Just when we thought we knew everything about Samsung’s Galaxy S23 phones ahead of their official announcement on February 1, a last-minute processor revelation has got us even more excited about their arrival.
Previous rumors had hinted that the Samsung Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra would launch with a standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. But the latest intelligence suggests that Qualcomm has overclocked this already impressive processor with even more power to provide a custom-made brain for Samsung’s latest devices.
According to reliable leaker Roland Quandt, models in the Samsung Galaxy S23 range will arrive sporting a bespoke ‘For Galaxy’ Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which seems set to edge Samsung’s flagship handsets even closer to Apple’s top-of-the-range iPhones when it comes to benchmark scores.
If you’re into your number-crunching, this specially-designed Snapdragon processor will allegedly be capable of reaching a maximum clock speed of 3.36GHz, where the standard chipset is limited to 3.2GHz (which is still impressively high).
This is big news for prospective Galaxy S23 customers and the Android mobile space at large. As TechRadar's US Mobile Editor, Philip Berne, explained recently, last year's Galaxy phones received "a mixed bag of Snapdragon and sub-par Samsung Exynos chips," which meant that "some owners felt like they got an inferior model."
That looks set to change this year. If the rumors are true, Qualcomm has seemingly agreed to overclock the Gen 2 chips for Samsung's new flagship. In theory, this means that Samsung's Android rivals may not be able match the S23's benchmark performance. And as our US Mobile Editor argued previously, this "could also put Samsung within striking distance of Apple on benchmark scores for the first time."
Analysis: Getting ahead of the game
We’ve previously heard rumblings about the Galaxy S23’s supposedly market-leading mobile gaming credentials, and Qualcomm itself has talked up the power of its standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor on several occasions. It figures, then, that a custom-made version of this chipset could be the key to making Samsung’s latest handsets some of – if not the – best gaming phones money can buy.
Inevitably, that power will come at a cost, and the latest rumors suggest that Samsung Galaxy S23 prices will vary widely between countries. In the US, for instance, we expect the company’s latest devices to cost the same as their Samsung Galaxy S22 counterparts (in other words, $799.99, $999.99 and $1,199.99). But customers in India, Turkey and most of Europe are looking at much higher prices, owing to the strength of the US dollar against more unstable international currencies.
In any case, we’ll learn more about the processors inside the Galaxy S23 range – and the prices they’ll demand – when Samsung’s new phones are officially unveiled during Samsung Unpacked 2023, which kicks off at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT on February 1, or 5am AEDT on February 2 in Australia.
TechRadar will be tuning in to bring you all the latest announcements as they happen, and we’ll also be running comprehensive reviews and comparison pieces after the event to help you decide which Galaxy S23 model is best for you.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/0AtKQEU
0
coment�rios:
via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/ItzLMO4
Windows 11 updates are still failing to install with mysterious error messages
Windows 11’s latest updates have been hit by yet another bug that causes the installation process to fail while producing a mysterious and unhelpful error message.
This problem has been plaguing Windows 11 users for some time now, and as Windows Latest reports, it’s continuing to frustrate some folks who can’t install the January update from Microsoft (known as patch KB5022303), and the recent optional update for January released last week (KB5022360 – a preview update which will be fully honed and released in February).
Those encountering the glitch will simply be told that the installation has failed with an error code, the most commonly witnessed one being ‘0x800f0831’, but other mysterious strings of hexadecimal code which mean precisely nothing to the average user can also pop up. Like good old ‘0x800f0988’ for example.
As highlighted by Windows Latest, a typical report from a user (on Microsoft’s Feedback Hub) runs like this: “My HP laptop has been unable to successfully install the most current update: 2023-01 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022303) in which the following message/error code is given: ‘Failed to install on 1/15/2023 – 0x800f0988’”.
Another poster on Microsoft’s Answers.com support forum writes: “Struggling with a windows update: Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 22H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5022303). Install error – 0x800f0988. Have run troubleshooting on the updates and tried to reinstall but this does not seem to work. Is there a simple fix? It’s been a problem for a while and it seems others have the same issue.”
Analysis: An ongoing issue that really needs to be put to bed
Is there a simple fix, then? Well, the short answer to that is nope, apparently not. And the bug has been ongoing for some time now, as that last poster mentions; indeed for a good six months now, Windows 11 updates have been stumbling into failure in this manner for some users.
The advice we’ve seen in the past as a potential workaround is to try (temporarily) turning off your third-party antivirus, and we guess it can’t hurt to give that a whirl – but you may well get just as much mileage from crossing your fingers and praying to the silicon deities that all will be well.
Microsoft has said in the past that it’s investigating these ongoing installation errors, but we’ve heard nothing about any progress on this front, and clearly, this is still a thorn in the side for some users. Hopefully not for much longer…
While an optional update, like the very latest one, is no big deal, the main patch for January certainly is, and being unable to install KB5022303 means that you’re lacking a bunch of security fixes, so your PC could potentially be vulnerable to attack.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/ItzLMO4
0
coment�rios:
via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/9xj64So
Your Gmail is permanently changing soon - here's what to expect
Got your eyes on a Meta Quest Pro VR headset, but put off by its eye-watering price? Then you’re in luck: it’s currently $400 / £200 cheaper than normal, but for a limited time only.
Right now (January 30, 2023) the Meta Quest Pro is down to $1,100 at Meta’s official store in the US, while Brits can pick it up for £1,300 at Meta’s UK store. Unfortunately, this deal won't last forever, so if you want to pick up one of the best VR headsets out there at its lowest-ever price you’ll only have until the end of the week in the US – or two weeks in the UK.
If you're one of those people who consider Meta’s Oculus Quest 2 headset to be underpowered, and don't want to wait for the Oculus Quest 3 that’s expected to launch at the end of the year, then this is a great deal to take advantage of while you can.
Meta Quest Pro:was $1,500 / £1,500now $1,100 / £1,300 at Meta
If you want to enjoy the best VR experience that Meta has to offer then you'll want to pick up the Meta Quest Pro while it's at its lowest-ever price. For $400/£200-off you'll get a comfy headset that packs an impressive Snapdragon XR2 Plus chip, beautiful miniLED panels, and access to a great suite of VR titles like Resident Evil 4 VR, Walkabout Mini Golf and Among Us VR.View Deal
In terms of raw power and performance, comfort, and features the Meta Quest Pro is far and away Meta’s best VR headset.
Not only does it boast the same standalone VR experience as the brand’s other Quest devices – meaning you won’t feel the constant tug of a cable that tethers you to your PC or console – but it also improves upon older setups with higher quality miniLED panels and powerful Snapdragon XR2 Plus chipset.
It also features an improved design with more padding and better weight distribution; unlike previous Quest models – which have a front-heavy layout – the Quest Pro houses its battery in its strap, placing it at the back of your head and using it as a counterbalance to the displays and cameras on your face.
But despite the Quest Pro’s improvements, the less-impressive Quest 2 is still the VR headset we think is best for most people, predominantly because it's so darn cheap. You can pick up Meta’s older headset for just $400 / £400 / AU$630 which is less than a third of the cost of Meta’s Pro model; sure it’s less capable, but in the ways that matter it’s certainly not a third as capable.
However where Meta’s Quest Pro could take the edge is its unique tools: its eye and face-tracking, and color passthrough. These functions are exactly what they sound like; eye and face-tracking allow the Pro to follow and use your eye and face movements in VR experiences, and color passthrough means a wearer can see the real world in full-color thanks to the Pro’s cameras, without needing to remove the device (which is great for mixed reality software).
The tech required to pull off these new features is seemingly where the majority of the Quest Pro’s added cost comes from, but right now they feel more like gimmicks than must-have hardware. That’s not to say these features don’t bring benefits to titles that implement them, but they’re pretty minor upgrades and so far we’re yet to use software that makes the added cost feel worth it.
Over the coming year, we think that could change. With PlayStation VR 2 also introducing eye-tracking we’ll likely see a bevy of apps put it to good use; we’re particularly excited about the possibilities in foveated rendering, a function that will allow headsets to selectively render only what the user is looking at. This will enable them to use their power more efficiently and facilitate higher-quality experiences.
As the Quest 3 isn’t expected to launch with any face or eye-tracking capabilities Meta’s Quest Pro might be the only device in its lineup that can enjoy these souped-up experiences for the foreseeable future. So, picking the Pro up at a bargain price while you can could be a good idea if you want to experience the best that VR has to offer.
That said, choosing to hold off might not be a terrible idea either. There’s a lot of excitement to come this year with the launch of the Quest 3, HTC Vive XR Elite, and the Apple VR headset; so we wouldn’t be surprised if this discount makes a return later in the year to tempt people to stick by VR’s current champion.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/JZE184G
0
coment�rios:
One of the last safe places for avoiding video calls could soon fall, no thanks to a new update for Microsoft Teams . The video conferenci...
You can now join a Microsoft Teams call from your car... but you probably shouldn't
One of the last safe places for avoiding video calls could soon fall, no thanks to a new update for Microsoft Teams.
The video conferencing service is working on an update that will allow users to join a Teams call directly from their vehicle while driving using Apple's CarPlay platform.
Apple has recently updated CarPlay to include a new calendar view, which will now allow users to join a Microsoft Teams call using their iPhone while driving.
Microsoft Teams CarPlay
The official entry in the Microsoft 365 roadmap for the update doesn't provide any extra detail on exactly how the feature will work, simply noting that users can choose to join a Teams meeting using the new CarPlay calendar view.
Obviously, due care and attention should be paid to the road whilst driving, so hopefully the calls taking place can be audio-only as well, meaning users can keep their eyes on the road.
The feature is still marked as in development for the time being, with a scheduled general availability date of March 2023, so users won't have too long to wait.
Microsoft Teams users have been able to dial into calls using Apple CarPlay since September 2021, as well the ability to call and message Teams contacts from most modern vehicles - although meeting video feeds do not appear on the dashboard.
The platform is also available on Android Auto, with Google's car-focused software allowing Microsoft Teams users to make calls, join meetings or message contacts.
The news is the latest in a series of recent upgrades for Microsoft Teams as the company looks to continue improving the platform.
This includes a tweak that uses AI to detect the difference between sound from a speaker and the user’s voice, fixing a common issue when a microphone is too close to a speaker, causing sound to loop between input and output devices and create an echo.
For those making calls in large rooms, where speaking can often reverberate and echo around somewhat, Teams now uses a machine learning model to convert captured audio signal, making it now sound as if users are speaking into a close-range microphone.
The Google Play Store has been home to a growing number of suspicious activities in recent months, new research has found.
A study by Dr.Web found a large number of fake apps and trojans designed to subscribe victims to paid services, as well as an alarming rate of spyware.
The report details the increasing number of apps that have been added to the company’s antivirus database, illustrating the caution that Android users should take when browsing the Play Store.
Android apps with rewards
Among the most significant types of dodgy Android apps in recent months is a rewards-based setup.
Dr.Web says that users are incentivized to complete various tasks, like installing, launching, and using other programs and games to receive a ‘virtual reward’. These tokens can then supposedly be cashed in for real money or credit.
To be able to access rewards of true monetary value, users have been needing to collect “millions” of rewards, and that’s before spending a lot of time, effort, and other resources trying to gain access to any tokens.
Among the most noteworthy apps highlighted by the report is ‘Lucky Step-Walking Tracker’, totalling more than 10 million downloads with an average of 4.2 stars across 643,000 reviews.
Also mentioned are ‘Lucky Habit: health tracker’ (5 million downloads, 193,000 reviews at 3.6 stars), and ‘WalkingJoy’ (5 million downloads, 227,000 reviews at 3.9 stars). None of these apps explicitly detail in their respective Play Store descriptions that they offer financial incentives to users for completing tasks, though they were found to reward users for reaching certain milestones (like following healthy habits or walking a certain amount of steps) and for watching ads, some of which promising to speed up the token unlocking process.
‘Lucky Step-Walking Tracker’ has since removed the functionality, rendering rewards virtually pointless. Moreover, all three apps were found to share the same server, indicating a common developer, thus rewards may be pulled for the other two at any point.
Dr.Web recommends that Android users install its Android antivirus protection, though a more general rule of thumb indicates that users should remain savvy when browsing online marketplaces.
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us
HBO’s The Last of Us has earned rave reviews for its impressive loyalty to developer Naughty Dog’s era-defining PlayStation title, but the series’ third episode marked the first major deviation from Joel and Ellie’s in-game story.
‘Long Long Time’ puts the spotlight on Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), two lonely survivors who come together in the aftermath of the global Cordyceps outbreak. Both characters feature briefly in the original The Last of Us game, but HBO’s small screen adaptation dedicates an entire hour to delving deeper into their decades-long relationship.
In an interview with TechRadar ahead of the series' release, co-showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin explained the thinking behind their decision to go off-piste with The Last of Us episode 3 – which the pair have previously admitted will inevitably leave some fans “upset”.
“It came out of an interest I had in portraying Bill slightly differently, because the Bill section of the game was very much built around gameplay," Mazin tells us. "What fascinated me about Bill was that he was safe, that he had created this interesting little safe harbor in the world. Then my next question was, well, what happens to you if you're safe in this world? What next? Do you just stay there alone? What do you need? Why do you keep going? And I knew about the Frank storyline in the game, which, to me, sort of echoed the worst possible outcome for Joel.
“But I thought there was an opportunity [with episode 3] to go in a different direction and explore the passage of time between the outbreak and where we are now, and also create a relationship that worked,” Mazin continues. “A relationship that, in its duality, helped define some themes that we'll see over and over again [in the show] – two very different kinds of love. Somebody that loves outwards, and nurtures and protects and creates. And somebody that loves by protection through violence and preservation.
“So I remember saying to Nick [Offerman] and Murray [Bartlett] that this relationship is the basis of everything. Everything is reflected in this [relationship]. And even though there is a bit of a blubbering that occurs, in their own way, they win. They get the happy ending.”
When adapting The Last of Us for the screen, Druckmann – who penned the game’s original story – likewise felt it was important to leave certain gameplay-heavy moments on the cutting room floor.
“I think the change [in episode 3] became very indicative of what we prioritized in this show,” he says. “In my mind, a lesser adaptation would have looked at the Bill sequence and said, ‘Oh, there's this epic, iconic moment where Joel steps into a snare trap and is upside down and Ellie has to get him out of the ditch. And then Bill shows up and Bill saves you and that's how you bond with him through this long action sequence.’ You're relying on each other and then, through in-game dialogue and a bunch of different things, we reveal a hint at this backstory and this relationship.
“But some of the brilliance of Craig is to say: that's not as important. That’s what would have been an important thing in the past, when you're adapting video games and looking at superficial aspects and thinking, ‘Oh, players want to see that gameplay moment.’ That's not what they want. They want the core of the heart of this experience. So when Craig said, ‘Let's focus on Bill and Frank instead of the set-piece, and do stuff that we couldn't do in the game, like jump around in time, and really show how people have survived over this 20-year gap’ – that’s a great counter-example of everything else we see [on Joel and Ellie’s journey]. That story is so beautiful and so moving.
“And ultimately,” Druckmann concludes, “when Joel and Ellie come back to that story – yes, it's different from what's in the game, but it helps elevate [the experience] in a way that I think is really strong for this medium. We couldn't have told this story in the game. And likewise, I think the show would have been less if we tried to tell the story [of Bill and Frank] in the game over here.”
The Last of Us is now streaming on HBO Max in the US and Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/xq5kgFl
0
coment�rios:
via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/xq5kgFl
The Last of Us showrunners explain that major episode 3 story shift
When the iPhone 15 handsets make an appearance, we're once again expecting there to be several differences between the standard two phones and the two more expensive Pro models – and one of those differences could be in Wi-Fi support.
A leaked document posted by tipster Unknownz21 on Twitter (via MacRumors) makes reference to the antenna architecture for the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
According to the document, the standard iPhone 15 and the Plus model will stick with the same Wi-Fi 6 spec as the current iPhone 14 series. The Pro and the Pro Max, however, will be upgraded to the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.
A numbers game
We had heard rumblings earlier in the week that Wi-Fi 6E would be coming to the iPhone 15 series in 2023, but at that stage we were thinking the upgrade was intended for all the models. Now that doesn't appear to be the case.
The difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E isn't huge though: it supports an extra 6 GHz frequency band alongside 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so while the speeds are similar, there's more capacity for more devices. You're also going to need a Wi-Fi 6E router to take advantage of the improved technology.
While it isn't mentioned in this document leak, we're assuming that if the iPhone 15 Ultra is real then it too will have the Wi-Fi 6E upgrade as well. It's not clear yet if the phone will be a separate model or take the place of the Pro Max version of the iPhone.
Analysis: more reasons to upgrade
In recent years Apple has clearly been trying to make the Pro model upgrades as worthwhile for people as possible, most recently with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The standard models almost seem neglected by comparison.
Last year, for example, we saw a speed difference between the two pairs of models for the first time: the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 14 Plus got the A15 Bionic chipset, while the more expensive pair of phones got the latest A16 Bionic upgrade.
A slight upgrade in Wi-Fi standards might not be the most important spec when it comes to choosing a phone, but it's yet another reason to pick one of the Pro models when they go on sale (which will be in September, if Apple sticks to its usual schedule).
The danger is that the cheaper iPhones get ignored by buyers (and the Plus version is rumored to be not selling well at all) – but with the Pro models retailing for more money, it seems like a trade-off that Apple is happy to make.
We've already seen several price leaks for the Samsung Galaxy S23, but they're not stopping ahead of the expected launch of the phones on February 1. We now have information on pricing in Turkey, Germany and India.
Even if you don't live in those countries, these are important markers of how the handsets are going to be priced globally. In Turkey for example (from Roland Quandt via Notebookcheck), the Galaxy S23 phones are set to cost substantially more than their Galaxy S22 predecessors.
The starting price for the least expensive Galaxy S23 model is apparently going to be 50,000 Turkish lira – that works out as about $2,660 / £2,145 / AU$3,740, which is a small fortune. The main reason is high taxes on imported electronic goods.
Germany and India
Elsewhere in the world, rumored German pricing for the Galaxy S23 phones has appeared on WinFuture (via GSMArena). At starting prices of €949 (S23), €1,199 (S23 Plus) and €1,399 (S23 Ultra), a jump of around €100 in each case over the 2022 predecessors.
Finally there's pricing for India, which according to MySmartPrice (via Notebookcheck) is also going to be higher than the pricing we saw for the Galaxy S22. Here the S23 series is reportedly going to start at 79,999 Indian Rupees.
All of these leaks suggest that you'll be paying more for a Galaxy S23 phone than you would have done for a Galaxy S22 phone, although they're yet to be confirmed – though Samsung is already offering a number of Galaxy S23 deals.
Analysis: price matters
Galaxy S23 pricing rumors haven't been particularly consistent so far, although it does seem that Samsung might be able to match the Galaxy S22 pricing in the US at least. Elsewhere, as you can see above, it's looking like a different story.
Price leaks for both Australia and South Korea suggest that the 2023 phones are going to cost slightly more than their 2022 equivalents. That matches up with the leaks from Germany and India, while Turkey is a bit of an outlier.
All kinds of factors affect pricing of course, including taxes and manufacturing costs, and they're not all within Samsung's control. However, the company knows that it needs to put out an appealingly priced phone in order to attract buyers.
When you consider that the Google Pixel 7, for example, is available for a starting price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 (matching the Pixel 6), Samsung is going to have to bring out a really special smartphone to justify the extra money it's going to cost.
The long-rumored Apple AR/VR headset might possibly, at last, be launching later this year – and we've got a new set of leaks around app development for it, hinting that everyone will be able to create augmented reality experiences on this device.
According to sources speaking to The Information (via MacRumors), Apple is working on software development tools to make the app creation process as straightforward as possible. The more apps get built, the more appealing the headset will be.
These tools mean that even consumers could build their own apps through Siri, the report says: so you could just describe the experience that you wanted to see in augmented reality, and Siri would interpret your commands and build it for you.
Health and wellness
One of the examples mentioned in the article is being able to build an app showing virtual animals walking around a room, just by describing it to Siri. No coding or computer graphic design skills would be required to put it together.
It's worth noting that the information sourced in the story is from 2021, so it might be a little outdated at this stage – and it's obviously unconfirmed and unofficial to begin with. However, it's logical that Apple would want to make app development as easy as it can.
The report also mentions that Apple is working on AR content for the headset, with health and wellness a priority. One potential use of the device is as a meditation aid, enabling users to sit in digitally generated, calming scenes of their choosing.
Analysis: following a trend
If the details in this report from The Information are correct, Apple is following something of a trend when it comes to making its AR software developer tools as simple to access as possible – and the ultimate aim is to increase user engagement as much as possible.
Those of you with children at home will probably be aware of Roblox, the online game platform that makes it just as easy to design and build experiences as it is to play them. Apple could well be aiming for something similar here.
Then there's the phenomenally successful Minecraft of course: another game that's also a platform for creating new games and environments. The appeal of Roblox and Minecraft lies not just in what they are, but what else you can do with them.
If Apple is going to convince substantial numbers of people to pay up for its AR/VR headset (or mixed reality headset, if you prefer), then a broad range of apps are going to be required – and this might be the perfect way to ensure that.
This time next week, the Samsung Galaxy S23 phones will have been officially unveiled, which means we won't have any more leaks around the handsets to report on – such as the full specs sheet that just appeared on the web, for example.
Posted by reliable tipster Roland Quandt, the specs sheet covers all three phones – the standard S23, the S23 Plus, and the S23 Ultra – and gives us a rundown of everything from the battery capacities to the camera modules.
In other words, don't read any further if you're avoiding spoilers for next week's Samsung Unpacked launch event on February 1. We'll be covering the event live of course, and anyone who wants to will also be able to watch everything live online.
We're looking at the 120Hz screens for the phones this year, with the Galaxy S23 offering a 6.1-inch display, the Galaxy S23 Plus upping that to a 6.6-inch display, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra bringing with it a 6.8-inch display (and a stylus).
Under the hood we've got 8GB of RAM on the S23 and the S23 Plus, and 8GB or 12GB of RAM on the Ultra. The storage options are 128GB / 256GB / 512GB for the base model, 256GB / 512GB for the Plus, and 256GB/512GB/1TB for the Ultra. It's not listed on this sheet, but the internal processor will be the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
The Ultra gets a triple-lens 200MP+12MP+10MP rear camera, but the selfie camera is just 12MP (it was 40MP on the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra), as it is on the S23 and S23 Plus, which both swap the 200MP main camera for a 50MP model on the back.
Analysis: some well-chosen upgrades
We're now well used to incremental year-on-year upgrades for smartphones, and that's again promised by the Galaxy S23. The screen sizes all match last year's models, although the standard S23 gets a boost to 1,750 nits of peak brightness (up from 1,300 nits) to match the screens on the other two handsets.
When it comes to the cameras, the only difference in terms of megapixels is that the main camera on the back of the Ultra model goes up from 108MP to 200MP – however, it remains to be seen what sort of other upgrades and optimizations Samsung has managed to build into the 2023 tech.
Battery capacities get a slight bump on the S23 and S23 Plus models – from 3,700mAh to 3,900mAh and from 4,500mAh to 4,700mAh respectively. The Galaxy S23 Ultra model, meanwhile, sticks with the same 5,000mAh capacity, though bear in mind that battery capacity is just one of several factors affecting battery life.
Performance should certainly be the best you can get in an Android smartphone in 2023, what with that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm running everything. We've only got to wait until Wednesday for all of these specs to be made official, but we're excited about what's coming down the line.
Privacy and Apple go hand in hand - it has for years now, and its recent video starring Nick Mohammad from Ted Lasso to promote Data Privacy week was inspired.
However, with today (January 28) being Data Privacy Day, it's important to look at other features that you can use with your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to help protect your data.
All of these are features that I switched on as soon as they've been introduced - with Advanced Data Protection being the latest one for me, as it was recently introduced in iOS 16.3.
With this in mind, there are a few other features, alongside Advanced Data Protection that you should consider switching on, and why you should do it as soon as.
Advanced Data Protection
Introduced in iOS 16.3, not only does this allow you to protect your iCloud backups with an encrypted password, but your Safari bookmarks, your iCloud Drive contents, Notes and much more.
This way, you and you alone can only access this data - not even Apple. It adds another layer of protection for your data, especially if someone tries to break into your account, so any valuable data won't be able to be accessed by anyone else.
This feature also applies to iPadOS and macOS, so your data there in the same categories will be protected.
You can switch this on by going to Settings > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection.
Mail Protection
We've all come across spam emails and other types that try to get your information to try and track you outside of your email. By going to Settings > Mail > Privacy Protection, Apple's Mail app will hide your IP address when you open a new message from your Inbox.
This means that the sender will not be able to tell if you opened their email, alongside a rough idea on the location of where you opened it.
Location
It could be argued that too many apps ask for your location - Facebook is a good example here, especially when you use it to look at memes and check on how certain family and friends are.
Yet you might find that there could be too many apps tracking your location all the time, instead of when you're using the app.
You can check this by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and checking on every app displayed in the list, to see if its location is set to 'Always Allow' or 'Allow while Using'. Apart from Weather and Map apps, there really isn't a need to have 'Always Allow' on the majority of apps.
So set aside a few minutes in a lunch break and see which apps are trying to track your location, even when you're not using them.
Safety Check
Introduced in iOS 16, this feature could be a big help in protecting your data from those you'd like to have out of your life.
Safety Check, found in Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check will give you a detailed overview of who's sharing what data with you, and you can easily restrict this in a couple of taps.
There's also a 'Quick Exit' on the top right which will bring you straight back to the home screen if someone wants to suddenly check your phone without your permission.
Passkeys
Another feature that launched with iOS 16, iPadOS 16.1 and macOS 13 Ventura, you can register a new account with a site without having to enter a new username and password.
You only need TouchID or FaceID to authenticate this, and you're good to go.
However, if it's an account you'll need in the future, you can save this to your iCloud Keychain, Apple's method of storing your usernames and passwords, by checking the 'Save passkey for account' option when you create one.
App Tracking
A feature that Facebook was publicly not happy about - but in retrospect, this only made Meta look bad in the face of privacy.
Some apps have the ability to track your browsing in other apps like Safari and Mail, and as this is done with multiple methods, it's difficult for Apple to shut down these individual cases, which is where App Tracking comes in.
You can enable all apps to not track you, by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. You have a choice to turn on or off tracking for specific apps, or you can turn off the option altogether.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/y3ImNob
0
coment�rios:
via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/HEWNDiw
Data Privacy Day: 9 tips to protect your online life
With digital technologies at the center of our everyday life, the amount of data that's exchanged online keeps going up.
It isn't that surprising then, in fact, that the interest in the best VPN services among consumers is high everywhere. Governments across the world are also setting up new regulations on how such sensitive information should be stored, used, and shared.
New data laws like the EU GDPR are a significant step, but they are not enough. That's partly because cyberattacks are on the rise, too. Even worse, evidence actually suggests how home devices are now the top target.
On the occasion of the annual Data Privacy Day, we're then sharing nine tips on how to stay safe online and secure your anonymity when your data gets compromised.
As Vaibhav Antil CEO of Privado, one of the best free VPN providers around, said: "Data Privacy Day gives us all an opportunity to take a second and think about what we share about ourselves, when and where we share it, and who we are sharing it with."
1. Take the time to read privacy policies
Despite many instances on how companies mishandled users' data, the majority of people are still not taking the time to carefully check privacy policies before agreeing with the terms.
According to a 2019 Pew Research's study, only 9% of Americans actually do that. A similar scenario came out from a survey conducted by cybersecurity auditing firm Deloitte, too. Here, over 90% of the respondents admitted to giving consent to legal terms and conditions without reading them.
That's true, these policies are often very long and difficult to comprehend. This makes it a daunting task reading the terms and conditions for every service and apps we access online.
However, understanding how organizations use your information is the first step towards a more private online life.
Being aware of how your data will be treated is vital to be fully able to stay on top of your digital life. It will also allow you to better select the services you wish to subscribe to.
The growing need for users to understand privacy terms is actually pushing some big tech firms to simplify theirs for better transparency.
Short for virtual private network, a VPN is a software that spoofs your IP address location. At the same time, it encrypts all the data leaving your devices inside its VPN tunnel.
For how it works, a VPN is the tool you want to secure your anonymity online against both cybercriminals and the government's prying eyes. Using such a tool is especially important when you're connected to an unsecure public Wi-Fi network, as this is more vulnerable to attacks. A torrenting VPN is also vital to safely download files from the internet.
Besides privacy, these security services can also boost online performances overall in many ways. Check our explainer on all the main VPN benefits to know more. Our favorite provider on the market presently is ExpressVPN.
3. Consider other cybersecurity software
As online risks are increasingly multifaceted, so needs to be your data protection software response.
We recommend integrating the use of a VPN with other security software like the best antivirus solutions and password manager tools. Also, ad-blockers are essential if you're looking to stay private online.
The good news is that you don't even need to have many different subscriptions nowadays. That's because increasingly more providers are now offering full security suites, instead.
Both NordVPN and ExpressVPN, for example, come with their own password managers and ad-blocker features integrated into their VPN software. While, Surfshark One is an all-around security package which includes four cybersecurity tools with just one subscription. You can also check our guide of the best VPN with antivirus around right now for more recommendations.
4. Beware of free apps
Whether it's a VPN, antivirus, online game or any other apps, free services all have a common trait: being starving for your data.
That's simply because, as they don't charge you any money for their services, selling your information to third parties is what makes up their revenue.
On this point, Andrew Newman, founder of cybersecurity firm ReasonLabs, said: "When people choose not to share their information privacy, you see companies like Facebook and Google losing billions of dollars as a result. This goes to show you how collecting such information is so valuable to these advertising companies."
In worst cases, they might even infect your devices with malware. According to Newman, downloading free software is actually one of the main reasons home users have their systems compromised with viruses and other dangers in the first place.
5. Secure your online accounts
Online accounts are, arguably, the main door inside users' most sensitive information. That's why it is crucial to make these logins as hard as possible to be compromised.
Securing your online accounts comes down to a series of steps. Firstly, you must use strong passwords containing a mix of letters, numbers and special characters. It's also vital to never use the same password for different accounts. Again, using a password manager can assist you with all this.
You should also make the login process more secure by enablingmultifactor authentication (MFA). As it requires you to prove your identity twice or more, this may discourage bad actors from accessing your profile. Already a common practice for securing your email account, for example, most social media platforms are now offering this extra layer of security too.
You should also consider to set up login alerts to receive a notification every time your account has been accessed. This will make it easier to quickly respond in case of breach.
6. Keep all your devices always up-to-date
Update after update, providers can fix bugs and vulnerabilities on their operating systems.
For this, you should always make sure to run the latest version of your OS at all times to minimize the entry-points for an attack and shield your data against cybercriminals.
7. Review privacy settings on social and other apps
Likewise, privacy policies, it's good practice to carefully review settings and permissions for all the apps running on your devices. You'll be amazed to see how much information they can access about you by default.
Likewise, we recommend doing the same with all your online profiles.
As a rule of thumb, you should keep these to the strictly necessary for the service to correctly perform, especially on social media apps.
8. Be careful on what you click
Phishing links, a tactic involving spreading malware via malicious links and/or dangerous attachments, is one of the most common and successful ways to steal users' sensitive information. Cybercriminals may aim to get your login credentials and, then, approach your contacts to launch scams.
These malicious links are often shared via DMs and emails, but they are also increasingly looming across social media's posts and comments. Once the victim clicks on it, their account and/or device gets infected. Their data compromised.
Beware of those links or attachments that seem too good to be true, encouraging you to click or share personal details. You should always be mindful of catchy and shorten links, especially when they are sent from suspicious accounts. Check out the source before clicking on it as well as consider reporting any message that looks suspicious.
9. Regularly back up your data
Finally, regularly backing up your data is the best bet you have to retrieve your information in case they get lost as your device crashes, or worse, following a cyberattack.
Tactics like ransomware or wiper malware represents a great danger for your files. In the first instance, you often cannot take back control of your data even after agreeing to pay. While, the latter, it's a type of malware which erases all the material on your device within a click.
A number of prominent password managers have been spoofed in a new phishing campaigns, with the likes of Bitwarden among those affected, experts have warned.
A very convincing fake of the real Bitwarden website, with the url 'bitwardenlogin.com', appeared as a Google Ads search result, pushing it right to the top when users searched with the phrase 'bitwarden password manager'.
The domain on the ad was 'appbitwarden.com', which now thankfully appears to have disappeared from Google's results and the site now seemingly shut down.
Google Ads phishing
Users reported the having come across the phishing ad earlier this week on Reddit and the official Bitwarden forums, voicing their concerns over how similar the fake page and url looked to the real one.
One user even noted that a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate was present on the fake website, which allows for an encrypted connection and is usually taken as a sign of a safe and legitimate website.
Bleeping Computer tried to test the fake page by inputting fake Bitwarden account credentials to see what would happen, and found that "the phishing page will accept credentials and, once submitted, redirect users to the legitimate Bitwarden login page."
However, the phishing site was shut down before it was unable to confirm what would have happened with real credentials - specifically whether it would "attempt to steal MFA-backed session cookies (authentication tokens) like many advanced phishing pages."
It is referring to adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) phishing attacks, which uses proxies to deliver the MFA prompt to the real website, which sends it back to the phishing site, which then proxies this to the user. The process is then repeated again for the actual input of the MFA code, with neither party non the wiser that the authentication process is being intercepted by a bad actor.
The real site then stores a cookie of the session that contains the authentication information for that session. This cookie is stolen by the threat actor so that it can trick the victim again without needing to go through another MFA request.
Other password managers were also found to be caught up in Google Ads phishing campaigns recently. Security researcher MalwareHunterTeam found the same tactic used to spoof 1Password, another very popular choice of manager.
Google Ads has been hijacked for various malicious ends aside from phishing scams. Recent stories have found it being used as a launching pad for stealing credentials and breaching business networks via identity theft.
The news follows a recent spate of password manager attacks, most notably LastPass, one of the biggest password managers around, where user vaults were stolen, and the keys used to encrypt them were not guaranteed to be safe either, meaning hackers could potentially see all their passwords.
Norton LifeLock users also had their password vaults compromised in a credential stuffing attack, and Passwordstate also suffered a security breach.
The best way to protect your password vaults, aside from being cautious of any phishing websites, is to have MFA set up, and to use a strong password. Since this password will have to be committed to memory, as it can't be stored in the vault itself, it is best to use a random string of words that you can remember easily and yet will be too long and lacking significance to be easily cracked by hackers.
Retaining users' trust is the first element when it comes to privacy. The best VPN providers, those responsible for building the software meant to protect anonymity online, know this very well.
So, just weeks after NordVPN passed its third no-logs audit, another VPN service called an external cybersecurity company to verify it actually treats subscribers' data as it claims.
As its most recent initiative to promote transparency, our favorite cheap VPN app Surfshark has just aced an independent no-logs audit.
After a thorough inspection of Surfshark's IT systems, industry-leading auditing firm Deloitte confirmed that the provider complies with the data-handling practices stated in its privacy policy.
While Surfshark's security infrastructure has already been verified in the past, this is the first time the provider has undergone such an audit on its privacy statement.
Surfshark’s no-logs policy — more than just words! Auditing firm @Deloitte confirms that we have both the means and the will to carry it out. That’s another proof of us valuing our customers’ privacy! https://t.co/Q28xlVk2GMJanuary 25, 2023
See more
Evidence of top privacy and quality standards
"Working in an industry that highly relies on trust and transparency, we understand that it takes more than just words to validate our efforts," commented Surfshark's VPN Product Owner Justas Pukys.
"The positive result from Deloitte’s no-logs assurance report provides factual evidence to our users and future customers that Surfshark operates on the highest privacy and quality standards."
A strict no-log policy is one of the most important features for a truly private VPN provider. It's the users' sole guarantee that no identifiable information is ever retained about their online activities.
Subscribing to a trustworthy no-log VPN is vital to make sure that even if a hacker or government manages to seize the service, no sensitive data can be leaked. That's simply because such details won't exist in the first place.
Deloitte conducted its assurance procedures between November 21 and December 2 last year.
To successfully verify Surfshark's privacy claims, the auditing experts closely reviewed Surfshark server's configuration and deployment process, while conducting interviews with responsible employees.
They also checked whether or not the relevant IT systems are designed to match the company's privacy policy. These include both its standard VPN servers, static IP and MultiHop structure.
More details about Deloitte's audit can be found here.
"Based on the procedures performed and the evidence obtained, in our opinion, the configuration of IT systems and management of the supporting IT operations is properly prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with Surfshark's description of its no-logs policy," concludes the report.
Showing a continuous effort to transparency, Pukys from Surfshark said: "We will continue to perform various audits and tests to get independent verification of our security and privacy measures."
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/RyBW587
0
coment�rios:
Wordle today offers a nice challenge that fits neatly between too easy and too hard - although you might find it leaning towards the latter...
Wordle today - hints, clues and answer for game #587, Friday, January 27
Wordle today offers a nice challenge that fits neatly between too easy and too hard - although you might find it leaning towards the latter if you don't choose the best Wordle start word.
In fact, there are a couple of complicating factors to today's game, so if you don't play carefully you could risk losing your streak. But I can help make sure that doesn't happen.
I'm a Wordle addict who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Wordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my hints and clues to Wordle #587.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Wordle today and Wordle yesterday are below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Wordle today (game #587) - hint #1 - Vowels
Wordle today has one vowel*
This is relatively unusual for Wordle - the game has an average of 1.75 vowels among its 2,309 answers.
The last game to have just one vowel in it was #581 on Saturday: BLURB.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Wordle today (game #587) - hint #2 - first letter
The first letter in today's Wordle answer is W.
W is the 13th most common starting letter in Wordle, with 82 solutions beginning with this letter.
You'd have to go back all the way to Wordle #561, on Sunday 1 January, for the last time we had an answer that started with a W - in that case the solution was WHINE.
Wordle today (game #587) - hint #3 - repeated letters
There is one repeated letter in today's Wordle.
Repeated letters are quite common in the game, with 748 of the 2,309 Wordle answers containing one. That’s roughly 15%, meaning you'd get one every 6-7 games.
As it happens we last had one just yesterday, in game #586 (BEEFY).
Wordle today (game #587) - hint #4 - final clue
Still looking for clues for Wordle today? Don't worry, I'll give you one more hint for game #587.
Today's Wordle answer means to fret or torment.
If you just want to know the answer at this stage you can scroll down to see it, but I'd always recommend trying to solve it on your own first. We've got lots of Wordle tips and tricks to help you, including a guide to the best Wordle start words.
If you don't want to know the solution then DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER BECAUSE THE ANSWER IS DIRECTLY BELOW. So don't say you weren't warned!
Wordle today (game #587) - the answer
Wordle today was theoretically a tricky one, with an uncommon W at the start and a double-R in the middle.
WordleBot rated it at an average of 4.3, which is above the standard 4 that most games even out at. I managed it in 4/6 myself, so slightly below the average, despite a poor start that left me with 77 possible answers after my initial guess of CRATE.
With no vowels uncovered on my opening guess, I wanted to play a couple more on my second and went with ROUND. This proved quite fortunate, giving me a green O in position #2 and ruling out the R as the starting letter.
WordleBot said I now had just 7 possible solutions left, although I didn't know that at the time (you can only use WordleBot once the game is finished). However, I could see that there weren't many options, and came up with just 4 myself: WORRY, SORRY, LORRY and PORKY. The ones I missed were FORGO, MORPH and WORMY.
All of my options ended in a Y and three had a double R before that, so I decided to head down that path and played SORRY next. I wasn't right, but WORRY seemed a much more likely answer than the very British LORRY, and so it proved when all five letters turned green.
Hopefully you solved it too and found Wordle today to be a reasonably straightforward challenge.
Wordle yesterday (game #586) - hints
In a different time zone where it's still Thursday? Don't worry - I can give you some hints for Wordle #586 too.
Wordle yesterday had two vowels*
The first letter in yesterday's Wordle answer was B.
There was one repeated letter in yesterday's Wordle.
Yesterday's Wordle answer means heavily built.
Wordle yesterday (game #586) - the answer
Wordle #586 was quite a tough one, with WordleBot stating that it took most people 4.6 guesses to solve it. That's really high: anything above 4 is more difficult than normal, and once you get past 4.5 you're into very hard territory.
There are a couple of reasons why it might have proved difficult. For starters, it has an F in the fourth position, something that only occurs in 35 of Wordle's 2,309 games. The double-E in the middle is not that uncommon - 59 games have an EE somewhere - but it still makes the word harder to guess.
Plus, as a word itself BEEFY isn't all that common; it's definitely on the slang side of things.
Fortunately, I got very lucky with my second guess after my opening CRATE left me with just a single yellow E.
My go-to second word in these situations is BLEND and that came up trumps, giving me a green B and green E and leaving me with just one possible solution. Lucky me!
Wordle answers: The past 50
I've been playing Wordle every day for more than a year now and have tracked all of the answers so I can help you improve your game. Here are the past 50 solutions starting with yesterday's answer.
Wordle #586, Thursday 26 January: BEEFY
Wordle #585, Wednesday 25 January: MAIZE
Wordle #584, Tuesday 24 January: COUNT
Wordle #583, Monday 23 January: ELUDE
Wordle #582, Sunday 22 January: MATEY
Wordle #581, Saturday 21 January: BLURB
Wordle #580, Friday 20 January: ALTER
Wordle #579, Thursday 19 January: MUCKY
Wordle #578, Wednesday 18 January: CHARD
Wordle #577, Tuesday 17 January: ADOPT
Wordle #576, Monday 16 January: FROCK
Wordle #575, Sunday 15 January: SPIRE
Wordle #574, Saturday 14 January: KOALA
Wordle #573, Friday 13 January: HUMAN
Wordle #572, Thursday 12 January: LEAPT
Wordle #571, Wednesday 11 January: SEDAN
Wordle #570, Tuesday 10 January: GRIMY
Wordle #569, Monday 9 January: PIXIE
Wordle #568, Sunday 8 January: OPERA
Wordle #567, Saturday 7 January: LEMON
Wordle #566, Friday 6 January: BELIE
Wordle #565, Thursday 5 January: SLEEK
Wordle #564, Wednesday 4 January: LAYER
Wordle #563, Tuesday 3 January: ANTIC
Wordle #562, Monday 2 January: SKIRT
Wordle #561, Sunday 1 January: WHINE
Wordle #560, Saturday 31 December: MANLY
Wordle #559, Friday 30 December: MOLAR
Wordle #558, Thursday 29 December: HAVOC
Wordle #557, Wednesday 28 December: IMPEL
Wordle #556, Tuesday 27 December: CONDO
Wordle #555, Monday 26 December: JUDGE
Wordle #554, Sunday 25 December: EXTRA
Wordle #553, Saturday 24 December: POISE
Wordle #552, Friday 23 December: AORTA
Wordle #551, Thursday 22 December: EXCEL
Wordle #550, Wednesday 21 December: LUNAR
Wordle #549, Tuesday 20 December: THIRD
Wordle #548, Monday 19 December: SLATE
Wordle #547, Sunday 18 December: TAPER
Wordle #546, Saturday 17 December: CHORD
Wordle #545, Friday 16 December: PROBE
Wordle #544, Thursday 15 December: RIVAL
Wordle #543, Wednesday 14 December: USUAL
Wordle #542, Tuesday 13 December: SPOKE
Wordle #541, Monday 12 December: APPLY
Wordle #540, Sunday 11 December: NAIVE
Wordle #539, Saturday 10 December: KNOCK
Wordle #538, Friday 9 December: BRAID
Wordle #537, Thursday 8 December: INFER
What is Wordle?
If you're on this page then you almost certainly know what Wordle is already, and indeed have probably been playing it for a while. And even if you've not been playing it, you must surely have heard of it by now, because it's the viral word game phenomenon that took the world by storm last year and is still going strong in 2023.
We've got a full guide to the game in our What is Wordle page, but if you just want a refresher then here are the basics.
What is Wordle?
Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day. You get six guesses, with each one revealing a little more information. If one of the letters in your guess is in the answer and in the right place, it turns green. If it's in the answer but in the wrong place, it turns yellow. And if it's not in the answer at all it turns gray. Simple, eh?
It's played online via the Wordle website or the New York Times' Crossword app (iOS / Android), and is entirely free.
Crucially, the answer is the same for everyone each day, meaning that you're competing against the rest of the world, rather than just against yourself or the game. The puzzle then resets each day at midnight in your local time, giving you a new challenge, and the chance to extend your streak.
What are the Wordle rules?
The rules of Wordle are pretty straightforward, but with a couple of curveballs thrown in for good measure.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray.
4. Answers are never plural.
5. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
6. Each guess must be a valid word in Wordle's dictionary. You can't guess ABCDE, for instance.
7. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses unless you play on Hard mode.
8. You have six guesses to solve the Wordle.
9. You must complete the daily Wordle before midnight in your timezone.
10. All answers are drawn from Wordle's list of 2,309 solutions. However…
11. Wordle will accept a wider pool of words as guesses – some 10,000 of them. For instance, you can guess a plural such as WORDS. It definitely won't be right (see point 4 above), but Wordle will accept it as a guess.
from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/EXZoYs9
0
coment�rios:
via TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://www.techradar.com/news/wordle-today
Wordle today - hints, clues and answer for game #587, Friday, January 27
In an announcement on the Microsoft 365 (M365) Blog, Microsoft claimed that the release, which offers especially secure variants of email clients Exchange and Outlook alongside its office software suite, brings a level of security and compliance to its productivity tools suitable for government use.
The clearest application of the new environment for M365 is to keep data secure. Microsoft admits that the bulk of government data is stored via on-prem servers, but believes its latest release means this work can now move exclusively to cloud storage via its software as a service.
Productivity tools in government
M365 is now the only set of business productivity tools to offer “an Impact Level 6 (IL6) environment”, a data handling protocol designed by the Department of Defense’s Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), to protect cloud-stored data in the hands of government agencies all the way “up to the SECRET level”.
This allows M365 Government Secret Cloud to bring "cloud based collaboration and communication” to classified environments which, according to Microsoft, is another first.
The company can feel confident in making that claim, with M365’s new capabilities bolstering the efforts of Azure Government Secret and Top Secret, “air-gapped” regions of its cloud infrastructure offering tightened security and increased data visibility.
Announcing Azure Government Top Secret in August 2021, Microsoft pitched the unique Azure regions to “mission leaders”, claiming that it would enable them to draw insights from data faster and offer “unified cybersecurity capabilities” to protect the nation’s most critical data.
0 coment�rios: