Thousands of Cars Vulnerable to Keyless Theft, According to Researchers

Cars at Risk of Electronic Hacking

According to computer scientists, thousands of cars inclusive of high end-marques like the Porsches as well as the Maseratis are at risk of electronic hacking, since the research has been stifled for two years by court injunction for fear that it would help thieves to steal vehicles to order. It emphases a weakness in the Megamos Crypto system which is a kind of technology utilised by big manufacturers like Audi, Fiat, Honda, Volvo and Volkswagen.

It is invented to avert a car engine being started without the presence of a keyfob which contains the accurate radio frequency identification chip. Nevertheless, researchers at the Birmingham University and Radbound University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands are capable of intercepting signals that are sent between the chip and the car.

Listening twice enables them to utilise a process of reverse engineering, by using a commercially available computer programmer in order to identify the secret codes that are used in starting the car. According to Director of Cyber Security at the University of Warwick, Tim Watson who told Bloomberg that `it is not a theoretical weakness, it is an actual one it does not cost theoretical dollars to fix, it costs actual dollars’.

Publication Ban Denied Public Crucial Information

In 2012, the flaw had been identified by the researchers though Volkswagen won High Court injunctions in the prevention of its publication one year later. The motoring giant had commented that the work of Flavio Garcia, at Birmingham University and his two Dutch colleagues would allow someone especially a sophisticated criminal gang with the right tools, to break the security and steal a car’.

In reply, the researchers had debated that a publication ban denied the public crucial information with regards to security of their vehicles. Eventually they could reveal their results at the Usenix Security Symposium in Washington at the weekend with a sentence redacted.

`Dismantling Megamos Crypto: Wirelessly Lockpicking a Vehicle Immobiliser’, their paper, gives a description on how they began their research while police state that they were perplexed by the rising numbers of `keyless car theft’.

Chip System to Be Changed

The research had been published on the ground that the ban should block all essential information from the knowledge of the public. According to the Metropolitan Police, around 6000 vehicles seemed to be stolen without keys last year, half of which were all thefts.

The paper concluded that `the implications of the attacks portrayed in the paper were particularly serious for those vehicles having keyless ignition. At some point the mechanical key had been removed from the vehicle though the cryptographic mechanisms had not been strengthened to compensate it.

 It is recommended that the chip system be changed to one which could include a random number generator and thus make it difficult to use intercepted transmission in order to break the codes.

5 Urgent Questions about Windows 10 Answered

It’s been a month since the launch of Windows 10 with early reviews being positive. However on a particular site readers have reported everything from smooth sailing to minor issues to serious problems that have made them go back to Windows 7 or 8. These types of issues are probable with major new software. Some of the questions answered are:

1. Does Windows 10 really share Wi-Fi automatically? 

Windows 10 has features known as Wi-Fi Sense which tends to make it easy for friends and family to get on your encrypted Wi-Fi networks and they do not have to type in a password, where Microsoft tends to log them in automatically.

2. How can one tell if there are potential compatibility problems Before installing Windows 10? 

Some users are apprehensive about upgrading to Windows 10 and then find out that a critical program or piece of hardware does not work. However one can get the revelation on the potential issue prior to hitting the upgrade button. To start with one could get Windows 10 app icon in the notification tray at the bottom right corner of the screen and then right click on it and select `click the upgrade status’. On the screen that appears, click the icon with the three horizontal lines in the upper left area and from the menu which drops down, you could click on`check your PC’. The app brings up either `yea’ or `nay’ on installing Windows 10 and list some of the items on the computer which may not be totally compatible and could miss out on things, though it should give a general idea on whether an upgrade would be smooth for you or not.

3. Are there any critical features in older versions of Windows that Windows 10 does not have? 

The same is based on the definition of `critical’. Windows 10 has dropped some features which some people tend to rely on. The one which most of the people find it upsetting is Windows Media Centre. Media Centre is Windows program enabling you to watch as well as record TV using third party TV tuner cards in the computer. It is also a good way of managing and interacting with your videos, music and the other media. This can be replaced with a free program known as Kodi though it is advisable to test it prior to upgrading. There are six more features which Windows 10 has dropped.

4. Is it true one can’t refuse updates? 

Microsoft has decided that with Windows 10, all security as well as program updates would install automatically the day they are released. This is logical for security since most of the Windows users all across the globe do not install updates and thus their computer tends to get vulnerable to attack.

5. If one upgrade and does not like Windows 10 can one undo it? 

Thirty days after upgrade, one can go back to the version of Windows one has upgraded from. By going to Start>>Setting, opt for the Update & Security icon. Thereafter go to Recovery section and under `Go back to Windows 8.1 or `Go back to Windows 7’, you could click `Get Started’.

The Clever Design behind Google’s OnHub Router

Google’s Wi-Fi Dubbed `OnHub”

Google has recently unveiled a new Wi-Fi router which has been dubbed `OnHub’ which tends to solve all Wi-Fi related issues and though mobile technology has made great headways in recent years, the routers that are utilised today have not made much improvements. Routers have not been particularly sensational technology, but now Google is making attempts to change it.

OnHub is invented to be easy to set up as well as to manage it with high performance and also to be able to tie together smart home accessories. The device seems like an Amazon Echo, a remarkable cylindrical tower though the two devices are unlike each other. OnHub tends to be purely a router and not a speaker or an option to access Google Now. It will probably be on sale from August 31st at a cost of $199.99.

OnHub has unique features with antenna design, smart software for enhanced performance, an associated app that can make adjusting router settings very simple than tinkering around with confused piece of hardware having blinking lights. OnHub’s main selling point tends to be that it is easy to set up as well as effortless to troubleshoot.

OnHub in the Open - Amazing Impact on Wi-Fi Performance

 

Speaking to Wired Trond Wuellner, Google product manager had explained that keeping OnHub out in the open and not buried on the floor has an amazing impact on the performance of Wi-Fi. It can get connected to iOS and Android phones through what seems like a clean and fashionable app that informs the owners how many devices are connected to the OnHub as well as the type of speeds they are receiving.

Google states that the router’s circular design should enable it to have better penetration through a home, with around 13 antennas inside it, the router can also automatically identify the best channel to broadcast on and comprises of support for 802.11 ac as well as 5GHz Wi-Fi. OnHub was developed in partnership with TP-LINK and according to Wired, it is said that a second router is also developing in partnership with Asus.

Google has promised to bring in new features to the OnHub over a period of time. OnHub is a kind of change from the existing router market wherein one expects most of the home routers to get firmware updates often, installing them needs a lot of effort. OnHub tends to handle it all automatically.

OnHub – Smart Home Hub

 

Presently, it does not seem like the router has any surprising software features, though the way Google conveys about OnHub, seems like there could be some interesting research coming up. Some of the interesting features which Google has are that OnHub tends to support Bluetooth LE and Weave, Google’s new smart home language which would ultimately enable OnHub in serving as a smart home hub.

It is likely that in that case, OnHub will be more in common with Echo. Echo which is a simple device has got Amazon into home which could expand and start offering more service and OnHub would be the same over a period of time. Presently its focus is not clear on what are its intentions of tying the devices together. The device seems to be already sold out on the Google Store though it would be difficult to weight the significance of the fact without the knowledge of how large the initial supply seemed to be.

Android Marshmallow: Google Reveals Name of Android 6.0

Google’s Android Marshmallow

Google has revealed its latest version of its operating system which was earlier known as Android M and will now be called Android Marshmallow. The tech giant usually names its operating systems after sweet treats like Jelly Bean, Lollipop and KitKat featuring in the past and hence there is speculation about what the latest release, earlier known as Android M would be called.

Jamal Eason, Android product manager had written on the Android Developers Blog - `whether you like them straight out of the bag, roasted to a golden brown exterior with a molten centre, or in fluff form, who doesn’t like marshmallows? We definitely like them’.

The announcement coincided with the release of the final developer preview update for Android Marshmallow that comprises of the official Android 6.0 software development kit and developers can also publish their app on the Google Play store for Android Marshmallow. The updated operating system that had been first unveiled at Google 1/O on 28 May 2015 is estimated to be launched to the public by the third quarter of 2015.

New Features - Doze

Google states that the Android Marshmallow is the most powerful release so far wherein the update brings in hundreds of improvements, though several of them are very incremental and will be almost invisible to most of the users.

For instance, new features by the name Doze tends to detect when the device’s motion sensor is inactive and cuts down on the level of background app activity which Google states can double the battery life of the device.

Android Marshmallow also supports a new type of USB connector known as USB-C which charges devices three to five times faster than the present microUSB chargers according to Google. The USB-C charger similar to the Apple’s Lightning connector, can be plugged either way round which will save the user from struggling in the dark in trying to plug in the charging cable.

A new permission system tend to be easy for users in deciding what information the apps on the phone could use by providing them with the opportunity to confirm or deny access in context.

Google Now Personal Assistant

For instance, if one tends to download WhatsApp on Android device, you would be asked for permission for WhatsApp to access the contacts, location, calendar, photos, camera, microphone and much more which could be very intrusive.

 In the case of Android Marshmallow, users will not be requested to grant permission at the time of download. It is only while sending voice memo, for instance that they would be asked to grant access to their microphone. Permission could also be withdrawn to access certain informationthrough a new option in the setting menu.

Owing to Android Marshmallow release, Google would be updating its Google Now personal assistant enabling users to access information anywhere on the device irrespective of what they intend to do. On holding and tapping the home button, user could put up a query without the need of leaving the app they are in and could also use Google Now on Tap in order to locate new apps and in-app content.

The Android Marshmallow update would be bringing in support for Android Pay, Google’s answer to Apple Pay that enables the user to pay for things in stores with the use of Android Smartphone.

Microsoft is Allowing Itself to Detect Pirated Games on Your Windows 10 PC

Windows 10 - Some Disapproval with Alleged Privacy Obstacles

Inspite of being generally well accepted, Windows 10 had met up with some disapproval with regards to a series of alleged privacy obstacles. The latest being the report from Microsoft’s End User License Agreement, or EULA with WinBeta that Microsoft has reserved the right to check the system for `playing fake games, or use unauthorised hardware peripheral devices’.

An operating system which tends to run an array of utilities could also be pirated and it is strange to think that Microsoft would be targeting games in its analyses. One may speculate why the company could not check for universally pirated productivity suites like Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office.

Microsoft’s Services EULA tends to be different from the one which is governing Windows (Microsoft software License Terms) which means that the amendment that Microsoft has recently added was with the intention of protecting against imitating Xbox Live and Windows Store content, but not monitoring in disabling illegal content on Windows 10.

It could probably be a case of Microsoft cracking on the modification of its Xbox games consoles, which was a popular tendency seen during the days of the original Xbox together with its successor, the Xbox 360.

Written precautions against Stolen Phones Etc. to Be Integrated

Gamers, in order to achieve this could download the software to their PCs and organise it to their consoles through an external media device.Microsoft would thus be taking steps in an effort of preventing identical instances with the Xbox One as a means of overpowering hacking tool possession.

This would be sensible since online community have been attempting to exploit the console since its launch of 2013 Nonetheless, the language utilised in the agreement has been reported to be vague in comprehending Microsoft’s intentions and one can be sure the firm’s top notch lawyers have chosen that confusing language with all intent and purpose.

It is also not clear if Microsoft had any intention of sharing with law enforcement the information they obtain with users downloading `fake games’ or if they simply plan to disable the stolen software. Similarly, Windows 10 now is used more freelyacross the platforms which include PC, mobile, Xbox, HoloLens as well as Surface Hub, EULAs tend to be assembled more largely.Written precautions against stolen phones, Xbox mods, enterprise security as well as required updates should now be integrated.

Time to Acknowledge The Concern

The pervasiveness of Windows 10 is getting with it not only technical encounters but legal challenges as well in producing a single comprehensible agreement. Though Microsoft’s stand against fake games is understandable considering the rampant video game piracy, the definition of what establishes as unauthorized hardware does not seem to be clear.

Moreover the wording does not reveal whether the ability to automatically disable counterfeit software would be limited to games or would it be extended to other software like Microsoft’s own Office platform and Adobe Creative cloud suit, both of which are prone to piracy Returning to basics with Windows 10, Microsoft has been pleasing its customers, old and new. However, it’s time to acknowledge the concern prevailing on what Microsoft intends to do with the data it obtains.