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New Profile Pic App: Innocent Photo Fun, or a Privacy Risk?

New Profile Pic App: Innocent Photo Fun, or a Privacy Risk?

Maybe you've seen some of your Facebook friends upgrading their profile pictures to look like fancy illustrations of themselves. They're likely using a free app called NewProfilePic Picture Editor, the latest social media craze. And while the new images may look glamorous, using the app may be a bad idea -- but perhaps not for the reason some say. Let's look at the facts.

What is NewProfile Pic?

NewProfilePic is an app you can get for iOS or Android. It does pretty much what it says -- makes your profile image look like a painting, using artificial intelligence. People on various social platforms are having fun tinkering not only with their own photos, but images of famous people and pets.

So what's the controversy?

On Wednesday, the UK tabloid The Daily Mail published a story with the unnerving headline, "Is Russia after YOUR personal data? Experts warn internet users not to download latest online craze New Profile Pic that hoovers up your details." ("Hoovers" as in "vacuums," for those not up on British slang.)

The Daily Mail quotes a security expert who says "this app is likely a way of capturing people's faces in high resolution and I would question any app wanting this amount of data, especially one which is largely unheard of."

Wait, what's the Russia connection?

Once the app became popular, people began digging into the company's history. It turns out the NewProfilePic domain was originally registered in Moscow. Given the war in Ukraine and the history of hackers working in Russia, just the mention of Russia's capital sets off suspicions for some would-be app users.

But the company isn't located in Moscow, though it does have an office in Russia.

"We are a [British Virgin Islands] company with development offices in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus," a representative for PhotoLab, the company behind the app, told me. "All user photos are hosted and processed on the Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure servers, which are located outside the Russian Federation. ... It is the truth that the domain was registered to the Moscow address. It is the former Moscow address of the founder of the company. He does not live in the Russian Federation now."

But these are complicated times.

"We understand that due to the current events in Ukraine, any connection to Russia could raise suspicions," the representative said. "That's why we want to share the position on this issue on our founder's Instagram."

In that Instagram post, company founder Victor Sazhin says he was born in Moscow, moved to Ukraine as a child, and is against the war launched by Russia against Ukraine.

Company founder speaks

Sazhin told me via email that he felt the Daily Mail story hyped up anti-Russia hysteria.

"I haven't been completely surprised [by the negative reaction]," he said. "Recently when our other app, Photo Lab, was No. 1 in Ukraine, when people were using it to create patriotic avatars with a beautiful effect we created, some Facebook [conspiracy theorists] started a similar story. And a few years ago when we first got viral in Bangladesh and India, there was another 'story'... but tying us to the CIA."

He praised the research done by Snopes.com, however. The urban-legends site wrote an article after the Daily Mail story was published in which it concluded NewProfilePic is not especially invasive, noting that, "the claim that this app is stealing data for the Kremlin is also unsupported by evidence."

"That [Snopes] review is comprehensive and I probably can't add anything to it," Sazhin told me. "The app is safe, the photos are processed on Amazon and Azure servers, and we are not KGB."

Shades of FaceApp in 2019

I spoke to cybersecurity journalist and author Bob Sullivan about the app.

"This feels exactly like the FaceApp situation, with one important difference: the world is at war with Russia now," he told me. 

Back in 2019, a similar app, FaceApp, was all the rage -- you could use it to age a photo of yourself or alter it in other creative ways. It was also based in Russia, and the FBI investigated the app.

War changes everything

"Many Russians are great developers," Sullivan told me. "Many Russians who learned to program there and now live abroad run very successful companies. The world needs Russian programmers."

Sullivan understands that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Russia's autocratic president, Vladimir Putin, leave many suspicious of apps related to Russia in any way.

"People have to understand that even if a person or company has every good intention of not sharing data with a government, they can be compelled to do so anyway," Sullivan said. 

The PhotoLab spokesperson told me, "We did not and do not plan to have any affiliation with any governmental organizations of any country."

You're giving away your photos

Russia aside, is it smart to hand over a photograph of yourself to an app you know little about?

"I really think people are crazy to use this app or anything like it," Sullivan said. 

Artificial intelligence researchers, he says, are "desperate" to acquire large datasets they can feed into a computer to perfect their algorithm.

"You have no way of knowing where these images of you might end up in the future," Sullivan said. "For that reason alone, don't do it."

The company representative pointed me to their privacy policy, which states, "The photos are sent to the servers through the encrypted connection. We use Secure Socket Layer technology to protect the privacy and integrity of the transmission process."

The policy goes on to say, "For non-registered users and users who don't share their results within the Services, the original photos and results are automatically removed from our servers by two weeks after the last interaction. For registered users who share their results within the Services that provide special social network features, the shared content will be stored on the servers and shown within the Services unless a user either removes the images themselves or requests such a removal by contacting our support team."

Permissions and pet photos

But what if you've already used the app? And are you safe if you don't use photos of your own face, but, say, of your cat or horse?

"The app probably has an ongoing way of feeding information about you back to its owner, so I would delete it immediately," Sullivan said. "Same for the cat theory. I don't know what they are doing with non-picture data. But every piece of info you share ends up in the horrible ad-tech ecosystem, with inferences drawn that would shock you."

The app's requested permissions are similar to those of other mainstream apps. 

"I do agree this app doesn't ask for more than many apps .... which doesn't make it right, but that's not suspicious on its own," Sullivan said.

It's the hot new app

The app is popular. On Friday, it was the top free app on the Apple app store.

"Without any doubt, we are happy that users enjoy our NewProfilePic and ToonMe apps so much," the representative told me. (ToonMe is a similar app from the company that turns photos into cartoons.) "And for sure we are going to do our best to create even more stunning effects and make even more users happy."

Company founder Sazhin echoed that.

"It seems we finally found the recipe with NewProfilePic," he told me. "It looks like a quick success (and it kind of is -- this viral wave started only last Saturday, one day after we released a new set of effects in NewProfilePic), but it was actually years of work."

Support your local artists

Even if a company has never had a Moscow address, users should think twice before agreeing to hand over personal photographs to an app you know nothing about, even for an elegant profile pic, Sullivan says.

"When you share intimate data like your face with an app like this, you have no way of knowing where that data will end up," Sullivan warned.  "If you really want a cool portrait of yourself, hire a local artist!"

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Social Security Numbers Stolen in Flagstar Bank Data Breach

Social Security Numbers Stolen in Flagstar Bank Data Breach

The personal information, including Social Security numbers, of more than 1.5 million Flagstar Bank customers was compromised in a data breach late last year, but the bank didn't start informing those affected until earlier this month after it completed its investigation.

The Michigan-based bank, which operates 150 branches and is one of the country's largest mortgage lenders, said in a disclosure to the state of Maine that its systems were hacked between Dec. 3 and 4 of last year. In a Thursday statement to CNET, Flagstar said that the intrusion was detected and contained right away, but that it held off disclosing the breach so it could investigate.

"Now that the extensive forensic investigation is complete, we are in the process of notifying individuals who may have been impacted directly via US mail," the company said.

The compromised information includes customer names or other identifiers in combination with Social Security number, which are considered to be one of a person's most critical pieces of personal information. If a person's Social Security number is stolen, it puts them at increased risk of identity theft, because the numbers are used to apply for credit cards or loans, as well as to file tax returns.

Flagstar said there's no evidence yet that the stolen customer information has been misused, but as a precaution it'll provide free identity theft monitoring for two years to those affected. 

In addition, cybersecurity experts recommend that people freeze their credit if they suspect that their SSN has been compromised. That will prevent cybercriminals from using it to open up new lines of credit in their name.  

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Facebook delays return to US offices to 2022

Facebook delays return to US offices to 2022

With the surge of COVID-19 cases and the spread of the delta variant, Facebook told its US employees on Thursday that they won't be required to come back into offices until January 2022. The company had initially planed to reopen its US offices at 50% capacity by September and implement a full return by October. 

"Data, not dates, is what drives our approach for returning to the office," a company representative said in a statement. "Given the recent health data showing rising Covid cases based on the Delta variant, our teams in the US will not be required to go back to the office until January 2022. We expect this to be the case for some countries outside of the US, as well. We continue to monitor the situation and work with experts to ensure our return to office plans prioritize everyone's safety."

Facebook said last month that it would require workers on its US campuses to be vaccinated. In addition, the company now requires people in all its US offices to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.

The social network is one of many Silicon Valley giants that have pushed back their projected reopening dates. In July, Google delayed the company's mandatory return to office date to Oct. 18, postponing it from an earlier goal of September. The search giant, like Facebook, will require vaccinations for employees working on the company's campuses. Apple, too, reportedly postponed its office reopening by at least a month, pushing the new projected reopening to at least October.   

Other tech companies that have delayed their reopening plans include Twitter, which said last month that it was closing its opened offices in New York and San Francisco and pausing future office reopenings, and Uber, which pushed its global return to office date back to Oct. 25, a delay from its original goal of September.

These changes come as many companies, including Facebook, are expanding their remote work policies. In June, the social network opened up its remote work program to employees at all levels within the company. Twitter has given its employees the option to work from home permanently, while Google has outlined a hybrid work model, with employees typically coming into the office three days a week.

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2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Starts On-Road Testing

2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Starts On-Road Testing

We're still a ways off from the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV's official on-sale date in fall 2023, and not much new information has come out about the electric pickup since its debut in January. But now the first engineering prototypes are hitting public roads, with General Motors releasing a couple images of the truck at its Milford Proving Grounds.

The Silverado prototype isn't wearing any camouflage, though it does have matte black paint and placeholder lights instead of the fancy production LEDs, and the truck is missing a few components like the fender flares and side skirt covers. Otherwise, though, this Silverado looks identical to what was unveiled earlier this year, meaning the Silverado EV's futuristic design isn't getting watered down for production.

These will hit Detroit streets next month.

Chevrolet

Like with the Hummer EV that shares with the Silverado its Ultium platform and motors, Chevy did much of the initial testing digitally, which is why we're only just now seeing fully formed, production-bodied prototypes a year ahead of launch, instead of spotting test mules and rougher prototypes a couple years out. GM CEO Mary Barra says the Silverado will start testing on Detroit streets in July.

When the Silverado EV goes on sale it will initially only be offered in WT work truck form or fully loaded RST trim, the latter of which starts at a whopping $105,000 before destination. The WT will cost $39,900, but it will only be offered to fleet customers. Eventually a whole range of midlevel trims will be offered, though details and specs for those have yet to be announced.

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Android 11: You can install Google's new OS on these phones today. Here's how

Android 11: You can install Google's new OS on these phones today. Here's how

Android 11 is ready for your phone, as long as it's compatible. And if it isn't yet, it could be soon -- phone brands will want to fast-track Google's new operating system for their top phones. The Android 11 update brings a slew of new features, including a screen to control your connected devices, redesigned media controls, improved notifications and a new messaging feature called Bubbles, which you'll either love or hate. 

As is usually the case with major Android updates, how soon you'll receive the update depends on who makes your device. Google has said that Android 11 is rolling out to its Pixel 2 and newer phones in that range, along with OnePlus, Xiaomi, Oppo and Realme phones right now.

Own a Pixel? You're a few taps away from Android 11

Open the Settings app on your phone and, on a Pixel phone at least, tap System > Advanced > System update > Check for update. If your phone doesn't find the update right away, be patient. As is always the case with Google, the update is slowly rolling out, so it might take a few days before it shows up on your phone -- just keep checking. 

Once your phone finds the update, just follow the prompts to install it like you would any other update. I recommend having your phone plugged into a charger and a strong Wi-Fi connection to ensure the process is as smooth as possible.

Android 11 will arrive just like a normal update on your Android phone. 

Jason Cipriani/CNET

There's an open beta for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro 

If you have a OnePlus 8 or OnePlus 8 Pro, the company has launched an open beta of its OxygenOS 11 update, which includes Android 11. Anyone who wants to check out the new features before it's officially released needs to visit the OnePlus forums, where instructions and details are posted. The installation process won't force you to reset your device or lose any data, but it is a beta, so proceed with caution. 

I installed the update on a OnePlus 8, following the steps outlined in the post, and it took around 30 minutes to complete. You can download the file directly on your OnePlus phone and use the OnePlus file manager app to move it to the root storage folder, or download it on your computer and transfer the file to your phone in order to install it. 

You can go back to a more stable version of OxygenOS if there are too many issues with the beta, but be warned, that will wipe all data from your phone. 

Get an early look at Android 11 on your OnePlus phone. 

Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

What about Nokia, Xiaomi, Oppo? 

Not every phone-maker has publicly announced their rollout plans for Android 11, but we do know that Nokia has confirmed it will release Android 11. 

Oppo will officially announce its ColorOS 11 update on Sept. 14 via a livestream, and has also opened a limited beta for the Find X2, Find X2 Pro, Reno3 (4G) and Reno3 Pro (4G). 

Xiaomi posted on Twitter that the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro would be the first devices to get Android 11, and the company has also launched a beta program for early adopters. 

We will continue to update this list as more device-makers announce their plans for rolling out Android 11 to their respective phones. 

What do you do if you were in the public beta?

You shouldn't have to do anything special if you've been testing Android 11 on a Pixel phone through Google's public beta program. Once the update is available for your phone, you'll update to the official version of Android 11 and "graduate" from the beta program.

You can double-check that you're no longer enrolled in the beta program on the beta website: Your device should say "Opt in" under it. 

I've been testing Android 11 for a while now, and have found some features that will change the way you use your phone. There's also some significant improvements to privacy features included in the update. For more general, but still just as great, Android tricks, check out these hidden features. 

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Save Up to $510 on Roborock Vacuums During Its 8th Anniversary Sale

Save Up to $510 on Roborock Vacuums During Its 8th Anniversary Sale

Keeping your home clean can be a tedious and time-consuming task that unfortunately needs to be done. Picking up dust and other messes is easier with robot vacuums that can scan your floors and rugs, and automatically clean them. Roomba was the original vacuum with this capability, but now there are other great brands out there like Roborock. Right now, the company is having its 8th Anniversary Sale and offering great discounts across the board.

From now until Friday, Sept. 2, you can save up to $510 when you choose a bundle deal from Roborock. One of those bundles includes the S7 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and the handheld Dyad vacuum. Originally $1,850, you can have it for $1,340. The robot vacuum works with Alexa and Google Home, and the handheld vacuum has a dual roller motor with high suction power.

Alternatively, you can grab the S7 Plus Robot with an Auto Empty-Dock and a Cyclone Dustbin for $710 (save $310). Choose which emptying option you want to use; this bundle comes with both. The auto empty-dock can go up to eight weeks before it needs to be empty, but until then it keeps allergens locked with an onboard filtration system. The Cyclone Dustbin can go up to six weeks without emptying.

Here are some other great vacuum deals that don't have to be bundled during this sale.

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Borderline Personality Disorder: What It Is and How to Get Help

Borderline Personality Disorder: What It Is and How to Get Help

Borderline personality disorder, also known as BPD, is a mental health disorder that impacts your ability to regulate your emotions and feelings about yourself and those around you. It affects approximately 14 million Americans. To be clear, it's different from normal fluctuations of emotions and diagnosed variations like bipolar disorder. 

People diagnosed with BPD experience long-term patterns of extreme and unstable emotions that impede their ability to function in everyday life. You can think of BPD as the extremes of everything -- either really good or really bad. The opinions and perceptions of things change extremely fast, leading to impulsiveness in relationships and actions. 

Here's what to know about borderline personality disorder and seeking help.

What causes borderline personality disorder? 

Experts don't fully understand what causes BPD, though current research suggests that genetic, social and environmental factors contribute. Some research investigating twins and families has found that personality disorders may be inherited, or familial relationships may predispose you to BPD.

The next factor is environmental and social influences, especially in early childhood. Traumatic life experiences, like a history of neglect, child abuse or abandonment, can contribute to BPD development. One of the most tangible markers for BPD is the fear of abandonment and the willingness to do anything to stop it. The behaviors taken are extreme, like self-harm or aggressive actions to physically keep a person there. 

Finally, your brain structure may contribute to BPD. Research that studies brain images of those with BPD found that the amygdala and hippocampus -- brain structures crucial for emotional regulation and the fear response -- are smaller than in the average brain.

Signs and symptoms of borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder isn't just a roller coaster of emotions. It fundamentally affects how you interpret your feelings about yourself, your behavior and your relationships with others. While the experience of BPD symptoms will vary by person, there are typical behavioral markers that help therapists diagnose the condition. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual identifies the symptoms of BPD as:

• Having an intense fear of being abandoned by friends and family. For many with BPD, perceptions of being left or relationships ending are big triggers. They will frantically try to avoid both real and imagined abandonment. 
• Significant mood swings can range from happiness to anxiety and irritability. These episodes can last a few hours or as long as a few days. 
• A history of unstable personal relationships with friends and family members. 
• Impulsive and risky behavior like binge drinking and eating, quitting a good job, reckless spending and drug use. 
• Frequent changes in how someone views themselves. Goals and values may change as well. 
• Self-harm behavior and suicidal threats .
• Periods of intense anger or bitterness, which can lead to physical fights.

How severely and how often someone may experience these symptoms will depend on the person. 

Borderline personality treatment

The prognosis for borderline personality disorder is pretty good, and even better if you seek treatment. It's essential to see a licensed mental health professional who will complete a comprehensive medical examination.

A therapist can help create an effective treatment plan that includes psychotherapy, medication management or peer counseling. Psychotherapy methods are the primary treatment for BPD, including cognitive behavioral therapy, schema-focused therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. These therapy sessions help you build long-term coping skills you can use to manage your symptoms and reactions to situations. 

Medications may also be a part of the treatment plan for BPD. Mood stabilizers or antidepressants can be prescribed to help offset the extreme mood swings of BPD, though no pill cures symptoms. 

No matter what your treatment plan looks like, the goal of BPD treatments is to help you overcome emotional issues and manage the symptoms of the disorder. 

Borderline personality vs. bipolar disorder

While on the surface, borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder seem like the same thing because of their shared symptoms, they are two distinct disorders that cannot be lumped together. BPD is a personality disorder, while bipolar disorder is a mood disorder. 

BPD is marked by instability in your emotions and actions, in how you perceive situations and in how others see you. When someone with bipolar disorder isn't in a manic or depressive episode, they have stability that those with BPD do not have. 

Additionally, bipolar disorder is more responsive to medication because it is biologically based. BPD cannot be treated like bipolar disorder because additional psychological factors must be addressed.

Finding help for borderline personality disorder

Living with borderline personality disorder or being the family member of someone who has it can be stressful. When you're in the thick of it, finding help can seem unattainable, especially if you don't know where to start or how to find a therapist. 

If you're looking for a therapist in your area, you can contact your primary care doctor, who will refer you to a mental health professional who's trained to help. When preparing for your appointment, write down your questions beforehand and make sure you have a list of your current medications on hand. You want to bring in as much information as you can. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

Also, it is more than OK to bring a spouse, friend or relative. You should feel empowered to do whatever you need to ensure you're comfortable and in the best position to get help. The prognosis with long-term talk therapy is good, but it improves the more willing you are to accept help. 

Use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Behavioral Health, or SAMHSA, Treatment Services Locator to find the therapist in your area. 

Self-care tips for borderline personality disorder

The fact is, borderline personality disorder isn't something you get rid of. But it doesn't have to rule your life and wreak havoc on your self-image and relationships. In addition to talk therapy and support from mental health professionals, there are things you can do on a daily basis to take care of yourself. 

• Set realistic goals. 
• When you have a big task, break it down into smaller, achievable steps.
• Make sure your family and friends know what situations or actions may trigger you. They may do things unintentionally, and setting expectations can help avoid those situations entirely. 
• Allow yourself to seek out things that bring you comfort. That may be a place, people or a certain situation.
• Integrate exercise into your routine to help reduce stress. 

Borderline personality disorder is a lifelong condition. You shouldn't expect your symptoms to go away or get better overnight. You'll see gradual improvements in your thoughts and actions with therapy and self-care. 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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