Samsung Galaxy S7, Google releases critical security patches for Android

Samsung Galaxy S7 is expected to have a faster processor (Qualcomm snapdragon 820) and restore the SD storage slot it had earlier removed in the Samsung Galaxy S6. 

It is also expected to be priced 10% lesser than what S6 costs in the market today to give S7 the competitive edge of high performance at a low price strategy. That could increase the dwindling Samsung market share.

The reports say it is not just a classic improvement but a dramatic one, where Qualcomm has promised a highly improved performance. Phone will support VR, Streaming media and big data.

Samsung S6 started off at $600 to $685 off-contract depending on the US carrier.

 Galaxy S7 expected to have faster processor, return of storage slot. - ComputerWorld

Google patches security flaws in its Android Nexus phone's through a security press release. These flaws could be exploited remotely through MMS, Web Pages and rogue apps.

Firmware updates are being rolled out for vulnerabilities which are numbered five of critical, 12 ranked as high and two as moderate.
 
Google patches critical vulnerabilities in Android - Computer World

source.android.com/security/overview/update-resources

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New Dorkbot threat: Microsoft together with law enforcement successfully disrupt Dorkbot network

Microsoft has been roped in by FBI together with several law enforcement agencies as it had launched a program to thwart the threat from a botnet known as Dorkbot and effectively disrupted it.

 The Dorkbot reportedly uses a ring of more than 100,000 computers.And usually attacks another 100,000 computers on an average every month there by affecting millions of computers in over 190 countries.

It basically installs itself on to the computer of a user without any intimation and executes commands remotely like stealing information from the attacked computer like logins and passwords. In fact it was widely reported that sites like g-mail, Netflix and PayPal were hacked by  hackers to steal information.

Once you have this Dorkbot installed on to your computer it will probably have installed other malware too like Scareware, Adware, RansomWare and so on.

The enforcement team advises users to run anti- malware software regularly to detect the threat and do not click unto emails from unknown receivers and download your software from known developers. And keep your system updated with latest updates of anti-malware software.

For Further reading :

What is Malware? How to protect your Mobile/PC from it?

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Overview and insight into the latest Technology news and Developments

 Here are 2015's best Android Apps picked up by Google.

Google's Picks for 2015's best Android Apps - Fox News


Rob Enderle gives deep insight in to the future of mobile and PC market on how they are going to shape ahead in the future. Both Google and Apple are looking ahead in the future for a versatile device that meets the industry demands and that which is mobile and pocket sized and is scaleable to a larger screen, that's where Android falls short, which was ideally conceived as a mobile operating system for small devices.
Also iOS conflict issues with MacOS and other detailed analysis of iOS and Android weaknesses.

 Why iOS and Android will soon become obsolete? -Rob Enderle for cio


Privacy expert Lorrie Cranor is going to replace Ashkan Soltani in January. Ms Lorrie Cranor holds a Doctorate in Engineering and Policy, Master's Degree in Computer Science and Technology and Human Affairs and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and Policy. With her election analysts say she may keep her focus on Consumer Privacy and Data security.

Ms Cranor's latest areas of interest include Usable Privacy Policy Project, usable and secure passwords, privacy decision making, user controllable-security and privacy and usable cyber Trust indicators.

FTC's next Chief Technologist is on a quest for better passwords - PCWorld

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Yahoo's new IM client, Ford's SYNC and Facebook's live video steam launch: Overview and news

Yahoo launches it's new IM for Mobile and Internet Telephony amid speculations of a possible sale of it's entire internet business, industry analysts say.

As yahoo tries to relaunch itself in to mainstream of chat clients, it says it will support the old messenger for a only few more months more.

 Yahoo launches new Messenger app in face of possible big changes - ComputerWorld

Salient features of Yahoo's new IM client for PC and Mobile - Yahoo

Ford has announced that it has launched it's new software upgrade of SYNC infotainment system.  Now it has Wireless access to Apple's Siri, through voice recognition which can be activated through a long press of the button on the steering wheel. Earlier the users of iPhone had to connect to the infotainment system using a USB cable.

Ford marries it SYNC system to Apple's Siri using Bluetooth - ComputerWorld

Facebook today announced live streaming of it's video service across entire network for anyone with an iOS device and an apple app, after running a few months trial by enabling celebrities and journalists first to use the service.

To use the service you have to tap on the update status button and then choose the live video icon.

Features of this service include,  lets you choose intended audience, who you want to broadcast the stream to, receives live messages during the stream, displays number of users logging in to the stream, and then you can save it for later or delete it option.

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Adobe renames Flash, Samsung's VR, iphone7 headphones : Tech Overview and News

 Adobe is changing the name of it's Flash professional to Animate CC, keeping in mind the interests of web developers using the tool to develop with open platforms like HTML5, tipped to be the web platform across all devices.  
  
Adobe isn't killing flash, just changing the name to - MacWorld

Adobe's new tools supports open web standards like CSS and Java Script also.

 Adobe's new tool supports open web standards like CSS, HTML5 and Java Script

Samsung Launches its new Web Browser for Gear VR available at Oculus store, supports voice commands, on screen keyboard, 360 degree video streaming and HTML5 for better performance. In the gaze mode a typical user won't even have to touch the screen. Samsung says it is an important step in consumerization of VR(Virtual Reality).

Samsung Launches new web browser for Gear VR

Apple iPhone7 is tipped to use new smart headphones which will Synchronize with Apps and automatically adjust volume. Also Apple is rumored to get rid of headphone jack to lightning ports, which industry experts are divided on whether or not Apple is going to get on with that idea.

iPhone7:What will the Smarphones new headphone's do? - The Week


For Further Reading:

Youtube Red topping charts, Swatch's new Swipe Watch due in 2016 and Vtech hack details - Tech Overview 




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What is Malware? How to protect your Mobile/PC from it?

Malware is an abbreviated term for various types of malicious piece of software like Viruses, worms, Trojans, RansomWare, SpyWare, Adware, ScareWare etc., causing your mobile/PC to malfunction.

If your computer/Mobile holds crucial data and a virus attacks it, then it could cause temporary or permanent damage to your hard disk and operating system unless you take remedial measures.

Worms are standalone malicious code and does not attach itself to other files but perform same disruptions as a Virus does.

Trojans are hidden pieces of software that were shipped along with your hardware device from the assembly line itself. or Installed on to your PC through online software purchases or through other peripherals connecting your PC.

Install a reputed Anti-Malware software from vendors such as Symantec, Google Play Store, Samsung or Apple, Avast, Kaspersky for your PC/Mobile. or Download online from Original vendor and not any other third party source.

Do not click on unwanted ads of email links or suspicious looking Pop-Ups on your computer or Mobile.

Always make a habit to click the X on the top right corner of a Pop-up instead of the 'cancel' button.

If you are using a cable internet always log out off your account. Install reputed company firewalls to protect your computer from unwanted traffic.

Scan any attachable peripheral before downloading any files from it on to your PC/Mobile phone. Do not fill in financial details in online forms from suspicious links.

Keep your confidential information like Credit/Debit cards safe. Don't store it on your computer. Don't give out your info even somebody calling on the phone from the bank, because banks never ask such info on the phone.

Don't click on to unknown websites/Ads or email links etc.,

Don't get drawn away by lottery win e-mails or 'collect a gift that you have won' asking you to pay for processing fees or inviting you to a seminar abroad and asking for fees.


Don't click on suspicious links on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace etc.,

Three basic steps for Android Users :
1. Do not leave 'unknown sources enabled'
2.Avoid third party apps i.e., use only apps from Google Play store.
3. Read App Permissions carefully.

For Apple Users :
 It is a Unix based operating system it is less susceptible to attacks.

1. Apple has built in Anti-Malware X protect officially known as File Quarantine, snow leopard, Apple OS X
2.  Do Not Install Norton Anti-Virus on a Mac machine. Not compatible and it will seriously damage your device
3. Number of fake security products don't install them.
4. Block Pop-ups
5. Avoid suspected websites
6. Avoid Peer to Peer communications.
7. Consider using Mac OS X built in firewalls.
8. Use an Anti Virus Program like ClamXav.

What is Spyware? How to Protect your Mobile/PC from it?

What is Computer Virus? How to Protecct your Mobile/PC from it?

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What is a Computer Virus? How to protect your Mobile/PC from it?

A Computer Virus is a malicious software code that is designed to spread from one system to another by attaching itself to a system file of an attacked computer system or Mobile rendering it to malfunction or rendering it's Operating system corrupt.

For example:- An infected Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Pen drive can infect the computer or the Mobile Phone. It not only infects but multiplies itself in to many copies and transfers itself to other computers on the network.

In order to prevent a Computer Virus to attack your system, it is highly recommended that a User should install an Anti-Virus software from a reputed vendor like Symantec/Norton, Kaspersky, Avast, Google Play store, Apple or Samsung etc.,

If you do not have an Anti-Virus installed on your PC or Mobile and your computer is already attacked by the Virus then try to install the new Anti-Virus software downloaded online or purchased through original vendor in the form of a CD/DVD. If the system has totally collapsed. Then it is bad news as all your data on Mobile phone or the PC will be lost.

So it is highly essential to scan a USB, CD or any other devices attached to your system/Mobile to be scanned first to check any hidden Virus.

Viruses could be downloaded on to your system through  Internet also. In order to protect your PC or Mobile Phone from online attack, avoid clicking on to suspicious links in e-mails or websites offering murky deals. Install a firewall to block unwanted and suspicious traffic entering your computer.

Outdated Operating systems should be removed from your system  and latest OS should be installed for your Anti-Virus Program to function properly and protect your PC or Mobile phone.

Always download your Anti-Virus software from original vendor online. Also download other essential utilities such as Adobe flash player from the Adobe site itself by visiting the site.

Also another grey is peer-to-peer or P2P networking, where online users use bit-torrent technologies such as now defunct Lime-wire to share movies, games, software, and other pirated data. There lies a potential threat of Trojans (hidden malicious codes) presenting itself as a genuine file getting downloaded on to your system.

Android phones are reportedly leaking data worldwide,  don't leave 'unknown sources enabled', avoid illegitimate apps i.e., outside of Google Play Store.

Downloading files on a Mobile is very much similar to a PC, always see what permissions you are allowing newly installed software/App access to on your device, that is the crucial thing to stop your device being manipulated. If you suspect anything suspicious twice check the credentials of the software again online before continuing with the installation.

Often clean your devices of temporary files, free up disk space, keep your installed programs regularly updated through visiting original vendor sites. Never let your personal device in a public space unattended or hand over it for even a few moments.

Always lock up your PC/Mobile through a Pin/Password or Pattern or Voice or Facial recognition lock, don't modify i.e., jailbreaking.

Wireless security is another area where users have to be cautious connecting to an unsecured network, where any one can log in and install a virus. Use a secure Wireless connection only. Bluetooth devices have potential security problems, like Bluetooth Holes and Bluetooth Bonding, often scan your Bluetooth devices for viruses.

Don't click on suspicious links on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace etc.,

Three basic steps for Android Users :
1. Do not leave 'unknown sources enabled'
2.Avoid third party apps i.e., use only apps from Google Play store.
3. Read App Permissions carefully.

For Apple Users :
 it is a Unix based operating system it is less susceptible to attacks.

1. Apple has built in Anti-Malware X protect officially known as File Quarantine, snow leopard, Apple OS X
2.  Do Not Install Norton Anti-Virus on a Mac machine. Not compatible and it will seriously damage your device
3. Number of fake security products don't install them.
4. Block Pop-ups
5. Avoid suspected websites
6. Avoid Peer to Peer communications.
7. Use an Anti Virus Program like ClamXav
8. Consider using Mac OS X built in firewalls. 

What is Malware? How to Protect your Mobile/PC from it?

What is Spyware? How to Protect your Mobile/PC from it?

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Browser Security Essentials for User Privacy Part 4

Continuing from the previous post, we will discuss now what are session cookies and persistent cookies and how to handle them.

Session Cookies are sometimes used in authentication in order to log-in a customer into a restricted area, like chat clients, e mail, bank accounts and other authentication based user access websites, to record your visit and amount of time spent at a website and give seamless access to all the web pages associated with that website. 

Session cookies are also time duration sensitive and record your activity when using a website, if there isn’t any activity for a stipulated period of time, some websites prompts to re enter the authentication credentials to prove that it is the original user who is using the account, since there are so many ways that an account can be compromised. Always remember to clear the cache and other personal details like search forms, address bars and history of the browser when using a public terminal and also do not forget to close off the browser before leaving. 

The closing of the browser terminates all the connections with communication ports through which the data traverses on the machine. This all information is stored in an Internet Protocol header (IP header) and other memory registers on your system. There are so many other ways to work with IP headers. So when the browser window is closed it terminates all those ports involved in communication at that particular moment of time. So when a new Browser is opened it has to initiate all the requests to establish a new connection with new set of values.This in many ways helps protect your privacy.

Communication technologies have converged fast, 4G networks are already deployed in many parts of the world particularly in some markets in Scandinavia, North America and South East Asia. More and more devices are hooking up, more technologies and gadgets are developing at a rapid pace, the more the security issues are involved with all the devices which we use for our daily communication needs, and it is highly advised to update your understanding and techniques of using these technologies, so that we do not fall victim to attacks and loose our precious data and time.

And now we will come to discuss Persistent cookies, these are the cookies which note a user's preferences and other needs like customer settings like language, mode and other user preferences while visiting a site and stores this information in the cookie to be placed onto your system. So when you make the next visit, it is easy for us to be offered services at a faster speed. But the problem with these set of cookies is same as ever, that it could be used to target you knowing your preferences, if a malicious user gains access to these cookies. So it will be up to you to clear the cookies when you visit a site. Or the level of trust you place with the site being visited.

So you need to focus on how to set privacy settings on your local browser, if you're using multiple browsers, you need to understand where you need to look for the privacy settings in different browsers. You need to understand how to clear cookies from your system, how often and when.

In the upcoming posts we will look into how other types of persistent cookies( which are almost impossible to remove), flash objects and scripts pose serious privacy issues for a user and how to deal with them.

The reason to take these issues seriously is, it is not all the time that a user can know in any way that his accounts are being used unscrupulously. Sometimes there is every chance that you will never know, how your personal accounts have been abused.

Dane Morgan on Mobile Security : A Guest Post

 Today we have a Guest Post by one of the popular Blog Catalog names Dane Morgan, Dane has started a new venture on freelance articles and reports.. I requested him for the more increasingly important topic of security concerning our Mobile Phones and since security being an important theme within the sphere of technology on this blog. Here's is his valuable insight into the issue.

Constantly increasing computing power and the data storage that comes with it, combined with increasing speeds of 3G networks are making mobile devices more attractive to hackers, spammers and scammers as the rewards are rising faster than the risks. - Dane Morgan

                    Until recently Mobile Security hasn't been taken very seriously by most mobile users and the companies that employ them, but that is changing.

Research has shown that a good majority of lost or stolen mobile devices contain confidential personal and company information and communications that can be used to target the employee or the company for fraud and other mailcious attacks.

Additionally, Mobile security is moving rapidly towards similar methods to those used to protect PCs, such as firewalls, anti-malware and virus detection.

At this point most experts agree that mobile security measures are required on every smartphone to protect agaisnt malware. malicious software that infects a mobile device can cause false billing, disclosure of sensitive stored information, and can be used to delete, corrupt, modify or steal personal and company data stored on the device.

The biggest threats mobile users face today really centr around:

• Privacy when they access the internet through a WiFi connection
• Data protection in the face of a malware attack
• Data loss and compromise when when a mobile device is lost or stolen
• SMS spam, which a steadily growing number of users report as a problem.

Constanly increasing computing power and the data storage that comes with it, combined with increasing speeds of 3G networks are making mobile devices more attractive to hackers, spammers and scammers as the rewards are rising faster than the risks.

Some protection methods include using passwords, data encryption, spam filters, antivirus software and firewalls. But the real first line of defense in mobile security is an educated user.

• Mobile users should avoid visiting websites that they are unfamiliar with or that they may not really have a reason to trust.
• Install a security solution that provides anti-virus and firewall functionalities.
• Don't open strange or unexpected MMS you receive, even from people you know.
• Keep your Bluetooth connection hidden at all times.
• Never install an application from a mistrusted or completely unknown source.

Anti-virus and anti malware solutions should automatically retrieve newest updates whenever any data connection is used, and use advanced SMS update mechanisms for critical updates when a data connection is not available.

Users should also take advantage of new technologies that allow for storage of sensitive data on a removable card that becomes inactive when inserted into a different phone. There are also mobile security systems available now that can disable smart phones and even lock down or delete stored information in the event that they are lost or stolen.

Mobile security is important in this day and age. It is up to both companies and those who work with them to take mobile security seriously and develop a security plan for their mobile devices and the sensitive information that contain.

Dane Morgan is a freelance writer and web designer. Visit his portfolio of freelance articles and reports.

Mobile Security in Focus

                                                               

                                                            Source : FreeFoto

The growth in the multimedia applications along with new advanced technology smart phones, the security issues concerning this sector is just beginning to unfold. Virus, Trojans etc., affect the Mobiles the same way they affect a computer, as now 3G/4G mobiles look and behave more similar to a computer. Additional to this, user privacy and data have more increasingly come under threat.

Here is a link to Symbian OS press release in July stating how a Trojan work horse passed out its security tests.

You can have a look at Mcafee’s 2009 report  on wide ranging issues concerning security of Mobile platforms.

It is important to understand the aspect of security, when it comes to using the communication devices like PDA’s, Laptops, PC’s or mobiles, that when you are accessing the outside world, you need to have a good security mechanism to prevent threats to your mobile security, privacy and data from being hacked, stolen and manipulated.

And this aspect gives rise to another question, Is there any security in place when you are roaming with your communication device and are required to access a Wireless network located at a hot spot ? The answer is no.

This article reflects here. Discusses other issues too.

Here's another link to a document giving some simple but useful info regarding, How we can help protect our mobile phone in general, which almost all of us know, but its still better to take a look, in case if  missing out on anything. So, remember always to browse safely when you are mobile.

1. Are you secure online ? gives a good introduction overview on the Internet Security threats we face today. I recommend to give it a read