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Hong Kong CNN —Google has suspended Pinduoduo, a popular Chinese budget shopping app, from its Play Store after finding malware in versions of the app. In a Tuesday statement, Google said versions of the app that are not in the Play Store have been found to contain malware. “We have suspended the Play version of the app for security concerns while we continue our investigation,” a Google spokesperson said. “Google Play Protect enforcement has been set to block installation attempts of these identified malicious apps. Users that have malicious versions of the app downloaded to their devices are warned and prompted to uninstall the app,” the spokesperson said.

☆ Lawmakers say TikTok is a national security threat, but evidence remains unclear
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

If there’s a risk, it’s primarily concentrated in the relationship between TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, and Beijing. TikTok has been erecting technical and organizational barriers that it says will keep US user data safe from unauthorized access. “Regarding privacy, we also did not see the TikTok app exhibiting any behaviors similar to malware.”Are there other security concerns? TikTok later confirmed the incident and ByteDance fired several employees who had improperly accessed the TikTok data of two journalists. “And governments around the world are ignoring their duty to protect citizens’ private information, allowing big tech companies to exploit user information for gain.

☆ The Kremlin has reportedly told Russian officials to throw away their iPhones by the end of the month
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Grace Mayer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Russian officials were advised to ditch their iPhones, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported. Officials close to the presidential administration were reportedly told to get new phones by April. Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy head of Russia's presidential administration, reportedly told the officials they had to replace their iPhones by April 1. The reported instruction comes amid undergoing campaign preparations for the upcoming 2024 Russian presidential election. Although those within the Russian presidential administration were reportedly told to get rid of their Apple iPhones, it's unclear whether all Russian government officials were advised to do so.

☆ Meta launches subscription service in US
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 17 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) on Friday launched its subscription service in the U.S., which would allow Facebook and Instagram users pay for verification in the same vein as Elon Musk-owned Twitter. The Meta Verified service will give users a blue badge after they verify their accounts using a government ID and will cost $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple's iOS system and Google-owned Android, Meta said in a statement. The service, which Meta said it was testing in February, follows in the footsteps of Snap Inc-owned (SNAP.N) Snapchat as well as messaging app Telegram and marks the latest effort by a social media company to diversify its revenue away from advertising. After a $44 billion buyout by Musk last year, Twitter had rolled out its Blue subscription service which lets people pay for the blue check mark previously limited to verified accounts of politicians, journalists and other public figures. Reporting by Tiyashi Datta in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Meta launches pay-for-verification subscription service for Facebook and Instagram in US
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jennifer Korn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Facebook and Instagram users in the United States will soon be able to pay to get a coveted blue check on their account. Meta on Friday began testing a paid verification option for US users of the two social networks, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on Instagram. “This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in February in an Instagram broadcast channel. Twitter relaunched its own verification subscription service, Twitter Blue, in December, after an onset of fake “verified” accounts forced it to pull the feature. Twitter Blue costs $11 a month for iOS and Android subscribers, part of owner Elon Musk’s attempt to raise its subscriptions business after buying the platform for $44 billion.

☆ Mark Zuckerberg announces second round of layoffs, cutting 10,000 Meta workers across the company
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Kali Hays | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mark Zuckerberg said the layoffs are a part of the company's "Year of Efficiency." Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the cuts were necessary to improve the company's "financial performance in a difficult environment." In his message to employees, Zuckerberg warned that the company might be looking to pare down expenses for some time to come. With the new cuts, Meta's headcount is closer to where it was two years ago. While the breadth of the November layoffs came as a surprise to many Meta employees, this second round has been expected internally since at least January, as Insider first reported.

Retirement saving for women can be difficult because of pay gaps and time out of the workforce. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox says women should start saving early; automate your savings to make it easy. Low annual fee for investment accounts; crypto trust investments available Check mark icon A check mark. "The way to combat this is to start saving as soon as you can." If you're using an employer-sponsored retirement account, your employer may have instructions on how to set up automatic transfers for yourself.

☆ UK says needs more time to review Apple's alleged App Store monopoly
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator has extended the deadline for its analysis and review into Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) terms and conditions for app developers to May. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in March 2021 opened its investigation into Apple's distribution of apps on iOS and iPadOS devices in the UK. The ongoing probe would consider if Apple has a dominant position in the distribution of apps on its devices in the UK. Reporting by Radhika Anilkumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb ChakrabartyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Tesla, SVB Financial, United, Roblox, JPMorgan Chase, Meta & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

LightShed downgrades Apple to sell from neutral LightShed said in its downgrade of Apple that it sees moderating growth. Baird reiterates Tesla as a top pick Baird said it sees Tesla launching heat pump technology for homes. " Baird upgrades KeyCorp to outperform from neutral Baird said it sees an attractive risk/reward for the regional bank. Baird downgrades Allbirds to neutral from outperform Baird downgraded the footwear company after its disappointing earnings report. " Oppenheimer reiterates Pool Corp as outperform Oppenheimer said it sees a compelling entry point for shares of the pool company.

☆ I was a die-hard Apple iPad fan for over a decade. But I've grown frustrated and have mostly discarded it — I'm not the only one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Michael Gartenberg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Former Apple exec Michael Gartenberg has an iPad Pro and has owned various iPads over the past decade. His iPad used to be his constant travel companion, more used than his laptop — but not anymore. He says the iPad is at an intersection between failure and ongoing success, and Apple must pay attention. So iPad users, like myself, are paying a premium for hardware that is far more advanced than the software we are able to run on it. If Apple wants to continue to succeed with the iPad, it will need to address these challenges head-on.

Real estate crowdfundingReal estate crowdfunding is a strategy that allows enterprises to raise capital from large groups of individuals. Real estate investment trusts (REITs)If you want to wade into real estate, investing in a real estate investment trust (REIT) will provide exposure to the market without the time and cost commitment of buying your own property. Invest in your own homeFinally, if you want to invest in real estate, look closer to home — your own home. Strategies for successful real estate investingWhatever form your real estate investment takes, certain strategies will stand you in good stead. Pure investment plays — which don't involve hands-on management from you — include real estate crowdfunding, investing in real estate limited partnerships, and buying into real estate investment trusts.

☆ Meta planning thousands of more cuts after widespread layoffs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc., left, arrives at federal court in San Jose, California, US, on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022. Meta plans another round of layoffs that could affect thousands of workers, according to a Bloomberg News report published Monday evening. The job cuts could start this week and represent an additional round of layoffs, adding to the 13% of Meta workers who were laid off as part of a major cost-cutting plan announced in November. Zuckerberg has said that he would "take accountability" for the company's previously announced cost-cutting plans, saying that he views layoffs "as a last resort." "We're restructuring teams to increase our efficiency," Zuckerberg said last fall when Meta announced layoffs.

☆ Developers are turning to GitHub Copilot, a ChatGPT-like tool that helps them write code. One startup VP says it helped him save 10% of the time he'd spend coding.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Thomas Maxwell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

GitHub Copilot, launched in 2021, uses generative AI to help programmers write code. Codex is the basis for GitHub Copilot, a tool that functions as a sort of autocomplete for software engineers. At a recent event in San Francisco, he compared using Copilot to a lottery experience. In other words, if developers don't already understand what they're looking for, they'll quickly get stuck using Copilot. "Sure, you could create a basic iOS app with Copilot," Ghazanfar said.

☆ Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana were 'dumb as a rock'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella said voice assistants like Siri and Alexa were "dumb as a rock." Nadella who raved about the voice assistants in 2016 saying "bots are the new apps," has changed his tune since then, the FT reported. "Whether it's Cortana or Alexa or Google Assistant or Siri, all these just don't work. According to Insider Intelligence analysis in 2018, just 2% of global consumers said they used Cortana as their primary voice assistant. Siri's co-creator Adam Cheyer told the FT that ChatGPT's ability to understand complex information makes existing voice assistants look stupid, saying "the previous capabilities have just been too awkward."

☆ TikTok sets automatic one-hour screen time limit for teens
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Rohan Goswami | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

TikTok said Wednesday it will implement an automatic 60-minute screen-time limit for all users under the age of 18. Teens will be able to opt out of the feature if they want, but TikTok said that the app will prompt teens to set a limit if they spend "more than 100 minutes on TikTok in a day." TikTok is taking steps to curb screen time for its younger users as it stares down growing scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers over its security and the safety of children on the platform. A study from the Pew Research Center last August found 67% of American teenagers used TikTok, with 16% of all teens saying they used it "constantly." TikTok parent ByteDance faces a probe from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, also known as CFIUS, over national security concerns.

☆ Microsoft Windows 11 update puts AI-powered Bing front and center
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

(A preview version of the AI tool remains available on a limited basis.) Last year, Microsoft unveiled several AI-powered Windows 11 features, such as quieting background noise like lawnmowers and baby cries on video calls and automatic framing so the camera follows the speaker’s movements. A look at the new Bing on Windows 11 MicrosoftThe Bing integration is just one of several notable updates coming to Windows 11. Apple users will now be able to receive iOS alerts and messages directly on their Windows 11 devices, potentially chipping away at Apple’s closed ecosystem. It’s also adding a Recent Websites feature that allows users to transfer their browser sessions from their smartphone to their Windows PC.

☆ iPhone users will soon be able to send iMessages through their PCs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Phone Link for iOS will let iPhone users send and receive iMessages on their Windows devices. Despite not being able to share photos on Phone Link, iCloud Photos is already integrated into the Windows 11 Photos app. Messages sent from Phone Link appear as iMessages on iPhones, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's head of consumer marketing, told The Verge. "It's something we've been wanting to do for a long time," Mehdi told The Verge about bringing iOS users to Phone Link. However, Apple hasn't budged towards switching to RCS, and CEO Tim Cook has previously said he doesn't hear many Apple users request a change to texting between iPhones and Androids.

Fizz Credit Builder Debit Card ReviewIt's always hard to argue with free services, and Fizz is no exception. With no fees or interest rates, the Fizz debit card offers a cost-effective method for building credit. If you have a good grip on budgeting and controlling your spending, a student credit card or a secured credit card may be a more practical option. How to Get a Fizz CardTo get the Fizz card, you need to download the Fizz app from the Apple app store. Fizz Debit Card Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)How Does Fizz Make Money?

☆ EU narrows antitrust case against Apple over rules for music services like Spotify
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union on Tuesday sent Apple an updated list of objections as part of an ongoing antitrust case over its App Store rules for music streaming providers like Spotify . The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, opened an antitrust investigation into Apple in 2020 after Spotify complained about Apple's license agreements in 2019. The agreements mean that app developers have to pay a 30% commission on all subscription fees that come through the App Store. Spotify, a direct competitor of Apple Music, is "by far" the most popular music streaming service in the U.S. and U.K., among other countries, according to a report by economists at the Analysis Group. IPhone users in the U.S. spend 50% more time on Spotify than Apple music, and in the U.K., the gap is even larger, the report said.

☆ Here are Tuesday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Tesla, Dick's, Costco, Snowflake, Meta, Dish & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Here are Tuesday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Mizuho reiterates Tesla as buy Mizuho said it's standing by its buy rating heading into the company's analyst day on March 1. Barclays reiterates Apple as equal weight Barclays said low growth in the App Store is the "new norm" for Apple. Morgan Stand reiterates Dick's as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating heading into Dick's earnings on March 7. Bank of America downgrades Dish to underperform from buy Bank of America said it sees inflationary pressure for the satellite TV company. Deutsche Bank reiterates Salesforce as buy Deutsche Bank said it's standing by shares of Salesforce heading into earnings on Wednesday.

☆ Apple pays $12.1 mln fine for alleged app market abuse in Russia - Antimonopoly Service
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SummarySummary Companies This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - U.S. tech giant Apple has paid a 906 million rouble ($12.12 million) fine in a Russian antitrust case alleging abuse of its dominance in the mobile apps market, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) said on Monday. "Apple has paid a 906 million rouble antitrust fine," the FAS said in a statement on its Telegram channel. Apple had appealed the decision at various stages, but had been unsuccessful and ultimately complied with the order, the FAS said. Apple paused all product sales in Russia a year ago, after Moscow despatched its armed forces to Ukraine, and limited its Apple Pay service in Russia.

☆ Instagram's top exec says paid blue-check verification could 'help small creators get a leg up,' as he defends Meta Verified
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Meta is testing a monthly paid subscription called Meta Verified on Facebook and Instagram. Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri answered questions about the test and its impact on creators. Meta Verified, a paid subscription that grants users a blue check and streamlined customer service, is already stirring up controversy among creators. "And so we're just testing to see if it is compelling to small creators because we want to help small creators get a leg up." Here were the 3 main takeaways from Mosseri's answers to users' questions about Meta Verified:

☆ Another smartphone supports satellite connectivity, as mobile space race heats up
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-24 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

British smartphone firm Bullitt on Friday launched a new phone capable of sending text messages via space, joining a crowded race to commercialize satellite-enabled devices. They will have to have Bullitt Messenger — the firm's proprietary satellite messaging app — installed in order to reply. Satellite phones have been in the works for decades, but have not yet entered mainstream usage. Bullitt is also launching a Bluetooth accessory, the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, that lets any Android or iOS device connect to its Bullitt Satellite Messenger app, effectively enabling any phone to become a satellite phone. "The company is a trailblazer for satellite messaging but competition is snapping at its heels," Wood told CNBC.

☆ Biggest security benefits, risks with new Meta, Twitter verified identity subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

As Twitter and Meta Platforms move to paid subscriptions for social media identity verification and security, the battle to stay safe online continues. With social engineering and phishing the primary sources of social media account compromise, it's unlikely verified accounts will actually be more secure. "Twitter is only eliminating the SMS-based two-factor authentication capability, and does offer two additional methods for two-factor authentication that are stronger and more reliable than SMS-based authentication," Ramzan said. When signing on for a social media account, try to give away as little personal information as possible, Buzzard said. Aura recommends social media users disable third-party apps that are connected to their social media accounts.

☆ 8 reasons why you need an EIN for your business and how to apply for one
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Lee Huffman | Elizabeth Gravier | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Below, CNBC Select explains how to apply for an EIN for your business and eight reasons why you need one. An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal identification number for your business. These are a few of the most common reasons why you need to apply for an EIN. You cannot open a business bank account for most forms of business without an EIN.. You cannot open a business bank account for most forms of business without an EIN. Best small business resourcesOnce you have your EIN, it will be easier to separate personal and business expenses and take advantage of various small business resources, such as business credit cards, business checking accounts, business savings accounts, business loans and business expense trackers.

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