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Galaxy S23 Ultra emerges as favorite Android camera on Flickr

Android

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December 7, 2023

Galaxy S23 Ultra emerges as favorite Android camera on Flickr

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Samsung‘s S-series flagships are always among the best camera phones, particularly the Ultra model. This year’s Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a top-notch photography and videography experience, making it a great camera all-rounder. The result of a new survey is a testament to its camera quality. Photos shot by the Galaxy S23 Ultra are the most loved among all Android devices on Flickr.

Galaxy S23 Ultra photos outshine Android rivals on Flickr

Flickr is one of the world’s most popular online image-hosting services. It lets users upload photos to share with the world or save them privately for future use. Other users can like/love, comment, and share photos published publicly. Electronics Hub recently analyzed more than 1.16 million photos on Flickr and observed that photos captured with certain smartphones receive a higher number of average likes than others.

According to the study, Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro produces the most loved photos. It received 29.8 average likes among the surveyed photos on Flickr. Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S21 followed the iPhone with average likes of 21.7 and 20.9, respectively. The iPhone 12 Pro Max (17.1) and iPhone 14 Pro Max (16.6) make up the top five best camera phones based on average likes on Flickr.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 9 is next in the ranking, followed by the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini, Google Pixel 7 Pro, and iPhone 12. Newer phones, such as the Pixel 8 series and iPhone 15 series, didn’t make it to the list. These devices recently hit the market, so photos from them may not have garnered enough likes on Flickr yet. The Galaxy S21 and iPhone 12 series have been around for a long, so it’s easy to see why they beat new iPhones and Pixels.

Overall, this study doesn’t tell you the full picture. The devices that made it to the list aren’t the outright top ten best camera phones available today. Some of them are, such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But some others, including the iPhone 12 Mini and Galaxy S21, are relatively old and don’t pack the best camera hardware. Nonetheless, they capture photos well enough to wow Flickr users.

The study also evaluated the best digital camera brands and models

This study isn’t limited to smartphone cameras. It also evaluated the best digital camera brands and models, going deeper into photography types—landscape, wildlife, architecture, food, fashion, and portraits. Olympus, Leica, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Sony topped the list, in that order. Canon didn’t make it into the top five but its EOS M6 Mark II camera produced the most loved photos on Flickr. You can find the full report here.

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Meta starts testing more than a dozen AI experiences across its social apps

Apps

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December 7, 2023

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Meta starts testing more than a dozen AI experiences across its social apps

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Meta announced this week it has ramped up security by adding default end-to-end encryption to Messenger and rolling out a bunch of other new features. On top of that, the social giant revealed over 20 AI generative experiences that are now being tested across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.These AI experiences will touch various aspects of these social apps, including search, discovery, ads, business messaging and much more. In the coming weeks, select users should start seeing these new AI-related features before they’re made available to everyone.

One of the new AI generative experiences coming to Meta’s Messenger and Instagram is called reimagine. Meta AI will generate and share an initial image requested by a user, then their friends can press and hold on the picture to riff on it with a text prompt and Meta AI will generate a brand-new image.

Furthermore, Meta announced that it will roll out Reels in Meta AI chats. The new feature will help users with recommendations in the form of Reels. Say you want to travel to a certain location. Meta AI will recommend the best places to visit and share Reels of the top sites so that you don’t miss any important attractions.

Meta is also testing new ways to create and share AI-generated images on Facebook, such as using Meta AI to convert images from landscape to portrait orientation to make it easier to share them to Stories.

Also, the company is testing using Meta AI to find relevant information in Groups, which will prevent users from missing out on the conversations, as well as suggest topics for new chats.

On top of that, Meta AI is being used in the Marketplace to help users learn more about the products they’re looking to buy. Meta hopes that its AI experiences will improve its search capabilities for friends, Pages, Groups and Marketplace listings.

Starting today, Meta is expanding access to Meta AI’s text-to-image generation feature outside of chats, making it available in the US to start at imagine.meta.com.

Last but not least, Meta announced that it will roll out invisible watermarking in the coming weeks. The invisible watermark will be applied with a deep learning model, and it will be imperceptible to the human eye. Meta also says that the watermark will be resistant to common image manipulations like cropping, color change, screenshots and more.

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Google adds a new way to watch free channels on Android TV devices

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December 7, 2023

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Google adds a new way to watch free channels on Android TV devices

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Google TV offers over 115 free channels, so it might be difficult to find what you want to watch with ease. That’s why the Mountain View company introduced a new way to watch all the free channels from Google TV.

Starting today and over the next few weeks, Android TV devices in the United States will be getting a shortcut to free channels in the Favorite Apps row on the home screen.

If you didn’t know, Google TV’s free channels includes just about everything from local news to movies to sports, all of which available on the fly without having to download anything or pay subscriptions.

Of course, the new shortcut is optional, so for even more free TV, The Live tab continues to be the one-stop destination for those who are searching for free content from more providers, including Pluto TV, Tubi, Plex, and Haystack News.

The new shortcut for free channels will automatically appear in the Favorite Apps row on your home screen, you don’t have to do anything. Hopefully, Google will roll out this feature to more countries in the coming months, but if you’re in the US, be on the lookout for this nifty functionality.

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Akira Ransomware Exploiting Zero-day Flaws For Network Access

Hacking

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December 7, 2023

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Akira Ransomware Exploiting Zero-day Flaws For Network Access

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The Akira ransomware group, which first appeared in March 2023, has been identified as a serious threat to data security. It encrypts data and demands a ransom for decryption, affecting both Windows and Linux devices.

The group has about 140 organizations as its target. The encryption binary of Akira, like that of many other ransomware, removes volume shadow copies, targets particular file extensions, and ignores files located in particular directories (such as those that include system files).

In particular, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Canada were among the nations from which the gang claimed several victims.

Specifics of Akira’s Recent Operations

Three phases were identified in the attack, according to CERT Intrinsec’s investigation. In the initial stage, Akira affiliates get access to the network by using credentials that have been stolen or by making use of the CVE-2023-20269 vulnerability (affecting Cisco ASA and FTD).

This enables them to perform brute-force attacks on local passwords covertly. By setting up local and domain accounts or installing remote access tools, they create their persistence in the information system.

Subsequently, affiliates use the Remote Desktop Protocol to travel laterally throughout the infrastructure, gather data, exfiltrate it using Filezilla or WinSCP, and then remove all traces of their activities to evade discovery.

The second phase lasts several days, during which affiliates stay stealthy. They could be analyzing technical data gathered from the information system or examining data that has been exfiltrated.

Attack path — Akira’s operation timeline

In the final stage, the attackers reappear to establish their final points of persistence, turn off security measures, attempt to destroy backups and erase volume shadow copies before executing their encryption code on the designated servers.

Investigations carried out during Akira operations reveal that affiliates will employ as many practical and legitimate techniques as possible, perhaps to ensure EDR solutions are bypassed.

Attackers attempted to remove Volume Shadow Copies using PowerShell commands and a management console connection to remove VEEAM backups.

“They finally encrypted equipments on the information system, using an Akira encryption binary,” researchers said.

Recommendation:

Install a backup solution and regularly test the restoration procedure.
Maintain a minimum of one backup version outside the information system.
Keep an eye on backup infrastructure access.

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What makes the Z Library more unique for readers?

Tech

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December 7, 2023

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What makes the Z Library more unique for readers?

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Z Library is a well-liked online resource for readers because of its enormous range of digital books in several genres. It will be transformed into a digital format via a desktop application. Private domains are no longer a problem, and no one has to visit libraries. Furthermore, if kids stay away from libraries, they won’t be able to stop reading. The answer is to read the books you wish to read on the digital platform.

These titles are available for download on this digital platform for reading at Z-Library. We’ll discuss z-lib, a creative online reading and downloading resource offered by the library. Anything concerning literature may be found there. It is not the only website offering an extensive selection of books.

Large-Scale Resource Collection:

Z Library is an online resource that puts a wealth of information at your fingertips. Its library is broad in genres, fields, and languages, meeting the requirements and interests of a wide range of consumers. Additionally, it provides multimedia content in the form of graphic novels, movies, and audiobooks.

Regardless of their preferences or preferred learning methods, users will always have access to a rich and engaging learning experience because of this range of information.

Z Library provides users with the ability to delve into new areas of knowledge, unearth precious finds, and go on limitless intellectual adventures. Its collection will quench the information and inspiration needs of everyone, be they a professional looking to broaden their skills, a student performing research, or an ardent reader seeking new literary adventures.

The Best eBooks to Download on Any Device:

Do you wish to steer clear of getting crappy books from free platforms? A common worry among users of free digital libraries is the caliber of the books. But Zlibrary goes to great lengths to guarantee that the books on their website are of the highest caliber. It ensures that the books are flawless and devoid of mistakes.

Z-library offers reading materials that you may be certain are of the best caliber. Books from respectable publishers and scholarly periodicals get included in the platform’s inventory. To guarantee that the books on the platform are of the highest caliber, Zlibrary also features a review system that lets users rate and comment on books. The site administrators will examine any books users report as being of low quality or containing inaccuracies.

What Are The Z Library’s Features and Functionalities?

Z library offers several elements that improve the experience of reading beyond just being an eBook compilation. One thing to note is that you may change your reading arrangement gets configured. You may personalize several elements of your reading experience to suit your tastes. It involves choosing between a bright and dark theme and changing the font size and arrangement. Having this degree of personalization ensures that every reader may enjoyably and aesthetically interact with their favorite literature. Having a lot of books makes it difficult to find the perfect title. Still, the search feature makes finding certain books, authors, or even book sections.

Using the search function can help you locate the best book choice if you have any recollections of a quotation or are looking for information on a specific topic. It will maximize your time and effort. With z-lib, you may read on various devices with ease. Regardless of whether you choose to read on an e-reader, tablet, or smartphone, it ensures that your progress gets synced across all platforms. While on the road, you can start reading a book on your smartphone and pick up where you left off on your tablet when you get home. With this ease of use, readers can include reading into their daily routines, no matter which device they prefer.

Zlibrary’s Prospects

Zlibrary has gone a long way since its start and continues to develop and expand. The site features an active community of contributors who constantly upload new books.

The software also intends to develop new features and broaden its library to improve accessibility and enjoyment of reading. Enhancing the app’s recommendation algorithm is one of the things it is working on right now. The platform seeks to provide customers with customized book suggestions according to their reading choices and history. Users will find it simpler to find new books and writers they would not have otherwise come across.

Zlibrary is a ground-breaking platform that has revolutionized the reading industry. No matter where you live or your financial situation, it has made books more accessible. Book enthusiasts from everywhere now visit the app because of its extensive library of books, easy-to-use UI, and accessibility features. This software is a literary game-changer whether you’re a researcher, student, or book enthusiast.

Conclusion

Z-library is the ideal resource- if you enjoy reading books and are a lifelong learner. It has never been easier to locate the knowledge you need because of its extensive library of books and articles, intuitive layout, and effective search engine. Zlibrary is a trustworthy and dependable resource because of its dedication to customer privacy and selection of high-quality literature. So why not attempt it? You will undoubtedly discover something that interests you among the more than 5 million books available for free access.

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Hackers Deliver AsyncRAT Through Weaponized WSF Script Files

Hacking

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December 7, 2023

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Hackers Deliver AsyncRAT Through Weaponized WSF Script Files

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The AsyncRAT malware, which was previously distributed through files with the .chm extension, is now being disseminated via WSF script format. The WSF file was found to be disseminated in a compressed file (.zip) format through URLs included in emails.

AsyncRAT spreads through a variety of strategies and tactics. Malspam and phishing efforts, which mimic legitimate messages like DHL shipment updates with malicious file attachments, are the most prevalent infection vectors.

Threat actors are still creating and using cutting-edge and unique ways to spread AsyncRAT, such as “fileless” injection, which loads the main AsyncRAT binary into memory and runs it without requiring the target system to have a file installed.

How is the AsyncRAT Disseminated via WSF Script?

The AhnLab Security Emergency Response Center (ASEC) reports that the downloaded zip file is decompressed to produce a file with the .wsf file extension.

This file just has one <script> tag in the middle and is primarily made up of comments, as seen in the image below.

https://i0.wp.com/asec.ahnlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-81.png?resize=702%2C360&ssl=1 — The download link in the WSF script

Upon executing this script, a Visual Basic script is downloaded and executed. From the same C2 address, this script downloads a.jpg file, which is a zip file masquerading as a jpg file.

https://i0.wp.com/asec.ahnlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-97.png?resize=1024%2C361&ssl=1 — The attack flow

It then converts this jpg file’s extension to.zip before decompressing it. An XML file containing the command string to launch the Error.vbs file included in the compressed file is produced and executed using PowerShell.

Before loading and running the binary, the last file to be executed, pwng.ps1, converts the contained strings into a.NET binary.

https://i0.wp.com/asec.ahnlab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-98.png?resize=1024%2C511&ssl=1 — PowerShell script launching a fileless attack

Three obfuscated variables are used in these phases such as:

$jsewy: Malware that performs the features of AsyncRAT
$jsewty: Malware that performs the injection feature
$KRDESEY: The process the malware is injected into

“The malware executed in the end is identified as AsyncRAT which has information exfiltration and backdoor features”, researchers said.

Recommendation

The threat actor uses complex fileless techniques without the need for EXE files to spread the same malware in different ways.

When opening files or external links from emails, users should always exercise caution. Users are advised to utilize security product monitoring tools to recognize and block access from threat actors.

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LG Innotek is paving the Way for iPhone’s under-display camera

Tech

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December 7, 2023

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LG Innotek is paving the Way for iPhone’s under-display camera

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Apple‘s Korean suppliers dive into the development of under-display cameras (UDC), aiming to deliver the first iPhone with a truly “all-screen” appearance. This move, led by LG Innotek, marks a groundbreaking endeavor to eliminate the visible hole in the display without hindering the image quality.

UDCs distinguish themselves from typical front camera modules by residing beneath the display, ensuring an unobstructed screen when the camera is inactive. However, the technology presents challenges related to light delivery to the image sensor, potentially impacting image quality and brightness due to light loss through the display area.

Apple could use under-display Face ID by 2025 and under-display camera by 2027

To overcome this hurdle, LG Innotek is pioneering a “freeform optic” multiple-lens system. This innovative approach aims to reduce optical aberrations and enhance the light intensity ratio around the optical module, ultimately improving peripheral image quality. The development process, initiated by LG Innotek, builds upon patents published since December of the previous year, with expectations of further patents as the project advances.

LG Display, an affiliate of LG Innotek’s LG Group, has also entered the UDC development arena. The company is aiming to increase UDC’s light transmittance to 20% by 2023 and an impressive 40% after 2024 (via The Elec). Hopefully, it will align with Apple’s standards by that time. Notably, Apple reportedly received a UDC sample from an undisclosed vendor; however, it fell short of the tech giant’s performance expectations.

Apple reportedly aims to adopt the under-display Face ID in the iPhone 17 Pro by 2025. Subsequently, analysts expect Apple to include the under-display camera in 2027’s “Pro” iPhone models, according to insights from respected analyst Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants.

However, Samsung has been using UDC since 2021, with some limitations

While the UDC’s deployment in iPhones is slated for the mid-2020s, Samsung has already embraced this technology in its Galaxy Z Fold series of foldable phones since 2021. Samsung’s implementation, however, currently lags behind flagship bar-type smartphones in pixel count. It goes to show that the under-display technology is still in its early stages and has a long way to go to meet the required quality standards.

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Chrome on Android makes back & forth navigation much faster

Android

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December 7, 2023

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Chrome on Android makes back & forth navigation much faster

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As Chrome developers, one crucial optimization to achieve an enhanced user experience is leveraging the back/forward cache or bfcache. This browser feature significantly improves navigation speed, especially for users on slower networks or devices.

Bfcache has long been supported in Firefox and Safari across desktop and mobile platforms. In Chrome, Google introduced the support for bfcache in version 86 for Android, initially for a small user base. Subsequent releases expanded this support. Since version 96, bfcache is now enabled for all Chrome users on both desktop and mobile.

Bfcache on Chrome enables faster navigation across pages

The back/forward cache operates as an in-memory storage system, capturing a complete snapshot of a page, including the JavaScript heap, as users navigate away. When users decide to return, the browser can swiftly restore the entire page from memory, creating an instant experience.

Consider the scenario where a user visits a website, clicks a link to another page, and then realizes it’s not what they wanted—clicking the back button. Without bfcache, the browser initiates loading the previous page.

Depending on optimization, the browser might need to re-download, re-parse, and re-execute some or all resources. However, with bfcache enabled, an instant restoration becomes possible, which significantly improves the user experience. The browser loads the previous page instantly, directly from memory without network requests.

This addition to Chrome also reduces your data usage

Bfcache on Chrome reduces data usage since it doesn’t need to download resources again. Chrome usage data (via web.dev) reveals that 1 in 10 desktop and 1 in 5 mobile navigations involve going back or forward. Enabling bfcache has the potential to eliminate data transfers and loading time for billions of web pages daily.

It’s crucial to note that the “cache” used by bfcache differs from the HTTP cache, which stores responses for previously made requests. The bfcache, being a snapshot of the entire page in memory, ensures faster restoration than even the most optimized non-bfcache navigations.

In conclusion, this new addition to Chrome enhances user experience, making navigation seamless and efficient.

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Acer intros Nitro V 16 gaming laptop with AI-powered AMD CPUs

Tech

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December 6, 2023

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Acer intros Nitro V 16 gaming laptop with AI-powered AMD CPUs

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Acer has announced its latest gaming laptop, the Nitro V 16, and it’s powered by AI by way of AMD’s new Ryzen 8040 series processors. The Nitro V 16 is aimed at more casual gamers (not unlike its recently announced Nitro V 15) and it comes with a reasonably affordable price tag. But don’t let that fool you. Based on the configuration options, it seems like the Nitro V 16 will be more than capable of handling many games. From Starfield to Cyberpunk 2077, the Nitro V 16 appears equipped to do it all.

That being said, those looking to pick this up when it launches next year do want to temper expectations. You won’t be blazing through Night City’s neon streets with maxed-out settings and path tracing enabled. You should however have no problem playing with decent graphics and good frame rates. On the inside, the Acer Nitro V 16 can come with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU. So you will have access to features like NVIDIA’s DLSS3 and ray tracing features. The laptop can also come with up to AMD’s new Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU.

This processor is built on AMD’s Zen 4 core architecture and boasts benefits like improved battery life from power optimizations. Additionally, the laptop has up to 32 GB of DRR55600 RAM and up to 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage. You’ll also find a 16-inch display with two resolution options. WXQGA or WUXGA, both with a refresh rate of 165Hz.

The Acer Nitro V 16 launches in March 2024

This would have made a great budget gaming laptop to have ready for the holidays but alas, Acer isn’t launching until next year. Specifically March 2024 for consumers in North America. The Nitro V 16 will start at $999 USD but Acer also notes that it doesn’t yet have final configurations or models for the US market. So there’s no telling what exact specs will be for consumers in the US. At least not at this time.

Taking that into consideration, US buyers may or may not have access to the most powerful versions of this laptop. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see.

AI is at the heart of some really cool features in this laptop

AI is embedded into almost everything these days it seems. From Google’s new Gemini AI model powering the Pixel 8 Pro to Lenovo’s Legion 9i gaming laptop announced back in August of this year. Acer is merely the next brand to start incorporating more AI-based features into its machines. And for the Nitro V 16, it’s in large part due to the new AMD 8040 series processors.

Acer doesn’t mention the breadth of the AI features. However, AMD says the Ryzen AI software on this chip family will play a big role in the power efficiency of laptops. “Laptops with Ryzen AI can offload AI models to the NPU, thereby freeing up the CPU to reduce power consumption while extending battery life,” AMD says in its announcement.

It’s hard to say how this will translate to real-world battery life during gaming. But battery life is a common problem that needs solving with gaming laptops. And this seems to be AMD’s attempt at tackling the issue. With that said, the Nitro V 16 is worth keeping an eye on. Especially for those wanting a laptop that won’t die as quickly during game sessions.

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Here’s how Google Pixel’s new “Repair Mode” will protect your privacy when sending it in for service

Apps

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December 6, 2023

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Here’s how Google Pixel’s new “Repair Mode” will protect your privacy when sending it in for service

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As previously reported, the long-awaited “Repair Mode” is finally rolling out on select Pixel devices as part of the December Feature Drop, offering peace of mind when you need to send your phone in for repairs. This new feature allows you to safely store your data away while still allowing technicians to access the device for diagnostics and repairs.Similar to Samsung’s “Maintenance Mode,” “Repair Mode” on Pixel devices creates a secure, temporary environment that protects your personal information. When activated, it encrypts your user data and creates a separate, limited profile for the technician. This allows them to access the system and perform necessary tests without jeopardizing your privacy.

“Repair Mode” can be accessed by going to Settings > Repair Mode, then tapping on “Enter Repair Mode.” At that point, your Pixel should request authentication, then restart and boot up into this special mode after a few minutes. Keep in mind that you will need to have at least 2GB of storage available on your device and a lock screen code (PIN, password, or pattern).

Image Credit–Mishaal Rahman

Android expert, Mishaal Rahman, shared a first look of the feature in action. In his video, he demonstrates that engaging “Repair Mode” doesn’t actually wipe your device, but rather simulates a factory reset.

Unfortunately, as reported by 9to5Google, not all Pixel devices will support the “Repair Mode” feature. Currently on the list are only the Pixel 6 and newer devices, leaving older devices like the Pixel 3 and Pixel 4 out. Additionally, the Pixel 6a, although not on the official list of supported devices, appear to have the feature available as reported by some users. The Pixel Tablet and Pixel 5a are also excluded from the list at the moment.

The arrival of “Repair Mode” marks a significant step forward for Pixel device security and user privacy. With this feature, you can be confident that your data remains protected even when your phone is out of your hands and on your next repair visit.

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