One UI 6.1 rolling out to Galaxy S23 FE & Galaxy Tab S9

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One UI 6.1 rolling out to Galaxy S23 FE & Galaxy Tab S9
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Samsung is slowly expanding One UI 6.1 to more Galaxy devices. Debuted with the Galaxy S24, the new One UI version recently made it into the Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Fold 5, and Galaxy Z Flip 5. The company has also started updating the Galaxy S23 FE and Galaxy Tab S9 series to One UI 6.1.

The Galaxy S23 FE is getting One UI 6.1 globally

Samsung is rolling out the One UI 6.1 update to the Galaxy S23 FE globally. In the US, the update is available for carrier-locked and unlocked units with the firmware build numbers S711USQU2CXCH and S711U1UEU2CXCH, respectively. International versions of the phone are getting it with the build number S711BXXU2CXCF. We can confirm the rollout in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and most parts of Asia.

The Galaxy S23 FE doesn’t yet seem to have received One UI 6.1 in South Korea and Canada. However, it should just be a matter of time now. Samsung is pushing the new One UI version with the March security patch, which the device picked up with a separate update early last month. But we aren’t interested in the security fixes. After all, One UI 6.1 is a feature update that brings Galaxy AI.

Galaxy AI is a suite of AI features Samsung introduced with One UI 6.1 on the Galaxy S24 series. Circle to Search, real-time translation of calls, Interpreter tool for real-time translation of in-person conversations, instant translation and summarization of documents and webpages, automatic transcription of voice recordings, AI-powered wallpapers, and Generative Edit are some AI features that Galaxy devices are getting.

One UI 6.1 also brings some UI changes and other features and improvements to the Galaxy S23 FE. These goodies are also rolling out to the Galaxy Tab S9 series. The update appears to be currently limited to Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia where the tablets are getting the build number X916BXXU2BXC9. Samsung should soon expand the rollout to other regions, including the US.

More Galaxy devices will get these features

One UI 6.1 will also be available for the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S21, Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Fold 3, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Flip 3, and some mid-range Galaxy devices. Some models may miss out on certain features due to hardware limitations but most of the changes should roll out to all eligible devices. You can check for updates from the Settings app. We will keep you posted as Samsung updates more devices to One UI 6.1.


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US Congress may ban Microsoft Copilot citing security concerns

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US Congress may ban Microsoft Copilot citing security concerns
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AI has reached and knocked on all doors! The US Congress isn’t unfamiliar with generative AI and ChatGPT, as a Congressman once delivered an AI-drafted speech. Now, the US Congress is planning to ban Microsoft Copilot citing security concerns, according to a report from Axios.

US Congress could ban Microsoft Copilot

According to Congress’ Chief Administrative Officer, Catherine Szpindor, Microsoft Copilot is “unauthorized for House use” citing the security concerns that information shared by House staff might leak and reach places where it’s not supposed to be. As a result, the US Congress will expunge and ban Copilot, which serves as an optional generative AI add-on, on all Windows devices under its jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Microsoft assures that they are working on government-friendly versions of their AI tools that will meet the strict security requirements of the federal government.

It raises questions about its impact on congressional staff and their workflow; if not Copilot, then what? A Microsoft spokesperson might have an answer to this. They explained that they understand how important it is for the government to have an extra layer of security. That’s why they plan to make AI tools like Copilot specially designed to meet these high-security standards. The Chief Administrative Office’s office clarified that the advice they’re giving right now is for regular folks, not government workers. But once the government version is ready, they’ll check it out and decide what to do.

More importantly, Microsoft Copilot is a collaborative effort between Microsoft and ChatGPT-owner OpenAI. Plus, it has several plans to choose from, especially for businesses. A bunch of perks come with the paid version, like allowing users to integrate it with Microsoft Office Suite programs like World, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Hence, the AI indeed comes helpful among congressional staff but the potential ban has a solid argument that there have been multiple instances where there is always a risk of data leakage. Such leaks, especially in terms of government, pose enormous risks.


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New Shazam Wear OS update gives the app independence from your phone

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New Shazam Wear OS update gives the app independence from your phone
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Music lovers who are also the owners of a Wear OS watch will be pleased to know that there is a new version of Shazam for you. Shazam for Wear OS just got a major upgrade that will pretty much make the app independent of your phone and work completely on its own on your smartwatch. This means you can now identify songs directly from your wrist without needing to have your phone nearby.
With this update (version 14.18) of Shazam, there will be no longer a need to fumble around to connect with your phone app (via 9to5Google). As a matter of fact, you won’t even need the Shazam app installed on your Android phone anymore. Even offline, your smartwatch Shazam will now record a snippet and then once you’re back online, it’ll work its magic and tell you the song’s name. This will make it so much easier to identify songs on the go.

Images Credit: Google Play Store

Furthermore, if you happen to have more than one device, songs you Shazam on your smartwatch will now instantly sync to your other devices. This functionality does require you to be logged into the app in order to work, though.

This new feature will make it even more convenient for users to quickly identify songs on the go without having to rely on their phone. It also adds a seamless experience for those who use multiple devices within the Shazam ecosystem.

This new version of Shazam for Wear OS is widely available now via the Google Play Store. Apple acquired Shazam back in 2017, so it is good to see the app continue to be supported on Android and Wear OS devices. This update shows that Shazam is committed to providing a user-friendly experience across various platforms, as users can now easily access the app’s features on their smartwatches, regardless of the operating system they use.

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Android 15 could revamp the Android volume panel

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Android 15 could revamp the Android volume panel
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Android 15 is fast approaching, and we are gearing up for the official beta release. While we are waiting, we are seeing bits and pieces of what Android 15 could offer. Well, according to a new report, Android 15 could revamp the Android volume panel.

In order to access the volume panel on your Pixel phone, tap on the three-dot button at the bottom of the volume slider. This will show you a panel consisting of volume sliders for different parts of the operating system. You’ll see volume sliders for your media, calls, ringtones, notification tones, and alarms.

This is the exact same thing you would see if you go to the Sound & Vibrations menu in Settings. It’s a great way to get an idea of where all of your system volumes are. However, it’s pretty out of date.

Android  15 could revamp the volume panel

Since we are talking about Android 15, you will want to take this news cautiously. Android 15 is currently in the developer preview stage. So, there’s a chance that the news we’re covering today could be different tomorrow.

As discovered by Mishaal Rahmen, the new volume panel in Android 15 will show much thicker sliders for each volume control. Previously, the sliders for each volume control were paper-thin. However, the sliders for the volume controls will be much thicker and pill-shaped. This will give it a more material You look.

Android 15 volume panel

You will see a little dot at the right end of each slider depicting where each slider maxes out at. The name of each control will live inside the slider. As you slide the volume past the name, you will see the text of the name move forward or backward. You will be able to see this in action in the video below.

Other features

Another feature of this new panel is the fact that it will be collapsible. There will be a button in the top right corner of the panel that will allow you to collapse and expand it. Once collapsed, you will only be able to see the media volume and the title of any actively playing media on the phone. However, if you summon the panel while media is actively playing, then it will open in that collapsed state.

If you open it while there’s no active media playing, you will still see a section showing you what device the audio is playing through. However, if you tap on that section, it will not take you to the audio output menu.

Also, the new volume panel will be able to show you options like noise control and special audio. However, Rahman was not able to surface those options during testing. So, they may come at a later date.


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YouTube Music moved to quarterly feature recaps

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YouTube Music moved to quarterly feature recaps
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It seems that YouTube Music is always coming out with some new features. Well, that’s true, as the company pushed out new features on a bi-monthly basis. However, that has just changed. According to the company, YouTube Music has moved to quarterly feature recaps.

Over the years, YouTube Music adopted a bi-monthly feature recap schedule. Every two months, we would get a recap of the new features added to YouTube Music. However, the company announced that this will be put on a quarterly basis. So, we will see these recaps every three months. This means fewer recaps for the year. However, it does not mean that YouTube music is slowing down with its new features.

YouTube Music is on a quarterly feature recap schedule

Along with this announcement, YouTube gave us the recap for the past couple of months. For starters, while you are playing music, you will see a little moving equalizer animation playing. These will be the little lines expanding and contracting when a song is playing. Well, the little equalizer animation will move to the beat of your music. So, it will look like an actual equalizer.

Another notable feature that hit YouTube Music not too long ago was the new Samples shelf. If you are unfamiliar with what Samples are, these are the TikTok-style portrait slices of music videos. Much like TikToks, Shorts, and Reels, you can flip through a vertically scrolling feed of these videos. They are a way of exposing you to more content based on your listening habits. You’ll be able to discover music videos of songs from artists you listen to often.

Well, the company put a horizontally scrolling shelf of Samples on the home screen. This gives them a spot where they are easily discoverable in the app.

Aside from these features, YouTube Music has also been revamping the Now Playing screen. It has been moving the buttons around and revamping the overall look and feel. So, the screen now should look much different than it did months ago.

While YouTube Music has moved to a quarterly update recap schedule, there will still be no shortage of new features coming to the platform.


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Congress Bans Staff Use of Microsoft’s AI Copilot

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Congress Bans Staff Use of Microsoft’s AI Copilot
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Data Security Fears: Congress Bans Staff Use of Microsoft's AI Copilot

U.S. House Bans Staff from Using Microsoft’s Copilot Amid Data Security Concerns – The AI coding assistant, recently released to the public, is deemed a risk due to potential data leakage – Learn more about the controversy and the future of AI in government workplaces.

In a move highlighting growing anxieties around data security, the U.S. House of Representatives has reportedly banned congressional staffers from using Microsoft’s AI coding assistant, Copilot. This comes just weeks after Microsoft announced the official public release of AI Copilot on March 14th, 2024.

The ban, implemented by the House’s Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor, reportedly stems from concerns about potential data leakage. According to a report from Axios, Szpindor’s office believes AI Copilot “poses a risk to users due to the threat of leaking House data to non-House approved cloud services.”

Concerns Over Data Security

Copilot, an AI tool integrated within Microsoft’s development environment, analyzes a programmer’s code and suggests completions or entire lines of code. This can significantly boost productivity for developers. However, the tool relies on a massive dataset of publicly available code, raising concerns about potential security vulnerabilities.

The House’s Office of Cybersecurity reportedly fears that sensitive congressional data could be inadvertently incorporated into this vast codebase, potentially exposing it to unauthorized access.

Microsoft Responds

Microsoft has acknowledged the concerns raised by the House and emphasized its commitment to government user security. A Microsoft spokesperson, speaking to Reuters, stated, “We recognize that government users have higher security requirements for data. That’s why we announced a roadmap of Microsoft AI tools, like Copilot, that meet federal government security and compliance requirements that we intend to deliver later this year.”

Wider Implications

The House’s decision to ban AI Copilot reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny surrounding AI tools that access user data. While AI offers immense potential for efficiency and innovation, concerns about data privacy and security remain significant.

Commenting on this, Callie Guenther, Senior Manager, Cyber Threat Research at Critical Start argued that the US government is cautious about regulating AI due to concerns like data security and bias.

“The ban on congressional staffers’ use of Microsoft AI Copilot highlights the government’s careful approach to AI while trying to regulate it. The risks include data security, potential bias, dependence on external platforms, and opaque AI processes,“ Callie pointed out.

“The industry must enhance security, improve transparency, develop government-specific solutions, and support ongoing evaluation to address these concerns. Congress might reconsider its stance if these issues are effectively addressed, especially with government-tailored AI versions demonstrating high security and ethical standards,” she advised.

Uncertain Future

The House’s ban is a strict one, targeting all commercially available versions of AI Copilot. However, Szpindor’s office did indicate they would “be evaluating the government version when it becomes available and deciding at that time.” This suggests a potential path forward if Microsoft can address the House’s security concerns.

It remains to be seen if other government agencies or private companies will follow suit and implement similar restrictions on AI Copilot. However, this incident indicates the need for data security practices in a world increasingly reliant on AI tools.

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Free VPN apps turn Android phones into criminal proxies

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Free VPN apps turn Android phones into criminal proxies
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Researchers at HUMAN’s Satori Threat Intelligence have discovered a disturbing number of VPN apps that turn users’ devices into proxies for cybercriminals without their knowledge, as part of a camapign called PROXYLIB.

Cybercriminals and state actors like to send their traffic through other people’s devices, known as proxies. This allows them to use somebody else’s resources to get their work done, it masks the origin of their attacks so they are less likely to get blocked, and it makes it easy for them to keep operating if one of their proxies is blocked.

An entire underground market of proxy networks exists to service this desire, offering cybercriminals flexible, scalable platfroms from which to launch activities like advertising fraud, password spraying, and credential stuffing attacks.

The researchers at HUMAN found 28 apps on Google Play that turned unsuspecting Android devices into proxies for criminals. 17 of the apps were free VPNs. All of them have now been removed from Google Play.

The operation was dubbed PROXYLIB after a code library shared by all the apps that was responsible for enrolling devices into the ciminal network.

HUMAN also found hundreds of apps in third-party repositories that appeared to use the LumiApps toolkit, a Software Development Kit (SDK) which can be used to load PROXYLIB. They also tied PROXYLIB to another platform that specializes in selling access to proxy nodes, called Asocks.

Protection and removal

Android users are now automatically protected from the PROXYLIB attack by Google Play Protect, which is on by default on Android devices with Google Play Services.

The affected apps can be uninstalled using a mobile device’s uninstall functionality. However, apps like these may be made available under different names in future, which is where apps like Malwarebytes for Android can help.

Recommendations to stay clear of PROXYLIB are:

Victims of novel attacks like PROXYLIB might notice slow traffic, because their bandwidth is in use for other purposes. And at some point their IP address may be blocked by websites and other services.

The researchers included a list of applications they uncovered as part of PROXYLIB. If you installed any of the apps on the list before they were removed from Google Play you will need to uninstall them.

We don’t just report on privacy—we offer you the option to use it.

Privacy risks should never spread beyond a headline. Keep your online privacy yours by using Malwarebytes Privacy VPN.


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NSFW Communities arriving on X for adult content

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NSFW Communities arriving on X for adult content
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X (formerly Twitter) is about to roll out some big updates to its platform, especially in its “Communities” section, which is akin to a subreddit-style grouping. These adjustments coincide with rumors that Elon Musk, who now owns the business, is trying to enable NSFW (Not Safe For Work) groups.

Dong Wook Chung, an engineer at X, verified the information in a recent article. According to Chung, the app’s Communities function would soon automatically filter out offensive information. Furthermore, administrators will soon be able to circumvent the automatic screening procedure by designating places as containing “adult content” using the settings.

Researchers have noticed indications before this confirmation that X intended to provide options for “adult-sensitive” material. Although X presently permits users to publish explicit content and nudity, several areas of the app—like profile pictures and cover images for Communities—prohibit such content.

Twitter experimented with a similar feature in 2021

It’s interesting to note that Elon Musk wasn’t involved with the firm before the Communities function. Twitter was experimenting with a similar idea in 2021 to make its site a more personal place for talks. Twitter stands out for allowing pornographic content but has not publicly considered adding NSFW features for Communities.

Furthermore, rumors circulated that Twitter has contemplated creating a rival to OnlyFans via its creator membership service in 2022. The newsletter mentioned concerns about worsening illicit child exploitation content causing the concept’s abandonment.

It’s unclear where X’s leadership stands on these issues at the moment. Chung restated in another article that new filters aim to automatically remove adult content to enhance safety in Communities. Chung said only those who declare their age can visit NSFW content in Communities.

Upcoming adjustments show X’s commitment to providing a safer and more personalized user experience in Communities as the platform evolves. X seeks to empower admins while maintaining a secure environment for all users, with the primary goal being user safety.


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After Denial, AT&T Confirms Data Breach Affecting 73 Million Users

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After Denial, AT&T Confirms Data Breach Affecting 73 Million Users
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After Denial, AT&T Confirms Data Breach Affecting 73 Million Users

Millions of AT&T customers are questioning the company’s transparency, after the telecom giant finally confirmed a massive data breach impacting a staggering 73 million current and former customers.

AT&T has finally confirmed a massive data breach impacting a whopping 73 million (73,481,539) current and former customers. This comes after weeks of speculation and accusations of a cover-up following the discovery of the leaked data on the the notorious hacking and cyber crime platform BreachForums.

The data breach, which involved Social Security numbers, passcodes, and potentially other personal information, was first discovered in mid-March. Cybersecurity researchers immediately noted similarities to a possible breach from 2021 that AT&T never acknowledged.

After Denial, AT&T Confirms Data Breach Affecting 73 Million Users
AT&T database on BreachForums (Screenshot: Hackread.com)

Initial Denial and Mounting Pressure

The data was leaked on Sunday March 17, 2024. However, AT&T initially denied any data breaches, despite reports from security researchers like Troy Hunt, founder of Have I Been Pwned. Hunt pointed out that the leaked data closely resembled a breach from 2021 that was attempted to be sold online by a hacker known as “Shiny Hunters.”

This denial raised concerns about AT&T’s transparency and potential legal ramifications. Experts pointed out that failing to disclose a data breach promptly could violate consumer protection laws.

Confirmation and Investigation

Under mounting pressure, AT&T finally confirmed the data breach on March 30th. The company stated they were unaware of the source of the breach, suggesting it could have originated from AT&T’s systems or a vendor.

They also announced that they had already reset passcodes for current users and would be reaching out to impacted individuals. Additionally, AT&T will be offering complimentary identity theft and credit monitoring services.

Lingering Questions

While AT&T has confirmed the breach, questions remain.

  • Why did it take so long for AT&T to acknowledge the breach, especially considering the potential similarities to the 2021 incident?
  • What specific data was compromised, and how will it impact affected customers?
  • Is AT&T conducting a thorough investigation to identify the source of the breach and prevent future incidents?

AT&T has yet to address these questions publicly. It’s likely that the company will face lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny in the coming months.

This data breach goes onto show the importance of cybersecurity and data protection. Consumers should remain vigilant and take steps to protect their personal information, such as monitoring credit reports and using strong, unique passwords.

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  5. Google funded delivery service Dunzo hacked by Shiny Hunters

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