Camera

Latest Android security flaw allows access to camera

Mike Hudson Leave a comment
Android

AndroidThis morning Android users around the world are waking to an announcement potentially putting their privacy at risk. In an announcement that seems all too common around the Android OS yet another security flaw has been discovered. This particular issue is based around potential to acquire unrestricted access to any Android devices camera.

Szymon Sidor recently posted a blog post exposing the latest threat to Android users. The vulnerability could potentially allow malicious applications access to get access to and use the camera for both video and photos.

Although the SDK doesn’t allow use of the camera without a preview window on the device’s screen, its seemingly possible to make this window 1 pixel wide by 1 pixel high.. Thus making it almost impossible for the end-user to see. Whats more, with the pixel on the screen – even when the device is powered off the app is still capable of capturing photo and video footage! Once the footage has been captured, the Android SDK allows quick and easy upload to websites or services, so the malicious app developer could immediately start capturing and uploading photos and video without your knowledge.

However this would should up in the data usage charts on your Android device.

Check out Szymon’s video below:

[embedyt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzs6y4JVok[/embedyt]

There are many guides available on the net on how to secure your Android device, there are however some simple things to remember:

  • Make sure your Android device is always up to date
  • Consider applications carefully that request access to your camera – do they really need access..?
  • Keep an eye on apps that run in the background
  • Ensure you use 2 factor authentication on your Google account

Privacy has always been somewhat of a concern around the Android OS, however, used with forethought in can be just as safe and secure as any other OS.

Now the news is out I am sure Google will be working as fast as possible to remedy this security flaw.

For a list of all current known Android Security Flaws check the CVE Details site

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[Hands On] A month with Energenie ChargeGenie 50

Mike Hudson 1 Comment

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For as long as I can remember, I (much like many others) have suffered at the hands of a dead battery in my tech. More so now since smartphones have been such a large part of my life.

I’m no way going to blame manufacturers for the capacity or drain of device batteries… I’m a heavy user… In that I doubt 10 minutes go by when I’m not using it! Unless I’m asleep of course!

This has obviously created a gap in the market. When that has steadily filled up with all manner of devices, in all shapes and sizes. Each device is not without its pitfalls, equally each device suits a certain type of user more.

I think over the last 4 years I’ve pretty much tried every type on the market; from AA battery-powered key rings to solar panels. I’ve also endured my fair share of smart phone case batteries… Non of these devices has proved successful in truly giving me that extra charge I need when I’m out and about..

That was until this year (2013) … When in the excited build up the yearly Gadget Show at the NEC, I can across a manufacturer’s name on the programme. Energenie… It’s one I’d never heard of, and never seen any products from before. So I made my way over to their website, and was amazed by the variety and the spec of some of the devices!

This is when I spotted the Energenie ChargeGenie 50, a 5,000 MaH external battery pack.. My school boy maths suggested I should get at least 2 full charges of my iPhone 4S from this, and what’s more it would even give my iPad (thanks to FreeVirtualServers) a boost. So I got in touch with Energenie, and excitedly asked them to reserve me a fully charged ChargeGenie 50 at the Gadget Show.

Once I’d made my way around the show, battery now flagging at 20% I headed over to their stand, and collected what was soon to become my phones new best friend! I carefully opened the packaging and plugged in my phone.. Slowly but surely my device made its way back up to 100%

But wait… It didn’t stop there!! As I was taking many pictures at the show, my device was soon back at 10%.. So of it went again, and charged straight back up to 100!!! Perfect! Just what I needed…

Now, I know external batteries arent to everyone’s taste, and some people prefer cases.. But until someone comes up with a case that can pack the punch of the Energenie 50 whilst adding little to no bulk I’m happy!

Nearly a full month on since purchasing it, and it still travels faithfully in my laptop bag.. In its own compartment no less, and I can rest in the knowledge that this little unit has got my back!

So…. Thanks Energenie, for your fantastic ChargeGenie 50! Here’s looking forward to the future, when my Energenie ChargeGenie ?100? Drops through the letterbox!

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Gorillacam for iPhone

Mike Hudson Leave a comment

All iPhone owners will already be aware of the lack of features in the built in iPhone camera app. It was a bit of a disappointment if you ask me.. However, the people of at Joby have released the new Gorillarcam app. Which sports some pretty nifty features, plus it’s completely FREE!

As per the screenshot on the left, the Gorillacam app is capable of:
              • Self-Timer – Set your camera up on your tripod and set the timer for that family group shot, no longer will your beautiful face be missing from your pictures!
              • Time-lapse – Set your camera up to take a shot every 10 seconds, to achieve a perfect time-lapse collection, handy for stop start animation perhaps?
              • 3 Shot Burst – handy for catching those all important action shots, one press of the button gives you 3 shots 3 seconds apart.
              • Bubble Level – does what it says on the tin, perfect if you are using your iPhone on a tripod and want to achieve perfect level photos
              • Grid – again, pretty self explanatory – split the screen up into grid squares, handy for getting something in perfect centre of your shot.
              • Press Anywhere – is a nice feature, enables you to take the picture by tapping the picture and not the small capture button ilke in the built in iPhone app.
              Overall the app seems to perform pretty well, my only comments are due to the way the app accesses the camera and camera roll it seems to be a bit slow at actually saving the pictures. Which isn’t an issue for me, but if you need instant access to take the next shot then this isn’t for you.
              Still, overall I think for free the app plugs a lot of holes in the iPhone’s picture taking capabilities.
              Joby are also the boffins behind the fantastic Gorillamobile which is a flexible. mountable device stand. 

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