I continued freelancing whenever I could, after moving on from my role to another career path back in the noughties. Those who know me and are reading this will say that I've been among the most ardent defenders of Android since I first laid hands on the HTC G1 Dream in 2008. While that early HWZ team was evenly divided between iOS and Android loyalists, I endured a lot of good-natured ribbing as one of Android's loudest supporters. I would jump in to defend Google's mobile OS at the slightest hint of debate.
Malware: Never Say Never
When I made my first public appearance with an iPhone 15 Pro Max earlier this month, there were exclamations of surprise and satisfaction from friends and family alike:
"You aren't the real Count! What have they done to him!"
"Finally, you've come to your senses! Better late than never..."
Whether I had "come to my senses" is up for debate, but I knew for certain: I no longer felt safe using Android phones after losing hundreds of dollars in online transactions I did not know of, or approved of.
As you've probably heard by now, there has been an exponentially growing number of scammers exploiting Android's openness to third-party apps and accessibility permissions, which, at the highest levels, even allow a phone to be controlled remotely to perform fraudulent acts of all kinds.
In Singapore's 2023, this really took off in a big way, with affected Android users losing over $334.5 million in the first half of this year alone. For my part, I once malicious inroads.
Having reviewed phones for decades also meant that I should have known what I was up against, but losing money without my knowledge has given me a new lens on how little I understand the complexity of malware regardless of a person's technological proficiency or interest.
What Actually Happened
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
How To Secure Your Smartphone
WE COVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF A STRONG password earlier. And this also applies to your smartphone too. While using your birthdate can seem convenient, if you wouldn't use that on your PC, then you shouldn't use it on your phone either.
Ryzen AI Enters The Fray
This review covers the flagship processor in the lineup, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which features a powerful 12-core, 24-thread configuration, 36MB of cache, and Radeon 890M graphics.
IT'S UPGRADE TIME
As the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch approached, rumours about a revolutionary device with a dramatic design change swirled-the Apple Watch X. But as it turns out, we got the Apple Watch Series 10 instead.
Intel Core Ultra 2 Shines
With a week of hands-on experience with the ASUS Zenbook S 14 powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V, it's clear that Intel has created a chip that's a serious contender in the ultraportable space.
Smaller, Lighter, Smarter
When it comes to second-generation products, you expect improvements, and the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 certainly delivers.
AN ATMOSPHERIC ATTEMPT
Taking on a remake of Konami's classic Silent Hill 2 was always going to be a daunting task. Enter Bloober Team, the studio behind other psychological horror titles like The Medium and Blair Witch. While those were solid efforts in their own right, Silent Hill holds a special place in the hearts of horror fans, and any attempt to update it was bound to be scrutinized.
BASIC, BUT COMPETENT
Following the success of the Nothing Phone (2) and Nothing Phone (2a), the company launched its sub-brand, CMF by Nothing, aimed squarely at the budget-conscious.
LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7X
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x stands out in terms of build quality and design. With a thickness of just 12.9mm and weighing a mere 1.28kg, this laptop is incredibly portable.
COMFY, SECURE, AND OPEN
With the Nothing Ear (Open), the company has focused on elevating the open-fit experience with a stylish design, secure fit, and surprisingly solid audio quality.
The Emperor Of Mankind Approves
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 puts you right in the middle of the Imperium's most brutal battles, and it does so with an unapologetic embrace of its own absurdity.