TECH
I had an AI that wrote my Instagram captions. My friends got worried.
The US is getting closer and closer to a nationwide ban on TikTok. These short, shareable videos make it the biggest social app. Get this: 150 million Americans use TikTok, including about two-thirds of teenagers.
Do you think? TikTok is a national security threat. The parent company of Chinese social media platform ByteDance is based in Beijing and is required by Chinese law to provide the government with access to the data it collects. (By the way, if you want to keep up to date with technical topics in a simple way, join the over 400,000 people who receive my free daily newsletter and sign here.)
TikTok collects data that includes search and browsing history, facial identification, voice prints, texts, location, and photos. Here’s the catch: you can watch videos without creating an account. Is it safe to do it? The answer below will shock you.
Talk to your children
This is out of the question: TikTok collects all sorts of user data. It’s also built from the ground up to be addictive, making it easy to share quick videos tailored to each user’s interests.
Also, there are viral “challenges” that can cause injury or death – have you ever heard of a suffocation or unconsciousness challenge? it’s horrible.
The person using TikTok doesn’t know how they track them. (Cyberguy.com)
All this is quite dangerous, and young people are especially vulnerable. As a parent, you can prevent your children from visiting certain websites or downloading certain applications. It’s all good, but it’s not enough.
V Wall Street Journal reports that kids with TikTok accounts are sending screen recordings to their friends who can’t access the app themselves. Kids fill their phones with these video clips to the point where they can’t even update them.
Are you safe just watching the video?
You don’t need a TikTok account to view content. People with accounts can simply send you links. You still share some information with TikTok, for example in your browser, when you view it elsewhere. According to Caitlin Fennessy, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, your browser type, phone information and IP address are available for capture.
TikTok videos are popular enough to be found on almost every social media and video hosting platform, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. This is where it gets tricky.
Someone can upload a video to another platform that is not connected to TikTok. It’s just a clip that exists on their Facebook profile. You will be able to interact with it as a Facebook user, but you won’t be able to use the TikTok features normally found in videos.
The video can be uploaded to another platform and linked to the original TikTok source. You will see some signs of this, and if you click on the video, you will be taken to TikTok. In this case, some of your information is likely to be collected.
GENERAL TIKTOK IS ABOUT CHINA’S HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
In addition to the danger of the application itself, the platform is a breeding ground for fraud. This is how some grieving families lost something more irreplaceable than money.
Is anyone safe?
Let’s say you don’t have the TikTok app installed, or you don’t click links to watch videos. You’re doing well, right? This is where pixels come in.
Big tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Google use small pieces of code called pixels to track users. TikTok is no exception, with pixels installed on retail, e-commerce, travel, technology, and government websites. Data such as your IP address, shopping cart contents and search queries are collected when you visit these sites.
Rep. Tony Cardenas, Democrat of California, speaks at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S. Thursday, March 23, 2023 company in his debut speech before Congress, where belligerent lawmakers made it clear they weren’t honoring his promise to keep users and their data safe. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Speaking to Consumer Reports, a TikTok spokesperson acknowledged that the company collects data from people who don’t have a TikTok account and uses it for “aggregated reports they send to advertisers about their websites.”
There really is no way to know which websites are using pixels. This is another reason to be careful with any information you share, as well as which links and advertisements you click.
Get your personal information from the Internet. Get started with this list of people search sites.
What can you do about it?
You don’t have full control over pop-ups while browsing the web or social media, but you can control your clicks. Don’t open anything suspicious or enticing with a crazy headline.
10 seconds of stupidity is not worth the risk of giving up your data.
If you or your loved one has TikTok installed, uninstall it now. It’s never too late! Here’s how:
Delete TikTok from your iPhone
- Tap and hold tik tok app.
- Tap Remove App.
- Tap Delete appthen touch Delete confirm.
Delete TikTok from your Android phone
- open Google Play app.
- In the upper right corner, tap the icon profile icon.
- Tap App and device management and then Manage.
- Click tik tok app.
- Tap delete.
Some tracking information may remain on your phone even after you delete it.
Another important step
To completely remove TikTok, go nuclear. Your best bet is to do a hard reset on your phone. Here’s how to do it. Pro tip: Back up your data first!
More than just TikTok
ByteDance operates at least two other widely downloaded programs.
CapCut is a popular video editing software, and Lark is a team collaboration app that spying and reporting to ByteDance, who then leaks the data to the Chinese Communists. It’s not just TikTok. If you ask me, every ByteDance product should be banned in America.
LEAD TIKTOK LOBBYIST PREVIOUSLY ADVISED FORM TECH EQUITY CLOSE TO HUNTER BIDEN
Continue in the same spirit
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Application for TikTok on the phone screen. Cabinet Minister Oliver Dowden has confirmed that TikTok will be banned from government devices after review. Photo date: Thursday, March 16, 2023 (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
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This story is part Samsung eventa collection of CNET news, tips and advice on Samsung’s most popular products.
The latest phones from Samsung’s flagship line, Galaxy S23, S23 Plus another S23 Ultraarrived in February. And while these aren’t the most affordable models on the market, with a starting price of $800, chances are you won’t have to pay full price if you’re hoping to get one of these. There are plenty of deals and offers from both carriers and retailers that can save you hundreds or even get one for free, especially if you have an old phone to trade in or need a new data plan. Below we’ve rounded up some of the best deals currently available so you can get your new S23 cheaper. And with the release of the new S23 models, you can also find great Discounts on the previous generation Galaxy S22 right now also.
Presented at the company’s exhibition Unpack event Earlier this year, Samsung’s refreshed Galaxy S line-up includes the Galaxy S23, S23 Plus and S23 Ultra. All three models retain the same screen sizes as the 2022 models of 6.1″, 6.6″ and 6.8″, respectively, with an improved exterior design and some modest upgrades to the camera hardware, battery sizes and internal storage of the two larger models. . Special version Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2optimized for the new Galaxy S23 lineup, works on the new phones, which the company claims should result in better performance.
Lisa Edichiko/CNET
Whether you’re excited to get your hands on one of Samsung’s latest phones, or maybe it’s just time to upgrade an old phone, we’re here to help you save some money on your S23 purchase. Please note that the offers and bonuses below are time limited and subject to change at any time.
Look:
Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup is here with big camera upgrades
6:08
How much does the Galaxy S23 cost?
The three Galaxy S23 models are available in different memory configurations. US pricing for each model starts at:
- Samsung Galaxy S23: $800
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus: $1,000
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: $1,200
Please note that Samsung has improved the base storage for Galaxy S23 Plus and S23 Ultra, doubling it to 256GB instead of 128GB on the S22 models. However, the base model Galaxy S23 remains at 128GB. Both the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus offer 8GB of RAM, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM.
What colors is the Galaxy S23 available in?
Samsung
As always, Samsung has dressed its latest phones in an eye-catching color scheme. There’s a selection of nature-inspired colors this time around, including phantom black, cream, green, and lavender. All three S23 phones are available in these four colors regardless of where you buy them, although Samsung also offers four colors exclusive to own online store. These are the colors of lime, graphite, sky blue and red.
Best Galaxy S23 Deals
Go straight to the source of your Galaxy S23 order and get up to $750 when you trade in your old phone or device. You’ll also get access to Samsung’s exclusive online colors.
Samsung has some attractive offers from carriers if you don’t want an unlocked model, with up to $1,000 off at an acceptable trade-in. Finally, many of these offers can be extended with discounts for students, educators, first responders, government and military personnel, veterans and their families (see the Samsung website for details on discounts).
Best Buy is offering discounts on both unlocked and carrier models of the S23 line right now. If you don’t want to be locked into a carrier, you can save $50 on the base Galaxy S23 or $100 on the S23 Plus and Ultra. Best Buy states that you must choose the same activation to receive the discount, but the same price will be available if you choose to activate later. Best Buy also has its own trade-in program where you can get up to $600 off.
There are also carrier deals where you can save up to $1,000 on a Verizon model or $800 on an AT&T or T-Mobile model with an exchange and activation of the appropriate service plan.
Verizon’s Galaxy S23 deal offers up to $800 off with trade-in rights to an unlimited plan, and the carrier even accepts old or damaged phones. Those who switch to Verizon will also receive another $200 Verizon gift card. Other deals include free Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G with purchase, although it’s worth noting that each of these cellular-enabled devices requires a new line to be added, as well as a $100 discount on Galaxy Buds 2 with purchase of the phone.
Buy your Galaxy S23 device through a qualifying installation agreement with AT&T and trade in your old device for a discount of up to $800. Even better, to qualify for this discount, the device you are transferring can be a Galaxy S, Note, or Z series smartphone. any year, in any condition, or a different brand phone as long as it costs at least $35. The discount will be applied through monthly account credits for 36 months. Plus, you can get 50% off any Samsung accessory with your phone purchase.
T-Mobile offers several ways to save money on the S23 series right now. You can save $800 by getting the base model for free when you add a new line to your Magenta Max plan. Or save $400 when adding a new line to another qualifying plan. And you can save up to $400 by trading in your old phone while you have it, or by switching to an eligible plan.
Xfinity is offering new customers a $500 discount on their Galaxy S23 when porting to a new line as part of a 24-month plan. And both new and existing customers can save up to $800 on a qualifying exchange.
Walmart offers the Galaxy S23 series with various carrier offerings. Phones activated at the qualifying factory with AT&T or Verizon installments will receive a $250 rebate, plus up to $1,000 rebate through credit accounts (AT&T only) on qualifying exchange. Walmart also has prepaid deals with Verizon’s Straight Talk and Total, offering six months of free service to new customers on an unlimited plan.
Google Fi offers its own trade-in program where you can save up to $799 on the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus, or up to $899 on the S23 Ultra. Although, unlike some other carriers, Google Fi only accepts new devices in good condition. The discount is applied in the form of monthly bill credits for 24 months, and if you cancel the service before that time, you will have to pay the remaining amount yourself.
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