NewApp Digest
search bot

API

Android 15 blocked Phone Link from mirroring sensitive notifications, but Microsoft has a fix
AppWizard
April 3, 2025

Android 15 blocked Phone Link from mirroring sensitive notifications, but Microsoft has a fix

Microsoft's Phone Link app can now mirror sensitive notifications from Android devices to Windows PCs after the Android 15 update had initially restricted this capability. The Android 15 update classified two-factor authentication codes as sensitive, blocking their visibility to most notification listeners, including Phone Link. To access sensitive notifications, Phone Link must be preinstalled on the device and granted the RECEIVESENSITIVENOTIFICATIONS permission. Users with devices that have Link to Windows preinstalled, like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, can grant permission to restore full functionality. For devices without the preinstalled app, workarounds include disabling Android System Intelligence notification processing or manually granting permissions.
Bun 1.2 Improves Node Compatibility and Adds Postgres Client
Tech Optimizer
April 2, 2025

Bun 1.2 Improves Node Compatibility and Adds Postgres Client

Bun v1.2 has been released, enhancing compatibility with Node.js and introducing a native S3 object storage API and a built-in Postgres client alongside the existing SQLite client. The update focuses on Node.js compatibility, achieving a 90% pass rate on the Node.js test suite for core modules. The team adapted the Node test suite for Bun to address challenges with error message verification. New features include support for the node:http2 module, which offers a 2x speed enhancement, and additional support for node:dgram, node:cluster, and node:zlib. The built-in S3 support allows file operations with a 5x speed improvement over Node.js packages. The new Postgres client includes optimizations such as automatic prepared statements and connection pooling, potentially increasing read speeds by 50% compared to popular Node.js Postgres clients. Bun is developed in Zig and uses WebKit’s JavaScriptCore as its JavaScript engine, with the first version launched in September 2023.
Google to Ramp Up Android Security With These New Features for Developers
AppWizard
March 28, 2025

Google to Ramp Up Android Security With These New Features for Developers

Google has launched initiatives to enhance the security of its Play Store, focusing on reducing malicious and fraudulent applications. Key measures include upgrading the Play Integrity API to protect users from harmful apps and assist developers in addressing modified applications. Google Play Protect's threat detection will expand to target apps impersonating financial services, with Enhanced Financial Fraud Protection being rolled out to more markets. The app submission process will be streamlined with additional pre-review checks, and developers will receive notifications about policy compliance. Google has introduced "Government" and "Verified" badges for specific app categories and plans to expand this system. Over the past year, Google blocked 2.36 million apps violating Play Store policies and identified significantly more Android malware from third-party sources compared to those on the Play Store.
Windows 11 KB5053656 update released with 38 changes and fixes
Winsage
March 27, 2025

Windows 11 KB5053656 update released with 38 changes and fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5053656 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, featuring 38 enhancements, including real-time translation capabilities for Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel processors. This update addresses authentication issues and blue-screen errors, and is classified as an "optional non-security preview update." It introduces live captions and real-time translation support for over 44 languages, enhances Windows Search with improved capabilities, and fixes issues related to the MsiCloseHandle API and boot menu entries. The update also phases out the Location History feature and acknowledges known issues affecting Citrix components and Roblox on Windows Arm devices. Users can install the update via Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update upgrades systems to build 26100.3624. Windows 11 24H2 is broadly deployed and accessible to all users.
Google Play Store will get more tools to protect users from scammy apps
AppWizard
March 26, 2025

Google Play Store will get more tools to protect users from scammy apps

Google has announced a plan to enhance the safety of its Play Store by implementing protective measures by 2025. Google Play Protect will target malicious applications impersonating financial apps, responding to a rise in fraudulent activities, including ad fraud. The company has already removed 180 fraudulent apps from the Play Store and will alert users about unsafe apps, especially those from outside the Google Play ecosystem. Google will extend its pilot program to additional countries facing malware-based financial threats. Users are encountering significantly more Android malware from external sources. Google aims to make it harder for malicious actors to deceive users and plans to introduce a "verified badge" for secure VPN applications, with plans to expand this to other app categories. For app developers, Google is enhancing the Play Integrity API tool and providing self-help tools for dealing with tampered apps, with features expected to roll out by May. Google is also improving support channels for developers, including expanding the Google Play Developer Help Community to additional languages.
Microsoft's DirectX update could double ray tracing performance in PC games
AppWizard
March 21, 2025

Microsoft’s DirectX update could double ray tracing performance in PC games

DirectX Raytracing 1.2 is a rendering API developed by Microsoft that aims to improve ray tracing efficiency in gaming. It introduces enhancements such as opacity micromaps, which can increase performance by up to 2.3 times in path-based gaming, and shader execution reordering, which could double performance in certain scenarios. Nvidia has committed to providing driver support for this API across its GeForce RTX GPU lineup, and Microsoft is also working with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm for compatibility. Additionally, techniques like neural block texture compression and neural supersampling are being explored to enhance real-time path tracing. A preview software development kit for DirectX Raytracing 1.2 is set to be released in April.
Dangerous new password-stealing trojan automatically reinstalls itself on infected PCs
Tech Optimizer
March 20, 2025

Dangerous new password-stealing trojan automatically reinstalls itself on infected PCs

Microsoft Incident Response has identified a new remote access trojan (RAT) called StilachiRAT, which extracts sensitive information from infected computers, including passwords, cryptocurrency wallet details, operating system specifications, and device identifiers. StilachiRAT has a self-reinstatement mechanism that allows it to reinstall itself if removed. It targets digital wallets from platforms like Coinbase Wallet, Phantom, Trust Wallet, Metamask, OKX Wallet, and Bitget Wallet. The malware can harvest credentials from web browsers, monitor clipboard data, gather system information, detect camera presence, and track active Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) sessions. It can extract credentials from Google Chrome, monitor clipboard activity, and maintain its presence using the Windows service control manager. StilachiRAT can impersonate users to monitor RDP sessions and employs anti-forensics mechanisms to evade detection. Discovered in November of the previous year, it has not yet achieved widespread distribution. Microsoft advises users to download software from official websites, use robust security software, install reputable antivirus, be vigilant against phishing attacks, avoid clicking on unexpected links, and consider using a VPN and password manager for enhanced security.
Search