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AppWizard
July 31, 2025
Users expressed frustration on social media about outages affecting banking applications, particularly on payday. Lloyds Bank acknowledged the issues and asked customers to be patient while they worked on a fix. Outages were also reported by HSBC, Halifax, and the Royal Bank of Scotland. A Treasury Committee report revealed that nine of the UK's largest banks had experienced over a month of unplanned technical outages in the past two years, with 158 incidents of IT failures reported between January 2023 and February 2025. Common causes of these outages included problems with third-party suppliers, system changes, and internal software issues. Downdetector is a platform that tracks service disruptions across various services, allowing users to report issues.
Winsage
July 31, 2025
Opera has lodged a formal complaint against Microsoft with Brazil's anti-trust authority, CADE, alleging unfair practices that favor Microsoft's Edge browser over competitors. The complaint claims Microsoft influences PC manufacturers to pre-install Edge as the default browser and employs "manipulative design tactics" that make it difficult for users to switch to other browsers. Opera highlights issues such as intrusive banners discouraging downloads of alternative browsers and automatic redirection to Edge for PDFs and email links. Opera is urging regulators to stop these practices and implement a fair browser selection screen. Previous attempts to classify Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act were unsuccessful.
Winsage
July 31, 2025
Microsoft Teams has launched immersive events in public preview, enhancing virtual meetings with spatial audio capabilities for casual conversations. Each participant can customize their virtual avatar, and hosts can personalize the event space without coding skills. Immersive events can accommodate larger groups than the existing Immersive Space view and are expected to replace it over time. Participants can join using a PC, Mac, or Meta Quest headset, with event organization requiring a Teams Premium subscription. Three environments are available for immersive events: Cascades, Oasis, and Canvas, each designed for different types of gatherings.
Tech Optimizer
July 30, 2025
A new malware strain called JSCEAL has emerged, targeting cryptocurrency users by exploiting online advertising. Active since early 2025, it masquerades as legitimate trading applications and uses deceptive ads on platforms like Facebook to lure victims. The malware impersonates well-known exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance, and OKX, tricking users into downloading counterfeit apps that harvest sensitive information like credentials and wallet data. Over 35,000 malicious ads were tracked in 2025, affecting thousands of users. JSCEAL employs malvertising tactics, redirects users to counterfeit websites, and uses JavaScript-based payloads to exploit browser vulnerabilities. Its polymorphic code allows it to evade detection, and it can take remote control of devices using Android Accessibility permissions. Cryptocurrency exchanges are responding by enhancing security measures and advising users to verify app sources, implement multi-factor authentication, and use ad blockers. Users are encouraged to enable browser extensions that flag suspicious sites and to download applications only from official stores.
AppWizard
July 29, 2025
Google has introduced a feature called "Contact History" in its Android Contacts app, which includes a "Recent activity" section that displays the latest interactions with each contact. Users can view their recent communications, such as phone calls and texts, and tap on entries to open the corresponding app. To access this feature, users need to go to a contact's profile and scroll to the "Recent activity" section. The feature is currently being rolled out and may require an update from the Google Play Store for some users. It focuses on phone calls and text messages, excluding other platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
AppWizard
July 28, 2025
A comprehensive investigation by Which? and Hexiosec analyzed 20 popular Android applications, revealing that all request permissions that could compromise user privacy. The Xiaomi Home app had the highest number of permission requests at 91, followed by Samsung SmartThings with 82, Facebook with 69, and WhatsApp with 66. While some permissions are necessary for functionality, the excessive requests raise concerns about digital surveillance. TikTok faced scrutiny for its audio recording and device file access requests, while Temu was criticized for excessive promotional emails linked to its location access. Amazon defended its camera access requests as enhancing user experience, and Meta stated that its apps do not use the microphone without user involvement. The investigation highlights the trade-off between free services and the collection of personal data.
AppWizard
July 24, 2025
KontrolFreek announced a partnership with Minecraft on July 24, 2025, introducing the Minecraft Creeper Edition Performance Thumbsticks and No-Slip Thumb Grips for next-gen consoles, including the Nintendo Switch 2. The thumbsticks are designed for enhanced comfort, precision, and grip, featuring a mid-rise left stick and right stick for improved control and accuracy. The thumb grips are tailored for ergonomic performance and are compatible with various consoles, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The products are available for purchase at KontrolFreek.com and select retailers, with pricing set at .99 in the US for the thumbsticks and .99 for the thumb grips.
Winsage
July 23, 2025
As Windows 11 support ends, many Windows 10 PCs and laptops lacking compatibility with the new operating system are expected to enter the resale market or be given away. This situation creates opportunities to repurpose these devices for various uses, including: 1. Installing a Linux distribution to cater to business and personal needs, with options like Ubuntu, Fedora, and MX Linux for older hardware. 2. Running ChromeOS Flex for a lightweight experience focused on web browsing and cloud applications. 3. Installing a thin-client OS to access virtual desktops, maximizing existing hardware for businesses transitioning to virtual environments. 4. Converting the device into a media server using software like Plex or Jellyfin for centralized media storage and streaming. 5. Recycling the device responsibly through manufacturer or retailer e-waste programs, ensuring safe processing and potential donation of usable parts. Before recycling, it is important to securely wipe or destroy personal data on the hard drive.
AppWizard
July 23, 2025
Security researchers at Trustwave SpiderLabs have identified a complex cluster of Android malware that combines click fraud, credential theft, and brand impersonation. This malware exploits the Android Package Kit (APK) file format to distribute malicious applications, often through phishing messages or deceptive websites. Users are tricked into installing these APKs, which are disguised as reputable brands or promotional apps. Once installed, the malware takes advantage of Android's permission model to access sensitive resources, primarily for click fraud and traffic redirection to generate illicit revenue. Some variants engage in data collection and credential harvesting, employing advanced evasion tactics to avoid detection, such as using counterfeit Chrome applications and overlay screens. A notable variant includes a spoofed Facebook app that mimics the official interface and connects to a remote command-and-control server for instructions. The malware uses encryption and encoding to secure data exchanges and employs open-source tools to bypass Android's signature verification. Evidence suggests that the operators may be Chinese-speaking, as indicated by the use of Simplified Chinese in the code and the promotion of related APK campaigns on Chinese-speaking underground forums.
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