Google

The End Of Flash Days

September 1, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Oh dear, this is going to be such an earthquake for the advertising dreamland. Google has decided. Its final verdict is, no more Flash ads on Chrome platform. Almost one in two web users strongly rely on Chrome. That is why, this is an extremely important event in the cyber history.

On the other hand, the rest of major IT players are also not in the pro-Flash mood, including Mozilla, Amazon, and Apple. The age of HTML5 has just begun. Are we to blame these cyber lords? Should we feel sorry for the Flash, and its imminent and unavoidable sad destiny?

Well, for what is worth, the busy little bees behind Flash had plenty of time to deal with the constant hacker’s attacks and security failures. Obviously, some of the biggest IT guys simply had enough. Mozilla Firefox was among the first to share its security concerns with the series of Flash failures.

Now, the Flash crew has plenty of time to regret. Google and other major brands simply cannot themselves a luxury of endless security troubles with Flash plugins. Who knows,maybe this can become a story with the happy end, after all. Security does matter, doesn’t it Flash?

The Alphabet: What Are We Going To Get?

August 30, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Oh dear, what is this supposed to mean? Are we witnessing the very birth of the notorious SkyNet, but this time in cheerful colors? For what is worth, Google is transforming into the Alphabet. Or, maybe it is better to say, Google has grown so much that it has become something else.

This Alphabet is going to include everything and anything, from the Internet to investments, and rocket science development programs. The last one was supposed to be a joke, but this does not mean we are not telling the truth. Or, let us put in this more simpler way.

Everything you may need from A to Z, Google will be happy to provide. At the same time, Google wants to prove a point that you can still make money in the brave new cyber world, with no need to use Machiavellist approach or methods. It really sounds like a dreamland at the end of a rainbow.

And, corporations will continue to grow, until one day they swallow the entire world, and we are going to be served as a dessert. And, there is nothing we can do about it. In the latest Terminator movie, the notorious SkyNet has a new name. No, it is not the Alphabet, but there are some striking similarities.

The Nature vs Google

August 24, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Google is probably the most powerful cyber “thing” known to men. However, nothing and no one can be even compared with the mysterious and overwhelming powers of the good old Mother Nature. Do you still have some doubts about this claim? Then, listen to this story.

Google data center in Belgium experienced it first-hand, what it exactly means when the Mother Nature gets angry. Despite the latest state of the art technology and protective measures, it only took a couple of thunders to compromise Google’s data protection policy and strategy.

There are quite a few invaluable pieces of information, which were irrevocably lost due to this unusual accident. It turns out that the thunder strikes are the most serious types of data attacks, after all. And, what could be the most suitable moral of our story about Google and the Mother Nature?

Well, it depends who or what you favor more. Either way, despite its unparalleled power and size, Google still has to tremble on the stormy weather, just like the most of us, the mortal ones. We have to wait a little bit longer, before being able to challenge the Mother Nature with no consequences.

Your Monthly Superhero

August 17, 2015 — Leave a comment

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It turns out that one of the worst, most recent Android security troubles called the Stagefright, has one more or less expected consequences. Are you eager to find out what happened, eventually? Well, for what is worth, both Google and Samsung are going to deliver security updates on a monthly basis.

So, it is a double bubble protection. Right? This is a simplified version, which is not too far away from the truth. On the other side, we had to face a cyber threat of epic proportions, in order to come to our senses. Then, it is better this way, than to wait for some security updates indefinitely, or which will come too late.

In plain English, if our math is right, we can expect one security update from Google, and one more from Samsung, for each and any month. Right? That is like, two security improvements per month, or Samsung is going to do some copy/paste of the things Google plans to deliver first? Either way, this is an invaluable win-win.

So, what is the moral of our sweet double-bubble security story? Well, sometimes something bad has to happen, in order to get something good. If the Stagefright was the price we had to pay, for our improved security, then let it be. It was worth it. But, no more bad things giving us good changes. Please.

The Stagefright Detector App

August 13, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The busy little bees, who discovered one of the most serious Android vulnerabilities, have done nicely their cyber-security homework. If you have a Nexus, then you do not have to use this app. You will know, when you are in the Stagefright trouble. But, what about the others?

Well, this app comes to the rescue. If you are aware about the problem on your Android smartphone, then you are almost half cured, so to speak. However, there is a catch, you should be fully aware about. Can you guess what it could possibly be?

Unfortunately, this app does what its name says it does, no more, no less. This is a detector, not a fixer of the problem it so successfully detects. That is why, we are extremely worried. Quite a few people are going to be disappointed or even angry. With no justifiable cause, of course.

Detection is the first, but definitely not the only step, on your road of cyber recovery. We should be grateful for this essential feature of this app, rather than to complain, why it does not fix what it detects at the moment. Our hats off to this app, the rest is up to you, as always.

Android SMS Pirates

August 7, 2015 — Leave a comment

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The busy little bees in Zimperium have been particularly occupied these days. Their findings are extremely disturbing. For what is worth, Android is in a serious trouble. We just could not believe how much damage you can cause with a single SMS, or an MMS to be more precise.

So, what is going on under the Android sun? Well, it seems that you only need a phone number, in order to proceed with your vicious plans. As soon as you send this dangerous message, you are in the control of an infected device. That is only the beginning.

You have an option to destroy this message almost immediately. In this way, you victim will not have a clue what is going on with his or her smartphone. So, what is the plan of these brilliant Zimperium guys? Well, Google has been warned. They are on the move.

It is also worth mentioning that Zimperium has provided a detailed description of the problem, including a solution for it. Google is silent on this one. Google is embarrassed about it. The SMS menace is out there. What can we do about it? Google, do not keep us waiting.

Google vs Hollywood

July 6, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Hollywood or maybe it is better to say The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) does not have nice words for Google. This is definitely a huge surprise. Why? Well, Google has demonstrated more than once, its willingness to contribute the global-anti-piracy-cyber-war.

However, the MPAA has quite a few serious accusations that Google has not done enough. As a matter of facts, Google is caught in the hypocrisy trap. On the one side, it removes the search results for the piracy websites. But, on the other side, according to the MPAA shamelessly profit from these websites.

Is this true? Who is to blame here? Can Google become the “collateral” victim of the epic conflict between Hollywood and the Pirate Bay, for instance? What more Google needs to do, in order to satisfy the insatiable legal appetites of Hollywood? It comes without saying that this a tricky situation for Google.

You can hit the pirates with a hammer, either. They can complain against the unjustified censorship, as well. For Google, the most important thing is to run the business as usual. How to keep both parties truly satisfied? Well, this is a rocket science. Not even Google almighty does not know the right answer.

Android Security Rewards Program

July 1, 2015 — Leave a comment

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If you are looking for a legitimate way to earn some money while you live up to your hacker’s fantasies, Google presents you with the Android Security Rewards Program. This is such a lovely reminder of those good old days, when we had quite a few bugs bounty reward programs.

With this one you can earn from $2,000 up to $40,000 for a single bug hunt. The minimal amount in this bug bounty stories is reserved for the newest Nexus models. On the other hand, if you want to earn some serious money, then you have to do some serious work. Here is an example.

The five figure amounts are reserved for the guys, who can find a bug in the Android system itself. In addition, there is a nice way to double your reward. If you can find a bug, and a solution for it, as well, then you got yourself a rocking win-win. It seems that Google has figured it all out, isn’t it?

When it comes to bug bounty programs, there is no such thing as a wasted money. Every single dollar you invest for these purposes pays back two, three or more times. It is definitely better to reward people, than to compensate them once a certain cyber problem occurs. Right?

Make A Wish With The Sailfish

May 29, 2015 — Leave a comment

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This post’s picture says it all, doesn’t it? Here is the current situation in Russia, when it comes to the mobile OS options. Android takes up to 66%, while on the other side, iOS is somewhere between 21% and 23% of the entire Russian mobile market. What is that telling us?

Well, almost 90% of the Russian mobile paradise is in the evil American hands. That is the greatest Russian nightmare. So, what they are going to do about it? They will create a mobile OS on their own. It turns out that the open source platform called the Sailfish is going to be perfect for this purpose.

The Russians are pretty much ambitious about this one. By the end of 2025 more than 50% of the mobile OS market is supposed to be in Russian hands. Again. The users all over Russia are supposed to feel safe and protected in terms of their privacy. Right? Yet, why stop there?

There is more than one serious rumor that both Russia and China can launch their own Internet networks completely independent from the World Wide Web. If they want to. At any given moment. Yet, do we really need that? Each country should have its Net and mobile OS. Seriously?

Google Maps Privacy Traps

May 28, 2015 — Leave a comment

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Here is a simple experiment, which can make you consider your privacy more seriously. It comes without saying that you have already tried to type your own name in Google search engines more than once. How about Google Maps? How about that for a change? You will be surprised.

However, there is a catch about the way you do it. Do not type your full name. You should try with an email, or a username associated with your social network account. Oh boy, you are going to be blown away, when you see how much is there in Google Maps about you and your movement.

Now, you see how crucial the location can be for your privacy. Do you have to disclose it so easily each time you use some service or install a new app. On the other side, it would be wrong to think that you should hide away from Google Maps and its associated location services.

However, you should invest at least a couple of additional invaluable seconds before making a final decision about sharing your location with a service or an app. You are not a secret agent nor on the FBI most wanted list, but you can think twice about your reckless behavior.