WhatsApp Users Might Be Able to Link Emails to Their Accounts

Maximizing the level of security users can take advantage of has been a primary concern for WhatsApp these past few years. Two factor authentication, encrypted backups, and the recently introduced Account Protection and Device Verification features are all part of this. In spite of the fact that this is the case, malicious actors have continued to be a major threat to WhatsApp users around the world.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that WhatsApp is now introducing a brand new feature that might make the platform safer than might have been the case otherwise. This involves allowing users to link their email addresses with their accounts as well as their phone numbers.

Users will still need a phone number in order to be able to use WhatsApp in the first place. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the addition of email verification can add a new level of security. It can prove quite useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to regain access to their accounts if they accidentally get locked out.

One thing that bears mentioning is that this feature is currently being tested out. There is no word yet on when it might see a wider rollout, and WhatsApp has clearly stated that whenever email verification becomes available, it will be an optional feature that users can skip if they so choose.

If a user finds that their device has been stolen, email verification can make it so that they would not really have to worry about being able to log into their WhatsApp. They can receive the sign in code on their email as well as on their phone number. However, continuing to require a phone number to begin with may not be something that a lot of users are all that enthused about. WhatsApp might look to decouple its accounts from phone numbers in the future in order to compete with apps like Discord which only require emails.

H/T: Wabetainfo

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Meta's Threads: Searching, Surfing, and Slaying the App Game

Alright, gather 'round, tech enthusiasts, because there's a juicy update in the virtual town! Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's big cheese, has spilt the digital beans in a Threads post - yeah, Threads, the Twitter-like software everyone talked about a while back. So, here's the scoop: Meta's Threads is about to spruce up its game with some snazzy new features. Search and online features are set to debut in the coming weeks, and you can guarantee this news is creating waves!

Now, let's talk turkey. Threads' creator, Mark Zuckerberg, is betting on a robust and long-lasting future. He nearly does a victory dance in his message, stating that the Threads community is on a rocket ship to app stardom. But, let's be honest, every hero's path has challenges.

Threads debuted with a bang last July, catapulting to the top of the charts. Zuckerberg cleverly capitalized on Twitter's troubles and Elon Musk's escapades. However, the lustre of Threads' engagement began to wane, as it does with any new item. Users became dissatisfied with the app's limited features, and you know what they say: bored users equal bad business.

Advertisers and producers have told CNBC that Threads needs an overhaul to earn its superhero cape. They're seeking a magnifying glass to hunt for popular subjects and old postings, like a meme and gossip treasure hunt. And here's the kicker: Threads is making a splash on the web. It's like the app is getting a VIP ticket to the online party, and we all know if you're not on the web, you're basically missing the show.

During Meta's earnings call last week, Zuckerberg divulged more beans. "Hang tight, folks," he basically says. Threads are the future, but we won't charge for it until it's the Godzilla of applications." He's giving his staff a virtual high-five for their quick work, but let's face it, this journey is far from finished.

So there you have it, the scoop, the bottom, and the digital dish - Meta's Threads is getting a facelift. The search and web operations are analogous to the app's magical abilities, and Zuckerberg serves as our digital Dumbledore, guiding us through this technological adventure. Friends, the future is bright, and Threads is about to enter the app Hall of Fame.

So, digital adventurers, brace on because the Threads adventure will get much more interesting. Who needs a movie night when you have Meta's Threads drama right before you? Stay tuned, keep your eyes peeled, and prepare to ride the digital transformation wave!

Read next: Huge Array Of ChatGPT Updates Are Launching Next Week And Here’s What You Can Expect
by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Huge Array Of ChatGPT Updates Are Launching Next Week And Here’s What You Can Expect

ChatGPT seems to be on everyone’s mind, no matter how much time has evolved since its initial launch.

At first, it was described as one of the most useful and innovative tools out there. Today, it’s being called out as a venture whose performance may not be up to the mark, not to mention how the many flaws are misguiding users.

While the debate continues, we’re hearing some major announcements made by the parent firm OpenAI which is asking users to be a little more patient for something super exciting.

By next week, we’re going to be seeing some major updates get launched, the company adds and it’s going to be super interesting to see which features make their way to the signature chatbot that some love while others hate.

The news was released through a post on the X platform by the company's developer expert who adds that the changes are not minor but major in scale.

Among those include example prompts, replies as suggestions, and queries that serve as a follow-up that are super useful and end up getting rid of fatigue.

Other than that, we will see GPT-4 settings where paying subscribers won’t be required to switch on the latest OpenAI language model each time you begin new chats. Similarly, there will be more support for uploading several files in the OpenAI’s plugin called Code Interpreter and others.

The reaction at the start was quite mixed and people didn’t quite know how to react. And while a few did applaud the efforts of ChatGPT’s makers, others were wary of how exactly they would function.

The ones getting the most appreciation include leaving the GPT-4 on by default while the other has to do with ensuring users are logged in for long, going above and beyond the 14-day period.

But the news had communities on the Reddit platform get more active and start asking questions such as when will the chatbot going to stop saying sorry and if that was on the cards to arrive soon too. Others laughed and added how they hoped so and there were a few that did criticize the new offerings and said they were a major alarm for those suffering from ADHD. After all, it can’t get any more distracting than this.

But it’s just too soon to speak on the matter right now. The incorporation of such features is in its early phase and we need to see which users will end up adopting and using these additions in their daily work routines. Also, it’s interesting to see which would fail at getting the desired response from the masses and which features undergo rejection before others.

These new additions come at a time when new reports spoke of OpenAI filing a trademark application with the USPTO regarding GPT-5 technology. This is the latest addition that is yet to be released in the LLM series. This app would entail the possibility of new features including human text and speech being produced artificially and having getting text translated from a certain language to that of another kind.

Read next: 22% of Employees Are Regularly Using AI at Work
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

TikTok Could Be Fined By The EU For Breaching Child Privacy Laws

Social media app TikTok may soon be facing the consequences of a brutal investigation by the EU that may end up in the imposition of a hefty fine.

The news comes after the tech giant was reportedly said to be involved in violating privacy laws linked to children.

This was published by the Guardian today who explained how the regulator first began the investigation two years back against the firm. And now that it has made way for the conclusion, we are hearing more about the adoption of a decision that would serve to resolve the dispute. And the only way out appears to be a major fine.

While TikTok did object to the clause legally, it’s mindblowing how those between the ages of 13 to 17 were being dealt with on the platform, including how their data was getting handled. Right after that investigation, we saw the regulator highlight how TikTok went against the law's full throttle.

In the past month, the app said yes to a test conducted in Ireland where it did agree but the EU didn’t happen with the way the platform was behaving.

It added how the app was too busy dedicating a pile of resources to achieve compliance but right now, it’s high time it was compliant to the laws outlined.

The investigation came to an end in no time and then we saw the app boldly declare that it would be rolling out new offers that would be more in line with the DSA by the EU. Moreover, the company added how it was pulling up its sleeves and raising the bar by incorporating innovative solutions.

The last decision came just a few months after the platform was struck with a staggering $15 million fine from the United Kingdom after it went against its own terms of service. And by that time, the country’s Information Commissioner said the app allowed 1.4 million children below 13 to gain access to different apps on social media.

The company has been under the radar for quite some time now, especially when it comes to different nations and firms putting a ban on the platform through phones. This is done to provide protection of confidential data.

Most recently, the American state of Montana was called out as the first to enforce a complete ban on TikTok for its citizens. But that did not go down quite well with users who sued the government for placing a ban on the platform, adding how it went against their fundamental rights of speech.

We saw India put out a ban in the recent past that had to do with apps hailing from China and TikTok was a part of that list. This ban started to come into play in 2020 and since then, it’s going strong.

So as you can see, TikTok is constantly being scrutinized and this new investigation and fine imposition by the EU is another example of just that.

Read next: 74 Percent of Americans Say TikTok is Addictive
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Facebook Business Accounts Are Getting Compromised by New Malware

It seems like a new type of malware pops up practically every other day, and this latest strain happens to be targeting Facebook Business accounts in particular. The Meta owned social media platform has been attempting to compete with LinkedIn by offering users the chance to develop professional networks. In spite of the fact that this is the case, these efforts are being hampered by the latest malware that has broken onto the scene.

This comes from a new report that was released by Unit 42 which revealed that the malware is named NodeStealer. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that it is a Python based alteration of the initial NodeStealer malware which was written in JavaScript.

Malicious actors are attempting to sell unsuspecting and unwary users on ostensibly professional budget tracking options that supposedly utilized Excel and Google Sheets. Offering business related tools make sense because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up reeling in users that require such helpful services.

However, if you were to click on the link, you would be taken to a Google Drive account wherein the malware would be contained within a .ZIP file. Not only will this archive execute the malware itself, but it would also deploy BitRAT XWorm and other forms of malware. Furthermore, Windows users will find their Windows Defender disabled, thereby making it easier for the malware to run amok than might have been the case otherwise.

Another downside of the presence of this malware on your system is that it would install the digital wallet add-on known as MetaMask which will allow it to use your system’s resources to steal cryptocurrency. Meta has already been plagued with malicious ad campaigns that market these services to users only for them to have their log in credentials and browsing cookies stolen.

More steps must be taken to mitigate the effects of this malware. Until then, users must avoid clicking on links sent to them by unknown accounts no matter what is being offered.

Read next: 88% of Firms Are Worried About VPN Vulnerabilities
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

New Study Confirms Link Between Extended Internet Usage and Depression Among Teenage Girls

By this point it has become clear that there is some kind of correlation between internet usage and a negative trajectory in mental health. A new study that was recently published in Psychological Medicine revealed that excessive internet time among teenage girls can lead to detrimental outcomes pertaining to mental health within a span of two years or so.

As depression continues to become an even bigger issue all around the world, teenage girls are bearing the brunt of the problems. Too much internet at 13 can lead to an increased quantity of depressive symptoms by the age of 15 with all things having been considered and taken into account. The same goes for fifteen year old girls by the time they reach 17 years of age.

This is based on research conducted at the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, which took place over two decades and completed in 2018. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that girls consistently showed higher rates of depression when compared to boys.

Social media might play a role here because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up giving girls unrealistic expectations about how they look. That’s not to say that boys don’t experience depressive symptoms caused by social media, but internet usage at 13 did not directly lead to depressive symptoms by the time they were fifteen, although a link was found between 15 and 17 year olds.

As far as girls are concerned, internet usage can have a negative impact much earlier on in life, and it can take more years to full manifest and become apparent. This study focused almost exclusively on Canadians, with 72% of respondents saying that their parents or caregivers were Canadian. Hence, it does not represent the entire world, but it is a crucial linchpin in quantifying the type of mental health outcomes that can occur if internet usage is not reined in at an earlier age to prevent it from spiraling out of control.

Read next: 22% of Employees Are Regularly Using AI at Work
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Microsoft Edge Reaches 10.75% Market Share, But Its Still Struggling Against Chrome

Microsoft has been trying to gain a foothold in the desktop browser market for quite some time now because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up diversifying its services. Edge has been the latest example of its web browsers, replacing the widely ridiculed Internet Explorer. Based on the data that was recently published by Statcounter, it appears that Microsoft Edge now holds a 10.75% share of the desktop browser market.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, it is still lagging far behind Google Chrome and Safari with all things having been considered and taken into account. Google Chrome gained 2.17 points to reach 63.33% in July after experiencing a decline from 65.88% to 61.16% in June.

Safari is only available for macOS users, but with all of that having been said and now out of the way it is important to note that it still holds a 13.13% share. This is a 1.35 point dip from the previous month, whereas Edge has seen a 0.03 point downturn in the same period. Coming in fourth is Firefox with 5.96%, followed by Opera with 4.51%.

If we were to zero in on the mobile browser market, things look largely the same. Indeed, Google and Apple have even more control in this arena, with Google Chrome holding a 64.81% share of the market whereas Safari is holding on to 24.76%. However, one major change is that Microsoft is nowhere to be seen as far as mobile browsers are concerned.

Instead, Samsung Internet holds third place with 4.3%, with Opera coming in fourth with a meager share of just 1.95%. Rounding off the top five list is UC Browser which also has a very small share of 1.79%.

All in all, Microsoft is not seeing considerable growth. Safari’s restricted access is still allowing it to cling on to second place, and it will be interesting to see if anything changes in the near future. The mobile browser market is unlikely to see any major players emerge unless something drastic changes.

Read next: 88% of Firms Are Worried About VPN Vulnerabilities
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World