privacy-conscious users Archives

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

What is Signal, the messaging app Trump team used to share war plans?

Top officials from the Trump administration mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in an encrypted chat on the Signal messaging app, discussing military strategies against Yemen's Houthi rebel group. This incident has led to calls from Democratic and some Republican lawmakers for a congressional investigation into a potential security breach. Goldberg reported being added to the chat on March 13, which aimed to coordinate U.S. military responses to Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The inclusion of an outsider in the chat raises concerns about the protocols for sharing classified information on commercial messaging platforms. Under U.S. law, mishandling classified information can result in criminal charges, although it is unclear if any laws were violated in this case. Signal is known for its secure messaging capabilities, utilizing end-to-end encryption, and does not track or store user data beyond basic account information. The app has gained popularity among privacy advocates, journalists, and government organizations.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Factbox-What to know about Signal messaging app used by Trump aides to share war plans

Top officials from the Trump administration included a journalist in a private chat on Signal while discussing sensitive military strategies, leading to calls from Democratic lawmakers for a congressional investigation into a potential security breach. Under U.S. law, mishandling classified information can result in criminal charges, although it is unclear if violations occurred in this case. Signal is a secure messaging app known for its end-to-end encryption and privacy features, not tracking or storing user data. Founded in 2012 by Moxie Marlinspike, Signal operates independently and is overseen by Meredith Whittaker. It has gained popularity among journalists, government agencies, and organizations, particularly after concerns over other messaging platforms' privacy policies. The app is recognized as a secure method for whistleblowers to communicate confidentially. Despite its security reputation, some analysts question its suitability for national security discussions.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

These Are The Most Useful FOSS Android Apps I Discovered in 2024

Exodus is an app that tracks data collection and app permissions for privacy-conscious users. Simple Keyboard is a minimalistic, customizable keyboard app that does not collect user data. Currencies provides real-time currency exchange rates without ads or tracking. Password Monitor checks for compromised passwords and offers security suggestions. Ente Auth is an offline authentication tool with end-to-end encryption and optional cloud backup. Seal is a download manager that supports various platforms and customizable options. Hacki is a client for Hacker News that allows voting, commenting, and saving articles. NetGuard is an open-source firewall app that enables users to manage internet access for specific applications without root access.

AppWizard

November 19, 2024

Use of mobile messaging apps in Brazil 2023

From 2018 to 2023, the penetration rates of mobile messaging apps among smartphone users in Brazil changed as follows: - WhatsApp increased from 80% to 95%. - Telegram rose from 15% to 40%. - Facebook Messenger stabilized around 50%. - Signal grew from 5% to 15%. These changes reflect a shift towards secure messaging platforms and increased user awareness of privacy issues.

AppWizard

November 11, 2024

How Do Californians Use Messaging Apps

Messaging apps are essential for personal and professional communication in California. WhatsApp, with 2.7 billion global users, is popular for its free messaging, voice, and video calling, especially among immigrants due to its end-to-end encryption. Telegram has 950 million monthly active users and is favored for its security features, large group chats, and file-sharing capabilities; it is also used by online casino gamers for anonymous gaming and integrated bots. iMessage, with 1.3 billion global users, is preferred by Apple users for its seamless integration and security features. Facebook Messenger has over 1 billion users and is widely used for casual conversations and customer service, aided by automated chatbots and payment functionalities. Signal, with over 40 million monthly active users, is chosen for its strong privacy features, appealing to journalists and activists.

Tech Optimizer

November 7, 2024

TotalAV vs PCProtect: Which Is the Best Antivirus?

TotalAV offers superior protection and user experience compared to PCProtect, with affordability enhancing its appeal. TotalAV blocked all prepared malware samples and nine out of ten wild samples in tests, while PCProtect missed two prepared and three wild samples, achieving a 75% effectiveness score. TotalAV features an intuitive interface, effective password manager, and superior VPN, while PCProtect's interface could benefit from redesign. TotalAV provides three pricing options, with the basic version covering four devices, making it more cost-effective than PCProtect, which is available for three devices. Both antivirus programs support Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. TotalAV has received high ratings from AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, while PCProtect has not been evaluated by leading cybersecurity firms.

AppWizard

October 9, 2024

Thunderbird for Android finally reaches beta

MZLA has launched the beta version of the Thunderbird email client for Android, available for download from the Google Play Store, with a release on the FOSS F-Droid store anticipated soon. The app, developed over nearly two and a half years under lead developer Christian Ketterer, is based on the K9 Mail application, which has been in use since October 2008. The beta version is identified as version 8.0b2 and retains features of K9 Mail while introducing modern enhancements. K9 Mail is utilized in de-Googled Android devices like the Murena One and Punkt MC02. Testing on an Android 14 device showed smooth performance, with easy setup for Hotmail and Yahoo accounts. Thunderbird for Android supports professional email communication, managing multiple accounts in a unified inbox with color-coding for account distinction.

Winsage

October 3, 2024

Microsoft’s new “Copilot Vision” AI experiment can see what you browse

Microsoft has launched Copilot Labs, a testing environment for new AI tools, starting with the "Think Deeper" feature that uses a step-by-step approach for complex problem-solving. This feature is being rolled out to select Copilot Pro users in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US. Additionally, Microsoft introduced Copilot Vision, which enhances the AI assistant's capabilities by allowing it to understand visual content in the Microsoft Edge browser. Copilot Vision is opt-in and will not store any captured data, with initial access limited to a pre-approved list of websites. The rollout of these features will be gradual, with Microsoft prioritizing user feedback. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, indicated that Copilot could learn from user interactions across devices, pending user consent. However, features like Microsoft's Recall, which tracks user activities, have raised privacy concerns among users.

TrendTechie

September 28, 2024

10 Best Torrent Clients to Download Torrents Faster (2024)

Torrent clients are specialized software applications that facilitate the downloading of torrent files through a peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing network. The legality of using torrent clients depends on the content being downloaded; downloading copyrighted material without permission is illegal. Safety concerns include the risk of malware and legal ramifications. Using a VPN, such as ExpressVPN, while torrenting can protect against cyber threats and maintain privacy. The best torrent clients for 2024 include: 1. **qBittorrent** - Free, ad-free, lightweight, and cross-platform. 2. **µTorrent** - Popular for Windows, lightweight but has ads in recent versions. 3. **Deluge** - Lightweight, open-source, and customizable with plugins. 4. **BitTorrent Client** - User-friendly for beginners but has ads in the free version. 5. **WebTorrent** - Browser-based, no ads, supports streaming. 6. **Vuze** - User-friendly with minimal ads, but can be complex for beginners. 7. **Tixati** - Lightweight, ad-free, includes a chat feature. 8. **BiglyBT** - Open-source, ad-free, supports anonymous downloads. 9. **BitLord** - Simple interface, allows downloading and streaming simultaneously. 10. **Transmission** - Open-source, optimized for macOS and Linux, ad-free. Honorable mentions include BitComet, Bitport.io, Folx, Zbigz, and 5kplayer.

AppWizard

August 27, 2024

What is Telegram and how does it work? The controversial messaging app founded by Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov, co-founder of Telegram, was arrested in France related to an investigation into crimes involving child pornography, drug trafficking, and fraudulent transactions. Telegram, launched in 2013, has over 950 million monthly active users and offers free messaging, voice, and video calls. It features group chats and channels that can have large memberships, with group chats accommodating up to 200,000 members and channels having unlimited subscribers. While Telegram uses encryption for chats and calls, end-to-end encryption (E2EE) is only available for one-on-one Secret Chats, not for group chats or channels. Telegram has faced bans in several countries, including Russia, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Spain, often due to political or security issues.