Ransomware: Porn App Took Secret Photos of Users

In a recent attack on the smartphone users by a highly luring adult player reveals the emergence of the ransomware in the smartphone segment. A US security firm called Zscaler had brought into focus a malicious Android based mobile application which brings ransomware to people’s devices without their knowledge.

This app was mainly an adult player which offered pornography but it secretly worked on taking pictures of the users through the popular front facing camera used for taking selfies. Later on this app stats locking the user’s devices and demands a ransom of $500 in order to unlock the device with a consistent message on the screen.

What are ransomware and how does it affect smartphone users? 

Ransomware are such apps which lock down the phones and demands money from the users in order to get back the control of the device. It even threatens them to release their private information, data and others or simply wipes out a device. Last month Intel Security has released a report which showed a significant increase in ransomeware attacks by 125% since 2014 targeting the computers and laptops.

Intel security chief had stated that ransomware are quite easy to make which can easily be made by a group of codes and offers great returns. Ransomware apps had seen a steep rise in the recent past due to its easiness of creation and opportunity of creating a large amount of money within a quick time interval. Ransomware apps basically rely on the embarrassment factor which can happen due to releasing of private information and data in the public sphere. Most of the time people’s reputation is at stake hence people resort to pay to the ransomware attackers in order to retrieve the control of their device.

How smartphone users can safeguard themselves from such ransomware? 

Ransomware isn’t new but it has been most on the computers and PC’s for the first time it is showing a potential threat to the smartphone segment which is a worrying factor. Applying certain common sense and following basic principles while using smartphone one can lower the potential being a victim of ransomware.

Some of the ransomware threatens to wipe out the device data which usually includes documents, photos and videos. In order to avoid any loss of data smartphone should back up their data in a regular fashion. In case any user becomes a victim of such ransomware then he can easily allow it delete the data without making the necessary ransom charges.

Always download apps from trusted app stores 

Apps should only be downloaded from the trusted app stores like Google Play Store which has higher level of security measures to remove any kind of ransomware from listing on its app store. Smartphone users should never download apps from the download link given in the mails.

Furthermore if you are a victim of current adult player ransomware then simply reboot your device in the safe mode and it will allow you to remove the third party malicious software easily. However this feature and method varies greatly from one handset manufacturer to other.

Mobile Calls Being Cut Off? Your Network May not be to Blame

Apple & Samsung Smartphones – Inspection of Handsets in Sending/Receiving Signals

Smartphones like Apple and Samsung have been facing official inspection on their technical expertise as part of an examination by Ofcom on how their handsets tend to manage calls. Ofcom is the communication regulator in the UK who regulates the TV and radio segments, fixed line telecoms, postal services and mobiles together with the airwaves through which wireless devices are said to operate.

Ofcom tends to operate under various Acts of Parliament which include the Communication Act of 2003 and functions within the powers and duties that have been set for it by the Parliament in legislation.

It has been stated in the Communication Acts that Ofcom’s chief duty is to promote the interests of citizens as well as consumers. Ofcom receives funds by way of fees from industry in regulating broadcasting and communication networks together with grant-in-aid from the Government.

The communication regulator has ordered a self-governing testing lab in order to calculate how the famous smartphone send and receive signals. It is also investigating if some models seem to be more likely than the others in suddenly cutting off conversations. The research is in progress with sharp political concern on mobile coverage as well as the quality of reception in urban as well as rural areas.

Handset Design Affecting Reception

Apple had earlier been forced to admit reception problems with its iPhone 4, because of its antenna design.But according to Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple who has received an email from a reader stating that his new iPhone 4 was facing reception issues while holding it in his hand was informed that those with reception issues need to hold their phone correctly.

Till now the stress has been put exclusively on network operators facing government pressure in improving the capacity and coverage.Westminster sources with information of the research effort of Ofcom indicated that it would shine the spotlight on how modern handset designs could affect reception, for example by utilising the metal cases which could be a hindrance to the signals.

According to Westminster, `some of the manufacturers would not like what is being published by Ofcom; however it is of great important that people have the information available.

Results of the Study Waited

Various sources of UK network operators have stated that the finding would be anticipated eagerly and their own testing has indicated significant differences in the quality of the receptions on popular handsets.

But due to their reliance on commercial relationship with the manufacturers they seem to be unable in sharing the details with consumers without the risk of accusations. One source from the industry has informed that the `handset design as well as the performance could often have a great impact on the quality of service people seem to receive than the network that they use.

Ofcom spokesman informed that the results of the study of the handset would be made available within a weeks’ time and the findings would be based on the recently published maps of network coverage. We need to wait and watch on the latest development with regards to reception issues.

Toyota's 'Aerocar' will have WINGS Hidden in the Roof

 

Toyota’s `Aerocar’ With Wings

Toyota is planning to bring the technology of flying cars which may seem like a science fiction, to the masses and the Kentucky based car manufacturer has been awarded a patent for a vehicle with wings that seems to be hidden in the roof and which can be arrayed at the touch of a button.

The patent had been filed in March 2014 and was awarded earlier this week. Illustrations indicate that the rotating wings stacked in a row of four, each of which can be organized separately so that the car looks like multi-planes of the early days of aviation.

Toyota mentioned in the patent that `flying has always been a dream central to the history of humanity. Aerocars or roadable aircraft are considered as vehicles which could be driven on roads and take off, fly as well as land as aircraft. Vehicles that tend to exhibit such capability provide operators with freedom, ability and the comfort to arrive speedily at a destination as mobility becomes three dimensional though remains private and personal.

Design Restricts the Side View

The biggest issue is in developing a craft which would fit on a road and in parking space and has the flight stability and control of the plane. It is mainly critical of flying car designs which have the foldable wings on the side of the vehicle and though effective, the more numerous the fold locations, greater would be the weight as well as complexity which would influence operability in individual mode.

Moreover, the designs would also restrict the side views of the people in the car. To overcome this issue, Toyota intends stacking wings in the roof of the car. When installed, one wing tends to rise from the roof and rotates in position while the second can then be organized followed by the third and fourth.

Toyota describes it as `the present disclosure pertains to a vehicle that can be flown as a fixed wing aircraft and driven as a land vehicle. The present disclosure is more specifically directed to stackable wing architectures. The other details are not too clear and Toyota does not elucidate how the car intends getting the propulsion essential for taking off.

Multi-Planes of Late 19th/20th Century

Illustrations however, indicating the fully arranged wings make the car appear like the multi-planes of the late 19th and the early 20th century, particularly the Maxim designed by Hiram Maxim in the 1890s and the range of Phillips Muliplanes from the early 1990s.

In the case of the Phillips Multiplane I, there were 20 stacked wings and a model built in1907 flew 500ft. However the design was not as successful as the conventional types of planes.Terrafugia, one of the firms leading the flying car movement unveiled in July, new designs for its revolutionary vehicle known as the TF-X.

 Its concept vehicle which tends to double as a plane as well as a land car has fold out wings with twin electric motors attached to each end. These motors enable the TF-X to move from a vertical to a horizontal position and will be powered by a 300hp engine.

As per the company, the thrust would be provided by a ducted fan and the vehicle would be having a voyaging speed of 200 mph together with a 500 mile flight range. The intended four people TF-X would be semi-autonomous, utilising computer controls in order that passengers could type in a destination before taking off.

AK TI8e: The Most Luxurious Headphones in the World

Expensive and luxurious aren’t new as we have already seen gold plated iPhones, iPads, other Smartphones and even Smartwatches. But time is taking a different turn as Astell & Kerns launches their ambitious pair of headphones AK Ti8e which aim to bring highest level of technology in a different manner.

Astell & Kern latest headphones AK Ti8e encompass a cutting edge technology which has never been seen before to deliver crystal clear sound to the ardent music lovers at a price tag of whooping £800. Furthermore, the cord of this unique earphone is made up of Kevlar, which is the same ultra durable material used in developing bulletproof vest.

AK TI8e headphones turn the head at IFA event

Astell & Kern has launched its one of kind headphones named AK Ti8e headphones at the ongoing IFA event in Berlin. This headphone doesn’t resemble much different from any other ordinary pair but it boasts of a remarkable technology which has never been seen before in headphones. It features the Beyer dynamic Tesla Technology, which is essentially named after Nikola Tesla who has pioneered the alternating current. 

Astell & Kerns has gone with an oval shaped mould designs and a highly elegant cable with superior durable material. The cables have to go over the ears in this case in order to avoid any kind of pull. The earphones are coupled with silicones and Comply foam buds, which ensure that it remains inside the ears perfectly.

Features of AK Ti8e headphones

AK Ti8e will come with a toughed Kevlar 3.5mm cable along with a balanced cable of 2.5 mm audio jack, which will allow users to use AK players. It will also possess a highly powerful ring magnet, which happens to be 16 times smaller than earlier Tesla technology.

This will allow the AK Ti8e headphones to render a crystal clear sound to the listeners. Developers had made a great effort to remove the crossover filters inside the headphones through the use of new Tesla technology which has resulted in producing clear sound devoid of any distort speech or music recording.

AK Ti8e is designed to offer a wholesome listening experience to the users by easily integrating any of sound choices from the highest trebles to the deeper bass.

Hand built headphones to offer incredible music

Astell & Kern had worked hard on the detachable cable to ensure it possesses the highest level of durability. This AK Ti8e headphones cord is made up of Kevlar, which allows it easily to endure as many as 40,000 bending cycles, which essentially help in increasing the durability of the product. User will never have to be concerned about putting this headphone in their pockets being curled up as many times as possible.

Astell & Kern has given a large emphasis on merchandising and packaging as this headphone command a great price tag of £800. It will be hand built at the Beyerdynamics’s factory in Germany and this headphone will come in a dashing leather case. In accessories section, users will get eight different choices of ear buds to pair with the earphones, which offer a secure and comfortable wear to the listeners.

Engineers Invent Way for Cars to Harvest Energy from Bumps in the Road

Solution in Harvesting Energy from Car’s Suspension

The 255 million cars on the road in the U.S. are accountable for 40% of the fuel consumption of the country, most of which tends to be wasted. An associate professor of mechanical engineering in Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, Lei Zuo, could have a partial solution – in harvesting energy from the car’s suspension.

He explains that around 10 to 16% of the fuel consumed by the car is in reality used to drive, which is to overcome road resistance as well as air drag and the rest seems to be lost to heat together with other disorganizations. On manipulating smartly, this deficit could be lessened.

He states that for the recovery or generating energy at the time of driving, three major opportunities tend to prevail, namely the waste heat given off by the engine, the kinetic energy that is absorbed at the time of braking and the vibrational energy reduced by shock absorbers. Zuo evaluates that a car’s shock absorbers could be capable of providing between 100 and 400 watts of energy on standard roads and more on rougher roads. By contrast, a normal cell phone call utilises about 1 watt which corresponds to an increase in fuel efficiency between 1 and 5% that could add up to a yearly fuel savings of $13 billion to $19 billion.

Translating–Vertical Vibrations of Suspension/Rotational Motion/Generator-Electricity

His energy harvesting shock absorber operates by translating the vertical vibrations of suspension into rotational motion that tends to turn a generator which in turn delivers electricity to the car’s battery or electrical devices directly, decreasing the demand on the alternator. The method adopted had solved major challenges in harvesting vibrational energy in converting bidirectional, up-and-down motion in the unidirectional motion essential in driving a generator.

A distinctive mixture of gears enables the motion in both directions for the conversion into electricity, needed to double the amount of energy which could be recovered. Zuo associated with the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, clarifies that this invention enables the generator to function at a stable speed thereby reducing the load on the gear teeth, thus making the method well organized, maximizing the quantity of energy recovered.

Zuo together with his students have tested the shock absorber on the roads of the campus. Their present model, that the students had developed utilising off-the shelf components, could harvest around 60% of the existing energy which is a considerable improvement over other designs. Zuo was confident that with accurate components as well as manufacturing the system, they could reach around 85% competence.

Device Retrofitable to Space/Functions

Besides, this, he also stated that the device would be completely retrofittable with regards to space and functions and `could be integrated in the car directly without the need of changing anything in the car’. He along with his team has designed other forms of energy harvesting shock absorbers which include linear electromagnetic as well as hydroelectric absorbers.

Zuo, who had recently received an award for his performance from the Governor’s Commonwealth of Virginia Research commercialization Fund, had stated that he intends to concentrate next on the commercial viability of the energy harvesting system.

He stated that he hopes to speak on the concerns of drivers as well as automakers, who tend to have differed priorities. He further added that `when the same is presented to the drivers, they are asked – how much can one improve the fuel efficiency?’

From the point of view of the car manufacturer’s side, they ask another question – Can one replace the commercial shock absorbers? Can a better suspension performance be given?’ Zuo has commented that he intends tackling both cost as well as performance in the next round of development. Presently the method would not be cost effective for car owners who tend to drive less than an hour or so, a day.

Energy Harvesting – Helpful in Global Energy Crisis

Hence Zuo would be focusing on applications for huge commercial vehicles while working on cost reduction. In order to enhance the performance, Zuo indicated that he wanted to adjust his design by utilising a strategy known as self-powered semi-active control.

A microprocessor tends to sense vehicle conditions and adjusts the suspension settings accordingly and delivers the smoothest ride while harvesting the greatest quantity of energy. Zuo has also been working on two other areas for the purpose of energy recovery in cars, namely waste heat and regenerative braking. Though regenerative braking has already been in use for hybrid vehicles, it only makes up for about 3 percent of the cars on the road.

Zuo desires to develop a method which will probably work for conventional vehicles. The focus of energy harvesting research is often on milliwatts and microwatts and Zuo aims on the methods which could yield hundreds or even thousands of watts. He has commented that `he is particularly excited about the opportunities in large scale energy harvesting which could be helpful in solving the global energy crisis’.