Flash Feed

Google has recently upgraded the security protection for iPhone users by introducing a new real-time system for detecting and warning users about unsafe websites in Chrome. This new system replaces the current local list-based system and includes flagging weak and reused passwords, blocking 25% more phishing attempts, and providing real-time protection against risky websites on Chrome for desktop, iOS, and soon Android. The new system uses an asynchronous mechanism to prevent network calls from blocking page loads and degrades the user experience, and it also includes an option to turn it off in the browser settings. Additionally, Google has partnered with Fastly, a CDN and edge computing specialist, to provide an additional layer of privacy by stripping out any identifying information from the browser request. The new system is currently available in Chrome's Standard mode and offers additional protection in Enhanced mode, including AI-based blocking, deep file scans, and protecti...

Microsoft believes that Google's extensive data sets give it an edge in the generative AI market. While others rely on partnerships, Google has vertical integration across all layers of AI development, leveraging its access to YouTube content for training its Large Language Model (LLM), Gemini. Microsoft has invested over $10 billion in OpenAI, which is under antitrust investigation. Encouraging pro-competitive partnerships can prevent companies from becoming vertically integrated and gaining an anticompetitive advantage. Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, considers Google the "default winner" due to their resources and capabilities. Google has the talent, compute, data, silicon, models, and products to lead the AI race, according to Nadella. However, Microsoft has faced criticism for its AI-powered productivity tool for Office and Excel, 365 Copilot, which produces harmful content. Nadella acknowledges that tools to reduce unintended AI issues are not perfect and that t...

The games industry is currently facing challenges such as cost-cutting measures, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. However, the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) is highly anticipated and expected to be a major success, with some analysts predicting it could be the best-selling video game of all time. The game's release is seen as critical for the video game industry, which is currently experiencing a decline in revenue and growth. GTA 6 has the potential to boost the bottom line of companies involved in the video game industry, including retailers like Amazon and GameStop, as well as console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft. The game's success could also lead to increased interest in video games and gaming overall, potentially leading to a renewed growth period for the industry. However, the development of GTA 6 has been marred by reports of crunch and other issues within Rockstar Games, highlighting the challenges faced by developers in the i...

NASA's Perseverance rover has collected 26 of its 43 sample tubes on Mars, with 20 containing rock cores and 2 containing regolith. The rover is currently climbing up a river delta and scientists are planning the next phases of the rover's traverse, including heading to the crater rim for an "incredible diversity" of rocks. NASA is conducting a review of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) architecture, including the schedule and design of the mission, and is expected to release its revised plans by April. The mission is considered a top scientific priority by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and has been planned for decades. The mission has several compelling reasons to bring samples back from Mars, including advancing our understanding of the Red Planet's geological history, potential habitability, and processes that shape planets. Related reads Column: Mars rocks are a science prize the US can't afford to lose Mars Sample Return scien...

Google Meet has introduced face touch-up filters for its web version, allowing users to subtly enhance their appearance before joining meetings. The filters include subtle and smoothing options, which provide natural-looking enhancements without dramatically altering users' appearance. The feature is only available to paid users on certain plans and provides a live preview of the effect before joining a call. Related reads Google Meet introduces face touch-up filters to web version - enhance your looks before joining meetings Google Meet's face touch-up filters come to desktop - The Verge Google Meet introduces face touch-up filters for desktop users

Apple has acquired DarwinAI, a Canadian AI startup, with the goal of integrating the company's technology into its products. DarwinAI is known for its work in making AI systems smaller and faster, and has also worked on AI technology for visually inspecting components during manufacturing. Apple has already integrated dozens of DarwinAI's employees into the company, including co-founder Alexander Wong. The acquisition suggests that Apple is planning to use DarwinAI's technology to add more AI features to its products, particularly in the area of generative AI. While Apple's current use of AI in its products is limited to a few features in iOS 17 and the Apple Vision Pro, the company has hinted at incorporating more AI into its next operating system, iOS 18. Related read Apple Bought an AI Startup: What to Know About Its AI Plans

Rumored specifications for a potential Sony PS5 Pro and PlayStation 5 System-on-a-Chip Revision (PSSR) console. A custom APU with improved GPU performance, clocked at 2.18 GHz for FP32 calculations and 2.45 GHz for 8-bit integers. A GPU with 60 out of 64 available Compute Units, enabling machine-enhanced super resolution technology. Comparison to FSR2 (Fidelity Super Resolution) in terms of image quality, with the added advantage of dynamic input resolution and support for up to 8K output in the future. Related read Sony PlayStation 5 Pro teased with PSSR (Spectral Super Resolution) support

YouTube is redesigning its TV app, which aims to provide a more engaging experience for users while watching videos on a TV screen. The redesign includes a new video player that allows users to access features such as shopping, comments, and video descriptions without leaving the video player. The redesign will roll out to users over the coming weeks on the YouTube app on TVs. The redesign is intended to make it easier for users to interact with YouTube's features while continuing to watch their video without any distractions. Related reads YouTube's redesigned TV app focuses on everything but video YouTube is revamping its TV app to make videos feel way more interactive YouTube TV also getting video player redesign with side-by-side sports scores YouTube and YouTube TV's latest upgrade focuses on the most important thing — watching videos The YouTube App on Your TV Is Getting a Facelift - Lifehacker

WhatsApp is introducing an improved app lock feature in its latest beta for Android devices. The new feature will accept alternative unique identifiers, such as passcodes, in addition to biometric authentication. This change allows devices without biometric sensors to use the app lock feature, making it more accessible to a wider range of users. Additionally, WhatsApp is increasing the limit of how many chats can be pinned at once, moving the limit from three to five. The company is also testing a new in-app label to indicate when a chat room has end-to-end encryption (E2EE). The label will appear underneath the contact and group name and serve as a visual confirmation that outside forces cannot read what is being discussed or listen to phone calls. Finally, the EU passed the Digital Markets Act in 2022, which implemented new rules forcing major messaging platforms to allow communication with third-party services, and WhatsApp published a report on its Engineering at Meta blog detailin...

Google is developing a new feature for Android devices called "Powered Off Finding," which will allow compatible phones to be located even when they are turned off. This feature will use Bluetooth beacons to broadcast the device's location to other Android devices in the Find My Device network. The Pixel 9 series is expected to be the first compatible handset, followed by the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. However, older devices such as the Pixel 7 series and the Pixel Fold are unlikely to support this feature due to missing hardware or software components. The feature is expected to be rolled out in the future for devices that miss the necessary hardware or software components. Related reads Android 15 could help you find lost devices even when they're offline Even the Pixel 8 could get Android 15's powered-off finding features Android 15 is about to give Pixel 8 phones a major upgrade Android 15 could allow devices to be tracked even when switched off - Android Centr...

NASA's current supercomputers are outdated and underpowered, with many using 18,000 CPUs and only 48 GPUs. The agency's HEC operations are not centrally managed, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of a cohesive strategy for using on-premises versus cloud computing resources. The audit found that the security controls for the HEC infrastructure are often bypassed or not implemented, increasing the risk of cyber attacks. Transitioning to GPUs and code modernization is essential for meeting NASA's current and future needs, as GPUs offer significantly higher computational capabilities for workloads involving parallel processing. NASA needs to refocus its efforts on supercomputing to keep pace in space exploration. The agency's current supercomputing capabilities are overburdened and vulnerable. Decentralized management of high-performance computing (HEC) assets hinders the agency's ability to efficiently allocate resources and adapt to changing mission needs. The agen...

Salt Security has discovered critical security flaws in ChatGPT plugins that could allow attackers to access users' third-party accounts and sensitive data. The vulnerabilities were found in the plugin functionality of ChatGPT, which allows the AI chatbot to interact with external services. The flaws could introduce a new attack vector and enable threat actors to gain control of users' accounts on third-party websites and access to personally identifiable information (PII) and other sensitive user data stored within third-party applications. The discovery highlights the importance of protecting the plugins within generative AI tools to prevent attackers from accessing critical business assets and executing account takeovers. The Salt Labs team identified three distinct types of vulnerabilities in their investigation within the ChatGPT plugins, including a flaw within ChatGPT itself, a vulnerability in PluginLab (pluginlab.ai), and susceptibility to OAuth redirection manipulatio...

A recent study has observed a super-long gamma-ray burst (GRB) that occurred when two dense neutron stars collided millions of years ago. The collision produced pure gold, as well as other heavy elements such as silver and uranium. The research challenges the conventional understanding that longer GRBs are typically associated with the death of a single star, as the collision of two neutron stars can also produce these energetic bursts. The study suggests that neutron star mergers could provide the only environments in the universe turbulent enough to create elements heavier than iron. The observation was made using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope, and the team of researchers analyzed an unusually long blast of high-energy radiation, known as a gamma-ray burst (GRB), and determined that it originated from the collision of two ultradense neutron stars. The findings could help us better understand how these powerful neutron star merger events generate...

Google has recently launched an experimental AI feature in Chrome called "Help me write," which uses Google's Gemini models to understand the context of a webpage and suggest appropriate sentences or paragraphs. This feature can be used to generate text for various purposes, such as writing reviews, customer service requests, and marketplace listings. To use the feature, users must go to the Experimental AI page in Chrome settings, highlight the text they want to rewrite, and right-click to summon the "Help me write" box. The tool is currently available only in Chrome browsers on Macs and Windows PCs in the US, and it can only understand prompts and write suggestions in the English language. While the feature can be useful for generating text quickly, Google warns users not to enter personal or sensitive information, such as medical or financial details, when using the feature. Additionally, the information entered through the feature will be sent to Google, whi...

Microsoft is testing a new update method for Windows 11 called "hot patching" that allows critical updates to be installed without requiring a reboot. This feature uses a baseline update that can be patched on top of, but the baseline model needs to be refreshed every few months. Currently, only quarterly cumulative updates are expected to require a reboot, while hot patches in between will be able to be installed quickly with no reboot needed. This feature could be beneficial for users as it eliminates the need for a reboot in many cases. However, it may not be enough to tempt upgrades from Windows 10 users, especially since some PCs may not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11. Microsoft is currently testing this feature in the Windows 11 dev channel, but only with Windows Insiders with VBS enabled. Related reads Windows 11 may no longer require frequent restarts for security updates Windows 11 could soon deliver updates that don't need a reboot Your next Windo...

Google has denied claims that Gmail is shutting down after a viral hoax message spread on social media. According to Google, Gmail is "here to stay." While some services have been discontinued by Google in recent years, such as Stadia, YouTube Stories, and old and inactive Gmail accounts, Gmail itself is not among them. In fact, Gmail has gained many features and users since its launch in 2004, with an estimated 2 billion active users. Despite a rumor circulating on social media claiming that Gmail would be "sunsetted" on August 1, 2024, Google has confirmed that this is not true and that the service will continue to operate as usual. Related reads Viral Email Claims Gmail Will Close On August 1 Google is killing Gmail’s basic HTML view (but not Gmail) in 2024 Gmail is here to stay: Google denies shutdown rumours, confirms continued service Google denies Gmail is shutting down after viral hoax - BBC.com Google says Gmail is ‘here to stay’ as users fear it will be d...

Google has introduced an open AI model called Gemma, which is designed to help developers build AI responsibly. The model was created using the same research and technology as Google's Gemini AI models, but is available in a lightweight version that can run directly on a developer's laptop or desktop computer. Gemma surpasses larger models in key benchmarks and was trained to be safe, with automated techniques to strip personal information from the data used to train the models, and reinforcement learning based on human feedback to ensure responsible behaviors. The model is available in two sizes - Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B - and Google plans to introduce more variants in the future. Additionally, Google has released two new open large language models, Gemma 2B and Gemma 7B, which can be used by outside companies and independent software developers to build online chatbots similar to Google's own chatbot. Related reads Google Is Giving Away Some of the A.I. That Powers Chatbot...

X, a social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is introducing audio and video calls for regular, non-premium users. This feature was previously available only to paying, premium users, but is now being rolled out slowly to non-paying users. The feature allows users to make calls through direct messages (DMs) by tapping the phone icon and choosing an audio or visual call. Users can control their audio and video calling options from the Direct Messages settings. To reduce unwanted calls, users can only receive calls from other accounts that they have messaged "at least once." The rollout is happening slowly, and users will have the option to choose if they want to receive calls from people in their address book, people they follow, verified users only, or everyone. Related reads X rolling out audio, video calls for non-paying users - The Hill X starts giving non-paying users the ability to make audio and video calls X is launching audio and visual calls for regular user...

Apple has announced an upgrade to its iMessage security, called PQ3, which provides post-quantum cryptographic protection. This new protocol is expected to offer the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world and will be rolled out across Apple devices in March 2024. PQ3 is designed to protect against both current and future quantum computing threats and combines a hybrid model of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) and Kyber algorithm, which is recognized by NIST as a solid choice. The new protocol includes a periodic post-quantum rekeying mechanism to ensure maximum security while minimizing impact on user experience. This brings iMessage to similar security standard that signal has for encryption. Related reads Apple adds PQ3 quantum-resistant encryption to iMessage - BleepingComputer iOS 17.4 to Add This 'Groundbreaking' New Messaging Feature Apple secures iMessage against threats from the future Apple iOS 17.4: iMessage Gets Post-Quantum E...

A new variant of the XLoader malware called MoqHao Evolution, which has the capability to infect devices without any user interaction. This malware is operated by a financially motivated group of hackers based in China, known as Roaming Mantis. The latest version of MoqHao has evolved to operate in 27 regional languages, making it a widespread threat to users. Unlike its earlier variants, this malware does not require user interaction to infect the device, instead masquerading as legitimate apps like Google Chrome and tricking users into granting dangerous permissions. Once installed, the malware can execute a wide range of commands, including collecting data related to the device's identifiers, sending malicious messages, and transmitting photos and contact lists to its servers. To protect against MoqHao Evolution, it is recommended to use Android devices with Google Play Services, which are protected from this threat. Additionally, it is important to be cautious when receiving te...