Here's what Google is doing to help protect users from government-backed hacking

Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) has been detecting and countering government-backed hacking against its users for over a decade now. As per a blog post by Shane Huntley from the Threat Analysis Group, it sent out over 12,000 warnings to users in 149 countries about government-backed hacking attempts from July to September this year.

More than 90 percent of the users were apparently targeted via "credential phishing emails", with an aim to obtain the password and other account credentials of the target. As can be seen in the map showing the distribution of state-sponsored phishing attacks in Q3 2019, most of the targets were in the U.S., Pakistan, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Google says that its Threat Analysis Group tracks over 270 targeted or government-backed groups in more than 50 countries around the world. These groups are said to be involved in various activities such as stealing intellectual property, intelligence collection, targeting activists, destructive cyber-attacks, and spreading disinformation.

To help protect its users as well as infrastructure, Google's Threat Analysis Group works closely with other tech companies as well as security firms to share intelligence. It also shares some threat information with law enforcement agencies. In the future, TAG plans to share more updates about the threats that it detects and stops. This, it says, could prove helpful in deterring future attacks and also create awareness among high-risk targets such as journalists and human rights activists.

Google fires four employee activists for allegedly 'violating' company policies

The clock keeps ticking for WeChat

WeChat ban has been blocked by U.S. District Court

The Trump administration's ban on WeChat was set to go into effect today, but a U.S. district court judge just blocked it.

Have some fun

These are the best games for your Android phone

We're rounding up the best games, free and premium, you should be playing today.

From the Editor's Desk

Digital Wellbeing has been forgotten, but we need it now more than ever

Two years ago, the digital hygiene movement was in full swing. Now, during the pandemic, the idea of using our phones less has been abandoned, but should we bring it back?

theme it yourself

Spice up your smartphone or tablet with the best icon packs for Android

Being able to customize your device is fantastic as it helps to make your device even more of "your own". With the power of Android, you can use third-party launchers to add custom icon themes and these are just some of our favorites.