Update

However, in a recent update (changing daily it seems!) the Trump administration has exempted smartphones and computers from the recently imposed tariffs, including the 10 per cent global tariff and the 125 per cent tariff on China. This exemption also extends to other electronics like memory cards, solar cells, and semiconductors.

iPhone Sales Surge as Tariff Panic Takes Hold

Just a short time after President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Chinese imports, it seems Apple stores across the US have been reporting a noticeable spike in iPhone upgrades. The catalyst has been the concern that the cost of new devices could soon rise sharply if Apple’s supply chain takes a direct hit.

For example, retail staff in several major cities have reported that shoppers appear to be acting pre-emptively, prompted by growing speculation that this latest wave of tariffs could disrupt pricing sooner than expected.

Warning

Although Apple hasn’t announced any official price changes, analysts have warned that production costs for devices like the iPhone 16 Pro could jump by over $250 if Chinese-made components are hit with the full weight of Trump’s tariff package. For buyers, the risk isn’t just higher prices, but it’s also the possibility of deals and trade-in incentives vanishing overnight.

As Dan Ives, Managing Director at Wedbush Securities points out: “If Apple passes on the full tariff burden, we’re looking at iPhones retailing for over $2,000,” adding “That kind of pricing would be a major shock to the system—especially in the US market.”

What’s Actually Happening With The Tariffs?

At the time of writing this article (11.04.25), President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs targeting Chinese-made goods as part of what he’s dubbed an economic “Liberation Day.” Under this new regime, levies on certain imports have reportedly surged to a cumulative 145 per cent, with electronics, including smartphones, firmly in the firing line.

For Apple, the timing couldn’t be worse. For example, around 90 per cent of iPhones are still assembled in China, and the prospect of such sharp increases in import costs has sent alarm bells ringing. Analysts now estimate that tariffs alone could push the production cost of a high-end iPhone 16 Pro Max from $1,199 to over $2,100 if passed on to consumers. Also, if Apple were ever forced to shift final assembly to the US, the price could skyrocket to as much as $3,500 per device, an outcome most observers still see as unrealistic but not entirely off the table.

While Trump has pointed to Apple’s $500 billion investment pledge as proof that iPhone manufacturing could be repatriated, the fine print appears to tell a different story. For example, most of that spending is expected to go toward R&D and AI infrastructure, not assembly lines. As things stand, it’s been reported that Apple’s short-term solution was to ramp up production in India and fly devices to the US by charter jet! That sounds like an expensive (and not very environmentally friendly) workaround, but one that avoids the full impact of the China tariffs for now.

Behind the scenes, Apple is also said to be lobbying for an exemption, similar to the one it secured during Trump’s first administration. However, with no guarantee of success and political rhetoric heating up, the company may have little choice but to start factoring the cost of tariffs into its consumer pricing, if not now, then very soon.

Why It’s Hitting Apple So Hard

Quite simply, no other tech company is as exposed to this tariff storm as Apple. The iPhone accounts for roughly half of the firm’s total revenue, and its China-based supply chain (centred around Foxconn’s vast factories) has long been central to its global dominance.

That exposure has seriously spooked investors. For example, Apple’s shares fell 19 per cent over just three days last week, marking the worst such dip for the company in nearly 25 years! The combination of supply chain vulnerability, investor nervousness and potential consumer backlash has sent shockwaves through both Silicon Valley and Wall Street.

What’s Apple Doing About It?

Apple hasn’t made any official comment on the situation at this point, but sources close to the company suggest it is already taking steps to reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing, most notably by perhaps ramping up production in India.

In fact, the Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apple plans to redirect a significant share of its India-assembled iPhones to the US market as a short-term fix. Although India faces a 26 per cent tariff under Trump’s new policy, that’s still roughly half that imposed on Chinese goods, thereby making it seem to be a more viable alternative.

Building In India

Thankfully for Apple, it has been building up its Indian manufacturing base since 2017, initially focusing on older models and gradually moving towards assembling newer ones like the iPhone 15 and 16. In fact, Bank of America estimates Apple could make around 25 million iPhones in India this year, enough to supply about 50 per cent of US demand if redirected accordingly!

That said, even the India solution looks like it may have its limits. For example, Vietnam, another key site for Apple products like AirPods and Apple Watches, was slapped with an eye-watering 46 per cent tariff under the new plan. Also, moving large-scale production out of China entirely remains logistically (and financially) daunting.

The situation has led some analysts to joke that if consumers want a $3,500 iPhone, they may as well be made in the US, e.g. New Jersey or Texas.

What This Means for Apple’s Business Model

The tariff crisis presents Apple with a tough choice, i.e. absorb the extra costs and watch its profit margins shrink, or pass them on to consumers and risk a backlash.

Analysts say even a 30 per cent increase in iPhone prices could dent demand significantly, especially in mature markets where upgrades are already slowing. For Apple, which prides itself on premium pricing and tight margins, the threat to its bottom line is very real.

Also, there’s the question of investor confidence. The recent stock slide may only be the beginning if fears grow that Apple can’t adapt its supply chain fast enough to avoid future trade tensions. While the company has pledged to invest $500 billion in US manufacturing over the next four years, analysts remain sceptical about how much of that will directly impact iPhone production.

As Neil Shah, Vice President of Research at Counterpoint says: “There’s no easy way out,” and “Even moving 10 per cent of Apple’s supply chain out of China could take years and cost tens of billions. This is going to test Apple’s entire global strategy.”

What About Business Customers and Competitors?

For Apple’s business clients, ranging from SMEs to global enterprises, rising device costs could become a major headache. Many companies operate under bulk hardware contracts, and an across-the-board rise in iPhone prices could hit IT budgets hard. Many business owners also fear losing some of the attractive offers and deals they’ve been used to in better times.

Meanwhile, Apple’s competitors are watching closely. For example, Samsung and Google, both of which produce more of their hardware outside of China, may find themselves in a stronger position if Apple is forced to hike prices. Devices that were once considered too costly or too niche may suddenly look more attractive to price-sensitive consumers and businesses alike.

Even if Apple manages to dodge the worst of the tariff fallout, the current frenzy may have already exposed a key vulnerability in its strategy, i.e. an over-reliance on a region now sitting at the centre of a deepening geopolitical divide. The next few months could redefine where and how Apple makes its most iconic product, and at what price.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

Whether or not iPhone prices spike in the coming weeks, the sudden rush to upgrade tells us one thing i.e., consumer and investor confidence in global supply chains is far more fragile than it once seemed. For Apple, this tariff-driven panic has highlighted just how exposed it remains to international political swings, despite years of effort to diversify its manufacturing base.

For now, Apple’s (reported) strategy of flying in India-made iPhones to dodge China-focused tariffs might offer a temporary cushion. However, the scale and speed of Trump’s latest trade measures suggest that piecemeal solutions may no longer be enough. If production costs continue to rise, Apple may have little choice but to rethink both where it builds its devices and how it prices them, especially in core markets like the US, where consumer resistance to steep price hikes could quickly translate into lost sales.

For UK businesses, particularly those that issue iPhones through corporate mobile contracts or manage large device fleets, any upward shift in pricing could, of course, create budgetary pressure. Procurement cycles may, therefore, need to shorten, upgrade plans may be re-evaluated, and conversations around alternative suppliers could gain ground. With the whole tariff situation, supply chain disruption and global pricing volatility inevitably spill over, especially when the product in question is as globally embedded as the iPhone.

Meanwhile, rivals like Samsung and Google may be able to gain a little ground, though not without their own challenges. Samsung, for example, relies heavily on production in Vietnam, which has also been hit with a 46 per cent tariff under Trump’s new plan. Even so, with a more diversified supply chain and broader pricing range, these competitors may still appeal to businesses and consumers looking for more flexible or less exposed alternatives.

Apple, for all its brand loyalty, is facing a moment of reckoning, not just on pricing, but on the sustainability and resilience of its entire business model. What began as a tariff story may, therefore, trigger a much deeper shift in the balance of power across the global tech landscape.

The post Featured Article : Tariff Fears : Apple Upgrade Rush appeared first on Mear Technology.

What Is ‘Batterygate’? 

Batterygate refers to a 2017 software update to iPhones by Apple that customers reported had slowed older iPhones down. It was alleged by some at the time that this had been an intentional move designed to motivate customers to buy a new battery or a new iPhone.  

Which iPhones? 

The older models of iPhone (released between 2014 and 2016) affected by slowing following the update were the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 7, and iPhone SE. 

Claims Gained Momentum 

Claims by customers that their iPhones have been slowed by the update were supported by comparative performance tests of different models of the iPhone 6S on Reddit and Technology website Geekbench.  

As customers’ concerns mounted and received more press, Apple publicly admitted that its software update was responsible for the slowing, Apple apologised to customers in January 2018, and in 2020 agreed to pay $113m (£85m) in the hope of putting an end to the ‘Batterygate’ scandal. 

Also, in France in early 2020, Apple was fined $27 million by the country’s consumer watchdog for throttling the battery on older iPhones and it’s been reported that Apple had many (66) smaller batterygate lawsuits against it in the US, settling for $500 million in 2020, and agreeing (in a separate case) to pay out $113 million to 34 US States for the throttling of iPhone 6 and 7 devices. 

Power Management Tool 

Apple’s explanation of the iPhone update was that it was a power management tool to help combat performance issues and to help prolong the life of customer devices by managing their ageing lithium-ion batteries and preventing the inconvenience of a sudden and unexpected shutdown. Apple said (in 2018) that it would never intentionally “degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades.” 

Justin Gutmann’s Lawsuit 

However, in 2022, consumer champion Justin Gutmann filed a lawsuit against Apple over the matter. In the lawsuit Mr Gutman claimed that hardware used by Apple in seven affected iPhone models couldn’t cope with the demands of the device’s processor and operating system. Mr Gutmann argued that Apple introduced the software tool in a concealed way to hide the fact that iPhone batteries may not have been able to run the latest iOS software at the time. 

Mr Gutmann also alleged that the “power management tool” pushed as part of the iPOS update had slowed the performance of their phones leading to many owners having to pay for replacement batteries or buy new phones. Mr Gutmann alleged that using the update to force people to pay for replacement batteries or entirely new phones amounted to Apple exploiting its market dominance in the UK. It was alleged that Apple’s apology and offer of a payout were essentially a plan to save Apple the cost of having to recall products and provide replacement batteries, by making users seek to buy their own new batteries or new iPhones after noticing a slowdown (following the update). 

Mr Gutmann, therefore, decided to launch his own lawsuit, seeking around £768m (now £850m) in damages for up to 25 million UK iPhone users.  

Case To Go Ahead 

Now, for the latest development in ‘Batterygate’ Mr Gutmann’s near $1 billion lawsuit on behalf of the affected owners has been cleared to proceed to court by UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal.  

With around 25 million customers affected, if the case doesn’t go Apple’s way, all the affected owners will be entitled to a compensation payout from Apple for each model of iPhone that they owned that was subject to slowing caused by the update. 

In its summary, The Competition Appeal tribunal highlights how the collective proceedings order (CPO): “seeks to combine, on an opt-out basis, the claims of consumers and business entities who have purchased, or were gifted, certain Apple iPhone models in particular iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE, 7, 7 Plus (“Affected iPhones”)”.  It also highlights how “Apple’s application to strike out the claim was dismissed” (Apple tried to have the case thrown out), and that the Tribunal has now “decided that the requirements of a CPO are met in this case.” 

The Tribunal did, however, also note that “aspects of the claim lack clarity” which it says, “impacts both the questions of the existence of abuse and the manner in which loss to the class is to be assessed.”  In other words, there’s likely to be some room for Apple’s lawyers (backed by the huge resources of the company) to mount a persuasive argument against the allegations made in the lawsuit. 

Following the news that the lawsuit has been given permission in the UK, Mr Guttmann has been quoted as saying: “I’m heartened that the Competition Appeal Tribunal has given the nod for our groundbreaking claim to proceed to a full trial. This paves the way for millions of consumers, who were left paying for battery replacements or new phone models, to receive the compensation they deserve.”  

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Batterygate has been a blot on Apple’s reputation that has been hanging around for years now, resulting in it having to settle many claims in the US already and pay a £27 million fine in France. Although Apple is a multi-trillion-dollar company with considerable financial and legal resources, it has been (and could still be) quite an expensive episode for the company, plus the fact that it’s paid out (settled) with many in the US could point to the fact that it may lose or may agree a sizeable settlement in the UK.

The UK lawsuit which has just been given the go-ahead, and which rests on whether Apple essentially exploited its market dominance in the UK could, therefore, potentially see 25 million UK iPhone users get compensation without having to take any individual action (it’s an opt-out claim on their behalf) and see Apple possibly pay as much as $1.6 billion ($1 billion / £853 is just the midpoint figure).

With Apple (a company that makes 80 per cent of its revenue from new devices) just launching its new iPhone 15 (which had an overheating issue that required an update), it may be very keen for batterygate to disappear as soon as possible which the settling of this lawsuit may be another major step in achieving. What with the iPhone 15 overheating issue, iPhone 12 sales recently being banned in France over radiation fears, and the newly launched iOS 17 needing quick fix for three critical vulnerabilities, Apple may feel that it needs a break from very public bad news stories.

All that said, however, at the heart of this case are millions of owners whose expensive vital communication devices were suddenly slowed, causing them considerable inconvenience, perhaps causing stress and costing them money to find replacement batteries or even going to expense of buying a new phone. It wouldn’t be the first time that a giant, dominant tech company has been accused of exploiting its market dominance at the expense of customers, and it now remains to be seen whether affected UK customers in this case are finally entitled to compensation and whether Apple will receive another blow to its reputation in the final rounds of batterygate.

The post Featured Article : UK Proceeds With iPhone ‘Batterygate’ Case appeared first on Mear Technology.

France, Fears, Ban, & Update 

France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR), the watchdog that manages all radio frequencies in France (for all wireless communications) recently ordered an immediate withdrawal of the iPhone 12 from the French market over fears that the phone could be emitting dangerous radiation. 

The fears came from the results of an ANFR test of the iPhone 12, simulating the phone being held in the hand or put in a pocket. Following the test, the ANFR reported that it emits more electromagnetic waves (susceptible to being absorbed by the body) than permitted. 

With ‘SAR’ standing for Specific Absoption Rates, the ANFR’s tests evaluate phones in contact with the body for “limb” SAR (a phone held in the hand or in a trouser pocket), and at a distance of 5 mm for “trunk” SAR (a phone carried in a jacket pocket or a bag). In the EU, phones must comply with the regulatory limit values of 4.0 W/kg for “limb” SAR and 2 W/kg for “trunk” SAR. In the case of the iPhone 12 test, the ANFR said that “measurements have revealed a “limb” SAR value exceeding this limit, specifically 5.74 W/kg. However, the “trunk” SAR values are compliant.” 

In addition to the ban on sales of the iPhone 12, the ANFR said: “Apple must immediately take all measures to prevent the availability of the concerned phones in the supply chain. Regarding the phones that have already been sold, Apple must promptly take corrective measures to bring the concerned phones into compliance. Failing that, it will be the company Apple’s responsibility to recall them.” 

Germany & Belgum Spooked 

Following the results and action in France, it was reported that regulators in Germany and Belgium were investigating the SAR levels of the iPhone 12 which could result in similar action in those countries. Other European countries may follow suit. Spain’s OCU consumers’ group, for example, has urged authorities there to halt the sales of the iPhone 12. 

What Does Apple Say About It? 

Apple has disputed the ANFR’s findings, dismissing them as “a specific testing protocol used by French regulators and not a safety concern.” 

Apple said that its iPhone 12, introduced in 2020, has been certified by multiple international bodies as compliant with global radiation standards, that it has provided several Apple and third-party lab results proving the phone’s compliance to the French agency, and that it was contesting its findings. 

Apple has also said that it will issue a software update to fix any radiation issues. 

Who’s Right? Is It Dangerous? 

Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere, i.e. electromagnetic field radiation occurs naturally and also, we are subject to man-made electromagnetic fields, such as those emitted by electricity that comes out of every power socket. The higher frequency radio waves are used to transmit information, e.g. from TV antennas, radio stations or mobile phone base stations. Arguably, the common lightbulb emits high frequency electromagnetic radiation (i.e. visible light), yet few people are concerned about that. However, fields of different frequencies interact with the body in different ways. 

Radiation, which appears to be the most frightening word due to its links to cancer, refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic (EM) waves or fast-moving subatomic particles. Both forms of radiation are naturally occurring, and can come from various sources including the sun, cosmic rays, radon gas, radioactive rocks and even common foods such as Brazil nuts. However, “non-ionising” radiation comes from much lower frequency (EM) sources, such as microwaves, cordless-phones, Bluetooth etc. Radiation can also come from, planned (medical, occupational) or accidental situations.  

Where mobile phones are concerned, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which sets global SAR guidance and levels classed the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone use as “possibly carcinogenic” in 2011. However, as the World Health organisation stated about the radiofrequency waves transmitted by mobile phones in 2014: “Radiofrequency waves are electromagnetic fields, and unlike ionizing radiation such as X-rays or gamma rays, can neither break chemical bonds nor cause ionisation in the human body.” 

It also stated that: “A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.” 

Comments About The iPhone 12’s Safety 

In relation to the iPhone 12’s ban, Professor Rodney Croft, the chair of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has been widely quoted across the media, saying: “From a health and safety point of view, it is not as if this is putting anyone at risk”.  

Limits Have Been Set Low 

It is also the case that regulatory limits on SAR have been set well below levels where scientists have found evidence of harm anyway. For example, based on the risk of burns or heatstroke from a phone’s radiation, the SAR levels are already set ten times below the level where scientists have found evidence of harm. 

This suggests that there may be no need for alarm over the French testing of the iPhone 12 which only showed a slightly excessive reading in the “limb” SAR value but was compliant in other tests. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With an abundance of devices, transmitters, and other sources of electromagnetic waves all around us in the street, home, workplace, and countryside, and with more of us becoming more reliant on our radiofrequency wave-transmitting phones, it’s good that are tests taking place. It’s also good from a consumer protection point of view that enough tolerance has been built into the SAR tests, and that there are regulators in place to force fast action, e.g. from sales bans to recalls. However, from Apple’s point of view, the results of a test in one country, whether fully accurate or not, has damaged sales through a ban (which is spreading internationally) and led to a more damaging wave of fear and bad publicity.

If Apple can’t satisfy the regulators (it has two weeks to respond in France) and quell fears over a phone that’s now three years old, a snowballing effect could bring an even wider ban across the EU and an even more expensive recall (as already threatened) could follow.

Apple has just launched its iPhone 15 and will be hoping that the fears don’t rub off and affect its sales or, even worse, that it doesn’t also come under scrutiny and come out with similar results. That said, as France’s junior minister for the digital economy, Jean-Noel Barrot (who is sceptical of the software update fix) says, the rule is the same for everyone introducing devices in France, including the digital giants.

Outside of the software update, Apple may now need to do some more serious talking and convincing to “stop the rot” in the EU damaging its profits and reputation further. All this is, of course, good news for Apple’s competitors in the EU phone market who may pick up some of Apple’s lost sales. 

The SAR findings top off a bad week for Apple in Europe where it has also been forced to swap its lightning charger for a USB-C charging port for its iPhone 15 in order to comply with EU rules for standardisation in 2024. 

The post Featured Article : iPhone Radiation : What’s It All About? appeared first on Mear Technology.

Message Seamlessly Across All Devices

WhatsApp says that this change gives users globally the ability to message seamlessly across all their devices without signing out, and to pick up their chats where they left off.

Employees Can Use The Same Account

For small businesses, for example, being able to use the same WhatsApp account on multiple phones means that in addition to the business owner, other employees are now able to respond to customers directly from their phones under the same WhatsApp Business account.

Phone As One Of Up To Four Additional Devices

The change means that users can link their phone as one of up to four additional devices, the same as when linking with WhatsApp on web browsers, tablets, and desktops.

When and Who?

The update has already started rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.

Maintains The Same Level Of Privacy And Security

WhatsApp says that the change won’t mean any loss of privacy and security because:

• Each linked phone connects to WhatsApp independently, ensuring that personal messages, media, and calls are end-to-end encrypted.
• If the primary device is inactive for a long period, WhatsApp will automatically log the primary out of all companion devices.

Receive One-Time Code

WhatsApp has also said that it’s introducing an alternative and more accessible way to link to companion devices by allowing users to enter their phone number on WhatsApp Web to receive a one-time code, which can be used on their phone to enable device linking, rather than having to scan a QR code.

Isn’t WhatsApp Going To Block UK Users Anyway?

Whilst this sounds like a potentially useful update, it’s not long since the boss of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, said he would rather stop users in the UK from using the app than lower its security, as suggested by the UK’s Online Safety Bill. It’s also only a couple of weeks since Cathcart and the head of the Signal app signed an open letter warning of ‘unprecedented threat to safety and security’ of UK citizens if the bill effectively ended end-to-end encryption and allowed the scanning of private messages.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For small businesses, allowing multiple employees to connect to the same WhatsApp account with their individual devices could deliver faster and more joined-up communications as they can respond directly to customers. It will also save time and effort by not having to sign out and by being able to quickly pick up their chats where they left off, thereby improving efficiency.

Giving WhatsApp Web users the option to be sent a code rather than always having to scan a QR Code may also simplify matters for many users. Businesses will also be pleased to hear that the new WhatsApp update won’t compromise security and privacy. However, WhatsApp has still not resolved its issue with the UK government over the Online Safety Bill’s potential to damage the privacy and security of the app, and UK businesses are still faced with the prospect that WhatsApp could simply ban them as users if the issue is not resolved soon.

The post Tech News : WhatsApp Wows: One Account Accessible on Multiple Mobile appeared first on Mear Technology.

Note:

By default, an iPhone will always send new messages in Plain Text unless any formatting has been applied to the text.

If formatting has been applied to the text, such as making the text bold or italic, then it will send the message in HTML.  

Follow these steps to set the default signature on the iPhone to bold or italic (so that all messages sent will be in HTML):

1. On the iPhone tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars then scroll down to the Signature section.
   
2. Tap Signature and then tap and hold on your current signature and tap Select All.
   
3. Tap the > arrow and then select the B/ U button.
   
4. As required, make the text bold or italic, then tap Mail.. at the top left of the screen to save the settings.

With these changes, any emails sent from your iPhone that include this signature will be sent in HTML. This implies that Mail Disclaimers can apply the HTML version of your signature to the message.

How does this work?

IPhone by default sends all emails as Plain Text. Plain text emails do not support inline images so images appear as attachments.

by creating a blank signature with a Bold or underline character we trick the Mail app to create the signature in the more common HTML format that supports more dynamic emails

Too much hassle there is another option.

The above issue is unique to the mac built-in Mail app switching to Outlook will also resolve this issue!

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/microsoft-outlook/id951937596

The post Exclaimer iPhone signatures are not right appeared first on Mear Technology.

Communities 

The Communities feature, for iOS and Android, allows users to connect multiple groups, e.g. schools, local clubs, non-profit organisations, and businesses together under one umbrella to organise group conversations on WhatsApp. In Communities, users can switch between different available groups to get information, plus admins can send important updates to everyone in the Community.  

More Secure Than The Alternatives? 

The Communities feature is likely to take over from Groups, and offers an alternative to platforms like Discord, Slack, and Meta’s own Messenger, with the extra selling point of “a level of privacy and security not found anywhere else”. For example, WhatsApp says about Communities: “The alternatives available today require trusting apps or software companies with a copy of their messages – and we think they deserve the higher level of security provided by end-to-end encryption.” 

In-Chat polls 

Another new feature also being launched in WhatsApp soon is in-chat polls. Tested back in April, and similar to voting polls features on other platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, in-chat polls can be used in Groups and Communities to make it easier for group members to make democratic decisions or to gather opinions of group members on specific subjects.  

32 Person Video Calling & Groups With Up To 1024 users 

WhatsApp has also announced the rollout of 32-person video calling (more than is allowed on a Discord or Slack video call), and groups with up to 1024 users which it says can be used in any group but will be particularly helpful for Communities. 

Loads Of New Features Lately 

Meta’s WhatsApp has been piling-on the new features this year to help it compete more effectively in an environment where, following the pandemic, online groups and collaborative remote working has become the norm for many. New features introduced this year include: 

– Privacy features like Leave Groups Silently, Choose Who Can See When You’re Online, and Screenshot Blocking For View Once Messages. 

– Emojis and the ability to share files within WhatsApp up to 2GB in size. 

– Improvements to voice messaging, including Out of Chat Playback, Pause/Resume Recording, Waveform Visualization, Draft Preview, Remember Playback, and Fast Playback on Forwarded Messages. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

The new ‘Communities’ feature is about Meta capitalising on the fact that many non-profit organisations, as well as businesses now use WhatsApp, and that building in more engagement and loyalty among these valuable segments could also deliver competitive advantage and benefits. This follows attempts dating back to 2018 to attract more small businesses (of which there is a large number) with WhatsApp Business followed by its testing of a multi-device capability to appeal to multi-device owning (business) users. Adding features to expand the capabilities of Communities, i.e. in-chat polls, 32-person video calling and groups with up to 1024 users enable WhatsApp to both compete effectively with a raft of its rivals (Slack, Discord, Twitter, Instagram), create a successor Groups, establish WhatsApp as a leading group comms app, and fully take advantage of the post-pandemic demand for effective online group chat and information platforms.

The post WhatsApp Launches ‘Communities’ appeared first on Mear Technology.

Communities 

The new features are being added as part of WhatsApp’s “vision for Communities” where the idea is to “help people have the next best thing to an in-person conversation when they want to talk to an individual or a group of friends or family”. The Communities vision is also being introduced to cater for organisations like schools, local clubs, and non-profit organisations which may now rely on WhatsApp, and need to send updates to the entire Community, and easily organise smaller discussion groups within them. 

Reactions 

On 5 May, Mark Zuckerberg posted on his Facebook/Meta wall that “Reactions on WhatsApp start rolling out today”. This refers to the announcement last month that WhatsApp beta version 22.9.0.71 would include reactions, group polls, and the ability to make communities with an increase in the size of files that can be shared to from 100MB to 2GB. 

Reactions are six different emojis – a red heart, thumbs up, laughter, a sad face, a surprised face/wow, and a “thanks” emoji. WhatsApp has also said that it will add support for more emojis and skin tones in the future. 

How To Use Reactions 

After users have updated their WhatsApp to beta version 22.9.0.71, to react to a message (with one of the emojis), users just need to tap and hold a chat bubble. 

Particularly Useful In Group Chats 

The reactions feature may prove to be particularly useful in busy group chats by allowing a simple emoji response rather than always requiring a reply. As WhatsApp says, “they reduce overload in groups”. 

There is also speculation that it may soon be possible to use GIFs or stickers in the response options for users. 

More People Being Added To Chats 

WhatsApp has also announced that, in response to requests from users, it is giving the option to add more people to a chat, and so is slowly rolling out the ability to add up to 512 people to a group. 

Voice Messaging 

Back In April, WhatsApp also announced that it would soon be improving its voice messaging with new features like ‘Out of Chat Playback’, ‘Pause/Resume Recording’, ‘Waveform Visualization’, ‘Draft Preview’, ‘Remember Playback’ (if interrupted), and ‘Fast Playback on Forwarded Messages’. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business?   

These reactions, increased file sharing size, and many of the other new features added to WhatsApp (and promised to be added soon) are all part of a big push by Facebook/Meta to stay at the top of the free encrypted messaging app market and compete with rivals like Snapchat. For example, in January, Snapchat announced a major update (for iOS) which included improved calling, ‘Chat Replies’, Bitmoji Reactions (to allow for more expression), and Poll Stickers to enable emoji-powered polls in Snaps and Stories to survey friends. Meta also wants to consolidate and leverage the power of its other popular apps by integrating and making Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram interoperable. 

Communities is also about Meta capitalising on the fact that many non-profit organisations, as well as businesses now use WhatsApp, and that building in more engagement and loyalty among these valuable segments could also deliver competitive advantage and benefits. This follows attempts dating back to 2018 to woo small businesses (of which there is a large number) with WhatsApp Business followed by its testing of a multi-device capability to appeal to multi-device owning (business) users. The reactions announcement is, therefore, part of a ‘drip, drip’ approach of value adding features that Meta hopes will help WhatsApp compete with the likes of Snapchat and other chat apps used by individuals, businesses and organisations (such a Slack), and aspects of other collaborative work and communications platforms (Teams, Google Workspace, and Zoom).

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The Problem With Password-Only  

Relying on password-only authentication is known to present many risks and challenges such as managing multiple passwords being cumbersome for users leading to password-sharing, data breaches, and stolen identities. Despite the added measure of two-factor authentication, the goal of tech companies in recent years has been to create sign-in technology that is more convenient and more secure and move towards a passwordless future.  

FIDO Alliance & W3C Standard 

The new common passwordless sign-in standard that Apple, Google and Microsoft are joining forces to promote and introduce is an expanded standard created by the FIDO Alliance and the World Wide Web Consortium.  

Two New Capabilities For Users 

Although Apple, Google and Microsoft already support FIDO Alliance standards to enable passwordless sign-in on billions of devices, previous implementations have required users to sign-in to each website or app with each device before they can use the passwordless functionality. This latest announcement, therefore, is really about how the platform implementations have now been extended to give users two new capabilities for more seamless, secure passwordless sign-ins. These new capabilities are:  

1. Users can now automatically access their FIDO sign-in credentials (also known as a “passkey”) on many of their devices, even new ones, without having to re-enrol every account.  

2. Users can employ the FIDO authentication on their mobile device to sign-in to an app or website on a nearby device, regardless of the OS platform or browser. 

This means that, as well as being easier and more convenient, if widely supported, service providers could also offer FIDO credentials without needing passwords as an alternative sign-in or account recovery method. 

Follows A Decade Of Work 

Mark Risher, Senior Director of Product Management for Google said, “For Google, it represents nearly a decade of work we’ve done alongside FIDO, as part of our continued innovation towards a passwordless future. We look forward to making FIDO-based technology available across Chrome, ChromeOS, Android and other platforms, and encourage app and website developers to adopt it, so people around the world can safely move away from the risk and hassle of passwords”. 

Talking about the standard’s contribution to the vision of a passwordless future, Alex Simons, Corporate Vice President, Identity Program Management at Microsoft said, “By working together as a community across platforms, we can at last achieve this vision and make significant progress toward eliminating passwords”.   

Andrew Shikiar, executive director and CMO of the FIDO Alliance highlighted how the standard could help service providers, saying “This new capability stands to usher in a new wave of low-friction FIDO implementations alongside the ongoing and growing utilisation of security keys — giving service providers a full range of options for deploying modern, phishing-resistant authentication”. 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

Finding solutions to keep one significant step ahead of cybercriminals whilst maintaining or increasing convenience for users, and avoiding the damage caused by data breaches, is an ongoing challenge for the tech companies. The passwordless future is the vision that’s starting to see some progress. 2FA has provided just enough security for now and biometrics were touted as the way ahead. Expanding the FIDO Alliance standards is the next “low-friction” step along the way and the weight of Apple, Google and Microsoft publicly getting behind it should mean that it is more widely adopted, thereby hastening the journey towards the realisation of the ‘passwordless’ vision. Cybercriminals, however, are always pushing and finding new ways to beat security systems, and with the threat of AI being used in the wrong way soon, it remains to be seen how successful the widespread use of the expanded FIDO Alliance standards will be in the near future.

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Trend 

According to the researchers, this rise is in keeping with a trend that has been evident in the last few years where attackers have been increasing their attempts at smishing (SMS/text-based phishing) and sending malware to mobile devices.

Android Is A More Popular Target 

Research shows that Android is a far more popular target for cyber criminals than Apple iOS. This may be because Apple’s App Store has strict quality controls and iOS doesn’t allow sideloading. Most mobile malware is still downloaded from app stores, and this may be due to Android’s more open approach. For example, it is open to multiple app stores and users can easily sideload apps from anywhere. 

What Mobile Malware Does 

The Proofpoint research shows that even though the basic purpose of malware (i.e to give attackers control of a system) remains the same, the latest versions are becoming more advanced. Proofpoint reports that some of this malware is capable of activities such as recording telephone and non-telephone audio and video, tracking locations, destroying or wiping content and data, to name but a few. Also, mobile banking malware lays in wait until the user activates a financial app and then intervenes to steal credentials or information. 

Adapted For Different Languages, Regions, and Devices 

Proofpoint’s Cloudmark Mobile Threat Research has revealed that Mobile malware isn’t limited to any specific geographic region or language and that threat actors adapt their campaigns to a variety of languages, regions and devices.   

Common Mobile Malware Types 

Some of the common types of mobile malware highlighted in Proofpoint’s research include: 

– FluBot – spreads by accessing the infected device’s contacts list or address book and sending the information back to a command-and-control (C&C) server. This malware can access the internet, read and send messages, read notifications, make voice calls, and delete other installed applications. 

– TeaBot – a multifunctional Trojan that can steal credentials and messages and stream an infected device’s screen contents to the attacker. 

– TangleBot – Discovered by Proofpoint and Cloudmark researchers in 2021, this mobile malware spreads via fake package-delivery notifications. 

– Moqhao – originating from China, this remote access Trojan has spying and exfiltration features so it can monitor device communications and grant an attacker remote access to the device. 

How To Protect Your Device 

Ways to protect your device from becoming infected with mobile malware include: 

– Use a mobile antivirus app from a trusted source (three quarters of users don’t have this on their smartphone). 

– Be wary of unexpected or unrequested messages with links, URLs or requests for data of any type, and don’t click on the links. 

– Report spam, smishing and suspected malware delivery to the Spam Reporting Service by using the spam reporting feature in your messaging client or forwarding suspicious text messages to 7726 (“SPAM” on the phone keypad). 

What Does This Mean For Your Business? 

With many people now using their smartphone for many aspects of business, remote working and BYOD now commonplace, while mobile malware is surging and becoming more sophisticated, there is clearly an increased risk. Those with Android smartphones need to be particularly cautious. With three-quarters of users not having a trusted mobile antivirus app on their phone, downloading and using one would be a good place to start (while ensuring it’s a trusted one). Also, awareness should be raised among staff of the danger of clicking on links in unsolicited and suspicious messages (smishing risk) and of the danger of downloading apps outside of the Google Play Store. Caution should also be used when downloading apps within the Google Play Store as some may harbour malware. It’s good practice also to avoid using public Wi-Fi, especially without a VPN, and to keep Bluetooth and Wi-Fi disabled when they’re not in use to minimise the risk of hacking attempts. 

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What Is A VPN?

A ‘Virtual Private Network’ (VPN) is used to keep internet activity private, evade censorship / maintain net neutrality and use public Wi-Fi securely (e.g., avoid threats such as ‘man-in-the-middle’ attacks). A VPN achieves this by diverting a user’s traffic via a remote server to replace their IP address while offering the user a secure, encrypted connection (like a secure tunnel) between the user’s device and the VPN service. This should mean that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or anyone else cannot read what you’re doing while using your VPN.

VPN services apps are downloaded to devices and connected when they are needed, for example, for security when using public Wi-Fi and/or when working remotely.

Other VPN Uses

In addition to security, VPNs can also be used for:

– Hiding where and how you browse from your ISP so the details can’t be sold to advertisers or accessed in a data breach of your ISP.

– Accessing the latest film or series in a country where there are content restrictions in place.

Performance

A VPN should be fast and easy to operate and, obviously, secure, as well as being the right price (free ones are available).

Possible Issues With VPNs

Some of the possible issues with VPNs that could affect their performance include:

– Not being fast enough.

– Leaking a user’s IP address and/or DNS requests when the user goes online.

– Having broken features that may not secure a user’s true Internet Protocol Version 6 address (IPv6), which could expose the user’s details to third parties.

– Not having a good VPN ‘kill switch’ (Network Lock), thereby not keeping data secure if the connection drops for any reason. 

– As highlighted by a 2019 VPN Pro study, almost one-third of the most popular VPN services are secretly owned by Chinese companies that may be subject to weak privacy laws.

Checking

Ways you find out if your VPN is satisfactory include:

– Using speed test tools such as the new open-source speed-test tool from NordVPN that allows users to compare the speeds of different VPN services. See: https://nordvpn.com/vpn-speed-test/ for details. Other VPN speed test tools include SPEEDTEST online https://www.speedtest.net/ or app – SPEEDTEST VPN (https://www.speedtest.net/apps/vpn), or by checking online rankings e.g., CNET’s comparison (speed and privacy) https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/fastest-vpn/.

– Check for DNS leaks / perform a DNS leak test to help discover if your VPN is private. For example, see https://www.dnsleaktest.com/, https://ipleak.net/, or https://surfshark.com/dns-leak-test. Connect to a VPN server and load ipleak.net in your internet browser, manually (disconnect) while the VPN client is running and then load some test websites while the VPN is reconnecting. This may identify brief reconnection leaks.

– Check for IP address leaks such as DNS IP leaks (see dnsleaktest.com or dnsleak.com), Torrent IP Leaks – if using Torrent( see http://checkmyip.torrentprivacy.com/), WebRTC IP Leaks from the web browser (use a Chrome extension e.g., such as WebRTC Leak Prevent or WebRTC Prevent Shield), or an email IP leak (see https://emailipleak.com/).

– Check whether censorship can be bypassed e.g., the user switching their VPN on and off while trying to access restricted content.

Limitations With VPN Testing Tools

It should be remembered that VPN testing tools may not be entirely reliable due to limitations such as a lack of transparency in how speeds are measured, their reliability and the verification of their results, and whether they work for a wide range of different VPN providers.

Reviews and Trusted Brands

For many people, a little online research of reviews, rankings, comparisons, and opinions is the most effective way of assessing the comparative effectiveness of a VPN. Also, many people may simply prefer to go with personal recommendations or go with well-known trusted brands when it comes to allaying fears about making the wrong choice or tackling feelings of post-purchase dissonance.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

A VPN is one of several security tools that are now widely used by businesses/organisations and individuals. There is a wide choice available, and although it seems a fairly simple operation to sign up to one and start using it, making the wrong choice of VPN tool could potentially have serious consequences. Assessing just how good a particular VPN can, in reality, be quite complicated and time-consuming. Online measuring tools and apps can provide a reasonable idea, although they can also lack transparency and reliability. For many users, it’s a case of looking at different online comparisons or sticking with/switching to trusted, paid-for brands, or going with personal recommendations.

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