Apple

California Kill Switch Bill

September 4, 2014 — Leave a comment

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It has been cooking for quite some time. Now, it is time for us to see some actual working in this matter. California is the first state with the kill switch bill in force. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to know what is this bill all about, do you? You cannot have the absolute anti-theft guarantee.

However, you can make all smartphone thefts absolutely pointless. With this feature you can log into your web account and kill your stolen smartphone literally. Its interior will become a melted and useless material in a matter of seconds. How can you be sure with this one?

Well, for what is worth, this is supposed to be a default feature for all smartphones bought in California. Although, some elements which can survive the kill-switch can still be used for spare parts, the damage for the thieves has already been done. It is simply not worth all the risk and trouble.

On the other side, we sure hope that the feature itself is protected enough. The last thing we need is some hacker killer, who decides how many smartphones to eliminate with a simple push of a kill switch button. Let us hope that we have not created the ultimate weapon against the smartphones.

Jailbreak One More Trouble To Make

August 29, 2014 — Leave a comment

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If you have second thoughts about jailbreaking your iPhone, after reading this post, you will definitely leave the things just the way they are. One serious rumor has it that AdThief IOS Malware has its origins in China. On the other side, this malware has an extremely specific goal to achieve.

It steals ad revenues. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out that this malware switches the recipient address of ad revenues. The things are pretty much serious in this matter. More than 75,000 infected devices and more than 20 million stolen ads. Is this impressive or what?

On the other hand, we have to admit that this malware is not necessarily bad from the user’s point of view. What this has to do with us? Yet, it is only a matter of time before the Chinese hackers realize that they can do some additional account’s IDs and recipients switching. We can be affected next.

We should also hold our horses and do our very best not to exaggerate the things. The main thing is that we can identify a certain cyber threat. The next move is to find the adequate answer for it. We sure hope we will not have to wait too long for the efficient cure. Poor old advertisers. Do you feel sorry for them?

Manchester United vs iPad

August 22, 2014 — Leave a comment

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For the sake of all of us, let us be a little bit more precise with this one, shall we? Manchester United has nothing against Apple. They just do not want you to carry your iPad into Old Trafford. In addition, you are not allowed to carry any of the “large electronic devices” with you during the games.

The funny part about this story is that you are allowed to use your smartphone, but not a tablet while the football match is on. Why? Well, it is very likely that the club’s management has realized that something like that would be the mission impossible, literally. So, what now?

Enjoy in your favorite football moments without your tablet. There is a concern that the football fans could record the matches by using their tablets. Yet, they could do the same with their smartphones. Right? It is really hard to find a logical reason for a drastic decision such as this one.

It is a simple and well-known fact that there is no device in the world, which can give you the true feeling and excitement of the live attendance to the football games. That is why this fear of huge sized gadgets seems almost as it is a bad joke. Let us wait and see what will happen with tablets and football, shall we?

Xiaomi Sends All Data Back To China?

August 14, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Here is an extremely disturbing rumor. Apparently, Xiaomi models send all user data back to China, including SMS, as well. In other words, as soon as you start using a Xiaomi smartphone, you become a part of the Chinese version of the Big Brother without your knowledge or approval. Is this true?

Well, something is certainly happening with the Xiaomi smartphones. On the other side, it is worth asking what is the motivation behind these accusations? Are we worried more about our security and privacy, or the unprecedented success and growing power of this so-called Chinese Apple?

Did you know that Xiaomi was able to sell 15,000 MI3 models in India in less than two seconds? In addition, for the very first time Xiaomi dominated its home ground after the years of indisputable Samsung’s rule in China. These facts are more than enough for some smartphone players to start worrying.

Do not be surprised, if the next thing to hear is an appeal not to buy smartphones, which come from China. Without any exaggeration we can say that the next thing is the smartphone nationalism. On the other hand, Samsung comes from the South Korea, but at least they are our allies. Right?

Gimme Your Source Code, Or…

August 10, 2014 — Leave a comment

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We got ourselves an additional chapter in the bloody book of Ukraine crisis. This time the Russian government demands the source codes from the leading IT companies, which wish to do business on the Russian soil. So far, only the Microsoft showed the unreserved readiness to cooperate.

On the other side, Apple and SAP are having some second thoughts about it. The Russian government is deadly worried about the spying threat. It seems that in all software made in the USA they see the NSA and CIA signature. So, what is the response of the US based companies in this matter?

It seems that Apple and SAP are not willing to cooperate. The Russians were so kind to remind them of Microsoft’s flawless cooperation over the last couple of years. This is a nice test for US companies to evaluate how important is their business in Russia. Something similar Google has been experiencing in China.

It all comes down to numbers, eventually. If you want to play a game of profit in the certain country, you have no other choice than to embrace the local rules more or less willingly. In the Russian case a fragile balance between the economy and politics has to be achieved this way or another.

Careless iPhone Whispers

August 6, 2014 — Leave a comment

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The Open Whisper Systems, which are well-known for their safe calls app RedPhone, have come up with a new one. This time we are talking about the free encrypted calls you can make on your iPhone all over the world. You do not have to guess twice the Signal app is fully compatible with the RedPhone.

This app is simple and safe to use. In addition, you do not have to worry about complicated passwords. Both you and your contact will get a pair of words. If these words match between the parties, who are communicating, you are good to go. If not, then there is someone uninvited trying to mess your things up.

The Signal runs the ZRTP, which is a security encryption protocol developed by Phil Zimmermann. He is also known as the father of the Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) system. On the other side, it is worth mentioning that the Signal is initially designed to be an open source platform.

The Open Whisper Systems have some ambitious plans with this one. In the next stage, they plan to include Signal’s version for the text messages, as well. Definitely some good news for iPhone users. We only hope that Apple will close all open backdoors first. You know what we mean with this one, don’t you?

IOS Secure Insecurity

August 3, 2014 — Leave a comment

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It seems that the endless debate about the security prestige between Android and IOS just got an additional intriguing chapter. We have all witnessed how every now and then some of the Apple’s representatives likes to point out the security imperfections and vulnerabilities associated with Android.

The opened IOS backdoor allowed us for the first to seriously question its security strength. For what is worth, IOS sees to be properly strong on the outside threats, and unforgettably weak on the inside. We are talking about the enemies from within. Confused?

Apple’s mobile software is intended to be used for maintenance purposes only. Who is to deal exclusively with these types of works is another question? Maybe, some of the NSA agents would be more than interested to pay a surprising visit to your iPhone’s data.

The Apple’s users are disturbed with a proper reason. On the other side, Apple’s marketing machinery will do its homework in this case with a series of justifications and calming press releases. However, the damage is already being done. The Apple has lost its self-claimed aureola of flawless safety. For how long?

Cisco Systems – Spying Systems

July 18, 2014 — Leave a comment

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This is what happens when you leave an open door for the politics in the cyber space. The Chinese have become extremely spying sensitive and let us admit it even paranoid about this one. First, we had a situation with an iPhone, which was to blame for the tracking jeopardy completely unacceptable for the Chinese.

Now, the blacklist in China is very likely to include an additional name from the USA. The Cisco Systems are accused for supporting the US funded and organized spying activities. As expected, the Cisco Systems have denied it all, but the damage was already done. In the meantime, even Microsoft had some tough times.

Google has to play according to Chinese rules. Windows is no longer welcome on government’s computers. Apple is suspicious. Cisco is unreliable. It seems that Made In China definitely does not go hand in hand with the Made in the USA. Is there a solution for this serious problem?

Well, if the USA players want a piece of a billion market pie in China, they will have to play according to the Chinese rules with no exceptions or excuses. China can certainly afford it. One serious rumor has it that China has an infrastructure to launch a completely independent Internet on its own, any time they want. Enough said. Right?

Public Enemy No.1

July 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

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It is official. iPhone is the Chinese public enemy No. 1. Why? Well, for Chinese its tracking and location feature is extremely problematic, and as it seems unacceptable. Frequent Locations is the name of this feature, and the national security is the primary concern in this matter.

The Chinese are worried that this tracking option can reveal some serious and sensitive information of the greatest priority for their national security, including the entire national economy?! To successfully track one billion people in China?! How many of them can afford an iPhone in the first place?

Or, maybe the Chinese are emotionally compromised in this matter. It is not a secret that the NSA-phobia is more than present in China. On the other side, there are constant complaints about the quality of technical support for Apple’s products in China. How to comment and interpret all of these.

Perhaps, the Chinese should find some better way to send a message that Apple is definitely not welcome there. Really confusing and tense, indeed. It is left to be seen what will be Apple’s official reaction about this one. It is hard to say to the biggest market on the planet: you are wrong.

TINSTAFL Version for Smartphones

May 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

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Do you know what does TINSTAFL stand for? There Is No Such Thing As Free Lunch. Although, this may seem a little bit heartless, we are talking about one of the leading principles in capitalism. Now, let us apply this one to the fascinating world of smartphones. Who should we call to demonstrate this principle in real business life?

How about Google? It seems that some dirty laundry has surfaced during the second legal clash between Apple and Samsung. Google’s Mobile Apps Distribution Agreement is really something. If you want to make smartphones based on Android, then there are so many things you have to accept unconditionally. Let us start.

When it comes to this, Google Search Engine and Google Play are the absolute must. Do we have to mention that Gmail and Google Maps are almost impossible to avoid. As you can see, Android platform comes with a certain additional “price”. Who is to pay for it eventually is a completely different question. In most of the cases the users themselves.

It comes almost without saying that Google can stand aside in this legal conflict between Apple and Samsung. Having in mind that Samsung is its biggest customer and Apple the most formidable adversary the things just could not be clearer for Google in this matter. Let us wait and see, if this unprecedented legal conflict is to include more than just two parties as originally planned.