Lookout: Mobile malware skyrocketed 75 percent in 2014 alone

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Jan 15, 2015 2:04 PM CST

The threat of mobile malware continues to increase, with rates jumping 75 percent in 2014, according a report published by Lookout. Mobile users are urged to run some type of anti-virus and anti-malware security platform on their smartphones and tablets, as threats rise.

There are a number of different types of attacks, but ransomware has cybersecurity firms extremely anxious, especially as users download apps and other files from unknown sources. It may be harder to infect users with ransomware, but payouts are larger, as victims have to turn over a ransom for full control of their devices again.

"It all goes back to monetization, what's the endgame?" pondered Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and CTO of Lookout, in a statement published by CNBC. "While it can be complicated it can generate a huge amount of money. The bad guys aren't stupid and they wouldn't do this if they weren't making money."

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Toyota using Oculus Rift to teach about distracted driving

Developers are finding a wide variety of different uses for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, and Toyota has demonstrated its TeenDrive365 distracted driving simulator. Participants sit down in a stationary car wearing an Oculus Rift headset, taking them through a simulation that involves multiple distracted driving scenarios.

Scenarios include other vehicles on the road, in-vehicle passengers, radio, and text messages - with drivers suffering the "consequences of distracted driving within the virtual setting," providing a more realistic view of everyday distractions that drivers face.

"Oculus Rift provides a virtual reality driving experience that mirrors real life behind the wheel, giving us a powerful, one-of-a-kind way to show parents and teens how everyday distractions can affect their ability to drive safely," said Marjorie Schussel, corporate marketing manager of Toyota, in a statement to the media.

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Google Glass sales stop, as company revamps wearables offering

Michael Hatamoto | Wearable Computing & Fashion | Jan 15, 2015 12:49 PM CST

Google has halted sales of its Glass wearable system, but said there is still interest in launching the smart glasses to consumers again in the future. The company has struggled to woo app developers and plans to transition a new department to take over for the Google X division that initially conducted research for Glass.

Despite halting Glass sales, Google pledged to help continue support companies and consumers using the product - including police agencies and other major testers.

The first version of Glass was released in April 2013 to a small number of testers, available through the Explorer program for $1,500. About one year later, Google released Glass to the public, but analysts said sales were small, as price, privacy concerns, and a lack of apps limited interest.

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Marriott reverses course, won't block guests' Wi-Fi access

Marriott was fined $600,000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for blocking Wi-Fi hotspot access at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The company said it was concerned about rogue wireless hotspots, and flooded guests' Wi-Fi networks by sending disassociation packets.

Instead of being able to use their own Wi-Fi hotspots, visitors had to pay up to $1,000 per device for access to Marriott's Internet service.

"Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels," a Marriott spokesperson said in a statement. "Marriott remains committed to protecting the security of Wi-Fi access in meeting and conference areas at our hotels."

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More than 1 in 10 developers creating eSports-themed game title

Michael Hatamoto | Gaming | Jan 15, 2015 12:15 PM CST

Game developers have noticed the rise of eSports, as 12 percent of game developers say they are creating a game they believe fits the description as an eSport, according to the GDC State of the Industry report. Game studios describe a potential eSport as one that is a "competitive, skill-based multiplayer game.

Furthermore, 79 percent of survey respondents believe eSports will be a long-term, sustainable market, especially with Twitch and other broadcasting competitions making viewership even easier.

"Creating a game as an eSport causes it to become a hobby and an interest outside the act of playing it," a game developer said in the GDC "State of the Industry Survey." "This increased engagement is one way of allowing a game to become part of a player's life in ways that [don't] require them to always be investing their time into playing it."

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Microsoft wireless keyboards targeted by new $10 DIY sniffing device

Paul Alcorn | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Jan 15, 2015 10:42 AM CST

A security researcher has developed a USB wall charger that can intercept, log, and decrypt signals sent from Microsoft's wireless keyboards. The KeySweeper was developed by Samy Kamkar, a giving sort, who has released instructions on how to build the device online.

The KeySweeper can be built for as little as $10 and simply appears to be a typical, and functional, USB wall charger. The charger monitors all Microsoft keyboards in range. The transmissions are encrypted, but the researcher has found multiple bugs that enable easy decryption. The design also includes optional features, such as an internal rechargeable battery that keeps the device working even after being unplugged, and SMS notification when keywords are typed into the keyboard.

There is a detailed build log on GitHub, and also a video on YouTube. Microsoft has fired back by insisting that all models manufactured after 2011 feature AES encryption, which isn't decoded by the system, but Samy Kamkar has recently purchased a vulnerable model from Best Buy last month.

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Microsoft's Windows 10 will also feature 32-bit version, but why?

Paul Alcorn | Software & Apps | Jan 15, 2015 9:51 AM CST

Microsoft's head of the Windows Insider program recently extolled the virtues of 32-bit Windows on Twitter and announced that Microsoft will be providing 32-bit versions of Windows 10. This is surprising considering that 92.8% of new Windows computers utilize 64-bit operating systems.

32-bit operating systems pigeonhole users to 4GB of user addressable memory, not just RAM. Many GPU's feature much more than 1GB of RAM, and this drains the user addressable memory pool, so subtract a portion of video memory (it's not a direct 1:1 ratio) from the total RAM you can actually use. Add in PCI and ACPI and the pool starts to get pretty shallow, so why oh why is Microsoft still moving forward with 32-bit?

Of course Microsoft has to consider all of the existing computers that run 32-bit versions of the operating system, which are estimated to be roughly 71 million. This is based off of computers that are currently receiving patches, but it could expand into the hundreds of millions. Considering that Windows is deployed into over a billion computers this still seems like a small fraction of the user base, and with the vast majority of systems being 64-bit compatible it is interesting that Microsoft will still develop 32-bit versions.

Continue reading: Microsoft's Windows 10 will also feature 32-bit version, but why? (full post)

Nyko unveils Data Bank for PlayStation 4 - up to 6TB for the PS4

Paul Alcorn | Gaming | Jan 15, 2015 9:04 AM CST

We demand better graphics and more immersive gameplay, but that comes at a cost. As video games progress the amount of storage they require is exploding. Some current games can chew up to 40GB each, and this can grow even more with DLC. Nyko has the bases covered with a new innovative enclosure that snaps onto the top of the PS4. The internal PS4 drive is limited by capacity, and users can upgrade it, but it requires a 2.5" drive. These are limited in capacity, and higher in cost, compared to their larger 3.5" brethren.

The Data Bank supports 3.5" drives, which can be between $40-$50 cheaper than 2.5" models. 3.5" drives currently top out at 6TB for consumer models, and heftier capacities are on the horizon. The Nyko Data Bank will retail between $30 and $40 when it is released. The Nyko Data Bank snaps to the top of the PS4 and is connected via a pass-through power cable on the rear of the unit. The design mimics the PS4's aesthetics, but it does add a large component to the top of the console.

6TB might seem a bit over the top for most PS4 users, but after a few years data begins to pile up. If the lifespan of the PS4 is as long as the PS3, there will be a need for additional capacity at some point. Those with large media libraries will also find the Data Bank useful. With todays game consoles geared to be the hub of the home entertainment center it is surprising they still stick with capacity-limited 2.5" drives, but this is likely driven by size constraints more than any other consideration.

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Ed makes speech of a lifetime with a little help from Microsoft Lumia

The groom's speech at a wedding comes with many challenges; balancing the jokes, quirky anecdotes and grand gestures of love, and all to be delivered in front of the most important people in your life. That pressure wasn't quite enough for Ed, a 28 year-old accountant from London.

In the ultimate declaration of love, Ed made a resolution this year to deliver his speech in his fiancé - Mariana's native Spanish. The only problem was that Ed didn't speak a word of Spanish. With the wedding fast approaching Ed knew time was running out...

Microsoft Lumia had discovered that, like Ed, 36% of people around the globe would have also loved to "learn something new" as their 2014 resolution*. So when Ed submitted his resolution to Microsoft Lumia as part of the #MakeItHappen campaign, they came straight to his rescue.

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James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequels delayed by another year

Ben Gourlay | Celebrities & Entertainment | Jan 14, 2015 11:48 PM CST

Legendary Director James Cameron originally planned to release three sequels to his 2009 sci-fi hit 'Avatar' starting from 2016 onwards, but with filming yet to commence, he's announced that the release date has had to shift back a year.

Speaking to ABC News, Cameron admitted that the plan was perhaps "too ambitious", stating:

"There's a layer of complexity in getting the story to work as a saga across three films that you don't get when you're making a stand-alone film... We're writing three simultaneously. And we've done that so that everything tracks throughout the three films. We're not just going to do one and then make up another one and another one after that."

Continue reading: James Cameron's 'Avatar' sequels delayed by another year (full post)