Internal system broadcasts happening inside the Android OS expose sensitive user and device details that apps installed on the phone can access without the user's knowledge or permission. The leaked data includes details such as the WiFi network name, WiFi network BSSID, local IP addresses, DNS server information, and the device's MAC address. This type of data might look innocuous, but it can be used to track users online and determine a user's real-world location. The leak happens because of an internal feature of the Android OS named "intents." Intents allow an app or the OS itself to send an internal system-wide message that can be read by all apps and OS functions running on an Android device. Mobile security researchers from Nightwatch Cybersecurity have discovered that the Android OS broadcasts information about the WiFi connection and the WiFi network interface via two separate intents —WifiManager's NETWORK_STATE_CHANGED_ACTION and WifiP2pManager's WIFI_P2P_THIS_DEVICE_CHANGED_ACTION. Apps installed on an Android —including their advertising components— can set up listening posts for these two intents and capture WiFi-related information even if they don't have the permission to access a phone's WiFi feature (granted by the user to apps at install time). This leak completely undermines the Android permission system, as it allows applications access to highly sensitive information without prompting the user for action. For example, an advertiser or a malicious threat actor who have tricked a user into installing a benign-looking app can harvest WiFi info from system-wide intents and use this data to query public databases of known BSSID identifiers —such as WiGLE or SkyHook— and track down a user's real-world location. In this scenario, the app doesn't need to ask for the WiFi Access permission, and indirectly through the harvested data, the Location Access permission as well. Find your way to OUR FORUM for more details.

Today Intel announced two new additions to the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor family: The U-series (formerly code-named Whiskey Lake) and Y-series (formerly code-named Amber Lake) are optimized for connectivity in thin, light laptops and 2 in 1s for the first time, while also providing ultimate mobile performance and long battery life. Intel says the new 8th Gen Intel Core U-series and Y-series processors raise the bar for connectivity, performance, entertainment, and productivity for today’s laptops and 2 in 1s. The 8th Gen Intel Core U-series processors bring integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi to thin and light mainstream laptops for the first time, delivering up to 12-times1 faster connectivity speeds. They also offer up to 2-times better performance, compared with a 5-year-old PC, and double-digit gains in office productivity for everyday web browsing and light content creation over the previous generation. “The new 8th Gen Intel Core processors extend once again our leadership in delivering exceptional performance. Now with Gigabit Wi-Fi, we’ve enabled faster PC connectivity, added more intuitive voice experiences and enabled longer battery life needed for the next wave of mobile computing,” said Chris Walker, vice president of the Client Computing Group and general manager of Intel Mobile Client Platform. 8th Gen Intel Core Y-series processors also deliver fast connectivity options, including fast Wi-Fi and LTE capabilities with unprecedented performance, to the some of the thinnest and lightest laptops and 2 in 1s in the market with double-digit gains in performance compared with the previous generation6, enabling fresh innovations in sleek and compact form factor designs with extended battery life. Both the U-series and Y-series processors have new and improved platform capabilities for more intelligent interactions with PCs, such as support for multiple voice services on the U-series and refinements to improve natural input options like touch and stylus for the Y-series. Full details posted on OUR FORUM.