Windows 8 Can be Hacked: watch here

With a host of companies launching Windows 8-based devices, Microsoft's latest operating system is getting increasingly popular. It’s just a matter of time before cyber criminals will take advantage of Windows 8 popularity. Here are the two samples that are packaged as key generator apps for Windows 8, which are available on http://{BLOCKED}en2eqqh2.cloudfront.net. Key generators are used to generate serial numbers and are typically used for bootleg copies of paid software. Trend Micro found the apps that are malicious. The company has detected these malicious apps as ADW_SOLIMBA and JOKE_ARCHSMS respectively.

Rajat Sahu, product marketing manager, India and SAARC, Trend Micro, said, “The people behind these malware are hoping to ride on Windows 8′s popularity and users' eagerness to try out the software. For security purposes, users must avoid visiting or downloading from untrusted sources. Better yet, users should instead purchase the legitimate program.”

When executed, ADW_SOLIMBA displays a fake message informing users to click ‘OK’ to download Windows 8 via the Web browser. On the other hand, JOKE_ARCHSMS purports as a Windows 8 activator. Similar to ADW_SOLIMBA, JOKE_ARCHSMS also displays images to trick users into thinking that they can activate Windows once they have sent an SMS to a certain number. In addition, it also connects to the following URLs for click fraud:
*http://{BLOCKED}rchant.net/api/open.php?aid=2102499&v
*http://{BLOCKED}rchant.net/50qjpr21e2bd/2102499/

When translated, the first window reads as:

Select the installation path:
To start the installation “Windows 8 Activator 2011″ click “Install”

For the second window:

Installation successful
To generate a personal code, go free activation!
(Protection from automatic activation)
Country:
operator:
SMS with text:
on number:
Enter your activation code:

So far, using new programs, software, or apps as a social engineering lure has been an effective vehicle for attacks. Remember the malicious Instagram apps that surfaced just as news of Facebook’s acquisition of the app broke out? Similarly, malicious versions of Bad Piggies, Angry Birds Space were also uncovered in time for these apps’ release.

Cybercriminals and other bad guys on the Internet know what users want and they’ll use it to their advantage. Users can never be too careful about what to download and from what sites. These samples may not be the only malicious key generators tools available on the Internet.

JOKE_ARCHSMS has been renamed to TROJ_ARCHSMS.B while ADW_SOLIMBA has been renamed toTROJ_DLOADR.AAD.

Facebook Poke App: Now Poke Your friends on IPhone

Facebook on Friday announced the launch of the Poke app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. As regular Facebook users might remember Poke is a popular feature on the site which lets people, well, ‘poke’ each other. In the app, Facebook lets users send pokes, video, pictures and text messages to their friends.

The catch is that the message can last for only one second to a maximum of 10 seconds. but, you can choose the amount of time it lasts. Also it seems that the message can be only 120 characters long.  When you’re sending a message you will see the amount of time on the top centre of your message. Click on it to choose how much time you want the message to last.

And is Facebook going to be storing these messages? Well not really.  According to TechCrunch post, Pokes are encrypted, and Facebook deletes the encryption keys two days after they’re read so they’re unreadable. Key backups are destroyed within 90 days, making a poke completely inaccessible. 

Oh and Facebook has taken precautions against people sending messages that are too naughty or just plain disturbing. Users can click on the gear icon on the top left hand side of the app and click on report/block if they get a message they don’t like something they receive.
Facebook hopes to challenge apps like SnapChat which also allow iOS users to send video and text messages for under ten seconds.

3G roaming will be Cancelled

Vodafone, Idea, Tata Telecommunications and Aircel have been sent show cause notices by the Department of Telecom (DoT), asking them to stop providing third-generation (3G) mobile data services through roaming pacts outside their licensed zones as the pacts are 'illegal'.

3G Roaming Not Allowed.


The concerned companies have 60 days to respond to why their licenses should not be cancelled or a penalty be imposed on them.

The notice sent to the telcos threatens a penalty of Rs. 50 crore per circle in case they fail to adhere to DoT's directives.

The government sold 3G airwaves in an auction in 2010 that attracted much higher bids than expected, and no single company managed to get spectrum for all of the country's 22 zones.

The government passed an order, asking telecom companies to stop offering 3G services beyond their licensed circles or zones under mutual roaming agreements. Several telecom companies -- including Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel and Tata Teleservices -- had filed petitions in the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), challenging the December 23, 2011, directive of DoT to scrap their intra-circle roaming pacts within 24 hours.

The issue became more complicated after a two-member bench comprising TDSAT Chairman Justice S B Sinha and Member P K Rastogi differed in their findings.

While Justice Sinha allowed operators' plea against the government's directive to stop intra-circle 3G roaming, saying it was violating natural justice, Justice Rastogi dismissed the petition saying they cannot provide roaming services.

The Chairman was of the view that DoT had not followed the procedure and operators were not given enough time to share their views, but Rastogi dismissed the appeal saying they can't provide 3G services by having mere 2G licences.

The spilt verdict left DoT in a difficult position and it sought legal opinion on the likely implementation of the split verdict.

Sources told NDTV earlier that DoT may also seek the help of the Attorney General of India for drafting a separate notice for recovery of amount earned by telecom operators through the roaming pact.

Lenova IdeaPad Yoga at just Rs 61,790

Taking the tablet and notebook to newer levels, PC maker Lenovo has launched IdeaPad Yoga.

The IdeaPad Yoga is a convertible that switches between an ultrabook and a tablet. Lenovo has launched two models of IdeaPad Yoga—an 11 inch model and a 13 inch model.

The 13 inch convertible is priced at Rs 84,290 while the 11 inch convertible comes at a price tag of Rs 61,790.


Key Specs IdeaPad Yoga-13 inch

Runs Windows 8

13.3-inch 1600x900 multi-touch display

3rd generation Intel Core processors

4GB RAM upgradable to 8GB

Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000

128GB SSD storage, webcam, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, HDMI, 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0 port and a 2-in-1 card reader

8 hours of battery life on single charge

Weighs 1.54 kg

IdeaPad Yoga-11 inch

Windows RT device

11.6-inch 1366x768 multi-touch display

Powered by NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor alongside NVIDIA ULP GeForce

2GB RAM

2 USB 2.0 ports, webcam, HDMI, card-reader, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, and 64GB SSD storage

Eight hours of battery life and promises an additional two hours of battery life

Weighs 1.25 kg

Super Strechable Conduction wires For Smart Phones

Scientists from North Carolina State University started with a thin tube made of an extremely elastic polymer and then filled the tube with a liquid metal alloy of gallium and indium, which is an efficient conductor of electricity.

WASHINGTON: New conduction wires that can be stretched up to eight times their original length and used in headphones and phone chargers have been developed.

Scientists from North Carolina State University started with a thin tube made of an extremely elastic polymer and then filled the tube with a liquid metal alloy of gallium and indium, which is an efficient conductor of electricity.

"Previous efforts to create stretchable wires focus on embedding metals or other electrical conductors in elastic polymers, but that creates a trade-off," said Dr Michael Dickey, assistant professor and co-author of the study.

"Increasing the amount of metal improves the conductivity of the composite, but diminishes its elasticity," Dickey said.

"Our approach keeps the materials separate, so you have maximum conductivity without impairing elasticity. In short, our wires are orders of magnitude more stretchable than the most conductive wires, and at least an order of magnitude more conductive than the most stretchable wires currently in the literature," said Dickey in a statement.

While the manufacturing of the new wires is relatively straightforward, Dickey notes that one challenge needs to be addressed before the wires can be considered for popular products: how to minimise leakage of the metal if the wires are severed.

The study was published in Advanced Functional Materials.