How to set up Android’s Data Saver mode

While most carriers offer unlimited data with their monthly plans, there are some out there that still limit cellular data usage. With dozens of Android’s best apps and services running in the background, you may run out of your monthly mobile data rather quickly. So instead of paying for expensive mobile internet every month, you can enable the data saver mode on your top budget Android phone and restrict apps from consuming data in the background. Here’s how you can start conserving your data with ease.

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What is Data Saver on Android?

Google introduced the Data Saver feature with the Android 7.0 release. The search giant used to offer Lite mode in Google Chrome to block images and save up to 70% of data. Since mobile data costs have reduced over time, Google removed the Lite mode in Chrome on March 29, 2022.

Data Saver mode limits how much data your installed apps can use in the background. If your phone isn’t connected to Wi-Fi or frequently remains out of the Wi-Fi range, it switches to mobile data to function properly.

Some video streaming and instant messaging apps may consume abnormal data in the background. When you enable Data Saver on your Android phone, these apps can’t connect to the internet in the background. You must open the app to receive updates.

Since the installed apps can’t refresh in the background, an active Data Saver mode also improves your Android phone’s battery life.

We use screenshots from a Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phone in the steps below. The steps may vary on Android phones from Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and OnePlus.

Enable data saver mode on most Android phones

You can turn on data saver mode from the settings or access

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Android Apps With 1M Installs Steals 2FA Codes & Passwords

Check Point Research has recently published a study revealing the discovery of a previously unknown malware variant dubbed FluHorse.

The malware comprises multiple malicious Android apps that impersonate legitimate ones, and unfortunately, most of these fake apps have already been installed by over 1,000,000 users.

All these malicious applications are designed to steal victims’ credentials and 2FA codes, compromising their personal and sensitive information.

FluHorse targets various industries across the Eastern Asian market and is distributed through email.

These attacks can prove persistent, dangerous, and challenging to detect, as they often leverage email accounts belonging to high-profile entities during the initial stages.

Mimicked Apps

Attackers find applications that mimic trusted, reputable companies particularly enticing since they are likely to attract financially capable customers. 

The legitimacy of these copied applications makes them even more appealing to hackers.

  • ETC with 1,000,000+ Google Play installsVPBank
  • Neo with 1,000,000+ Google Play installs

According to the ETC APK developer’s website, the application generates approximately 16 million transactions daily, with over 6 million users relying on its services.

VPBank, a major private bank in Vietnam, recorded total assets surpassing 631 trillion dongs as of December 2022, cementing its position as one of the country’s biggest financial institutions.

While the enterprise encompasses a diverse range of financial services like:-

  • Spanning retail
  • Corporate
  • Consumer Finance
  • Wealth management operations

Also, experts have noted the presence of other malicious dating applications’ presence. However, they have not discovered any corresponding applications that the malware attempts to impersonate.

Targeted banks

Infection Chain

The malicious applications contain nothing beyond multiple window replicas that offer the victim input options.

While the scheme’s effectiveness remains undisputed, regardless of the attackers’ intentions, once the victim enters their sensitive data, the information is swiftly exfiltrated to the command and control (C&C) server.

Upon reaching this step, the

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How to Join Google’s Pixel Superfans Community

If you’ve ever looked up from your Pixel phone and thought, “someone should create a secret club of Pixel fans where we get to wear cloaks and stuff,” good news! Google has such a club. It’s called Pixel Superfans, where cloaks are optional. Let’s take a closer look.


What Is Pixel Superfans?

Pixel Superfans is a private community of diehard Pixel owners. These are the types of people that tweet about the latest Pixel-related news and post their own thoughts and impressions about their own Pixel devices as a hobby. They ooze passion, and you can feel it in their content.

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These are the types of people that Pixel Superfans was made for. According to Google:

“We were inspired to create this program because we know many of you love Pixel as much as we do, and we wanted to create a space where we could get to know each other.”

If you fancy yourself a Pixel brand advocate and want to interact with other like-minded fans, consider vying for membership. You may even get paid for spreading the word about everything Pixel. But first, let’s look at how to become a Pixel Superfans member.

How to Become a Pixel Superfans Member

As of March 2023, Pixel Superfans membership is only eligible to US residents. If you live in the United States and want to join, visit the Pixel Superfans survey page. Fill out information such as your name, mailing address, and birthday.

The Pixel Superfans survey

You’ll also need to fill out info such as “what an ideal day in your life looks like,” your social handles, the Google products you currently use, and more.

You must mention if you’re a government employee or a member of the press—checking either disqualifies you from

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5 Android apps you shouldn’t miss this week

AAW Coco Valley screenshot

Welcome to the 483rd edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here are the big headlines from the last week:

  • Apple and Google are working together to reign in location tracker abuse. The problem is, essentially, that people can use Google and Apple’s Bluetooth trackers to track people who don’t know that they’re being tracked. The two tech giants are figuring out a way to let people know they’re being tracked so that they can do something about it. This is especially good news because a new wave of third-party trackers may be available with Google’s Finder Network soon.
  • Google is introducing a new passkey feature that doesn’t use passwords. The feature lets people sign into their Google accounts by using a PIN, a fingerprint, or a face scan instead of typing in a password like you usually do. Google is hardly the first with this idea. Microsoft, Apple, and several other companies are looking into it as well. Hit the link to learn more.
  • Google TV is seeing some improvements coming. Some of the improvements include a reduction of app sizes by up to 25%, and the smart TV platform will start hibernating apps when they haven’t been used in 30 days.  You can hit the link to learn more, but this is a positive update for Google TV owners.
  • Google Photos is getting improvements to its search bar. It’s only available on the web for right now, but you can try it out if you use Google Photos. Essentially, the search bar lets you type in more words into the search bar to find photos. For example, you can use phrases like “peaceful garden” or “colorful sunset”, phrases that didn’t work before.
  • We have some more AI news this week. Samsung phones now come with Bing AI by default. Well,
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Here’s the best Android Auto apps in the market [Download Now]

Android Auto is an operating system designed for cars, which allows you to connect your mobile phone and access various applications from the car’s screen. Although there are not many apps available for this system, we have compiled a list of the best 10 Android Auto apps that we consider essential for a great driving experience.

The list includes a variety of apps that serve the different needs of drivers, such as navigation, content streaming, and entertainment. These apps have been selected based on their compatibility with Android Auto and their usefulness to drivers.

Android Auto

The best Android Auto apps

Amazon Music

One of the best streaming services that are compatible with Android Auto is Amazon Music. If you are an Amazon ecosystem user, you can easily use this service to listen to your favorite music and playlists while driving. The app comes with well-adapted controls that allow you to use it easily from the car screen.

Apple Music

Apple Music Support

Another great music streaming service that is compatible with Android Auto is Apple Music. Although it may not be the best-adapted service for Android, it is a good alternative for music streaming, and you can download songs for offline listening. The controls are well adapted to the car screen, and it’s a great option for iOS users with Android Auto.

Audible

If you prefer audiobooks and podcasts over music, Audible is a great app for you. This is a subscription service that allows you to listen to your favorite audiobooks and podcasts while driving. The app comes with controls that are adapted to the car screen, making it easy to use without having to take your eyes off the road.

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps is an essential app for navigation and is the default browser for Android Auto. However, if you don’t

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8 Best Best Triathlon Apps for 2023

Completing a triathlon — typically a swim/bike/run event — is quite an accomplishment, and training for one can take months of work. But working toward peak performance could be a little more efficient with the right technology on your side.

Whether you’re looking for a virtual coach, customized workouts, or the peer support and motivation that group training provides, there’s an app for that.

In choosing the best triathlon apps for iOS and Android devices, we looked for amazing content, reliability, and stellar user reviews. Here’s what we considered while making our selections:

  • Price: Most of these apps have free features that you can access with a simple download, and some offer additional features with in-app subscriptions.
  • Ratings: We selected apps with ratings of 4 out of 5 stars or higher from both iOS and Android users (there’s one exception on this list).
  • Reviews: We read hundreds of reviews to find out what triathletes loved (or didn’t love) about each of these apps.
  • Versatility: We focused on apps that are compatible with a wide variety of smartwatches and heart rate monitors because everyone’s training tools look a little different!

All the apps on our list have also been vetted to ensure they meet Healthline’s business standards and align with our approach to well-being. Read more about our vetting process.

Pricing guide

Prices are per month.

  • $ = under $10
  • $$ = over $10

Best overall

TrainingPeaks

  • Price: free or $$
  • iOS rating: 4.8 stars
  • Android rating: 4.5 stars

TrainingPeaks is one of the most widely used apps by triathletes of all levels. In fact, it’s a partner of massive race organizations like USA Triathlon and British Triathlon.

Not only is it compatible with more than 100 apps and devices for easy syncing, but it also monitors all aspects of your

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