A new Google policy will effectively ban call-recording apps from the Play Store starting next month. Under the change, spotted earlier by Ars Technica, call recording will no longer be allowed via Google‘s accessibility APIs. It’s part of the tech giant’s ongoing crackdown on apps that use its accessibility APIs as technical workarounds, rather than …

By now, you’ve surely gotten at least one: an unexpected SMS message carrying a tiny link just begging to be clicked on. Do so and you might be handing cyber thieves valuable information they can use to swipe your bank account balance, fake your identity or even track your whereabouts.  Dubbed smishing, a contraction of SMS and phishing, some texts …

There are just days to go before this year’s tax deadline, but you aren’t alone if you haven’t filed yours yet. Lots of people put off the tedious and potentially expensive chore. Thanks to Emancipation Day, which is observed in Washington, DC, procrastinators have until April 18 to get their paperwork in. But as Monday creeps closer, you might actually be starting …

The number of publicly reported data breaches increased 14% in the first quarter of this year, as cybercriminals continued to attack both businesses and consumers, the Identity Theft Resource Center said Wednesday. The ITRC, a nonprofit that helps victims of identity theft, said there were 404 breaches in the first three months of this year, up from 354 in the same …

Law enforcement in Europe and the US on Tuesday said they had taken down and seized a massive illegal online market that bought and sold access to databases of millions of credit card numbers and other sensitive information belonging to Americans and others around the world. The alleged administrator of RaidForums and two other people were arrested in the operation dubbed …

Google is partnering with iFixit to sell official replacement parts for its Pixel phones later this year, making it easier for independent professionals and consumers to repair the devices. The news follows similar moves by Apple and Samsung and will cover models ranging from the Pixel 2 to the Pixel 6 Pro, along with future Pixel models. The parts will sold …

Cable news service CNN said Friday that it will launch its CNN Plus streaming service on March 29. The kickoff could come just ahead of the planned closure of a deal to merge CNN parent company WarnerMedia and Discovery, which will put new leaders at its helm.  Andrew Morse, who will lead the new service, said CNN Plus “will be a …

Think before you click. The beautiful blonde in a faraway country who thinks you’re cute may be looking for more than just love. Today is Valentine’s Day and if you’re single that might have you feeling a bit down right now. But security experts warn that online scammers are looking to use the holiday to take advantage of lonely people. It …

Google may have leaked the name of its next smartphone in, of all things, a coloring book, according to a report.   Here is part of a Pixel 6 page from Google’s online coloring book. Google/Screenshot by CNET The website Droid Life reported that the coloring book, which was recently sent out along with a Nest Audio to some customers, includes …

You see QR codes just about everywhere these days. The square barcodes show up everywhere: real estate listings, TV ads and social media posts touting what look like great deals on must-have items. The pandemic fueled a surge in the use of QR codes. Seeking to cut down on possible transmission, restaurants replaced physical menus available to all customers with …