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French authorities arrest Telegram’s CEO

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French authorities arrest Telegram’s CEO

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov is reportedly in custody after being arrested near Paris Saturday evening as he was departing his private jet. The billionaire was apprehended on a warrant related to a preliminary investigation, writes Reuters.

French authorities believe that the platform’s lack of moderation has “allowed criminal activity to go on undeterred on the messaging app.” Durov will go before a judge tonight and could be indicted as early as Sunday, according to sources for TF1 TV (which we read using Google Translate), one of two French outlets cited by Reuters.

Telegram has become a critical resource as people turn to it to find crucial information in places where heavy information censorship is common, such as Russia. But Durov’s preference for hands-off moderation has also helped make it a haven for bad actors, with the platform only controlling its content when it’s forced to do so by other governments and organizations.

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How Meta AI can be your new digital assistant on the tech giant's platforms

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How Meta AI can be your new digital assistant on the tech giant's platforms

Meta’s artificial intelligence chatbot, powered by Llama 3, is designed to make your online experience smoother and more enjoyable across platforms like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. Imagine having a helpful assistant that can quickly answer your questions, provide useful information and even help you create content — all right at your fingertips.

Whether you’re looking for quick facts, inspiration for your next project or just want to explore new topics, Meta AI can be a handy tool. 

However, it’s important to stay aware of privacy concerns and the possibility of inaccuracies. We’ll show you how to make the most of Meta’s AI while keeping your personal information safe and ensuring the information you receive is accurate.

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Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

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Understanding Meta AI’s capabilities

Meta AI is designed to answer questions, provide information and compose content, making it a versatile tool for users. It integrates seamlessly into Meta’s social media platforms, allowing you to interact with it through familiar interfaces. However, the chatbot’s reliance on Meta’s infrastructure has raised privacy concerns, given the company’s history with data management.

Meta AI 2

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

HOW TO EASILY USE AI-POWERED WEB DESIGN TO BUILD YOUR OWN SITE  

Ensuring your privacy when using Meta AI

To maintain your privacy while using Meta AI, you might consider not logging in with your Facebook account. This choice can help keep your personal data more secure, as it limits the amount of information Meta can use for AI training purposes. However, not logging in comes with certain limitations. For instance, you may not be able to save a conversation history or sync chats across different platforms, which could reduce the convenience and functionality of the AI features.

HOW TO REMOVE YOUR PRIVATE DATA FROM THE INTERNET 

How to use Meta AI on different platforms

On the Web

Meta AI is accessible through its dedicated website, providing a user-friendly interface for various tasks. You can log in using your Facebook account to save conversation history and sync chats, enhancing your experience. For those concerned about privacy, the site can be used without logging in; however, this may restrict certain features.

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Navigate to the site: Open your web browser and go to www.meta.ai. The site is compatible with both mobile and desktop devices.

Sign in for full features: To take full advantage of Meta AI’s capabilities, log in with your Facebook account. This allows you to save your conversation history and access personalized features.

Start a conversation: After logging in, type your queries into the chat box. Meta AI can assist you with a variety of tasks, including generating text, answering questions and providing creative suggestions.

Create visuals: To generate images, type a detailed prompt starting with “Imagine.” For example, “Imagine a tiger wearing a vest drinking tea at a cafe.” Then, submit your prompt by clicking the up arrow. Meta AI will generate four images based on your description, which you can download or modify.

Meta AI 3

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

Using Meta AI without logging in: If you choose not to log in, you can still interact with Meta AI. However, your conversation history will not be saved, and some functionalities, like generating images, are not available.

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Meta AI 4

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

TOYS”R” US AI-GENERATED AD SPARKS FEAR AND FASCINATION  

On Facebook

Within the Facebook app, Meta AI can help you find information and explore topics related to posts.

Use the Search Function: Within the Facebook app, tap the search icon to interact with Meta AI. You can ask questions or explore topics related to posts without leaving the app.

Verify Information: It’s advisable to verify any factual information obtained because AI-generated responses may not always be accurate.

Meta AI 5

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

WILD NEW WAY TO SEARCH FOR ANYTHING, ANYWHERE WITH GOOGLE’S ‘CIRCLE TO SEARCH’ AI FEATURE  

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On Messenger

Meta AI is integrated into Messenger, where it can answer your questions and provide advice.

Start a conversation: In a chat, type @MetaAI to invite Meta AI into the conversation. This allows the AI to provide recommendations, answer questions or offer creative inspiration.

Enhance chats: Use Meta AI to enhance group chats with advice, recommendations or to settle debates.

Meta AI 6

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

On Instagram

Using Meta AI on Instagram is easy.

Open the App: Launch Instagram on your mobile device and tap the search icon at the bottom of the screen.

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Interact with Meta AI: You can either choose one of the suggestions that appears or type in your own query. For instance, if you need skin care tips, type “5 tips for glowing skin” where it says Ask Meta Ai or Search, and then Meta AI will provide answers.

Meta AI 7

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

On WhatsApp

Meta AI can be utilized seamlessly in WhatsApp, enhancing your messaging experience.

Access Meta AI: Open WhatsApp and navigate to the Chats screen. Tap on the Ask Meta AI or Search field to start interacting.

Get Suggestions: For example, if planning a vacation, you can ask, “What are some fun activities to do in Bali?” Meta AI will offer tailored suggestions.

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Group Chats: In group chats, type “@Meta AI” followed by your question. The AI will respond within the chat, allowing everyone to see the conversation.

Meta AI 8

Meta’s AI chatbot  (Meta)

By using Meta AI across these platforms, you can enhance your social media experience, making it easier to find information and create engaging content.

No off switch for Meta AI 

Meta’s recent integration of AI into the search bars of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has left some users looking for ways to turn it off. Unfortunately, there’s no simple way to disable this new feature.

Meta AI is now a core part of the search functionality across Meta’s platforms. There’s no option in the settings to remove or disable it from the search bars. While this may frustrate users who prefer a more traditional search experience, Meta seems committed to keeping AI as a central part of its apps. If you’re not a fan of the AI suggestions, you can still use the search functions as you normally would. Simply ignore the AI prompts and type your query as usual. The regular search results will still appear alongside any AI-generated suggestions.

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It’s worth noting that Meta hasn’t provided an opt-out option for this AI integration. This suggests it views it as an essential part of how search now works across its apps rather than an optional feature.

While some users may need time to adjust to this new AI-powered search experience, it seems Meta AI is here to stay for the foreseeable future. The best approach for now is to learn to work around it if you prefer not to engage with the AI features.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Meta’s AI chatbot is a big game changer in how we interact with technology on social media, offering a variety of helpful features across platforms like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp. While this tool can enhance your online experience, it’s important to be mindful of privacy concerns and the possibility of inaccuracies in the information it provides. By learning how to use Meta AI effectively and taking care to protect your personal information, you can fully enjoy the benefits of this innovative tool while minimizing risks.

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What are your thoughts on the role of AI in our daily lives and how do you see it impacting your interactions on social media and beyond? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover

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European iPhones are more fun now

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European iPhones are more fun now

Whining about stuff is a treasured American pastime, so allow me to indulge: the iPhone is more fun in Europe now, and it’s not fair.

They’re getting all kinds of stuff because they have cool regulators, not like, regular regulators. Third-party app stores, the ability for browsers to run their own engines, Fortnite, and now the ability to replace lots of default apps? I want it, too! Imagine if Chrome on iOS wasn’t just a rinky dink little Safari emulator! Imagine downloading a new dialer app with a soundboard of fart sounds and setting it as your default! Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t seem interested in sharing these possibilities with everyone.

But outside of emulators and its begrudging adoption of RCS, Apple only seems interested in doing the bare minimum to keep regulators off its back. It’s starting to look like the company sells two different iPhones: one for people in Europe, and one that everyone else can buy. That’s weird, especially since keeping things simple and consistent is sort of Apple’s thing. But the company is so committed to keeping the two separate that it won’t even let you update apps from third-party app stores if you leave the EU for more than a month.

Here’s the thing: wouldn’t it just be good business to offer everyone the same choices no matter where they live? It’s not as if Apple was making two different iPhones to try to appeal to different cultural preferences. It’s making one iPhone that’s more flexible and customizable, and one that isn’t.

Maybe, bit by bit, Apple will cave in and offer parity the way it did with emulators. But think the company should make an uncharacteristic move: drop the charade and let everyone, everywhere have the same iPhone. It would be bold! Courageous, even! But most importantly, it would be a lot more fun.

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Microsoft apps on macOS could be your biggest privacy threat

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Microsoft apps on macOS could be your biggest privacy threat

Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams are so popular (and useful) that they’re nearly unavoidable, whether you’re on a Windows computer or a Mac. However, these apps can become a hacker’s paradise on Apple Macs due to an unpatched vulnerability.

A cybersecurity research group has revealed that Microsoft apps on Macs have a security flaw that could allow hackers to access your photos, videos, contacts and almost all of your private data. 

The worst part? Microsoft doesn’t consider it a big enough threat to fix.

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Microsoft ad. (Microsoft)

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Vulnerabilities in Microsoft apps expose users to unauthorized data access

The cybersecurity research group Cisco Talos has discovered security vulnerabilities in Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams and Word. These vulnerabilities allow attackers to inject malicious libraries into these apps, giving them access to the apps’ permissions and user-granted entitlements.

To understand why that’s dangerous, let’s first look at macOS’s framework. Mac devices operate on a permission-based system and rely on the Transparency, Consent and Control (TCC) framework. You’ve probably noticed that every time you download a new app, you’re asked to grant permission for it to run. Similarly, when an app wants to access sensitive information like contacts, photos or webcams, you’re prompted to allow or block access.

This system ensures that you know and trust the apps that have access to your private information. However, Apple doesn’t allow just any app to request access to sensitive data — only those with the proper entitlements, meaning apps that Apple has authorized to make such requests. Apps without these entitlements won’t prompt you for permission to access sensitive data.

The Microsoft apps mentioned above have these entitlements, and the security flaw within them allows hackers to bypass permission requests and access your sensitive information.

“We identified eight vulnerabilities in various Microsoft applications for macOS, through which an attacker could bypass the operating system’s permission model by using existing app permissions without prompting the user for any additional verification,” the researchers explain.

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For example, a hacker could design malicious software to read your emails or view your browsing history without you even knowing. “All apps, except for Excel, can access sensitive data like your emails and web activity,” the group adds.

macs

Macs on a desk. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

4.3 MILLION AMERICANS EXPOSED IN MASSIVE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT DATA BREACH

Is Microsoft working on a fix?

Microsoft considers the security flaws “low risk” and has declined to fix them in some apps. “Microsoft considers these issues low risk, and some of their applications, they claim, need to allow loading of unsigned libraries to support plugins and have declined to fix the issues,” the Cisco Talos research group said.

Microsoft updated the Teams and OneNote apps on macOS to change how they handle the library validation entitlement. However, Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook remain vulnerable to the exploit.

Cisco Talos hasn’t provided a working example of how this vulnerability could be exploited in real-world attacks. They also haven’t confirmed whether hackers have used the flaw to access users’ sensitive information yet.

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A woman working on her Mac laptop. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

A NEW RUSSIAN THREAT TARGETS OVER 100 APPLE MACOS BROWSER EXTENSIONS

Microsoft and Apple’s response 

We reached out to Microsoft, and a company spokesperson offered this statement:

“The disclosed cases do not pose a significant security risk as the technique described requires the attacker to already have a certain level of access to the system. However, we have implemented several updates for added protection, as detailed in the report. As a best practice, customers should keep their software updated and regularly review application permissions.” 

We also contacted Apple but did not hear back by our deadline. 

What can you do to protect your data?

There’s not much you can do to protect yourself in this situation unless Microsoft patches the vulnerability. Still, below are some steps you can take to minimize the risk.

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1. Keep your apps updated: Regularly check for updates to your Microsoft apps through the Mac App Store or the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool. Even though not all vulnerabilities may be addressed, updates often include important security patches that reduce your risk of exploitation.

2. Limit permissions: Go to your macOS settings and review the permissions granted to Microsoft apps. Disable access to sensitive data like your camera, microphone, contacts, and calendar unless absolutely necessary. For example, if you rarely use the camera in Teams, you can revoke its access. Here’s how to do it:

  • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Settings.”
  • In the System Settings window, scroll down and select “Privacy & Security” from the sidebar.
  • Within the Privacy & Security section, you’ll find various categories such as Camera, Microphone, Contacts and Calendars. Click on each category to see which apps have access.
  • For each category, find Microsoft apps (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Outlook) and uncheck them to revoke access if unnecessary. For example, if you rarely use the camera in Teams, you can uncheck it in the Camera section.
  • Close the System Settings window to save your changes. The apps will no longer have access to the specified data unless you grant it again in the future.

For earlier macOS versions, the steps to limit permissions for Microsoft apps are slightly different. Here’s how you can do it:

  • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
  • In the System Preferences window, click on “Security & Privacy.”
  • In the Security & Privacy window, go to the “Privacy” tab.
  • On the left sidebar, you’ll see various categories such as Camera, Microphone, Contacts and Calendars.
  • Click on each category to see which apps have access.
  • To make changes, you may need to click the lock icon in the bottom-left corner and enter your administrator password.
  • Find the Microsoft apps (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Outlook) and uncheck them to revoke access if unnecessary.
  • Close the Security & Privacy window to save your changes. The apps will no longer have access to the specified data unless you grant it again in the future.

These steps help ensure that Microsoft apps on your macOS have limited access to sensitive data, enhancing your privacy and security.

3. Consider alternatives: If you’re concerned about security, consider using alternative office software that is less susceptible to these vulnerabilities. Apple’s suite of productivity apps, including Pages, Numbers and Keynote, are designed specifically for macOS and offer robust security features. These apps can serve as viable replacements for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, respectively.

Additionally, Google Workspace offers cloud-based tools like Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, which are accessible from any device and provide strong security measures. By switching to these alternatives, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized data access and maintain better control over your personal information.

4. Use strong antivirus software: The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information on your Mac is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

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MASSIVE SECURITY FLAW PUTS MOST POPULAR BROWSERS AT RISK ON MAC

Kurt’s key takeaway

While Microsoft apps like Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams are indispensable tools for many, their vulnerabilities on macOS pose significant security risks. The discovery highlights how these apps can be exploited to access sensitive data without your consent. Despite the seriousness of these findings, Microsoft’s decision not to address all vulnerabilities leaves you in a precarious position. It’s crucial for you to stay vigilant by keeping your apps updated, limiting permissions and considering alternative software solutions to safeguard your data. As technology evolves, so do the threats, making it essential for you to prioritize security.

How should Microsoft take responsibility for ensuring your security and privacy in light of identified vulnerabilities in its applications? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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