Decrypted: How a teenager hacked Twitter, Garmin’s ransomware aftermath

A 17-year-old Florida teenager is accused of perpetrating one of the year’s biggest and most high-profile hacks: Twitter.

A federal 30-count indictment filed in Tampa said Graham Ivan Clark used a phone spearphishing attack to pivot through multiple layers of Twitter’s security and bypassed its two-factor authentication to gain access to an internal “admin” tool that let the hacker take over any account. With two accomplices named in a separate federal indictment, Clark — who went by the online handle “Kirk” — allegedly used the tool to hijack the accounts of dozens of celebrities and public figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk and former president Barack Obama, to post a cryptocurrency scam netting over $100,000 in bitcoin in just a few hours.

It was, by all accounts, a sophisticated attack that required technical skills and an ability to trick and deceive to pull off the scam. Some security professionals were impressed, comparing the attack to one that had the finesse and professionalism of a well-resourced nation-state attacker.

But a profile in The New York Times describes Clark was an “adept scammer with an explosive temper.”

In the teenager’s defense, the attack could have been much worse. Instead of pushing a scam that promised to “double your money,” Clark and his compatriots could have wreaked havoc. In 2013, hackers hijacked the Associated Press’ Twitter account and tweeted a fake bomb attack on the White House, sending the markets plummeting — only to quickly recover after the all-clear was given.

But with control of some of the world’s most popular Twitter accounts, Clark was for a few hours in July one of the most powerful people in the world. If found guilty, the teenager could spend his better years behind bars.

Here’s more from the past week.

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THE BIG PICTURE

Garmin hobbles back after ransomware attack, but questions remain

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Google-Fitbit deal to be scrutinized in Europe over data competition concerns

In a set-back for Google’s plan to acquire health wearable company Fitbit, the European Commission has announced it’s opening an investigation to dig into a range of competition concerns being attached to the proposal from multiple quarters.

This means the deal is on ice for a period of time that could last until early December.

The Commission said it has 90 working days to take a decision on the acquisition — so until December 9, 2020.

Commenting on opening an “in-depth investigation” in a statement, Commission EVP Margrethe Vestager — who heads up both competition policy and digital strategy for the bloc — said: “The use of wearable devices by European consumers is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. This will go hand in hand with an exponential growth of data generated through these devices. This data provides key insights about the life and the health situation of the users of these devices.Our investigation aims to ensure that control by Google over data collected through wearable devices as a result of the transaction does not distort competition.”

Google has responded to the EU brake on its ambitions with a blog post in which its devices & services chief seeks to defend the deal, arguing it will spur innovation and lead to increased competition.

“This deal is about devices, not data,” Google VP Rick Osterloh further claims.

The tech giant announced its desire to slip into Fitbit’s data-sets back in November, when it announced a plan to shell out $2.1BN in an all-cash deal to pick up the wearable maker.

Fast forward a few months and CEO Sundar Pichai is being taken to task by lawmakers on home turf for stuff like ‘helping destroy anonymity on the Internet‘. Last year’s already rowdy antitrust drum beat around big tech has become a full on rock festival so the mood music around tech acquisitions might finally be shifting.

Since news of Google’s plan to grab Fitbit dropped concerns about the deal have been raised all over Europe — with consumer groups, privacy regulators and competition and tech policy wonks all sounding the alarm at the prospect of letting the adtech giant gobble a device maker and help itself to a bunch of sensitive consumer health data in the process.

Digital privacy rights group, Privacy International — one of the not-for-profits that’s been urging regulators not to rubberstamp the deal — argues the acquisition would not only squeeze competition in the nascent digital health market, and also for wearables, but also reduce “what little pressure there currently is on Google to compete in relation to privacy options available to consumers (both existing and future Fitbit users), leading to even less competition on privacy standards and thereby enabling the further degradation of consumers’ privacy protections”, as it puts it.

So much noise is being made that Google has already played the ‘we promise not to…’ card that’s a favorite of data-mining tech giants. (Typically followed, a few years later, with a ‘we got ya sucker’ joker — as they go ahead and do the thing they totally said they wouldn’t.)

To wit: From the get-go Fitbit has claimed users’ “health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads”. Just like WhatsApp said nothing would change when Facebook bought them. (Er.)

Last month Reuters revisited the concession, in an “exclusive” report that cited “people familiar with the matter” who apparently told it the deal could be waved through if Google pledged not to use Fitbit data for ads.

It’s not clear where the leak underpinning its news report came from but Reuters also ran with a quote from a Google spokeswoman — who further claimed: “Throughout this process we have been clear about our commitment not to use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads and our responsibility to provide people with choice and control with their data.”

In the event, Google’s headline-grabbing promises to behave itself with Fitbit data have not prevented EU regulators from wading in for a closer look at competition concerns — which is exactly as it should be.

In truth, given the level of concern now being raised about tech giants’ market power and adtech giant Google specifically grabbing a treasure trove of consumer health data, a comprehensive probe is the very least regulators should be doing.

If digital policy history has shown anything over the past decade+ (and where data is concerned) it’s that the devil is always in the fine print detail. Moreover the fast pace of digital markets can mean a competitive threat may only be a micro pivot away from materializing. Theories of harm clearly need updating to take account of data-mining technosocial platform giants. And the Commission knows that — which is why it’s consulting on giving itself more powers to tackling tipping in digital markets. But it also needs to flex and exercise the powers it currently has. Such as opening a proper investigation — rather than gaily waving tech giant deals through.

Antitrust may now be flavor of the month where tech giants are concerned — with US lawmakers all but declaring war on digital ‘robber barons’ at last month’s big subcommittee showdown in Congress. But it’s also worth noting that EU competition regulators — for all their heavily publicized talk of properly regulating the digital sphere — have yet to block a single digital tech merger.

It remains to be seen whether that record will change come December.

“The Commission is concerned that the proposed transaction would further entrench Google’s market position in the online advertising markets by increasing the already vast amount of data that Google could use for personalisation of the ads it serves and displays,” it writes in a press release today.

Following a preliminary assessment process of the deal, EU regulators said they have concerns about [emphasis theirs]:

• “the impact of the transaction on the supply of online search and display advertising services (the sale of advertising space on, respectively, the result page of an internet search engine or other internet pages)”
• and on “the supply of ‘ad tech’ services (analytics and digital tools used to facilitate the programmatic sale and purchase of digital advertising)”

“By acquiring Fitbit, Google would acquire (i) the database maintained by Fitbit about its users’ health and fitness; and (ii) the technology to develop a database similar to Fitbit’s one,” the Commission further notes.

“The data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices appears, at this stage of the Commission’s review of the transaction, to be an important advantage in the online advertising markets. By increasing the data advantage of Google in the personalisation of the ads it serves via its search engine and displays on other internet pages, it would be more difficult for rivals to match Google’s online advertising services. Thus, the transaction would raise barriers to entry and expansion for Google’s competitors for these services, to the ultimate detriment of advertisers and publishers that would face higher prices and have less choice.”

The Commission views Google as dominant in the supply of online search advertising services in almost all EEA (European Economic Area) countries; as well as holding “a strong market position” in the supply of online advertising display services in a large number of EEA countries (especially off-social network display ads), and “a strong market position” in the supply of adtech services in the EEA.

All of which will inform its considerations as it looks at whether Google will gain an unfair competitive advantage by assimilating Fitbit data. (Vestager has also issued a number of antitrust enforcements against the tech giant in recent years, against Android, AdSense and Google Shopping.)

The regulator has also said it will further look at:

• the “effects of the combination of Fitbit’s and Google’s databases and capabilities in the digital healthcare sector, which is still at a nascent stage in Europe”
• “whether Google would have the ability and incentive to degrade the interoperability of rivals’ wearables with Google’s Android operating system for smartphones once it owns Fitbit”

The tech giant has already offered EU regulators one specific concession in the hopes of getting the Fitbit buy green lit — with the Commission noting that it submitted commitments aimed at addressing concerns last month.

Google suggested creating a data silo to hold data collected via Fitbit’s wearable devices — and where it said it would be kept separate from any other dataset within Google (including claiming it would be restricted for ad purposes). However the Commission expresses scepticism about Google’s offer, writing that it “considers that the data silo commitment proposed by Google is insufficient to clearly dismiss the serious doubts identified at this stage as to the effects of the transaction”.

“Among others, this is because the data silo remedy did not cover all the data that Google would access as a result of the transaction and would be valuable for advertising purposes,” it added.

Google makes reference to this data silo in its blog post, claiming: “We’ve been clear from the beginning that we will not use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads. We recently offered to make a legally binding commitment to the European Commission regarding our use of Fitbit data. As we do with all our products, we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move or delete their data. And we’ll continue to support wide connectivity and interoperability across our and other companies’ products.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that addresses consumers’ expectations of their wearable devices. We’re confident that by working closely with Fitbit’s team of experts, and bringing together our experience in AI, software and hardware, we can build compelling devices for people around the world,” it adds.

Read Full Article

Google-Fitbit deal to be scrutinized in Europe over data competition concerns

In a set-back for Google’s plan to acquire health wearable company Fitbit, the European Commission has announced it’s opening an investigation to dig into a range of competition concerns being attached to the proposal from multiple quarters.

This means the deal is on ice for a period of time that could last until early December.

The Commission said it has 90 working days to take a decision on the acquisition — so until December 9, 2020.

Commenting on opening an “in-depth investigation” in a statement, Commission EVP Margrethe Vestager — who heads up both competition policy and digital strategy for the bloc — said: “The use of wearable devices by European consumers is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. This will go hand in hand with an exponential growth of data generated through these devices. This data provides key insights about the life and the health situation of the users of these devices.Our investigation aims to ensure that control by Google over data collected through wearable devices as a result of the transaction does not distort competition.”

Google has responded to the EU brake on its ambitions with a blog post in which its devices & services chief seeks to defend the deal, arguing it will spur innovation and lead to increased competition.

“This deal is about devices, not data,” Google VP Rick Osterloh further claims.

The tech giant announced its desire to slip into Fitbit’s data-sets back in November, when it announced a plan to shell out $2.1BN in an all-cash deal to pick up the wearable maker.

Fast forward a few months and CEO Sundar Pichai is being taken to task by lawmakers on home turf for stuff like ‘helping destroy anonymity on the Internet‘. Last year’s already rowdy antitrust drum beat around big tech has become a full on rock festival so the mood music around tech acquisitions might finally be shifting.

Since news of Google’s plan to grab Fitbit dropped concerns about the deal have been raised all over Europe — with consumer groups, privacy regulators and competition and tech policy wonks all sounding the alarm at the prospect of letting the adtech giant gobble a device maker and help itself to a bunch of sensitive consumer health data in the process.

Digital privacy rights group, Privacy International — one of the not-for-profits that’s been urging regulators not to rubberstamp the deal — argues the acquisition would not only squeeze competition in the nascent digital health market, and also for wearables, but also reduce “what little pressure there currently is on Google to compete in relation to privacy options available to consumers (both existing and future Fitbit users), leading to even less competition on privacy standards and thereby enabling the further degradation of consumers’ privacy protections”, as it puts it.

So much noise is being made that Google has already played the ‘we promise not to…’ card that’s a favorite of data-mining tech giants. (Typically followed, a few years later, with a ‘we got ya sucker’ joker — as they go ahead and do the thing they totally said they wouldn’t.)

To wit: From the get-go Fitbit has claimed users’ “health and wellness data will not be used for Google ads”. Just like WhatsApp said nothing would change when Facebook bought them. (Er.)

Last month Reuters revisited the concession, in an “exclusive” report that cited “people familiar with the matter” who apparently told it the deal could be waved through if Google pledged not to use Fitbit data for ads.

It’s not clear where the leak underpinning its news report came from but Reuters also ran with a quote from a Google spokeswoman — who further claimed: “Throughout this process we have been clear about our commitment not to use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads and our responsibility to provide people with choice and control with their data.”

In the event, Google’s headline-grabbing promises to behave itself with Fitbit data have not prevented EU regulators from wading in for a closer look at competition concerns — which is exactly as it should be.

In truth, given the level of concern now being raised about tech giants’ market power and adtech giant Google specifically grabbing a treasure trove of consumer health data, a comprehensive probe is the very least regulators should be doing.

If digital policy history has shown anything over the past decade+ (and where data is concerned) it’s that the devil is always in the fine print detail. Moreover the fast pace of digital markets can mean a competitive threat may only be a micro pivot away from materializing. Theories of harm clearly need updating to take account of data-mining technosocial platform giants. And the Commission knows that — which is why it’s consulting on giving itself more powers to tackling tipping in digital markets. But it also needs to flex and exercise the powers it currently has. Such as opening a proper investigation — rather than gaily waving tech giant deals through.

Antitrust may now be flavor of the month where tech giants are concerned — with US lawmakers all but declaring war on digital ‘robber barons’ at last month’s big subcommittee showdown in Congress. But it’s also worth noting that EU competition regulators — for all their heavily publicized talk of properly regulating the digital sphere — have yet to block a single digital tech merger.

It remains to be seen whether that record will change come December.

“The Commission is concerned that the proposed transaction would further entrench Google’s market position in the online advertising markets by increasing the already vast amount of data that Google could use for personalisation of the ads it serves and displays,” it writes in a press release today.

Following a preliminary assessment process of the deal, EU regulators said they have concerns about [emphasis theirs]:

• “the impact of the transaction on the supply of online search and display advertising services (the sale of advertising space on, respectively, the result page of an internet search engine or other internet pages)”
• and on “the supply of ‘ad tech’ services (analytics and digital tools used to facilitate the programmatic sale and purchase of digital advertising)”

“By acquiring Fitbit, Google would acquire (i) the database maintained by Fitbit about its users’ health and fitness; and (ii) the technology to develop a database similar to Fitbit’s one,” the Commission further notes.

“The data collected via wrist-worn wearable devices appears, at this stage of the Commission’s review of the transaction, to be an important advantage in the online advertising markets. By increasing the data advantage of Google in the personalisation of the ads it serves via its search engine and displays on other internet pages, it would be more difficult for rivals to match Google’s online advertising services. Thus, the transaction would raise barriers to entry and expansion for Google’s competitors for these services, to the ultimate detriment of advertisers and publishers that would face higher prices and have less choice.”

The Commission views Google as dominant in the supply of online search advertising services in almost all EEA (European Economic Area) countries; as well as holding “a strong market position” in the supply of online advertising display services in a large number of EEA countries (especially off-social network display ads), and “a strong market position” in the supply of adtech services in the EEA.

All of which will inform its considerations as it looks at whether Google will gain an unfair competitive advantage by assimilating Fitbit data. (Vestager has also issued a number of antitrust enforcements against the tech giant in recent years, against Android, AdSense and Google Shopping.)

The regulator has also said it will further look at:

• the “effects of the combination of Fitbit’s and Google’s databases and capabilities in the digital healthcare sector, which is still at a nascent stage in Europe”
• “whether Google would have the ability and incentive to degrade the interoperability of rivals’ wearables with Google’s Android operating system for smartphones once it owns Fitbit”

The tech giant has already offered EU regulators one specific concession in the hopes of getting the Fitbit buy green lit — with the Commission noting that it submitted commitments aimed at addressing concerns last month.

Google suggested creating a data silo to hold data collected via Fitbit’s wearable devices — and where it said it would be kept separate from any other dataset within Google (including claiming it would be restricted for ad purposes). However the Commission expresses scepticism about Google’s offer, writing that it “considers that the data silo commitment proposed by Google is insufficient to clearly dismiss the serious doubts identified at this stage as to the effects of the transaction”.

“Among others, this is because the data silo remedy did not cover all the data that Google would access as a result of the transaction and would be valuable for advertising purposes,” it added.

Google makes reference to this data silo in its blog post, claiming: “We’ve been clear from the beginning that we will not use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google ads. We recently offered to make a legally binding commitment to the European Commission regarding our use of Fitbit data. As we do with all our products, we will give Fitbit users the choice to review, move or delete their data. And we’ll continue to support wide connectivity and interoperability across our and other companies’ products.”

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with the European Commission on an approach that addresses consumers’ expectations of their wearable devices. We’re confident that by working closely with Fitbit’s team of experts, and bringing together our experience in AI, software and hardware, we can build compelling devices for people around the world,” it adds.

Read Full Article

Messenger launches a new chat plugin for business websites to reach non-Facebook customers

Facebook is making it easier for businesses to leverage its Messenger service on their own websites. The company in November 2017 first launched a new customer chat plugin which allowed customers to talk directly with a business on the business’s own website using the Messenger service. However, that plugin had required the website visitors to be logged into Facebook, limiting adoption. Today, that’s changing, Facebook says.

The prior version of the plugin may have worked for smaller businesses who couldn’t afford a more robust live chat service, but it also limited customers’ ability to interact. Customers who didn’t use Facebook, couldn’t remember their password, or who were visiting the website from a different device than their own, for example, wouldn’t have been able to chat with the business.

Other customers may have simply wanted to submit their queries more anonymously — perhaps worried that the business would continue to bother them later in their Messenger app, even if they weren’t ready for such a direct relationship.

The updated plugin will now allow customers to talk to businesses without being logged in, Facebook says. Instead, a “continue as guest” option will be available. However, on the business’s side, they’ll still be able to use all their same tools to manage their conversations with these online users, whether logged in or not.

Facebook hints that its requirement around being logged in may have limited adoption of the product. Developers who built websites for clients, for instance, claimed the plugin wasn’t always an easy sell, as it required the business to offer some sort of alternative for the non-logged in users.

“As a developer, it’s much easier to convince a business to use a live chat offering that is available to all their customers,” noted Soma Toth, founder of Recart. “Our business customers are seeing sales directly tied to engagement on Messenger, and the Chat Plugin helps them leverage the same investment across both their Facebook page and their website at no additional cost. It also reduces the complexity of having to work with or support a fallback for users who are not logged into Facebook.”

The update will also bring a redesigned look and feel for the plugin, which Facebook claims had resulted in a 45% increase in customer chats with businesses, during its tests.

To some extent, though, that increase could be partly attributed to the surge of customers shopping online due to the coronavirus pandemic, not just the better plugin.

Though Facebook’s plugin has the benefit of being tied to the larger social network, where many businesses today run their own Page to reach customers, it’s still facing a range of chat software competitors, large and small, including solutions from brands like HubSpot, Intercom, Live Chat, Zendesk, Zoho, and dozens of others. These competing solutions will often offer deeper integrations with other services the business may need to use, like CRM, analytics, help desk software, tools for lead gen and sales, and more.

Businesses can now choose to install the plugin themselves, or they can work with partners like WooCommerce, ManyChat, and Haravan to have it installed for them, Facebook says.

 

 

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6 Free and Fantastic Alternatives to the Official Reddit Website & App

Are you still using the plain old Reddit through the official website and official apps? Check out some of these best Reddit websites and apps to see what you’re missing.

There’s nothing too wrong with the official Reddit apps, but they’re severely limited in features. Given the online forum’s open nature, it makes no sense to use these when there are much better apps made by third-party developers. Try them out, and you’ll never go back to the plain old website.

1. Deck for Reddit (Web): Tweetdeck-Like Columns for Reddit in Browsers

Reddit power-users will fall in love with Deck for Reddit, which lets you create multiple columns like in Tweetdeck. There is no limit to how many columns you can add, so go nuts. Each subreddit appears as its own column. Click a post to read its columns in the same column, or open it in a new tab.

You can sort columns by Hot, New, or Top, with different settings for each subreddit. Deck for Reddit also has two types of views: Standard and Wide. The Wide view is great for photo or video-centric subreddits.

Signed-in users get more options. You can choose between light and dark themes, and set a font family and size that you like. You can also hide NSFW (not safe for work) content, and hide posts you’ve already viewed.

Best of all, Deck for Reddit is blazing fast, and can quickly become your favorite Reddit client. Unfortunately, it doesn’t let you search Reddit yet, so it’s not ready to completely replace the website yet.

2. Reddup (Web): Beautiful Reddit Browser, Especially for Photos

If Reddit ever decided to redesign their website, they might want to ask the Reddup developers for help. This is a gorgeous browser-based Reddit client, especially for those who subscribe to photo-based subreddits.

Reddup has a few layout options, including a grid-like collage. If you visit subreddits like r/aww or r/EarthPorn, which are largely about sharing pictures, this layout is a wonderful way to browse them.

By default, Reddup uses the dark mode which is better for photo viewing, but you can switch to light mode at any time. The website also offers a Slideshow function, which auto-cycles through all the posts of a subreddit. You can lean back and simply view.

Apart from these photo-oriented features, Reddup is a full-featured browser client. You can search Reddit, sign in, post, add different subreddits, sort posts (hot, new, rising, top, gilded, controversial), and comment. Click any post to open it in a pop-up dialog box, which is a nice way to browse without losing your place.

3. Reddit Favorites (Web): Reddit’s Best Recommendations in One Place

It’s difficult to trust customer reviews on Amazon given the rise in fake reviews there. But when different redditors recommend the same product repeatedly for many years, you know you have a winner. Reddit Favorites collects the best product recommendations by redditors in one place.

The broad categories are books, electronics, VPNs, Android apps, YouTube videos, sports & outdoors, clothing, home & kitchen, and many more. Most of the categories have several sub-categories, and you can further refine the list of recommendations by searching for keywords.

For any product, you’ll find the most popular and latest comments where it was featured. Reddit Favorites also shows how many times it was recommended, a year-by-year graph of its popularity (in most cases, but not all), and how many average upvotes it gets. Based on such factors, the website gives it a “popularity score” that serves as a ranking system.

If you liked Reddit Favorites, you should also check out these other ways to find Reddit’s best posts and recommendations.

4. Updoot (Web): Browse and Search Your Saved Posts

Regular redditors save posts to come back to later, whether it’s a great recipe, a funny GIF, or an informative comment. But much like messy bookmarks in the browser, these saved posts are a jumbled heap after a time. Updoot makes it easy to find the saved link you’re looking for.

Link your account and you’ll see all your saved posts in a grid collage. The main feature here is the powerful fuzzy search. Type a letter and Updoot starts searching on the fly; it’s blazing fast and changes results dynamically. It also claims to understand misspellings so you can find saved content where the original poster didn’t use the right spelling.

Go to the menu to find filtering options. You can filter by subreddit (which is great when you’re trying to find a recipe and can’t remember which subreddit it was on). You can also filter NSFW posts to blur them or not show them at all. Once you find the post you’re looking for, click on it to be taken to it in a new tab in good old Reddit.

5. Infinity for Reddit (Android): Free Reddit App With Auto-Scroll

The Google Play Store plays host to various Reddit apps, each with its own unique features. But invariably, they all use ads or ask for in-app purchases to unlock some of the best features. Infinity for Reddit is completely free, with no strings attached.

It’s a gorgeous, modern, Material-design Android app that makes Reddit beautiful. You can switch between night and dark themes, change the layout, and enjoy a pleasing reading and browsing interface. Infinity will never bother you with ads.

Additionally, Infinity has a cool “Lazy Mode” to auto-scroll posts. Start it up and it will browse post by post, changing every three seconds, scrolling automatically like a slideshow. Tap an interesting post to view it, press back to resume the slideshow. It seems silly but it’s actually a great leanback experience.

In general, if you’re tired of the best Reddit apps for Android asking for money or serving you ads, Infinity is the app to get.

Download: Infinity for Reddit for Android (Free)

6. Apollo (iOS): Best New Reddit App for iPhones

Apollo is a stunning Reddit app for iPhones, made by a former Apple employee. It’s fast, fluid, and adheres to iOS design guidelines that make it seem seamless. Some of its features include:

1. A fantastic writer: Writing Reddit posts or comments is easier than ever with Apollo. You can add links, photos, lists, without any knowledge of Markdown.
2. Better comments: Reddit is all about comments, and Apollo levels up that experience. You can see inline previews of links without leaving the comment, and use gestures to save, upvote, and so on.
3. Wide media support: Apollo’s media viewer supports Imgur, Reddit, Gfycat, Imgflip, XKCD, Streamable, YouTube, Vimeo, and other popular image hosts, so you don’t need to open it in a new tab or window.

Try it out, and if you like it, you might want to spring for the pro version to remove ads and unlock a few other features.

Download: Apollo for iOS (Free)

Learn Rediquette for a Better Reddit

Apps and clients are only one part of the Reddit experience. If you’re a passive Reddit user, or a “lurker”, then all you need is the app. But the website really blooms because of its community, and you should try becoming a part of it. It’s surprisingly easy to be a regular redditor, especially if you learn what not to do with rediquette, i.e. Reddit etiquette.

Read the full article: 6 Free and Fantastic Alternatives to the Official Reddit Website & App

Printer Offline? 10 Fixes to Get It Back Online in Windows 10

Printers are certainly not a new technology, so you’d think they’d be problem-free by now. Sadly, that’s not the case. One issue you might encounter is when your printer says it’s offline in Windows 10.

Any good modern printer has the ability to connect to your computer via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. However, what can you do when you get the dreaded “printer offline” status error? How do you turn your printer back online?

We’re going to provide troubleshooting steps to help solve the printer offline error.

1. Check the Computer and Printer Connection

First things first: check all the printer cables. Ensure they are securely plugged into both the printer and the computer.

Second, check that your network is working. If you are having trouble connecting to the internet, it’s not a problem localized to the printer. In which case, our guide on how to fix Windows 10 Wi-Fi problems will be handy.

Third, if possible, use a different method for connecting your computer to the printer. If you’re using Wi-Fi, switch to Ethernet, and vice versa.

2. Restart the Printer and Computer

Power cycling is the act of turning something off and on again. It’s the age-old tech advice, but you’d be surprised how often it works.

First, turn your computer and printer off. Then unplug the printer’s power cable, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait again for the printer to fully boot up—it won’t be returning from standby, so it might take longer than usual.

Once the printer is turned on, switch your computer back on and see if the printer is now online.

3. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a number of troubleshooters that aim to detect and automatically resolve any issues. There is a printer troubleshooter that you can run and hope it fixes the printer offline error.

Press Windows key + I to open Settings and click Devices > Printers & scanners. On the right-hand menu, beneath Related settings, click Run the troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will then open and run through a series of checks. If it encounters any problems, it will tell you what they are and the steps taken to resolve them. Even if it doesn’t find any issue, you can click View detailed information to get a breakdown.

4. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

You should check that the “Use Printer Offline” mode isn’t enabled. You may have done this accidentally or your printer or some software may have turned it on.

Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Open queue. Click Printer on the toolbar and ensure Use Printer Offline doesn’t have a tick next to it. If it does, click it to disable this.

5. Clear the Print Queue

A clogged print queue can be the cause of many issues, not least the printer offline error.

To clear the print queue, press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Open queue.

On the top toolbar, go to Printer > Cancel All Documents.

6. Set the Printer as Default

Windows can automatically set the last printer you used as your default printer. This can be helpful, but it might be the reason why the printer you want to use is offline.

To resolve this, press Windows key + I to open Settings, click Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Open queue.

Click Printer on the top toolbar and click Set As Default Printer. You might see a message that reads: “Setting this printer as default means that Windows will stop managing your default printer.” If you do, click OK.

If you ever want to enable this feature again, return to the Printers & scanners page and tick Allow Windows to manage my default printer.

7. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The print spooler is a service that handles interaction with the printer. Restarting this service can get your printer back online.

Open the Start menu, search for Services, and open the relevant app. Scroll down until you see Print Spooler in the Name column. When you find it, right click it and click Restart.

8. Update the Printer Drivers

If you don’t have a problem with your computer, it isn’t necessary to update your drivers. However, sometimes you do need to find and replace outdated drivers, and the printer offline is one such situation where updating the drivers could help.

To do this, press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. In the new window, double click the Printers category. Right click your printer and click Update driver.

If no updates are found, double check the printer manufacturer’s website (be it HP, Canon, Brother, or whoever).

9. Use the Printer Software

Some printer manufacturers have their own software to help you manage and troubleshoot your printer. If this is the case, you should install the software (your printer may have come with a CD that has the software, otherwise find it on their website).

You can check if you already have it installed. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Click Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Manage. You will see a button that says Open printer app if the software is installed.

Open the software and check for any section that lets you restart, troubleshoot, or fix the printer.

10. Remove and Reinstall the Printer

If all else fails, you can remove the printer from your computer and then add it back.

To do this, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, click Remove device, then click Yes.

Next, click Add a printer or scanner. Follow the wizard through to connect the printer back to your computer.

Get a New Printer With Cheap Ink

Hopefully, you have solved the printer offline issue and your printer is now back up and running. If not, try contacting the manufacturer for further support.

If you decide you want a new printer entirely, check out our recommendations for great printers with cheap ink.

Read the full article: Printer Offline? 10 Fixes to Get It Back Online in Windows 10

Printer Offline? 10 Fixes to Get It Back Online in Windows 10

Printers are certainly not a new technology, so you’d think they’d be problem-free by now. Sadly, that’s not the case. One issue you might encounter is when your printer says it’s offline in Windows 10.

Any good modern printer has the ability to connect to your computer via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. However, what can you do when you get the dreaded “printer offline” status error? How do you turn your printer back online?

We’re going to provide troubleshooting steps to help solve the printer offline error.

1. Check the Computer and Printer Connection

First things first: check all the printer cables. Ensure they are securely plugged into both the printer and the computer.

Second, check that your network is working. If you are having trouble connecting to the internet, it’s not a problem localized to the printer. In which case, our guide on how to fix Windows 10 Wi-Fi problems will be handy.

Third, if possible, use a different method for connecting your computer to the printer. If you’re using Wi-Fi, switch to Ethernet, and vice versa.

2. Restart the Printer and Computer

Power cycling is the act of turning something off and on again. It’s the age-old tech advice, but you’d be surprised how often it works.

First, turn your computer and printer off. Then unplug the printer’s power cable, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. Wait again for the printer to fully boot up—it won’t be returning from standby, so it might take longer than usual.

Once the printer is turned on, switch your computer back on and see if the printer is now online.

3. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

Windows 10 includes a number of troubleshooters that aim to detect and automatically resolve any issues. There is a printer troubleshooter that you can run and hope it fixes the printer offline error.

Press Windows key + I to open Settings and click Devices > Printers & scanners. On the right-hand menu, beneath Related settings, click Run the troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will then open and run through a series of checks. If it encounters any problems, it will tell you what they are and the steps taken to resolve them. Even if it doesn’t find any issue, you can click View detailed information to get a breakdown.

4. Disable “Use Printer Offline” Mode

You should check that the “Use Printer Offline” mode isn’t enabled. You may have done this accidentally or your printer or some software may have turned it on.

Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer and click Open queue. Click Printer on the toolbar and ensure Use Printer Offline doesn’t have a tick next to it. If it does, click it to disable this.

5. Clear the Print Queue

A clogged print queue can be the cause of many issues, not least the printer offline error.

To clear the print queue, press Windows key + I to open Settings, go to Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Open queue.

On the top toolbar, go to Printer > Cancel All Documents.

6. Set the Printer as Default

Windows can automatically set the last printer you used as your default printer. This can be helpful, but it might be the reason why the printer you want to use is offline.

To resolve this, press Windows key + I to open Settings, click Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Open queue.

Click Printer on the top toolbar and click Set As Default Printer. You might see a message that reads: “Setting this printer as default means that Windows will stop managing your default printer.” If you do, click OK.

If you ever want to enable this feature again, return to the Printers & scanners page and tick Allow Windows to manage my default printer.

7. Restart the Print Spooler Service

The print spooler is a service that handles interaction with the printer. Restarting this service can get your printer back online.

Open the Start menu, search for Services, and open the relevant app. Scroll down until you see Print Spooler in the Name column. When you find it, right click it and click Restart.

8. Update the Printer Drivers

If you don’t have a problem with your computer, it isn’t necessary to update your drivers. However, sometimes you do need to find and replace outdated drivers, and the printer offline is one such situation where updating the drivers could help.

To do this, press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. In the new window, double click the Printers category. Right click your printer and click Update driver.

If no updates are found, double check the printer manufacturer’s website (be it HP, Canon, Brother, or whoever).

9. Use the Printer Software

Some printer manufacturers have their own software to help you manage and troubleshoot your printer. If this is the case, you should install the software (your printer may have come with a CD that has the software, otherwise find it on their website).

You can check if you already have it installed. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Click Devices > Printers & scanners, select your printer, and click Manage. You will see a button that says Open printer app if the software is installed.

Open the software and check for any section that lets you restart, troubleshoot, or fix the printer.

10. Remove and Reinstall the Printer

If all else fails, you can remove the printer from your computer and then add it back.

To do this, press Windows key + I to open Settings. Go to Devices > Printers & scanners. Select your printer, click Remove device, then click Yes.

Next, click Add a printer or scanner. Follow the wizard through to connect the printer back to your computer.

Get a New Printer With Cheap Ink

Hopefully, you have solved the printer offline issue and your printer is now back up and running. If not, try contacting the manufacturer for further support.

If you decide you want a new printer entirely, check out our recommendations for great printers with cheap ink.

Read the full article: Printer Offline? 10 Fixes to Get It Back Online in Windows 10

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6 Must-Have School Supplies for Online Classes

Just because you’re not attending class in a physical classroom doesn’t mean that you can show up empty-handed. Besides a reliable laptop or desktop computer, there are several things you’ll need to make your online classes go smoothly.

Ready to start preparing for your online classes? Make sure you have these essential supplies before the school year starts.

1. Logitech HD Webcam C525

Logitech HD Webcam C525 Logitech HD Webcam C525 Buy Now On Amazon $87.50

In case your online class requires the use of webcams, you’ll want to make sure that you have a high-quality webcam at the ready. That way, your teacher and fellow students can see and hear you clearly.

The Logitech HD Webcam C525 is the perfect balance of quality and affordability. For the price, you’ll get 720p video calling and recording. Although a 1080p webcam would be more ideal, they’re on the pricier side—720p is just enough to prevent your picture from appearing too grainy or blurred.

This Logitech webcam comes with an autofocus and light correction feature that automatically sharpens your video, cancels the noise around you, and brightens any dim lighting. Plus, you can’t go wrong with this webcam’s mobility. You can turn it 360 degrees, and even fold it to take it on-the-go.

2. Logitech USB Headset H390

Even if your webcam comes with a microphone, the microphone quality doesn’t always cut it. Your teacher and classmates might not be able to hear you due to the distance between your face and the webcam’s built-in microphone. Wearing a headset with a microphone can give your voice much more clarity.

The Logitech USB Headset H390 not only makes your voice sound crisp, but it also lets you better hear your professor. Its padded headband and earpad make it comfortable to wear for your entire class. This Logitech headset also comes with a rotational, noise-canceling microphone that won’t make your voice sound muffled.

As for changing the volume on these headphones, you don’t have to fiddle with your computer—you can just simply adjust sound controls right on the cord. As a result, this headset can definitely come in handy for participating in class, making presentations, and listening to lectures.

3. Microsoft 365 Personal 12-Month Subscription

Microsoft 365 Personal 12-Month Subscription Microsoft 365 Personal 12-Month Subscription Buy Now On Amazon

A Microsoft 365 Personal Subscription is a must-have for any student. Some schools offer a free subscription to Microsoft 365, so you might want to check with your school before purchasing your own. For a yearly fee, you’ll gain access to all Microsoft Office programs.

This means you’ll get to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. As you probably know, all of these programs come in handy, whether you’re taking an online or an in-person class. In addition to all of these helpful programs, this Microsoft 365 subscription also comes with 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage.

The cloud-based service gives you the ability to store thousands of documents and photos, as well as share them with other devices. OneDrive automatically backs up your PC, so you won’t have to worry about losing your precious documents and school assignments.

4. SmugChair Bonded Leather Office Chair

SmugChair Bonded Leather Office Chair SmugChair Bonded Leather Office Chair Buy Now On Amazon $82.99

Who wants to attend an online class in an uncomfortable chair? You never really know how important it is to have a comfortable office chair until you’re forced to stay seated all day. That’s why the SmugChair Bonded Leather Office Chair is a worthy investment.

This rolling office chair is made with smooth bonded leather and has plentiful padding on the seat and armrests. It’s fully adjustable—you can swivel, tilt the chair back, and lower or raise it according to your needs. The armrest’s curved position also helps you maintain a healthy posture, and won’t leave your arms feeling sore after several hours of sitting.

One of the best parts of this chair is its massage feature. Simply plug in the USB cord on the back of the chair, and you can start up a massage! It’s perfect for soothing your back while doing schoolwork and studying. With this chair’s affordable price and comfort level, you really can’t go wrong.

5. HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer

HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer Buy Now On Amazon $79.99

While you might not think you need a printer for an online class, that’s just not the case. Having hard copies of assignments and study material can actually help you keep track of your work. The HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer is a great choice for online classes, as it’s budget-friendly and comes with just enough features to help you succeed.

Since this is an all-in-one printer, it can print, copy, scan, and fax documents. This makes it easy to print out assignments and do them by hand. When you’re done, you can quickly scan the assignments, upload them to your computer, and then email them to your instructor.

Better yet, the HP OfficeJet 3830 supports wireless printing and is even Alexa-friendly. You can also print files and photos from your smartphone, as well as documents from cloud storage services like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive.

6. CosyFrame Adjustable Laptop Table

CosyFrame Adjustable Laptop Table CosyFrame Adjustable Laptop Table Buy Now On Amazon $40.99

Online classes give you the luxury of working from wherever you want, especially if you have a laptop. Don’t feel like getting out of bed? Plop the CosyFrame Adjustable Laptop Table on your bed, and you can sit back while getting some work done.

This stand isn’t only for doing work in bed—you can also place it on top of a table, or even extend its legs to create a small desk. Each leg is adjustable, allowing you to change its height and angle to suit your position.

When you place your laptop on a solid desk, you might notice your laptop getting hot, thanks to the lack of ventilation. Luckily, the CosyFrame comes with dual cooling fans to keep your laptop from overheating. So, if you’re tired of doing work at a desk, you might want to try using this laptop stand while relaxing in bed.

Getting Ready for Your Online Classes

Once you have your supplies in order, you can feel comfortable logging on for your first online classes. Online classes might seem intimidating at first, but you’ll soon realize that they’re just like in-person classes—only, you’ll never have to sit inside of a classroom.

Having an old or slow computer for online classes is a recipe for disaster. When you can’t get your computer to run, you’ll end up missing classes, and you likely won’t be able to get your work done on time. If you need an upgrade, check out these best Windows PC laptops.

Read the full article: 6 Must-Have School Supplies for Online Classes

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Stay Private With a Lifetime Subscription to KeepSolid VPN Unlimited

We’ve written plenty about how you should use a VPN to protect your online browsing. Whether you want to access content blocked in your region or just keep yourself safer on public networks, a VPN is an important tool.

KeepSolid’s VPN Unlimited is a great all-around choice, and you can score a huge discount on it through MakeUseOf Deals. Keep reading to find out what’s on offer.

KeepSolid: Privacy and Convenience

Like any VPN worth your time, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has a no-logging policy. The privacy policy clearly states:

KeepSolid does not monitor, store, or log your online activity, including your browsing history, connection times, metadata, downloads, server usage, or data content during your session in the VPN Services.

KeepSolid also never stores or logs your IP address after the end of your session in the VPN Services—KeepSolid always removes your IP address after your session ends.

You can thus be reasonably certain that KeepSolid wouldn’t have any information to hand over to authorities, even if it was forced to.

Additionally, KeepSolid VPN works over several protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, IKEv2, and more. It offers over 500 servers in more than 80 locations around the world, including some servers specifically for torrenting.

Your subscription provides access to live support, so you can get help whenever you need it.

It’s Available Everywhere

When you sign up for KeepSolid VPN Unlimited, you can enjoy its protection on all your computers and mobile devices. The company offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. You can also install browser extensions in Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge if you prefer.

But that’s not all—KeepSolid is also installable on your router and streaming devices. Since your subscription lets you use the service on up to five devices at once, you can stay safe on everything you use.

Extras Are Available

If you need more from your VPN, KeepSolid has additional features available for an extra fee. The Personal VPN Server add-on lets you connect to a server that’s reserved for you, so there’s nobody else to use and slow it down. You can pick where the server is based on your needs.

You can also sign up for a static IP if you’d like to have a separate IP instead of what your ISP provides. Finally, if you need to use more than five devices at once, you can purchase additional slots.

Try KeepSolid VPN Unlimited Today

With a no-log policy, servers around the world, and several convenience features, KeepSolid VPN Unlimited has a lot to offer. If you’re interested in trying it, how does a huge discount sound?

Right now, MakeUseOf Deals is offering a lifetime subscription to KeepSolid VPN for just $39. That gets you access on five devices simultaneously, as discussed above. If you need more, you can get the 10-device lifetime plan for just $59. Seeing as the lifetime plan with five slots is usually $199.99 (and one year is $59.99), this is an incredible saving!

If you aren’t using a VPN yet, what are you waiting for?

Read the full article: Stay Private With a Lifetime Subscription to KeepSolid VPN Unlimited

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6 Free and Fantastic Alternatives to the Official Reddit Website & App

Are you still using the plain old Reddit through the official website and official apps? Check out some of these best Reddit websites and apps to see what you’re missing.

There’s nothing too wrong with the official Reddit apps, but they’re severely limited in features. Given the online forum’s open nature, it makes no sense to use these when there are much better apps made by third-party developers. Try them out, and you’ll never go back to the plain old website.

1. Deck for Reddit (Web): Tweetdeck-Like Columns for Reddit in Browsers

Reddit power-users will fall in love with Deck for Reddit, which lets you create multiple columns like in Tweetdeck. There is no limit to how many columns you can add, so go nuts. Each subreddit appears as its own column. Click a post to read its columns in the same column, or open it in a new tab.

You can sort columns by Hot, New, or Top, with different settings for each subreddit. Deck for Reddit also has two types of views: Standard and Wide. The Wide view is great for photo or video-centric subreddits.

Signed-in users get more options. You can choose between light and dark themes, and set a font family and size that you like. You can also hide NSFW (not safe for work) content, and hide posts you’ve already viewed.

Best of all, Deck for Reddit is blazing fast, and can quickly become your favorite Reddit client. Unfortunately, it doesn’t let you search Reddit yet, so it’s not ready to completely replace the website yet.

2. Reddup (Web): Beautiful Reddit Browser, Especially for Photos

If Reddit ever decided to redesign their website, they might want to ask the Reddup developers for help. This is a gorgeous browser-based Reddit client, especially for those who subscribe to photo-based subreddits.

Reddup has a few layout options, including a grid-like collage. If you visit subreddits like r/aww or r/EarthPorn, which are largely about sharing pictures, this layout is a wonderful way to browse them.

By default, Reddup uses the dark mode which is better for photo viewing, but you can switch to light mode at any time. The website also offers a Slideshow function, which auto-cycles through all the posts of a subreddit. You can lean back and simply view.

Apart from these photo-oriented features, Reddup is a full-featured browser client. You can search Reddit, sign in, post, add different subreddits, sort posts (hot, new, rising, top, gilded, controversial), and comment. Click any post to open it in a pop-up dialog box, which is a nice way to browse without losing your place.

3. Reddit Favorites (Web): Reddit’s Best Recommendations in One Place

It’s difficult to trust customer reviews on Amazon given the rise in fake reviews there. But when different redditors recommend the same product repeatedly for many years, you know you have a winner. Reddit Favorites collects the best product recommendations by redditors in one place.

The broad categories are books, electronics, VPNs, Android apps, YouTube videos, sports & outdoors, clothing, home & kitchen, and many more. Most of the categories have several sub-categories, and you can further refine the list of recommendations by searching for keywords.

For any product, you’ll find the most popular and latest comments where it was featured. Reddit Favorites also shows how many times it was recommended, a year-by-year graph of its popularity (in most cases, but not all), and how many average upvotes it gets. Based on such factors, the website gives it a “popularity score” that serves as a ranking system.

If you liked Reddit Favorites, you should also check out these other ways to find Reddit’s best posts and recommendations.

4. Updoot (Web): Browse and Search Your Saved Posts

Regular redditors save posts to come back to later, whether it’s a great recipe, a funny GIF, or an informative comment. But much like messy bookmarks in the browser, these saved posts are a jumbled heap after a time. Updoot makes it easy to find the saved link you’re looking for.

Link your account and you’ll see all your saved posts in a grid collage. The main feature here is the powerful fuzzy search. Type a letter and Updoot starts searching on the fly; it’s blazing fast and changes results dynamically. It also claims to understand misspellings so you can find saved content where the original poster didn’t use the right spelling.

Go to the menu to find filtering options. You can filter by subreddit (which is great when you’re trying to find a recipe and can’t remember which subreddit it was on). You can also filter NSFW posts to blur them or not show them at all. Once you find the post you’re looking for, click on it to be taken to it in a new tab in good old Reddit.

5. Infinity for Reddit (Android): Free Reddit App With Auto-Scroll

The Google Play Store plays host to various Reddit apps, each with its own unique features. But invariably, they all use ads or ask for in-app purchases to unlock some of the best features. Infinity for Reddit is completely free, with no strings attached.

It’s a gorgeous, modern, Material-design Android app that makes Reddit beautiful. You can switch between night and dark themes, change the layout, and enjoy a pleasing reading and browsing interface. Infinity will never bother you with ads.

Additionally, Infinity has a cool “Lazy Mode” to auto-scroll posts. Start it up and it will browse post by post, changing every three seconds, scrolling automatically like a slideshow. Tap an interesting post to view it, press back to resume the slideshow. It seems silly but it’s actually a great leanback experience.

In general, if you’re tired of the best Reddit apps for Android asking for money or serving you ads, Infinity is the app to get.

Download: Infinity for Reddit for Android (Free)

6. Apollo (iOS): Best New Reddit App for iPhones

Apollo is a stunning Reddit app for iPhones, made by a former Apple employee. It’s fast, fluid, and adheres to iOS design guidelines that make it seem seamless. Some of its features include:

1. A fantastic writer: Writing Reddit posts or comments is easier than ever with Apollo. You can add links, photos, lists, without any knowledge of Markdown.
2. Better comments: Reddit is all about comments, and Apollo levels up that experience. You can see inline previews of links without leaving the comment, and use gestures to save, upvote, and so on.
3. Wide media support: Apollo’s media viewer supports Imgur, Reddit, Gfycat, Imgflip, XKCD, Streamable, YouTube, Vimeo, and other popular image hosts, so you don’t need to open it in a new tab or window.

Try it out, and if you like it, you might want to spring for the pro version to remove ads and unlock a few other features.

Download: Apollo for iOS (Free)

Learn Rediquette for a Better Reddit

Apps and clients are only one part of the Reddit experience. If you’re a passive Reddit user, or a “lurker”, then all you need is the app. But the website really blooms because of its community, and you should try becoming a part of it. It’s surprisingly easy to be a regular redditor, especially if you learn what not to do with rediquette, i.e. Reddit etiquette.

Read the full article: 6 Free and Fantastic Alternatives to the Official Reddit Website & App

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How To Print Office Word Document Background Color

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With default settings, when you print a Microsoft Office Word document, the background color is not printed. Most users do not notice this until they want to print a different background color than the default color. With default settings, the Microsoft Office Word program ignores the background color when you print the document. This significantly […]

The post How To Print Office Word Document Background Color appeared first on Into Windows. Content from IntoWindows website.

WhatsApp pilots new feature to fight misinformation: Search the web

WhatsApp, one of the most popular instant messaging platforms on the planet, has rolled out a new feature in select markets that makes it easier for users to verify whether the assertions made in messages they have received on the app are true.

The Facebook-owned service has enabled users in Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, UK, and US to click on a magnifying glass-shaped icon next to frequently forwarded messages — those that have been forwarded at least five times — to search the web for their contents and verify them.

WhatsApp said the new feature, called ‘search the web’, works by allowing users to upload the text message via their browser. This means that WhatsApp itself never sees the content of any message, it said in a blog post.

The feature, available across WhatsApp’s Android, iOS, and Web apps, is in pilot stage, the messaging platform said. It remains unclear how soon WhatsApp intends to roll out this feature, which it began testing several months ago, to users across the globe.

But regardless, the new feature comes at a time when WhatsApp and other messaging platforms are being used more often than ever before as people stay in touch with their friends, families, and colleagues at the height of a global pandemic.

WhatsApp, which has been forced to confront with the spread of misinformation challenge on its platform in recent years, has introduced several features and imposed restrictions to better control the flow in the past year.

In April, WhatsApp put in place additional restriction on how frequently a message could be shared on its platform. WhatsApp said that any message that has been forwarded five or more times will now face a new limit that will prevent a user from forwarding it to more than one chat (contact) at a time. Weeks later, volume of “highly forwarded” messages had already dropped by 70% globally, it claimed.

WhatsApp has also partnered with several fact-checking organizations across the globe to help people verify claims made in viral messages.

Though WhatsApp has visibly rushed to take timely actions in recent quarters, misinformation has not vanished from the app. Ill-informed explanations about several of Indian government’s recent decisions and “cures” of Covid-19 were still doing rounds on the platform a few months ago in India, its biggest market, for instance.

There’s only so much a tech firm can do to fight human stupidity.

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Twitter warns investors of possible fine from FTC consent order probe

Twitter has disclosed it’s facing a potential fine of more than a hundred million dollars as a result of a probe by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which believes the company violated a 2011 consent order by using data provided by users for a security purpose to target them with ads.

In an SEC filing, reported on earlier by the New York Times, Twitter revealed it received the draft complaint from the FTC late last month. The activity the regulator is complaining about is alleged to have taken place between 2013 and 2019.

Last October the social media firm publicly disclosed it had used phone numbers and email addresses provided by users to set up two-factor authentication to bolster the security of their accounts in order to serve targeted ads — blaming the SNAFU on a tailored audiences program, which allows companies to target ads against their own marketing lists.

Twitter found that when advertisers uploaded their own marketing lists (of emails and/or phone numbers) it matched users to data they had submitted purely to set up two-factor authentication on their Twitter account.

“The allegations relate to the Company’s use of phone number and/or email address data provided for safety and security purposes for targeted advertising during periods between 2013 and 2019,” Twitter writes in the SEC filing. “The Company estimates that the range of probable loss in this matter is $150.0 million to $250.0 million and has recorded an accrual of $150.0 million.”

“The matter remains unresolved, and there can be no assurance as to the timing or the terms of any final outcome,” it adds.

We’ve reached out to Twitter with questions.

The company has had a torrid few weeks on the security front, suffering a major security incident last month after hackers gained access to its internal account management tools, enabling them to access accounts of scores of verified Twitter users, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk and Joe Biden, and use them to send cryptocurrency scam tweets. Police have since charged three people with the hack, including a 17-year-old Florida teen.

In June Twitter also disclosed a security lapse may have exposed some business customers’ information. While it was forced to report another crop of security incidents last year — including after a researcher identifying a bug that allowed him to discover phone numbers associated with millions of Twitter accounts.

Twitter also admitted it gave account location data to one of its partners, even if the user had opted-out of having their data shared; and inadvertently gave its ad partners more data than it should have.

Additionally, the company is now at the front of a long queue of tech giants pending enforcement in Europe, related to major GDPR complaints — where regional fines for data violations can scale to 4% of a company’s global annual turnover. Twitter’s lead data protection regulator, Ireland’s DPC, submitted a draft decision related to a probe of one of its security breaches to the bloc’s other data agencies in May — with a final decision slated as likely this summer.

The decision relates to an investigation the regulator instigated following yet another major security fail by Twitter in 2018 — when it revealed a bug had resulted in some passwords being stored in plain text.

As we reported at the time it’s pretty unusual for a company of such size to make such a basic security mistake. But Twitter has a very long history of failing to protect users’ data — with additional hacking incidents all the way back in 2009 leading to the 2011 FTC consent order.

Under the terms of that settlement Twitter was barred for 20 years from misleading consumers about the safety of their data in order to resolve FTC charges that it had “deceived consumers and put their privacy at risk by failing to safeguard their personal information”.

It also agreed to establish and maintain “a comprehensive information security program”, with independent auditor assessments taking place every other year for 10 years.

Given the terms of that order a fine does indeed look inevitable. However the wider failing here is that of US regulators — which, for over a decade, have failed to grapple with the exploitative, surveillance-based business models that have led to breaches and security lapses by a number of data-mining adtech giants, not just Twitter.

9 reasons the Facebook FTC settlement is a joke

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