John Lister

Meta has announced that WhatsApp will support chats from third-party messaging apps for users in the European Union. The move is a direct response to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a major regulation that means designated 'gatekeeper' platforms must interact with smaller services. The new functionality, named "third-party chats," will be available on both Android and iOS devices. It is an opt-in feature, meaning users must manually enable it within their settings before they can communicate with people on other supported messaging apps. DMA Compliance Drives Change The Digital Markets ...view more

Details about Google's long-rumored plan to merge its computer and mobile operating systems have emerged from an unlikely source. A now-removed job listing has provided the first public confirmation of "Aluminium OS," a new system designed to bring Android to PCs. The job posting, first spotted by Android Authority, was for a product manager role to work on the new operating system. It described Aluminium as being "Android-based" and built with "Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the core." (Source: androidauthority.com ) The End of ChromeOS? The listing strongly suggests that Aluminium OS, also ...view more

Microsoft has confirmed its AI assistant, Copilot, is being removed from WhatsApp starting January 15, 2026. This change follows a similar announcement from OpenAI regarding its ChatGPT assistant. The decision is a direct result of upcoming changes to WhatsApp's platform policies. Parent company Meta is banning the use of its business API (which lets other companies integrate with WhatsApp) to distribute general-purpose AI chatbots that are not its own. New WhatsApp Policies Force Removal The new terms effectively prohibit rivals from using WhatsApp to reach customers, leaving Meta AI with no ...view more

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has warned smartphone users about commercial spyware aimed at mobile messaging applications. It says tools which use ordinary cellular text messaging as a backup are particularly at risk. According to the federal cyber defense agency, these malicious tools are often deployed through social engineering tactics that manipulate users into installing them. Once a device is compromised, the spyware can siphon off sensitive data including private messages, contact lists, and real-time location, potentially giving attackers full ...view more

A British man responsible for a high-profile 2020 hack of Twitter, now known as X, has been ordered to pay back 4.1 million British Pounds ($5.37 million USD) in cryptocurrency. Joseph James O'Connor, 26, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence in the United States after pleading guilty to multiple charges including computer intrusion and wire fraud. The cyber attack in July 2020 affected the accounts of numerous public figures, including then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Other notable victims included Bill Gates, Warren ...view more

Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines, introducing stricter rules for developers regarding the sharing of user data with third-party artificial intelligence services. This marks the first instance of Apple's guidelines specifically mentioning the term "AI," signaling the company's increased focus on the technology. The core change requires app developers to explicitly disclose when and with whom personal user data will be shared, including any third-party AI models. Developers must also obtain clear and direct permission from users before any such data sharing occurs. Stricter Consent ...view more

Google has announced a new policy for the Play Store that will identify and flag Android applications using excessive amounts of battery. Starting March 1, 2026, apps that are found to be significant power drainers may be labeled with a warning on their store listing and be featured less prominently. The initiative aims to improve the user experience by providing more transparency about how an application might impact a device's battery life before it is downloaded. The new system was developed in collaboration with Samsung, combining real-world battery usage data with Android's ...view more

Apple is reportedly working to significantly expand the satellite connection features available on iPhones, moving beyond just calling emergency services. Future updates could allow for more robust communication and connectivity in areas without cellular or WiFi coverage. The planned enhancements are said to include the ability to send photos via satellite through the Messages app, an upgrade from the current text-only functionality. Additionally, Apple is reportedly developing satellite connectivity for Apple Maps, which would provide navigation capabilities even when users are offline. ...view more

Google has launched "Recovery Contacts," a new security feature made to help you get back into your account by nominating trusted friends or family to help you. It offers a safe option for when you can't use your usual methods, like a recovery email or codes sent to your phone. The system works by having a person you trust confirm it's really you. It's made to solve common problems, like losing your phone or access to a backup email, which can block you from finishing the usual security steps. How Recovery Contacts Work To use it, you must add trusted contacts ahead of time in your ...view more

Microsoft has confirmed that a recent Windows security update is triggering some computers to demand a BitLocker recovery key upon startup. This issue primarily affects users on Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2, as well as Windows 10 version 22H2, who have installed updates released on or after October 14, 2025. Upon restarting their devices, affected users are confronted with a prompt asking for their BitLocker recovery key. BitLocker is a security measure that encrypts a hard drive to make it more secure if somebody steals a computer or gets unauthorized physical access. Microsoft says ...view more