Loknath Das, Author at Triadoro

WhatsApp Starts Testing ‘Suspicious Link Detection’ Feature to Limit Spam Circulation: Report

HIGHLIGHTS

WhatsApp is reportedly testing a Suspicious Link Detection feature
The feature helps detect suspicious links
It is currently under testing and unavailable even for beta testers

In another move to put a stop to the circulation of spam on its platform, WhatsApp is working on a Suspicious Link Detection feature. The new feature, which is presently said to be under testing, helps users detect suspicious links available within their WhatsApp messages. It is a part of the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.18.204 and later, though not available for the masses at the initial stage. The latest development hits amidst different measures by the Facebook-owned company to limit the circulation of spam and fake news through the instant messaging app that has over 1.5 billion monthly active users worldwide. A previous WhatsApp beta version brought a ‘Forwarded’ label that was aimed to make a dent in the growth of fake news distribution through the app and help people easily identify forwarded messages.

Leveraging the Suspicious Link Detection feature, WhatsApp analyses the links available in a message to detect a suspicious link, reports WABetaInfo. The messaging app is said to automatically identify whether the link in a received message is redirecting to a fake or alternative website that could potentially harm users. Upon detection of a suspicious link, the message is marked with a Red-coloured label to let users easily understand its behaviour.

The screenshots posted by the WABetaInfo folks highlight that WhatsApp also warns users when they try to open the link with a message that reads, “This link contains unusual characters. It may be trying to appear as another site.” It has also been claimed that WhatsApp analyses the link locally. This suggests that the links will not be sent to WhatsApp servers and the user data won’t be compromised for sake of detecting suspicious links.

whatsapp suspicious link detection wabetainfo WhatsApp

Photo Credit: WABetaInfo

We weren’t able to spot the reported Suspicious Link Detection feature on any of our Android devices using the latest WhatsApp beta version 2.18.207. However, since the WABetaInfo team claims that WhatsApp is currently testing the feature, we can expect its arrival at least for WhatsApp beta users sometime in the coming future. It is also reported that with some other improvements, the feature will also get an ability to let users manually report a suspicious link.

Earlier this month, WhatsApp came in the headlines for the massive spread of misinformation that allegedly led to the lynching of a large number of innocents in India. The IT ministry even asked WhatsApp to take preventative actions to restrict the proliferation of fake messages on its platform. The messaging service on its part revealed that it had started taking help from local experts to fight spam and fake news and announced ‘research awards’ for researchers interested in limiting the circulation of misinformative messages in the country. This was a step in addition to the primary moves such as the ‘Forwarded’ label and ‘Send Messages’ group controls to retain WhatsApp’s domination in the market of instant messaging apps. Particularly in India, WhatsApp serves over 200 million monthly active users.

[“Source-gadgets.ndtv”]

Twitter Says Removal of Fake Accounts Does Not Hurt User Metrics

Twitter said on Monday it has removed fake accounts but that does not impact its reported user metrics as was indicated in a report by The Washington Post.

The newspaper had said the social media company had suspended more than 70 million fake accounts in May and June, leading to a decline of monthly active users in the second quarter.

“Most accounts we remove are not included in our reported metrics as they have not been active on the platform for 30 days or more, or we catch them at sign up and they are never counted,” CFO Ned Segal tweeted on Monday.

“If we removed 70M accounts from our reported metrics, you would hear directly from us.”

Shares of Twitter fell 9 percent on Monday after a report said the social media company had suspended more than 70 million fake accounts in May and June, which could lead to a decline of monthly active users in the second quarter.

The slump wiped about $3 billion (roughly Rs.20,600 crores) from the microblogging site’s market valuation, which had stood at about $35 billion on Friday. Twitter shares were last down 8.6 percent at $42.62 (roughly Rs. 2,900).

“Such reaction is due likely to the assumption that the lower user count would attract less ad dollars,” Morningstar analyst Ali Mogharabi said.

Mogharabi, however, pointed to big advertisers now paying more attention to the quality content alongside which their ads are placed.

[“Source-gadgets.ndtv”]

WhatsApp Launches Media Blitz to Dispel India’s Fake News Woes

A newspaper vendor reading a newspaper with a full back page advertisement from WhatsApp

Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging platform on Tuesday published advertisements in key Indian newspapers to tackle the spread of misinformation, its first such effort to combat a flurry of fake messages that prompted mob lynchings.

Beatings and deaths triggered by false incendiary messages in India, WhatsApp’s biggest market with more than 200 million users, caused a public relations nightmare, sparking calls from authorities for immediate action.

“Together we can fight false information,” read full-page advertisements in some top English language-newspapers, part of a series that will also feature in regional-language dailies.

It urged users to check information before sharing it and cautioned them about the spread of fake news.

“We are starting an education campaign in India on how to spot fake news and rumours,” a WhatsApp spokesman said in a statement.

“Our first step is placing newspaper advertisements in English and Hindi and several other languages. We will build on these efforts.”

During the week, it aims to publish similar advertisements in regional dailies across India, from the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan in the west to the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh in the north, it added.

WhatsApp has previously said it is tweaking features and giving users controls in its effort to rein in false messages.

It is also testing the labelling of messages to show users when a message received is just a forward, rather than one created by the sender.

[“Source-gadgets.ndtv”]

Huawei Nova 3i Price, Specifications, Launch Date Spotted in Leaks

HIGHLIGHTS

Nova 3i could be a new variant of the Nova 3
It is said to be powered by Kirin 710 processor
It is expected to be priced between CNY 1,999 and CNY 2,199

Huawei Nova 3i, is expected to launch soon as another variant of the Nova 3. Earlier this week, the Chinese manufacturer launched the Nova 3 in China as the latest model in the Nova-series. But now, the company is said to be also planning to release a Nova 3i model with slightly different specifications. Interestingly, a new leak suggests that the processor in the Nova 3i will be an all-new Kirin 710 SoC, instead of the Kirin 970 SoC present in the Nova 3. Also, another report has separately claimed that the Nova 3i will launch in the Philippines later this month.

Images leaked by a tipster on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, showcase a comparison of the specifications of the Nova 3 and Nova 3i. Both the smartphones appear to have a similar design – display notch, dual camera setup on both sides, and the fingerprint scanner positioned at the back. As mentioned, the difference lies in the processor, as the Nova 3i will be powered by the Kirin 710 SoC, possibly a mid-tier processor in the HiSilicon portfolio.

huwei nova 3i weibo Huawei Nova 3i

Photo Credit: Weibo

According to the leak, the Huawei Nova 3i will stick to the same selfie camera setup with a 24-megapixel primary sensor and a 2-megapixel secondary sensor. However, the rear camera setup will include 16-megapixel and 2-megapixel sensors. For comparison, the Nova 3 comes with a 16-megapixel and 24-megapixel combo. Additionally, the Nova 3i battery is also expected to be a bit smaller – 3340 mAh with regular 5V/2A charging, instead of 3750mAh in Nova 3.

The leak also suggests that the Huawei Nova 3i will arrive in two variants – 4GB RAM and 128GB storage and 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, which is an odd configuration. In terms of pricing, the tipster has also claimed that the Nova 3i could be priced between CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs. 20,600) and CNY 2,199 (roughly Rs. 22,600).

huwei nova 3i yugatech Huawei Nova 3i

Photo Credit: YugaTech

Meanwhile, as per a report in Yugatech, a post in an unofficial Facebook community group for Huawei and Honor PH shows an image that suggests the Huawei Nova 3i will launch in the Philippines on July 28. An advertisement for the new smartphone was spotted in Glorietta Mall in the capital of Manila, as ‘Coming Soon’ with the date of July 28 stamped on the teaser.

[“Source-gadgets.ndtv”]