Connect with us

Tech

WhatsApp brings phone number privacy feature for community members

Published

on

Meta-owned WhatsApp on Tuesday announced that it was releasing a phone number privacy feature for community members, WaBetaInfo reported. 

According to the app-tracking website, users can get the feature once they install the most recent update of WhatsApp for iOS and Android.

However, some users might be able to get the same feature by installing certain previous versions of the app. It will be rolled out to more people in the coming days. 

The instant messaging app continues to strengthen the privacy of users and started testing a new feature that would add an extra layer of privacy when joining a community. 

The feature would ensure that the phone numbers of members are hidden from one another. When you join a community, you will be unable to see the numbers of other members and vice versa. 

The community participants list is also hidden and users will be unable to interact with the community announcement group through message reactions as this would reveal their numbers. 

However, this feature would keep the number hidden even when someone reacts to a message. Currently, a limited group of users are able to use this feature. 

— WaBetaInfo
— WaBetaInfo 

Through this feature, users get alerted that their phone numbers can only be seen by the admins and others who have saved them as a contact. 

This feature is only available to community members as the admins’ numbers are always visible. It will allow members to interact with each other by remaining anonymous. 

“In addition, in case you are able to privately contact a community member whose phone number is hidden, you will have the option to send them a request so that they can choose to share their phone number with you,” said the WhatsApp watcher. 

Latest News

Will artificial intelligence overtake coding? The head of Google Research expresses dissent.

Published

on

By

In the context of swift developments in artificial intelligence (AI), Yossi Matias, Head of Research and Vice President at Google, has emphasised the enduring significance of coding as an essential ability.

Despite the abundance of AI tools in coding and development, Matias asserts that human coders are indispensable, especially in comprehending the principles of programming.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, Matias elucidated AI’s function in the technology sector, underscoring that, although transformational, the technology is not expected to supplant human developers.

The fundamental concept of mastering essential subjects continues to hold significant importance. He asserted that everyone ought to acquire coding skills, emphasising its significance in the contemporary technological environment.

Matias’s comments arise as several individuals in the technology sector voice apprehensions regarding AI’s capacity to automate programming activities. Instruments such as GitHub Copilot have prompted conjecture over AI’s influence on conventional programming positions, with some asserting that these tools can save coding time by up to 70 percent. Matias contended that AI is now inadequate for managing the intricacies of the coding process entirely, particularly due to the necessity of human intuition and oversight to enhance AI-generated code.

“AI can aid in specific tasks, particularly at the junior level, but it has not yet assumed control of the entire coding process,” Matias elucidated. He observed that although AI can streamline repetitive processes, it is devoid of the complex decision-making abilities that seasoned programmers provide to software development.

Matias recognised that current trends in the technology sector provide difficulties for junior developers, who may find it challenging to gain the practical expertise required in a field increasingly augmented by AI tools. In response, Google has been endorsing projects to assist young talent, facilitating the connection between coding theory and actual application.

Matias posited that coding, akin to mathematics, is a fundamental ability in the digital era. “Coding resembles fundamental mathematics,” he stated, elucidating that individuals beyond the software sector gain advantages from a core comprehension of programming. The sentiment emphasises his belief that coding is essential not only within

Continue Reading

Latest News

IT Conference: Shaza Reports A 25% Increase in Pakistan’s Exports

Published

on

By

“The Pak-US Tech investment conference will be a pillar for the IT industry,” stated Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Information Technology (IT).

In the United States, she was giving a speech at the 2024 Pak-US Tech Investment Conference.

Shaza Fatima stated that Pakistan’s exports have grown by 25% and that our goal is to reach $25 billion in exports in accordance with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s orders.

According to the State Minister, there has been progress in giving businesses a safe online environment.

In the global cyber security index, Pakistan has been assigned the same tier-1 rank as the United States and Japan, she said.

Continue Reading

Latest News

The Pakistani government banned unregistered VPNs.

Published

on

By

The unregistered VPNs have been temporarily restricted for whitelisting purposes. Sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) classified unregistered VPNs as a ‘security risk’ for Pakistan, as they may provide access to ‘important information.’

The PTA has advised enterprises, including IT companies, software houses, freelancers, and banks, to register their IP addresses to guarantee ongoing VPN access and uninterrupted internet services for authorized customers. Registrants must disclose their intended purpose and delineate their commercial operations.

The PTA commenced the registration of VPNs in 2010, and to date, around 20,500 VPNs have been registered, according to sources.

VPNs are widely utilized globally to circumvent restricted content. In Pakistan, residents have employed VPNs to access the social media network X (previously Twitter), which has been prohibited for several months.

The government of Pakistan has declared that it will not remove the ban on X unless the platform officially registers within the nation.

Previously, to guarantee seamless commercial operations for software houses, contact centers, freelancers, and foreign embassies, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) initiated a one-window operation for the whitelisting of IP and VPN registrations.

Continue Reading

Trending