Tag Archive for: private

Google tests a ‘Private Space’ feature on Android phones, allowing secure hiding of apps

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For Android smartphones, Google is actively developing a feature called “Private Space” that will allow users to safely conceal apps. This feature, which is expected in a future Android OS update, allows users to hide files and apps from other users, similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder feature that has been around for six years.

This feature, found in the Security & Privacy settings, enables users to create a protected Android user profile using biometrics or a password/PIN. Mishaal Rahman found this development in the Android 14 QPR2 beta. This feature improves privacy when sharing the device by hiding not just the presence of the app but also its notifications.

To preserve the covert use of the “Private Space” feature, Google is thinking of implementing a search bar trigger to reveal these apps.
The possible inclusion of the feature in Android 15 may indicate that smartphone makers will use it more widely, giving more people access to Samsung’s Secure Folder-like features. Rahman points out that not all features were activated in the most recent beta because it’s still in development.

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Hackers who targeted the private hospital that treated Kate Middleton are threatening to release the Royal Family’s private medical information

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  • GCHQ and police investigating hacking gang Rhysida named after centipede

By Kevin O’sullivan

Published: | Updated:

Hackers who targeted the private hospital which treated Kate, Princess of Wales, are threatening to release private medical information belonging to members of the Royal Family.

The gang broke into the computer systems of the King Edward VII’s Hospital and warned they aim to release ‘data from the Royal Family’ on Tuesday unless they are paid £300,000 in the cyber currency Bitcoin.

The ransom demand was made on the dark web, where the hackers posted images of what they claim are stolen files including X-rays, letters from consultants, registration forms, handwritten clinical notes, and pathology forms.

Prince William departs the King Edward VII hospital with his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Prince William departs the King Edward VII hospital with his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

The Princess of Wales was admitted to the King Edward VII's Hospital in 2012 with prolonged bouts of acute morning sickness during her first pregnancy. Pictured, Kate attends the Royal Variety Performance 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall

The Princess of Wales was admitted to the King Edward VII’s Hospital in 2012 with prolonged bouts of acute morning sickness during her first pregnancy. Pictured, Kate attends the Royal Variety Performance 2023 at the Royal Albert Hall

The gang said: ‘Unique files are presented to your attention! Data from the Royal Family! A large amount of patient and employee data. Sale in one lot!!’

GCHQ and police are investigating the attack by hacking gang Rhysida – named after a venomous tropical centipede.

The 56-bed private hospital in Marylebone has been used by the Royal Family for more than a century. The late Queen Elizabeth II was a patient and so was Prince Philip who spent almost a month being treated there before he died aged 99 in 2021.

The Princess of Wales was admitted there in 2012 with prolonged bouts of acute morning sickness during her first pregnancy. 

During her stay, two Australian radio DJs placed a hoax call and obtained private medical information about Kate – then the Duchess of Cambridge – which they then broadcast, forcing hospital bosses into an embarrassing apology. 

The nurse who unwittingly took the call later committed suicide over the prank.

Last night,…

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FACT SHEET: $50B+ of U.S. Private Sector Investments into APEC Economies, as well as Private Sector Contributions to Sustainability, Inclusivity, and Resilience

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Under President Biden’s leadership, the U.S. host year of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) has demonstrated that the United States is uniquely positioned to drive sustainable, inclusive, dynamic growth in one of the most vibrant and economically important regions in the world.

American businesses are the largest source of foreign direct investment in APEC economies. The United States’ strong and resilient economy remains an indispensable driver of prosperity and innovation across our partners in the Asia-Pacific. Our public and private sectors continue to deliver for APEC economies, catalyzing sustainable, high-quality investments that create good jobs within APEC member economies as well as in the United States.

Many of these investments also advance the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), President Biden and the G7’s flagship infrastructure initiative for leveraging the expertise and financing from the private sector to scale quality investments in low- and middle-income countries to generate economic growth.

Today, U.S. companies represented at the APEC CEO Summit highlighted and announced over $50 billion of investments into APEC economies in 2023. This slate of announcements includes:

  • Nearly $25 billion in additional investments to increase digital connectivity and resilience throughout our region, including new subsea cables—both across the Pacific and within APEC economies—that will result in more than $1 trillion in GDP over the next four years, making our economies more interconnected and secure.
  • 50+ new direct flights per week from the United States to APEC economies to support increased people-to-people & business-to-business ties and trade/shipping; this steep growth in flights marks the largest U.S. airline expansion into the South Pacific in history.
  • Significant investments in a wide range of sustainability and clean energy technologies, including carbon sequestration, grid decarbonization, and sustainable aviation fuel.
  • Trailblazing investments and financings that both drive economic growth and advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s values, including an investment in an environmental…

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Decoding the Mystery of Encryption: The Power of Public and Private Keys | by Yash Gupta | Sep, 2023

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“In the world of encryption, the key to understanding is just a public and private key away.” — Anonymous

In the digital world, the concept of encryption is as ubiquitous as it is vital. It is the bedrock of internet security, safeguarding our data from prying eyes. Encryption is the process of encoding information in such a way that only authorized parties can access it. It is a complex yet fascinating subject, and understanding it requires a deep dive into the realm of public and private keys.

Public and private keys form the basis of today’s encryption

The world of encryption is a labyrinth of complex algorithms and mathematical equations, but at its core, it is a simple concept. It is a method of transforming plain text into an unreadable format, known as ciphertext, to prevent unauthorized access. The process of converting the ciphertext back into its original form is known as decryption.

The two primary types of encryption are symmetric and asymmetric encryption. Symmetric encryption uses a single key for both encryption and decryption. However, it has a significant drawback: the key must be shared between the sender and receiver. This sharing can lead to potential security risks.

Asymmetric encryption, on the other hand, uses two keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption. This method is also known as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The public key is available to everyone, while the private key is kept secret by the owner. This method eliminates the need to share keys, thereby enhancing security.

The concept of public and private keys is akin to a mailbox. Anyone can drop a letter (encrypt data) into the mailbox using the visible slot (public key), but only the person with the key to the mailbox (private key) can open it and read the letters (decrypt the data).

The process of generating these keys involves complex mathematical algorithms. The most common algorithm used is the RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) algorithm. It generates two large prime numbers and multiplies them. The complexity of factoring large prime numbers ensures the security of RSA encryption.

The beauty of public and private keys lies in their interdependence. The public key is used…

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