A security guard firm was found leaking data that could lead to identity theft, physical breaches, theft, and even terrorism.
The news comes from cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler, who found an online database containing more than 1.2 million documents. The database did not have any sort of protection and could be accessed by anyone who knew where to look, WebsitePlanet reported.
Subsequent investigation uncovered that the database belonged to a UK-based company called Amberstone Security Ltd, a firm offering technology and physical security services.
Physical threats
In the database, the researcher found personally identifiable information (PII) and face photographs of thousands of security guards. Furthermore, he found images of security credentials, as well as license cards, issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The database also contained incident reports, as well as names and birthdates of potential criminals.
Speaking with SIA, the researcher was told that the cards did not have any biometrics on them, hinting that with this database, a criminal could easily reproduce the cards, and thus impersonate security personnel. “This could potentially lead to a physical security breach, theft, vandalism, or — as a worse-case scenario — acts of terrorism,” the report states.
The researcher also found files on the development of an app called Guarded on Duty, which lets security guards log in and verify their current jobs by uploading images of their badges. Furthermore, he found APK files, which threat actors could use to infect the Android apps with malware.
After making the discovery, Fowler reached out to Amberstone Security, which confirmed locking down the database.
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The company also shifted the blame to an unnamed third party: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention, this is deeply concerning,” a company representative told the researcher. “I am investigating this with the supplier who developed and hosts the platform. Please rest assured that we take data security seriously, and this will be investigated thoroughly”.
Samsung has released an update to the Quick Share app for Galaxy smartphones and tablets. It bumps the version of the app to 13.6.13.6 and brings a huge feature, and that is the ability to share files with Samsung’s Family Hub lineup of refrigerators.
At the moment, there’s no information about what kind of files you can transfer from your Galaxy phone or tablet to the Family Hub refrigerators. However, we are assuming that you will be able to send only photos and videos, as those refrigerators might not support other types of files.
Now that Quick Share for Android can send files to the Family Hub refrigerators, we are assuming that Samsung has already launched or will launch the Quick Share app for those refrigerators so that they can receive files from Android devices over Quick Share.
If not, Samsung might have updated or will update the software of the Family Hub refrigerators with the ability to receive files over Quick Share. Either way, you will soon be able to quickly share photos and videos with those refrigerators and enjoy them instantly on the large display.
A sophisticated new phishing attack was spotted in the wild, leveraging a wide variety of tools to bypass antivirus protections and ultimately deliver different Remote Access Trojan (RAT) malware.
According to cybersecurity researchers at Fortinet, an unidentified threat actor was seen sending phishing emails, stating a shipment has been delivered, and attaching an invoice. This attachment, however, is a Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file which, when run, triggers the infection sequence.
The SVG file drops a ZIP archive created with BatCloak – a tool designed to help malware bypass antivirus protection. This archive unpacks a ScrubCrypt batch file, which is another antivirus-evading tool which, in turn, sets up persistence, and bypasses AMSI and ETW protections to deliver the Venom RAT.
Rat infestation
While ScrubCrypt was first seen last year, and linked to the 8220 Gang threat actor, Fortinet does not mention if the same group was behind this campaign as well.
Venom RAT is described as a fork of Quasar RAT, and a powerful remote access trojan allowing threat actors full system takeover, sensitive data exfiltration, and more.
“While Venom RAT’s primary program may appear straightforward, it maintains communication channels with the C2 server to acquire additional plugins for various activities,” the researchers said in the report. “This includes Venom RAT v6.0.3 with keylogger capabilities, NanoCore RAT, XWorm, and Remcos RAT.
“This [Remcos RAT] plugin was distributed from VenomRAT’s C2 using three methods: an obfuscated VBS script named ‘remcos.vbs,’ ScrubCrypt, and Guloader PowerShell,” they added.
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Besides Venom RAT, the researchers observed the malware dropping Remcos RAT, XWorm, NanoCore RAT, and a stealer that grabs information from cryptocurrency wallets such as Atomic Wallet, Electrum, Exodus, Jaxx Liberty, and others. Information from Foxmail and Telegram were also being exfiltrated to a remote server, they concluded.
The best way to protect against these attacks is to be extra careful when receiving emails with links, attachments, or similar calls to action.
Samsung’s One UI is chock full of features, which is one reason why many enthusiasts love to use Galaxy phones and tablets. In addition to those features, Samsung hides some from its users, and one such feature has been found in the company’s stock My Files app.
Permanently delete files in one go using the stock My Files app
It has been revealed that the latest version (15.0.04.5) of the My Files app brings the hidden menu called MyFiles Labs. You can find the ‘Permanently Delete Option’ setting in that section. Activating it enables an extra option in the pop-up menu when you delete files using the My Files app. When you select it, the file will be deleted permanently from your phone, and you don’t have to go to the Recycle Bin section to delete it permanently.
To activate the MyFiles Labs section, open the My Files app on your Galaxy device, navigate to Settings » About My Files, and tap on the My Files text multiple times until a dialog appears that says “MyFiles Labs has been enabled.” Once enabled, you can return to Settings » MyFiles Labs and enable the Permanently Delete Option toggle.
Remember, this feature is only available in version 15.0.04.5 of the My Files. It should be available in the Galaxy Store, but if it isn’t, you can download it from APKMirror or other safe sources. If you don’t want to download the APK file from unofficial sources, you have to wait a few days for the new version of the app to appear on the Galaxy Store.
Watch our in-depth video below to know which new features have been released to Galaxy phones and tablets with the One UI 6.1 update.
It’s almost time for spring cleaning — and that can and should include tidying up your Mac’s files. If you want to do the job right, try professional software like Mac Washing Machine X9 from Intego’s robust software suite.
Read more about the software — and how to get a great deal on it — below. It’ll get rid of unneeded files and have your Mac running like a champ in no time.
Intego Mac Washing Machine X9
Macs are efficient and maintain themselves quite well without our intervention. But over time, with heavy use, they can slow down as they become cluttered with unnecessary files. So it’s a good idea to remove unwanted and duplicate files and organize what’s on your Mac automatically with Mac Washing Machine X9.
And hop to it — the software is on sale for $19.99 instead of $49.99 — but only for a few days.
Say goodbye to junk files
Washing Machine helps you select items to “clean,” aka delete. Photo: Intego
Your Mac is probably full of files you just don’t need. Whether it’s caches you no longer use or language files for languages you don’t even speak, there are often plenty of them.
So some cleaning will do your Mac good. Mac Washing Machine X9 helps you clean up your Mac by finding and removing these files. And that helps your computer run faster and more efficiently.
Duplicates? What duplicates?
You can customize your searches for certain types of duplicates with toggles. Photo: Intego
Mac Washing Machine X9 also allows you to delete extra files — known as duplicates — on your Mac. They’re not backups. They’re just simple, automatically generated duplicates you most likely don’t even know exist. And you certainly don’t need them taking up space on the system.
Intego’s software identifies unnecessary files and allows you to delete them with a single click. It cleans up your Mac and frees yo disk space, making room for the files you actually need.
Clutter is the enemy of efficiency
The Tidy function helps you organize items, like adding or removing apps from your Dock. Photo: Intego
Is your Mac a real mess? Well, you’re in luck, because Mac Washing Machine X9 can automatically organize the jungle of files on your desktop by putting each file in its own folder.
It can also tell you which applications you use the most or the least, so you can pick the ones you want to place in your Mac’s Dock for easy access. (This also helps you flag the ones you want to remove from the Dock.)
Right now, Mac Washing Machine X9 is half the price of CleanMyMac
Mac Washing Machine X9 will be available for a few days at the special price of $19.99 (for one Mac) instead of $49.99. That’s about half the price of competitor CleanMyMac.
Mac Washing Machine X9 is compatible with Mac OS X 10.13 through the latest macOS Sonoma, and it works on the latest M3 Macs. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
And if you want more comprehensive protection from Intego, you can get the Intego Mac Premium Bundle. It includes Mac Washing Machine X9 as well as robust antivirus (VirusBarrier), firewall, backup, VPN and parental control apps — all for just $34.99.
The Department of Justice and more than a dozen states have filed a lawsuit against Apple in the US federal court, accusing the company of violating antitrust laws. It says Apple’s hardware and software products are largely inaccessible to competitors, making it difficult for rivals to compete and for customers to switch to other companies’ products.
The lawsuit comes after the European Commission fined Apple €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for stopping music-streaming developers from “informing iOS users about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available” outside the App Store. And all this while US lawmakers chase another tech company, TikTok, with a lot of enthusiasm.
The DOJ suggests Apple used its control over iOS to block innovative apps and cloud streaming services from the public. (Look at cloud gaming services, like Google’s now-gone Stadia and Microsoft’s xCloud). The suit also suggests Apple has obstructed rival payment platforms, made it harder for Android messages to appear on iPhones and restricted how competing smartphones integrated with iOS devices.
You could compare Apple’s antitrust suit to Microsoft’s antitrust suit brought against Windows in the late ’90s — even Attorney General Merrick Garland noted those in the suit. But Microsoft truly dominated PC software back then, with over 90 percent of all PCs running some flavor of Windows.
The DOJ says Apple claims 70 percent of all smartphones, which is already less. Step outside the US, which is a bit academic here, and Apple has the same market share as Samsung, with many other phone makers jostling for a percentage point or two. It’s not quite the same grip as Microsoft had on PCs.
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Microsoft
Two devices conspicuously missing from Microsoft’s Surface and AI event last fall are finally here — and they’re what we expected and a bit surprising. Today, Microsoft unveiled the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, sporting the same designs as the previous models but now with the AI smarts of Intel’s new Core Ultra CPU. Alas, both have the foreboding words “for business” attached to their names, so you’ll only be able to buy them from Microsoft’s website or commercial resellers. But why? We don’t really know.
DoorDash just announced the launch of a new drone delivery pilot program in Christiansburg, Virginia, with an approximate population of 22,000. The company says orders should arrive in 30 minutes or less, making high-flying drones about as fast as a standard pizza delivery. However, it’s limited to only “eligible items.” And, alas, only items from fast-food chain Wendy’s.
The social media stalwart wants to raise around $631 million in its IPO.
Nearly two decades after its debut, Reddit is now a publicly traded company. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange as RDDT on Thursday, with mascot Snoo on hand to ring the opening bell. One interesting aspect of Reddit going public is it offered shares at the IPO pricing to long-term users of good standing over the last few weeks. It’s not all good news for Reddit, though. It recently signed a deal with Google, reportedly worth $60 million a year, to train the latter’s AI models on user-generated content. The Federal Trade Commission is looking into that arrangement.
A docking stations has become particularly useful – essential even – in office settings where users often need to switch between laptops and desktops.
JCH462 Wormhole Switch, from j5create, takes this convenience a notch higher. The multi-function docking station lets you connect two Windows devices via USB-C (there’s an attached USB-A adapter if required) and duplicate or extend their displays.
The Wormhole Switch lets users control the connected devices using a single keyboard and mouse, great news for anyone who routinely gets confused by which peripheral belongs to which computer. The keyboard works on whichever PC the mouse pointer is active on, or you can use the Alt+S keyboard shortcut or mouse wheel to swap manually between devices. If you have a touchscreen laptop, you can turn its display into a graphics tablet for your desktop.
Quick copy and paste
You will need to install the driver on both connected computers for this trickery to work, and doing so will display a control bar that will let you manage your screens, switching between extend and duplicate modes, and shifting displays left and right (or up and down, depending on how your computers are arranged).
Users can effortlessly drag and drop files from one computer to another, eliminating the need for external storage devices or cloud-based solutions, and also cut/copy and paste clipboard content between PCs.
It’s worth pointing out that if one computer goes into sleep mode you won’t be able to use the other one to wake it, but that’s a small inconvenience.
Wormhole Switch comes with two USB Type-A ports and one USB-C 5Gbps port on the side, so you can connect any compatible peripherals, including a mouse, keyboard, external drives, and webcams, although this only works with the PC1 host. If, for example, you want to work on files from an external flash drive on PC2, you’ll need to copy them via PC1 first.
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Wormhole Switch is an incredibly handy piece of kit and surprisingly affordable too. You can currently buy it on Amazon priced at $69.99.
Finding your way around your Google Drive files could be about to get a lot easier: there’s evidence that you’ll soon be able to categorize your files into different groups, like banking and work, to keep them better organized.
This is according to hidden code spotted in the Google Drive app by TheSpAndroid (via Android Police). Apps often lay the coding groundwork for future features, before those features go live and are announced to users.
As per the app, the categories you’ll be able to make use of are Auto, Banking, Expenses, Home, IDs, Insurance, Medical, Pets, School, Taxes, Travel, and Work. From this leak, it doesn’t seem as though custom labels will be allowed, but those 12 categories cover the business of modern life pretty well.
As Android Police points out, these categories are similar to the labeling system that companies can use in Google Workspace. However, this should be available to individual users too, across Android, iOS, and the web.
How it’ll work
How the upcoming feature might look (Image credit: TheSpAndroid)
Here’s how it’s going to work: From the Home tab in the Android app, you’ll be able to tap the three dots next to a file, then choose from the categories list. A file can be in multiple categories, potentially making the feature more useful than the current folders system.
We don’t get any indication here about when the switch might be flipped to give users access to file categories: the report on TheSpAndroid says “it won’t come very soon”, so presumably there’s still work to do before it’s ready for the public.
Given Google’s recent and very committed push into artificial intelligence features, it’s possible that some kind of AI processing might be involved as well, in categorizing files for you (or at least suggesting categories based on a file name or its contents). Suggested categories do appear in the screens produced by the hidden code.
We now know that Google I/O 2024 is getting underway on May 14 this year, so in between all the Android 15 and Pixel 8a news we might get an announcement or two regarding new Google Drive features – and of course we’ll bring you all the news from the event.
What do you do when you forget to load a file onto your laptop and it’s now languishing at the other end of your house on a different device? In my case, I usually end up pausing whatever I’m doing, getting up and marching over to the file location, uploading it to a cloud server, then heading back to where I started and downloading the file onto the device I was originally using. In short, it’s a hassle.
This is a conundrum I often faced until very recently. Well, it probably sounds like a very minor conundrum, and I can’t really deny that. But sometimes the most minor things can feel pretty aggravating when they happen again and again. Convenience is worth a lot more than you’d think.
Being a forgetful person, this is not an uncommon problem for me. Fortunately, I’ve come across an app that allows me to fetch those forgotten files while remaining safely ensconced on my sofa. It’s the lazy man’s dream.
The app is called Screens 5, and it works like a portal from one device to the next. For example, I can open Screens 5 on my iPad and see a list of all my connected devices. I then tap on one and it loads up that computer, tablet, or phone right from the iPad. It’s like I’m sitting in front of the connected device when I’m on the other side of the house.
Control everything
(Image credit: Future)
That makes it sound like Screens 5 is a small fix to a small problem, but its capabilities are much wider. As long as your target device is switched on, you can access it from anywhere, even on the other side of the globe. It’s especially helpful if you know your target device will always be on, such as if you want to grab a file off of a home server. In that case, as long as you’ve got Screens 5 installed everywhere, you’re never far away from your other devices.
Crucially, Screens 5 isn’t just a viewport – you can directly control one device from the other. So, if I’m using Screens on my iPad, I can just slide my finger across the display and it moves the mouse on my Mac. I can open apps, start typing, copy and paste files, and more. Better yet, Screens 5 even lets me drag and drop files from the connected device onto the one that’s sitting in front of me, and vice versa. There’s no need to upload anything to Dropbox and no need to email anything to myself, I can just move the file where it needs to go in seconds.
(Image credit: Future)
Sure, I know what you’re thinking – there are already fast ways to share files between devices automatically, such as syncing things using a cloud storage service. That’s true, but those are pretty one-dimensional solutions. With Screens 5, I can take control of another device as well as sync files to it, regardless of its operating system and form factor. That’s something the likes of Google Drive and iCloud can’t offer.
Besides, Screens 5 is useful for much more than just file sharing. You can work on a document you left open on a different computer, update your device from miles away, or take a quick screenshot of one device from another.
It’s also a neat way to help someone with a problem they’re having on their device. Instead of going around in circles trying to describe the fix to them, you can just take charge of the target device and apply the solution yourself.
(Image credit: Future)
There are some complications to be aware of. To get Screens 5 to work with my Windows PC, for example, I had to install a complementary component called a VNC server. That sounds complicated but setting it up is a breeze. Screens 5 requires a second app called Screens Connect to (you guessed it) connect all your devices. Installing Screens Connect on Windows also installs a VNC server, so the hard work is finished by the time you’ve closed the setup wizard.
I also wouldn’t recommend trying to control your iMac or Windows PC from an iPhone screen, as controls can get very fiddly on such a small device. But you can at least zoom in if required. So if you need to use Screens and all you have in hand is your phone, it’s doable.
Overall, though, those are minor nuisances and not ones I experience very often. The VNC server in particular is a one-off problem, and Screens 5’s developer has included enough tools – such as a floating bar with thumb-sized buttons for common controls like the function keys and system settings – that make navigating your way around a small phone screen a little easier.
At the end of the day, I’m glad to have come across Screens 5. I may not be able to cure my forgetfulness completely, but at least I’ve got an app that can make it a little less problematic.
In our digitally interconnected world, sharing files between devices seamlessly is more than a convenience—it’s a necessity. Whether it’s a batch of holiday photos, a hefty presentation, or a 4K video project, transferring files from your Samsung Galaxy smartphone to a Windows 10 or 11 laptop can be done effortlessly, thanks to the built-in Quick Share feature. The video below from Sakitech shows us how to use this feature on your Galaxy smartphone. Let’s dive into how you can utilize this function to make file sharing a breeze.
Understanding Quick Share
Quick Share is Samsung’s answer to intuitive and wireless file sharing, pre-installed on Galaxy smartphones. This feature shines in its ability to send files to nearby devices, including Windows laptops, without the need for tangled cables or cumbersome email attachments.
Step-by-Step Guide to Wireless File Transfer
Setting Up Your Devices: First and foremost, ensure that your Samsung Galaxy phone and Windows laptop are on the same Wi-Fi network. Bluetooth should also be enabled on both devices to facilitate the connection. For those with non-Samsung laptops, a quick visit to the Microsoft Store to download the Quick Share and Samsung Account apps will get you up and running.
Logging In: Open the Samsung Account app on your laptop and sign in with the same credentials used on your smartphone. This step links your devices, making them aware of each other’s presence.
Initiating the Transfer: On your Galaxy phone, select the file you wish to transfer, tap on the Quick Share option, and then choose your Windows laptop from the list of available devices. The transfer should start immediately, showcasing the simplicity and efficiency of Quick Share.
Customization: The Quick Share settings on your laptop allow for personalization, such as designating a default folder for received files. This minor adjustment can significantly streamline the organization of new content.
Compatibility and Preparation
To ensure a smooth experience, your Windows laptop needs to be updated to a specific version—Windows 10 or 11 with a build number higher than 19041. This requirement guarantees compatibility with the Quick Share feature, emphasizing the importance of keeping your operating system up to date.
The Joy of Seamless Sharing
Imagine transferring an 800MB 4K video from your Samsung Galaxy phone to your laptop in moments, without the hassle of searching for a USB cable or suffering through slow email uploads. That’s the reality with Quick Share. Its ease of use and speed make it an indispensable tool for anyone looking to share large files effortlessly.
Expert Tips for a Flawless Transfer Experience
Always ensure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to avoid any connection issues.
Regularly update your devices to maintain compatibility and access the latest features.
Explore the customization options in the Quick Share settings to tailor the experience to your needs.
By following these simple steps, transferring files from your Samsung Galaxy phone to a Windows laptop is straightforward and efficient. Quick Share exemplifies how technology can simplify our lives, removing the friction from digital interactions.
As we continue to explore and utilize these features, the process of sharing and managing digital content from your Samsung Galaxy Phone becomes more integrated into our daily routines. If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences with Quick Share, feel free to drop a comment below. Your insights not only enrich the discussion but also help others navigate the digital landscape more effectively.
Source & Image Credit: Sakitech
Filed Under: Android News, Mobile Phone News
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