Hello Spring! The Weekly Scan is back!
Happy Friday, scanners! It's time for another edition of the Weekly Scan, your go-to source for the Top 3 news from the Tech Universe. My name is Nadya, and I'm here to bring you the latest in a fun and informative way!
Three stories caught my attention this week, and they have one thing in common: phones.
In this day and age, it's almost impossible to meet someone who doesn't carry a mobile phone in their pocket. Whatever brand they may be, our smartphones have become more helpful than Santa's little helpers when it comes to organizing our day-to-day activities, keeping in touch with friends and loved ones, or even tracking our health habits. Nevertheless, they do happen to be at the center of discussion from time to time, like this week, for example. So with no further due, let's dive in, shall we?
Google Pixel and the "aCropalypse"
Uh-oh! A security flaw in Google Pixel’s default screenshot editing utility, Markup, was discovered by reverse engineers Simon Aaarons and David Buchanan. The flaw, known as “aCropalypse,” allows partially “unedited” images to reveal personal information users intended to hide, such as credit card numbers or addresses.
This vulnerability has implications for edited screenshots shared before the update, which could be vulnerable to exploitation by bad actors. The flaw was discovered in Markup, which saves the original screenshot in the same file location as the edited one and never deletes the original version. Although Google has patched the vulnerability, it raises concerns about years worth of older screenshots edited with Markup and shared on social media platforms.
Samsung, under the magnifying glass..AGAIN
Samsung is again under scrutiny for its camera software, this time for adding teeth to pictures of The Verge reader's seven-month-old daughter. The reader tried out the Remaster feature in Samsung's photo-viewing app, Gallery, and expected something like what Google Photos does.
Still, instead, they got the results with the original image on the left and the "Remastered" one on the right. While the feature erases some unsightly snot, it also appears to look at the baby's tongue and immediately jumps to "I know what that should look like a nice row of fully-grown teeth!" The reader also sent a video of the Remaster feature turning their daughter's tongue into teeth in another picture, which makes it seem like it's not just a one-off glitch.
Kuo: USB-C to enable faster charging speeds for iPhone 15 (but only with certified cables)
The iPhone 15 is set to make a significant change by ditching the Lightning connector in favor of USB-C, according to the latest reports. Although USB-C has become an industry standard, Apple plans to limit it somewhat on the iPhone. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the USB-C port will enable faster charging speeds for the iPhone 15, but only with certified cables. The faster charging speeds will only work with Apple-certified USB-C cables, meaning users will need to purchase new cables if they don't have the right ones. Additionally, only the Pro models will support USB 3.2 for faster data transfer speeds, while the regular iPhone 15 models will continue with slower USB 2.0. Despite the limitations, shipments of Apple's 20W USB-C power adapter are expected to increase by up to 120% with the launch of the iPhone 15.
So, folks, that would be all! I hope you enjoyed this week's installment of the Weekly Scan. Let me know what news stood out the most, and don't forget to tune in next Friday!
Nadya from Fing