Fake Voicemails Target Users, 1000 Attacks in 14 Days

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Discover how scammers employ QR codes and fake voicemails for credential harvesting, with over 1,000 attacks detected in the last 14 days.

Researchers at Check Point Harmony Email have discovered a surge in cyberattacks involving fake voicemails. According to the company’s report shared with Hackread.com, cybercriminals are exploiting corporate phone systems’ links to email servers, embedding malicious links in voicemail playbacks for credential harvesting.

Scammers are increasingly using voicemail as a lure to trick users into clicking on malicious links one of which is creating legitimate-looking voicemails. Since corporate phone systems are tied to email, scammers are using this to include a voicemail recording hyperlinked to a malicious page. In this case, 1,000 attacks have been reported during the last two weeks.

What happens in this attack is that through social engineering, scammers send QR codes with conditional routing based on the device, targeting any end-user. The email analyzed by Check Point researchers appeared to be sent by payment processor service Square. However, in reality, the name was only used to mislead users. 

Moreover, the email’s subject line contained a phone number, which was illegitimate when searched on Google. The email also includes an embedded MP3 player, containing the voicemail. It redirects users to a credential harvesting page when clicked.

One of the malicious emails used in the attack (Screenshot: Check Point)

This attack relies on user participation. Any successful phishing attack requires user input, except for zero-click attacks. Users must replay, click on links, or enter information for the attack to progress. This allows scammers to experiment with creative options, such as impersonating a reputable brand and using voicemails. They observe user behaviour and adjust their attacks accordingly, ensuring a successful phishing attack.

Hackread has been reporting a rise in the trend of combining voice and phishing, aka Vishing to trap unsuspecting users into giving away sensitive data. We earlier reported Check Point researchers identifying a vishing campaign targeting users in South Korea with a new Android malware, dubbed “FakeCalls.” Cybercriminals tricked users into sharing sensitive financial information through fake calls supposedly made by legitimate financial organizations. This is part of a growing global threat to mobile banking customers, using sophisticated social engineering techniques to make calls seem legitimate.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, email security firm IronScales discovered around 100,000 new phishing campaigns targeting companies using PBX telephone systems for communication and information sharing. These scams, targeting working-from-home employees from various sectors like engineering, real estate, IT, oil & gas, healthcare, financial services, and IT, involved voicemail email phishing.

Vishing, or voice phishing, involves using telephones to trick users into disclosing financial and personal information, such as account numbers and passwords. Fraudsters may claim compromised accounts, represent banks or law enforcement, or offer software installation assistance. Protecting yourself involves knowledge, hanging up if asked for personal information, and calling a reliable source. Security professionals can implement AI-based security, check and emulate all URLs, and use multiple layers of protection.

  1. Scammers Rake in $600K with Deepfakes and QR Codes
  2. New Vishing Attack Spreading FakeCalls Android Malware
  3. The Types of Phishing Attacks and How to Dodge All of Them
  4. Ringless Voicemail As A Personalized Customer Engagement Tool
  5. Hackers Exploit QR Codes with QRLJacking for Malware Distribution

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Two HMD ‘Legend’ phones appear on Geekbench ahead of launch

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HMD Global is expected to launch its very first HMD-branded smartphones at MWC 2024 later this month. Well, two HMD ‘Legend’ phones have just appeared on Geekbench, providing us with some insight.

Before we get down to it, though, do note that HMD Global has decided to phase out Nokia phones/brand, it seems. The company will turn to making its own ‘HMD’ devices from now on, though Nokia phones will still be available through offline channels. What’s odd is that a number of new Nokia phones were spotted in a database, which caused some confusion, but… we’ll hopefully get an explanation for that.

Two HMD ‘Legend’ phones reveal themselves via Geekbench

In any case, regarding these new phones, one comes with a codename ‘Legend’ and the other is the ‘LegendPro’. Both smartphones are running an octa-core SoC with the Mali-G57 GPU. Those chips are closed at 1.61Hz (max), and we’re likely looking at the Unisoc T606 chip here.

That does tell us that both of these phones will be entry-level devices. The ‘Legend’ scores 379 points in the single-core benchmark, and 1,370 points in the multi-core test. The ‘LegendPro’ managed to reach 373 points in the single-core test, and 1,384 points in the multi-core benchmark.

Both smartphones will ship with Android 14 out of the box. The regular model will include 4GB of RAM, while the ‘Pro’ model will ship out with 8GB of RAM. That’s basically all the info that we managed to get from these listings.

We may see three phones launch at MWC 2024, though

These two listings do confirm that HMD will focus on budget phones yet again. There is a chance we’ll see more than two HMD phones at MWC 2024, though, in which case we may get more powerful models than these.

A report stated that three HMD smartphones are coming during the ‘first phase’, while 9 of them were spotted recently. So we may get 9 phones in general this year, though who knows when the rest will launch.


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Google’s Gemini could bring a paradigm shift in Search and AI

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Google‘s CEO Sundar Pichai has unveiled ambitious plans for Gemini, Google’s latest AI model, signaling a paradigm shift in the landscape of online search. While Pichai remains a staunch advocate for the traditional web, he recognizes the evolving nature of online information retrieval, driven by social media, short-form videos, and generative AI. Google rolled out Gemini, its most powerful AI model yet, as a dedicated app for your phone.

Gemini is effectively a direct shot at ChatGPT

Gemini, named after the AI model it’s based on, represents a significant leap forward in AI technology. Designed to rival OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Gemini boasts multimodal capabilities. It allows users to interact with it using text, voice, images, and even code. Pichai emphasizes the importance of this multimodal approach. He cites it as a reflection of how the human mind seeks to connect with the world. With Gemini, users can expect a seamless and immersive search experience that transcends traditional text-based queries.

Google’s decision to offer Gemini through a subscription model underscores its commitment to innovation and sustainability. By charging for its AI services, Google aims to offset the substantial costs associated with developing and maintaining large language models. Moreover, a subscription-based model allows Google to explore new revenue streams while offering users an ad-free and premium search experience.

However, Pichai remains cautious about the potential pitfalls of generative AI

Google’s CEO acknowledges the risk of misinformation and hallucinations that come with such advanced technology. While the rebranded version of Google Bard, Gemini, promises to revolutionize online search, Pichai emphasizes the need for responsible usage and factual accuracy. Google is minimizing the occurrence of models gone wild, ensuring that Gemini remains a reliable and trustworthy tool for users.

Despite the challenges, Pichai envisions a future where generative AI fosters imaginative and creative interactions like a child’s uninhibited imagination. In conclusion, Google’s Gemini represents a bold step towards the future of online search, offering users a glimpse into a more immersive and interactive web experience.


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Google One surpasses 100 million subscribers

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These days, we are all snapping tons of photos, right? Think about how many you’ve got on your phone alone. With all those pics, having enough storage space is super important. And it seems like more and more folks are realizing this because they are choosing to buy extra storage (plus, big tech companies are giving a strong push to move away from relying solely on free services). Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, shared some big news – 100 million people have signed up for Google One, an all-in-one subscription service that gives you more storage for free services like Gmail, Photos, and Drive, plus some extra features.
Reaching this milestone shows that Google is encouraging folks to move from their free plans. One way it is doing this might be by no longer offering unlimited storage for photos in Google Drive. Google’s YouTube Premium also hit the 100 million subscribers club recently, thanks to ad removal and cool extras like music and high-quality streaming. Oh, and let’s not forget that at the same time, YouTube made changes to crack down on ad blockers.

Google hinted at reaching this milestone in its earnings report last month. The tech giant mentioned it again when it launched the new AI Premium Plan just days ago.

The new AI plan is a lot like Google’s current $100-per-year Google One Premium plan. Both plans give you 2TB of storage and extras like VPN and dark web monitoring. But here is the catch: the new AI plan is twice as pricey. What do you get for the extra bucks? Well, you get an upgraded version of Gemini. Plus, soon, you will be able to use the new AI features in services like Gmail and Docs.

According to Google, Gemini’s Ultra 1.0 LLM model brings multiple new advancements to AI. It should be super efficient at processing information, understanding complex instructions and programs, solving problems in innovative ways, and generating high-quality code in different programming languages. Google also rolled out the Gemini app for Android users.

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January 2024 Google Play system update is out for Pixel phones

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Google Pixel phones have now started receiving the January 2024 Google Play system update. You’d probably know Google pushes a Play System update to Android phones almost every month, but things haven’t been the same in recent months. Because January 2024 Google Play System update comes almost three months after the November 2023 Google Play System update. Plus, you should know that this is the Pixel maker’s second attempt at pushing the January 2024 Play System update.

January 2024 Google Play System is here for Pixel phones, again

The January 2024 Google Play System came to Pixel phones in mid-January. However, there were several issues with the system update, according to multiple users on Reddit forums. Mostly Pixel 6, Pixel 7, and Pixel 8 devices were affected. Users reported again that they couldn’t access their phone’s storage through any apps. This caused lots of problems. They couldn’t take new photos, and the Files app appeared empty.

That’s when Google jumped in and pulled this update. One Google spokesperson confirmed to 9to5Google that they’re “aware of this issue.” The latest system update appears to have fixed those issues now. If you own a non-Pixel device, you don’t need to worry.

According to the official changelog, there are improvements to system management services like making sure devices connect well, use the internet, stay safe, work smoothly, and are easy to update. It also mentions some problems with services that help in system management.

How to install the update?

Depending on the Pixel mode, the update weighs around 70-88MB in size. You can get the January 2024 Google Play System update by heading to Settings > Security & privacy > System & updates > Google Play system update. Typically, the update is already downloaded on the phone and simply requires a restart to install. Take note that it’s different from monthly security updates and these generally focus on solving the core system issues.


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What is Gemini Advanced?

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Google is one of the top AI companies in the tech industry, and it has one of the most powerful generative AI products out there. It’s called Gemini Advanced, and it’s positioned to steal some users from ChatGPT. But, what is Gemini Advanced?

Throughout 2023, Google’s primary AI chatbot was Bard, but it’s been renamed to Gemini, and that caused a little bit of confusion among tech users. The fact that Google unveiled yet another AI product on the same day didn’t help anything. This product is Gemini Advanced. This piece is going to explain what this chatbot is, what it can do, and how it might help you with your AI needs.

What do all of the names mean?

Right now, you’re grappling with five different terms. They are Gemini, Gemini Nano, Gemini Pro, Gemini Ultra, and Gemini Advanced. It’s important to know what all of these terms mean in order to gain an understanding of what Google has going on. It can get a little confusing.

Gemini is the chatbot that you use when you sign up to use it. It’s the interface that you interact with. The same thing goes for Gemini Advanced. How are these two different? We’ll explain in just a bit.

Gemini Nano, Gemini Pro, and Gemini Ultra are the models powering the chatbots. If a chatbot is a person’s face, then a model would be their brain. The model contains all of the information, processes data, etc. The more powerful the model, the better the responses.

Gemini Nano is the smallest and least capable model, so it’s able to fit on smartphone chips. Next up, Gemini Pro is a more standard size. It’s comparable to GPT-3.5 that’s powering ChatGPT for free users. The most powerful model is Gemini Ultra.

When you sign up for the free version of Gemini (the chatbot), it will be powered by Gemini Pro (the model). However, Gemini Advanced (chatbot) is a version of the chatbot that’s powered by Gemini Ultra (model).

How much does Gemini Advanced cost?

This is what people have been wondering for the longest time. Firstly, you can’t buy a Gemini Advanced subscription by itself. It comes bundled with a Google One subscription. This is the Google One AI Premium subscription, and it will cost you $19.99/month.

With this plan, you will also receive other perks like 2TB of cloud storage, 10% back on Google Play Store purchases, longer Google Meet meetings, and more. It’s nice having all of these perks, but you’ll need to be careful if you’re coming from a free account. The jump from 15GB to 2TB is pretty massive. If you decide that you don’t want Gemini Advanced anymore, you’ll lose access to any files you’ve uploaded after crossing 15GB.

How do I sign up for Gemini Advanced?

You can sign up for Gemini Advanced either through the website or through the Google One App. If you’re using your computer, go to the Google One website. This will show you the different price tiers that you can sign up for. Look for the Google One AI Premium plan. Click on the Upgrade button, and the payment screen will come up.

If you’re already a Google One customer, then you’ll already have your payment information. You’ll just need to click on the Subscribe button on the bottom right of the screen. If you’re new to Google One, then you’ll need to put your payment information in.

Using the app

If you’re using the Google One app, it’s also easy to sign up. Open the Google One app and tap on the hamburger-style button at the top left of the screen (the three horizontal lines). When the panel slides in from the left, tap on the Membership plans button. This will show you a list of the payment plans that you can choose. Look for the plan, and tap on the price button.

When the panel rises from the bottom, tap on the Subscribe button. After you do that, you’ll be able to use Gemini Advanced.

How do I access Gemini Advanced?

There are two ways to access Gemini Advanced. Just like when signing up for it, you can access it through the website and the app. After signing up to the Google One AI Premium plan, go to gemini.google.com to access it on your web browser. If you want to use the app, then you just need to download the app. You can download the app from the Google Play Store.

Once you’re subscribed to Gemini Advanced, you’ll be able to use the advanced model right away.

This is just like accessing regular Gemini. So, if you don’t want Advanced, these steps will still apply.

What can I do with Gemini Advanced?

The list of things that Gemini Advanced can’t do would be shorter than the list of what it can do. Being an advanced AI model developed by a trillion-dollar company, you’re able to do a TON of different things with it. Here are some examples:

Encyclopedia information

Many people use generative AI to get answers to general questions. “How far away is the sun?”, “Who was the 12th president of the USA?”, ETC. You’ll be given a detailed answer to the question. Most of the time, the answers will be correct, but there’s always the chance of the information being incorrect. So, if you get an answer, you’ll want to double-check it.

Tips/advice

“How do I build a kite?”, “What’s the best way to swaddle a baby?”, ETC. Gemini Advanced is great at providing tips and advice for what you ask. Depending on what you ask it, Gemini will give you a detailed list of bullet-pointed items walking you through the steps.

The answers are usually displayed in an essay format, so it will give you an introduction paragraph and a closing paragraph with the items in the middle. It can give you advice on a wide range of topics.

Recipes

Are you looking for a new recipe to spice up dinner night? Well, why not turn to Gemini? Simply ask Gemini what you want to make, and it will give you the recipe complete with all of the measurements and instructions. What’s neat is that, if you want to suggest changes to the recipe, you can just say so.

If you get a recipe for tacos, but you want it to be spicier, just type “Make them spicy” in the text box. Then, Gemini will generate a new recipe to make them spicy.

Essays

If you’re a student, and you’re working on an essay for your course, Gemini can help. First and foremost, it’s highly recommended that you write your essay yourself and only use Gemini as a supplement. You can use Gemini to create an essay draft to give you an example to go off of.

It can be a great help for people who need to write long and complex essays. Also, it can give you tips and advice on fleshing out your essay.

Stories

If you want Gemini Advanced to give you a short story, you can ask for one. All you have to do is type what kind of story you want, what kind of characters you want, and what it’s about. For example, you can say “Write me a story about a mean rabbit who gets his just deserts.” Then, it will give you a full short story with the parameters you provided.

After you do that, you can suggest edits, and Gemini will regenerate the story based on your suggestions. You can be as descriptive as you want. It might take you a couple of tries, but you should get a story to fit your needs in no time.

Poems

Gemini’s creative writing capabilities extend into poetry. If you want to have a poem created, just ask for one. Just like with writing stories, you can let it know what the poem is about and make refinements over time.

Images

Gemini Advanced can’t only generate written words for you; it’s also able to create images. All you have to do is type “Make me an image of…” and say what you want the image to be. When you do that, you’ll see up to four examples show up. Click on the one you like the most and click on the Download button at the top right corner of the image.

There’s a Generate more button that will appear below the image(s). Click that to have Gemini generate additional versions of the image.

Summarization

One of the main reasons for people to use AI chatbots is to summarize long pieces of text. If you paste a body of text or a link to a page with text and ask it to summarize the text, you’ll get a short and sweet explanation of what it’s all about. If you want it longer or more brief, you can just say so.

What if I want to switch back to the less-powerful model?

There are people who don’t want the more advanced model. If you don’t want to use Gemini Advanced, the easiest way to do that is to switch the model right within the Gemini platform.

On the website, look at the “Gemini Advanced” text at the top left of the screen. You’ll see a little downward-facing arrow. A little dropdown menu will appear with two options. Click on the Gemini button. This will switch you back to the regular model.

If you’re using the app, tap on your profile picture at the top of the right of the screen and tap on the Settings button. This will bring up the menu page. Close to the bottom, you’ll see a toggle called “Advanced responses.” This will be turned on by default; turn it off. You’ll be on the regular model.

How do I cancel Gemini Advanced?

You can cancel Gemini Advanced by either downgrading your Google One subscription or canceling it.

Downgrading through the web

To downgrade it, go to the Google One website, and scroll to the bottom of the screen. There, you’ll see a little section showing your Google One subscription status. Click on the Manage button.

On the resulting screen, You’ll see a selection of some of the most expensive plans. Under that list of plans, you will see a Show more options button. This one will expand the list to show you the more affordable plans. Click on the Downgrade button next to the plan you want to move to and confirm it.

Downgrading through the app

Open the Google One app and tap on the hamburger-style menu. Tap on the Membership button at the top. This will take you to a page with your plans and others. Scroll down until you see the Show all plans button. That will show you the ones that you can downgrade to. Tap on the one that you want to move to and confirm it.

Canceling on the web

On the website, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the Manage button. Under the list of payment tiers, you’ll see a Cancel subscription button. Click on it. You’ll see another Cancel button on the right side of the screen. Click it and confirm that you want to cancel. Be sure to read the warning that pops up.

Canceling through the app

Open the Google One app and open the hamburger-style menu. There, tap on the Settings button. On the settings screen, scroll down until you see the Cancel membership button. Tap it and read the warning that pops up. If you’re sure that you want to cancel your membership, tap on the Cancel membership button at the bottom of the popup.


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WhatsApp takes aim at spam with new lock screen blocking feature

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WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular messaging platforms, has introduced a new feature aimed at combating the persistent issue of spam messages plaguing its user base.

Recently, the Meta-owned app announced a new feature through its official account (via Android Central). This feature enables users to block messages from unknown contacts directly from the lock screen, providing a convenient way to tackle spam messages without opening them.

If you see a spam message on your lock screen, just long-press the notification, and you’ll see options to block the sender right there. If you want to report a contact, the app shows a second prompt. Simply tap the checkbox for “Report contact” and then hit “Block” in the pop-up window. This update makes it easier to deal with those annoying messages without having to open the app and navigate through your chats.

WhatsApp already shows a warning under the contact details of any unknown number messaging you. This gives options to add the contact, block it, or report and block it right away. Users can also proactively block a contact by going to Settings on the Home page, then choosing Privacy > Blocked contacts > Add, and searching for or selecting the contact to block.

This latest update from Meta is a positive step forward, especially considering that all one needs is a phone number to send a message on WhatsApp. With this feature, users can swiftly identify and block unwanted contacts, helping to curb phishing scams that often lead to financial loss and compromise of personal data. Such scams have unfortunately become increasingly common on widely used instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp.

It was definitely about time for big tech giants to step up and deal with this issue. For example, recently, Google kicked off a pilot program testing a real-time app scanner to help protect Android users from financial fraud.

In other news, WhatsApp is considering introducing cross-platform usability, which could allow users to send messages to other apps such as iMessage, Telegram, Google Messages, Signal, and more.

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YouTube could allow you to use voice to buy in-video products

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YouTube could allow you to use your voice in order to buy in-video products. Do note that this feature has not been announced by Google, though, nor anything of the sort. It appeared in the form of a patent, which suggests it could be implemented at some point.

The report comes from Calibre Cleaning who partnered up with @xleaks7. Considering that YouTube is one of the most popular video streaming services in the world, this could be a very important addition to the service.

YouTube could get a feature that allows you to buy in-video products by using your voice

It would make it extremely easy for users to purchase things by just using their voice. That would not only boost YouTube’s income but also allow creators to earn extra cash as well.

You can already use voice in order to navigate YouTube, sure. You can use it to search, play, and navigate the UI, but not purchase products. If this feature gets implemented, you could be able to choose a product during the video playback itself and instruct your phone to send you to its listing.

That’s basically the gist of the patent here. It, of course, remains to be seen how exactly will Google implement this, if it even comes to that. Knowing Google, however, it’s most certainly coming, the only question is… when.

Google Ads are the most popular form of advertising online, and the company has mastered the art of advertising. This is also a part of it, kind of. The products that would be on offer would be an ad of sorts, either a direct or indirect one, and Google would only allow you to act upon your desire to buy it without actually tapping on the link first.

We’re not sure when or if it’s coming, though

We have no idea when could this feature arrive, however. As is usually the case with patents, they could indicate an upcoming feature, or not. Also, they never indicate when something could happen, of course.

Google may end up using that patent as part of a different feature or something of the sort, who knows? So don’t get your hopes up just yet, we’ll have to wait and see.


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Microsoft will release a big update this year, but it’s not Windows 12

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Microsoft’s announcement about the upcoming updates to Windows has brought clarity to users eagerly awaiting the next iteration of the popular desktop operating system. Contrary to expectations of a Windows 12 release, Microsoft has confirmed that the next significant update will be Windows 11 Version 24H2, slated for release later this year. This revelation aligns with Microsoft’s strategy of annual feature updates for Windows 11, with each release scheduled for the second half of the year.

Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels have already started seeing the versioning updated to Windows 11, version 24H2, indicating that this will be the annual feature update for the year. While Microsoft has yet to provide any specific release date, users now have a clear understanding of the next Windows update and its expected timeframe.

Microsoft has also introduced several notable features in the latest Insider Preview builds for Windows 11

In addition to the confirmation of Windows 11 Version 24H2, Microsoft has introduced several notable features in the latest Insider Preview builds for Windows 11. One significant addition is the inclusion of sudo support, allowing users to run commands as administrators more conveniently, akin to the functionality in Linux. Furthermore, Microsoft has enhanced Copilot in Windows with more contextual capabilities, enhancing the user experience with the AI chatbot. Visual changes are also evident, with settings transitioning from Control Panel-style dialog boxes to integration within the Settings app.

While Windows 11 Version 24H2 garners attention, MSPoweruser expects the release of Windows 11 Version H1 before that, likely within the first half of 2024. Dell’s revelation indicates that Version 24H1 will be available for download from April of this year, with factory installations slated for August. Notably, Version 24H1 will introduce support for WiFi 7, representing a significant leap in wireless networking technology, promising enhanced speed, performance, and efficiency.

Furthermore, Samsung’s announcement adds to the excitement surrounding the upcoming Windows updates. The ability to use Galaxy phones as webcams for Galaxy Book Windows PCs is expected to debut with Windows 11 Version 24H1. This feature will offer users added flexibility and convenience, enhancing the overall ecosystem of Windows-powered devices.


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Apple Cash adds virtual card support in iOS 17.4 beta

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Not long ago, Apple rolled out the iOS 17.4 update for beta testers, revealing preparations for app sideloading and alternative browser engines in the EU. However, the update also brings a notable change for Apple Cash users.

As reported on Reddit and noted by 9to5Mac, Apple Cash users on iOS 17.4 beta can now create virtual card numbers for online shopping where Apple Pay is not accepted.

In the iOS 17.4 beta, Apple Card customers are prompted with a message to “Set Up Virtual Card Number.” The message highlights improved security, ensuring that your card information stays safe “with a new security code for every transaction.”

Apple Cash, a prepaid debit card, has been restricted to use solely with Apple Pay, lacking a visible card number. Users can use funds on an Apple Cash card for different purposes, like sending money to friends and family, transferring to a bank, or applying it to an Apple Card balance.

If you choose to set up your Apple Cash virtual card number, you gain access to features like viewing the card number, generating new card numbers, security codes, and more. This functionality mirrors what has been available for the Apple Card credit card since its launch.

As of now, it seems that the virtual card feature is accessible to Apple Card users participating in the beta. Whether it will be made more widely available upon the official release of iOS 17.4 or reserved for a formal feature launch in the future remains uncertain.

Apple recently announced that its US-exclusive Apple Card has surpassed 12 million customers. To further attract users, Apple has increased the interest rate for savings accounts to 4.5%.


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