If you love playing Fortnite on your iPhone, we have good news and bad news. Thanks to Apple’s announcement today that it will allow iPhone users in the EU to download apps from third-party app stores, Epic Games made an Epic announcement on “X.” The Epic Games Newsroom account said in a tweet, “Fortnite will return to iOS in Europe in 2024, distributed by the upcoming @EpicGames Store for iOS.”
Since the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has forced Apple to allow sideloading and third-party app stores for the iPhone in the EU, Apple cannot continue to block Fortnite from iOS in the 27 EU member countries. Fortnite and Epic were kicked out of the App Store in August 2020 after Epic included a link to its own in-app payment platform inside Fortnite and offered items such as in-app currency at a lower price since it evaded Apple’s 30% tax on purchases made through its own platform.
Epic allowed iOS users to access its own in-app purchasing option and buy game currency at a discount to the App Store price
That led to, and please bear with me, an Epic lawsuit; because the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant Apple a writ of certiorari and won’t hear the case, Apple must follow the ruling of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and allow developers to redirect to third-party in-app payment platforms. But to do so, the developer must also link his/her app to Apple’s in-app payment platform. And even if a developer gets one of his customers to use an alternative payment processing platform, Apple will still get a 27% cut of the revenue in the U.S.
However, an iPhone user in one of the 27 EU member countries will eventually be able to visit the Epic Games Store and install Fortnite. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney isn’t calling it a day after getting Fortnite back on the iPhone in Europe. Talking about the U.S. App Store, the executive said today, “We’ll continue to argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law.”
In response to Apple’s recent announcement of changes to its App Store in the European Union (EU) to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, expressed strong criticism, calling it “a new instance of Malicious Compliance” or, in simpler terms, “hot garbage.”
Apple’s modifications include allowing sideloading, alternative app stores, third-party browser engines, and more, with the rollout of iOS 17.4 in March. These changes come as a response to the EU’s DMA, which mandates tech giants to adhere to specific rules promoting competition in the mobile app market.
Epic Games, known for its Epic Games Store and Fortnite, has been a vocal advocate for such alterations and engaged in a legal battle against both Googleand Apple’s closed app distribution ecosystem. However, Sweeney deems Apple’s planned changes unfair to developers.
Apple is essentially pushing developers to choose between App Store exclusivity and the store’s terms
He argues that Apple is essentially pushing developers to make a choice between App Store exclusivity and the store’s terms, which he claims will be illegal under DMA, or accepting a new, allegedly illegal, anticompetitive scheme. Sweeney points to the introduction of a €0.50 Core Technology Fee for each annual install for apps downloaded over 1 million times in the EU as an example of these alleged “Junk Fees.”
Moreover, Sweeney raises concerns about Apple having the authority to choose which stores are allowed to compete with the App Store. He suggests that Apple could potentially block Epic, Microsoft, Valve, and others from launching their storefronts.
Despite these challenges, Sweeney outlines his goal to launch the Epic Games Store on iOS and Android, aiming to become the “#1 multi-platform software store” based on payment competition, low fees ranging from 0% to 12%, and exclusive titles like Fortnite.
Other developers, including Spotify, have already signaled their intent to respond to Apple’s rule changes. Spotify plans to introduce an in-app payment system in the EU once the DMA is in effect. Both Epic and Spotify have been vocal critics of Apple, particularly against the 27 percent tax imposed on purchases made outside the App Store in the United States. Sweeney hints at further critiques, stating, “There’s a lot more hot garbage in Apple’s announcement,” and promises additional insights as more details emerge.
We’re here to compare two brand-new flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Both of these devices launched in January 2024. Well, truth be said, the OnePlus 12 originally arrived in early December, but its global model launched this month. In any case, these two phones are the very best OnePlus and Samsung have to offer. It’ll sure be interesting to compare them.
They are quite different, and yet extremely powerful. What is especially interesting is that the OnePlus 12 is a lot more affordable than the Galaxy S24 Ultra, at least in the US. OnePlus decided to go with a truly aggressive price tag. Let’s see if shelling out more for the Galaxy S24 Ultra is worth it, or can you get away with getting the OnePlus 12. That’ll be your call, of course, but we’ll try to give you some information to make that choice.
Specs
OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, respectively
These two phones have considerably different designs. The OnePlus 12 has a curved display, while the phone’s corners are rounded. Not a single side on that phone is flat. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, has a flat display, with very sharp edges, and the top and bottom sides of the phone are entirely flat. Both smartphones have a centered display camera hole on the display, and both have immensely thin bezels around the display.
All the physical buttons sit on the right-hand side of both devices. The OnePlus 12 also has a three-step alert slider on the left side. The Galaxy S24 Ultra does pack in an S Pen stylus, which is accessible from the bottom of the phone. Both phones are made out of metal and glass. The OnePlus 12 combines aluminum and glass, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra uses titanium and glass. When we flip them over, there are even more differences to see.
The OnePlus 12 has a circular camera island with three cameras. That camera island sits in the top-left corner of the phone’s backside. The Galaxy S24 Ultra has four cameras on the back, and each of those cameras is its own island, kind of. They all protrude from the backplate directly. The OnePlus 12 is a bit taller than the Galaxy S24 Ultra and noticeably narrower. It’s also a bit thicker than Samsung’s flagship, and a bit lighter (12-13 grams).
They do feel rather different in the hand, which is not surprising at all. One thing to note is that both phones are quite slippery, so using a case may not be a bad idea. They both have that premium feel to them, and both come with certification for water and dust resistance. The OnePlus 12 is IP65 certified, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra offers IP68 certification.
OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Display
The OnePlus 12 includes a 6.82-inch QHD+ (3168 x 1440) LTPO AMOLED display. That panel is curved, and it supports up to 1 billion colors, and Dolby Vision too. It has HDR10+ support on top of that, and its refresh rate is adaptive (1-120Hz). The max theoretical brightness of this display is 4,500 nits. The OnePlus 12’s panel is covered by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2, as far as display protection goes.
OnePlus 12
The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, has a 6.8-inch QHD+ (3120 x 1440) Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X panel. That display is flat, and it also offers an adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here too, and the display aspect ratio is 19.5:9. This panel has a theoretical max brightness of 2,600 nits, and it’s covered by the Gorilla Glass Armor. The OnePlus 12 actually has a slightly higher screen-to-body ratio.
That being said, both of these displays are great. They’re vivid, sharp, and have great viewing angles. The blacks are deep, and the touch response is good on both. Both displays also get immensely bright when needed, so you don’t have to worry about that at all. The Galaxy S24 Ultra does have one major advantage, though, the Gorilla Glass Armor. Why? Well, because it battles reflections much better than Gorilla Glass Victus 2. In fact, it does better than basically anything else available in the market now, at least as far as display protection is concerned. Other than that, you’ll enjoy both displays, both are very good.
OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Performance
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 fuels the OnePlus 12, Qualcomm’s most powerful chip. OnePlus also included up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM here, and UFS 4.0 flash storage too. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy SoC. That is basically an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Samsung’s flagship comes with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 flash storage.
The performance on both smartphones is outstanding. That is what you’d expect out of brand-new flagships, but still, it’s worth saying. They both offer great performance backed by very good animations through their Android UIs. No matter what you throw at them, they’ll do a great job of keeping up. They can multitask like nobody’s business, opening apps is fast, as is browsing, and camera launching, while they’re also great for consuming multimedia.
In regards to gaming, well, they do a great job in that area too. Samsung did actually focus on cooling in the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the OnePlus 12 goes even a level above that and includes a truly massive vapor chamber. Running the most demanding games on these devices is not a problem at all. They both get warm during intense sessions, but never too much. The OnePlus 12 handles such situations even better in terms of heat, that vapor chamber is making a difference.
OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Battery
A 5,400mAh battery sits inside the OnePlus 12. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the other hand, includes a 5,000mAh unit. You’ll be glad to hear that both of these smartphones are true road warriors when it comes to battery life. Their predecessors were some of the best flagship smartphones when it comes to battery life, and both of these devices carry on the torch. They offer truly outstanding battery life.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra did surpass the OnePlus 12 in our battery rundown test, but both offered some of the best results we’ve seen. They didn’t disappoint in general usage situations either, quite the contrary. Both of these can be two-day phones in terms of battery, for many people. Getting plenty of hours of screen-on-time is on the table, it surely is. We were able to cross 8 hours of screen-on-time on both devices and still had plenty of juice in the tank. On most days we had 5 hours of screen-on-time and more than 50% of battery charge left. Do note that we did not play demanding games during those days, but the phones handled plenty of other tasks. The whole point is that they both offer outstanding battery life, there’s no denying that, even though your mileage may vary, of course.
The OnePlus 12 supports 100W wired, 50W wireless, and 10W reverse wireless charging. The phone comes with a 100W charger in the box, by the way. Samsung’s flagship does not include a charger in the box. It supports 45W wired charging, though, in addition to 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. The OnePlus 12 easily wins in the charging section.
OnePlus 12 vs Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Cameras
You’ll find three cameras on the back of the OnePlus 12. A 50-megapixel main camera is backed by a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (114-degree FoV). A 64-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (3x optical zoom) is also included. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, on the flip side, has four cameras on the back. A 200-megapixel main camera comes with a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV). A 20-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom) is accompanied by a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom).
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
These two smartphones do provide considerably different camera results, but they’re both great in that regard. Samsung toned down on saturation and image processing in order to try and provide images that look closer to real life. It also leaves images a bit darker in low light than it did before. The OnePlus 12 provides very detailed shots with outstanding colors, and OnePlus’ image processing is on point most of the time. Both devices handle HDR situations with grace as well, and both worked on improved capture of skin tones as well.
Ultrawide cameras on both devices do a good job, though we preferred results from the OnePlus 12. That may not be surprising considering what hardware is used, but they simply looked better overall, at least most of the time. Ultrawide cameras on both phones also did a good job of keeping the same color profile as the main camera, most of the time, at least. The telephoto camera performance varies. It all depends on what distances you’re shooting at. The OnePlus 12 mostly did a better job at closer zoom levels, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra took the win in more pronounced zooms (5x and beyond). It all depends on the situation and the scene.
They both did a great job overall, and that includes low-light images. Their low-light shots also looked quite different, but great nonetheless. We preferred the colors provided by the OnePlus 12, while both captured well-balanced shots in those situations, even with their secondary cameras. You can see some camera samples in our OnePlus 12 review, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra review is coming.
Audio
Both of these phones include a set of stereo speakers. Those speakers are very good on both sides, even though they do sound a bit different. Sound is well-balanced, and they don’t break at high volumes, there’s no distortion to speak of.
If you were hoping to get an audio jack on either device, that’s not the case. You can always utilize their Type-C ports for wired audio connections, though. Alternatively, there’s always Bluetooth. The OnePlus 12 supports Bluetooth 5.4, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with Bluetooth 5.3 support.
In the latest January Feature Drop for the Google Pixel 8 Pro, Google introduces a noteworthy upgrade to the smartphone’s thermometer, enabling it to measure body temperature. The Google Pixel 8 Pro’s infrared sensor was initially designed for object temperature measurement. However, now it offers a contactless way to gauge body temperature. Google Health’s team, working diligently to integrate health tools into Pixel phones, developed this feature, aiming for convenience, accuracy, and hygiene.
Google Pixel 8 Pro’s thermometer sensor works with a remarkable precision of ±0.3°C
The Pixel 8 Pro’s body thermometer sensor is positioned near the rear camera, allowing users to scan their temporal artery by sweeping the phone across the forehead. Google considers this method more accurate than traditional forehead thermometers, providing a temperature range of 96.9°F – 104°F (36.1°C – 40°C) with a remarkable precision of ±0.3°C. The company’s clinical trials confirm the accuracy of this feature when compared to an FDA-cleared temporal artery thermometer.
To enhance the user experience, the Pixel 8 Pro incorporates the LDAF (laser detection autofocus) sensor. It detects the phone’s proximity to the forehead before initiating a measurement. This ensures optimal positioning for accurate readings. Additionally, haptic feedback and audio instructions guide users through the process, making it user-friendly.
The Pixel 8 Pro’s infrared sensor boasts a wide field of view (over 130 degrees) and requires the phone to be within half an inch of the skin for accurate readings. The team emphasizes the contactless nature of the measurement. It prevents the spread of germs, addressing concerns related to hygiene.
FDA has finally approved this thermometer function
Google underwent a rigorous FDA De Novo classification process for the thermometer feature, ensuring it meets the standards of regulated medical devices. This involved a clinical validation study with a large number of participants, focusing on accuracy, safety, and ease of use. The approval underscores the thermometer’s reliability and its ability to function without an internet connection. It makes body temperature measurement accessible even when you don’t have access to any thermometer but your phone.
Windows 11 has seen some critique for its bloat since its launch, so NTDEV has released a version of it that is only 100MB in size. This miraculous accomplishment isn’t the first time NTDEV has compressed Windows 11. But this recent project of his, though fascinating, isn’t really made for actual use. Naturally, only so much can be squeezed out in 100MB, and this version of Windows 11 is more CLI, less Windows.
What do you get in a 100MB version of Windows 11?
So, what exactly do you get in such a small version of Windows 11? Not a whole lot, understandably enough. NTDEV’s newest project is more of a show of his skills than an actual operating system. For starters, the entirety of the Windows 11 GUI has been completely removed. All you get is a command line interface, which is sure to be quite nostalgic for users who have been around since the DOS era.
To operate this version of Windows, you’ll need to learn how to navigate a CLI. Commands, paths, executing executables, it’s essentially DOS. Though you do get the compatibility of Windows 11 for applications. Even users who disliked the GUI of Windows 11 would probably prefer it over no GUI at all. Obviously, security measures have all been removed too. There are no updates, no live threat detection, and no scans for malware. It might not have a lot of practical use in the real world, but it’s still a remarkable achievement sure to get praise from techies.
NTDEV Windows 11 projects
As is evident from this recent take on Windows 11 from NTDEV, the YouTuber likes to push his skills to the limit. Before this, he released Tiny11, which was a much lighter version of Windows 11. Tiny11 reduced a lot of the bloat, as well as a lot of the hardware requirements needed to run Windows 11. This was a more practical project, something that actually sees use.
After releasing it, NTDEV kept working on Tiny11 for a bit. For example, back in November of 2023, Tiny11 saw an update. This update not only reduced the size even more, it added support for Copilot as well as Windows 11 updates. NTDEV has done similar things in the past for other versions of Windows as well. Tiny10 is a streamlined, bloat-free version of Windows 10 similar to Tiny11. Tiny10 is a great choice for people limited to very old hardware.
As Microsoft continues to add more to its software, some users become more wary. Tiny10, Tiny11, and now this 100MB version are sure to inspire more projects like these. And there will always be a subset of the population that will cling to the good old days.
ThreatDown Endpoint Protection (EP) achieved the highest possible score (100%) and received certifications for Level 1, Exploit, Online Banking, and Ransomware in the most recent anti-malware efficacy assessment results for the Q3 2023 evaluation performed by MRG Effitas, a world leader in independent IT research.
These results mark the ninth time in a row ThreatDown has received all certification awards, and is now officially the only vendor to win every single certification and award from Q3 2021 through Q3 2023.
MRG Effitas assesses a product’s ability to meet today’s most pressing threats in-the-wild, such as stopping zero-day malware, ransomware, and exploits—and doing so with speedy performance and low false positives.
After unveiling their new phishing assessment in Q2 2023, MRG Effitas in Q3 2023 began awarding a full-on 360° Phishing Certification to vendors who could take down phishing threats.
ThreatDown blocked 100% of phishing attempts in the In-the-Wild (ITW) Phishing Test. In other words, ThreatDown is the only vendor to consistently receive all 4 award logos and block 100% of phishing attempts.
How we were able to do it: The signature and behavior-based detection techniques and proprietary anti-exploit technology of ThreatDown EP allowed it to detect and autoblock more malware than any other competitor on the Q3 test. In addition, the Web protection layer of our EP blocks access to and from known or suspicious Internet addresses, allowing us to ace the phishing tests.
As an integral foundation layer for ThreatDown Bundles, these results prove that ThreatDown provides reliable and comprehensive protection against a wide range of threats.
Let’s dive into where we prevented more than the rest and how we were able to do it.
100% of phishing attempts blocked
Given the frequency and risks associated with phishing attacks today, it’s clear that modern endpoint security needs to protect against these attacks.
According to Verizon, attackers used phishing for initial access in 15% of data breaches in 2022. CISA also showed that, within the first 10 minutes of receiving a phishing email, 84% of employees took the bait. After successfully compromising a system through phishing, threat actors can further their attacks by dropping ransomware or stealing sensitive data, leading to costly financial and reputational damages.
ThreatDown blocked 100% of phishing attempts in the ITW Phishing Test and was only one of two vendors to score 80% or above in the Phishing Simulator Test.
How we were able to do it: ThreatDown EP, the foundation for ThreatDown Bundles, features a Web protection layer that blocks access to and from known or suspicious Internet addresses.
100% of ransomware blocked
Using a blend of signature and signature-less technologies, the anti-ransomware layer of ThreatDown EP constantly monitors endpoint systems and automatically kills processes associated with ransomware activity.
MRG Effitas tested security products against 65 ransomware samples. In addition, they tested four ransomware simulator samples created in-house, ensuring the security product could only rely on its behavior scanning modules. To test for false positives, a device running ThreatDown EP also ran three benign programs designed to mimic ransomware behavior.
ThreatDown blocked 100 percent of ransomware threats in the MRG Effitas assessment and did so with no false positives, allowing the three benign programs to run. For this we earned the 360° Ransomware Certification.
We were one of the few vendors who earned a 360° Online Banking Certification, which means ThreatDown EP stopped 100% of threats designed to steal financial information and money from victim’s accounts. To outperform the others, our unique detection technology again came into play.
ThreatDown EP blocked 100% of the 16 financial malware samples, the Magecart credit card-skimming attack, and Botnets designed to steal credentials.
100% of zero-day threats blocked
One of the many strong suits of our detection is that it can detect malware that has never been seen before, also called zero-day malware. Again, we were one of the only vendors to detect and block these pernicious threats, which account for 80% of successful breaches.
Built on machine learning (ML) and behavioral analysis techniques, our behavior-based detection enabled ThreatDown EP to detect and block 100% of all zero-day threats. For this, as well as blocking all Botnets, we earned the 360° Level 1 Certification.
100% of exploits blocked
The anti-exploit feature of ThreatDown EP protects organizations from one of the most advanced cyber attacks: zero-day exploits targeting browser and application vulnerabilities.
But don’t take our word for it: MRG Effitas used 8 different exploitation techniques to try and deliver a malicious payload on a device running ThreatDown EP—but they didn’t get very far. Malwarebytes earned the 360° Exploit Certification for autoblocking 100% of Exploit/Fileless attacks, entirely protecting the system from infection.
We were one of the few to earn the 360° Exploit Certification all thanks to our proprietary anti-exploit technology, which wraps vulnerable programs in four defensive layers that prevent an exploit from installing its payload, or even executing initial shellcode.
Consistency is key
If there is one shining take away from this accomplishment, it’s that consistency is key.
You don’t want a security solution that passes rigorous tests like MRG Effitas only some of the time. You want a solution that passes them with flying colors all of the time. Clearly, ThreatDown EP, and by extension our ThreatDown Bundles, is that solution.
For organizations that are concerned their current solution may not be up-to-par, the MRG Effitas assessment has demonstrated that ThreatDown—more consistently than anybody else—has what it takes to keep your business safe from today’s most pressing cyberthreats.
AI technology requires manpower, technical know-how, hours of due diligence…. and A LOT of money. This is why some of the more prominent AI businesses on the market have heavy investments from giant companies. Well, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating large company investments in AI startups.
The FTC is mostly focusing on three instances of multi-billion dollar Investments in AI startups. It’s looking into Microsoft’s investments in OpenAI, Amazon’s investments in anthropic AI, and Google’s investments in anthropic AI. There may be other major investments in other AI startups, but these are the biggest examples.
The FTC is investigating large companies’ investments in AI startups
This might sound a bit sinister, but it’s not as bad as it sounds. The FTC is merely investing these investments in AI startups, so it issued an order to these companies. Mostly, this investigation aims to gain knowledge of the inner workings of these business relationships and how they affect AI moving forward. This is another example of governments wanting to get more involved with AI as the technology continues to grow and become more of a potential hazard. Investigations into these companies will help regulators and lawmakers develop sensible rules around the development of AI technology.
So, the companies under the eye of the FTC are not in trouble. “Our study will shed light on whether investments and partnerships pursued by dominant companies risk distorting innovation and undermining fair competition,” said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. In fact, Khan also stated in an opinion piece last year that “the expanding adoption of AI risks further locking in the market dominance of large incumbent technology firms.” This is extremely true.
This is a good thing to do, as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are no strangers to anti-competitive practices. At the end of the day, for some companies, it’s all about making profits. So, it’s very possible that one of these companies could wind up pulling deceptive or cruel practices in order to stay ahead of the competition. This investigation could be the start of some solid rules regarding large companies investing in AI startups.
Starting from the day that they receive this request, the companies will have 45 days to respond. So, each company has a month and a half to respond with all of the key information. Hopefully, this will broaden the FTC’s understanding of AI, and push companies to further develop it safely.
Apple is making big changes in the European Union which will allow, among other things, iPhone users to sideload apps from third-party app stores. From the start, it was the late Steve Jobs‘ intention to prevent iPhone users from sideloading apps on the iPhone for security reasons. Apps from third-party app stores are installed without Apple checking them out to see if they are security risks; apps downloaded from the App Store have been vetted for malware and other malicious behavior although sometimes developers with evil intentions can get an app through.
Apple’s commission for in-app payment processing in the EU App Store will drop to a range of 10%-17%
Developers will also be able to choose alternative payment platforms to handle in-app transactions in the EU across all of Apple’s operating systems including including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. The commission that Apple will take on in-app purchases that it processes through its own in-app payment platform, the so-called Apple Tax, will be reduced in the EU from the 15%-30% range seen in the rest of the world, to 10%-17%. Apple won’t see a dime from in-app transactions completed through alternative payment platforms.
[img center inline [[410229]]:”The Apple Tax for EU App Store in-app purchases will drop to a range of 10%-17%”]
The 27 member countries of the EU benefit from the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) which forces Apple to make these changes in this market. Another change being made by Apple will show users a new “choice screen” the first time they open Safari in iOS 17.4 or later. While EU iPhone users can already change their default browser away from Safari, the new “choice page” will bring to their attention that they can choose a default browser and include a list of third-party browsers to help them make that change right away.
Apple makes it clear that it doesn’t like being forced to put up the “choice screen” because it means “that EU users will be confronted with a list of default browsers before they have the opportunity to understand the options available to them. The screen also interrupts EU users’ experience the first time they open Safari intending to navigate to a webpage.”
EU users will be able to pick a third-party default contactless payment app
The company also said, “Inevitably, the new options for developers’ EU apps create new risks to Apple users and their devices. Apple can’t eliminate those risks, but within the DMA’s constraints, the company will take steps to reduce them. These safeguards will be in place when users download iOS 17.4 or later, beginning in March…” One of the changes Apple is making in the EU will bring additional malware protections that will prevent iOS apps from launching if they are discovered to contain malware after being installed on a user’s device.
Changes are coming to iOS in the EU as well. EU iPhone users will be able to choose a third-party contactless payment app to replace Apple Pay and select an alternative app marketplace as their default to replace the App Store.
Apple Fellow Phil Schiller said, “The changes we’re announcing today comply with the Digital Markets Act’s requirements in the European Union, while helping to protect EU users from the unavoidable increased privacy and security threats this regulation brings. Our priority remains creating the best, most secure possible experience for our users in the EU and around the world. Developers can now learn about the new tools and terms available for alternative app distribution and alternative payment processing, new capabilities for alternative browser engines and contactless payments, and more. Importantly, developers can choose to remain on the same business terms in place today if they prefer.”
Apple says that all of these changes will take place in March with the release of iOS 17.4 in the region.
The company now claims that allowing third-party ink cartridges in its printers would expose them to viruses and malware.
Hewlett-Packard (HP) claims to have laptops that effectively block unwelcome snoopers, but why does the company maintain a monopoly over its ink cartridges? Well, HP is reaffirming its monopoly on refillable ink cartridges for printers following a lawsuit for blocking third-party ink with Dynamic Security updates.
The company claims that third-party cartridges can infect users’ PCs with viruses or malware, which can then reach the printer and network. In an interview with CNBC, HP CEO Enrique Lores defended HP’s practice of bricking printers when loaded with third-party ink, based on the company’s 2022 research. It suggests ink cartridge microcontroller chips could be a cyber threat.
The company tasked Bugcrowd researchers to determine it under its bug bounty program in 2022 and learned that HP’s cartridges, which typically use a secure chip for communication with printers, could contain malicious software if sold by third parties.
HP’s chief technologist of print security, Shivaun Albright, stated back then that the hacker could inject code into the device beyond the bounds of the buffer. HP acknowledges that there is no evidence of in-the-wild exploitation of this hack, but given that the chips used in third-party ink cartridges are reprogrammable, they are indeed vulnerable.
However, Ars Technica Senior Security Editor Dan Goodin believes there are no known attacks that can infect printers using hacked ink cartridges. Goodin raised concerns about the potential use of ink cartridges as a cyber threat, but cybersecurity professionals were sceptical.
Hackread.com’s Founder and Editor, Waqas, dismisses the argument that third-party cartridges can compromise a printer with malware as weak and unconvincing. He draws a comparison, stating, “This reminds me of Kellyanne Elizabeth Conway, the Counselor to then-President Donald Trump, who quite convincingly claimed in an interview that she believes microwaves can be hacked and turned into cameras for spying purposes.”
However, Lores’ comments raise concerns about security vulnerabilities as he presented a scenario where a compromised ink cartridge could launch malware onto a connected network. HP claims its chips are secure, implying that its authentication mechanisms are reliable. Still, fearing infection from third-party cartridges may prevent some customers from purchasing ink from HP, despite HP’s claims of chip authenticity.
For your information, HP has been hit with a lawsuit over its Dynamic Security system (PDF), which stops printer operation if an ink cartridge without an HP chip or HP electronic circuitry is installed.
The lawsuit (PDF) seeks class-action certification, alleging that HP customers were not informed that firmware updates issued in late 2022 and early 2023 could result in printer features not working.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and an injunction to deter HP from issuing printer updates, which block ink cartridges without an HP chip as compromised ink cartridges can allow malware to invade the connected network.
Printer manufacturers like HP have faced criticism for security flaws, potentially allowing hackers to access sensitive data or control printing functions. Lores emphasized the need for stronger security measures in the printer industry.
“I think for us it is important for us to protect our IP. There is a lot of IP that we’ve built in the inks of the printers, in the printers themselves. And what we are doing is when we identify cartridges that are violating our IP, we stop the printers from work” Lores stated in an interview with CNBC.
Google Pixel users received a nice little treat today in the form of the first Pixel feature drop of 2024. However, Pixel 8 Pro users received some extra sprinkles on top as the device’s built-in thermometer gained a new capability: measuring body temperature.
Thanks to the Google News group on Telegram, we have detailed information and screenshots of the body temperature taking process on the Pixel 8 Pro. Following some app disclaimers, such as the fact that body temperature readings are not intended to self-diagnose a serious medical condition, or to determine if you have hypothermia, you can proceed with a temperature reading by simply placing the phone against your forehead and sweeping it gently towards your temple. First time use of the feature will prompt you to grant the app additional camera permissions.
Before measuring, users will need to first choose from a provided age range of the person whose temperature is being taken. Options are 0-3 months, 3-36 months, or 3 years and older. Results appear as color-coded ranges of either normal, elevated or high temperatures, which can then be logged directly to Fitbit trackers and devices.
Having the information readily available within the Fitbit app will undoubtedly provide users with a comprehensive view of their health measurements. Fitbit users can also choose to manually enter temperature values or use the Pixel 8 Pro‘s sensor.It’s worth noting that the functionality for measuring body temperature is currently only available in the United States. Google’s certification for the feature is currently limited to the United States, and activation is based on the user’s SIM card location. As a result, Pixel 8 Pro users outside of the United States will be unable to use this feature.
The Pixel 8 Pro‘s body temperature measurement capability expands its health-tracking capabilities. However, its limited availability limits its potential influence, highlighting the relevance of regulatory issues in healthcare technology. Hopefully this can change soon, so we can all enjoy our tech regardless of where we are located.
