A week in security (June 24 – June 30)

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A week in security (June 24 – June 30)
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Temu logo

June 28, 2024 – The Arkansas Attorney General filed a lawsuit against webshop Temu for allegedly being dangerous malware which is after personal data.

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June 27, 2024 – Researchers have found an online repository leaking sensitive data, including driving licenses and other identity documents.

June 27, 2024 – A competitor of the infamous Atomic Stealer targeting Mac users, has just launched a new campaign to lure in more victims.

Evolve Bank & Trust logo

June 26, 2024 – LockBit claimed to have breached Federal Reserve but in fact the data came from Evolve Bank & Trust

Malwarebytes Premium Security stops 100% of malware during AV Lab test

June 26, 2024 – Malwarebytes Premium blocked 100% of malware during the most recent testing by the AV Lab Cybersecurity Foundation.


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Sony Enters Crypto Exchange Arena with Acquisition of Amber

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Sony Enters Crypto Exchange Arena with Acquisition of Amber
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Sony Group, the Japanese conglomerate renowned for its gaming, music, and camera prowess, has officially entered the crypto exchange market.

According to crypto reporter Wu Blockchain, Sony has acquired Amber Japan, a regulated digital asset trading service provider.

Amber Japan, previously known as DeCurret, is the Japanese subsidiary of the global Amber Group.

This acquisition marks Sony’s significant step into the burgeoning world of cryptocurrency.

Amber Group’s Journey and Challenges

Amber Group, a global digital asset company, expanded its operations into Japan by acquiring and rebranding the Japanese crypto exchange DeCurret to Amber Japan in 2022.

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However, the company faced substantial financial challenges due to its trading capital exposure to the now-defunct crypto exchange FTX.

According to Crypto Briefing reports, The collapse of FTX prompted Amber Group to pivot its fundraising strategy, leading to a successful $300 million Series C round in December 2022.

Fenbushi Capital led this round, which also saw participation from notable investors such as Temasek, Sequoia China, Pantera, Tiger, and Coinbase.

The funds were aimed at protecting customers who lost money due to the FTX debacle.

Sony’s Blockchain and NFT Ambitions

Sony’s acquisition of Amber Japan is part of its broader strategy to diversify its portfolio, which already boasts a market value exceeding $100 billion.

For several years, the company has been exploring the potential of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and blockchain technology in gaming.

In March 2023, Sony filed a patent for an “NFT Framework for Transferring and Using Digital Assets Between Games Platforms.”

This patent outlines a system for using NFTs across different platforms, including features like NFT-locked gameplay, limited-use in-game tasks, and rewarding players with NFTs.

This move into the crypto exchange market aligns with Sony’s vision of integrating blockchain technology into its diverse range of products and services.

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Tantrum in Jersey, YouTube’s lullaby, and the EU’s no to broccoli bundles

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Tantrum in Jersey, YouTube’s lullaby, and the EU’s no to broccoli bundles
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Buckle up, news hounds! It’s time again for another episode of “News You Probably Missed and Shouldn’t Have!” We’ve got a whirlwind of headlines that went under the radar this past week packaged together to make you go, “Wait, what? When did this happen?” From illegal roadblocks for wireless giants to who-knows-what, this roundup is sure to keep you informed and maybe even a little surprised. So, grab a cup of coffee (or tea, we don’t judge), and let’s dive in!

New Jersey town blocks T-Mobile from building a tower

A town in New Jersey is throwing a tantrum like a toddler refusing broccoli because it’s “icky.” They are not letting T-Mobile build a cellphone tower in the area because it is allegedly unsafe, an illegal claim. That’s despite the carrier meeting all the requirements mandated by the law for creating a telecom facility, including the radio frequency emission limit. T-Mobile is trying to improve your wireless network connectivity, townfolks. It certainly won’t be using the tower to communicate with aliens.

YouTube prepares a sleep timer to let you sleep

Insomniacs rejoice! YouTube might finally stop keeping you company all night with a built-in sleep timer. The Music version of YouTube already has the feature, so it’s nice to see the video counterpart copying it. The new feature doesn’t yet have an ETA but imagine falling asleep to cat videos without the worry of waking up to polka music at 3 am. That’s what it can do. It’s like putting your phone on bedtime with a teddy bear. Sweet dreams!

The EU wants Microsoft to keep Teams and Office separate

Microsoft seems to be in hot water with the EU again! This time, it’s over its bundling of Teams with Office products. Imagine getting broccoli shoved in your lunchbox every day, even if you only wanted the pizza. That’s kind of the situation the EU sees with Teams being forced down users’ throats alongside Office. The EU is worried this gives Teams an unfair advantage and limits competition. So, Microsoft might be facing a hefty fine if it doesn’t clean up its act fast. A “broccoli pizza” for lunch might not work.

Google Search rolls back to Goooooooooogle days

Google Search is going back to the drawing board! Remember that endless scroll that lets you see results for days? Yeah, it’s getting the boot. From now on, you’ll be back to clicking through pages like a digital explorer in the olden days. Google says this change will make searches load faster, but some folks might miss the convenience of that never-ending scroll. Think of it as a forced break from the rabbit hole of search results – maybe you’ll actually find what you’re looking for faster after all!

Google Search continuous scrolling update next page

Your Google reviews are going public under one profile

Big brother Google is watching… your reviews! Get ready to be internet famous (or infamous) because Google just launched a new feature: public profiles for your reviews. Everyone can see if you think the latest Nicolas Cage flick is a masterpiece or a disaster. Bragging rights for that 5-star “Casablanca” review? You got it! Shame of admitting you secretly love reality TV? Uh oh. There is an option to make your profile private, but just like that time you accidentally posted a selfie you meant to delete… the internet never forgets.

You can now “Hype” up your favorite YouTube creator

Attention, YouTube devotee! Tired of just liking and sharing videos? Want to feel like a true patron of the arts (well, the art of cat videos)? YouTube is testing a new feature called “Hype”. It makes you a digital hype machine, boosting your favorite creators’ latest content. Think of it as showering them with virtual confetti (that grants them more views). It’s a win-win: creators get discovered, and you feel important. Now, someone just needs to invent a way to throw virtual tomatoes at bad content…

Apple aims to replace humans with robots in its iPhone factories

Ah, Apple and automation: a match made in…well, not exactly heaven for some folks. The company is looking to turn its iPhone factories into Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Instead of friendly humans, a bunch of robots will build your iPhone. It aims to replace at least half of human workers with machines. The good news: consistent quality control, maybe even lower prices. The bad news: saying goodbye to some human jobs, and the slight possibility of a robot uprising. Let’s just hope Siri doesn’t get any ideas…

Rimac is making a Level 4 robotaxi

Move over Bugattis, and make way for robotaxis! Rimac, the Croatian company known for its sleek and insanely fast electric supercars, is taking a sharp turn. Imagine ditching million-dollar rides for self-driving pod things. That’s basically Rimac’s new game plan. Their latest project is a Level 4 robotaxi called the Verne, and it’s aiming to hit the streets in 2026. So, ditch the dream of owning a Rimac supercar (unless you’ve got a Scrooge McDuck money vault), the future might involve being chauffeured around by one.

Verizon fined over $1 million for 911 outage

Verizon, the cell phone company that definitely isn’t run by pigeons in trench coats, blocked 911 calls in six whole US states for almost two hours! Instead of reaching paramedics or firefighters, all subscribers got was the soothing sounds of dead air. This happened sometime back, but the carrier couldn’t escape without repercussions. It had to cough up a cool $1 million for the blunder. Maybe invest in some signal flares for your next network upgrade, Verizon?

Korean internet provider installed malware on customer PCs

In a move that would make even a pirate raise an eyebrow, Korean internet service provider KT (aka Korea Telecom) is in hot water for allegedly installing malware on hundreds of thousands of customer computers (over 600,000). Why? To mess with their torrents, of course! Talk about a bad connection. This ISP decided to take a shady route to block a shady practice. Can’t wait to see how this plays out in court! Download justice may be slow, but it might hit KT hard.

Samsung to increase memory prices, blames AI for it

Samsung’s memory chips are suddenly in high demand, thanks to the booming world of AI. The company is using this as an excuse to bump up prices, which is about as subtle as a robot breakdancing. Imagine AI walking into a store, demanding memory chips in a robotic voice, and then accidentally tripping the inflation alarm. That’s basically what’s happening here. Looks like Samsung’s AI overlords are teaching it more about profit margins than processing power!

WhatsApp prepares a shortcut for video message replies

WhatsApp seems tired of seeing users fumbling around to reply to video messages (hey, WhatsApp claims it cannot see your messages). Its latest test update is saying “ditch the text, just react with a video!” Imagine a world where your grandma responds to your vacation clip with a thumbs-up video message – the future is here, folks! (Although, maybe hold off on sending that skydiving video to your parents just yet…)

WhatsApp video message replies test


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Apple is not promoting this Apple Music feature coming in iOS 18

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Apple is not promoting this Apple Music feature coming in iOS 18
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Last month we discussed a cool feature reportedly heading to Apple Music with the iOS 18 update. This feature is called Smart Crossfade and is supposed to make transitioning between songs seamless without hearing gaps of silence between tunes. While the song currently playing fades out, the next song starts to fade in. When I was in radio back in the day, this would be used when two songs were played back-to-back without any ads or DJ patter between songs.
Apple added Crossfade for Apple Music in iOS 17 but plans on making it smarter in iOS 18. Smart Crossfade is more seamless and not every transition between songs will allow for a fade out and a fade in; some will start immediately after the last word is sung on the tune currently playing. 

Apple is also making sure that the feature doesn’t change how an album sounds when the feature is enabled. A good example of this is the suite or medley (whichever you want to call it) of songs on  side 2 of the The Beatles’  Abbey Road album. This brilliant piece of musicianship, songwriting, and performing starts with “You Never Give Me Your Money” and continues through the end of the album with the 23-second “Her Majesty.” With the Smart Crossfade feature, the songs will segue right into each other as they do on the album.

In iOS 18 enabling Crossfade will turn on Smart Crossfade for Apple Music|Image credit-PhoneArena - Apple is not promoting this Apple Music feature coming in iOS 18

In iOS 18 enabling Crossfade will turn on Smart Crossfade for Apple Music|Image credit-PhoneArena

Smart Crossfade turns on once you enable Crossfire in the Apple Music app’s settings (more on that later). With Crossfade, users can set the length of the crossfade from one second to 12 seconds. If you’re an Apple Music subscriber running the iOS 18 beta, you can try Smart Crossfade. Go to Settings > Music and toggle on Crossfade. Play around with the settings until you find which Crossfade length (again, you can choose between one second and 12 seconds) you prefer. You can still do this to activate Crossfade in iOS 17 although you won’t get the new Smart Crossfade features until iOS 18 is installed.


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Google’s Circle to Search feature will soon scan barcodes and QR codes

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Google’s Circle to Search feature will soon scan barcodes and QR codes
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Circle to search | Image credit — Google
Google is working on enhancing its Circle to Search feature with a new barcode and QR code scanning capability, according to a recent discovery in the Google app v15.25.32. This will give Circle to Search expanding functionality other than just identifying images on the screen.Initially introduced on the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Circle to Search has expanded to other Samsung and Google Pixel devices. This latest development, while not yet widely available, is a significant step forward from the basic search results page that currently appears when users attempt to scan codes using Circle to Search.

The new feature offers a streamlined scanning experience. Once a code is scanned, a chip appears next to it, displaying the URL or a preview, simplifying further navigation. This convenient functionality is similar to what’s already offered in Google Lens, making its integration into Circle to Search a logical progression.

Barcode scanning with Circle to Search | Images credit — Android Authority

This feature was manually activated and may not be widely available yet, but this first glimpse of it in action suggests a promising future for Circle to Search. The addition of barcode and QR code scanning capabilities could transform the way users interact with on-screen information, making it easier to access relevant content and resources.

It’s worth noting that Circle to Search has been steadily expanding its reach and capabilities since its initial release. Android 15 has already made improvements in beta to improve the experience on foldable devices, adjusting the trigger to fit the unique positioning of the taskbar. Additionally, recent code findings allude to the fact that Circle to Search may be included within Google Lens itself, making the feature even more helpful.

This new finding, though, opens up new possibilities for how we interact with digital content. Imagine easily accessing product information by scanning a barcode on a webpage or quickly following a QR code link without needing to open a separate app. With this new capability, Circle to Search could become an even more valuable tool for users.


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YouTube could soon let you upload your own video playlist covers

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YouTube could soon let you upload your own video playlist covers
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Image credit — PhoneArena

Google may be rolling out a new feature for YouTube that will allow users to upload custom thumbnails for their video playlists. This update was discovered by breaking down the code in the latest YouTube for Android beta (v19.26.33), where references to a “custom thumbnail for a playlist” were found, along with new error messages related to uploading playlist covers.Currently, the thumbnail for a YouTube playlist is automatically set to the thumbnail of the first video in the playlist. While users can change this to another video within the playlist, there is no option to upload a completely custom image. This limitation has been a source of frustration for some users who want more control over the visual presentation of their playlists.

The ability to upload custom thumbnails for playlists would be a welcome addition for many YouTube users. It would give them more creative freedom and allow them to better express themselves through their playlists. For example, a user could create a custom thumbnail that reflects the theme of their playlist or showcases the most visually appealing moment from one of the videos.

This update would also be beneficial for content creators who use playlists to organize their videos. Custom thumbnails would make it easier for viewers to identify and navigate through a creator’s content, potentially leading to increased engagement and viewership.

It’s unclear when this feature will be officially rolled out to all users, but it’s a promising development for those who want more control over their YouTube experience. One thing that is sorely missing right now from YouTube is the ability to upload your own thumbnail for Shorts when using the web app. However, uou are able to select from an existing frame in the video when uploading the video on mobile. Although not necessarily the same thing, it’s good to see YouTube tackling some of these personalization features and hopefully we get more of that in the future.


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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 6 & Fold 6 Leak Again

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Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 6 & Fold 6 Leak Again
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We’re a little more than a week away from Galaxy Unpacked, so we’re seeing loads of leaks of the new foldables that Samsung is planning to announce, including the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Galaxy Z Fold 6. We’ve already seen these foldables in every color, and now, thanks to Evleaks, we’re seeing them once again with even more angles.

Below, you’ll see the Galaxy Z Flip 6 in four colors. This includes yellow, mint, light blue, and gray color. It’s interesting that Samsung is not providing a true black color this time around – not even on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Judging by these renders, there doesn’t appear to be many differences from the previous models. Aside from the colored ring around the cameras, they match each color of the Flip 6. Samsung is sticking with that big screen on the front that looks like a folder. This means it will be smaller than what the new Motorola Razr+ is launching.

Rumors are pointing to the Galaxy Z Flip 6 having a price increase this year, starting at $1,199. That’s $100 more than the previous model. It’s expected to sport the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6 finally comes in pink!

The Galaxy Z Fold 6 is going to be available in three colors this year – midnight blue, gray and a light pink. Though, it is likely that we will see a few more colors available that will be exclusive to Samsung.com. This does mark the first foldable that is actually being made available in a pink color, likely to appeal to women. Though women are more likely to get the Flip 6, since they have smaller pockets.

With the Galaxy Z Fold 6, we’re still expecting this to be largely the same as the previous model. Though the displays are going to be a tad larger thanks to smaller bezels, with the corners being more sharp, versus rounded. Inside, it’ll sport the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy, 12GB of RAM and likely starting at 256GB of storage.

Samsung is set to unveil both of these products, and many more, at Unpacked on July 10.


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Slack starts removing features from free customers

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Slack starts removing features from free customers
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Slack has been growing a lot lately, so the company has decided to start removing features it offered to free customers. If you’re not paying for Slack, you’ll soon be unable to use some features as the company puts them behind a paywall.

The first one that will no longer be available to free customers come August is free lifetime message history. Slack announced over the weekend that starting August 26, it will begin deleting messages and files more than one year old from free workspaces on a rolling basis.

Slack says that it has changed subscriptions and features to maintain the quality of the app for its customers, but since its customers base grew so much over the years, it’s now unable to provide non-paying customers with some features that require a lot of resources.

That said, Slack will no longer keep messages and files from the lifetime of your free workspace. If you’re keeping your files stored on Slack’s database and you’re a non-paying customer, everything that’s older than a year will be deleted.

According to Slack, customers who choose to not pay for a subscription will have full access to the past 90 days of message and file history, and the remaining 275 days will become available if they decide to upgrade to a paid subscription.

Customers who eventually upgrade will have their messages and files based on their chosen retention period stored, with an option to keep all history.

It’s worth noting that in order to avoid losing your message and file history, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid subscription before August 26. If you’d rather remain freemium, then your only other option would be to export your stored files, which can be done with the free version of Slack.

Currently, Slack offers three subscription tiers: Pro ($8.75), Business+ ($15), and Enterprise Grid (price varies). All three subscription tiers offer customers unlimited message history.


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Take a look at official Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Flip 6 cases

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Take a look at official Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Flip 6 cases
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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 will become official next month. The two phones will launch on July 10 in Paris, the company has confirmed. With that being said, official Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Galaxy Z Flip 6 cases have just surfaced.

Following leaks of the devices themselves, we get to check out their cases. As a reminder, some cases did leak recently, but this leak delivers more options and more images in general. It comes from Evan Blass aka evleaks.

The official Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 & Galaxy Z Flip 6 cases have just surfaced

Those of you who are familiar with the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5 cases will be right at home here. In the gallery below you’ll see the well-known ‘Slim S Pen Case’, ‘Eco-Leather Case, and ‘Standing Case with Strap’ (and kickstand) for the Galaxy Z Fold 6. All three of those options are shown in several color variants.

In regards to the Galaxy Z Flip 6, there are two options shown here. The ‘Silicone Case with Ring’ is shown, and the other one seems to be a regular silicone case with interesting designs on the back. It’s possible this belongs to the ‘Clear Gadget Case’ lineup without the grip ring, or the ‘Flipsuit Case’ lineup. Both of those case variants are shown in several colors/options below.

The two phones are not launching alone

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be wider this time around. It will be close to the competition in that regard. It won’t be a huge change (in general) compared to its predecessor, however. The cameras will likely stay the same, the display crease won’t be much improved, and so on… well, at least according to rumors.

The Galaxy Z Flip 6 won’t be that much different either. Samsung will keep a similar design language, with some changes and a spec bump, of course. Those two Android devices will launch alongside a handful of other products on July 10. The Galaxy Ring is coming, Samsung’s first smart ring. Some smartwatches and earbuds will also be announced.


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