A worrying trend is cropping up amongst Americans, particularly within Generation Z—they’re spying on each other more.
Whether reading someone’s DMs, rifling through a partner’s text messages, or even rummaging through the bags and belongings of someone else, Americans enjoy keeping tabs on one another, especially when they’re in a relationship. According to recent research from Malwarebytes, a shocking 49% of Gen Zers agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “Being able to track my spouse’s/significant other’s location when they are away is extremely important to me.”
As far back as 2010, in a piece titled “Little Brother is Watching,” author Walter Kirn wrote for the New York Times:
“As the internet proves every day, it isn’t some stern and monolithic Big Brother that we have to reckon with as we go about our daily lives, it’s a vast cohort of prankish Little Brothers equipped with devices that Orwell, writing 60 years ago, never dreamed of and who are loyal to no organized authority. The invasion of privacy — of others’ privacy but also our own, as we turn our lenses on ourselves in the quest for attention by any means — has been democratized.”
Little Brother is us, recording someone else on our phones and then posting it on social media. Little Brother is us, years ago, Facebook stalking someone because they’re a college crush. Little Brother is us, watching a Ring webcam of a delivery driver, including when they are mishandling a package but also when they are doing a stupid little dance that we requested so we could post it online and get little dopamine hits from the Likes. Little Brother is our anxieties being soothed by watching the shiny blue GPS dots that represent our husbands and our wives, driving back from work.
Little Brother isn’t just surveillance. It is increasingly popular, normalized, and accessible surveillance. And it’s creeping its way into more and more relationships every day.
So, what can stop it?
Today, we speak with our guests, Malwarebytes security evangelist Mark Stockley and Malwarebytes Labs editor-in-chief Anna Brading, about the apparent “appeal” of Little Brother surveillance, whether the tenets of privacy can ever fully defeat that surveillance, and what the possible merits of this surveillance could be, including, as Stockley suggested, in revealing government abuses of power.
“My question to you is, as with all forms of technology, there are two very different sides for this. So is it bad? Is it good? Or is it just oxygen now?”
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone. This is going to be the most powerful handset in the Galaxy S24 flagship series. The information regarding the device has been leaking for quite some time now, and will continue doing so up until the launch event. Speaking of which, we’re here to share what we know thus far, so that you know what to expect. We’ll talk about the phone’s design, its specifications, and more down below. So, let’s get started, shall we?
This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on November 6, 2023.
When will the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra be released?
We’ve seen various different rumors regarding the Galaxy S24 Ultra launch. Most of them, and also the latest one, suggest that the phone will launch in January next year. The device is also tipped to launch in San Francisco, just like its predecessor. The Galaxy S23 series did launch on February 1, though, so this launch event will come a bit sooner than expected. The exact date has not been revealed yet, though, nor has it been tipped. We’ll have to wait and see. Considering that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be announced earlier this year, in October, a January launch is quite probable for the Galaxy S24 series.
What models are coming?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will launch alongside its siblings, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+, which we’ll round up in a separate article. That being said, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is also said to arrive in a single SoC variant, unlike its siblings. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will fuel the Galaxy S24 Ultra, while Samsung’s Eyxnos 2400 chip won’t be in the picture. Many people will see this as a good thing considering that Qualcomm’s flagship SoCs did have an upper hand for years.
How much will the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra cost?
The Galaxy S24 Ultra likely won’t cost more than the Galaxy S23 Ultra did. In fact, we’re expecting the same price tag. Having said that, the Galaxy S24 Ultra will likely start at $1,199. That will be the 8GB RAM variant with 256GB of storage. Samsung could yet surprise us and kick things off at 12GB of RAM, we’ll see. In any case, if that ends up being the starting price, the 512GB storage model will likely cost $1,299, and the 1TB model $1,619. These are only our assumptions at this point, as the price tags haven’t leaked out just yet. The Galaxy S24 Ultra will be quite similar to its predecessor in many ways, and Samsung will hardly justify a price bump.
What will the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra look like?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra already surfaced in CAD-based renders (shown at the end of the section). Those images do give us a good idea as to what to expect in the design department. This phone will resemble its predecessor a lot. In fact, even a video surfaced showing the transition from the Galaxy S23 Ultra to the Galaxy S24 Ultra (shown below), so that you can see the minor differences, at least on the back. There will be one considerable difference overall, though. The Galaxy S24 Ultra will feature a flat display.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra has a slightly curved display, but curved nonetheless. Well, Samsung will change that with the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The entire Galaxy S24 series will feature flat displays, which will happen for the Galaxy S series after a long, long time. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is also said to include a frame made out of titanium. As a reminder, the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a frame made out of aluminum.
The camera design will be very similar
The camera design on the back will be very similar, even the positioning of particular cameras will stay unchanged. You can clearly see that in the image provided below this paragraph. Three sensors will sit on the left, and two on the right. Four out of five of those sensors will be reserved for the cameras, and an LED flash will be placed in the same spot too. Each of those camera sensors will protrude from the backplate directly, they won’t be placed inside a singular camera island or anything like that. The Galaxy S24 Ultra will retain a slight curve on the back, but it will be less pronounced than on the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
You will also notice that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will retain the sharp corners that its predecessor has. In fact, those corners will be even slightly more pronounced here. The physical buttons will once again sit on the right-hand side. They’re seemingly in the same place as on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. The left and right sides of the phone will be slightly curved, while the top and bottom ones will be flat, as we’re used to.
This is what the Galaxy S24 Ultra will look next to its predecessor
A well-known tipster has also decided to show us the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra side-by-side. Do note that the Galaxy S24 Ultra design is based on the info he has, this is not a leak or anything of the sort. Check out the image below.
Galaxy S23 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra
What specs will the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra have?
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra will be fueled exclusively by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, based on reports. The other two Galaxy S24 models could arrive in an Exynos version too, though. In any case, Samsung will once again get the “For Galaxy” version of the Snapdragon chip. It will likely just be clocked higher than the regular chip. The phone is expected to feature a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display, just like its predecessor. That display will offer a 120Hz refresh rate, and it will be an LTPO panel (1-120Hz). Chances are it will be even brighter than the one on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Considering the brightness on Samsung’s current flagship, that’s great.
LPDDR5X RAM & UFS 4.0 flash storage will be in use
Samsung will utilize either 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM in the base model of the device. The most powerful variant will likely come with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. Three storage variants are expected, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB models. All three are set to use UFS 4.0 flash storage, and storage expansion will not be possible. A 5,000mAh battery will be included in the package, while 45W wired charging will once again be available. Chances are that Samsung will stick with 15W wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging, for better or worse. And no, the charger will not be available in the box.
The phone will come with a downgraded periscope camera, it seems
Android 14 will come pre-installed on the device, with One UI 6. Do note that Samsung could boost its software support longevity, to follow Google. Now, what about the cameras? Well, a 200-megapixel camera will once again be in use (a better sensor, though, ISOCELL HP2SX). That will be the phone’s main camera. It will be backed by a 10-megapixel telephoto camera (Sony’s IMX754+ sensor, 1.12um pixel size), a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (Sony’s IMX564 sensor, 1.4um pixel size), and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera. Based on leaks, the phone’s 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera will offer a 5x optical zoom (Sony’s IMX854 sensor, 0.7um pixel size), not a 10x one like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, unfortunately. The regular telephoto camera will offer support for 3x optical zoom.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra may actually get the same S Pen as the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s also worth noting that satellite connectivity may be a part of the package too. It is claimed that the Galaxy S24 series will be the company’s “smartest” lineup of phones, thanks to AI.
It will be considerably lighter than its predecessor
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is tipped to measure 162.3 x 79 x 8.6mm, and weigh 195 grams. That means it will be a lot lighter than its predecessor, which weighs 234 grams. It will also be slightly shorter, and a bit wider if this info is accurate. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is coming in Black, Gray, Violet, and Yellow colors. Light Blue, Light Green, and Orange colors will be online exclusive. Also, there are rumors that a gold-colored variant will be on offer too.
Should you wait to buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra?
Is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra the right phone for you? Well, that’s not something we can tell you, and especially not yet. If you love premium phones that are also big, and that also offer a truly compelling camera setup. Well, chances are you’re considering Samsung’s ‘Ultra’ phones. If you like the one you have now, and would like to upgrade, or are switching from something similar, this may be a good option. The thing is, we’re worried about the 5x optical camera rumor. It sure sounds like a downgrade compared to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. That periscope telephoto camera was the phone’s strong suit. It remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra does look like a compelling device even now, especially if you were annoyed by the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s curved display.
Maybe downloading that sketchy game is not the best idea. Researchers have discovered several apps on the Google Play Store that threat actors have camouflaged as innocent apps, but they are, in fact, trojan malware. Numerous new trojans, posing as legitimate apps, infiltrated the Google Play Store and were downloaded by hundreds of thousands of Android users. Among these were FakeApp trojans, Joker trojans, and HiddenAds adware trojans.
HiddenAds trojans are notorious for showing intrusive ads to users. They represent one of the most common types found on Android, tricking users into downloading them and subsequently bombarding them with ads. Identifying the app responsible for displaying the ads can be challenging due to the covert strategies used by HiddenAds. One method is deleting their own icons and names from your home screen, so they go unnoticed. Another way is by changing their icon and name to something well-known, like the Chrome browser, hiding in plain sight.
Freezing Game Studio released four innocent-looking apps, namely Agent Shooter, Rainbow Stretch, Rubber Punch 3D, and Super Skibydi Killer, and used them to distribute HiddenAds malware. The total number of downloads for these apps exceeded 2 million.
In September, there was a decrease in overall Android malware activity, but many new malicious apps emerged on the Google Play Store
Moving on, we have the Android FakeApp trojans, a deceptive category of malware. FakeApps operate with the intention of tricking victims into becoming investors or users of fraudulent websites. FakeApps take on different forms. They disguise themselves as gaming apps, stock trading apps, financial guides, and reference books. These apps direct users to fraudulent sites or online casinos, attempting to lure them into making deposits.
Finally, there’s the Joker malware family. These deceptive apps subscribe victims unknowingly to paid services, stealing contact info, text messages, and sensitive data. The initial Joker malware cases used SMS fraud to enroll victims in subscriptions or make payments without their knowledge. The latest Joker malware variant downloads an executable from a C2 server and enrolls you in premium subscriptions without your awareness. It will simultaneously sidestep Google’s security and silently takes control of the notification listener, leaving users in the dark.
The Google Play Store has built-in malware protection with Google Play Protect. It provides a range of security features, such as scanning apps, verifying apps, and controlling app permissions to protect against malware. However, it struggles with detecting unknown or novel malware while excelling at known malware detection. The Google Play Store also faces the challenge of fake app reviews. Google uses algorithms and relies on user reports to detect and remove fake reviews, but the sheer number of apps and reviews can make it challenging to catch all instances of fraud.
In conclusion, the Google Play Store is fantastic, but users should proceed cautiously when downloading new apps to their devices.
WhatsApp has been working on adding more privacy options to its platform recently, and since August, the chat app’s developers have been working on adding an email-based user verification system. Android Police reports that the feature is now inching closer to a wider release and more beta testers on Android are getting it.
WhatsApp email verification on Android gets an extended beta rollout
The info comes from WABetaInfo, and the publication notes that the email verification system is currently under development. For some beta testers on Android, it’s available within Settings > Account. It is enabled for some of the beta testers on version 2.23.24.10. It will reportedly reach more beta testers in the coming days.
The menu for the email verification is pretty simple. It includes a field for your email and a clarification that email addresses are not visible to other users, and are only used to help users access their account. Understandably, you’ll need to verify your email to be able to use the feature.
This option is meant to be an additional security option for your WhatsApp account, in case, for example, you lose your phone. Your phone number will remain the first way to verify your identity on WhatsApp though, but luckily, you’ll also have the email option. It is not clear when exactly this feature will be available globally with a stable WhatsApp release, but it’s expected it will happen within the next few months, hopefully sooner rather than later.
The Vivo X100 series is coming on November 13. We’re close to the launch event, and as we get closer, more info gets revealed. All Vivo X100 series colors have just been revealed by the company. On top of that, a promo video surfaced.
All Vivo X100 colors get revealed by the company
We already knew that orange and blue colors were coming, and both surfaced. Well, in addition to that, white and black colors will also be available. You can check out all those colors in the gallery below.
It seems like orange and blue colors have some sort of pattern on their backs, while the white and black models do not. There’s a chance that there’s a glass backplate on all of these models, but the orange one. That model seems to have vegan leather on the back.
Now, in addition to these colors, a promo video also surfaced, and you can check it out below. It gives us a closer look at the device, and some of its features. The orange variant of the phone is in focus here.
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 SoC also got confirmed in a promo video
ZEISS optics is confirmed thanks to this video, and the same goes for a V3 ISP, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9300 SoC. The Vivo X100 Pro+ is rumored to include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but there’s a chance all three models could include the Dimensity 9300 processor.
This promo video also teases the great camera capabilities of these phones, especially when it comes to night shots and astrophotography.
The Vivo X100 series is said to feature LPDDR5T RAM, the fastest RAM on the market. Sony’s IMX989 1-inch camera sensor is tipped to be used, and ZEISS’ T* coating for reflections will also be applied on the back.
All in all, the Vivo X100 series will have plenty to offer. It will launch in China first, but it will see its way to more markets later on.
Updated on November 6:
Vivo also shared some lifestyle shots of the Vivo X100 series, you can check them out below.
The actress popular for her role in the HBO Max series Succession has a few things to say regarding AI and its usage. In an interview with the BBC, Sarah Snook chipped in a thing or two about her fear of AI and its usage in various industries. Quoting her, she says that AI “is terrifying” and goes on to point out things that make her quiver at the technology.
During the interview, she goes on to state that regulations need to be put in place on the usage of AI technology. Of particular focus for the actress was the acting industry, and she gave an impressive example of the technology’s abuse. Well, she doesn’t just single out the need for AI regulations in the acting industry, but other industries around the world.
However, she feels that the acting industry can set a precedent for other industries to follow. This will involve putting checks and balances on the usage of AI technology. An area the actress uses to point out the terrifying powers of AI has to do with impersonation.
Sarah Snook uses deep fake impersonation to emphasize the need for AI regulations across the board
Over the past few months, netizens have seen fake videos and voice recordings of various popular people. These videos and voice recordings look so real that some people promote them, thinking that the person impersonated said or did the things they heard or saw. Recently, Scarlett Johansson’s AI voice clone was put to use in an ad that she knew nothing about.
During her BBC interview, Sarah Snook points out the AI deep fake of Tom Cruise making the rounds on the internet. Musicians have had scammers make music with their voices using AI and sell them online. Scammers are now utilizing AI technology for making scam calls and swindling people of their hard-earned money or valuables.
The actress said that “AI is terrifying”
The list pointing out the abuse of AI in various industries goes on and it keeps getting bad. So Sarah Snook’s fear of AI technology can be justifiable to a certain extent. Lots of other people around the world share similar fears as the actress and are clamoring for some regulations to the usage of AI technology.
Actors, governmental agencies, and citizens alike are all calling for AI regulations. This will not only protect user privacy but also reduce the rate of impersonation that is soaring with the use of these technologies. A few days ago, the UK AI Safety Summit took place, with various countries seeking ways to curb the abuse of AI.
It’s good to note that AI is here to stay and can help drive development in various industries. However, with the surge in its abuse, most people fear if it can be any good. In the coming months, strict AI regulations for various industries will roll out to curb its abuse.
After retiring Duo, Google’s Meet app became the company’s high-profile video calling app on both desktop and mobile. Starting this week, Google Meet users are getting an improvement to an important feature, the ability to make 1:1 video calls.
Previously, enterprise Workspace customers had to create a meeting link before actually making cloud-encrypted one-on-one video calls in the mobile app, which could be shared in a calendar invite, chat, or email.
The latest update completely removes the need to create a link to make 1:1 video calls, so Workspace customers can finally place a call on their mobile app directly to a colleague, ringing their mobile device, just like personal users.
In addition to making it easier to place 1:1 video calls, Google also added some of the features of the app within the call, such as in-meeting chat, virtual backgrounds and visual effects, live closed captions, and more (depending on the Workspace edition the user has).
According to Google, the new feature is enabled by default and can only be turned off by turning off Meet meetings and calls for your organization. The search giant also promises to add admin controls to restrict inbound calls next year.
As far as availability goes, Workspace users on iOS in the Rapid and Scheduled Release domains should start seeing the new feature in Google Meet in the next two weeks. The rollout on Android devices won’t start until November 14 though, and it will take two weeks to reach everyone.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra could launch sooner than expected. The phone will allegedly launch in Q1 2024, with a Sony LYT-900 camera sensor. This information comes from a well-known Chinese tipster, Digital Chat Station. Considering the source, we’re taking this rumor seriously.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagship could launch sooner than expected
As a reminder, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro launched quite recently, actually. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra arrived in April last year, and its successor will launch sooner than some people thought it would.
Regardless of when in Q1 2024 it arrives, it will launch sooner in the year than its predecessor did. Now, the tipster also mentioned that the phone’s display will be curved, but only barely.
The same source said that Xiaomi is testing the Sony LYT-900 aka Sony LYTIA 900 sensor. That is the most powerful Sony LYTIA sensor in the newest lineup, and it will likely be used in the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
It’s tipped to include four powerful cameras on the back
That camera is expected to be backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide unit. A 50-megapixel telephoto camera (3x optical zoom, macro mode) will also be included on the back. The last camera on the back will be a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (5x optical zoom).
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will almost certainly fuel this smartphone. That is the same chip that fuels the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, it’s the most powerful chipset Qualcomm announced to date.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra will feature a huge display too. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra has a 6.73-inch panel, and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s will be similar in size, if not bigger. A 120Hz display is expected, of an LTPO variety (1-120Hz). It will also be immensely bright, the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro have the brightest displays in the industry now.
Android 14 will come pre-installed on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and on top of it, you’ll get Xiaomi’s HyperOS skin. The phone will include stereo speakers, and it will be water and dust-resistant too.
As the usage of AI expands, Cottesmore School is now relying on an AI bot to fill the role of principal headteacher. According to the headmaster of the school, this AI bot is proving to be helpful in its role of service. This might sound quite bizarre and scary, as an AI entity is filling the role of a human in an educational environment.
Some questions might already be running through your mind as you consider the possibility of this AI serving as the school’s principal headteacher. One is that such questions in your head might relate to the exact function of this AI bot. Well, the school’s spokesperson says that it helps with “leadership and structure thoughts.”
This AI bot will interact with teachers at Cottesmore School, helping them better understand students. In another statement, the spokesperson says that this bot will also allow teachers to “spend more time with the students.” But how exactly can this AI bot perform all these tasks, and is it the perfect replacement for a human principal headteacher?
AI might be taking over as Cottesmore School in the UK now has an AI principal headteacher
Cottesmore School in the UK has announced that they will now be making use of an AI principal headteacher. With this AI principal headteacher, the school aims to help teachers better understand the needs of each student. By doing this, the school’s teachers can pass information to each student in ways that they can better understand based on their learning traits.
Before this AI bot was put to use, there were some changes that the school had to make. These changes took away the AI bot’s human-like persona as well as its name. Previously, the AI bot was known as Abigail Bailey, but the school changed its name to ABI, which might be easier to pronounce.
By taking its human-like persona, the AI bot lost its ability to respond to questions with a moving mouth and facial gestures. Now it can only advise teachers of this institution on ways to reach every student, considering their individual needs. This is the first AI bot that the school is employing to assist in the teaching process to help better reach students individually.
Reports have it that the school is also developing other AI models that will help in the creation of educational materials. Just like the ABI model, this coming AI bot will perform similarly to ChatGPT and might be only accessible to teachers and instructors. For a school like Cottesmore where parents pay $35,000 per year, this level of teaching technology might not be a reach for them.
In July, Elon Musk shared that his new company, xAI, will be developing a “maximum truth-seeking AI” that tries to understand the nature of the universe. Well, now the AI chatbot is official. Its name is Grok, and it is modeled after the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and as the company says, it is “intended to answer almost anything and, far harder, even suggest what questions to ask.”xAI’s official statement describes Grok as possessing “a bit of wit” and “a rebellious streak,” making it adept at addressing those “spicy questions” that other AI chatbots might avoid.
However, Musk hinted that Grok would refrain from answering specific sensitive queries and leading up to the release, he posted an example on X, showcasing Grok responding humorously to a request for a step-by-step cocaine recipe.
Looking at the screenshot, Grok’s response to this specific question appears to carry more humor compared to ChatGPT or Bard. However, it remains unclear if it is a canned response or a genuine display of the system’s humor, as Musk claims.
xAI and Elon Musk emphasize Grok’s unique advantage—real-time knowledge of the world through the X platform. Grok has “real-time access” to posts on X, as well as capabilities already seen in ChatGPT or Google’s Bard, like internet browsing to fetch updated information on specific topics.
Right now, in its early beta stage with just over 2 months of training, Grok is available for a limited number of users in the United States to test the prototype and provide feedback for further enhancements before a broader release. Those interested can join the Grok waitlist.
Musk also announced that subscribers to X’s Premium Plus plan, costing $16 per month for ad-free access to X, will gain access to Grok once it exits the early beta phase.
So, how did Grok come to be?
The post explains that the driving force behind Grok is the large language model, Grok-1, developed over several months on a cluster of “tens of thousands” of GPUs (Graphics Processing Units). Training data is sourced from the web, and feedback from human assistants referred to as “AI tutors.”xAI claims that Grok is “surpassing all other models in its compute class,” probably referring to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. In the blog post, xAI hints at Grok’s future evolution, stating that to better assist users, Grok will be equipped with other senses, such as vision and audio, for broader applications and real-time interactions.
What is funny (or at least in line with Musk’s sense of humor), Grok was introduced just after Elon Musk took part in the first AI Safety Summit, hosted at Bletchley Park, England, where he warned that AI was “one of the biggest threats to humanity.”
xAI, under Musk’s leadership and with experts from various fields, including veterans from DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, Tesla, and the University of Toronto, collaborates with X and other companies to drive the development of Grok.
