The Pixel 9 Pro XL may come with a RAM upgrade

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The Pixel 9 Pro XL may come with a RAM upgrade
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Google’s Pixel 9 series is due to be revealed officially in August, and ahead of the event, a new leak of the Pixel 9 Pro XL suggests it may be coming with a RAM upgrade. This isn’t the first time it was rumored that Google’s upcoming device would have more RAM than previous models. But since this is an additional leak, it adds more evidence to the possibility that the Pixel 9 series, or at least the Pixel 9 Pro XL model, will have more RAM than say, the Pixel 8 Pro.

Google’s Pixel phones have never really been at the forefront of phone specs. For the last few generations, the Pro model has come with 12GB of RAM. That is, the Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 8 Pro have all had 12GB of RAM while the non-Pro models have had 8GB. The phones have performed just fine but more RAM does help to make them run smoother. And it’s just an interesting change to see from Google in an age where many phone manufacturers have been using 16GB of RAM in their flagships for at least a year.

This is of course all assuming the leaks are accurate, which so far does seem likely.

The Pixel 9 Pro XL may be the only model to come with 16GB of RAM

It’s not entirely clear if Google is upping the RAM amount on any other models. So for now, it’s reasonable to assume that only the Pixel 9 Pro XL is getting the bump to its memory. However, it is possible that Google could increase the RAM size of the standard Pixel 9 from 8GB to 12GB, to keep it more in line with the Pixel 9 Pro. Then again, it’s also just as likely that the Pixel 9 will stay at 8GB, while the Pixel 9 Pro sticks with 12GB, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL goes with 16GB. Thus giving each device a clear difference when it comes to specs to be more reflective of their differing price tags.

This is all speculative, of course. The leak, which was spotted by 9To5Google, comes from a post on XDA Forums. The leak contains a trio of images, one of which shows the phone’s bootloader. In it you can clearly see the phone is using 16GB of Samsung LPDDR5 RAM. It also shows 256GB of storage. Potentially suggesting the base amount for the XL model?

On top of the RAM, it’s also shown that the phone is using a new modem, specifically the Exynos 5400. This is a step up from the Exynos 5300 that the Pixel 8 series is using. And it would seem to suggest, or perhaps confirm, the rumors that Google is positioning the Pixel 9 Pro XL to offer Satellite support.

This would go well with a recent rumor that Google is looking to offer 2 years of satellite SOS support. The leaks also show off the phone’s design, but this is nothing we haven’t seen already at this point thanks to all the recent leaks.


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ASUS ROG Ally X first impressions: A vast improvement

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ASUS ROG Ally X first impressions: A vast improvement
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The ASUS ROG Ally X is here and I’ve been spending the last few days giving it a spin, so I wanted to share my first impressions of the device now that consumers can finally pick it up. I’ll be doing a more in-depth review of the handheld gaming PC in the coming weeks but for now, I thought it would be good to shed some light on what the refreshed device is like, and whether it’s worth the extra $150 (The ROG Ally X is $800 compared to the $650 ROG Ally).

Let’s go back over what makes this device different from the regular ROG Ally. Before that, though, it’s worth noting that ASUS is using the same chipset here. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme is still powering the handheld’s computing and graphics tasks. It also still uses the same display, so there are no visual changes here in terms of graphical fidelity. That being said, there are changes. And notable ones at that. Ones that I feel deserve as much attention as they can get. Including improvements to RAM, storage, expandable storage, and ergonomics.

Part of me feels this is what the original ROG Ally should have been from the beginning. In spite of that opinion, ASUS has most certainly done consumers a solid by addressing some of the pain points from its original model. So, let’s dive in.

The ROG Ally X is a big improvement in all the right places, most notably in comfort

It may not be sporting a shiny new OLED display, higher resolution, or a more powerful chipset. But don’t let that fool you. The ROG Ally X has plenty of meaningful improvements. Not the least of which is the physical design.

For me, the change to ergonomics is the biggest improvement of this device. One main reason I have always preferred the Steam Deck is because the Steam Deck is more comfortable to hold. It has what in my opinion are the best ergonomics. Thanks to the contoured shape of the back, your fingers rest in the perfect spot. This sort of makes the back of the Steam Deck feel like it’s melting away from the forefront of your mind.

What I mean is that discomfort isn’t ever-present in your thoughts. Your fingers feel like they’re resting naturally and not in some weird spot. The ROG Ally didn’t really offer this because the back was more flat and there was less for your fingers to hold onto. ASUS has changed things with the ROG Ally X to increase the level of comfort when holding the device. And quite honestly, I like holding just as much as the Steam Deck now.

Just as I’ve said before during the initial announcement back during Computex, the ROG Ally X has more of a set of rounded hand grips. And these vastly improve the comfort level. The remappable back buttons would be better positioned on the hand grips. Like the Steam Deck. Because you wouldn’t have to stretch them to hit those keys. But the back buttons still provide a nice tactile click no matter how you press them. So there’s no major issue here. Essentially, you don’t have to press them a certain way to ensure the input is received.

Slightly rounder corners on the bottom

Another ergonomic change that ASUS made is with the bottom corners of the face of the device. With the original ROG Ally, these were more angular with defined straight lines that could dig into your hands a little while holding it. Not so with the ROG Ally X. These angular lines with defined corners have been more or less shaved off and in their place, is a more rounded shape that fits better in your palms. You would be surprised at how much of a difference this makes in wanting to hold this thing for longer periods of time.

The thumbsticks also feel ever so slightly shifted to a more comfortable spot. The right stick in particular feels like it’s been shifted to the right a little bit, so I have less of an issue hitting the ABXY buttons. Overall, big improvements here in comfort, and it was a smart move.

More internal storage is a huge step up

The original ROG Ally came with 512GB of storage, and for most that’s plenty. For me, even, 512GB would be enough for a start, because I don’t use my handhelds often enough that I need my entire library installed. That being said, game file sizes these days are getting increasingly larger. So having more storage space is never a bad thing in that regard. The nice thing about the ROG Ally X is that it comes with 1GB of SSD storage. So you get double the space before you even need to think about slotting in a microSD card.

While I haven’t gotten to a point where I needed to go that route, I know that many people will use this device as their main gaming device. And for those users, more storage means more games they can have installed at once. With 1TB, that’s a lot of room to get you started. In my personal use so far, I’ve installed Elden Ring and its Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Ghost of Tsushima with plenty of space left to spare. Now I will more than likely never get close to not having enough space. I probably won’t need a microSD card either. Since most of my PC gaming is done on another PC.

Like I said though, a lot of consumers might be looking to make this their main device for PC gaming. So it’s nice that ASUS is doubling up here. Because people won’t have to spend more money on a microSD card right away.

Performance feels good

It’s still much too early for me to tell how good the performance is in the long run. But my first impressions of it are good. Since this is the same chipset there aren’t huge boosts to performance. Nor was I expecting that there would be. The ROG Ally X does come with 24GB of RAM, however, instead of 16GB. And that has made an improvement in the overall feel. Games do feel smoother. And in the end, that’s what matters most.

All-in-all, first impressions are everything. And the ROG Ally X has made a good first impression.


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CrowdStrike incident affected 8.5 million devices, Microsoft says

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CrowdStrike incident affected 8.5 million devices, Microsoft says
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Last week, a CrowdStrike-related incident caused an outage on millions of Windows devices around the world. It was so severe that affected companies are still working to resolve the problem. Now, Microsoft has revealed details about how many Windows PCs were affected by the outage.

Although Microsoft was not the source of the problem, it only impacted companies whose systems are built on Windows. More specifically, to those who use CrowdStrike cyber security solutions. So, in a blog post, the Redmond giant described the measures it’s taking to help its customers recover the normal functioning of their computers.

8.5 million Windows devices impacted by CrowdStrike faulty update

The blog post confirms that around 8.5 million Windows devices were affected by the situation. This represents less than 1% of Windows computers worldwide. Since CrowdStrike cyber security solutions target businesses, normal users did not suffer from the dreaded BSOD. In any case, it is striking that the company massively deployed an update without proper prior testing.

Many companies are struggling to recover their systems. The problem is that the solutions offered by CrowdStrike are not automatic but must be applied manually to each PC. For example, having to boot Windows in safe mode, find a particular file, and delete it. These types of processes that seem simple become an IT nightmare in environments with hundreds of devices. So, the platforms of multiple affected companies are not yet fully recovered. In fact, it could take weeks to put everything in order.

Microsoft details the steps set to help solve the outage

Returning to Microsoft, the blog post details the steps set by the company to help resolve the Windows outage as quickly as possible. Microsoft’s measures include direct communication with CrowdStrike, the deployment of “hundreds” of engineers specifically dedicated to addressing this situation and collaborating with companies that offer services similar to CrowdStrike.

It also created a post with instructions to solve the problem and is updating the status of the situation in real-time. There is even an official recovery tool to try to make things as easy as possible.

The “CrowdStrike incident” was one of the most disastrous in modern IT history. From stores to airports, they stopped their operations due to the problem. It will probably cause movements in the industry of cyber security tool providers and mark a before and after in how update deployments are handled.


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Eufy delays “Find my Device” Android Bluetooth trackers to late 2024

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Eufy delays “Find my Device” Android Bluetooth trackers to late 2024
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Eufy has announced a delay in the launch of its highly anticipated Bluetooth trackers compatible with Google’s Find My Device network. Originally slated for a June release, the SmartTrack Link and SmartTrack Card are now expected to hit the market in late 2024.

The delay was first noticed when Eufy made a quiet change to the original blog post announcing the trackers. The updated post now simply states that the devices will be available in late 2024, without providing any further details about the reason for the delay.

This news may disappoint Android users who were looking forward to Eufy’s entry into the Bluetooth tracker market. Eufy had positioned its trackers as an alternative to Apple AirTags, which have gained popularity due to their robust network and UWB technology for precise location tracking.
Eufy delays "Find my Device" Android Bluetooth trackers to late 2024
Eufy updated its announcement to say that the Android trackers are currently scheduled for retail availability in late 2024
Despite the setback, Eufy seems committed to bringing its trackers to market eventually. The company has added the “SmartTrack for Android” moniker to the devices, distinguishing them from its existing iOS-compatible trackers. This suggests that Eufy is developing dedicated trackers for the Android ecosystem, potentially with features tailored to the platform.However, the delay leaves consumers with limited options for Bluetooth trackers that leverage the enhanced capabilities of Google’s Find My Device network. Currently, only a few trackers from Pebblebee and Chipolo are available. However, Motorola is expected to release its Moto Tag on August 2nd. The Moto Tag, which closely resembles the Apple AirTag, is rumored to offer impressive features, including UWB support.

It remains unclear why Eufy has decided to postpone the launch of its trackers. The company may have encountered production issues or perhaps decided to refine the features offered by the devices. Regardless of the reason, the delay is a missed opportunity for Eufy to capitalize on the growing demand for Bluetooth trackers in the Android market.


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Google Wallet now supports even more banks and credit unions in the U.S.

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Google Wallet now supports even more banks and credit unions in the U.S.
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Google Wallet has recently expanded its reach in the financial sector by adding support for 26 new banks and credit unions across the United States. This brings the total number of supported institutions to over 4,700, making Google Wallet a more accessible and versatile payment option for many users.The newly added institutions span a wide range of states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Several other banks without a specific home state have also been included in this expansion.
Some notable additions include:
  • Achieva Health Savings
  • Blackhawk Engagement Solutions
  • Casey State Bank (IL)
  • Citizens State Bank (Lena, IL)
  • Commercial Bank and Trust of PA (PA)
  • Conway Bank (KS)
  • Direct Express
  • Elektra Go
  • Equals Money
  • Farmers State Bank of Calhan (CO)
  • First Family Federal Credit Union
  • HealthPlus Federal Credit Union (MS)
  • Hendricks County Bank and Trust Company (IN)
  • International Bank of Amherst (WI)
  • Ixonia Bank (WI)
  • Kaw Valley State Bank & Trust Company (KS)
  • LoadPay
  • Northwest Plus Credit Union (WA)
  • Paymentus
  • Pine River State Bank (MN)
  • Savannah Bank, NA (NY)
  • Settlers Federal Credit Union (MI)
  • Spentra/AAA
  • The Farmers and Merchants Bank (OH)
  • The First State Bank (TX)
  • The Southern Bank Company (CA)

This latest expansion marks another milestone in Google Wallet’s journey towards becoming a ubiquitous payment platform. By partnering with over 4,700 banks and credit unions, Google Wallet is not only making digital payments more accessible but also contributing to the broader trend of financial inclusion.

Furthermore, Google Wallet integrates with other Google services, such as Gmail and Google Maps, making it easier for users to track their spending, manage their finances, and discover new places to shop and dine.

As Google Wallet continues to expand its network of supported institutions, it is poised to become an even more integral part of the digital payment landscape. With its user-friendly interface, robust security features, and growing list of partners, Google Wallet is a viable alternative to traditional payment methods for many consumers.


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How to Use Crypto on Android

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How to Use Crypto on Android
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Cryptocurrencies have become very popular due to their decentralized nature and their security features, which have changed our perspectives on digital transactions and money. These shifts in our perspectives have led to a rise of blockchain-based offerings like crypto trading apps, DeFi gaming platforms, and the best crypto casinos where players can bet anonymously and access a wide range of games. This growing adoption of cryptocurrencies is why it has become essential to know if we can use these virtual coins on our mobile devices, which is why we’ve compiled this guide that will help Android users know how they can access, buy, use, and store crypto assets safely.

Setting Up a Crypto Wallet

The first step that Android users need to take is to choose a reputable provider that offers crypto wallets that are compatible with their operating system. After finding a provider who has wallets that are compatible with their operating system, they will then have to download the provider’s wallet app on the Google Play Store and follow the on-screen prompts to install it on their devices.

When they’ve installed the app, users must then follow the instructions on the app to create a new wallet. Once they’ve created the wallet, there will be recovery phrases that they need to keep somewhere safe, which will help them gain access to their wallet again should they lose their devices.

Buying Cryptocurrency

To use crypto on their Android devices, users will need to have these digital coins in their wallets, and to do that, they can buy a cryptocurrency of their choosing at a reputable crypto exchange. Users can access crypto exchanges by installing their apps, creating an account, and going to their buy sections to acquire cryptocurrencies.

Using Crypto for Transactions

Once users have cryptocurrencies in their wallets, they can start using them at any of the businesses that accept these coins, such as online stores, crypto gambling sites, and gift card platforms. To make purchases on these businesses’ platforms, they’ll need to go to the send option on the wallet app, enter the business’ wallet address, enter the amount they want to transfer and confirm the transaction. If they want to send crypto to friends or family members, they can follow the same instructions but enter the wallet address of the person they want to send these virtual coins to.

For users to receive crypto, all they need to do is go to the receive option on their wallet apps, where they can find their wallet addresses that they can copy and share with the sender. Some wallet apps make this step easier by also including a QR code that the sender can scan to make a payment.

Managing Your Crypto

To use their crypto assets safely, users also need to know how to manage them, and the first step in this process requires them to track their coins. They can do this by using specialized apps to track the value of their coins in real-time by offering them alerts and detailed insights that will help them make informed decisions.


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The Apple Sports scoreboard app receives an update

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The Apple Sports scoreboard app receives an update
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Sports apps are plentiful on both iOS and Android. This past February Apple released its own free sports app called Apple Sports that keeps users up to date with the latest scores, stats, and gambling odds. For die-hard sports fans, this app is not going to satisfy you completely. While it will show you the latest scores, the app does not include any news or game recaps, nor does it share any video highlights. So unless you’re a gambler, the Apple Sports app is quite limited.
The app does sport a 4.4 rating (see what we did there?) out of 5 in the App Store with most users praising the Apple Sports app for having great potential. And while that might be the case, for now, Apple doesn’t seem to give many sports fans a reason to use the app instead of ESPN. Perhaps that’s the point and Apple Sports is just an app to use when you want to quickly know how the Yankees are faring on a given summer night either because you’re a fan of the Bronx Bombers or because you have a few bucks riding on the outcome of the game.
The Apple Sports app showing Monday's MLB scoreboard. | Image credit-PhoneArena - The Apple Sports scoreboard app receives an update

The Apple Sports app showing Monday’s MLB scoreboard. | Image credit-PhoneArena

Nonetheless, Apple has just updated the app to Version 1.5 which includes the addition of an indicator to Major League Baseball box scores that will show a pitcher’s wins, losses, and saves. The App Store listing for the app also mentions the second new feature: “Follow live as every MLS and Liga MX club competes for the Leagues Cup.”

Currently, the app shows the schedules, stats, scores, and more for NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, and Premier League contests. Games in progress show play-by-play information in real-time. Without knowing what Apple’s intentions are for the app, we can tell you that right now it shows up as the 54th top free sports app in the App Store well behind eighth-rated ESPN but slightly ahead of the 56th ranked Fox Sports app. The top free sports app in the App Store is the MLB Ballparks app.

To install Apple Sports on your iPhone or iPad, tap on this App Store link and follow the directions. Besides ESPN (iOS, Android), Yahoo Sports (iOS, Android) does a good job of showing you how the national and local media is covering your team. I used it during the NHL playoffs as my Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup Championship in 30 years.

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Multiple Vulnerabilities Found In XenForo Internet Forum Solution

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Multiple Vulnerabilities Found In XenForo Internet Forum Solution
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Numerous security vulnerabilities riddled the XenForo Internet Forum solution, one of which could even allow remote code execution attacks. XenForo has patched the vulnerabilities with the latest release, urging users to update.

XenForo Vulnerabilities Could Allow Remote Code Execution

According to a recent security update shared on XenForo forums, the service addressed numerous security vulnerabilities with the latest XenForo release.

As stated, the vulnerabilities included a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) and code injection flaw that could lead to remote code execution and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

XenForo credited the security researcher Egidio Romano for reporting most of these flaws via SSD Secure Disclosure.

While the firm didn’t share details about the vulnerabilities in its post, SSD Secure Disclosure shared a detailed analysis in a separate advisory. These vulnerabilities include CVE-2024-38457 – a CSRF vulnerability, and CVE-2024-38458 – a remote code execution flaw.

Describing the issues, the advisory reads,

A vulnerability in XenForo allows a user to trigger an RCE via incorrect parsing and handling of user provided templates, this combined with another CSRF vulnerability. might allow unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code whenever an admin user with permissions to administer styles / widgets will visit a specially crafted page / link.

In the worst exploits, the attackers could allow data breaches, website defacement, or server compromise.

These vulnerabilities affected XenForo versions before 2.1.14 and 2.1.15. While the latter carried the fix for the vulnerability impacting XenForo 2.1.14 and earlier, it also developed some other security flaws, which required another patch. Thus, the service released a subsequent update, 2.1.16, addressing all the yet-identified vulnerabilities.

The service confirmed releasing all the security fixes with XenForo Cloud, saving Cloud users from the effort of upgrading. However, users running older XenForo versions must ensure updating to the latest releases manually. Besides, XenForo also rolled out the security fixes for XenForo 2.3 pre-release users with XenForo 2.3.0 Release Candidate 1. In addition, the firm also released the same security patches with the following XenForo add-ons.

  • XenForo Media Gallery 2.3.0 Release Candidate 1
  • XenForo Resource Manager 2.3.0 Release Candidate 1
  • XenForo Enhanced Search 2.3.0 Release Candidate 1

Users may find the details for this pre-release update here.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.


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ASUS officially launches the ROG Ally X gaming handheld

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ASUS officially launches the ROG Ally X gaming handheld
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The launch of the ROG Ally X is officially here and you can buy the new ASUS handheld gaming PC from Best Buy starting today. The ROG Ally X has been available for pre-order for several weeks now but it only just launched officially, which means you can now buy one and likely get it within days if not the same day. Some local Best Buy stores may even have them in stock already, so there is a chance you could simply order it for pickup and run down to get it shortly after.

That of course, will depend on the location, but there are bound to be some that have stock already available in-store. The ROG Ally X is not quite a successor to the original ROG Ally, but rather, a mid-generation refresh that updates a handful of things. It’s still using the same chipset (the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme), as well as the same display. However, ASUS has updated both the RAM and storage capacity. Opening up new possibilities for both upgraded performance and more game storage. Speaking of game storage, ASUS has also moved the microSD card slot that you can use for expandable storage.

The reason for this is that the microSD card slot on the old model was prone to malfunction due to excessive heat from its placement on the motherboard. This should no longer be an issue. ASUS has also made some design adjustments for better ergonomics. Which in turn, leads to more comfort when holding the ROG Ally X for longer gaming sessions.

The ROG Ally X launch is strictly through Best Buy

When it comes to retail partners, ASUS is teaming up with Best Buy again to be the exclusive retailer for the ROG Ally X. You can still buy it directly from ASUS, but you’ll likely have better luck with getting it early from Best Buy. Simply because Best Buy has physical retail locations where you can pick it up. Even if you have it shipped, there’s a good chance it’ll show up sooner than if you bought it through ASUS. That’s also assuming ASUS even has any in stock when you go to buy one, which at current, is not the case.

As for pricing, the ROG Ally X retails for $800 which is higher than the launch price of the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme model, and noticeably higher than Valve’s Steam Deck OLED. But there are tangible benefits to paying this amount if you were already looking at one of the ROG Ally models.

The ROG Ally X is an improvement in all the right places

I’ve been lucky enough to test out the ROG Ally X and so far, it has noticeable improvements over the original model. The biggest part for me, and probably for many others, will be the ergonomics. Having this new model be more comfortable to hold will go a long way to entice consumers.

You can still buy the older ROG Ally. But why would you unless you’re getting it second-hand for hundreds less? Even at its full price, which is $650, the changes ASUS made to the new model are worth at the very least, considering spending the additional $150.

Buy at Best Buy


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Play Protect could soon let you rescan potentially harmful apps

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Play Protect could soon let you rescan potentially harmful apps
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Google will soon be adding an important feature to the Play Protect app. The Android ecosystem’s safeguard against malicious applications could soon let users rescan an app for any threat without uninstalling it. The upcoming feature for the Play Protect app will be useful in cases when it incorrectly labels an app as malicious.

Play Protect could soon get a new “Rescan” button

The latest Play Protect scan feature has been spotted in version 41.9.17 of the Google Play Store app. The upcoming update to the Play Protect app will add a new “Rescan” button on the app scan page. Currently, the app only offers a single “Uninstall” option. It forces you to uninstall a harmful application as soon as they are detected.

However, soon you will not have the only choice to uninstall the app, which may have been incorrectly labeled as threatening. You will be able to run another scan of that particular application. This feature will be helpful for those who load apps on their devices from third-party sources. These sources are usually mistakenly labeled as harmful by the Play Protect app.

According to the source, the upcoming Play Protect rescan feature is currently in development. It is not directly available in version 41.9.17 of the Play Store app. It was only found in an APK teardown of the Play Store app. As you can see in the photo below, the rescan option will be available in the top-right corner of the scan screen.

The new feature is expected to be available in the next update to the Play Protect application soon. We will inform you as soon as the new functionality goes live.

A more powerful local APK scanning feature is also coming

In related news, Google will also boost Play Protect’s local app scanning capabilities in the coming updates. The Play Protect service will soon be more efficient in scanning local APK files to protect your devices against malware. Google will integrate the new YARA scanning features in the Play Store app.

The YARA tool will provide a rule-based approach when it comes to detecting malware families. The new safety feature will allow Play Protect to detect a wider range of malware more efficiently. This functionality was spotted in the previous version 41.7.16 of the Play Store app. It should roll out to all users in the coming days.


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