The Neeva search engine fails and shuts down
02/06/2023After months of efforts, Neeva, the search engine designed by two former Google employees that aimed to provide a user-tracking-free and ad-free service, has announced its closure. Since its launch, Neeva has failed to gather a sufficient user base to sustain the project, even after announcing Neeva AI and becoming the first search engine to provide real-time AI-driven answers to most queries. Therefore, today, on June 2nd, Neeva will disappear as a search engine. Its founders will redirect their business to a new area, and subscribers with active licenses will receive a refund for the unused period. Neeva has also announced the deletion of all user data.
[ ... ]
A new FakeUpdates campaign targeting WordPress sites has been detected
20/03/2024Over the past few weeks, a new wave of the FakeUpdates malware, also known as SocGholish, has been detected, aimed at WordPress websites. The objective is to lure users into downloading remote access trojans, allowing attackers to take control of their systems. Since its emergence in 2017, FakeUpdates has been one of the most recurring malicious software in the cyber threat landscape. It has previously been associated with cybercriminal groups like Evil Corp, who monetize its use by selling access to infected systems. In this new campaign, cybercriminals are using JavaScript to target WordPress web pages, compromising compromised administrator accounts to introduce altered versions of WordPress plugins. These adulterated versions deceive users into downloading remote access trojans, granting attackers full control over infected devices. What is the most popular type of malware? In addition to the FakeUpdates attack, the threat index from Check Point Research, whose researchers have warned about this new attack, reveals around 200 suspicious content websites directed by ransomware groups. They utilize double extortion tactics to pressure victims into paying immediate ransoms. These attacks have impacted many companies, with the Lockbit3 ransomware being the most utilized by cybercriminals, followed by Play and 8base. The most exploited vulnerabilities by malicious actors include 'Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal,' 'Command Injection Over HTTP,' and 'Zyxel ZyWALL Command Injection,' affecting numerous companies worldwide and allowing attackers to access and manipulate files or execute commands on compromised systems. In Spain, despite a 7% decrease in malware attacks in February, the most sought-after malware includes FakeUpdates, Qbot, and Pandora. In the case of FakeUpdates, it has affected 11.9% of companies in Spain. Mobile Malware In the realm of mobile devices, Anubis remains the most utilized malware in Spain, followed by AhMyth and Hiddad, all designed to compromise the security and privacy of Android device users by collecting confidential information and executing malicious actions.
[ ... ]
How to change the IP address?
How to change the IP address? We will explain step by step how to change your IP to be able to browse safely and anonymously on the Internet. The Internet is like a great highway and to "drive" on it, we must get on the road equipped with a computer, tablet, smartphone... with a license plate. This "license plate" is what is known as IP address and for many and several reasons, but mainly for security and/or privacy reasons, we may be interested in changing it. What is my IP? In order not to put the cart before the horse the first thing we must do to know how to change the IP of the computer is to find out what the IP of our connection is and verify that the change has been made correctly at the end of the process. Finding out what your IP is is as simple as visiting Cuál es mi IP (What is my IP). By accessing the page, without the need to download or run any program, our tool will automatically display your IP address data on the screen. This address is also useful to know if you want, for example, to configure online services such as servers, FTP, games, ... and it consists of a numerical combination. This address is unique and public and is the one that identifies us on the Internet to the websites we visit and other users. Nobody can browse the net without an IP address. The IP is assigned to us by our Internet Service Provider (ISP) and as this address is exposed on the network it is known as public IP, as opposed to the private IP of our local network, which only we can know. What is my public IP and what is my private IP? How important are they to change my IP? Our computer or any other device connected to the Internet has two IP addresses, a public IP address, and a private IP address. The public IP, as we have seen, is the one that identifies us to be able to surf the Internet (imagine driving on a highway without a license plate... we would be stopped and banned from driving!) This public IP is linked to our connection and, therefore, all devices connected to the same router have the same public IP. On the other hand, the private IP is the one that individually identifies each device in our private or home network. In this local network, each computer has a private IP address that serves to differentiate it from the rest of the computers and devices connected to the router. In this way, any request for data that comes from or is sent to a device is identified by the router so that it collects or sends the corresponding data to that device. So, which IP address should I change? Private IPs are not accessible from the Internet, while public IPs are and allow us to track our location, data, and Internet activity, including the pages we have visited or the time we have spent on each of them. So, to improve our security and privacy on the Internet, we can change the public IP, or if we prefer, hide our IP. Doing so is not complicated and now we will explain how to change the IP, but first, you must make sure if your IP address is a dynamic IP or a static one, as it depends on it that you can manage to change the IP on your own or require the intervention of your Internet Service Provider (ISP). How do I check if my IP is dynamic or static before changing it? IP addresses can be static or dynamic. In both cases, these addresses are assigned by our Internet provider and the difference between them is that in the case of the static IP, IP addresses can be static or dynamic. In both cases, these addresses are assigned by our Internet provider and the difference between one address and the other is that in the case of the static IP, the address assigned is permanent for a device or router, while the dynamic IP changes every time that device or router connects to the Internet. Usually, the IP address is dynamic, but you can check it through our free tool to find out what is your IP address on our website. Remember that you do not need to download any program or run any application. Simply access cualesmiip.com and the home page will show your IP address, indicating whether it is a static or dynamic one. If it is a static IP address, you will have to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and request the change or use a VPN service as we will explain below. But if it is a dynamic IP address, the change is easy and you have several alternatives for doing so. How do I change my public IP? The easiest way to change the IP address if it is a dynamic one is to turn the router off and on again. This will change the public IP and when you browse again you will do it with a different IP address than the one you had before turning it off. The tricky part of the situation is that the new address, like the previous one, will continue to be exposed on the network and if you want to change it again you will have to turn the router off and on each time. However, it may happen that despite doing so, this does not work and the IP address does not change. This happens because in certain circumstances Internet Service Providers (ISP) establish a certain period before which IP addresses cannot be changed. How to change my IP with a VPN? If you are looking for a solution that does not force you to be aware of turning your router on or off and that also offers a permanent solution that contributes to your online security and privacy, VPNs are already the most effective solution for changing your IP. VPNs are services designed to hide the IP address, whether you connect with a static IP address or a dynamic one, using that of an intermediate server, in such a way that the IP address is masked, appearing to the public as a different IP permanently. As this new Public IP belongs to the VPN server, none of our data is exposed and whoever traces the address will only reach that server, without being able to access any data about our connection, navigation, and identity on the network. VPN vs Proxy Proxy servers act in a similar way, although VPNs have the added advantage that they encrypt all data from the beginning to the end of the communication so that the impossibility of tracing data is 100% guaranteed. Proxy servers do not have this function and therefore your connection may still be susceptible to falling prey to cybercriminals. In addition, most proxy servers, unlike VPNs, must be configured manually and even, in some cases, individually in each browser. How do I know if my IP has been changed? And now that you know how to change the IP, you can test and check whether it went well by comparing your new IP address with the one you had before. If everything went well, you will see that the numbering is different and therefore your IP has been changed.
[ ... ]
Toshiba
ToshibaThe Japanese brand Toshiba, is one of those that has gone through ups and downs in both production and reputation throughout its long history. Founded in 1939, Toshiba has been a prolific producer of all kinds of electronic solutions for the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. In its good old days its products and services were highly diversified, ranging from electronic components, IT solutions and accessories to elevators and escalators for industrial infrastructures.
[ ... ]
What is Worldcoin and what does scanning the iris involve?
04/03/2024Worldcoin was introduced in summer of 2023 as a revolutionary project with the mission of creating a 100% secure digital identity, essentially a kind of fortified "digital passport," based on the verification of a unique and non-transferable element inherent to each human being—the iris. According to its developers, World ID will help distinguish human online activity from that generated by machines. In the first phase of the project, the creation of this secure digital identity is planned for 2 billion humans. To make this possible, Worldcoin has called on the global population to scan their iris. In return, Worldcoin compensates participants with a few tokens of its successful cryptocurrency, WLD, which has quadrupled in value within a few weeks of its initial launch. The payment in WLD tokens is not coincidental; it is part of Worldcoin's strategy, aiming to leverage the new digital passports to create a comprehensive ecosystem that provides universal and equitable access to advanced financial services for the entire global population. To achieve this, they encourage "iris sellers" to use the Worldcoin cryptocurrency on its fee-free blockchain, unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies that do charge transaction fees. How does Worldcoin work? Worldcoin aims to address the issues of bots, rapid creation of fake identities, and content with artificial intelligence. It is designed, according to its developers, to provide every individual in the world with a unique digital identification. Additionally, Worldcoin promises to ensure the financial inclusion of each person in a fair and equitable ecosystem through a universal basic income. Users receive this income in exchange for allowing their iris to be scanned. To create the secure digital passport with Worldcoin, users must undergo an iris scan, which serves as proof of humanity and a unique identity on the blockchain. This process ensures that the individual on the other side of that identity is a human and not a fake profile created with artificial intelligence. In pursuit of the success of their proposal, the company offers users a small amount of their own Worldcoin tokens in exchange for iris scanning. The initial incentive of receiving free cryptocurrency, in the form of a universal basic income, is emphasized by Worldcoin advocates as the basis for the inclusive and universal nature of their initiative. This approach allows anyone to scan their iris, and the WLD tokens received in return can assist people without access to traditional financial services in starting to save and invest. How to Scan the Iris with Worldcoin? The registration process with Worldcoin involves scanning the iris with an orb, the central hardware device of Worldcoin developed by Tools for Humanity. The orb is spherical and processes all the information. Currently, Worldcoin has installed orbs in different countries, including Spain, where users can scan their iris in exchange for Worldcoins. To do this, it is necessary to download the Worldcoin mobile application, World ID, generate a QR code with it, and display it in front of the orb. The orb, upon recognizing it, will scan the user's iris, while a Worldcoin collaborator remotely oversees the operation. The orb takes less than a minute to perform the scan and validate the subject's identity. In exchange for their iris, the user receives a unique number called "IrisHash" and a cryptographic wallet with Worldcoins. "This digital passport is accepted as proof of unique humanity, which people can use in the digital world without the need to share any other data," assure its developers. What happens with my scanned iris in exchange for Worldcoins? Once the iris scan is completed, and digital identity is granted to the user, Worldcoin assures that the orb quickly eliminates the images unless the user requests their preservation. Only the set of numbers called "IrisHash" is stored for identification, without any additional biometric data. Worldcoin also commits to ensuring that users share only the necessary information they wish to share, providing verification options through linked devices or the additional facial authentication orb for high-security cases. Despite these commitments, the collection of biometric data through iris scanning for the unique proof of humanity continues to raise significant questions regarding privacy and information security. Some countries such as Brazil, France, India, or Kenya have halted Worldcoin's iris scanning. How much do you get paid for scanning your iris? Worldcoin pays 25 WLD for scanning your iris, which, according to the cryptocurrency's exchange rate in February 2024, has translated to an average of between 50 and almost €160 for iris sellers, depending on the value of Worldcoin on the day they scanned their iris. At the beginning of February, the value of each WLD unit was around two euros, and by the end of the month, it had risen to nearly seven euros. What can I spend my WLD on? 'Iris sellers' have the freedom to use their Worldcoins from the moment they receive them. They can exchange the payment for other cryptocurrencies, withdraw them in euros from a specialized ATM, or hold onto the tokens in the hope of an increase in their value. Additionally, WLD payments are already accepted on platforms such as Discord, Shopify, Minecraft, Telegram, Mercado Libre, or Reddit, among other places. Who is behind Worldcoin? Worldcoin bears the stamp of two innovative minds: Sam Altman and Alex Blania. Altman is the CEO of OpenAI and a key figure in artificial intelligence development, leading projects like ChatGPT. Blania, on the other hand, is the co-founder of Tools For Humanity, contributing his experience in creating technological tools for a more equitable economic system to this new and successful cryptocurrency.
[ ... ]
Cookies
A cookie is a file that is downloaded to your computer to access certain web pages. Cookies allow a website, among other things, to store and retrieve information about the browsing habits of a user or their equipment and, depending on the information they contain and how you use your computer, they can be used to recognize the user. However, this only means obtaining information related to the number of pages visited, the city assigned the IP address from which you accessed, the number of new users, frequency and recurrence of visits, time of visit, the browser or the operator or terminal type from which the visit takes place. In no event will data be obtained about the full name or address from which the user is connected. The cookies used on this website and the specific purpose of each one are: UTMA Cookie: We use this cookie to count how many times a unique user visits the site. UTMB Cookie: We use this cookie to calculate how long a user stays on a page. UTMZ Cookie: This cookie stores the visitor's origin, the path followed to access the web, either the direct access from a link on another website, from an email link using certain keywords in a search engine, through a display campaign, or through an AdWords ad. UTMC Cookie: The current JavaScript code that Google Analytics uses does not require this cookie. This cookie is used, along with the utmb cookie, to determine if after more than 30 minutes on the same page a new session should or should not be established for the user. This cookie is still written to ensure compatibility with the websites where you installed the old urchin.js tracking code. PHPSESSID Cookie: We use this cookie to identify the relevant user. You can allow, block or delete cookies installed on your computer by setting your browser options. You can find information about how, in relation to the most common browsers, on the links listed below: Explorer: http://windows.microsoft.com/es-es/windows7/how-to-manage-cookies-in-internet-explorer-9 Firefox: http://support.mozilla.org/es/products/firefox/cookies Chrome: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=es&answer=95647 Safari: http://support.apple.com/kb/ph5042 Please note, however, that there is the possibility that disabling any cookie may prevent or hinder navigation or the provision of services offered on this website.
[ ... ]
European companies are facing million-euro losses due to connectivity issues
12/06/2023A study by Cradlepoint reveals that European businesses could be losing milions of euros every week as a result of connectivity problems. According to the State of Connectivity in Europe report, conducted in collaboration with Censuswide, 74% of companies experience at least 2 hours of connectivity loss each week. One hour of downtime can be valued at 332,600 euros, according to Statista. These connectivity issues have also generated additional operating costs for 47% of the surveyed companies, and 33% have missed out on business opportunities due to these problems. Furthermore, the education sector is affected, as 80% of respondents state that poor connectivity hinders the development of skills necessary to thrive in a modern economy. The study also highlights that 21% of European companies have lost talent due to connectivity issues. The findings also conclude that improving connectivity is considered crucial for 90.5% of the surveyed companies, as it would help them better manage potential economic, social, and political challenges and increase their resilience to future disruptions.
[ ... ]
How can I hide my IP?
Accessing the Internet involves connecting our computer, smartphone, tablet, etc. to a communications server that is responsible for providing access to the network. This connection involves the identification and exchange of data about our identity, IP address, and online activities that are recorded forever as a trace of our navigation. Can I be tracked through my IP address? Yes, it is possible to trace an IP address and for those who consider privacy a priority, this is a major problem because, in addition to being exposed throughout the network, the increasingly intensive use of the Internet has led to this type of data becoming an object of interest for cybercriminals seeking personal or confidential information that can be used for their benefit. To safeguard against all this, there are several methods to hide the IP address, ensure our online privacy, improve our security on the Internet, and prevent anyone from knowing what pages we visit, the time we have spent on every connection, or what we are downloading. What are the advantages of hiding my IP? Apart from everything related to privacy and security already mentioned, hiding the IP offers different advantages for users in multiple circumstances: There are IP hiding services that prevent IP geolocation when we travel and allow us to connect to the network as if we were doing it from our own country, overcoming, for example, any network access limitations that may exist in the place where we are. We will be able to download files anonymously avoiding that the rest of the users can see our IP location. If our IP is not "in sight", the possible limitations and blockages of the Wi-Fi network and even of our ISP (Internet Service Provider) disappear. Thanks to the data encryption system of the most advanced IP hiding services, our vulnerability in connections to public Wi-Fi networks is minimized. When the system detects a location different from the real one, this can give us advantages to buy in online stores with different offers according to the country or to avoid the blocking of games, maps, and online game add-ons that may have restrictions on our location. How can I hide my IP? IP hiding is achieved through the use of specific services and tools to hide the IP and encrypt our traffic, those services allow us to hide the real communications we make during our navigation. Besides those techniques that are based on the modification of network protocols and require certain skills to carry them out, there are several technologies within the reach of all users: VPN or Virtual Private Network Proxy or Web proxy Tor Public Wifi How to hide the IP address with a VPN? VPNs are services that connect us to the Internet through intermediate servers, in which our original IP address is " masked " by the IP address of that secure server. This concealment ensures that anyone tracing our connection will only see the IP address and location of the VPN server, but not our own. In addition, to safeguard our activity on the network, VPNs use tunneling and data encryption, encrypting the information we exchange with the VPN server, hiding it, and preventing third parties from being able to read it during its transit. The security of VPN connections is determined by proprietary VPN protocols, based on different standards and encryption and authentication methods, which depend on each developer. The range of options is wide and this allows us to choose between, for example, options that prioritize speed over security, options that do the opposite, options with a greater or lesser degree of reliability, etc. VPN applications always run in the background and do not hinder browsing. How to use a proxy server to hide the IP address? Unlike VPN services, proxy servers focus their activity solely on hiding the IP, without performing any type of concealment on our network traffic or any other data that could reveal our identity. Proxy servers act as intermediaries between our device and the destination server to which they transmit our requests on our behalf. Therefore, our IP will be hidden and the only one they will see will be the proxy one. There are different types of proxy services, from the simplest ones that only help us to hide the IP to others with extra functionalities such as blocking cookies, scripts, and other files hosted on websites and sent to the user. Browsers or applications based on the HTTP protocol offer the manual proxy configuration function so that we can indicate the proxy web address and port to which we want to connect before browsing. In this way, any activity that we perform through that browser will always be routed to the proxy. Alternatively, you can also opt for the automatic proxy format that searches through DNS or DHCP for the URL from which to download the wpad.dat file that runs and allows the proxy connection with automatic authentication on your computer. How to hide your IP with Tor? Tor is a free software developed to ensure anonymous browsing of users on the Internet. To mask the IP Tor uses a network of volunteer computers or nodes through which it redirects our traffic and encrypts it before it reaches its destination. At least this redirection goes through three of these nodes, achieving repetitive re-encryptions so that any possible clue about our identity disappears. In this process, Tor assigns a random and geographically different IP to our connection so that the location by third parties is impossible (if you are curious to know the IP you have been assigned you can check it through our tool). This system allows different configurations depending on whether we are using a firewall, if our ISP is blocking Tor connections or if we navigate through proxy for example. Can I hide my IP with a public Wi-Fi connection? The answer is yes. A public Wi-Fi network can also be used to hide our IP address, although if we do not have it constantly at our disposal, the IP hiding is limited to the time we have access to a public network. As this type of network is a connection shared by many other people, this makes it impossible to trace a particular user or identify them on the destination server. However, it is precisely this general access that also makes us more vulnerable. And although through a connection to a public Wi-Fi we will solve the issue of IP hiding, security will never be total, because being an open network, we can be exposed to the will of hackers and other threats, including malware and viruses. And if I want to hide my IP address, how can I change it? It may also be the case that instead of masking the IP all we need to do is change our IP address at a given moment. Then, the solution is as simple as disconnecting the modem from the power supply and restarting it after a few minutes. In that time, if your IP address is dynamic (you can check it through the network connections tab on your computer), it will be deleted and your Internet provider will give you a new one. To make sure that everything went well, we recommend doing something as simple as writing down the IP address before turning off the router and checking it again once it is up and running again. Another possible way to achieve the same result if you have a smartphone with a data plan is to turn this device into a wireless access point to which you can connect your computer, thus hiding your usual connection. There are many options to hide the IP or to change it and now that you know how each of them works you will be able to decide which one suits you best.
[ ... ]
Speed Test
Check your internet speed and latency with this test and find out how good your connection is. Compatible with Fiber and ADSL connections. With our speed test, you can assess the quality of your connection quickly and reliably. This test does not only allow you to determine your upload and download speed but also the latency, i.e., the amount of time it takes for a packet of data to travel from one designated point to another. Besides, you can use it to find out the ASN of your internet provider and which IP protocol version you are using (IPv4 or IPv6). To check your internet speed and the rest of the parameters, just click on "Start Test" and, within a few seconds, you will be able to see a summary of the results on your screen. In addition, while the speed test is running, a real-time graph will show you how your connection is performing. For an optimal measurement, it is recommended to use a cable connection, rather than a Wi-Fi or PCL one. Likewise, it is advised to stop any ongoing downloads on the computer on which the internet speed test is running or on any other computer connected to it.
[ ... ]
Qualcomm's new and most powerful chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, ready
25/11/2022Qualcomm has just introduced its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, the most advanced mobile processor with a 35% faster CPU. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is made up of 8 cores and not only presents notable improvements in artificial intelligence processing, also incorporates support for gaming technologies such as ray tracing, ensures a download speed of 10 Gbps and supports, video playback up to 8k. Qualcomm's new processor has become the first mobile platform to support INT4 and the most advanced 5G platform to date, supporting Wi-Fi 7 technology that doubles the bandwidth and speed of previous standards. According to information from Qualcomm, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will be available for high-end mobiles from OnePlus, Sony, Xiaomi or Motorola, among other brands, which will already begin to integrate it into their terminals from the end of this year.
[ ... ]
Detected a Trojan that emulates the WhatsApp account and fraudulently manages subscriptions to payment sites
17/10/2022Kaspersky researchers has reported that YoWhatsApp advertised on Snaptube and Vidmate, two of the most popular download platforms at the moment, is actually a Trojan capable to issuing paid subscriptions and stealing WhatsApp accounts. YoWhatsApp would act as a mod of the original messaging program, offering new functions that the official service does not allow, such as wallpapers, personalized fonts for chats and password-protected access to conversations, .... As Kaspersky researchers have explained, when a user installs YoWhatsApp on a device, it’s forced to log in to they real application account, and in this moment, Triada Trojan is activated, downloaded and executed on the terminal. Once this is done, the Trojan is capable of accessing the user's real WhatsApp account credentials, steal all the data, having already detected unauthorized subscriptions to paid subscriptions. Kaspersky recommends to install, only, Apps from official stores and reliable sources and they have insisted on the need to check always the permissions granted to each application. Installing an antivirus is another recommended measure.
[ ... ]
Google launches ChromeOS Flex to give a second life to outdated computers
21/07/2022Google has just introduced ChromeOS Flex, a new version of their cloud-based operating system that will allow "rejuvenating" Windows and Mac computers that have become available. The system must be downloaded directly from the web and can be installed on the computer via USB or the company network. ChromeOS Flex is now ready to give outdated Windows and Mac computers a second life. At the moment, Google has already certified nearly 300 devices compatible with ChromeOS Flex, from leading brands on the market such as Apple, Acer, Dell or Microsoft. Although Google has advanced that not having the certification does not prevent the installation of the operating system on our old computer. Some of the services offered by this operating system are, the protection against ransomware and malware; background updates; remote management of applications and, of course, the possibility of giving a new life to an outdated computer. “By installing ChromeOS Flex on an older computer, you're not only getting a great experience, you're also contributing to an important cause. Every year 40 million tons of electronic waste is generated worldwide, which is equivalent to throwing away 800 laptops every second. Updating devices to ChromeOS Flex instead of completely replacing them is one way to reduce this waste.
[ ... ]
Google will retire Hangouts in November
04/07/2022From today, all Hangouts users when they open the messaging app, will see a message inviting them to switch to Chat. The reason is that continuing with its plans to migrate all its users to this tool, Google has confirmed that Hangouts will not be longer operational this coming November. As they has explained on its official blog, users who still use Hangouts in Gmail will automatically switch to Chat, The change includes the transfer of conversations, history and contacts. Those who access Hangouts through the web or the mobile application must carry out this transfer with the help of Takeout, Google's data download tool.
[ ... ]
The Spanish Organization of Consumers and Users has denounces Apple for the planned obsolescence of the iPhone6
25/05/2022The Spanish Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has filed a class action lawsuit against Apple for the planned obsolescence of their iPhone 6 and has agreed to pay the costs of the trial to the 400,000 affected in Spain. The OCU considers this planned obsolescence a deceptive commercial practice that violates consumer protection regulations and demands compensation for Spanish users for an amount that ranges between 99 and 189 euros. This figure comes from the sum of the amount of the battery (between 29 and 89 euros, depending on whether or not the replacement plan was accepted), plus 10% of the purchase price of the mobile (between 699 and 999 euros, depending on the model). According to the OCU lawsuit, Apple has acted fraudulently by hiding information from users, and considers that the technology company updated the software in the different models of the iPhone 6 to mask the performance problems of its batteries, knowing that this would cause a slowdown. and loss of phone performance. This practice, said OCU, conditioned consumers to renew their iPhones, causing them an economic loss that amounts to between 40 and 80 million euros, approximately. The complaint against Apple is one more action from the OCU to encourage affected users to fight against planned obsolescence.
[ ... ]
How to know if Pegasus has infected our mobile
05/05/2022The news of recent weeks, in which it is claimed that the Pegasus espionage program has been used to enter the mobile devices of Spanish politicians, has put a lot of people on alert. Pegasus is a malicious software that, once introduced on a device, has the ability to collect information and transmit it to an external entity without the consent or knowledge of the owner of the device, be it a mobile phone, a computer or a tablet. Pegasus also erases its trail after it is installed. Among its main features, it also stands out that Pegasus is capable of detecting who the owner of the device has been with. Pegasus also, can send and recive messages autonomously and recording conversations by manipulating the attacked mobile, computer or tablet. The two ways that this spy program uses to enter on a devices is through an SMS or a fraudulent link and, according to experts, despite the fact that it is a very difficult spyware to detect, there are some signs that can make us suspect that we have been infected. Overheating or slowdown of the system are two of the main ones, but also the fact that the battery life is decreasing or that there is excessive data consumption when we are not using the device. How to make it difficult for Pegasus To try to avoid being infected by Pegaus or by any other malware, the director of Systems Engineering at Fortinet from Spain and Portugal, José Luis Laguna, in statements collected by Europa Press, recommends taking extreme precautions and a make a double-checking when personal and confidential information is provided. In addition, the Fortinet expert explains that instead of clicking on the link that we have received, to verify that it is legitimate, it is recommended to write the address of the site in the web browser, even though this means taking an additional step and not accessing directly to this service. Using protection 'software' based on behavior - EndPoint Detection and Response (EDR) -, keeping the system updated, avoiding public Wi-Fi connections and checking the permissions granted to applications, are other precautions that are also recommended.
[ ... ]
Island Browser for Business Reaches $1.3 Billion Value
06/04/2022Just some weeks after its launch, Island, the webbrowser focused in enterprise and security, has just reached a $1.3 billion valuation. Island browser is based on chromium and has been developed by two former Symantec executives, who were looking for an option configured to the web security needs of companies and not conventional users. The new browser, in addition to limiting the add-ons that many often some people install on company computers and that sometimes cause significant security breaches, incorporates specific tools to prevent this type of actions, protect SaaS applications, identify incidents and prevent data theft. Depending on the level of security required by each company, Island Browser allows, for example, to download content or not, disable or enable the copy and paste option or deny access to certain domains, among other options. From Island, also insist that their project is based on the utility and not on the consumer, so that the characterization level of Island browser it offers the minimum.
[ ... ]
5G will trigger data consumption that will multiply by three in five years
18/03/2022In 2025, 25% of global data connections will be 5G, compared to 8% at the end of 2021, according to GSMA forecasts, which also indicate that this greater implementation will have a greater impact, even in Europe, North America, China and some Asian countries, where the percentage of 5G penetration would be higher in that date. Among the main consequences of the 5G expansion, will be a greater consumption of data by users, has said GSMA and if, at the moment, the data traffic per smartphone in a month, is 11.4Gb on average, the forecasts by 2027 place it at 41Gb, three times more. And according to the organization that brings together the telecommunications industry and organizes the MWC in Barcelona, as the population has access to 5G, there will be a significant increase in streaming consumption, favored by a sudden drop in download times that will become negligible. The use of remote health services, ultra-high definition television (4K/8K) and 5G as home broadband are also expected to grow.
[ ... ]
Starlink Satellite Internet service multiplies their speed
11/02/2022Starlink, the Internet satellite network of SpaceX division, continues to bet on improving the download speed of their service and has just presented a new antenna that improves the performance of its basic kit. Its size is beat larger than the current antenna and Space X assure, it can offer a download speeds of 150 to 500 Mbps and a latency of 20 to 40 ms, compared to the speed of 50 Mb/s to 150 Mb/s of the initial kit . The official launch of the new antenna has been done in the United States, where users can already reserve it. It's expected that the antenna will arrive to Europe on the second quarter of the year.
[ ... ]
Amazon's Fire TV, on wheels
12/01/2022Among the first novelties that Amazon will launch this year, the jump to Fire TV cars stands out. It will present a new integrated system that combines the interface of this entertainment center and the Alexa assistant. Fire TV for cars will allow the user to take their favorite content with him, including video games, music, programs and downloads to enjoy when there is no WiFi connectivity. In addition, it will be possible to follow in the car what we started watching at home, and in the screens for the rear seats, choose broadcast the content individually or in all the same. The new Fire TV for cars will be available in new vehicles throughout the year, first in the United States.
[ ... ]
A fraudulent email simulates a WhatsApp Backup and installs a Trojan
29/09/2021WhatsApp users, Internet users' associations and also some police officers have alerted through social networks about a new virus that arrives by email with the subject "Backup of WhatsApp messages. This email offers a link to download the history of conversations in this application, which should not be clicked if you don’t want to install a Trojan on your device. The message arrives with the same appearance and usual colors of WhatsApp and provides supposed information about the number of messages deleted, restored and read through the application, looking like a real information and causing confusion in the victims If we receive the message but we don`t use the link, the Trojan will not run and we only need to delete the message to get rid of the virus. But if we have opened the link, or downloaded and opened the zip file that arrives in some emails, then the device will be infected, and we will need to use an antivirus to detect the malicious software and destroy it.
[ ... ]
Macro cyber-attack affects more than 350 companies worldwide
07/07/2021The number of companies that have suffered from the REvil macro cyberattack now exceeds 350 organizations worldwide from which the cybercriminals are demanding 70 million in bitcoins to provide them with a universal decryptor to restore their data. The attack was conducted through the update system of IT services software company Kaseya, which REvil exploited to spread and hide ransomware. The virus was leaked to TI Kaseya resellers and from there has reached all end customers using their software. The official data provided by TI Kaseya sets the number of affected companies at 350, although other sources such as the cybersecurity company ESET talk about more than 1,000, including some Spanish organizations, although no names have been disclosed. It has been made public that one of the companies most affected by the cyberattack has been the Swedish supermarket chain Coop, which has had to close its more than 800 points of sale for a few days due to the impossibility of using its cash registers or charging customers. Based on Sophos threat intelligence, REvil has been active in recent weeks and is currently the dominant ransomware gang involved in Sophos' defensively managed threat response cases. Prior to this latest attack, they were also responsible for the one suffered by meat company JBS, which forced the cancellation of all work shifts at the company's slaughterhouses in the US. JBS paid up to 11 million to restore normal operations. These macro cyber-attacks are in addition to other recent and highly significant ones, such as the one perpetrated by the hacker group DarkSide, which forced the preventive shutdown of the largest oil pipeline network in the United States, Colonial Pipeline, endangering the supply of fuel in a large part of the country, or the one suffered by the SEPE and the Ministry of Labor in Spain a few weeks ago.
[ ... ]
How to keep your Mac safe?
28/06/20215 things you should do to protect your Mac How many times have we heard that Mac is a more than secure and unbreakable system? For years, Apple has made its security through obscurity, or in other words, its proprietary software, flagship and brand guarantee. Today, however, just when Mac is no longer a minority option, Steve Jobs' system has become another favorite target for hackers and cybercriminals. The market has responded to this with the development of specific protection tools for Mac, while Apple works on optimizing its system in each version. Knowing what kind of tools exist for Mac and which ones are already included in our computer will help us to stay safe and choose the best strategy that fits our needs and use of the equipment. 1. Use computer security tools Cybersecurity is a universal and necessary practice in all operating systems today. The objective is to ensure protection against attacks and theft by cybercriminals who are looking for personal or confidential information stored on our computers or that enters or leaves them, in order to use it for their own benefit. What is VPN security? Cybersecurity tools help us to minimize our footprint on the Internet and thus increase our privacy and security. In this regard, VPN services for Mac stand out, as they incorporate advanced protection technologies capable of connecting to the Internet through intermediate servers, so that our IP address - our identification on the network - is replaced by the IP address of this secure server, without anyone being able to trace our connection. This type of VPN service also encrypts any information leaving our computer, thus preventing it from being accessed on its journey to its destination. This is essential, for example, when using public Wi-Fi networks to connect to the Internet. 2. Keep the operating system and software up to date As simple as it may seem, one of the best and easiest ways to protect a Mac is to always have the latest version of the operating system installed and to work with updated software downloaded from the Mac App Store. System updates usually include security patches, among other things. How do I update my Mac? Through the System Preferences Panel of our computer we can set that when there are available updates we receive a notice from MacOs warning us of it or that these updates, whether system data files, security updates or official software are installed automatically. To check if we are working with the latest versions available and our Mac is up to date we can do it by checking through this same panel if there are updates available at that time. If we have checked the automatic updates option, Mac will do this task for us routinely. 3. Use secure settings Mac's default security settings can be greatly enhanced by manually configuring the security and privacy terms of our computer. How to change the Privacy and Security preferences on the Mac? By accessing the "Privacy" tab of the "Security and Privacy" option of the Control Panel we will have the option to manage what information we allow our computer to make available to others over the Internet or on a network and what applications we allow access to our data and files. In the same way, but through the "Security" tab, we will be able to incorporate passwords for the access to different tasks and operations of the computer and through the "FileVault" tool we will be able to ensure the encryption, for example, of our personal information or certain documents for which a password will be required to unblock them. 4. Use an Antivirus for Mac There are antivirus programs developed specifically for Mac. Some of them are special for certain threats, although in general most of them offer a wide range of services to help us keep our computers safe. Which is the best antivirus for Mac? The range of antivirus for Mac, free and paid, is nowadays much wider than a few years ago, highlighting among the most complete and advanced, antivirus with malware protection functions in real time, tools against digital identity theft, protection against spyware or advanced detection and removal of blackmail programs. 5. Make regular backups Apple has a native function, Time Machine, which makes backup copies of our hard disk on a separate secondary disk, so that if for any reason we suffer an attack or a breakdown we can recover all the information. Many antiviruses offer a backup service, backup or backup similar but in the cloud, as a preventive measure against writing errors on the disk, theft of devices or even against data hijacking or ransomware.
[ ... ]
How to sign a PDF document with electronic signature?
24/06/2021When a document needs to be signed by one or more people, the usual thing, until now, has been to print it and stamp by hand the necessary signatures to validate or make its content official. This requires paper, printer, ink, but above all access to the document by all signatories, which is not always easy due to geographical location, availability, timing, etc. With teleworking on the rise and a growing globalization of business, these drawbacks have become more evident than ever, although they have found a quick and effective solution in electronic signatures. What is an electronic signature for? The electronic signature is a digital validation system for documents that unequivocally identifies the signatory. The electronic signature is assimilated to the handwritten signature and therefore its digital stamping on a document gives it the same validity, as it would have had with a handwritten signature. What are the advantages of electronic signatures? Electronic signatures simplify document management processes that require the validation of documents such as pdf signatures, facilitating remote signing by one or more people regardless of where they are located, or the situation or time of day they receive them. This flexibility contributes to the efficiency and agility of this type of procedure and being a secure signature system, it is suitable and useful in many areas related to business management, administrative management, e-commerce, informed consent and many other procedures. In addition to the versatility, practicality and security of the online PDF signature, we must also point out, as a great advantage of this process, its contribution to paperless. How to sign electronically? The electronic signature is easy to implement through tools specifically designed to guarantee not only the correct validation of the cryptographic signature or signatures included in a PDF document, but also that it cannot be altered and that all the necessary signatures required by each situation can be added. Within the framework of this type of tool, the most advanced ones, in addition to being compatible with any browser and accessible from any type of device - computer, tablet, Smartphone,... -, make it easy to convert PDF any Word, Excel, JPG, PowerPoint... file for signing. They also allow users to request a verifiable digital signature, view the properties of the digital signature and send the document directly by email to the signatories and once signed, forward it to all parties to download it. In addition, to guarantee the privacy of the documents and the security of the online signatures, these transfers are made through encrypted files with TLS encryption. Also, when we sign documents using this type of tool, they offer the option of including a LTV (Long Term Validation) time stamp that certifies the validity of the signature in the long term. For all these reasons, tools for signing PDF documents with electronic signatures are now a must for companies and businesses in all areas where process optimization, security and sustainability are a priority.
[ ... ]
What is IT maintenance? Prevention is better than cure
19/04/2021Keeping our IT equipment in good condition is essential for the smooth running of the business. The main goal of a good IT maintenance is to ensure the proper functioning of the hardware and software of our network and IT equipment and thus contribute to the overall efficiency of our business. What is the purpose of computer maintenance services? Computer maintenance services try to anticipate failures and offer us solutions to manage our computers and computer network, optimize their operation and secure all the information contained in our machines. In case of incidents, a good computer and systems technician will solve them and also find the cause of the error to prevent it from happening again. Benefits of hiring a computer maintenance and web maintenance service Common computers, servers, hard drives, networks, connections and antivirus problems can be avoided or prevented if we carry out all their preventive maintenance needs. Advance failure detection. Incidents can occur at any time, nipping them in the bud can save us a lot of headaches throughout the life of equipment. Improve the performance and reliability of your computers and network. This ensures our software is always up to date, thus improving the efficiency, speed and machines operation and other connected equipment. Prevents data loss. Data loss can wreak havoc. Keeping the equipment in good condition reduces the chances of these accidents that are completely neutralized if, in addition, our computer maintenance services include backups and contingency and recovery plans in case of disaster. Improve our protection against cyber-attacks. Regular maintenance means that our systems have the latest and, potentially, most effective security software installed to prevent any problem with malware, viruses, spyware or other unwanted attacks. Reduce our costs. With up-to-date computers we will always maximize their useful life and minimize the risk of loss due to unplanned downtime caused by computer problems. It helps us to keep the website properly updated and backed up. The most complete IT services include additional high-value services such as web maintenance for companies and backups of the entire project so nothing is lost in case of problems. What are the functions of a computer maintenance technician? Periodic reviews of computers, equipment and networks. To ensure from day one that everything is working properly, the software is up to date and the hardware is adequate. Server management with activity monitoring. To anticipate incidents or react immediately if they occur. Backup copies. To prevent data loss both on physical equipment and in the cloud. IT security. To keep machines protected and minimize the risks of viruses, computer attacks and improper intrusions. User management. To guarantee exhaustive control of how and who can access the data stored on the company's computers and servers. Remote and on-site technical assistance. Telephone support. To ensure quick resolution for major incidents and restore the service in the shortest possible time.
[ ... ]