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ApplicationDevelopmentNews articles

  • Google Meet Will Let You Know When You’re the Last One in a Meeting

    Google Meet Will Let You Know When You’re the Last One in a Meeting

    Google Meet is getting a nice qualify-of-life improvement, letting users know when they’re the last person in a room.

    Virtually everyone has been in a virtual meeting that ended, but forgot to close the program. Given that most videoconferencing apps are some of the most power-intensive, leaving a meeting open unnecessarily can drain battery, and slow down a system.

    According to XDA, Google is looking to address that with a reminder when a person is the last one in a Google Meet Room. The reminder will appear after five minutes, giving users the option to leave or stay in the room.

    The feature is a one of those common sense features that hopefully other platforms will also adopt.

  • YouTube TV Now Supports Picture-in-Picture on iOS 15

    YouTube TV Now Supports Picture-in-Picture on iOS 15

    YouTube TV has finally brought Picture-in-Picture (PiP) support to iOS 15 devices, making it one of the last major streaming apps to do so.

    PiP is a feature that allows a user to minimize a video into a smaller, floating window. The iPhone or iPad can then be used for other tasks, while still playing the video in question. While YouTube TV has supported PiP on Android since 2017, the feature has not been available on iOS…at least until now.

    YouTube TV announced the new feature in a tweet.

    iPhone & iPad users

    We’re happy to share that picture-in-picture is now rolling out to your iOS 15+ devices. Simply select a video to watch and swipe [up] from the bottom of the screen to return to the device’s homepage. The video can scale down and move across your screen.

    — YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV), March 30, 2022

    The company thanked users for their patience during the (long…really long) delay releasing the feature.

    We really appreciate your patience while we worked on enabling this key feature for your iOS 15+ devices. We hope you enjoy this easy way to stream.

    — YouTube TV (@YouTubeTV), March 30, 2022

    The new feature works on both iPhones and iPads running iOS 15+.

  • Google Maps Is Experiencing an Outage

    Google Maps Is Experiencing an Outage

    Google is currently working to address an outage with Google Maps that is impacting some users.

    Google Maps is the most popular map app, used by billions of phones, tablets, and computers around the world. As a result, when Maps experiences an outage, people quickly take notice. Google has acknowledged such an issue, Friday afternoon, part of a larger issue the company appears to be having.

    Multiple Google Maps Platform services experiencing high rates of error, including several Web Services and the Maps Javascript API and services. We are still assessing the extent of the issue.

    A quick look at Downdetector.com does show a spike in issues with Maps, as well as Google at large.

    The company is working on the issue, and will hopefully have it fixed soon.

  • Popular App YouTube Vanced Shuts Down

    Popular App YouTube Vanced Shuts Down

    Popular app YouTube Vanced has shut down, possible the result of legal intervention by Google.

    YouTube Vanced established itself as one of the most popular alternatives to the stock YouTube app, offering a wealth of additional features. Unfortunately, according to the company’s Twitter account, the app is shutting down.

    Vanced has been discontinued. In the coming days, the download links on the website will be taken down. We know this is not something you wanted to hear but it’s something we need to do. Thank you all for supporting us over the years.

    — Vanced Official (@YTVanced), March 13, 2022

    The company says existing copies can still be used for the next two years or so, until they become outdated and stop working.

    While the company gave no indication of the reason behind their decision in their tweet, it’s a safe bet it was the result of legal threats from Google.

  • Slack Experiencing ‘Intermittent Issues’

    Slack Experiencing ‘Intermittent Issues’

    Slack has been experiencing “intermittent issues,” with users experiencing issues with calls, messages, and sending files.

    The issue began shortly before 6:00 AM, Wednesday morning. The company identified the issue around 10:00 AM, and began working on a fix. Slack is now reporting the fix has been applied, although some users may still have some issues as the fix rolls out.

    Thank you for sticking with us as we investigated! We have pushed a fix for this issue and while some affected features should be working as expected now, please note that other actions may take a bit longer to resolve as the fix takes effect. If you continue to have any problems, please reach out to feedback@slack.com.

    Slack’s issues come a day after Discord experienced a major outage as a result of a Google Cloud issue.

  • Rise From the Ashes: LimeWire May Return From the Grave

    Rise From the Ashes: LimeWire May Return From the Grave

    LimeWire may be returning from the grave, as a completely different type of app than it once was.

    LimeWire was once one of the most popular peer-to-peer file sharing apps, before being shut down over legal issues. Slashdot has learned the brand may be coming back, this time “as a digital collectibles marketplace for music.”

    The new company is currently in talks with various artists in an effort to secure exclusive partnerships, with a possible launch date in May.

    There are no further details are available.

  • PSA: Update Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and Focus Immediately

    PSA: Update Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and Focus Immediately

    Mozilla has issued updates for Firefox, Firefox for Android, Thunderbird, and Firefox Focus to fix two vulnerabilities being actively exploited in the wild.

    Firefox, while not nearly as popular as Chrome, is one of the most important web browsers on the market, an open source alternative with a focus on privacy. Mozilla says both vulnerabilities are being actively exploited by bad actors, making it critically important to update immediately.

    Here’s Mozilla’s description of the two issues:

    CVE-2022-26485: Use-after-free in XSLT parameter processing: “Removing an XSLT parameter during processing could have lead to an exploitable use-after-free. We have had reports of attacks in the wild abusing this flaw.”

    CVE-2022-26486: Use-after-free in WebGPU IPC Framework: “An unexpected message in the WebGPU IPC framework could lead to a use-after-free and exploitable sandbox escape. We have had reports of attacks in the wild abusing this flaw.”

    Both issues have been addressed in these updates:

    • Firefox 97.0.2
    • Firefox ESR 91.6.1
    • Firefox for Android 97.3
    • Focus 97.3
    • Thunderbird 91.6.2
  • Dropbox (Finally) Brings Native M1 Mac Support

    Dropbox (Finally) Brings Native M1 Mac Support

    Dropbox has finally added native support for Apple’s M1 processor, months after botching its response and angering users.

    Dropbox is one of the most popular cloud storage platforms, and is one of the leading options for the Mac platform. Unfortunately, despite Apple announcing the M1 in June 2020, and despite many of its competitors migrating to the M1, Dropbox is only now releasing a version with native M1 support.

    According to AppleInsider, the new version is currently rolling out, after a beta testing period that began in January.

    The company is likely happy to finally have this milestone behind it, especially after taking a drubbing from users unhappy with how long it took to include M1 support, and the company’s botched response to inquiries in 2021.

  • Some Google Maps Features Disabled in Ukraine Over Security Concerns

    Some Google Maps Features Disabled in Ukraine Over Security Concerns

    Google has taken the unusual step of disabling some features in Google Maps for Ukraine, likely out of concern Russian forces could use it in their invasion.

    Google Maps can provide live information regarding traffic and other conditions, but there has been some concern Russian invasion forces could use the feature to track Ukrainian troop movements or fleeing civilians. For example, according to Reuters, a professor at California’s Middlebury Institute of International Studies was able to track Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border before the invasion, a buildup that looked like a traffic jam.

    Google’s move comes as tech companies are implementing their own sanctions against Russia in a show of support and solidarity for Ukraine, and in an effort to make the Russian invasion as costly as possible for Vladimir Putin and his allies.

  • PSA: Update Chrome Now to Avoid Actively Exploited Vulnerability

    PSA: Update Chrome Now to Avoid Actively Exploited Vulnerability

    Another week, another Chrome update to address a bug that is being actively exploited.

    Google Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser by far, with billions of users relying on the browser. Unfortunately, it’s become an all-too-common occurrence for Google to release an update that addresses a major security vulnerability. Often these are vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited.

    The latest update is no exception. Google has released version 98.0.4758.102 for macOS, Linux, and Windows. The update fixes a slew of issues, but the one of particular note is issue “CVE-2022-0609: Use after free in Animation.”

    According to the release notes, “Google is aware of reports that an exploit for CVE-2022-0609 exists in the wild.”

    Google has not given any additional details, although it’s believed the exploit could allow an attacker to remotely run code on a vulnerable computer. Once the update has been downloaded by a majority of users, Google will likely reveal more information, but will not do so until then to protect users from being attacked.

  • Hot Mic: Zoom Fixes Mac Bug That Left Mic On

    Hot Mic: Zoom Fixes Mac Bug That Left Mic On

    Zoom has released an update that fixes a potentially embarrassing bug, one that leaves the computer’s mic on.

    macOS Monterey includes additional privacy features, including one that turns on an orange light to indicate the microphone is active. According to 9to5Mac, users have been complaining since December that the light would stay on even after a user’s Zoom meeting was over.

    Zoom has finally released an update that addresses the issue.

    We experienced a bug relating to the Zoom client for macOS, which could show the orange indicator light continue to appear after having left a meeting, call, or webinar. This bug was addressed in the Zoom client for macOS version 5.9.3 and we recommend you update to version 5.9.3 to apply the fix.

    All Mac users are encouraged to update as soon as possible.

  • Signal Adds Ability to Change Numbers Without Losing Chats

    Signal Adds Ability to Change Numbers Without Losing Chats

    Signal has added a major new feature, allowing people to change their phone number without losing their chats.

    Signal is one of the most secure messaging platforms on the market, but that level of security sometimes comes with convenience compromises. Until now, one such compromise meant that changing one’s phone number would result in a loss of all previous chats.

    The company has now addressed that issue, providing a way to change numbers, while still keeping old messages.

    If you’re getting a new phone, but keeping your old number, you can use our end-to-end encrypted device-to-device transfer on Android or iOS to carry your contacts and chat history over to your new device. Make sure you do this before wiping/recycling your old device, as Signal messages are excluded from built-in operating system and cloud backups.

    If you’re keeping your existing phone, but getting a new number, the Change Number feature will let you keep your profile and all of your existing messages and groups on your device, while making you reachable at your new phone number.

    As big fans of Signal, it’s good to see the company introducing features that make it easier to use.

  • Microsoft Will Block Downloaded Office Macros by Default

    Microsoft Will Block Downloaded Office Macros by Default

    Macros have long been a major factor in Office security issues, and it appears Microsoft is taking a major step toward addressing the problem.

    Macros have been around for years, with Office power users having their own personal collection of macros they swear by. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most targeted attack vectors that bad actors use. Microsoft has taken various steps to try to mitigate the danger, but their latest is one of their most ambitious.

    Beginning in Version 2203, Microsoft will block downloaded macros for Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, and Word.

    For macros in files obtained from the internet, users will no longer be able to enable content with a click of a button. A message bar will appear for users notifying them with a button to learn more. The default is more secure and is expected to keep more users safe including home users and information workers in managed organizations.

    Microsoft has said it will also implement the change for Office LTSC, Office 2021, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office 2013 at a future date.

    Users intent on using downloaded macros will still be able to, but they’ll need to jump through a couple of hoops to do so. Users will be presented with a warning message, including a Learn More button.

    The Learn More button goes to an article for end users and information workers that contains information about the security risk of bad actors using macros, safe practices to prevent phishing & malware, and instructions on how to enable these macros.

    The change is likely to inconvenience some users, but hopefully the measure will help protect Office users.

  • Want to Save RAM? Hide the Windows 11 Teams Icon

    Want to Save RAM? Hide the Windows 11 Teams Icon

    Teams may be one of the most popular messaging platforms, but it’s not so popular with users wanting streamlined performance, using extra RAM if the icon is visible.

    Teams is included on all copies of Windows 11, occupying a spot once taken by Skype. While the service has grown incredibly popular, recently crossing 270 million active monthly users, some users have noticed some odd RAM usage.

    Over at his Out of Office Hours blog, Michael Niehaus details the problem here, and here. In short, Teams and Widgets use Edge’s WebView2, Microsoft’s version of Electron. This allows the apps to make use of Edge’s underlying rendering engine, without launching the full browser. This is a common practice in development, as it’s much easier to use the system’s browser for rendering than it is to come up with a custom solution.

    Unfortunately, while WebView2 is supposed to be more efficient than Electron, it still can take quite a toll on the system, with Teams and Widgets using hundreds of megabytes of RAM just from their icons being open.

    Niehaus’ recommendation? Hide the icons.

    Let’s say that you hide both the Chat and Widgets icons. Does that get rid of all of those processes? Well, it certainly prevents the Widgets set from being created, but does it keep the Teams client and its set from launching? Yes, as a matter of fact it does (at least after you log out and back in again after turning off those icons).

    So there’s another reason to consider turning those icons off: saving system resources.

  • Atlas VPN Adopts WireGuard Protocol

    Atlas VPN Adopts WireGuard Protocol

    VPN provider Atlas VPN is the latest to adopt the WireGuard protocol, giving its customers access to the latest security option.

    WireGuard is an open source protocol designed to be “a more modern, faster, and secure alternative to existing legacy protocols.” A number of services have already adopted WireGuard, with Atlas VPN being the latest.

    “WireGuard is one of the fastest and most secure VPN protocols available right now. Therefore, we wanted to make it available for Atlas VPN users. It works seamlessly with all Atlas VPN features and further enhances the VPN’s performance”, says Ruta Cizinauskaite, the PR Manager at Atlas VPN.

    The addition of WireGuard gives customers a choice of several different protocols.

  • Discord Experiences Major Outage

    Discord Experiences Major Outage

    Popular communications platform Discord experienced a major outage Wednesday, only partially recovering by the afternoon.

    The issue began shortly before 9:00 AM ET, with users having trouble using the service, both calls and chats. Some users reported still being able to use the service if they were already logged in, further adding to the confusion.

    Discord released a statement at the outset saying they were investigating:

    We are currently investigating a widespread API outage. 

    The company ultimately identified two different issues that were to blame, and limited logins to help mitigate traffic issues.

    We have identified the underlying issue with the API outage but are dealing with a secondary issue on one of our database clusters. We have our entire on-call response team online and responding to the issue. 

    We have instituted a rate limit on logins to manage the traffic load. Users who are logged in are successfully using Discord at this point, and we will be slowly raising the limits here to allow more users in as we can. We expect this to be resolved in the next 15 minutes.

    As of late Wednesday afternoon, 4:50 ET, the company was finally closing on a complete resolution.

    We are down to the last set of offline users and we anticipate everybody being fully online within the next 10 minutes.

  • Germany May Block Telegram Over Hate Speech

    Germany May Block Telegram Over Hate Speech

    Germany is looking to address hate speech on the Telegram messaging platform, even leaving open the possibility of banning the service.

    Telegram is a messaging service that offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE), making it a prime competitor to WhatsApp and Signal. In addition to E2EE, the app has strong support for groups, making it as much a chat as messaging platform.

    As with all E2EE services, some use Telegram for illegal and unwanted behavior. Germany has been struggling with far-right groups, something the country is especially sensitive to, given its past.

    In response, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, left open the possibility of banning the app in statements to Die Zeit, via The Independent

    “We cannot rule this out,” she said. “A shutdown would be grave and clearly a last resort. All other options must be exhausted first.”

  • WhatsApp Founder Is Signal’s New Interim CEO

    WhatsApp Founder Is Signal’s New Interim CEO

    Moxie Marlinspike, the creator of Signal, is stepping down as CEO, with WhatsApp founder Brian Acton stepping in on an interim basis.

    Signal is one of the most secure messaging platforms on the market, and has seen a major increase in usage as privacy has become more important to users. In fact, according to a recent report, Signal was one of the only apps the FBI was unable to glean any useful information from. The only information that could be gained was when an account was created and when it was last used.

    Amid Signal’s rising popularity, Marlinspike has decided it’s time to hand over the reigns.

    In other words, after a decade or more, it’s difficult to overstate how important Signal is to me, but I now feel very comfortable replacing myself as CEO based on the team we have, and also believe that it is an important step for expanding on Signal’s success. I’ve been talking with candidates over the last few months, but want to open up the search with this announcement in order to help find the best person for the next decade of Signal. Please get in touch if that might be you!

    WhatsApp founder Brian Acton will take over as interim CEO until a permanent replacement is found. Acton as been a member of Signal’s board for some time, and has invested over $100 million in the Signal Technology Foundation. Acton became a vocal supporter of Signal, and a critic of his own creation WhatsApp, after Facebook purchased WhatsApp and began exploring options he felt would degrade the app’s privacy.

    I will continue to remain on the Signal board, committed to helping manifest Signal’s mission from that role, and I will be transitioning out as CEO over the next month in order to focus on the candidate search. Brian Acton, who is also on the Signal Foundation board, has volunteered to serve as interim CEO during the search period. I have every confidence in his commitment to the mission and ability to facilitate the team for this time.

  • Spotify Misses Deadline For HiFi Audio, Gives No Further Updates

    Spotify Misses Deadline For HiFi Audio, Gives No Further Updates

    Spotify has failed to deliver on its promise to roll out HiFi audio in 2021, and is offering no update on when users can expect it.

    Spotify announced in February that it planned on introducing CD-quality HiFi audio in 2021. Unfortunately for users counting on the feature, 2021 has come and gone with no HiFi update.

    The company has posted an update on its community boards, but has failed to provide an updated timetable.

    Hey folks,

    We know that HiFi quality audio is important to you. We feel the same, and we’re excited to deliver a Spotify HiFi experience to Premium users in the future. But we don’t have timing details to share yet.

    We will of course update you here when we can.

    Take care.

  • LastPass: Master Passwords Not Compromised

    LastPass: Master Passwords Not Compromised

    Popular password manager LastPass says master passwords are safe, despite many users believing otherwise.

    Password managers are important elements in cybersecurity. A good password manager saves the many different passwords users collect, notifies them when one is too easy or has been compromised, and suggest strong passwords. A good password manager secures its database of passwords with a master password that must be input to access the saved ones.

    LastPass is one of the most popular of these programs. Early Tuesday, users began noticing suspicious activity, with login attempts from different locations using their master passwords.

    According to AppleInsider many of the cases involve accounts that haven’t been used in a while, accounts using old master passwords. While this would seem to indicate a hack involving the list of master passwords, specifically a hack involving an old list, some users report continued login attempts even after changing their password.

    Despite the anecdotal evidence to suggest the list of master passwords was compromised, LastPass says its service was not breached or compromised.

    Our initial findings led us to believe that these alerts were triggered in response to attempted “credential stuffing” activity, in which a malicious or bad actor attempts to access user accounts (in this case, LastPass) using email addresses and passwords obtained from third-party breaches related to other unaffiliated services. We quickly worked to investigate this activity and, at this time, have no indication that any LastPass accounts were compromised by an unauthorized third-party as a result of these credential stuffing attempts, nor have we found any indication that user’s LastPass credentials were harvested by malware, rogue browser extensions, or phishing campaigns.

    It remains to be seen if LastPass is correct, or if further investigation will reveal additional details. Either way, it is a disconcerting turn of events for a service that many people rely on to keep their online activity safe.