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A Google Pay primer for late adopters – the low-down on Android’s digital wallet

Tech

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

A Google Pay primer for late adopters – the low-down on Android’s digital wallet

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Digital wallets and online payment systems are now massively popular with smart-phone users. They’re dangerously convenient and easy to use as well as being highly-secure. One of the leading systems is of course Google Pay. Main competitor to Apple Pay, GP is the primary payment platform on all Android devices.

Despite the increased prevalence of digital wallet use, there are plenty of late adopters who aren’t all that clued up on how these platforms work. If you’re one of these cautious souls, then this article is for you. What better way to make an introduction than by focusing on one of the biggest players in the business. So what is Google Play specifically and where did it all begin?

What is Google Pay?

Technically-speaking Google Pay is a digital wallet and online payment system. It allows you to store payment cards and your bank account details in one place. The idea is to make it easy to make purchases both online and in-store.

A Brief History

The history of Google Pay can be traced back to 2011 when the Big G introduced Google Wallet – a similar kind of mobile payment system that allowed users to store credit card info and make purchases with their smart-phones.

Unfortunately, it didn’t really catch on and was replaced by Android Pay in 2015. Three years later and Google merged Android Pay with Google Wallet to create Google Pay. Significantly, the availability of the new payment platform was expanded beyond Android to include iOS devices as well as desktop web browsers.

Using Google Pay for In-Store Purchases

One of the most popular ways to use Google Pay is to make in-store purchases. Both Google Pay and competitor, Apple Pay, use Near Field Communication (NFC). This technology enables you to make in-store purchases with a mobile device.

To use the service you download the Google Pay app, enter your phone number and sign into your Google account. It’s then a case of following some simple verification steps and adding your bank account details.

Once complete, you’re pretty much ready to go. The payment process itself is quick and secure and your information is never shared with the merchant during the transaction.

Another advantage is that shoppers don’t need to carry physical cash or cards. What’s more the pandemic accelerated the adoption of contactless payment methods, given that people have become more conscious of touching surfaces and handling physical cash.

Using Google Pay to Make Online Purchases

Google Pay is especially popular on the web with an ever-increasing number of people using it to make online shopping transactions.

Inroads are also being made in industries that have traditionally been dominated by specialist payment platforms. The iGaming sector is a typical example.

This is some going considering the existence of already well established services such as Neteller, Zimpler and Skrill.

Another apparent hurdle is that many online casinos offer direct pay-by-phone services – a very convenient, easy-to-use option that merely requires a phone number. In this respect, it seems that a lot of punters don’t like these sorts of transactions appearing on their phone bill. Thus Google Play is a good alternative.

Google Pay – Pros and Cons

Like any product, Google Pay isn’t infallible. It has its advantages and drawbacks. With this in mind, here are its main pros and cons.

Pros

Convenience

There’s no doubting the convenience of digital wallets such as Google Pay. It’s easy (you might say too easy) to make payments without carrying cash or a physical card.

Security

A bugbear for the uninformed, security is actually rock-solid for Google Pay as is the case with all of the big-brand digital wallets. It uses several layers of security to protect user information, including encryption and tokenization. Thus, the risk of fraud is minimal.

Loyalty Rewards

Google Pay offers rewards for users who complete qualifying actions such as referring friends, making purchases and sending money.

Peer-to-Peer Transactions

Like services such as Monzo, GP allows users to send money to other people quickly and easily. This feature is especially useful for splitting bills or paying back friends and family members.

Compatibility

Google Pay is compatible with a wide range of devices. As mentioned, the app was made available to ioS devices in 2018 which has become a huge selling point for many users. It’s also compatible with an assortment of popular banks and financial institutions, making it easy to link accounts and make payments.

Cons

Limited Coverage

Not all merchants accept Google Pay, so you may not be able to use it everywhere you shop.

Transaction Limits

Transaction limits are also applied which may restrict the amount of money you can send or receive in a single transaction or over a certain period.

Transaction Fees

While Google Pay itself is free to use, some merchants may charge fees for accepting payments via the service.

Dependence on Technology

Google Pay requires a smartphone or other compatible device with internet access. So if your phone or internet connection is down, you may not be able to use the service.

Privacy Concerns

Although Google Pay does not sell user data to advertisers or other third parties, it does collect some information about your transactions and usage patterns

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How to print out messages from Android

Tech

andreasc

-

March 23, 2023

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Messages sent between devices can contain some incredibly important information. For this reason, you may wish to print out certain messages for business records, court hearings, or simply for safekeeping.
Here we show a couple of easy ways to print messages on your Android device – directly from your phone, as well as from your computer.

1. Printing screenshots of Android messages

If you only need to print out a few select messages, you can simply screenshot those messages on Android and print out the screenshot image.

This isn’t the best-looking output, but it works in a pinch.

1. Launch the messaging app on your Android device and open the conversation you wish to print.

2. Take a screenshot of the section of the conversation currently in view. On most Android devices, you can take a screenshot by using the Power button at the same time as the Volume Down button. If this doesn’t work, press and hold the power button which may give the option to take a screenshot.

3. If you need to print more of your conversation, scroll down to the next portion and take another screenshot. Repeat this process until you have screenshots of all the messages you need.

4. Open the photos app on your device and locate your screenshots.

5. Tap and hold one of your screenshots to enable multi-selection, then proceed to tap each of your other screenshots.

6. Tap Share and use email or Gmail to email those screenshots to your own email address.

7. Open the email on your computer and download the attached screenshots.

8. Open the screenshots in Photos on Windows, or in Preview on Mac. For each photo, go to File > Print, and follow the steps to print from your connected printer.

If your device is running Android 12 or higher, you can create a Scrolling Screenshot to capture more of your messages in a single screenshot.

Optionally, you may also wish to mark up your screenshots before emailing them to yourself. This could help to highlight important information on a screenshot or make notes directly on the image.

2. Printing complete conversations from your computer

As you can see, using screenshots can be time-consuming and tedious if you have a lot of messages to print.

To print out an entire conversation at once, you’ll need the help of a third-party app. An example of such an app is Droid Transfer for PC.

Here’s how to print an entire conversation from Android on your PC using Droid Transfer:

1. Download Droid Transfer on your PC and the Transfer Companion app on your Android device.

2. Launch Droid Transfer and connect your phone and your PC over Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code in the app. You can also connect using a USB connection.

3. Open the Messages feature in Droid Transfer and select the conversation you wish to print. You can even Ctrl-click multiple conversations to select them at the same time.

4. Click Print and follow the steps to print from your connected printer.

Using Droid Transfer in this way will produce a complete printout of your selected conversation/s. The printout created by Droid Transfer contains photos, and emojis included in your messages as well as dates and times the messages were received.

Message printing customization with Droid Transfer

– If you don’t need to print an entire conversation, you can use the “Set Dates” feature to access and print only the selection of messages you need.
– You can further customize your printout within Droid Transfer’s options by choosing to display contact images and numbers, setting font and image sizes, and enabling Compact Layout which will save paper.

Alternatively, you can backup your conversations to your computer instead of printing. Droid Transfer will save your messages in PDF, HTML or plain text files. This multi-featured app also lets you manage and transfer Photos, Music, Contacts and Files between your phone and your PC.

Summary

There you have it – the 2 best ways to print out messages from your Android device.
If you only need a few messages printed, you could simply take a screenshot and print off the image.

Or if you need to print off more messages (especially if you regularly need to print out messages for business or legal purposes), the use of a third-party app like Droid Transfer will save you time and will produce much better printouts.

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YouTube Music tests placing your favorite artists’ radios on home page

Apps

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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YouTube Music tests placing your favorite artists’ radios on home page

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Who doesn’t like finding new music? Especially, music you like from artists you already listen to or enjoy? This functionality is actually crucial for a good streaming service. And now, Android Police reports YouTube Music is placing Artist Radio Stations front and center in the app to better help you find awesome music you’ll like from artists you like, quicker.

YouTube Music’s latest test is aimed to draw attention to artist-based radio streams

Spotify placed artists radios usually in search results, but YouTube Music seems to be betting on another horse: placing the artist-based radio on the home screen of the app. This is still a test for now, so do keep in mind that not everyone will be seeing this update just yet. If you’re one of the people for whom the test is active, you will see a new section called “Artist radios” front and center on your homepage, as users on Reddit spotted.

Here’s how the test feature looks. (Image Source – user cancerkol on Reddit

This playlist is basically made from artists you like and musicians they’ve worked with. So this way you’d get to listen to songs from your favorite artists and discover similar music too. What’s even cooler is that you will be able to fine-tune the radio by mood (chill, discover, etc.) just like you are able to refine recommendations in the Home tab.

Custom radios are not a new thing, and both Spotify and YouTube Music have had the feature for a while. But with this new test, the Artist radios will be much easier to reach so you can enjoy your favorite artists while discovering new music at the same time. For now, it seems this is an A/B test, and there’s no official release date for this change just yet. When we know more, so will you, so stay tuned!

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Huawei Mate X3 specs surface a day before its launch

Android

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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Huawei Mate X3 specs surface a day before its launch

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The Huawei Mate X3 is the company’s upcoming foldable smartphone, and its specs have just appeared. The phone will launch tomorrow, so these specifications do come at the very last minute, basically.

Before we get down to it, it’s worth noting that the phone will launch alongside the Huawei P60 series. Those devices will become official in China first. They’ll probably trickle down to more markets, though.

The Huawei Mate X3 specs surface at the last moment, the launch is happening tomorrow

Now, the Huawei Mate X3 will be a powerful phone. Based on the information provided by Digital Chat Station, a well-known tipster, the phone will be fueled by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. That is no longer Qualcomm’s most powerful SoC, but it’s close enough. Do note that the Mate X3 will be limited to 4G connectivity, though.

The phone will include a 7.8-inch main display with a fullHD resolution, and a 120Hz refresh rate. The second panel will measure 6.45 inches, and it will also be an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

A 50-megapixel main camera (Sony’s IMX766 sensor) will be included on the back. A periscope telephoto camera will also be a part of the package, it seems, and most likely an ultrawide unit too.

It will offer wireless charging & water resistance, unlike its predecessor

The tipster also said that the device will offer IPX8 water resistance, which will be a first for one of Huawei’s foldables. Wireless charging will be supported, which is also something the Mate X2 did not offer.

A 4,800mAh battery was mentioned by the tipster, and the same goes for 66W wired charging. The charging brick will be included in the box, and the device will include 12GB of RAM. We’re not sure if that will be the only model, though.

The phone will probably be made out of metal and glass, though a vegan leather variant is a possibility. It will likely have a similar form factor to its predecessor, as it will be a book-style foldable with a similar size.

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The best MagSafe wireless chargers for Samsung Galaxy S23

Tech

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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The best MagSafe wireless chargers for Samsung Galaxy S23

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The Samsung Galaxy S23 series supports wireless charging. You can put it down on a Qi wireless charger and juice it up without having to plug in a cable. The thing is alignment could be a problem when using any regular Qi wireless chargers. That’s why Apple introduced MagSafe chargers and magnetic wireless chargers have gained in popularity.

The Galaxy S23 is not MagSafe-enabled or made magnetic. But fortunately, there are S23 MagSafe phone cases that let you enjoy hassle-free wireless charging like iPhone users do.

PITAKA is one of the brands that make MagSafe cases for Galaxy S23. And they also offer some of the best MagSafe wireless chargers in the market.

MagEZ Slider

The MagEZ Slider is a 2-in-1 wireless charger that can charge your Galaxy S23 (using a MagSafe case) and Qi-enabled earbuds like the Galaxy Buds.

With a MagSafe case like the PITAKA MagEZ Case 3 for Galaxy S23, you can snap your phone to the charger to enjoy stable wireless charging. There’s no need to worry about misalignment. Meanwhile, the MagEZ Slider works as a phone stand setting at 45 degrees, so you can glance over your phone screen when needed to see incoming notifications. In addition, you can put your earbuds on the magnetic bar on the back to wirelessly charge it.

What makes the MagEZ Slider stand out is that it can charge your phone on the go. With a detachable MagSafe power bank (4000mAh), you can slide your S23 out with the power bank attached to the back to charge on the go. The curved, aramid fiber power bank slightly covers the lens of the S23 Ultra and S23, but it still magnetically holds onto your phone through the case. When you need to use the camera, effortlessly pull the power bank off.

Secondly, the MagEZ Slider is one of the smallest multi-device wireless chargers that takes up a tiny space on the desk. Additionally, the charger uses a rotatable design that lets you switch the charger around to get access to your devices easily. Or you may spin it for fun when you feel stressed or bored sitting there.

PITAKA is celebrating the start of the new season with a Spring Sale taking up to 50% off its phone cases. And the MagEZ Slider is 15% off. So grab the deal before it’s gone!

MagEZ Car Mount

If you want to charge your Galaxy S23 in the car, you can’t miss out on the MagEZ Car Mount.

The MagEZ Car Mount is a MagSafe compatible car mount that holds your phone firmly in place while you drive. Built-in strong magnets ensure that your phone is safe even on the bumpiest road. And car vent and suction cup variants are available to fit almost every type of car.

The car mount comes in two versions, Lite and Pro. The Pro version supports wireless charging up to 15W, so when you get in the car, magnetically attach your S23 to the car mount to free your hands, and rest assured that your phone will be charged up while you drive. Then, when you reach the destination, just grab your juiced-up S23 with a single hand and go.

The Lite version is identical to the Pro, except it doesn’t have wireless charging capability.

The MagEZ Car Mount is 5% off for the Spring Sale event.

You may visit the PITAKA website for other discounted wireless chargers.

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Shell DDoS Malware Attacks Poorly Managed Linux SSH Servers

Hacking

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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Shell DDoS Malware Attacks Poorly Managed Linux SSH Servers

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The ShellBot threat has turned out to be a new type of malware designed to target Linux SSH servers poorly managed as part of a new campaign.

As stated in a report published by AhnLab Security Emergency Response Center (ASEC), ShellBot, also called PerlBot, is a DDoS Bot malware developed using the Perl programming language, which normally communicates with the C&C server using the IRC protocol.

Despite being an old malware, ShellBot has been used steadily over the last few years and is still used today to attack Linux systems.

Attack Campaigns

A malware attack typically occurs through a web browser or email attachment in a desktop environment. It is also a common practice for threat actors to distribute malware disguised as legitimate software to convince users to install it on their devices.

In order to attack server environments, threat actors have also used different methods.

The prime targets of these attacks are those services that are poorly managed or are weak to exploit vulnerabilities because they are not patched to the latest version of their software.

There are several ways in which Windows operating systems can be targeted using the remote desktop protocol (RDP) and Microsoft SQL Server service as examples of attack vectors.

Regarding attacks on Linux servers, Secure Shell (SSH) is one of the most commonly targeted services. When an old Linux server or embedded Linux OS is present in IoT environments, the Telnet service has been the target of dictionary attacks.

IRC protocol & ShellBot Analysis

The Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a real-time Internet chat protocol that allows users to log on to certain channels and join in real-time discussions with other users who have logged on to the same channel.

An IRC bot can be defined as a piece of bot malware that uses the IRC protocol to communicate with a C&C server via the internet rather than via a regular serial port.

Infected systems are infected with IRC bots that access an IRC server’s channel designated by threat actors, transmit stolen data, or receive a specific string from the attacker as a command, executing the malicious behavior associated with that string.

There has been a considerable amount of use of ShellBot by a number of threat actors in the past. Researchers have classified ShellBot into three types based on the commands, characteristics, and DDoS attacks used by the malware during installation.

The attack uses a list of known SSH credentials to initiate a dictionary attack, which compromises the server and deploys the payload, after which a remote server is contacted via Internet Relay Chat (IRC) protocol to communicate with the attacker.

On the other hand, PowerBots has a more backdoor-like capability since it can grant reverse shell access to compromised hosts and upload arbitrary files from them.

Nearly three months have passed since ShellBot was employed in attacks that aimed to infect Linux servers with cryptocurrency miners and distribute those miners using shell script compilers.

Building Your Malware Defense Strategy – Download Free E-Book

Related Read:

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Google suspends Pinduoduo app over malware

Malware

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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Google suspends Pinduoduo app over malware

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Google has suspended Chinese agricultural e-commerce app Pinduoduo from Google Play after versions of the app found outside the Google store were flagged as having malware issues.

A Google spokesperson told Reuters that the app had been suspended over “security concerns”, adding that “Off-Play versions of this app that have been found to contain malware have been enforced on via Google Play Protect”, in other words, software that prevents the installation of malicious or harmful apps by scanning Android devices with Google Play Services.

A Pinoduoduo spokesperson told Reuters that Google had not shared details on why the app was “temporarily suspended” from Google Play beyond saying that the current version of the app “is not compliant with Google’s Policy”. The spokesperson noted that there are multiple reasons why an app may be temporarily suspended from Google Play.

Trojan malware, or malware disguised as a trusted file or source, can have devastating affects when unknowingly downloaded by a victim. Research by cyber security software company G Data has found that as of 2019, there were more than 4.18 million malicious Andriod apps available to download, with an average of 11,500 apps being uploaded every day.

Cyber security expert and Cyber Security Hub contributor Alex Vakulov notes that the nature of this threat vectors means it is difficult to remove once a device has been infected, with some extreme cases requiring the infected device to be returned to factory settings.

Vakulov says that it is not uncommon for users to download malware from official sources such as Google Play, due to the app-checking technology not being completely foolproof.

“While mobile security solutions can detect unauthorized app activity, it is the personal decision of each user to install a particular software on their phone,” he adds.

To prevent trojan malware infections, users should remain vigilant by checking the validity of app publishers before downloading any apps.

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Yet another Android Go phone is official, the Nokia C12 Pro

Android

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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Yet another Android Go phone is official, the Nokia C12 Pro

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HMD Global has announced yet another Android Go smartphone, the Nokia C12 Pro. This handset follows the Nokia C12 which arrived back in January, and the Nokia C02 which launched in February. It’s as if Nokia has a new Android Go device for each month of the year.

The Nokia C12 Pro is official as a new Android Go smartphone

Considering this is an Android Go device, it has entry-level specs. Before we get down to that, let’s talk about its design first, shall we? The Nokia C12 Pro has a single camera on the back, inside a small camera island that sits in the top-left corner.

In the bottom-left corner, you’ll notice a rear-facing speaker. That is the only speaker on the phone. Nokia’s logo is also included on the back, and it’s vertically oriented.

On the front, you’ll spot a waterdrop display notch, a flat display, and rather thin bezels… well, all of them except the bottom one. This phone has a “chin” like many other entry-level devices.

Now, when it comes to specs, the device is fueled by the Unisoc 9863A1 SoC. It includes 2GB or 3GB of RAM, both of which arrive with 64GB of internal storage. Android 12 Go Edition comes pre-installed on the phone. HMD Global promises two years of quarterly security updates.

It has a larger battery pack than its non-Pro sibling

A single 8-megapixel camera can be found on the back, while a 5-megapixel unit sits on the front. A 4,000mAh battery is included in the package, but fast charging is not.

If this phone seems familiar, there’s a good reason for that. It looks basically the same as the Nokia C12. So, what’s the difference? Well, this device includes a larger battery. The Nokia C12 has a 3,000mAh battery. Both battery packs are removable, though.

The Nokia C12 Pro comes in Charcoal, Dark Cyan, and Light Mint colors, all of which are shown below. The phone launched in India only, for now. We’ll see if HMD Global plans to push it to other markets.

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, A52s, A52 5G & A13 get march update

Android

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, A52s, A52 5G & A13 get march update

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Multiple Samsung smartphones are receiving the March 2023 Android security patch today. The Korean firm has released the latest security update for the Galaxy S21 FE, Galaxy A52s, Galaxy A52 5G, and Galaxy A13. The new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) has already reached dozens of other Galaxy devices.

This month’s security update for the Galaxy S21 FE is currently rolling out in a handful of Asian countries. Users in India and surrounding regions are getting this update with the firmware build number G990EXXS4EWC2 (via). Samsung will gradually roll out this software release in more markets, including the US. Don’t expect anything apart from the latest security patch, though. This update comes right on the heel of One UI 5.1, so that isn’t surprising.

That’s true for the Galaxy A52 5G as well. Samsung recently pushed the One UI 5.1 update to the 2021 premium mid-range model. The latest release now brings this month’s vulnerability fixes. The update is rolling out widely in Asia and Europe as we speak. The new firmware version for this model is A526BXXU2EWB5. A wider rollout of the March SMR for the Galaxy A52 5G should be right around the corner.

The March SMR for the Galaxy A52s, meanwhile, is initially rolling out in Latin America. The update is live for users in a host of countries in the region. SamMobile confirms the availability in Paraguay, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina, Guatemala, Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru. The updated firmware build number for the device is A528BXXS2EWB7. Samsung didn’t release the Galaxy A52s in the US but users in other markets should get this update soon.

The Galaxy A13 is another Samsung phone that is making the jump to the latest security patch today. This budget handset is also initially picking up the new SMR in Latin America, though the rollout seems to be currently limited to Colombia. The Korean firm should push the update more widely in the coming days. The Galaxy A13 isn’t eligible for One UI 5.1 but it will get Android 14.

The March update patches more than 60 vulnerabilities in Galaxy devices

This month’s security update contains more than 60 vulnerability patches for Galaxy devices. At least five of those were critical flaws, according to Google. If you’re using any of these Samsung smartphones, or any other for that matter, go to Settings > Software update and tap on Download and install to check for new updates. We will keep you posted as the company pushes updates to more Galaxy devices.

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WhatsApp’s latest update improves group chats and communities experience

Apps

andreasc

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March 23, 2023

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WhatsApp’s latest update improves group chats and communities experience

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WhatsApp has just announced a brand-new update that mostly focuses on Communities, a feature that’s been introduced last year. Starting today, WhatsApp users should see couple of changes that will make groups easier to manage and navigate.

One of the important additions included in the update is a new tool that will give admins enhanced control over their group privacy. It’s meant to provide admins with the ability to decided who is able to join a group. The update further empowers admins’ control over who can join when they share their group’s invite link or make their group joinable in a community.

Another improvement introduced in the latest update will allow WhatsApp users to easily see groups in common. Since its launch last year, Communities in their groups have grown exponentially, so it’s hard to navigate and find those the you’re interested in.

Thanks to the latest update, WhatsApp users can now search a contact’s name to see their groups in common. It’s much easier than trying to remember the name of the group you already know you share with a friend.

If you can’t wait to start using these new features, you’ll have to be patient. WhatsApp announced that these new features will start rolling out globally over the coming week, so it might take a while to reach everyone. On the bright side, the social app hinted to even more tools that will further improve the groups experience for both admins and members.

In related news, WhatsApp is expected to push out yet another update meant to reduce spam. A new feature that will allow users to mute calls from unknown callers is now being tested and it’s available in the beta program. All muted calls will appear in the Call List, but you won’t be bothered by anyone you don’t know if that’s what you want.

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