security

Having a Google account can open up doors to not just Google's own services but third-parties that use its single sign-on feature as well. That makes it even more tempting for hackers to compromise such an account and potentially pilfer critical and even risky personal information. Google's Advanced Protection Program aims to harden Google accounts from such attempts and it is now making it dead easy to set up one as long as you have an Android phone or even an iPhone.

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The competition between tech companies can sometimes be so vicious that it's surprising when one adopts are at least allows the use of a rival's technology. In this connected age, however, such cooperation and interaction are inevitable, especially when you're trying to be present even in your competitor's platform. Fortunately, Google doesn't seem to be averse at using iPhone's security hardware when securely logging into Google accounts on your desktop.

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A software update released today addresses a historic report was made by the National Security Agency (NSA) to Microsoft about Windows OS. The situation is historic due to the history of the groups - this is the very first time that the United States NSA has reported a security vulnerability they've found in Windows OS to Microsoft. This is the first such report made to Microsoft by the NSA in the history of the NSA.

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Devices running Windows 7 (or older) will lose Microsoft support starting on January 14, 2020. What does that mean? According to Microsoft, your PC will "become more vulnerable to security risks" because there'll be no more "security and quality updates." As of that date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support of any sort "for any issues" whatsoever - UNLESS you pay Microsoft a bit of cash, and you've got the right version of Windows 7.*

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Internet service provider Spectrum has announced that it is no longer offering its Home Security plan to new customers and that it will drop its existing security subscribers in early February. The news is an unwelcome surprise for customers who paid out hefty amounts for proprietary home security equipment that can't be used with any other platforms.

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Just as the Internet empowered people by connecting them to knowledge and to one another, it has sadly also empowered less conscientious individuals in carrying out illegal activities in anonymity. Sexual exploitation, especially those of minors, is one of the long-standing problems for both authorities and Internet companies and its complexity defies conventional solutions. Microsoft is rising to the challenge with a new tool called Project Artemis will try to look for signs of online grooming that could lead to child exploitation.

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The US government has painted the image of a Chinese government that will use every trick in the book to spy both on its own citizens as well as other countries. The latter can come in the form of smartphones with spyware, which is one of the accusations it hurled at Huawei. It is almost ironic, then, that smartphones that the US government itself has funded to sell at an affordable price do exactly that and, unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of these malware.

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Despite all of the privacy issues that have hounded major tech companies including Facebook, Google, Huawei, and even Apple, Samsung has so far remained out of that kind of news. That wasn't going to last forever, though, and as they say, when it rains, it pours. Samsung now finds itself with not one but three separate pieces of news that may make some think twice about using Samsung's mobile apps and cloud services, even if they may not be avoidable in some cases.

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Smart door locks are one of the hardest parts of the smart home market to get into. Given the risks and potential fallout, few seemed to dare promise security married to hi-tech convenience. August dared and, to date, remains one of the top names in that corner of the IoT industry. At CES 2020, it's showing that it isn't done yet even after nine products. Its latest offer slims down the door lock to a more convenient size and includes Wi-Fi from the get-go.

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Yale is a name best known for all sorts of locks and bolts, which means it is also one of those hit by the sudden rush to make all things inside the home smart. Fortunately, Yale is not at all averse to expanding its portfolio to embrace the latest technologies and trends. In fact, at CES 2020, it is announcing three new products that connect to the Internet and, indirectly, to your smartphone to solve two of the biggest theft problems in the world: packages and cookies.

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The ride verification PIN that Uber first introduced late last year in select markets is now available to all riders located in the United States and Canada. With this feature, users can choose to enable a PIN-based security feature that requires drivers to enter the right PIN in order to verify that they're who they say they are. The feature will help cut down on the risk of getting into the wrong car.

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Smart home security is one of the hardest things to get started on, though smart security cameras have recently started making installation a lot easier. Smart door locks, however, still present a major hurdle because they often require you to replace your existing lock with something that may not fit your door or its design. That's the genius behind Level "invisible" Lock that actually hides inside your existing deadbolt, allowing you to keep your old lock while still gaining the benefits of a phone-controlled smart lock.

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