Latest news with #techsupport
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Google said that some Pixel 6a units run the risk of catching on fire. They weren't kidding
A Pixel 6a user woke up Friday after hearing a loud noise. While his senses were returning to him, he noticed a bad smell. His Pixel 6a had already caught on fire. Pulling the device by the cord, he dropped it on the tile floor. The phone had been on the nightstand only 40 cm (1 1/4 feet) away from his head. The bed sheets caught on fire, and the phone owner had inhaled so much smoke that his throat bothered him the rest of the day. A Pixel 6a is burnt to a crisp as Google worries about. | Image credit-Imgbb The update was supposed to be released on July 8th, and only impacted Pixel 6a units will have certain changes made to their battery once the phone completes 400 charging cycles. When that occurs, owners of impacted Pixel 6a models should notice: Shorter battery life between charges Reduction in charging performance Temporary changes to the battery-level indicator as the Pixel 6a is forced to recalibrate after the update. At 375 charging cycles, Pixel 6a users with impacted units will receive a notification to alert them that their battery is about to get a reduction in capacity and charging performance after 400 charging cycles. Impacted Pixel 6a models are eligible for a free battery replacement. Check out this page to learn about the Pixel 6a Battery Performance Program. To have your Pixel 6a officially declared impacted, tap on this link and enter your phone's unique IMEI number in the proper field. To find your IMEI, go to Support > About phone . Scroll down and you should see your IMEI number. Another way to get it is to dial *#06# from your phone. Select the 15-digit number. Copy and paste the number into the box. If you're on your computer, enter the number into the box. Even if your Pixel 6a is impacted and you are entitled to a free battery replacement, you'll need to have your phone inspected, since certain issues will allow Google to refuse to give you the free battery replacement. These issues include "liquid damage, exposure to sharp objects, or excessive force (e.g., a heavily cracked screen that affects the integrity of the device). "In these cases, Google might offer you other options or give you an estimate to pay to have the necessary additional repairs made. Once those repairs are made, you would qualify for the free battery replacement. The bottom line is that once your Pixel 6a is determined to be an impacted model, you can choose from one of the following options: A free battery replacement: This is available at walk-in repair centers in certain countries such as the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, Singapore, Japan, and India. You can have your device taken care of via mail in the U.S. and India. Cash payment: Reports say this cash payment from Google will amount to $100 (converted to local currency). Google Store credit: Reports say that those with an impacted Pixel 6a who choose this option will get $150 Google Store credit (converted to local currency) that can be used towards the purchase of another Pixel device or other Google Store purchases. If your Pixel 6a is found to be impacted, you have until July 8th, 2026, to choose which of the above options you want from Google. Not all Pixel 6a users feel safer once Google sent out the update to throttle the battery and reduce the charging capabilities. As one device user wrote on social media, "I feel like their update that nerfed the battery actually made it worse. I never had any overheating issues with my 6a, then after the update, it started getting super hot. I got the battery replacement and it's fine now." It's obvious that some Pixel 6a models are dangerous. If you own a Pixel 6a , you owe it to yourself and the people you live with to swap out the battery or use credit from Google to buy a new device. If you haven't put the wheels in motion yet, do it now! Remember, back in May a Pixel 6a with a swollen battery exploded.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
FBI Confirms Phantom Hacker Warning For All Android And iPhone Users
Beware the Phantom Hacker, FBI warns smartphone users. When the FBI issues a public service advisory, you'd be well advised to take note, in my never humble opinion. Whether the subject of that cybersecurity alert is an attack on routers, the latest ransomware threat warning, or involves a password-stealing, 2FA bypass. Of particular note, however, are the FBI warnings that relate specifically to smartphone users, given how ubiquitous the things are now. The latest has just been posted to the X, formerly known as Twitter, social media platform by the FBI Los Angeles, which warns that a series of phantom hacker attacks can see smartphone users losing their life savings. Here's what you need to know and do. The FBI Phantom Hacker Warning A July 15 posting to X, by the official FBI Los Angeles account, served to remind all smartphone users, be they of the Android or iPhone persuasion, to beware of so-called Phantom Hackers scams. These are the FBI warning outlined, 'where cyber criminals use a 3-prong attack against victims using tech support, financial institution, & government impersonation scams simultaneously.' The payout, if successful? Your life savings. That posting actually references a much older threat, one that was first flagged by the FBI public service announcement, alert number I-091223-PSA, way back in September 2023. Nothing, however, has changed since then, and the fact that the FBI has seen fit to bring the scam back into the public consciousness now should be all the warning that you need to take it very seriously indeed. So, what is a Phantom Hacker scam? Simply put, the FBI explained that the attack layers 'imposter tech support, financial institution, and government personas' in an effort to engender trust in the victim as well as to 'identify the most lucrative accounts to target.' Should you be on the end of such an attack, the FBI warned, victims face 'the loss of entire banking, savings, retirement, or investment accounts under the guise of protecting their assets.' The three-phase attacks comprise: The FBI has requested victims should report these activities to their local FBI field office and the FBI IC3 at
Phone Arena
3 days ago
- Phone Arena
FBI tells you how to protect yourself from this scam that "ends with you losing your savings"
The FBI has issued the latest in a series of serious warnings to smartphone users. In the past, the agency has warned smartphone owners about dangerous emails designed to get them to reveal the passwords they use to safeguard their financial apps and protect their banking, crypto, and securities accounts. Now, the FBI is telling connected consumers to worry once again about "The Phantom Hacker Scam," a well-designed scam created to wipe out many smartphone users. "It starts with an unsolicited message, and it ends with you losing your savings," the FBI says. The warning heats up as the FBI says, "The threat is growing fast." The scam starts with communication from the victim's bank via text or email telling them in an urgent manner that they need to call tech support for assistance. When they call the phone number listed in the message, they're told by an imposter pretending to work at the bank that their funds are at immediate risk from a hacker who broke into one of their devices. This is all bogus, of course. The hacker is as fake as the bank employee who tell the victim that he will help him over the phone go through the process of securing his device. To do this, the fake bank employee will pretend to transfer the victim to tech support, and another one of the scammers will pick up the phone to say that he is from the bank's tech support unit. He goes on to tell the victim that a special app needs to be installed on his phone so the bank can check out the level of security on the device. If this ever happens to you and you get to this point, do not allow the app that the bogus bank employees are pushing on you to be installed on your phone. If you do, they will ask you to check your bank accounts for fraudulent transactions. They will do this by asking you to open your banking, securities, or crypto apps. They might ask you to show them the most recent statements from these accounts which can be opened via an app or a website using your phone's mobile browser. The thing is, thanks to the app they asked you to install, whatever you see on your phone, they can see. That's why you should not agree to have the app they suggest you add to your device, installed on your phone, tablet, or any other connected device you use. FBI warns the public about the Phantom Hacker Scam. | Image credit-FBI If you don't heed this warning, the scammers will now know exactly how much is in your account and where that cash is. They will then tell you that they can help you move your money to a safe account, which they promise will keep your money away from the made-up hacker they might have told you earlier was a threat to the safety of your funds. The safe account is actually their own bank account or crypto wallet. The transfer is made, and your money is gone forever. To prevent this from happening to you, do not respond to any text, email, or pop-up that is trying to get you to respond to the missive through your fear. These scammers know that if they make you concerned about a made-up hacker, you are going to respond a specific way, and that way is to follow what they tell you to do. The FBI is calling this the "Phantom Hacker Attack" since the attackers make up the story that the victim's bank account is being threatened by a hacker that doesn't exist. Again, that creates fear and the fear can be used to motivate the victim to install a tracking app. Back in 2023, when this scam was originally the subject of warnings by the FBI, the agency suggested that consumers take the following steps to prevent themselves from becoming another victim: Do not click on unsolicited pop-ups, links sent via text messages, or email links or attachments. Do not contact the telephone number provided in a pop-up, text, or email. Do not download software at the request of an unknown individual who contacted you. Do not allow an unknown individual who contacted you to have control of your computer. The US Government will never request you send money via wire transfer to foreign accounts, cryptocurrency, or gift/prepaid cards. Use your common sense and don't let your emotions take over, driving you to do something or agree to something that you'd ordinarily never do. Switch to Total Wireless and buy 2 months of a 5G Unlimited plan to score the phone free! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
FBI Warning—Do Not Install This App On Your PC Or Smartphone
It starts with a message — it ends with you losing your life savings. Republished on July 24 with new malicious call warnings and advice for victims. 'It starts with an unsolicited message,' the FBI warns, 'and it ends with you losing your savings.' Attacks are now surging across the U.S., targeting citizens with malicious texts, emails and popups. And per the latest warnings, with dangerous apps as well. 'The threat is growing fast,' the bureau says, as citizens across the U.S. are contacted by their banks with messages urging them to 'call tech support for assistance.' When you respond, you're told your money is at immediate risk from a hacker who has broken into one of your devices, and that you will be guided through a process to keep it safe. But the 'hacker' is a phantom. The real threat comes from the person you're speaking with on the phone — or rather the people. You will speak with more than one. Because you've been 'hacked,' tech support will help you install an app to allow them to verify the security on your device. Once that app is installed, they will ask you to check your bank accounts for fraudulent transactions. But as you do so, the attackers can see what you have and where it is. The scammers will then continue to 'help' you move all that money to a safe account, out of reach of the phantom hacker they have invented. That safe harbor is their own account or crypto wallet. Your money is then gone. You should not engage with the text or email or popup in the first place. But even if you do, you must never install any apps or software when asked to do so like this. As the bureau warns, 'if someone you don't know contacts you and asks you to download software, no matter who they say they work for, don't do it.' It is that simple. In recent days we have seen new warnings for citizens to beware these phantom hacker attacks and to beware fake calls from government agencies — including the FBI — that can spoof field office phone numbers to make scams harder to detect. As ever, the good news is that staying safe is all down to 100% adherence to golden rules. In this instance — never install apps when asked to do so in unsolicited calls, texts or emails. But the same is true with calls from supposed law enforcement on missed jury duty or unpaid fines. And with links in texts about unpaid tolls or motoring fines. And with tech support numbers that pop up on your screen, asking you to call. Call scams are surging across a range of lures, including the increasingly widespread impersonation of law enforcement agencies demanding payment to avoid arrest. The latest such warning has just been issued in Illinois. But you're still more likely to be targeted by texts with malicious links than calls. There are literally billions of these messages being sent out, many of which are filtered but millions still get through to the intended targets each day. The latest Amazon scam, which has just surged 5000% in a fortnight, is the latest of these. FBI's Boston field office has just issued another alert as the latest lure — unspecified DMV motoring offenses — sweeps across the a state. 'Drivers in our area have received text messages falsely claiming to be from the DMV requesting payment to resolve traffic violations or unpaid fees,' the bureau pointed on X. 'In reality,' the FBI says, 'it's an attempt by criminals to access your financial & personal information. Don't click the link and report the fraud.' If you fall victim to a Phantom Hacker or DMV scam — whether by call or text, FTC's advice is to 'act quickly to report it to the company or bank behind the gift card, cryptocurrency, payment app, or wire transfer service. Depending on how you paid, you might be able to get your money back. But no matter how you paid, it's worth asking.' All these attacks are good and believable. Scammers are polished on calls. They have heard every objection and question before — and they're ready to handle yours. You really do need to adopt a zero tolerance approach to all such unsolicited calls and messages. If you don't engage, you don't get scammed. Just keep that in mind.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple debuts AppleCare One service with protection for 3 devices for $19.99 per month
Apple (AAPL) has debuted a new version of its AppleCare service that will allow you to cover multiple devices for a single monthly rate. Available July 24, AppleCare One provides unlimited device repairs for things like drops and spills, battery replacements, tech support, and loss and theft protection for iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches for $19.99 per month for three devices. You can add additional devices to the plan for $5.99 each. Apple says if you sign up for AppleCare One with an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, you'll save $11 per month over signing up for its existing AppleCare+ service for each separate device. To sign up for AppleCare One, you'll either have to purchase it at the same time you buy a new piece of Apple hardware, add it to a product you've purchased within the last 60 days, or upgrade to it from an active AppleCare+ plan. That means you can't just go out and sign up for the service for your old iPhone X. Once you've signed up for AppleCare One, though, you'll be able to add devices to your plan that are fewer than four years old and a part of your Apple Account, though they have to be in good condition. AppleCare One coverage will also automatically transfer from devices you trade in to your new devices, as long as they're tied to your Apple Account. AppleCare subscriptions fall under the company's Services segment, which also includes subscriptions like Apple TV+, Apple Music+, App Store sales, iCloud subscriptions, and payment services, including Apple Pay and the Apple Card. In 2024, Apple reported Services revenue of $96.1 billion, making it the company's second-largest business behind the iPhone, which brought in $201.1 billion of the company's $391 billion in total revenue. Apple also counts things like its search exclusivity deal with Google (GOOG, GOOGL) as part of its Services business. According to court documents, Google paid Apple $20 billion to be the default search engine for Apple's Safari browser. But that could soon go out the window. Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia is expected to issue a ruling on "remedies" that follows the Justice Department's victory against Google in its antitrust suit against the company sometime next month. If Mehta rules that Google has to give up such exclusivity agreements, it could put a big dent in Apple's Services business. New offerings like AppleCare One, however, could help offset some of those losses. Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@ Follow him on X/Twitter at @DanielHowley.
