Entire North Korea Suffers from Internet Outage!

UPDATE:

After more than nine hours and 30 minutes, Internet service has been restored in North Korea,according to technology news service Dyn Research. Access is only partial, Reuters reports, but the country's main news service and newspaper both are back online.

ORIGINAL:

North Korea's Internet is offline — days after President Obama pledged a "proportional response" to the communist country's alleged hacking of Sony Pictures, multiple news reports say.

Doug Madory, the director of Internet analysis at Dyn Research, told The New York Times and other news organizations that North Korea's Internet access became unstable late Friday. By Monday, it was offline, he said.

San Francisco-based CloudFlare, a network and security company that monitors global Web access, told The Times that North Korea's Internet access was "toast."

It's unclear what caused the outage, but State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said today: "We aren't going to discuss publicly operational details about the possible response options or comment on those kind of reports in any way except to say that as we implement our responses, some will be seen, some may not be seen."

In an interview with NPR's Elise Hu, Matthew Prince, chief executive of CloudFlare, pointed to four possible scenarios: North Korea turned off its own Internet; China's upstream provider turned it off; the country's routers failed at an unfortunate time; or it was the result of a denial-of-service attack from either a hacking group or the U.S. Prince said he thinks it's unlikely the U.S. was behind the reported outage.

North Korea has one of the lowest Internet penetrations in the world — with access limited mostly to the country's elite. The U.S. has linked the recent hacking of Sony Pictures to North Korean hackers, though North Korea itself has denied it is responsible — even though it called the act righteous. (Some computer security experts have questioned whether Pyongyang is behind the hack.)

Threats against moviegoers and theaters attributed to the group that claimed responsibility for the hack were behind Sony's decision last week to cancel the planned Christmas Day release of The Interview, a comedy that centers on a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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By: fdfffs On 10:22

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Nearly 7 Million Dropbox Passwords Have Been Hacked, But Dropbox says it was never hacked!

Nearly 7 million Dropbox usernames and passwords have been hacked, apparently from third-party apps that users allowed to access their accounts.


The Next Web was the first to notice the leak on a site called Pastebin, where hackers have already leaked about 400 accounts. The hackers promise to release more accounts in return for Bitcoin donations. The hackers claim to have over 6.9 million email addresses and passwords belonging to Dropbox users.

In a statement to The Next Web, Dropbox denied it was hacked:

Dropbox has not been hacked. These usernames and passwords were unfortunately stolen from other services and used in attempts to log in to Dropbox accounts. We'd previously detected these attacks and the vast majority of the passwords posted have been expired for some time now. All other remaining passwords have expired as well.

It's a similar response to the one Snapchat had when hackers were able to obtain about 100,000 photos from the service through a third-party app. Snapchat claimed its servers weren't hacked, but the servers of a third-party app designed to save Snapchat photos.

The real problem in both cases appears to be the way popular services allow third-party apps to use their platform. Even though Dropbox's own servers weren't hacked, the service still allows third-parties access, which has become the target for hackers to obtain personal information.

Dropbox is sending affected users emails encouraging them to reset their passwords, The Next Web reports.

This is an alarming trend. Services like Dropbox, Snapchat, and Apple have pushed blame on users and other third parties following recent hacks when it's clear they're not doing enough to scrutinize the kinds of apps that have access to their platforms.

Courtesy: Business Insider

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By: fdfffs On 22:20

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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - What is it and how it went Viral

The Internet is alight with the Ice Bucket Challenge, a silly joke that’s being shared on social media by billionaires. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg dumped a bucket of ice on his head. He was followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who, in a playful video, built a contraption to do the dumping, and Sue Desmond-Hellmann, the drug development guru and chief executive of the Gates Foundation.

How it all Started?

One of the first ice-bucket-belittlers was Will Oremus at Slate. Oremus argues, fairly convincingly, that the ice bucket challenge initially had nothing to do with ALS (fair enough, but so what?) and then goes on to say that it seems unlikely that the campaign is actually increasing the amount of money being given to ALS – people are probably posting videos, but not donating.

Very catchy, very catty, Will. But the ALS Association has since said that it has raised $15.6 million as a result of the challenge, nine times what it normally raises in the same time frame. Another ALS charity, Project ALS, told the Washington Post that its donations were 50 times normal. ALS TDI, another ALS charity, says that has raised $580,000 since the beginning of August, 10 times what it normally receives.




Reasons behind the Viral Effect


The nature of the Ice Bucket Challenge is, in itself, inherently spreadable -- it's easy to do, you're being called out in a public forum, and there's a chain letter-like "pass it on" nature in tagging other people.

"People want to look good to others, so it’s hard to turn down a prosocial cause,"Jonah Berger, the author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On, wrote in an email to The Huffington Post. "ALS is a great cause, so when someone asks you directly to do this, it’s hard to turn them down without seeming like a bad person."

The Internet, after all, "revolves around" challenges, Zimmerman said, referring to the "cinnamon challenge," where people would upload videos of themselves attempting to gulp down a spoonful of cinnamon, and planking, where people would lay down in ridiculous places for the sake of showing they completed the challenge.



The Ice Bucket Challenge also has an element of hashtag activism, or slacktivism, said Zimmerman, who's now the editor in chief of Whisper, an app that allows people to share secrets anonymously. You can do something from your computer -- or from your yard -- that makes you feel good, but doesn't actually do anything. (In a versions of the challenge, you can get out of the donation if you douse yourself, which is something the campaign has been criticized for.)

Who can forget Kony 2012 -- and its hashtag #stopKony? -- the short video about the African warlord that spread on Facebook and Twitter, but was also criticized for, among other reasons, not actually doing anything other than "raising awareness"? This was also a criticism of the LGBT marriage equality movement last year, when 3 million people changed their Facebook profile pics to equal signs.

The Ice Bucket Challenge campaign has been great for the ALS Association, a nonprofit organization that does research and provides help for those with the debilitating neurological disorder, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The organization said Tuesday morning that it's received $22.9 million since July 29 -- up from $1.9 million over the same period last year. And the donations are coming not only from existing donors, but from nearly half a million new donors, the group said.

Celebrities have latched on to the cause, which has undoubtedly hastened the spread. At this point, it's almost difficult to find a celebrity who hasn't had ice water dumped on his or her head. Gayle poured water on Oprah's head. Jimmy Fallon and some celebrity friends did it. Kobe and LeBron have done it. Bieber's done it -- twice.

"If you're doing the same thing they're doing, it's as if you can stand in for them," saidJennifer Cool, an anthropologist at USC who studies Internet culture and history. "You too can be in the shoes of Lady Gaga or Bill Gates."

And, of course, there's the showing off factor. Facebook is, at its core, a place to show off and promote yourself, filled with incredible vacation photos, reminders to all that you're in love and musings about challenges overcome (ideally while on vacation, like hiking in South America). You may have some friends who've seemed eager to show off their bikini or swim trunk bodies in their Ice Bucket Challenge videos.

At this point, some celebrities seem to be trying to one-up each other. Bill Gates released a highly produced (yet charming) video of himself designing an intricate method of dumping water on himself. Hockey player Paul Bissonnette, for some reason, had a helicopter drop glacier water on him. And Tyler Perry's video seems to have an element of "check out this ridiculous pool I'm standing in."

Celebrities also seem eager to name drop in their nominations. "I know where you live," Oprah says to Steven Spielberg as she nominates him to take the challenge.

Like all viral phenomena, the Ice Bucket Challenge may fade away just as quickly as it blew up.

"It's practically on the way out," said Zimmerman, who's critical of the celebrities and billionaires "co opting" the challenge for possible PR purposes. "Someone pushes it over the edge then it spends two weeks, three weeks in the news cycle and then fades."

List of Participants in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

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By: fdfffs On 18:28

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Japan has put "selfie stands" at popular destinations

The selfie has come out of nowhere like a narcissistic whirlwind and become one of the most popular things we can do with our smartphones.

Don't believe us? Sony has gone so far as to release a handset dedicated to taking selfies. And now, over in Japan there are even dedicated selfie stands at popular locations allowing you to snap yourself for social media bragging rights.

The stands feature a special slot where you can keep your smartphone secured for the duration of the selfie and are expertly positioned to take in the majesty of the surrounding scenery.

It's also an excellent hangout spot for snatch-and-run thieves, but that's probably just us being cynical.

We've not heard any news regarding UK-specific selfie stands but who knows, this could be the future of holiday photography.

By: fdfffs On 21:25

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Isis mobile wallet abandons name to militant group

Mobile wallet service Isis is changing its name to distance itself from an acronym used to refer to militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

US telecom companies AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon four years ago teamed together to back Isis, software that takes advantage of near-field communication chips in smartphones to allow people to consumate transactions by tapping mobile devices on sensor-enabled pads at shops.

"We wanted a name that brought life to our company and our values," Isis chief executive Michael Abbott said Monday in an online message about the decision to dump the name inspired by an Egyptian goddess.

"We have no interest in sharing a name with a group whose name has become synonymous with violence and our hearts go out to those who are suffering."

The company has not yet decided on a new name, Abbott said.

source: AFP

By: fdfffs On 04:37

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Social Site Orkut to Close down after 10 years on September, 2014

Google's Social media platform Orkut is going to shut down on 30th of September this year. Orkut wrote on its blog about its dissolution yesterday.

Orkut, Google's first social
networking site, will cease to exist after
September, with the Internet giant deciding
to shut down the service launched 10 years
ago.

Google said it will shut down Orkut, which is
very popular in India and Brazil, on
September 30. The service, however, did not
do so well in other parts of the world and lost
sheen to rivals like Facebook.

Orkut, which popularised posts or "scraps"
between friends, did not disclose the number
of users on the website.

However, according to its website about
50.6 per cent of its users were from Brazil.
Another 20.44 per cent came from India,
while the US and Pakistan accounted for
17.78 per cent and 0.86 per cent,
respectively.

"Over the past decade, YouTube, Blogger
and Google+ have taken off, with
communities springing up in every corner of
the world. Because the growth of these
communities has outpaced Orkut's growth,
we've decided to bid Orkut farewell," Google
said in a post on the Orkut blog.

Orkut was launched in 2004, the same year
when Facebook was founded. Facebook is now the world's largest social network with 1.28
billion users.

Orkut was the result of a "20 per cent project" in which Google workers got to spend a fifth of
their time on ideas not necessarily related to their job responsibilities.

source: ET

source: http://en.blog.orkut.com/2014/06/tchau-orkut.html

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By: fdfffs On 19:49

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Companies Join 'Reset The Net' To Fight NSA

Big name opponents of the National Security Agency's (NSA) mass surveillance techniques are joining forces for "Reset the Net," an Internet-wide protest against the U.S. spy agency to be held on June 5. The protest will include a large Thunderclap on Thursday, blanketing social media with an anti-surveillance message.

Among those supporting Reset the Net are Reddit, Greenpeace, ACLU, DuckDuckGo, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Together they will promote encryption tools, implement additional anti-NSA security options on Web sites and services, or simply spread the message. A similar campaign was used to successfully fight SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act), an anti-piracy bill that could have damaged the Internet.

Hurting The Internet

The basis for the Reset the Net campaign is that mass surveillance ultimately hurts the Internet, and therefore, it needs to be stopped or at least reformed. Many of the companies supporting the campaign have major stakes in the Internet's future, as Web sites like Reddit simply would not exist as they currently do with a more restricted Internet.

Thunderclap, a "crowdspeaking" platform, will be used by those involved with the campaign to increase the effect of their social media posts. Although individuals posting about the NSA won't have much of an effect but when millions of people post about the NSA, it is hard for their message to not be heard.

"Mass surveillance is toxic for the Internet," according to the EFF's blog post about Reset the Net. "The Internet is a powerful force that can promote democracy, innovation, and creativity, but it’s being subverted as a tool for government spying. That’s why EFF has joined with dozens of other organizations in calling for a day of action to Reset the Net."

Improving Security

Part of Reset the Net may be spreading the message about the NSA and its surveillance but that is not the only goal of the campaign. Those involved with Reset the Net are also trying to promote the use of more advanced encryption and security tools by informing people about them and getting "hundreds of sites & apps" to take advantage of the tools that are available.

On its Tumblr page, the campaign's organizers laid out a basic framework so that Web sites understand which security features they need to implement. "HTTPS, HSTS, and PFS (perfect forward secrecy) are powerful tools that make mass spying much more difficult," according to Reset the Net leaders. "Until Web sites use them, we’re sunk: agencies like the NSA can spy on everything. Once they’re ubiquitous, mass surveillance is much harder and more precarious -- even if you’re the NSA."

Reset the Net admitted that it is difficult to tell how beneficial the security technologies are because the NSA's capabilities are not fully known, but there are some noticeable benefits. With simple security features like HTTPS, Reset the Net said that Web sites can be protected from the vast majority of prying eyes.

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By: fdfffs On 22:36

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Password changing dance starts now: eBay accounts data compromised

If you have an eBay account, it's time to change your password. The company released a statement today saying their internal and customer databases were compromised earlier this year, and starting today they'll prompt everyone to change their passwords.

Attackers made off with names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, and of course, encrypted passwords. eBay explained that financial info like credit card numbers and other sensitive data (like PayPal accounts) are kept in a separate encrypted database which wasn't compromised. They also said they've found no evidence of unauthorized access or activity by registered eBay users—which is code for "we don't think anyone's used these passwords yet." According to the statement, intruders compromised employee accounts first, and used their access to get the data they really wanted. They discovered the breach about two weeks ago, but the actual attack took place back in late February and early March.

To change your eBay password, log into your account, then click your name in the upper left corner. Select Account Settings. Click "Personal Information" on the left side of the page, and "edit" next to your password.

As always, if you use the same password on multiple sites, first, change those too, and second, stop using the same password on multiple sites. Instead, use a password manager that generates and remembers strong passwords for all the sites you use around the web.

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By: fdfffs On 21:15

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Lava Iris 406Q: A cool smartphone with 4.4 KitKat at 7k Price

Power that outperforms

The new Lava iris 406Q comes with a snappy 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor with Adreno 302 Graphics Unit supported by a capacious 1 GB RAM + 4 GB ROM with 32 GB Expandable Memory which gives the power to outperform. The Quad core processor is designed to give you an unparalleled and rich gaming experience like never before.

Technology that outperforms

Operating on Android v4.3 Jelly Bean OS, this smartphone packs a more polished user-interface, fantastic performance, faster multi-tasking and an enormous list of features. Now get a guaranteed upgrade to Android v4.4 Kitkat over the air for a holistic immersive experience that will surely leave you spell bound.

Camera that outperforms

First day at college, your daughter’s first tooth, your best friend’s wedding or simply a vibrant flower at the near-by park. We understand the importance of memories. And that’s why we have armed the new Lava Iris 406Q smartphone with a powerful 5MP camera with image editor, which keeps you ready to capture the choicest moments at all times. So go ahead and create memories like never before.

Outperforming the ordinary!

• 1700mAhLi-Ion Battery
• 1.2GhzQuadcore processor
• 1GBRAM
• v4.3Android JB
• 
  

Watch it on Flipkart. Click Here.

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By: fdfffs On 19:38

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Heartbleed Bug - Explained with 10 FAQs

Heartbleed – I think now it’s not a new name for you, as every informational website, Media and Security researchers are talking about probably the biggest Internet vulnerability in recent history. It is a critical bug in the OpenSSL's implementation of the TLS/DTLS heartbeat extension that allows attackers to read portions of the affected server’s memory, potentially revealing users data, that the server did not intend to reveal.


After the story broke online, websites around the world flooded with the heartbleed articles, explaining how it works, how to protect, and exactly what it is. Yet many didn’t get it right. So based on the queries of Internet users, we answered some frequently asked questions about the bug.

By: fdfffs On 14:25

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Say No To Cyber Bullying..

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites.

Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

Kids who are being cyberbullied are often bullied in person as well. Additionally, kids who are cyberbullied have a harder time getting away from the behavior.
Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night.
Cyberbullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source.
Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

Effects of Cyberbullying

Cell phones and computers themselves are not to blame for cyberbullying. Social media sites can be used for positive activities, like connecting kids with friends and family, helping students with school, and for entertainment. But these tools can also be used to hurt other people. Whether done in person or through technology, the effects of bullying are similar.

Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to:

• Use alcohol and drugs
• Skip school
• Experience in-person bullying
• Be unwilling to attend school
• Receive poor grades
• Have lower self-esteem
• Have more health problems

Frequency of Cyberbullying

The 2008–2009 School Crime Supplement (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) indicates that 6% of students in grades 6–12 experienced cyberbullying.

The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey finds that 16% of high school students (grades 9-12) were electronically bullied in the past year.

Research on cyberbullying is growing. However, because kids’ technology use changes rapidly, it is difficult to design surveys that accurately capture trends.

Report Cyberbullying

When cyberbullying happens, it is important to document and report the behavior so it can be addressed.

Steps to Take Immediately

• Don’t respond to and don’t forward cyberbullying messages.
• Keep evidence of cyberbullying. Record the dates, times, and descriptions of instances when cyberbullying has occurred. Save and print screenshots, emails, and text messages. Use this evidence to report cyberbullying to web and cell phone service providers.
• Block the person who is cyberbullying.

Report Cyberbullying to Online Service Providers

• Cyberbullying often violates the terms of service established by social media sites and internet service providers.
• Review their terms and conditions or rights and responsibilities sections. These describe content that is or is not appropriate.
• Visit social media safety centers to learn how to block users and change settings to control who can contact you.
• Report cyberbullying to the social media site so they can take action against users abusing the terms of service. 

Report Cyberbullying to Law Enforcement

When cyberbullying involves these activities it is considered a crime and should be reported to law enforcement:

• Threats of violence
• Taking a photo or video of someone in a place where he or she would expect privacy
• Stalking and hate crimes

Some states consider other forms of cyberbullying criminal. Consult your state’s laws and law enforcement for additional guidance.

Report Cyberbullying to Schools

• Cyberbullying can create a disruptive environment at school and is often related to in-person bullying. The school can use the information to help inform prevention and response strategies.
• In many states, schools are required to address cyberbullying in their anti-bullying policy. Some state laws also cover off-campus behavior that creates a hostile school environment.

Prevent Cyberbullying

Parents and kids can prevent cyberbullying. Together, they can explore safe ways to use technology.





Establish Rules about Technology Use

Establish rules about appropriate use of computers, cell phones, and other technology. For example, be clear about what sites they can visit and what they are permitted to do when they’re online. Show them how to be safe online.

Help them be smart about what they post or say. Tell them not to share anything that could hurt or embarrass themselves or others. Once something is posted, it is out of their control whether someone else will forward it.

Encourage kids to think about who they want to see the information and pictures they post online. Should complete strangers see it? Real friends only? Friends of friends? Think about how people who aren’t friends could use it.

Tell kids to keep their passwords safe and not share them with friends. Sharing passwords can compromise their control over their online identities and activities.

Understand School Rules

Some schools have developed policies on uses of technology that may affect the child’s online behavior in and out of the classroom. Ask the school if they have developed a policy.

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By: fdfffs On 20:55

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Social networking sites were asked to block 1,208 URLs in 2013 by Govt. of India..

Social networking sites were asked to block 1,208 URLs this year so far in order to comply with court orders.

The Indian government asked the social networking sites to block 1,208 urls in 2013 so far. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Union Minister Kapil Sibal revealed the sites were asked to block urls in order to abide by court orders. The government had asked to block 8, 21,352 and 1,208 URLs during 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

According to Sibal, about 362 URLs were blocked in 2012 of which 312 URLs were taken down during the time of exodus of North East people from different parts of the country. So far about 62 URLs have been blocked this year.

"The web pages were hosting objectionable information and had the potential to disturb the public order in the country and blocked for access to public in the country on the request of law enforcement agencies," he is quoted as saying.

"There is no institutional monitoring mechanism for monitoring social networking sites. At present, law enforcement and intelligence/security agencies make searches on the Internet on specific case-to-case basis," he added.

The new figures come at a time when the Internet companies such as Twitter, Google, Microsoft and Facebook are running a massive campaign for transparency on the web. According to the transparency reports by these companies, India ranks high in the list of the governments seeking users' information.

According to Yahoo's recent transparency report, India made 1,490 such requests. Google's report ranks India second on list of governments seeking users data.

The Indian government has faced flak for its alleged attempts to monitor and control the Internet, especially the social networking websites. Last year, arrest of two Maharashtra girls for posting anti-Thackery triggered a nationwide debate on the Internet freedom.

Source: Indian Express Image courtesy: Mashable

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By: fdfffs On 15:04

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How Does TrueCaller Works!!!...

Hello friends have you ever wondered how the hell does TrueCaller works!!!?!?!?
if you have then watch this video on HOW-IT-WORKS!!

            

            

By: fdfffs On 14:20

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