New Delhi: Vodafone Idea (Vi) is all set to start the tariff war with Reliance Jio and Airtel with the launch of its 5G mobile broadband service in March this year, as per a report in the Economic Times. Economic Times, quoting multiple sources familiar with the matter said that Vodafone Idea could aggressively price its tariff plans, that could be 15% cheaper than Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel’s offerings. Vi may initially launch 5G across India’s top 75 cities in its 17 priority circles, the ET report said. “Telco may increase its payouts towards dealer commissions and promotional spends to lure back high-value 5G prepaid users from its bigger rivals,” ET said quoting analyst. Earlier, in August last year VIL CEO Akshaya Moondra at the company’s Q1 earnings call said the company it is witnessing an efflux in subscribers port-outs to BSNL following the recent tariff hikes announced by the company. Moondra said that the company is closely monitoring the situation. “One of the trends we have seen is that the port out to BSNL has generally risen from pre-tariff increase levels which is a space we are watching…And the reason for that is because they (BSNL) has not increased their tariffs so there is a fair amount of arbitrage,” he said. Moondra viewed the quick decisions to port out as being taken purely on the basis of tariff action and may not eventually sustain, given the 4G coverage offered by VIL. “We are watching this space – our expectation is that customers who are used to having good coverage and experience of 4G coverage, probably current offering of BSNL may not be to that extent…As people who may have taken a quick decision in terms of tariff actions…May most likely come back. But we will keep on watching this space and see what needs to be done,” he said. Major telecom operators –Airtel, Jio announced tariff hikes In July. Vodafone Idea raised tariffs by 11-24 percent. State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), however, has not increased its tariffs.

New Delhi: A shocking KYC scam has left a 57-year-old senior technical officer from DRDO in Pune devastated. Cybercriminals duped him of Rs 13 lakh. The scammers disguised themselves as bank representatives. They tricked him through a WhatsApp message claiming an urgent need for a KYC update. This led to unauthorized withdrawal from his account. The victim was deceived into downloading a malicious file, unknowingly giving the scammers remote access to his smartphone. This gave the scammers access to his bank account. The incident began in November when the victim received a WhatsApp message that appeared genuine, as per the FIR filed at Yerawada police station. The sender claimed to be a representative of a public bank sector and informed him that his KYC details were overdue and needed immediate updating. The scammer even shared an attachment and instructed the victim to download it. Believing the message to be legitimate, the techie compiled and unknowingly fell into the trap. The file he downloaded was laced with malware that gave the fraudsters remote access to his device. Shortly after that he received a couple of OTPs on his phone for transactions he hadn’t initiated. He ignored the threat and was unaware of the threat. Meanwhile, the scammers used the malware to access his banking app and carry out unauthorized transactions, stealing Rs 12.95 lakh from his account. Tips to Stay Safe from Cyber Fraud – Avoid Unknown Links: Never click on links or download files from unfamiliar sources, especially if they claim urgency. – Verify Messages: Always confirm the authenticity of messages or emails by contacting your bank directly before acting. – Stay Alert with OTPs: Pay close attention to one-time passwords (OTPs), even if you’re not making a transaction. – Use Antivirus Software: Install trusted antivirus software to detect and block malicious apps.

Mumbai: Police have managed to freeze a sum of Rs 4.65 crore out of Rs 7.5 crore lost by the Mumbai-based owner of a private company in a SIM swap cyber fraud, officials said. In the SIM swap fraud, a form of identity theft, scammers trick the network provider into linking the mobile phone number of their target to a SIM card they have in possession and access to OTPs sent by the bank to the genuine person. It is a form of account takeover where cyber crooks gain access to a victim’s phone number. This allows them to assume control over the victim’s mobile identity, enabling unauthorised access to personal online accounts linked to the number. The private firm owner was duped for Rs 7.5 crore by cyber fraudsters in suburban Kandivali on Monday, officials said on Tuesday. The scamsters got the access of the company’s bank account with the help of SIM swipe and made multiple unauthorised transactions, an official said, adding the money was then transferred to various bank accounts in a span of a few minutes. On realising he has been cheated, the company owner dialled 1930 cyber helpline and informed about the fraud. The victim also sent an email giving details about the unauthorised transactions, he said. Officials of cyber crime branch immediately contacted the nodal officer of the bank concerned and also put the complaint on the NCCRP (National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal) simultaneously. The cyber police team managed to freeze Rs 4.65 crore out of the total amount lost by the victim within four hours of the fraud. However, most of the remaining amount was withdrawn by the fraudsters, the official said. 

OnePlus 12 Discount In India: Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus is set to launch the OnePlus 13 series globally including India on January 7, 2025. Ahead of the official launch, the OnePlus 12 has received a massive discount offer on Amazon, making it an enticing option for budget-conscious buyers seeking a premium smartphone experience.  To recall, the OnePlus 12 was initially launched in January 2024. If you’re considering the OnePlus 12 or a flagship smartphone that won’t break the bank, now might be the perfect time to make your move.  OnePlus 12 Discount Price In India The smartphone is now available at a discounted price of Rs 59,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, reduced from its original launch price of Rs 64,999. Similarly, the premium model featuring 16GB RAM and 512GB storage is priced at Rs 64,999, down from Rs 69,999. This Rs 5,000 price reduction applies to both configurations without any additional terms or conditions.  To sweeten the deal further, the e-commerce gaint Amazon is offering an instant bank discount of Rs 7,000 for ICICI Bank credit card users (excluding Amazon Pay credit cards). This reduces the effective price of the 12GB RAM variant to Rs 52,999, while the 16GB RAM variant is available for Rs 57,999.  OnePlus 12 Features The smartphone sports a large 6.82-inch QHD+ LTPO ProXDR display, delivering vibrant visuals with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and 10-bit colour depth. It is powered by the cutting-edge Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, the device ensures top-tier performance. The handset is powered by a 5,400 mAh battery guarantees long-lasting usage, complemented by 80W SUPERVOOC wired charging and 50W AIRVOOC wireless charging for rapid and efficient power-ups.  On the photography front, the smartphone comes with a 50MP main camera with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a 48MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 64MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. For selfies and videos, there is a 32MP shooter at the front camera. 

WhatsApp New Feature: Say goodbye to third-party apps for scanning documents! WhatsApp, an instant messaging platform, has introduced a new feature to scan documents directly via camera. The WhatsApp new feature comes under it’s new iOS update version of up to 24.25.89.   Notably, the tech giant has officially announced the feature but some users may receive it in the coming days. You can directly head to the App Store and download the latest WhatsApp for iOS 24.25.89 update. With this feature, WhatsApp users can quickly capture a document using their device’s camera, eliminating the need for third-party scanning tools or apps. How To Scan Documents Directly Via Camera on WhatsApp   Step 1: Open the document-sharing menu in WhatsApp. Step 2: Click on the “scan” option to activate the camera. Step 3: Use the camera to capture the document. Step 4: Preview the scan and make any necessary adjustments. Step 5: Fine-tune the margins for better framing and clarity, then confirm the scan. Step 6: Send the document directly to a chat or group.  Earlier, the company introduced the party popper emoji as the seventh default reaction in an earlier update. 

Windows 11 Bug Alert: Microsoft has issued a warning to Windows 11 users about a strange unusual issue affecting system updates. According to the company, a bug can prevent users from downloading future security updates during the installation process of Windows 11.  This problem arises specifically when users attempt to install the Windows 11 version 24H2 update using external media devices like CDs or USB flash drives. It is often used by professional users who set up business and education PCs or enthusiasts who often install Windows 11 on their own PCs. However, the tech company has also confirmed that the issue does not affect the PCs when users try to install the October 2024 security update or the November 2024 security updates via Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog website.  Notably, the issue specifically involves Windows 11, version 24H2, with security updates released between October 8 and November 12. A more recent version was released on December 10.  How To Fix Windows 11 Bug Issue?  Microsoft has acknowledged the issue and is actively working on a resolution. Meanwhile, the company has provided a workaround for Windows 11 users.  In an update on its support page, Microsoft advised users to install the Windows 11 24H2 version along with the December 2024 monthly security update to address the problem.  Windows 11 Other Issues Microsoft has outlined several potential issues that Windows 11 users might encounter after installing the October and November 2024 security updates. Among the reported problems, some games with Auto HDR enabled may stop responding or display incorrect colours under certain display configurations. Adding further, users may experience difficulties launching Microsoft Outlook when Google Workspace Sync is active. The company claims that these issues and assured users that it is actively working on solutions. Updates and further details will be provided once fixes are ready. 

WhatsApp Reverse Image Search Feature: WhatsApp, a Meta-owned platform, is likely to roll out a reverse image search feature for WhatsApp Web users through Google. This highly anticipated addition will enable users to verify the authenticity of photos and help combat the spread of misinformation. According to WABetaInfo, the feature is currently in beta testing for Android. Moreover, it will soon be available for WhatsApp Web users as well.  In simpler words, the reverse image search functionality allows users to upload photos directly to Google for verification if they receive a suspicious image. The new functionality will allow users to put a picture in search and then search engines find the places where that particular picture has been uploaded or any similar pictures that resemble it.   However, the feature is currently not visible so beta testers will not be able to try it out. There is no word on if the Meta-owned platform is developing a similar feature for its iOS app.  How To Use Reverse Image Search Feature  Step 1: Tap on the image you want to search within the WhatsApp chat interface. Step 2: In the image viewing interface, tap the three-dot menu button in the top right corner to open the options menu. Step 3: From the menu, select the reverse image search option. Step 4: Google will automatically begin processing the image for a reverse search. Step 5: The reverse image search will check Google’s vast database to see if the image has appeared elsewhere online or is associated with any false claims. Conclusion:  A popular messaging platform WhatsApp has often been a channel for the spread of fake or misleading information among its millions of users. By providing this built-in tool, WhatsApp is enabling users to navigate the digital world more efficiently, helping them spot deceptive content and curb the spread of misinformation.

Redmi 14C 5G India Launch: Xiaomi sub-brand has officially announced the launch date of the Redmi 14C 5G smartphone in India as well as select global markets after launching the Redmi Note 14 series. The handset will launch in India on January 6, 2025, according to an official landing page. It will be arriving as the successor to the Redmi 13C 5G handset that debuted in the country last December in the year 2024.    Both Flipkart and Amazon have put up a microsite confirming the smartphone’s availability on the e-commerce platforms respectively. As per the microsite, the upcoming smartphone will be available in Purple with a gradient finish, Black, and Blue with star trails-like design colour options. The Redmi 14C 5G is likely to be a rebranded version of the Redmi 14R 5G, which debuted in China this September. Redmi 14C 5G Price In India And Availability (Expected) According to reports, the Redmi 14C is expected to be priced between Rs 11,000 to Rs 12,000. However, the company has not confirmed the exact details of the pricing as of now.  A live Amazon microsite for the handset hints at its eventual Amazon availability alongside the company e-store.  Redmi 14C 5G Specifications (Expected) The smartphone is anticipated to feature a 6.68-inch HD+ LCD display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, promising an immersive viewing experience. The device is expected to run on Android 14-based HyperOS, delivering a seamless and intuitive user interface.   The smartphone is expected to run on Android 14-based HyperOS, delivering a seamless and intuitive user interface. Under the hood, the phone could be powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, paired with a robust 5,160mAh battery supporting 18W fast charging for extended usability.  On the photography front, the handset is set to sport a 50MP AI-powered main camera, complemented by a 5MP front camera for selfies. The rear camera module is a standout design element, featuring a centrally placed circular module that houses a dual-camera setup and an LED flash unit.