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See all the wonderful things Queeniey Corliss has made

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10

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nobody

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fake peeps

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Microsoft finally unveils its new browser called Edge

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Microsoft finally unveils its new browser called Edge

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At last the long wait is over, Microsoft finally reveals its official name for its new web browser plans last January, dubbed as Microsoft Edge, which is previously code-named Project Spartan.

Microsoft made the announcement at the annual Build Developer Conference 2015. Edge will replaceInternet Explorer as the default browser of Windows 10 PCs, smartphones and tablets. It's not surprising that the nickname "Edge" is based on the new rendering engine that Microsoft is using for its Windows 10 browser which is called EdgeHTML.

Joe Belfiore, the Corporate Vice President, Operating Systems Group at Microsoft also said that the name was referred to the idea of Microsoft being on the edge of consuming and creating.

Microsoft Edge is designed to be a lightweight web browser with a layout engine built around web standards that is created for interoperability with the contemporary web.

The browser's new logo appears to be similar to the Internet Explorer's logo. However, the directions of the swirls have been changed and the color is a bit darker.

Microsoft Edge consists of unique features such as the ability to annotate on web pages, modern and futuristic design for new tabs which appear to have a flat design concept, jotting down notes or draw on top of web pages for a great way of reading and consuming content, favorites folder built into the browser, thumbnails of frequently visited websites, web applications and further integration with digital assistant Cortana to offer more personalized results and actions.

Developers will be able to carry their Chrome extensions or Firefox add-ons with just a couple of changes to Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge also enables users to engage with sites and provide them a chance at starting to write some web code, which they may put into an application through web extensions built into the web browser.

Stay tuned on The Corliss Tech Review Group blog for more updates.

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European Union accuses Google of market
abuse

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European Union accuses Google of market
abuse

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European Union has formally charged Google of abusing its dominant position on the internet search market.

According to a Corliss Tech Review Group report, Google has used its gigantic power as a search engine to redirect internet users from rivals to its own services, which include YouTube and its own social network Google+.

Expedia, Microsoft, and TripAdvisor, which are Google’s competitors, declare that its way of promoting its own companies above rivals on its search engine stops them from contending on a level playing field.

Insiders claim the case could prove just as costly as the EU's decade-long battle with Microsoft, which ultimately cost the company £1.6 billion in fines.

If Google fails to rebut any formal charges imposed by Brussels, the commission could impose a huge fine which could exceed £4 billion which is about 10% of Google's most recent annual revenue.

More than twenty four European organizations have filed antitrust complaints against Google. Many are from powerful publishing groups and online firms in Germany.

They have previously requested to force Google to stop blocking competition in sections like online maps, travel and shopping services.

Moreover, lawyers from France also requested for Google to reveal its secret formula for ranking websites but Google argues such transparency would expose its business secrets to rivals and leave the search engine vulnerable to spam.

In accusing Google of anti-competitive practices against rival shopping sites, the EU competition authority said it is continuing to investigate other areas, including alleged "web scraping" to copy content off of rival travel and local business review sites, and Google's restrictive practices on advertising.

Android Investigation

EU will be likely to probe Google’s operating mobile operating system Android.

The investigation will center on whether Google has entered into anti-competitive agreements or abused a possible dominant position in the field of operating systems, applications and services for smart mobile devices.

Google has given 10 weeks to reply and they will also get the chance to argue their case in a formal hearing.  But if it finds the company in the wrong then it would face the legal consequences and must change the way it does business in Europe.

The competition commissioner also claims that Smartphones, tablets and similar devices play an increasing role in many people's daily lives, and she wants to make sure the markets in the area can flourish without anti-competitive restrictions inflicted by some company.

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The Corliss Group Tech Review: Bank hackers steal millions worldwide

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The Corliss Group Tech Review: Bank hackers steal millions worldwide

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The banking sector has been a frequent target for hackers nowadays. As much as US$1 billion were stolen from banks and other financial companies worldwide in about two years, wherein it is considered as one of the biggest banking breaches known, by a multinational gang of cybercriminals dubbed as the "Carbanak gang" originating from Russia, Ukraine, and other parts of Europe as well as from China.

The gang targeted banks, electronic payment systems, and other financial institutions worldwide with the majority of the targets in Russia, USA, Germany, China and Ukraine. They already infiltrated more than 100 banks in 30 countries, stealing as much as $10 million in each raid.

Kaspersky Lab and authorities from different countries had combine efforts to uncover how the criminals act. On average, each bank cyber robbery took between two and four months from infecting the first computer at the bank's corporate network to cashing the money out.

The cybercriminals used Carbanak malware to infect the bank's network giving them access to the employees' computers, and letting them see and record everything that happened on the screens of staff who service the cash transfer systems. This way the fraudsters got to know every last detail of the bankers work that show them how to mimic the staff to transfer the money and cash out.

Once the time came to exploit on their activities, the fraudsters used online banking or international e-payment systems to transfer money to their accounts.  In the second case, the stolen money was transferred to banks in China and the US.

In other cases, cybercriminals penetrated right into the very center of the accounting systems, inflating account balances before getting the extra money through a counterfeit transaction. For instance, the account has $1,000 and the criminals can change its value to $10,000 and then transfer $9,000 to themselves. The account holder doesn't suspect a problem because the original $1,000 dollars is still there.

In addition, the cybercriminals can also take control of banks' ATMs and order them to dispense cash at a specific time. When the payment was due, one of the gang's underlings was waiting next to the machine to collect the 'voluntary' payment.

Kaspersky did not identify the banks affected by the attacks because of a confidentiality agreement. They are still working with law-enforcement organizations to investigate the attacks.

Research says that the first malicious samples were compiled in August 2013 when the cybercriminals began to test the Carbanak malware and the first infections were detected in December 2013. The gang was believed to successfully steal from their first victims during the period of February to April 2014. The peak of infections was recorded in June 2014.

However the campaign is still currently active. Kaspersky urge all financial organizations to carefully scan the network for presence of Carbanak malware and if detected, report the intrusion to law enforcement.

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Google Reduced Fifty Percent of Android
Malwares

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Google Reduced Fifty Percent of Android
Malwares

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As stated by Corliss Tech Review Group, a malware is a type of software that is specifically created to gain access or damage user’s sensitive data.

Android has long been seen as vulnerable to malware because it is an open platform and several devices run older versions of the mobile operating system. Android is also one of the world’s most popular mobile platform where it powers hundreds of millions of mobile devices in more than 190 countries worldwide, but its popularity has also made it a magnet for malwares based on Corliss Tech Review Group.

In the past year, Google claims that malware infections on Android devices have been reduced in half after notable developments and security upgrades for mobile phones such as improved encryption and better detection tools for malware.

According to a blog post of Google’s chief security engineer, Adrian Ludwig, the overall worldwide percentage of possibly harmful applications installed are decreased by almost fifty percent during the first and the fourth quarter of the year. Android devices in use worldwide which are over 1 billion have their devices protected by security through Google Play wherein it conducts two hundred million security scans every day and less than 1% of the devices had potentially harmful applications installed in 2014.

Google also states that the rate of possibly malicious applications installed on devices which only use Google Play apps was less than 0.15%.

Ludwig also ensured that Android is a safe place and they are still making improvements to enhance protections for Android devices wherein they are being more hands-on in reviewing applications for all types of policy violations within Google Play and they have also increased their efforts to increase security for specific higher-risk devices and regions outside of Google Play.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Internet
companies pay out to those who spot bugs

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Internet
companies pay out to those who spot bugs

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review – Concerned about protecting the personal and financial details of its users, PayPal, the online payments company, has introduced a system called “two-factor authentication”.

To log in, users must first enter their user name and password. They then receive a security code by mobile phone that they have to type in to gain entry. The idea is to create an extra barrier that makes it harder for criminals to break into a customer’s account.

The only problem was that this additional line of defence had a significant flaw. Last year, a group of computer hackers from Duo Security, a Michigan-based cyber security company, discovered a problem with PayPal’s mobile app that meant it was possible to bypass this second barrier because of a previously unknown bug in PayPal’s systems.

Zach Lanier, senior security researcher at Duo, says users could have been “lulled into a false sense of security, unaware that a security feature isn’t living up to its promise”.

It was lucky for PayPal that it was Mr Lanier’s team that discovered the problem. He was able to warn the company through its “bug bounty” programme, which pays people who discover security vulnerabilities. Duo Security pocketed the bounty while PayPal fixed the bug before revealing publicly how it been discovered.

Google, Mozilla and Hewlett-Packard are among other technologygroups that have bug bounty programmes. Bounties range from $500 for spotting tiny bugs to $60,000 for uncovering serious flaws.

Millions of dollars have been paid to individual hackers and security companies through these schemes. Unveiling Facebook’s bug bounty programme in 2011, Joe Sullivan, the social network’s chief security officer, wrote on the company’s website: “We realise . . . that there are many talented and well intentioned security experts around the world who don’t work for Facebook. We established this bug bounty programme in an effort to recognise and reward these individuals for their good work and encourage others to join.”

There is no way for companies to create perfect online defences. Underlying every website or app are lines of code. As these have been written by humans, defences can range from the well constructed to the sloppy and flawed.

In theory, thanks to bug bounties, some hackers can make a decent living just looking for security flaws. However, most who participate in the programmes are computer professionals who uncover bugs in their spare time to make some extra cash, or they stumble across problems by chance.

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The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review: Anvendelse af Windows XP gør europæiske pengeautomater
sårbare for malware-angreb

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The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review: Anvendelse af Windows XP gør europæiske pengeautomater
sårbare for malware-angreb

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review – For første gang har et land i Vesteuropa rapporterede, at malware-angreb blev brugt af hackere til at stjæle € 1.230.000 (US $ 1320000) fra pengeautomater. Et stort problem er den fortsatte brug af Windows XP i pengeautomater, hvilket gør dem mere sårbare over for angreb, en rapport om ATM bedrageri sagt.

Rapporten angiver ikke, hvilket land rapporterede malware angreb, siger Lachlan Gunn, administrerende direktør den europæiske ATM Security Team (EAST), en organisation, der har til formål at give et overblik over udviklingen i ATM bedrageri.

Men det er første gang disse angreb blev rapporteret i Vesteuropa. Malware angreb på pengeautomater er blevet anvendt i nogen tid i andre dele af verden, herunder Østeuropa, Asien og Stillehavsområdet og Latinamerika, siger Gunn.

Statistikkerne i Østs rapport forelå fra 21 europæiske lande, herunder Frankrig, Tyskland, Italien, England, Spanien, Rumænien og Holland.

Landet målrettet med malware-angreb rapporteret 51 hændelser, der involverer malware i 2014. I de tilfælde, kriminelle, der anvendes såkaldt cash out eller jackpotting angreb, hvor malware bruges til at tage kontrol over ATM cash dispensere funktion, gør det muligt for kriminelle at tegne kontanter. Gunn forventer flere vesteuropæiske lande vil rapportere malware-angreb i 2015.

"Som et betydeligt antal af Europas pengeautomater fortsætte med at bruge Windows XP-operativsystemet, er der bekymring for, at mange fortsat er udsat for ATM malware hvis der ikke træffes de nødvendige forebyggende foranstaltninger," EAST sagde i rapporten.

Microsoft endte support til Windows XP i april sidste år. Trods ATM leverandører som Wincor-Nixdorf advarsel, at operativsystemet udsætter ATM operatører betydeligt højere sikkerhed og juridiske risici, migrering til nye systemer går langsomt.

Leverandører sammen med EAST og europæiske politi, arbejder på retningslinjer for at beskytte deres ATM-systemer mod disse malware angreb, siger Gunn.

Malware, men dukker op i Vesteuropa, er ikke det vigtigste hovedpine for ATM operatører, rapporten viste. Mens det samlede antal ATM-relaterede hændelser svig faldt 26 procent i forhold til 2013, de relaterede tab steg fra € 248.000.000 280 mio €, det højeste beløb af penge tabt som følge af svig i de sidste fem år, ifølge EAST tal.

Denne stigning var primært drevet af internationale skimming tab, som steg fra € 201.000.000 til 238.000.000 €, selv om antallet af skimming hændelser faldt 3 procent fra 2013, med 5631 hændelser rapporteret. Forplove fange kortoplysninger og PIN-koden på ATM og bruge dem til at producere falske kort til svigagtige kontanthævninger, ofte i lande uden for Europa.

Stigningen i de internationale tab skimming blev ikke set i de europæiske lande, hvor regionale kort blokering, ofte kendt som geo-blokering, er blevet bredt implementeret, siger Gunn. Geo-blokerende reducerer risikoen for en vellykket kompromis, sagde han.

I 2014 blev i alt 15.702 ATM-relateret svindel angreb rapporteret i Europa. Faldet i det samlede antal af angreb var drevet af en 95 procent reduktion i transaktionen tilbageførsel bedrageri, en teknik, der involverer at skabe en fejltilstand på ATM, hvilket gør det ud til, at kontanter vil ikke undværes, og tvinger en tilbagebetaling af det beløb, der hæves tilbage til kontoen.

Der var også en 31 procent nedgang i kontanter fældefangst angreb, hvor kriminelle lægger en enhed til ATM, der fælder nogen kontanter maskinen forsøger at dispensere, så den kriminelle at vende tilbage til ATM senere at hente kontanter.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: How secure are payment technologies?

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: How secure are payment technologies?

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"Many of these evolutionary or revolutionary changes have been driven by convenience and ease of use, and often accepting a certain amount of risk," says Amit Mital, chief technology officer of security firm Symantec.

Making the purchase of goods more secure is a priority for retailers, banks and payment companies. In the US, where payment card technology is less sophisticated than in

Europe, retailers have recently been hit by massive data breaches, in which hackers have been able to steal tens of millions of customers' card and personal data.

The highest-profile technology to hit the market is Apple Pay, which works with the iPhone 6s. It lets shoppers store their credit card information on their iPhone and pay for goods by tapping the phone on an in-store receiver.

Because of a technology called "tokenisation" experts say it is more secure than current card systems.

With tokenisation, merchants receive data that obscures the shopper's actual credit card number, reducing the chance that hackers can steal usable data from merchants'

internal systems. Because iPhones use fingerprint recognition to verify shoppers' identity, it is also nearly impossible for a thief to steal an iPhone and make a purchase.

"We do not see any concern on our side in terms of security," says Thierry Denis, president in North America for Ingenico, a manufacturer of credit card readers.

But there is a catch. In the first few months after Apple Pay's launch last year, thieves have been able to take stolen credit cards, load them on to iPhones, and go shopping. They have not compromised the technology, but

have got through the banks' processes for checking - during the Apple Pay set-up - that the customer adding the card to his or her phone is the card's real owner.

That fraud started showing up within a month of Apple Pay's launch last year, with the level of fraud seen through the set-up far higher than that seen typically seen in credit cards, according to Cherian Abraham, a payments

analyst who wrote one of the first blog posts to call attention to the issue. Given Apple's sophisticated technology, the fraud was a "surprise to all", he wrote.

Mr Mital of Symantec said the recent incidents of fraud on Apple Pay were "more of a failure in process than in technology".

Joe Majka, chief security officer of Verifone, a manufacturer of point of sale terminals where shoppers swipe their cards, says that better encryption on such devices could be a security "game changer", if widely adopted.

Like tokenisation, encryption means that hackers cannot make as much use of data they might steal if they are able to get into a retailer's network.

Retailers have been slow to adopt such encrypted systems for various reasons. Regulations in the US are changing later this year and retailers will soon be responsible for the cost of fraud if they do not accept chip-and-pin

cards, which make transactions more secure than when users just swipe their card.

But small retailers do not often see fraudulent purchases and so may be reluctant to spend on upgrading, without realising that their older systems mean they could be giving hackers a way to steal their customers' data,

says Mr Majka.

For larger retailers, making the shift takes work.

"When you talk to merchants and [payment] processors," says Mr Majka, "there are so many changes in their systems, in their coding, that have to be made to accommodate an encrypted transaction."
Other innovations featuring purely digital mobile payments via apps also face risks.

Cash-transfer app Venmo, which is owned by PayPal, recently faced media reports highlighting how hackers could access the app to transfer money to themselves.

Venmo has since added better email notifications and is adding multi-factor authentication to make logging in more secure. But the fact that this was already standard on services such as Gmail underlines how companies do

not always use the most secure solutions available on the market.

Similarly, while US banks have been rolling out the more secure chip-and-pin cards for many months in anticipation of the regulatory changes this year, they are not yet available to all consumers.

Mr Majka of Verifone replaced his card recently and wanted a chip card. His bank, however, said he would have to wait. "It's a little disappointing," he says.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review - Protect Your Assets By Practicing Common-Sense Cybersecurity

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review - Protect Your Assets By Practicing Common-Sense Cybersecurity

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Let’s get the scary stuff out of the way upfront: Cybercrime costs the global economy $575 billion annually, according to reports. The United States takes a $100 billion hit, the largest of any country, according to Politico. A report from former U.S. intelligence officials counted 40 million people whose personal information was stolen within the past year.

Online theft is huge, and it only seems to be getting worse. Hardly a week goes by without some story about hackers penetrating a computer system somewhere. Corporations, individuals, even White House servers were hacked last week. I sometimes wonder just how difficult it is for a determined bad guy to access grandma’s checking account or your neighbor’s IRA and grab those assets.

I am not the only one thinking about this. New York State Department of Financial Services issued a report on cybersecurity in the banking sector, where more than 150 organizations rely on third-party service providers for critical banking functions. The regulators want the banks to tighten security.

So should you.

We spend most of our time in financial markets looking at ways to deploy our capital: What assets to buy or sell, how much we should save for retirement, whether we should own more of these stocks and less of those bonds.

We don’t spend so much time thinking about the ways we can lose that money — to fraud and to common theft. We should be more vigilant, especially as we move our lives online, with digital access to our checking and savings accounts, our online portfolios, even our taxes.

It is impossible to make yourself hack-proof, but you can make yourself less vulnerable.

It all starts with some common-sense security steps. Three ways you probably can improve your existing practices: Develop better e-mail habits, beef up password security and (as always) remember that your behavior is the root of most of your problems.

Get your e-mail act together

Every day, your inbox fills with all manner of junk. Some of it is merely time-wasting nonsense, but let’s not forget about the really dangerous stuff: phishing schemes, malicious viruses and malware. It seems the only reprieve we get are those rare occasions when the main servers in Russia — a.k.a. Spambot Central — gets temporarily knocked off-line.

It’s more than a huge productivity killer, it’s a financial hazard. That $100 billion a year we mentioned above comes out of everyone’s pockets. Even if you have not been hacked, you are paying for it in some way. Banking costs are higher as financial firms spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on security.

People have tried a variety of ways to tackle this: Filters, whitelists, e-mail verifiers and trusted ID services; disposable e-mail addresses from sites such as Mailinator; “junk” e-mail addresses from Hotmail, Yahoo or Google. And still the danger keeps coming.

I have a few tricks I use to keep the really nasty stuff under control, such as:

●View e-mail as plain text.

All of the bad links, embedded viruses and other malware go away when you select “view as plain text.” Sure, you lose all of the graphics and links, but you lose the threats as well.

●Create a primary e-mail address.

This is your main address — for colleagues, clients and peers. Never share this e-mail address. Don’t subscribe to anything using this address — no Internet mailing lists, no subscriptions, nada. Use this address alone for your finance- and business-related e-mails. Anything unrelated is junk; treat it that way. Block the domains of senders. Mark junk mail as junk.

●Use an e-mail forwarder.

I have been a big fan of Leemail.me. Instead of giving out my e-mail address, I use Leemail to auto-generate an address whenever I want to share my e-mail with an unfamiliar company. It forwards my e-mail from the company to me. When I want to shut that sender off, I flick a button.

Tracking the companies that share or sell your e-mail address is invaluable. The basic version of Leemail is, astonishingly, free, and the upgrade is only a few bucks a year.

●Don’t hit “unsubscribe”; get blacklisted instead.

There are a number of companies that provide e-mail services to third parties, shops such as Constant Contact, Vertical Response and iContact. They are the middlemen between businesses and consumers. And while they claim to be “opt-in only” and not spammers, in truth, they are subject to whatever bad behaviors their clients engage in. They all have become legal quasi-spammers.

On every e-mail these companies send, there is an unsubscribe button. NEVER CLICK THAT. When you do, you are not unsubscribing. Rather, you are verifying that your e-mail address is legitimate.

Instead, go to the company Web site and track down the customer service number. Call customer service and insist on having your e-mail or domain “blacklisted.” Thats the only way to ensure you will truly be unsubscribed. If the company refuses, file a Federal Trade Commission complaint.

Password security

If you were like I was five years ago, you had one simple password that you used for everything — Amazon, Facebook, Wall Street Journal — everywhere. This could’ve been disastrous. Now all passwords are different. Avoid the common errors, such as using birthdays or your kids’ names. Never use sequential numbers. And for goodness sake, don’t use “password” as your actual password.

Put all of your passwords on a document named something other than “My passwords.” I find burying passwords somewhere in a spreadsheet to be useful. Print out a copy and place it in your safety deposit box with other important papers.

Your biggest risk? You.

I have said all too often that when it comes to investing, people are their own worst enemy. Behavioral problems are rife in security as well. Get into the practice of thinking about security, and soon it becomes second nature.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has gotten much more serious about personal financial data security. They have informed advisers and brokers that there is a duty to protect client data. When we set up our wealth-management practice, we put into place specific policies and procedures to protect clients:

● All sensitive information is sent by secure e-mail using a third party for encryption.

● We never e-mail Social Security numbers or account numbers or other private data via regular email.

● We went totally paperless. Our file cabinets are empty, everything is cloud based.

● Any documents that arrive are shredded, so even our outgoing garbage is secure with nothing usable to a thief.

Most of this is common sense. However, many people are still vulnerable. With smarts and a bit of awareness, you can make your financial assets much more secure.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review - Us Regulator To Impose New Cyber Security Standards For Banks And Their Supply Chain

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review - Us Regulator To Impose New Cyber Security Standards For Banks And Their Supply Chain

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A new report highlighting deficiencies in US banks' oversight of suppliers' cyber security should serve to remind financial services companies in Europe of the due diligence they need to undertake, an expert has said.

Financial services and technology law expert Angus McFadyen of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said that regulators in both the US and Europe are increasingly interested in what financial services companies are doing to address cyber security threats.

McFadyen was commenting after the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) announced its intention to introduce new regulations "strengthening cyber security standards for banks' third-party vendors" in the "coming weeks".

The announcement was made as it revealed that fewer than half of the banks it surveyed said they do not "conduct any on-site assessments" of "high-risk" suppliers, such as data processing companies and other suppliers that typically have access to "sensitive bank or customer data".

The NYDFS report (7-page / 313KB PDF) also said that only about 30% of the banks surveyed "require their third-party vendors to notify them in the event of an information security breach or other cyber security breach".

A fifth of the banks do not require suppliers to set "minimum information security requirements", whilst of those that do only a third "require those information security requirements to be extended to subcontractors of the third-party vendors", it said.

"A bank's cyber security is often only as good as the cyber security of its vendors," Benjamin Lawsky, superintendent of financial services at the NYDFS, said. "Unfortunately, those third-party firms can provide a backdoor entrance to hackers who are seeking to steal sensitive bank customer data. We will move forward quickly, together with the banks we regulate, to address this urgent matter."

McFadyen said that although "security is a growing concern on both sides of the Atlantic" the action proposed by the NYDFS is "the most forthright we’ve seen".

"European regulators are also actively looking at security," McFadyen said. "We’ve seen new rules around payment security come out of Europe and the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA's) own guidance on bank outsourcing touches on its importance. Security measures are rarely perfect, as we’ve seen with the takedown of the French TV channel TV5Monde, but the risks presented by a compromise in the sector are growing as we are increasingly digitising financial services."

McFadyen pointed to a recent announcement by the FCA on the implementation of new internet payments security guidelines in the UK as highlighting the regulatory focus there is on cyber security.

The FCA has said it will incorporate the new guidelines into its "supervisory framework" at the same time as the new EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which is still being negotiated, is transposed into UK law. The internet payment security guidelines were finalised late last year by the European Banking Authority (EBA).

"We are fully supportive of the objectives behind the guidelines and agree with the importance of consumers being protected against fraud when making payments online," the FCA said. "Ensuring the security of payments and the protection of sensitive customer data is a critical part of the infrastructure of robust payment systems."

"Many firms already have in place measures for strong customer authentication, and we would remind payment service providers of their responsibility to ensure consumers’ payments are safe and secure. We will be incorporating the detail of the requirements of the guidelines into our supervisory framework in line with the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2) transposition timeline," it said.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Facebook to launch social network for cyber
security experts

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Facebook to launch social network for cyber
security experts

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Facebook is launching a social network for cyber security professionals to share information about threats that could lead to cyber attacks, as the US government and companies search for new ways to co-ordinate their defences.

The world’s largest social network is stepping up its work in cyber security by teaming with other technology companies including Yahoo and online scrapbooking site Pinterest. The platform will enable companies to share clues about how hackers are behaving in the hope of preventing security breaches.

As cyber attacks hit companies from Sony Pictures to health insurer Anthem, the private and public sector are under pressure to work together to understand their adversaries. Hackers join forces and share tips to break into networks but so far, communication about cyber defence has often been haphazard.

Mark Hammel, Facebook’s manager of threat infrastructure, said ThreatExchange had been developed from a system that Facebook was already using internally to make it easier to catalogue threats to the site in real time.

Facebook’s decision to share the tool comes at a time when the company is trying to broaden its appeal beyond social interactions with friends and family and make the product a tool that is useful in the workplace. The company is also trying out a site and app called Facebook at Work, designed to facilitate internal collaboration between colleagues.

Mr Hammel said Facebook would give the cyber security service away for free, unlike some other threat detection systems.

“We feel that as our product’s footprint has grown, with the number of people using it to communicate, we have the ability to spend more time on broader security issues that affect the internet,” he said. He added Facebook was “really well positioned” with its “social sharing model” to direct a threat project such as this.

He added that Yahoo and Pinterest were good initial partners because they faced similar threats and had sizeable user bases. “Together, we’re protecting a pretty sizeable percentage of the internet,” he said.

The ThreatExchange comes after Barack Obama, US president, put information sharing at the heart of his cyber security proposals announced ahead of the State of the Union speech last month. He proposed legislation that would make it easier for companies to share information about cyber threats with the government.

The US government announced this week that it would be establishing a new agency, modelled on the National Counterterrorism Center with the aim of bringing together information from all arms of government during a cyber incident.

Mr Obama is expected to flesh out those proposals at a White House summit held at Stanford University on Friday, while appealing to the technology industry to do more to help.

The financial industry already leads the way in sharing information. The Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center — known as FS-ISAC — joined the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, the post-trade services provider, last September to launch the first widespread not-for-profit intelligence service. The project is funded by 12 large companies from sectors including finance, energy and healthcare.

But many analysts say information sharing is a key challenge for cyber defences. Last year saw a steep acceleration in attacks on businesses. These included the largest ever breach of personal data at a retailer at Home Depot, as well as the attack on Sony Pictures that the FBI has said was orchestrated by North Korea.

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The Corliss Group: White House Cybersecurity Event to Draw Top Tech, Wall Street Execs

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The Corliss Group: White House Cybersecurity Event to Draw Top Tech, Wall Street Execs

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G Government to Call on Companies to Help Improve Information Sharing as Breaches Get More Sophisticated

President Barack Obama will convene top executives from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and a number of other industries on Friday in a first-of-its kind cybersecurity “summit” taking place as the government and corporate executives each struggle to adjust to persistent and sophisticated breaches.

Mr. Obama will be joined at the Stanford University event by top officials at the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The officials will call on companies to share more information with the government in an effort to combat future cyberattacks, a plea officials have made for months with limited success.

Mr. Obama’s presence at the event has drawn what has emerged as a Who’s Who of corporate leaders, reflecting a growing acknowledgment that many companies need to rethink their cyberdefenses.

Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook will deliver remarks about his company’s push toward a more secure payment system, a theme the White House is expected to try to reinforce for other companies throughout the event.

An Apple spokeswoman confirmed that Mr. Cook will be speaking at the summit. He is expected to focus on Apple’s experience with mobile payments. Apple introduced Apple Pay in October, touting a security feature aimed at reducing the chances of credit-card theft.

Mr. Cook will be joined at Stanford on Friday by the CEOs of Bank of America Corp., U.S. Bancorp, American Express, Kaiser Permanente, Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc., and PayPal who also will speak on panels at the daylong event, along with representatives from Facebook Inc., Google, Intel Corp., and a numerous other companies.

Input from these executives is notable, as they collectively hold health, financial, search-engine, and social-media records on tens of millions of Americans. A number of the firms, particularly the technology companies, have sparred with the federal government over privacy concerns in recent years.

To acknowledge those concerns, the White House is expected to make privacy a central theme at the summit, in addition to consumer protection and cybersecurity techniques.

In addition to remarks from Messrs. Obama and Cook, the seven-hour event will include multiple panel sessions, including separate discussions of public-private collaboration, consumer protection, and payment technologies.

The entire event will be live-streamed on the White House’s website.

Senior administration officials see the event as a continuation of two years’ worth of cybersecurity initiatives, but the issue has taken on more urgency in recent months as the number of cyberattacks has increased dramatically. And recent large-scale breaches at Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. and Anthem Inc. have led to an internal debate among government officials over whether the government should heighten its response to cyberattacks carried out by foreign countries.

Also notably, the White House’s list of panelists and speakers at the summit doesn't include representatives from many of the large companies that have suffered major breaches in recent years, such as Home Depot Inc., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Target Corp., Sony, or Anthem. A senior administration official said these companies weren't excluded from panels at the event.

Also missing from the list of panelists and speakers are officials from the U.S. intelligence community, such as the National Security Agency and Central Intelligence Agency. Intelligence officials often collect information about cyberthreats, and the White House on Tuesday announced a new office that is meant to collect and analyze their data.

But many technology companies remain skeptical about the operations of these agencies, particularly the NSA. A senior administration official said officials from the intelligence agencies would be at the event but officials from the agencies like the FBI and DHS were tapped to speak because they interact directly with the public to discuss cyber issues.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: ARM smartphone chip boasts 3x
computing power

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Corliss Tech Review Group: ARM smartphone chip boasts 3x
computing power

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With the trend today of making every new smartphone thinner than the last one, most would have to make a compromise between aesthetics and productivity. Usually, a nice and thin smartphone means shorter battery life and limited processing capability.
Fortunately for us, manufacturers are now moving towards extended battery life and excellent processing power even in thin handsets. Case in point: ARM's next generation A72 processors.
ARM Holdings, a microchip designer based in Britain, has announced a new processor for tablets and smartphones that boasts improved graphics and processing capability. Their new Cortex-A72 chip design and other improvements in related technology came just in time to help the handheld device industry which struggles with cooling demand.
Corliss Tech Review Group noted that much of the advancement could be credited to big improvements made in manufacturing technology, particularly from the Asian contractors.
An event in San Francisco was held where ARM announced that the new chips pack thrice as much computing power when compared with those in use today. It is now totally possible for manufacturers to use these new processors from ARM to get superb performance minus the strain in the device's battery. In fact, the company claims that in thin profile designs, the new chip could allow for as much as 75% reduction in power consumption.
The company's vice president of marketing also mentioned that the device has "more than enough" computing power to support complex processes on tablets and smartphones even without an Internet connection. Most of the smartphone processes today that are data-heavy are usually being handled by remote servers and not the device's processor itself.
Devices with this new processor technology are expected to be available by early next year. But according to Corliss Tech Review Group, 10 companies, including MediaTek of Taiwan and Rockchip of China, have already licensed ARM's new technology.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review SIM-swap petos: uusi tapa varastaa rahaa

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review SIM-swap petos: uusi tapa varastaa rahaa

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Mobile phones tulossa kätevä työkalu pankki huijarit ovat alkaneet käyttää SIM-swap.

Toimintatapa: Huijari saa pankkitilitiedot ja rekisteröi matkapuhelinnumerosi kautta tietojenkalastelu- tai haittaohjelmasivusto. Hän lähestyy sinun eloisa asepalvelus ehkäistä fake identiteetti todisteet ja väittäen luurin tai SIM vahinkoa, pyritään kopioi SIM-kortti. Tarkastelun alkuperäisen SIM poistetaan käytöstä ja uusi myönnetään huijari. Hän käynnistää liiketoimia sinun pankkitililtäsi tiedot josta hän oli aiemmin varastettu, ja saa vahvistuksen maksupyynnöt kaksoiskappaleiden SIM. Koska alkuperäinen SIM on poistettu käytöstä, voit edelleen tietämätön siitä petolliset hän tekee.

"Tämä on pohjimmiltaan petosten hyökkäys toisen vaiheen. Ensinnäkin pankki tietoa varastetaan; ja sitten SIM-kortti on kloonattu käyttää tapahtuman vahvistus viestejä. Se ei ole vielä yhteistä Intiassa. On ollut muutamia irrallisia tapauksia viime vuoden tosin. Matkapuhelinten useammin käytetään pankki-, petos-iskujen määrä voisi lisätä,"sanoi senior executive ulkomaisten pankkien Intiassa.

Muutamia yksityisten pankkien alkanut opettaa asiakkaiden tapoja estää SIM-swap petoksia. ICICI Bank lähetti esimerkiksi postitse sen Internet banking asiakkaat viime viikolla, yksityiskohtaisesti vinkkejä suojautua itse tällaiset petokset.

Pankkiirit neuvovat asiakkaat voivat tiedustella heidän matkapuhelinoperaattoreiden kanssa jos ne ei ole verkkoyhteyden ja saa puheluita tai tekstiviestejä epätavallisen pitkiä aikoja.

On myös suositeltavaa, että et vaihtaa pois puhelintasi jos saat lukuisia tuntematon puhelut. "Se voisi olla temppu tehdä puhelimen käytöstä ja estää huomaamatta muutoin muunneltu verkkoyhteys" ICICI Bank kirjoitti sen sähköpostitse internet pankki-asiakkaille.

Johtajat väittävät, että Intia on yksi turvallisimpana maksujärjestelmien maailmassa ja online petokset voidaan estää, jos asiakas on suurempaa valppautta. On arvioitu, että keskimääräinen kortti petosten hävikki on maailmanlaajuisesti kuusi pistettä, vaikka se on vain yksi peruspisteen Intiassa.

"Intian maksujärjestelmien perusrakenteista on enimmät hankkia maailmassa. Huijareita yrittää aina keksiä uusia tekniikoita, mutta pankit edelleen laatia uusi puolustusmekanismeja. Se on jatkuva prosessi. Meillä on yksi tai kaksi outoa esiintymät SIM-swap petoksia, mutta on ei joko alhainen,"sanoi Jairam Tiina, puhemies (vähittäiskaupan luotonanto & maksut), Axis Pankki.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Security Experts Offer Online Shopping Tips

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Security Experts Offer Online Shopping Tips

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As Americans spend billions on holiday shopping this month, online security experts say a little caution can go a long way when it comes to avoiding identity theft.

“In general online shopping is good. It’s safe for the most part, but it’s the safest when you initiate the contact, when you log onto a known website,” said Rick Avery, president of Boston-based Securitas Security Systems.

Directly visiting trusted, reputable online retailers is just one way to attempt to avoid the cyber criminals who try to steal sensitive information from vulnerable computers and unsuspecting consumers.

“There is a risk in commerce …” said Sam Ransbotham, an information systems professor at Boston College. “There is also a risk from walking around with a wad of cash. We’ve got years and years of experience walking around with wads of cash that we just don’t have with these newer mechanisms.”

Purchases at brick-and-mortar stores aren’t immune to data breaches either. Last year, hackers stole data from 40 million credit cards from Target, while cyber thieves got information from 56 million credit cards from Home Depot earlier this year.

To reduce the chances of fraud, Avery advises that shoppers be wary of offers sent via email. Criminals, he said, may send legitimate-looking emails that appear to be from online merchants or banks. Rather than clicking on a link in an email, he recommends directly typing the website address into your browser.

“One of the most dangerous ways people get involved with credit card fraud or theft on the Internet is they get emailed a link offering 50 percent off, or saying it’s from the bank, and it’s actually a false website made to look like the authentic website,” he said.

Cyber criminals can use fraudulent websites to gather financial information from a person or install malware on their computers.

“If you’re shopping around and find an extra, extra really good deal, that might be the online equivalent to buying cheap speakers out of the back of a truck,” Ransbotham said. “If it’s too good to be true, it is.”

Avery also recommends using credit cards or one-time use credit cards instead of debit cards.

“Some banks have protections on a debit card, but not all do at the point of an ATM,” Avery said. “Usually, your debit card is tied to your other banking accounts, and it’s a lot more difficult to get your money back. It may be weeks before you get your money back.”

In some cases, a victim might never get that money back.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Top tips to stay safe while shopping online
on what promises to be one of retail's biggest days of the year

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Top tips to stay safe while shopping online
on what promises to be one of retail's biggest days of the year

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Cyber Monday is set to be among the biggest shopping days of the year - but how can you avoid becoming the victim of online shopping fraud on Monday?

Experian found that last year saw a huge lift in Black Friday’s significance, with a 19 percent increase in visits to retail websites last year (29 Nov) compared to 2012. Cyber Monday is also increasing, with a 9 per cent increase last year on 2012’s figures.

Meanwhile, the rise of ‘click & collect’ services, and a greater trust in retailers being able to deliver well in time for Christmas, has resulted in a trend for people being more comfortable leaving their Christmas shopping until a Monday later: Manic Monday, you might call it.

A few things to remember if you are doing the bulk of your Christmas shopping online, according to Experian:

1. It’s best to use websites that you know and trust. Always look for a security padlock icon in the top left hand corner of a page before you register financial or personal information on a website. And if an online deal you find, or have been emailed, sounds too good to be true, it quite probably is.

2. Use strong passwords, especially if you have stored payment details, and it’s a good idea to change them every now and then. If possible, install the latest anti-virus and firewall software. If you’re out and about, make sure you can’t be overlooked when you make a mobile payment – be especially careful around wi-fi, even at home.

3. Keep an eye on your bank and credit card account balances. Your credit report can also show you if there are any irregularities, such as suspect applications for credit and rises in card balances. As a CreditExpert member you can get unlimited views of your Experian Credit Report and alerts to credit activity in your name so you can spot potentially fraudulent activity.

4. Buying on credit can give you protection. If you buy goods or services on your credit card, you have extra protection if things go wrong (clothes don’t fit, unwanted gifts etc.) compared with paying by cash or even debit card, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

Corliss Tech Review Group provides some tips and reviews on how to secure you through online and technical issue. Our substance is short yet to the point, and intended to challenge you to live in and nurture with IT technologies. For more update, just visit our blog site.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Google Glass barely alive

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Google Glass barely alive

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Two years ago, Google has hyped its Glasses device as the greatest thing since sliced bread -- and for a moment, many of us believed it.

During its launch, there was much enthusiasm on the part of the consumers and developers but now people seemed to be losing interest. (Whether that's because of the $1,500 price tag or the fact that you can't really find a place to buy it from remains unknown.)

While it may still sound supercool to geeks, Glass might not even reach the hands of the general public as developers are jumping out of the bandwagon. Some of them have felt the lack of support from Google, especially since an official public launch date is yet to be set. When Glass became available for developers in 2012, 10,000 units were reportedly sold. Then last year, it became available to tech lovers and media people but as of now, there's no news when it would become commercially available.

"It's not a big enough platform to play on seriously," said the founder of Normative Design Matthew Milan who discontinued their Glass app supposed to target fitness buffs.

According to Corliss Tech Review Group, out of more than a dozen Glass app developers, 9 have already put their efforts on hold owing to the limitations of the gadget and perceived lack of customers. Meanwhile, 3 of them have instead switched their focus on developing software for businesses.

"If there was 200 million Google Glasses sold, it would be a different perspective. There's no market at this point," said Tom Frencel, CEO of a game developer firm that held back its efforts to make a Glass game.

What's more, in the past 6 months, a number of Google employees responsible for the Glass development have reportedly left. Also, the Glass Collective, a funding consortium by Google Ventures has invested in only 3 startups this year and has taken down its website without notice. A spokesperson from Google Ventures said that the reason for the website closure is for entrepreneurs to come to them directly.

Google insists it's still committed to developing Glass. Chris O'Neill, its head of business ops said, "We are completely energized as ever about the opportunity that wearable and Glass in particular represent. We are as committed as ever to a consumer launch. That is going to take time and we are not going to launch this product until it's absolutely ready."

The formerly proud "Explorers" who go around the streets touting their Glasses are now getting flak for being "Glassholes". After all, no one really wants such evident threat to privacy hanging around in obvious, or obscure, places. In fact, someone from Google admitted himself that Glass is a perfect example of privacy issues concerning wearable devices.

Experts from Corliss Tech Review Group have already predicted that it's a tall order for Glass to be a mass-market gadget. It's more likely to go down the road of Segway; a supposedly cool invention that ended up being used only in professional and industrial settings.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Med stora nya iPhone, det är vad är insidan som räknas

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Med stora nya iPhone, det är vad är insidan som räknas

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Större. Större. Större.

Den nya Apple iPhone pågår försäljning denna vecka, iPhone 6 och iPhone 6 Plus har skarpare skärmar, snabbare processorer och skarpare kameror.

Och, som ni kanske har hört, de är också större än tidigare iPhones — 6 Plus på långa vägar — att gå stampede mot större telefoner.

Men efter nästan en vecka för att försöka telefoner, blev det klart att maskinvaran inte var den bästa delen av paketet. I sin strävan att leverera större telefoner till en marknad clamoring för dem, har Apple gjort en telefon som är faktiskt lite för liten och en som är lite för stor. (Apple lånade The New York Times en iPhone 6 och iPhone 6 Plus under förutsättning att en översyn inte skulle vara offentliggöras innan tisdag kl 9 PM Eastern Daylight Time.)

Den bästa delen av de nya telefonerna är faktiskt den nya programvaran insida, som är tillgänglig för vissa äldre modeller också, börjar på onsdag. Programvaran, iOS 8, kombinerar några av de avancerade funktionerna i Android med Apples användarvänlighet och pålitlighet.

Av en programvara är det svårt att se många iPhone fans herrelösa från Apple, även om de inte köpa nya iPhone omedelbart.

IPhone 6 är en 4,7-tums enhet, upp från fyra inches på iPhone 5 och 5S. Det är lite bredare än dessa telefoner, alltför.

Dessa dimensioner gör den något mindre än de övre Android och Windows enheter på marknaden, att hjälpa den passar enkelt i jeans fickor. Jämfört med en Samsung Galaxy S5 eller HTC en (M8), dock känns iPhone 6 skärmen begränsad. IPhone 6 börjar på $200 med ett nytt kontrakt.

Jämföra nya iPhone storlekar

Apples nya telefoner tillgodose en växande aptit bland konsumenterna för större skärmar.

IPhone 6 Plus är en koloss. Den har samma storlek Visa som LG G3, på 5,5 inches, men är betydligt högre. Det är längre än Galaxy not 3, som har en 5,7-tums display. Det börjar på $300 med ett nytt kontrakt.

Både 6 och 6 Plus blir tunnare, plattare och mer rundade former än sina föregångare, att förlora kantig sidorna på nyare modeller. Effekten ser glatt, men känns hala. Släppa verkar nära förestående som du sträcka tummen över de större skärmarna.

Apple tar några små steg för att mildra den finger sträckan med en funktion som kallas nåbarhet, som låter dig röra (inte tryck) hem-knappen två gånger för att flytta skärmen längst ned hälften av displayen.

Funktionen fungerar fint för en hand rullning och hitta app ikoner, men det gör inte mycket annat. Om du i ett e-postmeddelande, till exempel inte kan du få tillgång till alla handlingar som svar eller Arkiv.

Apple kunde ha tagit en cue från andra tillverkare av så kallade phablets (en blandning av ord "telefon" och "tablet") och komma med kraftfulla sätt att dra nytta av de större skärmarna.

Exempelvis låter den kommande Samsung Galaxy Anmärkning 4 användare ändra storlek på app windows med hjälp av ett finger eller en penna och Visa flera fönster samtidigt på sin 5,7-tums skärm, som på en stationär dator. 5.5-tums LG G3 kan du öppna två appar på en gång och ändra storlek på dem som du vill.

IPhone innehåller några tricks som skapats för större telefoner, som en zoomfunktion som låter dig diskret öka storleken på app ikoner och text i native apps.

Och när du slår telefoner i sidled, i liggande läge, tangentbordet i de inbyggda program som Mail och meddelanden har fler alternativ – en mikrofon, ångra nyckel, punkt och kommatecken och andra på iPhone 6, och ännu mer på iPhone 6 Plus, gillar dedikerade knappar för kopiera och klistra in.

De extra iPhone 6 Plus nycklar försvinner om du väljer den zoomade displayen, emellertid. Och iPhone 6 Plus är så stor att i liggande läge, jag hade svårt att nå knapparna för att skriva.

Även det inbyggda Apple-tangentbordet få inte någon extra nycklar när du håller telefonen upprätt, på sätt som Samsung och LG tangentbord inkluderar nummer ovanför bokstäverna, och punkt och kommatecken nycklar.

Som för de funktioner som folk älskar om sina iPhones, bli de bara bättre. IPhone 6 kameror, till exempel, är enastående.

Både bakåtvänd kameror har nya sensorer som levererar snabbare autofokus, bättre ansiktsavkänning och förmågan att fånga högupplösta panoraman. Snabbare fokus är omedelbart uppenbart, även i vardagligt bruk.

IPhone 6 Plus särskilt använder optisk bildstabilisering att leverera bättre bilder i svagt ljus och minska övergripande skaka och oskärpa. Den trevlig funktionen är tyvärr inte på iPhone 6.

Och filmskapare swooning över iPhone HD-video, snabbare bildfrekvens (som leder till jämnare video) och högre kvalitet slow motion capture. Filmisk video stabilisering hjälper jämna ut video tas medan flytta och en time lapse-läget fäster ett skott varje sekund eller så och stygn dem tillsammans.

Naturligtvis alla videor och bilder ser bra ut på de större skärmarna, särskilt iPhone 6 Plus. För kamera buffs kommer att större telefon sannolikt att vara ett måste.

Samtalets kvalitet på de nya telefonerna är utmärkt och jag hittade batteritid på mindre iPhone 6 vara imponerande. Jag gick nästan två hela dagar utan kostnad. Batteritiden på iPhone 6 Plus är mer som en dag av konstant användning och inte mycket mer, men det är inte hemskt på en telefon som storlek.

Den riktiga magin, händer dock, på grund av Apples nya operativsystem.

Programvaran iOS 8 ser inte mycket annorlunda, men många finesser gör det mer kraftfull och flexibel. Några av funktionerna komma ikapp konkurrenterna och vissa är helt nya.

Uppgraderingen lägger till iCloud-enhet, till exempel, som låter dig mer enkelt dela dokument över produkter, som du kan med Dropbox eller Google Drive. En familj dela funktionen låter dig dela din köpta böcker, filmer, musik och några apps med upp till sex familjemedlemmar, så de behöver inte logga in på ditt konto för att titta på en film eller använda en app som du har köpt.

Efter OS X Yosemite, det nya operativsystemet för Mac, släpps i oktober, gör Apples kontinuitet funktionen att du Visa inkommande textmeddelanden på alla enheter, dela dokument mellan en telefon och dator och skicka ett SMS eller ringa samtal från din Mac.

Mindre förbättringar – utgående meddelanden och röstanteckningar, Spotlight-sökningar som inkluderar webbresultat, och nyligen använda kontakter som dyker upp när du dubbel-tryck på home-knappen Växla mellan eller stänga apps – lägga till upp till en raffinerad mobila OS.

Vissa funktioner är inte perfekta, och många av de sexigare funktionerna är fortfarande på vägen. Rätt nu, till exempel hälsa app helt enkelt inte göra mycket. Det beror på integration med tredje part apps (planerad att släppas med telefoner) och den kommande Apple klocka.

Det nya operativsystemet kommer på de nya telefonerna och kanna bli installerat denna vecka på den iPhone 5S, 5 och 4S. Människor som har dessa telefoner och vars två år mobiltelefon kontrakt har ännu inte löpt ut kan vila lätt. De kommer att få många av de bästa funktionerna i årets uppgradera cykeln.

Den smala nya iPhone är inte en storbilds-slam-dunk, men de fungerar bra, som vi har kommit att förvänta från Apple. Det är i slutändan vad är på insidan som håller dem precis framför sina konkurrenter.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on
Bitdefender Total Security 2015

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on
Bitdefender Total Security 2015

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Regarded as one of the best technical Windows internet security suites for PC and laptop, and Total Security 2015 lives up to that rep. Bitdefender is widely regarded as one of the best technical Windows internet security suites. Its Total Security product offers a very good range of the features you rightly expect in a security suite. The 2015 version aims to make life even easier for customers by introducing Profiles, which adapt the software for particular tasks, like playing games, watching movies or general office work. Also see: Best internet security software 2014. After installation, you’re presented with a very Windows 8-looking tiled interface. Rather than having a lot of tiles slide awkwardly through the Bitdefender window, as in the 2014 version, here there are three large tiles and four subsidiary ones, giving quick and easy access to all the program’s key functions. The modules provided by Bitdefender Total Security 2015 cover AV, anti-malware and anti-spam, tune-up, online banking protection, a 2-way firewall, parental control, online backup and anti-theft provision. Online backup, which Bitdefender Total Security 2015 refers to as Safebox, is handled from the My Bitdefender online site, which is unusual – it’s more usually set up and managed locally. It works by syncing the files and folders you select with off-site storage and offers 2 GB of space. This is paltry in a Bitdefender Total Security 2015 package catering for three PCs, though you can, naturally, buy more. System optimisation looks at three different areas that might need attention: disk, Windows Registry and privacy. After we’d adjusted the default settings to leave browser caches and history alone, Bitdefender Total Security 2015 still managed to recover 8.7 GB from our test system, which is worth having back. You can run the optimiser with a single click. The anti-theft features include locating, locking down and wiping a stolen laptop, although still no facility to take a photo of the person using it. While testing on a desktop PC, we tried the locate facility, which repeatedly reported we were in a suburb of Doncaster, a place we’ve never knowingly visited (although we’re sure it’s very nice). Since this writer is based in Devon that’s not very encouraging. The Profiles, apart from the Standard one applied by default, are for work, games and videos. They postpone protection and maintenance tasks which impair performance and put off automatic Windows updates. Like many tasks in Bitdefender Total Security 2015, you can leave selection of the correct profile to AutoPilot, which automatically manages the IS suite when engaged. Our tests showed a fairly low scan rate of 54.5 files per second, but good file fingerprinting, dropping the number of files scanned from 79,145 to 14,703 on a second scan. We measured very little resource hit, too, with just a 10 percent impact on our copy test, when also running a background scan with Bitdefender Total Security 2015. The German test site AV-Test (www.av-test.org) has awarded Bitdefender Total Security 2015 top marks in its test groups for the last three years, which is a notable achievement. Most recently, using the 2014 product, the product managed an overall score of 17.5/18.0, which breaks down into a perfect 6.0/6.0 for Protection, the same for Usability and 5.5/6.0 for Performance. Performance looks at how much the software affects the overall speed of the system it’s run on, and here it gave just a 1 second knock-back, against 5 sec for the group Bitdefender Total Security 2015 was tested in, as a whole. A very good result.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Logitech K480 Keyboard Works with Anything You Own

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Logitech K480 Keyboard Works with Anything You Own

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It’s a truth as universal as it is annoying; if you want all your devices to work with a specific keyboard, well, you’ll probably need either one for each, sign on for precisely one device ecosystem, or get used to swiping in words. Travelers in particular are driven insane by this problem, so Logitech decided, quite cleverly, to solve it with the K480.

Swiss Army Keyboard

There are two problems with modern portable keyboards. The first is, as we noted,device compatibility. Ask anybody who’s had to install drivers just to get a basic keyboard to work, the various device ecosystems out there don’t play well with each other and seemingly want to drive you insane.

Logitech solves this with some clever design. You can switch between three different places to send your words, so that regardless of whether you’re all Apple, or a mix of Apple, Chrome, and Windows, you’ll be able to use the keyboard and get the point across. Basically, if it uses Bluetooth, you’re all set to type.

At The Trough

The second problem is keeping all your stuff organized; you’ve got your phone over here, your tablet over there, and your laptop in front of you… and many keyboards want to be docked solely at your tablet. How does Logitech solve this? Simple: It puts a trough at the top of the keyboard that can easily be used to stand up both your tablet and your phone, and to type away at both of them with ease.

A Keyboard For The Multitasker
Multitasking, or at least sorting through your various tasks properly, can be a profoundly annoying experience, and Logitech deserves credit for looking at how we actually use our gadgets and creating a keyboard that fits in with them. If that’s something you need, it starts at just $50.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on How Anqor
Gets You Online

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on How Anqor
Gets You Online

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If you travel, you know the pain of getting online wherever you go. Either you pay offensive tethering charges when you really shouldn’t be, or, in some cases, it’s just impossible to access the Internet unless you’ve got an in-country SIM card. As we’re increasingly global, this is increasingly annoying, but there’s one Kickstarter, Anqor, that supposedly has the solution.

Always Online

The Anqor itself is fairly straightforward, as a device. It’s about the size of a novelty paperback you get as a gift, and relatively light, although that’s just the prototype; the end goal device is roughly the size of an iPhone. And it works relatively simply, as well; it connects to a 3G or 4G network in the area you’re in, connects to up to ten of the devices you have handy, and we’re off to the races. It’s how it connects that’s more interesting.

SIMulated Card

As we all know, to access a local mobile network, you need a SIM card, which is profoundly annoying. What the Anqor does is determine where you are, riffle through the company’s library of SIM cards, upload the profile, and you’re done. The tradeoff, of course, is that this doesn’t come cheap. Global travelers looking for this convenience will be paying roughly $52 a month for the library, although you can pause a subscription at any time, and for just one country, it’ll be a more reasonable $16 a month.

Online Anywhere

If you’re a world traveler, you know from experience that you’ll be running around juggling SIM cards anyway, so you may as well clean some of the clutter out of your life. And, if you never leave the country but your job requires constant Internet access, this might be worth it as well. The device, without data plan, will start at around $270 if you get in early on the Kickstarter.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: The Bluetooth Tracking
Gadget 

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: The Bluetooth Tracking
Gadget 

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The only thing missing from Tile, the Bluetooth tracking gadget, is more users (review)

In 2013, a crowdfunded project known as the Tile became a smash hit, racking up over $2,500,000 in funding from nearly 50,000 backers. The secret to its success? Simple: The Tile promised to help users locate any object attached to the coin-sized Bluetooth-connected tag priced at $20.

I signed on as a backer mostly out of curiosity. After all, compared to some crowdfunded tech projects like the Pebble, the 3Doodler or the Micro 3D printer, the $20 Tile seemed like a no-brainer.

So I committed my cash and then, just like thousands of others, I began a very long wait for my Tile to arrive. I had almost given up hope of ever seeing a Tile in the flesh when finally — nearly a year after having backed the project — my Tile showed up last week.

“So far we’ve delivered to over 50,000 people,” Nick Evans, Tile’s co-founder and CEO said in an interview with VentureBeat.

I guess I was lucky to be amongst the first third of buyers. Evans sympathizes with those who feel the wait has been too long, “I’ve pre-ordered items too and there can be a lot of frustration, like, where is this thing? We’re working as hard as we can to get everyone’s Tiles to them.”

First impressions

My neighbor ordered a Tile at the same time I did and his showed up the same day as mine. “It’s a lot bigger than I expected,” he said. It’s true: The Tile looks and feels a lot larger in real life than it did in the photos and videos that Tile posted to its website during the funding period.

Wondering why both my neighbor and I (and other reviewers) had the same reaction, I checked one of the ads that was — and is still — used to promote the Tile. Sure enough, the image Tile chose does an excellent job of masking the Tile’s thickness. The ad makes it appear as though the Tile is barely thicker than a coin — or a key for that matter.

The actual dimensions are 37mm x 37mm x 5.3 mm. The effect is that, when attached to a keychain, the Tile feels more like the largest object on your ring, not just another key.

Evans claims there was no attempt to mislead customers and that the Tile used in these promotional images is the same size, shape and thickness as the units that have been shipped: “That’s the actual size. We of course wanted to advertise the correct size […] we didn’t want people to be disappointed,” he says.

How it works

Getting a Tile set up is very easy. After you download the free Tile app (iOS only, for now), enable Bluetooth and location services, and register for a free Tile account, the app prompts you to add your first Tile.

To do so, simply press and hold on the “e” portion of the “tile” word on the Tile until the Tile emits a little tune and hold the Tile close to your iOS device when prompted to do so. Your Tile is now paired. You can add up to 8 Tiles per account.

The Tile app will always show you the last place it “saw” (i.e., where it was in direct Bluetooth contact with) your Tile and how long ago it saw it.

A killer community

I gave my Tile to my neighbor to take with him to work. My Tile app was able to locate it perfectly.

Above: I gave my Tile to my neighbor to take with him to work. My Tile app was able to locate it perfectly.

So what happens when your Tile can’t be located by going back to the last place your app saw it?

Tile calls it the “Community Find” feature. Turns out, every person who keeps the Tile app open on their iOS device becomes a node in a much larger Tile network.

Annual renewal

The other drawback to the Tile is its non-user-replaceable battery. Because Tiles are sealed, which gives them a splash-proof exterior, there’s no way to access or replace any of its innards, including the battery. Tiles are only good for one year, after which Tile will get in touch to facilitate the return of your now-dead Tile and presumably give you the option to re-up for another year for another $20.

This works out to about $1.66 per month per object tracked, on an indefinite basis. Is it worth it? I guess it depends on what you’re tracking and how often you think you might misplace it.

Conclusion

The $20 Tile is a device that does exactly what it claims: It helps you locate misplaced objects using your smartphone in a way that is easy and intuitive.

For most people, even though the Tile is only effective for a year, it offers a convenient, expandable and soon — according to Evans — shareable way to track your most commonly lost articles.

Visit our facebook page and follow us on twitter @CorlissTech.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Closing the High-Tech Gender Gap

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Closing the High-Tech Gender Gap

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This year’s Lemelson-MIT Prize winner discusses grassroots ways for boosting the number of women in technology and business.

I have a confession to make: I’ve been living under a rock.

I’ve actually been busy under here — running a bioengineering lab at MIT, starting companies, teaching, consulting, being a mom. But I’ve been so focused on keeping all the balls in the air that, until recently, I hadn’t noticed that women typically aren’t the ones starting technology companies.

To be fair, I had recognized that:

• Girls choose engineering less often and drop out of engineering disproportionately (the so-called “leaky pipeline”).

• The percentage of women computer science majors peaked 30 years ago.

• The higher I climb, the fewer other women there are at the table with me.

I’ve also seen progress in gender equity in higher education. I just didn’t realize until recently that the technology industry is light years behind.

In case you’ve also been under a rock, here are some numbers that I found truly astonishing. Women lead only 3 percent of tech startups, account for only 4 percent of the senior venture partners funding such startups and represent only 5 percent of the founders, advisors and directors at MIT technology spinoffs.

Are you as shocked as I was? What if I tell you that more than 50 percent of students in some MIT undergraduate science majors are women — and that’s been the case for almost 20 years? Where do these talented women go, and what are the implications of that drain?

If we believe that entrepreneurship is a fundamental engine of progress, that it is a path to getting ideas into the world, then what does it mean for our society if the ideas that germinate in the minds of all those young women rarely turn into companies with products? (By the way, women-led private tech companies have 12 percent higher revenue and 35 percent higher return on investment than those led by men, according to the Kauffman Foundation. This shouldn’t have to be true to make us care, but it actually is.)

The Lemelson-MIT Prize is an award for invention, for making discoveries useful through commercialization, and for inspiring the next generation. As the 2014 recipient, I am truly honored and grateful to the many people who have contributed to our collective track record using miniaturization tools to impact human health.

Here are three things that made a difference for me:

Great expectations: My biggest fan and mentor has always been my dad, himself a serial entrepreneur. When I became a professor, he had mixed feelings about me climbing the ivory tower. To encourage me, he asked one simple question: “When will you start your first company?”  (As it turned out, I started my first company within five years. Since then, my students and have founded 10 companies between us.)

Microclimate: Many have noted the chilly climate for women in engineering. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky. Of my college tribe of girlfriends, four of us are now successful entrepreneurs. My best friend is among that 4 percent of women venture capitalists; in fact, she was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. I’m fortunate to work alongside female founder colleagues, MIT’s Technology Licensing Office, and the ever-inspirational Professor Robert Langer. Indeed, my microclimate is actually pretty warm.

Men who believed in me: Much has been written about visible role models for women. I try to be one, even when it’s hard to put myself “out there.” Along the same lines, I appreciate having had a working mom who was a trailblazer, having been one of the first women in India to receive an MBA. However, it’s worth noting that the people in my life who have seen more for me than I saw for myself, who believed in me and promoted me, were mostly men, including my graduate advisor, my first investor, and my husband. The truth is that changing the face of technology requires the involvement of men who care about it.

I will donate some of the prize money to the MIT Society of Women Engineers. This organization runs fabulous outreach programs designed to keep young girls interested in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). I also look forward to supporting a program for women’s entrepreneurship in MIT’s upcoming Innovation Initiative.

I hope other institutions will follow suit and such initiatives spread as quickly and far as the ideas set forth in the gender equity report championed by MIT’s beloved former president Charles Vest. I encourage you to also do your part: If you believe strongly in a talented woman you know, why not ask her when she will be starting her first company? It could be just the kind of great expectation that makes a real difference.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Closing the High-Tech Gender Gap

# data[].attributes.subject
The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Closing the High-Tech Gender Gap

# data[].attributes.body
This year’s Lemelson-MIT Prize winner discusses grassroots ways for boosting the number of women in technology and business.

I have a confession to make: I’ve been living under a rock.

I’ve actually been busy under here — running a bioengineering lab at MIT, starting companies, teaching, consulting, being a mom. But I’ve been so focused on keeping all the balls in the air that, until recently, I hadn’t noticed that women typically aren’t the ones starting technology companies.

To be fair, I had recognized that:

• Girls choose engineering less often and drop out of engineering disproportionately (the so-called “leaky pipeline”).

• The percentage of women computer science majors peaked 30 years ago.

• The higher I climb, the fewer other women there are at the table with me.

I’ve also seen progress in gender equity in higher education. I just didn’t realize until recently that the technology industry is light years behind.

In case you’ve also been under a rock, here are some numbers that I found truly astonishing. Women lead only 3 percent of tech startups, account for only 4 percent of the senior venture partners funding such startups and represent only 5 percent of the founders, advisors and directors at MIT technology spinoffs.

Are you as shocked as I was? What if I tell you that more than 50 percent of students in some MIT undergraduate science majors are women — and that’s been the case for almost 20 years? Where do these talented women go, and what are the implications of that drain?

If we believe that entrepreneurship is a fundamental engine of progress, that it is a path to getting ideas into the world, then what does it mean for our society if the ideas that germinate in the minds of all those young women rarely turn into companies with products? (By the way, women-led private tech companies have 12 percent higher revenue and 35 percent higher return on investment than those led by men, according to the Kauffman Foundation. This shouldn’t have to be true to make us care, but it actually is.)

The Lemelson-MIT Prize is an award for invention, for making discoveries useful through commercialization, and for inspiring the next generation. As the 2014 recipient, I am truly honored and grateful to the many people who have contributed to our collective track record using miniaturization tools to impact human health.

Here are three things that made a difference for me:

Great expectations: My biggest fan and mentor has always been my dad, himself a serial entrepreneur. When I became a professor, he had mixed feelings about me climbing the ivory tower. To encourage me, he asked one simple question: “When will you start your first company?”  (As it turned out, I started my first company within five years. Since then, my students and have founded 10 companies between us.)

Microclimate: Many have noted the chilly climate for women in engineering. I’ve been extraordinarily lucky. Of my college tribe of girlfriends, four of us are now successful entrepreneurs. My best friend is among that 4 percent of women venture capitalists; in fact, she was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. I’m fortunate to work alongside female founder colleagues, MIT’s Technology Licensing Office, and the ever-inspirational Professor Robert Langer. Indeed, my microclimate is actually pretty warm.

Men who believed in me: Much has been written about visible role models for women. I try to be one, even when it’s hard to put myself “out there.” Along the same lines, I appreciate having had a working mom who was a trailblazer, having been one of the first women in India to receive an MBA. However, it’s worth noting that the people in my life who have seen more for me than I saw for myself, who believed in me and promoted me, were mostly men, including my graduate advisor, my first investor, and my husband. The truth is that changing the face of technology requires the involvement of men who care about it.

I will donate some of the prize money to the MIT Society of Women Engineers. This organization runs fabulous outreach programs designed to keep young girls interested in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). I also look forward to supporting a program for women’s entrepreneurship in MIT’s upcoming Innovation Initiative.

I hope other institutions will follow suit and such initiatives spread as quickly and far as the ideas set forth in the gender equity report championed by MIT’s beloved former president Charles Vest. I encourage you to also do your part: If you believe strongly in a talented woman you know, why not ask her when she will be starting her first company? It could be just the kind of great expectation that makes a real difference.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on Neuroscientists
Object to Europe’s Human Brain Project

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on Neuroscientists
Object to Europe’s Human Brain Project

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More than 180 neuroscientists have signed an open letter to the European Commission calling on it to reconsider the technical goals and oversight of one of the world’s largest brain-mapping projects, predicting it is likely to fail.

The European Union agreed last year to invest more than one billion euros in the Human Brain Project (HBP), a 10-year effort involving dozens of research institutions to create a simulation of how the human brain works, using supercomputers.

But according to a letter released by dissenting scientists, the project is doomed by opaque management and the pursuit of goals not widely shared by neuroscientists. “We believe the HBP is not a well-conceived or implemented project and that it is ill suited to be the centerpiece of European neuroscience,” the letter says.

Governments, including those of the United States and China, have all launched large neuroscience projects to study the brain (see “Brain Mapping”). But the brain is so massively complex—it has roughly 86 billion neurons and trillions of connections—that there’s little consensus on how to study it.

Europe’s HBP has been particularly controversial because it emphasizes large-scale mapping of the brain and computer simulations over traditional, small-scale bench research. The project’s core goal, according to its website, is “to build a completely new information computing technology infrastructure for neuroscience.”

Signers of the letter, including neuroscientists from the University of Oxford and the Institut Pasteur, intend to boycott 50 million euros per year of neuroscience research grants that have been linked to the EU project.

“Why should an information technology project determine neuroscience funding?” says Zachary Mainen, a researcher at the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown in Portugal, which gathered the signatures after a component of the project it was involved with was cancelled. “It’s not a project that was planned by the neuroscience community. They say they are going to simulate the brain, but I don’t think anyone believes that.”

According to a report in the Guardian, the neuroscientists hope to influence a review of the project by European officials that is expected to be complete by the end of the summer.

The HBP is led by Henry Markram, a neuroscientist at the the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, who says critics are upset because there’s a scientific “paradigm shift” under way that threatens their way of working.

“It’s a natural reaction when you move from an old paradigm to a new one. It happened with the Human Genome Project,” says Markram. “That was also about large-scale, systematic teams working together, and you also had the individual labs saying ‘Oh my, I am going to be out of business.’ It’s very similar to that.”

Within two years, Markram says, the HBP will release the first phase of its technology platform, which will let any scientist contribute data and run simulations. He says this will bring neuroscience up to speed with disciplines like astrophysics or climate research, where scientists use simulations all the time. “You can’t measure everything in the Universe, but you can simulate it,” he says. “You can’t measure all of the brain, either, so we are going to have to predict a lot of it.”

That focus on computer simulations is what’s generating the most withering criticism. Konrad Kording, a neuroscientist at Northwestern University, calls the European project “useless and misleading” and says there is “genuine concern that the neuroscience community in Europe will be damaged by a very high-profile project that is deeply misguided.” Continue reading…

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: New
Algorithm Finds the Most Beautiful

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: New
Algorithm Finds the Most Beautiful

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The way we navigate in cities has been revolutionized in the last few years by the advent of GPS mapping programs. Enter your start and end location and these will give you the shortest route from A to B.

That’s usually the best bet when driving, but walking is a different matter. Often, pedestrians want the quietest route or the most beautiful but if they turn to a mapping application, they’ll get little help.

That could change now thanks to the work of Daniele Quercia at Yahoo Labs in Barcelona, Spain, and a couple of pals. These guys have worked out how to measure the “beauty” of specific locations within cities and then designed an algorithm that automatically chooses a route between two locations in a way that maximizes the beauty along it. “The goal of this work is to automatically suggest routes that are not only short but also emotionally pleasant,” they say.

Quercia and co begin by creating a database of images of various parts of the center of London taken from Google Street View and Geograph, both of which have reasonably consistent standards of images. They then crowdsourced opinions about the beauty of each location using a website called UrbanGems.org.

Each visitor to UrbanGems sees two photographs and chooses the one which shows the more beautiful location. That gives the team a crowdsourced opinion about the beauty of each location. They then plot each of these locations and their beauty score on a map which they use to provide directions.

The idea here is that the user enters a start and end location and an algorithm then finds the most beautiful route, rather than the shortest one. It does this by searching through every possible route, adding the beauty scores for each and choosing the one that ranks highest.

Quercia and co say that on average these routes turn out to be just 12 percent longer than the shortest routes, which makes them reasonable alternatives for a pedestrian.

To work out whether the routes chosen by the algorithm are really more beautiful, Quercia and co recruited 30 people who live in London and are familiar with the area, to assess the recommended paths. And indeed, they agreed that the routes chosen by the algorithm were more beautiful than the shortest routes.

But that’s just the start. Crowdsourcing opinion for every possible location in a city is clearly a time-consuming and potentially expensive business. So Quercia and co have automated this process using photos from Flickr and the data and tags attached to them.

They chose some five million pictures taken in the same places as their original photos and then mined the data associated with them to see what parameters correlated with beauty.

Factors that turn out to be a good indicator of beauty are things like the number of pictures taken of a particular scene and comments associated with positive emotions. So looking for locations on Flickr that fulfill this requirement ought to produce a list of beautiful places in any city.

Quercia and co tested this idea in Boston to find beautiful locations on Flickr and then used their algorithm to find the most beautiful path between two locations. They then asked 54 people to evaluate these paths. Sure enough, the participants generally felt that the routes chosen by the algorithm were more beautiful than the shortest parts.

If you know Boston or London yourself, you can evaluate the routes chosen by the algorithms yourself by examining the maps in the paper.

Of course, there are potential problems. Some locations are less attractive at certain times of the day, for example during rush hour when traffic is heavier or at night when the character of some parts the city can change dramatically. The algorithm cannot account for these differences

Nevertheless, this is an interesting approach that has the potential to change the experience people have in interacting with the city. It’s not hard to imagine that tourist authorities might use an application like this to help visitors experience the best parts of a city on foot.

Quercia and co have a plan like that. Their next goal is to build a mobile app and test it in the wild across different cities in Europe and the U.S. Keep an eye out for it.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: A Smart Home Knows When to
Blast the AC

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: A Smart Home Knows When to
Blast the AC

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The newest idea in home automation is letting your thermostat track your smartphone, and only blast the air conditioner when you're at home. WSJ Personal Tech Columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler put Honeywell's new Lyric thermostat to the test.

When it's hotter than Hades outside, wouldn't it be nice if your air conditioner knew you were coming home and cooled things down inside?

That's the idea behind two new "smart" climate-control systems, the $279 Honeywell Lyric thermostat and the $279 Aros window air conditioner made by Quirky and General Electric. GE -0.56% They blast the AC when you're at home, and not when you're out.

Welcome to the era where your AC keeps tabs on you. These Internet-connected appliances take commands from apps and work by tracking the location of every smartphone in your household—yours, your spouse's, and Grandma's too. (In a pinch, you can still control them manually.)

I installed Lyric and Aros in my San Francisco home, and in two friends' homes in warmer Bay Area climes. We found both devices can go a long way toward liberating you from fiddling with thermostat dials, and possibly saving energy. But neither are quite smart or simple enough to just set and forget.

These appliances are attempts at reinvention by Honeywell and GE, two of the biggest brands in climate control, now under attack from Silicon Valley. Nest Labs raised the bar in two ways when it launched its first consumer-installed "smart" thermostat in 2011: First, we now expect our home heating and AC to be smartphone-controllable and have some intelligence to supposedly help save us money. Second, many of us no longer balk at paying $250 for a dial that used to cost less than $50.

To make their systems more competitive, Honeywell and GE (working with partners at product development firm Quirky) added Wi-Fi and remote-control apps and simplified their interfaces with big, clear displays. But their biggest innovation is tracking location.

The app knows when your family is or isn't home by drawing a virtual circle around your house, visible only to your smartphone, called a "geofence." In my tests, this worked as promised: Every time I moved past the perimeter, my phone would quietly alert the app, which then sent commands to the appliances via the Internet. Both were also smart enough to understand my family—it conserved energy only when everyone had left the house and kicked back on for the first person to return.

Read Full Article

Read more Tech Reviews here

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: GE
Device Measures the Calories on Your Plate

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: GE
Device Measures the Calories on Your Plate

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Self-tracking devices like the Fitbit do a fair, if imperfect, job at measuring how much you move and then inferring how many calories you've burned in a day. But they don't measure how many calories you consume. You can enter calorie estimates into an app, but doing so is a tedious and often inaccurate process.

GE researchers have a prototype device that directly measures the calories in your food. So far it only works on blended foods-the prototype requires a homogenous mixture to get an accurate reading. But they're developing a version of the device that will determine the calories in a plate of food-say, a burrito, some chips, and guacamole-and send the information to your smartphone.

Matt Webster, the senior scientist in diagnostic imaging and biomedical technologies at GE Research who invented the calorie counter, says eventually the device might be incorporated into a microwave oven or some other kitchen appliance. Heat your food, and at the same time get a readout of the precise calorie count, without measuring out portions and consulting nutritional charts.

Webster analyzed nutritional data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-which contains detailed information on thousands of foods-and determined that it's possible to get an accurate calorie estimate using just three pieces of data-fat content, water content, and weight. The calories from all the other constituents of food-such as sugar, fiber, and protein-can be approximated by subtracting the water and fat weight from the total weight.

In tests using the prototype to measure mixtures of oil, sugar, and water, results were within 5 to 10 percent of the results from standard, destructive means of measuring calorie content, such as the bomb calorimeter that measures food calorie content by burning it.

The device works by passing low-energy microwaves through a weighed portion of food and measuring how the microwaves are changed by the food-fat and water affect the microwaves in characteristic ways. Getting a reading is easy using existing equipment if the food is liquid or blended. Getting a good reading for a sandwich and chips will require "virtual blending" Webster says. That could be done by developing microwave antennas that form a more uniform distribution of microwaves than the current equipment and using algorithms to get an average, or by progressively scanning the food. In either case, the complete measurement could be taken in a second or two.

Others are developing devices that are being marketed as being able to count calories. For example, a pair of devices have emerged recently on crowd-funding sites. But those devices are limited to analyzing the surface of most foods (they work by measuring reflected light). This approach might work to recognize a piece of food as an apple, for example, whose caloric content can be looked up in a database. It wouldn't easily work with a burrito, where most of the calories are wrapped up inside.

"We're looking at waves that pass all the way through the food. So you're getting a complete measurement of the entire food," Webster says.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: UK Businesses Ignoring Consumer
Demand for Mobile Payment Tech

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: UK Businesses Ignoring Consumer
Demand for Mobile Payment Tech

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Mastercard warns: invest or face economic consequences.

Many UK businesses are struggling to expand and develop to their full potential due to a lack of proper investment into new technologies such as alternative payment methods, a senior Mastercard executive has told CBR.

Marcia Clay, the groups’ UK and Ireland head of strategy and commercial development, explained that UK consumers are increasingly calling forinnovative technologies such as mobile payments as they look to simplify their everyday lives.

“I believe we need to prioritise support for innovative start-ups, businesses in the eCommerce and mobile payments sector for example, which are in a unique position to propel the UK economy forward in 2014 and beyond,” she said.

Clay detailed how Mastercard is working with London-based Startupbootcamp FinTech, providing the expertise, mentoring and access to a network of industry professionals that most early-stage FinTech start-ups would not be able to access otherwise.

Mastercard has found that many small businesses still do not use electronic payments, despite almost 80% of UK businesses having a website or some sort of online presence. A much smaller percentage can currently accept card payments, and the company believes that businesses of all sizes should be encouraged to invest in new technology and services that give consumers more choice.

The company also found that UK consumers are using mobile and contactless payment methods and wide-spread adoption is reaching a critical mass; with around 5.7m transactions taking place on UK smartphones every day. This has been spurred on by a major growth in contactless payments, which grew by 383% from 2012 to 2013 across the country as more UK banks began rolling out the technology.

Figures released today by the British Bankers Association show that more than 15,000 people are downloading banking apps every day, withtransactions using the internet or mobile banking methods are now worth £6.4bn a week up from £5.8bn last year.

“It is important to always understand what really matters to consumers,” Clay says. “Through our research we have identified what really matters is feeling safe and secure from fraud, whether it be physical point of sale or online, experiencing a simple and speedy process, and confidence that wherever they are, whatever they are doing their payment method will be excepted.

“The UK is leading, but the world is catching up with us and if UK businesses don’t embrace the fast evolution of commerce, we will be left behind.”

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How Can Space Tech Help Detect Bank Fraud
On Earth?

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How Can Space Tech Help Detect Bank Fraud
On Earth?

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review – Drawing on their experience building complex software for simulating spaceflight, Portuguese scientists have created a 21st-century way of detecting banking fraud here on Earth.

Today, every electronic purchase in Portugal runs through their software. Around the globe, Feedzai products screen some US$229 billion-worth of payments every year.

But what do space missions and software designed to find thieves have in common? More than you might think – in addition to high-tech hardware, space missions require a great deal of sophisticated software.

“When you launch a spacecraft, you need software to guide it,” explained Feedzai’s Paulo Marques, who was an ESA consultant before founding Feedzai in 2009. “You also need software for communications from the ground.”

Long before a spacecraft is launched, the software must be thoroughly tested for flaws. There’s just one problem, explained Paulo: “You don’t have an actual spacecraft yet.”

So, scientists build a software universe to simulate the mission.

“What you need to have is something that represents the spacecraft, mission control and ground stations, along with many other components, in order to check it all.”

At ESA, Paulo and Feedzai’s Nuno Sebastiao called on high-performance computing techniques to create virtual satellites: “Clusters of computers pretend to be everything involved. A computer acts like a spacecraft.”

The software must be very robust in order to mimic each element of the mission and spacecraft perfectly.

And it must be able to do this quickly – in far less time than it would take to complete an actual mission.

“The software has to be able to process all the information it gets in a very, very effective way,” said Paulo, “as if it were the real spacecraft.”

Spacecraft operators also train using this software. “You are not going to put a spacecraft in the hands of someone who hasn’t trained before.”

Space experience for stopping fraud

Fraud detection and space mission software face similar challenges. For one thing, both need to process huge amounts of information in real time. “If we talk about a bank, you need to process thousands of transactions every single second.”

In bank fraud detection, as in space, software must recognize anything that is out of the ordinary.

In space, an unexpected change in temperature could indicate a crack in the wall. In banking, anomalies often point to fraud: if a petrol station suddenly starts generating sales figures like those of a luxury car dealership, it is a sign of trouble.

However, there are differences. While hard-and-fast rules are set to detect an anomaly in space, fraud requires decisions on a case-by-case basis. A sudden temperature change in a spacecraft is always a problem, but each bank customer has his own, individual habits.

As a result, the software must recognize what is normal for a business-owner and what is normal for a teacher, based on the past practices of each, before it can identify any odd behavior.

To make this possible, Feedzai came up with an artificial intelligence software system.

“We developed software that can process a huge number of transactions,” said Paulo. This software can look at every transaction a customer has made for the last four years.

By applying both ‘machine learning’ and ‘big-data techniques’ to look at all the data, the software learns to distinguish fraudulent-looking from non-fraudulent-looking transactions.

“The software creates the rules.”

Feedzai’s software is certainly robust. Tracking over 300 variables per person, it creates very detailed, individualized spending profiles for as many as 20 million credit cardholders per system. “In total we are tracking over five billion variables continuously.”

“It’s like having 500 very intelligent people looking at every single transaction and making a call based on their experience if it’s fraud or not. It’s a huge amount of computing power.”

Carlos Cerqueira from Instituto Pedro Nunes, the Portuguese broker in ESA’s Technology Transfer Network part of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme, believes Feedzai’s technology will mean savings for banks, as well as improved customer loyalty: “Feedzai’s machine learning models and big data science are able to detect fraud up to 30% earlier than traditional methods, and illustrate how the competencies developed at ESA research centres can be useful to other sectors.”

Space knowledge generates growth

This year, Feedzai moved its headquarters from Portugal to California as they expand further into the world market.

”It is great to see that the expertise and knowledge generated on European space programs also can lead to innovative techniques in fighting credit card fraud,” said Frank M. Salzgeber, Head of ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office.

“It illustrates very well the spin-off potential from our space programmes. Dealing with space calls for leading-edge technological solutions, which explains why the space industry is often far ahead of others.”

Portugal’s delegate to ESA, Luís Serina, emphasised that, “This success case shows us that the investment in ESA also contributes to the creation of jobs and growth through technological innovation, which is even more important nowadays.”

Certainly, there is plenty of fraud to go around: each year, $11.4 billion is lost to credit card fraud. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, that number is likely to grow.

“We’re part of the defence mechanism,” said Feedzai spokesperson Loc Nguyen. “The invisible layer you as a consumer never think about. If you don’t know about us, it means that we’re working.”

More related articles

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Space
simulation technologies inspire anti-fraud systems on Earth

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Space
simulation technologies inspire anti-fraud systems on Earth

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Drawing on their experience building complex software for simulating spaceflight, Portuguese scientists have created a 21st-century way of detecting banking fraud here on Earth.

Today, every electronic purchase in Portugal runs through their software. Around the globe, Feedzai products screen some US$229 billion-worth of payments every year.

But what do space missions and software designed to find thieves have in common? More than you might think – in addition to high-tech hardware, space missions require a great deal of sophisticated software.

"When you launch a spacecraft, you need software to guide it," explained Feedzai's Paulo Marques, who was an ESA consultant before founding Feedzai in 2009. "You also need software for communications from the ground."

Long before a spacecraft is launched, the software must be thoroughly tested for flaws. There's just one problem, explained Paulo: "You don't have an actual spacecraft yet."

So, scientists build a software universe to simulate the mission.

"What you need to have is something that represents the spacecraft, mission control and ground stations, along with many other components, in order to check it all."

At ESA, Paulo and Feedzai's Nuno Sebastiao called on high-performance computing techniques to create virtual satellites: "Clusters of computers pretend to be everything involved. A computer acts like a spacecraft."

The software must be very robust in order to mimic each element of the mission and spacecraft perfectly.

And it must be able to do this quickly – in far less time than it would take to complete an actual mission.

"The software has to be able to process all the information it gets in a very, very effective way," said Paulo, "as if it were the real spacecraft."

Spacecraft operators also train using this software. "You are not going to put a spacecraft in the hands of someone who hasn't trained before."

Space experience for stopping fraud

Fraud detection and space mission software face similar challenges. For one thing, both need to process huge amounts of information in real time. "If we talk about a bank, you need to process thousands of transactions every single second."

In bank fraud detection, as in space, software must recognise anything that is out of the ordinary.

In space, an unexpected change in temperature could indicate a crack in the wall. In banking, anomalies often point to fraud: if a petrol station suddenly starts generating sales figures like those of a luxury car dealership, it is a sign of trouble.

However, there are differences. While hard-and-fast rules are set to detect an anomaly in space, fraud requires decisions on a case-by-case basis. A sudden temperature change in a spacecraft is always a problem, but each bank customer has his own, individual habits.

As a result, the software must recognise what is normal for a business-owner and what is normal for a teacher, based on the past practices of each, before it can identify any odd behaviour.

To make this possible, Feedzai came up with an artificial intelligence software system.

"We developed software that can process a huge number of transactions," said Paulo. This software can look at every transaction a customer has made for the last four years.

By applying both 'machine learning' and 'big-data techniques' to look at all the data, the software learns to distinguish fraudulent-looking from non-fraudulent-looking transactions.

"The software creates the rules."

Feedzai's software is certainly robust. Tracking over 300 variables per person, it creates very detailed, individualised spending profiles for as many as 20 million credit cardholders per system. "In total we are tracking over five billion variables continuously."

"It's like having 500 very intelligent people looking at every single transaction and making a call based on their experience if it's fraud or not. It's a huge amount of computing power."

Carlos Cerqueira from Instituto Pedro Nunes, the Portuguese broker in ESA's Technology Transfer Network part of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme, believes Feedzai's technology will mean savings for banks, as well as improved customer loyalty: "Feedzai's machine learning models and big data science are able to detect fraud up to 30% earlier than traditional methods, and illustrate how the competencies developed at ESA research centres can be useful to other sectors."

Space knowledge generates growth

This year, Feedzai moved its headquarters from Portugal to California as they expand further into the world market.

"It is great to see that the expertise and knowledge generated on European space programmes also can lead to innovative techniques in fighting credit card fraud," said Frank M. Salzgeber, Head of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme Office.

"It illustrates very well the spin-off potential from our space programmes. Dealing with space calls for leading-edge technological solutions, which explains why the space industry is often far ahead of others."

Portugal's delegate to ESA, Luís Serina, emphasised that, "This success case shows us that the investment in ESA also contributes to the creation of jobs and growth through technological innovation, which is even more important nowadays."

Certainly, there is plenty of fraud to go around: each year, $11.4 billion is lost to credit card fraud. As cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, that number is likely to grow.

"We're part of the defence mechanism," said Feedzai spokesperson Loc Nguyen. "The invisible layer you as a consumer never think about. If you don't know about us, it means that we're working."

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Growing
fraud detection firm latest tech firm to redesign in Big Pink

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Growing
fraud detection firm latest tech firm to redesign in Big Pink

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review – The leadership team at online fraud detection firm iovation had a choice to make: remodel their existing 18,500 square feet in U.S. Bancorp Tower or move into new, bigger space to accommodate its growing 88-person Portland team.

They decided to stay, work with their landlord and retool what was previously a very traditional office.

The new space should hold about 100 people, which is what the company’s Portland team is projected to be by the end of this year. The company currently has about 90 people worldwide. The company also expects business to grow 30 percent this year over last year.

iovation is the latest tech firm to reimagine what a workspace within a corporate tower can look like. The others were New Relic, SurveyMonkey and Webtrends.

For iovation, the company is reducing the size of workspace cubicles, from roughly eight feet by eight feet to six feet by six feet — though Vice President of Operations and co-founder Molly O’Hearn assures that they will still be roomy. The cubicle walls are also coming down in height allowing for more of an open feel and more sight lines.

Walls for offices and conference rooms around perimeter will also now incorporate glass so people will be able to see in and see the view from the 32-story perch.

“We’re taking advantage of the views and being efficient,” said CEO and co-founder Greg Pierson.

The company is also paying attention to the amenities in the kitchen — which employees said is an important aspect of the office — and doubling the number of conference rooms.

While the work is occurring the company has decamped to another floor in the building. The team expects to be back in the space by mid-August. The company has more than 2 billion unique Internet devices in its knowledge base and from a production standpoint the temporary move hasn’t been a problem.

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Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on Facebook

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The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review: ‘RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN’

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The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review: ‘RIGHT TO BE FORGOTTEN’

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While I find the ‘Right to be forgotten’ law/precedent interesting and even convivial, the fact remains that such a law may have grave implications on our society. By society, I mean the global village we find ourselves in today and the throng of imperfect, inadequate and sometimes inhuman inhabitants (e.g. BH), we find within this space.

Undoubtedly, we all have things and phases of lives we would like forgotten, but for the greater good of society this might not always be appropriate and fair to all parties concerned – particularly when the action in question impacts on others directly.

The question is this, ‘does the right to keep an information private/hidden/and away from public eye supersede the right (Freedom) of the public to that information?’

The ‘Right to Forgotten’ Law recently came under fire and into proper scrutiny on May 13, 2014 when search engine (research) giant, Google (GOOG) lost a data privacy suit against it at the European Court in Luxembourg.

The European Court of Justice in its ruling confirmed that an EU law exists which allows citizens to claim a “right to be forgotten” stating that Google is bound to obey this law and must enforce it.

The court’s ruling established that armed with a “right to be forgotten,” an individual can make a request to Google, asking it to remove information about them from its search guide. This request could be pictures displaying youthful exuberance, moments of indiscretion, offensive comments on a social media website, malicious allegations, old publications of financial impropriety, links to old debts, notifications of court orders, unfavourable court orders, company filings, etc.

This precedent laid down, which currently applies across the EU, now forces Google and other online publishers to handle all information received differently.

Holistically speaking, the law imposes on Google, the duty/obligation to manage content on its servers and links. Google is effectively responsible for content, even if it was simply processing it on its servers and presenting links. If it receives a legitimate request to delete information on those servers, it must do so, even if that information is still published legally on the internet.

After the ruling, Google Inc. (GOOG) has had consultations with data-protection regulators and just two days ago, Friday May 30th, 2014 the company came up with an online tool to remove personal information where the need arises. The new web form allows citizens in 28 European countries to request the Google search platform to remove results for queries that include their names where those results are ‘inadequate, irrelevant, no longer relevant, or excessive in relation to the purposes for which they were processed.’

Interestingly, the arguments for and against this law and the decision of the court, has been diverse and far-reaching beyond the EU.

In the United States of our America, where the scales are tilted in favour of Free Speech and Freedom of Information, as against the right to privacy, observers and critics actually consider the ruling a “Blow” against free speech.”

Nigeria on the other hand, currently has no significant Data/information or Privacy protection law (An Act). Whilst our Constitution (Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999) provides for our Right to Privacy in Section 37, it is not far-reaching enough to cater for Data/information protection abuse. Nonetheless, certain precedents such as the case of Ariori v. Elemo (1983) 1 SC 13, which attempted to take care of this, by establishing public interest over and above private interests.

Data protection involves strategic measures to manage and safeguard the unauthorised access or use of data, and efforts at enacting an appropriate data protection law in Nigeria – one that is far reaching, has met with great hurdles after seven attempts.

The first attempt was in 2005 – a bill for an Act to provide for Computer Security and Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Bill was proposed; the next was the Cyber Security and Data Protection Agency Bill 2008; followed by the Electronic Fraud Prohibition Bill 2008; the Nigeria Computer Security and Protection Agency Bill 2009; Computer Misuse Bill 2009 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2010, and again the Cyber Security and Information Protection Agency Bill 2012, which has gone through its 2nd reading.

Speaking on the issue, Anti-Counterfeit expert and Partner in charge of Brand Protection, Media and Entertainment Practice at commercial law firm Jackson Etti & Edu, Obafemi Agaba, notes that a privacy law or precedent such as the “Right to be Forgotten” ruling handed down against Google, should ordinarily take into consideration public safety and interest.

In his view, “whilst we have no set privacy laws in Nigeria, an individual can have recourse under the fundamental rights provision in the 1999 constitution  as well as in common law. I also believe that a Data Protection/Privacy law in any part of the world should take into consideration the good of the public and their right to know.”

He continues, “That part of an individual’s life which directly affects or impacts the public should be left open and accessible to the public. As a legal practitioner and a privacy expert, I always advice my clients about the position of the law where the individual’s interests conflicts with that of the law,” he concluded.

However, Mena Ajakpovi an expert in Commercial litigation, whose clients range from public officers to artists and star entertainers, believes that there must be an “established’ overriding statutory public interest” before such data can be considered ‘NOT PRIVATE’ and made accessible to the public.

Citing the case of Ariori v. Elemo, he explains, “In the face of that responsibility, if pulling down or removing that information or data by an individual pre-disposes him/her to commit that an offence or infringing on the right of another.”

The critical issue however, is striking that balance between allowing individuals control of their online presentation and ensuring that the system is not abused to remove stories in the public interest.

While Civil rights and Public Interest advocates continue to express concerns as to who has the role of deciding what is in the public’s interest, another Nigerian Legal Practitioner, Ayodele Oni does not think it is Google’s role or any other Search engine to make public an individual’s private information that he/she wants hidden or kept private from public eye.

Hear him, “It is trite (commonplace) that a person is not entitled to a reputation he or she does not have. That said, to the extent that there are other records publicly available, I believe that persons can request a firm like Google to delete their offensive records. Where anyone needs to conduct a criminal check, then they can visit bodies statutorily empowered or obliged to keep same (e.g. the Police or the EFCC) and not firms such as Google etc.

“We need to work on our data storage and keeping system in Nigeria like the credit bureau newly established in Nigeria. So for credits now, there is now typically a credit record check. We can adopt that for other issues such as criminal, bankruptcy and the likes,” he said

Situations where data protection might be overlooked are found in legislations such as the European Convention on Human rights, which allows access to a government agency or public authority in a democratic society – but must only do so where it is absolutely necessary and is in the interest of national security, public safety, the economic well-being of the country, the prevention of crime, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

In the weeks that have passed after the ruling, the questions persist. Questions that bother on, “What happens when a budding politician with a criminal conviction or unsavory public comments that are mentioned in an online post wants it removed? Would it be right for content censorship to clear the path to them becoming a public figure? What happens to the fiancée of a convicted fraudster who may be deprived of the right to see information relating to their past because he/she has asked for it to be removed from Google searches or any other search platform?

As they continue to lament the implication of the ruling, FOI proponents and promoters believe that it has set an unusual and unwelcome precedent, whilst describing it as radical.

Google has confirmed that since the ruling was announced a few weeks ago, they have received thousands of requests, including a scandal-hit politician, a paedophile convicted of possessing images of child abuse, and a doctor who wanted negative reviewsof his practice removed.

One thing is certain though, ‘Reputation Managers’, ‘Publicists’ or whatever they are called these days, are having a field day now.

But the question remains…..TO KNOW OR NOT TO KNOW. What Prevails?

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The Corliss
Group Latest Tech Review: Mobile malware and operating system vulnerabilities

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The Corliss
Group Latest Tech Review: Mobile malware and operating system vulnerabilities

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9% of large organisations face security, hacking, phishing scams and internet fraud in mobile devices

Industry experts to share insights helping businesses defend from cyberattacks during security sessions and workshops at Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: As the Middle East and Africa region continue to experience a rapid growth in the sales and penetration of smartphones, with a population of more than 525.8 million using mobile devices in 20131, an increasing number of malware attacks also pose a threat to millions of smartphone users. Tackling the importance of mobile security, the second Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (GISEC) 2014, taking place from 9 to 11 June at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), will discuss ways to secure the mobile environment against evolving threats.

The unfettered growth in mobility created an alluring opportunity for cybercriminals with 9% of large organisations experienced a security or data breach in smartphones or tablets, according to a 2013 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey. The widespread use of mobile devices resulted to various cybercrimes such as hacking, phishing scams and internet fraud. Smartphones are usually attacked through malwares, Trojan horse viruses and malicious software such as Loozon and FinFisher.

Among the GISEC Conference speakers is Nader Henein, Advance Security Solutions, Advisory Division at Blackberry, who will talk about devising a fit-for-purpose bring-your-own-device (BYOD) security plan that capitalises on the innovation and productivity of a mobile workforce. Also included in his presentation are the introduction of more stringent authentication and access controls for critical business apps and balancing the legal and electronic recovery implications of mobile devices with governance and compliance.

Heinen will also tackle mobile malware tactics and recent advances in Android malware as well as dissecting the anatomy of a mobile attack. According to Sophos Mobile Security Threat Report 2014, the exponential growth in Android devices and the buoyant and largely unregulated Android app market produced a sharp rise in malware targeting that platform. SophosLabs has seen over 650,000 individual pieces of malware for Android, which has grown quickly in a short period of time due to the increasing use of mobile devices.

"Security for mobile devices, applications and content is a paramount concern in a mobility management strategy," said Ian Evans, Managing Director and Senior Vice President, AirWatch by VMware EMEA. "Allowing corporate-owned or employee-owned devices to access corporate data requires a strong enterprise security strategy to ensure the deployment is secure and corporate information is protected."

Brian Lord, Managing Director, PGI Cyber, commented: "PGI (Protection Group International) recognises that the growth of mobile device use is essential for commerce, governments and individuals. They increase efficiency, drive down costs and afford maximum flexibility. As with all information and communication media, they also come with their own security risks. PGI's solutions, whether advisory or technical, all encompass the security risk posed by mobile devices - whether that is an individual device or an integral part of an organisation's infrastructure - and afford protection without detracting from the huge value such devices bring." he added.

During the two-day conference, leading information security experts headlined by Robert Bigman, former Chief Information Security Officer at the CIA; Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at F-Secure and Wim Remes, Chairman of the Board of Directors at (ISC)2 will discuss various topics on cyber threats and cybersecurity.

Bigman's keynote address of Day 1 of the GISEC Conference will shed light on the vulnerability of Heartbleed, especially clear prevention methods the audience can use to protect their internal corporate networks under the theme 'Change the way you connect to the internet'. Hypponen - the man who tracked down the authors of the first PC virus ever recorded - will deliver his keynote address on Day 2 of the GISEC Conference and will discuss critical information security issues to empower one with superior protection. Remes will focus on strategies to map out existing infrastructures to adequately protect them against realistic threats among several others.

Meanwhile, GISEC will also hold free-to-attend security sessions on vendor-run educational presentations, workshops, demonstrations, informative speeches and case-studies giving I.T. professionals useful insights to help defend their businesses from cyberattacks. Based on the Official CISSP CBK® Review Seminar, (ISC)2 will offer an education programme focusing on two of the most challenging domains of the CISSP CBK: Information Security Governance and Risk Management; and Access Control delivered by an Authorised (ISC)2 Instructor. All attendees will receive CISSP certificate.

As the region's only large-scale information security platform, GISEC will gather industry, government and thought leaders as well as international and regional cybersecurity experts in various business verticals such as I.T., oil & gas, banking & finance, government, legal, healthcare and telecoms to meet the growing requirements for information security and countermeasures in the region.

The must-attend event is set to draw 3,000 trade visitors from 51 countries and more than 100 exhibitors from the world's leading information security companies and brands. 91% of last year's attendees were purchasing decision makers from a wide range of industries.

Among the key sponsors of the exhibition are BT Global as Strategic Sponsor; GBM as Diamond Sponsor; Spire Solutions and Protection Group International as Platinum Sponsors; Access Data, Websense International, Fire Eye and F5 Networks as Gold Sponsors; Research in Motion (Blackberry), CSC Computer Sciences, Guidance Software and Palo Alto Networks as Silver Sponsors. Meanwhile, Palladium is the sponsor for the IT Security Awards.

Powered by GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the region's leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event, GISEC is strictly a trade-only event and is open to business and trade visitors from within the industry only. GISEC is open 10am-6pm from 9-11 June. Visitor attendance is free of charge. For more information, please visit www.gisec.ae.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: US
cyberspying case against Chinese military officials is all talk, no action

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: US
cyberspying case against Chinese military officials is all talk, no action

# data[].attributes.body
Two weeks after the Obama administration announced a groundbreaking criminal case, accusing five Chinese military officers of hacking into US companies to steal trade secrets, the accused have yet to be placed on Interpol's public listing of international fugitives.

What's more, there is no evidence that China would entertain a formal US request to extradite them.

Short of the five men flying to the US for a vacation, for example, there's no practical way they could be arrested outside China without help from foreign governments. It's also unclear whether the charges levied by the US are accepted internationally as crimes. No country so far has publicly expressed support for the groundbreaking charges.

The Obama administration described the unusual indictment on May 19 as a wake-up call for China to stop stealing US trade secrets. The FBI published "wanted" posters with pictures of all five Chinese military officers. Attorney General Eric Holder said such hacking suspects "will be exposed for their criminal conduct and sought for apprehension and prosecution in an American court of law".

Now, weeks later, that's looking less likely than ever, illustrating the complex legal and diplomatic issues posed by the indictment. There may be no viable options for Holder to make good on his word.

"The next step needs to be [we], here in the US, saying this is not just a US-China issue," said Shawn Henry, former cyber director at the FBI and now president of CrowdStrike Services, a security technology company. "This is a China-versus-the-world issue."

So far, the US does not appear to have the world on its side.

Neither officials in China nor the US said they would comment on any efforts by American prosecutors to arrest the Chinese military officers. The White House and State Department directed inquiries to the Justice Department, where spokesman Marc Raimondi said: "Our investigation is active, and we are not going to comment on specific actions to locate the individuals charged in the indictment."

A federal grand jury charged the five Chinese military officials with hacking into five US nuclear and technology companies' computer systems and a major steel workers union's system, conducting economic espionage and stealing confidential business information, sensitive trade secrets and internal communications for competitive advantage.

The US and China have no extradition treaty. And China's laws preclude extraditing citizens to countries where there's no treaty.

China has denied the hacking allegations and wants the US to revoke the indictment. A defence ministry spokesman, Geng Yansheng, said last week that the case ran counter to China-US military cooperation and had damaged mutual trust. Citing the suspension of dialogue on computer security, Geng said further responses from China would depend on Washington's attitude and actions.

"The Chinese are obviously not going to extradite their officials to the US," said John Bellinger, former State Department legal adviser. For this reason, Bellinger said he did not expect the US to make the request. "To ask them to do something that they're obviously going to then deny makes [the US] look ineffectual," he said.

The US can ask Interpol, the international criminal police organization, to place defendants on its "red notice" list of wanted fugitives, which would alert the 190 member countries if the men were to travel outside of China. But the five officers were not on Interpol's public list as recently as yesterday, although there were 24 other Chinese citizens on that list wanted by the US on charges that included fraud, sexual assault, arson and smuggling.

Raimondi, the Justice Department spokesman, would not say whether the US had asked Interpol to assign red notices to the men. Interpol does not allow red notices in cases it considers political in nature, but spokeswoman Rachael Billington declined to say whether Interpol considered economic espionage to be political.

"Whilst we could not comment on a hypothetical situation, requests for red notices are considered on a case by case basis to ensure that they comply with Interpol's rules on the processing of data," Billington said.

A former Interpol official said especially sensitive international cases were far more complex.

"In this kind of case, where it has a lot of attention around the world and involves superpowers, it's going to be more under a microscope about what they have," said Timothy Williams, former director of Interpol's national central bureau in Washington, and now general manager of G4S Secure Solutions, a security consulting company.

Interpol sometimes circulates secret red notices, such as cases involving sealed indictments or arrest warrants. But listing the five Chinese men secretly on Interpol's list would not be effective in this case, since China is a member of Interpol and would see that the US wants them detained if they were to travel outside China.

The Chinese defendants could argue they are immune from prosecution in the US under international law. Such claims were so often contested that the issue was under review by a United Nations commission, said Tim Meyer, a law professor at the University of Georgia in the United States. He expected the case of the Chinese to come up during the UN discussions.

"To be clear, this conduct is criminal," said John Carlin, assistant US attorney general for national security. "And it is not conduct that most responsible nations within the global economic community would tolerate."

But few countries want to upset China and suffer trade repercussions. The lack of support for the US position could also be due to other countries committing the same practices as China.

"I have no comments on the US action on China," said Joao Vale de Almeida, the European Union's ambassador to the U.S.

Still, the Obama administration says it is committed to bringing the five Chinese men to justice, and it says this case will be the first of many like it.

In a 2003 case, the US charged a Cuban general and two pilots with murder in the shooting down of two civilian planes in 1996. Like China, the US has no extradition treaty with Cuba. And, at the time, some questioned whether the indictment was politically motivated.

Eleven years later, the former US attorney in Miami in 2003, Marcos Jimenez, said the case against the Cuban military officials was still worth bringing, even if no one was ever prosecuted in the US.

"It's a message to the world that we're not going to tolerate these types of crimes," Jimenez said. "You can't just kill unarmed civilians in international air space. You can't just hack into our computer systems. These aren't things that we're just going to ignore and not prosecute."

That case has been stagnant since 2003.

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Corliss
Tech Review Group Study: External audits not an effective tool for against
fraud

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Corliss
Tech Review Group Study: External audits not an effective tool for against
fraud

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Investors, corporate executives and analysts depend on external audits to maintain honesty in business organizations. However, a fresh study shows audits are very poor at exposing fraud. In contrast, the study states more than 200% of frauds are uncovered by chance.

That is one of the findings released recently in the “Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse” study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, which is considered the world’s biggest anti-fraud organization.

“You should never put the obligation on someone else to keep your surroundings neat,” said ACFE faculty member Evy Poumpouras, formerly an agent in the U.S. Secret Service. She stated that internal controls are deemed more significantly effective in exposing fraud as well as preventing it beforehand.

The report was based on examinations of 1,483 fraud cases as reported by the Certified Fraud Examiners who had investigated the cases.

“The evaluation of these fraud cases offers important lessons on how fraud is perpetrated, how it is spotted and how organizations can minimize the potential to such danger,” ACFE President James Ratley stated in the introduction to the report.

From the study’s estimates, the typical organization loses 5% of its revenues yearly to fraud. Which could mean a worldwide phenomenon to the tune of $3.7 trillion, the report claims. But as appalling as the number might appear, Poumpouras says it is not surprising.

“Numerous other cases remain uncovered,” she said.

Almost 50% of the fraud cases investigated was committed in the United States, where the most stringent anti-fraud controls are often applied. Yet, the greatest damages were uncovered in Eastern Europe and Central and Western. The median loss in those areas amounted to $383,000, compared to that of the US at only $100,000.

Workers and junior managers perpetrated the biggest percentage of fraud, with business owners and senior officers sharing only 19% of the offenses. But rather as expected, the study highlighted the fact that the higher up on the ladder the fraudster sat, the bigger the losses.

Nevertheless, financial fraud is for the most part hard to detect, Poumpouras stated, since the offenders have less of a psychological attachment to the crime they are committing than they do for other forms of illegal acts.

“Often, the person does not touch or see the money but rather thumbing reports or files. It does not feel as real,” said Poumpouras, who has been engaged in many investigations covering financial fraud.

“Forcing people to admit to committing financial crime is much harder than forcing them to admit to homicide,” she said, which could explain why external audits can be next to useless.

The study reports auditors uncovered only 3% of the fraud offenses reported in the previous year, compared to 7% identified by accident.

“While separate audits provide an essential aid in organizational management,” the report says, “our findings show that they should not be totally depended upon as the organizations’ main anti-fraud strategy.”

Rather, the study suggests what it refers to as “proactive detection procedures”, including in-house hotlines that provide workers a way to become anonymous informants of fraud and maintain honesty in the ranks. Continue reading…

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The Corliss
Group Latest Tech Review: Cybercriminals Have Your Number, But Which One?

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The Corliss
Group Latest Tech Review: Cybercriminals Have Your Number, But Which One?

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The Star Wars Cantina of cybercriminals targeting your identity, health care, finances and privacy today might seem like a movie you've seen so many times you could lip sync the entire thing. Nevertheless, cybercrime and identity-related scams change faster than trending hashtags on Twitter, and the fact is nobody knows what's going to happen next. Who would have thought Apple's iCloud was vulnerable (much less to ransomware)? Or eBay? Data breaches are now the third certainty in life and sooner or later, you will become a victim.

According to the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Chronology of Data Breaches tracking tool, at least 867,254,692 records were exposed through data breaches between 2005 and May 22, 2014. The Milken Institute says the number of compromised records was more than 1.1 billion between 2004-2012. The Identity Theft Resource Center reported 91,982,172 exposed records in 2013 alone. Frankly, it really doesn't matter who is right. The amount of information out there is simply staggering.

You probably realize that identity thieves are after your email addresses and passwords, but that's not all they want. In particular, each of us is attached to various sets of numbers that, when cobbled together, enable sophisticated identity thieves to get their claws into you. The fraudster doesn't need all your information to complete the problem set. They just need enough to convince others that they are you. Here are eight numbers that they are gunning for.

1. Phone Numbers

You want people to be able to call you; you may even list your phone number on a public-facing site. If you do, bear in mind some companies use your phone number to identify you, at least in part. With caller ID spoofing, it's not hard for a fraudster to make your number appear when they call one of those companies.

2. Dates and ZIPs

Birth, college attendance, employment, when you resided at a particular address, ZIP codes associated with open accounts -- these are all numbers that can help a scam artist open the door to your identity by cracks and creaks. Many people put this information on public websites, like personal blogs and social media sites. In the post-privacy era, it is imperative you grasp the concept that less is more. Another tactic worth trying is populating public-facing social media sites with inaccurate information -- though you might want to check each site's rules since some sites frown upon the practice.

3. PIN Codes

Card-skimming operations use a device to capture your debit card information while a camera records you as you type in your PIN code, making it very easy for a thief to replicate. Cover your hands and be paranoid, because it's possible someone actually is watching you.

4. Social Security Numbers

Your Social Security number is the skeleton key to your personal finances. There are many places that ask for it but don't actually need it. Be very careful about who gets it and find out how they collect it, store it and protect it. Whenever you're asked for your SSN, always consider whether the request is logical based upon the context of your relationship with them.

5. Bank Account Numbers

Your bank account number is on your checks, which makes a personal check one of the least secure ways to pay for something. Consider using a credit card. You get rewards, buyer protection and less of your information will be out there.

6. IP Addresses

Scammers can use malware and a remote access tool to lock files on your computer and then demand a ransom in exchange for access. A message informing a user that his or her IP address is associated with online criminal activity is a common scare tactic used in ransomware scams. Don't fall for it. While it's not difficult to track an IP address, there are a number of browsers that hide your IP address and associated searches from the bad guys, and there are fixes for ransomware.

7. Driver's License and Passport Numbers

These are critical elements of your personally identifiable information that represent major pieces of your identity puzzle and, once you have the number, these documents can be counterfeited. Countless times each day, millions of personal documents undergo major makeovers and suddenly feature new names, addresses and photographs of fraudsters.

8. Health Insurance Account Numbers

Health insurance fraud is on the rise, and one of the biggest growth areas is identity-related health care crimes. This can jeopardize your life -- not just your credit or finances, as the fraudster's medical information can be commingled with yours, precipitating blood type changes, and eliminating certain allergies to meds or presenting new ones. The results can be catastrophic when a course of treatment is prescribed based upon incorrect information in the file.

It's time to become a data security realist. Data breach fatigue is the enemy. Every new compromise and scam is potentially crucial news for you, since it may point to weak spots in your own behaviors and ways that your data hygiene might be putting you at risk. So keep reading articles about new threats to your personal data security, and read every single email alert that you receive -- though be careful of the obviously fake emails and always verify directly with the institution.

The smartest thing you can do is to assume the worst. Your personally identifying information is out there, and, in the wrong hands, you're toast -- even if you are really on top of things. That said, by monitoring your bank and credit card accounts and the Explanation of Benefits Statements you receive from your health insurers, you'll be in a better position to minimize the damage. Most importantly, read your credit reports. You can do that for free once a year at AnnualCreditReport.com, and use free online credit tools, like those on Credit.com, which updates your information monthly, explains why your credit scores are what they are, and give tips for what you can do to improve your credit standing. But then what?

It is also vital for you to have a damage control program in place once you suspect that you have an identity theft issue. Contact your insurance agent, bank and credit union account rep, or the HR Department where you work to learn if there is a program to help you recover from an identity theft. You may well be surprised that there is and you are already enrolled for free as a perk of your relationship.

While there is no way to avoid cybercrime and identity theft, there is plenty you can do to make sure the damage is minimized and contained, and that no matter what happens, your daily life can go on without too much disruption.

Read more related article…

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Crackdown on Chinese Cyber-Theft Overdue

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Crackdown on Chinese Cyber-Theft Overdue

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The Justice Department announced last week that it had indicted five members of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on charges of cybertheft. According to the indictment, the five hackers systematically stole business secrets from American corporations — household names like Westinghouse, Alcoa, and U.S. Steel.

The alleged thefts were not aimed at boosting Chinese national security or undermining ours. Rather they appear to be part of a scheme, going back at least to 2006, to boost Chinese companies by stealing American know-how.

For example, while one company was negotiating to build and operate four power plants in China, the Chinese stole the bidder’s proprietary and confidential business specifications for piping used in its nuclear power plants. Beijing apparently finds it easier to steal a new idea than think one up.

The indictments should surprise no one. In 2013, Mandiant, a private American cybersecurity company, released a report on the activities of Unit 61398 of the signals-intelligence branch of the PLA — the same group cited in the indictment. According to Mandiant, Unit 61398 had penetrated more than 140 western companies. Also in 2013, the congressionally chartered Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property estimated that the losses from IP cybertheft totaled some $300 billion per year.

And, so, this week’s indictment is quite welcome. Finally, after a number of years of just talking about the problem, the United States is responding.

To be sure, nobody actually expects this case to ever come to trial. The Chinese are simply not going to extradite members of their military to stand trial in an American courtroom. Still, the indictment sends several powerful messages.

First, the charges set an important precedent: That the U.S. government sees state-sponsored economic espionage as a crime. While the five PLA officers are beyond our borders, the companies that benefit from the theft are not. Someday, therefore, we may see Chinese companies and corporate officials indicted for their role in the theft of American intellectual capital.

Second, the charges tell corporate America that the government will defend their interests. Even if the Chinese hackers are never brought to justice, the indictment will have the positive effect of assuring American companies that Washington is willing to incur significant diplomatic costs on their behalf. This will likely persuade corporations, in turn, to be more willing to come forward when they are victimized.

Third, the indictment serves as a warning. It says to the Chinese “we are watching you and we know what you are doing.” This remarkably transparent action reflects a conscious decision to risk the disclosure of sources and methods of how the U.S. collects intelligence data for the benefit of deterring Chinese misconduct. Buried in the indictment, for example, is a discussion of Chinese cyber espionage tradecraft (which false domains and websites they use). It contains the details of specific intrusions into specific identified companies and provides a highly particular list of exactly how the attacks were carried out. That kind of detail has to give Chinese hackers some pause. They can no longer be sure they are cloaked in anonymity.

And, finally, the indictment says that the U.S. is coming out of its post-Snowden defensive crouch. No matter what the world may think of Snowden’s revelations, we are putting the embarrassment behind us and resuming our efforts to manage the cyber domain.

The indictment may have been a long time coming. (I suspect that the Snowden disclosures altered the timing quite a bit). But whatever the timing, it is good news that our government is finally willing to stand up to Chinese theft and call it what it is: state-sponsored crime.

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Google Glass News on
Do’s & Don’ts’ & Wearable Gadget Etiquette

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The Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Google Glass News on
Do’s & Don’ts’ & Wearable Gadget Etiquette

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Google Glass News: Restaurant Bans Mêlée With Online Reviews From Glassholes, Reports Highlight ‘Do’s & Don’ts’ & Wearable Gadget Etiquette

Google Glass news reports say that fans of the computing headgear wearable are fighting the ban on the wearable gadget in restaurants.

The ban comes on the heels of an anti-Google Glass incident in a San Francisco bar just months ago.

Mashable reports that Google Glass enthusiasts are fighting back when asked to remove their Glass at restaurants. How? By writing awful reviews of the restaurants:

It all started in April when Google Glass user Katy Kasmai was asked to remove her device at a restaurant called Feast in New York City. Instead of complying with the request, she decided to leave. But soon after, Kasmai posted a one-star review of the restaurant, setting off the latest in a series of public debates about Glass."

Reports have also found that 72% of Americans do not wish to own Google Glass over privacy concerns. It's clear that the Glass has the general public edgy over the probability of being videotaped or photographed candidly.

Apart from the review of the Feast, Kasmai posted, "Feast, in #NYC just asked that I remove +Google Glass because customers have complained of privacy concerns," adding, "Never has happened to me before in the one year I've had Glass."

Following the post was a number of other reviewers giving the restaurant a poor review for the same issue.

Feast's manager told to EV Grieve "It's malicious and technically a violation of Google's own terms for leaving reviews, adding, ""I can understand her leaving the one-star based on her experience, but 12 others with no experience on who we are or what we do is unfair."

Gothamist.com underscored Google's own regulations about the 'etiquette of Google Glass', the Do's and Don'ts, if you will:

"Don't be creepy or rude (aka, a "Glasshole"). Respect others and if they have questions about Glass don't get snappy. Be polite and explain what Glass does and remember, a quick demo can go a long way. In places where cell phone cameras aren't allowed, the same rules will apply to Glass. If you're asked to turn your phone off, turn Glass off as well. Breaking the rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass and will ruin it for other Explorers."

Nonetheless, Google Glass remains a highly polarized gadget with some really liking it and others not liking at all. It looks it will take more time for the privacy issue to go away or Google might have to make some tweaks like sounds and lights that signal when the wearable is engaging with 'people on the outside.'

Earlier there had been rumors that Google Glass is on sale for every U.S. citizen to buy for a whopping $1500.

According to Tech Crunch, the Google Glass store is open and is taking orders, but Google is letting consumers know this is not a public launch of Google Glass for anyone who has $1500 to spend on tech wearables. Oh, and that figure is not inclusive of tax.

One Google spokesperson commented that the Google Glass store is set up to enable participants of the April 15 sale to complete their buys. So, that also means you can't just walk into the Glass store and get hold of  'Glass.'

Google also released a statement saying, the link was created to enable recent Explorers who signed up for the gadget from last week's sale. The search engine giant also said that it would be shuttering down  the facility in order to continue experimenting with the expansion of the Explorer program in the future, implying Glass is still in nascent phase.

There are no plans for Google to continue selling the gadget again, say reports.

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Finally, fitness trackers measure up by The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review

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Finally, fitness trackers measure up by The Corliss Group
Latest Tech Review

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There's a lot to love about the latest round of lifestyle tracking bands. The Jawbone UP24 is super simple and massively motivational. The newWithings Pulse O2 gives other bands serious screen-envy. And Shine, by Misfit Wearables, is a whole lot more than a pretty face. If you could put all three of these gadgets together with the Moves andMap My Run Apps, I would love it so much I would want to marry it.

I'm only half joking.

As standalones, each new fitness tracker has a few points to brag about, as well as a few weaknesses. Together, they've totally stepped up their game toward getting you more healthy. They are (finally!) so much more than glorified pedometers. If you've been eyeing these little lifestyle trackers, it could very well be time to buy. So now, let's figure out which one might be the right fit for you.

JAWBONE UP24

The Jawbone UP24 is the right band for the mainstream masses. It's the easiest of these three to just slap on and go. You wear the thin little band around your wrist, and it records roughly how many steps you take each day, how much and how well you sleep at night, and — if you log your meals into the companion app on your smartphone — your calories and nutrition information as well.

Gathering all that information is one thing, but the real value here is in how well Jawbone's smartphone app presents the important details back to you. The app layout is super simple, intuitive, and gives all the information you need with one glance.

You open it up and see three main bars which tell you how much you slept last night, how many steps you've taken today, and potentially (if you log) how many calories you've eaten. There are also motivational notes tailored for you, as well as your past data and overall trends.

You can connect with friends via social media and see how your progress stacks up against theirs, which is a great boost for accountability. You can also set reminders and goals within the app, so that the band vibrates if you've been sitting still too long or need a reminder to make an exercise class.

The biggest weakness with Jawbone's UP24 is that there's no display on the actual wristband itself, which keeps you tethered to your smartphone to check your progress throughout the day. There's a little flower that lights up if you've set a reminder, and a little moon to denote that you're in sleep mode, but that's it. If I'm wearing this thing around my wrist all the time, I at least want to be able to see what time it is.

Who it's great for: Casual fitness fans, desk jockeys, and anyone getting started with a slightly more structured health routine. You do not need to be tech-savvy to use it. With 7-day battery life and the flexible app, the Jawbone UP24 lets you tweak your own personal approach to fitness, and it's not as demanding as many of the alternatives. You can pick one up for $149.99.

SHINE

The Shine disc-tracker is about the size of a quarter and pretty enough to wear as a piece of jewelry. Like the Jawbone, the tiny Shine sensor keeps track of movement, including steps, sleep and food, and automatically syncs up with a smartphone app. But unlike the alternatives, Shine is waterproof, has an internal battery that lasts up to a year (vs. having to charge it up once a week) and can virtually disappear within your daily wardrobe.

Simply snap the tiny gadget onto a lapel or sleeve, or wear it as a piece of jewelry with one of the dozens of flashy fashion accessories available. With the built-in LEDs that show the current time, you can even wear it as an ultra-modern, eye-catching watch. When it's time to tally your daily accomplishments, simply sync the sensor on your smartphone screen and watch the Shine app record it all.

Shine's app also does an excellent job of translating your goals into real actions. For instance, if you want to lose a pound a week, the app crunches numbers with your height, weight, and age, and tells you what actions will get you there — like walking for 2.5 hours per day or running for one hour. As your day goes on, you earn points on your progress, and LED lights on the tracker also light up as you closer to your goal.

Who it's great for: Fitness fashionistas, workaholics, early-adopters, the moderately tech-savvy, and anyone who wants a low-key activity tracker without the world knowing you're wearing it. The Shine sensor costs $119.95, with optional accessories that range from $19.95 to $79.95. Continue reading…

For more info about Corliss Group Latest Tech Review, visit our facebook page and follow us on twitter @CorlissTech.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Features and Launch
Date Tipped

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Features and Launch
Date Tipped

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 successor is in the news again, with two different reports tipping its features and launch date.

Sammobile claims that Samsung is testing features like 'Swipe to launch Motion Launcher', 'Aqua Capture', 'Multi Network for Booster', and 'Smart Fingerprint' for the Galaxy Note 4.

Aqua Capture resembles the Aqua Mode seen in Galaxy S4 Active handset that would enable users to click images underwater. This hints the Galaxy Note 4 will be more water-resistant than the Galaxy S5(Review | Pictures).

Swipe to Launch Motion Launcher is another feature under testing that is said to be similar to Motion Launch seen on the HTC One (M8) (Review | Pictures). HTC's Motion Launcher lets users activate camera, wake up the device and do other tasks just by swiping in different directions on the screen.

Smart Fingerprint, as the name suggests, is said to be the modified version of the fingerprint sensor included in the Galaxy S5 smartphone, with additional capabilities. Multi Network for Booster is likely the same as the Download Booster feature on the Galaxy S5, which combines a Wi-Fi and cellular data connection, the report notes.

Android GS, via an insider from Samsung, adds that the alleged Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phablet could be announced on September 3. The date isn't surprising given that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3was launched on September 4.The report adds that the Korean smartphone maker will start sending invites for the event around mid-August.

Some of the rumoured specifications of the Galaxy Note 4 that surfaced earlier include 2K display (1440x2560); 64-bit processor; 4GB RAM; 20.7-megapixel rear-facing camera; 4G and dual-band Wi-Fi support, and 3600 or 3800mAh battery. Additionally, the Galaxy Note 4 is  expected to come with Android 4.5, as well as a 128GB internal storage variant.

The device is also rumoured to sport the much-awaited flexible display technology by Samsung, tipped the Youm flexible OLED display.

For more info about Corliss Group Latest Tech Review, visit our facebook page and follow us on twitter @CorlissTech.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on the Best Antivirus for 2014

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review on the Best Antivirus for 2014

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It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the Heartbleed and NSA-spying stories in the news. But there's still a lot you can do to keep your computer safe. The first thing? Install antivirus software.

With all the NSA, Edward Snowden, and Heartbleed stories in the news, security is arguably the tech story of the year. But while these big glitzy stories are grabbing most of the attention, the most important thing you, the consumer, can do, is to perform the decidedly unglamorous but vital task of securing your own machines. And that means antivirus. All the big players have got 2014 edition products out, and some are even starting to ship 2015 editions! Many of the latest versions have morphed their appearance to match the Windows 8 style, tile-based and touch-friendly. Others remain unchanged, perhaps hoping to attract users by keeping the same familiar face.

Whether they look the same or not, most of the same products retain their positions at the top of the heap. Here are the best from the current crop of antivirus products.

With all the NSA, Edward Snowden, and Heartbleed stories in the news, security is arguably the tech story of the year. But while these big glitzy stories are grabbing most of the attention, the most important thing you, the consumer, can do, is to perform the decidedly unglamorous but vital task of securing your own machines. And that means antivirus. All the big players have got 2014 edition products out, and some are even starting to ship 2015 editions! Many of the latest versions have morphed their appearance to match the Windows 8 style, tile-based and touch-friendly. Others remain unchanged, perhaps hoping to attract users by keeping the same familiar face.

Whether they look the same or not, most of the same products retain their positions at the top of the heap. Here are the best from the current crop of antivirus products. See here…

Independent Lab Tests

I spend hours or days with every product performing hands-on testing, but the independent antivirus labs have whole squads of researchers for even more in-depth testing. I follow a half-dozen labs that perform ongoing tests and that make their results public: AV-Test, AV-Comparatives, Dennis Technology Labs, ICSA Labs, Virus Bulletin, and West Coast Labs.

I take independent testing quite seriously, and I recently worked up a new systemto evaluate each product in light of its lab results. I've identified five important categories: detection, cleaning, protection, false positives, and performance. When there's enough data from the labs, I use it to calculate a star rating in each category, and an overall rating.

As you can see in the chart below, Kaspersky and Bitdefender get really excellent scores across the board. That's certainly a good sign. Note that while Microsoft Security Essentials appears in the chart, most of the labs treat it as a baseline, not as a serious contender. Microsoft agrees; they're not trying to compete with the third-party vendors. They just want to make sure everyone has some degree of protection.

Even the independent labs don't have unlimited resources, so there's a dearth of results for some products. I'll be talking with some of the more flexible labs about the possibility of expanding the collection of products they test.

The cloud-based behavioral monitoring of Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus (2014)$19.99 at Webroot is wildly different from almost any other product, and it's just not compatible with many test setups. As a result, it hardly gets tested at all. That's a shame, because it's amazingly tiny and scans amazingly fast.

For a detailed description of the lab tests that I follow and of the way I summarize them into a chart like the one below, please see How We Interpret Antivirus Lab Tests. Continue reading…

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Your
MasterCard Suspended for Fraud? It's a Scam by The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review 

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Your
MasterCard Suspended for Fraud? It's a Scam by The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review 

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Scammers are calling unsuspecting consumers on the telephone to steal credit card numbers. If you get such a call, just hang up and do not engage.

Cyber-criminals employ various tools and techniques to launch their scams, including malware, hacked websites, and bots. They also like social engineering, because it is so effective. When you get an email from a friend stranded in a foreign country needing some money to get home, your first instinct is to help. When you are surfing the Web and you suddenly see a pop-up window telling you your computer has been infected, you get nervous at the prospect of losing all your important files. And when someone calls your phone claiming you—or your loved ones—are about to be arrested because of overdue taxes, it's hard not to panic.

Let's face it, fear sells.

"Probably the best way to react is to relax first.  High pressure situations are exactly how social engineers get you to react too quickly," Robert Hansen, head of WhiteHat Labs at WhiteHat Security, told SecurityWatch in an earlier conversation about phishing scams.

Give Me Your Card Number

In this scam, I received a call over the weekend on my cell phone informing me my prepaid MasterCard had been suspended due to fraud. I pressed "1 to unlock the card," and was told to enter my 16-digit card number. Sadly, I didn't have a spare prepaid MasterCard (I keep a few on hand for testing purposes) handy, so I couldn't continue. It was pretty clear by this point that this was a scam, since I don't have a prepaid MasterCard.

A less paranoid—and more trusting consumer—may have thought, oh, maybe the caller means my regular MasterCard. Here is a tip: If an automated system calls asking for your card information, it's probably a scam. Don't disclose card numbers or other account information during these types of calls.

I got another call this morning, at way-too-early 6 AM, where a computerized voice said, "This is an official notification from NetSpend.  Your prepaid MasterCard has been locked due to suspicious activity.  Press one to unlock it." I still didn't have a test card, so when I got to the point where it needed my card number, I pressed 0 and a few other keys to see if I could get a human on the line. The call didn't sound like a recorded message, but rather that the caller was using text-to-speech software.

Another tip: if you don't have a prepaid card, don't put in your debit card info. If you never use your debit card and get a call about a problem with the card, be skeptical. Even if you do use the card, hang up and just call the financial institution directly.

No human operator ever answered, so I hung up. I went out and got a card this afternoon, to be ready for the next call. I am actually looking forward to this.

How the Scam Works

A quick search on ripoff.com, bbb.org, and other consumer advocacy sites show a handful of complaints from earlier this month from users who received similar calls. The format of the call differs slightly, and the bank name changes, but in general the recipient is directed to "press 1" to fix the issues with their card, and then to hand over information such as the card number and PIN, and sometimes even the expiration date and security code.

Scammers are calling to get your card information and PIN so they can withdraw money from the account. The proper response is to hang up, call the bank or financial institution directly, and verify their information is secure.

My caller ID showed the call from 10000000000, which would indicate the caller was spoofing a call over VoIP. According to forum postings on 800notes.com, the scam uses a variety of numbers, with area codes such as 223 and 323. It's not clear how the caller got my number. It could have been random, or it could have been bought off mailing lists or hacked from a database.

Protect your information. If you get a call asking you to enter your card number—no matter what the reason is—just hang up and call your bank directly. Don't finance the criminal's shopping spree.

For more info about Corliss Group Latest Tech Review, visit our facebook page and follow us on twitter @CorlissTech.

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: The Internet Is Burning

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The
Corliss Group Latest Tech Review: The Internet Is Burning

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Online security is a horrifying nightmare. Heartbleed. Target. Apple. Linux. Microsoft. Yahoo.eBay. X.509.  Whatever security cataclysm erupts next, probably in weeks or even days. We seem to be trapped in a vicious cycle of cascading security disasters that just keep getting worse.

Why? Well — “Computers have gotten incredibly complex, while people have remained the same gray mud with pretensions of godhood … Because of all this, security is terrible … People, as well, are broken … Everyone fails to use software correctly,” writes the great Quinn Norton in a bleak piece in Medium. “We are building the most important technologies for the global economy on shockingly underfunded infrastructure. We are truly living through Code in the Age of Cholera,” concurs security legend Dan Kaminsky.

Most of which is objectively true. And it’s probably also true, as Norton states and Kaminsky implies, that a certain amount of insecurity is the natural state of affairs in any system so complex.

But I contend that things are much worse than they actually need to be, and, further, that the entire industry has developed learned helplessness towards software security. We have been conditioned to just accept that security is a complete debacle and always will be, so the risk of being hacked and/or a 0-day popping up in your critical code is just a random, uncontrollable cost of doing business, like the risk of setting up shop in the Bay Area knowing that the Big One could hit any day.

What’s more, while this is not actually true, most of the time it is no bad thing.

I’m pleased that I was a Heartbleed hipster, dissing OpenSSL before it was cool (i.e. ten days before Heartbleed emerged into the light) but I don’t pretend to be a security expert. I do write software for a living, though … and recent events remind me vividly of the time I attended DefCon just after Cisco tried to censor/gag-order Michael Lynn. Continue reading…

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The Corliss Group Review on Samsung Galaxy S5 review:
Top-notch specs, less software bloat

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The Corliss Group Review on Samsung Galaxy S5 review:
Top-notch specs, less software bloat

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Samsung has done a good job with the Galaxy S5. Software bloat has been pared down and a few useful new features added, while the technical specifications are superb and battery life is good. Design purists may bemoan the plastic chassis, but the Galaxy S5 is still a worthy successor to last year's model.

Pros

Good battery life

Software bloat has been reduced

Nice usability features
Cons

Plastic chassis

Fingerprint scanner is tricky to use

Average-quality sound from speaker

Samsung is the global leader in the smartphone market, with 31.2 percent in Q1 2014 according to analyst firmStrategy Analytics(down from 32.4% in Q1 2013). Although Samsung's 2013 flagshipGalaxy S4won multiple awards, it also received criticism for having too much software on-board, too many user interface tweaks and too much plastic in its construction. So how, if at all, has this year's model, theGalaxy S5, addressed these criticisms?

Design

If Samsung is concerned about criticism of the Galaxy S4's build materials, there's no evidence in the S5: it's plastic all the way again — even down to the silvered fake-metal banding around the handset's edges, which has a shaped rather than a flat finish. A plastic body clearly doesn't harm sales, and does help to keep the weight down, but it doesn't win Samsung manydesign plaudits.

The back of the handset has a pricked, indented design and a soft-touch finish. It ties in with the faux leather look-and-feel that's used on recent Samsung tablets such as theGalaxy NotePRO 12.2. It makes for a nicer feel in the hand than the slippery back of the Galaxy S4.

Beneath the screen is the familiar physical home button, which helps to identify this as a Samsung handset. For the first time, this button incorporates a fingerprint scanner, although this is not evident at first glance.

On its own, the Galaxy S5 looks fine. But sat next to its two main rivals, theHTC One (M8)and theSony Xperia Z2, the choice of premium-grade materials in the competing devices gives them a far more upmarket feel.

The button arrangement is sensible, with the power button on the right side and volume on the left. The headset slot is on the top, along with an IR zapper, while the bottom edge houses a long Micro USB 3.0 port (which also supports standard USB 2.0 cables).

Like Sony's Xperia Z2, the Galaxy S5 has waterproofing and dust resistance toIP67standard ('6' signifies complete dust protection; '7' signifies the ability to withstand immersion in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes). Pop-up reminders to check the back plate and close the USB cover can be an irritation, but we found that securing the back plate all around after inserting a Micro-SIM or swapping a Micro SD card was fiddly, so the reminder is actually useful. Rather a mildly annoying reminder than a dead handset that's been dropped in the bath.

The screen measures 5.1 inches across the diagonal and delivers a resolution of 1,920 by 1,080 pixels, giving an excellent pixel density of 432ppi. The Super AMOLED panel is superbly sharp and bright, with good viewing angles and rich colors. You can alter the color saturation manually or allow the handset to select the best setting depending on what you're doing — reading books or watching video, for example.

Because it can be difficult to reach right across the 5.1-inch screen with one hand, Samsung has implemented a One-Handed Operation mode. This is easily invoked by sweeping a thumb from the screen's edge to its centre and back again (you revert to the full-sized screen using the same gesture).

In one-handed mode, you get a smaller virtual display moved to one side of the physical screen (you choose which side, depending on whether you're right- or left-handed). It's a clever solution that provides quick access to a system that functions in every application. We used it a lot while standing on public transport, quickly flicking back to full-screen mode as required.

You can register up to three fingers to work with the fingerprint scanner on the home button. You use it by sweeping a finger downwards across it, starting at the bottom of the touchscreen, which also has a role to play here. After three failures you're left with the traditional option of entering a password — and, of course, you can ignore the scanner and just take the password route as your first choice.

Samsung has an eye on the wellness market, as we saw with the S Health app on the Samsung Galaxy S4. S Health is here again, and includes a pedometer and food logger. It also keeps a record of your heart rate via a sensor on the back of the handset, beneath the camera lens. Rest a finger on this sensor and it will provide an accurate measure in just a few seconds. It's no substitute for the kind of heart rate monitoring that's available during exercise, but could be useful. No other smartphone currently incorporates this feature natively.

Sound quality through the Galaxy S5's single speaker is not great — in fact, compared to the superb audio quality from the HTC One (M8), it's verging on the embarrassing for Samsung.

Features

Samsung's flagship handset naturally has a top-notch set of internal specifications. It runs a 2.5GHz quad-coreQualcomm Snapdragon 801SoC supported by 2GB of RAM and is blisteringly fast. There is 16GB of internal storage, of which we found 11.2GB available to the user out of the box.

The Galaxy S5 is GSM/3G (UMTS)/4G (LTE) handset with dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. As noted above, the handset has a MicroUSB 3.0 port, which supportsUSB on the Go(OTG) andMobile High-Definition Link(MHL). Infrared and NFC are also supported, while there are sensors for gestures, fingerprints, heart rate, hall effect, accelerometer, geomagnetism, gyroscope, light intensity, barometer and proximity.

A 16-megapixel rear camera with flash complements a 2-megapixel front camera. The main rear camera supports 4K video capture (3,840-by-2,160 pixels) at 30 frames per second, while the secondary front camera will do full-HD video (1080p) at 30fps.

To help with downloading there's a feature called Download Booster that combines the LTE and Wi-Fi connections to accelerate large file downloads. How much this will benefit people in practice is debatable — we tend to stick to Wi-Fi for large file downloads, for example, to avoid racking up data charges on the mobile broadband network.

We've already mentioned some of Samsung's many software additions to the Galaxy S5. Both the Touch Wiz skin sitting on top of Android 4.4 (Kit Kat) and the extra apps are a key part of the Samsung brand. Criticized in the past for too much software bloat, we're pleased to note that Samsung does seem to have reined in its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink tendency.

S Translator, for example, is gone. You can easily download Samsung apps from its own app store, and the absence of clutter out of the box is a welcome relief. Samsung has included some of its own-branded apps, though: S Health is joined by S Planner, S Voice and a good note-taking app called Memo.

The gesture- and motion-based features that many Samsung handset users like are still here. Smart Stay keeps the screen on while you're looking at it, for example, while Air View lets you preview content by hovering your finger over it; you can also call a contact displayed on-screen simply by bringing the phone to your ear, and there's plenty more gesture-based functionality. Multi Window — the facility to view two apps on-screen at once — is also retained, and works quite well on the relatively large 5.1-inch screen.

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The Corliss Group Review
on Research and Markets: Global Anti-money Laundering (AML) Software Market
2014-2018 with Fiserv

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The Corliss Group Review
on Research and Markets: Global Anti-money Laundering (AML) Software Market
2014-2018 with Fiserv

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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/gzs68x/global_antimoney) has announced the addition of the "Global Anti-money Laundering (AML) Software Market 2014-2018 with Fiserv, NICE Actimize, Norkom Technologies, SAS Institute Dominating" report to their offering.

The Global AML Software market will grow at a CAGR of 11% over the period 2013-2018.

The service providers are applying an analytical approach to meet AML compliance and there are different methodologies applied by service providers to identify suspicious activity reports. However, some traditional approaches such as linear regression analysis generate false alerts along with suspicious activity reports, which are not worth investigating. On the other hand, predictive analytics enables enterprises to reduce the false alerts by 60 to 70 percent and reduces the compliance cost of adopting AML software. Predictive analytics is also a better methodology because it can encode more information about an account or customer's activity.

According to the report, most people are increasingly shifting toward debit cards as a preferred mode of payment because of the ease of use. This leads to data breach by criminals to access huge amounts and acquire debit card information. Large-scale data breaches of major retail chains are currently common. If there are a number of debit frauds against an enterprise customer satisfaction is not met and thus they stop availing the service. To save customers loss and prevent customers from becoming the victim of such activities, many enterprises are deploying AML software.

Further, the report states that one of the major challenges is the inconsistency in the data because of the data in enterprises are collected by the different departments and proper functioning of AML software requires consistency in data.

The Global AML Software market can be divided into four segments:

•  Internal Spending

•  Software

•  Services

•  Hardware.

Key Vendors

•  Fiserv Inc.

•  NICE Actimize Inc.

•  Norkom Technologies Ltd.

•  SAS Institute Inc.

Other Prominent Vendors

•  3i Infotech Ltd.

•  Accuity Birst Inc.

•  ACI Worldwide Inc.

•  Acquilan Technologies Inc.

•  Ficrosoft

•  Cellent Finance Solutions AG

•  EastNets Ltd.

•  Ficrosoft Infor Global Solutions

•  FIS.

•  Infrasoft Technologies Ltd.

•  Oracle Corp.

•  Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

•  Thomson Reuters Corp.

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The
Corliss Group Review on Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Critical Wind
Tunnel Tests 

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The
Corliss Group Review on Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Critical Wind
Tunnel Tests 

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Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes Critical Wind Tunnel Tests for its Dream Chaser® Spacecraft - Passes NASA CCiCap Program Milestone - Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces the successful completion of the latest milestone in its NASA Commercial Crew Integrated Capability (CCiCap) agreement. NASA awarded SNC full value of $20 million for the passage of CCiCap Milestone 8, Wind Tunnel Testing. To date, SNC has received over 80 percent of the total award value under the CCiCap agreement and is on track to complete the program later this year.

The purpose of Milestone 8 was to continue to advance the overall design of the Dream Chaser orbital spacecraft by analyzing the forces and flight dynamic characteristics that the vehicle will experience during orbital ascent and re-entry. The completion of this milestone significantly advances the path to orbital flight of the Dream Chaser spacecraft and the Dream Chaser Atlas V integrated launch system. Several Dream Chaser scale model spacecraft were subjected to multiple different wind tunnel tests in various configurations, including the integrated Dream Chaser attached to the United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle. In addition to the baseline milestone criteria, SNC fully self-funded an additional wind tunnel test that will accelerate the Dream Chaser development schedule and path to completion of the Critical Design Review.

"The aerodynamic data collected during these tests has further proven and validated Dream Chaser's integrated spacecraft and launch vehicle system design. It also has shown that Dream Chaser expected performance is greater than initially predicted," said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC's Space Systems. "Our program continues to fully complete each of our CCiCap agreement milestones assisted through our strong collaboration efforts with our integrated 'Dream Team' of industry, university and government strategic partners. We are on schedule to launch our first orbital flight in November of 2016, which will mark the beginning of the restoration of U.S. crew capability to low-Earth orbit."

The wind tunnel tests for this milestone were completed at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, CALSPAN Transonic Wind Tunnel in New York, and at NASA's Langley Research Center Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel in Hampton, Virginia. SNC has a long standing relationship with Langley dating to 2004, the beginning of its development for the Dream Chaser, a derivative of NASA's HL-20 lifting body vehicle. Langley also houses the full motion-based flight simulator, which operates using Dream Chaser flight software and has been used to train future Dream Chaser pilots and NASA astronauts. In addition to these locations, previous wind tunnel testing also occurred at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama and at Texas A&M University.

SNC is working with NASA's Commercial Crew Program to develop a safe, innovative, modern, flexible and highly-capable crew transportation system for the 21st Century. Dream Chaser provides the only reusable, human-rated lifting-body spacecraft with a commercial runway landing capability, anywhere in the world, and is on the forefront of the commercial human spaceflight industry, offering safe, reliable and cost-effective crew and critical cargo transportation to low-Earth orbit. Dream Chaser is a multi-mission capable spacecraft that has the ability to work as an independent science platform, or as a logistics vehicle to retrieve, repair, replace, assemble or deploy items in space.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems

Sierra Nevada Corporation's Space Systems business area based in Louisville, Colorado, designs and manufactures advanced spacecraft, space vehicles, rocket motors and spacecraft subsystems and components for the U.S. Government, commercial customers as well as for the international market. SNC's Space Systems has more than 25 years of space heritage and has participated in over 400 successful space missions through the delivery of over 4,000 systems, subsystems and components. During its history, SNC's Space Systems has concluded over 70 programs for NASA and over 50 other clients. For more information about SNC's Space Systems visit http://www.sncspace.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SNCSpaceSystems.

About Sierra Nevada Corporation

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, is one of America's fastest growing private companies based on its significant expansion and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems and solar energy. Under the leadership of CEO Fatih Ozmen and President Eren Ozmen, SNC has a workforce of over 3,000 personnel in 30 locations in 16 states. SNC's six unique business areas are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC's dynamic customer base.

SNC is also the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States. Over the last 30 years under the Ozmen's leadership, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth also on the commercial sector through internal advancements in dual-use applications and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC visit http://www.sncorp.com and follow us at Facebook.com/SierraNevadaCorporation.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Robocoin ATMs will send bitcoins to phone numbers

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Robocoin ATMs will send bitcoins to phone numbers

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Robocoin Bank users will be able to send bitcoin to phone numbers around the world

Leading Bitcoin ATM manufacturer Robocoin is upgrading its network of machines with bank-style features, including the ability to send funds to phone numbers.

The Las Vegas-based company, which launched the world's first Bitcoin ATM in Canada last October, said its ATMs in 13 countries will allow users to buy bitcoin or get cash in 12 currencies easily.

It's billing the new Robocoin Bank as "the fastest way to send cash worldwide."

The ATM services, which will launch this summer, will include the ability to store, access and send bitcoins from any ATM, or "branch," as the company is now calling them. They can also transfer bitcoin instantly without users having to wait for confirmation on the blockchain, the public ledger of transactions in the cryptocurrency.

The machines will also let customers withdraw cash from their bitcoin holdings.

In a move the company believes will disrupt the remittance industry, users will be able to send money to people by addressing it to a phone number instead of a Bitcoin address. If recipients don't have Bitcoin accounts yet, the funds will wait for them at their local machine.

For security against fraud, the ATMs will use three ways to authenticate users: a phone number that acts as a username, a PIN and palm-vein scans.

The manufacturer is hoping its revamped approach, as well as use of banking terms like "deposits" and "withdrawals," will broaden the appeal of Bitcoin beyond early adapters.

"The new Robocoin Bank removes the pain and the barrier to entry," Robocoin CEO Jordan Kelley wrote in an email.

"No longer do customers have to worry about private keys and public addresses. With the Robocoin Bank, customers deposit into their Robocoin Account and send money between phone numbers, not public keys, which will yield incredible network effects."

Bitcoin transfers have relied on public-key cryptography, which uses secret codes to verify a user's ownership of bitcoins. Private keys are matched to Bitcoin addresses, unique identifiers that allow users to receive the digital currency.

The Robocoin Bank will enable faster and easier transactions than before, Kelley added.

Robocoin did not immediately respond to a request for information about the bank's fee structure.

Japan become one of the latest countries to receive a Robocoin ATM when importing company Raimu unveiled in April the first of three it ordered from the U.S.

The machine is expected to be set up in the busy Shibuya district of Tokyo this month, according to Raimu.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: 3G to reduce fraud, leakage in financial sector

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Corliss Tech Review Group: 3G to reduce fraud, leakage in financial sector

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LAHORE-The 3G technology, besides helping increase the GDP of Pakistan, encouraging infrastructure investments, will also help reducing fraud and economic leakage in financial sector and improve farm production in the agriculture sector. The evolution of technology has made life easier for customer base. The launch of 3G services is great news as it will not only improve the general standard of life and the quality of the way business is done but will also help boost the economy.

These views were expressed by the Ufone CCO Asher Yaqub Khan in an interview with The Nation. Following are details of the extracts of the talks with him.

Q: How 3G  could be utilized for information?

AYK: Users can use 3G for watching TV on their handsets, downloading and streaming videos at high speed, sharing clips as well as enriched social media experience.

Q: How do you see loadshedding will affect the quality of 3G service on networks of telcos?

AYK: Loadshedding will not affect the quality of 3G service, in fact it will provide relief to our customers by facilitating them to use internet and watch their favorite programs or chat with their friends. The beauty of having 3G technology is that you can enjoy services on your phone even when there is no electricity provided you have your phone fully charged of course!

Q: Will a large section of customers’ base, out of 132m, be able to afford the rates of 3G?

AYK: At Ufone, customers are our top priority and we will ensure that the transition will be as smooth as possible to provide the best packages. Even if you look at our history, we have been known to provide world class service at affordable rates and this will be the case with 3G too.

Q: Do we see price hikes across the band or the model will continue to be price-centric?

AYK: we will keep the tariffs as simple and customer friendly as possible. At Ufone, as we have always stressed, it is always about you. We do not believe in exploiting our customers. The approach will remain the same in future as well and we will continue delivering affordable services to our customer base that by the way, has been great to us in return as well.

Q: What are the challenges that are expected to create impediments in the fastest deployment of 3G networks?

AYK: One major hold up point is that the technology is only supported on handsets that are 3G compatible. So only users who have a 3G handset will be able to experience the technology.

Customer awareness of how to use services is another issue. We are working on building awareness for the technology. Setting up the technology is one thing but making customers aware about it and then selling it is another.

Q: What are your demands from the government related tax rationalization on mobile phone services as the telecom sector in Pakistan is made to suffer from discriminate and highest tax regime?

AYK: This needs to be rationalized. Telecoms tax burden in Pakistan is amongst highest in the world and that effects all efforts of increasing teledensity. If we understand and acknowledge the sea change that access to telecoms can bring in our economy, I am sure we will appreciate the need for reduction of taxes here.

Q: What are some of the challenges in minimizing costs?

AYK: Increased taxes being levied by the government, indirect taxes, cost of infrastructure, power crisis, security issues, network shutdown, license cost, regulatory barrier on commercial activity as well as right of way the main challenge in minimizing costs.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Our privacy is on the line in age of big data

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Corliss Tech Review Group: Our privacy is on the line in age of big data

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The White House issued a warning last week: Big data may be harmful to our privacy.

Give the White House credit. It is trying to keep an important issue before the eyes of the public. OK, this one does not deal with Benghazi or Obamacare. But in the long term, it will probably be even more important. The topic is big data.

The White House issued two well-thought out reports last week, one on the ethical ramifications and another on the technical aspects of big data in our lives. The topic did not gather a lot of press coverage, probably because it is not as sexy as other issues. In addition, it did not draw a lot of attention. It is one of those issues that simmers, rather than boils.

Big data is the gathering of massive amounts of information from all kinds of sources, from bridge crossings to online purchases to Internet searches to tweets and phone calls to bank records. You name it. With the new power of computers, all of those data points can be quickly analyzed and directed to detect patterns. The problem is that some of these patterns tell too much about our personal lives and leave us open to exploitation.

The analysts may be the National Security Agency or your friendly broadband company. It can even be that ice cream store down the street. The records of how many raspberry ice cream cones you bought or which movies you watched on cable are being recorded and analyzed. The NSA wants to predict the likelihood of terrorists living next store. The grocery store wants to predict what soda you will buy and what it will take to make you buy more.

The White House reports were based on a series of conferences with experts from various fields. The experts lauded the potential for good that big data can bring us, but they also warned of dangers.

Among the positives that big data can bring us: Medicare and Medicaid searching records and decoding fraud. That has the potential of saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Locally, the New Castle County police department uses big data analysis to track reported crimes, from the most dangerous to the trivial. The patterns that emerge can help direct the location of officers and thus lead to a decrease in crime. Many cities around the country use big data analysis to track and predict locations of violent crime. Wilmington should take note.

On the other hand, government agencies like the NSA know our comings and goings, who we talked to on the phone and what messages we sent online. Delaware police agencies, like those across the nation, have large libraries of digital photos of car license plates as the cars moved intersections. Storage of those images can be harnessed to powerful computer programs to detect and track the movement of cars. We would be foolish if we believe that there will never be a breach of trust in guarding that information.

The White House's experts echoed that warning.

Big data will be both a blessing and a curse in the years to come. How we respond to warnings, like those from the White House, will determine which comes out on top.

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Old tech is new darling of equity
income investors

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Old tech is new darling of equity
income investors

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Technology stocks have never been the best friend of the equity income investor. Until the financial crisis struck in 2008, the yield on the MSCI Global Technology index remained resolutely below 1 per cent, with many tech companies simply not having the free cash flows to pay meaningful dividends. Those that did generally preferred to splurge on acquisitions as they chased market share in a frenetic land grab.

And even after the global stock market sell-off briefly pushed yields above 2 per cent in late 2008 and early 2009, they sank back to little over 1 per cent in 2010.

However, yields have since climbed back above 1.5 per cent and some equity income fund managers, at least, are starting to take note.

“Traditionally, technology companies never really paid dividends, so we were unable to make investments, resulting in us being structurally underweight technology for a long time,” says Nick Clay, co-manager of the £4bn Newton Global Higher Income fund.

“However, of late some of the more mature technology companies have started paying dividends and are increasingly doing so. You have the likes of Apple, Cisco and Microsoft, which are all paying cash back to investors.”

Jill Cuniff, president of Seattle-based Edge Asset Management, which manages $7bn in equity income funds, adds: “Back during the tech boom a lot of people thought these companies could not grow and [simultaneously] pay a dividend.

“We don’t think that is true. A lot of them are sitting on a lot of cash. M&A [merger and acquisition] activity has slowed down, therefore a lot of that [cash] is flowing back to shareholders in terms of dividends and buybacks. We don’t believe this is temporary.”

Mr Clay’s Newton fund now has a higher allocation to technology stocks than at any point since its launch in 2005, with its 8.1 per cent weighting only a little below its benchmark of 9.5 per cent.

Others have gone further still and built double-digit exposures.

The £300m Baillie Gifford Global Income fund has a 15.3 per cent exposure to technology, the £92m Schroder Global Equity Income vehicle 13.2 per cent (second only to financials) and the Legg Mason Global Equity Income fund 11.3 per cent.

Ian Kelly, co-manager of the Schroder fund and part of a value-investing team that manages $13bn, believes the post-crisis hunt for yield has encouraged more mature technology companies to change tack.

“Previously [paying a dividend] was seen by investors, in the States in particular, as a sign that there were no growth opportunities in the business. Things changed after 2008 and paying dividends, and especially growing them, was seen as a strength and a sign of confidence in the cash flow prospects for the business,” he says.

Income managers are not buying tech stocks across the board, however. Potentially faster-growing niches such as social media stocks remain off limits. So-called “old” or “mature” tech outfits, such as Microsoft, Intel and Cisco are the ones in demand.

“We are significantly overweight the sector vis-à-vis our peers, but it is skewed more to the older tech companies, where valuation on a relative and absolute basis is very attractive, the balance sheets are very healthy, there is very healthy cash flow generation and therefore they have the capacity to pay out and grow a consistent dividend,” says Safa Muhtaseb, co-manager of the Legg Mason fund.

Income managers argue these stocks have fallen out of favour with traditional technology investors because their growth rates have fallen, but they are adamant that does not mean they have become post-growth pseudo-utility companies.

“Our companies have real earnings, real cash flows. Their returns on capital employed are quite attractive. Their industries may very well be maturing, therefore the revenue growth rate has declined and they are growing at mid to low single-digit rates, but the earnings growth is there as they become more efficient,” says Mr Muhtaseb.

He lauds the likes of Corning, which makes glass for iPhones and tablets and is developing antimicrobial glass, Wincor Nixdorf, a German manufacturer of cash registers and ATMs, and TravelSky Technology, a Hong Kong-listed IT provider to China’s travel and tourism industry.

Mr Kelly argues “old-tech” companies are superior to utility stocks as they tend to have lots of cash on their balance sheets, often equivalent to 25-30 per cent of their market capitalisation. This makes them safer than the many utilities that have loaded up with debt.

Mr Muhtaseb also sees these often-hefty cash balances – Apple had almost $159bn in cash at the end of 2013, and Microsoft $84bn – as attractive, particularly if this money is handed to shareholders.

“Their balance sheets are suboptimal, they are inefficient. It is accretive to them to return cash to shareholders. That is why we are seeing activists take positions in companies with hordes of cash and agitating for significant [share] buybacks,” he says.

And while he is acutely aware of the “vicious technological obsolescence” that can undermine mature technologies, Mr Muhtaseb is confident that the companies he favours have sufficient free cash flow to invest heavily in research and development and still pay chunky dividends.

Moreover, new opportunities are constantly emerging for the alert income investor. Mr Kelly, for instance, says sequestration-driven US public spending cuts led many to conclude that military-focused tech companies had gone ex-growth.

The resultant sell-off led him to scoop up companies supplying telecommunications to the Pentagon and services to Nasa, the US space agency.

Mr Clay, for one, believes the trend for income managers to fish among the sea of technology stocks still has much further to run.

“We are underweight [the sector] because the trend of tech companies paying dividends is just beginning. We have still got a long way to go,” he says.

Tech Reviews by The Corliss Group

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Innovation
and technology vital to Hong Kong's future competitiveness and productivity

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Innovation
and technology vital to Hong Kong's future competitiveness and productivity

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On April 16, IT sector lawmaker Charles Mok was the mover of a joint statement backing the setting up of an innovation and technology bureau and urging fellow legislators not to mount a filibuster during the debate on this issue.

A filibuster is characterised as a form of obstruction in a legislature. It is a strategy employed by minority representatives to give them some leverage in defence of their constituents' interests. Executed shrewdly, it can be a David and Goliath tactic that can be successful.

Hong Kong has been criticised for lagging behind its rivals in cultivating a new sustainable economy. The performance of its economy over the last decade has been unimpressive. In real terms, average personal incomes have seen little or no growth, meaning Hongkongers' lives have not improved.

Also, Hong Kong's increasing economic reliance on mainland China is a cause for concern. If the SAR's free economy is homogenised with the mainland's towering planned macroeconomics, there could be unforeseen and dangerous consequences.

I am vice-chairman of a think tank advocating innovation and technology. Those lawmakers planning a filibuster need to be told that the only logical path to preserve Hong Kong's economic independence and core values lies with continuous enrichment in innovation and technology. They are vital to prolong the city's global competitiveness while maintaining its productivity against systemic risks such as an ageing workforce and obsolete human resources.

The proposed innovation and technology bureau can formulate policies to reinvent Hong Kong, help legislate against technology crimes and attract foreign investment and talent. The innovation and technology sector was encouraged when the chief executive made good his campaign pledge to establish the bureau. Academics and professionals are ready to work with the new bureau chief and his team once they are appointed. Without this bureau, the future is bleak. While the existing technology infrastructure has achieved its intended role, a centralised architecture is missing to effectively harness strengths and remedy shortfalls. Hong Kong was at risk when its manufacturing industry migrated to China. The finance industry was chosen as the next economic pillar to retain growth and stability. Stakeholders, putting aside their differences, helped transform Hong Kong into a global financial hub and reshaped the banking, insurance and asset management sectors. Hong Kong can repeat this success with innovation and technology. Legislative Council members must consider Hong Kong's future before backing a filibuster. Tech Reviews by The Corliss Group

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Innovation and technology vital to Hong Kong's future competitiveness and productivity

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On April 16, IT sector lawmaker Charles Mok was the mover of a joint statement backing the setting up of an innovation and technology bureau and urging fellow legislators not to mount a filibuster during the debate on this issue....

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What You Want, When You
Want It: How 3D Printing Appeals to the Everyday Consumer

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What You Want, When You
Want It: How 3D Printing Appeals to the Everyday Consumer

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3D printing continues to be a global spectacle in 2014, making appearances from Las Vegas during International CES and Barcelona during Mobile World Congress. With the 3D printing industry predicted to reach $10.8 billion by 2021, many are asking how it will change the future of the consumer landscape, much like MP3 players and iPods transformed the music industry. While the answers may not be obvious, there are a number of ways 3D printing will impact the daily lives of consumers in years to come.

Opening the door to customization

A major appeal to everyday consumers is how 3D printing opens the entryway to customization. From custom jewelry to food, the possibilities when using a 3D printer are endless. As 3D printers become more accessible over time, so will the ability to print items that are extremely personalized and tailored to each user. If we think about most of the products we buy, they are commoditized in some way for the average person; jeans are a certain length and cabinet handles come in standardized sizes. 3D printing allows consumers to create items exactly the way they need or want them – ultimately, letting customers set their own parameters. Companies like Nokia and New Balance, for example, have taken to the 3D printing trend and now offer online services where consumers can customize their own 3D printed cell phone case or sneakers, respectively.

Creating at home convenience

Beyond the ability to custom 3D print apparel and gadgets, there is massive potential in at-home 3D printing. The average consumer can easily use a 3D printer to produce everyday items like plates, utensils, and home furnishings. At its core, 3D printing at home is about being able to conveniently download and print a model of nearly any item a consumer may want to make their living space more comfortable and appealing. Looking at the music industry, the way people listen to and purchase music has dramatically changed over time. Take the traditional music cassette or CD – the need to go to a store no longer exists thanks to online downloads, giving the consumer more control and immediate access to new music at any time. 3D printing has the same potential to do that for almost every item in our homes – giving consumers power over when they make a purchase and when they print it.

A lasting impact

3D printing is a specialized and emerging technology, and one that will have a lasting impact for the everyday consumer in years to come. As increased interest in customization continues to trend, 3D printing will become more in demand. And as consumers become more open to the practical use for 3D printers in 2014, soon enough the question will shift from how we will print things to what we will print.

Tech Reviews by The Corliss Group

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Smart Way to Replace Your Samsung Galaxy S4 with New Galaxy S5

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Smart Way to Replace Your Samsung Galaxy S4 with New Galaxy S5

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If you are a gadget enthusiast and aching to have your hands on Galaxy S5 or you just cannot since you have your Galaxy S4 from the previous year, you have a way to work it out. Consider trading your device with your carrier for a credit to your new phone. To get the most of your device, you can sell your phone, which you have lots of options.

Here are some of them:

EBay

EBay provides you a marketplace for your items where predictability is less. Auctions can give you more or less earnings. Posting and managing items for sale are quite tedious until eBay introduced My Gadgets which will help you create a listing. You may list what you own and My Gadget will tell you how you can make based on eBay price trends if you sell it. EBay may not be the best choice for making more money with regard to selling your handsets. But it is usually a site where you can locate items which are extremely low or high demand or those which are difficult to find.

Amazon

Amazon is one of the most convenient ways to sell your old phone with some drawbacks. Find your device on Amazon, click the "Sell on Amazon" button and provide details. You then have a listing and after some time, you will have a buyer. You ship the item, confirm the shipment to Amazon and request the money transfer to your account. On the side, you will be dealing with the buyer through email and get a high-profile listing on Amazon. There will be competition with other sellers though, which can put the prices down. In exchange of convenience, this option may not be the best in terms of monetary benefits.

Craiglist

Craiglist is making local selling possible, easy and fast, although you have to make the bargaining yourself with many buyers. Some do not go to Craiglist for these very reasons and want to avoid a headache. But if your device is highly in demand, you can use Craiglist to the max and have your money immediately.

Facebook Marketplace

The Facebook Marketplace is a mix of the benefits and drawbacks of online and local selling like selling in Craiglist but not limited to the locality. You can post your listing and share it with others. There are sites which you can also sell your smartphone. They offer buyback programs and provide some selling services. Examples are uSell, Cell Circle, Gazelle, Nextworth and UpgradeSwap. You can make the most money when you take time to explore these options and compare prices. For example, eBay's asking price for Galaxy S4 ranges from $70 to $397 based on the phone's condition while uSell is from $35 to $182. It varies more in Craiglist, which ranges from $180 to $550. Offering in Gazelle is $50 to $193, Nextworth is $33 to $128 and UpgradeSwap is between $85 and $230.

Tech Reviews by The Corliss Group

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Corliss Group Tech Review: Dating App Tinder
Infected by Dangerous Bots

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Corliss Group Tech Review: Dating App Tinder
Infected by Dangerous Bots

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Swipe right, chat to a fake user and your personal data could be stolen.

A series of bots have invaded dating app Tinder and are spreading dangerous downloads after luring users with tempting profiles and pictures, an antivirus developer has discovered.

Bitdefender Labs is currently investigating both the Android application and the bots that seem to have stolen pictures from an Arizona-based photography studio. Some of these images are also being used for fake Facebook profiles.

Catalin Cosoi, chief security strategist at Bitdefender, said: "After users swipe the right button on Tinder to indicate that they like a profile, the bots engage users in automated conversations until they convince them to click on a dubious link.

"The name of the URL gives the impression of an official page of the dating app and for extra legitimacy scammers also registered it on a reputable .com domain."

Bitdefender warns users to be aware of this risk, and advises that a typical bot message reads: "Hey, how are you doing? I'm still recovering from last night? Relaxing with a game on my phone, castle clash. Have you heard about it? Play with me and you may get my phone number."

The scam is geo-specific: British users are lured to fraudulent surveys and dubious competitions for ASDA and Tesco vouchers, while Tinder users in the US are brought to the 'Castle Clash' game download.

Castle Clash developer IGG has said that this issue is currently looked in to. IGG's Jiayan Wu, commented: "We are aware of this issue and we are currently investigating into it. We are also being victimized in this issue therefore we are grateful for being informed." Bitdefender has also notified the photography studio where the bots' pictures were stolen from.

This is not the first time that the dating app has come under attack from bots spreading dubious or malicious links. To guard against this threat, Bitdefender recently published a security and privacy guide to help users "tinder" more safely.

The antivirus software company has also discovered a similar ad campaign targeting National Geographic mobile users with scare ware saying they have been infected with malware. The ad "technique" abusively redirected users to a Google Play app that would clean their Android device.

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Corliss Group Tech Review on which is
better: AVG vs. Avast?

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Corliss Group Tech Review on which is
better: AVG vs. Avast?

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Protecting yourself against harmful and life threatening viruses, its best to choose the antivirus by brand name. But each Antivirus download that you can find on the internet is dependent on what is most important to the user in terms of variables. Some are more dedicated to filtering through malware and spyware; some systems pride themselves on being the most reliable, or adaptable to the constant change of cyberspace gunk that’s floating around.  So with all these choices, how’re we supposed to know which program is suited to our professional needs?

We hope to address those concerns and point the potential onlooker in the right direction for a potential download, or perhaps full-on purchase of the bundled software. For the moment we’ll be looking at Avast! and AVG which are both free antivirus downloads available for your computer on reliable online websites.

Avast! Free Antivirus Software: The Basics

Chances are if you’re looking to get in on the ground floor to check if Avast! is right for you, then you’ll be looking into the coverage that the free antivirus download is going to offer. Avast! is ranked as one of the top antivirus programs in the market with 17% of users in the entire market share of protection services. Which is pretty far up there with McAfee, Bitdefender, and other potential competition. The website itself assumes that over 200 million+ users rely on Avast! to safeguard their PCs, Macs, and mobile devices.

An overall range of what exactly these bundles can offer are found Avast!’s official website.  Listed below are what the first set of antivirus protection will offer you as well as what it’ll establish for your computer’s health in the long run.

Intelligent Antivirus – Hosted with DynaGen software, the antivirus package is going to keep your device in tip-top shape no matter what virus are currently circulating. It prides itself on being a program that’ll adapt to the appropriate measure depending on what your computer might be faced with when surfing the internet.

Anti-malware Protection – Plus anti-spyware and anti-rootkit. Meaning that no one can gather your personal information, infect you with malware, or be anywhere near your private credentials without you being aware of it.

Safezone – If you bank online, this’ll be one of the deciding factors as it’ll promise epitome protection for secured payments and banking.

AVG Antivirus Software: The Basics

In comparison to Avast! the folks at AVG are a little behind in their numbers at 170 million+ having entrusted their computer’s health to the program. But the software itself is secure and accessible on their website. AVG have won an array of awards for their antivirus software, and can be considered a lively competitor to Avast! and other protection bundles. Being relatively new to the scene in comparison to the older programs such as McAfee or others; its rise in the market can be attributed only to their accumulating success. Not to mention that their entire bundle of protection (if you’re looking for a long-term commitment) is around half of what McAfee’s full bundle is going to cost you. At $39.99 the initial test might eventually lead into your purchase of an entire AVG software kit. Which won’t run you into the drain, considering the average price of compiled bundles.

Below is what you can safely assume that you’ll be getting in AVG’s antivirus software.

Antivirus, malware and spyware protection – The basics of each, really. You’ll be safe from being caught off-guard with numerous viruses or potential malware. Or threatened with collection of your personal information.

Blocks phishing scams – Consider all deceptive attempts to gather up your credit card information, personal information, email and passwords all null and void. This program will assure that no matter what, you’ll be able to scan in accordance to legitimate websites and block the fraud.

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5 File Sharing
Dangers by the Corliss Group Tech Review

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5 File Sharing
Dangers by the Corliss Group Tech Review

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Sharing files with colleagues and clients should be easy and convenient. What it shouldn't be is a security risk — but it frequently is. Because many small businesses don't have the right file-sharing systems and policies, many turn to unsafe practices that often put both their business's and clients' privacy in jeopardy.

Is your business guilty of engaging in dangerous file sharing habits? Here are five you need to watch out for and what you can do about them.

1. Sharing files via email

The most obvious dangerous habit is sharing files via email. Just the other day I received a design document from a client as an email attachment. Email is not designed to be secure. Anyone with access to an intermediate mail server or with the ability to sniff network traffic between our mail servers would see this design document. If I needed to sign a non-disclosure agreement to see this information, they probably did not want random folks on the Internet to see this information. Instead, senders should encrypt files and use secure file sharing services. — Susan Hinrichs, chief of engineering at SafelyFiled

2. Using consumer-grade cloud solutions

Workers around the world are putting themselves and their employers at risk by indiscriminately using unauthorized file sharing services on their mobile and desktop devices — to the tune of $2 billion. With more workers joining the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) revolution and turning to insecure file sharing services like personal Dropbox and Google Drive accounts, the threat is greater than ever. Employees need to demand Dropbox-like solutions for enterprise tools, bringing the productivity of Dropbox into the secure world of enterprise–sanctioned resources. Employees need to work with IT to adopt a consumer-grade experience with enterprise-grade security. Without IT buy-in, end users will continue to choose between engaging in risky file sharing behavior with consumer-centric alternatives, or taking a productivity hit through clunky legacy enterprise file sharing systems. — David Lavenda, vice president of product strategy at harmon.ie

3. Peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing

P2P sharing is a great technology used to share data over peer networks. It's also great software to get hacked. Installing P2P software allows anyone, including criminal hackers, to access your client's data. This can result in business security breaches, credit card fraud and identity theft. This is the easiest form of hacking. There have been numerous reports of numerous government agencies, drug companies, mortgage brokers and others discovering P2P software on their networks after personal data was leaked. For instance, blueprints for President Obama's private helicopters were recently compromised because a Maryland-based defense contractor's P2P software had leaked them to the wild, wild Web. Instead, have P2P security policies in place not allowing the installation of P2P software on your workplace computers or employee laptops. Also, a quick look at the "All Programs Menu" will show nearly every program on your computers. If you find an unfamiliar program, do an online search to see what it is you've found. You should also set administrative privileges that prevent the installation of new software without your knowledge. — Robert Siciliano, personal security and identity theft expert and CEO of IDTheftSecurity

4. Using flash drives

Flash drives are the easy tool of choice for infection since they bypass network security. If an infected file is on a flash drive and inserted into a system, it can start an infection spread from the PC. Some systems are set to autorun flash drive contents which can give the malware administrator permissions which allow all kinds of havoc to happen. These habits are not normally considered risky, but represent easy and unexpected infection or breach methods. The simplest and standard defensive actions are using up-to-date antivirus tools that stop autorun and scan any USB-attached device and their files. Encryption also should be applied. — Duane Kuroda, product and marketing at NetCitadel

5. Lack of visibility

The danger starts when employees take matters into their own hands and engage a file sharing service on their own. The individual making a one-off decision is not going to be thinking of the bigger picture of organization-wide requirements. What may look like the easiest, cheapest solution may be completely bereft of critical functions such as persistent control and auditability, and may inadvertently place the data at risk. Employees that engage a solution on their own may also be tempted to mix personal data with organizational data. Visibility provides important insights into who is using the data, when and how many times. In regulated environments, this visibility provides the required audit information needed for compliance. — Jim Ivers, chief security strategist at Covata.

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Corliss Group Tech Review on 6 iPhone/iPad
Apps You Need Now

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Corliss Group Tech Review on 6 iPhone/iPad
Apps You Need Now

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Welcome to Gadget Review's new weekly app review column. We are starting out with iOS apps only, but in the future we will extend to other OSS ecosystems. If you have an app to recommend, please do so in the comments or via our social media channels.

1. Mynd

Calendar apps have come and gone, and nothing has yet replaced the tried and true calendars from Google, Apple and Microsoft. Enter Mynd, an "intelligent mobile calendar" from Alminder Inc. This, loyal readers, is the game changer.

This native app syncs to any existing calendars you have (so you can still manage them from your desktop email client), but transforms the boring box format into an intuitive demographic and mutl-tab display that allows for easy information integration. Just from the launch screen, you can tell what your next schedule item is, how long until it occurs, who is scheduled to attend (plus their LinkedIn profile data), and even a recommended departure time based on traffic conditions.

2. FTL: Faster Than Light

Though more and more people are playing games on their iOS devices, most of those games are pretty basic and, for self-identifying gamers, extremely boring. If you've been looking for a real-deal game to sink your thumbs into, buckle up for Faster Than Light.

A beloved PC game for years, FTL is finally available on second generation or later pagodas. The premise is simple: you’re the captain of an intergalactic space ship, voyaging through an unknown (and awesome randomized) universe. From there, things get more interesting, as you control every aspect of your ship and crew, navigating both enemy and friendly encounters and making snap decisions that can spell doom or glory.

3. Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock

In my humble opinion, the worst part of the day is setting an alarm for the next morning. But it doesn't have to be that way anymore, thanks to Sleep Cycle, an intelligent alarm clock from Northcube AB.

When I first heard about "intelligent" alarm clocks, all I heard was "alarm clock." But there really is a difference. Sleep Cycle measures your, well, sleep cycles, using the iphone built in accelerometer (see, it isn't in there for nothing!) and wakes you up at just the right moment, as you enter your lightest sleep cycle. This way, you aren't snapping out of a deep sleep, and rather gradually slipping into wakefulness, which leads to a far more refreshed and ready feeling.

4. Data Count

In an era of data caps, we could all use a tool to help us avoid the additional charges that accompany all those streaming overages. Data Count, from Creo, is just the ticket.

Nothing complex here, just a simple tool that monitors your cellular (LTE/4G/eg) and wi-fi data and notifies you when youre approaching your limit. It's optimized for iOS 7 and perfectly matched to the Apple aesthetic. Clean, beautiful, and easy.

5. Monument Valley

Sometimes, apps transcend ones and zeros. They usher in a new way of life, perhaps, or offer a major social improvement. And, in rare cases, they become true art.

Monument Valley, a stunning new game from ustwo, is Art with a capital A.

Users guide a ghostly princess figure through mind-bending puzzle worlds using finger swipes, and none of the puzzles are particularly difficult. Turn back now if your looking for days and days of challenging gameplay.

6. Pinnacle Studio for iPhone

Heres one for the pros. Or anyone who takes a lot of photos. Which is just about everyone with an iPhone.

Corel Inc. 's Pinnacle Studio is the perfect solution for people who need quick, easy video, audio and photo editing capabilities on the go. Its suite includes montage templates, transitions, title templates, slow/fast motion, clip splitting, and much more. And with easy import, export and sharing controls, on-the-go creative work can be finalized on the big machine at home. Oh, and the video outputs at full HD (1080p)

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Windows Phone
8.1 Corliss Group Tech Review

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Windows Phone
8.1 Corliss Group Tech Review

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Android, iOS, Windows Phone. Each of these mobile platforms had to start somewhere, and none were anywhere near perfect on the first try. Fortunately, each OS gets better with every iteration until, at some point, it all just clicks. Arguably, Windows Phone just came of age with its latest update, version 8.1.

Even before today, Windows Phone only had a few big holes remaining and indeed, 8.1 appears to fill those gaps. In particular, the OS now has a fancy notification center in addition to those signature Live Tiles; the keyboard now allows for swipe gestures; and last but not least, it now has Cortana, a virtual assistant to take on Siri, Google Now and Samsung S Voice. The 8.1 update is a fairly significant one, and I got the opportunity to take it for a spin ahead of the official developer preview's launch. It may not be perfect yet, but it's clear Windows Phone has finally grown up.

Cortana

Windows Phone included a search option from the beginning, and though it was useful at the time, rivals like Siri, S Voice and Google Now have quickly turned the tide, rendering Microsoft first "voice assistant" completely obsolete. Thankfully, the 8.1 update introduces a personal assistant named Cortana to help bring Windows Phone into the modern era.

Named after Master Chiefs trusty AI sidekick in Halo, Cortana is designed to help you do whatever you do on a phone. Think: scheduling appointments, alerting you to upcoming flights, telling you the weather, offering up directions, dictating messages, opening apps and adjusting settings. She even tells jokes and responds in humorous ways to (most) silly questions. Those are all givens these days, so let's instead move on to the more unusual things she can do.

First, much like a real-life assistant, Cortana has a notebook, which she uses to gather information about you. She learns about your dining preferences, travel needs, daily routine and news stories your keeping track of (I'm hooked on the hunt for MH370 right now, so Cortana keeps that front and center). Often, these things will even pop up on Cortana's Live Tile on the home screen.

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Corliss Group Tech Review: Is Google
Chromecast worth its low price?

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Corliss Group Tech Review: Is Google
Chromecast worth its low price?

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It weighs just 34 grams, is 72 x 35 x 12 mm in size, and costs only the $39: The Google Chromecast looks and feels like a USB flash drive with a glandular problem.

Cheap, easy to set up and even easier to use, there’s really nothing to dislike about the Google streaming device, except for one thing: Canadian content (which we will get to in a moment).

The Chromecast is so small that once it's plugged into an HDMI port in the back of a television set, there’s almost no indication that it's a part of your home theatre setup. Only its power cord, which can either be plugged into a wall socket or available USB port, gives a hint that it’s even there. Unlike other streaming media devices like the Apple TV or Roku 3, Google Chromecast doesn't come with a remote control, or in fact, any onboard applications or content. Everything, from setting up the device to watching a video from your personal media collection or browsing YouTube, is done through the use of apps on an Android phone or tablet, iOS device or via Google Chrome browser on a Chrome OS, Windows or Mac PC.

No matter which device you use with the Chromecast, setup is a cinch. Simply power the device, plug it into an available television HDMI port and follow the Chromecast's onscreen prompts. The device will walk you through the process of connecting it to a Wi-Fi network, pairing with your choice of source device and downloading any available firmware updates. Even with the lousy Internet speeds I suffered while testing the hardware in rural southwestern Ontario I was setup and ready to start streaming content to my Chromecast in under 10 minutes.

Sending content from your computer Chrome browser requires the download of a browser extension. Once it was installed, I was able to send content displayed in Chrome to the Chromecast with a click of my mouse. Video I purchased and rented from The Google Play store streamed smoothly, albeit at lower than HD resolutions. I was also able to access and watch movies via Netflix and YouTube just as easily, and I found that Rio, my online music streaming service of choice, worked well via Android, iOS and Chrome for Mac as well.

However, I quickly discovered that the Chromecast doesn't play well with all in-browser content: while I was able to send The Globe and Mail's website to my TV to read on the big screen, there was a noticeable second-long lag between the clicks made on my laptop to when the commands given would be displayed by the Chromecast on my TV. On the Android side of things, I found sending Netflix content, as well as video and audio stored on Nexus 7, to be a seamless experience. The same can be said for firing content over from an iPhone or an iPad, although you’ll need to download Google free Chromecast app from the iTunes App Store in order to do so.

The pain point here is the limited number of content options it provides to its Canadian users. When compared to what is available to other streaming media devices here in Canada, the content options available on a Chromecast seem pretty slim. Apple TV users in this country enjoy the largest selection of movies, TV and music to purchase or rent of any service available today. Roku users have access to hundreds of channels worth of content, in addition to Netflix and even a handful of games. Here in Canada, thanks to a lack of licensed services and content, the Chromecast can only provide access to Netflix, Google Play Video, YouTube and select content dished up from your computer browser tab. By way of contrast, in the U.S. Chromecast hardware provides users with access to such paid services as HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video and Pandora. This makes the device a much more attractive buy south of the border than it is up here. More apps and compatible services are sure to be on the way, but that doesn't help early adopters of the device.

You can argue that this lack of content can be sidestepped through VPN tunneling or downloading PLEX – a Chromecast-compatible computer program designed to collect streaming online channels and user-owned content into one interface, which can then be streamed to mobile devices or TV hardware like the Chromecast. But setting up and tweaking either of these options may be beyond the capabilities of many of the Chromecast's potential users.

The Final Verdict:

The Google Chromecast provides computer, tablet and smartphone owners an affordable, easy to use means to push Netflix, YouTube video, movies purchased or rented from the Google Play Store and music from select streaming services to their HDMI-equipped TV. Unfortunately, a lack of additional content options keep this low-cost, merely adequate device from being great.

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Corliss Group Review Heart Bleed Bug
Test: Three Things One Can Do Yahoo, Facebook, Gmail, eBay, TurboTax, Twitter,
Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank Affected?

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Corliss Group Review Heart Bleed Bug
Test: Three Things One Can Do Yahoo, Facebook, Gmail, eBay, TurboTax, Twitter,
Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank Affected?

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The Heartbleed bug isn’t a “virus,” but a security error. The bug can be tested on Github and a website was set up to test out whether the bug affects a certain website, including well-known ones.

AP Update: 3 things you can do to protect from Heartbleed

The “Heartbleed” bug has caused anxiety for people and businesses. Now, it appears that the computer bug is affecting not just websites, but also networking equipment including routers, switches and firewalls.

The extent of the damage caused by the Heartbleed is unknown. The security hole exists on a vast number of the Internet’s Web servers and went undetected for more than two years. Although it’s conceivable that the flaw was never discovered by hackers, it’s difficult to tell.

There isn’t much that people can do to protect themselves completely until the affected websites implement a fix. And in the case of networking equipment, that could be a while.

Here are three things you can do to reduce the threat:

— Change your passwords. This isn’t a full-proof solution. It’ll only help if the website in question has put in place required security patches. You also might want to wait a week and then change them again.

— Worried about the websites you’re surfing? There’s a free add-on for the Firefox browser to check a site’s vulnerability and provide color-codes flags. Green means go and red means stop. You can download it here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/heartbleed-checker/https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/heartbleed-checker/

— Check the website of the company that made your home router to see if it has announced any problems. Also be diligent about downloading and installing and software updates you may receive.

Earlier AP Update:

NEW YORK (AP) — It now appears that the “Heartbleed” security problem affects not just websites, but also the networking equipment that connects homes and businesses to the Internet.

A defect in the security technology used by many websites and equipment makers have put millions of passwords, credit card numbers and other personal information at risk. The extent of the damage caused by Heartbleed isn’t known. The threat went undetected for more than two years, and it’s difficult to tell if any attacks resulted from it because they don’t leave behind distinct footprints.

But now that the threat is public, there’s a good chance hackers will try to exploit it before fixes are in place, says Mike Weber, vice president of the information-technology audit and compliance firm Coalfire.

Two of the biggest makers of networking equipment, Cisco and Juniper, have acknowledged that some of their products contain the bug, but experts warn that the problem may extend to other companies as well as a range of Internet-connected devices such as Blu-ray players.

“I think this is very concerning for many people,” says Darren Hayes, professor of security and computer forensics at Pace University. “It’s going to keep security professionals very busy over the coming weeks and months. Customers need to make sure they’re getting the answers they need.”

Here’s a look at what consumers and businesses should know about Heartbleed and its effects on networking devices.

— How is networking equipment affected?

Just like websites, the software used to run some networking equipment — such as routers, switches and firewalls — also uses the variant of SSL/TLS known as OpenSSL. OpenSSL is the set of tools that has the Heartbleed vulnerability.

As with a website, hackers could potentially use the bug as a way to breach a system and gather and steal passwords and other sensitive information.

— What can you do?

Security experts continue to advise people and businesses to change their passwords, but that won’t be enough unless the company that created the software in question has put the needed fixes in place.

When it comes to devices, this could take a while. Although websites can be fixed relatively quickly by installing a software update, device makers will have to check each product to see if it needs to be fixed.

Both Cisco Systems Inc. and Juniper Networks Inc. continue to advise customers through their websites on which product is still vulnerable, fixed and unaffected. Owners may need to install software updates for products that are “fixed.”

Hayes praises Cisco and Juniper for being upfront with customers. He cautions, though, that many other companies make similar products that likely have the bug, too, but haven’t come forward to say so.

As a result, businesses and consumers need to check the websites for devices that they think could have problems. They must be diligent about installing any software updates they receive.

Weber says that while there are some checks companies can do to see if their networking equipment is safe, they’re largely beholden to the device makers to let them know what’s going on.

Companies also need to make sure that business partners with access to their systems aren’t compromised as well.

— Are other devices at risk?

Hayes says the bug could potentially affect any home device that’s connected to the Internet, including something as simple as a Wi-Fi-enabled Blu-ray player.

He also points to recent advances in home automation, such as smart thermostats, security and lighting systems.

“We simply don’t know the extent of this and it could affect those kinds of devices in the home,” he says.

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Corliss
Group Review Android devices await Heartbleed fix

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Corliss
Group Review Android devices await Heartbleed fix

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Version 4.1.1 of Android Jelly Bean was released in 2012

Millions of Android devices remain vulnerable to the Heartbleed bug a week after the flaw was made public.

Google announced last week that handsets and tablets running version 4.1.1 of its mobile operating system were at risk.

The search giant has since created a fix, but it has yet to be pushed out to many of the devices that cannot run higher versions of the OS.

It potentially places owners at risk of having sensitive data stolen.

In addition security firms warn that hundreds of apps available across multiple platforms still need to be fixed.

These include Blackberry's popular BBM instant messaging software for iOS and Android.

The Canadian firm has said that it will not issue a fix until Friday, but said there was only an "extremely small" risk of hackers exploiting the bug to steal its customers' data.

In the meantime the program remains available for download from Apple's App Store and Google Play.

Data theft

News of the vulnerability with recent versions of the OpenSSL cryptographic software library was made public last Monday after researchers from Google and Codenomicon, a Finnish security firm, independently discovered the problem.

OpenSSL is used to digitally scramble data as it passes between a user's device and an online service in order to prevent others eavesdropping on the information.

It is used by many, but not all, sites that show a little padlock and use a web address beginning "https".

The researchers discovered that because of a coding mishap hackers could theoretically access 64 kilobytes of unencrypted data from the working memory of systems using vulnerable versions of OpenSSL.

Although that is a relatively small amount, the attackers can repeat the process to increase their haul.

Furthermore, 64K is enough to steal passwords and server certificate private keys - information that can be used to let malicious services masquerade as genuine ones.

Press reports initially focused on the risk of users visiting vulnerable websites, but attention is now switching to mobile.

At-risk handsets

UK versions of the HTC One S handset cannot currently be upgraded beyond Android 4.1.1

Google's own statistics suggest that fewer than 10% of Android devices currently run version 4.1.1.

However, since close to one billion people currently use the OS that is still a significant number.

Some of those device owners can protect themselves by upgrading Android to a more recent version.

But several machines are unable to be upgraded higher than 4.1.1.

Customer websites indicate these include Sony's Xperia E handsets, HTC's One S, Huawei's Ascend Y300 and Asus's PadFone 2.

"Privacy and security are important to HTC and we are committed to helping safeguard our customers' devices and data," said the Taiwanese firm.

"We're currently working to implement the security patch issued by Google this week to the small number of older devices that are on Android 4.1.1."

Asus said its device was "expecting an update imminently". Sony and Huawei were unable to comment.

Tab grab

Sony and Huawei were not able to say when they planned to patch vulnerable devices

Google has now created a fix to address the problem. However, manufacturers still need to adapt it for their devices and this software will need to be tested by the various operators before they release it.

Users can check which edition of Android they are running by going to the "about phone" or "about tablet" option in their Settings app.

Alternatively several free apps have been released that can scan phones and tablets to say if they are vulnerable.

Lookout - a security firm behind one of the products - explained how hackers might take advantage of a vulnerable handset.

"Someone could build a malicious website or advert designed to steal data from your memory," Thomas Labarthe, the firm's European managing director, told the BBC.

"If you happen to be browsing it and have other tabs opened in your browser, it could take data from a banking site - for example.

"No-one could steal a whole document - they can only take 64K of data - but that's still enough to steal your credentials."

'Forgotten about'

Blackberry aims to offer safe versions of its BBM app on Friday

Another security firm, Trend Micro, has focused on the issue of vulnerable apps.

These can affect any mobile operating system because the problem is caused by the servers that send data to the apps not having been updated to the latest version of OpenSSL.

Trend Micro said it was currently aware of 6,000 such risky apps, including shopping and bank-related services. That is 1,000 fewer than its figure for Friday - suggesting some server operators are addressing the problem.

But it acknowledged that it was hard for members of the public to know which of the hundreds of thousands on offer were safe to use.

"Some of these are services that were set up and then forgotten about," said senior malware researcher David Sancho.

"There's no way from using an app you can know if it's good or bad.

"So, for the moment, the best thing to do is use the ones from the major vendors that we know have been patched... but for the minor ones that have said nothing, be wary."

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Corliss Review Group 'Heartbleed' bug can't be simply
blamed on coders

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Corliss Review Group 'Heartbleed' bug can't be simply
blamed on coders

# data[].attributes.body
Human error is behind the latest threat to website security but giant corporations need to take their share of the blame

The Heartbleed coding error may have been around for three years, affecting two-thirds of computer servers. Photograph: Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters

Were you a thriller writer seeking a name for an apocalyptic software security flaw that threatened the future of civilization as we know it, then "Heartbleed" would be hard to beat. Last week saw the discovery of such a flaw, and Heartbleed was the name assigned to it.

Most security flaws are of interest only to specialists, but this one was different. Why? Because it's been around for something like three years, during which time it could have exposed the passwords and credit card numbers that countless millions of people had provided to online stores and other services. Heartbleed would enable attackers to eavesdrop on online communications, steal data directly from services and users, and impersonate both services and users. It could have affected up to two-thirds of the world's internet servers. And unlike some earlier such problems, the solution isn't as simple as immediately changing one's password. It was, said Bruce Schneier, a security expert not much given to hyperbole, a "catastrophic" flaw. "On the scale of one to 10," he wrote, "this is an 11."

Heartbleed is a flaw in the computer code that encrypts your personal data while it's in transit from your computer to an online service. When you buy something from Amazon, say, or proceed to the checkout on any reputable site, then the URL you're dealing with will change from one prefixed by "http" to one prefixed by "https". This indicates that the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol has been invoked and that your personal data will now be transmitted only in encrypted form.

SSL is an essential component of the global e-commerce system, and the most common implementation of it is an open-source version called OpenSSL. Any flaw in it could indeed be catastrophic – which is why there was such a furore a while back when it was revealed that the National Security Agency had apparently been working actively to weaken the cryptographic protection that SSL offered. Not surprisingly, therefore, the default assumption when the Heartbleed story first surfaced was that the NSA must be behind it. But this comforting conjecture was rapidly discounted when it was realized that the flaw was most probably the result of a relatively mundane programming error.

It turns out that within OpenSSL there is something called the "heartbeat" protocol. This is needed to ensure that communications between user and site are kept alive even when the line goes quiet. What seems to have happened is that when one of the programmers who works on OpenSSL was doing a software update in 2011, he made a coding error which then – unusually for open-source software – went undetected for several years.

The implications of this are both intriguing and troubling. It's possible that the flaw – and the opportunities it provided for undermining the protections offered by SSL – was indeed undetected by anyone and that therefore the world of online commerce was safe even though the door to the safe was swinging open in the breeze. But most security people are unwilling to make that bet. Instead they are assuming that some people knew about Heartbleed and have been either quietly exploiting the vulnerability or using it to hoover up personal data for later nefarious uses.

An equally troubling implication is that huge online companies, instead of developing their own SSL code, simply lifted the OpenSSL code and just bundled it into their web-service software. They are perfectly entitled to do this, provided that they adhere to the terms of open-source licensing. But in behaving as they did they have in effect been free-riding on the public domain.

Most open-source software – and Open SSL is no exception – is produced voluntarily by people who are not paid for creating it. They do it for love, professional pride or as a way of demonstrating technical virtuosity. And mostly they do it in their spare time. Responsible corporate use of open-source software should therefore involve some measure of reciprocity: a corporation that benefits hugely from such software ought to put something back, either in the form of financial support for a particular open-source project, or – better still – by encouraging its own software people to contribute to the project.

If the giant internet companies had taken the latter approach to OpenSSL, then they might have spotted the Heartbleed vulnerability earlier. In which case we wouldn't be in the mess that we are in now. Sometimes the ethical thing to do turns out also to be the prudent thing to do.

# data[].attributes.headline
Corliss Group Review Millions of Android Phones
Could Be Affected by the Heartbleed Bug

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Corliss Group Review Millions of Android Phones
Could Be Affected by the Heartbleed Bug

# data[].attributes.body
Check to See if Yours Is One of Them

Disturbing news: The now-infamous Heartbleed security flaw might reach further than your favorite websites. It could affect your mobile device, too.

According to an announcement by Google, smartphones and tablets running a specific version of Android were affected by the widespread web security bug, which could potentially spill your sensitive login information (like passwords).

The company assured Android owners in a blog post April 9 that most versions are not affected by the flaw. However, as Bloomberg notes, Google added that a version called 4.1.1 Jelly Bean is a “limited exception.”

That version of Android was released in 2012 and is likely to be running on older Android smartphones. According to the most recent statistics released by Google, about 34 percent of Android devices use a version of the 4.1 Jelly Bean software. Though the company said that fewer than 10 percent of devices in use are vulnerable, a Google spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg that millions of devices still run 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

So how can you check to see if your device is affected? You’ll need to go to the Settings menu of your phone and find your way to the About Phone section. There you’ll be able to learn what version of Android you’re running and see if any updates are available.

There’s also a free Android app available that will tell you if your device is vulnerable to the bug.

Whether there is an immediate update to patch this bug is still unclear. Google’s blog post says that “patching information for Android 4.1.1 is being distributed to Android partners.” A Verizon spokesperson told Bloomberg that the company was aware of the “security vulnerability referred to as ‘Heartbleed,’ ” and that the company was “working with our device manufacturers to test and deploy patches to any affected device on our network running Android 4.1.1.”

We’ve reached out to Google for comment. In the meantime, fingers crossed that you’re not affected.

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Corliss Review Group on the Internet Scam That Hijacks Your
Hard Drive

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Corliss Review Group on the Internet Scam That Hijacks Your
Hard Drive

# data[].attributes.body
Viruses used to be so simple.

You’d go online with your dial-up modem, take 25 minutes to naively download an appealing-sounding .exe file, and suddenly a sheep would walk across the screen or an embarrassing e-mail would be sent to your entire address book. Some would even wish you a Happy New Year.

Annoying, maybe, but they had their own ‘90s cyber-kiddie sense of charm.

Some viruses, of course, were incredibly disruptive. Now, though, viruses and malware have become even more malicious. They’re out for more than just hacker cred – they’re out for your money.

For a long time, malware scammers used tactics known as Scare ware. The malicious software fraudulently claims that your computer has a serious virus infection then sends you to a page to buy their (useless) anti-virus software.

Related: Porn, Drugs, Hit men, and Hackers: This Is the Deep Web

While this is certainly still around, many people have gotten wise to the fraud. Now some scammers are playing hardball. Enter Ransom ware.

Ransom ware is a form of malware that encrypts files on your hard drives with a highly complicated algorithm then presents you with an ultimatum: Pay up or you lose your files forever. The inherent brilliance in the software is this: While the software can be removed, the files remain encrypted. Paying the ransom is the only chance you have to see your files again.

Although this scam has been around since 1989, only recently has it become widespread due to advancements in cryptography algorithms, the ability to extort via the anonymous currency Bit coin, and the digitization of once-analog items of sentimental value like family photos and home videos.

Some consumers are aware of the latest and most notable iteration of this trend known as Crypto Locker, which encrypts the user’s data with a 2048-bit RSA Algorithm. The scammers weren’t fooling around when they invented this complicated algorithm, which is incredibly difficult – if not impossible – to crack without a key, which will cost victims about $150 to $300.

Crypto locker has been incredibly successful. Owing to surprisingly good “customer service” — the majority of people who pay the ransom have their files restored — the men behind the Crypto locker curtain have raked in over $27 million in Bit coin over a period of three months, according to an examination of the Bit coin block chain by ZDNet.

Related: Cyber Crime Pays: A $114 Billion Industry

Due to the inherent success of the software, it seems only logical that a bevy of copycats would show up.

And they have. IN droves.

One version, which claimed the owner of the computer had been caught with illicit material on his computer, demanded a fine. The ordeal caused a Romanian man to take his own life and that of his son two weeks ago.

While Ransom ware has evolved as a threat to home computer users, it bears a sizeable risk to the business world as well. After all, the earlier versions of Crypto locker actually targeted business professionals, hiding it within emails claiming to be a “consumer complaint.”

McAfee, the prominent maker of anti-virus products, predicts that Ransom ware in 2014 will evolve to further target businesses and business owners, and that the software will shift to the mobile realm this year. Scammers will, according to McAfee, use the information gleaned from business owners' mobile devices to gain a “tactical advantage” over the businesses, which could end up costing them untold amounts of money.

It's scary stuff certainly, but home users and business owners still have one easy way out – ensuring all their files are backed up using a cloud-based service, untouchable to any scammers.

In terms of which service to pick, there are hundreds of them out there.

•  Box for Business is an affordable option, offering a terabyte of storage per user, at a price of $15 a user.

•  Amazon’s S3 offer’s a pay-per-use monthly pricing scale at 10 cents a gigabyte.

•  At $55 a month for 3 users, Sugar Sync for Business is a slightly pricier option, but boasts a collaborative sharing platform and mobile access.

Suffice it to say, regardless of the particular needs of your family or your organization, there’s a service out there’s that caters to them. There’s no excuse to keep only data stored locally.

Once everyone does this, Ransom ware will seem much less threatening.

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Corliss Review Group: This is what the new
reversible USB 3.1 cable looks like

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Corliss Review Group: This is what the new
reversible USB 3.1 cable looks like

# data[].attributes.body
In December last year the technology consortium responsible for the USB standard announced that the next generation of connectors would beentirely reversible– now the first picture of the new plug has appeared online.

As expected, the new design looks pretty much identical to Apple’s Lightning connector - a proprietary standard which is also reversible and appears on the latest iPhones and iPads.

The new USB 3.1 Type-C is similar in size to the current Micro USB design used to charge most small gadgets and will break computability with current ports.

The designs are not expected to be finalized until July and it will take many months more before manufacturers start to introduce the new Type-C to their products.

This latest update to the most widely accepted connector in the tech world will offer increased bandwidths of up to 10Gbps but for most of the clearest advantage will never having to fiddle with getting our USB plugs the right way round.

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Corliss Review Group on Identity fraud and cybercrime cost firms over
€600m

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Corliss Review Group on Identity fraud and cybercrime cost firms over
€600m

# data[].attributes.body
AN increase in cybercrimes is costing Irish companies over €600m a year, according to a new report.

Reports of data breaches are mounting in Ireland as both foreign and Irish criminals infiltrate business computer systems, according to a Grant Thornton business report.

Common crimes include identity fraud, online scams, and cyber theft and cyber extortion.

Notifications of security breaches rose 36pc in 2012. Incidents are typically under-reported to the Data Protection Commissioner because company’s fear a hit to their reputation should they disclose their security systems failed, according to Grant Thornton partner Mike Harris, who launched the company's cyber security service.

SECURITY

Breaches since 2011 include attacks on Loyalty build, Eircom Study Hub and Recruit Ireland. Loyalty build suffered a breach of customer data and credit card information and had to invest €500,000 on security.

It is estimated that 55pc of cybercrime is by international organized crime gangs – typically operating in countries where regulation is weak.

Mr Harris said: "Our estimate of €630m is likely to be below the actual level given that many companies still do not report security breaches for fear of the reputational damage."

He said Irish businesses should be focusing... on the ability to detect and react to data security breaches.

"It is not a question of if an Irish business will be subjected to an online attack, but a question of when," he said.

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Corliss Review Group: When PayPal needs to battle fraud, it
sends in the Israelis

# data[].attributes.subject
Corliss Review Group: When PayPal needs to battle fraud, it
sends in the Israelis

# data[].attributes.body
PayPal employees in Tel Aviv, mostly veterans of the army intelligence corps, team up with algorithms to decide whether your transaction should go through.

|

A few years ago, an American living in Indiana opened an account with PayPal, the U.S. Company for making payments and money transfers online. A few months later, funds were drawn from the account — from Iraq, and the delivery address for the goods ordered was in Germany.

So was the account hacked? Or maybe it was simply an American soldier scheduled for transfer to Germany. This fictional case illustrates real issues that PayPal has to sift through. The company’s battle against fraud is led by a team of 100 Israelis, mostly veterans of the Israel Defense Forces’ intelligence corps who work at the firm’s Tel Aviv development center.

“Fraud is a significant threat; there are countries in which PayPal handles more than 20% of online commerce,” says Tomer Barel, who five months ago was appointed director of risk management for PayPal worldwide. He previously headed the Tel Aviv development center since 2009.

“As a result, PayPal is a major target for fraud," Barel says. "We have almost 150 million users, so theoretically this involves a huge number of people who could become theft victims. Every day, 10 million transactions are conducted on PayPal, and the company’s loss rate is 0.2% of sales, most of which stems from fraud.”

Barel and the Israeli development center have the fascinating job of making Internet purchases simple and secure without invading users’ privacy. The increasing use of the Internet on mobile phones, the development of virtual currencies such as Bit coin and the growing online criminality are just some of the challenges.

Kingpins recruit hackers

Organized crime has changed drastically over the past decade, Barel says. In the past, criminals would go from restaurant to restaurant demanding protection money, not to mention the occasional beating or shooting. Now organized crime can recruit people around the world; all the recruit needs is skill, an Internet connection and the ability to convince him that what he’s doing is acceptable.

“We get into the hackers’ [online] forums and see a lot of rationalization there. The hackers view people who use violence as criminals,” Barel says.

“Organized crime recruits a lot of smart and talented people who tell themselves they’re not really stealing from individuals because [consumers] are protected and get their stolen money back. And everything is done without violence; there’s no contact. The victim is faceless, so there’s no compassion.”

It’s a model involving a minimum of friction between the criminal and the victim, Barel notes.

“Someone’s sitting in China, Britain or Moldova and tells himself: ‘I’m stealing from multinational corporations, those rich bad people. I’m a kind of Robin Hood,’” he says.

“But that money flows to organized-crime groups and funds their other activities, some of which are violent. The ability of a group to be scattered all over the world and not directly confront its victims contributes to its success.”

The Israeli team has the expertise to take data from a transaction and make an immediate decision, Barel says. The idea is to prevent fraud while limiting the inconvenience to good customers whose transactions might be a bit out of the ordinary.

A fraction of a second

Most of the time, the process is carried out automatically. The job of PayPal’s Israel center is to flag use of a PayPal account by someone other than the account holder. There are standard tools to do this, such as a user’s IP address — the number assigned to a particular computer — but there are less obvious ways.

“Activity on a computer produces a number of electronic signatures; the trick is to identify them and make links among them,” Barel says.

Whether the task is an art or a science, there isn’t much time to do it.

“We need to identify attempted fraud in real time, and that’s a matter of a fraction of a second,” Barel says. “I need to identify that a stranger is using your account. You’re not going to wait in front of your computer or mobile device for five minutes for the system to approve the transaction.”

The Israeli team also has to analyze sophisticated cases that a computer can’t recognize as fraudulent. This involves research and intelligence gathering; graduates of the Israel Defense Forces’ technology units are natural candidates.

“It’s a cat-and-mouse game. Fraudsters adapt to the model that you put in place, so we came to the conclusion that the human dimension is critical,” Barel says.

“In our research groups in Israel, there’s a large team of analysts who look at huge volumes of data, identify patterns and help the algorithm make a decision. People are still more powerful than machines in trying to foresee and identify human behavior.”

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Corliss Review Group on the
week’s top tech news: Google Nest, iPhone camera tips, EU data roaming &
Easter apps

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Corliss Review Group on the
week’s top tech news: Google Nest, iPhone camera tips, EU data roaming &
Easter apps

# data[].attributes.body
The Google Nest thermostat goes on sale, Sony gives away some free music and we bring you a great app for the Easter holes.

GADGET OF THE WEEK

NEST • From £170 plus VAT

Your central heating is about to get a whole lot cooler thanks to Google’s new Nest thermostat.

The space-aged gadget not only looks the business but will also save you a heap of money.

Using tech wizardry, Nest learns about you and your home then decides when to switch on your boiler. You can also control the heating while away via your smartphone.

Google reckons the £249 Nest will save 20% off your gas bill.

+++TECH NEWS+++

JACKO IS BACK & FREE ON SONY'S NEW XPERIA Z2

The brilliant Sony Xperia Z2 is now available to pre-order.

And with a stunning screen, waterproof design and new 4K camcorder it’s one of the best Android phones on the market.

If you decide to fill your pockets with this phone then there's an added bonus.

You'll get a free copy of the new album from the king of pop Michael Jackson, when it's released next month.

XSCAPE features eight new tracks which have been optimized especially for the Xperia Z2. ShaMOAN!

TAKING shots of celebs on the red carpet usually requires a top-end camera.

But pro snapperDan Rubinditched his trusted DSLR last week in favor of an iPhone 5s.

Photographing stars like Graham Norton, above, shows just how good phone cameras have become.

Here are Dan’s top tips for shooting with your smartphone.

How did you find the experience differed to shooting with a DSLR?

The iPhone is essentially a point-and-shoot camera, so there are far fewer things to think about when shooting.

The size of the device makes a big difference when trying to connect with a subject, they see me and not just a massive camera and lens.

This allowed me to be conversational with each person as they passed by, and in many cases they returned the favor.

It was also easy to slip my arm between a few paparazzi and get a shot.

But there are certain types of images I wasn’t able to capture without a strobe or a big lens.

Are you happy with the results?

Once I got used to the lighting and how the celebrities were behaving, I was able to get results I was really happy with especially with a camera I could fit in my pocket

What apps did you use for shooting and editing?

I shot almost exclusively with the default iOS Camera app, with a few select shots captured using CortexCam (an app that averages multiple shots to remove noise in extremely low light).

All editing/post-production was done in VSCO Cam.

+++TECH NEWS+++

NEW RULES COULD SPELL THE END OF DATA ROAMING CHARGES

GOOD news for travellers.

The EU is hoping to put an end to data roaming charges, leaving you to tweet and text abroad without getting a nasty shock.

The new rules won’t take effect until at least 2015, so for now you’re best switching off your smartphone and enjoying the sun.

APP OF THE WEEK

ADDISON LEE

Apple • Android – FREE

IF you’re heading to London this Easter, pop the new taxi app from Addison Lee on your smartphone.

It allows you to book a cab for a set time or simply hit the “pick me up now” button for an instant collection.

It’s fast, friendly and will save you a sweaty trip on the Tube.

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The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

# data[].attributes.subject
The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

# data[].attributes.body
The risks and rewards of cloud. According to Alan Priestley, director of strategic marketing EMEA at Intel, there is one very big barrier to adoption of cloud marketing: risk aversion.

That risk aversion is no doubt born of fear, if not of the unknown, then certainly of the sheer work required before organizations are able to benefit from the flexibility and, potentially, cost savings of moving applications to the cloud.

It isn’t just about the fact that they have built far-reaching IT infrastructures in-house over the course of many years. It’s also about the changes required in how the IT department is run and in the skills of the people who work in it.

Intel, though, has already shifted some of its IT to the cloud, as appropriate. “Intel uses cloud, both private and public, but we also have a lot of IT that we cannot and will not put into the cloud,” Priestley told attendees at this week’s Computing IT Leaders’ Forum, which focused on the management of hybrid clouds.

Feel the fear

However, when an organisation is already facing acute IT problems, the fear factor comes from not facing up to them. UCAS, the universities’ clearing service, has always faced a particular challenge: for a few days every year in August, demand for its services goes through the roof as students rush to secure a university place.

By 2011, the website through which everything had been automated was struggling to cope: a new approach that could handle the August spike in traffic was needed.

The solution proposed by James Munson, head of IT at UCAS, was radical: it would shift much of its computing services to the cloud. Not only that, but it insisted on a contract that would enable it to ramp up its compute capacity in August when it was all-action, and reduce it (and the price) for the rest of the year when the service is quieter.

“In 2011 and 2012, UCAS had problems being able to deliver the scale that was required for that intense period in the morning when everyone was getting their results at the same time,” said Munson.

“It was all hosted on-premise where we’re based in Cheltenham. We had created quite a complex infrastructure environment – some Microsoft .NET, some database, some Unix, different storage area networks all hosted there, and quite a lot of bandwidth that all needed to go in to that location on that one day, so it was not surprising that we were having ‘issues’.”

Furthermore, the architecture around which UCAS’s services had been built was monolithic, which meant changes required far-reaching testing and the systems lacked comprehensive monitoring. “So when things started to go wrong, we didn’t have great insight into what was going wrong and what was causing the problems. Something had to change.”

In late 2012, that change was decided: a transition to a public cloud infrastructure, with services shifting to a combination of Microsoft Azure, which made sense given UCAS’s existing .NET application investments, Amazon Web Services to host the organisation’s Oracle databases, and Rackspace, with whom UCAS already had a relationship.

The key services for finding and tracking courses were rebuilt in Microsoft Azure, with in-house Oracle databases upgraded, re-engineered and ported across to Amazon. These are load-balanced across two zones and the website is hosted by Rackspace.

Skills challenge

Munson found that the new skills required of an IT department in the era of cloud are very different from those required to run IT in-house – a skills gap also found by Rocco Labellarte, CIO at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

“We are looking at a whole new set of skills,” he said. “There are lots of kids out there with the right qualifications in terms of understanding the environments. But actually getting people with the practical skills who have ‘been there and done that’ is another matter.”

He continued: “We have broken down our skill sets into a three areas: one is to move to a monitoring team, which is effectively just sitting there, watching the large screens all the time and being able to react very quickly because we are maintaining the service integration element internally.

“The second is having commissioned technical architects that understand exactly how everything is put together, both from a hardware perspective, and from a networking, security and applications perspective.”

Finally, although the organisation may be outsourcing to cloud providers, there is still a need for technical architects that can inform the organisation how it should be done, on the one hand, while challenging providers and their recommendations on the other.

Going the extra mile to get appropriately skilled staff in-house can save a fortune, he added. “Having internal skills, if they are significant, provides a cost benefit. We have avoided about £500m in spend by having the right skills from the start,” said Labellarte.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

# data[].attributes.subject
The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

# data[].attributes.body
The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders' Forum

The risks and rewards of cloud. According to Alan Priestley, director of strategic marketing EMEA at Intel, there is one very big barrier to adoption of cloud marketing: risk aversion.

That risk aversion is no doubt born of fear, if not of the unknown, then certainly of the sheer work required before organizations are able to benefit from the flexibility and, potentially, cost savings of moving applications to the cloud.

It isn’t just about the fact that they have built far-reaching IT infrastructures in-house over the course of many years. It’s also about the changes required in how the IT department is run and in the skills of the people who work in it.

Intel, though, has already shifted some of its IT to the cloud, as appropriate. “Intel uses cloud, both private and public, but we also have a lot of IT that we cannot and will not put into the cloud,” Priestley told attendees at this week’s Computing IT Leaders’ Forum, which focused on the management of hybrid clouds.

Feel the fear

However, when an organisation is already facing acute IT problems, the fear factor comes from not facing up to them. UCAS, the universities’ clearing service, has always faced a particular challenge: for a few days every year in August, demand for its services goes through the roof as students rush to secure a university place.

By 2011, the website through which everything had been automated was struggling to cope: a new approach that could handle the August spike in traffic was needed.

The solution proposed by James Munson, head of IT at UCAS, was radical: it would shift much of its computing services to the cloud. Not only that, but it insisted on a contract that would enable it to ramp up its compute capacity in August when it was all-action, and reduce it (and the price) for the rest of the year when the service is quieter.

“In 2011 and 2012, UCAS had problems being able to deliver the scale that was required for that intense period in the morning when everyone was getting their results at the same time,” said Munson.

“It was all hosted on-premise where we’re based in Cheltenham. We had created quite a complex infrastructure environment – some Microsoft .NET, some database, some Unix, different storage area networks all hosted there, and quite a lot of bandwidth that all needed to go in to that location on that one day, so it was not surprising that we were having ‘issues’.”

Furthermore, the architecture around which UCAS’s services had been built was monolithic, which meant changes required far-reaching testing and the systems lacked comprehensive monitoring. “So when things started to go wrong, we didn’t have great insight into what was going wrong and what was causing the problems. Something had to change.”

In late 2012, that change was decided: a transition to a public cloud infrastructure, with services shifting to a combination of Microsoft Azure, which made sense given UCAS’s existing .NET application investments, Amazon Web Services to host the organisation’s Oracle databases, and Rackspace, with whom UCAS already had a relationship.

The key services for finding and tracking courses were rebuilt in Microsoft Azure, with in-house Oracle databases upgraded, re-engineered and ported across to Amazon. These are load-balanced across two zones and the website is hosted by Rackspace.

Skills challenge

Munson found that the new skills required of an IT department in the era of cloud are very different from those required to run IT in-house – a skills gap also found by Rocco Labellarte, CIO at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

“We are looking at a whole new set of skills,” he said. “There are lots of kids out there with the right qualifications in terms of understanding the environments. But actually getting people with the practical skills who have ‘been there and done that’ is another matter.”

He continued: “We have broken down our skill sets into a three areas: one is to move to a monitoring team, which is effectively just sitting there, watching the large screens all the time and being able to react very quickly because we are maintaining the service integration element internally.

“The second is having commissioned technical architects that understand exactly how everything is put together, both from a hardware perspective, and from a networking, security and applications perspective.”

Finally, although the organisation may be outsourcing to cloud providers, there is still a need for technical architects that can inform the organisation how it should be done, on the one hand, while challenging providers and their recommendations on the other.

Going the extra mile to get appropriately skilled staff in-house can save a fortune, he added. “Having internal skills, if they are significant, provides a cost benefit. We have avoided about £500m in spend by having the right skills from the start,” said Labellarte.

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The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

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The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

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The risks and rewards of cloud. According to Alan Priestley, director of strategic marketing EMEA at Intel, there is one very big barrier to adoption of cloud marketing: risk aversion.

That risk aversion is no doubt born of fear, if not of the unknown, then certainly of the sheer work required before organizations are able to benefit from the flexibility and, potentially, cost savings of moving applications to the cloud.

It isn’t just about the fact that they have built far-reaching IT infrastructures in-house over the course of many years. It’s also about the changes required in how the IT department is run and in the skills of the people who work in it.

Intel, though, has already shifted some of its IT to the cloud, as appropriate. “Intel uses cloud, both private and public, but we also have a lot of IT that we cannot and will not put into the cloud,” Priestley told attendees at this week’s Computing IT Leaders’ Forum, which focused on the management of hybrid clouds.

Feel the fear

However, when an organisation is already facing acute IT problems, the fear factor comes from not facing up to them. UCAS, the universities’ clearing service, has always faced a particular challenge: for a few days every year in August, demand for its services goes through the roof as students rush to secure a university place.

By 2011, the website through which everything had been automated was struggling to cope: a new approach that could handle the August spike in traffic was needed.

The solution proposed by James Munson, head of IT at UCAS, was radical: it would shift much of its computing services to the cloud. Not only that, but it insisted on a contract that would enable it to ramp up its compute capacity in August when it was all-action, and reduce it (and the price) for the rest of the year when the service is quieter.

“In 2011 and 2012, UCAS had problems being able to deliver the scale that was required for that intense period in the morning when everyone was getting their results at the same time,” said Munson.

“It was all hosted on-premise where we’re based in Cheltenham. We had created quite a complex infrastructure environment – some Microsoft .NET, some database, some Unix, different storage area networks all hosted there, and quite a lot of bandwidth that all needed to go in to that location on that one day, so it was not surprising that we were having ‘issues’.”

Furthermore, the architecture around which UCAS’s services had been built was monolithic, which meant changes required far-reaching testing and the systems lacked comprehensive monitoring. “So when things started to go wrong, we didn’t have great insight into what was going wrong and what was causing the problems. Something had to change.”

In late 2012, that change was decided: a transition to a public cloud infrastructure, with services shifting to a combination of Microsoft Azure, which made sense given UCAS’s existing .NET application investments, Amazon Web Services to host the organisation’s Oracle databases, and Rackspace, with whom UCAS already had a relationship.

The key services for finding and tracking courses were rebuilt in Microsoft Azure, with in-house Oracle databases upgraded, re-engineered and ported across to Amazon. These are load-balanced across two zones and the website is hosted by Rackspace.

Skills challenge

Munson found that the new skills required of an IT department in the era of cloud are very different from those required to run IT in-house – a skills gap also found by Rocco Labellarte, CIO at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

“We are looking at a whole new set of skills,” he said. “There are lots of kids out there with the right qualifications in terms of understanding the environments. But actually getting people with the practical skills who have ‘been there and done that’ is another matter.”

He continued: “We have broken down our skill sets into a three areas: one is to move to a monitoring team, which is effectively just sitting there, watching the large screens all the time and being able to react very quickly because we are maintaining the service integration element internally.

“The second is having commissioned technical architects that understand exactly how everything is put together, both from a hardware perspective, and from a networking, security and applications perspective.”

Finally, although the organisation may be outsourcing to cloud providers, there is still a need for technical architects that can inform the organisation how it should be done, on the one hand, while challenging providers and their recommendations on the other.

Going the extra mile to get appropriately skilled staff in-house can save a fortune, he added. “Having internal skills, if they are significant, provides a cost benefit. We have avoided about £500m in spend by having the right skills from the start,” said Labellarte.

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The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

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The Corliss Review Group: IT Leaders'
Forum

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The Corliss Review Group: Five Myths
About Cloud Privacy

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The Corliss Review Group: Five Myths
About Cloud Privacy

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Cloud Privacy

Last week a new set of privacy principles regarding the handling of personal informationcame into effect. The changes relate to how businesses handle, use and store personal information. While there are significant changes with a number of benefits for individuals, there have been some misconceptions in the industry with regards to privacy in the cloud that I’d like to address. Here are the top 5 myths that I’ve seen about privacy in the cloud.

1. Use of cloud computing is the biggest privacy risk factor

The notion that the use of cloud computing is the biggest Privacy risk factor that Australian businesses need to worry about is simply untrue. Ponemon Institute’s Survey on Data Security Breaches revealed that 69 per cent of serious data leaks were due to employee activities or errors.

So a lack of internal policies and controls, direct marketing activities, poorly trained staff, stolen laptops and offshore call centres are all bigger risks than cloud computing.

While Australian companies need to be wary of the new legislation and how it affects their IT infrastructure, the direct business benefits of cloud far outweigh these alleged risks.

2. It is unclear which jurisdiction my data is held in

This is a common misunderstanding among businesses. The word “cloud” suggests to some that your data is floating around in some unknown location, implying transborder data risks under the Privacy Act. The reality is your data is still yours, and it’s still on a server in a data centre. The data centre just happens to be owned by someone else. Cloud providers are overwhelmingly transparent about where your data is stored and would never move it across regions without your permission. If you’re unsure, a simple call to your provider will quickly clarify any concerns.

3. I can’t control third party access to my data in the cloud

The suggestion that you can’t control third party access to your data in the cloud is another myth. In most cases, the security services and accreditations that cloud providers offer are significantly better than internal IT can deliver. With the use of data encryption and support from your cloud partner, the technology risks are easily mitigated. And of course, technology and human risks exist whether you are hosting your data internally or externally.

4. Australian privacy law is tougher than elsewhere

Understandably, there are lots of businesses that are concerned about just how tough the new privacy laws are. In particular, they are worried about the cost of compliance and potential for significant fines (up to $1.7 million).

It’s important to remember that most developed economies have had strong privacy laws for some time. The EU established one of the more comprehensive with the 1995 Privacy Directive covering 27 countries, with Spain and Germany having issued many stiff fines. Many South American countries, including Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Costa Rica and Mexico have issued Privacy laws to open trade with the EU. In Asia, Singapore passed a privacy law last year that protects personal data for ten years after a person’s death, while South Korea’s privacy law even covers a person’s image or voice.

5. I don’t need to worry about it

Despite my other comments, complacency remains the most dangerous myth! Businesses that think they don’t need to worry about security and privacy in their cloud are dead wrong. The risks may be similar to hosting data internally, but they still exist. Larger organizations may struggle to effectively audit their own use of cloud services, particularly when they have been adopted within departments, rather than corporate IT. On the other hand small, companies may struggle to understand the risks or establish privacy statements and policies. That said, simple steps can ensure that a company’s use of cloud is not a high risk factor in terms of its overall privacy compliance, when compared to the alternatives available.

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The
Corliss Review Group: What are the top security concerns when moving to the
cloud?

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The
Corliss Review Group: What are the top security concerns when moving to the
cloud?

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techradar.com

Cloud computing brings a myriad of benefits for any enterprise, but it is also a cause for concern in a world where, according to InformationWeek, cyber criminals are now targeting "any company where they can find data to resell, disrupt or exploit."

Moving your company's sensitive data into the hands of third party cloud providers expands and complicates the risk landscape in which you operate every day.

In order to understand what concerns should be given emphasis in your cloud security strategy, you need to understand what you can't afford to lose and what can protect you.

Understanding what you can't afford to lose

Data breaches, according to the Cloud Security Alliance, are the top cloud computing security threat for 2013 and beyond. Sensitive data can be of enormous value to a hacker, so you need to consider what sensitive data you are storing in the cloud.

This might be anything a criminal can use to determine or steal someone's identity, such as personally identifiable information (PII) like full names, addresses, birth dates, some IP addresses, and online logins and passwords; and financial information such as bank account numbers and PINs. Furthermore, you should consider any confidential corporate information you might share in the cloud.

Essentially, ask yourself "What do I have that others might want?" and "What do I have that I can't afford to lose?" Data privacy regulations often demand public breach notifications in the event of a malicious data breach or inadvertent data loss – particularly if the information is in the clear.

If your security strategy fails to protect sensitive data, your enterprise could face severe consequences in terms of business and reputation loss as the result of disclosure.

Understand what can protect you if you do lose your data

Businesses migrating to the cloud should lock down any sensitive data before it leaves the premises. As the Snowden leaks indicate, third party cloud surveillance is ubiquitous, so the more open your data and access policies are for harvesting, the greater the risks to your cloud security strategy.

Deploy an encryption scheme that provides limited, controlled, enterprise-exclusive encryption key access. When you retain exclusive control of your encryption keys, you eliminate that concern of a data breach regardless of where your data resides or how many copies of it exist.

In many jurisdictions, a breach of strongly encrypted data to which the enterprise holds the key does not require public notification.

Even the systems you and your CSPs may have in place to prevent accidental erasure of your data can pose dangers to your enterprise's data privacy.

While backups, redundancy and other failover strategies protect against data loss due to deletion or system failures, they also create extra opportunities for the theft of this data that you consider important.

Keep in mind that, if you terminate your services with a particular CSP, you can never be certain the data has been digitally destroyed.

Moving to the cloud need not be complicated. An important element is for businesses to decide what data to put in the cloud – and then to encrypt it and retain the keys.

addresses, and online logins and passwords; and financial information such as bank account numbers and PINs. Furthermore, you should consider any confidential corporate information you might share in the cloud.

Essentially, ask yourself "What do I have that others might want?" and "What do I have that I can't afford to lose?" Data privacy regulations often demand public breach notifications in the event of a malicious data breach or inadvertent data loss – particularly if the information is in the clear.

If your security strategy fails to protect sensitive data, your enterprise could face severe consequences in terms of business and reputation loss as the result of disclosure.

Understand what can protect you if you do lose your data

Businesses migrating to the cloud should lock down any sensitive data before it leaves the premises. As the Snowden leaks indicate, third party cloud surveillance is ubiquitous, so the more open your data and access policies are for harvesting, the greater the risks to your cloud security strategy.

Deploy an encryption scheme that provides limited, controlled, enterprise-exclusive encryption key access. When you retain exclusive control of your encryption keys, you eliminate that concern of a data breach regardless of where your data resides or how many copies of it exist.

In many jurisdictions, a breach of strongly encrypted data to which the enterprise holds the key does not require public notification.

Even the systems you and your CSPs may have in place to prevent accidental erasure of your data can pose dangers to your enterprise's data privacy.

While backups, redundancy and other failover strategies protect against data loss due to deletion or system failures, they also create extra opportunities for the theft of this data that you consider important.

Keep in mind that, if you terminate your services with a particular CSP, you can never be certain the data has been digitally destroyed.

Moving to the cloud need not be complicated. An important element is for businesses to decide what data to put in the cloud – and then to encrypt it and retain the keys.

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Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology Group auf Steinbeis-Verbund

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Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology Group auf Steinbeis-Verbund

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Unsere Hochschule ist eine Tochter der Steinbeis-Stiftung für Wirtschaftsförderung. Das weltweit verzweigte Expertennetzwerk des Steinbeis-Verbunds deckt neben Aus- und Weiterbildung auch die Dienstleistungsbereiche Beratung, Forschung und Entwicklung sowie Analysen und Expertisen ab.

Der Name Steinbeis steht für die effiziente und effektive Verzahnung von Theorie und Praxis, von Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft. 1983 in Baden-Württemberg in der heutigen Form gestartet, ist der Steinbeis-Verbund zum Synonym für konkreten wettbewerblichen Wissens- und Technologietransfer geworden.

Zum Steinbeis-Verbund gehören über 800 Zentren, die fachlich spezialisiert sind und alle Technologie- und Managementbereiche abdecken. Die Zentren werden größtenteils von Professoren geleitet, die unsere Anforderung der Verzahnung von Theorie und Praxis leben.

Wir fördern ein effektives und effizientes Zusammenwirken von wissenschaftlichen Einrichtungen und Wirtschaft, indem wir Wissens- und Technologiequellen streng nach den Spielregeln der Märkte verfügbar machen. Zentrale Rahmenbedingungen sichern in unserem dezentral organisierten Verbund das Zusammenwirken von unternehmerischer Eigenverantwortung und Orientierung gebenden verbindlichen Spielregeln.

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Institutes an der Corliss Review Steinbeis
Technology Group

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Institutes an der Corliss Review Steinbeis
Technology Group

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Neben den Schools bieten auch einzelne Institute an der Steinbeis-Hochschule berufsbegleitende, transferorientierte Aus- und Weiterbildung auf einem breiten Themenfeld aus Management und Technologien an.

Mit unserem Angebot sprechen wir nicht nur potenzielle Bachelor- und Masterstudenten an. Insbesondere unsere nichtakademischen Programme mit Hochschulzertifikat, wie beispielsweise das St. Galler Managementseminar, das Steinbeis-Technologie-Seminar, das ekm (Entwicklungs- und Konstruktionsmanagement) Fernstudienprogramm oder auch der Innovation Professional und der Rating Advisor/Rating Analyst, zielen auf Mitarbeiter und Unternehmen, die an exzellenten Weiterbildungsprodukten interessiert sind.

Auf der folgenden Seite finden Sie eine Übersicht aller Institute an der SHB. Auf den jeweiligen Seiten sind Ansprechpartner und Kontaktdaten der Institute für Sie aufgeführt. Bei den Instituten erhalten Sie detaillierte Informationen zu den konkreten Studien- und Lehrgängen.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: 2014
Tech Gadget Predictions

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Corliss Tech Review Group: 2014
Tech Gadget Predictions

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As compare to last year, 2014 is more promising to become a better year for tech gadgets. There are many exciting gadgets planned to be released this year including the Apple iWatch, wearable television (TV), drones and 3D printers.

Smart watches are very in at the moment and all the other wearable tech gadgets while many companies are competing to each other to outdo their gadgets like Apple, Google, Samsung, Adidas and Nike. They used the competition to innovate new features to add to the already impressive smart watch. New features to add to the already impressive smart watch.

“Smart watches, which connect to your smartphone, are going to create an entirely new category of computing in the coming year,” said former Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps, who specializes in wearable computing, in a report by Brisbane Times.

Epps also mentioned that the much anticipated Apple smart watch, which is predicted to be named iWatch, will be a game-changer in the smart watch industry because Apple is known for its amazing technological innovations which have revolutionized the tech industry, including the cellphone and computer industries.

Smartwatches are very trendy, stylish and most of all convenient, it is an additional accessories to mobile phone. Aside from a traditional watch who tell time, it also syncs to one’s smartphone to provide users with important data without having to whip out their phones all the time. Nowadays everyone is busy and always on-the-go, smart watches will be safer because it lessens the need to show off your smartphone in a crowded place, which can be snatched or misplaced. It alerts users about incoming calls and important text messages, appointments and even monitors one’s health by recording heartbeat, blood pressure and the number of miles walked in a day and it is also designed with improved location sensors that will alert you whether a friend, colleague, acquaintance or loved one is nearby or has been to the place you just passed.

Moreover, wearable TV is also flaunting to be the next big thing in the tech industry. The coming on of flexible screens from Samsung and Corning Glass Technologies has signaled the beginning of TVs that can be worn on the wrist or on clothes.

In addition, the out of control use of commercial drones is anticipated to happen in 2014. The use of these drones is to inspect rooftops and other areas that aren’t easily accessible to humans.

In the previous year, 3D printer that can create physical objects was launched and it is predicted that in 2014. These printers will substitute to the old-fashioned inkjet printers in people’s homes.

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Philosophie der Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology
Group

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Philosophie der Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology
Group

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Umgesetzte, marktorientierte Innovationen wie auch erfolgreiche Produkte und Dienstleistungen sichern in einem zunehmend globalisierten und konkurrierenden wirtschaftlichen Umfeld unternehmerischen Erfolg. Erfolgreich zu sein setzt voraus, Erfahrung mit aktuellem Fachwissen situativ zu verknüpfen und den Mut zu haben, Neues und oft Unkonventionelles anzugehen aber auch Bewährtes weiterhin realisieren zu können. Das praxisorientierte, berufsbegleitende Projekt-Kompetenz-Studium der Steinbeis-Hochschule forciert einen Wissenstransfer, der dieses konkrete Fachwissen vermittelt und die erfolgreiche Arbeit von Nachwuchs-, Fach- und Führungskräften unterstützt.

Lebenslanges und berufsbegleitendes Lernen ist an der Steinbeis-Hochschule zentraler Aspekt unseres Konzepts. Dabei gilt es einerseits inhaltliche und organisatorische Anforderungen von Unternehmen und andererseits die Vereinbarkeit von Bildung und Beruf zu berücksichtigen.

Über 100 Transfer-Institute im Steinbeis-Verbund aus rund 800 Steinbeis-Unternehmen bieten ein breites Spektrum an maßgeschneiderten, spezialisierten Studien- und Lehrgängen zur praxisnahen Qualifizierung von Fach- und Führungskräften an. Im Mittelpunkt unserer Philosophie steht die Organisation der Institute als "Unternehmen im Unternehmen Hochschule", die eigenverantwortlich agieren. Als Hochschule finanzieren wir uns über Projekt- und Studiengebühren und beanspruchen keine staatlichen Subventionen.

Fokussiert auf die Anforderungen der beruflichen Praxis haben wir uns als unabhängiger Dienstleister in der deutschen Hochschullandschaft mit unserem Projekt-Kompetenz-Konzept etabliert. Heute sind über 4.000 Studenten an unserer Steinbeis-Hochschule eingeschrieben und wir arbeiten mit zahlreichen projektgebenden Unternehmen zusammen - das bestätigt uns in unserem Konzept und stärkt uns für die Herausforderungen der Zukunft.

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann Löhn

Präsident der Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin

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Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology Group Daten
& Fakten

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Corliss Review Steinbeis Technology Group Daten
& Fakten

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Studium an der SHB

Die 1998 gegründete private, staatlich anerkannte Steinbeis-Hochschule Berlin (SHB) bietet Studierenden und Unternehmen auf Basis des Projekt-Kompetenz-Konzeptes berufsintegrierte und praxisorientierte Studienprogramme mit den staatlich anerkannten Abschlüssen Bachelor und Master. Die Studiengänge der

SHB führen zu folgenden Abschlüssen:

Bachelor:

● Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

● Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

● Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Master:

● Master of Arts (M.A.)

● Master of Business Engineering (MBE)

● Master of Business Administration (MBA)

● Master of Science (M.Sc.)

Forschung an der SHB

Transferorientierte Forschung bildet neben den Weiterbildungsangeboten der SHB den zweiten Schwerpunkt. Aktuelle, theoriebasierte Forschungsergebnisse finden direkt zur Umsetzung in der Praxis und spiegeln den Steinbeis-Gedanken des konkreten Transfers wider. Denn alle Forschungsarbeiten an der SHB untersuchen immer eine anwendungsbezogene Problemstellung. Sie verfolgen in ihren Lösungsansätzen stets die Maxime der Praxisnähe und eines hohen wissenschaftlichen Niveaus.

Forschung an der SHB findet aktuell zu folgenden Schwerpunkten statt:

Forschung an der SHB:

Bankmanagement

● Controlling

● Corporate Publishing

● Finanzierung

● Insurance und Asset Management

● Kollektive Intelligenz in Unternehmen

und Netzwerken

● Intercultural Interactive Marketing

Konvergenzmanagement

● Nonprofit-Marketing

● Produktions- und Fertigungsmanagement

● Real Estate

● Sales und Services Management

● Verbundnetzwerke

Studenten und Alumni

Mehr als 5.700 Studierende waren 2011 in Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen an der SHB eingeschrieben. Darüber hinaus haben 47 Promovenden transferorientiert und praxisnah geforscht. Betreut werden die Studierenden von rund 1.400 Professoren und Lehrkräften. Seit ihrer Gründung konnte die SHB mehr als 6.000 Alumni verabschieden.

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Corliss
Review Group: Forurensede områder og arealutvikling

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Corliss
Review Group: Forurensede områder og arealutvikling

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Vår brede erfaring med forurensede områder og arealutvikling gir oss mulighet til å gi våre kunder innom både den private og den offentlige sektoren bærekraftige og kostnadseffektive løsninger. Dette gjør at de i sin tur kan bedømme, kjøpe, designe, utvikle og håndtere grunnen på beste måte. Våre tjenster i Norge omfatter blandt annet:

• Miljø- og geotekniske undersøkelser.

• Miljøtekniske risikobedømminger.

• Prosjektering av grunnleggende fasiliteter.

• Dimensjonering av geokonstruksjoner.

• Prosjektering og spesifikasjoner for bl.a. nye grunnleggende fasiliterter, grunnforsterkninger, sanering, riving.

• Prosjekt- og byggeledelse for spesifike grunnlegings- og saneringsoppdrag.

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Vi har nesten 40 års omfattende erfaring i utviklingen av avfallshåndteringssystemer, fasiliteter og strategier i utviklede og oppadgående økonomier. Vi leder deg gjennom planlegging og tillatelser, gjennom design og konstruksjon til produksjon og vedlikehold, oppnår en god balanse av sosiale, økonomiske og miljømessige fordeler.

Vi leverer miljøovervåkning og i overenstemmelse med kundens ønsker, konstruksjon, inspeksjon og prosjektstyringsservice.

o  Innsamlingsservice: Systemevaluering, tilfredshetsmåling og overvåking.

o  Overføring: Tillatelse, degign og konstruksjonsledelse.

o  Avfallssystemplanlegging: Miljøpåvirkning, rådgivning, alternativ teknologirådgivning og evaluering og livssykluspåvirkning.

o  Avfallssystemdesign: bygging og tillatelse fra design til avslutning (kompostering, resirkulering, mekanisk biologisk behandling og lufting, forbrenning.

o  Gass til energi: lagring og utnyttelse, planlegging og design.

o  Bærekraftig service: Karbonavtrykksevaluering og håndtering.

Vi assisterer også våre kunder i programledelse, privatiseringshjelp, ressursevaluering, markedsanalyser, kapital og driftsutgiftsestimering, takstberegning og fusjoner og anskaffelser.

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Spør Golder!

Over hele kloden er selskaper og myndigheter i gang med å skape morgendagens verden. De bygger viktig infrastruktur, utvikler prosjekter, gjenoppretter landskaper og fornyer økonomien, alt med bærekraft i tankene.

Golder Associates er en medarbeidereid global organisasjon som tilbyr rådgivnings-, design- og byggtjenester innen spesialområdene jord, miljø og energi gjennom teknisk kompetanse, nyskapende løsninger og prisbelønnet kundeservice. I dag er våre kunder å finne blant verdens største industrier og pådrivere for utvikling: Olje og gass, bergverksdrift, industriproduksjon, energi samt byutvikling og infrastruktur.

Golder Associates har vært medarbeidereid siden starten i 1960, og våre 8000 medarbeidere ved 180 kontorer verden over kan tilby omfattende teknologisk forståelse, tenking på tvers av disipliner og et engasjement for å hjelpe kundene til å lykkes.

Golder Associates i Norge

Golder Associates AS (Golder) er det norske datterselskapet i Golder Associates Corporation med hovedsete i Kanada. Golder har kontor med 19 ansatte på Brakerøya i Drammen (pr. sept 2012).

Golder etablerte seg i Norge i 2005, og arbeider nå med oppdrag over hele Norge innen kompetanseområdene forurenset jord og sedimenter, grunnvann; geoteknikk og ingeniørgeologi; strategisk miljørådgivning; miljøfyrtårtsertifisering og BREEAM-sertifisering; miljøkartlegging av bygg; ulike miljøplaner og konsekvensutredninger.

Firmaets kompetanse er bredt sammensatt, og majoriteten av de ansatte er utdannet ved universiteter og høyskoler som hydrogeologer, kjemikere, geologer, geoteknikere og biologer.

Golders virksomhet er ISO 9001- og Miljøfyrtårnsertifisert og vårt kvalitetssystem følger i tillegg standardene ISO 14001 og OHSAS 18001. Vi er kvalifisert i Sellihca, StartBANK, JQS og TransQ.

Golder i Norge er som nevnt ett av flere selskaper i Golder Associates Corporation, og dermed en del av en internasjonal gruppe av konsulentfirmaer innen geo- og miljøfagområdene. Til sammen er vi nesten 9000 ansatte ved 180 kontorer i 37 land over hele verden, og med oppdrag i mer enn 140 land.

I Europa har Golder Associates kontorer i Norge, Sverige, Danmark, Finland, Storbritannia, Tyskland, Frankrike, Irland, Italia, Polen, Portugal, Spania, Ungarn og Tyrkia. I tillegg til disse Golder-kontorene har Golder sterke kontaktnett basert på samarbeid med lokale konsulentfirmaer i flere andre europeiske land.

Fram til sommeren 2007 gjennomførte Golder vesentlig oppdrag for A/S Norske Shell. Dette var undersøkelser og gjennomføring av tiltak ved Shells bensinstasjoner og anlegg over hele Norge.

I dag har vi et bredt oppdrags- og kundespekter, med flere store kunder innenfor både offentlig og privat sektor. Som eksempler kan nevnes ROM Eiendom, Forsvarsbygg, Skifte Eiendom, Statsbygg, Oslo lufthavn AS, Skanska, AF Gruppen, NCC, Veidekke, Advansia ÅF, Bundegruppen, Fornebu Utvikling, Eiendomspar, Fabritius, Norsk Industri, YX Energi, Oslo kommune, Bærum kommune, Drammen kommune, Asker kommune, Larvik kommune, Lundhs AS og Larvik Granite AS.

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Corliss Review Group: Velkommen til Golder
Associates i Norge.

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Corliss Review Group: Velkommen til Golder
Associates i Norge.

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Golder Associates ble etablert i Norge i 2005. Golder Associates tilbyr tjenester innen miljø og geoteknikk til et bredt spekter av kunder lokalt, nasjonalt og internasjonalt. Våre kunder drar nytte av vår kunnskap og erfaring, fulgt av en entusiastisk og energisk tilnærming til alt vi gjør.

Vi hjelper våre kunder med innovative, pålitelige og kostnadseffektive miljøtekniske og geotekniske løsninger. Vi opptrer med sterk integritet og vi tar hensyn til miljøet gjennom vårt arbeid. Vi verdsetter og respekterer verdien av ulike bakgrunner, erfaringer og personligheter, både blant våre ansatte og i forholdet til våre kunder.

Vi er stolte av å være et ansatt-eid selskap, og vi har skapt en unik kultur med stolthet i eierskap, noe som har resultert i langsiktighet og en stabil organisasjon. Golders fagfolk tar seg tid til å forstå kundenes behov og de spesifikke miljøene de opererer i, for deretter å bidra til teknisk gode og kostnadseffektive løsninger. Dette gjør oss i stand til å hjelpe kundene til å nå deres kortsiktige og langsiktige økonomiske, sosiale og miljømessige mål.

Se linkene nedenfor dersom du ønsker å finne ut mer om våre tjenester, innen hvilke sektorer vi tilbyr tjenester, beliggenhet av vårt kontor, tidligere oppdrag, samt jobbmuligheter.

Dette er Golder.

Engineering Earth's Development, Preserving Earth's Integrity.

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Tech Review: Be
winter-ready with these apps

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Tech Review: Be
winter-ready with these apps

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Last week's snow, freezing rain and frigid temperatures were just a warm-up for winter, which doesn't start officially until Saturday. These apps will get you ready for the season by helping you track a dangerous storm or record a delightful day on the slopes.

Winter Survival Kit

(iOS, Android, free)

In the frightening scenario where you're stranded in your car because of severe weather or a breakdown, Winter Survival Kit goes into action. It tells you how long you can keep your engine running to stay warm before you run out of gas and sends an intermittent alarm to keep you alert. It stores contact numbers and insurance company policy numbers, making it easier when you call roadside assistance service. Just make sure you input the information during the calm before the storm.

NOAA Snow Forecast

(iOS, Android, $1.99)

This app uses information from the government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to tailor a neighborhood snow forecast by ZIP codes. The app updates NOAA information hourly and displays projected snowfall amounts over the next 48 hours on an animated map. If NOAA issues a winter-weather alert, the app shows it in a warning box.

mPing

(iOS, Android, free)

Stuck at home with cabin fever? Become a "citizen scientist." mPing, an abbreviation of the Precipitation Identification near the Ground project by the University of Oklahoma and National Severe Storms Laboratory, wants you to report on the conditions outside your window. Upload the type of precipitation -- snow, ice pellets, freezing rain or other winter weather -- and the data will be compiled by researchers. You can see the results on interactive map.

Ski Track

(iOS, Android; $0.99)

There are two groups of people who love an impending snowstorm: kids and skiers. If you're in the latter category, this app is for you. Ski Tracks won't tell you where to ski, but it will tell you how well you are skiing. Using GPS, it tracks your progress down the slopes and produces graphs and statistics. It doesn't use data or need a phone signal to work. The app makes it easy to share your day of schussing and half-piping with Facebook friends.

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The
Corliss Technology Review Group, REVIEW: Will 3D tech take Lytro mainstream?

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The
Corliss Technology Review Group, REVIEW: Will 3D tech take Lytro mainstream?

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When the world’s first light-field camera, Lytro, launched in Australia last year it was immediately greeted with a slew of scathing reviews.

Review, after review warned consumers about replacing their regular camera with this device; some went as far as to embed this point in the very first sentence of their critique. For many, the product’s price tag didn’t justify its features. Being able to refocus a shot after the fact is a cool little trick but it wasn’t worth the $499 price tag.

It’s been over a year since Lytro's trial-by-fire and despite the criticism it's still alive and kicking, thanks to a pocket of enthusiasts within the global photography community. As seen on Lytro’s own online gallery, in the hands of a pro, you can do some incredible work with this nifty tool.

Niche appeal not enough

But Lytro isn’t satisfied with its niche appeal. The mass market beckons, and the company is pulling out all the tricks in the technology playbook to stand out from the rest of the pack.

While the core product - that funny-looking, eye-catching rectangular camera - hasn’t changed, the software surrounding the device has undergone numerous upgrades in the past year. The latest rendition of the Lytro operating system allows you to display images in 3D. It’s an obvious attempt to broaden the devices appeal beyond its fan-base. But will it work?

In short, no. It won’t. The 3D perk is another cool add-on, but it's not a reason to buy the camera. The devil you see is in the detail.

For this little trick to work you need three things: a pricey 3D-enabled TV, a PC and a means to display that PC on your TV. For our trial, we used an old MacBook Pro, a Samsung 3D TV and a Apple TV. Since we used an older MacBook, we also loaded an app called Air Parrot to enable screen mirroring between the TV and the PC.

Assuming you have all of this, and the time to fiddle around with it, the 3D effect is kind of cool. But it sadly pales in comparison to what you would see on a 3D enabled Blu-ray. Stereoscopic 3D simply looks better with moving images. It’s such a difference that it’s almost unfair to compare the two.

When you look at the rest of Lytro’s offering, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify the camera as a mainstream device. The good news is, the device still has that (possibly intended) side-effect of making its wielder the center of attention at any given function or party. If you whip it out to take some photos, be prepared to explain why you're carrying around a camera shaped like an oversize lipstick case; particularly if you're sporting the red model.

When you're running around taking photos with the Lytro, it feels as if you're using a spy camera from the Bond series. In this sense, it's a joy to use. Its touch-screen options menu is easy to navigate and it takes good selfies too.

There’s nothing wrong with the use ability of the actual device.

Picture manager pain

But the real pain comes when you plug the camera into a PC and boot-up Lytro’s desktop picture manager. And it’s a shame, given that this camera sells itself on its post-shot prowess.

This software should be fluid, easy to use and quick. But it’s not. Uploading around 20 photos from the camera was painless, but converting them so you could slightly shift the perspective of the shot - another key feature of the Lytro camera - takes a good five minutes per shot. Try to do too many things at once on the Mac version of the Lytro Desktop manager, and it will simply crash, taking your photo editing progress with it.

And while your shots look impressive on that small 1.5 inch Lytro camera screen, unless you know what you're doing, they become pretty ugly on a 13-inch Mac - let alone a 50-inch Samsung TV. This further reinforces that this is not a point-and-click camera. Unless you’re willing to invest time into studying Lytro’s extensive set of video tutorials on how to use the device, then you may be better off snapping away with a regular camera.

This is Lytro’s major hurdle as a consumer-focused device, given that SLRs these days start at the same price as Lytro’s most basic camera.

It does however; give some smartphones a run for their money. To illustrate this point, I took two photos of the same bridge in Southbank, one with the Lytro and another with my 8-megapixel Samsung S4 Active. You can compare the pair below.

Lytro

Perhaps the most painful point for Lytro is that as a device, with all the bells and whistles attached, it does have mainstream appeal. Consumers would more likely be willing to accept the camera’s quirks and its learning curve if it was cheaper.

Interestingly, Apple recently filed a patent for the similar line of technology to what’s seen in Lytro’s cameras. It even referenced Lytro’s solution in its patent application.

If Lytro can’t perfect its product for the mass market, I think we can all guess who will.

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Avoid Christmas fraud

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Avoid Christmas fraud

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Online retailers are wishing themselves a Snappy Christmas, with predictions this will be their best year yet.

However, with the online boom comes the threat of internet scams.

More Australians shop on their mobile phones than any other market place and this Sunday our online shopping is tipped to have its biggest day ever.

Credit cards that won't ruin Christmas

EBay reckon they will see almost two-and-a-half million people come into their site to source Christmas gifts – and over half of those people will be on their mobile phone. That figure is up to 30 per cent on last year’s total.

While there remains worries over online shopping – such as the worry of not receiving your gift in time – for the time poor and those wishing to avoid trudging through shops, it can be more than welcome.

The online boom has prompted a warning, though.

While many business websites look professional and trustworthy, they are not always what they seem.

Rod Stowe of fair trading said: “Web sites that show bad English, grammatical errors - often that is a good indication of a scam-type site."

For the disorganized, surveys show a quarter of people buy their gifts on Christmas Eve - four per cent of them at a service station on Christmas day and eight per cent regift last year’s present.

Whatever you decide, remember there are only 21 days left.

Avoid fraud

A black mark on your credit file can follow you around for as long as seven years and can stop you getting credit.

7News finance expert Scott Pape has three tips to keeping a clean credit file.

1: Don’t apply for too many loans.

2: Pay your bills on time.

3: Get a copy of your credit file.

To find out your credit rating for free writes to:

Veda Advantage

PO Box 964 North Sydney NSW 2059

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Rare material shortages
could put gadgets at risk

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Rare material shortages
could put gadgets at risk

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Modern technology is too reliant on rare materials whose scarcity could drastically set back innovation, a new report has warned.

It suggested that as more and more devices are manufactured, supplies of key elements, particularly metals, will be strained.

Potential substitute materials are either inadequate or non-existent, researchers said.

One scientist called the findings "an important wake-up call".

Andrea Sella, of University College London - who was unconnected to the study - told website The Conversation that it was the first time the issue had been explored in such detail.

Researchers at Yale University, led by Prof Thomas Graedel, analyzed the use of 62 metals or metalloids commonly found in popular technology, such as smartphones.

Troubling

It found that none of the 62 had alternatives that performed equally well. Twelve had no alternative, Prof Graedal found.

The scope for serious disruption because of material shortages is increasingly troubling technology companies.

Rare materials are expensive to extract, and their processing comes with considerable environmental concerns.

In April 2012, the BBC's Ian Hardy discovered the effect that mass flooding in Thailand had on the technology supply chain

Political factors also play a part: in 2010, China restricted the export of some materials, known as rare earth elements.

It said this was because of environmental issues, but some observers noted that the restrictions had two distinct effects - the price of the elements increased fivefold, and Chinese companies were simultaneously given the upper hand in using the precious materials at lower cost.

Disrupted

Natural disasters bring another unpredictable risk.

In 2011, serious flooding in Thailand disrupted global supply chains as the country is a hub for hardware manufacture.

Shortages of storage devices extended well into 2012, according to research company IHS iSuppli, with hard-drive supplies the hardest hit.

The Yale report concluded: "As wealth and population increase worldwide in the next few decades, scientists will be increasingly challenged to maintain and improve product utility by designing new and better materials, but doing so under potential constraints in resource availability."

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The Corliss technology review group, Microsoft disrupts
online fraud botnet Zero Access

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The Corliss technology review group, Microsoft disrupts
online fraud botnet Zero Access

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London: Microsoft and law enforcement agencies have reportedly disrupted one of the world's largest botnets, ZeroAccess that triggered online fraud.

The botnet is a network of computers infected with malware that hijacks web search results and redirects users to potentially dangerous sites to steal their details.

According to the BBC, the botnet, also generates fraudulent ad clicks on infected computers then claims payouts from duped advertisers and has infected about two million computers.

Also called Sirefef botnet, Zero Access targets search results on Google, Bing and Yahoo search engines and is estimated to cost online advertisers 2.7million dollars per month.

Microsoft said that it had been authorized by US regulators to block incoming and outgoing communications between computers located in the US and the 18 identified Internet Protocol (IP) addresses being used to commit the fraudulent schemes.

Executive director of Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit, David Finn said that the disruption will stop victims' computers from being used for fraud and help in identifying the computers that need to be cleaned of the infection.

Microsoft said that due to its botnet architecture, Zero Access is one of the most robust and durable botnets in operation today and was built to be resilient to disruption efforts, but the latest action is expected to significantly disrupt the botnet's operation, the report added.

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Bitcoin price tumbles after warning from Chinese central bank

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The Corliss Technology Review Group, Bitcoin price tumbles after warning from Chinese central bank

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The People's Bank of China has issued a warning that the currency is not legally protected and has no 'real meaning'.

The Chinese central bank has warned the country's financial institutions not to trade in bitcoin, saying that the digital currency doesn't have "real meaning" and lacks legal protections.

However, no explicit risk to China's financial system was identified by the bank, and it reiterated that individual citizens were free to use bitcoin provided they were aware that they were taking the risk on themselves.

The bank also identified money laundering and other illegal uses of the currency as areas of concern.

Bitcoin has recently achieved a measure of popularity in China, with FiatLeak and other

bitcoin trading information sites showing large inflows of the currency through Chinese exchanges.

China Telecom, the largest mobile phone provider in the country, launched a promotion allowing a Samsung phone to be bought with bitcoins, and Baidu, the Chinese Google, is accepting payments for its firewall service in the currency.

But there's also suspicion that a large measure of the bitcoin's Chinese popularity is the result of fringe-legal uses. The currency is perfect for getting around the country's tight capital controls, which prevent rich Chinese citizens from moving too much money overseas.

While bitcoin remains unregulated, it is easy for users to buy a large sum in Chinese yuan and sell it in US dollars, evading those regulations.

The potential of bitcoin in China is seen as a large part of the reason for the currency's seven-fold increase in price over November, and the news that the Chinese central bank is taking a less-than-welcoming stance to it has sent markets tumbling.

The value of one bitcoin fell by 28% over two hours on Thursday morning, before settling into its more normal pattern of rapid large price swings in both directions.

The warning follows a similar cautionary tone from the Dutch central bank, which noted that there is no central issuer which can held liable for bitcoin, and no deposit guarantee scheme in the event of bitcoin banks failing.

The former head of the Dutch bank even compared the bitcoin bubble to the Netherlands' tulip mania in the 17th century – but pointed out that at least when that bubble burst, investors were left with tulips at the end.

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The Corliss Technology Review Group: Protect yourself from
online fraud this festive season

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The Corliss Technology Review Group: Protect yourself from
online fraud this festive season

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A new report by the European Consumer Centre Network (ECC-Net) takes a look at the scams faced by consumers when shopping online.

The report focuses on fraud in cross-border e-commerce and what consumers can do to protect themselves from online fraud. It has been prepared based on the complaints reported by consumers to ECC-Net in 2012.

The EU Commissioner for Consumer Policy, Neven Mimica said: "On-line shopping is booming as consumers take advantage of the digital single market. But the risk of fraud is rising too. The ECC report is a timely reminder to consumers that they need to 'shop smart' and avoid the fraudsters' traps“.

It has been estimated that savings from online shopping amount to €11.7 billion equivalent to 0.12% of the EU’s GDP However many consumers are missing out. Studies show that 62% of consumers cite fear of fraud as the reason why they do not go online to shop.

According to the results of the Euro barometer on Cyber Security, the highest figures of internet users that say they have experienced online fraud are in Poland (18%), Hungary (17%), Malta (16%) and UK (16%), while respondents in Greece (3%), Slovenia (6%) and Spain (7%) are least likely to have experienced online fraud.

The report highlights a number of tips and tricks to avoid being scammed online. For example always use a secure payment method and never transfer cash. The tips also include advice on how to screen unfamiliar online traders and what to do if you happen to fall victim to a fraudulent site.

The most common kind of fraud highlighted by the participating ECCs (70%) were scams involving fraudulent sites which require a bank transfer purchase and never deliver the products offered. The second highest type of online fraud, mentioned by 45% of participating centres, involves second hand cars sold online, followed by sale of counterfeit goods and fraudulent ticket sales. The report also analyses emerging issues in online fraud with malicious software targeting mobile phones, and scams involving gaming and online dating sites.

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The Corliss Review Group: When emoji just isn’t enough,
ubertxt

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The Corliss Review Group: When emoji just isn’t enough,
ubertxt

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Who is not fond of cute little stuff that appears on your text messages, it somewhat adds excitement on the conversation. It feels like your texts lack a little something, maybe twirly bits and spangles and animation. Something more that emoji then welcome to ubertxt.

Youngsters may find the world twisted, it may seem turned upside down for these 12 years olds.

We may not be aware of this but there are some good reasons for why this has been happening, maybe one reason is, adults are constantly proving that adulthood is incompetence basking in the rays of power.

So as a replacement for making mental progress, we disappear into our phones and express ourselves with words and smiley faces.

Now and again, while, plain texts aren’t enough, simple emoji seem not to provide us the excitement that they used to.

So there is a solution for that, presenting the ubertxt. We know you’ve been waiting for something like this for at least 15 days — something that makes your new iPhone 5C an even happier place to live.

Ubertxt present the skill to make your texts seem as warm and sincere as how you would really want the person you sent the message feel like they are close to your soul.

Its creator, Teresa Rucinski, told me that there’s nothing quite like it. Creators tend to believe that.

She said: “The closest competition would be color text messaging apps on App Store such as Color Text, Pimp My Text. However, they only offer standard/generic wallpaper animated backgrounds at best.”

Come to think about it, if you’re going to make your texts exciting, it’s personally shameful to use generic wallpaper, isn’t it? What does that say about you? That you’re sad and that you’re prepared to use an app with “pimp” in its name.

Try to imagine, with ubertxt your “OMG” SMS can seem like it came out of the palette of Picasso or, at least, from the needle of your local tattoo artist.

Rucinski told me: “ubertxt is the only app to offer animated/MOVING text, professionally designed animated templates/backgrounds, and custom photo & GIF functionality.”

Note the caps used for “MOVING.” And you can even insert your emoji into ubertxt.

Ubertxt is already racing up the App Store charts in the appropriate categories.

Rucinski went to Harvard and used to work for Google but you will be wondering whether is 17 years old and this is her high school art project.

Without a doubt, she has a belief in — and an understanding of — your inner child. You know the one that, with the help of technology, has become your outer child.

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Corliss Tech Review Group: LG utmanar Samsung med G Flex böjd skärm smartphone

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Corliss Tech Review Group: LG utmanar Samsung med G Flex böjd skärm smartphone

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Det ser ut som LG och Samsung är på det igen. Båda företagen tävlar om uppmärksamheten på CES 2013 med samtidig "världens första" böjda OLED TV-meddelanden. LG ledde konsekvent i loppet till konsumenten utrymme, och såg ut att vara första flytta skärmformatet på smartphones med tillkännagivande tidigare denna månad av sina planer på att mass producera flexibel OLED telefonen visar. Samsung hade andra idéer, dock och Galaxy runda lanserades bara några dagar senare. LG har nu ikapp med den kommande lanseringen av sin något större Flex smartphone, med en böjd skärm som följer konturen av ansiktet.

Överslag G Flex Smartphonens skärm vertikalt ger mikrofonen närmare användarens mun när hålls mot örat, som, enligt LG, ökar volymen på mikrofonen med 3 dB (i jämförelse med typiska platt-screening telefoner). Företaget gör även liknande IMAX-liknande uppslukande landskap video visning påståenden som tillsammans frisläppandet av de böjda TV-apparater.

G Flex sport en 6-tum, 1280 x 720 upplösning P-OLED visar, som ser den display och panel byggt på plast substrat i stället för glas. Riktig RGB-teknik har införlivats – där röda, gröna och blå sub-pixlarna är alla inneslutna i en pixel – för en ljusare och mer exakt på skärmen bild.

En 2,26 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor körs showen, med en 450 MHz Adreno 330 GPU, 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM och 32 GB eMMC-lagring (med en micro SD-kortplats för utbyggnad) att göra upp den stöttande gjutna. Enheten tips skalorna på 6,2 oz. (177 g) och dess 3500 mAh böjda batteri, som har utvecklats av syster företag LG Chem, rapporteras att tillhandahålla mer än en hel dags användning.

6.3 x 3,2 x 0,31-0,34 i (160.5 x 81,6 x 7,9 – 8.7 mm) enheten har en 13 megapixelkamera med LED-blixt på baksidan och framsidan 2,1 MP webbkamera. LED pulser att ange ansikte identifiering eller timer nedräkning. Bak-nyckel design i G2 har också inkluderats, med en strömbrytare i en volym rocker, och företaget har tillämpat en speciell reptålig beläggning på baksidan för att hålla enheten ser ut som nya längre.

Den senaste medlemmen i LG: s G smartphone familjen kör Android 4.2.2 och har en fräsch UX som har en funktion som kallas Q teater som ger användare tillgång till innehåll direkt från låsskärmen, och möjliggör visning delas i två separata fönster för multi-tasking.

Smartphone är LTE-kapabel, förpackningar Bluetooth 4.0 och 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, och använder NFC-tekniken. Det är också skicklig av Hi-Fi-kvalitet 24-bit/192 kHz ljud-uppspelning.

LG G Flex börjar sin resa i rygg fickorna på konsumenterna i Sydkorea nästa månad, innan att rullas ut till andra marknader.