Google launches strong encryption for Android messages

Google said Thursday it will be rolling out end-to-end encryption for Android users, making it harder for anyone, including law enforcement, to read the content of messages.

“End-to-end encryption ensures that no one, including Google and third parties, can read the content of your messages as they travel between your phone and the phone of the person you’re messaging,” said Drew Rowny, head of Google product, in announcing the rollout.

Google’s move is part of an upgrade from SMS to the Rich Communication Services (RCS) standard with additional features for images and videos.

It will be available for people communicating using Android-powered devices.

The move brings additional privacy and security to Google’s messaging application, however, law enforcement agencies around the world complained that “strong encryption may enable criminals to hide their tracks”.

Digital rights activists have long supported strong encryption to allow users to avoid snooping by governments and cybercriminals. But some governments have warned the technology could hinder criminal investigations.

End-to-end encryption is already available on some services such as Facebook-owned WhatsApp, but the company has been facing resistance over its plan to bring full encryption to its Messenger app.

Last year, US Attorney General William Barr joined with British and Australian counterparts in urging Facebook to abandon its encryption, claiming the planned court hurt investigations into child exploitation.

Civil liberties groups countered that a lack of encryption or privileged access for law enforcement could hurt privacy and security for all internet users, creating holes that could be exploited by bad actors.Source: AFP, Tech Xplore Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

Read More........→December 29, 2020

The Technogym treadmill controlled by Google Glass

Technogym has announced a new bit of fitness equipment for those who like to go running indoors and wear their Google Glass. The niche product, showcasing at CES this week in Las Vegas, will let Glass wearers tap into the specially enhanced treadmill allowing them to see running data on their headset rather than, look down at the huge tablet-like console directly in front of them. But it's not just Google Glass. The Android-based system, dubbed Unity, comes with an API that allows any app for a third party

to connect to the intelligent treadmill, meaning you can get data tapped straight into your favourite app or on to a device you are wearing. "Unity is part of Wellness on the Go, Technogym’s complete experience that allows users to engage and connect with others on any piece of Technogym equipment, anywhere in the world," explains Technogym, living up to its name. "Moreover Unity is the first and only console in the fitness industry that offers users the ability to communicate with their personal trainer or friends via webcam." Unity is already compatible with MapMyFitness, RunKeeper and Withings. No word however on price or when the treadmill will be available in the UK. Source: SAM Daily Times

Read More........→January 08, 2014

Gene of the week: internet addiction

Everybody is talking about internet addiction – many people spend hours online and immediately start feeling bad if they are unable to do so. Medically, this phenomenon has not been as clearly described as nicotine or alcohol dependency. But a German study in the Journal of Addiction Medicine suggests that there are molecular-genetic connections in internet addiction, too. "It was shown that Internet addiction is not a figment of our imagination," says the lead author, Dr. Christian Montag of the University of Bonn. "Researchers and therapists are increasingly closing in on it." He found that some people’s thoughts revolve around the internet during the day and that they feel their wellbeing is severely impacted if they have to go without it. The problem users seem to have a genetic variation that also plays a major role in nicotine addiction. "It seems that this connection is not only essential for nicotine addiction, but also for internet addiction," reports the Bonn psychologist. “The current data already shows that there are clear indications for genetic causes of Internet addiction." The actual mutation is on the CHRNA4 gene that changes the genetic make¬up for the Alpha 4 subunit on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. "Within the group of subjects exhibiting problematic Internet behavior this variant occurs more frequently – in particular, in women," says Dr. Montag. ~ Universität Bonn press release, Aug 29 Source BioEdge, Image

Read More........→December 19, 2013

Popular game Angry Birds now on Facebook

Are you fond of Computer games and facebook? If you want to be on facebook and play your favourite game at same time, then it is possible now. As promised, the mega popular casual game Angry Birds has made its way to Facebook for the first time. The game's developer Rovio previously announced it would bring the avian-flinging adventure to the social platform just in time for Valentine's Day, and here we are. How romantic Yes, nothing screams romance and valentines quite like oblong green pigs, so the launch date seems perfectly fitting. This isn't the first time Valentine's Day has been an important affair for Angry Birds. Rovio previously released a themed 'holiday' version of the game filled with pink backgrounds and a whole slew of little hearts. Angry Birds has, of course, become one of the most popular casual games of all time. However, it is largely a single-player affair. Rovio could have brought it to Facebook a long time ago but it was apparently working on how to turn it into a more social experience. Angry Birds on Facebook includes online leaderboards and special power-ups that users can buy for 99 cents a pop. In case you've been keeping track, Angry Birds is already available for Android, the iPhone and iPad, Windows Phone, handheld game systems, and TV set-top boxes. And that doesn't even include the board game or any of the myriad other merchandising ventures. So as for Angry Birds making its way to Facebook, the only real reaction to have is - it's about time.Source: Ananta-Tec

Read More........→May 25, 2013

Shark Net: Dr. Barbara Block/TOPP release great app to track California's white sharks

I have been fortunate to meet and speak with many accomplished marine scientists and researchers. One who is definitely on my Top 10 list is Dr. Barbara Block. Based at Stanford University, California, she oversees TOPP (Tagging of Pacific Predators), a program started in 2000 that tracks pelagic animals from tuna to swordfish to turtles to great white sharks, and more. (Couple of previous posts on the subject here & here.) Barbara is a spunky taskmaster but, working with her staff, it is that very drive  that  has  enabled
TOPP to discover many of the secrets involving the migration patterns of these large and critically important animals.  It was TOPP that coined the phrase "White Shark Cafe" to describe where great white sharks from California and Mexico migrate to in the Pacific Ocean. One particularly important finding regarding these migration patterns was the possible explanation for the seasonal nature of the sharks' sojourns: Mid-Pacific upwellings which bring nutrients that feed the food chain and ultimately replenish the larger fish that the sharks feed on. Cyclical weather and ocean movement patterns produce these upwellings - and as climate change continues to present itself, there is always the possibility of shifts in the upwelling cycle that could have unknown consequences for these animals. Whenever I am called upon to speak about sharks, these fascinating migration patterns are always a topic I include as I am guaranteed they will mesmerize my audience. So, thank you, Dr. Block! While Internet users can monitor the ongoing activities of TOPP through its website, it's now possible to carry it with you on your iPhone or iPad. Shark Net - Predators of the Blue Serengeti is available fromiTunes at no charge (as in free!) and provides a range of features on the cataloging and whereabouts of those most iconic of California ocean predators, the great white shark. Users can get updates on the latest monitoring of sharks, pinpoint the location of the tracking buoys that gather the data, and get biographies, photos, and videos about many of the sharks that frequent California's waters. There are other apps available that provide white shark tracking info but this is thedefinitive app for monitoring the white sharks that ply the waters off California's coast - and beyond, thanks to those incredible migration patterns. In a recent interview for U.K.'s The Guardian, Dr. Block explained her use of the term "Blue Serengeti" to describe California's coastal waters and the large migration patterns that occur within it. "White sharks and tuna travel for thousands of miles before returning to the same hot spot just as salmon do when they return to the same stream. These journeys are the marine equivalent of wildebeest migrations that take place on the Serengeti plain in Africa. That is why I call this part of the Californian coast the Blue Serengeti." "Everyone knows about watering holes on the Serengeti even though most of us have never been there. We can just close our eyes and see the zebras, the elephants and the hyenas. We want to do the same for the migration hot spots we have found off the coast of California." Dr. Block and TOPP are setting new standards for ocean animal tracking, expanding on the various GPS and satellite tracking methods (which can sometimes provide data intermittently) to include cutting-edge, round-the-clock monitoring technology using monitoring networks or even self-contained, solar-powered tracking stations like Wave Glider that travels the currents along the California coast.  Through the efforts of TOPP and consumer apps like Shark Net, Dr. Block hopes to bring the hidden complexity of our ocean planet to a wider audience. Humankind's curiosity makes it look outward, and that has lead us into the stars. But there is a whole world to be discovered starting right at the shoreline. "Human technology has made it to Mars. We are transmitting gorgeous pictures from it. Yet we have not explored our own planet. Two-thirds of it is covered with oceans that are still mysterious places. We are trying to hook people up to what is going on out there now and get them to realize that it could all be lost if we did not do something to protect it. Ultimately, I want to create a world heritage site here. Wiring up the oceans, as we are doing, is our way to get people to understand the importance of these places."Source: RTSea

Read More........→February 08, 2013

Hackers could create havoc with global air traffic

LAS VEGAS — Air traffic control software used around the world could be exploited by hackers to unleash squadrons of ghost planes to befuddle those entrusted to keep the skies safe, a security researcher said Friday. Cyprus-based Andrei Costin demonstrated his findings at a Black Hat gathering of cyber defenders in Las Vegas. “This is for information only,” Costin said as he outlined how someone with modest tech skills and about $2,000 worth of electronics could vex air traffic controllers or even stalk celebrities traveling in private jets. “Everything you do is at your own risk.”  Costin’s target was an ADS-B system in place for aircraft to communicate with one another and with air traffic control systems at airports.The system, which has been rolled out internationally in recent years in a multi-billion dollar upgrade, was designed to better track aircraft so airport traffic can flow more efficiently. A perilous flaw is that the system is not designed to verify who is actually sending a message, meaning that those with malicious intent can impersonate aircraft either as pranks or to cause mayhem, according to Costin. “There is no provision to make sure a message is genuine,” he said.“It is basically an inviting opportunity for any attacker with medium technical knowledge.” Air traffic controllers faced with a signal from a fake airplane resort to cross-checking flight plans, putting relevant portions of air space off limits while they work. “Imagine you inject a million planes; you don’t have that many people to cross-check,” Costin said. “You can do a human resource version of a denial of service attack on an airport.” Denial of service attacks commonly used by hackers involve overwhelming websites with so many simultaneous online requests that they crash or slow to the point of being useless. Aviation agencies are adept at identifying and locating “rogue transmitters” on the ground, but not at countering signals from drones or other robotic aircraft becoming more common and available, according to the researcher. Another danger in the new-generation air traffic control system, according to Costin, is that position, velocity and other information broadcast by aircraft isn’t encrypted and can be snatched from the air. “Basically, you can buy or build yourself a device to capture this information from airplanes,” Costin said. He listed potential abuses including paparazzi being able to track private jets carrying celebrities or other famous people. Costin showed how a friend was able to identify a plane broadcasting the identification numbers of Air Force One, the military jet used by the U.S. president, and plot it on a map on an iPad. “It can be a very profitable business model for criminals to invest a small amount of money in radios, place them around the world” and then sell jet tracking services or information about flights, the independent researcher said. “If it was Air Force One, why does Air Force One show itself?” Costin wondered aloud. “It is a very high profile target and you don’t want everyone to know it is flying over your house.” There are websites with databases matching aircraft registration numbers with listed owners. Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........→December 16, 2012

Samsung to launch a Facebook-like Social network next year

Are you fed of with facebook , twitter or Google ? If yes then it can be a good News for you all. After Google and Microsoft’s venture into social networking space, now Samsung seems to be working on a social networking service. A recent report from The Korean Times, states that Samsung Electronics is expected to launch a Facebook-like social networking site by early next year.The new social network according to the reports would be accessible on a wide range of devices, including laptops, cameras, televisions etc. To allow users to access the social networking service from any device and at any time, Samsung also plans to integrate the service with Amazon’s cloud computing platform. When asked about the rumors of the upcoming social network, Samsung claimed that the company is just launching an update for Family Story – a social networking service focused on photo sharing, and storing families’ special moments, accessible on a limited number of Samsung smartphones and Web-connected televisions, since February 2012. “By the end of the year, we will have a polished and finished version of Family Story that will be offered first to Samsung device users for free. The new service will become available in the first quarter of next year at the earliest. The eventual goal is to expand our social media service across different devices from different companies across different mobile platforms. That includes cameras, televisions and blue-ray players,”Samsung stated. Source: Ananta Tech, Reference-Image: flickr.com

Read More........→November 16, 2012

Google opens year-long Web Lab exhibition at the Science Museum

A SERIES OF ‘INTERACTIVE CHROME EXPERIMENTS’ HAVE TAKEN UP RESIDENCE IN A BASEMENT GALLERY AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM. Google hopes that the exhibition will “bring the extraordinary workings of the internet to life and inspire the next generation of computer scientists and enthusiasts. “ Visitors to the Science Museum will be able to play with five demonstrations, while online participants will be able to visit chromeweblab.com and interact with the same installations. The Science Museum claims the exhibition will be its first that is truly 24-hour, as online users will continue to be able to operate the exhibits overnight when the museum is closed. The five experiments are Universal Orchestra, an internet-powered eight-piece robotic orchestra; Sketchbots, where custom-built robots take photographs of users and then sketch them in sand; Data Tracer, which maps where the world’s online information is physically stored; Teleporter, which uses web-enabled periscopes to view pre-determined locations around the world; and Lab Tag Explorer, which shows where exhibition visotrs, both online and in the gallery, are from and what they have in common. Each Web Lab experiment uses a modern web technology to explore a particular idea in computer science, but Google is not explaining the different techniques involved. Instead, it hopes that their effects will inspire children to find out more. Google’s Steve Vranakis, Creative Director of Web Lab said that, “The internet powers our lives everyday, allows us to explore the globe and lets us communicate with friends the world over. Until now, all this magic has remained locked behind our screens. Web Lab changes all that. We’ve worked with the Science Museum to create experiments that will demonstrate the power of the Internet to everyone who visits.”Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum, added that the exhibition “reinforces the museum’s role in helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers”. Web Lab is free and open, both in London and online, until Summer 2013.Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........→September 23, 2012

Google deploying planes over cities for 3D maps

A three-dimensional view of the Cliff House in San Francisco on Google Earth. -AP

Deccan Chronicle, Reuters, San Francisco: Google is deploying a fleet of small, camera-equipped airplanes above several cities, the Internet search company's latest step in its ambitious and sometimes controversial plan to create a digital map of the world. Google plans to release the first three-dimensional maps for several cities by the end of the year, the company said at a news conference at its San Francisco offices on Wednesday. Google declined to name the cities, but it showed a demonstration of a 3D map of San Francisco, in which a user can navigate around an aerial view of the city. "We're trying to create the illusion that you're just flying over the city, almost as if you were in your own personal helicopter," said Peter Birch, a product manager for Google Earth. Google's head of engineering for its maps product, Brian McClendon, said the company was using a fleet of airplanes owned and operated by contractors and flying exclusively for Google. Asked about potential privacy implications, McClendon said the privacy issues were similar to all aerial imagery and that the type of 45-degree-angle pictures that the planes take have been used for a long time. Google has used airplanes to collect aerial photos in the past, such as following the 2010 San Bruno, California gas-line explosion, but the latest effort marks the first time the company will deploy the planes in a systemic manner to build a standard feature in one of its products. By the end of the year, Google said it expects to have 3D map coverage for metropolitan areas with a combined population of 300 million people. The first 3D cityscape will be available within weeks. Google has for years operated a fleet of camera-equipped cars that crisscross the globe taking panoramic pictures of streets for its popular mapping service. The cars have raised privacy concerns in some countries. In 2010, Google acknowledged that the so-called Street View cars had been inadvertently collecting emails, passwords and other personal data from people's home wireless networks. Collecting the WiFi data was unrelated to the Google Maps project, and was done instead so that Google could collect data on WiFi hotspots that can be used to provide separate location-based services. The forthcoming 3D city maps will be part of the Google Earth software app available for mobile devices such as smartphones based on Google's Android software and Apple's iOS software. The company also announced a version of Google maps for Android smartphones that allows users to access certain maps without an Internet connection. Shares of Google finished on Wednesday's regular session up 1.8 per cent at $580.57. Google's announcement comes a week before Apple Inc's developer conference in San Francisco, as competition between the two tech giants continues to heat up, particularly in the fast-growing mobile market. Apple is planning to replace Google Maps as the built-in mapping service on its iPhone and iPad later this year with technology that it has created in-house, according to media reports. Apple could show off its new mapping software at next week's conference. Google's McClendon said the company would continue to make Google maps services available as widely as possible, on "all platforms." In what appeared to be a veiled jab at Apple, he said the integration with Google's search engine provides a mapping serving that is far more useful than a product that simply uses a 'geocoder' - technology that uses geographic coordinates to create a digital map. Apple began to use its own geocoder technology for the Google-based maps on its smartphones late last year. Google said on Wednesday that there are currently 1 billion monthly active users of Google maps services and that the Street View cars have driven more than 5 million miles (8 million km) Photographing streets all over the world. Asked if Google had any plans to use unmanned aerial drones to gather photos for its 3D cityscapes, McClendon said it was an interesting question, but noted that drones were still being evaluated by the Federal Aviation Administration. "That's a larger can of worms that we're not going to get into here," he said. Source: Deccan Chronicle

Read More........→August 17, 2012

Google Maps to feature canals and rivers

Google has embarked on a project to map towpaths in England and Wales, as part of a plan to get more people on to rivers and canals. Later this year, Google Maps will be updated to enable users to plan journeys that include bridges, locks and the 2,000 miles of canal and river paths across England and Wales. The project is being launched today with the Canal and River Trust, which begins its stewardship of the nation's waterways next month. It takes over from British Waterways and the Waterways Trustin England and Wales to become responsible for the nation's third largest collection of listed structures, as well hundreds of important wildlife habitats. Tony Hales, the chairman of the trust, said: "We are delighted that these exciting partners have come on board as we launch. This is a huge vote of confidence in the Canal and River Trust and recognition of the important role it will play as the guardian of one of the nation's environmental treasures." Ed Parsons, a geospatial technologist at Google UK, said of the project: "Canal towpaths offer green routes through our towns and cities, and by working with the Canal and River Trust we're adding towpaths to Google Maps and encouraging people to discover their local waterway."Source: Sam Daily Times

Read More........→July 21, 2012

The Daily Protein:An Integrated Online News & Media Gadget

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Read More........→July 20, 2012

Facebook building smartphone with Apple engineers?

Hindustan Times, Facebook is leaving no stone unturned to enter the mobile phone arena with a bang. After revealing plans to increase mobile revenue, the social networking giant is hiring Apple engineers to develop a Facebook smartphone. "The company has already hired more than half a dozen former Apple software and hardware engineers who worked on the iPhone, and one who worked on the iPad, the employees and those briefed on the plans said" reports the New York Times. Even in 2010, rumours surfaced claiming Facebook is planning to venture into hardware. Again in 2011, reports suggested that Facebook is tying up with HTC to build a Facebook-centric device. But there was no confirmation about these reports. Recently, a study had revealed that people used the mobile version of Facebook most often and Zuckerberg's team seems to have taken it seriously. After two previous attempts at working on a smartphone, Facebook might launch an own-branded smartphone. Facebook representatives didn't confirm or deny the rumors but referred to a previous statement it gave to AllThingsD last year that said,"We're working across the entire mobile industry; with operators, hardware manufacturers, OS providers, and application developers", reports the New York Times. Source; Hindustan Times

Read More........→June 11, 2012

Microsoft launches 'So.cl' network

Microsoft quietly launched So.cl, an experimental site which brings together social networking, search, and media sharing to promote learning.

While the tech world was abuzz with Facebook IPO, Microsoft quietly launched So.cl, an experimental site which brings together social networking, search, and media sharing to promote learning. The So.Cl website, which looks a little like Google+ but offers a Pinterest-like board for users, was initially aimed at helping students share information for research purposes when it launched in private Beta as some US colleges last December. It is now available to all," reports T3. Microsoft expects "students to continue using products such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn as well as Bing, Google and other search tools", but they hope to "encourage students to re-imagine how our everyday communication and learning tools can be improved, by researching, learning and sharing in their everyday lives", says a post on Microsoft's So.cl page. The new social networking site helps users connect with other people based on what they're researching. For instance, you can search for a query, tag it on to your board and also check out what others found and tagged on related queries. This seems to be Microsoft's attempt to add some depth and meaning to social networking.Source: Hindustan Times

Read More........→May 22, 2012

New US law against web piracy – pros and cons

By Gladkov Vladimir: Several days ago, the US House of Representative approved a law called Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA for short, which is aimed at protecting the copyrights of content published on the web. However, the law is facing much criticism from US human rights activists, who claim that it, in fact, introduces tough censorship and gives the authorities and private companies free access to private information about web users.This is not the first attempt to adopt a law of this kind in the US. In winter, several US organizations – first of all, the Trade Chamber and Hollywood – attempted to make the congress adopt a similar law called Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA for short. However, this attempt failed. Experts say that if adopted, SOPA would have been hardly effective against online piracy but might have presented a threat to technical progress. Source: Voice of Russia. 

Read More........→April 29, 2012

AOL selling 800 patents to Microsoft

BusinessDay: FOREIGN STAFF: Deal "unlocks current dollar value" for shareholders in AOL and software giant gets "valuable portfolio" it has been analysing in detail  AOL yesterday announced plans to sell more than 800 patents to Microsoft in a $1,056bn deal giving the struggling internet pioneer a needed cash injection amid a race within the technology sector for intellectual property. The deal also provided Microsoft with licences to more than 300 additional patents and patent applications, AOL said. AOL CE Tim Armstrong said the deal "unlocks current dollar value for our shareholders and enables AOL to continue to aggressively execute on our strategy to create long-term shareholder value".  Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said the software giant was getting "a valuable portfolio that we have been following for years and analysing in detail for several months".  He said Microsoft "was able to achieve our two primary goals: obtaining a durable licence to the full AOL portfolio and ownership of certain patents that complement our existing portfolio". AOL said that after the deal was complete, it would continue to hold "a significant patent portfolio of more than 300 patents and patent applications spanning core and strategic technologies". AOL also received a licence to the patents being sold to Microsoft. The patent sale includes stock in an AOL subsidiary on which AOL expects to post a loss for tax purposes, so AOL will offset most taxes in the deal. The company said it intended "to return a significant portion of the sale proceeds to shareholders and will determine the most efficient and effective method to do so prior to the closing of the transaction". Earlier this year a US hedge fund with a large stake in AOL sought five seats on the board and criticized the strategy of the current management for failing to deliver for shareholders. The sale to Microsoft is the latest major deal for patents. Last year, Google purchased Motorola Mobility for $12,5bn, largely for its patent portfolio. AOL has been losing money since the collapse of its leadership as an internet subscription service, and has been seeking to become a more diversified web company. Recent online content purchases include The Huffington Post last year.Source: BusinessDay

Read More........→April 18, 2012

Facebook buys application for $1 billion

The largest social network in the world, Facebook buys the popular Facebook application Instagram,which is used for creating and editing images, for approximately $1 billion. The corresponding information appears on the official website of the company which states that the deal should be closed in this quarter.  Facebook  has paid for the application both with cash and treasury shares.Tags: facebook, Society, World, News, internet, Читать далее, Source: Voice of Russia. 

Read More........→April 10, 2012

Facebook plans to create new 'search engine'

London, Social networking giant Facebook is reportedly planning to create a new search engine which would help people to navigate on the website better. A 'Bloomberg-Businessweek' report said the firm has deployed two-dozen Facebook engineers onto the ambitious project, which aims to improve the search engine currently available on the social network. According to the report, the project is led by former Google engineer Lars Rasmussen. The magazine's unnamed sources said that the project is "to help users better sift through the volume of content that members create on the site, such as status updates, and the articles, videos, and other information across the Web that people "like" using Facebook's omnipresent thumbs-up button". According to The Telegraph, Facebook has done very little to improve its search engine, which currently lets people find other users, brands, status updates and some wider web results, through a long-standing partnership with Microsoft's search engine, Bing. It has yet to properly focus its attention on the small search engine box situated at the top of each users' page. Meanwhile, Facebook has declined to comment on the matter. Source: Indian Express

Read More........→April 01, 2012