Just don’t download any apps..

Guys, I have long told people, if you don’t absolutely need it, don’t install it (and you sure as shooting don’t need five media players..). Well now there’s even more reason to repeat that advice.

* More than 1,000 Spyware Apps Found On Android App Stores

“If you think you are downloading apps from Google Play Store and you are secure, then watch out! Someone has managed to flood third-party app stores and Google Play Store with more than a thousand malicious apps, which can monitor almost anything a user does on their mobile device from silently …” Read More..

Update: 500+ Android apps found containing program that can download spyware plug-in

“More than 500 mobile apps on Google Play were recently discovered containing an advertising software development kit capable of downloading malicious plug-ins that can spy on Android users’ call histories.. Apps using the ad SDK, a product called Igexin, were downloaded over 100 million times by Android device owners before Google removed these programs from its store..” Read more..

Tell your friends.

Addenda: I have been asked my thoughts on Wikileaks and the (alleged) CIA hacking tools (such as this one, posted today) often enough now that I think I should mention them here.. please don’t think the CIA are the only folks who can do/are doing these ‘exploits’. They basically copied from the hackers. These things are possible because all our devices/technologies are inherently, fundamentally, insecure. (Don’t believe me? Read this.)

* * *

Today’s quote: “I am thankful the most important key in history was invented. It’s not the key to your house, your car, your boat, your safety deposit box, your bike lock or your private community. It’s the key to order, sanity, and peace of mind. The key is ‘Delete.'” ~ Elayne Boosler

Copyright 2007-2017 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

A few items for your Friday

Here are a few items for your consideration:

First up, yesterday I alerted iPhone users to the fact that Apple is urging all owners to ‘upgrade’ to the latest version of iOS. Here’s more on why that’s a really good idea:
[ NOTE: “zero-day” is Geekspeak for “an attack for which we currently have no defense”.]

* Three zero-days found in iOS, Apple suggests users update their iPhone

“Pegasus is highly advanced in its use of zero-days, obfuscation, encryption and kernel-level exploitation and the malware has been active for some time..” Read more..

And a couple more..

* Every Android App You Need

“Whether you’ve got a brand-new Galaxy Note 7 or an older Android phone or tablet you just want to spruce up, these are the apps that matter.” Read more..

* The Best Laptops for College

“Need a light, affordable laptop you can carry all over campus? These 10 affordable picks make the grade.” Read more..

And last but certainly NOT least…

* WhatsApp to Share Your Data with Facebook — You have 30 Days to Stop It

“Nothing comes for Free, as “Free” is just a relative term used by companies to develop a strong user base and then use it for their own benefits. The same has been done by the secure messaging app WhatsApp, which has now made it crystal clear that the popular messaging service will begin sharing … ” Read more..

[ NOTE: that “sharing” includes your phone number.. but sheeze, you don’t think FB doesn’t already know your phone number?? ]

*     *     *

Today’s quote: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” ~ Steve Jobs

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

iPhone owner be aware (alert)

iPhone owners need to look at this.

* Apple releases “important security update” for iPhone after spyware discovery

“They would have been able to turn on his iPhone’s camera and microphone to record Mansoor and anything nearby, without him being wise about it. They would have been able to log his emails and calls — even those that are encrypted end-to-end. And, of course, they would have been able to track his precise whereabouts” Read more..

I hope Apple owners no longer think they’re immune from this “viruses” stuff… ‘cuz they ain’t. If it has an operating system, it can be ‘hacked’.

Today’s quote: “Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” ~ Ashley Smith

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Tips for the Android ‘Battery Drain’ problem

A few of you might find the following very helpful:

* How to fix the Android battery drain issue with these quick tricks

“If your Android device battery is draining faster than it should, Jack Wallen offers up advice that might save the day.” Read more..

* * *

Today’s quote: “Never complain and never explain.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

How to prep your smartphone for emergency situations

Folks, the author of this article is a bit wordy, (like, you can skip the first 4 paragraphs..) but there is some good info here… And we all know, we should be somewhat prepared ahead of time, as a Rule.

* Zombie apocalypse? Prep your smartphone for emergency situations

“Learn how to equip your phone to help steer you through disaster scenarios, whether a zombie apocalypse or a Donald Trump rally.” Read more..

* * *

* Side business: August, check your Junk folder.

Today’s quote: “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” ~ Zig Ziglar

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Best Android security app

I had never heard of this product, so I took notice.

Qihoo 360 – 360 AntiVirus

“For the best protection of Android systems in all 2014 certification tests, AV-TEST is honoring the product Qihoo 360 – 360 AntiVirus with the BEST ANDROID SECURITY PRODUCT 2014 AWARD.”

To read the summary, click here.

And, yes, folks. Your smartphone, and/or tablet needs an antivirus.

Today’s quote: “Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.” ~ Herman Melville

Copyright 2007-2015 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Tuesday Tidbits for the end of August

A few items for your consideration:

First up: after a bit of a quiet spell, Rick Robinette has been posting actively on his (Tech Paul Recommended) site, What’s On My PC.. and I suggest looking at all his latest; but what I focused in on (and prompted me to bring special attention to) was his recent posts on music services and players – all three of which I had not heard of.

* Google Chrome MP3 Player App – Trifling Trivial Worthless Rubbishy Player (TTWR player)

Once I get stuck on something, I am on it until I’ve exhausted it or I’m exhausted (which ever comes first). For some odd reason, I have been on a MP3 music kick; especially being focused on web based converters and web based players. Today I happened across a Google Chrome App, called Trifling Trivial […]” Read more..

* Youtify – A Minimalistic Web Music Player

“A recent post, I featured an online (cloud based) music player, called YouZeek, that streams music from YouTube. After posting this article, I started looking around to see if there were any other online YouTube music players and came across Youtify.” Read more..

* Create Online Music Playlists And Share Them With Your Friends (Without Breaking Any Laws???)

“Create Online Music Playlists And Share Them With Your Friends (Without Breaking Any Laws???)… That is what YOUZEEK is claiming on their “About” page…” Read more..

Other items:
* New variants of POS malware ‘Backoff’ found as infections expand
* PlayStation Network downed by DDoS attack, other gaming networks hit too
* AdThief malware infects 75K iOS devices, steals revenue
and last but not least: * Duo Security researchers discuss “The Internet of Fails” at DefCon 22

Really.. you should watch that.. even if it has Geekspeak (and not-polite words)(for giggles, count them).

Today’s quote: “What a distressing contrast there is between the radiant intelligence of the child and the feeble mentality of the average adult.” ~ Sigmund Freud

Copyright 2007-2014 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
And please, never forget – one person can make a difference.
Find a way to make someone’s day today.
(Best advice I ever heard? Don’t sweat the small stuff.)