security

By now, you've probably heard of a worrying flaw with the ultrasonic fingerprint readers present in the Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy Note 10. When using some third-party screen protectors on either phone, the fingerprint reader can apparently grant access to fingerprints that weren't previously registered. Obviously, that entirely defeats the purpose of securing your phone with a fingerprint in the first place, so it goes without saying this is something that needs to be fixed.

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Earlier this week, news of a particularly troubling flaw with the Galaxy S10's ultrasonic fingerprint reader broke. Apparently, phones that had certain third-party screen protectors installed could potentially accept fingerprints that weren't previously registered to the device. This, of course, means that someone who isn't you could gain access to your phone, and that's never a good thing.

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Google's Face Unlock on the new Pixel 4 may make accessing the new Android smartphone more straightforward, but it could also make it easier for others to unlock the device when you're sleeping. The latest in the Pixel series does away with the fingerprint sensor on the last-generation Pixel 3, instead recognizing faces for what Google has said will be faster and more secure.

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There's a bit of a security flaw in the Samsung Galaxy S10 right about now that's important to all users of said phone. The flaw comes in the form of 3rd-party screen protectors with tiny patterning in their build. The silicone of the screen protector can do more than just protect against drops and scratches - it can potentially register as part of your fingerprint by the fingerprint reader in the phone.

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Arlo today expanded its security camera lineup by announcing a new video doorbell. Simply called the Arlo Video Doorbell, it functions mostly as you'd expect it to, giving you a video feed of your doorstep so you can see who's there. At the same time, however, Arlo made some improvements over what it considers to be the conventional video doorbell formula, and that may help this new product stand out in a sea of competition.

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Google has announced an updated Titan security key featuring a USB-C connector. The dongle is a more secure option for users who need more reassurance than traditional two-factor authentication (2FA) offers and who have upgraded to devices featuring the latest USB connector type. The new security key comes from Yubico and will be available to purchase from Google directly starting tomorrow.

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Amazon was the first reported to have been listening in on Alexa recorded speech for the sake of auditing them and improving the company's AI for the service. It turns out, it isn't just audio that the company is distributing to employees for that same purpose. Also fair game, it seems, are video recordings from the company's Cloud Cam and, given the visual nature of the content, is easily more identifiable and more problematic as far as keeping owners' identities private.

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A new report out of the Pew Research Center reveals that many Americans have gaps in their knowledge about digital security, particularly things like how private web browsing works, what two-factor authentication is, and more. The results are based on a survey that contained 10 questions that focused on aspects of social media and cybersecurity.

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Some Android users might make light of the conundrum that Huawei has found itself in with regards to the US blacklist, Huawei phone owners are getting desperate for reassurance that their investments aren't going to go up in smoke. That's especially true for those who decided to buy the Huawei Mate 30 series, especially the $1,000 Mate 30 Pro. They're unfortunately caught in a state of limbo and, sooner or later, there will be some enterprising people who will have no reservations taking advantage of them.

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Browser makers are implementing features that prevent sites from tracking users through various technologies, particularly encryption in HTTPS and TLS. Hackers of the dark kind, however, love to play this game of cat and mouse with security experts and software developers. A particularly notorious group hailing from Russia is proving that by turning the tables on browser makers. They are using the very same technologies Chrome and Firefox use for secure browsing, these hackers are modifying these web browsers on the fly to keep tabs on users and circumvent those privacy features.

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Google today is publicly reporting a new zero-day vulnerability in Android that potentially affects a number of devices. The vulnerability is particularly worrisome because it can allow bad actors to take control of an affected device. Strangely enough, this security flaw has already been patched once, but apparently it still exists within more recent versions of Android.

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As the company with the biggest presence and influence on the Internet, Google has taken it upon itself to make the Web a safer place. From misbehaving ads to insecure pages, Google has used its Chrome web browser to steer developers and administrators towards more industey best practices. Google boasts that Chrome users spend 90% of their time on secure HTTPS pages but soon it will be tightening the noose on remaining insecure content by blocking them completely starting next year.

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