Archives 2023

Hackers are now using an old form of banking malware to launch damaging ransomware attacks, new research has claimed.

In their latest Monthly Threat Pulse, cybersecurity experts from NCC Group broke down how a well-known banking malware called Carbanak returned in ransomware attacks.

In the digital era, phone scams have taken on a more sophisticated form, utilising advanced tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit unsuspecting individuals. CERT-In has revealed that these scammers infiltrate social media platforms, extracting photos, videos, and other personal information to craft convincing deep fakes, including realistic voice simulations.
For those unaware, CERT-In stands for Computer Emergency Response Team – India. It is a national nodal agency that responds to computer security incidents in India.
Common tricks used by scammers
Scammers use various tools like Al to plan and commit such frauds.
They use social media profiles and other websites to take videos, photos, and other information.
By using these information, they create realistic, deep fakes of a real voice and videos of people’s friends or family, make fake kidnappings, and make ransom calls seem legitimate for the sake of financial gain.
Sense of urgency is what ccammers try to create to push people in panic mode and take impulse decisions and end up paying them in different forms like gift cards, cryptocurrency, etc.
Tips to stay protected
Keep your profiles private, restricting access to personal information.
Accepting friend requests from unknown people can be dangerous. Avoid it.
Enhance the security of your social media accounts, especially concerning public visibility.
Exercise discretion when sharing videos, photos, status updates, and comments. The cumulative effect of such information can be revealing.
When faced with suspicious calls or messages, resist impulsive reactions. Verify the authenticity of the communication by directly contacting the person involved before divulging personal information or engaging in financial transactions.
Stay vigilant by regularly reviewing your bank transactions for any unusual or suspicious charges.
Familiarise yourself with common scams and promptly report cybercrimes. Dial 1930 or visit https://www.cybercrime.gov.in to report incidents and contribute to the fight against digital fraud.

Xiaomi is all set to launch the Redmi Note 13 5G series on January 4, 2024. Ahead of that, the company has confirmed one of the devices that will be a part of the Redmi Note 13 5G series via its official X account.
In a recent post on X, the company has confirmed the launch of Redmi Note 13 Classic 5G which will be launched on January 4 alongside other devices in the series.
“Beauty meets Power! The #RedmiNote13 5G is all set to captivate you with its sleek and stylish design. Join us on January 4th, ’24 as we redefine the smartphone experience with the #SuperNote”, reads the post.
The post also includes the White colour version of the Redmi Note 13 Classic 5G and reveals the back and front design of the phone.
From the image shared on the X post, the Redmi Note 13 Classic 5G is set to feature a flat overall design. The phone will come with a flat display with center punch-hole for the selfie camera and slimmer bezels on all sides. Moreover, the back of the phone will feature a rectangular camera housing with triple rear camera setup and a LED flashlight.
Redmi Note 13 Classic 5G: Expected specifications
Xiaomi has already launched the smartphone in China. Based on that, the handset is expected to feature a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. Also the Classic version will reportedly be powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset.
In terms of camera, the handset is speculated to come with a 100MP primary shooter paired with 2MP macro lens and a 16MP front camera.
Redmi Note 13 Classic 5G is expected to be backed by a 5000mAh battery paired with 33W fast charging support. Also, it is expected that the phone will run MIUI 14 based on Android 13 operating system.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT app has been available on mobile devices for a while now and Microsoft has recently launched the Copilot app which is also powered by Open AI’s GPT large language model. That said, both the AI chatbots rely on the same technology underneath. However, both apps take different approaches to offer users the answer to their prompts.
In this article, we will compare the two AI chatbots and see how both compare in terms of features and functionality.
ChatGPT vs Copilot app: Supported language models
As mentioned, both the chatbots are powered by OpenAI’s large language models. However, Copilot comes with GPT-4 integration for free. On the other hand, the ChatGPT defaults to GPT-3 and users need a subscription to access the GPT-4 language model and its advanced capabilities. Also, the Copilot app has a dedicated toggle for GPT-4 right on the home screen.
Also, Copilot offers support for the DALL-E 3-based image generation feature that’s available for free. The ChatGPT app can also do that but the feature is limited to ChatGPT Plus subscribers.
Most importantly, Copilot can be used without logging in with a Microsoft account, the same can’t be done with the ChatGPT app.
ChatGPT vs Copilot app: Features
Both ChatGPT and Copilot do the same thing in their way. ChatGPT without the Plus membership comes with a limited database which is limited till 2021. OpenAI has solved this problem with Plus membership and can use the latest data and also GPT-4 to offer much more recent and relevant information to users.
Copilot does not have any subscription model and all the features are available for free. Also, it offers the latest and recent information due to Bing search integration.
Microsoft has also made Copilot offer multiple other features like the ability to change the mood and tone of responses by selecting “More Creative”, “More Precise” and “More Balanced” tones while generating responses.
ChatGPT and Copilot also have some similarities. For instance, both can utilise voice-based prompts and can also have a conversation with users verbally. Both support the camera based inputs, but ChatGPT’s feature is limited to a Plus subscription.

What should have been a quiet festive period has suddenly turned into an explosive space due to today’s artificial intelligence (AI) development. In the first incident, Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch design head Tang Tan will be leaving the tech giant to work for famous designer Jony Ive’s firm LoveFrom to help make AI devices. In other news, about 59% of employees are confident in their ability to use AI tools, signaling potential workplace acceptance next year. This and more in today’s AI roundup. Let us take a closer look.

Apple’s iPhone design chief to make AI devices

Legendary designer Jony Ive and OpenAI’s Sam Altman are collaborating on a new AI hardware project, with the aim of developing cutting-edge devices, reported Bloomberg. Tang Tan, an outgoing Apple executive, will join Ive’s design firm LoveFrom to shape the appearance and capabilities of these new products. Altman will contribute the software components for the project. Ive, known for his work at Apple, is focused on turning this AI device initiative into a new company, though the development is still in the early stages, with efforts currently centered on talent acquisition and conceptualization. Tan, who will lead hardware engineering, is set to join LoveFrom while fulfilling his role at Apple until February.

AI study reveals everyone has a unique surface of the tongue

New research utilizing AI and 3D images of the human tongue has revealed the unique surface characteristics of each individual’s tongue, as per a report by The Week. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics in collaboration with the University of Leeds, employed AI models to analyze microscopic scans of papillae, the small buds on the tongue’s surface. The AI, trained on over two thousand detailed scans, demonstrated an 85% accuracy in predicting the type of papillae and successfully mapped the positions of different papillae types on the tongue’s surface. This groundbreaking finding sheds light on the variations in shape, size, and pattern of papillae, providing valuable insights into taste perception and touch differences among individuals.

Survey reveals 37 percent of employers want increased human-AI collaboration

Indian businesses are gearing up for hiring changes in 2024, focusing on adopting AI and meeting Generation Z expectations, according to insights from Indeed. About 59% of employees are confident in their ability to use AI tools, signaling potential workplace acceptance next year. Additionally, 19% of surveyed employers are in the process of implementing or have implemented next-gen technologies like Generative AI. The adoption of AI is part of employers’ strategies to adhere to AI principles (42%), with a focus on increased human-AI collaboration (37%) and workforce reskilling/upskilling (25%). This year, employees prioritize skills like Generative AI (27%) and programming languages (22%), while employers seek expertise in areas such as cybersecurity (37%) and data science/analytics (29%).

AI risks need to be managed better, warns research

New research warns that while AI has the potential to positively transform societies, it also poses risks that must be better understood and managed, according to a PTI report. Professor Joe Burton from Lancaster University emphasizes in a recently published paper that AI and algorithms, beyond being tools for national security, can contribute to polarization, radicalism, and political violence, becoming a threat to national security themselves. The research explores the securitization of AI throughout its history and highlights modern instances where AI has had polarizing and radicalizing effects leading to political violence.

NYT sues OpenAI, Microsoft

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming that both AI firms have been using the newspaper’s copyrighted content without authorization to train their respective AI models. This legal action adds to the growing concerns and legal disputes between authors, publishers, and media organizations regarding the use of copyrighted material in training large language models (LLMs). The conflict underscores the ongoing challenge for regulatory institutions in establishing appropriate controls and monitoring mechanisms for the data used to train AI models.

In a report, NYT said, “The Times is the first major American media organization to sue the companies, the creators of ChatGPT and other popular AI platforms, over copyright issues associated with its written works”. The lawsuit has been filed in the Federal District Court in Manhattan. Notably, the suit does not include an exact monetary demand as compensation.

Vivo is reportedly working on its next foldable smartphone, the Vivo X Fold 3 series for the Chinese market. The lineup is expected to include two models — the Vivo X Fold 3 and the X Fold 3 Pro foldable smartphones and bear the model numbers V2303A and V2337A, respectively.
According to a report by GizmoChina, a tipster named Digital Chat Station, has revealed details about the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The tipster has also claimed that the upcoming foldable smartphone may debut with the Vivo Pad 3 which may come powered with the Dimensity 9300 chipset. Rumours suggest that these devices are expected to launch in the first quarter of 2024.
Vivo X Fold 3 Pro: What to expect
As per the report, the upcoming foldable phone is likely to sport an LTPO internal screen that may support a 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is also expected to feature Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship chipset.
The company may even reduce the thickness and weight of the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro as compared to last year’s X Fold 2. The upcoming foldable device is expected to weigh under 250 grams. For comparison, the Vivo X Fold 2 model weighed around 279 grams.

Both the outer and inner displays are also likely to feature an ultrasonic in-screen fingerprint scanner. Vivo is the only smartphone brand that is known for offering ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensors on its foldable phones.

However, the report did not mention the upcoming device’s battery size, but revealed that the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro may offer 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
For photography, the X Fold 3 smartphone is rumoured to house a triple camera setup which may include a 50MP OIS-enabled main camera, a periscope telephoto lens, and a ultra-wide unit. The report also claims that the upcoming smartphone may come equipped with a Sony LYT-900 camera sensor as the primary lens.

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo’s sub-brand iQoo has expanded its product portfolio in its domestic market with a new mid-range smartphone series. The iQoo Neo 9 series was launched at an event in China. The latest lineup includes two smartphones, the vanilla iQoo Neo 9 and the iQoo Neo 9 Pro model. At the launch event, the company also launched other products like the iQoo TWS 1e earbuds and its first-ever smartwatch the iQoo Watch. The iQoo Neo 9 series succeeds the iQoo Neo 8 smartphones which was launched in China in May. Both new smartphones pack premium specifications and are also almost similar to each other. Here are all the details about the latest iQoo Neo 9 series smartphones:
iQoo Neo 9 series: Price and availability
Both the iQoo Neo 9 and 9 Pro will be offered in three different colour options — Red and White Soul (with a dual-tone leather textured back panel), Nautical Blue, and Fighting Black colours.
The base variant of the iQoo Neo 9 smartphone with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage starts at CNY 2,299 (nearly Rs 26,700). The smartphone will be available in three other RAM and storage variants — 16GB + 256GB, 16GB + 512GB, and 16GB + 1TB configurations, which are priced at CNY 2,499 (nearly Rs 29,000), CNY 2,799 (nearly Rs 32,600), and CNY 3,199 (nearly Rs 37,200), respectively.
Meanwhile, the iQoo Neo 9 Pro will be available in multiple RAM and storage variants. The 12GB + 256GB and 12GB + 512GB options are priced at CNY 2,999 (nearly Rs 35,000) and CNY 3,299 (nearly Rs 38,500), respectively. On the other hand, the 16GB + 512GB and 16GB + 1TB variants cost CNY 3,599 (nearly Rs 42,000) and CNY 3,999 (nearly Rs 46,500).
iQoo Neo 9 series: Key specs
Both iQoo Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro sports a 6.780-inches OLED display that supports a 1.5K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+. The screen of both smartphones are also integrated with a fingerprint scanner, the iQoo Q1 dedicated chip for enhanced viewing and gaming experience.
Design-wise, both the iQoo Neo 9 series smartphones have a flat frame and a dual rear camera setup. Under the hood, the iQoo Neo 9 is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor whereas the Neo 9 Pro is powered by a Dimensity 9300 chipset.

For photography, the iQoo Neo 9 series features a 50MP OIS-enabled Sony IMX920 primary camera which is also found on the Vivo X100 smartphone. The ultra-wide-angle lens on the vanilla and Pro variants are 8MP and 50MP, respectively. Both phones also feature a 16MP front-facing snapper for selfies and video calls.
Both phones also feature a 6K VC liquid cooling 3D heat dissipation system for thermal management. The iQOO Neo 9 and Neo 9 Pro are also backed by a 5,160mAh battery unit that supports 120W fast charging.
Other features of the iQOO Neo 9 series include dual speakers, IR Blaster, X-Axis linear motor, WiFi-7, and more. Both smartphones will run Android 14-based OriginOS 4 out of the box.

Cinema and media powerhouse National Amusements has confirmed suffering a breach in which hackers stole sensitive information from thousands of users, putting them at risk of identity theft. 

The conglomerate has filed a report with the Office of the Maine Attorney General in which it reported suffering a data breach in December 2022. During the incident, the attackers stole sensitive personal information from 82,128 people.

Samsung has expanded its smartphone portfolio with the launch of two new mid-range smartphones, the Galaxy A15 5G and A25 5G. With the Galaxy A series 2024 lineup, Samsung plans to offer its latest technologies at an affordable price that will be accessible by everyone. The latest Samsung Galaxy A15 5G will succeed the Galaxy A14 5G smartphone that was launched earlier this year in January. According to a report by Counterpoint Research, Galaxy A14 5G was India’s top selling 5G smartphone in 2023. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A25 5G features a Super AMOLED display with Vision Booster technology, 50MP triple camera setup that supports multiple photo-editing features, 5000mAh battery unit and Samsung’s security tools like Knox Vault. Here’s how the two new smartphone compare against each other:
Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G: A comparison
Both Samsung Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G will be available in three different colour variants and two storage options. The Galaxy A15 will be available in Blue Black, Blue and Light Blue colours while the Galaxy A25 will be shipped in Blue Black, Blue and Yellow colours. The 128GB storage variant of the Galaxy A15 smartphone starts at Rs 19,499 while the 256GB variant carries a price tag of Rs 22,499. On the other hand, the 128GB storage model of the Galaxy A25 smartphone starts at Rs 26,999, while the 256GB variant comes at a price of Rs 29,999.
Both smartphones will be available across retail stores, Samsung.com and other online players starting January 1, 2024. Samsung is also offering a Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,000 bank cashback with SBI cards on the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 smartphones, respectively.
Both Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G showcase Galaxy’s signature design philosophy. The Galaxy A15 5G sports a “glastic” back panel with haze finish, while Galaxy A25 5G has a glossy prism pattern back panel.
Galaxy A15 5G sports a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display, enhanced with Vision Booster and supports 90Hz refresh rate and a low blue light display for eye comfort. Meanwhile, the Galaxy A25 5G also has a 6.5-inch, Super AMOLED display that supports 1000 nits peak brightness and is also enhanced with Vision Booster. Galaxy A25 also comes with Eye Comfort Shield to reduce harmful blue light.
Galaxy A15 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, while Galaxy A25 5G is powered by Exynos 1280, which is built on the 5nm process.

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G sports a 50MP triple camera setup with VDIS to reduce blur or distortion in videos from shaky movements. Galaxy A25 5G features a 50MP (OIS) triple camera setup to shoot high-resolution and shake-free photos and videos that claims to eliminate blurred images caused by hand tremors or accidental shakes. Galaxy A25 5G, has a 13MP front camera for selfies. The Galaxy A25 5G also supports multiple photo-editing features like Single Take, Remaster and Object Eraser to reimagine your photographs with easy-to-use editing tools.
Both Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G come with Knox Security platform, built at the chip level, ensuring users are in full control of their data with features like Auto Blocker, Privacy Dashboard, Samsung Passkey and others. Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G also feature Knox Vault chipset, designed to safeguard sensitive data, such as PINs, passwords and patterns, in a separate tamper-resistant storage for protection against software and hardware threats.
Samsung will offer up to 4 generations of OS upgrades and up to 5 years of security updates for both Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G smartphones
Both Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G come with 5000mAh battery that promises to last up to two days. Both Galaxy A15 5G and Galaxy A25 5G support 25W fast charging.

Samsung has launched two new A-series mid-range smartphones, the Galaxy A15 5G and A25 5G models in India. The latest Samsung Galaxy A25 5G features a Super AMOLED display with Vision Booster technology, 50MP triple camera setup that supports multiple photo-editing features, 5000mAh battery unit and starts at Rs 26,999. Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo launched the T2 Pro mid-range smartphone in September which comes under a similar price segment.The Vivo T2 Pro 5G smartphone which comes powered by the mediaTek Dimensity 7000 chipset and features a 64MP OIS-enabled primary camera setup starts at Rs 24,999. Here’s how the two phones compare:
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G vs Vivo T2 Pro 5G: A comparison
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G will be available in three different colour variants and two storage options starting January. Meanwhile, the Vivo T2 Pro 5G is already available in two different colour and storage options. The Galaxy A25 will be shipped in Blue Black, Blue and Yellow colours while the Vivo T2 Pro is already available in New Moon Black and Dune Gold colour options.
The 128GB and 256GB storage versions are priced at Rs 23,999 and Rs 24,999. On the other hand the 128GB and 256GB storage variants of the Galaxy A25 5G carries a price tag of Rs 26,999 and Rs 29,999, respectively.
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G sports a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display that supports 1000 nits peak brightness and is also enhanced with Vision Booster. Galaxy A25 also comes with Eye Comfort Shield to reduce harmful blue light. On the other hand, the Vivo T2 Pro sports a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display that supports Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz variable refresh rate and 1300 nits peak brightness.

The Vivo T2 Pro smartphone is powered by the 4nm-based MediaTek Dimensity 7200 5G chipset while the latest Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is powered by Exynos 1280, which is built on the 5nm process.

Vivo T2 Pro houses a dual rear camera setup which includes a 64 MP OIS-enabled primary sensor and a 2MP bokeh unit. For selfies and video calls, the Vivo T2 Pro has a 16MP front camera.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy A25 5G features a 50MP (OIS) triple camera setup that promises to eliminate blurred images caused by hand tremors or accidental shakes. The smartphone also has a 13MP front camera for selfies. The Galaxy A25 5G also supports multiple photo-editing tools like Single Take, Remaster and Object Eraser.
Vivo T2 Pro packs a 4600 mAh battery unit that supports 66W fast charging and runs Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13. In comparison, the Galaxy A25 packs a 5000mAh battery that promises to last up to two days and supports 25W fast charging.