Apple’s new patents could make your iPhone screen invisible to thieves

Image: Apple

It was reported earlier this year that iPhone owners are at risk of having their devices stolen and their data accessed by thieves who watch them enter their passcode. The thieves can reset the Apple ID password and use Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and banking apps with the passcode. Apple said in a reply to this The Wall Street Journal report that it will keep improving the protections to help secure user accounts, but did not specify how. 

But now we learn it may be working on hardware solutions to prevent “shoulder surfers” from seeing the screen, as it has two new patents for limiting screen visibility.

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Windows Hello fingerprint authentication: Not as secure as you think

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Researchers have found security flaws in several fingerprint sensors used in laptops that work with the Windows Hello authentication feature. These flaws can allow bad actors to bypass fingerprint authentication easily and take control of the devices.

The researchers from Blackwing Intelligence tested laptops from Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft, which use fingerprint sensors from companies like Goodix, Synaptics, and ELAN. They revealed various attacks that can affect these laptops, such as man-in-the-middle and evil maid attacks, at Microsoft’s BlueHat conference in October.

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Microsoft to invest US$500 million in Quebec cloud and AI infrastructure

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Microsoft has announced a US$500 million investment to expand its hyper-scale cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Quebec over the next two years.The investment will involve the construction of multiple data centre locations in four different municipalities: L’Ancienne-Lorette, Donnacona, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, and Lévis. The construction is expected to start in the coming months and will increase Microsoft’s computing capacity by about 240 percent by 2026. This will build on the existing capacity that Microsoft already has in the province, including a data centre region that was launched in 2016.

Microsoft also said that it will ensure that the future data centre locations will meet its sustainability goals of being carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030. To achieve this, Microsoft will use low-carbon materials during construction and adopt renewable energy sources, advanced cooling features, and measures to reduce diesel fuel use during operation.

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Samsung and Maison Margiela launch a new limited-edition Galaxy Z Flip5

Photo: Samsung

Samsung introduces a new limited-edition Galaxy Z Flip5 in collaboration with Maison Margiela, a Paris-based high-end fashion house. This is their second joint project, following the Galaxy Z Flip 4 Maison Margiela Edition. The new phone, which was leaked earlier, is called the Galaxy Z Flip 5 Maison Margiela Edition. The phone is available in China, Hong Kong, and South Korea, with 512GB of internal storage.

In Korea, it costs KRW 2,497,000 (CA$2,629) and can be purchased through a lottery at Samsung.com. The phone will be displayed in South Korea at Samsung Gangnam and Samsung Store Hongdae from November 23.

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