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The NSA is not the only government agency asking tech companies for help in cracking technology to access user data. Sources say the FBI has a history of requesting digital backdoors, which are generally understood as a hidden vulnerability in a program that would, in theory, let the agency peek into suspects' computers and communications. In 2005, when Microsoft was about to launch BitLocker , its Windows software to encrypt and lock hard drives, the company approached the NSA, its British counterpart the GCHQ and the FBI, among other government and law-enforcement agencies. Microsoft's goal was twofold: get feedback from the agencies, and sell BitLocker to them. See also: Is It the Dawn of the Encryption App? But the FBI, concerned about its ability to fight crime — specifically, child pornography — apparently repeatedly asked Microsoft to put a backdoor in the software. A backdoor — or trapdoor — is a secret vulnerability that can be exploited to break or … [Read more...] about Did the FBI Lean On Microsoft for Access to Its Encryption Software?

Rebranding It remains unclear if the Redmi K40 Pro will also make its way to global markets as a POCO phone. Babu Mohan 2 Mar 2021 0 Source: Xiaomi What you need to know The POCO F3 could be a rebranded version of the recently launched Redmi K40. In addition to Europe, the phone is also likely to be launched in India in the near future. The Redmi K40 comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 processor, and triple rear cameras with a 48MP main sensor. Xiaomi's Redmi sub-brand launched three impressive new value flagship phones in China last week, including its first phone with a Snapdragon 870 chipset. While Redmi hasn't confirmed any plans of launching the Redmi K40 series in global markets yet, a new FCC listing suggests the vanilla Redmi K40 could make its way to markets outside China as a POCO phone. The FCC listing reveals POCO's next phone will carry the same model number as the Redmi K40. This is … [Read more...] about Xiaomi’s Redmi K40 could soon make its global debut as the POCO F3

Stronger together The three wallpapers are available right now through the Wallpapers app. Ara Wagoner 1 Mar 2021 0 Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central What you need to know Google has its first expansion for its new Curated Culture section of the Wallpapers app. As part of the March Feature Drop, three new wallpapers have been added for International Women's Day next week. The creators of the wallpapers are a duo of female Spanish illustrators that go by the name Cachetejack. The latest feature drop for the Pixel series brings some updates to Google Recorder and Smart Compose, but the most fun part of this month's drop is the new wallpapers for the Curated Culture collection. Last month's wallpapers were celebrating Black History Month, and this month, the trio of new wallpapers are celebrating female empowerment ahead of International Women's Day on March 8. The creator of the three pieces is Cachetejack , an illutstrative duo … [Read more...] about March Pixel Feature Drop adds three new wallpapers for International Women’s Day

When Lavabit — an email service that National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden used — suspended service last week amid hints that it had received a government demand for information, a competing service called Silent Circle made a draconian decision: to obliterate all of its customers' stored email. The episode pointed out two fundamental weaknesses in email. First, even if an email service encrypts messages for secrecy, as Lavabit and Silent Circle did, the email headers and routing protocols reveal who the senders and receivers are, and that information can be valuable in its own right. And second, the passcodes used as keys to decrypt messages can be requested by the government (if held by the email company) or simply stolen by sophisticated malware. When email was created 40 years ago, security or anonymity wasn't part of the design. The routing and labeling protocols plainly state what computer sent it or forwarded it, what computer received it, and what time all this … [Read more...] about Why Email Can’t Be Completely Private

Malaysia Airlines has suffered a data security "incident" that spanned almost a decade and compromised personal data belonging to members of its frequent flyer programme, Enrich. A third-party IT service providers reportedly is involved in the breach. The airline had sent out an emailer to Enrich members this week, stating it was notified of a "data security incident" at the third-party IT supplier. The breach involved "some personal data" between the period of June 2019 and March 2010, it said, adding that these details included members' name, date of birth, contact information, and various frequent flyer data such as number, status, and tier level. APAC consumers want IoT devices, but fear data leaks Majority of consumers in Asia-Pacific already own at least one Internet of Things (IoT) device and plan to buy more, but 81 percent fear their personal data is being leaked and 71 percent worry about being monitored without their consent. Read More Travel data … [Read more...] about Malaysia Airlines suffers data security ‘incident’ spanning nine years