How to Keep Your Android Phones Safe

Android smartphones offer much in the way of choice and innovation. But the phones also have some serious security problems that need to be dealt with.
 
The truth is that Android phones just need a little bit of love and common sense from their end users to be safe.


 

 

Here are some tips to keep you and your Android phone safe:


10. Don't underestimate the power in your hand

When it comes to your smartphone, you don’t always know the power you're holding. Your phone is basically a computer, and it has the same limitations and weaknesses as any other computer. Take the same basic precautions you would use with a Windows PC — which means, first of all, installing anti-virus software.
9. Be careful where you get your apps

Stu Sjouwerman, founder of KnowBe4, a private security firm in Clearwater, Fla., says every Android user needs to be cautious about downloading and installing apps.

"Not all apps are friendly or safe. Some apps are evil," Sjouwerman said. "Make sure you check out apps carefully before you install them on your phone or tablet. Also, be careful downloading free games for your phone."

8. Don't answer text messages from unfamiliar numbers

Text messages from unknown entities are best deleted, not answered. Otherwise, you might end up with malware.

"If you get urgent fake messages that your phone is virus-infected, these messages are bogus, and if you click and download, that will get your phone actually infected," Sjouwerman said.

7. Be sure app come from the right developers

When it comes to downloading and installing an app, even a popular one like "Angry Birds," you have to make sure it's coming from the right developer.

Fake or pirated apps have been found in both the official Google Play app store and "off-road" markets, and these copies of popular games and apps, which may be free or offered at seriously reduced price, often harbor malware.

Make sure you have the legit version of the app, not a sneaky copy harboring something that will infect your phone.

6. Update your phone's software as often as possible

"Many ask themselves, 'Why should I update my device?' The answer is quite simple: By keeping your operating system up-to-date, you will reduce the risk of security vulnerabilities," said Sabrina M. Powers of SecureState, an information-security provider in Cleveland.

"Your Android device will usually prompt you when an update is available. Most Android updates are carried out 'over-the-air.' Therefore, it's crucial that you are first hooked up to either your mobile network or Wi-Fi before initiating the update," Powers said. "To check for updates, go to Settings -> System Updates -> Firmware Update."
 
5. Choose your cloud storage wisely

Storage in the "cloud" is a good way to save memory space on your phone, but choose it well. You don't need a setup with a lot of features — just one with rock-solid security and a way to limit file-sharing.

4. Back up your data and add a remote-wipe feature

"God forbid your device has been lost or stolen, what should you do? What if the thief attempts to gain access to those embarrassing pictures of you?" Powers said. "No need to panic — there's an easy fix.

"By adding a remote-wipe feature, you can erase those humiliating pictures (and all other data) remotely before the phone thief gets his grubby hands on them," Powers said. "Unlike Apple devices such as the iPhone or iPad, Android devices do not natively incorporate features such as Remote Wipe and Backup.

"So instead choose third-party software from a reputable source designed to keep your data safely off your phone."

3. Don't do business on your phone

"Under no circumstances do any financial transactions on your phone," Sjouwerman said. "Your credit-card data will travel over the air and can be compromised."

It may be more convenient to use your phone, but it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your credit-card numbers and bank accounts.

2.Encrypt your data

Using encryption to keep data secure is an essential part of using any machine. By adding encryption, you give your data security a fighting chance.

"Encryption is known as the translation of data into a secret code. Before data may be accessed, a key or password must be entered," Powers said. "For the sake of your data, it is extremely important to enable disk encryption.

"Enable data encryption by tapping Settings -> Security -> Enable Encryption. By enabling this option, you make it difficult for someone to pull readable data from your phone if the device is lost or stolen."

1. Set your passcode or pattern lock

Use a passcode or pattern lock to protect your phone. If you're choosing a numerical passcode, use more than the minimum four digits.

Instead, use something long and complicated and you will be rewarded with greater security. As always, choose your passcode or pattern wisely.





Credits:
Technewsdaily 

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Shooting Your Restaurant Meal on the Sly

Some restaurants are clamping down on diners who take photos of their food. The New York Times this week reported a trend in some upscale restaurants of prohibiting cameras (or at least the use of a flash, which can irritate other diners).

However, not all restaurant owners object. Not too long ago I was creating my first bowl of Pho, a popular Vietnamese soup, at a small family-run restaurant in Salt Lake City. As I was snapping photos with my iPhone, the owner came over to see the pictures. She wanted to be sure I sent her copies. 
She even "liked" the photos on Instagram .

You never know how restaurant staff will react, and many people think it's just plain rude to take pictures of your meal. I've since learned to resist the temptation to capture a beautiful dish when dining out with my children, who are the most critical of my shoot-and-share-to-Instagram habit. But I've also learned a few tricks  to make picture-taking less noticeable when they're not around.

Here are tips to take discreet photos with your phone when dining out:

1. Stay seated. If you stand up to take a photo from above — an angle that many professional food photographers use — you'll only draw attention to yourself.
2. Likewise, don't rearrange the plates to make a more attractive composition or get closer to the window for natural light. Ask for a table by a window and shoot your food before the table becomes cluttered.
3. Turn off your flash.
4. Turn off the camera sound that simulates the click of a shutter. In quiet settings, it's a dead giveaway. To do this on an iPhone, use the switch above the volume buttons to turn your phone on silent mode. You can silence your Android in the same way or turn just the shutter sound off in your camera settings. (Some carriers have disabled this feature.)

If you are really worried about getting chastised for shooting your food, you might try the Stalker app , available for $1.99 in the App Store. You can set it to take a sequence of photos while it displays a dummy screen, such as your email app, to make it look as though you're doing something other than taking photos.


Credits:
Technewsdaily

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Tagalog For Foreigners

Tagalog is an interesting South East Asian language to learn. 98% of the words are derived from the Spanish language since the Philippines used to be a former colony of Spain for almost a century.
 
Moreover, it is closely related to its neighboring languages, Malay and Bahasa Indonesia.

Make no mistake, Tagalog isn’t that complicated to pronounce either.  As long as you can pronounce the vowels a,e,i,o u, you’ll get by. Unlike other languages with a difference between spoken and written form, Written Tagalog is also the same as spoken Tagalog.


For foreigners learning the language or who would like to try learning it, Eavesdrop would like to recommend purchasing the book entitled “ Tagalog for Foreigners” by Paraluman S. Apillera. 

The book is interesting because Apillera has broken the language into tidbits for Foreigners to learn with ease. There are also English translations of the sentences and words plus a conjugation chart of all Tagalog verbs.

 

Eavesdrop decided to provide a” sneak peek “ of the book:

We hope you have fun learning Tagalog! And maybe… just maybe, when you’ve become fluent, try learning the local dialects! You’ll be amazed how diverse the Philippine language is!

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Celebrating New Year with a bang

Feel that moment in the year 2013

 

The year 2012 has made us laugh and cry.  This coming 2013, a new chapter of your life is beginning to unfold. So how do you prepare for that moment? We give mind blowing ideas to celebrate 2013 with a loud bang! Ready?

Start saying “ I can” instead of  “ I can’t”

There’s an old adage that goes “whatever the mind will conceive, the body will achieve” and there’s no doubt, truth exists in here.

Life is full of obstacles that hinder us from attaining our goals. Sometimes, there are circumstances where we just want to give up.  No matter how painful it is, always say to yourself “I can do it!”  and perform the methods that are necessary to achieve that goal. You’ll be amazed at the results in the end.






  Right practice spells P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

In Malcom Gladwell’s Outliers,  Gladwell talked about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and other professional players in their field. He noted that while they may be praised by people and the media for their awesome talents, behind the glamorous façade lies an exhausting and yet, painful experience…these prodigals spent a lifetime perfecting their skills. By practicing every day, under the guide of a good mentor, they are able to succeed at their own cost. However, their time had to be sacrificed. Good bye play dates. Hello piano lessons.

 

Learn something different

We’ve all been programmed to excel in our chosen fields.  However, we had become too oblivious of the environment out of our comfort zone. 

While pursuing your Business Administration degree, take the time to learn something different like languages or computer programming.  Take those cooking classes and show off the Master Chef in you. Remember, once you decided to learn something new to feed your soul with additional knowledge, it must be something that interests you.


Be the jack of all trades. Learn something different and who knows? You might discover your hidden abilities!
 

 Update your wardrobe.


Seriously, why do you have those thermal jackets now that you’ve moved to a country with a tropical climate?! Update your wardrobe and throw away unnecessary clothes that you didn’t wear for  the past few months. Get a new look and new style.

Get an new haircut

 We all deserve to look better this year. why not try that asymmetrical hair cut  to show a different side of you?

Been there, done that.

Trade junk foods for fruits and vegetables

Come on, admit... you've been munching on unhealthy foods last year. this time, eat something healthy!  it's ok to cheat once in a while to reward yourself, but don't overdo it! Opt for prunes and grapes instead of Cheetos and Lays.

Beat the bulge

Exercise regularly and try a different sport! Maybe you've been doing Yoga too long.. care to try hard core cardio exercises?

Whatever you do this year, we wish that you'll be able to achieve all your goals. patience is necessary but the courage to fight until the end will show you the way to success.. anyway,

  HAPPY NEW EVERYONE FROM EAVESDROP!

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Keeping Demons at Bay

If you are reading this then the feared prophesized apocalypse of Dec. 21, 2012, has quietly passed. Like many of these failed doomsday prophecies it will be remembered with some degree of amusement. But did you know this year the traditional Korean holiday of “Dongji” was also on Dec. 21? People eat “patjuk,” or red bean porridge, on Dongji in the hope of keeping away diseases and bad luck.It is not clear how far back this practice goes but up until the late Joseon period many Koreans placed red bean paste on the gates of their homes in hopes of warding off the malevolent spirit of Gong-gong’s son. Of course, this story has many variations.

In 1900, James Scarth Gale described Gong-gong as a Chinese man who lived in 2832 B.C. This was during the mythological reign of Fu Xi, the first Chinese ruler. According to one legend, Fu Xi and his sister Nuwa were the only survivors of a great flood and out of loneliness begged the Emperor of the Heaven to grant them companionship. To aid the Emperor of the Heaven, Fu Xi and Nuwa made humans out of clay and the gods breathed life into them. (An interesting variation claims that it was Nuwa who created humans but did so on the seventh day — the previous days, in order, she created chickens, dogs, sheep, pigs, cows and horses).

One of the humans created was Gong-gong. According to Gale, “In one of his playful moods (Gong-gong) broke the pillars of heaven and destroyed the props of earth.” Gong-gong’s son soon died and became “a malignant and hurtful devil” that could only be kept at bay by red bean paste and porridge because he abhorred them while he had lived.

Other sources claim that Gong-gong lived during the reign of Ta Yao, another legendary Chinese king who ruled from 2333 B.C. to about 2234 B.C. Gong-gong’s son may have been an executioner and caused misery amongst the people —  even after his death which was said to have taken place on this day. His malevolent spirit allegedly spread epidemics and could only be warded off by eating red bean paste — a food that he despised while alive.

Another legend as to why Koreans eat patjuk dates back to the Silla period (57 B.C. — 935 A.D.) when a young scholar was often visited at night by a man who would advise him of household and farming duties and then leave before sunrise.

His advice was always good but as time passed the young scholar grew thinner and weaker. A monk, concerned about the young scholar’s health, warned him that his guest was not to be trusted and suggested that the scholar splatter the guest with blood from a white horse. He did as he was instructed and was startled to discover that the man transformed into a goblin that vowed vengeance and fled.

But each year on Dongji, the man would reappear and the scholar was advised to spread the patjuk around the house instead of the horse’s blood as the color red was believed to be able to keep evil spirits away. Apparently it worked and this is why Koreans eat patjuk.

Whatever the traditional reasoning behind patjuk may be, a more practical one for modern times is that it tastes good and wards off the chill of winter.

Credits:

Robert Neff is a contributing writer for K.T.

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