Latest from Tom's Guide
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
This Android malware poses as real apps to take you to dangerous sites and flood your phone with spam
A new version of the Konfety malware that attacks the best Android phones now uses distorted APK files as well as other methods in order to avoid being detected and analyzed. As reported by Bleeping Computer, this latest Konfety malware strain, which is neither spyware nor a remote access trojan, can pretend it is a legitimate app by copying both the branding and names of real apps from the Google Play Store. Konfety mimics real products available on the Play Store, though it does not reproduce the same functionality of those apps. Likewise, it's distributed and promoted through third-party stores. This is a method that researchers have sometimes called a 'decoy twin' or 'evil twin' tactic, and is exactly why it is recommended to only download software from trusted publishers and to avoid installing APK files from third-party app stores. Still, some users will resort to searching on these marketplaces for supposedly free versions of popular apps either because they don't have access to Google services as their Android device isn't supported or because they don't want to pay for legitimate software. Here's everything you need to know about this new Android threat including some tips and tricks to help keep your phone safe from hackers and malware free. Once Konfety has been installed on a victim's device it uses a malformed ZIP structure to avoid analysis and detection, and will begin its malicious behavior. It can redirect users to dangerous websites, install unwanted apps and provide fake browser notifications. Additionally, it can produce ads using a CaramelAds SKD and exfiltrate device data like installed apps, network configuration and system information. Thanks to the capabilities of this latest version, it can also hide its app icon and name, and then use geofencing to alter its behavior depending on the region the device is located in. It performs all its nefarious hidden features courtesy of an encrypted DEX file inside the APK which is loaded and decrypted during runtime, and contains hidden services declared in the AndroidManifest file which allows for the delivery of more dangerous modules. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Konfety also manipulates the APK files to confuse and break static analysis and reverse engineering tools by signaling that the file is encrypted when it is not, which triggers a false password prompt when trying to inspect the file. This can block or delay access to the APKs contents. Next, critical files within the APK are declared using BZIP compression, which is not supported by analysis tools and this results in a parsing failure. Android ignores the declared method and returns to the default processing which allows Konfety to install and run on the device without issue. First and foremost, to avoid falling victim to the Konfety malware and other Android malware strains, it's essential that you don't sideload apps on your devices. While it may seem convenient, doing so puts you at serious risk from malware, adware, spyware and other threats. The reason being is that sideloaded apps from third-party app stores or those downloaded as APK files don't go through the same rigorous security checks that they would on the Google Play Store or other first-party app stores like the Samsung Galaxy Store. From there, you want to make sure that Google Play Protect is enabled on your Android phone. This pre-installed security app scans all of your existing apps and any new ones you download for malware. For extra protection though, you may also want to install and run one of the best Android antivirus apps alongside it. Malicious apps are one of the easiest ways for hackers and other cybercriminals to establish a foothold on your devices, so they likely won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Instead, it's up to you to carefully vet each and every app you download and install. You also want to keep in mind that if an app sounds too good to be true, it probably is. By sticking to official, first-party app stores and by limiting the number of apps you have installed on your phone overall, you should be able to safely avoid this new version of Konfety and other Android malware strains entirely. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
This 65-inch Roku smart TV simplifies streaming — and it just crashed to $348
More often than not, when friends and family members ask me for TV-shopping advice, they're looking for an affordable, easy-to-use smart TV, not a top-shelf, ultra-premium model. As a result, I often find myself recommending Roku TVs. Roku TVs aren't as ubiquitous as they were a few years ago, but every now and then, a slam-dunk deal on a Roku TV materializes. In what Amazon has labeled a limited-time deal, you can pick up a 65-inch Roku Select Series TV for just $348. That's about one hundred bucks off its usual price. Let's catch you up to speed on what makes the Select Series such a sensible option for bargain-hunters. This Roku Select Series TV is one of the newest Roku TVs on the market. Its picture quality won't blow you away, but for a sensationally low price, you're getting access to one of the best streaming platforms on the market. This is a great opportunity to save money on a 65-inch smart TV with simple, easy-to-use features. This TV isn't the brightest set on shelves, nor does it offer high-level gaming features. That's not the type of TV it strives to be. Instead, the Roku Select Series is laser-focused at the type of shopper who just wants a dependable, easy-to-use smart TV. It's an especially good pick for people upgrading to 4K for the first time. Why do I love the Roku experience so much? There are three reasons: Its app support is robust, there are minimal ads and, as mentioned, it's incredibly easy to pick up and learn. This is an especially good pick for people upgrading to 4K for the first time. If you're looking to upgrade to a TV whose picture will wow viewers, this probably isn't the TV for you. The Roku Select Series supports HDR content, but we're talking about a TV basic LED backlighting and no quantum dots. And while the Select Series supports 4K gaming at 60Hz, it doesn't come with cutting-edge features for competitive play. You're essentially getting a barebones gaming experience. Still, these shortcomings aren't that big of a deal if what you need is a fuss-free, ultra-affordable smart TV. At $350, it's a steal.
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Unless ChatGPT-5 gets these upgrades, I'm sticking with Claude — here's why
OpenAI is gearing up to launch ChatGPT-5, its most ambitious model yet. Rumored to feature a massive context window, enhanced reasoning, agent-like autonomy and full multimodal capability, it could mark a turning point in AI development. But as someone who tests and uses AI tools daily, I've already found my rhythm with Claude 4 Sonnet and Claude 4 Opus. And unless GPT-5 brings some serious upgrades to the table, I'm not switching anytime soon. Here's why Claude still feels like the better AI assistant, and what GPT-5 needs to do to win me over. Claude's strength lies in its ability to understand and retain nuance over long conversations. Whether I'm analyzing lengthy PDFs, asking it to summarize meeting transcripts, or writing a multi-layered piece, Claude rarely loses track of the thread. Its 200,000-token context window (in Opus) means I can give it dozens of pages of material without sacrificing accuracy or tone. What GPT-5 needs: An ultra-large context window (rumored to be 200K+) and better persistent memory across chats, especially for research, planning and writing tasks. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Claude recently launched its Connectors Directory, which allows it to pull data from and take actions inside apps like Google Drive, Slack, Notion, Canva and more. I've used it to summarize documents, autofill brand templates and even build full Canva presentations from a single prompt. It's seamless, intuitive and incredibly useful. What GPT-5 needs: Built-in integrations that work directly inside the chat interface, not clunky third-party plug-ins or separate browser extensions. While ChatGPT-4o brought real-time voice and emotion to the table, Claude consistently delivers more polished, human-sounding text. It's fantastic at tone matching, empathetic phrasing and sounding like a capable assistant rather than a chatbot. It just gets how I want things written, whether it's a memo, email or blog post. When I give Claude a draft, I can trust it to edit my work without losing the creative voice or tone. What GPT-5 needs: Sharper tone control and better emotional intelligence, especially for professional and creative writing tasks. Claude has a habit of hedging when it's not confident, which, surprisingly, makes it more trustworthy. It avoids hallucinations better than GPT-4o in my experience and tends to cite sources when possible more often. I've had fewer instances of incorrect or outdated information compared to other models. What GPT-5 needs: Real-time search integration with source transparency and more honest handling of uncertainty. Claude may not be fully autonomous yet, but it still behaves like a quiet, capable teammate. From resizing Canva graphics to summarizing my inbox, it's already taking real-world actions based on context. That's the direction AI is heading, and Claude is already there. What GPT-5 needs: Agentic capabilities that go beyond text generation with smart task handling, context awareness and proactive support. ChatGPT-5 is said to be coming out soon, but we still don't know when the new model will be released. I am very much excited for OpenAI's new model, just as I am with every new and enhanced AI. A smarter, more capable ChatGPT would push the whole AI field forward. But unless it delivers meaningful upgrades in context, integrations, voice and action, Claude will remain my AI of choice for getting real work done. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" 2025 on BBC iPlayer (it's free)
You can watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" season 11 live on BBC, streaming for free, from July 15, 2025. The free stream includes all 10 episodes and every Made-to-Measure challenge as Sewing Bee grips sewers round the world. The British platform will stream The Great British Sewing Bee live and in HD as 12 new seamsters tackle dramatic pleats and and tricky garments. But how can you watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" from anywhere? Can you get the free BBC stream in Canada and the U.S. too? And what devices is BBC iPlayer on? Here's our full (and quick) guide to how to watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" BBC iPlayer... The BBC has exclusive rights to "The Great British Sewing Bee" 2025 in the U.K. and will be showing season 11 FREE on its streaming platform BBC iPlayer. You must be a British resident and have a valid TV license. If so, register for your account today. OUTSIDE THE U.K.? ACCESS iPLAYER FROM ANYWHERE WITH A VPN. BBC iPlayer is free to watch, but is it only broadcasting "The Great British Sewing Bee" for free in the U.K. Sewing lovers traveling or working outside the U.K. will need to use a VPN to access BBC iPlayer free Sewing Bee stream in the U.S.A and Canada. There are lots of VPNs but NordVPN is the one you can rely on to unblock BBC iPlayer and stream "The Great British Sewing Bee" like a pro.... and you can save 76%. NordVPN deal: FREE $50 / £50 Amazon gift card Boasting lightning fast speeds, great features, streaming power, and class-leading security, NordVPN is our #1 VPN. ✅ FREE Amazon gift card worth up to $50/£50✅ 4 months extra FREE!✅ 76% off usual price Use Nord to unblock BBC iPlayer and watch "Great British Sewing Bee" 2025 online with our exclusive deal. It's really easy to use a VPN to watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" S11 on BBC iPlayer. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you want to watch the free "The Great British Sewing Bee" stream on iPlayer, choose 'United Kingdom' from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer, sign in, and watch the "The Great British Sewing Bee" on iPlayer for free. BBC iPlayer will have full coverage of "The Great British Sewing Bee" season 11 – the 2025 series – hosted by Sara Pascoe, who returns to the sewing room after a spell of maternity leave. Judges Patrick Grant (former director of Savile Row tailors Norton & Sons) and British fashion designer Esme Young (@miss_esme_young) will test the sewers' skills with a 90-minute Transformation Challenge and the Made-to-Measure challenge. One sewer will earn Garment of the Week while another will leave the sewing room. Amazon Fire (Tablets, Cube, Stick, TVs) Android/Google TV (please note: some models aren't supported) Android (phone & tablet) - Android 7.0 and above Apple TV (tvOS 14 or later) Google TV (Chromecast with Google TV and NVIDIA Shield) Freely Freesat (please note: some models aren't supported) Freeview Play (TVs and set-top boxes) (some models aren't supported) iOS (iPhone & iPad) - iOS 14 and above LG Smart TVs (2016-2024) NOW Smart Sticks and Boxes (minimum firmware v11.5.0) PlayStation (PS4 and PS5) Roku (Stick & Roku-OS powered TVs, minimum firmware v11.5.0) Samsung Phones and Smart TVs (2017 and above) Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream puck Virgin Media (360, Stream, TiVo) YouView (BT, Humax, Sony, TalkTalk) Xbox (One, Series X, Series S) The BBC is the only way to watch "The Great British Sewing Bee" season 11 – from launch on Tuesday, July 15. According to the BBC Annual Report published July 15, "digital consumption of BBC content significantly increased this year [2025] with nearly 10% more requests on BBC iPlayer." For the best streaming experience, the BBC recommends a 1.5Mbps connection for standard definition and 5Mbps for high definition (HD). We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Samsung is giving its TVs a major AI upgrade — here's what you can do now
Samsung is bringing some massive changes to its AI and "Click to Search" functionality for its 2025 TV lineup. Samsung announced the update in a newsroom blog on its Korean site. It focuses on enhancing its Bixby AI voice assistant with improved natural language processing (NLP) while watching cable TV, Samsung TV Plus and terrestrial broadcasting. The new update will only be applicable on 2025 TVs, specially its more premium sets that includes New QLED, OLED, QLED, and The Frame TVs. it will first roll out in Korea, then expand to other regions in the coming months. It's no secret that Bixby is a bit of a headache to use on most Samsung sets, but the new Click to Search update should make it a far better experience. Samsung is kitting the Bixby assistant with better AI programming, specifically highlighting that users will feel "as if they were talking to their TV." Newer models among the best Samsung TVs have a so-called AI button that will now have broader capabilities depending on the situation. When pressed, Bixby can either relay pertinent information about the on-screen content, or you can simply ask it a question about what's on-screen. That's because Samsung has enhanced Bixby with Natural Language Processing (NLP). It's a subset in the field of AI that focuses on bridging human language with computer interpretation. It essentially will make Bixby far easier to use and more interactive. This new Click to Search functionality will only be available in certain applications, like Samsung TV Plus, terrestrial broadcasting and cable TV. Samsung claims it's "considering expanding to OTT channels in the future," but gives no word on if it will be available with some of the best streaming services. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Samsung says the new update will only be applicable for 2025 sets. These include its Neo QLED models, like the Samsung QN990F 8K TV, OLED TVs, like the Samsung S95F, QLEDs, and even The Frame. It will first launch in Korea, then expand to other parts of the world later this year. It's unclear if this update will be retroactively added to older models through Samsung's seve- year Tizen OS update plan, but it seems unlikely. Samsung promoted AI as the main backbone of its 2025 TV lineup, and the hardware on older sets might not be as capable — not to mention the fact that the AI button is only available on newer models.
