’ credit limits. Previously, it used “credit classes” for subscribers, now it will compute credit limits on an individual basis which will allow them to be considered “well-qualified”, and able to get the best deals on phones and other products.

This is going to allow the subscribers credit line to be raised, lowered, or stay the same depending on their history of paying T-Mobile bills. After six months of having your T-Mobile account, it will be evaluated based on your payment history. If T-Mobile finds that you pay your bill on time each month, then they might raise your credit limit. But if you end up paying late a couple of times, your credit limit might be decreased.

The leaked documents show that T-Mobile will reassess this every six months for the life of your account. Much like a credit card company would. And it’s also important to stress that T-Mobile is not pulling your credit every six months, it is only factoring in whether you pay your T-Mobile bill each month. Not external accounts.

How does this give subscribers access to better phone deals?

Because T-Mobile will now assess your credit limit every six months, automatically now, it means that you could get access to better phone deals. Currently, only those that are well-qualified get access to the $0 down payment offers on new phones. And if you were not well-qualified when you signed up, you never really moved into that group. So this change is a good one for T-Mobile customers.

This will be used only for T-Mobile postpaid accounts, and not on Metro by T-Mobile or T-Mobile Prepaid. Which makes sense, because only postpaid allows for financing phones and other products.


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The EU could force Google to break up its ad business

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The EU could force Google to break up its ad business
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Google seems to be in trouble, as the EU could force the company to break up its ad business. According to a source who talked to Reuters, the European Commission could issue a complaint as early as Wednesday.

The EU could force Google to break up its ad business

Its goal is to diminish Google’s ad tech dominance, basically. Based on the report, this will come as a result of Google’s failure to address competition concerns. It is worth noting that break-up orders from the EU are rare, though, so we’ll see what happens.

So, what exactly does this mean? What will Google have to do in order to appease the EU? If it comes to that, of course. Well, Google could be forced to sell a part of its advertising-technology business, actually. At least according to the source who talked to Reuters.

The European Commission is the EU’s top antitrust watchdog, and the complaint is expected to come from them. The source seems to be convinced it will happen tomorrow, at which point we’ll have far more information.

This is far from being a new issue

This is actually not a new issue, as mentioned earlier. The EU has been pushing Google to address a number of issues, but the company seemingly didn’t do enough, at least based on the EC’s assessment.

Last year, the European Commission launched an investigation into Google’s advertising presence, as it was concerned about the company’s dominance. Google is easily the most dominant digital advertising platform globally, with a 28% market share of global ad revenue. This comes from a first called Insider Intelligence, a research company.

It is worth noting that the US launched an ad tech lawsuit against Google earlier this year. The US demanded a sale of Google’s ad manager suite. In the lawsuit, the US also claimed that Google abused its dominance in online advertising. Google, however, denied such accusations.


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FCC certifies Galaxy Tab S9 series, Ultra model supports wireless charging

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FCC certifies Galaxy Tab S9 series, Ultra model supports wireless charging
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Samsung is gearing up to launch its latest flagship Android tablets next month. The company has the Galaxy Tab S9, Galaxy Tab S9+, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra in the pipeline. All of these devices should break cover during its Galaxy Unpacked event at the end of July. Ahead of that, the Korean firm is picking up regulatory approvals for the new tablets. The FCC has just certified the latter two. The base Galaxy Tab S9 should also be in the pipeline.

The Galaxy Tab S9+ and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra have received the FCC certification with model numbers SM-X810 and SM-X910, respectively. We have long known that these are the Wi-Fi variants of the new tablets. The US-bound 5G version of the former has also picked up FCC approval, bearing the model number SM-X818U.

The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G (SM-X918U) is missing from the regulatory body’s databases. It may follow up alongside the base model (SM-X710/SM-X718U) later. The global 5G versions of these tablets bear the model numbers SM-X716B, SM-X816B, and SM-X916B.

The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra may boast wireless charging

As usual, these FCC listings don’t reveal much about the Galaxy Tab S9 series. At least not anything that we don’t already know. The documents confirm that the Plus model will support 45W charging (10V/4.5A), which is unchanged from the Galaxy Tab S8+.

Likewise, the base and Ultra models should also boast 45W charging support. Interestingly, Samsung seems to have added wireless charging support to the Ultra model. The Galaxy Tab S9+ appears to be missing wireless charging capabilities. This feature was missing from all three models last year, so it’s an upgrade nonetheless.

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra FCC wireless charging

All three Galaxy Tab S9 models should boast Wi-Fi 6E support, while the 5G versions would add support for mmWave 5G networks. They will be compatible with Samsung’s S Pen and should come with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, a first for the Korean firm’s flagship tablets.

The devices will run Android 13 out of the box, likely with the company’s One UI 5.1.1 custom software on top. Screenshots shared by the FCC (to show the location of the FCC ID in Settings) reveal that the UI is unchanged from the current version (One UI 5.1). We may get a few new features, though.

As said earlier, Samsung will launch the Galaxy Tab S9 series at the end of July. On July 27, to be precise. The new tablets will be accompanied by the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldables, as well as the Galaxy Watch 6 series. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Samsung products, including their prices and market release dates.

Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G FCC


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Google Cloud will offer $1 million for crypto mining malware affected users

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Google Cloud will offer $1 million for crypto mining malware affected users
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It’s no secret that ever since businesses and people started using cloud computing to save equipment costs and become more flexible, threat actors have also implemented measures to hack people’s cloud computing environment and use it to mine cryptocurrency. Now, in an effort to solve this issue, Google Cloud will not only start offering its Security Command Center Premium users a new antivirus service which will scan the virtual machine memory for mining malware but also offer up to $1 million in coverage for costs incurred during such attacks.

This decision follows a report published by the Google Cybersecurity Action Team in September 2022, which revealed that a concerning 65% of cases involving compromised cloud accounts were linked to hackers gaining unauthorized access to computing environments and silently deploying mining malware to generate digital currencies.

Additionally, earlier this year, researchers also discovered a sophisticated mining botnet called HeadCrab, which infected over 1,200 servers across various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, Malaysia, and China, to mine the Monero cryptocurrency. And based on the estimates, hackers were able to earn $4,500 per compromised server.

“Cryptomining attacks continue to be a serious security and financial issue for organizations who do not have the right preventative controls and threat detection capabilities in their cloud environments,” said Philip Bues, a cloud security expert for market research firm IDC.

How would the system work?

In the event that a hacker bypasses Google’s detection mechanisms and proceeds to run crypto-mining software on a user’s cloud account, Google will take responsibility for the customer’s expenses and cover up to $1 million, significantly relieving the financial burden for affected users. Moreover, Google’s decision not to use agents will aid in effectively identifying attacks that might evade bolt-on security tools by relying on cloud log analysis and API data. However, it is important to note that this protection program only applies to users employing mining software and does not encompass Bitcoin mining.


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What’s left of Twitter’s Trust and Safety might be at risk

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What’s left of Twitter’s Trust and Safety might be at risk
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Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October of last year, he has done everything he can to cut costs. This included laying off thousands of workers, cutting back on services that were redundant, and now that includes not paying the Google Cloud bill.

As reported by the Platformer over the weekend, Twitter has not paid its Google Cloud bill, which is set to renew on June 30. Twitter doesn’t want to renew the deal with Google, and thus is attempting to move everything off of Google’s servers, before the June 30 renewal date, and the effort is apparently “running behind schedule”.

What does this have to do with trust and safety?

Twitter uses Google Cloud to house some of its services that it uses to moderate the platform. The biggest tool on Google Cloud, is the tools that is uses to combat child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The tool is called Smyte, which is a company that Twitter acquired back in 2018. Even before this whole fiasco, Smyte was showing signs of strain, due to Musk’s many cutbacks.

This is really just the latest in platform instability under Musk, since he laid off so many people. Employees say that Smyte crashes at least once a day. In addition to that, Florida Governor Ron Desantis also had trouble announcing his Presidential Bid on Twitter Spaces, due to it crashing. Among other things.

Not to mention that this is not the first bill that Musk has refused to pay. He has also refused to pay the rent for its headquarters in San Francisco. California Property Trust, the owner of the building Twitter HQ is located in, sued the company for failing to pay rent.

It has also been delaying payments to Amazon Web Services, which has led the company to threaten to withhold advertising payments to Twitter. Which is its only real revenue stream these days, since so little people have signed up and paid for Twitter Blue.


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Google’s QR-code scanner is broken for some Pixel users

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Google’s QR-code scanner is broken for some Pixel users
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Ever since Google introduced the new QR-code scanner for Pixel phones with the Android 13 update, it has become a handy addition for users who want to quickly scan a restaurant menu or check the nutritional value of a grocery item. However, after the recent May 2023 update, a significant amount of users have started encountering issues with the pre-installed scanner.

The issue was first brought to light when multiple users started complaining on Google’s support forums and Reddit. According to these users, tapping on the icon opens the scanner, but the camera fails to initiate, resulting in a blank screen. However, it is important to note that the camera works perfectly fine in other apps, indicating that the issue is specific to the scanner itself. Currently, the problem seems to be most prevalent among users of Pixel 5, Pixel 4a, and Pixel 4a 5G devices.

Furthermore, the fact that the issue has persisted for several weeks, and even common troubleshooting steps like restarting the phone or adjusting settings have had no effect, makes it even more frustrating.

Google’s response and fixes

Fortunately, Google has acknowledged the problem and stated that they are diligently working on fixing it. However, if you encounter the same issue, you can contribute to the resolution process by reporting it to the developers. To do so, open the Settings app on your device, go to the About Phone section, find the option labelled “Send feedback about this device,” and report the issue.

Moreover, until Google releases a fix, users can use a few workarounds to address the bug. These include using Google Lens to scan the QR codes and clearing the data of Google Play services. To do this, open the Settings app on your Pixel, go to the Apps section, and click on “See All Apps.” Then, tap the three dots in the top right-hand corner, select “Show System,” and scroll down until you see Google Play Services. Now, access the Storage option and choose “Clear Data.”


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Samsung teaming up with Google to optimize apps for the bigger cover display on the Flip 5

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Samsung teaming up with Google to optimize apps for the bigger cover display on the Flip 5
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The big change made to clamshell foldables this year is a larger external display. Remember when Samsung got criticized for that puny 1.1-inch ticker on the original Galaxy Z Flip? Sure, Sammy hiked it to 1.9 inches last year with the Galaxy Z Flip 4 but Oppo’s Find N2 Flip features a 3.3-inch external screen, the Vivo X Flip sports a 3-inch external screen, and the Motorola Razr+ carries a 3.5-inch Quick View display.

Samsung went back to work and it looks as though the Galaxy Z Flip 5 will come with a 3.4-inch cover display with a cutout for the two cameras. The cutout gives the cover display the look of a folder, but no one will mind considering all of the new capabilities that the screen can handle. And toward that end, SamMobile reports that the mobile industry’s latest love birds, Samsung and Google, are working to optimize Google’s apps for the larger cover display.
Render shows the folder-shaped 3.4-inch cover screen expected on the Galaxy Z Flip 5 - Samsung teaming up with Google to optimize apps for the bigger cover display on the Flip 5

Render shows the folder-shaped 3.4-inch cover screen expected on the Galaxy Z Flip 5

For example, Google and Samsung are believed to be working on a version of Google Maps that will allow Galaxy Z Flip 5 users to use the app to navigate from point “A” to point “B” without having to open the phone. After all, the point of having a larger cover display is to allow users to access apps, notifications, messages, and more without having to flip open the device. Besides Google Maps, other Google apps that could make their way to the larger Galaxy Z Flip 5 cover screen include YouTube and Messages.

Grab the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra now!

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 are both expected to be introduced in Seoul, South Korea on July 27th during the next Samsung Unpacked event. During the same event, we could see the manufacturer unveil the Galaxy Watch 6, the premium Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, and the Galaxy Tab S9 tablet line which includes the 14.6-inch Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.

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A week in security (June 5 – 11)

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A week in security (June 5 – 11)
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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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Reddit CEO addressed the community over recent API changes

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Reddit CEO addressed the community over recent API changes
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Reddit CEO Steve Huffman publicly addressed the community on Friday over the company’s recent API policy changes. He made it clear that the proposed API pricing rules would stay, effectively signaling the end of several third-party Reddit apps. Many big names, including Apollo, Reddit is Fun (aka RIF), ReddPlanet, and Sync, have already announced plans to shut down at the end of this month.

This unrest at Reddit began after the company announced plans to charge for its APIs in April. It wanted to block free large-scale use of its data and monetize it with paid APIs. However, the prices it has set are proving a bit too steep for indie developers running third-party clients for Reddit. Christian Selig, the developer of iOS-only Reddit app Apollo says the new API prices would cost the app more than $20 million a year. The operating cost of RIF would also be “in the same ballpark,” even though the app “does not earn anywhere remotely near this number”.

Reddit CEO discussed these API changes during an AMA session

Shortly after these developers announced plans to shut down their apps, Reddit CEO hosted an AMA (ask me anything) session to address the public’s concerns. Unfortunately, he showed no signs of giving concessions to third-party apps. “Reddit needs to be a self-sustaining business, and to do that, we can no longer subsidize commercial entities that require large-scale data use,” he said in his AMA post. “Some apps such as Apollo, Reddit is Fun, and Sync have decided this pricing doesn’t work for their businesses and will close before pricing goes into effect.”

While Huffman mostly avoided questions about Reddit’s relationship with third-party developers, he took a dig at Apollo’s developer. Selig recently said that Reddit accused him of threatening and blackmailing the company, though he didn’t do anything as such. He shared a recording of the audio call with a company representative to prove his side of the story. “His ‘joke’ is the least of our issues,” Huffman said about it. “His behavior and communications with us have been all over the place — saying one thing to us while saying something completely different externally…to the point where I don’t know how we could do business with him.”

One of the biggest complaints of third-party developers along with high API prices is the short window of 30 days Reddit gave them. They had to decide whether or not to keep the app and make necessary changes to it within a month. Huffman acknowledged that it was a “tight timeline”. He added that the company is continuing to work with developers who are willing to stay. “For what it’s worth, this includes many of the apps that haven’t been taking the spotlight this week,” he said.

However, the ReddPlanet developer chipped in saying that they’ve “attempted multiple times to get in contact with Reddit regarding these changes. Every attempt has been ignored. This is a blatant lie”. Several other developers had the same complaint. Huffman responded to one of them, apologizing for the delay. He added that the company will respond to all of them.

The official Reddit app will get new features

With many third-party apps going down, Reddit is focusing on improving the official app. Huffman shared some of the planned new features. “There are a couple of things we are focused on right now: mod tools, specifically an improved mod queue this month and improved mod log, mod mail after; and we’re doing a bunch of work on feeds and comments to make them more cohesive. We are also going to make the official Reddit apps more accessible.”

Speaking of accessibility, Reddit will continue to offer free access to its APIs for “non-commercial, accessibility-focused apps and tools”. However, the Reddit community is still not happy about the company’s handling of third-party apps and developers. Thousands of popular subreddits have gone private indefinitely in protest. It remains to be seen how Reddit responds to this mass outrage.


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Switching your Wear OS 4 smartwatch between devices might be much easier

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Switching your Wear OS 4 smartwatch between devices might be much easier
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Developers and beta testers alike are already getting a taste of the Wear OS 4 smartwatch software. This new software comes with a ton of features and controls that aim to make usage easier for smartwatch users. One such new feature that’d help simplify usage is the ability to switch your smartwatch between various devices without setting it up.

Currently, with Wear OS 3 smartwatches, users wanting to make use of their smartwatch on another device go through a lot. Switching for these users involves setting up the smartwatch with the new device. This isn’t ideal for users that have more than one smartphone they actively make use of.

But all that stress might be coming to an end for smartwatch users, as some beta testers point out. With this new operating system for smartwatches, users would not need to set up their watch to a new device whenever they want to switch devices temporarily. For now, this feature has been noted on a Samsung Galaxy watch running on Wear OS 4 and Samsung One UI Watch 5 software.

The Wear OS 4 smartwatch software might make usage more seamless

The folks at 9to5Google spotted this amazing ability to switch devices without setting up your smartwatch on a device running Wear OS 4. The device in question is a Samsung Galaxy smartwatch, and it was also running on the latest One UI Watch 5 software. For now, not all Samsung Galaxy smartwatch users will be able to try out this feature, as it seems to be accessible to only beta testers.

But, with the global rollout of the Wear OS 4 software, more users will be able to sync more than one device to their smartwatch. With this software, there’d be no need to set your smartwatch up on another device. All a user needs to ensure is that the smartphone they’re switching, and the smartwatch have the same Google account.

If they are making use of the same Google account, then there will be no need to set it up over again. All apps they need on their smartwatch will automatically sync across all their devices with the same Google account. This is a great feature and would be a welcomed improvement coming with the Wear OS 4 update.

There has been no news pointing out this feature on other smartwatches. But, users can rest assured knowing that they would also get this feature with the coming Wear OS 4 update coming to their smartwatch. Once available, users will no longer be stuck on using just one smartphone with their smartwatch.


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