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Showing posts from May, 2023

Six tips for getting the most out of your SIEM investment

Eric Thomas Contributor Share on Twitter Eric Thomas is vice president of security GTM at Logz.io , an open-source observability platform for DevOps teams. Security information and event management (SIEM) is one of the most well-established categories of security software, having first been introduced about 20 years ago. Nevertheless, very little has been written about SIEM vendor evaluation and management. To fill that gap, here are six top-line tips on procuring and implementing a SIEM solution for maximum value. Evaluating and purchasing a SIEM solution Size your spend SIEM software solutions are priced differently: either by the number of employees in the customer organization, by the rate of events per second, or based on the log volume ingested. It’s important to figure this out early to get a rough idea of what you will pay over time. You’ll also identify the various data sources meaningful to your Security Operations Center (SOC). Buying a SIEM is a massive

Amazon’s Ring to pay $5.8M after staff and contractors caught snooping on customer videos, FTC says

Ring, the Amazon-owned maker of video surveillance devices, will pay $5.8 million over claims brought by the Federal Trade Commission that Ring employees and contractors had broad and unrestricted access to customers’ videos for years. The settlement was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday. The FTC confirmed the settlement a short time later. News of the settlement was first reported by Reuters. The FTC said that Ring employees and contractors were able to view, download, and transfer customers’ sensitive video data for their own purposes as a result of “dangerously overbroad access and lax attitude toward privacy and security.” According to the FTC’s complaint , Ring gave “every employee — as well as hundreds of Ukraine-based third-party contractors — full access to every customer video, regardless of whether the employee or contractor actually needed that access to perform his or her job function.” The FTC also said that Ring staff and cont

Google Assistant third-party Notes & Lists integration is coming to an end

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Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority Google plans to end third-party integration with Google Assistant. Users will no longer be able to use Google Assistant to create notes or lists on non-Google apps. Integration support will end on June 20. Google Assistant is an easy way to create notes and lists quickly. Some people keep their notes/lists in Google Keep while others choose to use a third-party service. Unfortunately, that’s no longer going to be possible soon if you use a third-party app. Today, AnyList — an app that lets you create and share shopping lists — announced that Google Assistant integration is coming to an end. But it’s not just AnyList; Google is ending Google Assistant Notes & Lists integration for all non-Google apps. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/5m3N6o0 via IFTTT

Google wanted the Pixel Fold to feel like a passport

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Google published a blog explaining how it developed the hinge on the Pixel Fold. The Pixel team took inspiration from the form factor of a passport book. Google put the components of the hinge on the ends of the device to make the phone thinner. One of the most important, but often overlooked parts of a foldable phone is the hinge. The design of the hinge can mean the difference between a foldable with a gap and one that folds flat. Google has revealed the inspiration for its Pixel Fold hinge design, and it’s not what you’d expect. On the tech giant’s blog , the company went into detail on how it designed and built the hinge on the Pixel Fold. One of the more intriguing revelations from the post is that the team drew inspiration from the form factor of a passport. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/yJWTmpH via IFTTT

A brief history of VR and AR

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By the time Howard Rheingold’s “Virtual Reality” was published in 1991, the Sensorama was already a “slowly deteriorating” relic stashed away in a cabana next the pool at its inventor’s West Los Angeles home. Rheingold describes awe — even surprise — that the system was still operable almost 30 years after its introduction. “I was transported to the driver’s seat of a motorcycle in Brooklyn in the 1950s,” the author writes. “I heard the engine start. I felt a growing vibration through the handlebar, and the 3D photo that filled much of my field of view came alive, animating into a yellow, scratchy, but still effective 3D motion picture.” The experience is immediately identifiable to anyone who has spent time in a modern VR headset. In the early 90s, it no doubt felt “a bit like looking up the Wright Brothers and taking their original prototype out for a spin,” as the book describes. At the dawn of the decade that gave us both “The Real World” and “The End of History,” virtual reality

Instagram tests new user control for recommended posts, transparency tool for creators

Instagram announced today that it’s testing a new feature that gives users more control over what they see on the social network, along with a new transparency tool for creators. Now, when users see recommended posts, they can select a new “Interested” button that will inform the app that they want to see more of that type of content. The new control joins Instagram’s current personalization controls, including the Not Interested” option on suggested posts and the ability to snooze recommendations. The company is also experimenting with new transparency notifications to help creators understand when the reach of their content, such as Reels, may be limited due to a watermark. Instagram says the new feature will help creators understand why certain Reels aren’t being distributed to non-followers. Although Instagram didn’t say what types of watermarks it’s referring to, the company is likely referencing the abundance of TikTok content that is reposted as Reels on its platform. The new

Meet the Aerospace Corporation, AMD, Torc and more at Disrupt

TechCrunch Disrupt , a veritable who’s who and what’s what in the startup world, takes place on September 19–21 in San Francisco. It’s the perfect destination to find inspiration, gain knowledge, forge new relationships and discover essential tools to help you build your business. Time-sensitive savings: Our Memorial Day two-four-one sale on select passes ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. PDT. Buy your pass before the deadline, and get one ticket for free! Partners with purpose at TechCrunch Disrupt 2023 Disrupt is also the perfect place to leverage the expertise and resources of some of the startup world’s leading companies. We’re proud to partner with them to create the magic that is Disrupt. Their passionate, active involvement uplifts, engages and provides vital support to early-stage founders. We already announced our first group of partners . Let’s take a look at what this new group brings to the table. In addition to hosting two breakout sessions, the Aerospace Corporation will

Don’t type this very normal link into WhatsApp on Android, it will crash loop

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority If you send someone a shortened URL, it will cause a WhatsApp crash loop on Android. The URL is “wa.me/settings,” which would normally take you to the WhatsApp settings page. The crash loop will happen every time you open up the affected chat. Deleting that message is the only fix for now. Since WhatsApp is the most popular messaging service globally, one can only imagine the number of URLs sent and received daily on the platform. One URL, though, appears to be wreaking havoc on the Android version of WhatsApp. As first spotted by Brute Bee on Twitter and verified by  Android Authority , sending the URL “wa.me/settings” causes a WhatsApp crash loop. It only appears to be a problem on the Android version of the app but does appear to affect both the consumer and business versions. The device we tested this on was running version 2.23.10.77, although other versions might also be affected. from Android Authority https://ift.

MyHeritage debuts Reimagine, an AI app for scanning, fixing and even animating old photos

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AI is impacting the realm of photography, ranging from tools for professionals like Adobe Photoshop’s new generative AI , to those for consumers, like Google Photos’ forthcoming Magic Editor. Now, genealogy company MyHeritage is turning to AI to make it easier for families to preserve their memories with the launch of its latest app, Reimagine . The new mobile app’s main focus is to help users easily import printed photos stored in albums, then touch them up by improving their resolution, fixing scratches and creases, and even restoring color in black & white photos and animating faces — the latter, a technique that went viral in prior years with MyHeritage’s launch of “Deep Nostalgia.” Reimagine builds on that technology by combining it with other photo-editing tools designed specifically for preserving old photos. To use the app, which is available for both iOS and Android , you’ll snap photos from the pages of your old photo albums. The app identifies the separate photos and

Pixel Watch 2 could ditch Exynos for Snapdragon and gain more battery life

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Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority A leak suggests that the Pixel Watch 2 may come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. The Pixel Watch 2 is said to be capable of lasting over a day with the always-on display setting enabled. The wearable could also get similar health sensors to the Fitbit Sense 2. Contrary to the lead-up of most Google devices, few details have leaked about the follow-up to the Pixel Watch . However, that may have just changed after a new leak just surfaced. We may now know about the Pixel Watch 2’s processor, battery life, and some of the specs. Google could be thinking about changing the chip in the Pixel Watch 2 , according to a report from 9to5Google . The outlet’s sources claim the smartwatch might ditch the Exynos processor in favor of a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip from the latest W5 generation. This could be the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1, which is featured in the TicWatch Pro 5, or it could be a standard Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 SoC. from Android

Tesla cleared by NHTSA for in-car gaming feature

Federal regulators have closed an investigation into Tesla for allowing in-dash gaming while its vehicles were moving. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation in late 2021 after discovering video games could be seen and played on the center screen even while the vehicle was in motion. The investigation covered more than 580,000 Tesla vehicles. Tesla shares were up 3% following the news that NHTSA had closed its probe. Tesla disabled the on-the-move passenger play feature via an over-the air software update after discussing the matter with officials. However, NHTSA continued its investigation. At the time,  NHTSA reiterated that the Vehicle Safety Act bars companies from selling cars that pose significant safety risks, including from distracted driving. Within a month of the software update, Tesla reported 97% of vehicles had completed the update. NHTSA said in its most recent update that no safety-related defect exists. The agency said

These were the most popular flagship phones in Q1

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Credit: Ryan Haines / Android Authority Tracking firm Canalys has revealed the most popular high-end phones in Q1 2023. Apple iPhones accounted for four of the top five spots. The Galaxy S23 Ultra was the top Android phone, with other S23 models making the list too. The smartphone industry is currently in a slump right now in terms of total shipments, with a double-digit drop compared to a year ago. But it turns out that the high-end phone segment ($500 or higher) has bucked the trend. Tracking company Canalys revealed that the high-end segment grew by 4.7% compared to a year ago. The firm also dished out a list of the top 15 most popular high-end phones by sell-in (sales to retailers). from Android Authority https://ift.tt/mFl6J1I via IFTTT

We might see a flagship processor without little cores later this year

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Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android Authority A MediaTek Dimensity 9300 leak points to a radically different CPU. The chipset will apparently feature four Cortex-X4 cores and four Cortex-A720 cores. The processor will apparently consume 50% less power than its predecessor. MediaTek confirmed yesterday that its next-generation flagship phone processor (presumably called the Dimensity 9300) would use Arm’s brand-new Cortex-X4 and Cortex-A720 CPU cores along with the Immortalis Mali-G720 GPU. The company didn’t mention the new Cortex-A520 little CPU core, and it turns out there might be a good reason for that. Long-time leaker Digital Chat Station has claimed on Weibo that the Dimensity 9300 won’t use little CPU cores at all. Instead, the tipster asserts that the chipset will have an octacore CPU consisting of four Cortex-X4 cores and four Cortex-A720 cores. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/WECw29l via IFTTT

Two more official Pixel Tablet accessories might still be in the pipeline

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Credit: Harley Maranan / Android Authority Google is reportedly working on an official stylus and keyboard for the Pixel Tablet. It’s unclear whether Google will announce them before the Pixel Tablet becomes available openly in June. Google announced the Pixel Tablet at I/O 2023 after a whole year of teasing the slate. New information from noted tipster Kamila Wojciechowska suggests this wasn’t intentional but rather a development delay on Google’s part. According to Wojciechowska, we might still not have the complete picture regarding the official accessories of the Pixel Tablet. Google is apparently still working on an official stylus and a keyboard to accompany the device. from Android Authority https://ift.tt/dw68AMi via IFTTT

A popular Android app began secretly spying on its users months after it was listed on Google Play

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A cybersecurity firm says a popular Android screen recording app that racked up tens of thousands of downloads on Google’s app store subsequently began spying on its users, including by stealing microphone recordings and other documents from the user’s phone. Research by ESET found that the Android app, “iRecorder — Screen Recorder,” introduced the malicious code as an app update almost a year after it was first listed on Google Play. The code, according to ESET, allowed the app to stealthily upload a minute of ambient audio from the device’s microphone every 15 minutes, as well as exfiltrate documents, web pages and media files from the user’s phone. The app is no longer listed in Google Play. If you have installed the app, you should delete it from your device. By the time the malicious app was pulled from the app store, it had racked up more than 50,000 downloads. ESET is calling the malicious code AhRat, a customized version of an open-source remote access trojan called AhMyth.

Max Q: Galactic

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Hello and welcome back to Max Q! Happy Memorial Day everyone. In this issue: Astranis’ novel approach to GEO satellites Virgin Galactic’s return to the skies News from SpaceX, and more Astranis’ novel approach to internet satellites is starting to pay off Astranis , a satellite internet startup based in San Francisco, said Wednesday that its first spacecraft completed a milestone test and will start bringing broadband access to rural Alaskans as soon as mid-June. It’s a major step for the company, which was founded in 2015 by John Gedmark and Ryan McLinko. By taking a first principles approach to satellite development, the pair bet that they could make a smaller, cheaper spacecraft for geosynchronous orbit — the orbit farthest from Earth and arguably the most inhospitable — and use them to bring internet to millions, or even billions, of people around the globe. Their bet is paying off: The company’s first satellite, Arcturus, launched on a Falcon Heavy at the end of April. W