Security News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Samsung has announced its Galaxy Unpacked event for 2024, scheduled for January 17 in San Jose, the United States. The event promises to introduce the latest Galaxy AI innovations, “designed to transform how you live, connect, and create”.

New Apple AirDrop capabilities were announced recently to add more on the already available ones and most of the features look to guarantee security to the user. AirDrop has been a handy tool for protesters and activists to hide their activities from governments. However, the feature has been controversial for quite some time now. Chinese authorities raised questions about this iPhone feature. It was reported that when the feature is in “receive messages from Everyone” mode it can receive files and messages from anyone, however, this has created a massive privacy concern as a new crackdown by China has ended up exposing senders' names, phone numbers, and email addresses. Know more about AirDrop vulnerabilities here. This will be a concern not just for Apple, but for all of users, specifically activists, globally.

Marvel Snap developer Second Dinner has announced that its secured $100 million in new investment as part of a Series B investment round led by Griffin Gaming Partners.

10 best heater blowers: The coldest month of the winter has begun and every day we are facing decreasing temperatures. The sudden drop is causing various health issues which necessitate the need to stay in a warm environment to avoid seasonal illness. Therefore, to beat the freezing cold, you must opt for a heater blower as it will enable you to keep your room and surroundings warm and at normal temperature. If you are someone who is looking for a power heater then we have curated a list of 10 best heater blowers that may come to your liking. Check the list below.

The quest to appease the immortal share price continues as game engine provider Unity announce that they're laying off another 1,800 people, or around 25% of their current workforce, in a bid to "position" the company "for long-term and profitable growth".

It's mad to think that we're already two weeks on from Christmas, isn't it? The decorations have now come down (take them down you lazy so-and-so), and normalcy once again reigns supreme. Luckily for us, and you, though, normalcy in January means deals, and tonnes of them.

The developer of Marvel Snap, Second Dinner, has secured an investment of $100 million.

Game software development company Unity has announced plans to cut around 25% of its workforce, with approximately 1,800 members of staff expected to be affected.

Nvidia Corp., whose chip technology dominates in data centers used to create artificial intelligence software, announced new products to help the personal computer industry lure consumers with “AI PCs.” Nvidia unveiled three new desktop graphics chips with extra components that will let gamers, designers and other computer users make better use of AI on their personal machines without having to rely on remote services accessed over the internet. The chips, updated versions of existing offerings, will be offered at a “great new price,” the company said Monday in a presentation at the CES trade show.

By Emma Roth, a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

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The Unity Technologies’ downward spiral continues as the company intends to cut 25% of its workforce — or roughly 1,800 people — in a move it called a “company reset.” It’s the game engine maker’s largest layoff, bigger than all three of last year’s cuts combined. More than 1,100 people were laid off in 2023, preceded by at least 200 layoffs in June 2022. Unity said in a United States Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure that the layoffs come as Unity “restructures and refocuses on its core business, and to position itself for long-term and profitable growth.”

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Godeal24 is a global distributor of computer software. Godeal24’s New Year Software Sale is a real new year gift for Mac users who want to benefit from the world's most popular office suite. Microsoft Office is indeed the essential tool for everyone: professionals, students and individuals. It includes essential applications for document creation, data management, presentation creation, and online collaboration.

Quordle 714 answer for January 8: Despite being Monday, today's Quordle answers won't give you Monday blues! All four words are pretty common and are often used in everyday conversations. Thus, the puzzle is not nerve-wracking at all, and even those new to Quordle will be able to solve it in their first few attempts. However, unlike crossword puzzles, Quordle players don't have access to any hints and clues, making the guessing game a bit difficult. You can stick to your tried-and-tested strategy, but unless you are blessed with a massive vocabulary, things will not improve. Before diving in and entering random guesses, players must remember that they only have 9 chances to get all 4 five-letter words correctly.

Wordle 922 answer for January 8: Wordle players have enjoyed a good start to 2024 with straightforward answers on most days. While January 4's answer was quite puzzling, the rest of the Wordle puzzles have had relatively easy answers such as LUNGE, AGING, and TWIRL. Today is another such instance where the Wordle 922 answer can be guessed without too much fuss! That said, new players can find it a bit difficult to guess in the limited number of attempts, especially without hints. But worry not! We've got your back. If you wish to avoid breaking the winning streak, check Wordle 922 hints, and clues here and scroll down to the very end if you'd like to view the answer to today's puzzle.

10 best heaters for room: We have entered January, which is known as the coldest month in the winter season in North India. With temperatures dropping every day in most of the areas, the necessity for room heaters has drastically increased. Especially for people living in North India, getting relief from the harsh cold is of utmost importance. Therefore, to beat the freezing cold, a room heater becomes something of a survival kit to keep surroundings warm and comfortable. If you are someone who is looking for the best heaters for your room then we have compiled a list of 10 room heaters from top brands such as Morphy Richards, Havells, Bajaj, and more to narrow down your research. Check out these 10 best heaters for room to make the right purchase for the rest of the winter.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras) will be conducting a Joint Admission Test (JAM) on February 11, 2024, for all the candidates who have applied for various courses in the university. IIT Madras is expected to release the IIT JAM 2024 examination admit card today, January 8, 2024, at their official website. If you are also appearing in the IIT JAM 2024 exam, then know about the exam and from where and how you can download the admit card online.

Trevor AI app: We are now transitioning to a world, where we are getting heavily reliant on the tools which are integrated with artificial intelligence. Be it our normal manual work, or improving our productivity, there is an AI tool for all of our needs, making it quick and easy to complete our day-to-day tasks. If you are looking for such a tool for improving productivity and staying on track, then we have found just the right app for you. Trevor AI is a to-do list app which makes task scheduling easy with the power of AI. Know all about the Trevor AI app and how it can benefit users in real time.

best 25 litre Geysers: In the midst of the chilly winter, the need for a reliable geyser becomes paramount. Whether it's the biting cold weather, the stresses of daily work, or soothing sore muscles, a hot shower can be your ally in overcoming these challenges. When it comes to selecting a geyser for your home, opting for a 25-litre capacity ensures an ample supply of hot water, making it an ideal choice for larger families. Among the top brands offering quality 25-litre geysers are Orient, Crompton, Havells, and more.

Wordle 932 answer for January 7: Today's Wordle puzzle is a bit easier than usual, giving us a break from the tough ones we've had recently. Since it's Sunday, thankfully, the puzzle is not too hard - even the inexperienced players might find it easy with their usual strategies. Solving this puzzle can be a nice and relaxing way to spend your Sunday. But be careful not to get too cocky as that may force you into making some mistakes - one wrong move could make you lose the game. To keep your winning streak, check out the Wordle hints and clues. They give you a good strategy and specific clues for each word, making solving the puzzle easy.

 With PM Narendra Modi, and other guests, expected to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, AI-powered CCTV cameras have been deployed to ensure security., a top police official said on Saturday.

Google accounts are considered safe if the password is strong enough. Well, that is old news, at least that is what this new report is saying. According to CloudSek, hackers have found a way to access Google accounts without passwords! So, is your Google account safe from hackers? The report says that hackers have used a form of malware that utilises third-party cookies to illegally enter users' Google accounts and they have free run on whatever data that it has. In effect, the potential to compromise private and professional lives of millions of users is very much there.

10 best Bajaj room heaters: Chilly winters are at their peak and the perfect way to deal with them is through room heaters. And if you are still searching for the best heaters to keep your home warm and cozy, then we have got you covered. Here is a list of the 10 best Bajaj room heaters for different needs and space. Some of them are multifunctional others provide the basics of keeping you warm. These room heaters include models like Bajaj Majesty OFR 13 Fin Plus, Bajaj Blow Hot Portable Room Heater, Bajaj RHX-2 Halogen Heater, Bajaj Minor Radiant Room Heater, and more. Check out the list below:

Hiring in crypto isn't heating up as fast as the recent rally the space has seen on expectations of an imminent approval of a US exchange-traded fund investing directly into Bitcoin.

In a recent announcement from Microsoft, it has been officially disclosed that Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) will be bidding farewell to the Xbox Game Pass on Friday, January 5. The renowned game, which made its Game Pass debut on July 5, 2023, will conclude its six-month stint as an available title for subscribers. Unlike typical Game Pass additions, GTA 5's inclusion had lacked the customary forewarning, surprising subscribers with its unannounced arrival. Furthermore, Rockstar titles, including GTA 5, have consistently departed on dates divergent from the usual 15th or last days of the month, setting them apart from the customary removal schedule of other Game Pass offerings.

Maybe you’ve got one of the best gaming PCs or best laptops, and you want something to easily back up or transfer all the precious data stored on them. Sure, they might be equipped with the best SSDs, or you’ve got solid external hard drives hanging around holding files, photos, and content. But nothing compares to a great NAS (network-attached storage) drive, like our favorite, Synology DiskStation DS224+.

Today, as part of CES 2024, Samsung unveiled a new partner accessory program designed specifically for its Samsung Gaming Hub streaming discovery platform.

Fanatec has delayed the release of its upcoming ClubSport DD+ racing wheel base due to a slow licensing process at Sony, the company has told customers awaiting the product. Originally expected to arrive with customers in December, the DD+ is now in a limbo until Fanatec can square it away with the console giant.

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The PlayStation 5 Slim seems to be selling well compared to the original model, but it seems like it is still not enough to outperform the PlayStation 4, according to a new report.

California-based startup Perplexity AI, just a year into its journey, has secured $73.6 million in a series B funding round, bringing its total funding to $100 million. The investment comes from IVP, NEA, Databricks, Nvidia, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Kindred Ventures, with notable tech figures like Jeff Bezos and Nat Friedman joining as backers. What sets Perplexity AI apart is its ambition to revolutionise knowledge discovery through the Perplexity AI-native search engine, challenging industry giants Google and Microsoft. The startup, valued at over $500 million, plans to utilise the funding to enhance its AI-driven search engine capabilities. Perplexity co-founder and CEO is the Aravind Srinivas.

10 best heaters: Chilly winters are at their peak. Have you bought a room heater yet? If not hurry up. Besides winter, there is another reason to buy heaters i.e. huge discounts rolled out by Amazon! The price drops on these room heaters are really exciting. We have made a list of 10 best heaters that will provide you comfort and warmth that too on lower price rates. These heaters include models like Havells Orizzonte , Orpat OEH-1220, Bajaj RHX-2 Halogen Heater, and more. Check out the list beow:

Chinese chipmaker, Zhaoxin, has unveiled server solutions for the domestic market based on KH-40000 CPUs, featuring up to 64 cores in a single rack.

The decisions made by outgoing Activision CEO Bobby Kotick actively made Call of Duty games worse. That's according to Christina Pollock a programmer who previously worked on the series. Pollock, along with many other former colleagues, made their feelings regarding the controversial exec known on social media once it was confirmed he had definitely left the building.

By Mark Delaney on

AI Roundup: Several notable developments took place in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) today, January 4. Microsoft launched the Copilot key, a key that can summon Microsoft's AI chatbot at just a press of a button. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday said that AI will be one of the two key issues for Italy during its one-year presidency of the G7. Nearly 58 pct of the researchers think that AI could have catastrophic effects, according to a new survey. All this, and more in today's AI roundup.

Throughout 2023, Microsoft routinely issued updates for Windows 11 each month, fixing security problems, adding new features, and borking a few things along the way. But as the latest figures from Statcounter show, Windows 10 users just weren't interested in the newer operating system whatsoever and it remains the OS of choice for two-thirds of all Windows PCs.

Bitcoin struggled to rebound from a precipitous drop which sent the largest cryptocurrency falling as much as 9.22% earlier in the week.

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The year has barely started and the tech titan Google is indicating it is business as usual, as far as it is concerned. And that spells some good news for Google Pixel smartphone users as the first Android update of 2024 has been released today. The Google Android update includes some security and some bug fixes and it is being recommended that you hit that update button and download it immediately. Having said that, just remember, there are times when a new update may itself have some problems. So, in case you go ahead and update your phone, be very careful and keep and eye out for something out of the ordinary happening on your device.

Nintendo can be pretty secretive when it comes to its future plans, a lot more than most other companies in the industry. It supposedly has a brand-new system launching at some point in 2024, but we barely know anything about it besides it's reportedly been shown off behind close doors to a number of developers. In fact, Nintendo is so secretive that it sometimes doesn't even let its own developers know about consoles currently in production.

On January 1, Valve ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, which means that users on those older versions of Microsoft's OS will eventually not be able to use the gaming platform. «We expect the Steam client and games on these older operating systems to continue running for some time without updates after January 1st, 2024, but we are unable to guarantee continued functionality after that date,» Valve wrote in a post on the Steam support site.

Most people know about the strongest meta strategies in The Finals right now, including Stun Gun and Invisibility for Lights and RPGs and C4 on throwables for Heavies. However, a new hilarious meta is rising in The Finals, and it’s the Goo Gun.

's 2.1 update has included several new changes, and while it makes one aspect of the game much harder, it greatly improves its portrayal of one particular character: Adam Smasher. From the moment he first appeared during the Arasaka heist, the company's massively cybernetically enhanced head of security, Adam Smasher, was built up to be an intimidating foe.

Ubisoft is reportedly investigating an «unknown threat actor» who allegedly gained access to the company's Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Atlas, and SharePoint channels for 48 hours before access was revoked.

Your iPhone 14 is a valuable piece of technology, and it's crucial for you to ensure its security. Whether you own the standard model, Plus, Pro, or Pro Max, activating a screen lock is a simple yet effective way to safeguard your device. By adding a passcode, you can control who gains access to your iPhone 14. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to set up your own passcode and offer some tips to enhance your device's security. Let's get started!

A video detailing MatPat's cameo in the Five Nights at Freddy's movie has revealed that Markiplier was supposed to play a security guard in the film, which ended up not happening due to scheduling conflicts.

There aren’t many easy jobs in information security, but protecting people against nation-state attackers is the hardest of them all. And yet security researcher Runa Sandvik did not sound hopeless during a talk at a conference about the threat of intelligence agencies targeting commercial spyware at reporters, activists, and opposition politicians.

By Sheena Vasaniand Brandon Widder

In a bid to tackle cybercrime, Google Messages is reportedly testing a feature that will curb screen sharing, preventing anyone from snooping on your Android smartphone. For the unaware, Messages is Google's official messaging platform that uses Rich Communication Services (RCS) to send and receive SMS and MMS. To keep users engaged, Google keeps introducing new features on a regular basis. Last month, Google brought a forwarding feature that allows users to send a single message to multiple contacts at the same time without the need to send it repeatedly to these contacts. Now, it is also introducing a key security feature feature that could prevent threat actors from snooping on your phone.

A number of panelists who took part in a community manager talk during EGX 2023 have been calling on event organizers to increase security at future panels after sexist and derogatory comments were allegedly shouted out while they were speaking. 

EGX 2023 attendees are criticising organisers and security following multiple complaints of sexism and harassment at the event. This also comes as Just Stop Oil protestors were able to disrupt a Tekken 7 tournament on the final day, spraying equipment with orange paint.

Late last month, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam opened a special exhibit in partnership with Pokemon, celebrating its 50th anniversary—and, in a move that's a little unwise in hindsight, also offered a limited-edition Pikachu card in the style of Gogh's piece «Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat».

WhatsApp has been taking significant steps to enhance user privacy by rolling out updates on a frequent basis. This time, the new WhatsApp security measure has come up with the introduction of a new feature in its beta versions for Android and iOS. This feature is known as "Protect IP address in calls,". Read here to know more about this new security update:

's DLC has seemingly redeemed the base game after bugs, glitches, and a lackluster story left it as one of the most disappointinggames. In a true turnaround of events, the content has not only given players a reason to return to, but also a host of reasons to get excited for whatever game comes next.

Data privacy is important no matter who you are and whatever your reason to browse the internet is. Most of us would prefer to keep it private and not be seen by others. Oftentimes, a general day's browsing history can include searches around private medical conditions, silly queries, and sometimes looking up information around financial or personal data.

By Jay Peters, a news editor who writes about technology, video games, and virtual worlds. He’s submitted several accepted emoji proposals to the Unicode Consortium.

Valve plans to implement a two-factor verification system to prevent further attacks.

Valve are introducing text message verification for game developers using Steamworks, following what the platform-holders describe as a limited incident which saw hackers taking over several Steamworks accounts and adding malware to their games. Reportedly, fewer than 100 Steam players have been affected by the malware – I hope you’re not among them.

Valve is introducing SMS verification for developers as part of its new security measures on Steamworks. This follows earlier incidents of hackers taking over several developers' accounts on the platform, where they added malware to various game builds.

Valve has added extra security measures for developer accounts on Steam after hackers updated several games with malware.

Valve is adding a new security layer for Steam developers. Any Steamworks account authorized to release builds to a publicly available application must have a phone number associated so Steam may send an SMS confirmation code before continuing. The SMS code will also be required whenever an admin account attempts to add a new user to the Steamworks partner group.

The Steam accounts of multiple game developers were recently compromised and used to update their games with malware. Fewer than 100 Steam users had the games installed when the malware was added, and they've been directly notified of the risk by email, according to Valve. The company confirmed details of the story, reported earlier this week by GameDiscoverCo newsletter founder Simon Carless, in an email to PC Gamer today.

Every now and then Samsung releases security updates to fix vulnerabilities and protect your smartphone from malware. The October 2023 security update will start rolling out for various Samsung Galaxy devices. As per a report, the upcoming update does not include major changes however, it does come with some backend fixes that will make your smartphone run smoothly while maintaining your safety. If you want to download the Samsung security update, then check out the list of eligible Galaxy devices.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating how Twitter Inc. managed a 2018 security lapse that exposed personal user information before billionaire Elon Musk bought the social media platform last year. The agency has been scrutinizing whether the former top executives failed to adequately disclose those privacy issues to shareholders or put in place proper controls, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing a confidential investigation. A bug on the social media platform had let outsiders view user email addresses during password resets, which revealed the identity of users, said one of the people.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has detailed his plans regarding employee safety, cybersecurity initiatives, and curbing misinformation amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militia group Hamas in an internal email addressed to employees. Pichai also addressed the two Google offices in Israel, one in Tel Aviv and another in Hanifa, where two thousand employees work, emphasizing that the company is taking every possible step to ensure the safety of every Googler and to continue any support needed.

By Umar Shakir, a news writer fond of the electric vehicle lifestyle and things that plug in via USB-C. He spent over 15 years in IT support before joining The Verge.

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iOS update: Apple's newest iPhone 15 series was unveiled to the public with huge excitement. However, some users have reported heating issues with the iPhone 15 models. While this was initially attributed to the new A17 Pro chip, Apple quickly dismissed these claims, stating that it was due to some third-party apps as well as a software issue that would soon be fixed. Now, the Cupertino-based tech giant has rolled out an update that not only promises to fix the heating issues but also brings a solution for a critical security flaw in the previous versions of iOS that has already been actively exploited.

Google Trends data has a registered a 277 per cent increase in “delete PlayStation account” searches following an alleged data breach earlier this week. A ransomware group claimed to have “successfully compromised all of Sony’s systems”, with the stolen data purportedly up for sale. The Japanese giant has responded by insisting it’s investigating the situation.

Now and again, a simple yet genius game will appear online and take the world by storm. We’ve seen it happen with amusing time-wasters like 2048, Wordle, and The Password Game. More recently, Gandalf finds itself in the spotlight thanks to its fun yet educational gameplay.

Anyone who owns multiple security cameras is familiar with the notification problem. If you own three, one person walking up to your home can generate three notifications. Eufy's latest cameras introduce a new feature that solves that notification overload.

«This comes as a big kick in the balls to both us and everybody else who was excited for this version of the game»

A persistent error message greeted Dulce Martinez on Monday as she tried to access her casino rewards account to book accommodations for an upcoming business trip.

There's a helpful hack in Starfield that makes popping locks a lot easier, but you'll need superior lockpicking skills if you want to take advantage of it.

Home security systems and security cameras, both indoors and out, provide you with peace of mind. These systems can deter potential intruders, let you check in on what’s happening while you’re away, and alert you when something malfunctions, such as a pipe bursting and flooding your basement.

Apple released a significant security update for iPhones and iPads Thursday to patch newly discovered security vulnerabilities in the devices' system software.

Google says state-sponsored North Korean hackers are once again trying to target security researchers, this time with a new zero-day exploit that can spy on a victim’s computer. 

The Chinese government is banning the use of iPhones at several ministries due to the risk they pose to national security.