Google vs spam phone calls

Credit: Alamy/The Guardian

Google has just upgraded spam phone call handling on Nexus & Android One phones running Android 6.0 or above.

The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/26/google-android-app-caller-id-block-spam-nuisance-calls

Google support
https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/3459196

If you don’t have one of the phones listed above, Android has something for you too. After a spam (or other unwanted) phone call:

● go into the Logs screen of the phone app
● select the unwanted phone call
● select the menu icon ( ≡ or ⋮ )
● select Add to Auto reject list
● press back
● menu icon ( ≡ or ⋮ )
● Settings
● Call
● Call rejection
● Auto reject mode

Auto reject numbers 🔘

/ new spam-blocking spam blocking feature Google integrated default app Android devices Google taking action against spam callers new version phone app Android devices identifies block spammers phone app update Google’s Google separate core phone features OS operating system updates Nexus smartphones Android One devices Nexus 6P Nexus 5X new spam-blocking feature extension Google’s caller ID system helps identify businesses stored your address book phone app checks incoming call numbers database flags spammers big red banner spam caller identified user option permanently block number whitelist false positives first time apps scan incoming calls help users avoid answering spam calls first time Google integrated default app Android devices third-party apps Truecaller available Android iOS iPhone users limited iOS’s locked-down call screeners next version iPhone operating system iOS 10 release iPhone 5 or newer include new caller ID extension system spam alerts Android iPhone iOS OS operating system /

Mine Kafon Drone – demining done safer, faster, cheaper (video)

Massoud Hassani’s wind-powered landmine sweeper, funded on Kickstarter in 2013, on display at the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Credit: Rene van der Hulst/Massoud Hassani/Museum of Modern Art, New York

“There are 100 million land mines worldwide. Every day, 10 innocent civilians are killed or maimed by these explosives.” – Massoud Hassani

Conventional demining operations pose a major risk to the people carrying out the process. Partly for this reason, demining is slow & expensive. In many places, landmines prevent farming & other land use, for long periods after conflict has ended, further impoverishing populations whose lives have already been blighted by war.

Born in Afghanistan, Massoud Hassani, learned at an early age, about the dangers of landmines. In 2013, he placed his first mine detonator on Kickstarter. Now he is back with the Mine Kafon Drone, which he claims is 20 times faster, 200 times cheaper, & eliminates the risks of traditional demining methods.

New mine detonator – a drone design



Kickstarter project
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/massoudhassani/mine-kafon-drone?ref=HappeningNewsletterJul2616s2

Original 2013 Mine Kafon



2013 Mine Kafon on Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/massoudhassani/mine-kafon/description / Mine Kafon Drone airborne demining system developed clear all land mines around the world less than 10 years Kickstarter Mine Kafon Drone unmanned airborne demining system uses three step process map detect detonate land mines landmines land mine landmine Mine Kafon Drone 20 times faster currently available technologies Mine Kafon Drone MKD innovative solution land mine landmine removal providing reliable demining system delivers accurate updates information mine clearing operations Mine Kafon drone Queen Maxima Singularity U expo Eindhoven the Netherlands Mine Kafon Drone flies fly dangerous areas map detect detonate landmines from a safe distance drone works autonomously equipped three separate interchangeable robotic extensions three methodologies combined MKD up to 20 times faster traditional demining technologies safer 200 times cheaper mapping drone flies over the whole field aerial 3D mapping system identify dangerous areas GPS way points detection robotic metal detecting arm MKD hovers above ground 4 cm detect mines detected mine geotagged operator's system construct map known mine locations destroying MKD Mine Kafon Drone attached robotic gripping arm places small detonator every detected mine land mine landmine detonated safe distance timer detonation land mines landmines more than 60 countries significant risk communities across globe victims mostly civilians children women elderly tens of thousands of innocent people killed every year many more injured horrific reminder current technologies clearing detecting land mines 1100 years established processes slow dangerous expensive solve the problem in our lifetime MKD crucial advantages demining organisations completely casualty free reduced cost traditional methods modular system enhanced addition sensors tools MKD perform wide variety of tasks map area demining operation information decision-making processes on-going operations planning demining procedures easier scanning process information gathered at-risk areas demining begins data operation collected analysed structured systematic way land mines landmines explosives growing up Kabul Qasaba Afghanistan Massoud Mahmud Hassani Mine Kafon Drone project horrors land mines develop a solution safe smart solution detect clear land mines first successful Kickstarter campaign 2013 backed 4200 backers Mine Kafon Foundation founded Mine Kafon Foundation research and development R&D organisation based the Netherlands raising awareness giving lectures developing new approaches fight land mines landmines crowdsourced engineers designers collaborate volunteer humanitarian project developed several working prototypes Mine Kafon Drone performed tests Dutch Ministry of Defense defence experts demining Mine Kafon Drone pilot study showcasing MKD’s capabilities development production Mine Kafon Drone governments UN NGO MKD works reliable unmanned demining system test different weather conditions environments tests finalize details batch production Mine Kafon Drones save thousands of lives civilians access agriculture water resources education freedom play outdoor sports cannot move freely for fear of mines liberate affected countries Mine Kafon Drone /

How to make money out of Pokémon Go

Credit: Osah Otak

Method 1

Some want a to have a lot of Pokémon without all of that tiresome game play. So:

a. install Pokémon Go on your device

b. create an account

c. play the game obsessively – just like everyone else – except your future customers

d. capture a lot of Pokémon

e. sell the account – i.e. login details – on eBay

f. repeat until you are rich – or the craze dies

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/blog/2016/07/how-some-players-are-making-a-career-out-of-pokemon-go/?referer=N_2016_07_26_Nonda_iHere_MAIN&utm_source=Mobile%20Fun&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1415592_2016_07_26_Nonda_iHere_MAIN_58729&utm_content=pokemon&dm_i=2A2X,UCA0,2ARWZ3,2885Z,1

Method 2

a. establish a Pokémon Lure Module at your retail outlet

b. sell stuff to players who come in chasing Pokémon

http://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/07/22/how-to-ride-the-pokemon-wave-to-business-success/#716b8f6b2063

http://nextshark.com/pokemon-go-making-small-businesses-ridiculous-amount-money/

Method 3

One of the aims of Pokémon is to get players outside & moving. Some are keen on the game, but not so keen on, “outside & moving”. Offer to walk or drive players' phones – for a fee. PokéWalk is one such service.

PokéWalk on Twitter

https://twitter.com/trypokewalk

More

https://www.inverse.com/article/18152-pokewalk-says-that-it-s-lyft-for-pokmon-go

Method 4

There is a store inside the game, which charges real money for enhancements to game play. This method only works for the rights holders of Pokémon Go.

/ Pokémon GO business success Pokémon GO small business knowledge sharing network phenomenon Pokémon GO completely transformed retail businesses small business owners opportunity traffic game Pokémon Lure Modules actively engage Pokémon GO marketing Pokémon Lure Module purchase physical retail location capture game characters geolocation Lure Module marketing technique while the business is open Pokécoins packs of lures augmented reality feature people walking outdoors Pokémon Go driving a ton of profit local businesses game recent launch small-scale ventures booming market research firm SensorTower 15 million downloads App Store Play Store numbers augmented reality feature gets people walking outdoors Pokémon Go driving a ton of profit local businesses game recent launch small-scale ventures booming market research firm SensorTower has recorded at least 15 million downloads App Store and Play Store numbers combined restaurant ate dinner tonight Pokestop lure constantly active local shops diners movie houses other businesses luring customers in-app purchases creative marketing businesses Lure Modules attract Pokémon specific locations Pokémon hunters purchased within the game applied to local landmarks businesses pizzerias coffee shops areas across neighborhoods PokéStops Gyms resupply items train characters increases store’s chances customer traffic L’inizio’s Pizza Bar Queens spent approximately $10 Lure Modules food drink sales up by at least 30% bisiness owners order Pokémon Gym badges announce leading teams promote screenshots on social media Gyms biggest structures in-game map spot the nearest one business owners establishment PokéStop Gym creative marketing capitalize on a hype virtually found everywhere Pokémon Go collaboration between Pokémon Company Niantic augmented reality Ingress game available to download iOS 8Android 4.4 game helpful in good business knocked-off used for robbery your business reaping Pokémon Go benefits /

How Finland overhauled their education system (video)

And it’s not what you think!

/ education Finland USA United States of America junior no homework most important thing for students is to be happy /

CT Band turns your existing watch into a smartwatch

CT Band SimpliCT Silicone
Credit: byrifft.com

Not the first, but the CT Band adds smartwatch functionality to your existing watch. Display is a small OLED panel built into the band itself. Functions include the usual – notifications of incoming calls, emails, SMSs, exercise tracking etc. Bands include leather & silicone versions in a range of colours.

Possibly the least popular aspect of the CT Band is an Apple-Watch-like requirement to be charged daily, or at best, every other day.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2016/07/21/ct-band-turns-your-rolex-or-timex-into-a-smartwatch/#comments

Pre-order it here:
https://www.ct-band.com/

Or here:
https://www.byrifft.com/en/ / CT Band turns your Rolex or Timex into a smartwatch adding smartwatch features non-smart watch CT Band French startup Rifft CT Band replacement watchband watch band watch-band watches made of leather silicone variety of different colors band features high precision 3D accelerometer physiological sensors environmental sensors microphone small OLED display strap connects Android iOS phone Bluetooth strap’s OLED LCD display incoming call text messages email other notifications track daily activity steps heart rate band charged once per day every other day silicone version CT Band pre-ordered €149,00 Euros leather band €169,00 $165 $186 US bands available this fall 2016 leather silicone versions range of colours colors /

3D print of a murdered man's fingers to unlock his phone

Credit: Planet Biometrics

Using a fingerprint in place of a PIN or password to secure your phone is not a way to improve security.

This has been emphasised by news that Professor Anil Jain of Michigan State University is producing 3D prints of a murdered man’s fingers, as an aid to police unlocking the victim’s phone. Police hope that information in the phone may help them in identifying the murderer.

http://gizmodo.com/police-want-to-3d-print-a-dead-mans-fingers-to-unlock-h-1784102211 / Apple help break in to hack iPhone police 3D print fingers dead man fingerprints unlock phone Michigan State University professor Anil Jain six U.S. patents fingerprint recognition police laboratory ask for help catching murderer ongoing investigation scans victim’s fingerprints previous arrest unlocking his phone make model provide clues killed PhD student Sunpreet Arora printed all 10 digits scans coated them layer metallic particles mimic conducive skin easier read final 3D-printed fingers aren’t finished ready for police try many phones biometric data require PIN entered used two days fingerprint unlock legality case further proof fingerprints not really safest way securing private data dead man judge ruled suspects required unlock phone fingerprint Fifth Amendment protects right avoid self-incrimination illegal force give out passcode biometric indicators fingerprints not covered Fifth Amendment ruling PIN
/

How secure is your fitness tracker?

Microsoft Band 2
Credit: AV-Test

Your fitness band or smartwatch collects a lot of important data about you, & communicates it to your smartphone. At each step, personal data is potentially open to interception by third parties.


Striiv Fusion
Credit: AV-Test

Some health insures provide various incentives for policy holders to buy & use fitness trackers. Rationale is that fit policy holders are healthier & so cost the health insurer less. Some insurers require evidence, from the fitness tracker, that the user is reaching targets. This can create an incentive for the user to tamper with data.


Pebble Time – fewest risk points among the devices tested
Credit: AV-Test

AV-Test evaluated 8 fitness bands & watches:

● Apple Watch
● Pebble Time
● Basis Peak
● Microsoft Band 2
● Mobile Action Q-Band
● Runtastic Moment Elite
● Striiv Fusion
● Xiaomi MiBand

https://www.av-test.org/en/news/news-single-view/seven-fitness-wristbands-and-the-apple-watch-in-a-security-check-2016/ / how secure fitness band fitness tracker smartwatch smart watch smart-watch seven fitness wristbands Apple Watch security check 2016 fitness wristbands smart watches extremely popular sports fans health insurance companies subsidizing purchase tracker rewarding their use fit people cost insurance companies less experts from AV-TEST examined 7 fitness wristbands Android Apple Watch security result manufacturers disappointing errors smart watches fitness wristbands trackers popular recommended health insurers Europe legal playing field health insurance companies subsidize wearables United States offers premium rebates policyholder is able to demonstrate efforts per fitness tracker New York startup Oscar Health pays policyholders one dollar per day reach daily fitness goal 2014 over 26 million wearables sold 2015 75 million 2016 exceed 100 million high security risks fitness trackers test evaluated latest best-selling fitness wristbands Pebble watch Apple Watch wristbands operate corresponding app Android smartphone findings summarized test trackers apps laboratory very detailed test report available as a PDF Apple Watch special case test methods cannot be directly applied Android iOS evaluation Apple Watch products tested Basis Peak Microsoft Band 2 Mobile Action Q-Band Pebble Time Runtastic Moment Elite Striiv Fusion Xiaomi MiBand Apple Watch experts focused two special issues perspective private user data recorded tracker app secure against spying hacking third parties health insurers other companies data tracker app secure against tampering attackers may use data exploit user's disadvantage private data rightly needs to be protected health insurance companies reward policyholders policy holders reaching fitness goal fitness tracker app manipulated exploited eventually tamper tampering three test steps risk assessment testers fitness wristband 10 testing criteria tracker application online communication graph risk assessment test candidates testers criterion as a risk fault security gap not chosen heightened or high risk penetration areas evaluated explicitly open door testers hack risk area analyzed attacker consequences tracker connection authentication tampering visibility fitness trackers use Bluetooth connect smartphone traditional problems examined first security aspect invisibility for Bluetooth devices can't connect rack during pairing devices visible security offered wristbands Microsoft Pebble Mobile Action claims capability still visible BLE privacy Bluetooth safety aspect function BLE privacy feature Android 5.0 feature device repeatedly generates new MAC address Bluetooth connection actual address never disclosed therefore not trackable technology only used Microsoft Band 2 ability to be found device connected very secure solution exclusive Bluetooth pairing tracker only allows connection one known smartphone test only used by Basis Peak Microsoft Band 2 Pebble Time allows connections several devices user required manually confirm each one that is also secure Xiaomi MiBand simple yet safe method successful pairing no longer visible allows no more connections wristbands from Striiv Runtastic Mobile Action fail to use reliable technology prevent connections unknown devices authentication third-party smartphone successfully paired tracker additional safety feature authentication secondary security threshold consistently Basis Peak Microsoft Band 2, Pebble Time Xiaomi use the technology quite simple to circumvent additional security implement it inadequately tamper protection health insurance companies courts rely authenticity data tested integrity safeguard access protection data stored in the tracker protection configured prevents access third parties eliminates tampering data smartphone owner Basis Microsoft Pebble Xiaomi basic protection device Xiaomi fooled weak authentication third-party make wristband vibrate change alarm times completely reset the tracker to factory settings fitness trackers Striiv Mobile Action adequate functioning authentication safety mechanisms vulnerable to tampering Striiv Fusion values body measurements user changed superhuman parameters used as inputs calculation distance traveled calorie burn tracker Mobile Action modify stored user information weight height step length test values used directly calculation calorie burn distance traveled app safeguarding code check local storage technology tracker secure corresponding app smartphone weakest link testing apps save data accessible other apps smartphone security functions non-rooted rooted root Android devices prevent access data saved accessible to everyone Xiaomi MiBand committing this error stores extensive log file app activity completely open area log transmitted data user information body measurements authentication process code obfuscation second test object Identify sloppy programming apps apps use code obfuscation technology prevents reverse engineering hides useful information from attackers apps Mobile Action Pebble Xiaomi technology apps Basis Runtastic raised flags obfuscation enable attackers products Microsoft Striiv obfuscation perform an app analysis log debug info programming error output log debug information important information outputs security mechanisms defeated process app Mobile Action works cleanly information attackers secure online communication connections app communication monitored un encrypted transmitted good news connections encrypted encrypt intercept intercepted open HTTP connections unencrypted contents secure connection readable installation of a root certificate evaluation possible pathway users manipulate transmitted data Basis Pebble security sufficiently protected against unwanted access monitor secure connections successfully tamper with them authentication synchronization data readable lack of security fitness wristbands similar errors current test security risk assessment trackers Pebble Time Basis Peak Microsoft Band 2 most secure minor errors offer few opportunities attackers tampering test smaller defects firmware update fitness wristband Mobile Action multiple risk factors function invisible has deficiencies authentication tamper protection test user data modified back door Runtastic Striiv Xiaomi most risk points products tracked easily authentication tamper protection code apps obfuscated data traffic manipulated monitored root certificates Xiaomi stores data unencrypted smartphone comprehensive security study testing fitness trackers Apple Watch security check Apple Watch fitness tracker iPhone safely handle data retrieved test Apple Watch configured Android devices iOS Android risk criteria performed not relevant Apple device trackers controlled visibility BLE privacy controlled connectivity online communication connections encrypted manipulated using root certificates visibility Bluetooth controlled by the user watch constantly tracked BLE privacy different MAC address Bluetooth newly activated almost impossible to track airplane mode switched on and off genuine MAC address Bluetooth components controlled connectivity Apple special theft prevention technique Watch paired with an account released with great effort factory reset thief sells smart watch new user Apple Watch uses encrypted connections additionally secured updates unencrypted via HTTP connections encrypted further secured testers read information geo data of user location street address Android devices root certificate installed connections monitored user more access data tamper Apple Watch high security rating testers vulnerabilities attackers gain access watch /