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A recent leak of an internal Google database has exposed thousands of privacy incidents that occurred over a span of six years. These breaches, many of which were previously unknown to the public, impacted a wide range of users including children, car owners, and even corporate entities like Nintendo.

Internal Leak and Verification

The leaked database, obtained and first reported by tech outlet 404 Media, consists of numerous privacy incidents reported internally by Google employees. These incidents were flagged for investigation and resolution by relevant teams within Google. The legitimacy of the leak has been verified by 404 Media and confirmed by Google.

“In a statement to 404 Media, Google explained, ‘At Google, employees can quickly flag potential product issues for review by the relevant teams. The reports obtained by 404 are from over six years ago and are examples of these flags—every one was reviewed and resolved at that time. In some cases, these employee flags turned out not to be issues at all or were issues that employees found in third-party services.'”

Major Privacy Incidents

1. Children’s Privacy: The most significant incident involved Socratic, a homework helper app acquired by Google in 2019. The leak revealed that over one million users’ email addresses, including those of children, were publicly accessible on the Socratic.org website for more than a year. Additionally, children’s voices were accidentally logged in the YouTube Kids app, and a thousand children’s speech data was recorded by a Google speech service. Another incident noted that a filter meant to exclude recordings of children’s voices was not correctly applied.

2. License Plates on Google Maps Street View: In 2016, it was reported that Google Maps’ Street View was inadvertently transcribing license plates from photos to text. Despite having a system in place to detect and avoid transcribing license plates, this system failed, resulting in a database of geolocated license plate numbers and fragments.

3. Nintendo’s YouTube Announcements: One incident involved a Google employee accessing private videos on Nintendo’s YouTube account. These videos, which contained announcements that had not yet been made public, were leaked prematurely. The report states that this unauthorized access was determined to be non-intentional.

Implications and Reactions

These revelations underscore significant lapses in privacy protection and data management within Google’s various services. While Google asserts that all flagged incidents were reviewed and resolved, the exposure of such sensitive information raises concerns about the adequacy of existing safeguards.

Child Privacy Breaches

The exposure of children’s data is particularly alarming, given the potential for misuse by malicious actors. Public availability of children’s email addresses and voice data poses serious privacy and security risks.

READ ALSO: Japanese Billionaire Cancels SpaceX Moon Mission, Crew Devastated

Vehicle License Plate Exposure

The inadvertent transcription of license plates could lead to privacy violations for individuals whose vehicles were captured by Street View. This incident highlights the need for more robust mechanisms to protect identifiable information in public data sets.

Corporate Data Leaks

The unauthorized access to Nintendo’s private videos illustrates vulnerabilities in data access controls, even for major corporate clients. Such breaches could damage trust and have significant business repercussions.

The leaked Google database sheds light on numerous privacy issues that have affected a broad spectrum of users over several years. While Google claims to have addressed these incidents, the scope and nature of the breaches call for enhanced privacy measures and transparency in handling user data. For more detailed information on the privacy incidents revealed in the leaked Google database, refer to the full report by 404 Media.

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has canceled his highly anticipated flight to the moon aboard SpaceX’s Starship, a decision influenced by the spacecraft’s lack of successful test flights. The dearMoon project, which aimed to send a civilian crew to the moon, announced the cancellation on Friday, citing SpaceX’s failure to launch by the end of 2023 and ongoing uncertainty about the mission’s future.

Cancellation Announcement

In a statement on their website, dearMoon explained, “Launch within 2023 became unfeasible, and without clear schedule certainty in the near-term, it is with a heavy heart that Maezawa made the unavoidable decision to cancel the project.” Maezawa echoed this sentiment in posts on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disappointment over the aborted mission.

“I signed the contract in 2018 based on the assumption that dearMoon would launch by the end of 2023,” Maezawa wrote. “It’s a developmental project so it is what it is, but it is still uncertain as to when Starship can launch.”

The dearMoon Project

Maezawa announced his private SpaceX moon flight in 2018, with plans to take a group of artists on a journey to create works inspired by the trip. Initially, he expanded the guest list in January 2020, searching for a “life partner” to join him on the ultimate romantic adventure, but he quickly abandoned that idea.

Eventually, Maezawa settled on a crew of eight creatives, including U.S. DJ Steve Aoki, K-pop artist T.O.P (Choi Seung-hyun), and YouTuber Tim Dodd. Now, these individuals will have to find other means to get closer to the moon.

Maezawa himself has experience in space travel, having taken a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station for a 12-day trip in 2021. However, the cancellation of the dearMoon project marks a significant setback in his lunar ambitions.

Crew Reactions

The decision to cancel the mission has left the crew members devastated and disappointed. Some have publicly criticized Maezawa for his unilateral decision. Photographer and crew member Rhiannon Adam responded to Maezawa on X, stating, “You didn’t ask us if we minded waiting or give us an option or discuss that you were thinking of canceling until you’d already made the decision.”

Filmmaker Brendan Hall concurred, emphasizing that the cancellation was Maezawa’s decision alone. “Our crew has stayed well informed of Starship’s development and were aware that we would potentially be investing many years into this mission. The cancellation of this mission was sudden, brief, and unexpected.”

YouTuber Tim Dodd shared similar sentiments, noting that he had no prior knowledge of the possibility of cancellation and would have reconsidered his involvement had he known it could end abruptly. “I voiced my opinions, even before the announcement, that it was improbable for dearMoon to happen in the next few years,” Dodd wrote.

READ ALSO: Motorola’s 2024 Edge Mid-Ranger: Bigger, Better, and More Affordable

SpaceX’s Challenges

SpaceX has faced significant challenges with Starship’s development. The first test flight in April ended in failure, followed by another unsuccessful attempt in November. The third flight in March managed to reach orbital speed, but SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft before the planned landing.

Space flight is inherently difficult and dangerous, and Starship’s initial failures are not unexpected. However, these setbacks highlight the long road ahead before Starship is ready to safely transport humans.

The cancellation of the dearMoon project marks a significant disappointment for Maezawa and his chosen crew. While Maezawa’s decision is understandable given the uncertainties and risks involved, the emotional impact on the crew and their dashed lunar dreams is palpable. As SpaceX continues to develop Starship, the hope for a future civilian moon mission remains, albeit on an uncertain timeline.

Motorola has officially unveiled its latest mid-range smartphone, the Edge (2024). This new device shares many features with last year’s model but introduces some notable enhancements.

Key Upgrades

Enhanced Performance with Snapdragon Chipset

The most significant upgrade is the chipset. The Edge (2024) features a Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 SoC, replacing the previous MediaTek hardware. While online benchmark tests indicate that this chip may not outperform the 2023 version, it does offer comparable performance. This change allows Motorola to price the new Edge at a competitive $550, $50 less than its predecessor, which is still sold at $600.

RAM Boost for Extra Power

For users needing extra power, the Edge (2024) includes RAM Boost, a feature that converts unused storage from the 256GB drive into virtual RAM. With 8GB of standard memory, this tool is especially useful for activities like streaming movies or gaming.

Bigger Battery and Fast Charging

The Edge (2024) comes with a larger 5,000mAh battery, capable of lasting up to 36 hours on a single charge. Additionally, it supports 68W TurboPower fast charging, allowing users to achieve up to 50% battery life with just a 15-minute charge.

Design and Camera Improvements

Updated Design with Quick Button

The Edge (2024) maintains a design similar to the 2023 model, with a notable addition of a new Quick Button. This customizable button can be linked to specific apps or functions, such as launching Google Maps, accessing Gmail, or opening the messaging app. As a result, the device is slightly larger, measuring 159.63 x 71.99 x 8.09 mm (6.28 x 2.83 x 0.3 inches).

READ ALSO: TikTok Faces Security Breach: High-Profile Accounts Targeted

Advanced Camera Features

A standout feature of the Edge (2024) is its 50 MP rear camera equipped with a Sony LYTIA 700C image sensor. Motorola claims this sensor enhances light absorption, producing highly detailed images. The camera is supported by Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Adaptive Stabilization to minimize hand motion and ensure clear photographs. Complementing the main camera are a 13MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 32MP front-facing camera for selfies.

Motorola’s Edge (2024) presents an appealing package for those seeking a mid-range smartphone. With enhancements in performance, battery life, and camera quality, combined with a more affordable price, the Edge (2024) stands out as a strong contender in the market.

For those interested in an affordable yet powerful smartphone, the Motorola Edge (2024) is worth considering. Its new features and competitive pricing make it an attractive choice for a wide range of users.

TikTok, a leading social media platform, has been hit by a security breach affecting high-profile accounts. This incident has raised significant concerns about the platform’s security measures and its impact on users.

Details of the Breach

TikTok’s Security Response

TikTok’s security team is actively addressing an exploit that allowed hackers to compromise several high-profile celebrity and brand accounts. Among the affected are Paris Hilton, CNN, and Sony. The ByteDance-owned app maker has not disclosed specific details about the nature of the attack or the techniques used to mitigate it. They only stated that measures have been taken to stop the attack and prevent future occurrences.

Nature of the Attack

As reported by Semafor and Forbes, the attack involved malware transmitted through TikTok’s direct messages, potentially impacting account access. The hackers’ intentions remain unclear since none of the compromised accounts posted any content.

Impact on CNN’s Account

CNN’s account was particularly affected, as it was hacked last week, leading to a temporary shutdown for several days. CNN is collaborating with TikTok to implement additional security measures to safeguard the account, especially with the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in mind.

TikTok’s Official Statement

TikTok, when contacted for further details, declined to share more information about the nature of the attack or the countermeasures. This decision aims to avoid providing insights to potential malicious actors.

A TikTok spokesperson stated, “Our security team is aware of a potential exploit targeting a number of high-profile accounts. We have taken measures to stop this attack and prevent it from happening in the future. We’re working directly with affected account owners to restore access, if needed.”

READ ALSO: Sony’s State of Play event revealed an exciting lineup of upcoming games for the PlayStation 5

Broader Implications

TikTok’s Influence and U.S. Concerns

The breach occurs at a time when TikTok’s influence in the U.S. is under scrutiny. President Biden recently signed a bill that mandates ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell the app or face a ban in the U.S. If ByteDance does not comply, it will become illegal for app stores to distribute TikTok once the law is in effect.

Legal Battles

In response, TikTok has sued the U.S. government over this law, which will prolong the legal battle for months. Interestingly, Donald Trump, who initially tried to ban the app, has now started using TikTok for his campaign.

This recent security breach at TikTok highlights significant vulnerabilities and raises questions about the platform’s security protocols. With high-profile accounts targeted, it’s imperative for TikTok to enhance its security measures. The incident also coincides with broader geopolitical tensions, making TikTok’s future in the U.S. uncertain. Users and stakeholders will be closely watching how the company addresses these challenges moving forward.

For those concerned about their account security, it is recommended to regularly update passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Stay informed about the latest security updates from TikTok to protect your account.