Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5 & S23 start getting One UI 6.1… in the US

andreasc
-
0
Galaxy Z Fold 5, Flip 5 & S23 start getting One UI 6.1… in the US
[ad_1]

Samsung has started rolling out its One UI 6.1 update to the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy S23. Those of you living in the States will be glad to know that the US is first in line.

Samsung is rolling out One UI 6.1 to a number of Galaxy devices in the US

The update is not yet rolling out to unlocked units, however, at the time of writing this article. Verizon units are first in line, actually. The thing is, this update will spread like wildfire, basically, so you can expect it to roll out via different channels soon.

Just to be clear, the update is rolling out to the entire Galaxy S23 series, not just the vanilla Galaxy S23. The Galaxy S23 FE is expected to join the aforementioned devices soon, as is the Galaxy Tab S9 series. That group of devices is said to be getting the update in he first wave.

This update brings most of the AI features from the Galaxy S24 series

What does One UI 6.1 bring to the table? Well, most of the AI features that debuted on the Galaxy S24 lineup. So, for example, the Circle to Search feature is available in One UI 6.1 to all the devices that get the update.

This is actually Google’s feature which allows you to circle what you want to search and get results based on that. It’s a very intuitive feature, and a very useful one as well.

The camera can now scan and translate text

Thanks to a new camera scan feature, you can use the phone’s camera to translate text. Simply hover it over the text you want to translate, select the text on the display, and there you go.

The Samsung Internet browser can also provide you with a summary of websites. That’s not all, though, it can also translate entire websites for you while keeping them properly formatted. This even works with embedded tweets, for example.

Some AI capabilities also spread to the keyboard

The company also built its AI features into the keyboard. AI translate is available on the keyboard too. There are also different chat styles available from within the keyboard.

Galaxy AI is also available in the gallery, for some heavy editing, if that’s what you require. You can remove subjects, change the background behind your subjects, and so on. There are many options available here. Generative AI wallpapers are also available, and more.

That’s just a taste of what this update brings to the table. It’s quite a hefty AI update, basically.


[ad_2]
Source link

Delete these free VPN apps from your Android phone before they turn you into a cybercriminal!

andreasc
-
0
Delete these free VPN apps from your Android phone before they turn you into a cybercriminal!
[ad_1]
Have you noticed that there have been far fewer reports about malicious apps wreaking havoc on Android devices in the last couple of months than usual? Unfortunately, that still doesn’t mean Google’s Play Store is free of all security threats, as a widespread new issue originating where we all install our apps from is today coming to light.
Dubbed Proxylib, the malware-spreading operation monitored and documented by Human’s Satori Threat Intelligence researchers over a period of more than nine months in 2023 and early 2024 may have impacted millions of Android users around the world, turning their phones into so-called proxy nodes to conceal various fraudulent online activities.

Did you unwittingly break any laws?

Let us put your biggest concern at ease by stressing that you can’t be prosecuted or accused of anything illegal that may have been done with the help of your phone after you installed one of the 28 apps infected with this new type of malware. 

Unlike other malicious apps discovered in the past, there’s also no reason to believe your bank account, financial information of any sort, or even personal data is in jeopardy this time around. What the bad actors behind the large-scale Proxylib campaign probably managed to do was turn you into unknowing accomplices to a wide range of cybercrimes, which certainly sounds scary and shouldn’t be allowed to happen (especially for months in a row) by Google.

To its credit, the search giant reacted to these hair-raising revelations in the only acceptable way we can think of, removing all the dangerous new apps from its Play Store while also disabling them on devices where they’re already installed. That is, if you have the Google Play Protect functionality enabled, which you absolutely should at all times.

Before listing all the apps you need to delete from your phone if you have Play Protect switched off or if for some reason the tool fails to do its job, it’s important to highlight that a few of these titles have actually returned to Google Play without any trace of malicious code in them. Does that make them safe to use? Theoretically, yes, but we can totally understand if you’ve developed trust issues and would rather install alternatives with a clean security record.

Get rid of the following apps now!

  • Lite VPN
  • Anims Keyboard
  • Blaze Stride
  • Byte Blade VPN
  • Android 12 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
  • Android 13 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
  • Android 14 Launcher (by CaptainDroid)
  • CaptainDroid Feeds
  • Free Old Classic Movies (by CaptainDroid)
  • Phone Comparison (by CaptainDroid)
  • Fast Fly VPN
  • Fast Fox VPN
  • Fast Line VPN
  • Funny Char Ging Animation
  • Limo Edges
  • Oko VPN
  • Phone App Launcher
  • Quick Flow VPN
  • Sample VPN
  • Secure Thunder
  • Shine Secure
  • Speed Surf
  • Swift Shield VPN
  • Turbo Track VPN
  • Turbo Tunnel VPN
  • Yellow Flash VPN
  • VPN Ultra
  • Run VPN

As you can easily notice, many of these apps have one key thing in common – free VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. That sounds like a very compelling proposition when some of the best premium VPNs out there are available for anywhere between $3 and $10 a month, so it’s definitely easy to understand how millions and millions of people were duped into joining the Proxylib shenanigans.

These essentially routed traffic from one device through another to conduct advertising fraud and other malicious activities known as password spraying and credential stuffing attacks. Hackers used IP addresses without user approval or notification to hide the true origin of their attacks and make ad money with the help of bots and your very own phones.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though, and alas, we can’t really know exactly what cybercrimes your IPs were involved in, for how long, and how much online and personal harm they may have caused between June 2023 and February 2024 and even before the date at which the first Proxylib-carrying app was discovered. 

What we do know is that you should probably pay a few bucks a month if you want a secure and reliable VPN app, and in general, it’s wise to stay away from shady free apps that seem too good to be true.

[ad_2]
Source link

2 Chrome Zero-Days Exploited at Pwn2Own 2024: Patch Now

andreasc
-
0
2 Chrome Zero-Days Exploited at Pwn2Own 2024: Patch Now
[ad_1]

Google has announced a crucial update to its Chrome browser, addressing several vulnerabilities, including two zero-day exploits showcased at the prestigious Pwn2Own 2024 hacking competition.

The update, which affects Chrome users on Windows, Mac, and Linux, elevates the browser version to 123.0.6312.86/.87 for Windows and Mac, and 123.0.6312.86 for Linux, with the rollout expected to reach users progressively over the coming days and weeks.

Security Fixes and Rewards

Google’s latest security update includes fixes for seven vulnerabilities, with a special emphasis on those discovered by external researchers.

The tech giant has a longstanding tradition of rewarding these contributors for identifying and reporting bugs.

This practice enhances Chrome’s security and fosters a collaborative relationship between the company and the cybersecurity community.

Critical CVE-2024-2883: Use After Free in ANGLE

One of the most critical issues addressed in this update is CVE-2024-2883, a use-after-free vulnerability in ANGLE, a cross-platform graphics engine abstraction layer used by Chrome to improve graphics performance on various platforms.

This vulnerability was reported by Cassidy Kim (@cassidy6564) on March 3, 2024, and has been rewarded with a $10,000 bounty. Use-after-free vulnerabilities can lead to arbitrary code execution, making them particularly dangerous.

High CVE-2024-2885: Use After Free in Dawn

Another significant vulnerability patched in this release is CVE-2024-2885, a high-severity use-after-free issue in Dawn, an open-source and cross-platform implementation of the WebGPU standard.

This bug was reported by an entity known as Fuzz on March 11, 2024.

The severity of this vulnerability underscores the importance of timely updates to mitigate potential risks.

However, the spotlight shines on two high-severity vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-2886 and CVE-2024-2887, unveiled during the Pwn2Own 2024 competition.

CVE-2024-2886, reported by Seunghyun Lee (@0x10n) of KAIST Hacking Lab, is a use-after-free vulnerability in WebCodecs, a component critical for efficient media content encoding and decoding.

CVE-2024-2887, reported by Manfred Paul, involves type confusion in WebAssembly, a binary instruction format for a stack-based virtual machine that enables high-performance applications on the web.

These discoveries at Pwn2Own highlight the event’s role in identifying and mitigating potential threats before they can be exploited maliciously.

Ongoing Security Efforts

Google also acknowledges the contributions of its internal security team, whose ongoing efforts have led to various fixes identified through internal audits, fuzzing, and other initiatives.

The company’s use of tools like AddressSanitizer, MemorySanitizer, UndefinedBehaviorSanitizer, Control Flow Integrity, libFuzzer, and AFL is crucial in detecting and addressing security bugs.

Chrome users are urged to update their browsers immediately to protect against these vulnerabilities.

For those interested in switching release channels or reporting new issues, Google provides resources and a community help forum for assistance and learning about common issues.

Stay updated on Cybersecurity news, Whitepapers, and Infographics. Follow us on LinkedIn & Twitter.


[ad_2]
Source link

Samsung Galaxy M55 is official with 120Hz display, Android 14

andreasc
-
0
Samsung Galaxy M55 is official with 120Hz display, Android 14
[ad_1]

Samsung has announced a new smartphone, the Galaxy M55. This is the company’s new budget device, which will be available in specific markets. We’ll talk more about the availability and pricing towards the end of the article.

The Samsung Galaxy M55 sports a familiar design

Now, the design. The Galaxy M55 looks like many of its siblings. It has a flat display on the front, with a centered display camera hole. Its bezels are not thick, but its bottom bezel is thicker than the rest of them.

All the physical buttons sit on the right-hand side, while the back side of the phone is slightly curved on the edges. There are three cameras included on the back. They’re vertically aligned in the top-left corner of the phone’s back.

It includes a flat Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate

The Galaxy M55 features a 6.7-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) Super AMOLED display. It is a flat panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, which offers up to 1,000 nits of brightness.

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoC fuels this smartphone, while you’re also getting 8GB of RAM. Samsung included 256GB of storage here, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card.

Android 14 comes pre-installed on the device, along with Samsung One UI 6.1. The phone includes a hybrid dual SIM card slot. In other words, you can either use two nano SIM cards, or a nano SIM card and a microSD card combo.

A 5,000mAh battery is also included, and 45W wired charging supported

A 5,000mAh battery sits on the inside of this phone, and 45W wired charging is supported. The phone does include an in-display fingerprint scanner too, and supports Bluetooth 5.3. Dolby Atmos is supported as well.

A 50-megapixel main camera (f/1.8 aperture) is backed by an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit (f/2.2 aperture). A 2-megapixel depth sensor (f/2.4 aperture) also sits on the back of the phone. On the front, you’ll find a 50-megapixel front-facing camera (f/2.2 aperture).

The Samsung Galaxy M55 measures 163.9 x 76.5 x 7.8mm, while it weighs 180 grams. It comes in Dark Blue and Green color variants.

This smartphone was announced in Brazil, for now. It will spread to more markets soon. It is priced at 3,199 Brazilian Real ($640). So, it’s actually quite pricey considering its specs and everything, but there you go.


[ad_2]
Source link

Xfinity Mobile introduces cheaper unlimited plans with more data

andreasc
-
0
Xfinity Mobile introduces cheaper unlimited plans with more data
[ad_1]

Comcast has simplified Xfinity Mobile’s unlimited plans. The company has introduced two new tariffs for consumers to choose from this week – Unlimited and Unlimited Plus. These are simplified versions of the Unlimited Intro, Plus, and Premium plans, which the brand introduced a couple of years ago. The new packs are cheaper and offer higher data than their predecessors.

Xfinity Mobile’s new Unlimited plans start at $40/month for one line with 30GB of data

Xfinity Mobile’s streamlined Unlimited plans now start at just $40 per month for one line. The prices go up to $60, $80, $100, and $120 for two, three, four, and five lines respectively. All these tariffs offer 30GB of monthly 5G+ high-speed data and unlimited mobile hotspots at 3G speeds.

The cheaper Xfinity Mobile Unlimited plan is quite attractive. It kicks off at $40 but falls to just $25 per line with a four-line connection. The pack offers video streaming at 480p over a mobile connection.

Looking for more data? Check out the Xfinity Mobile Unlimited Plus plan

If you are looking for more high-speed premium 5G+ data, then you can opt for the Xfinity Mobile Unlimited Plus plan. This one starts at $50 per month for a single line. You can also opt for two, three, and four lines for $80, $110, and $140 respectively. This pack offers 50GB of monthly premium data and access to HD or 720p video streaming across devices.

You also get a mobile hotspot of 15GB at up to 5G/4G LTE speeds. Post the limit, you get unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data. Both the Xfinity Mobile Unlimited and Unlimited Plus plans offer calls, text, and roaming within the US. The same to and from Canada and Mexico are also included with these tariffs at no extra charge.

The previous Xfinity Mobile Unlimited Intro, Plus, and Premium plans were available starting from $45, $55, and $65 per month respectively. Considering this, you can see that the new simplified unlimited plans can save you between $5 to $15 per line. The full breakdown of the new plans can be seen in the photo below.

xfinity Mobile unlimited plans

The new pricing structure puts Xfinity’s service closer in line with Spectrum Mobile

Notably, the new pricing structure brings Xfinity Mobile’s service closer in line with what the users get with Spectrum Mobile. To compare, Spectrum’s Unlimited and Unlimited Plus monthly plans start at $30 and $40 respectively. However, the price per line stays the same regardless of how many lines you opt for.


[ad_2]
Source link

Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Galaxy Z Flip 6 charging info confirmed

andreasc
-
0
Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Galaxy Z Flip 6 charging info confirmed
[ad_1]

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 got certified by the 3C authority, and thus their charging info got confirmed. The 3C authority is based in China, as many of you know.

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Galaxy Z Flip 6 charging details have been confirmed

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 appeared with the SM-F9560 model number. The ‘Flip’, on the other hand, appeared with the SM-F7410 model number. The EP-TA800 charger (that’s its model number) is made for these devices… even though it won’t ship inside the box.

Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 charger certification

Why is this important then? Well, that is a 25W charger, so we know what charging speed will the two phones support. That is the same charging speed the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 offer, by the way. So Samsung is not planning to improve in that regard.

When it comes to battery capacities, these certifications did not reveal such info. We do know that both smartphones will feature a dual-cell battery setup, though.

Neither smartphone will charge up particularly fast

Both smartphones should be able to charge halfway in about 30 minutes if you have the right charger. The thing is, a full charge will take considerably longer than that. It will take the Fold almost an hour and a half to reach a full charge, while the Galaxy Z Flip 6 should be able to charge a bit faster.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 will launch in July. July 10 is the rumored date for their arrival. That may seem a bit soon, but there’s a good reason for that. The Summer Olympics start on July 26, which is also a Wednesday, and probably a date that Samsung was aiming for.

In addition to that, both the company’s press event and the Olympics are taking place in the same city, Paris. Well, Samsung still hasn’t confirmed that, but the rumors are pointing in that direction. The Galaxy Ring is expected to arrive alongside the two devices.


[ad_2]
Source link

Google Maps will now curate and recommend must-see places

andreasc
-
0
Google Maps will now curate and recommend must-see places
[ad_1]

Google Maps has introduced a bunch of new features to enhance the user experience while navigating locations. One of them uses AI for a curated list of recommendations, letting you know about places you must see. Now, users not only have the ability to make simple searches or take photos but can also access many lists of locations compiled by the community or third-party sources within the app itself.

Google Maps will now list, curate, and recommend the best places to visit in an area

Meanwhile, when you search for a place on Google Maps, you can swipe up for curated lists tailored to your location such as recommendations from The Infatuation, Lonely Planet, The New York Times, or OpenTable. These lists cut across expert-curated restaurants, hidden gems, and iconic sites allowing users to get varied and trustworthy suggestions.

Equally important, Google Maps will have its own curated lists as well such as “Trending,” “Top,” and “Gems” which will help people find places they may want to visit based on general popularity or how frequently fellow members like them. The Maps community will update those lists regularly so that users can always know about the hottest spots in town, some favorites that never fade away, and some local unknowns.

This update also allows users to manually arrange their list items using the drag-and-drop method, unlike before when it was automatic. Moreover, they can share content from their social channels right inside their lists so that others can see what they think.

Google employs AI to identify food and give pricing suggestions

Furthermore, Google is employing AI to improve visual recognition capacity for pictures thus helping the app identify what dish is in the picture and give appropriate information according to the menu such as pricing, and popularity including vegetarian/vegan options.

These updates will be rolled out globally on Android and iOS platforms at the end of this month ensuring seamless personalization during place discovery journeys. By focusing more on curated lists along with AI-driven functionalities, Google Maps wants people to feel confident while navigating through different destinations.


[ad_2]
Source link

EU court denies Amazon reprieve in DSA obligations

andreasc
-
0
EU court denies Amazon reprieve in DSA obligations
[ad_1]

The European Union’s (EU) top court has ruled against Amazon Inc., and it must now meet the Digital Services Act (DSA) obligations. The e-commerce giant won’t get any reprieve concerning the act’s public disclosure requirements.

Amazon had fought hard to shield itself completely or perhaps delay meeting the requirements of the EU DSA. However, the EU’s top court has essentially struck down a judgment that a lower court had passed in Amazon’s favor.

Amazon Inc. loses appeal and must meet DSA obligations

The EU and American companies including Amazon have been battling new laws that aim to bring about increased transparency, accountability, and even sustainability in business practices.

EU’s Digital Services Act or DSA designates Amazon and several other companies as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP). Hence, these mega-corporations are subjected to tougher rules. These regulations intend to tackle illegal and harmful content on these online platforms that are used by millions.

As expected, Amazon quickly challenged the DSA and attacked its multiple provisions. One of the regulations required Amazon to reveal a repository containing detailed information on its online advertising.

Simply put, the EU wanted companies like Amazon to publicly disclose their advertising algorithms or digital reasoning and serving mechanisms for advertisements. Amazon protested and asked for an interim measure, at least until the court ruled on the case.

Interestingly, a lower tribunal granted Amazon a reprieve. The lower court essentially suspended the contested obligation. Dissatisfied with the outcome, the EU approached Europe’s top court.

The Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has set the suspension aside. The top court dismissed Amazon’s application for an interim relief. In other words, the CJEU has denied any exemption from meeting the obligations of the DSA.

EU’s interest outweighs Amazon’s material interests, rules top court

The judge presiding over the case declared Amazon’s arguments were invalid. Amazon had reportedly claimed that the DSA obligation, “unlawfully limits its fundamental rights to respect for private life and the freedom to conduct a business”.

However, the judge presiding over the case claimed, “Suspension would lead to a delay, potentially for several years, in the full achievement of the objectives of the Regulation on a Single Market for Digital Services and therefore potentially allow an online environment threatening fundamental rights to persist or develop.”

“The interests defended by the EU legislature prevail, in the present case, over Amazon’s material interests, with the result that the balancing of interests weighs in favor of rejecting the request for suspension.” Perhaps realizing it doesn’t stand a chance with its previous argument, Amazon appears to have trained its guns on the DSA itself. The e-commerce giant has claimed it “doesn’t fit the description of a ‘Very Large Online Platform’ (VLOP) under the DSA”. It is not immediately clear if the EU’s top court will entertain this argument.

 


[ad_2]
Source link

Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S20 get March 2024 security update

andreasc
-
0
Galaxy Z Fold 2, Galaxy S20 get March 2024 security update
[ad_1]

Samsung has started rolling out the March 2024 security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 in the US. The international variants of both smartphones started receiving the same update earlier this month. The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s carrier-locked and carrier-unlocked versions are getting the update. At the time of writing, only the carrier-locked models of the Galaxy S20 series are receiving the March update.

The March 2024 security OTA update fixes 45 issues

The March 2024 security update for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 fixes as many as 45 vulnerabilities. The new firmware brings 36 fixes from Google and 9 from Samsung itself. The update is being rolled out over the air in a phased manner, so not everyone will get it right away. Users of these devices can go to Settings >> Software update >> Download and install to check for the update manually.

The Galaxy Z Fold 2’s carrier-locked and carrier-unlocked versions have the model numbers SM-F916U and SM-916U1 respectively. The firmware for the former has the build number F916USQS5KXC1, while the latter has F916U1UES5KXC1. As for the Galaxy S20 series, their carrier-locked variant’s firmware has the build number G98XUSQS8HXC1.

At the moment, the new firmware is only available for the Galaxy S20 units on US Cellular’s network. The company is expected to roll out the same update for the other networks and carrier-unlocked variants in the coming days. The upgrade also offers the usual performance and stability enhancements.

The Galaxy S23 received the March 2024 security update earlier this month

Earlier this month, Samsung released the March 2024 security update for the Galaxy S23 flagship in the US. The update brought all the latest security fixes from Samsung and Google. The company will also be releasing the One UI 6.1 update to eligible older Galaxy devices early next month. The update will bring Galaxy AI features to the older Galaxy smartphones and tablets.

The Galaxy S23 series, Z Fold 5, Flip 5, and Tab S9 will be getting the One UI 6.1 update. The new version of One UI will offer various AI features like Circle to Search with Google and Live Translate. In addition, these devices will get Interpreter, Chat Assist, and Generative Edit.


[ad_2]
Source link
1...264265266...1,470Page 265 of 1,470