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Eelo prototype software running on a LeEco Le2. (Source: eelo)

Eelo, the Google-less Android OS from the creator of Mandrake Linux

Eelo is a new non-profit project started by the founder of Mandrake Linux with the goal of creating a fully open-source smartphone environment (Android, associated software, and associated services). It is in the early stages but ...

Craig Ward, 27 Dec 2017 23:05

LG has announced Android Oreo rollout for the South Korean market. (Source: LG)

LG V30 gets a taste of Oreo in South Korea sans Treble

LG has announced on its Korean website that it is rolling out Android 8.0 Oreo to its V30 handset. The update is currently rolling out in the Korean market but users have found that it does not support Project Treble.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 27 Dec 2017 09:31

No more 32-bit love from NVIDIA. (Source: Digital Trends)

32-bit NVIDIA drivers will soon be passe

The upcoming version 390 of NVIDIA's graphic driver will be the last to officially support 32-bit OSs. Barring a year's more time of security support for 32-bit drivers, all new features and enhancements will take the 64-bit route...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 23 Dec 2017 07:28

Smartphone in smoke, the possible outcome of a Loapi Trojan malware infection (Source: Kaspersky Lab official blog)

The Loapi Trojan malware can blow up your Android phone

Android malware reaches a new high (or maybe "a new low," depends on how you see it) with the Loapi Trojan, a piece of code that can push the infected devices to the limit for mining Monero tokens until they blow up.

Codrut Nistor, 20 Dec 2017 19:30

Keeper is being installed by default in new Windows 10 installations. (Source: User ToppestofDogs on Reddit)

Windows 10's included password manager can pose a security risk

A Google security researcher has discovered that the included third-party password manager in Windows 10, Keeper, comes with a security vulnerability that injects privileged UI into web apages that exposes a user's passwords.

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 18 Dec 2017 15:49

The Vivo Xplay 7 will be the first smartphone to feature Clear ID. (Source: Forbes)

Vivo Xplay 7 will be first with under-screen fingerprint tech

The Vivo Xplay 7 has been revealed as the first smartphone to ship featuring under-display fingerprint authentication technology. Clear ID, developed by Synaptics, is twice as fast as 3D facial recognition systems like Apple's Fac...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 18 Dec 2017 07:47

Mozilla in hot water after installing a browser add-on for some users without their permission

Some Firefox users recently found an unwarranted add-on installed in their browsers. The add-on, which is a page tool tied to the popular online show "Mr. Robot," was installed for some users that are a part of Mozilla's Studies p...

Sam Medley, 18 Dec 2017 06:08

Under-display fingerprint tech coming from Synaptics in January (Source: Digtal Trends)

Under-screen fingerprint tech due January on flagship phone

A unnamed high-end smartphone will arrive with Synaptics new Clear ID under-display fingerprint authentication tech in January. According to Synaptics, the new technology is twice as fast as 3D facial recognition technology as fea...

Sanjiv Sathiah, 13 Dec 2017 08:24

Pre-installed keylogger found in 460 HP laptop models in December 2017 (Source: Dash Force News)

More than 460 HP laptop models come with a pre-installed keylogger

Although this is not the first time it happens this year, HP has been caught red-handed once again. This time, the keylogger has been found in the Synaptics touchpad driver that ships with more than 460 HP notebook models.

Codrut Nistor, 11 Dec 2017 09:45

Applications that misuse the accessibility service to add beneficial features for their users get a short pause from Google. (Source: JuralMin/Pixabay)

Google decides to re-evaluate whether they remove apps that misuse accessibility services, such as LastPass and Tasker

Google has asked developers whose apps use the accessibility permission to email them with how their app uses this permission to enhance user experience so that they can assess "responsible and innovative" use of the permission. W...

Craig Ward, 09 Dec 2017 23:54

Spyware issues in late 2017 - Ethiopia spying on journalists

Commercial spyware is out of control

A fresh report published by The Citizen Lab revealed that Ethiopia, a country where less than 5 percent of the population has access to the internet, conducted a complex global cyber espionage campaign.

Codrut Nistor, 06 Dec 2017 21:10

PSA | Xiaomi issues BIOS fix for slow SSD performance in the Mi Notebook Pro

The Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro suffered from less than ideal disk read and write speeds despite having a Samsung PM961 SSD onboard. A BIOS update is now available that enables full x4 bandwidth on the NVMe SSD PCIe lanes, leading to i...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 06 Dec 2017 15:38

The primary use of the palm ID system would be an intuitive way to retrieve a forgotten password. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung could include palm ID system in future Galaxy phones

A recent Samsung patent describes how the palm scanner could help users remember forgotten passwords. The image of the user's palm features embedded incomplete characters that would appear random to other people, but could juggle ...

Bogdan Solca, 05 Dec 2017 15:34

Samsung Secure Wi-Fi VPN service (Source: SamMobile)

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 gets a VPN service with the latest update

Apparently as a response to the recently discovered (and patched) KRACK exploit, Samsung added a VPN service to the Galaxy Note 8. Known as "Secure Wi-Fi," this service encrypts all outgoing traffic to provide safe browsing while ...

Codrut Nistor, 04 Dec 2017 17:07

The Cherry MC 4900 is aimed at office and business environments that need extra security. (Source: Cherry)

Cherry outs the MC 4900 optical mouse with fingerprint reader

The MC 4900 mouse is designed to bring extra security to office and business environments through the integrated fingerprint reader. While the mouse has a modest 1375 DPI optical sensor, the fingerprint sensor is among the best ca...

Bogdan Solca, 04 Dec 2017 13:00

New cryptomining exploit continues to use your resources even after the browser window is closed

Malwarebytes has identified the use of pop-under windows which contain a cryptomining script to bypass adblockers and continue to run even after the user has closed the visible browser windows.

Craig Ward, 02 Dec 2017 23:55

Indian Intelligence Bureau calls out smartphone apps sending data to China

The Indian Intelligence Bureau has directed its border troops to format their smartphones and delete a number of specified apps, citing the reason as a discovered data trail leading from these apps to China.

Ricci Rox, 01 Dec 2017 19:06

System76 to disable Intel Management Engine on its notebooks

While Intel is working with the big brands to patch the major security holes recently discovered in its Management Engine firmware, System76 plans to take it all to the next level by disabling IME entirely via a firmware update.

Codrut Nistor, 30 Nov 2017 23:45

HP claims that customer privacy is very important and it only collects data with the consent of the user. (Source: HP)

HP releases official statement regarding spyware accusations

HP is dismissing all the allegations, claiming that Touchpoint Analytics only collects hardware data and sends it with the user's approval. The new version of the app did install itself without any user consent, but this was alrea...

Bogdan Solca, 30 Nov 2017 15:48

HP stealthily replace the older Touchpoint Manager with a Touchpoint Analytics Service app that is sending user data to HP's servers without consent. (Source: HP)

HP accused of spying on its customers through stealthy telemetry app

HP stealthily replaced the "Touchpoint Manager" app with a new version called "Touchpoint Analytics Service", causing full CPU usage on its clients' systems and syphoning user data.

Bogdan Solca, 29 Nov 2017 12:06

They may take everything but never our freedom. Never our right to choose.

The fight for Net Neutrality is on...you should take action today

The US Federal Communications Commission is set to cast a vote that will repeal the Net Neutrality laws that keep the Internet fun for everyone. American or not, it's time you had a say in this matter. Let your voice be heard toda...

Ricci Rox, 26 Nov 2017 10:19

A new set of Intel Management Engine vulnerabilities confirmed

Not long after a few security research groups discovered new vulnerabilities in the Intel Management Engine remote administration subsystem, the chipmaker confirmed these issues in a new security advisory that also lists other bug...

Codrut Nistor, 21 Nov 2017 14:10

Yet another Android exploit. (Source: Pixabay)

New Android security flaw allows screen recording without direct user permission

A security research firm has revealed an Android exploit which allows a rogue application to record all on-screen activity without the user's permission. This has been fixed in Android 8, but users on older versions are still vuln...

Craig Ward, 18 Nov 2017 19:16

Smartwatches targetted at children, like the VTech Kidizoom, are now banned in Germany. (Image: VTech)

Germany bans smartwatches marketed at children

Children's smartwatches have been found to have glaring security holes, some of which can present a serious threat to the safety of the children that wear them. These security issues, along with privacy concerns, have led German o...

Sam Medley, 18 Nov 2017 04:09

Android Oreo has new APIs which help remove developers reliance on accessibility permissions. (Source: knd61/Pixabay)

Google's new security policy on accessibility features will limit or remove 'hundreds of good, useful apps'

The next stage of Google's push to improve Android security is putting a spotlight on applications which misuse accessibility features to add functionality that wasn't expressely designed to improve use for people with disabilitie...

Craig Ward, 14 Nov 2017 21:44

Amazon Key relies on a compatible smart lock, smart camera, and Amazon Cloud. (Source: Amazon)

Amazon Key lets couriers unlock your door when you're not home

Amazon has released their Amazon Key service which uses an Amazon produced smart camera, a smart lock from Yale or Kwikset, and the Amazon Cloud to allow delivery drivers to unlock your front door and leave your parcel inside.

Craig Ward, 26 Oct 2017 01:10

The Samsung J7 smartphone. (Source: Samsung)

Samsung J7 catches fire in an Indian flight causing a mid-air scare

A Samsung J7 smartphone caught fire on a Jet Airways flight bound to Indore from New Delhi causing mid-air panic. The flight staff were unable to extinguish the fire and had to drop the phone in a tray of water to put off the flam...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 21 Oct 2017 14:52

OnePlus makes statement regarding data collection, will release update to reduce what is transmitted

OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, has posted a response to the data collection being performed by his company. Some details were given on what purpose the collected data had, and what OnePlus will do going forward.

Craig Ward, 15 Oct 2017 23:05

Liberty secured: Purism's Librem 5 Linux-based smartphone meets crowdfunding goal

The Librem 5, a smartphone currently in development by Purism, recently reached its USD$1.5 million crowdfunding goal. The device will be designed with privacy in mind and will run a mobile flavor of Purism's own PureOS.

Sam Medley, 11 Oct 2017 20:47

The wolf in sheep's clothing which snuck into thousands of unsuspecting digital pens. (Source: SwiftOnSecurity)

A fake Adblock Plus extension has infected about 37,000 Google Chrome users

Posing as the world's most popular ad-blocking software, a fraudulent extension made it onto the Chrome Web Store and tricked tens of thousands of victims into installing what turned out to be a very annoying piece of adware.

John Garcia, 10 Oct 2017 21:42

A more fitting name if this trend of fails continues. (Source: CHEIL India)

OnePlus is collecting user data without permission, and you should be scared

OnePlus has dropped the ball yet again, with a user discovering a data siphon that sends his private phone information and logs to a remote OnePlus server.

Ricci Rox, 10 Oct 2017 12:33

The next all-touchscreen smartphone from BlackBerry has surfaced. (Source: Evan Blass)

Blackberry's next all-touchscreen smartphone leaks out

Serial leaker Evan Blass has introduced the new BlackBerry Motion to the world. The new device will be the third touchscreen-only Android-based model from the the once dominant Canadian smartphone maker.

Sanjiv Sathiah, 06 Oct 2017 11:53

All 3 billion Yahoo user accounts were involved in the 2013 data breach

If you held a Yahoo account in 2013, then you were almost certainly involved in the data breach. At 3 billion user accounts affected, this announcement sets the record for the largest known data breach.

Craig Ward, 04 Oct 2017 02:26

Austrian and Chinese scientists conversed over the quantum-secured communication line. (Source: Austrian Academy of Sciences)

Chinese and Austrian scientists make first unhackable quantum video call

The quantum communication process involves data that is embedded into entangled photons. Any unauthorized tempering with the quantum data stream is immediately exposed and the quantum signature is automatically changed to prevent ...

Bogdan Solca, 03 Oct 2017 11:32

Sirin Labs intends to bring the crypto world closer to mainstream with the upcoming Finney devices.

Sirin Labs is developing world's first blockchain smartphones and PC terminals

The Finney smartphones and PC terminals will be the first open-soruce devices to connect to an independent blockchain network. These will run a proprietary Android-based Shield OS that comes with an array of security features like...

Bogdan Solca, 28 Sep 2017 15:00

The Wi-Fi exploit could be affecting billions of devices. (Source: Google)

Google and Apple release emergency patches to fix Wi-Fi exploit in iPhone 7 and Galaxy S7 Edge

The Wi-Fi exploit works with any mobile device that integrates Broadcom Wi-Fi chips. Google and Apple claim they have released emergency patches for Android 8.0 Oreo and iOS 11, but it may take some time to patch all devices.

Bogdan Solca, 27 Sep 2017 15:02

CBS-owned 'Showtime' joins The Pirate Bay and rogue chrome extensions in using your CPU to mine cryptocurrency

CoinHive's cryptomining JavaScript has been found embedded in the site code of two of Showtime's websites, causing increases CPU usage. The script has now been removed, but silence from Showtime leaves the question open on whether...

Craig Ward, 26 Sep 2017 17:15

The neuromorphic processor integrates 130,000 artificial neurons that can develop 130 million synapses. (source: Intel)

Intel presents its first self-learning neuromorphic processor codenamed Loihi

Intel's self-learning Loihi processor is built using the 14 nm manufacturing process and integrates 130,000 artificial neurons that can develop up to 130 million synapses. The chip can perform training and inference tasks, so it a...

Bogdan Solca, 26 Sep 2017 15:04

All this considered, this is about par for cyber information control in most parts of the world. (Source: The Verge)

Your private data isn't so private after all, Wechat confirms

It's been a good week for privacy intrusions, with GO Keyboard being reported to siphon user data. This time out, it's the Wechat app on all the headlines, as the app's new privacy policy sheds light on how public, private user da...

Ricci Rox, 24 Sep 2017 09:56

The main weakness of pattern and PIN is the ability for those around you to obverve entry. (Source: Msporch/Pixabay)

Android pattern unlock is the easiest authentication method to snoop

A study by researchers from the University of Maryland and the US Naval Academy has been published showing that a six-spot pattern unlock is six times easier for snoopers to repeat after seeing once than a six-digit PIN.

Craig Ward, 23 Sep 2017 02:20

Equi-fail: Equifax directs customers affected by hack to fake phishing website

In another major misstep for Equifax, an employee of the credit services company responded to customer tweets with a link to a fake phishing website. The site, which was styled to look like the official Equifax site dedicated to t...

Sam Medley, 21 Sep 2017 23:58

CCleaner's binary was modified by hackers to insert a backdoor. (Source: Piriform)

CCleaner hijacked by hackers to open a backdoor for remote code execution

Piriform, makers of the popular PC cleaning software CCleaner, said that a few versions of the program's 32-bit binary were hijacked by hackers who could insert a two-stage backdoor capable of remote code execution. Investigation ...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 19 Sep 2017 10:20

Google Tez aims to make payments hassle-free. (Source: Google)

Google Tez aims to revolutionize the digital payment landscape in India

Google has launched a new payment service, Tez, which enables fast payments without the need to share information such as bank account numbers, fund transfer codes, or even pair up mobiles by NFC. The new service is compatible wit...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 18 Sep 2017 21:11

Equifax security breach blamed on known web vulnerability in Apache Struts

One week after announcing a major data breach affecting over 143 million consumers, Equifax is pointing blame at a security vulnerability in the Apache Struts web framework. However, the vulnerability was publicly announced in Mar...

Sam Medley, 14 Sep 2017 22:15

The QNAP TS-x77 features upto an 8-core 16-thread AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and 64 GB of RAM. (Source: QNAP)

QNAP briefs about QTS 4.3.4 OS and the TS-x77 NAS powered by AMD Ryzen

QNAP offered a glimpse into some of the advancements coming to the QTS 4.3.4 operating system that includes new features such as snapshot support for ARM-based QNAP NAS. It also offered a closer look into the TS-x77 NAS powered by...

Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 14 Sep 2017 09:54

Android and iOS-like app permissions coming to Windows 10 apps

Microsoft is bringing app permissions for improved privacy and security with UWP (Windows Store) applications. Admins of the Enterprise Edition have an option to reduce the diagnostic data collected to be reduced to the minimum ne...

Craig Ward, 13 Sep 2017 21:30

BlueBorne vulnerability could target billions of unpatched Bluetooth devices

Armis Labs discovered a Bluetooth vulnerability codenamed BlueBorne that could affect billions of devices including smartphones like Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy, tablets like Samsung Galaxy Tab, smartwatches like LG Watch Spor...

Bogdan Solca, 13 Sep 2017 14:42

Graph of the increase in cryptocurrency mining trojans as measured by Kaspersky Labs. (Source: Bleeping Computer)

Cryptocurrency mining malware has infected over 1.65 million computers this year

Data from Kaspersky Labs shows that the number of cryptocurrency mining trojan infections in 2017 has passed 1.65 million to date. Criminals use infected PCs to crunch transactions and route the success fee to their own digital wa...

Craig Ward, 12 Sep 2017 21:58