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Can the Arattai App Beat WhatsApp?

  WhatsApp the app that's become so much a part of our daily lives now that it's second nature to our thumbs. From group chats with family members to office messages that could very easily have been an email, WhatsApp is the undisputed monarch. With over 500 million users in India alone, it's a sure bet that it's the monarch of the messaging jungle. But, keep your encrypted data to yourself there's competition on the horizon: Arattai. Yes, you heard that right, an Indian-developed messaging app that is all ready to challenge WhatsApp and find its own place. Arattai, developed by Chennai company Zoho, is making headway as a domestic substitute for the likes of WhatsApp, Telegram, and the whole messaging fraternity. "Arattai" is indeed "casual chat" in Tamil. That relaxed, informal chat that doesn't have you questioning whether the government is tapping in. But, wait until we get all fired up about having a WhatsApp alternative, let's talk ...

A New Era of Digital Democracy ?

  The Emergence of Digital Mobilization In spite of the ban, the protesters, who were mostly Generation Z, discovered ways to bypass the ban. They made use of VPNs and the limited platforms that were still available, such as TikTok, to mobilize and organize. The protests turned violent and claimed a huge number of lives very quickly, worsening public anger and prompting the Prime Minister's resignation.   Discord as a Digital Parliament In the wake of the political meltdown, a fresh, and surprising, chapter took place. The youth movement, rallying under the heading "Youth Against Corruption," made its way to Discord. This chat forum, initially infamous for its gaming forums, was the de facto "parliament" in which more than 145,000 members debated and voted on a new temporary leader. Following a series of emotive debates and surveys, they chose former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to head the government of transition. Her appointment, due to her standing ...

The Next Generation Threat Intelligence

     The light from a dozen monitors reflected in Ramesh's weary eyes as he sagged in his chair. The Security Operations Centre was a constant storm of red alerts, each one a flash of digital lightning. "Analysts drown in alerts," he muttered to himself, the grim cliché of his profession. Today, the storm was a hurricane. A new threat had emerged a phantom, moving with the speed of a nation-state attack, leaving no clear trail for their traditional tools to follow. It wasn't just detection; it was a full-scale assault on critical infrastructure, a ransomware attack that was spreading like wildfire. Their systems flagged the initial breach, but every attempt at manual log correlation, every cross-reference, every deep dive into the dark web chatter was a dead end. The threat was faster and more unpredictable than ever, and ramesh and his team were reacting too late, always a step behind. This was the kind of crisis that demanded hours, even days, of tireless, manual...

ChatGPT-5 Is Powerful and Fast, But It Can’t Replace Software Engineers!

  As someone who’s been following tech closely for over a decade, I’ve seen countless innovations come and go but few have stirred as much excitement and debate as ChatGPT. ChatGPT has developed, and launch ChatGPT 5, it genuinely seems that the enhancements have significantly slowed down. Previous iterations led to significant advancements in AI capabilities, particularly in assisting with coding. However, the enhancements now seem minor and somewhat gradual. It feels as though we’re experiencing diminishing returns in the extent to which these models improve at truly substituting real coding tasks. The vast majority of people say that AI is going to replace software engineers very soon. Yes, AI can perform simple activities and support routine activities, but where there are intricate things like planning the system, tackling more challenging problems, grasping actual business needs, and collaboration with others, it hasn't been able to catch up yet. T hese require creativity...

OpenAI removed a controversial sharing option

  OpenAI removed a controversial sharing option and began working to de-index exposed content. OpenAI has removed a controversial opt-in feature that had led to some private chats appearing in Google search results, following reporting by wired that found sensitive conversations were becoming publicly accessible. Earlier this week, wired   revealed that private ChatGPT conversations some involving highly sensitive topics like drug use and sexual health were unexpectedly showing up in Google search results. The issue appeared to stem from arguably vague language in the app’s “Share” feature, which included an option that may have misled users into making their chats publicly searchable. When users clicked “Share,” they were presented with an option to tick a box labeled “Make this chat discoverable.” Beneath that, in smaller, lighter text, was a caveat explaining that the chat could then appear in search engine results. Within hours of the backlash spreading on social media...

IRCTC VS Tatkal black market

To get a Tatkal train ticket, which permits last-minute reservations, is frequently a race against time for millions of Indians. However, a sophisticated internet illicit market is progressively rigging this competition. According to an inquiry, organized organizations are taking advantage of weaknesses in the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) system to make it extremely difficult for regular people to secure a confirmed seat. The Tools The speed at which these rackets operate is astonishing. They rely on advanced “bots” automated software programs like Dragon, JETX, Ocean, Black Turbo and Formula One are used, which specifically work to sell 'Tatkal Booking Bots'. These tools are designed to fill in all booking details, from login credentials and train information to passenger names and payment details, in less than a minute. This lightning-fast process overwhelms the IRCTC system, pushing genuine users out. To avoid being caught by IRCTC’s security s...

Beware of Fake Starlink Mini Messages: Satellite internet is not free in India.

    A viral message is making the rounds on WhatsApp and social media in India, claiming to offer zero monthly fees and unlimited internet  via a device called   Starlink Mini.While the offer may sound tempting but it is completely misleading and has been flagged by the Indian government as unauthorized and false. Starlink Is Not Yet Operational in India As of June 2025 The satellite internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX has not launched its commercial operations in India. Although the company has received a Letter of Intent from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), it still requires key regulatory approvals including: 1.Spectrum allocation 2.Clearance from IN-SPACE (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre) Until these approvals are granted, no official Starlink services including Starlink Mini are available in India. Once Starlink gets the green light to operate in India, here’s what consumers can realistically expect: Monthly ...