accounts Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 3, 2025

I tested Bitdefender and McAfee in an antivirus software showdown, and here’s what I found

Bitdefender and McAfee are two leading antivirus software options known for robust malware protection and additional security features. Bitdefender achieves 98% effectiveness in real-time threat detection, while McAfee uses machine learning for threat identification but may produce false positives. Bitdefender offers a basic firewall, not available for macOS, whereas McAfee provides a more advanced firewall with device monitoring. Bitdefender has a standalone Digital Identity Protection service, while McAfee offers comprehensive identity theft protections in its Premium subscription. Bitdefender includes a VPN with a 200MB daily data cap, while McAfee provides unlimited VPN access but with fewer countries and features. Both offer password managers, but Bitdefender lacks two-factor authentication, while McAfee's True Key includes multi-factor authentication. Bitdefender’s parental controls are basic, while McAfee’s Safe Family includes location tracking. Bitdefender is known for lightweight performance, but recent tests suggest McAfee may have better system optimization. Both have user-friendly interfaces, with Bitdefender organizing features into tabs and McAfee offering a simpler design. In terms of protection, Bitdefender has a 98.7% detection rate, while McAfee excels online with 99.6% but struggles offline. Bitdefender's pricing starts at .99 for the first year, while McAfee's Basic plan starts at .99. Overall, Bitdefender is more budget-friendly, while McAfee offers advanced identity theft protection.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Facebook, Yandex Apps Secretly Track Users Via Hidden Ports, Research Claims

Recent findings from IMDEA Networks Institute indicate that Facebook and Instagram apps have been tracking Android users' web browsing activities without consent, bypassing privacy controls and functioning even in incognito mode. This tracking affects millions of websites using Meta's tracking code. Yandex has employed similar tracking techniques since 2017, creating a cross-platform surveillance network. The tracking exploits Android’s permission system by establishing background services that listen on network ports, allowing the apps to capture browsing data and associate it with users' accounts. Meta's pixel is present on about 5.8 million websites, while Yandex Metrica is on around 3 million sites, potentially impacting billions of users. Approximately 78% of sites with Meta’s pixel and 84% of Yandex's sites attempted localhost communications without user consent. This tracking method operates at the operating system level, unaffected by cookie clearing, incognito modes, or privacy settings. Researchers have demonstrated that malicious apps could exploit this technique to gather users' browsing histories. Many website operators were unaware of these localhost communications, leading to confusion and complaints. In response, major browser vendors are implementing measures to block these tracking methods. Meta ceased this tracking on June 3rd, coinciding with the research's public release. The research highlights a significant security gap in mobile platforms regarding localhost communications, emphasizing the need for stricter policies and vetting processes.

Winsage

June 3, 2025

Microsoft Gives More Reasons To Use Notepad With These New Features: All Details

Microsoft has discontinued WordPad and is enhancing Notepad for Windows 11 users. The beta version introduces new features such as adding hyperlinks, modifying text formatting, subheadings, bullet points, and the ability to switch text styles. An AI integration allows users to rewrite text by selecting it and using a right-click function, currently available to Windows 11 Insider program users in specific regions. Notepad now supports tabbed browsing and includes an integration of Copilot for summarizing text, adjusting tone, and switching to dark mode.

AppWizard

June 3, 2025

Samsung Wallet gets Tap to Transfer in the U.S.

Samsung has launched the "Tap to Transfer" feature in Samsung Wallet, enabling peer-to-peer (P2P) payments directly from debit cards to recipients' bank accounts. This feature uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and is compatible with Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet, and Apple Wallet. The rollout is currently taking place in the U.S., and while transactions are initially fee-free, a 1.75% transaction fee (with a minimum charge of [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: What you need to know Samsung is enhancing the experience for Galaxy phone users with its newly launched "Tap to Transfer" feature, designed to streamline peer-to-peer (P2P) payments. This innovative addition to Samsung Wallet allows users to send money directly from their debit cards to the bank accounts of friends and family, making transactions both swift and convenient. Utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the Tap to Transfer feature seamlessly connects to recipients' debit cards, regardless of whether they are stored in Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet, or Apple Wallet. This compatibility ensures that users can engage in transactions without the need for cumbersome third-party applications. The feature is currently being rolled out across the U.S., following its announcement earlier this month. Initially, users can enjoy fee-free transactions; however, a transaction fee of 1.75% (with a minimum charge of [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: What you need to knowSamsung's new "Tap to Transfer" feature facilitates direct P2P payments from Samsung Wallet debit cards to recipients' bank accounts.It uses NFC, and the feature is compatible with multiple digital wallets (Samsung, Google, Apple) next to physical tap-to-pay debit cards.While initially fee-free, a 1.75% transaction fee (minimum $0.25) is expected to apply to the sender in the future.Having Samsung Wallet is one of the best perks of owning a Galaxy phone. And in the U.S., it's getting even better as the company is finally rolling out the new Tap to Transfer feature.The new feature's aim is to make peer-to-peer (P2P) payments “quick and convenient” in the U.S. While the company announced the feature early this month, the feature is now broadly rolling out this week.Samsung Wallet to send money to friends and family — straight into their bank accounts. It works by the NFC tech utilized by Samsung Wallet that swiftly connects to the recipient’s debit card stored in their respective digital wallets — be it Samsung Wallet, Google Wallet, and even Apple Wallet for that matter.FAQ page on the website, however, mentions that “a 1.75% fee (minimum of $0.25) is applied to each transaction. The fee only applies to the sender.”Other than the new Tap to Transfer, Samsung Wallet is the go-to application for Galaxy phone users as they can store essential things like driver’s license, credit cards, passes, gym membership cards, loyalty and boarding passes, and gift cards, and more. Some college students can even store their student ID cards as well.It is encouraging to see Samsung bringing interesting features to its Wallet app as users won’t have to rely on third-party apps for money transfer at least in the U.S. for now, and we hope the feature expands to even more countries soon.Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].25) is anticipated to be implemented for senders in the future. Beyond the Tap to Transfer capability, Samsung Wallet serves as a comprehensive digital repository for Galaxy phone users. It allows individuals to store a variety of essential items, including driver’s licenses, credit cards, gym memberships, loyalty cards, boarding passes, and even student ID cards for some college students. This development marks a significant step for Samsung, as it empowers users to conduct money transfers directly within their ecosystem, reducing reliance on external applications. As the feature gains traction in the U.S., there is hope that it will soon expand to additional markets, further enhancing the utility of Samsung Wallet for users worldwide." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].25) will apply to senders in the future. Samsung Wallet also allows users to store various essential items, such as driver’s licenses, credit cards, and loyalty cards.

AppWizard

June 2, 2025

Gmail’s new Material 3 Expressive design is secretly hitting some inboxes

Google's Material 3 Expressive style is being integrated into Gmail, featuring a new interface with lighter, raised cards and rounded edges that enhance visual appeal. The design includes a vibrant color palette, making emails appear more layered and engaging. The rollout is gradual, with some users experiencing changes like the account switcher moving out of the search bar, while others have not yet seen this update. Additionally, a new pill-shaped button animation has been introduced for swipes, providing a fluid user experience with haptic feedback during notification dismissals.

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

Windows PCs at risk as new tool disarms built-in security

All modern Windows PCs come with Microsoft Defender, a built-in antivirus solution. A tool called Defendnot can disable Microsoft Defender by tricking Windows into believing another antivirus is active. It uses an undocumented API to register a counterfeit antivirus, which leads to Microsoft Defender being automatically disabled without user notification. Defendnot creates a scheduled task for persistence and allows customization of the antivirus name. It is a successor to a previous project, No-Defender, which was removed due to copyright issues. Currently, Microsoft Defender flags Defendnot as a threat.

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

Antivirus alone won’t protect you: The real danger is social engineering

Social engineering is a manipulation tactic that exploits human trust to obtain sensitive information or access, posing a significant cybersecurity threat. Unlike traditional cyber threats that rely on malware, social engineering targets individuals through deception, often invoking emotions like fear or urgency. Common examples include fraudulent phone calls, phishing emails, and deceptive text messages. Antivirus software primarily protects against malware but is ineffective against social engineering attacks, which do not involve malicious code. The consequences of falling victim to such attacks can include financial losses, identity theft, and compromised networks. Effective defenses against social engineering include skepticism towards unsolicited contact, verifying requests independently, never disclosing sensitive information, using strong passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication. Awareness and education are crucial in combating these threats.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

WhatsApp may soon let you take a break without deleting your account (APK teardown)

WhatsApp is set to introduce a new "Logout" feature in its beta release (version 2.25.17.37), allowing users to log out of their accounts on their primary phones without deleting their accounts. This feature will be found in the app's Account settings and will offer two options: one that logs users out while keeping all data and preferences intact, and another that erases all data, similar to uninstalling the app. The "Logout" feature is currently marked as "Internal," indicating it is still under testing.

Tech Optimizer

May 28, 2025

M&S shoppers urged to set up security measure on ‘all accounts’

M&S shoppers are being urged to enhance their online security following a cyber attack that disrupted customer services. The retailer has acknowledged ongoing challenges, stating they cannot process online orders while stores remain open. Sensitive customer information, including phone numbers, email addresses, and order histories, was compromised in the breach. Security expert Luis Corrons from Norton recommends activating two-step verification for online accounts, being cautious about stored personal and payment information, deleting unused accounts, using strong passwords, and keeping devices and software updated to improve security. He emphasizes that cyber threats are increasingly targeting human behavior and that these security measures are essential for digital safety.

BetaBeacon

May 28, 2025

Apple’s new gaming app could do what Google Play Games never did

Apple is planning to launch a new gaming app that will be preinstalled on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs. The app will centralize user activity, achievements, leaderboards, communications, and more, as well as promote Apple Arcade. The app will also support third-party titles downloaded outside the App Store on Macs.