Secure and privacy-focused messaging app Signal is developing a feature that will allow users to connect via usernames instead of phone numbers. The feature is expected to be released in early 2024.
⚡ Firefox has outperformed Google Chrome in terms of speed in a recent assessment by Speedometer, a tool that measures a browser's web app responsiveness. This challenges the perception of Firefox as a slower browser.
Mozilla has launched Firefox 120, featuring new privacy tools, including a Copy Link Without Site Tracking function and a Global Privacy Control setting. The update also enhances Picture-in-Picture and includes various security fixes.
Signal private messenger has released a new version for Android that allows users to customize the app's icon and name, and even disguise it to look like another unrelated application.
Signal has announced a quantum resistance enhancement for its messaging app, modifying the X3DH specification to PQXDH. This is a preventive measure against potential future quantum computers that could crack existing encryption standards.
🎉 Congratulations to
@brave
Search for achieving 100% independence from Bing and providing fully independent search results 👏. Learn more about how Brave Search is an excellent alternative to Big Tech search engines while prioritizing user privacy:
Open-source alternative to Windows Explorer, Files, releases v2.5 with user-driven improvements: swiping gestures, Git enhancements, SeerPro integration, Acrylic backdrop, separate preview & details panes, and more! Check out more here:
🔐
@Bitwarden
has launched an open-source standalone authenticator app for iOS and Android, which uses time-based one-time passwords (TOTP) for two-factor authentication (2FA) to improve security
Proton, a software company known for products like Proton Mail and Proton VPN, has acquired Standard Notes, an encrypted note-taking app. This is Proton's second acquisition following SimpleLogin in 2022.
🔒
@signalapp
is introducing usernames in beta stage, allowing users to connect without sharing phone numbers. The usernames, expected to roll out in the coming weeks, are not searchable and must be shared explicitly for connection
Mozilla has added over 450 new extensions to Firefox for Android, marking the start of a new open extension ecosystem on mobile. The move allows developers to create and publish extensions and users to easily install them.
NewPipe, a lightweight and ad-free YouTube client, has released version 0.25.2, introducing multiple audio tracks support, enhanced accessibility, a new ExoPlayer settings menu, unthrottled downloads, and customizable volume and brightness gestures.
🦊 Mozilla has launched
@Firefox
125, featuring support for the AV1 codec for Encrypted Media Extensions, updated PDF viewer, and a URL Paste Suggestion feature. It also streamlines online shopping by saving users' addresses and enhances security measures.
Mozilla has announced that
@Firefox
will soon include tab grouping, vertical tabs, a new profile management system, customizable new tab wallpapers, improved privacy settings, faster performance, and AI-generated alt-text for images in PDFs.
Proton has reduced the price of its Proton Pass Plus subscription from $3.99/month to $1.99/month due to rapid adoption and growth of its paid user base. The price cut applies to both new and existing customers.
Hackers known as BlackCat / ALPHV have threatened to release 80GB of confidential data stolen from Reddit in February 2023, demanding a $4.5 million ransom for its deletion and the withdrawal of Reddit's API pricing changes.
Read more:
Tuta has launched TutaCrypt, a cryptography system that allows to send/receive emails with encryption so robust that even quantum computers can't crack it. It will be the default for all new Tuta accounts and will gradually be deployed to existing users.
Proton has launched a beta version of its new Proton Mail desktop app, which also provides access to Proton Calendar. Currently exclusive to Visionary plan users, the app will be available to all users in 2024.
Proton Pass has launched a dedicated Windows desktop app, featuring an offline mode for accessing stored credentials without an internet connection. The app uses end-to-end encryption for all data and generates random email addresses for online signups
🌐
@brave
has launched a native ARM version of its desktop web browser for Windows, improving performance and compatibility for ARM chip-based computers. The browser is available for download from Brave's website, the Microsoft Store, or GitHub
Proton has developed a new CAPTCHA system that prioritizes privacy, usability, accessibility, and security. The system, which is compliant with GDPR regulations, uses censorship-resistant technologies, visual challenges, and a computational proof of work.
Signal, the encrypted messaging service, has rolled out usernames to everyone, allowing users to connect without sharing phone numbers. The feature also includes a privacy setting that makes users searchable only by their exact username.
Mozilla has launched Firefox 119, featuring expanded Firefox View and new options to edit PDFs. The update also offers the option to import some Chrome extensions, and introduces several privacy enhancements, including the Encrypted Client Hello feature.
7-Zip has released its 24.05 version, introducing the ability to unpack ZSTD, ZIP, SquashFS, and RPM archives, as well as RAR archives generated by WinRAR 7.00. The update also includes speed optimizations, and numerous new switches and enhancements.
Popular YouTube alternative NewPipe has launched version 0.26, introducing new features such as enhanced accessibility to various channels and the ability to select image quality. The update also includes improvements, refined localizations, and bug fixes.
Mullvad VPN has launched a new search engine called Mullvad Leta. The metasearch engine uses the Google Search API as a proxy, caching each search, and sharing the cached results amongst all users to reduce costs and improve privacy.
Ad and content blocker uBlock Origin has released version 1.50.0 with added attributes and scriptlets, support for sublists in the “Filter lists” pane, and the addition of Thunderbird as a target for installation, allowing users to block ads in emails.
An incredible achievement! Congrats to
@ProtonPrivacy
for reaching 100 million accounts. Their commitment to privacy and security is commendable, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Proton!
🚀
@brave
has launched its new search API, a solution that allows companies and developers to integrate a privacy-preserving and independent search index into their applications. Check out more about this important announcement here:
Aegis, an open-source 2FA app for Android, has launched version 3.0, featuring a Material 3 redesign, automatic icon assignment, and improved performance. The update also includes several bug fixes and stability improvements.
🦁
@Brave
browser's recent update is installing Brave VPN services on Windows devices without user consent. The company clarified that these services are not used until a user purchases and connects to Brave VPN, and is expecting to change this behavior.
The Nitter project, a privacy-oriented X/Twitter front-end, has been discontinued by its owner. The decision is linked to X/Twitter's move to disable the creation of guest accounts, on which Nitter was heavily relying.
Brave browser version 1.64.109 has been released and will stop auto-installing its VPN services during the browser's installation. The update also allows users to disable the Brave AI assistant, Leo, and introduces security and privacy enhancements.
Open-source alternative to Notion, AppFlowy, has launched a private beta of its cloud version, featuring optional end-to-end encryption. The software allows companies to maintain a local instance and sync to the cloud, with customizable workspaces.
Mozilla plans to reintroduce full browser extension support for its Android app, a feature absent since the 2020 Fenix redesign. The update will align the Android app with the desktop version, offering a more comprehensive browsing experience:
Floorp, a web browser based on Firefox ESR, has released version 11.8 with a revamped workspace, improved toolbar design, and lifted restrictions on workspace names. The update also includes enhanced PWA detection and improved tab technology.
Brave's AI assistant, Leo, has been upgraded to interact with PDFs and Google Drive files, using the accessibility tree and Optical Character Recognition to understand and extract information.
NewPipe, the open source YouTube client for Android, has released version 0.27 with features like support for comment replies, playlist descriptions, and a reset settings option. The update also comes with several other enhancements and bug fixes.
Users of non-Chrome browsers, particularly Firefox and Edge, are experiencing a five-second delay when loading YouTube videos. The delay, which disappears when the user agent is modified to Chrome, may be related to YouTube's ad-blocker crackdown.
The alpha version of
@spacedriveapp
a cross-platform open-source file manager, is now available after 15 months of development. It offers metadata access, file preview in various formats, along with Quick View, File Tagging, Library Statistics, and more.
Microsoft is modifying Windows 11 to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Economic Area, enabling users to uninstall most pre-installed apps, disable Bing Search, and control data syncing.
Open-source Spotify client, Spotube, has launched version 3.6 with features including Spotify Connect support, LRCLIB lyrics provider integration, personalized recommendations, improved caching, search history support, added translations, and more.
Proton has launched a desktop app for its Proton Mail service, available for Windows and macOS users, with a Linux version in beta testing. The app offers increased security and productivity features, as well as native notifications, and more.
Open-source and privacy-focused mobile operating system
@e_mydata
has launched v2.0, which includes aesthetic improvements, Android Auto compatibility, a QR code scanning function, device-specific improvements, and a Wall of Shame for apps leaking data.
Productivity tool Notion has acquired privacy-focused platform
@skiffprivacy
, which offers encrypted services such as file storage and email. Skiff will be integrated into Notion's platform and its standalone products will cease to exist after six months
In a surprising move,
@VMware
has made its Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro desktop hypervisor products free for personal use. The company has also phased out the Workstation Player and Fusion Player versions, encouraging users to switch to the Pro versions
Brave has launched its AI assistant, Leo, for all desktop users. Leo can summarize webpages, translate text, and rewrite phrases. It prioritizes user privacy by processing requests anonymously and discarding responses immediately.
The Zorin team has released Zorin OS 16.3, a Linux distribution with enhanced performance, security, and privacy. It includes the Zorin OS Upgrader, an updated Zorin Connect Android app, LibreOffice 7.5, and latest security patches.
Secure email provider
@TutaPrivacy
has rebranded as Tuta, making it the only secure email provider with a four-letter .com domain. The company will also gradually introduce a new logo and refreshed look and feel for their platform.
Ente, the firm behind privacy-focused apps Ente Photos and Ente Authenticator, has open sourced its server, following its clients' precedent. This allows users to self-host their own Ente cloud, and strengthens trust in Ente's infrastructure and products.
Proton Mail has launched a feature enabling users to create unique email aliases for different apps, enhancing privacy and security. Proton Sentinel has been added to monitor activity and prevent account takeovers
🌳
@ecosia
the eco-friendly search engine, now offers its own browser as an alternative to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. It includes an ad-blocker, supports tree-plantation projects through ad revenue, and runs on solar power
Winamp, the popular Windows music player, has announced that it will make its source code public on September 24, 2024, to facilitate collaborative development of its software. Developers interested in contributing to this project can reach out.
Linus Torvalds has unveiled the latest stable release of the Linux kernel, version 6.9. This update includes significant changes, particularly to GPU and networking drivers, and provides support for the Rust programming language on AArch64 architectures.
The Thunderbird team has made significant enhancements to its project of converting K-9 Mail into Thunderbird for Android, improving the user interface and experience, particularly during account setup.
Proton has launched Pass Monitor, a suite of security features for its password manager, Proton Pass. The features aim to enhance data security by alerting users to account weaknesses and data breaches.
Swiss company
@ProtonPrivacy
has launched a macOS app for its encrypted cloud storage service, Proton Drive. The app allows easy file synchronization between a Mac and the cloud, with end-to-end encryption.
Penpot, the free and open source Figma rival, has announced it's out of beta and officially launching their tool “to the world”, almost two years after the first alpha release.
BleachBit, an open-source system cleaner, has released version 4.6.0, which includes updates for cleaning closed tabs on Firefox, autofill data on Chromium-based browsers, and improved support for FileZilla and GIMP.
The Thunderbird team is transforming K-9 Mail into Thunderbird for Android, enhancing its UI, features, and security. A security audit by OSTIF and 7ASecurity found no high-risk vulnerabilities, with most low-to-medium risks already addressed.
Simple Mobile Tools, known for its popular open-source Android apps, confirmed it's being sold to ZipoApps. This sparked controversy among users, as ZipoApps is known for incorporating ads and trackers in its apps.
Firefox is set to introduce a Fake Review Checker feature, following the acquisition of Fakespot. The tool, set to launch in November, will identify fake product reviews on major e-commerce sites and grade reviews for authenticity.
LineageOS, an open-source Android-based OS, has released its 21st version, built on Android 14. The update includes significant enhancements to Aperture, redesigns of older apps, a new gallery app called Glimpse, and many other improvements.
Mozilla's web browser, Firefox 114, has been released ahead of its official announcement, bringing some improvements including DNS over HTTPS support and the inclusion of WebTransport. 👉 Read more here:
🔒
@enteio
has launched a desktop version of its open-source two-factor authentication software, Ente Auth. The software is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, and offers features like Windows Hello integration
Mozilla has integrated Firefox Relay into its browser, offering users free, disposable email addresses to enhance privacy and mitigate data exposure. The feature will be available to millions of users in the coming weeks.
Proton has launched a Dark Web Monitoring service for paid users, which scans the dark web for leaked Proton Mail addresses and alerts users if their account has been breached. It also detects breaches impacting custom domain and recovery email addresses.
Calibre, the open-source e-book management software, has launched version 7.6, introducing 'profiles' for saving viewer settings, a new keyboard shortcut for merging files, and expanded support for Amazon Mexico.
Brave has updated its AI browser assistant, Leo, to version 1.62 with new Mixtral 8x7B support and introduces a revamp for its privacy-focused news aggregator, Brave News
Brave Search has just introduced a new feature called 'Answer with AI'. The privacy-focused answer engine synthesizes data from various sources to provide comprehensive responses to queries. The engine is free for all users and supports multiple languages.
Discord is experimenting with end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls to improve user privacy. The company is considering using Messaging Layer Security (MLS) for this purpose. However, this testing does not extend to its Stages feature.
Microsoft Edge is reportedly using invasive tactics to lure users from Google Chrome, including syncing data without user permission and launching with active Chrome tabs after system reboots, raising privacy concerns
Google Chrome 94 has a Idle Detection API so websites can detect when users are AFK.
Both Apple and Mozilla stated the API will not be implemented in Safari or Firefox.
👉 Read more:
👉 Google Chrome on AlternativeTo:
Free and open source podcast manager
@AntennaPod
has released version 3.4.0 with major performance boosts, new features like sleep timer in notifications, configurable skip silence settings per subscription, and bug fixes, enhancing the overall usability.
🔒
@brave
Browser introduces Off The Record (OTR), a new privacy feature designed to safeguard your sensitive browsing activities on shared computers. Learn more here:
The Thunderbird team has released its progress report in the rebranding of K-9 Mail as Thunderbird for Android. While the latest update improves many aspects of the email client, the rebranding has been delayed until all features are fully implemented.
Rufus, a Windows utility for creating bootable USB drives, has launched version 4.4. The update includes a workaround for Linux distributions, support for GRUB 2.12, improved SDXC card reader compatibility, and enhancements to large FAT32 formatting.
Windows BitLocker, an encryption solution in Windows 10 and 11 Pro, appears to be vulnerable to a security breach. A YouTuber demonstrated how to intercept BitLocker data and decrypt them using a $10 Raspberry Pi Pico device in less than a minute.
KeePass, a free and open-source password manager, has released its latest version, 2.56. The update includes enhancements to the user interface and integration, new features, and bug fixes.
Open source video editor Flowblade has launched v2.14 with new features including editable titles, slow-motion playback, and support for three USB Jog/Shuttle devices. The update also allows clip pasting at the Playhead position and longer graphic clips.
scrcpy, a utility that allows control of Android devices from a computer, has released version 2.2 with the ability to cast the phone camera rather than the entire phone screen, as well as other enhancements and bug fixes.
🚀
@ProtonMail
has launched beta versions of its encrypted email service for desktop on Windows and Mac, available to all Proton supporters on paid plans. The apps offer direct access to Proton Calendar and improved features
Proton's password manager, Proton Pass, now supports passkeys, a new secure authentication method that can replace traditional usernames and passwords. The passkey support is available on all plans, including Proton Pass for Business.
⚠️🚫 YouTube has begun a crackdown on ad blockers for all users, encouraging them to disable these tools and subscribe to YouTube Premium. Users who continue to use ad blockers may find their video playback disabled.
🔐 Brave Search, developed by privacy-focused web browser Brave, has launched a privacy-preserving image and video search feature. This reduces its reliance on Google and Bing and aligns with its mission to protect user privacy:
The open-source alternative to the Windows File Explorer, Files V3.2, brings a new List View feature, improved thumbnail rendering, performance enhancements, more customization options, enhanced search functionality, tagging improvements, and more!
Open source live video streaming platform Owncast has released version 0.1.0 after three years of development. This update comes with a complete rewrite of the frontend.
Mozilla Firefox has released version 124, introducing new features such as Caret Browsing mode in the PDF viewer, improved tab sorting, and expanded availability of Qwant. The update also includes security fixes and minor enhancements.