Facebook Update: Automatically Detects What You Are Listening, Watching TV or Movies (Optional)

The social network "Facebook" is continuously working on adding new features to its list of updates. Users are getting into facebook in such a way that they are sharing frequent updates about 'what they are doing' with their friends no matter if they are feelings or activities. 

Facebook stated in a Blog Post : At the time of posting a status update on Facebook, Users' have the option to use your microphone to detect what song you are listening to and what movie you are watching on your television set (if this feature is turned on).

Idea Behind Its Working:-

Here’s how it works: If you’ve turned the feature on, you’ll see an audio icon moving on the screen when you write a status update. If the feature finds a match, you can then choose to add the song, TV show or movie to your post. If you share the music then your friends will be able to listen a 30 Second preview of the song you are listening to.

The above screenshot is showing how it looks when this feature is turned on or off. Facebook is currently working on this feature and will soon introduce it to real world.

Read more

Mozilla Firefox Ahead Of Enabling DRM To Put A Stop On Piracy

The media content creators are concerned with the people who get the content without even paying a penny for it, violating the policies of various organizations. The upcoming versions of the firefox browser are equipped with Closed Source Digital Rights management from adobe. The company stated that " The major reason is to support commercial video streams". Now the companies won't need to rely upon third party plugins like silverlight to pass down copyright protected movies and videos to your browser. Now they will operate under DRM right into the web.

All other web-clients like Chrome, Internet Explorer etc. are supporting Encrypted Media Extensions in them. Mozilla has agreed to adopt DRM in HTML 5 to be in competition with other web clients.

Mozilla will enrich its browser with Application Programming Interface to deliver DRM protected content and in partnership with adobe- the firm will provide Content Decryption Module at user end.

What is DRM?

DRM is a mechanism to enforce hard restrictions to users' media through various conditions and controls are imposed on software and hardware.

It is only possible iff some parts of the computers are kept secret from users, in that case users' will not get enough freedom as Internet provides. 

The major goal of DRM is to create a framework that will cut-down the level of piracy that is beneficial for the creators of Media Content but harmful for user's freedom.

Read more

Blackshades RAT Users Being Raided Globally by FBI

When Crime is there, FBI doesn't ready to spare anyone. According to various announcements and reports, FBI is operating a large operation of International raids with the help of local law enforcement authorities to arrest a group of cyber criminals.

The FBI has targeted the users of a popular Remote Administration Tool called "Blackshades" which allows them to connect and remotely access the infected systems on whole internet. 

==> Blackshades RAT

Blackshades is a remote administration tool (rat) which allow the hackers to control your systems remotely round the globe over net.

This RAT is bundled with several famous attacks called Java Drive By's , keylogger (for stealing the keystrokes of the infected systems which includes various usernames and passwords typed by the user), infected systems' webcams can be accessed by this without the prior knowledge of the user, and many more such destructive attacks. The infected systems are called zombies and can be used to perform Distributive Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. It can easily be installed on a general user's computer system bypassing their antiviruses. The term used to make them undetectable making them bypass the antiviruses is called FUD (Fully Undetectable). 

FBI also seized the European domain of Blackshades official Website (www.eurid.eu) and punched "Federal Bureau of Investigation" title against name and organization under the whois details.

FBI has warned cyber criminals by making an announcement that FBI is planning multiple arrests over the next coming days for combating cybercrime.

Read more

Facebook Introduces Anonymous Login: F8 Conference

On 30th of April Facebook have made a lot of new announcements at F8 Conference. "Anonymous Login" is one of the new feature that the company announced that day. In view of this feature, facebook users will be able to login to third party applications anonymously using their login credentials i.e. without sharing their personal information from facebook. 

Users not feeling comfortable with sharing their information with applications they didn't used even once. So, by selecting this feature of logging in anonymously, users will be able to use the applications without getting their information leaked to the application developer. App developers will not be able to catch your original identities or personal  information without the user's consent.

Facebook's another attempt is also related to improving users privacy with applications. Facebook, now will allow users to have full control over "what they are sharing with apps". Users can check each and everything about which type of information the application is collecting from your profile. Also, the new interface of the login screens will allow users to un-check any type of data that they do not want to share with the application without actually logging in (anonymously). Refer to the following screenshot:-

Facebook said "Finally, we’ll soon start reviewing new apps that use Facebook Login to help ensure higher quality apps are available to people – apps that ask for the information they actually need and aren’t posting anything back to Facebook without people’s explicit permission."

The new Login will be rolling out over the next few months. Stay Tuned. 

Read more

Facebook To Notify Users When They Are Nearby To Their Friends

Facebook, the Social Media giant is trying to achieve something big in its field. Recently, facebook declared to roll out its latest feature called "Nearby Friends". This will be an optional feature for its users to be opted. 

Facebook stated - "If you turn on Nearby Friends, you’ll occasionally be notified when friends are nearby, so you can get in touch with them and meet up. For example, when you’re headed to the movies, Nearby Friends will let you know if friends are nearby so you can see the movie together or meet up afterward."

Users should agree to give facebook permission to track them wherever they are even when they are not using this application. This sharing is two-way i.e. you and your friends both have to turn on this feature and chose to share with each other to see when you're nearby. 

Facebook also tested a similar feature last year, but stopped this feature by saying this testing was just an experiment. But now, as facebook is flooded with users ready to launch this feature soon on Android and IOS platforms. It is in view of facebook's acquisition of an app named "Glancee" last year.

Read more

Android TV- Google's Over Attempt to Enter Into Your Living Rooms

Hello, You there? Yes, Its Google knocking down your living rooms by its latest produced project called "Android TV". Google is hitting your Television Sets with Android TV. Google stated "Android TV is an Entertainment Interface, not a Computing Platform" 

The ambition behind Google's new innovation of its Android TV is much like its been easier to understand. Company is recruiting developers for building simple television applications for an simple Set-Top-Box. The interface of this android software will consist of "Well Scheduled Scrolling Tiles" which further enriched with "Apps", "Movies", and "Games" sections in this menu. A Remote Control is provided with this set-top-box furnished with four direction keys to navigate through the menu under the box.

Android TV will feature "Voice Input" like Amazon's new Fire TV and "Notifications" like features.  Users can press the button and just say the name of the movie or a TV show and Google will retrieve it for you. Android TV is just Android optimized for best living room experience on a TV screen. Basic motive of this project is to invent the new applications that reigns the big screen. But its been a great struggle for Google to put the effort again after the very bad failure of Google TV in late 2010. Google did have a instant hit called "Chromecast" last year, a device that is able to display the data of laptops that are further connected with Internet.
It will also feature Youtube, Google Play, Chrome etc. on the screen and much more. 

Read more

System Restore in Windows 8, 8.1, Enabling The Feature

What is System Restore?

System Restore is a program available in all variants of Windows 8. This program automatically creates restore points containing the present state of the computer at that time. System Restore returns your computer to the state from the restore point. You can also create a restore point by yourself. It will also provide a feature of undo the system restore if it will not resolve your problem.

How to Enable this Feature?

Go to Start Screen and type Restore point and click on "Create a Restore Point"

Screenshot 1:-  

System Properties window will pop up.

Screenshot 2:-

Select Your Drive and Press Configure 

Check the button against "Turn on System Protection" and then Press "Ok"

Screenshot 3:-

This Process will automatically create restore points at regular intervals of time.

Now if you want to Restore your system from a particular Restore Point, Click on "System Restore" from system properties window.

Screenshot 4:-

"System Restore" window will be popped up, then click "Next", then Click the restore point you want to use from the given list and press "Finish"
Clicking finish will restore your system to a previous stage when this restore point is created. Your system will be restarted after the process completes.

Read more

5 Year Old Child Discovered Microsoft XBox Password Bypass Loophole

A 5 year old managed to bypass the password in one of the most popular gaming systems round the globe, now acknowledged as Security Researcher by Microsoft. Kristoffer Von Hassel discovered this loophole in xbox live's password system that would allow anyone to log into a xbox player's account without knowing their password. 

Kristoffer's parents noticed he was logging into his father's Xbox Live account simply by tapping the space bar. Yes, you heard that right, Entry With Just a Spacebar. His father noticed that his son logged in as his Xbox Live account to play video games that he wasn't meant to be playing and asked how he had done it.  Kristoffer revealed that by typing in the wrong password and then by pressing the spacebar, he bypassed the password verification through a backdoor.  His father reported this issue to Microsoft's Security team so that it can be fixed by the time. 

His name listed on Microsoft's Security Acknowledgements' Page

Microsoft issued a statement, “We're always listening to our customers and thank them for bringing issues to our attention. We take security seriously at Xbox and fixed the issue as soon as we learned about it.” Microsoft awarded the junior security researcher with some cool games, $50 bugs, a one-year free subscription to Xbox Live and listed his name on their website among other security researchers.

Read more