Google Messages is developing a fun feature called ‘Selfie GIFs’

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Google Messages is developing a fun feature called ‘Selfie GIFs’
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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.

Selfie GIFs in Google Messages
Credit: TheSpAndroid

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Amazon and BMW revolutionize driving experience with an AI-powered voice assistant

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Amazon and BMW revolutionize driving experience with an AI-powered voice assistant
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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.

This initiative reflects a broader trend in the automotive industry. Notably, other major players like Volkswagen and Mercedes are also entering the fray. Volkswagen, for instance, plans to merge ChatGPT with its existing IDA voice assistant.


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Apple Watch faces oximeter patent infringement: settlement or redesign?

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Apple Watch faces oximeter patent infringement: settlement or redesign?
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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.


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Arm’s ‘Blackhawk’ CPU design aims to beat Apple’s custom ARM implementation

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Arm’s ‘Blackhawk’ CPU design aims to beat Apple’s custom ARM implementation
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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.


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British Cosmetics Retailer Lush Investigating Cyber Attack

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British Cosmetics Retailer Lush Investigating Cyber Attack
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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.

  1. UK Royal Family Website Hit by DDoS Attack from KillNet
  2. UK Air Traffic Control System Collapses, Causing Travel Chaos
  3. Cyberattack on UK IT Firm Swan Retail Affects up to 300 Retailers
  4. UK’s Ofcom confirms cyber attack as PoC exploit for MOVEit is released
  5. UK Electoral Commission Admits Major Data Breach Spanning Over a Year

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Gmail could finally let you clear out those annoying subscriptions

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Gmail could finally let you clear out those annoying subscriptions
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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.

Gmail Manage Subscriptions button

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.

Gmail report button


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DOJ rules eBay to pay $3 million in relation to harassment case

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DOJ rules eBay to pay $3 million in relation to harassment case
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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.


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Come see the Galaxy S24 Ultra get unboxed before the official launch

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Come see the Galaxy S24 Ultra get unboxed before the official launch
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Samsung’s next Unpacked event is only two days away, and we’re all super excited for the new Galaxy S24 phones. Well, it appears that some people are more excited than others, as we’re still getting leaks of these devices. We just got some new leaked unboxing videos of the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and they confirm some leaked and rumored information.

If you’re excited about seeing the next unpacked event, it will be happening at 1:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 17th. You’ll be able to catch it on Samsung’s official YouTube channel. We expect the company to announce several AI features because AI is now the big thing in Tech. And we all know that Samsung is always looking for the “Next Big Thing.” Along with AI enhancements, these phones are expected to come with the typical slew of hardware improvements.

We have new unboxing videos of the Galaxy S24 Ultra

A new post on X just spilled the beans on this upcoming phone. The account posted three different videos; each video showcases the unboxing of one color of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. As if this was a great big mystery, the Galaxy S24 Ultra closely resembles the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which resembles the Galaxy S22 Ultra… and, well, those devices resemble the later Galaxy Note devices. So, it has a familiar design. It’s large, it’s boxy, and it has the camera sensors jutting from the body individually.

What sets this model apart from previous models is the fact that it has a flat display. This marks the first time in nearly a decade that Samsung has released a full line of Galaxy S phones with flat displays.

In the videos, we see that the person is unboxing the videos and what looks like a store. So, it appears that the S24 has arrived at stores in preparation for retail sales, and an employee wanted to showcase these devices early.

In any case, we see how the phone looks and its Titanium Yellow, Titanium Violet, and Titanium Gray colors. These were the rumored colors for the device, so these unboxing videos just pretty much confirm these colors. There’s not much else that we can glean from the videos that we haven’t already discovered. There are also rumors that Samsung is going to offer some Samsung-exclusive colors that you can only buy from Samsung’s site.

If you’re curious about what these phones are going to pack, you should definitely check out our preview of the Galaxy S24 Ultra. Maybe the two more affordable models pique your interest; why not check out the preview for the Galaxy S24 in Galaxy S24+?


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fuboTV will offer unlimited cloud DVR, with for a price hike

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fuboTV will offer unlimited cloud DVR, with for a price hike
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Days after increasing its subscription fee, fuboTV has announced its plans to increase the monthly subscription charges again. fuboTV’s new pricing reflects a $5 increase in the monthly subscription fees, effective from January 10, 2024, for both new and returning customers. If you signed up on or before that date, your new pricing will kick in on your billing cycle from February 1, 2024. However, there’s a good part: subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR with these new rates.

fuboTV increased prices for new and returning customers.

fuboTV has notified all users about this change via email. In case you missed the email, the streaming platform recommends checking your spam or junk folders. It noted that it has more than 70 channels in its basic package, including 10 radio channels in 2023.

You’d wonder why fuboTV has increased subscription fees. Well, it explains that this is primarily due to the costs associated with acquiring and maintaining high-quality content. The statement suggests that, occasionally, programming partners raise the prices they charge the streaming service for the content. These increases in licensing fees, production costs, and other related expenses can contribute to the overall operational expenses of the platform.

fuboTV’s available plans — and what’s changed.

fuboTV’s basic “Pro” package now costs $79.99 per month. There are fancier options too – the “Elite” one is $89.99, the “Premier” is $99.99, and the “Ultimate” is $104.99. But you can’t sign up for the “Ultimate” one if you’re a new subscriber. Also, fuboTV is adding $1 more each month for local live sports, which also applies to the Starz add-on.

The major highlight of fuboTV’s price hike is that it has eliminated DVR recording limits for all plans. So, everyone can enjoy unlimited recordings. This is a significant advantage similar to YouTube TV, but Google‘s service still provides this DVR benefit at a lower cost, as YouTube TV begins at $72.99 per month. We don’t know yet when fuboTV customers will get unlimited DVR recording, though.


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Fidelity National Financial acknowledges data breach affecting 1.3 million customers

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Fidelity National Financial acknowledges data breach affecting 1.3 million customers
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In November 2023, real estate services company Fidelity National Financial (FNF) got its systems knocked offline for a week after a cyberincident.

As is often the case these days, it turns out that the cyberincident was very likely a ransomware attack that included a data breach. Ransomware operators typically steal data from the compromised systems to use as extra leverage against the victim.

The attack on FNF was claimed by ransomware group ALPHV/BlackCat on its leak site. ALPHV is typically in the top five most active ransomware gangs in our monthly ransomware reviews and is one of the most dangerous ransomware groups in the world.

The listing on ALPHV’s leak site has since been removed which might indicate that the ransom was paid. But it could also be another reason: In December 2023, the gang’s infrastructure was taken down by law enforcement. Unfortunately the gang did re-appear soon after.

In a form 8-K, FNF said it had notified applicable state attorneys general and regulators, and approximately 1.3 million potentially impacted consumers. Form 8-K is known as a “current report” and it is the report that companies must file with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about.

The company has not so far specified the type of data that may have been stolen. FNF is providing credit monitoring and identity theft services to affected customers.

Data breach

There are some actions you can take if you are, or suspect you may have been, the victim of a data breach.

  • Check the vendor’s advice. Every breach is different, so check with the vendor to find out what’s happened, and follow any specific advice they offer.
  • Change your password. You can make a stolen password useless to thieves by changing it. Choose a strong password that you don’t use for anything else. Better yet, let a password manager choose one for you.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). If you can, use a FIDO2-compliant hardware key, laptop or phone as your second factor. Some forms of two-factor authentication (2FA) can be phished just as easily as a password. 2FA that relies on a FIDO2 device can’t be phished.
  • Watch out for fake vendors. The thieves may contact you posing as the vendor. Check the vendor website to see if they are contacting victims, and verify any contacts using a different communication channel.
  • Take your time. Phishing attacks often impersonate people or brands you know, and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions, and security alerts.
  • Set up identity monitoring. Identity monitoring alerts you if your personal information is found being traded illegally online, and helps you recover after.

We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity

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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