How to Minimize Privacy Risks from Smart Gadgets

Smart Gadgets are prone to Security Risks

As the number of smart gadgets keep increasing, they make our homes smarter and lives easier. On the flip side, the smart gadgets are prone to security risks thus making them vulnerable to hacking.
There are a number of smart gadgets that have become vulnerable and prone to security risks. The Amazon Echo smart speaker had sent a private conversation to an acquaintance thus increasing the risk of the new voice-enabled technology.

Another smart gadget in the form of a smart doll which was seemingly a harmless toy was in fact a security risk. The smart gadget was used by hackers to intercept conversations over the connection.

A smart car too is not free from security risks. According to security researchers, the common car gadgets were vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The telematic control unit (TCU) are used for navigation, voice and data communication. The researchers were able to attack one of the TCU gadgets which was basically used to track per-mile insurance. The device that was installed in the car enabled them to hack into the car’s systems thereby taking complete control of all the functions of the car.

Let us take into account another smart gadget like the smart fridge. It is easy to get all the information regarding the user’s Gmail. A hacker can intercept all communications over a compromised internet connection. The home network that is connected to the smart fridge becomes vulnerable. According to the security researchers, a flaw in the SSL integration makes it easy for the hackers to access the network and in turn keep a track on all the activity linked to the user name and password that connects the fridge to the Gmail.

Various ways of protecting the smart gadgets from cyber attacks 

There are a few ways to ensure that your smart gadgets are safe from hackers. We can adopt certain practices to make our homes and personal data safe.

Our primary goal is to ensure that the network that enables all the smart gadgets is secure. Make sure that you do not connect to open or any public Wi-fi. On your home Wi-fi, enable password protected access. In case you have a default password on a router, make sure to change it.

On all the smart gadgets that are connected, make sure that all the operating systems are updated.
Get a secure router where the network security is enhanced.

Buy smart gadgets with added security. 

If the smart gadget that you are using is a smart speaker, then you can turn off the microphone button so that any private conversations are not prone to attacks.

In the case of smartphones you can turn off the mic access to all the apps except those apps used for video conferencing or voice recorders.

You can cover the camera of your smart gadgets like laptops or smartphones to prevent spying. The security camera in the house can be turned towards the wall when you are at home.

Since we are in an age where smart gadgets have become a part of our daily lives, we should make sure that we buy devices after checking out the reviews and also check out videos that will keep you aware of the security risks and glitches.

How to add PayPal to Google Pay

PayPal to have Bigger Role on Google Pay

PayPal has been on Google Pay for some time now, to be exact a year. But now PayPal is going to have a bigger role in Google Pay. A recent partnership between Google and PayPal, has given PayPal a bigger function, you can now use PayPal with YouTube, Google Play and Gmail.

But mind you, this feature is not yet available and will be usable only later in the year. A partnership a year back between PayPal and Google Pay allows you to purchase things using PayPal and there is nothing new to that except now you will be able to use PayPal to pay for services on Gmail, Google Play and YouTube.

Making PayPal the Default Payment method on Google Pay:

You can make PayPal the default payment method on Google Pay and doing this means that PayPal becomes the payment method for all services such as those provided by Google like Gmail, Google Store, YouTube and Google Pay.

Making PayPal the default payment method on Google Pay is simple all you need is the Google Pay app and to follow some simple instructions. All you have to do is to tap on the “Cards” tab to open it and then add the plus icon to add PayPal.

From the other payments methods select PayPal and you’re almost done. Next all you have to do is log into your PayPal account and enter your details and PIN. Finally, set a default top up amount and press on agree to terms and conditions to finish the set up process.

Making Changes to PayPal on Google Pay:

To make any changes in the PayPal account in Google Pay, all you need to do is go to the “Cards” tab section and make the changes such as make it the default payment method or even see recent payments activity.

But this feature does not work with all changes. Certain changes such as changing the top up amount or changing the PIN requires you go to the PayPal app.

To make any changes on the PayPal app all you have to do is go to the Settings tab and select Google Pay and then you can change things like you can put off the default top off requirement, change the PIN or remove PayPal as a default payment method on Google Pay.

You cannot use PayPal everywhere:

At present all is not so easy. PayPal can be used only where it is an accepted payment method. Right now PayPal can be used only in selected areas. There is still time for this service to become completely seamless.

Another limitation of using PayPal on Google Pay is that if your balance is not sufficient, then the full top up amount that you selected will be added to the PayPal balance even if you don’t need that much to complete the transaction. Fortunately this amount is not stuck on PayPal and can be transferred to the bank too.

YouTube Music Starts Rolling Out: 6 Reasons You are Gonna Like It

For the Music Lovers out there: YouTube brings you-“YouTube Music”

Recently YouTube announced YouTube music for all the music lovers out there which is basically for everyone. A week later and you have YouTube music already rolled out to the U.S. of A, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico, with other countries coming shortly. All your music needs will be in one place now with YouTube Music.

You’ll be able to jam out to your favorite tunes, get recommendations based on your searches, don’t know the name of that song? No worries YouTube music has got you covered, all you have to do is place the name of the lyrics into the search bar and your sorted. You can even get songs to suit your schedule like on being on that train commute to office or while you’re on that grueling workout regime. But, now to elaborate further….

Everything under one roof with YouTube Music: 

Forget looking for songs in multiple places, instead of having a number of apps for music, you can get everything with YouTube music under one roof. Whether it is singles, whole albums or music videos, YouTube music has got everything. You can even watch concerts and get those really hard to find songs all with YouTube Music.

Recommendations customized just for you on YouTube music: 

Get recommendations just for you, right on your home screen. These recommendations will be based on your searches as well as where you’re at and what you are currently doing- you maybe at the gym, but no worries YouTube music has a playlist just for you.

Playlist Galore with YouTube Music: 

YouTube Music has got thousands upon thousands of playlists just for you and your moods. There’s “Blogged 50” if you’re in the mood for new songs and “Indie Under Pressure” to get you going on those terrible workouts.

Search smart with YouTube Music: 

Can’t remember the name of that song? You think you got those lyrics down but actually they’re wrong? No hassles, YouTube music is here to save the day or in your case get that song’s name which for the life of you can’t get out of your head.

Browse Music based on current trends:

Want to see what’s trending? YouTube music has got a hotlist screen that shows you all the latest and greatest in current music. No matter where you’re at which place across the globe you find yourself in, you can get the latest or those that are trending in your region.

Download your music hassle free on YouTube music: 

No internet connection? That’s not a problem cause you can now download your favorite tunes when you do have connection and then listen to them without those annoying ads going around in the background whenever you want.

Paid members also get an offline mixtape that automatically downloads songs that YouTube Music thinks you will like just in case you forgot to do so.

For Google Play Music members out there: 

Members will be able to access all their music and also be able to add music just like always.

Lynq is a Dead-Simple Gadget for Finding Your Friends Outdoors

Finding Your Friends Easily with Lynq

Ever found yourself in a large crowd and for the life of you couldn’t locate where your friends or family were? Well no more. There’s a new gadget in town by the name of Lynq, this dandy device helps you locate you friends easily without any distress. It is simple to use and highly effective. All lynq needs is for you to enter your friends or families names and you won’t ever have to worry about going and looking for them if they or you are lost.

Lynq becomes a handy little tool that you simply clip onto your bag or jeans to locate friends in a fair or concert or while camping. You never have to say I’m by so-and-so thing again and what’s even more interesting is that this cool device does not require an internet connection to work. It is simple and neat.

All about Lynq:

A few features here and there and that’s all what Lynq does. It gets you to your friends when you’re lost and that is great in and of itself. Using a combination of GPS and kinetic positioning, it tells you your position in relation to your friends.

There are no pins on a map or directions or coordinates to tell you where your friends are, just simply a vector that works anywhere outdoors. All you see is a blob that moves around lynq’s screen to tell you where your friends are. The closer they are the larger the blob in the direction they can be found and vice versa.

With lynq, up to 12 persons can get connected and this device works for up to 3 miles or longer depending on the outdoors.

A few Features with Lynq: 

Besides adding your friends into the its system, the device also allows you to navigate to a home location or base point where all connected lynq devices can point toward and a safe zone that warns you when a person leaves the safe radius.

You could even send basic messages which are already preset into the system like “help” or “meet up”.

Other uses of Lynq: 

Other than taking lynq on camping trips, this gadget is useful for keeping track of the elderly, pets, kids or it can be really useful for rescue workers too.

While it is really helpful for civilians, the military too found it very useful. In a joint testing program with the Thai ministry of defense, the U.S. Pacific Command found this gadget extremely useful in finding soldiers in the absence of any radio signal. It also helped them to get into formation faster for conducting a search mission.

This gadget has not only captured the interest of the US government but is also easy to understand and use.

When not in use lynq switches off but continually receives data behind the scenes. This helps in saving battery and plus when you open back the screen there is no lag in data. This gadget can be got for $154 for a pair and the price is likely to go up soon, so you might want to grab a pair before it does.

3 Reasons Google's Pixel Watch May Tempt You Away From An Apple Watch

Why Google Pixel Watch Maybe better than an Apple watch for you?

Looks like Wear OS maybe getting another boost of revival from Google. The first boost the OS got was by Google changing its name from Android Wear to Wear OS as a means of showing people that the new moniker could work with both an iPhone as well as android. Basically what I’m trying to say is that Apple users can now sync their iPhones with Wear OS. But getting on with this second boost to Wear OS, Google is planning on releasing a smart watch titled Google Pixel Watch.

So get saving for this Christmas because by that time Google would have released its pixel watch which is supposed to be great. Google is planning on not only one watch but three watches under the Pixel banner. These three pixel watches will not only have the latest in Wear OS but will also show off Google’s operating system’s true potential.

Why this Pixel watch will be better than the others?

Google pixel watch will be all set to stand off stiff competition this year with Apple releasing it’s Apple Watch 4 and Samsung’s Gear 4 coming out in the later- half of this year and let me tell you these brands do not fool around either. We can surely expect the best from these brands later this year.
But since this will be Google’s first Smart Watch release and that too under its Pixel flagship offering, we’re definitely hoping that Google comes out with something that will blow our minds away.

Why Google may stand up to other big brands with its Pixel Watch?

Apart from the other tech that is going into the Pixel watch, there is news that a new Qualcomm chipset will be present in the Pixel watch. This will be the first new Qualcomm chipset going into a wearable since the last Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 was released back in 2016.

As of now there is no confirmation that the Pixel watch will have this chipset but with a Qualcomm representative saying that the chipset will be going into a device that is coming out at the year end, we have our fingers crossed that this chipset could be going into the new Pixel watch.

With this being Google’s first smart watch undertaking and because it has to provide a reference design for other third party manufacturers who are playing around with the Wear OS platform, this new Pixel Watch will definitely have to stand out from its competition.

The Pixel brand has become Google’s go to brand in past few years, with them releasing smart phone after smart phone, so now releasing a smart watch under the same banner means that Google won’t be taking any chances.

Besides all this we expect Google to bring out the latest in smart watches like GPS, LTE connectivity, fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, NFC for mobile payments, getting notifications on the go feature, tracking for various sports to name a few.