Jack Wallen / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETGoogle released Android 16 a bit earlier than expected, and although it was missing some crucial features, there are key additions to the platform that go a long way to improve security.This was an important step forward, as the need for improved security grows every year. Without companies like Google, Apple, and others upping the ante on security, the mobile space would wind up the wild west of the technological landscape, with ne’er-do-wells popping up all over the place, stealing data at will. Also: How to turn on Android’s Private DNS mode — and why it’s an absolute must for securityWell, Google has taken a pretty big step forward with Android 16 in the form of two key features, which I’m going to explain here. 1. Identity Check This feature was actually added back in 2024, but it wasn’t until the release of Android 16 that it started receiving much attention. What is Identity Check? Let’s say you’re away from home (which you’ve designated as a trusted location; more on that in a bit). While you’re gone, someone gains access to your phone and either goes to make changes to critical security settings or attempts to access saved passwords or other sensitive information. Because the phone is away from your trusted location, when that person tries to make those changes, biometric authentication will prevent them from accessing those features or data. Also: 7 simple things I always do on Android to protect my privacy – and why you should tooHere’s the thing about Identity Check: it’s not easy to find. The best way to locate the feature is to open the Settings app and search for “identity check.” Once on the Identity Check page, you can enable the feature (it should be enabled by default) and add a trusted location. Once you’ve added a trusted location, biometrics won’t be required for that particular place. More

Specs:Compatibility: Windows, MacCost: $9.99 – $29.99 per monthIdentityIQ shines with its identity theft insurance, offering up to $1 million in identity theft insurance for each primary member. You can expect to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs up to $1 million, helping to ensure that your finances do not fall victim, too. These costs can include lost wages, legal experts, and reimbursement for stolen funds. There is also help with identity restoration if you do become a victim of identity theft. For your everyday needs, you can connect up to 10 devices to the Bitdefender Premium VPN, secure your identity while you work and browse, and monitor the dark web. You also receive access to Anti-Virus with Bitdefender Total Security, real-time credit reporting, and enhanced credit monitoring. You can even enroll your children under the age of 24.Pros: Three-bureau reportingMulti-faceted toolsRegularly updated resourcesCons: No appCan get pricey More

As expected, Canonical has released the newest version of its Ubuntu Linux distribution, Ubuntu 20.04. This long-term-support (LTS) version is more than just the latest version of one of the most popular Linux distributions; it’s a major update for desktop, server, and cloud users. Let’s start with the core operating system. Here, you’ll find Ubuntu 20.04, […] More

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Password manager 1Password said it closed its latest funding round on Wednesday, raising $620 million and boosting its valuation to $6.8 billion.

The Series C funding round included the participation of ICONIQ Growth, Tiger Global, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Backbone Angels, and Accel, which led the Canadian company’s series A and B rounds. Celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Matthew McConaughey, Chris Evans, Rita Wilson, Ashton Kutcher, Trevor Noah, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell Williams also participated in the series C round. Executives like Robert Iger and LinkedIn’s Jeff Weiner invested in the company as well. “Our mission has always been to ease the tension between security and convenience, and the opportunity to deliver on this has never been bigger for 1Password. We create products and solutions that improve upon and easily layer into a company’s existing security infrastructure, nurturing better habits for employees while strengthening a company’s security posture from within,” said Jeff Shiner, CEO of 1Password.”That way, we can tackle the biggest security threats facing the modern workforce and deliver on the promise of providing a safer life online for families and businesses around the world,” Shiner continued.1Password told ZDNet it would use the money to scale the platform and expand its offerings. Over the last year, the company increased its B2B business footprint, adding more than 100,000 companies as customers over the last 24 months. The company has also grown to 570 employees and launched several new products, including a password sharing tool and more. 

Will Griffith, a founding partner at ICONIQ Growth, said more than one hundred CISOs, CIOs, CTOs, developers, and IT leaders were impressed by “1Password’s ability to balance strict security standards with a profound understanding of how humans behave.” “By making safe online behavior second nature, 1Password is not only protecting individuals but also the enterprises where they work.” Griffith said. 

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