All posts tagged: Verizon

Chinese Hackers Target Trump Campaign via Verizon Breach

Chinese Hackers Target Trump Campaign via Verizon Breach

Published by skeptic

The Chinese spy operation adds to the growing sense of a melee of foreign digital interference in the election, which has already included Iranian hackers’ attempt to hack and leak emails from the Trump campaign—with limited success—and Russia-linked disinformation efforts across social media. Ahead of the full launch next week of Apple’s AI platform, Apple Intelligence, the company debuted tools this week for security researchers to evaluate its cloud infrastructure known as Private Cloud Compute. Apple has gone to great lengths to engineer a secure and private AI cloud platform, and this week’s release includes extensive detailed technical documentation of its security features as well as a research environment that is already available in the macOS Sequoia 15.1 beta release. The testing features allow researchers (or anyone) to download and evaluate the actual version of PCC software that Apple is running in the cloud at a given time. The company tells WIRED that the only modifications to the software relate to optimizing it to run in the virtual machine for the research environment. Apple also …

Massive Verizon outage: Customers nationwide left without service, phones in ‘SOS mode’

Massive Verizon outage: Customers nationwide left without service, phones in ‘SOS mode’

Published by skeptic

Check out our live blog coverage on the Verizon outage for more up-to-date details on the major cellular network issue. On Monday, Sept. 30, a massive Verizon outage has caused widespread, nationwide connectivity issues for customers across the U.S. Based on Google Trends, there’s been an uptick of people searching for, “Why is my phone in SOS?” This captures the experience that numerous Verizon users have been reporting; many have claimed that their phones are now limited to SOS service. Verizon Down: Widespread outage disrupts customers across U.S. As of 5:03 p.m. ET, DownDetector (a site that shares the same parent company as Mashable) revealed on X that there have been over 1.6 million reports of Verizon outages. Chart showing outage reports across three telecommunication companies Credit: DownDetector Fifty percent say that the issue involves their mobile phone, 35 percent say they’re not getting any signals, and 14 percent say they’re experiencing a total blackout. DownDetector percentages regarding Verizon outage Credit: DownDetector According to DownDetector’s outage map, it appears that outages are concentrated in the …

Best Verizon Phone for 2024

Best Verizon Phone for 2024

Published by skeptic

We test every phone in real-world scenarios, focusing on its features, design, performance, cameras, battery life and overall value. We document our findings in an initial review that is periodically updated when there are new software updates, or to compare it against new phones from competitors such as Apple, Samsung, Google and OnePlus. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 largely has the same camera hardware as the Z Flip 4. But the new chip brings some image processing improvements. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET Photography Photography is a major focus for most phones these days, so we take pictures and videos of various subjects in a variety of settings and lighting scenarios. We try out any new camera modes, such as ProRes log video that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, or the Magic Editor photo tool that launched with the Google Pixel 8 series. Battery life Battery testing is conducted in a variety of ways. We assess how long a phone lasts during a typical day of use and note how it performs during …

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile declare legal war on FCC

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile declare legal war on FCC

Published by skeptic

The U.S.’s major wireless carriers are preparing to challenge the FCC over a fine totaling $200 million. In statements provided to Mashable, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile signaled their intent to appeal the FCC’s fine, which was doled out to the companies for allegedly mishandling customers’ sensitive location-based data.  SEE ALSO: The FCC is reviving net neutrality. But what does that mean? Earlier this week, the FCC announced that it was fining AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile for allegedly selling access to its own customers’ location data to “aggregators.” The aggregators then resold this access to other third-party, location-based service providers.  In one specific case, one of these aggregators, a prison communication service company called Securus, provided access to a Mississippi sheriff who in turn used this data to track the location of people through their cell phones. AT&T, Verizon, & T-Mobile challenge the FCC According to the three big mobile carriers, the FCC is wrongly holding the big telecom companies responsible for the improper use of their customers’ data. “The FCC order lacks both legal …

T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon slapped with 0M fine — here’s what they illegally did with your data

T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon slapped with $200M fine — here’s what they illegally did with your data

Published by skeptic

What does AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile all have in common? Aside from being the four major mobile carriers in the U.S., these companies have also just been slapped with millions in fines from the FCC. Why? AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile allegedly provided location data to third parties without their users’ consent, which is illegal. “Our communications providers have access to some of the most sensitive information about us,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “These carriers failed to protect the information entrusted to them. Here, we are talking about some of the most sensitive data in their possession: customers’ real-time location information, revealing where they go and who they are.”  FCC fines the biggest U.S. mobile carriers According to the FCC, T-Mobile has been fined the largest amount: $80 million. Sprint, which has merged with T-Mobile since the FCC’s investigation began, also received a $12 million fine. Mashable Light Speed AT&T will have to pay more than $57 million and Verizon will dole out close to $47 million. In total, the …

FCC Fines AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Almost 0 Million for Illegally Sharing Customer Location Data

FCC Fines AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Almost $200 Million for Illegally Sharing Customer Location Data

Published by skeptic

The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced [PDF] that it has fined AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint/T-Mobile $196 million collectively for illegally selling access to customer location information without consent. Sprint and T-Mobile (now merged into T-Mobile) have been fined $12 million and $80 million, respectively. Verizon has been fined almost $47 million, and AT&T has been fined more than $57 million. The FCC first began investigating the four major U.S. carriers in 2019 after they were found selling real-time location information from customer devices to third-party data aggregators, which led to that location data being sold a second time to private investigators, bounty hunters, law enforcement agencies, credit card companies, and more. Following the investigation, the FCC confirmed that wireless carriers had violated federal law by sharing consumer location data. Fines were proposed back in 2020, but carriers were given an opportunity to provide evidence and legal arguments against the decision before the fines were formally imposed. The fines vary based on the length of time that each carrier sold access to customer …

ACP Sees Its Final Days: Alternative Internet Assistance at AT&T, Verizon and More

ACP Sees Its Final Days: Alternative Internet Assistance at AT&T, Verizon and More

Published by skeptic

The Affordable Connectivity Program has reached its finals days. April is the last month enrollees will receive the full monthly benefit of $30 to $75, leaving more than 23 million households with significantly higher internet bills come May.  One in five Americans with internet subscriptions currently use the program to help pay for internet, and nearly half the households that take advantage of the ACP are military families, according to a White House fact sheet. Seniors, African Americans and Latinos also use the ACP at higher rates.  “It’s been the difference between choosing to have a roof over my head, whether to eat or whether to pay for the internet, which has things like virtual appointments with my psychiatrist,” Kenneth Sigler, a small-business owner from Hernando, Mississippi, who uses the ACP, told CNET. “It basically helps me to keep from having to choose what bills I’m going to pay.” There is some hope that the program will be extended eventually — President Joe Biden called on lawmakers to extend the program on April 2 — …

Google-backed Glance pilots Android lockscreen platform in US

Google-backed Glance pilots Android lockscreen platform in US

Published by skeptic

Glance, which operates a popular lockscreen platform targeting Android smartphones, is setting its sights on the U.S. market. The Indian startup recently commenced a pilot program in partnership with Motorola and Verizon in the U.S., with plans for a full launch in the country later this year, sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. The Bengaluru-headquartered startup, backed by investors including Google and Jio Platforms, has already made significant inroads in India, Southeast Asia, and Japan, where it expanded last year. According to a person familiar with the matter, Glance’s lockscreen platform today reaches more than 450 million smartphones and is active on about 300 million of them, delivering those customers a customized feed of news, local events, sports updates, media content, and interactive games directly to their lockscreens without requiring them to install additional apps. Glance doesn’t collect personal data of users, instead relying on usage patterns to inform its recommendation engine. A source says that Glance is also working with Qualcomm to build a unique AI-powered lockscreen experience, and that if that partnership …

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals: Up to ,200 Off With Verizon, Trade-In Offers

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 Deals: Up to $1,200 Off With Verizon, Trade-In Offers

Published by skeptic

Even though the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is an older phone now, it’s still an excellent phone to grab, especially since it can save you a significant amount of money. That said, there aren’t a lot of deals around, especially since most places have run out of stock and are selling the Z Fold 5 now, of which you can actually find a few great deals, if you’re so inclined. Still, if you’d rather go for the Fold 4, we’ve found a great deal for you below. This story is part of Samsung Event, CNET’s collection of news, tips and advice around Samsung’s most popular products. The Z Fold 4 is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor and backed by 12GB of RAM. Plus, the book-style foldable has been redesigned with a slimmer, more durable hinge and lighter overall weight. There’s a 6.2-inch outer AMOLED display and a 7.6-inch inner AMOLED display, both of which offer a 120Hz refresh rate. One huge upgrade comes in the camera department, with an array that now includes a 50-megapixel …

Get a free Nintendo Switch and 0 Target gift card when you sign up for Verizon Home Internet now

Get a free Nintendo Switch and $200 Target gift card when you sign up for Verizon Home Internet now

Published by skeptic

Get a free Nintendo Switch when you sign up for the Verizon 5G Home Plus internet plan right now CNET In honor of this month’s Mario Day, Verizon is offering up a Super Mushroom-sized deal for new customers: If you sign up for a Verizon 5G Home Plus or LTE Home Plus plan, you’ll get a free Nintendo Switch, and either a $200 Target gift card or a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go, all included. That’s about $500 in value. Plans start at $45 a month, and include a 5-year price guarantee, so your rate is locked in, with no data limits or annual contracts.  The Verizon 5G Home Plus plan includes high-speed downloads, ultra HD 4K video streaming, and a router and whole-home Wi-Fi kit, as well as access to Verizon Cloud Unlimited to back up photos, videos, and files from all of your devices. Check if it’s available in your area on Verizon’s site. You can also sign up for a Verizon 5G Home plan starting at $35 a month, though that doesn’t come …