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What Is Google Chat? Everything You Need To Know – February 2024

Android

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

What Is Google Chat? Everything You Need To Know – February 2024

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Google Chat is yet another chat service by Google. Many of you are probably quite confused at this point, as Google had quite a few of these services, some of which are gone at this point. In this article, we’ll do our best to explain what is Google Chat and provide you with some additional information about the service. This service was launched back in 2017, and it’s not as popular as some other messaging services. It not only arrived late to the party, but it launched as a spin-off, in a way. Let’s talk more about Google Chat, shall we?

What is Google Chat?

As mentioned in the introduction, this is a chat service aka communication software. Google Chat came to life as a spin-off from Google Hangouts, in a way. It came to being one of two apps to replace Google Hangouts. Google launched Google Chat and Google Meet. Google Meet seemingly managed to get more traction than Google Chat, at least it seems that way, as Google didn’t release any official information.

How can I access Google Chat?

Google Chat is available on both desktop and mobile platforms. You can access it via the Gmail client, with ease, as it replaced Hangouts there. You’ll notice the ‘Chat’ menu in the left-hand menu on Google’s official mail.google.com website. You’ll need to log in first, of course. Google Chat is also available in the form of a smartphone app. If it’s not already installed on your phone, you can get it from the Google Play Store. It’s free, of course. It’s also available on iOS, in case you’re using an iPhone.

Does Google Chat contain my Hangouts conversations?

Those of you who used Hangouts in the past are probably wondering whether your archive of conversations is available in Google Chat. The answer is yes, well, if you want. You can get Google Chat to pull the list of your Hangouts conversations for you, at least that was the case when I first installed the app. That was quite some time ago. It’s possible that it’s pulling the conversations on its own now.

Does it have ads?

No, Google Chat does not have ads, unlike many other apps out there. Those of you who use Viber, Facebook Messenger, and some other popular instant messaging applications, will know that ads are usually a part of such apps. Well, that’s not the case here, which is to be expected, as this is Google’s app. You won’t be bothered by ads in between your conversations, nor will you get any other type of ads here.

Is it feature-rich?

Google Chat, as things stand, is a minimalistic instant messaging service. It does have all the essentials that you’d expect out of such an app. You can send text messages, pictures, videos, GIFs, calendar invites, and so on. It even has great integration with Google Meet, as expected. It does not have some other, more advanced instant messaging features, though. Those non-essential ones. You won’t find custom stickers here, for example, nor can you record and send a voice clip to someone via this app. All the essentials are here, though.

Is the UI clean or cluttered?

Both the Google Chat app and web client are quite clean in terms of the UI design. That’s not surprising considering that this is Google we’re talking about. If you prefer a straightforward design with no clutter, Google Chat is one of the best out there. Other than the hamburger menu, search bar, profile picture, and two tabs at the bottom, the entire focus is on the conversations themselves. Even when you open a particular chat, you’ll get a really clean UI, with most features being located on the left side of the message field.

Does it support group conversations?

Yes, it supports group conversations, the same way Hangouts did back in the day. You can easily create group chats. All you have to do is start a new chat with one person, and then you’ll see the add icon at the top. Via that icon, you’ll be able to add more people to that chat without a problem.

Does it come pre-installed on Android phones?

That question, regardless of what app we’re talking about, always depends on what phone we’re talking about. Android OS is installed on a lot of phones these days, some of which have Google services, some do not. On phones without Google services, no, it does not come pre-installed. Even on phones that do come with Google services, chances are you won’t see it pre-installed. Some phones may have it, but most that I’ve seen do note. Google may start pushing the app more aggressively down the line, but that’s just not the case at the moment. It’s way more aggressive with Google Meet, in all honesty.

What are Google Chat alternatives?

There are tons of instant messaging apps in the market, so you have plenty of alternatives to Google Chat. In fact, most of those alternatives have been alive longer than Google Chat, in its current form. Some of the alternative instant messaging services are Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal, Telegram, and Kik. These are, of course, not all the services available out there, but only some of the most popular ones.

Is Google Chat Android exclusive?

No, it’s not. It is also available on iOS, in an app form. Google Chat as a service, on the other hand, is available pretty much everywhere. Regardless of what OS you’re using, you can access this service via the web browser. Simply open mail.google.com, as we talked about earlier, and it will be there, along with your emails.

Will Google Chat remember my past conversations?

By default, yes, it will. Google Chat does have an option to disable message history, though. If you’d like it to delete older messages, you can opt for that as well. Most people prefer to have all their chats in one place, and not lose any of them, or choose which ones to delete. So, by default, the chat history is turned on. You can easily change that.

Is Google Chat aimed at private or business use?

Well, both, kind of. It aims to be a regular instant messaging app, but it also caters to business users. It’s a part of Google’s Workspace portfolio, and it is being used for business purposes as well. It does a good job in that aspect.

Does Google Chat support dark mode?

Many people prefer dark themes these days, and some of you are probably wondering if dark theme/mode is available in the Google Chat app. The answer is, yes, it is. In fact, you have several options regarding dark mode. You can choose between Light and Dark modes in the settings, or you can simply opt to have Google Chat follow your system settings. If your phone is set to dark mode, in general, this app will be too.

Can I uninstall Google Chat?

Yes, you can. This app doesn’t come pre-installed on many devices, but even if it does, chances are you’ll be able to replace it. We haven’t tested every single phone in the market, of course, so there could be some exceptions, but in general, you can uninstall it without a problem.

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Nearby Share on Windows starts the transition to Quick Share

Tech

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Nearby Share has been a staple for Android ever since it was introduced back in the Android 9 days. However, Samsung has its own version called Quick Share. Not too long ago, we got news that the two services were mixing, and this transition is already occurring. Now, Nearby Share for Windows is starting the transition to Quick Share.

If you don’t know what Quick Share is, you’re missing out. This service is an extremely useful platform for sharing files between Android devices. Simply tap on Quick Share when you are sharing files between your Android devices, and you will quickly be able to send files between two other devices.

If your version of Android is not up to date, it may still be called Nearby Share. However, if you are running a more current version of Android, then it should be called Quick Share.

Nearby Share on Windows is now becoming Quick Share

A few months ago, Google gave Windows computers the ability to use Quick Share (formerly Nearby Share). It’s still in beta form, and it still has its bugs. However, the app is still an extremely useful tool. Throughout this transition to Quick Share, we were all kind of wondering when the change was going to happen for Windows.

Well, according to a new report, Nearby Share on Windows is now making the transition to Quick Share. People using the service are logging on to see the new icon and name for the application. This is something that we can also confirm right here at Android Headlines.

The functionality remains the same, and the name of the folder that the application shares to is still named Nearby Share. However, we’re not sure that the app has permission to change its name and the name of the folders on your computer. Even though the application’s icon changed, the name is still Nearby Share. So, you’ll have to change the names manually.

When the app is open, you’ll see a little footer saying that “Nearby Share is now Quick Share”. There will also be a Learn More button, so you’ll be able to click on that for additional information.

Even though this is called Quick Share, it still won’t be able to integrate with Samsung’s version of Quick Share. Even though both platforms share the same name and icon, Samsung’s Quick Share is still a completely different app. So, if you use Quick Share on a Samsung device, your computer will not show up when sharing. Samsung’s version of Quick Share won’t integrate with Windows computers won’t integrate into Q3 2024.

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Facebook fatal accident scam still rages on

Malware

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Facebook fatal accident scam still rages on

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Recently I wrote about a malvertising campaign on Facebook that has been going on for almost a year. Apparently Facebook is struggling to stop this campaign, so now this type of campaign is showing up in other languages than English.

I have seen two different types in German.

First Facebook scam

Translation: Deadly accident on highway causes several fatalities

Notable about this one is that it was posted as a fundraiser and so does not allow comments, which blocks me from posting a warning that this is a scam.

I reached out to the person that owns the account to find out if he knew how his account got compromised. He had no idea, but told me that it seemed like a lot of people were having the same issues. Not only did he see the same type of posts, but he also got a lot of Messenger messages prompting him to click a link.

In the past we’ve seen campaigns on Messenger where clicking such a link would install a Facebook app that required posting permissions. These apps would then spread further from the compromised user account.

Wireshark analysis courtesy of Jérôme Segura

The host storage.googleapis.com gives the link a legitimate feel, but that feeling is not justified. Although googleapis.com is a legitimate service provided by Google, it’s being abused by all sorts of cybercriminals for phishing, tech support scams, and in this case fingerprinting. The script on that site looks at your IP address, your type of machine and whether you are using a VPN. Based on the analysis of that information you are forwarded to the type of scam that is likely to be the most profitable.

An example of a redirect URL shows some of the elements that were fingerprinted.

https://byxzz.altairaquilae[.]top/?pl=Yyo1IAH5aE2Q4g9YuOImuw&click_id=da5d3q51mm737150e7&sub_id=18222478-Edge%20(Chromium)%20for%20Windows-Windows

Malwarebytes has already blocked the windyplentiful.com domain for Malvertising.

Malwarebytes Premium blocks the domain windyplentiful.com

Second Facebook scam

The second example is easier to identify as a fake. Both the ambulance and the wrecked motorcycle hail from California, so this highly unlikely to have happened on the German autobahn.

Accident leaves several victims inluding a child

Translation: Accident causes several victims including a child

Not only is the picture clearly not German, the grammar used in the sentence is another sign as it’s a bad translation.

Unfortunately when I set my VPN to pretend I was located in Germany, the script identified it as an anonymous proxy and stopped there.

Switching back to the Netherlands I got to “enjoy” sites with explicit content, scam sites where celebrities encourage investing in cryptocurrencies, and websites offering browser push notifications.

These browser push notifications are a very annoying type of advertising, often associated with tech support scams, explicit content, gambling, and anything else that pays a handsome referral bonus.

Several attempts on both images led to different domains as well. Other blocks we encountered during our research:

Malwarebytes Premium blocks 188.114.96.0

Malwarebytes Premium blocks the subdomain oyglk.altairaquilae.top

How to recover from a Facebook scam

You can recognize this type of scam because they usually tag several friends of the victim. And although the image looks like a click will start a video, it never has for me. The images were hosted at media.discordapp.net/attachments and although the pages contain a link to Vimeo, the videos there have already been removed or were never even there.

If you find your account has posted a message like this, you should assume that someone else has full control over your Facebook account. Simply changing the password is not always enough.

Check for unknown and unused Facebook apps.
- Click your profile picture.
- Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings.
- Click Apps and Websites.Go to the app or game you want to remove, then next to the name of the app or game, click Remove.
- Click Remove again to confirm.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Go to your Security and Login Settings.
- Scroll down to Use two-factor authentication and click Edit.
- Choose the security method you want to add and follow the on-screen instructions.
Change your password on Facebook if you’re already logged in:
- Click your profile picture.
- Select Settings & Privacy, then click Settings (or Accounts Center if you’re on your phone).
- Click Security and Login (or Password and Security if you’re on your phone).
- Click Edit next to Change password (or just Change password if you’re on your phone).
- Enter your current password and new password.
- Click Save Changes.

If you’re logged in but have forgotten your password or it has been changed to something you don’t know, follow the steps above to change your password, then click Forgot your password? and follow the steps to reset it. Keep in mind that you’ll need access to the email associated with your account.

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Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using Malwarebytes Identity Theft Protection.

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Galaxy S24 phones utilize newer & faster fingerprint scanner

Android

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Galaxy S24 phones utilize newer & faster fingerprint scanner

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Samsung has included a newer and faster fingerprint scanner inside the Galaxy S24 series. Yes, this is not exclusive to the Galaxy S24 Ultra, but all three smartphones got the same treatment, which is nice to see.

All three Galaxy S24 smartphones have a newer & faster fingerprint scanner

A Galaxy S24 Ultra teardown video by WekiHome, which is embedded below the article, has revealed the new fingerprint scanner. The part number of this fingerprint scanner is QFS4008. The Galaxy S24 Ultra utilizes QBT2608.

Both of these come from Qualcomm and the company didn’t really share much details regarding them. They’re both the same size (8x8mm), though, and they’re both 3D Sonic (ultrasonic-based) fingerprint scanners.

WekiHome does prove that there’s a difference between them, though. The newer one is faster. SamMobile checked out their Galaxy S24+ unit, and that one also seems to be faster, the same is the case with our unit. So it seems like this fingerprint scanner is used across the series.

Let’s hope Samsung will use Qualcomm’s newer & larger fingerprint scanner next time around

Qualcomm does have an even better fingerprint scanner than this, though. One that covers a bigger area for scanning your finger, considerably bigger. Let’s hope we’ll see that change next year.

Both our Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S24+ reviews are out already, in case you’d like to check them out. Both of those devices have proven to be very capable, to say the least.

The entire Galaxy S24 series brings various improvements to the table. Not only do they have brighter screens and bigger batteries, but there are all sorts of smaller improvements that we’re discovering, such as this new fingerprint scanner.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra also switched to a flat display, not to mention that it’s using titanium this time around… for its frame. There’s plenty to like when it comes to Samsung’s new phones, though they do look very similar to last year’s models.

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YouTube app is coming to Apple Vision Pro after all

Tech

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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YouTube app is coming to Apple Vision Pro after all

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Apple’s Vision Pro went on sale last week. The Cupertino-based tech giant also announced support for over 600 native spatial apps and games on the mixed-reality headset. Recently the world’s most popular streaming platforms – YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify confirmed their plans of snubbing a dedicated app on the mixed-reality headset. Additionally, iPad apps were prohibited from running on the device. YouTube has now taken a U-turn and revealed that its app is on its way to the Vision Pro.

YouTube changes its stance on snubbing the Apple Vision Pro

In an official emailed statement to The Verge, YouTube spokesperson Jessica Gibby reveals that they are excited to see the Vision Pro launch and supporting it by ensuring that YouTube users have a great user experience in Safari. This means that until the release of the official app, users can expect an optimized viewing experience in the browser. Gibby confirmed that YouTube has got a Vision Pro app on the roadmap. However, the specific release timeline remains unclear.

YouTube’s decision to launch a native app for the Vision Pro comes after the release of a third-party app called Juno. It was developed by Reddit client Apollo’s Christian Selig and allows watching YouTube on the mixed-reality headset. The app costs $5. It is number 16 in the photo and video category in the App Store downloads for the headset.

Regardless, YouTube changing its mind swiftly after initially denying support for a new tech product is quite surprising. Notably, the video-sharing platform along with its parent company Google is slow to adopt Apple’s features.

YouTube may still not support 360 and VR content on Vision Pro

YouTube also has a large collection of 360-degree and VR videos that can be experienced on VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3. However, they don’t work with the Vision Pro even in the Safari browser. This is because they aren’t good enough and the content was created for devices that do not deliver high-quality spatial experience as per Apple spokesperson Roy.

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Motorola Edge 30 Ultra gets Android 14 update

Android

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Last month, Motorola surprised everyone by rolling out the Android 14 update to the Moto G53, a budget phone from 2022. The company has since updated the Motorola Edge+ (2023) and Motorola Edge 40 Pro flagships to the new Android version. The Motorola Edge 30 Ultra has now joined the party.

Android 14 is rolling out to the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra

The Android 14 update for the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is currently rolling out to users in Latin America and Europe. The new firmware build number for the phone is U1SQ34.52-21-1. Since it is a major Android OS upgrade, we are looking at an OTA (over the air) download size of 1.45GB. If you are on a limited mobile data plan, it might be wiser to connect your phone to an unmetered Wi-Fi network before downloading the file.

Motorola will soon release this update globally. You should get a notification once the OTA release hits your Motorola Edge 30 Ultra. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app. Go to the System updates menu and tap on Check for updates. If an update is available, you will be prompted to download and install it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update process.

This update brings several new features and functional improvements to your Motorola smartphone. You get new monochrome themes with additional color options, improved privacy and security, new system fonts, a more detailed battery settings page, the ability to use your phone as a webcam, and more. Your Motorola Edge 30 Ultra will feel a lot different than before once you install the Android 14 update.

There are also a few known issues, though. If you are into mobile gaming, you might miss the Game Time FPS floating bubble. Motorola has introduced new Lock Screen customizations but they aren’t working yet. The company plans to fix this with a separate update later. Some users who have updated their Motorola phones to Android 14 have also noticed issues with NFC. It may not be a widespread problem but you might want to be wary about it.

More Motorola phones will get this update soon

Motorola has confirmed that Android 14 will be available to over two dozen Motorola smartphones. It has just updated four of them. More devices will get the big update in the coming days, including the likes of the Razr 40/Razr 2023 foldables, other recent Edge series models, and the Motorola Thinkphone. We will let you know when Android 14 is released for these Motorola phones.

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Microsoft & Semafor bring AI-generated news stories to your feed

Tech

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Microsoft has just announced a partnership with the media start-up Semafor to create news stories using AI and ChatGPT.

According to The Financial Times, Microsoft agreed to sponsor a breaking news feed in Semafor called “Signals.” The new feed will publish dozens of posts daily, and all the posts are written by journalists, at least for now. AI and ChatGPT will be used as research tools for writers.

Microsoft and Semafor to launch a breaking news feed with AI-assisted stories

The amount of money Microsoft paid to Semafor has not yet been disclosed. However, a person familiar with the matter told FT that it is “substantial” to Semafor’s business.

Semafor is a news platform launched in 2022. It was co-founded by former Buzzfeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith and Justin Smith, the former chief executive of Bloomberg Media. The platform has developed AI research tools powered by ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing.

“Journalism has always used technology whether it’s carrier pigeons, the telegraph or anything else. This represents a real opportunity, a set of tools that are really a quantum leap above many of the other tools that have come along,” Gina Chua, Semafor’s executive editor, said.

The Microsoft-sponsored feed will focus on breaking events and gathering different viewpoints from various sources around the globe. For example, a breaking news event on the Signals feed might contain resources from Chinese, Indian, or Russian media. And reporters can summarize all that data in their story.

Former Associated Press journalist Noreen Gillespie, who now works at Microsoft, told the Financial Times, “Journalists need to adopt these tools in order to survive and thrive for another generation.”

AI is like a double-edged sword for media companies and journalists

Yet, media companies and journalists look at AI with fear and concern. News corporations are worried AI chatbots might steal traffic from their websites, which could result in plummeting revenue. Journalists also worry about their jobs and AI’s potential to replace them. Meanwhile, journalists can rely on AI to gather more data about a specific topic and use it as a sophisticated research tool.

The collaboration between Microsoft and Semafor coincides with The New York Times lawsuit against the tech firm over copyright infringement.

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Music to its ears: Spotify reaches more than 600 million users and almost $4 billion in revenue

Apps

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Music to its ears: Spotify reaches more than 600 million users and almost $4 billion in revenue

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It is that time of year when companies reveal their performance metrics, including revenue and user base. Spotify recently shared its fourth-quarter 2023 performance, announcing its business achieved strong results in Q4, meeting or surpassing all of its key performance indicators (KPIs).

During the final three months of 2023, the streaming platform saw a 23% year-over-year increase in its monthly active users (MAU), reaching 602 million, which exceeded expectations by 1 million. Premium subscriptions also grew by 15% year-over-year to 236 million, surpassing guidance by 1 million.

Spotify is showing continued growth in total revenue, too, with a 16% year-over-year increase to around $3.98 billion. While operating income recorded a loss of $80 million, the company celebrated achieving an all-time high in ad revenues, totaling $539 million.

Image Credit–Spotify

Additionally, more folks got into the fun of the 9th annual Spotify Wrapped campaign, with participation soaring over 40% compared to last year across 170 markets. And in November, Spotify spiced up its Premium offering in the US by throwing in over 200,000 audiobook titles.

Still, to reach its goals, back in December, the Swedish company announced it was cutting 17% of its workforce—about 1,500 jobs out of its global headcount of 9,000. Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, mentioned in a conference call with analysts that the music-streaming giant would keep finding ways to cut costs, possibly leading to more job cuts in 2024. Ek said:

We’re going to continue to be more resourceful with the resources we have. That’s just the new modus operandi.

In the first quarter of 2024, Spotify aims to reach 239 million Premium subscribers (an increase of 3 million from the previous quarter) and a total of 618 million monthly active users (a rise of 16 million). The company projects total revenue for Q1 to be $3.8 billion, with a gross margin of 26.4%.

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TeamCity Authentication Bypass Flaw to Gain Admin Control

Hacking

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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TeamCity Authentication Bypass Flaw to Gain Admin Control

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A critical security vulnerability was detected in TeamCity On-Premises, tagged as CVE-2024-23917, with a CVSS score of 9.8. An unauthenticated attacker with HTTP(S) access to a TeamCity server may bypass authentication procedures and take administrative control of that TeamCity server if the vulnerability is exploited.

TeamCity is a building management and continuous integration server developed by JetBrains that can be installed on-premises or used as a cloud service.

This particular attack, which is identified as an Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel vulnerability (CWE-288), carries a high risk of damage and exploitability.

Remote code execution (RCE) attacks that do not require user input can exploit this vulnerability.

Document

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Affected Versions

All TeamCity On-Premises versions from 2017.1 through 2023.11.2 are vulnerable.

TeamCity Cloud servers have already been patched and have been verified not to be compromised.

Fix Released

The issue has been patched in version 2023.11.3, and JetBrains has notified its customers.

“We strongly advise all TeamCity On-Premises users to update their servers to 2023.11.3 to eliminate the vulnerability,” JetBrains said.

If you are unable to update your server to version 2023.11.3, JetBrains has released a security patch plugin that allows you to continue patching your environment.

Security patch plugin: TeamCity 2018.2+ | TeamCity 2017.1, 2017.2, and 2018.1

“If your server is publicly accessible over the internet and you are unable to take one of the above mitigation steps immediately, we recommend temporarily making it inaccessible until mitigation actions have been completed,” the company said.

As per the findings of the Shadowserver report, more than 45,000 instances of Jenkins were found to be vulnerable to an arbitrary file read vulnerability.

This flaw could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive files and data, posing a significant security risk to the affected systems.

It is crucial for Jenkins users to take immediate action to address this vulnerability and implement necessary security measures to safeguard their systems against potential attacks.

A similar vulnerability in the TeamCity On-Premises tracked as CVE-2023-42793 with a CVSS score of 9.8 was identified the previous year. Several nation-state threat actors from North Korea aggressively took advantage of the vulnerability.

These nation-state threat actors have been seen breaking into compromised Windows-based TeamCity environments by using a variety of malware and tools to create backdoors.

Hence, to safeguard their systems against possible exploitation, users should update their servers to this most recent version.

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

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Google Pixel 7 Pro: Everything You Need To Know – February 2024

Android

andreasc

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February 7, 2024

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Google Pixel 7 Pro: Everything You Need To Know – February 2024

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The Google Pixel 7 Pro launched today, October 6, alongside its sibling, the Pixel 7. Both of these are the company’s new flagship smartphones. The Pixel 7 Pro is larger, has a curved display, one extra camera on the back, and some other perks. Both smartphones resemble their predecessors quite a bit, though they offer better protection for the cameras this time around. Google opted to place metal across the camera visor on the back.

The Pixel 7 Pro’s display is slightly less curved than the one on the Pixel 6 Pro. The display camera hole is still here, and the overall design language didn’t really change. That being said, we already have a ton of content on both of these devices on the site. If you, however, want to get a ton of information in a single article form, this is the one to read. You’ll find out more about the phone’s availability, specs, features, and so much more.

How much does the Google Pixel 7 Pro cost?

Much like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro’s price remains unchanged in comparison to last year’s model. The base Pixel 7 Pro model is priced at $899. That goes for the variant with 12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. If you’d like to get the 12GB RAM model with 256GB of storage, you’ll have to part with $899. Do note that a 512GB storage option is available in the US as well, and it’s priced at $1,099. The Pixel 7 Pro is available to pre-order starting today, October 6.

Should I wait for a price drop?

If we had to make an educated guess, we’d say that the Pixel 7 Pro won’t get a price decrease anytime soon. Much like the Pixel 7, this phone is priced more than fair compared to other offerings on the market. The Pixel 7 Pro is that large flagship that many people want with all the bells and whistles. So, if you’re planning on getting a phone in the near future, and the only reason you don’t want to buy this one right now is because you think it’ll go on sale soon… that probably won’t happen. If you want it, get it for its current price.

Where can I buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro?

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is available to purchase in all the usual places. You can get it directly via the Google Store, while Best Buy is also an option. When it comes to carriers, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will all probably offer the device, though we didn’t have info at the time of writing this article. Having said that, you can finance the Pixel 7 Pro purchase through Google Fi, or through one of the aforementioned carriers. On top of that, each of those carriers may end up offering some sort of additional deals.

Buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Google Store)

Buy the Google Pixel 7 Pro (Best Buy)

What offers are available from Google?

For the Pixel 7 series, Google is offering up to $750 off, with a qualifying trade-in, of course. You can also get up to $200 in Google Store credit towards your next purchase.

What offers are available from AT&T?

Both new and existing AT&T customers can get a free Google Pixel 7, or up to $800 off the Pixel 7 Pro with eligible trade-ins. You can also take advantage of the company’s buy one Pixel Watch and get one free offer.

What offers are available from T-Mobile?

All you have to do in order to save $500 on the Pixel 7 purchase with T-Mobile is active a new line of service on an “eligible” plan. You can also get $600 off, but that requires an eligible trade-in and the Magenta Max plan activation. The same $500 off offer is available for the Pixel 7 Pro, while you can get up to $800 off for the Pixel 7 Pro with a new or existing Magenta Max plan and an eligible trade-in.

What offers are available from Verizon?

You can get a free Pixel 7 from Verizon, if you trade-in your existing smartphone. Of course, it has to be a specific phone worth enough and in good enough condition. Do note that broken ones are also accepted, though. Another requirement is that you’re on a qualified Unlimited plan. You can also get a $100 discount on the Pixel Buds Pro, and 20% off on select cases and screen protectors.

What carriers support the Google Pixel 7 Pro?

As expected, all three major carriers in the US support the Pixel 7 Pro. Those carriers are AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. It is also important to note that the Pixel 7 Pro does support both Sub-6 and mmWave 5G networks. In other words, you will get proper 5G support regardless of which carrier you opt for.

On top of the carriers we mentioned, a ton of MVNOs support the Pixel 7 as well. That goes for Google Fi, Metro by T-Mobile, Mint MObile, Cricket, Spectrum Mobile, and more. It is worth saying that not all of them will sell the Pixel 7 Pro, however. Still, you can always get it unlocked from Google, and opt for one of the MVNOs.

What colors are available?

The Google Pixel 7 Pro got announced in three different color options. Two of them are the same as the ones the Pixel 7 offers, but the third one is not. The Pixel 7 Pro comes in Hazel, Obsidian Black, and Snow color variants.

The Hazel color is unique to the ‘Pro’ model, and it combines a grab backplate, with a light bronze frame and camera visor. The Obsidian Black model comes with a black backplate, and a dark gray frame and camera visor. The Snow model includes a white backplate, and a silver frame + camera visor.

What are the specs of the Google Pixel 7 Pro?

Below are the specs for the Google Pixel 7 Pro, and next to it, you’ll notice specs for the Google Pixel 7, for comparison’s sake.

	Google Pixel 7 Pro	Google Pixel 7
Display	6.7-inch QHD+ LTPO OLED 120Hz	6.3-inch FHD+ OLED 90Hz
Processor	Google Tensor G2	Google Tensor G2
RAM	12GB	8GB
Storage	128GB/256GB/512GB	128GB/256GB
Battery Capacity	5,000mAh	4,270mAh
Charging Speeds	23W wired charging 23W wireless charging 5W reverse wireless charging	21W wired charging 23W wireless charging 5W reverse wireless charging
Software	Android 13	Android 13
Rear Cameras	50MP wide 12MP ultrawide 48MP telephoto	50MP wide 12MP ultrawide
Front Camera	10.8MP wide	10.8MP wide
Dimensions	170 x 76.6 x 8.9mm	155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
Weight	212 grams	197 grams
Price	$899/$999/$1,099	$599/$699
Colors	Hazel Obsidian Snow	Lemongrass Obsidian Snow
Available	October 6 pre-order October 13 in-store	October 6 pre-order October 13 in-store

What new features did Google unveil?

Google put a huge focus on camera features this time around. Google’s Pixel phones are well-known for their camera quality, and the Pixel 7 series takes things to a new level. Google announced some new features, along with improvements to the existing ones. Below, you’ll find details on a bunch of them.

Macro Focus

The Pixel 7 Pro brings the so-called Macro Focus mode. This camera feature is specific for the Pixel 7 Pro model, as it utilizes the phone’s telephoto camera. It’s essentially Google’s macro mode, and unlike most other OEMs, Google is using the telephoto camera, not the ultrawide camera.

Super Res Zoom

The Super Res Zoom is not exactly entirely new feature, but it has been improved on the Pixel 7 Pro. It now offers 6x optical zoom, and a 30x hybrid zoom. For comparison’s sake, on the Pixel 6 Pro, you had access to a 4x optical zoom, and a 20x hybrid zoom.

Extreme Battery Saver

The Extreme Battery Saver is another feature worth talking about. This is a feature Google is promoting, and it can help you extend the Pixel 7 Pro’s battery considerably. It allows you to completely shut down any app you want, except system apps like Phone, Messages, Clock, and Settings. The apps you shut down will cease working completely, and will be grayed out on the display.

Photo Unblur

This is a brand new feature that Google presented for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. The company says that it uses machine learning and the Tensor G2 SoC to remove blur from images. It showed some truly compelling examples during the presentation. Let’s hope it’ll work as well as Magic Eraser.

Guided Frame

Guided Frame is here for people who are blind or low-vision, and want to capture selfies. They’ll get audio guidance, high-contrast visual animations, and haptic feedback to help them out.

10-bit HDR videos

Google has announced that 10-bit HDR videos are now a thing on the Pixel 7 series. You can get higher contrast videos with wider color ranges.

What official cases are available?

Google decided to change its cases from last year a bit, and re-release them for the Pixel 7 series. The company released only one case for the Pixel 7 Pro, but in three color options. Those colors follow the color variants of the device itself, to a degree. The case comes in Hazel, Obsidian, and Chalk colors. The company actually opted to make these cases feel a bit more premium. It changed the physical button covers, now they’re pieces of metal or plastic (either way, they have a metallic finish). Last year, the same material the case was made of was covering the buttons. This definitely makes it both look and feel more premium, not to mention you’ll get a more clicky feeling this way. You can check out all the color options below. These are priced at $29.99.

Buy Google’s official Pixel 7 Pro case (Google Store)

Hazel case:

Obsidian case:

Google Pixel 7 Pro official Obsidian Black case image 1

Google Pixel 7 Pro official Obsidian Black case image 3

Google Pixel 7 Pro official Obsidian Black case image 2

Chalk case:

Google Pixel 7 Pro official Chalk case image 2

In addition to these official cases, Google is offering various third-party cases through the Google Store. Bellroy’s leather case is on offer, as is OtterBox’s Defender Series case. ZAGG has a case there, and so does Tech21. Follow the link below to find out more.

Buy a third-party Pixel 7 Pro case (Google Store)

…

Updated February, 2024:

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is one of 10 Pixel smartphones that are getting the Android security update for February 2024. Google included only one entry in the changelog for this phone, and that’s the same entry as for all other devices. It seems like some third-party apps have issues performing on the devices, so Google fixed that up, but not specific info was given.

The post Google Pixel 7 Pro: Everything You Need To Know – February 2024 appeared first on Android Headlines.

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