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September 27, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Recently, Google’s engineers introduced a small but important feature to their Calendar app. If you haven’t used the “known senders” option, you owe it to yourself to check it out. It allows you to toggle a setting that will filter out invites from people you don’t know, with an eye toward eliminating or drastically reducing […]
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September 20, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Tech giant Google recently announced that it’s closing the doors on its IoT Core service. Their stated reason for doing so was that their strategic partners can better manage customers’ IoT services and devices. Time will tell if the company’s decision was a good one. Another tech giant, Microsoft, is wasting no time and is […]
September 13, 2022 by Vertical Axion
If you’re a Gmail user and you haven’t seen the change already, be aware that Google has freshened up their email interface. Don’t expect a radical change, however. This update is more of an evolution than a revolution. Chiefly, you’ll notice that the Chat, Spaces, and Meet buttons have all been drawn closer together. This […]
September 5, 2022 by Vertical Axion
If you haven’t heard of the UK startup Speechmatics, it may come as a surprise to learn that the company may be on its way to becoming a globally recognized brand. The company’s ambitious goal is to leapfrog over the progress made by America’s tech giants in speech recognition by using AI and machine learning. […]
August 20, 2022 by Vertical Axion
“Just Google it.” You’ve probably heard that phrase a thousand times. In fact, you may use it yourself on a regular basis. Unfortunately, Googling it wasn’t possible recently. The iconic search giant went dark across broad swaths of the world and simply could not be accessed at all for thirty 34 very long minutes. It […]
August 11, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Recently, Google announced a small but significant change to Google Docs. Now, if you have enabled offline access for files you have stored on your Google Drive, the system will auto-sync any Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, or Word files if you have opened them with Google Slides, Sheets, or Docs. This is a tremendously handy change. […]
July 27, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Data security isn’t something that’s at the forefront of most people’s minds, but it probably should be. These days, we use far more than just our trusty laptops and desktops to do real, meaningful work. Most people have a plethora of devices they tap into on a regular basis and take with them wherever they […]
June 29, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Recently, Microsoft reported high severity security vulnerabilities in multiple apps offered by large international mobile service providers. What makes this especially noteworthy is the fact that these vulnerabilities aren’t app specific, but framework specific. Many carriers use the same basic framework to construct their apps and now all have been found to contain vulnerabilities. The […]
June 20, 2022 by Vertical Axion
If you’re deeply involved in IT security, you may already be familiar with the ERMAC Android banking trojan. If this is the first time you’re hearing of it, be aware that the hackers who authored the malicious code have recently released ERMAC 2.0, which represents a significant upgrade in capabilities from the previous iteration. ERMAC’s […]
June 18, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Are you one of the legions of users making use of the Screencastify Chrome extension? It’s a fantastic Chrome extension that allows you to almost effortlessly create screencasts for a variety of purposes. Unfortunately, the web extension also suffers from a critical security vulnerability that allows attackers to take control of a user’s webcam and […]
June 17, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Are you a Google Chrome user? If so, be aware that the company recently released a stable version of Chrome 102 and is urging all users of its browser to update right away. The latest release contains a total of 32 security fixes on Windows, Mac and Linux. Of the 32 flaws addressed, eight are […]
May 27, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Google SMTP relay service is wildly popular and used every day by legions of users. Unfortunately, hackers around the world are aware of this and increasingly they’ve begun abusing the SMTP relay service. The basic idea is as follows. Some clever hackers have figured out that they can bypass email security products and deliver malicious […]
May 26, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Google has been making some fantastic changes to bolster user security in recent weeks. That includes changes to their Google Play Store that will require developers to disclose exactly what data they plan to track and collect when users install the apps they create. In a related vein, the tech giant has also recently added […]
May 25, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Ask just about any IT security professional and they will tell you that weak user passwords are one of the biggest problems and most persistent threats to corporate networks. Despite years of training, re-training, and near-constant reminders to strengthen passwords, users keep making the same mistakes. They’ll re-use the same password across multiple properties. They […]
May 19, 2022 by Vertical Axion
A handy new Google Assistant is coming soon to a device near you. The new feature is designed to automate the frustrating and often time-consuming task of changing your passwords after a breach. This information is according to a tweet from Max Weinbach and a separate report from a group called the Android Police. Google […]
May 17, 2022 by Vertical Axion
A small but important change is coming to your Android apps. Soon you’ll notice a new Data Safety section on the Google Play Store which will provide greater transparency about exactly what data the apps you install are collecting. The change is meant to serve as a “privacy label” that will allow users to evaluate […]
May 11, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Do you have an Android device? Is it built around a Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset? If you answered yes to both of those questions, be aware that researchers at Check Point have recently discovered an issue which could put your device at risk. The team discovered a flaw in the implementation of the ALAC (Apple […]
April 30, 2022 by Vertical Axion
If you own an Android device, odds are excellent that your go-to source for apps of any kind is the Google Play Store. That includes antivirus apps to help keep your device safe. Unfortunately, the hackers of the world are aware of that fact and are always on the lookout for ways to capitalize on […]
April 20, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Do you have an Android device? Even if you don’t, you know someone who does. Google is incredibly good at spotting poisoned copies of apps on its Play Store and getting rid of them before they can spread to the devices of users who rely on the safety and security offered by the Play Store. […]
April 14, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Do you own a Chromebook? If so, be aware that version 100 of the Chrome OS and Chrome Browser boasts a new launcher. Simply press the “Everything” button which is located on the left-hand corner of your screen to open the Chrome OS launcher. Like the Windows Start button and the macOS “Spotlight” feature, the […]
April 5, 2022 by Vertical Axion
A security researcher who goes by the name “Dr. Web” has been tracking a suspicious increase in Trojan infiltration emanating from the Google Play Store. It is not currently known whether a single organized and determined group of hackers is responsible for the surge or if several groups just happen to be focused on the […]
March 25, 2022 by Vertical Axion
The problem with smartphones is that they eventually run out of room. Honestly it’s a wonder the issue isn’t even bigger than it is. After all, miniaturization isn’t cheap but smartphone manufacturers have been able to cram incredible amounts of storage into tiny spaces. The day is coming when you’re going to run out of […]
March 22, 2022 by Vertical Axion
Do you use Google Messages? If so, there’s good news! In recent months, the company has taken steps to bridge the Windows and iOS ecosystems the Android ecosystems and the iOS ecosystems. They’ve been creating a more seamless user experience and allowing users from those various ecosystems to communicate and share more easily. The latest […]
March 15, 2022 by Vertical Axion
If you have smart devices in the Android ecosystem, there’s a new threat to be aware of in the form of a malware strain called Teabot. This bit of malicious code is a Remote Access Trojan or RAT for short. The group behind the code is making a big push to see it spread worldwide. […]
