tracking Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Fake Alpine Quest Mapping App Spotted Spying on Russian Military

A malicious variant of the Alpine Quest navigation app has been identified, specifically targeting Russian military Android devices. Security experts from Doctor Web discovered that this modified app contains the Android.Spy.1292.origin spyware, which collects sensitive information and executes remote commands. The spyware is distributed as a free download through a deceptive Telegram channel, marketed as a premium version of the legitimate app. Upon installation, it transmits data such as the user's phone number, account details, contact list, geolocation data, and stored files to a remote server. It also communicates with a Telegram bot controlled by the attackers, providing updated location information. The spyware can download additional modules to extract specific content, particularly documents from messaging platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. It searches for a file named locLog generated by Alpine Quest, which records user movements. Doctor Web advises against downloading apps from unofficial sources and warns that malicious applications can bypass review processes on official app stores. The identity of the group behind this campaign is unknown, but there are previous associations with Ukrainian hacktivist factions targeting Russian military personnel.

AppWizard

April 22, 2025

How to set expiration alerts for Amazon subscriptions on Android

Subscription management apps help consumers monitor and oversee various subscriptions, ensuring awareness of renewal dates. Key features include automatic detection of active subscriptions, categorization of subscriptions for easier tracking, and personalized alerts for upcoming expirations. These tools enhance financial oversight and help users avoid forgotten renewals and unnecessary charges.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

5 amazing Linux distros that are better than Windows, but you should avoid them as a beginner

Linux distributions have evolved to be more accessible for users transitioning from Windows and macOS, with Debian-based distributions being relatively easy to navigate. DietPi is an ultra-lightweight OS that requires manual configuration of essential packages, making it more suitable for experienced users. Tails prioritizes user privacy by using the Tor network and operates from a USB drive, but is not ideal for casual users. Qubes OS enhances security through virtualization but has a steep learning curve and challenges with GPU passthrough. Talos Linux is optimized for Kubernetes projects but may be difficult for newcomers due to its lack of SSH support and immutable design. Bazzite, a gaming-focused distribution based on Fedora, offers a user-friendly setup but may not support multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat technology, making it less suitable for competitive gamers.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

Google to Help Android App Developers Identify ‘Excessive’ Battery Drain

Google has introduced a beta metric within the Android Vitals suite to help developers identify and address battery drain caused by excessive wake locks. This metric allows developers to monitor instances of excessive wake locks, defined as holding partial wake locks for more than three hours within a 24-hour period. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will provide user experience insights to assist in improving app performance. Samsung has expressed support for this collaboration, aiming to help developers create optimized apps that enhance performance and battery life. Google plans to expand the Android Vitals metrics and may highlight optimized apps on the Google Play store in the future.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

How to manage YouTube history settings on Android devices

To manage your YouTube history on Android devices, follow these steps: 1. Open the YouTube app. 2. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner. 3. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu. 4. Go to the "History & privacy" section. 5. Choose to pause your watch history or clear specific entries.

TrendTechie

April 16, 2025

В работе торрент-трекера RuTracker произошел сбой

Users are experiencing significant access issues with RuTracker, a major torrent tracker in Russia, with problems persisting for several hours according to Downdetector. When trying to access the site, users receive a "Server unavailable" message, and it remains inaccessible even with a VPN. RuTracker has been blocked in Russia since early 2016 due to a judicial ruling for repeated copyright violations.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Android is getting smarter about spotting battery-hungry apps

Google has introduced a new metric in the Play Console beta to identify excessive background wake locks that can cause battery drain. This tool allows developers to track apps that maintain wake locks for over three hours within a 24-hour period when not in use. Google is collaborating with smartphone manufacturers like Samsung to establish performance standards for Android devices. The initiative is part of a multi-year plan to provide developers with insights into app performance and may lead to additional metrics focusing on performance and battery efficiency. The excessive wake lock metric is currently in beta, and Google is seeking developer feedback for refinement.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

5 Windows settings I should have disabled a long time ago (and how I did it)

- Disabling background apps can save system resources and improve performance. This can be managed through Settings -> Apps -> Installed apps or the Task Manager. - Hibernate mode may consume significant disk space and is not necessary for daily use; Sleep mode is sufficient for most users. Hibernate can be disabled using the command powercfg /h off or through Control Panel -> Power Options. - Telemetry and diagnostic data collection can be disabled in Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Diagnostics & Feedback, and previously collected data can be deleted to reclaim storage space. - Notifications, tips, and suggestions can be turned off in Settings > System > Notifications to reduce distractions. - The lock screen can be disabled to save resources; Windows 11 Pro users can use the Local Group Policy Editor, while Home users can modify the registry by creating a Notlockscreen DWORD value in the WindowsPersonalization key.

Winsage

April 14, 2025

Microsoft: New emergency Windows updates fix AD policy issues

Microsoft has released out-of-band Windows updates to address issues with local audit logon policies in Active Directory Group Policy. The updates correct discrepancies where audit logon/logoff events do not appear enabled on devices, despite functioning correctly. The affected Windows versions include Windows 11 (versions 23H2 and 22H2), Windows Server 2022, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019, Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 LTSB 2016, and Windows Server 2016. These updates are categorized as non-security releases and are cumulative. Microsoft also warned of potential accessibility issues for some domain controllers running Windows Server 2025 and released emergency updates for Office 2016 to fix crashes in Word, Excel, and Outlook. Additionally, users faced login issues with Windows Hello after recent security updates.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

’Minecraft’, Jesus Lead Box Office Resurgence

Rory McIlroy won The Masters, achieving his career Grand Slam. Paramount is experiencing a strong start to Q2, with Cooper Flagg helping Duke achieve an 8-year ratings high and the men's championship game attracting 18.1 million viewers. The Naked Gun debuted successfully at CinemaCon, and MI:8 is projected for a record opening. 60 Minutes is performing well despite political challenges, and MobLand garnered 8.8 million global viewers in its first week on Paramount+. WBD paid its top 5 executives over million in compensation in 2024, while its stock was down approximately 7%. The source of autism is expected to be discovered by September, according to RFK Jr. Cosmopolitan is launching a sports content outlet called Cosmo Sports, and OpenAI is offering free ChatGPT Plus to college students through May. Disney is discounting at Disney World this summer, likely due to the upcoming opening of Universal's Epic theme park. Director Don Mischer passed away at the age of 85.