airline Archives

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Google’s Find My Device gets a much-needed update

Google's Android operating system update on May 13 rebranded Find My Device to Find Hub, adding Ultra-Wideband (UWB) tag support and satellite connectivity for improved tracking. Google plans to partner with airlines to enable Bluetooth tag location sharing for lost luggage recovery, launching early next year. The update is part of the Android 16 revamp, which includes personalization options and the introduction of Material 3 Expressive. Additionally, Google I/O announced the transition from Google Assistant to Gemini Live across various platforms for a more intuitive AI experience.

AppWizard

May 11, 2025

Scrutinizing the security of messaging apps continues.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the White House are facing scrutiny over security vulnerabilities in their messaging application. Hacktivists breached GlobalX, the airline handling U.S. deportation flights, exposing sensitive flight manifests. The FBI warned about threats exploiting outdated routers. Pearson confirmed a cyberattack compromising customer data. Research shows cybercriminals are using Windows Remote Management (WinRM) for lateral movements in Active Directory environments. A new email attack campaign is delivering a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) via malicious PDF invoices. A zero-day vulnerability in SAP NetWeaver allows remote code execution, affecting multiple sectors. An Indiana health system reported a data breach affecting nearly 263,000 individuals.

AppWizard

May 8, 2025

Signal clone used by Trump team hacked, GlobalX flight data leaked

The messaging app TeleMessage, used by President Donald Trump’s national security advisor, has been suspended due to a reported security breach, raising concerns about the security of sensitive government communications. The app, a modified version of Signal, was halted after a hacker accessed message contents from its customized versions, although the communications of national security advisor Mike Waltz were reportedly not affected. TeleMessage's suspension follows a statement from its parent company, Smarsh, confirming an investigation into the security incident. Despite President Trump's criticism of Signal, the White House continues to defend it, highlighting its pre-installation on government devices. Concerns about privacy protections arise from TeleMessage's archiving features, which may compromise Signal's end-to-end encryption. Additionally, GlobalX, the airline involved in Trump’s deportation flights, experienced a hacking incident, resulting in the exposure of flight records and passenger lists.

AppWizard

May 5, 2025

Google makes it easier to share digital credentials on your Android phone

Android now supports OpenID standards for digital credential presentation and issuance, allowing users to securely store and send cryptographically verifiable digital documents across apps. Google has expanded access to its Digital ID capabilities via the Wallet app for U.K. residents, promoting interoperability among applications managing digital identities. The Android platform now includes native support for OpenID4VP and OpenID4VCI through the Credential Manager's DigitalCredential API, enabling apps to incorporate various digital documents like educational certifications and insurance policies. Users can share credentials securely between devices using CTAP protocols and select appropriate credentials without specifying a digital wallet app. Digital credentials will be usable for account recovery on platforms like Amazon, accessing health services through CVS and MyChart, and verifying identities on services like Uber and Bumble. Samsung Wallet and 1Password will also support the storage of digital credentials, enhancing the ecosystem of digital wallets adhering to OpenID standards.

BetaBeacon

March 20, 2025

The three best airplane games for Android

Aviator is a unique game of chance where players must stop the plane at the right time to win. It requires intuition, equanimity, and knowing when to withdraw winnings.

TrendTechie

March 15, 2025

Сооснователь крупнейшего торрент-трекера трагически погиб

Karl Lundström, co-founder of Pirate Bay, died in an aviation accident in Slovenia on March 10 at the age of 64. He was flying from Zagreb to Zurich in a private Mooney M-20 aircraft when it collided with a wooden structure on a mountain. Recovery efforts for his body were delayed due to bad weather until March 11. Authorities confirmed the discovery of the pilot's remains, but his name has not been publicly disclosed.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 gets a really, really big patch adding full control of enabled content

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has released patch 1.2.7.0, which addresses various bugs and enhances user experience, particularly in career mode. The patch allows users to selectively enable content from the previous 2020 marketplace, with all items turned off by default for greater customization. Players on PC are advised to maintain an organized Community Folder, as outdated packages may negatively impact game performance. The launch of the game faced challenges, with developers acknowledging an "awful launch experience" due to bugs and complexities of the new streamed-assets model. Asobo plans to release a major Sim Update 1 and World Update 19, focusing on Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname, in early 2025. Full patch notes for version 1.2.7.0 are available on the official website.

AppWizard

November 13, 2024

Air Canada fixes app glitch showing false boarding passes to Android users

Air Canada addressed a technical issue that caused fictitious boarding passes to appear in customers' mobile applications, primarily affecting Android users. Customers reported seeing boarding passes for past flights and non-existent journeys, leading to confusion. One user noted an unexpected notification for a flight leaving shortly. Air Canada confirmed the bug has been resolved and advised users to update their app, assuring that the erroneous boarding passes posed no security threat and would not have been accepted for boarding. Some users humorously reported having numerous boarding passes, while others faced issues with upgrade options and rewards points. Air Canada is encouraging affected customers to delete and re-download the app for a better experience.

Winsage

July 27, 2024

Southwest Airlines avoided CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage because it’s still running Windows 3.1 — fourth-largest US airline remained free of BSoD errors because its OS hasn’t been updated in decades

A global IT outage caused by a problematic update from CrowdStrike led millions of Windows computers to experience Blue Screen of Death errors, significantly disrupting airlines, hospitals, banks, and businesses worldwide. United, Delta, and American Airlines faced thousands of canceled flights, while Southwest Airlines remained operational due to its reliance on the outdated Windows 3.1 operating system, which has not been updated since 2001. This legacy system was unaffected by the CrowdStrike update, allowing Southwest to avoid similar disruptions. Additionally, Southwest uses Windows 95 for staff scheduling, which also escaped the update's impact. Despite its operational resilience, Southwest's operations were indirectly affected by disruptions at other airports, and there are concerns about the long-term viability of its outdated systems.

Winsage

July 26, 2024

CrowdStrike CEO says 97% of Windows sensors are back online following outage

Last week's global CrowdStrike outage is still causing disruptions at airports around the world, with flights being grounded for hours or even days in some cases. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz announced that the company is working tirelessly to restore systems following the global computer outage that had far-reaching effects on the global economy.