Is Whatsapp stealing your private information: report

Howdy friends!

Concerns for the private information of internet users have always been in question from time to time. At some point a company was in question and at other points some application. Most recently, Facebook was under the radar for using the private information and selling it to AD companies. Well its not hard to imagine or too much surprising thing even if we imagine them doing this. A user sitting on the internet most of the time is unaware about his whereabouts being stolen by as little thing as a web script!

Whatsapp is a famous internet based mobile messaging application. It is more famous because of being a cross platform application. recently it has been in questions raised by The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and the Dutch Data Protection Authority, stating that the App violated the laws because users have to provide access to all phone numbers in their address book, including both users and non-users of the app.

“This lack of choice contravenes (Canadian and Dutch) privacy law. Both users and non-users should have control over their personal data and users must be able to freely decide what contact details they wish to share with WhatsApp,”

said Jacob Kohnstamm, chairman of the Dutch Data Protection Authority.

More interestingly the investigations revealed that Whatsapp retained the numbers of the Users that absolutely violates the laws!

Though in September 2012 Whatsapp introduced message encryption due to raised concerns at that time, but Dutch authorities have given a final warning and said it would continue to monitor WhatsApp and could impose penalties if privacy continued.

 

Thanks for reading

 

‘kat.ph’ is down??

Howdy friends!

Hi this is a real quick update as son as I came to know about it. Well just today on 27th off course, the famous torrent site KickAss Torrent’s web address http://www.kat.ph has not been working, possibly because the domain name expired.

Its  a matter of concern for extreme internet users, off course it is we all know.

Screen shots seem like this

So here is the final update, try www.kickasstorrents.com and VOILA, it worked!

Ah, second most used torrent site just seemed to have been taken away. My heart too was beating fast as it repeatedly gave an error since morning!

Thanks for Reading !

The famous Torrent Site ‘Pirate Bay’ soon to release a documentary.

Howdy Friends!

World famous Torrent website The Pirate Bay a.k.a. TPB- is soon releasing a documentary exploring the people behind notorious torrent site. Movie is named as TPB-AFK, Torrent Pirate Bay-Away From Keyboard.

The project of started two years ago and part-funded on Kickstarter, but production was barred by Supreme Court of Sweden.

Finally the movie has a release date and to a greater surprise will be available for FREE DOWNLOAD  simultaneously with its display on Berlin’s International Film Festival called Berlinale on February 8th 2013.

In the words of  Director Simon Klose

By sharing this film under a Creative Commons license, we hope to contribute to a serious debate about the social and economic benefits of sharing. We also hope to prove that sharing can be a realistic business model.

The Official Trailer

Lets see what revelations are to be made by this most awaited documentary. What efforts have their team made to make international authorities realize positives about Sharing.

Thanks For Reading

‘MEGA’ is the new word for ‘Megaupload !

Howdy friends!

There had been a lot in the  world of internet in the year 2012. From Censor to Lawsuits, it has always been a matter of global discussions and in certain cases, criticism. Once such story, we may all know about is about the seizure of the ile sharing website MEGAUPLOAD in early 2012. But it is Back, with certain changes this while.

Well, Kim Dotcom, the owner of MEGUPLOAD, was for long in the hit list of US government for his service Mega Upload being accused of copyright infringement by the US claiming to cost the entertainment industry $500M through pirated content. He is fighting the attempt to extradite Kim Dotcom to the US.

 

Mega has a complete makeover this time. A dedicated file server with special options for people with developer profiles. A separate management for mobile users and support for spreadsheets and google docs!

Here is the new look of the all new MEGA, the cloud sharing website in its Beta phase.

Subscriptions

Users menu

Well, there are future enhancements posted by MEGA team as follows:

Developer documentation enhancements:

• Properly reformat and comment the JavaScript reference implementation so that it becomes more readable
• Add missing command-specific documentation to the API reference

File transfer queue enhancements:

• Vertical resizing
• Drag & Drop to modify transfer sequence
• Multiselect
• Clicking on a pending transfer navigates to/marks the source file or the target folder
• Stop/continue buttons

File manager enhancements:

• Re-implement from scratch without underlying third-party UI framework for better performance
• Adaptively eliminate the leftmost file path buttons at the top to maintain visibility of the upload and search buttons (we have a hack in place for this, but it only works in Chrome)
• “Properties” option in the file context menu

Collaboration feature enhancements:

• MEGA user-to-user messaging with file attachments, plus external RFC 4880/OpenPGP and S/MIME gateway for secure off-site e-mail communication
• MEGA user-to-user instant messaging
• Exported link enhancements
• Allow for the creation of folder links (with associated crypto key) which then display the folder content live
• Secure unauthenticated delivery web widget
• Allow unauthenticated users to securely deliver files to MEGA users’ inboxes, e.g. to submit very large files to print shops

Filesystem enhancements:

• Activate storing all block MACs on the server (encrypted) after an upload to allow for integrity-checked partial reading. Right now, the file has to be downloaded fully to be checked.
• Enable forking encrypted time-stamped delta file support to allow for random writing to existing files with full rollback capability

SDK enhancements

• Complete the API documentation
• Provide client libraries in various languages

Client applications

• A Windows filesystem mount is currently in beta and will be available shortly
• Linux/MacOS X filesystem mounts
• Mobile access
• Sync tools for all major platforms

Integrated on-site applications

• Calendar
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet

MEGA as a local “appliance”

• Load a third-party audited version of the MEGA JavaScript files from a machine that you control
• Be immune against new bugs of any kind

You can Check thew all new MEGA here.

Just remember, the website is in BETA phase and there is some time delay in opening due to visitor load. Indeed everyone want to attend the most famous File sharing giant’s Homecoming!

Thanks for reading.

 

Tricky Android 4.2 Menu: ‘Developer Options’ are hidden!

Howdy friends!

You will be really amazed to find out that the new Android Os version 4.2 (Jelly Beans) has a hidden menu, which was previously easily available, but now being Hidden. Yes, the ‘Developer Options‘ is missing from normal menu view. And if you are a Developer, you may beat your head at first, on not finding this Menu where it was supposed to be!

Well ascertain of why Google hid it from the Menu (probably because these may be dangerous for normal users) but, here is a simple trick to how to make it visible.

• Open the Settings menu
• Go down to the “System” sub-section of the settings menu at the bottom
• Hit “About Phone [or Tablet]”
• At or near the bottom, you should see the “Build number” header
• Tap this area about 10 times, and the Developer Options menu should appear.

Pictures

Bingo!

Once you do this, Developer options appear at the bottom and now you can carry on enjoying your upgrade!

ah…did I really saved you from a SHOCK…?

Lol

Thanks for Reading

Search anything instantly from a specific-website directly from ‘Address Bar’ in Chrome!

Howdy friends!

Well this is realy interesting and short post, telling you how to search a specific-website related query, directly from a EMPTY NEW TAB in Google Chrome Browser. This is not at all a trick or any geek thing. Infact, it is a feature in Google chrome browser that most of us may have just missed or never cared about!

Here you go…
For example you have to make a search directly to IMDB, we wil proceed like this.
Just click in address/search bar and Type imdb.com followed by a Space bar stroke. ( Or press TAB button).

Images here

Actually Chrome uses a smart step of adding the Search providers in memory, if you have used the SEARCH button on any website even once. Like these in my Chrome Settings.

SO next time…search a quickie like a finger’s click!

Thanks for Reading.

WhatsApp on PC…..WOW!

Howdy Friends!

We are all so much addicted to WhatsApp already. Indeed an amazing chat application available on all the platforms. I would like you to know today, how can you make it run on your PC! Yes and also with this you can run various android apps on your PC..Laptop on Windows or Mac platform.

Things you will need: An Android Emulator for Windows/Mac platform, Internet & PC ( else it doesn’t works…lol )

We will be using Bluestacks App Player. This emulator is most famous one these days and works really really good. It is in the beta testing stage so may crash sometimes but, I have used it personally and still am using it. So far so good no crashed till date!

Here are some screen shots of the Emulator

bluestack Loading

Homepage

Notification Bar

We will search the App we want to install in search bar, like Whatsapp here.

Installing Whatsapp

Google Playstore

Downloading App

Register Whatsapp with your information.

Registering On Whatsapp

Well it was not so tough to make it happen, isn’t it?

All you need is Bluestack and a mobile number (off-course you do).

Download it from here

any issues you can ask in the comment section here or check for resolved ones at Bluestacks’ own site.

Thanks For Reading

Here comes ‘online yellow page’ for Indian mobile users too; TrueCaller.

Howdy friends!

You will really be amazed after reading this application suggestion for your Android and iOS devices. I may have been a bit late to know about this application but if you still haven’t downloaded this one, then this will be your application of the day.

Here is a Yellow page application TRUECALLER, actually a directory used worldwide for searching people by entering their phone numbers or name. Indian Mobile Mass can now benefit from it, which can give you the name of the Unknown number call.  And this application comes out handy in knowing about at least some information about the number if, that was one in your ‘annoying callers’ List. Moreover you can surprise your friends by telling the name of the person using that number!

Basically it is a White Pages, Yellow Pages and Phone number directory with around half a Billion phone number Worldwide as claimed by the Application makers.

HOW IT WORKS?

Well the application works in a very simple manner(you may not like it). It searches the number uploaded by the application from users on TRUECALLER and provides you with a result. For your info, you may sometimes get a wrong name for a number or not a name at all. For example, you may get somebody’s name as ‘XYZ Uncle Delhi’ just because the person from whose contacts it has been updated must have saved it like that!

Features:

Facebook connect

Spam protection from message and calls both

Notification options

Ask a friend (on Facebook)

Permissions required:

DIRECTLY CALL PHONE NUMBERS: to perform call from Truecaller.

RECEIVE SMS/READ SMS: : to search SMS senders.

FULL INTERNET ACCESS: to communicate with services from truecaller.

WRITE CONTACT DATA: to save contacts in the phonebook.

READ CONTACT DATA: to check if a number exists in the phonebook.

READ PHONE STATE AND IDENTITY: to interact with calls.

INTERCEPT OUTGOING CALLS: to perform searches during outgoing.

DISABLE KEYLOCK: to display caller state.

VIEW NETWORK STATE: to check network connection.

MODIFY PHONE STATE: to block calls and sms.

Last words from me:

Application is developed by a Swedish company and has recently been in news in India for owning around 1.6 Million users in India itself. The concern was raised regarding the security of the Phone numbers of people using it. Because application, as soon as it installs in the phone of a user, uploads the complete contact list to the TRUECALLER servers to make it available via the Giant Phonebook ! You can even find the same info on TRUECALLER website. So it may at least be a nice source for Telemarketers to get a list for some calls and annoy Users

Though, Alan Mamedi, COO and co-founder of app-maker True Software Scandinavia AB, says “Our engineers are experienced in this field and we have our own architecture”. But the concern is that Linkedin too was hacked very recently! So, none of the websites and databases can be said to be perfectly safe from Hackers!

Meanwhile my point is that, the App is true-fun but, If concerns are there…..don’t mind it buddy. Your name is already been in the list. 🙂

I found mine..My dad’s and even My Mom’s name there…! BINGO!

Are you facing “Total path and file name length must not exceed 260 characters” Error while unzipping ?

Howdy Friends!

Well I once myself came across this confusing issue once, while extracting a ‘ZIP’ file in my laptop. on extraction it said 

“Total path and file name length must not exceed 260 characters”.

Just FYI its basically a very interesting error that needs a layman explanation I would like you to know.

Basically a ZIP file is a compressed folder contents of which are suppressed as much as possible, keeping in mind the two Rules:

• Space saving .
• No data Loss while Unzipping it back to the normal.

So when we unzip a file, it primarily is stored somewhere in ‘Users’ folder ( let’s not go much in detail ), and then moves to the destination you have mentioned or a default destination of extraction. Softwares like Winrar (most commonly used) have set their location parameters not to exceed 260 characters in length. That means when the location distance exceeds more than the path specified, it shows error. Not to mention, zip file’s name-length also matters!

For example 123.zip is shorter name than ohmygodwhatalongnameitis.zip!

So, basically we can come over this error by using Window’s (XP/Vista/7/8) built in Zip software. Winzip in XP and Windows Explorer in further OS versions.

Simple Steps…

Step 1 (image below)

• Select the ZIP file.
• Go to Options Pane and select little arrow beside ‘OPEN‘ option. Alternatively you can ‘Right Click’ and Select ‘Open with..’
• And from the given choices select ‘Windows Explorer’.

Here are the screen shots I just took to elaborate it.

Image no. 1

Step 2 (image below)

• A new window opens just like any explorer window, showing the contents of the ZIP file, as a Folder.
• Just Click>Drag the folder inside to location of your choice and Drop/Release.
• Done!

Image no. 2

In this image, number 1 shows the explorer window, with folder name same as of the ZIP file if you notice. Number 2 is the Drag and number 3 is the extracted folder.

And Bingo! You are done!

I hope you Liked the Info. Any queries Please let me know!

This method might be a discreet one and may not help some people, but still is most accepted one!

Thanks For Reading

-SID

Google says “We Are The Web”!

Howdy everyone! New post comes here, Its about internet and certain happenings in the latest past.

Internet is not owned by governments and territories. Just like nature made few thing that don’t carry the Changeable attributes, Some thing have been made by Mankind, irrespective of the places they were Invented. An ‘Idea’ has always been the formula for major changes around the world and civilizations under discrete circumstances. And Internet being one of those inventions, belongs to all human race.

Certainly you can make Laws to stop Piracy and Spread knowledge about its harms and losses but you can never Force and Bar people from ‘Sharing’ that indeed, is the reason of internet be so popular today. There have been Major incidents last year that raised questions around the world about the integrity of Internet and its Freedom . Various organisations, social or private expressed their discontentment over a course of actions taken by certain nations, in their own ways. And in recent at the year end, The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) brought some regulators from around the world to re-negotiate a decades-old communications treaty. And that was way too much to pretend like owners of the internet and not regulators!

Well Google never stays behind! In fact they have dedicated a separate Website for the purpose that people should know, I just came across this when one of my friends told me.

Google made a Tree of events in their Chronological Order.

So what is happening is that, Google responded with Vox Populi from around the world and provided them a medium to let the the governments of Certain countries know that they just can’t Censor Internet just like anything they do. It’s a medium and not a thing that, belongs to people…to you and to me.

Here is Google’s Website about this. You can say anything you want ( sparing foul language obviously, else they will catch you….LOL ). And moreover you can see on a World Map, what others have said.
Really Internet has made this World so small, so much in reach, so much spontaneous and so much social.

Do check it out like this:

Google take action

Hear Voices World Wide

Understand what is at Stake in Plain language.

Thanks for reading

(Courtesy to my friend Pravesh Kaushik)

And this Video, is as good as you watch it.