Google Assistant will lose 17 features this month. According to the search giant, the underutilized Assistant functionalities will be going away and join Google Graveyard. This comes after Google laid off a thousand employees across various departments. The Google Assistant is now seven years old. Google aims to prioritize experiences and make it easier to use Assistant across devices.
Google is removing 17 Google Assistant features
In a blog post, Google says that users who try to access any of the 17 discontinued features from January 26 will be notified that they are no longer available. Most of them pertain to voice commands and will be removed completely by February 26 as per 9to5Google.
While using one of the deprecated features, a prompt will indicate the feature’s expiration date. The features will be taken away from smartphones and smart speaker/display devices. The search giant is working on fusing Google Assistant with Bard which is set to arrive sometime this year.
List of Google Assistant features going away and alternatives
Google has published a full list of features on the Google Assistant that are going away along with alternatives. Check the full list below:
As time goes on, we’re going to start seeing more changes and updates to Bard. It’s clear that Google is going to prioritize its generative AI chatbot while keeping production on Assistant rather tame. In any case, we don’t see the Google Assistant going away anytime soon.
Changes to the microphone icon on Google App and Pixel Launcher search bar
Apart from the list of removed features, Google is also making changes to its Google app. The microphone icon will now trigger search responses instead of using the search bar microphone to complete actions like controlling smart home devices. The Pixel Search Bar will also open the Voice Search instead of Assistant on Pixel devices.
YouTube is once again grappling with the rising issue involving users who rely on ad blockers to watch content on the platform. As pre-roll ads have become a crucial part of the platform’s monetization strategy, their widespread use has led to the rise in popularity of ad-blocking tools.
In response to this issue, YouTube has been continually taking action by implementing what some might consider extreme measures to address it. Some of these have included a slowing down of the site, limiting content, or at times completely blocking content for users who have ad blockers installed. Unfortunately, as reported by 9to5Google based on user reports on Reddit, it looks like these efforts are once again ramping up with noticeable slowdowns when an ad-blocker is detected.At the core of this ongoing battle lies a heated debate surrounding user experience and revenue generation. YouTube has repeatedly taken a firm stance against ad blockers, claiming that these tools not only go against their terms of service but also have a negative impact on the earnings of content creators, a stance that content creators themselves agree with.
However, non-paying viewers often have to deal with annoying ads that can interrupt their viewing experience, and are now confronted with a difficult decision: either disable their ad blockers and tolerate potentially disruptive ads, or opt for YouTube Premium to enjoy an ad-free experience.YouTube has faced backlash for its recent tactics, which have been deemed aggressive. Some consider that by prioritizing its revenue stream, the platform inadvertently undermines user experience and risks creating a sense of resentment among its users.
It is everyone’s guess at this point where this battle against ad-blockers will lead, or if it will have the intended effect among the user base. Slowdown tactics are seen as distasteful among the community, thus YouTube is at a position here where it can choose to either continue down this path or create alternative ways of accessing the site that can benefit creators and viewers alike.
The vulnerability was patched on November 14, 2023, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list due to evidence of in-the-wild exploitation.
The vulnerability was patched on November 14, 2023, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list due to evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. Since its discovery, numerous malware campaigns, including the Phemedrone Stealer payload, have exploited it in their attack chains.
Cybersecurity researchers at Trend Micro have discovered that a vulnerability affecting Microsoft Windows Defender SmartScreen, tracked as CVE-2023-36025, is being exploited to infect users with Phemedrone Stealer.
For your information, Windows Defender SmartScreen is a built-in security feature in Microsoft Windows 8 and later that helps protect users from malicious websites, downloads, and applications. It acts as a first line of defence against a variety of threats, including phishing websites, malicious downloads and untrusted applications.
This open-source malware strain targets web browsers, cryptocurrency wallets, and messaging apps like Telegram, Steam, and Discord. Its additional capabilities allow the malware to take screenshots gather system information such as hardware details and location data and send stolen data to attackers via Telegram or their C2 server. Phemedrone Stealer is maintained on GitHub and Telegram.
Reportedly, hackers use social media to spread URL files that appear as harmless link shortcuts, which are then downloaded and run by clicking on them. The infection process begins with an attacker hosting malicious Internet Shortcut files on cloud services like Discord or FileTransfer.io, disguised using URL shorteners like shorturl.at. An unsuspecting user may be tricked into opening a maliciously crafted.url file that exploits CVE-2023-36025.
The attackers craft a Windows shortcut (.url) file to evade the SmartScreen protection prompt by employing a .cpl file as part of a malicious payload delivery mechanism. The.cpl file is executed through the Windows Control Panel process binary, calling rundll32.exe to execute a malicious DLL.
The malware, hosted on GitHub, downloads a ZIP file containing three files: WerFaultSecure.exe, Wer.dll, and Secure.pdf. The wer.dll file is crucial for the loader’s functionality. The attacker executes the loader using DLL sideloading, spoofing a malicious DLL file in the application’s directory.
The DATA3.txt file masks its contents, making deciphering its purpose difficult. The malware collects system information, compresses it into a ZIP file, and sends the compressed data to the attacker via SendMessage and SendZip methods. Through techniques like API hashing and string encryption, the malware evades detection and complicates reverse engineering.
CVE-2023-36025, having a CVSS score of 8.8, affects Microsoft Windows Defender SmartScreen because of its lack of checks on Internet Shortcut files, allowing attackers to create.url files and execute malicious scripts.
The vulnerability was patched on November 14, 2023, but the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) list due to evidence of in-the-wild exploitation. Since its discovery, numerous malware campaigns, including the Phemedrone Stealer payload, have exploited it in their attack chains.
To stay protected, developers should regularly update their operating systems, apps, and security solutions, be cautious with Internet Shortcut files, and implement advanced solutions like real-time monitoring and threat detection capabilities.
Google Messages is gearing up to introduce a new and exciting feature called Selfie GIFs, discovered by TheSpAndroid. This hidden feature enables users to send a short 4-second video in the form of rounded GIFs. It injects a fun and dynamic element into your conversations. While Google has not officially announced the feature, it appears to be in active development. It offers users a playful way to express themselves through animated selfies.
This feature is currently hidden under the flag – @bugle.enable_selfie_gifs. You normally need to root your device to enable flags through apps like GappsMod and GMS Flags. However, there’s some good news for you if you are a Samsung user. Google uses a separate build of its Messages app for Samsung-specific devices. Here you can enable hidden flags in beta versions without messing up your Galaxy phone.
After activating the flag, you can trigger the feature by just long-pressing the camera icon. This activates a new UI with a rounded camera frame in the center. It offers users the ability to effortlessly switch between front and rear cameras. After a 3-second timer, the recording kicks off automatically, capturing a brief 4-second video. Once recorded, you can preview the ‘Selfie GIF’. Then you choose whether you want to send the dynamic Selfie GIF or you want to express yourself even better with a retake.
The Selfie GIFs feature in Google Messages will let you spice up your conversation with a 4-second GIF in a rounded frame
Google Messages has seen a series of updates aimed at enriching text conversations. In December, the company introduced several exciting features, including screen effects and custom backgrounds.
The latest addition to Messages follows Google’s unveiling of a refreshed contacts page featuring the Material You carousel and a range of enhancements in the Pixel Feature Drop for compatible Pixel devices. Speaking of the Pixel Feature Drop, it introduced features like Video Boost to the Google Pixel 8 Pro to enhance video playback and an improved Photo Unblur feature.
As the development of Selfie GIFs in Google Messages continues, users can anticipate a lighthearted and entertaining addition to their messaging repertoire.
At CES 2024, Amazon and BMW unveiled an innovative partnership set to redefine the driving experience by integrating artificial intelligence into vehicle-based voice assistants. The collaboration introduces a groundbreaking system that takes advantage of AI technologies by engaging a large language model (LLM) with Alexa, Amazon’s voice service, and the actual driver’s manual. The result is a seamless and intuitive interaction. It allows drivers to query an Alexa-powered chatbot about their car, eliminating the need for the traditional driver’s manual.
The Amazon and BMW collaboration for BMW’s in-car voice assistant brings forth a transformative tool designed to enhance the interaction between drivers and their vehicles. Users can now engage with the Alexa-powered chatbot to obtain real-time and accurate information about their cars.
The initiative aims to simplify the often complex and cumbersome process of navigating through the conventional driver’s manual. Drivers can effortlessly inquire about various features, from the functionality of parking assistance systems to insights into diverse drive modes, receiving conversational and easy-to-understand answers.
Drivers can seamlessly instruct the voice assistant to perform tasks like playing music, setting navigation to a destination, and more
Beyond being an information delivery system, the voice assistant allows drivers to take actions directly. Drivers can instruct the chatbot to execute specific commands, such as entering a particular drive mode. Moreover, the integration with the vehicle’s infotainment system ensures a comprehensive experience. Drivers can seamlessly instruct the assistant to perform tasks like playing music, setting navigation to a destination, adjusting internal temperature, and more, all through voice commands.
BMW has been incorporating Amazon Alexa into its infotainment systems for several years. However, this recent collaboration signifies a notable advancement. The partnership was previously announced to develop a custom BMW in-vehicle voice assistant using Alexa as its foundation. The latest features presented at CES 2024 represent a significant step forward in creating a more intuitive driving experience.
In late December 2023, Apple encountered a setback in the U.S. as certain Apple Watch models faced a sales suspension due to alleged patent infringement related to Masimo’s blood oxygen detection technology. The regulatory authorities will review Apple’s updated designs by mid-January 2024, and the potential financial and time costs associated with settlement or redesign have raised questions about the future of blood oxygen monitoring in Apple Watches.
Apple‘s appeal for reinstatement is met with two potential routes. The first involves significant adjustments to both software and hardware aspects of the Apple Watch, requiring the tech giant to reapply for approval, undergo extensive testing, and potentially resume sales. However, given Apple’s annual product release schedule and the time-consuming nature of hardware modifications, this option appears impractical.
The second route suggests a settlement with Masimo. Apple’s settlement history, marked by payments in the millions or even billions of dollars, reflects the challenges the company has faced in legal disputes, such as those with Qualcomm. Settling with Masimo would not only have financial implications but might also lead to Apple admitting to incorporating allegedly stolen technology, risking its global goodwill.
Settlement for the oximeter patent infringement appears to be the most appealing option
Apple has a narrow window of opportunity to decide its next move. If the Cupertino-based giant fails to deal with the infringement of its current-generation Apple Watch models through a software update, settling with Masimo might become the only viable option.
The original dispute stems from Masimo accusing Apple of patent infringement in 2020, leading to a legal battle that culminated in a sales ban on certain Apple Watch models in late 2023. The blood oxygen monitoring technology, a key feature in Apple Watches since the S6 model, relies on both software-related analytical applications and specific hardware configurations.
Considering the contextual significance of blood oxygen monitoring amidst the ongoing global health situation, the demand for this feature in smartwatches remains substantial. However, Apple’s decision-making becomes complicated as a result of the potential need for extensive modifications and the financial implications of settling with Masimo.
In the realm of smartphone processors, Arm has historically played second fiddle to Apple‘s iPhone chipsets in terms of single-core CPU power. However, recent reports suggest that Arm is gearing up for a significant showdown, with its next Cortex-X CPU, codenamed ‘Blackhawk’ and potentially named Cortex-X5, poised to be the most powerful smartphone CPU yet.
According to analyst firm Moor Insights and Strategy, the upcoming CPU from ARM will deliver the “largest year-over-year IPC performance increase in five years.” This hints at a substantial leap in performance, potentially comparable to the original Cortex-X1 CPU, unveiled in 2020. Moreover, Blackhawk is anticipated to excel in large language model (LLM) performance, suggesting a substantial boost for generative AI tasks.
Arm’s ambitious plan with Blackhawk is to bridge the performance gap between its designed processors and custom Arm implementations, directly challenging Apple’s dominance in the arena. The move aligns with Arm CEO Rene Haas’s strategy to eliminate the historical disparity in performance.
While ARM strives to outperform Apple with Blackhawk, Qualcomm is venturing into its own custom CPU design, leaving Exynos and MediaTek as potential adopters
Qualcomm has acquired Nuvia to take advantage of its ARM ISA license and build its own custom Oryon CPU cores. The company plans to use this custom core in its upcoming flagship SoC. the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. The MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and Samsung Exynos 2500 (or Galaxy exclusive chip) will likely adopt the Blackhawk. Although there
According to the analyst, ARM is referring to the Geekbench 6 scores as a measure of the performance of its upcoming Blackhawk CPU design. However, the power efficiency will also need to be better than that in Apple’s implementation to match the expectation.
This anticipated advancement in ARM’s in-house CPU architecture sets the stage for intensified competition between Arm, Qualcomm, and Apple-based CPU designs, promising innovation and potentially lowering prices. As the industry eagerly awaits the launch of Blackhawk later this year, all eyes are on whether Arm can indeed deliver a game-changing CPU that rivals the prowess of Apple’s iPhone chips.
Lush Retail Ltd., a popular British cosmetics retailer headquartered in Poole, Dorset, is investigating a cyber attack, but it is unclear whether it is a ransomware attack, a data breach, or a DDoS attack causing disruption.
Lush Retail Ltd., a British cosmetics retailer is surrounded by uncertainty after confirming a cybersecurity incident is brewing within the company. While details remain scarce, the news has left customers and industry experts alike wondering just how deep the fragrant rabbit hole goes.
The company broke the news through a brief statement, admitting they are “currently responding to a cybersecurity incident,” but stopping short of revealing the attack’s nature or potential targets. This cryptic stance has only fueled speculation, with concerns ranging from customer data breaches to operational disruptions.
“We take cybersecurity exceptionally seriously,” stressed the statement, attempting to quell rising worry. “We have informed relevant authorities and are working with external IT forensic specialists to conduct a thorough investigation.”
“Lush UK&I is currently responding to a cyber security incident and working with external IT forensic specialists to undertake a comprehensive investigation. The investigation is at an early stage but we have taken immediate steps to secure and screen all systems in order to contain the incident and limit the impact on our operations. We take cyber security exceptionally seriously and have informed relevant authorities.”
This move suggests the attack might be more than a minor hiccup, potentially involving sensitive data or wider security implications. The potential scenarios storming around this incident paint a troubling picture:
Data breach: Customer names, addresses, and even payment information could be on the line if hackers breached Lush’s systems.
Ransomware attack: The company’s operations could be held hostage by malicious actors demanding payment to unlock vital data.
Disruption of operations: Production, distribution, and sales channels could be thrown into disarray, impacting both employees and customers.
Experts caution against complacency, urging users to remain vigilant towards suspicious emails or communications claiming to be from Lush.
“It hasn’t been confirmed what type of attack Lush is facing, but it does sound like ransomware,” said William Wright, CEO of Closed Door Security. “The threat is used to take an organisation’s data hostage, so a big part of recovery is working on containing the attack and limiting its spread.”
“More details should be released around the attack, but the most worrying issue with the incident is the type of data criminals could potentially have access to. Whether it be company data, or sensitive customer information, given the popularly of Lush it will undoubtedly be a gold mine for criminals,” Wright warned.
While the investigation unfolds, Lush customers can take proactive steps:
Change passwords: Update credentials for any online accounts associated with Lush as a precautionary measure.
Beware phishing: Approach emails and communications claiming to be from Lush with caution. Avoid clicking links or opening attachments unless their legitimacy is certain.
Monitor credit reports: Keep an eye out for suspicious activity that could signal unauthorized access to financial information.
Should Lush decide to disclose additional information about the cyber attack, Hackread.com will update this article accordingly. However, one certainty remains: the United Kingdom has been experiencing an unprecedented surge in cyber attacks over the past few months.
Earlier this month, it was reported that hackers launched a calculated cyber attack on the UK’s Nuclear Waste Services through LinkedIn. A few months before that, in November 2023, Samsung disclosed a data breach in which hackers stole customer data in the UK.
In October 2023, UK power and data manufacturer Volex fell victim to a cyber attack. During the same month, reports surfaced that Vietnamese DarkGate malware targeted META accounts in the country.
It can be really easy to put different email subscriptions in the back of your mind and let the emails just pile up in your inbox. This is an issue that we all have, but it looks like Google’s aiming to fix it once and for all. According to a new report, Gmail could soon implement a manage subscriptions button.
When it’s time to get rid of all those annoying subscriptions, the most intuitive course of action is to sift through your inbox and hunt down every email tied to a subscription. As you can guess, it’s pretty time-consuming.
Google has been working on more refined ways of unsubscribing from annoying email subscriptions. For a while, Google has displayed a large Unsubscribe button over emails for the web version of Gmail. This button is an indicator that you have an active subscription with that company. When you click on the Unsubscribe button, you’ll be taken right to that company’s unsubscribe page.
Right now, it’s only available on the web app, but Google is working on bringing it to Android. We’ll just have to wait to see when Google officially rolls this feature out.
Gmail could bring a Manage subscription page
Putting a big and bold unsubscribe button over emails is great, but the company could be working on something I could make keeping an eye on your scriptures much easier. Thanks to a post on X by Assembledebug, it looks like Google is going to bring a Manage subscription button to Gmail.
We don’t know too much about this feature right now, but it’s pretty self-explanatory. Basically, it sounds like a dedicated page that will display all of the subscriptions that you have. It will be a one-stop shop to view your subscriptions and possibly unsubscribe from them. This would eliminate you having to manually search for subscriptions by yourself.
The feature itself is hidden behind a few flags, so you won’t be able to use it just yet. In any case, it’s definitely a tool to look forward to. There’s no word on when Google is going to release this feature.
There’s another feature in the works
The same post also shows a potential report button for emails. It appears that you will be able to report any illegal content in an email. So, if you see a phishing email that will potentially bring you to a malicious site, you will be able to report it. Hopefully, Google will be able to take action against the sender of that email to help reduce potential damages. This feature is also hidden behind several flags.
eBay has agreed to pay $3 million in settlement for the 2019 eBay harassment case directed at a Massachusetts couple critical of the e-commerce firm. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its decision on Thursday, stating that eBay committed six serious crimes. The DOJ charged eBay with two counts of stalking across states, two counts of stalking through online messages, one count of tampering with a witness, and one count of obstructing justice. Notably, seven eBay workers, including some bosses, were part of this disturbing plan.
eBay’s former employees harassed a couple critical of the company
In 2019, these workers sought to harm a couple, Ina and David Steiner, who wrote a newsletter, “EcommerceBytes,” criticizing eBay. They sent mean messages online and watched the couple’s home. Moreover, they also sent creepy items such as a bloody pig mask, a funeral wreath, live bugs, and a book about dealing with the death of a spouse. In 2022, authorities sentenced two former eBay employees to prison, while the remaining five are currently facing charges.
Prosecutors said that top executives at eBay didn’t like the Steiners’ newsletter because it criticized the company. In August 2019, the CEO at the time, Devin Wenig, texted another executive. He said it was time to “take her down,” referring to Ina Steiner.
eBay harassment victims were put through “pure hell”
Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy said eBay did terrible things. He mentioned that the workers wanted to scare the Steiners and make eBay look good. “The company’s employees and contractors involved in this campaign put the victims through pure hell, in a petrifying campaign aimed at silencing their reporting and protecting the eBay brand,” he said. This comes at a time when, eBay has also found itself among the apps collecting the most data from users recently.
eBay has acknowledged its wrongdoing and agreed to have an independent monitor oversee its actions for three years in response to the eBay harassment case. Consequently, is also has to make changes to how it follows the rules. If it does this for three years, the charges against it will be dropped.
CEO Jamie Iannone admitted that what his company did in 2019 was “wrong and reprehensible.” He promised that eBay would dedicate itself to adhering to high standards of behavior and ethics. Additionally, the company aims to rectify the situation, as much as possible, with the Steiners.
