Office Isn’t Safe

**Tech News Roundup: Microsoft Addresses Critical Security Flaw, Surface Laptop Go 2 Launches, and More**

---

### Microsoft Identifies Zero-Day Windows Exploit as Critical Vulnerability

In a surprising reversal, Microsoft has acknowledged a zero-day Windows exploit, now classified as a critical security vulnerability. Initially dismissed as "nothing," the flaw—dubbed "Follina" by researchers—poses significant risks. This exploit involves sharing a modified Office file that executes malicious code, even when opened in Protected View. Researchers have observed attacks targeting Russian, Belarusian users, and evidence suggests Chinese state-backed hackers are also leveraging Follina against the Tibetan community. Microsoft recommends disabling the diagnostic tool protocol or switching to alternative办公 software for interim protection.

---

### Surface Laptop Go 2 Unveiled: A Budget-Friendly Update

Microsoft has unveiled the **Surface Laptop Go 2**, a refresh of its budget-friendly laptop line. Featuring an identical design to its predecessor, the new model boasts an aluminum and polycarbonate shell, a 12.4-inch PixelSense touchscreen display, and a fingerprint reader on higher-end models. Under the hood, it houses newer Intel 11th gen processors, a 720p webcam, and 128GB of storage in the base model. Priced at $599, the Surface Laptop Go 2 aims to compete with low-cost Windows laptops, though its design remains reminiscent of Ikea's "dummy units." Despite its utilitarian appeal, it offers a solid option for students and budget-conscious users.

---

### US Supreme Court Re-Blocks Texas Social Media Law HB20

The U.S. Supreme Court has once again re-blocked the controversial Texas social media law, **HB20**, which prohibits platforms with over 50 million users from moderating content based on viewpoint. The court's decision reverses an earlier unblocking by an appeals court and contradicts an initial block by a federal judge in December. Critics argue that this law would make routine platform moderation illegal, potentially forcing companies to allow harmful content or face legal consequences. The ongoing legal battle highlights the challenges of balancing free speech with responsible platform governance.

---

### Bessie's Everyday Move Shoes: Comfort Meets Functionality

Bessie, known for lightweight, packable footwear, has introduced its **Everyday Move shoes**, designed for active individuals navigating shallow waters and urban environments. These shoes offer enhanced breathability, added support, a pull tab for easy on-and-off access, vegan suede lace cages, and extra midsole cushioning. A standout feature is their waterproof Dime Attacks technology, ensuring feet stay dry in wet conditions. For those looking to stay comfortable and stylish, Bessie's Everyday Move shoes are a practical choice—available with a 25% discount using the code **techlink.besty.com**.

---

### Google Duo and Google Meet Merge into One Video Chat App

After two years of maintaining multiple video chat apps, Google has decided to consolidate its efforts. The company will merge **Google Duo** and **Google Meet** into a single app, named simply **Google Me**. While the new unified app aims to simplify communication, it leaves the legacy "Google Me" app (now rebranded as "Meet Original") to be phased out eventually. This move reflects Google's broader strategy to streamline its product offerings and reduce user confusion.

---

### RCS Ads Temporarily Disabled in India Due to User Complaints

In response to user concerns, Google has turned off a feature that allowed companies in India to bombard Android Messages users with intrusive Rich Chat Service (RCS) ads. These ads were criticized for being overly aggressive and disruptive. Google plans to reintroduce RCS advertising once it can ensure the ads are less frequent and shorter in duration. For now, Indian users can breathe a sigh of relief from endless promotional messages.

---

### Pixel 7 Phone Leak Creates Buzz on eBay and Facebook Marketplace

A leaked **Pixel 7 phone** has appeared for sale on sketchy online listings, including eBay and Facebook Marketplace. However, buying this device is technically illegal since Google itself hasn't officially released it yet. The listing serves as a grainy reminder of the Pixel 6A, which Google already announced earlier this year. This leak underscores how companies often reveal their products through informal channels, inadvertently generating buzz—or criticism—for their own upcoming releases.

---

### OpenBCI Partners with VR Headset Maker to Integrate EEG Sensors

In a groundbreaking development, **OpenBCI**, a Brooklyn-based neurotech company, has teamed up with a VR headset maker to integrate EEG (electroencephalogram) sensors into its Aero headset. This innovation allows users to track brain activity in real-time while engaging in virtual reality experiences. Imagine controlling games like Star Wars through sheer concentration—this technology brings the Force closer than ever before.

---

### Goodwill Ransomware Forces Victims to Perform Acts of Kindness

A new type of ransomware, **Goodwill**, is making waves by eschewing traditional financial extortion. Instead of demanding cryptocurrency payments, Goodwill forces victims to perform acts of kindness, such as donating clothes to the homeless or covering medical bills. While this approach highlights a departure from conventional cybercrime tactics, it raises ethical and legal questions. As one commentator quipped, "If I grab five poor children and take them to Domino's, I'm pretty sure I'll be arrested."

---

### Tech News Quick Bits: From Force-Using VR to Leaked Phones

In quick tech news, **OpenBCI**'s partnership with a VR headset maker integrates EEG sensors for real-time brain tracking. Elsewhere, the **Pixel 7 phone** has appeared in sketchy online listings, while Google's RCS ads in India have been temporarily disabled due to user complaints. Finally, why worry about leaks when you can just ask Google to "leak me" its products? The tech world remains as unpredictable as ever.

---

This concludes this week's tech news roundup. Stay tuned for more updates next Friday!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: eneven after the episode ends I can still hear the tech news buzzing it never stops we'll get you help James don't worry I've been subscribe for so long let's put the doctor subscribed Microsoft has changed course and identified a zero day Windows exploit as a critical security vulnerability over a month after initially dismissing it as nothing Idris the flaw is known as folina by security researchers which doesn't sound deadly at all unless it's like one of those sexy spiders oh so their confusion is understandable it'll be a virus fatal exploiting Felina involves sharing a modified office file which when opened executes malicious code by the Microsoft diagnostic tool even when using protected View and at that point what happens is really up to for Nina researchers have observed the attack being used to Target Russian and Belarusian users and there's evidence Chinese state-backed hackers are also used against a Target the Tibetan Community there's no patch yet but Microsoft recommends users disable the diagnostic tool protocol for now or better yet use anything other than Microsoft Office have you tried those artisanal typewriters I feel like Hemingway while we're talking about Microsoft we might as well mention that they just unveiled the surface laptop go to go to where jail for making that pun it's got a basically identical design to the original go with an aluminum and polycarbonate shell 12.4 inch pixel sense touch display and a fingerprint reader on the higher end model so your college roommate can't find your secret folder ever again Steve stop it not this time inside though our newer Intel 11th gen processors 11th gen yeah it's not newer newer a better 720p webcam and 128 gigabytes of storage in the base model which will run you or your parents 599 US Dollars and if none of this is impressive well find me another budget Windows laptop that doesn't look like one of those dummy units from Ikea don't bother trying to use them they don't work really good meatballs though and the US Supreme Court has re-blocked the controversial Texas social media law known as hb20 after it was unblocked by an appeals court earlier this month reversing an initial block made by a federal judge in December you got that do you know the physical toll that three build blocks can have on a person I've unblocked one more time the lock would prevent social media platforms with more than 50 million users from discriminating against users based on their Viewpoint making all kinds of routine platform moderation illegal and if we did that what's next forcing me to invite everyone to my party there's a certain buy by curing people you don't get it it's brought to you by Bessie maker of Footwear known for being lightweight easy to pack comfortable and most importantly waterproof are you always on the Move sometimes through very shallow bodies of water well besties everyday move shoes are for you we're talking enhanced breathability added support a pull tab for easy on and off vegan suede lace cages extra midsole cushioning the whites and of course the same waterproof dime attacks technology that's gonna make you want to wear them everywhere it may become a problem just kidding it's the opposite so keep your feet dry and save 25 bucks with our offer code techlink.besty.com techlinked the quick bits are their own segment the quick bits do what they want Google has announced they've seen the error of their ways and will merge Google Duo and Google meet into a single video chat app because it's been two years and it's time realizing you've made too many competing chat apps is hard but it's part of growing up unfortunately the new unified app will be called Google me with the old Google me being called meet original until it's eventually shut down they only be called Dead Meat nobody's perfect in other Google News the tech giant has finally turned off the feature that allowed companies in India to mercilessly bowl over Android messages users with ads using Rich chat services or RC yes RCS advertising will return once Google can figure out how to reduce its amount and duration call the support line maybe each company takes turns it's all Disney all week we want equal distribution of ads oop and even more Google News kind of as an engineering sample of the pixel 7 phone showed up for sale in some sketchy listings on eBay and Facebook Marketplace since buying this phone would technically be illegal it's unclear what the seller managed to achieve other than giving us some grainy close-ups of a phone that Google already leaked themselves when they announced the pixel 6A that's what they do now and it really takes the wind out of their own sales like why even go on the internet what I want to see leaks leak me brooklyn-based neurotech company open BCI has partnered with a VR headset maker to integrate EEG sensors into its Aero headset which can track brain activity as a user does stuff in VR oh wow stuff over all this stuff so if you think the metaverse is stupid it still is but if I can play a game in VR that lets me actually use the force by thinking about it that would be cool because that would be just think about it for a second that's what the force is consider it and there's a new kind of ransomware on the Block it's called Goodwill and instead of extorting victims for money in order to decrypt their precious files it forces them to do kind ax like give clothes to homeless people and pay for someone's medical bills because it's America and then post evidence on social media I'm sure these hackers hearts are in the right place but if I grab five poor children and take them to Domino's I'm pretty sure I'll be arrested so maybe you should just extort people for money and then use that money to help people I don't know but don't do that we're not saying you should do that we shouldn't do anything but this is not Financial advice this episode is over come back on Friday for more not Financial advice Tech news because frankly if we ever stop doing this show I don't actually know what happenedeven after the episode ends I can still hear the tech news buzzing it never stops we'll get you help James don't worry I've been subscribe for so long let's put the doctor subscribed Microsoft has changed course and identified a zero day Windows exploit as a critical security vulnerability over a month after initially dismissing it as nothing Idris the flaw is known as folina by security researchers which doesn't sound deadly at all unless it's like one of those sexy spiders oh so their confusion is understandable it'll be a virus fatal exploiting Felina involves sharing a modified office file which when opened executes malicious code by the Microsoft diagnostic tool even when using protected View and at that point what happens is really up to for Nina researchers have observed the attack being used to Target Russian and Belarusian users and there's evidence Chinese state-backed hackers are also used against a Target the Tibetan Community there's no patch yet but Microsoft recommends users disable the diagnostic tool protocol for now or better yet use anything other than Microsoft Office have you tried those artisanal typewriters I feel like Hemingway while we're talking about Microsoft we might as well mention that they just unveiled the surface laptop go to go to where jail for making that pun it's got a basically identical design to the original go with an aluminum and polycarbonate shell 12.4 inch pixel sense touch display and a fingerprint reader on the higher end model so your college roommate can't find your secret folder ever again Steve stop it not this time inside though our newer Intel 11th gen processors 11th gen yeah it's not newer newer a better 720p webcam and 128 gigabytes of storage in the base model which will run you or your parents 599 US Dollars and if none of this is impressive well find me another budget Windows laptop that doesn't look like one of those dummy units from Ikea don't bother trying to use them they don't work really good meatballs though and the US Supreme Court has re-blocked the controversial Texas social media law known as hb20 after it was unblocked by an appeals court earlier this month reversing an initial block made by a federal judge in December you got that do you know the physical toll that three build blocks can have on a person I've unblocked one more time the lock would prevent social media platforms with more than 50 million users from discriminating against users based on their Viewpoint making all kinds of routine platform moderation illegal and if we did that what's next forcing me to invite everyone to my party there's a certain buy by curing people you don't get it it's brought to you by Bessie maker of Footwear known for being lightweight easy to pack comfortable and most importantly waterproof are you always on the Move sometimes through very shallow bodies of water well besties everyday move shoes are for you we're talking enhanced breathability added support a pull tab for easy on and off vegan suede lace cages extra midsole cushioning the whites and of course the same waterproof dime attacks technology that's gonna make you want to wear them everywhere it may become a problem just kidding it's the opposite so keep your feet dry and save 25 bucks with our offer code techlink.besty.com techlinked the quick bits are their own segment the quick bits do what they want Google has announced they've seen the error of their ways and will merge Google Duo and Google meet into a single video chat app because it's been two years and it's time realizing you've made too many competing chat apps is hard but it's part of growing up unfortunately the new unified app will be called Google me with the old Google me being called meet original until it's eventually shut down they only be called Dead Meat nobody's perfect in other Google News the tech giant has finally turned off the feature that allowed companies in India to mercilessly bowl over Android messages users with ads using Rich chat services or RC yes RCS advertising will return once Google can figure out how to reduce its amount and duration call the support line maybe each company takes turns it's all Disney all week we want equal distribution of ads oop and even more Google News kind of as an engineering sample of the pixel 7 phone showed up for sale in some sketchy listings on eBay and Facebook Marketplace since buying this phone would technically be illegal it's unclear what the seller managed to achieve other than giving us some grainy close-ups of a phone that Google already leaked themselves when they announced the pixel 6A that's what they do now and it really takes the wind out of their own sales like why even go on the internet what I want to see leaks leak me brooklyn-based neurotech company open BCI has partnered with a VR headset maker to integrate EEG sensors into its Aero headset which can track brain activity as a user does stuff in VR oh wow stuff over all this stuff so if you think the metaverse is stupid it still is but if I can play a game in VR that lets me actually use the force by thinking about it that would be cool because that would be just think about it for a second that's what the force is consider it and there's a new kind of ransomware on the Block it's called Goodwill and instead of extorting victims for money in order to decrypt their precious files it forces them to do kind ax like give clothes to homeless people and pay for someone's medical bills because it's America and then post evidence on social media I'm sure these hackers hearts are in the right place but if I grab five poor children and take them to Domino's I'm pretty sure I'll be arrested so maybe you should just extort people for money and then use that money to help people I don't know but don't do that we're not saying you should do that we shouldn't do anything but this is not Financial advice this episode is over come back on Friday for more not Financial advice Tech news because frankly if we ever stop doing this show I don't actually know what happened\n"