AllYouCanTech

TikTok’s Sale in the U.S. Set to Conclude Next Month After Lengthy Discussions

**TikTok Sale Journey: Final Moves Towards a New Chapter**

The eagerly awaited sale of TikTok’s operations in the U.S. is approaching its conclusion, with a transaction expected to finalize on January 22, 2025. This milestone follows a complicated path that began in 2020 during the Trump administration and has encountered numerous legal and political hurdles, culminating in a divest-or-ban regulation enacted by President Biden in 2024.

### Agreement Framework and Principal Stakeholders

As reported by Axios, TikTok has agreed to sell its U.S. division to a newly established joint venture comprised of three managing partners: Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Per an internal note from TikTok CEO Shou Chew, the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC will see these investors collectively owning 45% of the entity. Moreover, 5% will be designated for additional new investors, while 30.1% will be owned by affiliates of current ByteDance investors, and 19.9% will stay with ByteDance itself.

### Emphasis on Data Security

A crucial component of this agreement is the pledge to retrain TikTok’s U.S. content recommendation algorithm utilizing data from American users. This initiative is designed to safeguard the content feed from external interference, addressing persistent worries regarding data privacy and security. Oracle will lead efforts to ensure data protection, highlighting the need for user trust in the platform.

### Final Thoughts

The approaching conclusion of this agreement signifies a critical moment for TikTok as it manages the intricacies of functioning in the U.S. market under regulatory oversight. As the company gears up for this transition, the consequences for users, investors, and the wider social media environment remains to be determined. What do you think about the TikTok sale agreement?

App Notifies Users When Mac Webcam or Microphone is Engaged While Away

### Boosting Mac Security with OverSight: An Essential Tool for Privacy Safeguarding

The integrated green LED privacy indicator on Macs acts as a vital warning system, alerting users when the webcam or microphone is in use. Nonetheless, this safeguard only functions effectively when users are available to observe the indicator. The danger emerges when malware activates these features during the user’s absence, possibly recording or listening in without any apparent alert.

To counter this risk, the complimentary open-source utility **OverSight**, created by Objective-See, provides an extra layer of defense. OverSight not only tracks when the webcam or microphone is turned on but also sends notifications, enabling users to check for any unauthorized access upon their return.

#### Grasping OverSight’s Functionality

OverSight is proficient in overseeing the activation of the camera and microphone. It logs each instance, detailing the process responsible for the activation, ensuring users are aware of any dubious activity that took place while they were away. This logging function is especially crucial in light of the history of malware like Fruitfly and Mokes, known for activating cameras in the absence of users.

In addition, OverSight is skilled in identifying piggybacking attacks. These attacks happen when malware covertly attaches itself to a legitimate video call, such as on Zoom or FaceTime, without activating the LED indicator. OverSight distinguishes between various processes accessing the camera, notifying users if an unauthorized application tries to piggyback on an active stream.

#### User Experience and Suggestions

After using OverSight for several weeks, numerous users, including security professionals, have deemed it an indispensable tool for peace of mind. The ease of receiving notifications about hardware access without the need for complicated scripting or system analysis is a notable benefit.

For anyone worried about privacy and security on their Mac, OverSight comes highly recommended. It offers a straightforward method to monitor and log webcam and microphone activity, ensuring users stay informed about their device’s condition.

#### Conclusion

In a time when digital privacy is crucial, tools like OverSight play an essential role in protecting personal data. By delivering real-time alerts and detailed logs of hardware use, OverSight enables users to take charge of their privacy and security on Mac devices. For additional information, users can visit the

DuckDuckGo Unveils AI Platform Proficient in Image Creation

### Duck.ai: An AI Image Generation Tool Prioritizing Privacy

The recently introduced Duck.ai feature, now in beta, highlights DuckDuckGo’s dedication to a privacy-centric approach in both AI and search capabilities. This cutting-edge tool enables users to generate images from their descriptions while guaranteeing the protection of their privacy.

#### No Information Disclosed to OpenAI

Currently, users can navigate to [duck.ai](http://duck.ai) and choose the “New Image” option from the side panel to start generating images. DuckDuckGo underscores that the same privacy measures applicable to its chat tool are also in place for Duck.ai. This ensures that each prompt remains anonymous, and no user data is employed to train OpenAI’s core image model. This strategy maintains the confidentiality and security of user information.

#### Local Storage and C2PA Compliance

Aligned with its privacy-first ethos, Duck.ai saves generated images locally on the user’s device instead of on DuckDuckGo’s servers. This capability not only boosts user privacy but also provides users with full authority over their creations. Furthermore, the images produced by Duck.ai are tagged with C2PA-compliant metadata, facilitating verification that the images are AI-generated, thereby enhancing transparency in AI content production.

#### Complimentary Access with Usage Restrictions

Duck.ai is accessible at no cost; however, there are daily usage limitations for those who are not DuckDuckGo subscribers. This structure enables users to investigate the features of the image generator while promoting subscription for additional benefits.

#### Upcoming Features

After the initial launch, the Duck.ai team is diligently developing new features to enhance user experience. Future updates comprise support for uploading reference images and the addition of a dedicated download button for mobile devices, simplifying the process for users to save their creations.

For further details regarding Duck.ai’s terms of service, users can check

Apple TV Secures New Dramedy ‘Beat the Reaper’ Featuring Will Poulter

Apple has officially unveiled its adaptation of Josh Bazell’s 2009 initial novel, “Beat the Reaper,” for Apple TV. The series is a joint effort between Apple Studios and New Regency, with Sam Catlin, recognized for his work on “Breaking Bad” and “Sugar,” taking on the roles of showrunner and executive producer.

The plot centers on Dr. Peter Brown, an intern at a notoriously poor-performing hospital in Boston, who has an exceptional aptitude for medicine but bears a perilous history. When a patient spots him, Dr. Brown finds himself in a race against time, confronting dangers from government agents, mob enforcers, and a sequence of lethal incidents, all within an eight-hour shift.

Will Poulter, known for his performances in “The Bear” and “Black Mirror,” has been confirmed to play Dr. Peter Brown, marking his announcement as the sole cast member revealed thus far. Information regarding the commencement of production and the series’ premiere date has not yet been made public.

Apple TV, which provides a subscription service priced at $12.99 per month, boasts a variety of well-known shows and films, including “F1 The Movie,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” As excitement grows for “Beat the Reaper,” enthusiasts of the novel and new viewers alike are keen to see how this captivating tale will be translated onto the screen.