Use LastPass? Change Every Password Now

A significant data breach at popular password manager LastPass has put customers' data and internet passwords at risk.

LastPass CEO Karim Toubba confirmed in a blog post published in late December that a security problem the company previously disclosed in August had ultimately resulted in the theft of sensitive vault data and customer account information by an unauthorized person. The problem is the most recent in a long, worrying line of security occurrences involving LastPass that go all the way back to 2011.

It gets to be more concerning as this goes on.

According to Toubba, unencrypted subscriber account data like LastPass usernames, company names, billing addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses were accessible to an unauthorized party. The data from client vaults, which includes both encrypted and unencrypted information including usernames and passwords for all the websites that customers have saved in their vaults, was also stolen by the same unauthorized entity. While they say the encrypted should remain safe, it is better to expect that a risk still remains there.

If you use LastPass, you should consider switching to a new password manager due to the seriousness of this breach, which puts your passwords and personal information at danger.

The number of users who were impacted by the breach was not disclosed by the company. However, if you use LastPass, you must assume that your user and vault data are in the possession of an unauthorized person who has bad intents. Despite the fact that the most critical information is encrypted, the threat actor can still conduct powerful assaults on the stolen local files. If you've adhered to LastPass's best practices, it would reportedly take "millions of years" for someone to guess your master password.

If you haven't changed your individual passwords as of yet, you better get started on it this week.

Can a Tablet Be A Handheld Game Console? Razer Edge says Yes

 Razer is trying their hand again at handheld gaming with a tablet larping as a handheld game console.

They released a new version of the Razer Edge that they are marketing as a Nintendo Switch competitor. The new version of a 6.8 tablet that has 2 versions available, including one with a 5G network that is hosted by Verizon. Starting price for it is $400.00, making it costly for an Android tablet, which is what it is at the heart of the system.

The tablet comes with a 6.8 AMOLED display that is a bright screen (it has a 2,400 x 1,080 pixel display with a 144Hz refresh rate), and the G3X chipset that has a cooling ability in order to support streaming games that will allow people to play on Xbox Cloud or Steam Link. It doesn't offer a lot of space to save games or files as it comes with 128GB of storage. Luckily it can be expanded up to 2TB using microSD card. 

It also comes with a Kishi V2 Pro controller to attach it to, to make it more gaming friendly. It can be removed and replaced, if needed. 

Since this is a tablet, it does come with Google Playstore, Razer's Nexus App that allows you to capture and stream the play, and you can access other game streaming services like Xbox Cloud. Of course you can also download games for local play too.

Now here is the quicker, who is this for and what makes the Razer Edge better than a dedicated handheld game system?

That is a good question, especially when you consider the price point and the fact that this is a glorified tablet. You could buy a controller for your Android phone or tablet for a whole lot cheaper and have a very similar experience. But the one area this device shines is for people wanting to get into game streaming and replay video capture. For the price point, you likely cannot beat this as a decent starting device to see if you even like or enjoy the game streaming process.

What do you think about the Razer Edge and do you want to try it out?

Medium To Accept AI Written Articles with a Catch

If you have lived anywhere recently outside of being under a rock, then you likely have heard of the craze for AI writers and ChatGPT. This new application of AI has certainly perked up the ears of many, including writers and people who want to start freelancing. This has caused some concern among online publishers and content mills, especially those who either pay for the content or want to be a leader in a certain industry. This means many publishers have either not addressed the new system or some may have even advised against it, but one may be looking to shake it all up; Medium.

Medium is a type of site that allows you to publish with a byline and perhaps even to earn a little bit of money from the side. Thus, it seems like a perfect platform for some ChatGPT enthusiasts to set their sights on. Well lucky for them; Medium has announced they will accept people to use it to assist with their articles, but they need to disclose that the article was aided by the use of it.

Those who try to be sneaky and see if they sneak it by, their articles will not be promoted by Medium's recommendation section. This is different from other sites and publishers who have actually banned the use of ChatGPT. While Medium is being friendly to it, they also confirmed that they can revise or change this policy at anytime thanks to this being a very new tool. So don't get too comfortable with the use of it.

How do you feel about Medium accepting AI tools for now? Should it be banned by publishers? Can it change how writing is done and should we welcome its use? Share your thoughts below.

Zoom Being Targeted by Hackers for Your Details

 Zoom has become a part of life for many in both personal and business, which has sadly made it a prime target for hackers. 

It was recently announced that hackers had found a way to use malware called IceID to target Zoom users to attempt to steal user's details. Luckily it has been caught and stopped, but now the worry remains others will attempt to do the same with their own malware. 

IceID was a loader that spread through Zoom application that was modified. A loader basically means the malware would then in turn and load more types of malware sort of like a trojan horse, which this would be done after they stole the personal information that they were after. Because after they stole the details they added more malware, it does make it more tough to rid the computer system of the infection without doing a clean wipe and fresh installation of the OS.

While you may have heard of this infection before and it being spread the more traditional ways of malware, this one decided to use the phishing method and trick users into clicking a link that looks like the official Zoom invites. 

The good news is that the site now appears to be down, but that doesn't mean new attempts won't be made to replace it. As always, we should be prepared and always be careful of any links that arrive in our inboxes. Hackers are becoming smarter and more savvy, which means we must remain on our toes. When in doubt, always reach out to who appears to have sent the invite, check the email address it came from and never click on links from stores or other businesses that are sent via email that you did not ask for.

Have you been targeted by IceID's fake Zoom link?

You Need a Dedicated Mobile Hotspot in Your LIfe

Welcome to 2023, a year where remote jobs are just as a hot as they were at the peak of the pandemic. We know everyone loves being able to be remote and work from home, which I certainly do not blame. But if you have worked long enough as a remote employee pre-pandemic, then you likely encountered the annoying issue of your internet connection going down mid-day. 

After at first running to your router and modem to do a hard reboot, you may find yourself resigning to desperation of staying in your pajamas and pulling your smartphone out to hope you have enough data to run your mobile hotspot (if your provider even offers a hotspot). If you are lucky enough to be successful to connect, your mind then wonders to the next issue, do you have enough data to last for the rest your work day, or you may find yourself running to a local coffee shop.

Well, those days do not have exist anymore. You can find and buy a dedicated mobile hotspot that will not run your phone out of data and allows you to easily add more data if needed. The sweet deal can be a life changer, especially if you live in an area where weather can knock out your internet connection for periods of time. 

Now here is the possible kicker, how do you know which one to pick? That is where this guide comes into play, as I try to find different ones that may fit your different needs and includes budget considerations as those can make or break you.

Here are a few different options to pick from if you are on the hunt for one.

T-Mobile Franklin T9 Mobile Hotspot 4G LTE Wireless WiFi

$23.95

T-9 is one of the more budget models, though a SIM card is not included which is likely what helps to keep it more budget friendly. With its integrated Wi-Fi AP, the LTE mobile hotspot T9 can support 15 device connections at once. T9 offers seamless wireless data connection whenever needed, wherever it goes, thanks to advanced LTE technology and multi band support. You may easily recognize the state of their device's service thanks to the nice OLED display's distinctive icons and text panel. You can easily carry it everywhere because to its chic, pocket-sized, semi-rugged design.

Total by Verizon Konnection 4G LTE Prepaid Mobile HotSpot

$43.89

SIM card is also included in this locked, prepaid device. Unlike the 2 previous listed models, this one is for prepaid only and may be a good fit for those who are not fans of contracts or may not be able to get approved for one. It requires a 30 day prepaid plan and allows you to connect up to 16 devices at once. The battery life isn't great, with it lasting up to 7 hours on one charge.

AT&T Prepaid MOXEE K779 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot 

$54.49

This one does include a SIM card, hence why the price is higher. You can use AT&T or FirstNet as the provider for this device. With download rates of 150 Mbps, a color display and being small, portable, and simple to use, it may be the right fit for you. It has a long battery life allows for hours of connectivity constant, lightning-fast, and portable internet connection. 

SIMO Solis Lite 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot

$139.99

This one is a bit higher than the first 3, but that is expected from a device that supports both local and international coverage. No SIM card or contract is required for this fun looking hotspot, as it uses a virtual SIM and can connect you to muiltiple carries. You can connect up to 10 devices at once and it's battery life is suppose to last up to 16+ hours on one charge.

NETGEAR Nighthawk M1 4G LTE WiFi Mobile Hotspot 

$287.97

This one is the highest priced, but it comes with good recommendations and can be used with almost any carrier SIM. Sadly that means you do have to purchase your own, and it does not work with Sprint legacy network. AT&T and T-Mobile are the ones that NETGEAR suggests. You can connect up to 20 devices at once, features a 5040mAH rechargeable battery that they say lasts up to 13 hours on a single charge.  

Have you tried any of these 5 mobile hotspots, and what did you think of it? Or perhaps you have a different one that you used and adored? Share in the comments below.

Will ChatGPT Take Over The World?

Since Open AI's popular chatbot ChatGPT was launched in November, the tool has inspired a number of unofficial experiments.

This may feel like a throwback to older millennials who used IRC back in the day, only they chatted with presumed humans. Chat GPT is actually an AI robot that is not sentient being and that has caused some eyebrows to be raised. 

Despite of people growing up to films showing AI rising above and taking over the world, experts do not believe that a full AI takeover is inevitable.

Shakespeare can be written by an unlimited ways beyond Shakespeare himself, according to Matthew Sag, an Emory University law professor who studies the legal ramifications of training and exploiting the massive language models like ChatGPT.

He shared that while big language models can be incredibly helpful, a very fine line between them and humans still exists.

Massive amounts of data and fancy computational methods enable these AI chat bots like GPT to predict how to put together words in a proficient way. They have been programmed to have a broad vocabulary and ability to comprehend words in context. This enables them to convey extensive knowledge while emulating certain language patterns.

Other major information tech companies, including Google and Meta, have started working on their own impressive language model tools that rely on refined response-generating software that will react to what is inputted into it. In a surprising move, Open AI also developed a user interface that is open to the general public to try it out

Modern attempts to launch chat bots for real-world support have been problematic because they produced peculiar results. In January 2023, the mental health firm Koko faced critic after its founder announced that they had conducted an experiment using GPT-3 to respond to customers. This was not previously revealed to the customers who felt betrayed by this news.

Koko's cofounder Rob Morris, hastened to clear up on Twitter that although users weren't conversing directly with a bot as expected,  AI was being used to craft responses.

The contentious DoNotPay business's creator also added  that in the future that an AI  created "lawyer" will give defendants legit legal advice in courtrooms for traffic cases. The GPT-3 backed chatbot insists that it can be used to assist with resolving customer service issues.

Some researchers are being more cautious with their AI tools in real life use. The efficacy of technology in the judicial field is studied by Daniel Linna Jr., a professor at Northwestern University. He disclosed to Business Insider that he is working on an experimental chatbot named "Rentervention" that will help tenants.

The "Rentervention" bot  utilizes Google Dialogueflow technology, which is a similar language modeling tool. Linna confirmed that they are testing out ChatGPT to see if it may help "Rentervention" write better responses than what they are currently using.

Linna believes that ChatGPT has a lot of potential to change the face of customer service, but also does not expect it to be 100% perfect fit for their needs.

This is inline with what Open AI, which also says that their product can produce varied solutions.

WhatsApp Says, Go Text Yourself!

Another new function is now being added to the well-known, global instant messaging software WhatsApp. Users will now be able to communicate themselves using the messaging platform after this upgrade, much like how it is currently allowed in apps like Telegram.

Before this upgrade, you had to make a group for yourself on WhatsApp in order to send yourself a message. To initiate a new chat, users can, however, select themselves from the contact list using this capability. As a result, you may now transmit messages, URLs, stickers, and other content that is personalized for you.

Even though texting oneself may seem strange, many individuals do it to save crucial data and make personal notes that can be quickly accessed later on another device. The most recent version of WhatsApp is currently rolling out this capability to all users after it was tested using the beta version of the program for the iPhone.

That's not all, though. Other recent additions to WhatsApp include the option to search for messages by date, drag-and-drop capability for media sharing, and an undo button for deleted messages, according to BGR.

This can be seen as exciting news for people who need to make a note on the go or need to transfer data from one device to another. I know that I have certainly texted myself before with the likes of Google Voice for those said reasons.

Will you be using this new feature?