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Microsoft is officially rolling out Passkeys to users of Windows, Android, and iOS. The functionality, a replacement of traditional password, was first launched by Microsoft for Windows last year.

 

Passkeys have been readily adopted by companies like Apple, Google, and others with the purpose of making it easy to sign into Gmail, iCloud, and other services. With Microsoft’s Passkeys, you can sign into a Microsoft account on an app or website, without having to type out a password.

 

To sign in with a Microsoft Passkey using a device, you can choose your personal authentication method like your face, fingerprint, PIN, or a security key. When you create your Passkey, two different keys are generated: one that is stored by the Microsoft website / app, and another being a private key that is stored on your device used for the authentication.

Microsoft is Bringing Passkeys to All Consumer Accounts



Airbnb has announced a new security update regarding the use of indoor and outdoor security cameras, and noise decibel monitors. The most major rule in the update is complete termination of the use of indoor security cameras.

 

Previously, Airbnb allowed hosts to install indoor security cameras in specific “common” areas like hallways, living rooms, and front doors; and disallowed their installation in bedrooms and bathrooms. The rental company additionally demanded transparency by requiring hosts to make the presence of the cameras visible in their listings.

 

Although the rules regarding installation of security cameras were strict enough, there were still instances reported by guests who found hidden cameras within their rentals, leading visitors to scan their rooms for cameras.

 

Airbnb’s security update also requires greater transparency for outdoor security cameras, such as around the disclosure of their use and locations to guests before they book a listing. Hosts are also prohibited from using their outdoor security cameras to monitor any indoor spaces, as well as from using them in certain outdoor areas where privacy may be greatly expected, like outdoor showers or saunas.

Airbnb is Banning Installation of Indoor Security Cameras



AT&T plans to launch a new call screening service that enables businesses to make “branded calls.” This means that if a business signs up for the service, then a call that it makes to any AT&T user will show the receiver the name and logo of the business. 

 


The service is called “TruContact Branded Call Display” and it is available via credit reporting firm TransUnion. The technology is based on the STIR/SHAKEN protocol, which ensures that a number hasn’t been illegally hoaxed.

AT&T is Making it Possible for Customers to Screen Spammy Calls with a New Service



Apple is reportedly launching a new security feature that it has been testing as part of the iOS 17.3 which will be out next week. The feature, called ‘Stolen Device Protection’ is designed to strengthen the iPhone’s protection against hijack attempts to steal user’s Apple ID and any financial information on their device.

 


More specifically, the feature would prevent the thief from breaking into an iPhone via user’s passcode. Instead, Face ID or Touch ID will be required to unlock the device, and the thief may even have to wait about an hour to make any changes to the user’s data. This means that getting access to sensitive information or wiping out the phone data would be a difficult task.

Apple’s ‘Stolen Device Protection’ Option is Reportedly Rolling Out with the Upcoming iOS 17.3



Google is bringing a major change to Maps – users’ location history will now be stored locally on their devices instead of in the cloud. This is to prevent personal data from being accessible to law enforcement.

 

Law enforcement can collect data from tech companies on mobile phones that have passed through a certain area during a specific time, as a result of ‘geoface warrants.’ This makes anyone present at an alleged crime scene a potential suspect and puts all such people’s privacy at risk, hence the controversy around these warrants.

 

The update in Maps is specifically being applied within the Timeline feature, that keeps track of users’ location history and this information is stored in the Cloud. After the change, the data will instead be stored in users’ devices. Both Android and iOS users of Google Maps will receive a notification informing them about the update as it gradually rolls out.

Google to Prevent Users’ Data in Maps from Being Accessed by Law Enforcement



TP-Link’s smart home brand Tapo just announced a new home security camera ‘Tapo C120,’ priced at $39.99. The device is designed for both indoor and outdoor usage, including pet or baby monitoring. It comes with a magnetic mount and adjustable stand that make it easy to set it up.




The C120 is a wired camera and small enough to fit in a palm. It offers a video resolution of 2K, local storage with an onboard microSD card, AI-powered person detection, adjustable dual spotlights, a starlight sensor for color night vision, full duplex two-way audio, and an alarm system. The features crammed inside this little camera make it an all-rounder, and that too at a reasonable price.

 

TP-Link’s Smart Home Brand Introduces New, Handy Home Camera ‘Tapo C120’



Meta has announced that it is going to start offering new subscriptions on Facebook and Instagram in November, which will allow users to opt out of all ads on these platforms. Users who wish to continue accessing the free versions of Instagram and Facebook will continue to see ads relevant to them.

 

These subscriptions, or paid versions of the services, according to Meta, have been developed in accordance with “evolving European regulations” that demand social media platforms to provide a data tracking opt-out for their users. Therefore, Meta’s offerings will only be available to users in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

 

The information of users who subscribe to the offering will not be used for ads, as opting out of ads means automatically avoiding related data tracking as well.

Meta Announces New Subscriptions in Alignment with EU’s ‘Opt Out of Ads’ Policy



Play Protect, Google’s malware protection system that prevents the spread of harmful and unwanted software on Android devices, has received a helpful new update. The system is now capable of detecting malicious apps as well as AI, that hide themselves by altering their identifiable features.

 

The nature of these malware agents, called as ‘polymorphic malware,’ makes them difficult to detect, specifically for Google’s existing systems. Play Protect’s new feature will recommend users a real-time app scan at the time of installing previously unscanned apps. Google will then provide the user with information on whether or not an app is potentially harmful, following a code-level evaluation.

Google Updates the Android Play Protect with a New, Enhanced Protection Feature


X, formerly known as Twitter, has launched a new ID verification option for premium subscribers as a result of a partnership with forensic identity intelligence company ‘au10tix.’ Through the functionality, subscribers will obtain a government-issued ID which will add enhanced authenticity to their accounts.

 

The procedure is simple: subscribers will need to confirm their identity via a matching process that uses their license (or an equivalent) and a selfie. Since there is an additional company involved in the process, subscribers will therefore be sharing their data with both X and au10tix. However, their data will only be temporarily kept by the intelligence company, for exactly 30 days. The details of this data usage have also been added to X’s existing terms of service.

X Launches a New ID Verification Process for Premium Subscribers



Match Group, the parent company of dating apps including Tinder, Plenty of Fish, and Match, has cut off its ties with the NGO Garbo that has been providing background checks to users on Match Group’s platforms.

 

Background checks first became a thing on Tinder in 2021 and were later offered on the other dating apps too. The tool had been allowing users to gather additional publicly available information about their potential dates, by just using their last name and phone number. The checks mainly provided information related to criminal records such as public reports about violence, past arrests, convictions, and restraining orders.

 

Founder of Garbo, Kathryn Kosmides, revealed the reasons for why the NGO decided to end its partnership with Match Group. According to her, Garbo has faced “continuous harassment and threats by bad actors” on Match Group’s platforms, as well as a lack of support and initiative from the company.

Tinder’s Parent Company Match Group Ends Partnership with Garbo, the Background Check Provider



Google has introduced new privacy-focused APIs that will go into effect on 24th of July. The news comes after the public release of Chrome 115.  As a result of new APIs being applied, third-party cookies will be ultimately eliminated from Chrome by the third quarter of 2024.

 

More specifically, the change will come as Google’s ‘Privacy Sandbox toolkit’ for Chrome will be gradually activated for developers, hence replacing third-party cookies with API alternatives that grant better security.

 

Google plans to do an early test of the Privacy Sandbox tools with advertisers later this year, as well as disable third-party cookies for 1% of Chrome users in the first quarter of next year.

Third-Party Cookies to be Phased Out on Chrome in Q3 of 2024



To help users understand the purpose and usage of all the security and safety tools in the app in one place and enhance their in-app experience, WhatsApp has created a new Security Hub mini site. The hub provides an overview of WhatsApp’s default safety and security features, as well as control options that significantly contribute to users’ account and data security.

 

Some of WhatsApp’s integral security features include default privacy, automatic spam detection, and proactive security alerts.

 

The mini site educates users on how to avoid scamming, spamming, and malicious acts like data theft that commonly occur across the platform. “Malicious actors and hostile states routinely challenge the security of our critical infrastructure,” says the company.

WhatsApp Launches a New ‘Security Hub Mini Site’ to Guide Users through All Security and Safety Tools Available in the App

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