Month: March 2013

More Rumors Unfold for the Samsung Galaxy S4

Fahad Majidi

With the announcement of the release of Samsung Galaxy S4 comes a bunch of rumors as well. What folds now primarily pertains to the screen of the device. According the rumors surging around Samsung Galaxy S4 will be equipped with floating touch technology. Floating touch technology allows you to interact with the device by hovering your finger above the screen. It works with the help of electrical field created by our finger which is then detected with the help of a sensor, pretty much similar to what you have seen in Samsung Galaxy Note II where you use S pen to interact with notifications and emails. Same goes for the Sony’s low end phone Xperia Sola.

Previously the device had AMOLED display but now the S4 is rumored to have Green PHOLED. So, what’s the difference? In AMOLED screen the green and blue OLEDs were fluorescent where red OLEDs were phosphorescent. But now the S4 is touted to be equipped with green and red OLEDs with phosphorescent materials and fluorescent materials for the blue ones. It does not augment the picture quality or so but it does aids in the power efficiency of the device, almost 25% more power efficient.

It is also believed that Samsung is preparing two prototypes of S4. One with the LCD display and runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor whereas the other one is said to have an AMOLED display and uses Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor. As for now there is no clue whether Samsung will sell both of the devices or drop any of the two before its introduction next week in New York.

And lastly, the device will run on Jelly Bean Android 4.2.1 at the time of its launch but will be upgraded to 4.2.2 as soon as the update hits in the same month.

Fahad Majidi is a Paid Contributor for the Paulstechtalk.com website.  Any views of his is his own and not of the website.   Any Links in this article are affiliate links to products mentioned to help support paying for the contributor.


 

Zeus and Spyeye Malware coming to the Google Android Platform.

Paul

Android Malware Growth

Tablets and Phones Getting Sick??

Mobile operating systems, particularly Android, are not particularly difficult to make malware for, says Blasco, and there are signs that criminals are working to adapt methods used to target PCs. “We have found samples of Zeus and SpyEye on mobile,” he says.

Technology Review

We’ve talked about App Policies in the past, and you wonder what is in store for you in the coming years with Google Play and Malware.   We can’t always be secure with this platform.   I could preach to you the reason why we will most likely have this but I am sure I am not the only one on this subject.  Even clicking a link on your phone could give your phone malware!  

Antivirus is A Joke!

I already talked about the Android Antivirus apps.   I am not sure if they are there just to make it look like they are doing something.   I can’t tell which apps are truthful and which are just like a comfort blanket!  So When I started talking about Malware in Google, no one really believed me and I know it isn’t a very popular subject so I understand.

So you asking what can I do to protect myself?

Here are some tips to help you not get the malware in the first place!

  • Don’t install new apps — if they are new they haven’t been reviewed or on the Google Play store long enough.   I won’t install an app unless they have 100 reviews or more.   It is just my way.
  • Permissions — Checking the Permissions of an app can help you not install malware before it is to late.   Remember if they want something that they shouldn’t then it is probably something you shouldn’t install!
  • Install Trusted sources — do no ever install 3rd party applications, your just asking for trouble!  Only install from the Google App Store and nothing else.  This will help prevent from getting Malware!

Although these are simple things most people don’t even do these.   If you know some way to prevent Malware then lets hear it.   I have already told you some of the stuff I do but maybe you have something else to help others.   Why not share it!

Paul Sylvester

Why companies don’t consider Security and how to decode a Barcode!

Paul

Weak Security is NO security!

I am working with a company of late that few months and I must say their security is weak to say the least. They use Barcodes to establish who they are and what jobs they are doing.   It seems kinda simplistic to some but to me they are just asking for problems.   Now a days, 90% of people who work have access to some kind of smart phone, whether it be Android or IOS each one has their unique problems but I am not here to talk about their problems but to point out that each one can literally scan a barcode and decode it in a matter of minutes!

How to decode a Barcode!

If your looking to decode a barcode for Android, I can help.  Here are a few that I’ve found to work really well with any and all barcodes you might have a need for!

  • Google Goggles — This app for the Android is so interesting, I have installed on my phone just to see what would the world be like if we had those on Google Glasses which I suspect is coming soon!
  • Barcode Scanner  by ZXing Team — This is a good little app for those of you who just want to see what the code is and so forth.   It can does 1d, 2d, and QR Codes.   This is also a really useful app for those of you who want to see what the barcode at work really says about you!
  • Barcode Scanner by TACOTY CN — Another one that does basically what others do and it can decode any barcode that you might have to see what it really says about you.   
  • Scan by Scan, Inc — Here is a good tool for reading barcodes.   I really can’t say much more than this because they are do basically the same thing 1d, 2d, and QR Codes.   Works really well though!
  • ClearImage Free Online Barcode Reader / Decoder — Although this isn’t a app for Android it can be very useful for anyone who has a camera and would like to decode a barcode this way.   No need for a smart phone, just a camera will do that can take digital pictures.

The Problem!

The company I am contracted with thinks this is convenient and probably even thinks no one will abuse this.   I hate to think of who might use this to gain personal information about another worker or even get them fired.   It isn’t hard to imagine that someone may go so far as use someone else’s barcode just to get them in trouble.   So why use barcodes in business?  This is a constant problem that needs to be fixed ASAP for any business that does this might want to consider changing over to something a little more secure.   In the coming weeks, I’ll probably talk about this in more detail but until I fix the problems with this company I can’t go into much more detail.   

Paul Sylvester

 

 

 

Why You should Avoid Kiloo Games and uninstall them!

Paul1 Reply

The Story So far!

Recently I found an application that one of the permissions is “Retrieve Running Programs“.   I thought this was something of a hoax or even a little strange.   So I wondered what are those Android App Permissions anyways and why would they require this.  I found this great information on a forum website. 

Retrieve running applications
Hardware controls
URI: android.permission.GET_TASKS
Risk: MEDIUM-HIGH
Protection level: DANGEROUS

Official Description
Allows an application to get information about the currently or recently running tasks: a thumbnail representation of the tasks, what activities are running in it, etc.

Details
This permission is of moderate importance. It will allow an application to find out what other applications are running on your phone. While not a danger in and of itself, it would be a useful tool for someone trying to steal your data. Typical legitimate applications that require this permission include: task killers and battery history widgets. Other than that however, most apps should not need this permission.

<Via Androidforums>

So then I sent an email to Kiloo Games asking why this was needed for the game.   Here is their response:

 

Kiloo Support (Kiloo)
Mar 04 12:21 (CET)
Hi,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Subway Surfers needs that information to make sure no notifications pop-up when you’re in other apps.
Best Regards,
Kiloo Support 

Now I find this very interesting and a little percular.  It doesn’t sound like this is what it supposed.   If you read what Android Forums said then you would know we’ve given Subway Surfer permission to snoop on us and they can do what ever they want with that information because we AGREED to it.  

Many Users don’t care about this!

While I am not sure who actually care about this.  I am really concerned with my security and privacy.  I don’t think any application in their right mind would want to put this permission on any Application.   I think until people start asking questions or removing these applications they will keep doing this so they can build data on what people do when they aren’t playing the games they built.   You really want them to get your bank information or for that matter your passwords to other games or applications.

I am asking for a boycott of these types of programs to tell developers we don’t want our information to be public and they need to respect this.   If you have this installed on your android device it is best to remove it ASAP and contact them to tell them why you removed their game.   Until we do this they will not listen to us and respect our privacy!

Paul Sylvester

What can scare you to death with Google Application Updates!

Paul

 

Retrieve Running Applications

Why would an Application need this?

It isn’t like we ask for much but it does seem a little peculiar and a little scary. The Game in question right now is Subway Surfers (Kiloo Games).  I emailed the developer to try to find out what this is but I can only imagine what they are using this data for and why they would need it in the first place.

So far I received this:

Hello,

Thank you very much for your email. Our support team will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Please note that this is an autogenerated response.

Have a great day!

Support@kiloo.com

Although this isn’t surprising to say the least it isn’t helping their case.   I am sure they are quite busy with this new update.   I really don’t mind the game for my kids but that was the only reason I had that on my tablet. 

The Dangers of it all!

I hate to be a worry wort and have people worry to much but when an Application needs to “Retrieve Running Applications”, this really worries me because you don’t know what else they are doing on your tablet.   Could be monitoring your emails and even get your credit card information.   I know I like to us my tablet more and more.  

Although I am sure I’m the only one on this, I do not want to see people get taken advantage of by any developer or game.   Unless they tell us in their privacy settings what they are doing and why, it makes me concerned every day of the week.   I don’t know what they are collecting or why they have to have to collect this information in the first place.   I urge everyone who uses this game to contact them and also check with them about your privacy settings.  If we don’t make noise about this then they win.  Tell you friends and family and let them know what to look for when you update your games or applications on your tablet or phone.

When I get the response email from them directly I will be sure to post it and let you know what they say!

Paul Sylvester