Posted in Commentary with tags Intel on February 27, 2017 by itnerd
A recent Intel Security shows that although protecting personal information is top of mind for Canadian consumers, they often fall short in taking the proper precautions to do so.
Some of the key findings include:
Canadians are worried about the security of their financial information. In fact, 44% of survey respondents are most concerned about a hacker stealing personal financial information.
The fear of losing personal information has many Canadian consumers motivated to keep a close eye on their devices. 83% of consumers check to ensure their connected devices have not been compromised.
Unfortunately, 51% of Canadians don’t know how to check to make sure their devices or applications have not been compromised.
Top Canadian consumer cybersecurity concerns include:
Theft of their personal financial information (44%)
Identity theft (38%)
Being watched or listened to if their device has been compromised (23%)
Below are some tips from Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist with Intel Security, that can help Canadians remain safe while leading a connected life:
Lock down your devices. Our devices are like an extension of our bodies. It’s imperative that they are locked down with a strong PIN code, as well as complex and unique passwords to prevent unauthorized access. Use a multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution, like True Key by Intel Security, that will combine your strong passwords with an extra layer of security – like your fingerprint or facial recognition.
Keep your devices updated. Be sure to update your devices when new versions of the operating system or applications become available. Updates often include critical security fixes designed to patch and protect from attacks.
Take control of your home network. Setting up a guest Wi-Fi network allows visitors to access the internet but keeps your home network private and isolated from their devices. You can also separate your IoT devices (smart home devices, wearables, etc.) from traditional connected devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets, etc.) where more secure information is stored, so if an IoT devices is compromised, the breach will be limited to devices connected to the guest network. Solutions, such as McAfee Secure Home Platform [Warning: PDF], help you easily manage and protect devices connected to both networks, and can ensure that guest devices connected to your network don’t open you up to an attack.
Intel Security commissioned OnePoll to conduct a survey of 13,000 adults (aged 18-55+) in December 2016. Respondents used an internet-connected device on a daily basis and were based in the following regions: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the U.S.
Posted in Commentary with tags ZTE on February 27, 2017 by itnerd
ZTE today at Mobile World Congress unveiled the Gigabit Phone, the world’s first smartphone with download speeds reaching up to 1Gbps. Thanks to ZTE’s independently developed Pre5G Giga+ MBB solution and smart devices, onsite visitors witnessed a successful test of download speeds reaching up to 1Gbps on the Gigabit Phone, an indicator of ZTE’s technology strength in the upcoming “5uper Generation”.
The ZTE Gigabit Phone, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform with an integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, utilizes a combination of carrier aggregation, 4×4 MIMO antenna technology, and 256-QAM modulation to achieve LTE download speeds that are up to 10x faster than first generation LTE devices.
Thanks to ZTE’s technology strength in 5G and Pre5G Giga+ MBB solutions, the ZTE Gigabit Phone is three times as powerful at improving data processing capability in the current network. It is the cornerstone of ZTE introducing 5G to 4G networks and providing worldwide carriers with Pre 5G solutions.
In the future, with download speeds up to 1Gbps as a standard and ZTE’s technology strength in 5G systems and networks, the mobile experience on smart devices will be enhanced to an unimaginable level.
The Gigabit phone will challenge world limits and transform the ultimate pursuit of human senses. The unimaginable speed of up to 1Gbps will improve users’ lifestyles by allowing for 360° panoramic VR video, instant cloud storage, entertainment upgrades and fast cache of ultra Hi-Fi music and movies, and instant APP, which removes the need for download or installation of applications.
The introduction of ZTE’s Gigabit-class mobile phone marks an important cornerstone for the 5G mobile era. This phone is not only revolutionizing communication, but also revolutionizing human connectivity with a new standard of speed, bringing a qualitative leap to a new world of mobile experience.
If you are at Mobile World Congress, you can visit the ZTE booth The ZTE booth at 3F30, Hall 3, Fira Gran Via, Barcelona.
Posted in Commentary with tags HP on February 27, 2017 by itnerd
HP Inc. today at Mobile World Congress announced a dynamic new commercial 2-in-1 detachable along with a range of innovative accessories that empower people to work wherever, whenever, with connected mobile devices that are fun as well as functional, powerful and secure. The new HP Pro x2 612 G2 is designed for today’s mobile professionals who want a stylish device that is easy to use. At the same time, they need applications that automate workflows in field services, government, healthcare, and retail verticals while delivering high productivity with the enterprise-class security and serviceability IT requires.
The Pro x2 is a versatile 2-in-1 detachable, featuring multiple modes ideal for commercial use, including presentation mode, inking mode for taking notes, tablet mode for data collection, and notebook mode. The Pro x2 can be configured with a choice of the latest 7th generation Intel processors, providing reliable performance to meet a variety of end users’ needs.
The design goals for the Pro x2 were built around mobile productivity, which includes WLAN and optional WWAN, with a fast-charging battery that offers up to 11 hours of battery life. The device’s magnetically attached Collaboration Keyboard features dedicated keys to directly manage voice and video conference calls. For drawing and taking notes, the HP Active Wacom Pen with App Launch combined with the extended 165-degree kickstand make it easy to present and share. The Pro x2 includes a USB-C connection for quick charging and data transfers and USB-A for accessing traditional legacy peripherals.
IT requirements for security, manageability and lifecycle management were also key focus areas for the Pro x2. The device was built from the ground up for secure work environments and includes a built-in smart card reader, a removable SSD, and the HP Client Security Suite Gen3, along with an optional fingerprint sensor and optional Near Field Communications (NFC). IT lifecycle management includes a removable back cover and enterprise-class serviceability for the display panel, kickstand and other key components, along with dedicated 24/7 commercial support. And the Pro x2 is designed to last for the traditional enterprise 3- to 5-year lifecycle, passing MIL-STD testing for drops, dust, humidity, temperature changes and functional shock.
Also announced today is a range of new vertical workflow accessories for the company’s x2 lineup and breakthrough Elite x3 platform. These accessories are designed with versatility in mind, helping mobile professionals be productive and remain connected whether they are in the office or on the go. Accessories launching at Mobile World Congress include:
HP Elite x3 Mobile Scanning Solution and the HP Elite x3 Mobile Retail Solution: Building on the innovation of the Elite x3 launched at last year’s Mobile World Congress, these solutions extend the benefits of the x3 platform beyond the mobile professional to mobilize vertical workflows for healthcare, field and retail workers. The integrated barcode scanner can be used to check prices, access inventory and CRM information on the go and then seamlessly transition to the back-office with the ability to dock and connect to a display, mouse, and keyboard for a full PC experience.
HP Pro x2 612 G2 Rugged Case: Ideal for customers in extreme work environments, this case features a 360-degree rotating hand strap, shoulder strap, stylus holder, optional port plugs and is compatible with the Pro x2’s keyboard.
HP Elite USB-C Dock: Turn your device into a desktop and connect to multiple displays and devices while charging with this enterprise IT ready dock, compatible with devices like the Pro x2, HP Elite x2 1012 G1, or HP Elite x3 that have a multi-function Type-C USB port and devices that support Thunderbolt™.
HP USB-C Travel Hub: For mobile professionals who need access to additional peripheral ports while on-the-go, this solution delivers pass-through connectivity for displays and USB devices and charging for the Pro x2, Elite x2 or the Elite x3 while the device is being used – with one USB-C™ cable.
HP Retail Case 12: Announced at NRF, this solution combines with the Pro x2 to create a portable solution for store associates to sell and conduct mobile transactions on the sales floor.
Pricing and Availability
The HP Pro x2 612 G2 is available now, starting at $979.
The HP Pro x2 612 G2 Rugged Case is available now, starting at $49.
The HP Elite USB-C Dock is expected to be available in March, starting at $149.
The HP USB-C Travel Hub is available now, starting at $49.
The HP Retail Case 12 is available now, starting at $249.
The HP Elite x3 Mobile Scanning Solution is available now, starting at $329.
The HP Elite x3 Mobile Retail Solution is available now, starting at $999.
Posted in Commentary with tags Google on February 27, 2017 by itnerd
Google has announced that Google Assistant which is the company’s AI based personal assistant would be coming to Nougat and Marshmallow handsets. Previously, the AI based personal assistant was only available on the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones that Google makes, which I am sure didn’t make a whole lot of people happy. Most notably Google’s partners like Samsung and LG.
The first people to get this will be Android users in the U.S. sometime this week. English speaking Canadian users, as well those who speak English in Australia and the U.K, will gain access to Google Assistant sometime later.
So Android users, is this something that you’re looking forward to? Please leave a comment and share your thoughts.
Posted in Commentary with tags Huawei on February 27, 2017 by itnerd
Huawei has announced the launch of the new HUAWEI P10 and P10+. These are innovative and stylish smartphones that are co-engineered with Leica, which bring professional studio-like effects to enhance portrait photography. Through a special partnership with Pantone Color Institute, the devices are introduced in the latest on-trend colours, specially optimized for their unique Hyper Diamond-Cut finish. Complemented by cutting edge technological innovations inside, including Huawei SuperCharge, HUAWEI P10 and P10+ are the most advanced photography smartphones available.
For the first time in a smartphone, HUAWEI P10 and P10+ feature a Leica front camera, to complement their Leica Dual rear camera. By utilising the world’s most advanced photographic technology to create modern artistic portraits in Leica’s signature image style, the HUAWEI P10 and P10+ include tools of an artistic studio. With features including studio-like re-lighting and 3D facial detection technology, beautiful photography can be taken in any environment.
The new front camera captures perfect portrait photography in Leica image style whilst the rear camera captures facial features with incredible detail. Huawei’s Hybrid Zoom is an additional feature that allows users to focus in on specific areas of an image while still keeping the sharpness of image quality.
As well as redefining portrait photography through the latest photographic technologies, the HUAWEI P10 and P10+ set a new standard in colour and design. Co-created with Pantone Color Institute, the devices launch in two specially selected Pantone colours: PANTONE Greenery, the official PANTONE Colour of the Year 2017, and a captivating deep blue shade which Huawei is offering as Dazzling Blue.
The result of hours of careful craftsmanship and cross-collaboration between Huawei and Pantone Color Institute is two colourways which have been specially optimised for the surface and texture of the HUAWEI P10 and P10+ to deliver smartphones that are as beautiful to look at as they are to use. Greenery delivers a clean and stylish sandblast finish, whilst the unique Hyper Diamond-Cut in Dazzling Blue is brought to life through a stunning glow effect. To complement these unique colourways, the HUAWEI P10 and P10+ are also available in a selection of other colours including Ceramic White, Dazzling Gold, Prestige Gold, Graphite Black, Rose Gold and Mystic Silver.
As part of the Huawei P series, the HUAWEI P10 and P10+ feature an ultra slim, minimalistic form with rounded curves. The high-quality design extends to its high-performance functions which include super-fast charging, thanks to Huawei’s proprietary SuperCharge technology.
Prices and availability remain unannounced at this time.
Clearly a lot of companies are being paranoid about getting pwned by hackers as over the weekend, Petro Canada sent out e-mails to participants of their Petro Points program to change their passwords. Here’s a picture of the e-mail:
Now, unlike the e-mail that Cineplex users got, they spun this in a way made you to more likely to not question whether this e-mail was real or not. That’s likely to make sure that users are more likely to change their password. Though, I will admit that this still has a “blame the user” feel to it. But having said that clearly the Loblaw and Canadian Tire hacks has Canadian businesses spooked.
That’s the question being asked by people who use Cineplex Connect as they got an e-mail this morning asking them to change their passwords. Here’s an example of such an e-mail posted to Twitter by someone who thinks this is an attempt at phishing:
So…. Why are they doing this? In my mind, it’s one of these three things:
Cineplex Got pwned by hackers.
Cineplex is watching other Canadian companies like Loblaw and Canadian Tire get pwned by hackers and is simply getting ahead of the curve in terms of trying to keep their users safe.
This is related to the Cloudflare disclosure of leaked data. It is not clear if Cineplex is a Cloudflare customer, but the timing is interesting enough to make that a possiblity.
Whatever the reason, you should likely change your password. To change your password, you need to login to Cineplex’s website, click on the Security tab and follow password change instructions. In the meantime, we’ll have to guess which one of the three reasons that I stated is the truth. I’d like to think it’s the second one, but these days you never know.
Posted in Products with tags Apple on February 24, 2017 by itnerd
I needed a new phone for a few reasons. First, I have been bouncing between a couple of phones over the last year. Specifically, the Apple iPhone 5s and Apple iPhone 6. Second, I wanted a phone with more storage as 16GB (the iPhone 6) doesn’t come close to cutting it from a storage perspective and 32GB (the iPhone 5s) is usable but doesn’t give you much runway for the future. Finally, I wanted a bigger screen as that would be much easier on the eyes as using a 4″ screen when you have 40+ year old eyes which also are affected by Keratoconus isn’t workable. But a 4.7″ screen at the very least is workable. After much deliberation and even enlisting the help of my followers on Twitter, I got an Apple iPhone 7 Plus unlocked from the Apple store. Specifically the matte black 128GB model. I went for 128GB because that would give me the room for whatever I needed to install or store on the phone for the next couple of years that I own the phone. But you’re likely asking “why did you go for the Plus model?” The answer is a bit more complicated.
The first reason is the screen. Now Apple was late to the game when it came to a big screen “phablet” style phone. But at least in the iPhone 7 Plus, that delay seems to have been worth it. The 5.5″ screen does 1080p and colors are sharp and vibrant. Plus text is easier to read and I really appreciate that the entire user interface rotates when I rotate the phone from portrait to landscape. That helps to make this the “device to rule them all” that those in the market for a “phablet” are looking for.
The second reason is battery life. This thing lasts and lasts and lasts. For example, I can easily make it through a full day with plenty of charge to spare. As in something north of 65% of a charge. That’s something that I was never able to do with any other iPhone that I’ve owned. On top of that, when I use apps like Runtastic Pro to measure my efforts while cross country skiing, the battery hit after a two hour workout still leaves me with a 70% charge. Of course the fact that this is a bigger phone allowed Apple to shove a bigger battery into it, which of course helps with that. But you have to imagine that there are some power saving tweaks that work into getting results like this as well.
Now over to the size of the phone. One of the main reasons why I have resisted getting a phone with a screen over 5″ is that I always thought it would be difficult to hold and use. Having used the iPhone 7 Plus for a week, I can say that I was mostly wrong. It is easy to hold and use for the most part. And the fact that Apple has a gesture called Reachability that slides the entire user interface downwards so that you can get to the top part of the screen one handed helps greatly. It also fits into loose fitting pants fine, but is snug in shirt pockets. I also had issues popping it into my cross country ski jacket which has pockets at the back that now just hold the phone without becoming uncomfortable. I should also mention that the phone is lighter than I anticipated which is welcome as I try to travel light whenever possible.
I can’t review this phone without touching on the one thing that caused the Internet to explode when it was announced. The removal of the headphone jack which apparently required courage on the part of Apple to do. Apple claims to have done this to facilitate IP67 water and dust resistance (in the case of water it means submersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes as opposed to being waterproof). And Apple would rather that you use wireless headsets like the AirPods or BeatsX which leverages their new W1 chipset which makes using headsets that support this chipset painless, or a set of Bluetooth headsets to extract more cash from your bank account. To be fair, Apple did include a Lightning to 3.5 mm adapter in the box which of course won’t help you if you want to listen to music and charge the phone at the same time without resorting to using a dongle like this one. This is likely to create two camps. One will go the wireless route and not complain. I however am in the other camp who won’t do that because I often take flights that last 14+ hours where I often listen to music while charging the phone. Most wireless headsets won’t last that long. Thus on my next flight I suspect I will be living the dongle life. Plus I will not replace my great sounding RHA’s that I own simply because Apple thinks I should.
Other things that changed include the lack of a physical home button that does Touch ID. Instead, you get a “button” with haptic feedback. Meaning a fake button click is generated to fool you into thinking that you pressed a real button. This is the expansion of the 3D Touch features that were introduced with the iPhone 6s series which I am using for the first time and I growing to like. You can customize the feel of it and once you get used to it, you don’t really notice it. But it is kind of weird for the first day or so. You also get dual speakers on this iPhone as well. They are loud, but there’s very little if any stereo separation. Likely because they are too close together which is understandable. They’re decent, but the lack a bit on the low end. Thus audiophiles will want to invest in quality external speakers and use the built in ones in a pinch.
Performance from the iPhone 7 Plus is pretty impressive. It has the new A10 Fusion core processor which has four cores. But it doesn’t use all four of them at once. Two of the cores are powerful and used for things like 3D gaming, multitasking and the like. The other two are low powered and are used for less demanding tasks. But it all comes together very nicely to make the iPhone 7 Plus the fastest iOS device I’ve ever used. Particularly with games. The fact that the iPhone 7 Plus also comes with 3GB of RAM which is 1GB more than the iPhone 7 comes with likely helps with that.
The biggest change is the camera. Both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus utilize the same rear facing 12-megapixel camera and front facing 7 megapixel camera. They can take 1080P and 4K video and Apple has jacked up the brightness on the flash too. Finally, both models include optical image stabilization (OIS). But things get more interesting with the iPhone 7 Plus as it has a second telephoto lens that serves two purposes:
2x optical zoom function as opposed to doing “math” to simulate zooming in which can negatively affect the quality of the picture.
It allows for “Portrait Mode.” By capturing photos with both lenses simultaneously and analyzing data from the resulting images, the iPhone 7 Plus can create a blurred background effect similar to what you get when shooting portraits with a DSLR camera.
So, how well does this all work? To find out, I first went to Pearson Airport in Toronto to shoot some stills and video. First let’s look at some stills. Click to enlarge:
Now here’s a video shot in 4k resolution. One thing to note is that you can take stills at the same time you are shooting video. Set it to full screen and 4K to view:
Back to the stills. Here’s two more stills to demonstrate portrait mode. First one with portrait mode. Click to enlarge:
And the same picture without portrait mode. Click to enlarge:
The difference between the two is easy to spot if you look at the legs of the woman in the top center of the photo.
In the end, the iPhone 7 Plus is clearly the iPhone Apple wants in your hands and that goes beyond the fact that Apple makes more money on each one that they sell. It’s also because the iPhone 7 Plus is pretty much better than the iPhone 7 in every way possible. Camera, speed, screen, it’s all top shelf stuff. If you have to choose between the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, go for the latter unless you find it too big for you in terms of size or price seeing as my particular iPhone 7 Plus is $1179 CDN. Trust me, you will not regret it. At least not until the next iPhone comes out.
Posted in Commentary with tags Apple on February 24, 2017 by itnerd
Israel based iPhone hacking firm Cellebrite is now making the claim that they can extract data from iPhone 6 and older models. This is interesting as it was thought that anything from the iPhone 5s or newer was difficult to hack. Here’s what CyberScoop had to say about this:
Cellebrite, the Israel-based firm that makes millions selling smartphone cracking tools to governments around the world, announced Wednesday that it can unlock and extract the full file system from locked iPhones including the 6 and 6+ with their Advanced Investigative Service (CAIS) product in which their customers send phones they urgently need unlocked.
Every version before the 6+ can also be unlocked by Cellebrite whose forensic researchers say they have successfully bypassed Apple’s security and encryption.
And:
Cellebrite’s ability to break into the iPhone 6 and 6+ comes in their latest line of product releases. The newest Cellebrite product, UFED 6.0, boasts dozens of new and improved features including the ability to extract data from 51 Samsung Android devices including the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, the latest flagship models for Android’s most popular brand, as well as the new high-end Google Pixel Android devices.
“In the majority of devices, Cellebrite’s proprietary boot loader can bypass all security mechanisms, even if the device is locked, without jailbreaking, rooting or flashing the device,” according to the company. Newer devices, particularly iOS devices, present evolving challenges.
It’s interesting that they don’t have the iPhone 6s/6s Plus, 7 or 7 Plus on their list. I am guessing that those phones are different enough that these guys haven’t figured out how to break into them yet. Regardless, this is sure to put them into the crosshairs of Apple who I am sure is going to do their best to figure out exactly how Cellebrite is doing this and then develop countermeasures to stop them from being able to extract data from their shiny iDevices.
Posted in Commentary with tags Apple on February 24, 2017 by itnerd
A viral video is of a smoldering iPhone 7 Plus is making the rounds around the Internet. The video made by Brianna Olivas, shows the device burning to the point that the case is melting away and smoke is seen coming out the side of the phone. In a statement to Mashable, an Apple spokesperson said that the company has been in touch with Olivas and is investigating. “We are in touch with the customer and looking into it,”
Here’s the video in question via her Twitter feed:
Now, does this mean that there’s a problem with the iPhone 7 Plus? Likely no. Any device that uses a lithium based battery has a risk of exploding. And iPhones have caught fire every once in a while. The thing to watch for is if this becomes a trend. As in like Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 debacle where phones were blowing up at a rate that has never been seen before or since.
Another thing to consider is the fact that maybe there’s another cause for this other than a design defect or something similar. Like using a third party charger as it has been found that these can be really dangerous. Or perhaps the phone was dropped which damaged the battery. I’m not trying to blame the victim here. I’m simply providing some perspective that we need all the facts at hand before coming to a conclusion. What will help with that is if Apple shares these facts in a complete and robust manner with the public once their investigation is complete.
Many Canadians Don’t Know How To Check If Their Connected Devices Have Been Compromised: Intel Security
Posted in Commentary with tags Intel on February 27, 2017 by itnerdA recent Intel Security shows that although protecting personal information is top of mind for Canadian consumers, they often fall short in taking the proper precautions to do so.
Some of the key findings include:
Below are some tips from Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist with Intel Security, that can help Canadians remain safe while leading a connected life:
More information is available in a blog post by Gary at: https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/consumer/consumer-threat-notices/connected-life/
Intel Security commissioned OnePoll to conduct a survey of 13,000 adults (aged 18-55+) in December 2016. Respondents used an internet-connected device on a daily basis and were based in the following regions: Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the UK, and the U.S.
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