At the 23rd USENIX Security Symposium last week in San Diego, California, a new-style of Android security threat was discussed: user interface inference. This next-generation of attack technique communicates the state of any targeted application --the most intimidating example may be if malware can detect that a user has clicked a login button. Knowing that this behaviour … [Read more...] about New Style of Android Attack: User Interface Inference
Security
Prevent Kids Ignoring Parents’ Calls Using New App
Like it or not, many children carry smartphones. For some, they are tremendous resources and in many cases help to keep them safe. As parents, we also have to manage their use. At a minimum, we want to be able to get ahold of our kids when we call --and not have those calls ignored because they are busy, or doing something they know they will be in trouble for. Fortunately, a … [Read more...] about Prevent Kids Ignoring Parents’ Calls Using New App
Facebook Messenger May Not Be Out To Get You
Just about everybody uses Facebook, which means that just about everybody already knows that Facebook is migrating the Messenger functionality out of the core app and into a standalone Facebook Messenger app. What many hadn't realized, is that the standalone app isn't new --it's been around for a couple of years. Part of the news surrounding the shift is a hefty dose of viral … [Read more...] about Facebook Messenger May Not Be Out To Get You
Yahoo Adds Google Encryption to Email Service
Following the implementation of an end-to-end encryption upgrade by Google to their Gmail service, Yahoo has announced that by 2015 their email offering will also use the same security enhancements. Yahoo's Chief Information Security Officer, Alex Stamos, took the opportunity during his speech at the recent Black Hat conference to discuss these upgrades and note that … [Read more...] about Yahoo Adds Google Encryption to Email Service
Make Secure Phone Calls With Signal for iOS
Everyone is concerned about security these days, especially when our smartphones and tablets are so vulnerable (due in large part to their multitasking abilities and portability). You can put a passcode on your device to make it more difficult for the bad guys to gain access and you can transfer documents securely using encrypted apps, but how do you protect phone calls? Open … [Read more...] about Make Secure Phone Calls With Signal for iOS
See The Apps Your Friends Use With Homer
There are millions of apps floating around out there, and you've installed a good number of them... which are worth keeping? Often the best apps on your smartphone or tablet came to reside there by way of recommendations from friends and family, and thanks to PayPal co-founder Max Levchin you can find out what they are using without even having to ask. Homer is an app available … [Read more...] about See The Apps Your Friends Use With Homer
Google Search Results Warn Against Sites With Flash Content
In the early days of the Internet, using Oh Flash was a sign that a website was ahead of the times. It was impressive and sought-after. These days it is akin to a technologically-transmitted-disease --we've all heard about Flash content and we all know of websites that feature it, but for the most part we really just hope to avoid it. Thanks to Google, users searching from an … [Read more...] about Google Search Results Warn Against Sites With Flash Content
Android Anti-virus Apps Are Useless
Useless might be a strong word, but when it comes to being protected from security threats it would seem that the issue is necessarily black and white: you're protected or you aren't. So imagine the surprise (heard, read) around the world when Google's chief security engineer for Android, Adrian Ludwig, announced that anti-virus apps may not be terribly valuable on that … [Read more...] about Android Anti-virus Apps Are Useless
Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments
How many times a day do you unlock your smartphone? I'd be willing to wager that for a great number of you, the answer is in the hundreds. Having your phone locked is responsible and pretty much required, while unlocking it is annoying and frustrating. Fortunately, Google gave the answer during their I/O 2014 keynote: Personal Unlocking. Under the new Android "L" release, … [Read more...] about Android Adds Personal Unlocking In Trusted Environments
Amnesty App Morphs Power Button Into Panic Button
Sometimes things aren't actually as they seem, a truth that now applies to Android apps as well. While it masquerades as the sweet and innocent calculator app, Amnesty International's Panic Button might just save the lives of their human rights activists frequently at risk of facing arrest, attack, kidnapping or torture. After downloading the app, users can setup three … [Read more...] about Amnesty App Morphs Power Button Into Panic Button