The True 2-Day Battery Smartphone

andreasc
-
0
The True 2-Day Battery Smartphone
[ad_1]

The HONOR Magic6 RSR is essentially the Magic6 Pro, turned up to 11. It’s mostly the same; however, it does sport more RAM and storage and has a slightly different design. If you’ve not read our Magic6 Pro review, I’d invite you to do so, as a lot of what we mention in this review will be similar. Of course, the Magic6 Pro is also going to be cheaper.

HONOR (and Huawei when it owned HONOR) had a good partnership with Porsche Design. It’s creating some pretty cool editions of its flagship phones. But now, with the Magic V2 RSR and the Magic6 RSR, HONOR seems to be taking it up a notch. Adding in some features specific to the RSR model, as well as some unique design aspects. Like the hexagonal camera setup on the backside of the Magic6 RSR.

But of course, the real question is whether you should spend the extra money on the RSR model versus going with the Magic6 Pro, which is close to half the price in China. Currently, we do not have the pricing for Europe, but we’d expect it to fall in line with what we have seen in China already.

Honor Magic 6 rsr review AM AH 19

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Hardware and Design

With the HONOR Magic6 RSR, HONOR and Porsche Design are bringing iconic Porsche hues and hexagonal structural design. It pays homage to the decades-long significance of Porsche cars and incorporates structural elements that are reminiscent of Porsche’s design excellence. This includes the hexagonal camera module on the back, which really makes it stand out.

To be perfectly honest, I’m not a car guy. So, a lot of this means very little to me. However, I will say that the Porsche Design phones HONOR has been putting out do look very unique compared to the competition. This is even compared to the Magic6 Pro that HONOR launched very recently. And that’s something that is actually pretty hard to do these days. A lot of phones just look so similar.

HONOR has also included a symmetrical peakline, which adds to the unique appearance of the Magic6 RSR, and honestly, I really like having it. It’s not as pronounced as a flyline, which the Magic V2 RSR does have, though I wish it was. Keeping up with the Porsche styling, HONOR is offering the Magic6 RSR in two Porsche colors, including Agate Grey which is a hue worn by revered Porsche models such as the iconic 911 sportscar. It’s also available in Frozen Berry, which is a reflective, bold shade of pink originally designed for Porsche models like the Taycan EV.

With the Agate Grey color, it is a matte feel, but it is still quite slippery. For the majority of the time that I’ve been using the Magic6 RSR, I’ve been using the included case. Which is a vegan leather Porsche Design case, and it looks great. However, the cutout for the USB-C port is kind of small, so some USB-C cables I use daily don’t fit in the port without taking the case off. A somewhat of a minor annoyance, but still an annoyance.

The front of the phone features a stunning 6.8-inch OLED display, which is slightly curved. Much like the Magic6 Pro, it also sports a version of Apple’s Dynamic Island, which works okay but is kind of weird on an Android phone since it is unnecessary.

Holding the Magic6 RSR in the hand is quite nice. Despite it being larger and heavier than a lot of other phones that I frequent, it doesn’t feel all that large. It does, however, feel thicker. But in reality, it’s still 8.9mm thick. It’s actually quite surprising how much heavier this phone feels compared to other 6.7-, 6.8- and 6.9-inch devices. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, for instance, is only 221g. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra is 232g, but still feels much lighter than the Magic6 RSR at 239g. But like with every phone, you get used to the size and weight.

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Display

As mentioned already, the display on the Magic6 RSR is a 6.8-inch OLED Tandem Display, with 1.07 billion colors and 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, making it an absolutely stunning display. Color reproduction is top-notch here, and with it being slightly curved on the sides, it makes it incredible for watching content. I’ve watched countless YouTube videos and TikToks here (before it gets banned in the US). Of course, a big part of that is Dolby Vision certification. Watch a Dolby Vision title from Hulu or Amazon Prime Video, and you’ll fall in love with this display.

Honor Magic 6 rsr review AM AH 02

HONOR claims that the screen can get up to 5,000 nits of peak HDR brightness. What that means is that while it can get that bright, you won’t see that happen very often. That’s going to happen in the most extreme circumstances. It’s actually rated for 1800 nits in HBM or high-brightness mode. Now in our testing, we were able to get it close to that, but not quite the full 1800 nits. That is pretty normal since we aren’t testing this in a lab but instead using a white background and shining a flashlight on the light sensor to get it as bright as possible.

In day-to-day usage, you won’t have any issues seeing this display. I’ve used it outdoors in direct sunlight plenty and had very few issues with the display. Even in dark mode, you can still see it pretty easily in direct sunlight.

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Performance

The internals of the Magic6 RSR are simply beastly. We’re looking at the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, which is going to be in most phones released in 2024. On top of that, HONOR has included 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is something Samsung is not doing right now. While we don’t know the US or even European price yet, we do know the Chinese price, which is CNY 9,999 which converts to around $1,389 USD. That’s less than $100 more than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, with twice the RAM and four times the storage. That’s pretty crazy.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I’ve been using the Magic6 RSR for a month now and have done basically everything with it so far. And the phone has yet to overheat or even really get hot. Nor has it slowed down. Of course with that much RAM, you’d kinda expect that it would perform quite well.

This phone does have 24GB of RAM, however, if you need a bit more memory, there is a RAM boost of another 8GB. That brings you to 32GB of total RAM here, which is incredible for a smartphone. My laptop has 36GB of RAM. If you’re worried about performance here on the Magic6 RSR, don’t be. In fact, you’ll likely never really see it slow down for a few years since the specs are so monstrous on this one.

Before we jump into the benchmarks, let’s talk about audio for a minute. While using it to watch content and listen to Spotify, the on-board speakers sound great. However, we do have our own tests to test out the audio. Each of these tracks specifies a different aspect of audio, including the bass, the highs, the mids, and even the vocals. To be honest, they all sounded really good to my ears. The vocals for say a podcast, sounded really good and clear, even at higher volumes. However, the bass can get distorted when you turn the volume all the way up.

Honor Magic 6 rsr review AM AH 11

The Benchmarks

As we do with every phone, we’ve put the HONOR Magic6 RSR through a number of benchmark tests to see how it stacks up with other phones that have come across our desks. You can read more about our testing for reviews here.

The first test is Geekbench 6. In the graph below, you can see the Single- and Multi-Core scores from Geekbench 6, as well as the GPU score. Here, we are comparing it to the Magic6 Pro, which should have very similar scores, as well as the HONOR Magic V2 RSR, which uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the Galaxy S24 Ultra, which is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy. As you can see, the single-core scores were all pretty similar, between 1870 and 2206. Multi-core scores were also very similar, but a slightly larger difference. GPU scores is where things really start to take a turn. The Magic6 Pro and RSR are virtually the same, but both scored over 2,000 points more than the Galaxy S24 Ultra with the same processor. And was close to doubling the Magic V2 RSR.

Geekbench 6

The next test we run is the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test. This benchmark runs the same loop of about 60 seconds long, 20 times. The purpose of this test is to push the device to its limit and then see how well it stays at that level. So this test does heat the phone up quite a bit, which is why we also use this for a thermal test, but more on that later. It also spits out a Best Loop Score, Lowest Loop Score, and a stability percentage. The Magic6 RSR scored a little better than the Magic6 Pro but had a slightly lower stability percentage at 66.8% versus the Magic6 Pro having 69.1%.

The last benchmark we run is one that we actually designed, which means that OEMs can’t “cheat” on it. Basically, we open Capcut. Load in a 60-second long video – it’s the same video for every phone – and then export it at 1080p 60fps. We time how long it takes to export, which is generally under 10 seconds. Perhaps a little surprising, the Galaxy S24 Ultra beat them all but around a second, at a time of 7.75 seconds. The Magic V2 RSR had the slowest time of the four at 12.87 seconds.

Capcut video test

For the most part, the Magic6 RSR performed as we had expected. And was very similar to the Magic6 Pro, as it should be. Seeing as the only major difference is RAM, which jumps from 16GB on the Pro to 24GB on the RSR.

Thermals

Now let’s talk about how cool, the phone actually stayed. These temps were actually very close to the Magic6 Pro, which again, they should be. They were within a degree in each test. The first test is measuring the temperature after running the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test. Generally, this one provides the highest temperature as it pushes the phone to the absolute edge. Here, we achieved a temperature of 111.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next up, we play Genshin Impact for an hour, on max settings and max brightness, then measure the temperature. The Magic6 Pro had a temperature of 98.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, we recorded the video at 4K60 for 10 minutes, measuring the temperature at 5 minutes and again at 10 minutes. The Magic6 RSR had temps of 94.9 and 97.4 Fahrenheit on those.

Overall, pretty respectable temperatures from the Magic6 RSR. The OnePlus 12 did have lower numbers in our testing, however that phone does have a massive heatsink and a ton of cooling inside to keep it that cool.

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Battery

The HONOR Magic6 RSR has, I believe, the largest battery I’ve ever used in a smartphone. It’s rated at 5,600mAh, finally pushing past that 5,000mAh threshold that everyone seemed to be stuck at for years. OnePlus pushed past it this year with a 5,400mAh battery in the OnePlus 12, and it offered some incredible battery life too. But the Magic6 RSR tops it.

This is how battery life should be

To put it in perspective, I use every review device in the same way. I unplug at around 7 am when I wake up and call it a day around 11pm or so. That’s about 16 hours of usage per day. With the OnePlus 12, which I mentioned in the review, I would get 57% by the end of the day. But with the HONOR Magic6 RSR, I’m typically above 65%, and a few times have been above 70% after a 16-hour day. That’s just incredible. And I’ve been able to get through two full days from a single charge, and still have some juice leftover. That’s two full days and nights before charging, using the phone as I normally would.

Now, how does it stack up in our battery rundown test? Well, pretty favorably. Let’s talk about this test first. Basically, we charge it to 100% and let it sit for a good hour charging past 100% to make sure it’s actually full. Then we load up a video on YouTube – the same video on every phone – and let it run at full brightness. It’s a 24-hour video, and the Magic6 RSR and Magic6 Pro are the only phones that have lasted longer than the video. Both of these phones were over 26 hours, with the Magic6 RSR having bested the Pro by about 28 minutes. That’s honestly truly incredible.

With this, it really makes me want to use the Magic6 RSR at a trade show to see how well it performs under all of the stress of using the phone a lot more often than normal.

However, I do wish that the battery stats in MagicOS 8.0 weren’t just a rolling 24 hours. But giving me the data since the last time the phone was fully charged. This makes it pretty tough to get a good gauge of how good (or not) the battery life really is. Since I can’t kill the phone in a single day, Google and Samsung used to do this, but they have since updated their battery life screens, so hopefully, HONOR will follow suit with MagicOS 9.0 next year.

Charging Test

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Software

The HONOR Magic6 RSR comes with MagicOS 8.0 which is based on Android 14. This is the same software that is found on the other Magic6 smartphones, with the biggest changes being some additional wallpapers and icons that make it feel more like a “Porsche Design” phone. MagicOS 8.0 feels pretty solid. However, it does also feel like a mixture of iOS and Android.

Now, we have seen phones, particularly from the East, leaning into the iOS aesthetic a lot over the years, but with MagicOS 8.0 it feels like a good mix of iOS and Android. As my colleague, Kristijan noted in his review of the Magic6 Pro back in February, it feels like you’re using both operating systems on the same phone. Now, what I will say here is that there are not as many typos or carbon copies of elements from iOS. But ther are still quite a few things that look like they were straight up lifted from iOS, like the camera app. Which I don’t have a problem with. It’s still easy to use, with all of the features you might want or need in a camera app right where you can reach it easily.

Where the Magic6 RSR really excels, however, is in the integration of different apps. For instance, you got an address on WhatsApp. You might want to copy and paste that into Google Maps. Well, now you don’t have to. Just Drag the address over to the right side of the screen, and a few apps will pop up. Just “drop” the address on Google Maps, and it’ll open up Google Maps in a pop-up window, with directions to that address. This is just one of many features that HONOR has included in MagicOS 8.0 with Magic Portal.

The Dynamic Island was lifted from the iPhone, but I somehow like it better on the Magic6 RSR versus my iPhone 15 Pro Max. It’s thinner, so there’s that, but it does also have more functionality. HONOR has added some UI elements around the pill-shaped cutout for the front-facing cameras. Like playback controls for media that you might be listening to, among other things.

The HONOR Magic6 RSR will most likely get Android 15 when it launches later this year. However, if MagicOS8 and Android 14 are anything to go by, it might not be available until early next year. This is perfectly fine, in my opinion, since new versions of Android aren’t really all that much different from the previous version. More of the changes come from the skins that companies like HONOR is putting on top of Android. HONOR is promising five years of security updates and OS updates for the Magic6 Pro and Magic6 RSR. So this should get to Android 19, which isn’t too shabby.

For someone from the West who is used to using software like Samsung’s One UI, Google’s Pixel Experience, and OnePlus’ OxygenOS, it definitely takes some getting used to MagicOS 8.0, but I quite like this software. And perhaps, most importantly, it does also absolutely fly on this hardware.

HONOR Magic6 RSR Review: Camera

Much like the Magic6 Pro, the Magic6 RSR is absolutely stacked with its camera setup. This includes a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultrawide and a 180-megapixel telephoto camera that is able to do 2.5x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. Not to mention the 50-megapixel front-facing camera, plus the 3D ToF sensor, which is used for better portrait photography. A bit weird seeing that in 2024, as it’s a feature that LG added on the LG G8 back in 2019.

Honor Magic 6 rsr review AM AH 14

Let’s first start with the primary camera. This 50-megapixel camera takes some really good pictures, as you might expect. It has a f/1.4 aperture, that is adjustable to f/2.0. Variable aperture is another feature that Samsung debuted on the Galaxy S9 back in 2018. So HONOR is here using tech that was introduced a few years ago and kind of forgotten about, making it even better. Every picture I’ve taken with this sensor, however, has come out incredible. I truly have no complaints about the quality of images out of this primary camera.

Next, the ultrawide. Now to be honest, I don’t take a whole lot of photos with the ultrawide camera on any smartphone. But, that sensor is used for “Super Macro”, which can be used at 0.5x, 1x or 2x zoom. The Super Macro shots I’ve taken have come out really good. If it has enough light, you can get some breathtaking macro shots out of this camera. However, I do wish it was easier to switch over to the “Super Macro” mode. You need to swipe over to “More” and then select it, which isn’t as quick as having a toggle on the screen. Which the Xiaomi 14 Ultra does have.

Now, the mother of them all is that 180-megapixel telephoto lens. I will say that when I first took the phone out of the box and tested the camera, I was a bit saddened to learn that this 180-megapixel telephoto lens only does 2.5x optical zoom. There is an option to do 5x zoom, which still looks quite good, but I think that HONOR could have cropped into that lens and given us a good 5x or 10x optical zoom option. Now this does go up to 100x digital zoom, but similar to other 100x phones on the market, it’s not that great. However, the telephoto zoom is pretty good by itself. Below, I’m sharing a number of pictures I’ve taken with the HONOR Magic6 RSR with this 180-megapixel sensor. You can use a macro mode on the telephoto sensor here, which does look incredible. In fact, I’ve been using it more for macro than the ultrawide lens (Basically, don’t use the super macro mode if you want to use the telephoto lens).

The only real issue with the telephoto is in low-light mode. It’s not always as sharp, which you kinda expect from a zoom lens. Typically the more you zoom in, the more light you’re going to need for a good picture. But all around, the camera setup on the Magic6 RSR is really impressive. One of my favorite camera setups on a phone so far this year.

Should you buy the HONOR Magic6 RSR?

I really like the HONOR Magic6 RSR. There are only two real complaints here for me. One is the price, and the other is the fact it won’t be available in the US. Otherwise, the Magic6 RSR excels at just about everything you throw at it, as it should. It also comes with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which does help to justify the price, of course. And if you are planning to keep it for a few years, it’ll definitely be worth the price. The Falcon Camera system on the Magic6 RSR is simply incredible and likely will continue to improve too.

It really is a shame that the government is trying so hard to keep phones like the HONOR Magic6 RSR out of the US because it’s nearly perfect. It does so many things so well, from the camera, to the battery life, to the stunning display with HDR support. If it weren’t for the lack of bands support in the US, the HONOR Magic6 RSR would definitely be my second phone, primarily for the battery and camera experiences.

You should buy the HONOR Magic6 RSR if:

  • You want a big phone with big battery life
  • You want a big phone that’s not a Galaxy S24 Ultra
  • You want an incredible zoom camera setup
  • You are a big Porsche fan
  • You want a phone with 1TB of storage

You should not buy the HONOR Magic6 RSR if:

  • You live in the US (while you can import it, it won’t work on all of the bands on all US carriers)
  • You don’t like a heavy skin on top of Android
  • You don’t like big and heavy phones.

[ad_2]
Source link

Dessky Snippets WordPress Plugin Exploited For Card Skimming

andreasc
-
0
Dessky Snippets WordPress Plugin Exploited For Card Skimming
[ad_1]

Heads up WordPress admins. If you’ve been running Dessky Snippets plugin on your WordPress e-stores, scan your sites for possible malicious codes. The criminal hackers have exploited the Dessky snippets plugin lately to deploy web skimmers and steal payment information.

Dessky Snippets Plugin Exploited To Deploy Card Skimming Malware

According to a recent post from Sucuri, they found a serious security issue with the WordPress plugin Dessky Snippets. While the issue doesn’t typically impact the plugin’s structure, it allows the threat actors to abuse it maliciously.

As observed, hackers have exploited the Dessky Snippets plugin to deploy card-skimming malware on target websites and steal payment information.

Dessky Snippets is a lightweight WordPress plugin that helps admins add custom PHP codes without editing the functions.php file. According to its WordPress.org page, the plugin is relatively new in the WP plugins realm, with over 200 installations only.

With such fewer installations, the plugin doesn’t seem lucrative for conducting large-scale attacks on WordPress sites. However, it seems the threat actors abusing this plugin weren’t really concerned about spreading their radius. Instead, they seemed more interested to stay under the radar for long.

Elaborating on the plugin abuse, Sucuri researchers noticed the plugin abuse on May 11, 2024, with a simultaneous rise in its downloads. Analyzing the plugin code made them unveil an obscured web skimming malware. As stated,

This malicious code was saved in the dnsp_settings option in the WordPress wp_options table and was designed to modify the checkout process in WooCommerce by manipulating the billing form and injecting its own code.

Dissecting further, the researchers noticed the two chunks in the malware – one with a generic name and bogus function twentytwenty_get_post_logos(), and the other culprit that actually steals the data. This seemingly bogus function serves as a hook for woocommerce_after_checkout_billing_form, and adds more fields on the checkout forms to add payment card details (which would otherwise appear on the following page). After obtaining the desired data, the code then exports it all to a third-party URL.

To evade detection, the fake checkout overlay doesn’t have the autocomplete feature enabled, so as to prevent the browsers from generating warnings about entering sensitive information.

Keep Your Sites Safe With Precautions

While WordPress plugins’ exploitation, such as the case with the Dessky Snippets plugin, seems unavoidable, users can still prevent the threats to a large extent by implementing security best practices.

Sucuri advises users to keep their sites updated with the latest plugin releases, integrate third-party scripts from trusted sources only, set up strong passwords for all accounts, deploy web app firewalls (WAF), and conduct regular site scans for malicious codes.

Likewise, users visiting e-stores should also ensure the site’s authenticity and look for any subtle changes in site layouts that relate to their payment information. Moreover, keeping an eye on bank statements and credit reports can also help detect any malicious activities in time and prevent possible damages.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


[ad_2]
Source link

WhatsApp cryptocurrency scam goes for the cash prize

andreasc
-
0
WhatsApp cryptocurrency scam goes for the cash prize
[ad_1]

This weekend a scammer tried his luck by reaching out to me on WhatsApp. It’s not that I don’t appreciate it, but trust me, it’s bad for your business.

I received one message from a number hailing from the Togolese Republic.

Scammer sends me login details by WhatsApp intended for "Jay"
WhatsApp message from an unknow sender

“Jay, your financial account has been added. Account Csy926. Password [********] USDT Balance 1,660,086.50 EUR: 592,030.92 [domain] Keep it in a safe place.”

I asked them to send the message in English, pretending not to understand Dutch, but received no reply.

But since it was a rainy day and I’d never seen this type of WhatApp scam before, I decided to investigate.

Sometimes it takes some effort, especially when the domain is blocked for fraud by your favorite security software, but nothing was going to stop me now from looking for my new-found wealth.

Domain blocked by Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes blocked the domain for fraud

To fully understand the message, it’s good to know that USTD stands for Tether, a cryptocurrency referred to as a stablecoin because its value is pegged to a fiat currency. In the case of USTD the fiat currency is the US dollar. The link makes a stablecoin’s value less volatile than that of other cryptocurrencies, which is attractive for traders that like to switch quickly between cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies.

So, I visited the domain which, no surprise there, turned out to be a fake trading platform. I tried the login credentials which were so kindly provided to me.

Login form asking for Account, Password, and an easy verification
Welcome to login

Once logged in I checked my wallet and lo and behold, I’m rich! (Or “Jay” is.)

Wallet belongs to Csy926 who has VIP5 access and contains 1658670.31 USDT or 602,494.07 US$
Nice wallet

The wallet belongs to Csy926 who has VIP5 access and contains 1658670.31 USDT or $602,494.07.

I can either recharge, withdraw, or transfer my USDT tokens or transfer the cold hard cash in dollars. Knowing that in this type of scam the victim always has to invest a—relatively–small amount to get the bait, I knew what to expect.

The easiest way would have been if I could transfer the dollars to a bank account, so I tried that first.

VIP members can transfer assets without KEY
Transfer form

Sadly, there were obstacles:

  • Transfers can only be done to other accounts on the platform and the recipient needs to be at least a VIP1 level.
  • Only VIP members can transfer without a key. Assuming Jay is the one with the key, it’s a good thing that the account has a VIP5 status.

So, to be a recipient of a US$ amount, I’ll need a VIP1 level account on the same platform.

Sadly, that’s not me. So I decided to see what I can do with the USDT tokens.

The form shows a security tip telling users to please fill in your withdrawal account accurately, because assets can not be returned after transfering out. That sucks for Jay.
Withdraw form

The form shows a security tip warning users to fill in their withdrawal account accurately, as assets can’t be returned after transferring them out. That sucks for Jay.

But all in all, that looks promising, but again there are some problems.

  • I’ll need a TRC20 wallet. A TRC20 wallet app is an application, accessible on mobile/web or desktop devices, designed specifically for storing, managing, and engaging with TRC20 tokens.
  • Once I filled out the form and clicked on Withdraw, it turned out I needed a key.
Please enter KEY

Looks like it’s time to read the FAQs. Fortunately, this has the answers to all the “right” questions.

What should I do if I forget my KEY?
What should I do if I forget my KEY?

Long story short. You set the key when you open the account, and it cannot be retrieved. But…..if you have two VIP accounts you can transfer funds from the old account to your new account. And there is no need for a KEY if you have a VIP account. Considering Jay has a VIP5 account there lies an opportunity.

How to activate VIP?
How to activate VIP?

And here comes the catch all of our regular readers saw coming by now, VIP accounts that are able to receive funds cost money. The cheapest—VIP1—requires a deposit of 50 USDT (roughly $50) which is not refundable and can’t be canceled. But with a VIP1 account I can only receive $30 per month and it’s only valid for 2 months. So, that’s not a big help when you are as rich as I am, sorry, Jay is.

Specifics for a VIP1 account
VIP1 account is the lowest level and the cheapest

It would take me until the next ice age—4600 years—to transfer the entire amount at that rate, with the off chance that the rightful owner would drain the account or change the password as soon as they noticed the leak.

Any unsuspecting victim that has come this far and is willing to steal from the treasure dropped in their lap, now realizes that before they can enjoy all that money, they first:

  1. Need to open a new account.
  2. Make a deposit to turn it into a VIP account. The amount depends on their greed and impatience because the higher the VIP level, the larger the amount you can transfer in one day and per month.
  3. Transfer the funds from Jay’s account to their own account.
  4. Set up a TRC20 account.
  5. Withdraw the money from the new account to their TRC20 wallet.

We decided not to sponsor the scammers, so this is as far as we were willing to go, but we have a distinct feeling that along the steps we outlined there might be other fees and deposits needed.

Don’t fall for scammers

  • Any unsolicited WhatsApp message from an unknown person is suspect. No matter how harmless or friendly it may seem. Most pig butchering scams start with what seems a misdirected message.
  • Don’t follow links that reach you in any unexpected way, and certainly not from an untrusted source.
  • If it’s too good to be true, then it’s very likely not true.
  • Scammers bank on the fact that the more time and money you have invested, the more determined you will become to get to the desired end result.
  • Use a web filtering app to shield you from known malicious websites. Preferably Malwarebytes Premium or Malwarebytes Browser Guard.

We don’t just report on threats—we remove them

Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep threats off your devices by downloading Malwarebytes today.


[ad_2]
Source link

HTC will launch new ‘U’ phone on June 12, it’s official

andreasc
-
0
HTC will launch new ‘U’ phone on June 12, it’s official
[ad_1]

HTC is planning to launch a new ‘U’ phone on June 12, it has just been confirmed. The company shared the announcement via social media channels, and it’s obvious what we’re looking at here.

HTC will launch its new ‘U’ phone on June 12, it has been confirmed

If you check out the image below, you’ll see what the company shared. In addition to that, HTC used the ‘ALLFORU’ hashtag, note the ‘U’ part in it. This will almost certainly be the HTC U24 Pro.

HTC U24 Pro launch date

We’re still not 100% sure that will be its name, but the device did appear on Google Play Console last month, and the number ’24’ was mentinod by HTC. Back in April, we exclusively shared its model number, and the device surfaced on Geekbench.

The company did share an image of the device, which hides almost everything relevant

HTC did share an image of the device via its event announcement. The thing is, it shows the device from the side, and it hides the design on purpose. What we can see is that its camera island will protrude on the back. It’s also obvious that its physical buttons will sit on the right-hand side.

Despite what some of you may think, this won’t be a high-end phone. It will be fueled by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor. Needless to say, that is Qualcomm’s mid-range chip, not a high-end model.

This will be a mid-range phone

In addition to that, the phone will be equipped with 12GB of RAM, and it will ship with Android 14. All that was revealed by Geekbench. The Google Play Console confirmed that a fullHD+ (2436 x 1080) display will be in use. It also confirmed that a display camera hole will be used.

As many of you know, HTC doesn’t exactly launch phones all that often. The HTC U23 Pro arrived back in May 2023, and it successor will now follow. The HTC A101 Plus tablet did launch recently, though, back in May.


[ad_2]
Source link

Samsung’s Live Translate will soon support third-party apps

andreasc
-
0
Samsung’s Live Translate will soon support third-party apps
[ad_1]

Samsung just announced that Live Translate, part of its Galaxy AI suite, will be compatible with third-party apps. So, you will be able to enjoy this useful AI-powered feature directly from some of your favorite messaging apps. It will even support the voice translation function.

Released with the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy AI includes multiple AI features, but not all of them are compatible with third-party apps. For example, the Summary function is compatible with Samsung’s voice recorder app. The Live Translate function for voice calls is compatible with Samsung’s Dialer app. However, the company has expanded Live Translate compatibility, including real-time voice translation.

“Live Translate” Galaxy AI feature will be compatible with third-party apps

Being able to use Live Translate in third-party messaging apps will make the communication experience much more practical. It is a big deal not only for normal users, but for the professional segment as well. It will make it easier for you to stay in touch with either foreign friends or business partners, removing language barriers. All thanks to the power of AI.

For now, Samsung has not shared more specific details about supported apps. It would be good news if messaging apps as popular as WhatsApp or Telegram were on the list. According to the company, user privacy is a key aspect for them. Live Translate is proof of this, since all processing will be on-device, without resorting to the cloud. Samsung wants people to always be in control of the data they share.

Samsung also generated hype around Galaxy AI in its upcoming foldable flagships. According to the company, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will get a specially adapted version of the suite. So, it is possible that the company includes some new features not available on current compatible Galaxy devices.

Lastly, Samsung wants its Galaxy AI suite to get bigger and more functional. The company promises to continue investing to bring advanced features powered by artificial intelligence to more and more Galaxy products.


[ad_2]
Source link

Genshin Impact 4.7: Key game changes and an updated Resin limit

andreasc
-
0
Genshin Impact 4.7: Key game changes and an updated Resin limit
[ad_1]

Genshin Impact’s 4.7 update is now live, being released on June 5, 2024. What does this mean for the ultra popular game and its fans?

There are several new changes, with the most notable being the increased Resin cap system and the new permanent mode called the Imaginarium Theater.

The latter – the Imaginarium Theater challenge domain – will be introduced in a secret chamber within Mondstadt Library. In the Imaginarium Theater, players will face combat challenges with varying difficulty levels, using characters of specified elements, with a limited number of participations. Clearing these challenges can earn players 620 Primogems each month, new photo poses for characters, and Fantastical Blessings that apply to the six featured characters of the month in the open world.

The other notable change has to do with the increased Resin cap system, which impacts how players engage with the game. Resin, a resource essential for claiming rewards from certain activities, has been a point of contention for many players due to its limited availability and the time required for it to regenerate.

Previously capped at 160, the new limit will be 240 Resin. This change allows players to store more Resin, reducing the need to log in frequently just to use up their Resin and avoid wasting it due to overflow.

Until now, Resin regenerates at a rate of one unit every eight minutes. The 4.7 update will maintain this regeneration rate.

The raised Resin cap is particularly beneficial for players who are unable to log in multiple times a day. With a higher Resin cap, players can engage in more activities in a single session without worrying about hitting the cap too soon. This means less stress about managing Resin and more freedom to enjoy the game at their own pace.

For strategic players, the new Resin cap opens up opportunities to plan their activities more effectively. With more Resin available, players can tackle more bosses, domains, and other Resin-consuming activities in one go. This change also benefits players during special events or updates when there’s a surge in new content and activities that require Resin.


[ad_2]
Source link

23-Year-Old Arrested for Running 100M Incognito Dark Web Market

andreasc
-
0
23-Year-Old Arrested for Running 100M Incognito Dark Web Market
[ad_1]

DOJ announces arrest of Rui-Siang Lin, accused of running Incognito Market, a dark web hub facilitating $100M+ in illegal drug sales. Lin faces severe charges, signalling law enforcement’s crackdown on online drug trafficking.

In a major blow to online and dark web drug trafficking, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Rui-Siang Lin, a 23-year-old man from Taiwan. Lin, who went by the handles of Pharoah, and faro, is accused of operating Incognito Market, one of the largest illegal narcotics marketplaces on the dark web, facilitating over $100 million in illicit sales.

According to the DOJ press release, Lin was apprehended at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York on May 18th, 2024. He is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. He also faces charges of narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated and misbranded medication.

Incognito Market: A Global Bazaar for Illegal Drugs

Incognito Market surfaced in October 2020 and operated on the dark web, a hidden part of the internet accessible only through the Tor browser. This anonymity allowed users to buy and sell illegal narcotics, including fentanyl-laced pills disguised as prescription medication, across the globe.

Lin Accused of Profiteering from Deadly Trade

The DOJ alleges that Lin profited significantly from Incognito Market, taking a 5% cut of every sale. This system reportedly netted him millions of dollars.

Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the department’s commitment to pursuing criminals operating online. “Drug traffickers who think they can operate outside the law on the dark web are wrong,” he stated.

Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York echoed this sentiment, highlighting the dangers posed by the Incognito Market. “Lin’s alleged operation resulted in the illicit sale of over $100 million in narcotics, including those that were mislabeled and later found to include deadly fentanyl.”

It is worth noting that at the time of publishing this article, the Incognito Market was still online

23-Year-Old Arrested for Running 100M Incognito Dark Web Market
Incognito Market

Lin’s Case a Warning to Dark Web Criminals

The arrest of Rui-Siang Lin sends a clear message to those operating on the dark web: law enforcement is actively working to dismantle these criminal networks. The case also underscores the dangers associated with anonymous online marketplaces, where potentially deadly substances can be easily obtained.

Jake Moore, Global Cybersecurity Advisor, ESET commended law enforcement agencies on their investigation. “This arrest highlights the amount of work and effort put in by law enforcement-run cybercrime units around the globe and how they will exploit any mistake made to target their offenders and the real task now will be to prove the arrest was not in vain and create an investigation full of evidence to put the perpetrator behind bars.”

Finnish Dark Web Marketplace PIILOPUOTI Seized

Dark Web Drug Lord Pleads Guilty, Forfeits $150M Crypto

FBI Seizes Dark Web Domain of Blackcat – ALPHV Ransomware

Police Takes Down Major Dark Web Marketplace Nemesis Market

US Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years for Dark Web Distribution of CSAM


[ad_2]
Source link

The Most Innovative Robot Vacuum Yet

andreasc
-
0
The Most Innovative Robot Vacuum Yet
[ad_1]

These days, the most innovative tech sector seems to be robotic vacuums. And ECOVACS has proven once again that they can be innovative, even more so than their competitors. The new ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO is an incredible cleaning hub for your home.

You see, the DEEBOT T30S COMBO doesn’t just include the robot vacuum, with the usual emptying of the dustbin, cleaning the mops, and refilling the water reservoir, but it also has a slot for a handheld vacuum. Which, when you dock it, it will also auto-empty, like the robot vacuum. That makes this an incredible value and cleaning hub for your home.

Really, it’s everything I could want from a robot vacuum. At least on the box. Can the ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO live up to the hype? Let’s find out in our full review.

ECOVACS Deebot T30s Combo Review AM AH 28

ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO Review: Hardware and Design

In the box with the DEEBOT T30S COMBO, you’ll find the robot vacuum of course. As well as the docking station, removable base plate, and a side brush. You’ll find the main unit, mini power brush, flat brush, and crevice tool for the handheld vacuum cleaner. It’s pretty simple to put together, basically just slotting everything into its spot, with the additional tools for the handheld vacuum going in a “drawer” below where the main unit sits. Essentially, making setup easy is important for any robot vacuum, specifically one that includes a second vacuum.

The design of the DEEBOT T30S COMBO is pretty much what you would expect from a robot vacuum. It comes with a matte black finish, which is really nice to see. Some other vacuums will have more of a glossy finish, and after being in use for a few weeks or months, it really gets pretty scratched up. So that’s a good decision on ECOVACS part.

The station is in all black, with a matte finish as well. It matches the T30S robot vacuum, and honestly, it fits pretty well with any decor. Now, this is a pretty big station, but keep in mind that this vacuum uses a couple of actual mops and not mopping pads, so it uses more water to clean your floors and the mopping pads. Hence why the clean and dirty water containers in the station are so large.

A nice touch that ECOVACS has added recently, is the button on the station. This button can be used to start or stop a cleaning task. Or you can long-press it to empty the dustbin. This was also available on the DEEBOT X2 that was released last year.

Below the two water tanks, you’ll find the dust bag that collects all of the dirt, dust, and other debris when either vacuum is emptied. It’s nice and tucked away but still easy to find and replace after a month or so.

ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO Review: Functionality

Now let’s talk about the functionality of the DEEBOT T30S COMBO because when you’re buying a $1,199 robot vacuum (and handheld vacuum), you want to know that it works and works well. That’s quite a bit to spend on a robot vacuum, even if it does come with a separate handheld vacuum. But it is well worth it in my opinion.

First off, let’s talk about one of the most important specs here, and that’s the suction power. On the DEEBOT T30S, the suction power is rated at 11,000Pa. That’s pretty powerful. Most other robot vacuums are closer to 5,000Pa. So this more than doubles the suction of its competition. So, what does that mean in the real world? Well, it’s going to do a better job of cleaning your floors. Get more of the dirt that’s matted into the carpet and rugs in your home. And in my experience, it has done just that.

The handheld vacuum, on the other hand, is even stronger. It is rated at 17,000Pa for suction power. That’s quite good and on par with a lot of other handheld vacuums. And let me tell you, it has done a really good job of getting up some very stubborn dog hair. The handheld vacuum has been particularly useful for me on stairs, where dog hair and dust like to accumulate in the corners of the steps. Of course, robot vacuums don’t do well with stairs, so that’s when I need to break out a stick vacuum or a handheld vacuum like what is included with the DEEBOT T30S COMBO here. That’s one of the main reasons why I’ve fallen in love with this bundle. Previously, I had my robot vacuum set up in the living room, and somewhere else in the house, I had a stick vacuum set up to get things that the robot vacuum couldn’t. The DEEBOT T30S COMBO saves me space and time.

Finally, ECOVACS also uses the ZeroTangle Anti-Tangle Technology. This works to keep stuff from getting tangled around the main brush. Despite it not being a rubber brush, it does quite well at avoiding tangles, especially with hair. Typically, brushes do get tangled pretty easily in my home due to the fact that my dog is always shedding. However, after three weeks of vacuuming every day, I’ve had zero tangles with the DEEBOT T30S COMBO, which is quite telling.

The Best robot mop I’ve ever used

For a long time, I did not use the mopping functionality on robot vacuums. A big reason for that was the fact that you needed to add and remove the mopping pad, you also couldn’t use any soap, and it just didn’t do a good job at all. But that’s changed in the past few years. And I have to say ECOVACS is leading the pack when it comes to mopping.

You see, ECOVACS uses two mops on the bottom of the vacuum that rotate and can actually scrub your floors, versus just a mopping pad. Sure those mopping pads can do a little bit of scrubbing, but it’s nowhere near as good as it should be.

ECOVACS Deebot T30s Combo Review AM AH 17

I was already impressed with the mopping capabilities of ECOVACS older robot vacuums like the DEEBOT X2. However, the company took it up a notch with the T30S. Adding in TrueEdge Adaptive Edge Mopping takes things to a whole new level. Basically, it can swing out the left mop to clean the edges of the floor. It’s kind of a no-brainer since robot vacuums are usually round, and the mop is behind the actual vacuum portion, making the edges of the floor feel forgotten. But with the DEEBOT T30S, that is not the case. It’s done a phenomenal job of cleaning my kitchen. In fact, it’s done the best of any robot vacuum that I’ve tested so far. A lot of time they will leave dirt and dust under the cabinets, in the edges and corners of the room. None of that gets left behind with the T30S.

Of course, I can’t forget the fact that you can use soap with the mop as well. ECOVACS has its own solution that you can use, and it won’t damage the vacuum. Additionally, it cleans the mop when it is docked, and uses hot water, as well as drying it with hot air – up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. That is actually a really important aspect, as leaving wet mops around can grow bacteria. Unfortunately, for that reason, you will go through water faster with this station than with some of its competitors. It’s a small price to pay for such a great mop, however.

The DEEBOT T30S performed well in our tests

Using the DEEBOT T30S to clean up our home is a pretty easy test, but it’s not always going to be the same. So we have created a couple of “benchmarks,” if you will. To test out the vacuum and the mopping aspect of the vacuum.

First off, the vacuuming section. Basically, we poured about half a cup of flour on the carpet. It’s spread out, some of it is stepped on so it’s more embedded into the carpet. Then, we do spot cleaning on the vacuum’s highest settings. This includes the highest suction available, as well as having it do two passes. The DEEBOT T30S, like many other robot vacuums, will do two passes, going in different directions.

So how’d it do? Well, in the picture below, you can see what it looked like before it vacuumed, as well as after the first pass and after the second pass. You can see that it picked up most of the flour, but there was one area where it was more embedded into the carpet that it apparently struggled with. It still did very well, but it was not perfect. Compared to other robot vacuums in its price range, it hung in quite nicely.

Screenshot 2024 05 08 at 8 27 10 AM

The second test we do is actually a two-parter. Basically, we put some ketchup on the floor and let it dry. Then do another spot clean in that area with vacuuming and mopping, on its highest settings. That includes the max suction and max water flow. As well as the Deep Cleaning option enabled, and it does two passes once again.

As you can see in the image below, after the first pass, the ketchup was mostly gone, though you could still see a little bit left. After the second pass, it was completely gone. That’s a win in my book, as dried ketchup can be pretty tough to get up for a human with a mop, nevermind a robot.

ecovacs deebot t30s omni review v3

I did mention that this was a two-part test. And that’s because now the mops are full of ketchup, right? So, let’s see how well the station is able to clean the mops when it goes back to the dock. It turns out pretty well. The picture below shows what the mops looked like after cleaning up the ketchup and getting it cleaned in the station. It’s not too bad if I say so myself.

Screenshot 2024 05 08 at 8 29 54 AM

ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO Review: Software

I have to say, the ECOVACS app is probably the best robot vacuum app on the market right now. And I’ve used just about all of them. Over the past 8 years, I’ve reviewed probably close to 40 robot vacuums and have used all of the big names. But the ECOVACS app is by far my favorite. You might be wondering why. Well, the company has made it so simple to use the app, control your vacuum, and even control multiple vacuums. For instance, I currently have the DEEBOT X2 and the DEEBOT T30S COMBO listed in my app. Now, I can swipe to the one I want and then tap on “Robot Controls,” this takes me to the home screen of that robot vacuum. Or you can tap on “Sart Cleaning” or “Recharge”, and you can also see if it is online and what the charge rate is.

ECOVACS Deebot T30s Combo Review AM AH 41

It’s the little things, but it does make a huge difference. Now, once you jump into the vacuum, you’ll see the floor plan for the last floor that it vacuumed – remember, it can remember multiple floors. Below, you’ll see options for cleaning. Whether you want to clean the entire floor, a specific room or two, different zones, or set up scenarios.

With Scenarios, you can set up all kinds of things. The scenarios that are recommended by default are for daily cleaning and deep cleaning. So, if you schedule your vacuum to clean every day, you can adjust the cleaning of each room. For instance, you can have it do one or two passes, adjust the suction power from standard to Max, and adjust the water flow rate from low to medium or high. You also have the ability to adjust which rooms actually get cleaned. Maybe you want to keep it out of the bathroom, but you can make that happen with the scenario option. Then, you can still set up a deep, clean scenario that you can jump to whenever you want.

In Settings, there are plenty of options too. Including the Cleaning Log, which will show you how much space it cleaned and how long it spent cleaning. ECOVACS also saves the floor plan and how it was cleaned, so you can go back and see how good or bad it actually cleaned.

Here, you can also set up scheduled cleanings, as well as check on maintenance, which we’ll cover more in the next section. There are a ton of settings available for ECOVACS within the app. That’s a good thing, it lets you change just about every aspect of the vacuum to your liking and to what is needed for your home.

YIKO is like Google Assistant, specifically for your robot vacuum

YIKO isn’t actually new on the DEEBOT T30S COMBO; it’s actually been around for quite some time. And I do remember on the first few robot vacuums that had this voice assistant, it would go off pretty often, when it shouldn’t. I’d have the TV on, and all of a sudden, the vacuum would start talking to me. I can say, that with the T30S, thankfully, that has not happened. In fact, I almost forgot about the false positives from older ECOVACS models like the DEEBOT X1 Omni and X2 Omni.

It’s not a feature that I use often, but I can see where it is useful. You can ask YIKO to start cleaning, tell it to pause the task, ask about its current flow and cleaning mode, and so much more. It can be very useful if you are busy cooking and maybe you spilled some flour on the floor. Ask YIKO to start cleaning the kitchen (if you’ve named the room), and it’ll get started for you. Or, if you’re getting ready to leave the house, you can tell YIKO to “start cleaning in 15 minutes” when everyone has left the house. So there’s nothing in its way.

It is useful, but to be honest, I mostly either open the app to start cleaning or press the button on the station. Additionally, I have it scheduled to be cleaned every day around noon. So I don’t often need to have it vacuumed other than during its schedule.

If you don’t like or don’t want to use YIKO, you do have the option of turning it off in the Settings.

ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO Review: Maintenance

This robot vacuum requires the least amount of maintenance of any robot vacuum I’ve ever used. So far, after using it nearly every day for three weeks, the only thing I’ve had to do was empty the dirty water tank and refill the clean water tank. The main brush has not gotten tangled once, the station has been able to auto-empty the dustbin on both vacuums without any issues, and the dustbag is only about half full right now.

Obviously, some parts are not going to last forever. Like the brushes, the filters, and the mops. ECOVACS does a good job of letting you know when any of these need to be replaced, and you can easily mark them as “replaced”. These parts do last for hundreds of hours, in particular, the main brush works for around 300 hours before needing to be replaced, and the side brush does 200 hours.

With the handheld vacuum, there’s even less maintenance to do. All you need to do is take the tool off of the end and put it back into the drawer, then slot the handheld vacuum in place. It’ll then empty the dustbin, and that’s it. The only part that would need replacing is the HEPA filter. And that’s an easy one to replace.

This is about as close as you’re going to get to a fully automated cleaning experience, to be quite honest.

ECOVACS Deebot T30s Combo Review AM AH 32

Should you buy the ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO?

Normally, with robot vacuums that are over $1,000, it’s hard for me to recommend. However, the DEEBOT T30S COMBO is easier to recommend since you are getting that handheld vacuum included. One of those can oftentimes be another $300-$400. That makes this a lot more worth your money.

So now, should you buy the ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S COMBO? Yes. However, I will say that this particular vacuum makes a lot more sense for those who are in homes that have a good amount of laminate, hardwood or tile floors. You know, floors that can be mopped. Since the mopping is so good on this unit, you definitely want to take advantage of that as much as you can.

Of course, at this price of $1,199, it’s still an expensive robot vacuum. But I can confidently say that with the amount of time you’re going to save with the DEEBOT T30S COMBO, it is worth the money. Now, if you don’t need that handheld vacuum, you can get the exact same robot vacuum as just the DEEBOT T30S for $999 (that’s $200 less). But I do think that if you’re spending a grand on this, you should splurge and spend the extra $200 for the handheld vacuum.


[ad_2]
Source link

Data Leak Exposes Business Leaders and Top Celebrity Data

andreasc
-
0
[ad_1]

A data leak incident involving Clarity.fm left the personal data of business leaders and celebrities exposed to public access. Learn the details of the leak, the potential consequences, and how to protect yourself from the aftermath of a data leak.

A recent data leak involving the San Francisco-based firm Clarity.fm, a platform connecting entrepreneurs with industry experts, left sensitive and personal information about business leaders and celebrities exposed to public access without any security authentication.

Founded in 2012, Clarity.fm prides itself on facilitating on-demand consultations between entrepreneurs and established professionals, boasting over 3,000 experts and having Mark Cuban, Brad Feld, and Eric Ries as clients. 

However, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered a non-password-protected database containing an estimated 155,531 records and 121,000 member accounts of entrepreneurs, top celebrities and business leaders. The records included a trove of information including the following:

  • Full names
  • Phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Consultation content
  • Hourly consultation rates
  • Payment records related to previous consulting sessions

and more…

Data Leak at Clarity.fm Exposes Business Leaders and Top Celebrity Data
The leaked data (Screenshot provided by Jeremiah Fowler – Website Planet

“The profiles showed personal and professional email addresses, hourly rates, past consulting sessions’ payments, and their internal rating or score (based on user feedback). The records were marked as production data, and indicated if the person was a member, leader, or mentor,” Fowler wrote in his blog post on WebsitePlanet. 

Business leaders and celebrities entrusted Clarity.fm with sensitive details. These individuals may have sought guidance on critical matters related to their businesses or careers.

Therefore, this leak raises serious concerns about data security and the potential consequences for its high-profile clients as with the data exposed, they face an elevated risk of being targeted by cybercriminals. 

This information could be a goldmine for malicious actors seeking to launch targeted scams, phishing attacks, and blackmail attempts. They may also target cloud storage infrastructure, exploit vulnerabilities, or use social engineering techniques for credential theft.

The use of artificial intelligence in phishing campaigns has made it easier to deceive recipients into providing personal or business information. Voice-cloning AI can also be used to gain trust and obtain unauthorized access to sensitive accounts.

Fowler promptly sent a responsible disclosure notice and secured the database, but it’s unclear how long it was exposed or if anyone else gained access. An internal forensic audit could identify the information.

It’s also unclear if the database was owned by Clarity.fm or a third-party contractor. Still, Fowler believes Clarity.fm, its partners and affiliates were not directly responsible for the leak.

Platforms handling sensitive user information must ensure proper cybersecurity measures, including regular data encryption, secure storage practices, and user authentication protocols. Businesses and individuals should be mindful of the data they share online, sharing only the minimum amount to mitigate risks.

  1. Z2U Market Leak Exposes Access to Illicit Services
  2. Major UK Security Provider Leaks Trove of Guard, Suspect Data
  3. Watch out: Fake celebrity endorsements advertising Bitcoin scam
  4. Data Leak Exposes 500GB of Indian Police, Military Biometric Data
  5. Mastermind of 2020’s top celebrity Twitter hack sentenced to 3 years

[ad_2]
Source link

800 arrests, 40 tons of drugs, and one backdoor, or what a phone startup gave the FBI, with Joseph Cox: Lock and Code S05E12

andreasc
-
0
800 arrests, 40 tons of drugs, and one backdoor, or what a phone startup gave the FBI, with Joseph Cox: Lock and Code S05E12
[ad_1]

This week on the Lock and Code podcast…

This is a story about how the FBI got everything it wanted.

For decades, law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the world have lamented the availability of modern technology that allows suspected criminals to hide their communications from legal scrutiny. This long-standing debate has sometimes spilled into the public view, as it did in 2016, when the FBI demanded that Apple unlock an iPhone used during a terrorist attack in the California city of San Bernardino. Apple pushed back on the FBI’s request, arguing that the company could only retrieve data from the iPhone in question by writing new software with global consequences for security and privacy.

“The only way to get information—at least currently, the only way we know,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook, “would be to write a piece of software that we view as sort of the equivalent of cancer.”

The standoff held the public’s attention for months, until the FBI relied on a third party to crack into the device.

But just a couple of years later, the FBI had obtained an even bigger backdoor into the communication channels of underground crime networks around the world, and they did it almost entirely off the radar.

It all happened with the help of Anom, a budding company behind an allegedly “secure” phone that promised users a bevvy of secretive technological features, like end-to-end encrypted messaging, remote data wiping, secure storage vaults, and even voice scrambling. But, unbeknownst to Anom’s users, the entire company was a front for law enforcement. On Anom phones, every message, every photo, every piece of incriminating evidence, and every order to kill someone, was collected and delivered, in full view, to the FBI.

Today, on the Lock and Code podcast with host David Ruiz, we speak with 404 Media cofounder and investigative reporter Joseph Cox about the wild, true story of Anom. How did it work, was it “legal,” where did the FBI learn to run a tech startup, and why, amidst decades of debate, are some people ignoring the one real-life example of global forces successfully installing a backdoor into a company?

The public…and law enforcement, as well, [have] had to speculate about what a backdoor in a tech product would actually look like. Well, here’s the answer. This is literally what happens when there is a backdoor, and I find it crazy that not more people are paying attention to it.

Joseph Cox, author, Dark Wire, and 404 Media cofounder

Tune in today to listen to the full conversation.

Cox’s investigation into Anom, presented in his book titled Dark Wire, publishes June 4.

Show notes and credits:

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

Listen up—Malwarebytes doesn’t just talk cybersecurity, we provide it.

Protect yourself from online attacks that threaten your identity, your files, your system, and your financial well-being with our exclusive offer for Malwarebytes Premium for Lock and Code listeners.


[ad_2]
Source link
1...137138139...1,452Page 138 of 1,452