OPPO will ship AI-powered features to all its phone lines this year

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OPPO will ship AI-powered features to all its phone lines this year
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OPPO, the Chinese tech giant, wants to be one of the protagonists in the era of AI phones. With this in mind, they have committed to bringing the power of generative AI to all their smartphone lines. This will help them stand out from their direct competitors who currently reserve these features for flagship and premium devices.

All OPPO’s phone lines to get AI features later this year

As part of its commitment to the AI segment, OPPO developed its own LLM. It’s called AndesGPT, a 7 billion parameter model for on-device AI processing. This gave them the milestone of being the first brand to integrate an LLM of such capacity into a smartphone. Currently, AndesGPT is integrated into the OPPO Find X7 series.

The company’s goal is to bring AI-powered features to 50 million users by the end of this year. In addition to developing its own AI model, OPPO has also been working directly with Google, Microsoft, and MediaTek. This is necessary to ensure that all its product lines can benefit from AI. After all, not all devices can run LLMs at the hardware level. So, there are models that will have to resort to the cloud to use the functions. There are also models that will combine on-device and cloud AI processing. The company calls this “Hybrid AI” architecture.

Some of the AI ​​features that OPPO users will enjoy

The integration of AI in OPPO phones will enable a ton of advanced features. You can execute many actions using voice commands in natural language. The company already has some functions of this type, but they are working on more.

OPPO phones AI features

OPPO says that advanced generative editing is the most popular feature among users of AI-supported phones. People often turn to it to create content for their social networks or funny images by removing objects or filling in spaces. Other features include word transcription, real-time translations, text generation, or summarizing voice recordings.

OPPO has been working closely with Mediatek. This has allowed them to optimize the AI ​​processing on Dimensity hardware. In turn, Mediatek also worked with Google so that its flagship SoCs support the Gemini AI model. In fact, future Dimensity-powered phones from OPPO, such as the Reno 12 and Find X series, will integrate it.


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Apple Watch can now show you near real-time blood glucose readings although there is a huge catch

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Apple Watch can now show you near real-time blood glucose readings although there is a huge catch
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There are millions of insulin-dependent diabetics who would love to see Apple offer non-invasive blood glucose readings on the Apple Watch. This is a potential feature that Apple has been working on for years. Currently, diabetics have to prick themselves with a sharp tool called a lancet that draws a drop of blood. The blood is placed on a disposable and expensive test strip which has been inserted into a machine called a glucometer which reveals the diabetic’s blood glucose reading.

Insulin-dependent diabetics need to get their blood sugar reading at least three times a day

This is an important figure because the blood glucose reading is used by an insulin-dependent diabetic to determine how much insulin he/she needs to inject before sitting down for a meal. If the diabetic injects too much insulin, he/she can end up with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and pass out. If the injection contains not enough insulin, over time the disease can damage the diabetic’s organs such as the eyes and require amputations of the extremities.

The Direct to Watch feature for the Dexcom G7 app allows diabetics to monitor their blood sugar through the Apple Watch - Apple Watch can now show you near real-time blood glucose readings although there is a huge catch

The Direct to Watch feature for the Dexcom G7 app allows diabetics to monitor their blood sugar through the Apple Watch

The way the test is conducted now, drawing the blood drop can be extremely painful and the test strips, which can only be used once, are a hit to the wallet or purse. Apple reportedly planned on including a non-invasive blood glucose feature on the first Apple Watch released in 2015. Unfortunately, it could not get the feature working in time to be included with the original Apple Watch model and the tech giant continues to work on it today.
While not exactly the same thing, according to AppleInsider, medical device manufacturer Dexcom has created a direct-to-Apple Watch function for its G7 continuous glucose meter (CGM). The CGM previously worked with a sensor that is placed under the diabetic’s skin, usually behind the arm. The sensor sends close to real-time blood glucose readings to the diabetic’s iPhone. And those diabetics using an insulin pump could have blood glucose readings sent to the machine which would then release the correct amount of insulin.

Dexcom has announced an update to its G7 app that allows the Apple Watch to be a third-connected Bluetooth device for the sensor. In other words, you’ll be able to have Blood Glucose readings appear directly on the Apple Watch without requiring the iPhone to be nearby.

How to set up the Direct to Watch feature for the Dexcom G7 CGM

To set this up, you need to use your iPhone to update the Dexcom app to version 2.2.1 which will automatically update the built-in app on the watch. Speaking of the watch, you need to have an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 10 or older.

Follow these directions:

  • Update the Dexcom app via the App Store.
  • Open the Dexcom app on your iPhone.
  • Walk through the getting started guide.
  • Open the updated Dexcom app on your compatible Apple Watch.
  • Tap Pair to Sensor.
  • When the popup appears with the sensor name, tap Pair.

If the Apple Watch loses its connection to the sensor, the numbers will still show up on the iPhone. In this case, a small phone icon will appear on the upper left of the screen. The Apple Watch does not support the sharing of blood glucose readings with others although that can be done with the iPhone.

The Dexcom G7 sensor is worn on the back of the arm - Apple Watch can now show you near real-time blood glucose readings although there is a huge catch

The Dexcom G7 sensor is worn on the back of the arm

Eventually, Apple will get the technology right and will include a non-invasive blood glucose sensor with the Apple Watch. Samsung is also believed to be working on a blood glucose feature for a future Galaxy Watch model. We should also point out that the Huawei Watch 4 does give users a warning when their blood glucose is too high and while the watch won’t deliver on-demand blood glucose readings, receiving a warning that your blood sugar is too high is important because it means that a diabetic should give himself a shot of insulin.
It’s not the perfect solution as far as Apple is concerned but if you are interested in having near real-time blood glucose readings available to you via your Apple Watch, check out Dexcon’s website for those in the U.S. Fill out the form on this page and a Dexcon representative will contact you.

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ShinyHunters Resurrect BreachForums Shortly After FBI Takedown

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ShinyHunters Resurrect BreachForums Shortly After FBI Takedown
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The famous (rather, infamous) dark web site BreachForums comes alive as the notorious ShinyHunters resurrect it. BreachForums went down after FBI’s action, but the efforts seem to go in vain.

BreachForums Comes Backs As ShinyHunters Resurrect It

Shortly after going down, BreachForums comes live again – even before people could actually celebrate (or mourn, depending on your preferences) its demise.

As reported recently, BreachForums is back up as the infamous hacker group ShinyHunters decided to resurrect it.

The site enjoyed tremendous popularity in the dark web realm, offering users a platform for all sorts of hacking and criminal discussions. It became even more popular after another similar, RaidForums, was taken down by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2022.

However, like any other criminal site, the FBI kept on hunting for BreachForums, taking some prompt actions in 2023. Nonetheless, BreachForums revived under the ownership of ShinyHunters and a previous admin “Baphomet”.

Eventually, in May 2024, the FBI seized the BreachForums domains and arrested the alleged admin Baphomet.

But things started to appear awkward as soon after the takedown, BreachForums was brought back to life—once again, by ShinyHunters. (Perhaps that might be why the FBI didn’t issue a thorough press release regarding this activity, except for posting a site seizure announcement on BreachForums domains and Telegram channels.)

Soon after the FBI’s activity, the security community could spot the site’s revival, which they ultimately shared via X posts.

Evidently, the ShinyHunters group bragged about their resistance and the takeover of the site’s domain. Though, they confirmed Baphomet’s arrest.

Wait, Is It The Same BreachForums?

BreachForums hasn’t just reappeared on the dark web and Telegram; it also appears visibly on the surface web, asking for login credentials to enter the site. However, there remains suspicion as some doubt the site is a Honeypot.

Nonetheless, the site even seems active as ShinyHunters began posting breached records on the site. The recent breaches (according to the posts) impact TicketMaster and Shell.

Though, their remain speculations about the legitimacy of these two breaches. Here is a wonderful analysis of the recent BreachForums posts from “CyberKnow” regarding how this could be nothing but an attention-grabbing move from the threat actors, possibly posting previously breached data. (Both Ticketmaster and Shell have previously suffered data breaches.)

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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pcTattletale spyware leaks database containing victim screenshots, gets website defaced

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pcTattletale spyware leaks database containing victim screenshots, gets website defaced
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The idea behind the software is simple. When the spying party installs the stalkerware, they grant permission to record what happens on the targeted Android or Windows device. The observer can then log in on an online portal and activate recording, at which point a screen capture is taken on the target’s device.

What goes around comes around, you might say. As you may have read many times before on our blog, some spyware companies have a surprisingly low standard of security .

In 2021, we reported that “employee and child-monitoring” software vendor pcTattletale hadn’t been very careful about securing the screenshots it sneakily took from its victims’ phones. A security researcher found an issue while using a trial version of pcTattleTale, noticing that the company uploaded the screenshots to an unsecured online database (meaning anyone could view the screenshots as they weren’t protected by any form of authentication—such as a user name and password).

Last week another security researcher, Eric Daigle, found the company appears to have learned nothing from its previous security issue. Daigle found that pcTattletale’s Application Programming Interface (API) allows any attacker to access the most recent screen capture recorded from any device on which the spyware is installed. Despite repeated warnings from Daigle and others, no improvements were made.

Then, yet another researcher found yet another bug in pcTattletale which allowed them to gain full access to the backend infrastructure. This allowed them to deface the website and steal the AWS credentials which turned out to be the same for all devices. Amazon has now locked pcTattletale’s entire AWS infrastructure.

After a quick sweep, stalkerware researcher, Maia Crimew stated:

“pcTattletale currently holds over 17 terabytes of victim device screenshots (upwards of 300 million of them from over 10 thousand devices), with some of them dating back to 2018.”

According to 2023 research from Malwarebytes, 62 percent of people in the United States and Canada admitted to monitoring their romantic partners online in one form or another, from looking through a spouse’s or significant other’s text messages, to tracking their location, to rifling through their search history, to even installing monitoring software onto their devices.

Given the low security of the apps available to home users, this is extremely concerning. Installing monitoring software is not just a huge invasion of privacy, there is a big chance that it will backfire.

Removing stalkerware

Malwarebytes, as one of the founding members of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, makes it a priority to detect and remove stalkerware-type apps from your device. It is good to keep in mind however that by removing the stalkerware-type app you will alert the person spying on you that you know the app is there.

Because the apps install under a different name and hide themselves from the user, it can be hard to find and remove them. That is where Malwarebytes can help you.

  1. Open your Malwarebytes dashboard
  2. Tap Scan now
  3. It may take a few minutes to scan your device.

 If malware is detected you can act on it in the following ways:

  • Uninstall. The threat will be deleted from your device.
  • Ignore Always. The file detection will be added to the Allow List, and excluded from future scans. Legitimate files are sometimes detected as malware. We recommend reviewing scan results and adding files to Ignore Always that you know are safe and want to keep.
  • Ignore Once: A file has been detected as a threat, but you are not sure whether to add it to your Allow List or delete. This option will ignore the detection this time only. It will be detected as malware on your next scan.

On Windows machines Malwarebytes detects pcTattleTale as PUP.Optional.PCTattletale.

We don’t just report on phone security—we provide it

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your mobile devices by downloading Malwarebytes for iOS, and Malwarebytes for Android today.


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Global Vivo X Fold 3 Pro model is official with its slim design

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Global Vivo X Fold 3 Pro model is official with its slim design
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Vivo announced two book-style foldables in China back in March, the Vivo X Fold 3 and Vivo X Fold 3 Pro. It was revealed recently that at least one of them will launch internationally, and that just happened. The global Vivo X Fold 3 Pro version is now official.

The global variant of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro has been announced

The company announced this phone in India, which will be its first market. It is expected to arrive in a number of other markets, though. We know that it’s coming to Indonesia too, but that’s about it as far as that info is concerned. This handset has a lot to offer, ranging from its thin profile, and interesting camera setup backed by ZEISS, to a rather lightweight profile considering it’s a large book-style foldable.

The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is built with Vivo’s ‘Armor Architecture’, which will provide “all-around protection and enhanced durability”, says the company. This phone has actually earned SGS five-star drop resistance certification.

You’ll find the Armor Glass protection on the cover display, which is “made of microcrystal glass that increases drop resistance by up to 11 times compared to deep secondary reinforced glass”. The Armor Back Cover features Glass Fiber and UPE Fiber protection.

Its hinge has been certified for 500,000 reliable folds, and the phone is water-resistant

The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro also comes with the Carbon Fiber Ultra Durable Hinge, which is certified by TUV Rheinland for 500,000 reliable folds. Vivo’s new foldable is also IPX8-certified for water resistance.

There is a display camera hole included on each of its displays, while the bezels around them are very thin. The main display measures 8.03 inches, and has a resolution of 2480 x 2200. The cover display measures 6.53 inches, and it has a resolution of 2748 x 1172. Both of these are LTPO OLED panels, and both offer a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Both panels can go up to 4,500 nits of brightness at their peak. There is also an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner under each of the two displays.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC fuels the phone, while the device includes 16GB of RAM. You’ll also find 512GB of storage inside the device, which is not expandable. The Vivo V3 chip for energy efficiency is also included in the package.

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro global image 1

100W wired and 50W wireless charging are a part of the package

A 5,700mAh battery sits on the inside, while the phone supports 100W wired FlashCharge charging. 50W wireless FlashCharge charging is also supported by the device. Android 14 comes pre-installed here with Funtouch OS and AI capabilities, while Wi-Fi 7 is also a part of the package. The phone also includes stereo speakers.

You’ll find a compelling, ZEISS-backed camera setup here

A 50-megapixel main camera (OmniVision OV50H sensor, f/1.68 aperture, 1/1.3-inch sensor) sits on the back of the phone. A 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (ISOCELL JN1 sensor, f/2.0 aperture) is also located back there, and the same goes for a 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (OmniVision OV64B sensor, f/2.57 aperture, 3x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom, macro). A 32-megapixel selfie camera is included on each of the phone’s displays.

Vivo did include a super-thin vapor chamber here and a multi-layer graphite with a heat dissipation area of over 20,000mm2. The phone should be able to stay rather cool at all times.

The phone measures 159.96 x 142.40 x 5.20mm when unfolded, and 159.96 x 72.55 x 11.20mm when folded. It weighs 236 grams and comes in a Celestial Black model only. The pricing was not revealed just yet, but it will differ from one market to the other.

Vivo X Fold 3 Pro image 2


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How Android manufacturers are adapting

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How Android manufacturers are adapting
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Being environmentally conscious is becoming more than simply a fashion statement. Large tech companies are taking action, particularly those that produce Android phones. To help the Earth, they are making big changes.

“Manufacturers do every bit to make their products as environmentally friendly as possible given their appeal. Thus, using your Android smartphone, you may read casino reviews on https://clashofslots.com/ without endangering the environment.”
Michael Gordon

The Green Initiative of Samsung: Grabbing the Chance

The major Android phone maker in the world, Samsung leads this trend first. They have vowed to raise the proportion of recycled plastic in their goods. Based on their aim, all of their products will include recycled materials by 2025. Another target Samsung has is making their factories more ecologically friendly. They maximize solar power and decrease water consumption. That lowers their effect on the surroundings.

Google’s Pixel: A Model of Sustainability

Google, the creator of the Android system, is another green leader. Their Pixel phones are a shining example. These devices use recycled aluminum for their bodies. Google also uses recycled plastic in many Pixel parts. They’ve even started using recycled fabric for phone cases. Google’s goal? To make their products with mostly recycled materials.

Sony’s Eco-Packaging and Supply Chain

Sony, known for high-end Android phones, is also making strides. They’ve focused on making their packaging greener. Sony now uses recycled paper and less plastic in its boxes. They’re also working to make their supply chain more sustainable. This means ensuring all partners follow eco-friendly practices.

Key Sustainability Efforts:

– Using recycled materials in phones
– Making factories more energy-efficient
– Creating eco-friendly packaging

Extending Phone Life: Updates and Repairs

But it’s not just about materials. Android manufacturers are also working to make their devices last longer. Being green is much enhanced by this. Longer-lasting phones translate into fewer phones winding through landfills.

Software upgrades are one approach they are using. For years, companies like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus have provided upgrades. This keeps older phones running smoothly. It also adds new features. So, users don’t need to buy new phones as often.

Another approach is making phones easier to repair. In the past, fixing a phone often meant replacing the whole device. Now, companies are changing that. For example, Fairphone, a small Android maker, designs phones for easy repair. Users can swap out parts themselves. This means a cracked screen doesn’t doom the whole phone.

Software Support: Keeping Phones Fresh

Screenshot 2024 06 06 08 24 58

Creative Recycling Programs

Recycling is another big focus for Android manufacturers. They know many old phones end up in drawers or landfills. This wastes valuable materials. So, they’re making it easier to recycle.

image 3848349348934843

Samsung has launched a STAR recycling program to help the environment. You can drop off any old tech, not just Samsung products. They also offer trade-in deals. These give you credit for your old phone when you buy a new one. Google and Sony have similar programs. They partner with eco-firms to handle recycling. Some companies go even further:

– LG: They use phone parts to build solar panels for developing countries.
– Motorola: They turn old phones into 3D printer material.

These efforts show creativity in recycling. They give old tech new life in unexpected ways.

Greening the Production Line

Android makers are also pushing for greener production. This means looking at how phones are made. Mining for phone materials can harm the environment. It often involves digging up rare metals. This process can pollute water and air.

To combat this, companies are seeking better sources. They’re working with mines that follow eco-rules. Some are even looking at “urban mining.” This means pulling metals from old electronics. It’s greener than digging new mines.

Energy use in factories is another issue. Making chips and screens takes a lot of power. Many Android manufacturers now use renewable energy. Xiaomi, a Chinese Android giant, uses wind and solar power. OPPO, another big name, has smart systems that save energy in their plants.

Shipping phones worldwide has a carbon cost. Some companies are rethinking this. OnePlus, for example, uses trains more than planes. This cuts emissions. Others are making boxes smaller. Smaller boxes mean more phones per truck. This reduces total trips.

A Greener Future Together

In conclusion, Android manufacturers are making real strides in sustainability. They’re using more recycled materials, extending phone life, and greening production. These aren’t just small steps. They’re big leaps toward a more sustainable tech world.


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The Apple Weather app is under the weather

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The Apple Weather app is under the weather
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The native Apple weather app was having issues on Wednesday as users expecting to see the current temperature and weather conditions near them received error messages instead that said, “Weather Unavailable.” Others would have been happy to see that much on their screen. Instead, their iOS Weather apps revealed no city name, no temperature, and no forecast. Apple admitted that there has been an issue with the Weather app since 11 am PDT which is 2 pm EDT. The tech giant stated that “Weather may be slow or unavailable.” 
On “X,” there were a series of tweets from iPhone users sharing images of the Weather app on their devices. These images included a screenshot of the weather app without the name of a city, without a temperature listed, and no current conditions or forecasts. Some of those looking to see the latest weather on their iPhone, iPad or even Mac were told that the Weather was not available. Things were a little better in England where the the name of the city, “London,” appeared on the Weather app in one tweet. Still, there was no temperature listed and current conditions did not appear.
Weather is so hot in San Antonio that it broke the Apple Weather app - The Apple Weather app is under the weather

Weather is so hot in San Antonio that it broke the Apple Weather app

As of 10:21 pm EDT, the Apple System Status site still reveals that there is a problem with the Weather app as the site shows a yellow diamond next to the Weather app listing (a green dot indicates that there is no problem with the app). The word “Issue” appears next to the yellow diamond and the word Weather. Tapping on that listing, the System Status page adds “Weather-issue. Today, 2:10 pm-ongoing. All users are affected. Weather may be slow or unavailable.”
Apple's System Status page notes that the Weather app has been out for hours - The Apple Weather app is under the weather

Apple’s System Status page notes that the Weather app has been out for hours

The latest word is that on iOS, the Weather app is loading slowly while the Weather app is not working at all on Macs. The weather app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max running iOS 17.5.1 seems to be working fine without an issue. If you want to try a different weather app, you might want to consider the colorful Currently app available for iPhone and iPad users from the App Store. With background colors based on the temperature, Currently is as nice to look at as it is useful. Currently is chock full of weather information and is free with in-app purchases available.
Want to try a new weather app? Check out the colorful Currently app from the App Store - The Apple Weather app is under the weather

Want to try a new weather app? Check out the colorful Currently app from the App Store

The only thing that Currently lacks is radar. If you want a weather app for iOS that is free with in-app purchases and includes radar, try The Weather Channel which you can install from the App Store by tapping on this link.

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Data Leak Exposes 500GB of Indian Police, Military Biometric Data

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Data Leak Exposes 500GB of Indian Police, Military Biometric Data
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A massive data leak during the elections in India exposed the biometric information of millions. An unsecured database containing fingerprints and facial scans of police, military personnel, and civilians was leaked, sparking concerns about identity theft and election security.

A gigantic data leak involving the exposure of biometric data has hit Indian citizens at a time when the nation is participating in the general elections. The data leak raises questions about the vulnerable state of cybersecurity in India when researchers have already reported cyber attacks and data leaks to target elections

In the latest, a misconfigured non-password-protected database containing over 1.6 million documents was discovered by cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler who reported it to Website Planet.

The exposed files, around 1,661,59 files (496.4 GB) in total, contained sensitive biometric details like facial scan images, fingerprints, signatures, and identifying marks of police officers, military personnel, teachers, and even railway workers.

Moreover, crucial information like birth certificates, images, email addresses, employment applications, diplomas, certifications, and other education-related files were part of the exposed data.

The database comprised records from 2021-2024. Around 284,535 documents, categorized as Physical Efficiency Tests (PET) for police and law enforcement officers, contained signature images, PDF documents, mobile applications, and installation data, some stored in compressed .zip format.

One of the folders titled Facial Software Installation contained images and documents captured and transmitted through the application. Internal database names, login, and password information were also found in plain text.

Data Leak Exposes 500GB of Indian Police, Military Biometric Data
The leaked files – Image credit: Jeremiah Fowler via Website Planet

ThoughtGreen Technologies and Timing Technologies

The records belonged to two separate India-based firms, ThoughtGreen Technologies and Timing Technologies. Both provide application development, RFID technology, and biometric verification services. It is unclear who among these firms owned the server, though.

Public access to this database was restricted the same day. However, the duration of the database’s exposure and potential unauthorized access to the biometric records remain unknown. An internal forensic audit can determine if any suspicious activity took place and whether the records were accessed by anyone else.

Data Being Sold on Telegram

In a research report shared with Hackread.com ahead of publishing on May 23, 2024, Fowler noted that this data might already be up for sale on a Telegram group, which could put millions at risk of a wide range of threats.

Biometric data, such as fingerprints, are unique identifiers tied to an individual’s identity, making them virtually impossible to change. This data could be used for numerous malicious purposes, including impersonation and identity theft.

A Wake-Up Call?

This data leak shows the ethical and regulatory challenges surrounding the collection, use, and storage of biometric data. India passed a law in 2022 extending police powers to collect biometric data from convicted, arrested, or detained individuals.

This incident is a wake-up call for governments and private firms, emphasizing the need for stronger data security practices and clear regulations to protect the privacy and security of citizens.

  1. Threat Actors Selling 1.8TB Database of Indian Mobile Users
  2. Top ERP Firm Exposing Half a Million Indian Job Seekers Data
  3. Hacker Leaks 73M Records from Indian HDFC Bank Subsidiary
  4. Hundreds of Indians Rescued from Cambodian Cybercrime Gangs
  5. Indian ISP Hathway Data Breach: Hacker Leaks 4M Users, KYC Data

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Data leak site BreachForums is back, boasting Live Nation/Ticketmaster user data. But is it a trap?

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Data leak site BreachForums is back, boasting Live Nation/Ticketmaster user data. But is it a trap?
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Notorious data leak site BreachForums appears to be back online after it was seized by law enforcement a few weeks ago.

At least one of BreachForums domains and its dark web site are live again. However, questions have been raised over whether it is a genuine attempt to revive the forums once again or set up as a lure by law enforcement to entrap more data dealers and cybercriminals.

The administrator of the new forum posts under the handle ShinyHunters, which is a name associated with the AT&T breach and others, and believed to be the main administrator of the previous BreachForums.

Yesterday, ShinyHunters posted a new dataset for sale that allegedly stems from Live Nation/Ticketmaster.

Post on BreachForums by administrator ShinyHunters
Post by ShinyHunters to sell the Live Nation Ticketmaster data set

“Live Nation / Ticketmaster

Data includes

560 million customer full details (name, address, email, phone)

Ticket sales, event information, order details

CC detail – customer last 4 of card, expiration date

Customer fraud details

Much more

Price is $500k USD. One time sale.”

But, an avatar and a handle are easily copied, and there are a few things that raised our spidey-senses that something is up.

First, the data set was offered for sale on another dark web forum by a user going by SpidermanData with the exact same text.

Post by SpidermanData on another forum selling the same data set
SpidermanData offering the same data set on another forum

Second, this data set seems way too big for its nature. Live Nation and Ticketmaster are big enough to be considered a monopolist, but 560 million users seems like a stretch.

After looking at the shared evidence, security researcher CyberKnow tweeted:

“While there is some new data in the shared evidence there is also old customer information, making it possibly this is a series of data jammed together.”

Third, a new feature is that visitors need to register before they can see any content. Why would the administrators change that?

And, last but not least, would the FBI let the cybercriminals regain control over the domains that easily? That would be quite embarrassing.

So, we dare conclude that this dataset’s goal is to generate some attention and act as a lure to let old forum users know that BreachForums is alive and kicking. But who is running the show, is the question that we hope to answer soon.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

Protecting yourself after a data breach

There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.

  • Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened, and follow any specific advice they offer.
  • Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
  • Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify the identity of anyone who contacts you using a different communication channel.
  • Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
  • Consider not storing your card details. It’s definitely more convenient to get sites to remember your card details for you, but we highly recommend not storing that information on websites.
  • Set up identity monitoring. Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.

Check if your data has been breached

Our Digital Footprint portal allows you to quickly and easily check if your personal information has been exposed online. Just enter your email address (it’s best to submit the one you most frequently use) to our free Digital Footprint scan and we’ll give you a report.

We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using identity protection.


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Two budget smartphones from Samsung just appeared

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Two budget smartphones from Samsung just appeared
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Samsung is one of the leading companies in the smartphone industry. The South Korean company has started working on affordable devices that will be launched next year. Surprisingly, Samsung’s new A-series devices Galaxy A06 and Galaxy A16 5G have appeared in an IMEI database. This shows that Samsung is aiming to continue its presence in the affordable smartphone market.

Samsung’s budget smartphones show up in a database

The Galaxy A06 stands out as the most affordable product of the series.The model numbers of this device that appeared are “SM-A065M” and “SM-A065F”. The previous Galaxy A05 had the model number SM-A055F. These model numbers indicate in which countries the devices will be available for sale. When we analyze the model numbers in detail, the SM-A065M model refers to South America, while the SM-A065F model represents the global market.

Additionally, Samsung has started the One UI Core Beta tests for this model. The latest internal One UI Beta version for the Galaxy A06 is “A065MUBU0AXE1.” Here, “A065M” is the model number of the Galaxy A06. The letter “U” represents new features, bug fixes, and other important improvements. Moreover, the letters “XE” indicate that this build was last compiled in May, and the number “1” at the end represents the build number.

Similarly, Samsung will launch the Galaxy A16 5G as a more improved smartphone compared to the Galaxy A06. The model number for Galaxy A16 5G is “SM-A166B“. The previous Galaxy A15 5G had the model number SM-A156B. The model number “SM-A166B” represents the global market. Also, note that the Galaxy A16 5G will released in the US.

Although we do not have exact information about the new model’s release dates and specifications, the previous model’s release dates offer some clues. For instance, Samsung launched the Galaxy A05 at the end of September, and the Galaxy A15 5G went on sale in December. Samsung could launch the Galaxy A06 and Galaxy A16 5G smartphones on similar dates to their predecessors.


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