Yearly Archives: 2015

Microsoft has issued a security warning about a bug that could let attackers spy on supposedly secure communications.

Called “Freak”, the bug was found in software used to encrypt data passing between web servers and web users.

Initially the flaw was thought only to affect some users of Android and Blackberry phones and Apple’s Safari web browser.

Microsoft’s warning suggests millions more may be at risk of losing data.
The monitoring group has also produced an online tool that lets people check if they are using a browser that is vulnerable to the flaw.

Apple is expected to produce a patch for the flaw next week and Google has updated its version of Chrome for the Mac to remove its susceptibility to Freak. It has yet to say what action it is taking with Android.

Read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31765672

HTC is to release a virtual reality headset as part of a tie-up with Valve, a leading PC video games publisher.

The HTC Vive will be paired with wireless controllers and tracking technology to let wearers explore computer-generated environments by walking round their rooms.

A test version of the kit will go on sale to developers shortly, followed by a public edition later this year.

Please read more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31664948

YouTube is going to release a mobile app that will only show video clips suitable for young children to help parents control what their kids are watching on the Internet.

The YouTube for Kids app, scheduled to be released for Android devices next week, features thousands of kid-focused channels that provide both entertainment and education. The content is mostly meant for children of two to eight years old. Clips are selected by computer algorithms and human review.

http://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/youtube-kid-friendly-app

Phishing Scams come in many varieties. Some are personalised, but most are sent out to the widest possible distribution.

One phishing email in particular is circulating the internet disguised as a notification from the popular messaging service, WhatsApp.

If you click the ‘Play’ button or any of the links contained in the email, your computer may become infected.

Don’t Click the Links! – Dangerous Downloads

The links embedded in the email direct your browser to a malicious or compromised website run by hackers. Once you’re on the malicious site, malware is downloaded to your computer.

Kuluoz is one of the malware downloads associated with this phishing scam. Kuluoz is a Windows targeted virus designed to stealing documents in Microsoft Word and Excel format. It is also capable of stealing all passwords stored in popular browsers like Firefox and Opera.

Please read more here: http://www.securitycheatsheet.com/phishing-scams-fake-whatsapp-notification/

Facebook and LinkedIn are teaming up to boost the dwindling number of women studying engineering and computer science. The percentage of people enrolled in undergraduate computer science programs who are women peaked at 35% in 1985 and is now down to about 17%.

Just 15% of Facebook Inc.’s employees working in tech jobs are women, according to diversity figures the company released last year. At LinkedIn Corp., women comprise 17% of its tech employees. Facebook and LinkedIn told The Associated Press they were launching mentoring and support programmes at colleges to get more women involved in studying technology, with a view to employing them. They hope it will go global, with groups at public and private universities.

Please read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/facebook-linkedin-join-to-boost-dwindling-numbers-of-women-in-tech/527044-11.html

Is Windows 10 lovable? With the venerable operating system still in previews, it’s too early to say, though we now know that’s Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s goal: “We want to make people love Windows on a daily basis.”

In my brief hands-on experience with what’s being commonly referred to as the “Consumer Build,” Windows 10 is inching in that direction. Let’s say that if it’s not quite lovable, Windows 10 is more than ever like the helpful and smart friend you’re usually glad to see.

Please read more here: http://mashable.com/2015/01/22/windows-10-consumer-hands-on/

A list of the worst passwords on the internet (as compiled by more than 3 million leaked passwords from 2014), indicates that we are becoming lazy about the whole “digital security” thing.

See how secure you think the top 25 are!

1. 123456
2. password
3. 12345
4. 12345678
5. qwerty
6. 123456789
7. 1234
8. baseball
9. dragon
10. football
11. 1234567
12. monkey
13. letmein
14. abc123
15. 111111
16. mustang
17. access
18. shadow
19. master
20. michael
21. superman
22. 696969
23. 123123
24. batman
25. trustno1

To read more, please see here: http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/20/this-list-of-2014s-worst-passwords-including-123456-is-embarrassing/

Google is ending sales of its Google Glass eyewear.

The company insists it is still committed to launching the smart glasses as a consumer product, but will stop producing Glass in its present form.

Instead it will focus on “future versions of Glass” with work carried out by a different division to before.

Read more at http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/19/today-is-the-last-day-to-buy-google-glass/