What Is Whaling? The Phishing Attacks Explained

Phishing is one of the most prominent internet scams, and its cousin scam, whaling, is just as dangerous. Here’s how to identify and avoid a whaling attack.

Instagram head responds to backlash by saying video is inevitable

You’re not alone if you think Instagram’s TikTok-like test feed is undercooked, but don’t expect it to go away completely. As CNBCnotes, social network head Adam Mosseri has posted a Twitter clip acknowledging that the video-focused trial feed is “not yet good,” and would need to be improved before it reached all Instagram users. However, he maintained that Instagram would invariably become more video-centric over time as that’s the content people were sharing. Get used to seeing more clips, in other words.

Mosseri also defended the rise of recommended posts in users’ feeds. He contended they were the “most effective and important” ways for creators to grow their audiences. Users could pause all recommendations for a month if they weren’t interested, he said.

The Twitter post is effectively Instagram’s response to a mounting backlash against the video feed and recommendation efforts. High-profile users like Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian recently blasted Instagram for “trying to be TikTok,” while posts and petitions have increasingly called on the social media site to “make Instagram Instagram again” by returning its attention to photos.

While Mosseri asked for feedback, there’s no guarantee Instagram will change course. Meta has a long history of duplicating features from social networks that pose a competitive threat, including TikTok and Snapchat. The test feed and recommendations are clearly meant to keep Instagram users from drifting toward TikTok, and Meta is trying a similarly overt strategy with Facebook. So long as Meta is worried that rivals might take its user base, it’s unlikely to completely scrap features like these.

How Good is the Battery Life on the Pixel 6a?

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Shopify Lays Off 10% of Staff, Says Pandemic Bet 'Didn’t Pay Off'

Add e-commerce behemoth Shopify to the growing list of tech companies struggling to steer through 2022 unscathed.

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DeathStalker v2 Pro Is One of Razer's Thinnest Keyboards, but It's Not for Everyone

Low-profile mechanical keyboards are a relative niche in the keyboard community, but they’re becoming more common as people demand options. Low-profile keyboards have a similar look to laptop keyboards, and they might feel like they type a little faster with the shorter travel between keys, though your mileage may vary…

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Truck Driver On Trial In Crash That Killed 7 Motorcyclists

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, has pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless conduct.

10 of the Worst Crypto Promos to Make You Loathe Consumerism

It’s one thing to buy the merchandise for your favorite band or movie or game. It’s another thing to wear a tie flooded with bitcoin tokens.

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PlayStation VR2 will offer livestreaming support and a 'Cinematic Mode'

Sony is finally ready to share early details of PlayStation VR2’s software experience, not just the hardware. The company has previewed a few key features for its PS5 VR headset, including livestreaming support. If you have a PS5 HD Camera, you can broadcast both gameplay and a view of yourself. As you might guess, that could be helpful for Twitch streamers, YouTubers and others who want to share their PSVR2 footage without relying on capture cards and green screens.

The company also explained how it will handle non-VR content. The PSVR2 headset will offer a 1080p “Cinematic Mode” that displays the PS5 interface and conventional games on a virtual screen at refresh rates between 24Hz and 120Hz. This is a very familiar experience if you’ve used VR before, but it will still be helpful if you’d rather not remove your headset to change system settings. Native VR content displays at 4,000 x 2040 with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.

 Other known features exist primarily to prevent accidents. A “see-through” mode lets you quickly peek at the room to avoid a collision or find your controllers. You can also define a customized play area that will warn if you’re too close to the couch or TV. This also isn’t a novel concept, but it could prove crucial to apartment dwellers and anyone else with limited space for walk-around VR experiences.

There are still many more unknowns, such as the VR-native interface. Sony has promised that developers will “soon” have access to this latest experience, though, and it has teased upcoming details for the release date and more games. Don’t be shocked if you hear considerably more about PSVR2 in the near future.

Eragon Will Return in a New Disney+ Series

Bruce Campbell says Evil Dead’s Ash could return, butin animated form. The Simpsons will spook with not one, but two Treehouse of Horror specials this year. Go behind the scenes of Westeros in a new House of the Dragon video. Plus, what’s coming on the Riverdale season finale. To me, my spoilers!

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Tuned Out: Meta Scraps App for Couples

Hey all you sexy young couples, I have bad news. Meta’s relationship-focused communication app Tuned is officially being shut down on September 19. Or, if you’re like me and 1) are single and/or 2) have never heard of this app, September 19 will just be another Monday.

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