Security - SlashGear

Posts Tagged ‘security’

Apple iPhone Could Be More Vulnerable Than Many May Think

By Evan Selleck on Monday, Aug 17th 2009 No Comments

So, are smartphones safe? When you’re trolling around on your favorite sites on your iPhone, are you wondering about that email you just got from some unknown source? Well apparently that’s a pretty big concern now a days, and Trend Micro decided to produce a survey that would help shed some light on it. Their results are pretty revealing, and although Apple-based computers are relatively safeer than, say, their Windows-based counterparts, does the popularity of the iPhone make it a concern that some of us are just ignoring?

iPhone

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iPhone spyware debated as app library “phones home”

By Chris Davies on Monday, Aug 17th 2009 1 Comment

iphone map After Palm’s Pre was heavily criticized last week over claims that the handset collected location data regarding the user and transmitted that back to the company, a developer has spotted that at least one third-party iPhone library, in use by several apps, does something similar. The library is by Pinch Media and is used to track app owner data; it does this by recording not only location when you first start the app but your physical movements (among other things) while the app is open.

Pinch Media’s library is used by developers – such as those behind free iPhone titles Camera Zoom and Twitterfon – to collect analysis data on app usage and common problems. However the library does not give the user any way of monitoring or shutting off the tracking; agree to it when you install the host software, and it will continue to gather data for as long as you use the app. If you don’t have a network connection then the location data will be cached and sent when you’re next online.

Full list of collected personal information after the cut

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Microsoft block Windows 7 OEM key hack

By Chris Davies on Friday, Jul 31st 2009 No Comments

Microsoft’s Windows Genuine Advantage team have responded to this week’s news that a Windows 7 Ultimate licensing hack had been identified. After a Lenovo OEM Windows 7 image leaked and was used to extract a license key, Microsoft have worked with the manufacturer to blacklist the rogue key and replace it – on genuine Lenovo PCs bought with the new OS – with a working version.

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Taser X3 triple shot electro-shock weapon launches

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Jul 28th 2009 No Comments

Remember that entertaining-yet-disturbing video of three Taser employees being taken down by the company’s latest “less lethal” weapon? Well, the device responsible is the Taser X3, capable of firing three cartridges without reloading together with putting on an intimidating “warning arc” lightshow without requiring the cartridges’ removal first.

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TRC ElectraShield in-line laptop surge protector

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Jul 21st 2009 No Comments

Surge protectors are something any serious computing enthusiast likely has at home, but there’s less of a chance that they’ll be carrying a bulky surge-protected power strip while traveling. Into the fray steps TRC’s ElectraShield Laptop Surge Protector, an in-line single-device widget that promises to stop power spikes, surges and thermal overheats from reaching your notebook or netbook.

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ioSafe Solo Review – Rugged Disaster Proof External Hard Drive

By Ewdison Then on Tuesday, Jul 14th 2009 3 Comments

We’ve covered numerous backup systems here on SlashGear, ranging from simple USB hard-drives through network-attached media boxes and full-on RAID arrays, but bar individual drive failure we’ve never really considered the impact of physical damage. That’s exactly the sort of thing that ioSafe have in mind with their Solo drive, up to 1.5TB of fireproof, waterproof storage. SlashGear have been testing it out.

slashgear iosafe solo 1 540x360

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Samsung AMOLED RFID e-passport video demo

By Chris Davies on Friday, Jun 19th 2009 No Comments

Samsung have been demonstrating their latest AMOLED concept, an e-passport that embeds a 2-inch QVGA resolution flexible display into an identity card. Intended to show a 360-degree view of the card-holder, rather than just a full-on headshot, the e-passport uses an AMOLED display so frugal it can be powered wireless via an RFID reader.

samsung flexible amoled rfid e passport

Video demo after the cut

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iPhone remote code security exploit discovered

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Jun 16th 2009 No Comments

Apple lock Security researchers are claiming to have found a way to run non-approved code on iPhones that have not been jailbroken. Charles Miller, a principal analyst at Independent Security Evaluators, and Vincenzo Iozzo, a student at the University of Milan in Italy, have discovered “more than one” technique for loading an application into a factory iPhone as a non-executable chunk of data, which then flicks over to an executable and could potentially be used to monitor the smartphone, listen in on calls or harvest user data.

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D-Link DCS-1100 and DCS-1130 IP webcam promise simple setup

By Chris Davies on Monday, Jun 15th 2009 No Comments

d link dcs 1100 network webcam D-Link have announced two new network webcams which promise plug-and-play remote viewing using the company’s online streaming portal. The D-Link Network Camera DCS-1100 launches today, while the DCS-1130 – with WiFi draft-n – arrives later in the month.

Both cameras can be accessed from any browser by going to D-Link’s mydlink.com portal. However they can also be used to stream live video to cellphones, with sound from the integrated microphone and remote control of 16x digital zoom and motion detection.

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Microsoft Morro antivirus software on the way

By Brenda Stokes on Thursday, Jun 11th 2009 No Comments

microsoftonecare Microsoft has announced they will be releasing their own antivirus software very soon. Given the codename, “Morro,” the new software will be a competitor to the major antivirus software makers like Symantec and McAfee.

The main goal of this software is to remove trojans, spyware and viruses. That’s it. It’s currently undergoing testing and is likely to see a beta very soon for the public. What’s interesting, is this antivirus software will be free for Windows users, which is likely to stick a thorn in the side of its competitors.

Microsoft tried the antivirus market before with their OneCare bundle, though it required an annual fee. It never really took hold, so now the free price tag is likely to bring in added interest.