2018 January | AIVAnet

5

Jan

India’s massive citizen database was reportedly breached

India’s government Aadhaar database, which holds personal information of over one billion Indian citizens, was allegedly breached, BuzzFeed News reports. Along with demographic info, the database also contains biometric data like fingerprints and iris scans. Indian publication The Tribune reported earlier today that it was able to access any registered citizen’s demographics after it was granted admin access by an anonymous individual. In just 20 minutes, a reporter was given an administrator ID and a password after contacting the individual through WhatsApp and transferring what amounted to less than $8. Afterwards, the reporter was able to plug in anyone’s Aadhaar number and get their name, address, postal code, photo, phone number and email. For an additional $5, the reporter was also able to get software that allowed them to print an Aadhaar card with anyone’s number.

An officer with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the government authority that runs Aadhaar, initially told The Tribune, “Except the Director-General and I, no third person in Punjab should have a login access to our official portal. Anyone else having access is illegal, and is a major national security breach.” However, it later released a statement denying a breach, saying The Tribune’s article was “a case of misreporting” and assured that “there has not been any Aadhaar data breach.” But in the same statement it admitted that The Tribune report was an “instance of misuse of the grievance redressal search facility,” suggesting that sensitive data was in fact accessed. India’s Bharatiya Janata Party, one of the country’s two major political parties, called The Tribune’s report “fake news.”

Full statement from @UIDAI on Aadhaar breach report today. pic.twitter.com/OIChO5q9dA

— Chandra R. Srikanth (@chandrarsrikant) January 4, 2018

BuzzFeed News got in touch with the person who allegedly sold The Tribune the admin access. The person said that they had paid around $95 for access themselves through a WhatsApp group and was told that they could then create as many usernames and passwords as they wished. Becoming an Aadhaar admin appears to allow you to create other admin accounts, a feature that seems like a fundamental flaw of the system. The person admitted to selling access to seven other people over the last week but said they didn’t know they were breaking the law or compromising data security by doing so.

‘AADHAR’ data breached yet again!

As every citizen’s personal information is exposed to hackers everyday & ‘Right to Privacy’ is mocked and flouted with impunity, Modi Govt remains immune.

Is anyone listening?https://t.co/UDSfOlSWv9

— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 4, 2018

Many have been critical of the database, data from which has been exposed before, for its lack of security and this alleged breach has just added fuel to the fire. Meghnad S, spokesperson for India’s online SpeakForMe.in movement, told BuzzFeed News, “In its hurry to make Aadhaar mandatory and not ensuring data safety, the government has allowed shady vendors to exploit this data for their own gains.”

Via: BuzzFeed News

Source: The Tribune

5

Jan

iPhone X beats Samsung’s Note 8 and 7 Edge in OLED display burn-in test

After the iPhone X was released, Apple addressed that, over time, the OLED display could experience burn-in. First seen by BGR, Korean tech site Cetizen tested the smartphone’s display to measure exactly how long it takes to burn in an image and found it took more than 500 hours to show significant effects.

In addition to testing the iPhone X, Cetizen mixed in the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy 7 Edge — both of which also feature OLED screens. All three phones displayed a static image on each respective screen with settings turned up to maximum brightness throughout the entire test.

But what exactly causes burn-in? When the static image is left on your screen for too long, it then gets burned into the display permanently. This means the image is still visible even when it’s not supposed to be there anymore.

The iPhone X was the first device to show signs of burn-in after 17 hours of constant use, but the image was barely noticeable while using the device. The Galaxy Note 8 took 62 hours to show any signs of burn-in but once it did, it was much more distinct than the iPhone X.

In total, it took 510 hours of testing for the iPhone X to show permanent burn-in effects. The Galaxy 7 Edge performed well but still showed signs of visible burn-in sooner than the iPhone X — while the Note 8 experienced the worst signs of burn-in by the end of the test.

Burn-in is especially common with OLED screens across the board whether it’s smartphones, monitors, or TVs. Google’s Pixel 2 XL showed early signs of burn-in for some users in October and the company released a software update to relieve the problem but to also expand the life of the OLED panel.

With the update, the Android navigation keys fade out after a short period of time when not being used. The screen’s brightness also drops 50 nits, which Google claims is unnoticeable but will reduce the load on the screen.

While Apple doesn’t have a software update to help reduce the effects of burn-in on the iPhone X, there are steps you can take instead. Apple recommends reducing the brightness on your phone via the Control Center’s brightness slider. You can also turn on Auto-Lock so that your automatically screen turns off when you’re not using it.

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5

Jan

Child-friendly wearable smartphone gives parents a direct line to their kids

For parents of young kids, the decision to give them a smartphone can be a difficult one. One the one hand, the ability to give your child a way to contact you in an emergency, or vice versa, cannot be overstated in terms of importance. On the other, handing them a phone means potentially exposing them to unwanted communication — or simply carries the more mundane risk of being put down and lost.

A new Kickstarter campaign for the so-called “myFirst Fone” hopes to solve some of those issues. For starters, the 3G smartphone is worn like a watch, which should reduce the chance of it being misplaced. Despite this shift in form factor, it boasts a lot of the features you find on a regular phone — such as a pedometer and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

In terms of safety, the device lets parents plug in only certain numbers, so your kid will be able to receive only phone calls or text messages from numbers that have been pre-approved by you. It also lets you keep track of what your kid is up to. This can be done either through GPS or Wi-Fi-based tracking, or a feature which promises to alert you if your child leaves a geo-fenced area. Your child can additionally send an SOS message to his or her parents with a single button, while parents can listen in to what their kid is up to by accessing the device’s built-in microphone.

MyFirst Fone certainly isn’t going to assuage the fears of all parents who are worried about gifting their kids a phone. It’s easy to imagine some parents strongly disapproving if the idea of giving their offspring a device which can be used for spying on them throughout the day — even if the spies are simply their well-meaning parents. However, if you’re looking for a straightforward way of keeping in touch with your young son or daughter, and don’t think a regular smartphone (or a more expensive call-making smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 3) is the answer, this could be the gadget for you.

The device is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $89. Shipping is set to take place in May.

5

Jan

Child-friendly wearable smartphone gives parents a direct line to their kids

For parents of young kids, the decision to give them a smartphone can be a difficult one. One the one hand, the ability to give your child a way to contact you in an emergency, or vice versa, cannot be overstated in terms of importance. On the other, handing them a phone means potentially exposing them to unwanted communication — or simply carries the more mundane risk of being put down and lost.

A new Kickstarter campaign for the so-called “myFirst Fone” hopes to solve some of those issues. For starters, the 3G smartphone is worn like a watch, which should reduce the chance of it being misplaced. Despite this shift in form factor, it boasts a lot of the features you find on a regular phone — such as a pedometer and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

In terms of safety, the device lets parents plug in only certain numbers, so your kid will be able to receive only phone calls or text messages from numbers that have been pre-approved by you. It also lets you keep track of what your kid is up to. This can be done either through GPS or Wi-Fi-based tracking, or a feature which promises to alert you if your child leaves a geo-fenced area. Your child can additionally send an SOS message to his or her parents with a single button, while parents can listen in to what their kid is up to by accessing the device’s built-in microphone.

MyFirst Fone certainly isn’t going to assuage the fears of all parents who are worried about gifting their kids a phone. It’s easy to imagine some parents strongly disapproving if the idea of giving their offspring a device which can be used for spying on them throughout the day — even if the spies are simply their well-meaning parents. However, if you’re looking for a straightforward way of keeping in touch with your young son or daughter, and don’t think a regular smartphone (or a more expensive call-making smartwatch like the Apple Watch Series 3) is the answer, this could be the gadget for you.

The device is currently available for pre-order on Kickstarter, with prices starting at $89. Shipping is set to take place in May.

5

Jan

How to replace your iPhone’s battery

Apple has confirmed it slows down iPhone devices after the batteries reach a certain age. Older batteries can cause some iPhones to unexpectedly shut down, which is why slowing down the phone allows it to better handle the power output from these batteries. Still, that leaves you with a slow phone, which can be frustrating.

The good news is you don’t need to buy a new iPhone. You can replace your iPhone’s battery, and the device’s performance should improve. Here’s how.

Replacing the battery via Apple

The most convenient and reliable way to replace your iPhone’s battery is to do it through Apple. The process usually costs $79, but Apple is offering a $50 discount as an apology for one year, so the replacement process will only set you back $29. We recommend going this route, as you won’t void your device’s warranty or risk damaging your iPhone by replacing the battery yourself.

If you have an iPhone 6 or newer, the new battery will only cost $29. If you have an older iPhone, the service charge of $79 remains. There are a few ways to get Apple to replace your iPhone’s battery for free. If you have AppleCare+ or your phone is still under warranty, and Apple deems that the battery is defective, then repairs are free. The battery being defective, however, is rare — it’s likely that you might have to pay for the replacement.

If you purchased an iPhone 6S between September and October 2015 and your iPhone is randomly shutting down, you may be eligible for a free battery replacement. Apple has released a tool to help you figure out if your phone is eligible, which you can find here. To get the battery replacement, your phone needs to have no water damage or screen cracks.

The easiest way to start the process is to head to the nearest Apple Store, which could either take one visit or a few days, depending the complexity of the repair. If there are no Apple Stores nearby, you can opt to ship your iPhone in — but the process will take quite a bit longer, as Apple will send you a box to ship your iPhone back in, replace the battery, then ship it back to you.

Replacing the battery yourself

It is possible to replace the iPhone battery yourself, but we do not recommend this approach. Largely because iPhone devices use a lot of glue and other materials you’ll have to get through to replace the battery, which can be tricky, and doing it yourself means your waterproof iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus will no longer be waterproof.

You can follow in-depth instructions from websites like iFixit, which also sells kits with the tools needed to replace your iPhone’s battery. Most of these kits cost around $25-$30, so in the end you’ll pay around the same as you would to just get Apple to do it if you have an iPhone 6 or newer. The instructions vary depending on which iPhone you have — so make sure to follow the right guide. Recently, you can find guides for the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus. You do not need to replace the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X’s batteries anytime soon, as they likely won’t see issues with the battery for another year or more.

Apple said it will introduce tools to help check your device’s battery health in an upcoming iOS update, which should make it easy to know when you need to change your phone’s battery.

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5

Jan

Everything you need to know about the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket

It’s time for Elon Musk and his launch company, SpaceX, to shake up the world of off-planet travel once again. After a year of successful launches and recoveries of the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stages, Musk has his sights set on heavier payloads, more launches, and bigger missions — all of which will theoretically be possible with the introduction of SpaceX’s newest roccket: the Falcon Heavy. Heres everything you need to know about what’s soon to be the world’s biggest, baddest rocket.

What’s the big deal?

Big is exactly the deal. When the Falcon Heavy makes its debut, it will become the world’s largest operational rocket, only beaten by the Saturn V rocket which was last flown in 1973. Weighing in at 54 metric tons (119,000 lbs), the Falcon Heavy also boasts an operational payload of more that two times it’s closest competitor, the Delta IV Heavy , yet can be produced for a one third of the cost.

The Falcon Heavy’s multiple stages being assembled.

This is made possible by drawing heavily upon the proven success of the Falcon 9 rocket system, as the first stage of the Falcon Heavy is composed of three Falcon 9 engine cores. The combined 27 Merlin engines generate more than five million pounds of thrust at liftoff, equal to the power of eighteen 747 aircraft. Regardless of what the payload ends up being, there’s definitely room for plenty of it.

Why the wait?

First mentioned by Musk in 2005, and originally scheduled to become operational just a few years after the Falcon 9’s debut voyage in 2009 — the Falcon Heavy has been in production for quite some time.

In 2011, plans were set in motion to increase manufacturing capabilities to meet expected demands of both the Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy. Then in 2015, with the introduction of the Falcon 9 V1.1 upgrades, tandem production of the Falcon Heavy was announced. This eventually culminated in a photo released in December 2016 of the Falcon Heavy interstage at the company headquarters in Hawthorne, California.

Since then, a number of different things (additional testing, the CRS-7 launch failure, and extensive launch pad renovations) have contributed to years of delays. But now, with it’s maiden voyage tentatively set for January of 2018, the business is piling up for SpaceX.

Who Cares?

Since it’s announcement, the Falcon Heavy has drawn a lot of attention. From military contractors to telecommunications firms to private citizens excited for the newest tourism craze, it seems like the entire world is chomping at the bit to blast stuff into orbit.

Currently, the Falcon Heavy’s launch itinerary includes contracts from Arabsat, the United States Air Force, a much anticipated visit around the moon, and one very special cherry red car. These planned missions vary in type and destination, but they all share one similarity: getting the world pumped up about space travel again.

When?!

Now that the craft has been assembled, run through preliminary tests, set vertical, and stuffed with its first payload (Musk’s own cherry-red Tesla), the Heavy’s first launch is rapidly approaching, and will likely happen sometime in late January. But first, it has to pass a static fire test. Only then will SpaceX be able to set a concrete launch date.

So until then, we’ll all just have to wait here on the edge of our seats.

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5

Jan

Tiny flat lenses just graduated to full color (and soon, use outside the lab)

Research on flat lenses supported the idea that future smartphones might not need that camera bump — but only if you wanted to shoot solely in black and white. Now, researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have created a flat lens that can focus the entire visible spectrum of light — which means flat lenses just moved from monochrome to full color. The research, published on January 1, has already lead to commercial licensing of the technology.

Each color in the visible spectrum has different qualities — which means if all those colors passed through a flat sheet of glass, they wouldn’t reach the camera sensor at the same time, creating a colored distortion called chromatic aberration. Traditional glass lenses solve this problem by curving the glass so that each color of light reaches the destination at the same exact time.

Flat lenses or metalenses use tiny structures instead of a curve to focus the light. While previous research successfully focused some light with this type of lens, the flat lenses weren’t capable of focusing all the visible colors. Earlier efforts expanded the single wavelength capability of flat lenses to capture blues and greens, but not the full visible specturm.

So how did the researchers give flat lenses full-color capability? By adjusting those tiny structures that focus the light. Rather than single uniform structures across the lens, the research group used pairs of nanostructures. These pairs can control the speed of the light passing through, and by altering that speed, can help ensure all the colors reach the camera sensor at the same time. The nanostructures on the lens are made with titanium dioxide, a material most commonly used in products like paints and cosmetics.

“One of the biggest challenges in designing an achromatic broadband lens is making sure that the outgoing wavelengths from all the different points of the metalens arrive at the focal point at the same time,” said Wei Ting Chen, one of the paper’s authors and a SEAS postdoctoral fellow. “By combining two nanofins into one element, we can tune the speed of light in the nanostructured material, to ensure that all wavelengths in the visible are focused in the same spot, using a single metalens. This dramatically reduces thickness and design complexity compared to composite standard achromatic lenses.”

While the research is the latest in a long history of different studies, the group doesn’t plan on stopping with just the visible light. The group says that creating a larger metalens could have applications in virtual reality, already planning to focus their next research in that area.

Harvard says the technology has already been licensed to a company to develop commercial products, but did not go into further detail as to what type of consumer device the flat lens will first be integrated in.

The full research report is available from Nature Nanotechnology.

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