The internet is increasingly becoming an unsafe place, at least that’s what a new report from cybersecurity firm Kaspersky suggests. The report (via The EconomicTimes) claims that the number of devices affected by malware created to steal personal data increased by over 600% in the last three years.

More than 10 million personal and company devices were affected by malware in 2023, a 643% increase during the past three years. And the hackers can steal an average of 50.9 log-in credentials from each infected device. These credentials include log-ins for online banking apps, crypto wallets, social media accounts, and email.

The report further suggested that 443,000 websites across the globe had compromised credentials in the last five years. Out of these websites, the .com domain had the biggest number of compromised accounts at 326 million. Next on the list are 29 million compromised accounts from the Brazil (.br) domain, 8 million accounts compromised with the India (.in) domain, and the 6 million and 5.5 million compromised were related to Colombia (.co), and Vietnam (.vn) domains respectively. 

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Data-Stealing Malware At An All-Time High

Kaspersky suggests that the number of data-stealing malware impacting businesses and consumers has reached 16 million.

"The dark-web value of log files with login credentials varies depending on the data's appeal and the way it's sold there. Credentials may be sold through a subscription service with regular uploads, a so-called 'aggregator' for specific requests, or via a 'shop' selling recently acquired login credentials exclusively to selected buyers. Prices typically begin at $10 per log file in these shops," 

- Sergey Shcherbel, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky Digital Footprint Intelligence. 

"These tools will continue to evolve, just as defensive tools do, with threat actors continuously refining their attacks to evade detection and utilizing new tools like AI to perform them at a larger scale," 

- Patrick Tiquet, vice president of security and architecture at Keeper Security.

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Apple Issued Grave Warning To iPhone Users In 92 Countries

Apple recently warned iPhone users in 92 countries about a ‘mercenary spyware’ attack. However, the company did not specify any groups responsible for these attacks and hasn’t named the countries where users were notified.

Apple warned users about their iPhones being targeted with spyware. Apple found out that users being targeted by a spyware attack that is operating remotely compromise the iPhone that is associated with their Apple ID. 

HP has announced the launch of its new AI PC — the OmniBook Ultra Flip, a 2-in-1 convertible laptop featuring a 2.8K resolution OLED panel with touch support. The new laptop is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake processor, and packs a dedicated NPU with up to 48 TOPs of AI performance, making it a Copilot+ PC, which will also allow users to run AI applications locally on the device.

With a starting price of Rs 1,81,999, the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip AI PC will be available for purchase starting today through multiple offline and online channels. The company is also including a complimentary Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premier Elements (PEPE) worth Rs 9,999 until October 31.

“The OmniBook Ultra Flip is our answer to that demand, blending cutting-edge AI capabilities with uncompromising performance and security. This is more than just a device—it’s a tool that empowers users to focus on what they do best,” said Vineet Gehani, Senior Director (of Personal Systems), at HP India.

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HP OmniBook Ultra Flip Under The Hood

The company claims the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip is crafted for creators, as it quickly switches from a laptop to a tablet, backed by a high-res color-accurate OLED screen. On top of that, it also has a trackpad with a haptic touchpad and also includes an impressive 9MP AI camera.

It also packs collaborative tools like Poly Camera Pro to improve low-light image performance during video calls, and the laptop is also equipped with an AI Companion that is capable of analyzing private files locally on the device to generate insights into them.

Other highlight features of the OmniBook Ultra Flip AI PC include its processor. It is available with either the Intel Core Ultra 7 or the Ultra 9 chip, which offers 21 hours of continuous 1080p video playback. Copilot+ also enables several new AI interactions, such as recall and a sketch-to-image generator within the paint app.

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Acer Nitro V16 Laptop Launched With Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU

Acer has launched the Nitro V16 gaming laptop in India. The new laptop claimed to be crafted for gamers and creators, will come in two configurations with 14th gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. It is also equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics processing unit (GPU).

The Acer Nitro V 16 has a 16-inch WUXGA display, up to 512GB of storage, and offers connectivity options such as Wi-FI 6 and Thunderbolt 4. The Acer Nitro V 16 with Intel Core i5 14450HX CPU comes at a price of Rs 99,999 in India, while the Intel Core i7 14650HX CPU variant will set buyers back by Rs. 1,09,999. It will go on sale through Acer’s online store, Acer’s exclusive stores, Flipkart, Amazon, and other offline stores. 

WhatsApp has a feature that enables users to simultaneously use the messaging app on multiple devices. It’s great for people who carry separate work and home devices or use the app on a PC or tablet. However, this feature has some limitations.

The platform doesn’t allow users to save new contacts on secondary devices, requiring them to use the primary phone to add or manage contacts. Well, it seems the platform is going to change it soon.

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WhatsApp To Make Linked Device Functionality Better

In a recent blog post, the platform announced that it will soon allow users to add and manage contacts on WhatsApp Web and Windows. The messaging app will also give users a new option to save contacts exclusively to WhatsApp, letting them easily separate personal and business contacts while using multiple WhatsApp accounts on a smartphone.

WhatsApp plans to bring this functionality to other linked devices but has yet to share a release timeline. The platform has also confirmed it is working to add support for usernames to the app, which will “add an extra degree of privacy so that you don’t need to share your phone number when messaging someone.”

Although the blog post doesn’t reveal any further details about username support, previous reports suggest that the messaging app could allow users to set PINs to their username, preventing unknown contacts from messaging them. This feature is still in development and could arrive with a future release.

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Meta AI In WhatsApp To Remember Users’ Likes And Dislikes

After bringing voice message support for Meta AI chats on Whatsapp earlier this year, Meta seems to be developing a new feature to give its chatbot a more personal touch.

As per a report from WABetaInfo, an upcoming memory feature will enable Meta AI to remember information users share and offer relevant responses in future conversations. The chatbot will reportedly be capable of recording various details, like food preferences, birthdays, and personal interests, and tailor future responses based on the provided information.

The Memory feature was found in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android, but it’s not available to users. However, WABetaInfo has shared screenshots that reveal that it will be bringing a new Memory section to the Meta AI contact card in WhatsApp.

This section will list all the things Meta AI remembers about users. Its description reads: “Meta AI automatically remembers certain parts of your chat to give you more relevant responses.” Besides, there is a mention of the feature enabling users to manually commit information to Meta AI’s memory with a “remember this” command.

Apple is said to be making a significant upgrade to its Mac lineup, with the introduction of the highly anticipated M4 chips. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, we can expect the M4 Macs to be launched as soon as next week, although he did not specify an exact date. Gurman suggested that Apple could launch the M4 Mac lineup soon.

Speaking of the timeline, Gurman noted that the company is inviting journalists and content creators to a hands-on experience in Los Angeles next Wednesday. This hints that an announcement for the new Macs is likely on cards before that date.

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What To Expect From The New Mac Lineup

As per leaker Sonny Dickson, the new Mac mini, with five USB-C ports, might actually be launched soon. While the tipster has a mixed track record with hardware predictions, he successfully shared accurate information in the past, MacRumors reported. Regardless of the details, it seems the company is prepping to launch its first Mac with M4 chips very soon.

The upcoming announcements could come with several new products. Expected models include an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro equipped with the M4 chip, which will have an additional Thunderbolt port compared to current generation models. Fans could also get an upgraded 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models available with M4 Pro and M4 Max chip options, alongside a refreshed iMac featuring the M4 chip.

Moreover, a new Mac mini is also expected, designed similarly to an Apple TV, with two front-facing USB-C ports and options for M4 and M4 Pro chips. Apple could also introduce USB-C versions of its Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard accessories.

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iPhone 17 Pro Series To Get 48MP Telephoto Camera, 12GB RAM

Apple recently took the wraps off of its iPhone 16 series with new Camera Control, an Action button across all models, and new chipsets. The iPhone 17 family is still a year away, but that hasn’t stopped rumors and speculations from doing rounds. New rumors hint that Apple could have something new in store for next year’s models.

A well-known analyst suggests that iPhone 17 Pro models will come with a notable camera upgrade. Both iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are said to pack a new telephoto rear camera. Meanwhile, a new iPhone 17 Air (Slim) model is said to replace the iPhone Plus model next year.

According to a report from Macrumors, Jeff Pu of Haitong International Tech Research outlined his expectations for the iPhone 17 series in his latest research note. The analyst believes the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with a 48MP telephoto rear camera and a 12MP selfie camera. For comparison, the current iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature 12MP telephoto and front cameras.

When Samsung launched its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, it was a revolutionary device with groundbreaking technologies and a hefty price tag of $2,000. It was believed that the price of foldable phones would drop as components get easier to make. However, Samsung says it has no plans to launch cheaper foldable phones.

It has been repeatedly rumored that the company will launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Fold series of foldable phones. However, the South Korean company doesn’t have any such plans in the near future. Instead, the company plans on keeping the price tag intact and introducing newer and better technologies, similar to what it did with the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition.

A Samsung Electronics official said, “Rather than considering it (Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition) a premium product, it’s a product released to expand your options. You can choose according to your taste. As of now, we have no plans to release a separate product with a lower price.”

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Samsung Losing Edge In The Foldable Device Market

Samsung seems to have fallen back in the foldable smartphone race. Once the leading company in the global foldable smartphone sales, it has now become the second company after Huawei. Sales of Samsung’s foldable smartphones have stagnated over the past few years.

There are two ways to increase sales. The company either needs to bring apps optimized for foldable phones or launch cheaper foldable phones, and Samsung has not managed to achieve either.

Foldable devices from Chinese firms like Honor, Huawei, OPPO, and Vico are thinner, lighter, and have better camera hardware than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones. So, Samsung needs to justify the pricing of Galaxy Z Fold phones by improving its engineering and adding better specs to its devices.

Some rumors suggest that the company plans to launch a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip phone next year alongside a Galaxy Z Fold device and its first dual-fold smartphone. It remains to be seen if the company manages to do that.

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Samsung Launches Industry’s First 24GB GDDR7 DRAM

Samsung has launched the industry’s first 24GB GDDR7 DRAM, which features the highest capacity and speed. This breakthrough memory solution is designed to cater to the demands of next-generation applications, such as data centers and AI workstations.

By employing advanced process nodes and PAM3 signaling, the GDDR7 achieves an impressive speed of 40GB per second, surpassing its precursor by 25%. Moreover, Samsung has incorporated power-saving technologies from mobile products to boost efficiency and reduce unnecessary power consumption by over 30%.

HMD Fusion was announced in September this year at IFA 2024. The smartphone is compatible with Smart Outfits, which are interchangeable cases that also add unique features to the device. The smartphone has an IP52 rating and can be repaired using an iFixit kit.

The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, a 108MP main camera unit, and a 50MP selfie shooter. The company has now teased the launch of a special edition variant of the phone in collaboration with Marvel’s upcoming Venom: The Last Dance movie.

The company shared a teaser for a special edition Fusion phone in collaboration with Marvel’s Venom: The Last Dance, which will hit the theatres on October 25. The smartphone has been teased with the tagline, "the Ultimate Symbiotic Phone." The special edition is said to bring design elements inspired by the movie, while most other features and specs will likely remain the same as the standard version.

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HMD Fusion Under The Hood

The HMD Fusion price starts at EUR 249 (roughly Rs. 24,000). It comes packed with a 6.56-inch HD+ display with a  90Hz refresh rate and runs Android 14. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of onboard storage. The storage can be expanded up to 1TB via a MicroSD card.

For optics, the HMD Fusion carries a dual rear camera unit including a 108MP primary camera and a 2MP depth camera. The front camera has a 50MP sensor. It is backed by a 5000mAh battery with 33W wired fast charging support. On the connectivity front, the smartphone includes Bluetooth 5.2, GPS/AGPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, OTG, USB Type-C port, and WiFi. Besides, it has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for added security.

HMD Fusion can be used with interchangeable covers called Smart Outfits which can add functionalities. For example, the Flashy Outfit comes with a built-in ring light, or the IP68-rated Rugged Outfit which has wireless charging support and an emergency (ICE) button. 

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HMD Launches HMD 105 4G, HMD 110 4G Feature Phones

Previously, HMD announced the launch of two new feature phones in India, the HMD 105 4G and HMD 110 4G. These devices provide access to YouTube Music, and YouTube Shorts, along with support for UPI transactions without the need for internet access.

The HMD 105 4G comes at a price of Rs 2,199, while the HMD 110 4G is priced at Rs 2,399. Both phones come in multiple color options—Black, Cyan, and Pink for the HMD 105 4G, and Titanium and Blue for the HMD 110 4G. Consumers can buy these feature phones through retail stores, e-commerce platforms, and HMD’s official website.