X launches Chat, its new encrypted DMs
X launches Chat, its new encrypted DMs X has revealed Chat, an encrypted upgrade to the platform’s direct messaging service. It also includes support for video and voice calls, disappearing messages, and file sharing. The company announced Chat on Friday, and it’s available now on iOS and the web, with an Android version coming “soon.” […]
Google is collecting troves of data from downgraded Nest thermostats
Google is collecting troves of data from downgraded Nest thermostats The second-gen Nest Thermostat launched in 2012. Google officially turned off remote control functionality for early Nest Learning Thermostats last month, but it hasn’t stopped collecting a stream of data from these downgraded devices. After digging into the backend, security researcher Cody Kociemba found that […]
Google will let ‘experienced users’ keep sideloading Android apps
Google will let 'experienced users' keep sideloading Android apps Google says that it’s softening its plan to require every Android developer — even outside of the Play Store — to verify their identity, a move which critics warned could kill sideloading for good. The company now says it’s developing a workflow to allow “experienced users” […]
America’s cybersecurity defenses are cracking
America's cybersecurity defenses are cracking It was late June, and something strange was happening on Arizona’s online portal for political candidates. Images of the candidates were disappearing. Photos of the Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini were popping up in their place. The state would later come to believe it was an attack from an Iranian government-affiliated […]
Hackers threaten to leak ‘woke’ University of Pennsylvania student data
Hackers threaten to leak 'woke' University of Pennsylvania student data “We got hacked,” members of the University of Pennsylvania community were told in the subject line of several emails sent from addresses linked to its Graduate School of Education. The sender, apparently, was the potential hacker or hackers themselves. “The University of Pennsylvania is a […]
WhatsApp can now use passkeys to secure your backups
WhatsApp can now use passkeys to secure your backups Say hello to passkey backup encryption. WhatsApp is introducing a passwordless way to instantly secure your chat backups. The messaging platform is launching passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android, allowing users to quickly encrypt their stored message history using their face, fingerprint, or device screen lock […]
‘There isn’t really another choice:’ Signal chief explains why the encrypted messenger relies on AWS
'There isn't really another choice:' Signal chief explains why the encrypted messenger relies on AWS After last week’s major Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage took Signal along with it, Elon Musk was quick to criticize the encrypted messaging app’s reliance on big tech. But Signal president Meredith Whittaker argues that the company didn’t have any […]
Wyze’s budget-friendly video doorbell gets a six-month battery
Wyze's budget-friendly video doorbell gets a six-month battery You can use Wyze’s new doorbell cam on battery power alone or hardwire it to a power source to access more functionality. | Image: Wyze Wyze has announced a new budget-friendly doorbell camera. The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell looks similar to the Video Doorbell v2 the brand […]
Ledger’s new Nano is meant to be more than just a crypto wallet
Ledger's new Nano is meant to be more than just a crypto wallet Mac wallpaper optional, but encouraged. Ledger’s fifth Nano crypto wallet marks a moment of reinvention: it’s not nearly so “nano” anymore, and Ledger would prefer you didn’t call it a crypto wallet either. It’s grown in size, picked up a full E […]
Tapo’s new solar floodlight camera soaks up the sun to light up your yard at night
Tapo's new solar floodlight camera soaks up the sun to light up your yard at night Tapo’s new solar-powered pan-tilt camera adds a bright floodlight. | Image: Tapo TP-Link’s Tapo smart home brand announced a new solar-powered outdoor security camera with pan-tilt capabilities, 2K video recording, and an 800-lumen LED floodlight. Tapo says the C615F […]