Offensive security released Kali Linux 2023.1 with new tools for purple and blue teamers for defensive security.
On March 13th Kali Linux penetration distro completed 10 years of providing amazing services to the cyber security community.
On celebrating its 10th anniversary the Offensive security team released Kali Linux 2023.1 with Kali purple designed for defensive security.
What’s New With Kali Linux 2023.1
Kali Purple – Defensive security
Python Changes – Python 3.11 & PIP
2023 Theme – New Theme for 2023
Desktop Updates – Xfce 4.18 & KDE Plasma 5.27
Default Kernel Settings – What makes the Kali kernel different
New Tool – 7 New Tools added
The Kali purple consists of SOC In-A-Box architecture which includes SOC analysis, Blue / Red / Purple team exercises, and design security controls.
It includes over 100 defensive tools such as Arkime, CyberChef, Elastic Security, GVM, TheHive, Malcolm, Suricata, and Zeek.
“We made offensive security accessible to everyone. No expensive licenses required, no need for commercial grade infrastructure, no writing code or compiling tools to make it all work… Just download Kali Linux and do your thing,” reads the announcement.
Following is the Kali Linux 2023.1 defensive menu structure.
Identify
Protect
Detect
Respond
Recover
Python Updates and Errors
Debian is moving to the next stable update, so there could be package updates everywhere. These updates may affect Python’s PIP behavior.
To avoid this warning Kali Team has provided a “temporary patch which prevents breaking of old packages.”
“Active package maintainers are upgrading their work to be the latest version, otherwise, it’s a long wait for the next release! Python is no exception, and Python 3.11 is now in Debian, which comes with more informative error tracebacks and huge speed increase (between 10-60%).”
Fresh 2023 ThemeinKali Linux 2023.1
Every year’s first release of Kali includes a theme refresh, following the 2023 update, and also includes wallpapers for desktop, login, and boot displays.
The desktop environments Xfce, KDE, and GNOME also updated to the latest versions to make feeling good.
Issues Fixed
Nvidia users had a nightmare with Kali Linux as their 525 series broke with some of the GPU models.
Kali Team states that the bug affects all the Linux distributions including Debian, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux.
The only possible solution is to uninstall the Nvidia drivers, then reboot:
If you are a new user you can download it from here. If you already have an existing Kali Linux installation, you can do a quick update using the commands.
With the UK’s Online Safety Bill set to become law this year, WhatsApp is standing its ground against weakening encryption.
WhatsApp will not comply with the UK’s Online Safety Bill when it passes legislation as is. In fact, WhatsApp would rather cease serving UK users, which make up 2% of its global market, than weaken its end-to-end encryption (E2EE).
Will Cathcart, head of WhatsApp at parent company Meta, made these claims in a briefing with the UK press on Thursday, March 9. He reportedly met with legislators to discuss the Bill, which Cathcart described as the most concerning online regulation in the Western world.
“The reality is, our users all around the world want security,” said Cathcart, The Guardianreported.
“Ninety-eight per cent of our users are outside the UK. They do not want us to lower the security of the product, and just as a straightforward matter, it would be an odd choice for us to choose to lower the security of the product in a way that would affect those 98% of users.”
The Bill includes a provision requiring companies to use “accredited technology” to scan messages for anti-terrorism and child protection purposes. It doesn’t say how such scans could be done, yet companies are liable for the content shared on their platforms.
At the moment, organizations cannot scan end-to-end encrypted messages. So, the only way they can comply with the Bill is to make private messages scannable. This means breaking E2EE.
And breaking E2EE in order to scan for terrorism and child sexual abuse images, also means breaking encryption for the crooks too, as it will likely introduce backdoors that create vulnerabilities for attackers and hostile states to exploit. This also precedes state-mandated surveillance on a mass scale, with privacy and security risks affecting entire societies.
“If a country like the UK pushed for that [breaking encryption] on the internet, that would shape what other countries all around the world ask for on different topics on different issues,” Cathcart said, reports Politico.
Client-side scanning (CSS), a technology that can intercept and filter messages before being sent, was seen as an alternative to weakening end-to-end encryption. Still, a study argued it doesn’t guarantee “efficacious crime prevention nor prevents surveillance”. Akin to wiretapping, CSS can give governments access to private content. Its potential for abuse will not be left unnoticed.
WhatsApp refusing to comply would subject it to fines of up to 4% of Meta’s annual turnover. However, this wouldn’t happen if WhatsApp pulls out of the UK market—a possibility that Signal, another popular private messaging app, has already threatened to do.
Wired reports that WhatsApp has reported more CSAM to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) than all other tech giants combined. Internet Watch Foundation’s head of policy and public affairs, Michael Tunks disagreed: “There’s a problem with child abuse in end-to-end encrypted environments.”
“The bill does not seek to undermine end-to-end encryption in any way,” he said. “The online safety bill is very clear that scanning is specifically about CSAM and also terrorism. The government has been pretty clear they are not seeking to repurpose this for anything else.”
The Online Safety Bill will be returning to Parliament this summer.
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Samsung has released the March 2023 Android security patch for the Galaxy S10 series. The latest security update is currently rolling out to the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ in Europe. The company should cover the Galaxy S10 5G with the new SMR (Security Maintenance Release) in the coming days. It should also expand the release to other markets soon, including the US.
The March SMR for Galaxy devices patches more than 60 vulnerabilities. These include 23 Samsung Vulnerabilities and Exposures (SVE) items. SVEs are Galaxy-specific privacy and security flaws. These flaws don’t exist on Android products from other brands. The Korean firm patched issues with Settings, SystemUI, Bluetooth, Galaxy Themes Service, Exynos baseband, Samsung Keyboard, Call application, and many other system apps, services, and components. Some of these flaws allowed local attackers to access protected data or sensitive information without proper permission.
Apart from these Galaxy-specific patches, the March SMR for Samsung’s Android devices also includes 40-odd patches part of Google’s latest ASB (Android Security Bulletin). These are patches for vulnerabilities in Android OS and other partner components, provided by the respective vendors. At least five of these flaws were labeled critical by the Android maker. Some of them allowed remote code execution, paving a way for attackers to remotely take control of an affected device without the victim’s knowledge.
Samsung pushes the March security update to the Galaxy S10 series
Samsung has been seeding these vulnerability fixes to its Galaxy devices since last week. It has already updated the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, and Galaxy S20 phones to the March SMR. The Galaxy S10 lineup is now joining the party too. According to SamMobile, which first reported this rollout, users of the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S10+ in Bulgaria, Serbia, the Baltic region, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands are receiving this update with the firmware build number G97xFXXSGHWC1. A wider release should be just around the corner.
The Galaxy S10 trio doesn’t seem to be picking up anything else with this update. Samsung is only pushing the latest vulnerability fixes to its 2019 flagships. And this isn’t surprising. Having already completed four years in the market, the devices are at the fag ends of their lives. They will only pick a few more security updates before the company drops official support for them. The Galaxy S10 series stopped getting feature updates after Android 12. If you’re using any of these phones, you should consider upgrading to a newer mode. You can check out these Galaxy S23 deals.
The exponential growth of digital technology has boosted the generation and collection of vast data. The quantity of information available has surpassed traditional methods’ processing capabilities. As a result, more companies are looking into growth opportunities powered by big data.
However, the abundant data availability raises concerns about the information’s quality and relevance. And the question of whether the quantity or quality of Big Data is more important has become a topic of debate. While having access to large amounts of data can provide insights into complex problems, the value of data ultimately depends on its accuracy, relevance, and usefulness.
How big is big data?
Big data refers to extensive and complex data sets that often cannot be effectively processed using traditional data processing techniques. The size definition can change as technology advances and the volume, velocity, and variety of data generated by various sources continue to grow exponentially.
So which road should a company take to leverage the full potential of Big Data, and how can various solutions like proxies help gather relevant data? Let’s find out.
The importance of quality in data collection
High-quality Big Data has several benefits that make it valuable for businesses in various industries:
It enables better decision-making by providing accurate and relevant information. With big data, organizations can identify patterns, trends, and insights that may not have been apparent before, leading to more informed and data-driven decisions.
Quality data can also improve operational efficiency and productivity. By analyzing process data, companies can pinpoint inefficiencies and areas for improvement, leading to better resource allocation and optimization.
It can help businesses personalize their offerings and services to meet the needs and preferences of individual customers. Companies can tailor their marketing, sales, and customer-facing service strategies by analyzing customer data to provide a more personalized experience.
The importance of Big Data quality is undeniable. It can provide a competitive advantage, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve business outcomes.
The base of big data – volume
The quantity of Big Data is like the foundation, especially in research and development processes. But there are other advantages of extracting large amounts of data.
Researchers can conduct more comprehensive analyses and identify more subtle patterns.
Enough data can be used for predictive modeling and forecasting, enabling businesses to anticipate future trends and plan accordingly.
A big volume of data can power up machine learning and artificial intelligence applications, allowing computers to learn and adapt based on large datasets.
It can also facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, as data from multiple sources can be combined and analyzed to understand complex issues comprehensively.
Large quantities of data can help businesses accelerate their growth. Enough data allows seeing a bigger picture of changing customers’ behavior and evaluating competitors’ developments.
Overall, big data can provide unique insights and opportunities that would not be possible with smaller datasets.
How to extract valuable data for your business growth
Although some companies already sell ready-to-digest datasets, they are often rather expensive and might not provide the information the business needs. Luckily, there are affordable solutions that can help companies extract data from various sources.
Scrapers are a perfect fit for businesses looking into data-fueled growth opportunities. There are options tailored to every use case, from DIY data collection tools to custom-built scraping solutions. DIY scraping tools, such as web scraping software or browser extensions, are cost-effective for smaller businesses looking to scrape data from the most popular websites. On the other hand, custom-built scraping solutions can be more expensive but adapted to the most sophisticated requirements the business might carry.
To obtain the necessary data, businesses should ensure that their scraping solutions are reliable and suitable for their use case. Regularly testing and monitoring their scraping activities can help check if data is being collected effectively. The effectiveness of the scraper highly depends on the anti-scraping software employed by the target. If used standalone, scraping solutions might not deliver the highest success rate.
However, residential proxies can help scrapers gather data even from websites with advanced anti-scraping plugins. With proxies, businesses can mask their original IP address and appear to be accessing the target from a residential location, making it more difficult for websites to detect and block their scraping activities. In short, proxies allow businesses to gather valuable public data, such as pricing information or competitor analysis, without being detected or blocklisted.
Bottom line
The importance of data quality versus quantity varies depending on a business’s needs and goals. In industries such as healthcare or finance, data quality is paramount since incomplete or inaccurate data can have severe consequences. However, companies in the marketing or eCommerce industries may prioritize data quantity to identify trends and make informed decisions.
Ultimately, organizations should strive to achieve the balance between quality and quantity of data, ensuring that they have enough data to make informed decisions and that the data they use is accurate and reliable.
The phrase “data is the new oil” continues to influence more businesses to dive deeper into Big Data. And, like in every industry, efficiency is vital when working with data. Use scraping solutions paired together with residential proxies to extract accurate data at a large volume and see a bigger picture of what’s next in your industry.
This week on Lock and Code, we speak with author and Twitter pro Becky Holmes about how she teases, fights, and shuts down online romance scammers.
Becky Holmes knows how to throw a romance scammer off script—simply bring up cannibalism.
In January, Holmes shared on Twitter that an account with the name “Thomas Smith” had started up a random chat with her that sounded an awful lot like the beginnins stages of a romance scam. But rather than instantly ignoring and blocking the advances—as Holmes recommends everyone do in these types of situations—she first had a little fun.
“I was hoping that you’d let me eat a small part of you when we meet,” Holmes said. “No major organs or anything obviously. I’m not weird lol.”
By just a few messages later, “Thomas Smith” had run off, refusing to respond to Holmes’ follow-up requests about what body part she fancied, along with her preferred seasoning (paprika).
Romance scams are a serious topic. In 2022, the US Federal Trade Commission reported that, in the five years prior, victims of romance scams had reported losing a collective $1.3 billion. In just 2021, that number was $547 million, and the average amount of money reported stolen per person was $2,400. Worse, romance scammers themselves often target vulnerable people, including seniors, widows, and the recently divorced, and they show no remorse when developing long-lasting online relationships, all bit on lies, so that they can emotionally manipulate their victims into handing over hundreds or thousands of dollars.
But what would you do if you knew a romance scammer had contacted you and you, like our guest on today’s Lock and Code podcast with host David Ruiz, had simply had enough? If you were Becky Holmes, you’d push back.
For a couple of years now, Holmes has teased, mocked, strung along, and shut down online romance scammers, much of her work in public view as she shares some of her more exciting stories on Twitter. There’s the romance scammer who she scared by not only accepting an invitation to meet, but ratcheting up the pressure by pretending to pack her bags, buy a ticket to Stockholm, and research venues for a perhaps too-soon wedding. There’s the scammer she scared off by asking to eat part of his body. And, there’s the story of the fake Brad Pitt:
“ My favorite story is Brad Pitt and the the dead tumble dryer repairman. And I honestly have to say, I don’t think I’m ever going to top that. Every time …I put a new tweet up, I think, oh, if only it was Brad Pitt and the dead body. I’m just never gonna get better.”
Tune in today to hear about Holmes’ best stories, her first ever effort to push back, her insight into why she does what she does, and what you can do to spot a romance scam—and how to safely respond to one.
Looking to accelerate your business? Our 2023 State of Malware report will equip you with the cybersecurity strategies you need to protect against the five most dangerous cyberthreats facing businesses this year.
Both OnePlus and Xiaomi announced truly powerful smartphones this year, and we’re here to compare them. We’ll compare the OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro in this article. Both of these are the best phones the two companies have to offer at the moment. One thing to note, before we get started, is that the OnePlus 11 is considerably more affordable than the Xiaomi 13 Pro. At least in Europe, which is the price tag we know at the time of writing this article. So take that into account.
We’ll first list the specifications of both devices, and will then move to compare them across various categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. These two phones do share some specs, but they’re quite different in many ways. So, let’s get started, shall we?
Specs
OnePlus 11
Xiaomi 13 Pro
Screen size
6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED display (120Hz refresh rate, curved, 1,300 nits peak brightness, LTPO down to 1Hz)
Both of these smartphones come with an aluminum frame, but their backplates are different. The OnePlus 11 utilizes Gorilla Glass 5 on the back, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro has a ceramic backplate. Do note that a vegan leather variant is also available in China, but globally, only the ceramic model launched. They are about the same dimensions, that goes for height, width, and thickness. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is heavier, though, mainly due to the ceramic backplate.
Both phones have curved displays, and display camera holes. The OnePlus 11 has a display camera hole in the top-left corner. The Xiaomi 13 Pro, on the other hand, has a centered hole punch. The bezels around the display are very thin on both devices. You will find a camera island in the top-left corner, on the back of both smartphones. Both devices do include three cameras there, but we’re looking at different designs and setups here.
The OnePlus 11 has a circular camera island, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro has a rectangular one. Hasselblad collaborated with OnePlus, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro includes Leica lenses on the back. Both of these smartphones are slippery, so keep that in mind. Using a case may not be a bad idea. They both feel very premium in the hand, and look the part too. It’s really a matter of personal preference.
OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro: Display
The OnePlus 11 features a 6.7-inch QHD+ (3216 x 1440) LTPO3 Fluid AMOLED display. This panel can project up to 1 billion colors, and offers a 120Hz refresh rate. Dolby Vision support is also on offer here, and the device supports HDR10+ content as well. This display gets up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness, and we’re looking at a 20:9 aspect ratio. The Gorilla Glass Victus protects this panel.
The Xiaomi 13 Pro, on the other hand, has a 6.73-inch QHD+ (3200 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. This is also a 120Hz display, with an adaptive refresh rate. Dolby Vision is supported, and the same goes for HDR10+ content. This panel gets up to 1,900 nits of brightness at its peak. We’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. The Xiaomi 13 Pro’s display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus too.
Now, both of these phones have big and beautiful displays. They are vivid, have excellent viewing angles, and are immensely sharp. They’re also quite fluid, and it’s a joy to use them both. The Xiaomi 13 Pro does have one major advantage, though, its brightness. At 1,900 nits of peak brightness, it’s much easier to see what’s on the display when you’re outdoors, under the sun.
OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro: Performance
When it comes to performance-related hardware, neither company skimped out. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC fuels both smartphones, and that’s Qualcomm’s most powerful chip. That processor is also one of the best mobile SoCs in the market at the moment. You’ll also be glad to hear that both companies included LPDDR5X RAM inside these phones, and UFS 4.0 flash storage. One thing to note is that 128GB storage models include UFS 3.1 storage on both phones. That variant of the Xiaomi 13 Pro is not even available globally, though.
Android 13 comes pre-installed on both phones, but with considerably different software implementations. The OnePlus 11 includes OxygenOS 13, while the Xiaomi 13 Pro has MIUI 14 pre-installed. Both companies did a great job when it comes to optimization, though. Both phones run Android 13 like champs, and it’s a real struggle getting them to slow down. They not only shine during regular day-to-day usage, but in the gaming department too.
During our testing, we’ve submitted them to rather graphically-intensive games, and both passed with flying colors. They do get warm, but that’s just about it. Even if you’re gaming for a longer period of time, neither phone showed signs of slowing down. We also expect them to stay as fluid for quite some time.
OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro: Battery
The OnePlus 11 has a 5,000mAh battery on the inside. The Xiaomi 13 Pro, on the flip side, includes a 4,820mAh battery. SoCs, displays and software builds play a huge role when it comes to battery life, of course. We’re glad to report that both of these phones offer really good battery life… well, great even. The OnePlus 11 is especially worth singling out, as it offered more juice than the Xiaomi 13 Pro.
With the OnePlus 11, we’ve managed to get over 10 hours of screen-on-time on a number of occasions. The phone truly shines in the battery life department. The Xiaomi 13 Pro, on the flip side, offered around 7-8 hours of screen-on-time on most days. Even if you’re a heavy user, this should be enough, especially when it comes to the OnePlus 11. Your mileage may vary, however. Every user has a different set of apps installed, different usage habits, and different signal strengths, all of which affect battery life in a significant way.
When it comes to charging, both of these phones are outstanding, but the Xiaomi 13 Pro definitely stands above the OnePlus 11. The OnePlus 11 supports 100W (80W in the US) wired charging only. No type of wireless charging is supported. The Xiaomi 13 Pro supports 120W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. Both smartphones do include a charger in the box.
OnePlus 11 vs Xiaomi 13 Pro: Cameras
Both of these devices include three cameras on the back. The hardware is quite different, though. The OnePlus 11 has a 50-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera (115-degree FoV), and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera (2x optical zoom). The Xiaomi 13 Pro has a 50.3-megapixel main camera (1-inch camera sensor), a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (115-degree FoV), and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3.2x optical zoom).
Now, both phones do a wonderful job with both taking images and videos. The thing is, the results are quite different. The OnePlus 11 tends to produce more vivid, saturated images. The Xiaomi 13 Pro has that Leica look to its images, and two Leica shooting styles (Authentic and Vibrant). In both those styles the images will have a Leica look, but the Vibrant style does bring more pronounced colors.
Those of you who have used Leica cameras before will probably appreciate what Xiaomi has to offer. The Xiaomi 13 Pro also offers that natural bokeh thanks to the sensor size, which can be a double-edged sword in some scenarios, but it’s really useful and makes the images look professional. Both cameras turn up sharp images, which are well-balanced. We did notice that the OnePlus 11 does a bit better with HDR situations, at least in some cases.
Ultrawide cameras are really good on both phones, and try to stick with the color template of the main camera. The telephoto camera is where the Xiaomi 13 Pro has an edge. It uses that camera for portrait shots which can be breathtaking, quite frankly. You also get access to various Leica filters on the Xiaomi 13 Pro. Both smartphones do a great job, but the results are considerably different.
Audio
Both the OnePlus 11 and Xiaomi 13 Pro have a set of stereo speakers. Truth be said, the audio from both of them is very good. Both phones get plenty loud in that aspect, and the audio is well-balanced across the spectrum. These are not the best speakers out there, but they’re good.
What you will not get here is an audio jack, on either phone. If you want to utilize wired audio, you’ll have to use the Type-C port, which is available on both phones. For wireless connections, both devices are equipped with Bluetooth 5.3.
Samsung’s Space Zoom is the imaging technology put to use when taking photos of the moon. A lot of Samsung fans have flexed clear moon images taken with the help of this feature. But it seems like the imagery feature they pride themselves on actually produces fake images.
Multiple sources draw from a recent Reddit post that claims that moon images taken with Samsung flagship devices are fake. The user brought a good amount of evidence to show that the Samsung Space Zoom is a scam. According to the Reddit user, moon images undergo some edits while it is processing.
Well, such a claim will need detailed proof to be able to hold water in the smartphone community. To a good extent, the Reddit user provided evidence to back up their claim. Let’s take a close look at the evidence to back up the claim that the Samsung Space Zoom produces fake images.
Evidence to back up claims that the Samsung Space Zoom technology produces fake images
In a very detailed post, Reddit user u/ibreakphotos shared their thoughts on the Samsung Space Zoom feature. According to them, images taken with this feature are fake in a way. The user went on to back their claims with some evidence, which they say “nobody succeeded” to get up until now.
To prove that the Samsung Space Zoom feature is fake, the Reddit user took a few steps. First, they downloaded a high-resolution moon picture from the internet to help prove this point. They then proceeded to reduce the picture’s quality before proceeding to the next step.
To reduce the image quality, the Reddit user downsized it and applied a Gaussian blur. This cut off all photo noise and took away all the details, hence making the once high-resolution moon image blurry. The user then proceeded to play a trick on their flagship Samsung device and it shamelessly fell for it.
The main purpose of downloading this high-resolution moon image and then reducing its quality was to treat it like the actual moon. Carrying in with this test, the Reddit user displayed the blurry moon image on their monitor. Following this, the user turned off all the lights in the room, pulled out the Samsung device and took a photo of this artificial moon. The Samsung Space Zoom feature then proceeded to add some details to the artificial moon, hence producing an inaccurate image.
This backs the claim that Samsung’s Space Zoom feature launched a few years ago is fake. The feature uses an AI model to add details to the blurry moon to make it appear clearer when captured. Since this post was uploaded to Reddit, it has gained a lot of attention from netizens, but Samsung is yet to comment on this issue.
Apple is rumored to announce its first-ever Mixed Reality headset soon, and as we approach the launch date, more and more leaks are starting to surface. Now, images of what appear to be parts for the Mixed Reality headset have been leaked online, giving us our first actual glimpse at Apple’s upcoming gadget.
The images were shared by a leaker on Twitter (via MacRumors). The leaked images show shaped ribbon connectors that contour around a user’s eyes. These connectors are likely used to connect display components to a board, suggesting that the headset will feature some form of high-quality display.
In addition to the ribbon connectors, another image shows an array of three sensors or cameras along a flexible ribbon of similar length. While the purpose of these sensors is unclear, it’s possible that they will be used to track the wearer’s movements and position in the virtual environment.
Of course, it’s important to note that these leaked images are not officially confirmed by Apple, and the company has not commented on them. However, given the source’s track record of accuracy, it seems likely that these components are indeed designed for Apple’s upcoming mixed-reality headset.
The first-generation headset is expected to be unveiled at WWDC in June, with a launch sometime later in the year. The device is expected to offer both augmented and virtual reality experiences, potentially through a combination of displays and transparent lenses. Rumors suggest Apple’s Reality Pro headset will feature two 8K displays, dozens of cameras, an M1 Pro-like chipset, and much more.
Google’s new Pixel Pass service is an all-new way to acquire the brand-new Pixel phones – the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. It’s also going to be Google’s answer to upgrading to a new Pixel phone whenever a new model comes out. Allowing users to move into a new device at a lower cost by continuing to subscribe.
Since Pixel Pass is launching today though, it’ll remain to be seen just how much it ends up being used by consumers. If you’re interested in the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and are considering Pixel Pass, this guide will serve as a means for telling you everything you need to know about Google’s new phone upgrade system. Which is essentially what this is.
What is Pixel Pass?
Pixel Pass is Google’s way of more or less locking you into a carrier phone financing program. It lets you pay a set monthly amount for the Pixel phone, and it comes bundled with Google services. This is a plan that you subscribe to with a set cost for each phone model. In this case the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro. You can also still get the Pixel 6a this way as well.
Regardless of which phone you choose, you get access to these services. And it’s also a way for you to save money on your monthly payment for the phone. You’ll then proceed to pay for the phone every month over the span of a two-year period.
How much does Pixel Pass cost?
Pixel Pass has a cost that’s associated with the phone you pick. It’s $45 if you go with the Pixel 7, and it’s $55 if you go with the Pixel 7 Pro. And if you decide to go with the Pixel 6a it’s only $37. These are the prices you pay for the monthly payment for the new phone. Which is lower without Pixel Pass if you go through the Google Store’s normal phone financing. The Pixel 7 Pro for instance is $37.46 a month if you aren’t doing the Pixel Pass. Because you aren’t getting the extra services.
Do I need to subscribe to Google Fi to get the Pixel Pass?
No. You can subscribe to Fi with the Pixel Pass if you want to. But it isn’t a requirement. Google will allow you to subscribe to the new service without having the phone locked to Google Fi. Meaning you would get your monthly payments for a brand-new Pixel phone, all of those premium Google services, and an unlocked device that works with any carrier. Whether that be AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile etc.
How much do I save if subscribe to Pixel Pass?
Quite a lot over the course of that two-year time period. Though you will save a significantly larger amount if you subscribe to Pixel Pass through Google Fi.
All told if you subscribe to the new service through Google Fi, you can save up to $394 on the Pixel 7 Pro over the two years you’re paying monthly for the phone. Which is quite a lot. And that’s not even factoring in the trade-in amount you’d get from a phone trade-in. That is if you have one to trade-in. Since it has to be a compatible device that Google accepts, and in good working condition.
What services come with Pixel Pass?
Aside from the phone itself, Pixel Pass comes with a handful of Google’s premium services. Included is YouTube Premium, which comes with ad-free viewing and background playback. As well as YouTube Music Premium with no ads so you can stream music non-stop.
You also get 200GB of Google One storage, Preferred Care just in case you damage your phone and need a repair or a replacement, and Google Play Pass.
Can I trade in my phone if I subscribe to Pixel Pass?
Google does allow you to use phone trade-ins if you set up your Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro purchase with the new pass. Though it is worth noting that you get more for the trade-in value if you do the trade-in through the Google Store financing than without it.
For example, the trade-in value shows $285 for a Pixel 4a 5G without the service. But with it the trade-in shows only $150. This could be because Pixel Pass will already save you additional money on the phone over the two-year period that you’re paying for it.
While you still might save more with Google’s new service in the long run, it’s worth knowing that the trade-in values could be different.
Can anyone subscribe?
Technically, yes. Anyone can choose to subscribe to this new service if they want to pick up the new Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, or Pixel 6a through this method. However, just like with regular Google Store financing, you have to be approved to be able to make payments for the phone each month.
Google uses a credit service called Synchrony to check your credit. And in a matter of seconds you should get a response back that tells you whether or not you’ve been approved to make payments.
If not, then you have to pay for the phone outright and you will not be able to subscribe. Though you can still get the trade-in value for your phone. In which case you just do the trade-in through the Google Store and not through Pixel Pass.
Can I cancel the subscription before the two years is up?
You certainly can. But, just like with a phone financing plan at your traditional carriers, you’ll end up needing to pay the phone off right then and there.
Say you pay for a Pixel 7 Pro via Pixel Pass and pay for the phone through 12 months of payments. You’ve paid off one whole year of the device cost. If you then decide to cancel right after your 12th payment and before your 13th payment, you’ll need to pay whatever the remaining amount is.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you preferred to pay for everything up front but couldn’t in the beginning, this would be a good way to drop that one-time payment down to a more manageable amount later on.
So you can cancel. Just be aware that that doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay for the remainder of the phone’s cost.
If I break the phone, can it be replaced?
Under Google’s terms for the Preferred Care, which comes with the Pixel Pass subscription, you can get the phone replaced if you happen to damage it.
However, you only get so many claims per year. Up to 2 at the maximum. So the obvious thing here is to try and avoid damaging the phone more than that. Ideally, though, you want to try and avoid damaging it at all so you don’t have to make a claim. But in the event that you do, because accidents happen, you can get it replaced up to 2 times per year.
If it’s a warranty issue that causes the device to lose functionality at no fault of your own, then that’s a different story and Google should replace the device without the claim cost. As long as it’s within the warranty period.
To use Pixel Pass, you will need a Google Payments account
If you don’t already have a Google Payments account set up, you’ll need that in order to utilize this new subscription service to get the phone.
Thankfully doing so is pretty easy. And only requires that you accept the Google Payments Terms.
If you already subscribe to Play Pass and/or Google One, they will transfer over
Two of the big perks of Pixel Pass is that it comes with a Play Pass subscription and a Google One subscription (200GB). But what if you already have those subscriptions set up? Well, good news. It transfers over to the new service.
So you won’t be locked out of Pixel Pass should you want to pick up a new phone. The service won’t transfer over until your device ships. So if you’re buying today, your subscriptions for the two former services will remain as they are until Google sends out your device.
Manage everything in once place
Another benefit of the pass, according to Google, is convenience. The ability to manage everything in once central spot so you don’t have to go traipsing through numerous apps to do the same thing.
Google doesn’t really elaborate on this a whole lot, but it’s obvious that the company is referring to managing everything the pass comes with. Which includes the monthly bill payment for the phone (and the service if you’re going through Google Fi), as well as all your accounts like YouTube Premium, YouTube Music, Google One, Preferred Care, and Play Pass.
Pixel Pass will provide users with other special bonuses
If you read through the terms and conditions for Google’s new subscription-based upgrade program, it notes that there are additional benefits to look out for. While Google doesn’t give out specifics at this time, it does suggest that you get more than a new phone at a discount and access to some of its premium services.
The terms and conditions state that Pixel Pass provides users with “Google services and support, special offers, and a place to discover new products and features.” While that doesn’t really tell you much, it hints that down the line Pixel Pass subscribers will get alerts, probably through email, about exclusive promotions and other benefits. What those end up being is anyone’s guess at this time.
You are not exempt from changes
Google doesn’t seem to be allowing any sort of grandfathering when it comes to the Pixel Pass subscription. Another note inside the terms and conditions states that Google may change the service at any time. But that it will also notify subscribers prior to those changes so they’re aware of them.
Any changes that would come up would also not take place until after the current pay period that customers are in. So for example if you just paid your monthly Pixel Pass payment a week ago, and then changes happen a couple of days later, they won’t impact you until the next monthly payment.
Worth keeping in mind is that this doesn’t mean Google will change anything. At least not for a while. Google simply has to include these details in the terms and conditions for legal reasons.
Cancelling means you lose access to the included Google services
Should you decide to cancel at any point, you keep the phone. You just have to pay for the remainder of it in one payment as mentioned above. As for the included Google services like YouTube Premium and Google One, Google says these would be terminated.
Basically, you’d have to go through and re-subscribe to anything you had and want to keep. The loss of these services would happen at the end of the current billing cycle and you would not receive a refund for anything you paid for prior.
You can also re-subscribe in the future, but you would end up having to pay whatever the current prices are. If they change in between the time you cancel and want to re-subscribe.
It’s almost time to for March Madness with the 2023 NCAA Tournament upon us.
The tournament starts on March 14, and ends with the National Championship game happening on April 3. Between that time, there will be 67 games taking place over the course of three and a half weeks. For any basketball fans out there, this is what you live all year round for.
With cord cutting becoming a bigger and bigger trend, finding out how to watch NCAA March Madness in 2023 can be a difficult task. But we have everything you need to know here. Starting with where you can watch the games, what teams will be in the tournament, what days the tournament will be on, and so forth.
How to Watch NCAA March Madness 2023 Live
Here’s how you can watch the tournament live. The easiest way would be with the NCAA March Madness app, which is available on just about every platform imaginable.
The only downside to the app, is that you cannot watch every single game on the app, for free. If you subscribe to cable or select streaming TV services, then you can login with your TV provider and watch all of it through the app. Otherwise, you’ll be limited in what you can see. But the National Championship Game will be available for everyone to watch in the March Madness app.
There are a couple of streaming TV services that are going to be great for watching all of the games in March Madness, which we’ve laid out in the table below. The games will all be on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. So in order to make sure that you can watch every game, you’ll want to choose a service that offers all four channels.
All of these streaming services will work for watching the tournament this year, however there are a couple of caveats. One, Sling TV does not have locals, so it is missing CBS. You can get around that by getting an OTA antenna from Amazon. Which you can get these for just a few bucks these days.
Every service that is listed in the table above also offers free trials, most of them are a week long – YouTube TV is five days. Now if you’re looking for the best option, it’s going to be YouTube TV. We say this because you can record as many games as you want and watch them later. Fubo TV and Hulu + Live TV offer cloud DVR, but it is limited. YouTube TV is unlimited and you can record everything – literally.
When does NCAA March Madness start?
The tournament officially gets under way on March 14. With the first four games happening in Dayton, OH on March 14 and March 15. Before the field of 64 starts on March 16.
After Selection Sunday, there is the “First Four” which are the eight teams that were barely able to get in. They’ll battle for the last four spots in the tournament. With the first round officially starting on March 17. After the first weekend, we’ll already be down to 16 teams, come March 24. That will then break it down further to the Final Four after that weekend’s games.
And after that, it’ll be down to the semifinals and finals for the National Championship.
The first four will take place in Dayton Ohio. With the first and second rounds in Birmingham, Orlando, Denver, Sacramento, Columbus, Orlando, Greensboro, Albany, and Des Moines.
The Final Four will take place in Houston at NRG Stadium.
Who’s the favorite to win the tournament?
The best thing about March Madness, is you never know who could win the whole thing. Right now, the #1 team in the country is Alabama with a 29-5 record entering the tournament. After a down year in Football, Alabama has become a basketball school. Houston, Kansas and Purdue also round out the top #1 seeds in this tournament. And any of them could make a run at the National Championship.
Right now, according to bettors, Houston is the favorite to win the whole thing. Followed by Kansas and Alabama. Of course, there’s always the chance that none of these 1 seeds make it to the final four. Each year, at least one or two don’t make it to the final four, which is what makes this tournament so special.
