Meta’s Facebook is in the spotlight again after how it handled EU citizens’ data, resulting in a rather large fine. This issue has made the EU fine Meta a whopping $1.3 billion over the Facebook data, which is the highest the company has had to pay. Such a fine won’t be given to any company without ample evidence and proof that the company broke some laws.
Sources of this information say that the fine came after “a lengthy investigation” found Meta guilty of violating a privacy rule. Regarding user data, the EU requires big tech firms to operate all EU citizen data within the region. But a series of investigations point out that Facebook has been moving user data out of the EU region, hence violating the user data policy.
To enforce their privacy law and punish violators, the EU is now imposing a $1.3 billion fine on Meta. But why these strict laws, and is there any threat if EU citizens’ data gets to other regions? In this article, we will look into this issue and the reason the EU demands these strict data regulations.
The reason behind the EU fine on Meta’s Facebook data transfers
In a bid to protect their citizens’ data, the EU came up with the bloc’s key digital privacy rules. This rule requires the data of EU citizens to be handled within servers located within the EU. With this rule in place, companies operating within the EU with access to user data can’t transfer this data to other regions.
For these companies, moving user data across a wide range of servers is quite easy. But, this action is risky as it exposes user data to regions with little or no user data regulations. In these regions, user data might not be safe, hence leading to threats to various cyberattacks.
Over the past few years, the EU has been beefing up its data protection regulations for its citizens. These regulations aim to protect their users from any element aiming to tamper with their data stored with big tech firms. But for some reason, Facebook, despite being aware of the bloc’s key digital privacy rules, moved data from EU servers to US servers.
Data protection regulations in the US aren’t as strict as they are in the EU, hence leaving certain loopholes. Meta’s actions put the data of EU citizens at risk of getting into the wrong hands. But despite the already existing EU-US Privacy Shield, moving data from the EU to the US isn’t advisable.
The court in charge of this case ruled the EU-US Privacy Shield as being invalid. For now, the Ireland Data Protection Commission requires that Meta’s Facebook stay clear of any data transfer for the next five months. Within this period, the EU, and the US can work on protecting data transferred between both regions.
In a bid to protect organizations and users from security threats, Microsoft is rolling out system-preferred multifactor authentication. This new system will pick the best authentication method for a user’s device. Some might kick against this method as it takes the freedom to pick any authentication away from the user.
Microsoft outlines the reasons why it is taking away this freedom from users. According to them, this action will not only protect individual users but also organizations from security threats. Currently, some users leave their devices and accounts vulnerable to attacks by choosing the wrong MFA system. This might be as a result of ignorance regarding the best MFA systems to use, or laziness to complete the procedures some systems require. Whatever the most common case may be, Microsoft is here to help you decide the best MFA system for yourself or your organization.
Get better security on your devices with the Microsoft system-preferred multifactor authentication
Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a very important aspect when it comes to protecting personal information. This system is designed to verify the user before granting access to specific data. There are various authentication methods available to users, with each offering a different level of security.
Some users make the mistake of selecting the wrong authentication method. This leaves their devices open to attacks from bad actors looking for the weakest link to break into confidential information. Without the right authentication method, a user, or a company, is open to malicious attacks that can breach the devices’ first layer of security.
Microsoft has identified this as a problem and is ready to proffer solutions to this issue. To solve this problem, users will now rely on the system-preferred multifactor authentication from Microsoft to pick the right method. This system will pick the best and most secure authentication method the user can sign in with.
For companies, the admin will be able to set up policies to guide the authentication method selection process. Integrating this service with a company’s workforce will require using the admin UX in the Azure Portal or via GraphAPI. With this, firms and their workers can rest easy knowing that they are making use of the most secure authentication method available on the system.
This feature is currently rolling out to users and companies as Microsoft managed (enabled). For now, admins can disable this feature whenever they want to, but all of that will change. After its rollout phase, users or tenants will no longer be able to disable this feature, as only the admin will have sole control of this feature.
One of the most prominent malware being distributed in the latest CapCut scam is BatLoader.
CapCut video editor, with a following of more than 200 million active users per month in the US alone, is the current target of threat actors, revealed a new report from Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs.
CapCut is a Chinese app that allows users to edit their videos. However, like many other apps of Chinese origin, CapCut is banned in several countries, including India, the USA, and Taiwan. So, users looking to edit their videos conveniently search for ways to install this app and get trapped. CapCut is created by ByteDance, which also owns TikTok.
Reportedly, threat actors are trapping unsuspecting users through CapCut phishing sites and tricking them into downloading BatLoader, Stealers, and other malware. Cyble researchers discovered several phishing websites designed to appear as video editing software.
One of the fake CapCut sites (Credit: Cyble)
However, these sites trick users into downloading/executing malware, including RATs and Stealers. Researchers observed that threat actors specifically targeted the CapCut tool in this campaign.
Researchers extensively explored the attackers’ modus operandi and noted that the scammers use Python to target victims. One of the stealer binary they identified had a SHA256 and it was compiled with PyInstaller.
The executable is available only for Windows 8 or later versions. Researchers could access the hidden Python script after extracting the installation successfully. Moreover, the script’s .py file imports the Fernet class to decrypt. It receives the file from the cryptography.fernet module.
In one of the campaigns observed by Cyble researchers, a phishing website was hosting the Offx stealer. In another instance, threat actors used a phishing site to host BatLoader malware and delivered RedLine stealer to the targeted system. This means that phishing websites come preloaded with RATs and malware.
Cyble researchers explained in their blog post that the primary objective of these stealers is collecting information about the victim and using it for malicious purposes.
The YouTube app on Android TV is getting some new Google Assistant voice commands to make using the app and interacting with videos a little more hands-free.
It was already possible to use some Google Assistant voice commands in the YouTube app on Android TV and Google TV devices. But today users are getting just a few more to enhance the experience further. The new commands being added will allow users to like and dislike videos. You can say “Hey Google, like this video.” And Google will take care of hitting that thumbs up button for you.
You can also have it subscribe to channels for you. Say you liked someone’s content so much, you want more of it. Ask Google to subscribe to that creator’s channel. Alternatively, you have also have Google unsubscribe for you. This is in addition to the already existing voice commands for pause/play, rewind and more.
YouTube on Android TV also now has a podcast category
If you just love podcasts and want to access more of them in more places, well now you can. You can launch the YouTube app on Android TV and Google TV and pop open your favorite podcast to listen while you do basically anything else.
Say your TV is within earshot and within view of your kitchen. You can launch the app and pull up a podcast and listen/watch while you prepare food. YouTube for TV users will find the podcast category near the bottom of the explore section of the side bar. But as 9To5Google points out, it moves up the menu if you consume podcast content more often. So if you want it higher up, starting watching or listening to more podcasts.
These new additions to the app on TV should be live and accessible as of today.
Twitter has accused Microsoft of using the platform’s data “for unauthorized uses and purposes.” Elon Musk’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, has sent a letter to Microsoft to inform them about their violation of Twitter data use policy.
Microsoft Xbox, Bing, and advertising tools have been benefiting from Twitter API for many years. After Twitter charged companies up to $50,000 a month to access its API, Microsoft removed the social app from its social media management tool for advertisers in retaliation. Microsoft also prevented users from directly uploading clips and screenshots from Xbox and Windows Game Bar to Twitter.
The companies are now going head to head again over so-called unauthorized access to Twitter API. Spiro argues that “Microsoft may have violated multiple provisions of the agreement for an extended period of time.” Musk himself also reacted to the matter, saying, “They trained illegally using Twitter data. Lawsuit time.”
Microsoft is accused of unauthorized access to Twitter data
Every company that wants to access Twitter API should pay up to $50,000 a month, but Microsoft allegedly refused to pay that amount. Musk’s lawyer also accused Microsoft of sharing Twitter data with government agencies without permission.
In response to the allegations, a Microsoft spokesperson said, “We heard from a law firm representing Twitter with some questions about our previous use of the free Twitter API. We will review these questions and respond appropriately. We look forward to continuing our long term partnership with the company.”
Elon Musk‘s relationship with Microsoft has gone rough since the tech giant invested over $10 billion in OpenAI to take over ChatGPT. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and parted ways with the company after disagreements with chief executive Sam Altman. The billionaire also criticized OpenAI for turning into a for-profit business.
Musk has been a critic of ChatGPT since Microsoft’s takeover and warned about the danger of uneven development of artificial intelligence. Twitter’s chief executive claimed ChatGPT “is being trained to be politically correct.”
Musk is now working on a rival chatbot called TruthGPT that aims to be a “maximum truth-seeking AI that tries to understand the nature of the universe.”
Right now, it seems that there are a thousand and one alternatives to the microblogging site Twitter. Now, Facebook and Instagram owner Meta is looking to bring its own take on microblogging. Rumor has it that it’s going to release a Twitter clone for its Instagram users. According to The Independent, Twitter is not having any of it.
In a tweet posted by Twitter’s new head Linda Yaccario, we see that the bird app is ready to trade blows with Meta. The tweet has a Techcrunch article embedded talking about the Twitter clone. It’s accompanied by the text “Game on!”
Instagram will eventually come out with its own Twitter clone
Instagram is already the most popular photo-sharing platform despite its recent emphasis on video. However, Meta feels that the company could expand to new areas of the social media experience. We’ve been following rumors about the company’s take on microblogging.
We don’t really know much about this app. Last week, Meta shared details about this app. The app’s name is P92 or Barcelona internally. In a statement, Meta said “We’re exploring a standalone decentralised social media for sharing text updates.”, “We believe there’s an opportunity for a separate space where creators and public figures can share timely updates about their interests.”
This appears to be a new area where Instagram is looking to expand. while you can post captions for your pictures and videos, Instagram is still a picture/video-first application. You’re not allowed to embed links into your post. Also, your posts get cut off pretty quickly if you have an excess of characters.
The company did try to remedy this by letting people post short text updates that people can see under their messages tab. However, those are limited to 60 characters.
This new app could be a much better place for people to share what’s going on in their lives without there needing to be a visual aspect to it.
How will this work?
This will be a standalone app, but it seems like it’ll be similar to IGTV in that it’ll use your existing Instagram account. This means that your followers, content, and username will be carried over. No need to make a new account.
Social media consultant Navara said that the app will launch sometime this summer and that it’s targeting film and television actors, producers, Writers, directors, show Runners, athletes, and comedians to come to the app.
We’re pretty sure that Twitter is going to invite these guys on board first with public availability following. Allowing public figures onto the platform will entice more people to join. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming app.
ChatGPT parent company OpenAI is reportedly working on an open-source AI model, XDA (via The Information) reports.
OpenAI is now arguably the most controversial company in the AI space. Elon Musk and Sam Altman founded The company in 2015 as a non-profit organization. However, following the successful launch of ChatGPT, Microsoft seized the opportunity to invest over $10 billion and take over the chatbot and its source code. Microsoft Bing is now benefiting from ChatGPT to challenge Google Search business.
The ChatGPT success has prompted OpenAI to launch an open-source AI model, which contradicts the current closed-source GPT-4, the most powerful language model developed by OpenAI. An open-source nature paves the way for developers to see what’s behind the scenes. It also allows further developments by third parties.
An open-source AI model is on the way by OpenAI
The OpenAI open-source AI model is unlikely to be a rival for the current GPT-4. The company is now charging users $20 per month to access ChatGPT Plus, which is powered by GPT-4. So an open-source AI model that simulates the premium version could distance users from the paid version.
Of course, it’s worth noting that taking the most powerful AI chatbot open-source could lead to subversive uses. In that case, cybercriminals could access and change the codes for the worse. For now, we should wait and see what the open-source variant of OpenAI looks like and how it differs from the current GPT-4.
OpenAI is not the first company to release an open-source AI model. A few months ago, Meta launched its open-source Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA) to the public. The AI model is now open to the public for any further improvement.
The open-source AI models are gaining popularity to challenge Google and ChatGPT. Their biggest advantage is that they are open to creative developers and sometimes can outperform the closed-source models. More companies are expected to jump on the bandwagon and launch an open-source AI model.
PayPal recently announced the launch of its new Venmo Teen Account, which is aimed at teenagers aged 13 to 17. Teenagers can create their own accounts, which are linked to their parents’ Venmo accounts, with parental supervision.
This new feature allows teens to send and receive money via the Venmo app, while also providing parents with greater control over their child’s finances. Parents can monitor their child’s spending habits and teach them about responsible spending and budgeting by setting spending limits and tracking transaction history.
PayPal has touted this offering as one of their ongoing efforts to expand its offerings to younger customers, as it already does with its student accounts and digital wallet for teens. PayPal also believes that by catering to this demographic, it positions them as meeting the needs of their next generation of customers, who will have significant purchasing power in the coming years.
Although still with parent oversight, teen accounts are considered separate and have a separate balance from the parent’s personal Venmo account. Additionally, teen accounts come with their own debit cards, so there won’t be a need to share a parent’s credit card number anymore.
Teens will also be able to track their own spending in the Venmo app and send and receive money among family and friends. Parents will have the power to view their teen’s balance, transaction history, and manage all aspects of the debit card.
There is no up-front expense to set up a Venmo Teen Account as there are no associated monthly fees and available no-fee cash withdrawals from participating ATMs. Direct Deposit from a part time job, for example, is also available to be set up for the account.
The Venmo Teen Account seems well-suited to appeal to both teenagers and their parents, with a focus on parental supervision, responsible spending, and financial education. It will be first rolling out next month to select customers and then will roll out to the rest in the coming weeks. Should you quality for a teen account, you should see start seeing the option to create one within the app once the rollout begins in June. You can also sign up to be notified when it’s available.
This week is Amazon’s Gaming Week, which has a ton of great deals on all sorts of gaming peripherals. The Gaming Week will last through May 28, 2023. And includes laptops, memory, storage, mice, smartphones and so much more. Here’s some of the bigger deals available this week.
MSI Katana 15
Amazon has the MSI Katana 15 gaming laptop on sale for $1,499, which is going to save you $100 off of its regular price.
The MSI Katana 15 is a powerful gaming laptop that offers a great balance of performance, portability, and price. It is powered by an Intel Core i7-13620H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, which can handle even the most demanding games. The 15.6-inch Full HD display has a 144Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth visuals for gaming and other multimedia applications. The Katana 15 also features a backlit keyboard and a variety of ports, making it a versatile and capable gaming laptop.
Need some extra storage? Well Amazon has the Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD on sale for just $169. That’s going to save you $120 off of its regular price.
The Samsung 990 Pro 2TB SSD is the ultimate PCIe 4.0 SSD, offering blazing-fast speeds and exceptional performance. With sequential read speeds of up to 7,400 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 5,300 MB/s, the 990 Pro is up to 2 times faster than PCIe 3.0 SSDs. This makes it the perfect choice for gamers, creative professionals, and anyone who demands the best possible performance.
The 990 Pro is also built with Samsung’s latest V-NAND technology and a new controller, which delivers consistent performance even under heavy workloads. It is also designed to be energy-efficient, consuming up to 50% less power than previous-generation SSDs.
Amazon is shaving $50 off of the regular price on this laptop. Which does bring it down to its lowest price in the past month. So now is a good time to pick it up.
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 Laptop is a powerful and durable gaming laptop that is perfect for gamers who are looking for a reliable and affordable option. It is powered by up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, which can handle even the most demanding games. The 15.6-inch Full HD display has a 144Hz refresh rate, which provides smooth visuals for gaming and other multimedia applications. The TUF Gaming F15 also features a backlit keyboard and a variety of ports, making it a versatile and capable gaming laptop.
That’s just a few of the sales going on for Gaming Week this week. And you can check out all of the deals from Amazon by clicking here.
Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are said to be the best pair of headphones on the market, and it’s hard to disagree. And right now, you can save $70 on them, bringing them down to $278.
The Sony WH-1000xm4 are the best noise canceling headphones on the market. They offer excellent noise cancellation, great sound quality, and a comfortable design.
The noise cancellation on the WH-1000xm4 is some of the best you’ll find. It can block out a wide range of noise, from traffic to people talking. This makes them perfect for use in noisy environments, such as on a plane or train.
The sound quality on the WH-1000xm4 is also excellent. They have a balanced sound signature with clear highs, mids, and lows. They also have a good amount of bass, which makes them great for listening to music.
Looking for a new robot vacuum? Amazon has you covered. The Shark AV993 Robot Vacuum is on sale for $219 right now, saving you $80 off of its regular price.
The Shark AV993 robot vacuum is a powerful and versatile robot vacuum that is perfect for homes with pets. It features a self-cleaning brushroll that helps to prevent hair tangles, and it has a HEPA filter that traps allergens and pollutants. The AV993 also has a variety of smart features, such as mapping and navigation, that allow you to control it with your smartphone.
Amazon has also discounted the Sony INZONE M3 Gaming Monitor, bringing it down to just $468. That is low enough for an all-time low here.
The Sony INZONE M3 gaming monitor is a great option for competitive gamers. It has a fast 240Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, which ensures smooth and fluid gameplay. It also has a DisplayHDR 400 certification, which means it can display a wide range of colors and contrast levels.
The cheapest Ring Video Doorbell is back on sale, now down to $69.99. That’s going to save you $30 off of its regular price.
The Ring Video Doorbell (Satin Nickel, 2020 release) is a smart and secure doorbell that allows you to see, hear, and speak to visitors from anywhere in the world. It has a wide-angle HD camera that provides a clear view of your front porch, and it has two-way audio so you can communicate with visitors even if you’re not home. The Ring Video Doorbell also has motion detection, so you can be alerted when someone is at your door, even if they don’t ring the bell.
The Ring Video Doorbell is easy to install and use. It comes with everything you need to get started, including a mounting bracket, screws, and a power adapter. You can connect the Ring Video Doorbell to your Wi-Fi network, and then you can use the Ring app to view live video, receive notifications, and talk to visitors.
Amazon has just announced that soon, you’ll be able to use its Amazon One palm-reading technology to purchase a beer. Or really any alcohol.
The company says Amazon One is being introduced at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Which means stadium-goers will be able to more easily purchase their favorite boozy drinks. The time-saving purchase method should alleviate the need to whip out your wallet and pay for drinks through traditional means. For you that might mean paying with cash. Or it might mean a swipe of the old credit or debit card.
But no longer. At least, if you feel like using this technology. If everything goes smoothly, it might help attendees breeze more quickly through lines. And that could result in people getting back to their seats faster. No more worries about missing any important moments because you had to spend too much time in line. At least that seems to be the idea. Whether or not it works out that way in practice remains to be seen. But in theory the payment method should be faster and less of a hassle.
Amazon One also lets you verify you’re old enough to drink that beer
The new technology is useful for more than just payments. It can also let you verify with the bartender that you’re legally old enough to sip on beer and spirits. Thus cutting another part of the entire process of buying alcohol – showing your ID. Here’s how it works. You ask the bartender for a beer, you wave your hand to verify your age, then you wave again to pay. Simple. Quick. Painless.
The whole thing streamlines what can easily take an extra couple of minutes to finish the transaction. Of course worth noting is that the tech appears to be showing up in just two places within the stadium. This includes the SandLot Brewery, and the Silver Bullet Bar.
Amazon One is already available to use at Coors Field. The company says it will also be rolling the technology out to more places in the coming months.
