Keezel: easy-to-use privacy & security for every online device, everywhere – a long time coming

Keezel’s battery can be used to charge your other USB devices
Credit: Pinterest

Public WiFi networks are far from secure. Free WiFi at that coffee shop may not be the bargain it appears. A VPN¹ represents a substantial security upgrade.

Keezel is VPN-in-a-box for WiFi networks – single button operation. I previously wrote about it on 17 July 2015. Indiegogo funding closed 23 August 2015. As of this date, few have been delivered.

In the interim, there have been a number of upgrades, including the battery, from around 5,000 mAh to 8,000 mAh+.

C|Net – “Keezel's hotspot purifies your public Wi-Fi network (hands-on)”
https://www.cnet.com/au/products/keezel/preview/

Z – “Keezel review” – If you can’t read Dutch, try Google Translate – worked for me
http://www.rtlz.nl/tech/keezel-review-routertje-met-kinderziektes-houdt-apparaten-veilig

Indiegogo project – “Keezel: Online Security for Every Device Everywhere”
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/keezel-online-security-for-every-device-everywhere-wifi-technology/x/9010251#/

HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech post from 2015 – “Keezel: easy-to-use privacy & security for every online device, everywhere (video)”
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/07/keezel-easy-to-use-privacy-security-for.html
__________

¹ “A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the Internet.” – How to How-To Geek: “What Is a VPN, & Why Would I Need One?”, https://www.howtogeek.com/133680/htg-explains-what-is-a-vpn/ / one device fits in your pocket changes online world control your Internet world’s first portable on line see what you are doing online visit blocked websites all over the world geographically locked region locked secure all your devices one keezel no software installation needed required growth intelligent worldwide keezel network provider provided best providers keezel switch it on with 1 button one button operation privacy feel secure connect to whatever you want control crowdfunding unique server network worldwide keezel chooses best available connection everytime you connect Keezel partners partner world class VPN providers servers worldwide combining multiple VPN networks provide largest most resilient network keezel automatically selects best connection best service simple big worldwide server network working for you keezel online freedom protecting your privacy security free and open internet WiFi networks all WiFi devices VPN technology simple campaign perks 1 year 2 year lifelong access our world class VPN network free basic service protect your privacy security on WiFi networks free WiFi connect to WiFi expose yourself to identity theft data leakage colleagues at work on the company network keezel protects your privacy security online coffee shops hotels airports at work at home encryption encrypts encrypt your connection all connected devices without having to install software app application many governments censor Internet blocking voices opposition Facebook Twitter other websites blocked Internet widespread problem websites TV shows watched in certain countries episodes your favorite show unavailable when travelling watch a sports game race inaccessible in your country or region connect keezel country of your choice keezel creates your own secure WiFi network Keezel connects to WiFi networks your favorite coffee shop creates a secure WiFi network open source encryption technology big companies government organizations protect their data doesn't require installation laptop phone smart solution works with all your WiFi devices connect your personal keezel WiFi online freedom without screens keezel's VPN service high quality resilient server network all over the world partners partner world class network providers best service super competitive price Indiegogo perks least one year of this service premium service limited speed locations secure browsing emailing encryption change location country great battery life charge charges your phone keezel powerful battery almost three times the capacity of your iPhone 6 use keezel charge other devices service subscription only limited speed locations 8000 mAh 7000 mAh 5000 mAh /

Vigo electric motorcycle now on Indiegogo

Credit: Vigo/Drivespark

Remember the Vigo electric motorcycle?

HitchHiker's Guide 2 Tech – “Vigo electric motorcycle from Eco Motorcycles UK”
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/01/vigo-electric-motor-cycle-from-eco.html

Some extraordinary claims – read the post linked above – but some of the more extreme claims included:

● 160% of the battery for 59% of the price (44% at the “supporter” price) of the current competition

● 400 miles (640 k) range – which seems to defy the laws of physics for any practical purpose

Now there is an Indiegogo project, which explains what, “Retail Price £7,999 (9,799 USD)”, &, “Special Price (for supporters) £5,999 (7,499 USD)”, meant. Shipping of the first pre-ordered motorcycles is planned for January 2019. Ongoing reduction in battery prices in the intervening 2 years, may account for the claims on battery capacity & price.

Vigo is being developed in Britain. The Indiegogo page mentions the British Government grant of 20% or £1,500, whichever is the lesser – “The grant amount will be deducted during purchase.” It is unclear whether quoted prices include the grant.

Claims on maximum range remain unchanged at, “400 miles (640 km)”, although some detail has been added:
“The following range has been compiled using 80% city, 20% highway environment with an average speed of 45 mph. Factors like: weight load, speed, adaptive braking ratio might gradually reduce the overall range of the vehicle. Values have been calculated taking into consideration specifications of used components.” – Vigo Motorcycles Indiegogo project page

Note that the range claim is, “calculated”, rather than measured using a prototype – confirmed by the words, “CONCEPT STAGE”, just below the video at the top of the Indiegogo page. Until demonstrated otherwise, I'll stick with my estimate in the earlier post, of a maximum of 260 miles (418 km), for any practical purpose – around town – less on the highway.

Indiegogo – “VIGO: Electric Motorcycle of the Future”
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vigo-electric-motorcycle-of-the-future/x/9010251#/ / video check specs specifications Eco Motorcycles web site range 400 miles 640 km battery capacity 21 kWh battery life motor power 90 kW 120 horsepower acceleration 3.2 seconds 60 mph 100 kmh max speed 180 mph 290 km/h weight 350 pounds 160 kg specs price estimated retail price £7,999 $US9,799 USD $A13,160 Australian special price supporters £5,999 $US7,499 USD $A9,866 Australian Zero Motorcycles SR ZF13.0 Zero SR ZF13.0 13.0 kWh battery Zero Battery 13.0 kWh city speed range 161 miles 259 km highway speed 55 mph 89 km/h 98 miles 158 km highway speed 70 mph 113 km/h 81 miles 130 km top speed 102 mph 164 km/h range Zero scaling 161 mile 259 km city speed range Zero larger battery Vigo 21 kWh 13.0 kWh 260 miles 418 km 400 miles 640 km claimed Eco Motorcycles developing Vigo Eco Motorcycles retailer Zero electric motorcycles Zero SR ZF13.0 price Eco Motorcycles in development motorcycle 160% bigger battery 59% price supporter price current competition performance Zero acceleration power quoted Vigo 90 kW 73% greater 52 kW claimed Zero higher top speed top speed 73% more power aerodynamic drag increases as the square of the speed range claim of 400 miles range city speed claimed range Vigo seems to defy the laws of physics Vigo electric motorcycle motor cycle Vigo currently in development commercial product first development project startup manufacturer fail battery prices will continue to fall motorcycle 21 kWh battery quoted price range adjusted inflation likely to be possible within a few years top speed range specs specifications better than Zero SR ZF13.0 Eco Motorcycles Vigo Zero Motorcycles Zero SR ZF1 /

Fasting reverses diabetes in mice

Credit: American Pregnancy Association

Diet has long been associated with a range of health benefits, including longevity, reduced heart disease, protection against Alzheimer's, weight control (obviously)^1,2,3 & even a reduced murder rate.⁴

A new study appears to demonstrate that intermittent fasting can reverse type 1 & type 2 diabetes.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation – “Fasting diet could regenerate pancreas & reverse diabetes, researchers say”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-26/fasting-diet-could-reverse-diabetes-and-regenerate-the-pancreas/8304426

BBC – “Fasting diet ‘regenerates diabetic pancreas’”
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-39070183
__________

¹ “Increasing lifespan & healthspan through diet”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/07/increasing-lifespan-healthspan-through.html

² “Alzheimer’s – can we prevent it?”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/08/alzheimers-can-we-prevent-it.html

³ “How too much fat & sugar + too little fibre is making us sick”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-too-much-fat-sugar-too-little-fibre_23.html

⁴ “Does eating salmon lower the murder rate?”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2014/08/does-eating-salmon-lower-murder-rate.html / fast fasting diet regenerate pancreas reverse diabetes researchers fasting diet regenerate pancreas potentially reverse diabetes researchers have found US study published scientific journal Cell tested modified version the fasting-mimicking diet FMD mice human cells findings showed cycles diet regenerate pancreatic cells restore insulin production type 1 diabetes patients reverse both type 1 and 2 diabetes mice Dr Valter Longo University of Southern California findings potentially very exciting cures cure type 1 and type 2 diabetes type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes Dr Longo FMD regenerate other organs research shown similar effects for blood cells extreme diets with very specific compositions can trigger self repair and regeneration processes mouse possibly humans Dr Longo challenges side-effects fasting in humans team developed modified low-calorie low-protein low-carbohydrate high-fat four-day FMD diet caused changes levels specific growth factors glucose ketone bodies reduced blood glucose pre-diabetic patients mice FMD improved glucose tolerance insulin tolerance diet pancreas control blood sugar levels restoring organ reverse symptoms diabetes diet regenerate pancreas reprogramming cells into beta cells make insulin study cycles FMD promote generation insulin-producing cells pancreatic cells replicate extremely low rate adult pancreas tissue regeneration solution cell depletion loss of insulin secretion stem cell transplantation FMD cycles rescued mice late-stage type 2 diabetes restoring insulin secretion reducing insulin resistance major improvement in the mice's survival Do not try this at home potentially ground-breaking findings Dr Longo warned people not to take up a fasting diet without consulting a doctor should not be done at home self-made diets should be done under medical supervision next step carry out clinical trials on humans patients to speak to their doctor before trying this at home /

Do you really need this shit? – Amazon Contemplate forces you to think twice about your purchases

Does your credit card balance bear the scars of impulsive online purchases?

Amazon Contemplate is a Chrome extension that just may help.


Amazon Contemplate in action, saving another credit card from a fate worse than, exactly the same as, debt
Credit: maxdore123/Chrome web store

LifeHacker – “Amazon Contemplate Forces You To Think Twice About Your Amazon Purchases”
https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2017/02/amazon-contemplate-forces-you-to-think-twice-about-your-amazon-purchases/

Get the extension at:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/amazon-contemplate/cepclempoeggcpgbmomhpalbcekpnccl

Is your credit card debt more than you are comfortable with? Psychological studies show that people are, in general, more likely to spend, & even pay more for the same item, when credit is available.

Psychology Today – “Why We Overspend With Credit”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/retail-therapy/201306/why-we-overspend-credit

Many financial advisers suggest cutting up your credit card(s).

LearnVest – “I Cut Up My Credit Cards – & Paid Off $30,000”
https://www.learnvest.com/2013/03/i-cut-up-my-credit-cards-and-paid-off-30000/

Your first thought may be, “But what about online purchases?” Well that's the point of the extension – online purchases can lead to buying shit you don't really need. Way round this is, rather than literally cutting up your credit card, go to your financial institution, close your credit card account, & replace it with a debit card. This is equally acceptable to online stores & you’re spending your own money, rather than getting (further) into debt. / Chrome extension Amazon Contemplate impulse buy credit card debt bankrupt bankruptcy convenient buy just budget site too tempting Amazon Contemplate Chrome extension forces you to wait 30 seconds before you make an Amazon purchase pops up click add something to your cart asks if you really want to buy you're thinking about buying close tab save your cash wait for it to timeout proceed with your purchase annoying that's the point if you have a hard time resisting Amazon this tool helps habit thinking about your spending link below think before you spend impulse control self control what about online purchases responsible adult credit cards financial instrument more convenient carry and use than cash smooth consumption over time borrow from the future credit cards can be dangerous psychological reasons urge to pursue goals closest to completion drives people focus repaying small debts first interest rates leaving money on the table experimental research credit cards stimulate overspending willing to pay more same product using credit using cash trait-based explanations credit card premium people spend more with credit credit card premium consistently observed psychological forces that underlie less psychologically painful swipe credit card physically hand over cash Manoj Thomas colleagues spending differences tightwads chronically find spending painful spendthrifts don’t find spending painful enough smaller people were required to use credit to make purchases people were required to use cash credit anesthetize pain of paying catch up to the spending levels spendthrifts credit reduce the sting of payment also stimulates desire experiments Richard Feinberg manipulated credit card logos visible participants how much they would be willing to pay cash products Feinberg hypothetical willingness pay actual cash donations charity significantly greater credit card logos visible replicated Priya Raghubir and Joydeep Srivastava results suggest consumers have been conditioned associate credit card logos consumption exposure credit card logos stimulate craving smelling fresh cookies stimulates hunger emotional factors cognitive factors contribute credit card premium credit limits credit users benchmarks compare prices research Dilip Soman and Amar Cheema high credit limits signal future earnings potential consumers with limited credit experience expected earnings make prices seem relatively small stimulates spending Work by Carey Morewedge colleagues credit limits themselves make purchases appear small seem less expensive available credit wallet /

CSIRO: “There's no reason Australia can’t switch to 100% renewable energy”

Credit: Viagg Israele/Blogger/Google

Over the last few years, many reputable sources have claimed that a 100% renewable electricity supply is possible for Australia.^1,2,3 Now, no less an authority than Australia's premier scientific organisation, the CSIRO, has added its voice in a submission to the Senate select committee into, “Resilience of electricity infrastructure in a warming world.”

http://reneweconomy.com.au/csiro-says-australia-can-get-100-per-cent-renewable-energy-86624/
__________

¹ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “A 100% renewable electricity grid is not just possible, but essential”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-100-renewable-electricity-grid-is-not.html

² HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Short-term off-river pumped hydro energy storage to smooth sustainable energy – update”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/11/short-term-off-river-pumped-hydro.html

³ HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech: “Renewable energy is ready to supply all of Australia's electricity”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2014/07/renewable-energy-is-ready-to-supply-all.html / CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation no reason Australia can’t switch to 100% renewable energy Australian government’s chief scientific body no apparent technical impediment to reaching 100 per cent renewables national electricity grid levels of up to 30 per cent renewable energy should be considered as trivial current energy systems /

Taking your phone across international borders – update

Credit: ZDNet/Flickr

You may have read a recent post on these pages about taking your phone across international borders. Check it at:

HitchHiker’s Guide 2 Tech – “Why you should never take your phone out of the country”
https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2017/02/why-you-should-never-take-your-phone.html

Below, Ars Technica staff interview Ahmed Ghappour,¹ UC Hastings law professor, expert in national security & cybersecurity, on taking your phone across international borders.

“If you’re a citizen, kinda stand your ground a bit, because I’d like to see what the record is for detention.” – Professor Ahmed Ghappour

Some other ideas discussed:

Mail the phone to yourself in the country you are entering to avoid crossing the border with it.

Can you be provided with a computer & required to log into your Facebook (or other) account?



Ars Technica Live: “What to do when border officials ask for your passwords”
https://arstechnica.com/video/2017/02/ars-technica-live-what-to-do-when-border-officials-ask-for-your-passwords/

If your are a citizen of the country your are entering, your can’t be denied entry, if your can prove you are a citizen. Hower, non-citizens may find it best to give up passwords to accounts such as email & Facebook. A set of accounts created for the purpose, can give you a persona which can be handed over without compromising your privacy.

Wired – “A Guide to Getting Past Customs With Your Digital Privacy Intact”, https://www.wired.com/2017/02/guide-getting-past-customs-digital-privacy-intact/
__________

¹ Wikipedia: “Ahmed Ghappour”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Ghappour

/ how to encrypt your entire life in less than an hour Android password-level security without having to type the damn thing it in all the time review SanDisk new Lightning USB 3.0 iXpand Flash Drive easy transfers backups in I’ll never bring my phone on an international flight again neither should you US Customs Border Patrol agent airport how you can encrypt your entire life in less than an hour security save you physical possession your phone laptop intimidate giving up your password what happened to a US citizen returning home from abroad Sidd Bikkannavar US-born scientist NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory flew back to Houston Texas airport Customs and Border Patrol agents searched him detained release him password unlock his phone Bikkannavar phone belonged to NASA sensitive information he eventually yielded unlocked his phone legality 30 minutes phone unlocked outside of his possession apps you have on your phone email Facebook Dropbox browser Signal history of everything you’ve ever done searched everything you’ve ever said to anyone right there in those apps we should treat personal electronic data with the same care and respect as weapons-grade plutonium  dangerous long-lasting leaked no getting it back  Cory Doctorow how many potentially incriminating things police go before a judge establish probable cause warrant to search your home anyone can be grabbed on their way through customs forced hand over the full contents of their digital life Elcomsoft forensic software suck down all your photos contacts passwords email social media accounts  customers include police forces various countries militaries private security forces tools permanently archive everything there your unlocked phone If one would give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest man I would find something in them to have him hanged Cardinal Richelieu in 1641 Customs and Border Patrol succeed in getting ahold of your unlocked phone all of the people you’ve ever called emailed all the people you’re connected with on Facebook LinkedIn chances committed a serious crime have you ever taken a photo at a protest bought a controversial book Amazon vented about an encounter with a police officer information now part of your permanent record dragged out as evidence against you in court movement within government make all data from all departments available all staff at a local state federal level more places your data ends up larger hacker attack surface more vulnerable your data security breach police station result in your data ending up in the hands of hackers used against you from the shadows for the rest of your life fourth and fifth amendment rights illegal fourth amendment protects you against unreasonable search and seizure fifth amendment protects you against self-incrimination police officer stop you on the street America ask you to unlock your phone amendments strong legal ground refusing to do so US border isn’t technically the US next time you plan to cross a border leave your phone at home /

Dark side of coding

Credit: CommitStrip

More insights at: http://www.commitstrip.com/en/ / coding coder progam programme programmer programming display advertisement app apps install uninstall real quite common too much temptation in advertising advertisers don't care annoying a million people defrauding their own customers get paid profession that's only beneficial in theory in practice costs to our economy far outweigh the benefit many adblock options for mobile blocked advert servers network escape them chromecast /