whatsapp-screenshot-blocked

WhatsApp New Privacy Feature: Blocking Screenshots

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Engineers at parent company Meta have suddenly initiated a global rollout of a new feature on WhatsApp. Users are now unable to take screenshots of profile pictures, thanks to a switch that has been quietly activated.

The block works similarly to the privacy measures used by banking software and streaming services like Netflix. Its primary aim is to prevent instances of impersonation and harassment that have been plaguing the app.

Blocking Screenshots of Profile Pictures

Numerous banks, including NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland, have issued warnings to customers about impersonation scams on WhatsApp. These scams typically involve criminals posing as friends or family members, requesting urgent monetary assistance under false pretenses.

GB News

GB News has reported on this development, noting that the update has been observed on Android devices. However, attempts to replicate the block on profile picture screenshots have yielded mixed results, suggesting that the rollout is still in progress worldwide.

When trying to capture a profile picture in fullscreen, users will encounter an error message preventing them from taking a screenshot. Instead of the intended image, they will end up with a blank screen shot.

“Can’t take a screenshot due to app restrictions,” a notification will display at the bottom of the screen, indicating the limitation imposed by the new feature.

WhatsApp’s recent update builds on its history of implementing privacy-focused features. Back in 2019, the app disabled the option to download and save profile pictures to deter impersonation attempts.

Despite these efforts, scammers have continued to find ways around the restrictions, prompting Meta to introduce the latest update. The company hopes to curb impersonation, harassment, and bullying on its platform once and for all.

By utilizing technology utilized by other mobile applications, WhatsApp is now able to prevent screenshots just like banks do with sensitive information. This measure is akin to the restrictions placed on capturing copyrighted content from services like Netflix or Disney+.

The new update arrives shortly after Meta addressed a technical issue causing iPhone users to experience duplicate photos on WhatsApp. Now that the long-awaited screenshot block is in effect, the platform can focus on implementing other changes related to profile pictures within the app.

Initial tests suggest that WhatsApp will soon allow users to share distinct profile pictures and usernames with specific contacts. This enhancement will build upon the existing feature that allows users to conceal their profile picture from unsaved contacts.

Stay tuned for more updates as WhatsApp, under the ownership of Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, continues to enhance its features and security measures to provide a safer user experience.

whatsapp-logo-phone-close

Privacy and Security on WhatsApp Introducing New Features

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Privacy security of user data are high on WhatsApp’s list of priorities and that perhaps helps the app remain one among the best encrypted instant messaging apps out there. The company recently starting testing a new label to emphasize chat encryption and other recently-released utilities already helps to keep your chats secure from prying eyes.

Good examples which come to mind immediately are chat lock!, which allows hiding private conversations and app lock for WhatsApp, as well. A peek at the latest beta reveals the latter is in for a major upgrade and we couldn’t be more excited!

If you want to secure your conversations with biometric authentication, WhatsApp offers two ways – the first is to hide private chats from the main chat lists by enabling chat lock on a per-conversation basis. Once activated, you’ll have to pull down on your chat list, like when refreshing a webpage; and you’ll see an option for Locked chats appear at the top of the list. The app will request authentication by face or fingerprint when you try to unlock.

If you have a work phone where all the chats must be protected, you’re better off setting up an app lock. The feature is offered at a device level in several Android skins by major OEMs, but Meta’s chat app has its own version built in as well.

While combing through the latest WhatsApp beta, version 2.24.6.20, the sleuths at WABetaInfo discovered app lock is expanding beyond just biometric fingerprint authentication to include other unlock methods such as face unlock, and device passcodes. The change would help people set up the feature even if they don’t prefer fingerprint unlock or if they’re using an affordable Android device which lacks reliable biometric sensors.

Multiple authentication methods also help serve as backups for fingerprint authentication; like on that day when you’re wearing gloves but need to unlock the app. The update also improves the accessibility with app lock, because some people may be unable to use some of the available authentication methods.

While this is a big step up from the current implementation of WhatsApp’s lock feature, WABetaInfo cautions against installing the latest beta to try the feature before a wider release. That’s because the current beta version is prone to crashes, and that could compromise the app’s core functions.

facebook instagram

Facebook and Instagram restored after outages

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Meta said it has fixed a “technical issue” that caused Facebook, Messenger and Instagram to go down. Hundreds of thousands of users around the world were left without access for about two hours on Tuesday.

What happen

When I tried to log in to a website or app, I received an error message and was unable to update my feed as usual. Mehta also apologized to those affected and said the issue was resolved as soon as possible. The outage affected multiple countries, according to tracking website Down Detector.

Meta’s platform is one of the most popular in the world. Facebook has 3 billion monthly active users, while Instagram is expected to reach 1.4 billion worldwide later this year. Twitter rival Threads, launched in 2023, also reported an outage.

WhatsApp (including Meta) was not affected. Meta experienced its biggest outage in 2021, with founder Mark Zuckerberg apologizing for the disruption he caused. During this time, Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram services were down for almost six hours.

Gemini

How to use Google’s Gemini chatbot on iPhone: step-by-step 

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Google’s Gemini is also predicted to update Google Assistant on Android phones and the employer is also checking out the function with a handful of customers.
in the meantime, for iPhone users (where Siri is the default digital assistant), Google is yet to release a devoted Google Gemini app. however, the Gemini chatbot may be accessed on iPhones from the Google app. customers can without difficulty enable Gemini on their iPhones and get it working.
The Google app lets you carry out online searches at the iPhone. That includes Google Lens searches and searches with the aid of voice. The default version of Gemini is available without cost. iPhone users don’t need to upgrade to the priciest Google One cloud storage plan to get get entry to to Gemini.

matters to consider

it is important to observe that users who need to get admission to Gemini on their iPhones will have to be signed into their Google account on their smartphones. which means that iPhone customers won’t be able to use Gemini without an account or in incognito mode. users may also ought to agree to the terms of provider, so as to notify them that Google will acquire all Gemini data to improve the AI model.

the way to use Gemini on iPhone: Step-by-step manual

  • To get started with Gemini on iPhone, load the Google app and ensure that it’s going for walks the most latest version.
  • If Gemini is available for their account, users could be able to see a tab to interchange to the chatbot at the top of the Google app
  • you can use this toggle to exchange between normal Google search and Gemini.
  • The Google seek tab has the word “seek” on it subsequent to the Google brand, even as Gemini will have a blue star on its tab.
  • right here, Google will ask the person the agree the terms of carrier wherein the agency will accumulate statistics to train the chatbot
  • once you’ve agreed, you could chat with Google Gemini on iPhone through keyboard or voice.
  • You’ll also be capable of upload images for multimodal chats with Google.

different Shortcuts to get admission to Gemini on iPhones

There’s no manner to update Siri with the Google Gemini assistant on the iPhone. but, the movement button at the iPhone 15 pro and 15 seasoned Max may be set to open the Google app at the present day pro models. this can assist customers to have faster get admission to to Google Gemini. other iPhone users can use the Shortcuts app to launch Gemini on their telephones, with out installing any apps.

Google explains the cause to acquire statistics

Google received’t permit customers to get entry to Gemini in the event that they don’t agree to its facts series. Gemini explains:

one UI7

One UI 7 Update: Which Samsung Galaxy devices will get Android 15?

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Google’s Pixel phones are now eligible for the Android 15 developer preview. Ahead of I/O, the new Android 15 will be limited to the Pixel series, but Samsung will open the beta program One UI 7 for Galaxy later this year.

One UI 6.1 is the latest Samsung skin based on Android 14. The Galaxy’s next appearance will be One UI 7 based on Android 15, which will be available on many Samsung devices later this year. Even though 2024 has just begun, we already know that Galaxy devices are compatible with Android 15.

The Galaxy S24 series will definitely be the first series to receive the One UI 7 beta in August this year. The South Korean tech giant will later expand its beta activities to some older products, including but not limited to the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Flip 5, and Galaxy Z Fold 5.

Check out the list of devices below:


Galaxy S Android 15 Update list

Galaxy S21
Galaxy S21+
Galaxy S21 Ultra
Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy S22
Galaxy S22+
Galaxy S22 Ultra
Galaxy S23
S4 S24 Ultra

Galaxy Z Android 15 Update List

Galaxy Z Flip 3
Galaxy Z Flip 4
Galaxy Z Flip 5
Galaxy Z Fold 3
Galaxy Z Fold 4

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Tab Android 15 Update List

Galaxy Tab A9 / A9+

Galaxy Tab Active 4pro

Galaxy TabTab S8 / S8+ / Tab S8 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S9 / S9+ / S9 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S9 FE / S9 FE+

Galaxy A/M/F Android 15 Update List

Galaxy A05s / A15 / A25
Galaxy A14 / A24 / A34 / A54

Galaxy M14 / F14
Galaxy M34 / M54 / F54

As mentioned above, do not be afraid. We will update the list from time to time based on product availability. Please note that this checklist is based on past deployments, software security, and experience.