Demo of iPad Passcode Theft via Google Glass Highlights Benefits of Touch ID [iOS Blog]
Looking over a nearby person’s shoulder is a common technique used to steal a PIN code for a device that is targeted for imminent theft. But as reported by Wired, a research team from the University of Massachusetts Lowell has taken this shoulder surfing trick to a whole new level by increasing the working distance and automating the process using Google Glass and other similar camera-equipped, mobile products.
The UMass Lowell researchers improved passcode theft by analyzing video captured from wearable and mobile devices such as Google Glass, the Samsung Gear smartwatch and the iPhone. The system anlyzes the incoming video using a custom video recognition algorithm that detects the shadows from finger taps and uses that information to predict PINs codes. Unlike the standard over-the-shoulder method that requires a direct view of the target device’s display, the UMass method also can be employed at an indirect angle, allowing someone to steal a password while standing at your side.
(Image from Cyber Forensics Laboratory at University of Massachusetts Lowell)
The system is surprisingly accurate — allowing a malicious user to capture PIN codes inconspicuously with at least 83 percent accuracy from a distance as far as three meters. This accuracy was improved to more than 90 percent when a sharper camera such as the iPhone was used or manual error correction by the researchers was added to the video analysis.
“I think of this as a kind of alert about Google Glass, smartwatches, all these devices,” says Xinwen Fu, a computer science professor at UMass Lowell who plans to present the findings with his students at the Black Hat security conference in August. “If someone can take a video of you typing on the screen, you lose everything.”
The researchers didn’t test longer passwords, but believe they could reach an accuracy rate of 78 percent when stealing an 8-digit password from a device such as the iPad. If you are concerned about password hacking, your best line of defense is to cover your display as you type or when possible do away with a PIN code entirely such as by using the Touch ID fingerprint in the iPhone 5s.
With the results of this study, the researchers hope to convince mobile operating system companies to improve the security of their PIN input screens by taking steps such as randomizing the layout of the keypad.
Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint authentication is of course another alternative to traditional passcodes. The feature launched on the iPhone 5s last year and is expected to make its way to the iPad and iPad mini later this year. Aside from increased security compared to passcodes, Touch ID has also increased usage of security features, with Apple noting during its WWDC presentation earlier this month that passcode/Touch ID usage has risen to 83% on the iPhone 5s, up from just 49% passcode usage previously.
We’ll see a new version of Android previewed at Google I/O, Sundar Pachai confirms
Sundar Pachai, head of Android, has been talking to Bloomberg ahead of Google I/O which is about to start in a few hours. They’ve talked about all sorts of things, but what caught our eye was an apparent confirmation we’ll see a new version of Android previewed at this year’s Google I/O.
I’m willing to bet this is what most of you have been wanting to see at Google I/O, aside from maybe some Android Wear software and hardware. Well, we’ll see at least a piece of it. Don’t get your hopes all the way up though, we’ll see it previewed, not released. That will probably happen later this year.
While you wait for the Google I/O to kick off in order to see the new Android in all its glory, check out some leaked screenshots which allegedly show a piece of it.
Source: Bloomberg
Via: Pocketnow
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Yahoo Aviate: Flight out of beta
Yahoo Aviate, after spending quite some time in beta, is finally ready for the public. Yahoo has removed the invite system and the app no longer requires you to have an invite code for access. They have also added a UI update providing a cleaner launcher than before.
For those who aren’t yet familiar with this home replacement app, Aviate is an “intelligent” homescreen that shows you different shortcuts and widgets based on your location and current activities. It uses where you are and the time of day to show you what you would need at that moment.
- Wake up, and Aviate automatically shows you how long you’ve slept, the weather and news for the day.
- When at work, Aviate gives you easy access to all the apps you need to get your job done, plus intelligent calendar features like one-tap calling to conference calls, emailing to meeting attendees and more!
- While on the road, Aviate automatically gives you traffic conditions and directions home.
- Go to dinner, and Aviate automatically shows you photos, tips and restaurant reviews.
- Plug in your headphones, and Aviate shows you music apps and extra information about the artist/band you’re listening to, like recent Tweets, upcoming concerts and bios.
Aviate is supports devices running Android 4.0 and above. With the update out of beta, Aviate added a Favorite Contacts function to keep the people you contact the most one swipe away. This is all done automatically without the need for the user to manually set contacts.
Everything is done automatically. Your apps get categorized by genre and they are placed on the corresponding “space” for you. It is an automated launcher designed to have what you need ready before you need it.
Source: Yahoo
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How to watch Google I/O keynote live stream
Google I/O is Google’s biggest event of the year. There are many of you who will want to check out Google’s keynote and probably some other stuff that will be live streamed from this year’s Google I/O. You can do all that if you follow this link.
Google I/O keynote is starting in a couple of hours at Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco. 9am PDT, which converts to 4pm GMT or 12pm EDT. Sundar Pachai already confirmed we’re about to see the next version of Android previewed at this year’s Google I/O. We’ll also see some Android Wear hardware and software, so if you’re interested in purchasing Moto 360 or LG G Watch for example or just interested in Android Wear in general stay tuned. This is just a piece of the puzzle though, Chrome will definitely be a part of the event along with a bunch other Google stuff. We’ll get mainly software news, but who knows, aside from Android Wear hardware we might even get a preview of a new Nexus tablet if not see it released in the next 2 days.
For our Google I/O predictions visit this link. We’ll do our best to get you the latest news from Google I/O as they happen, so stay tuned to AndroidGuys, SmarterWatching and ChromeWatching for that.
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Living with Google: Google Drive
As many of you likely know, Google Drive is your cloud storage for all your documents on you Android, PC, or Mac. Google has created a very easy setup for this application simple download and sign in. When you are in drive you can load documents and store them in the cloud allowing you to access them whenever and wherever you want. Most document are supported and it even stores pictures and videos. With Drive you can allow access to other users to view the document great for business and social use.
Drive gives you 15 GB of storage space for free and offers more for a monthly charge from 100GB for $1.99/month to 30TB for $299.99/month. In the ever expanding world of larger pictures and documents 15 GB is great for average uses the larger is more for enterprise users. With drive you can view documents on any mobile device or on the webpage itself. Drive allows you to pin your selected documents on the device you are using. Another feature is through drive you can access Google Docs to edit you documents.
I personally use drive on a weekly basis to access my documents from computer at home to computer at work. It is very useful and more efficient for me to store my documents on drive that a standard email. Many companies are starting to use Drive for sharing documents such as agreements and company news. As with many Google services this app is connected with your Google account and shares documents with corresponding apps such as Docs.
LIVING WITH GOOGLE is an ongoing series of articles dedicated to highlighting the many ways in which Google can help better our lives. With innumerable apps and services to choose from, our aim is to educate readers on the ways in which we use them.
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The Big Picture: Punching a hole in a (simulated) spacecraft
Space debris is a scary thing — tiny objects become missiles that can destroy whole spacecraft. If you need proof, just take a look at the results of the European Space Agency’s shield testing for its freighter, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). That gaping hole you see above is the result of shooting the ship’s multi-layer Kevlar-Nextel fabric armor with an aluminum bullet traveling at 15,658MPH, a speed that’s entirely possible for debris caught in orbit. The good news? As bad as this looks, the test was a resounding success; while the bullet tore through the shielding, it only scorched the aluminum wall underneath. When the last ATV visits the International Space Station this summer, astronauts won’t have to worry that shrapnel from an ex-satellite will destroy their vital supplies.
[Image credit: ESA-Stijn Laagland]
Filed under: Science
Via: Gizmodo
Source: ESA
US Supreme Court rules against Aereo, deems streamed broadcast TV ‘public performance’
In a precedent-setting decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled today that Aereo is in violation of US copyright law. The decision states that Aereo’s use of tiny antennas hooked up to cloud DVR technology violates the right of companies producing broadcast content. Specifically, the decision says that Aereo’s business violates the 1976 Copyright Act; the act states that individuals or businesses are violating copyright if:
1: perform or display it at a place open to the public or at any place where a substantial number of persons outside of a normal circle of a family and its social acquaintances is gathered; or
2: to transmit or otherwise communicate a performance or display of the work … to the public by means of any device or process, whether the members of the public are capable of receiving the performance or display receive it in the same place or in separate places at the same time or at different times
In the case of Aereo, the Supreme Court says the company’s service is tantamount to “a performance or display of the work.”
Developing …
Source: US Supreme Court (PDF)
Android TV announcement likely to be made at Google I/O, app changelog spilled the Beans
We’ve been getting subtle hints that Google has been working on something to replace the beleaguered effort that was Google TV. Known to us as Android TV, the media streaming device would no doubt build upon the tech that Google has secured with the Chromecast and get greater buy-ins from all the media providers and […]
The new Facebook Slingshot app has dropped its U.S. exclusivity, today launching Internationally
If you were disappointed that the Facebook Slingshot app that was announced last week was only going to be available in the U.S., you will be happy to know that Facebook has lifted the exclusivity of the app and has made it available internationally. What brought about the change of heart? As people behind Slingshot say: […]
LG G Watch goes up on pre-order for $255
It’s just a matter of time now until we expect to see the LG G Watch officially announced at Google I/O alongside the Moto 360, both of which will be Android Wear’s first flag-ship devices.So with launch of the LG G Watch imminent, it was obvious that some retailers would be chomping at the bit to… Read more »
The post LG G Watch goes up on pre-order for $255 appeared first on SmarterWatching.
Read the rest at the source, SmarterWatching.com
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