Android , Apple , Enterprise , GDPR , Internet Security , iPhone , Mobile , OS X Do I need a VPN for 2018?
With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a… Published 3 days ago in 18th February 2018 By Ben Powell Share this…
With a growing concern for privacy on the internet – many users are asking the question, “Do I need a VPN for 2018?”. In this article we aim to give you some basic knowledge of VPNs in relation to your privacy and security online.
VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network.
A VPN creates a secure network connection over a public network such as the internet.
Corporations, Government agencies and Schools use VPNs to create a secure network over the internet to allow users access to resources as if they were physically at the main office location.
As it is a Private network, users need to authenticate with a unique identity and password for extra security.
In the context of this article a VPN is a 3rd party provider that allows you access to their network to appear as if you are accessing the internet from their location.
So why do I need a VPN?
There are many reasons why an average user should make use of a VPN.
The most common reason is people who simply want the privacy of knowing their ISP is unable to see what they are doing online.
By using a VPN for everything they do online, this user knows that no one is able to pry into their communications.
Bit torrent users are big advocates of VPN usage. Whether they are downloading legal or illegal content (such as moves/tv shows) many Bit torrent users don’t want to become part of an ISPs list just because they have a bit torrent client active.
Another reason would be if you are making extensive use of free/paid wifi locations around the world. By making use of a VPN you are ensuring that any data that you transmit is securely encrypted and can’t be accessed by unscrupulous hotspot operators.
An increasingly more common use for VPNs is spoofing your location for geo-locked content.
Many Netflix users are using VPNs to access content from other countries, e.g. a UK user spoofing their location as the US to access a much larger content library.
Some VPN users do so because it allows them to evade censorship by networks, such as schools, work or even your ISPs.
Using a VPN allows the user to bypass any restrictions that these networks may have with standard content filters.
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a VPN?
Simply put, instead of accessing the internet directly through your ISP, you access the internet through an encrypted/secure VPN tunnel.
Without a VPN, when you access any information online it goes through your ISPs servers. This allows your ISP to see anything and everything that you do online.
With a VPN, you connect to a server run by the VPN provider.
This is done through an encrypted connection. By doing so the only information your ISP can see is fully encrypted. This makes it impossible for them to monitor any of your activity.
When connected to a VPN server, your web browsing/activities all appear to be done from the IP address of that VPN server. As mentioned previously, this means that your physical location is also hidden as well as any data you access.
A major disadvantage of using a VPN is that your internet speeds will slow down due to the encrypting/decrypting of all the information you access online. This does use some extra processing power but nothing too noticeable on modern technology.
Using a VPN also adds extra hops on your data’s journey through the internet, this simply means your data has to travel further and therefore slows down your connection slightly.
Probably the biggest concern for users who sign up for a VPN service is that the VPN provider can access their internet activity instead. This moves the privacy concern away from their ISP to another company. This is why users should be very careful when selecting a VPN provider as we detail further on in this article.
Is using a VPN legal?
The vast majority of countries have laws in place that mean users have the legal right to privacy. Therefore VPN services are very much legal in these countries.
Very few countries, such as China and Iraq, have banned usage of VPN services. Some countries such as Iran have made it a requirement that the only legal VPNs are those registered and approved by the government, therefore making them virtually useless.
Free or Paid?
It is widely believed that using a free VPN is a bad idea for security. Running a VPN service is not free and therefore most free services will not be as secure as a well-reviewed paid service.
A free VPN service has to pay their bills somehow and this is likely through handing off users browsing data for a price!
Just because a VPN provider offers a paid service does not automatically mean they are secure and trustworthy.
How do I choose a VPN for 2018?
Choosing a VPN means considering all the things a VPN service can offer.
As always, doing your own research on all of these subjects is highly recommended, there is no such thing as a perfect VPN that does it all!
Below are some topics to consider when choosing a VPN for 2018. Price – How much do you want to spend? Speed – Many VPNs offer a free trial where you can speed test the connection. Privacy – Does the VPN provider keep logs? Support – Is the customer support quick to respond, do they provide good answers? Software – Do they offer a VPN client for all platforms (Windows, OS X, Android, iOS)? Servers – Is there a large geographical selection of servers to choose from?
Recommendations for a VPN for 2018
Here are some recommendations for reputable VPN providers. As mentioned above you should always do your own research with your specific needs to find the most suitable VPN!
Accepts Bitcoin payment for anonymity focused users Kill switch and DNS leak protection
Well rated mobile apps
That One Privacy Site ( www.thatoneprivacysite.
net ) offers a tool that allows you to compare a massive selection of VPN providers – https://thatoneprivacysite.net/simple-vpn-comparison-chart/ Be the first to write a comment. Leave a Reply
Processors (CPUs) provide the brainpower for all the computerized devices we use day to day, from PCs and smartphones down… Published 2 weeks ago in 10th February 2018 By Ben Powell
Processors (CPUs) provide the brainpower for all the computerized devices we use day to day, from PCs and smartphones down to mundane things such as ATMs. Therefore an exploit – or exploits – that affects virtually all of these devices at the same time is a shocking thing to hear about.
Unfortunately, early 2018 saw just such a thing happen with the news that a design flaw in nearly all modern processors had been found. What are Meltdown and Spectre?
Meltdown and Spectre are the names given to the two newly discovered vulnerabilities that affect virtually every device with a processor in it.
They rely on retrieving small amounts of data that are made available outside of the processor temporarily. This happens due to a design in processors called “speculative execution”.
This is the process where a CPU essentially guesses what information it will need next to function quickly.
Spectre allows attackers to force the processor itself to start the speculative execution process.
They then access the extra data to obtain sensitive information that should never be available.
Meltdown fundamentally breaks down the mechanism that stops applications from accessing system memory. By doing so it enables exploits to access arbitrary system memory to retrieve sensitive data.
Both exploits were independently discovered by multiple teams of researchers.
Meltdown Jann Horn (Google Project Zero) Werner Haas, Thomas Prescher (Cyberus Technology) Daniel Gruss, Moritz Lipp, Stefan Mangard, Michael Schwarz(Graz University of Technology)
Spectre Jann Horn (Google Project Zero) Paul Kocher in collaboration with Daniel Genkin (University of Pennsylvania and University of Maryland), Mike Hamburg (Rambus), Moritz Lipp (Graz University of Technology), and Yuval Yarom (University of Adelaide and Data61)
What systems are affected?
On a technical level, every Intel processor that implements out-of-order execution (speculative execution) is potentially affected.
This includes almost all Intel processors dating back all the way to 1995! A portion of AMD processors and ARM processors are also affected.
All desktop, laptop and cloud computing services may be affected by Meltdown. Am I affected by Meltdown and Spectre?
Yes!
This may seem like a very blunt answer but due to the wide-reaching nature of the design flaw, you almost certainly have a device that will have been affected. Does my antivirus protect me?
Antivirus programs could theoretically detect the use of these exploits, however, in practice it is very unlikely. It is possible that your antivirus could detect malware designed to exploit these vulnerabilities but not the actual vulnerabilities themselves. How do I protect myself?
The Meltdown exploit is able to be fixed with a software patch as it relies on breaking the isolation between user apps and the operating system.
Computers fitted with a vulnerable processor and running unpatched operating systems will be open to exploit.
Fortunately, Operating system vendors have released relevant patches to protect their users. As long as you regularly update your operating system using built-in update tools, you should be fully protected from the Meltdown vulnerability.
As usual, it is best to operate safe web browsing habits and not install any potential malware on to your device that may potentially make use of these vulnerabilities.
Spectre has proven to be much harder to protect from as it is executed at the hardware level.
Initial advice so far is to follow the basic steps (similar to meltdown): Update your operating system frequently Install updates from your hardware manufacturer (firmware updates) Turn on isolation mode in your web browser ( Chrome and Firefox ) – This prevents exploits in javascript from utilizing Spectre vulnerability.
What next?
The main thing for most people to do is to not panic. If you have followed the basic security steps and best practices above then you will almost certainly be safe.
It is important to note that some of the security patches that have been released may deliver a performance hit to your device.
This is a widespread complaint and many of the operating system vendors recognize this as an issue.
They have stated that the performance hit should not be noticeable to the average user, however, hits to performance are “highly variable and depend on a number of factors”.
If you feel like your device performance has been significantly affected, do some research on whichever update you just installed. Other people may have suggestions and/or the vendor themselves may recognize a compatibility issue with certain device setups. Conclusion
The shock release of these two huge vulnerabilities should be a wakeup call to the entire world.
It is increasingly important in this day and age to be ever vigilant about what information you store on your devices.
More importantly, users and companies should focus on preventative practices, such as being aware of potential malware that could expose devices to cybercriminals.
Most people are made to believe that all computing devices need to have antivirus software, regardless of the operating system… Published 2 weeks ago in 7th February 2018 By Ben Powell
Most people are made to believe that all computing devices need to have antivirus software, regardless of the operating system they are running on.
Apple’s mobile devices are powered by iOS, one of the most advanced and secure systems you may come across. Even though security firms offer antivirus for iPhone to safeguard your devices, do you really need one? How is iOS different than other mobile platforms like Android?
Unlike Apple, Google has provided a lot more flexibility to its users when it comes to installing applications on their devices.
Though by default, an Android device restricts its owner from installing files from unknown sources, this can be changed almost effortlessly through the device’s settings. While this has allowed users and developers have a lot more versatility when it comes to installing and building software, it left a void in the system for cyber criminals to exploit.
The case is not the same with iOS, however. Apple doesn’t provide its iPhone, iPod or iPad users with this feature, limiting them to mostly the App Store. Certainly, hackers and exploiters have got their hands on having root access to iOS, a privilege of removing restrictions imposed by Apple, this, however, is something users wouldn’t be encouraged to proceed with as it voids Apple’s warranty for the device.
In addition, Apple keeps updating its iOS from time to time keeping in mind to fix the exploit. Apple doesn’t really allow any Antivirus to function like it normally would:
According to Rich Mogull, analyst and CEO of Securosis, a security firm – security software are designed for latching on to hooks to have deep access to the operating system. This allows them to monitor if a threat persists.
However, this creates a potential exposure for the software itself to become a target. All that is required by cybercriminals is to find a loophole in a sloppily designed antivirus.
Hence, Apple kept in mind to design iOS such, that no software would have the possibility of grappling on to these hooks.
On the other hand though, founder and CEO of security firm Kaspersky Lab, Eugene Kaspersky has warned Apple that sooner or later iOS would become a target of malicious attacks. And when that happens, it could seriously bring down the reputation of the company, giving an advantage to other mobile platforms.
For the time being though, iOS’s security model of having a strong wall between its apps and operating system seems to work just fine. Then, what about the antivirus for iPhone that are available?
Apple itself promises its users that their devices are well secured and officially bans all antivirus apps, revealing them to be spam aimed at generating money from uninformed owners.
At the same time, an antivirus app search in the store would reveal that there are enough of them there. These, however, are designed to provide privacy and security from thefts more than to defend potential system threats as claimed by most. The last thing home users would want to happen is have their iPhones or iPads stolen or their data mishandled.
Apps like Find My iPhone, Avira Mobile Security, McAfee Security, Norton Mobile Security take care exactly of that. They allow owners to wipe their device if it falls into the wrong hands. Bitdefender Mobile Security works similarly, also alerting users if their accounts ever get breached. Citrix Secure Web claims to protect users from malicious websites and phishing attacks.
While that sounds impressive, the iOS’s default explorer, Safari is well capable of handling that itself. Notice that these software firms refrain from using the term ‘antivirus’ in their app’s name like they do in their desktop counterparts? You guessed it right – that’s because they were never designed to protect phones and tablets from viruses, but rather, from data thefts! How do I protect my device if it has been jailbroken?
While ‘jailbreaking’ has exposed that the iOS is not entirely fool-proof, the system software is still remarkably secure and stable. Unlike on the Android, malware hasn’t yet been able to find their way to the operating system through software from third-party sources. However, since Apple doesn’t take any responsibility for a jailbroken device, taking a few precautions might be a good idea.
Say No to Piracy: It is always better to stay away from pirated software. As has been the case with Android, developers of third-party apps get paid to generate traffic through their software. Though, third-party software is unlikely to affect the performance of an iOS device as much as an Android device, taking a precaution is still always better than having to cure.
Secure your jailbroken iDevice by changing the root password: As of today’s date, there have been two exploits discovered that are aimed at a jailbroken device and both of them try to access its administrator account, popularly known as ‘root’.
However, securing it by changing the root password is relatively easy. A Google Search would give you tons of results on how to do that. Since by default iPhone restricts enabling root access, these exploits are only possible on a rooted/jailbroken device. Keep your device updated:
You may have heard news about the flaw in iPhone’s Wi-Fi chip or how an iCloud is capable of holding a device as hostage. Apple might have security exploits from time to time but it keeps a track of everything so closely that the latest iOS update includes all the fixes. Of course, there isn’t a need of immediately updating the device as some updates initially might be less stable than one would anticipate.
Conclusion
In summary antivirus for iPhone is not needed or even realistically available. The multiple pieces of security software available for iPhone are still useful, however. Having the ability to track your device or wipe it remotely in the event of loss or theft is essential for the majority of iPhone users. The biggest security threat to iPhone users isn’t virus or malware, it is from general internet security threats as shown in our article – What internet security threats to look out for in 2018?
For many people, 2017 will be considered the year that Cryptocurrencies entered the mainstream. No longer an obscure new technology… Published 2 weeks ago in 5th February 2018 By Ben Powell
For many people, 2017 will be considered the year that Cryptocurrencies entered the mainstream. No longer an obscure new technology used by a small number of enthusiastic followers, knowledge of their potential value is now widespread and many are looking for the Top 10 Cryptocurrencies for 2018.
Trading different Cryptocurrencies for investment purposes has become normal with many investors making large financial gains over the previous 12 months.
However, in recent weeks, there have been several events that have caused short-term volatility in the prices of various Cryptos. In some cases, the price falls have been dramatic.
Looking forward into 2018, what Cryptocurrencies are likely to weather this storm and come out on top at the end of the year?
1. Bitcoin (BTC)
This is the original cryptocurrency, emerging in 2008 after it was released by an anonymous programmer or group of individuals under the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto.
Although it has increased in value throughout 2017, this is causing problems as the huge amount of people trading it has made its value incredibly volatile, meaning that it is increasingly difficult to use to buy things.
Its value, however, could still be driven higher in 2018.
There are a very small number of cryptos which you can buy directly with fiat currency on trading exchanges.
On a Cryptocurrency trading platform, you usually have to buy an established crypto like Bitcoin with fiat currency and then trade that for the crypto you actually want to purchase.
The fact that Bitcoin is still peoples first choice in this regard means that it remains a very important Cryptocurrency in 2018.
2. Ethereum
This is often seen as the number two option in the Crypto community and is looked upon as Bitcoin’s main rival. However, it is very different to Bitcoin.
It is composed of two parts ‘Ethereum’ which is the underlying network and ‘Ether’ which are tokens sent on the network.
Again, whilst Ethereum is not in use widely by the general public, the fact that you usually have to buy an established crypto with fiat currency and then trade that for the crypto you actually want to purchase means that Ethereum, which is also used in this regard, is likely to continue to be popular in 2018.
3.
Ripple (XRP)
This is a Crypto that experienced huge price rises in 2017. Despite appearing to be a competitor to the other major Cryptos, Ripple serves a different purpose and is, in fact, a centralised transaction network which can be used to transfer money just like a bank.
Money sent on the Ripple network is converted into the XRP token on one end and then back into the currency of choice at the other end.
Towards the end of 2018, several major companies began to announce trials of Ripple in its capacity as a payments mechanism.
Should any of these trials prove successful in 2018, this could be the first Crypto to be used widely with obvious implications for demand for the XRP token.
However, it is not alone though in its design as a transaction network and has some competition in Stellar.
4. Stellar (XLM)
Launched in 2014 Stellar is different. Whereas most of the coins out there are just coins, Stellar is comprised of two things, the Stellar network, a network that can potentially be used to transfer everything from Dollars to Bitcoin and the other part, Stellar Lumen.
Stellar Lumen were coins created by the founders of Stellar. These tokens can also be sent on the Stellar network to pay for things potentially. But they have another use.
There is a fee to send anything (Dollars, Bitcoin) on the Stellar payment network and this fee is paid in Stellar Lumen.
One Lumen is enough to make 100,000 payments though so a little goes an awful long way. When the time comes to sell Stellar it’s the Stellar Lumen tokens you will be selling.
After a slow start, there were several trials announced of Stellar in its capacity as a payments mechanism in late 2017 with the first Stellar ATM due to launch in Singapore shortly.
Like Ripple, it faces into an exciting 2018.
5. Monero (XMR)
Monero is an open source Cryptocurrency that was created in 2014. It represents a revolution in Cryptocurrency technology.
It improves on existing Cryptocurrencies as it hides the identity of the sender, recipient and transaction amount using a sophisticated algorithm which has been extensively tested.
In the future, the value of Monero is potentially very strong.
Its supply is about the same as Bitcoin yet the underlying technology potentially represents a major improvement on Bitcoin.
The technical structures used to preserve anonymity are stronger than Bitcoin and transaction speeds using the coin are at present much faster than Bitcoin.
The challengers
Whilst the 5 coins above remain likely to grab all the attention in 2018, the next 5 on our Top 10 Cryptocurrencies list are the ones which could generate some surprises.
6. Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
In August 2017 a disagreement between Bitcoin users over its increasing technical limitations led to what is known as a fork of the Bitcoin code.
A group of Bitcoin enthusiasts ‘forked’ the token by switching to new software, hoping it could grow and scale in a way that Bitcoin could not.
The result of that fork was the birth of a whole new token, with a whole new circulation and a new public ledger sperate from the original Bitcoin ledger.
Since its inception, the coin has nearly always been in the top 10 Cryptocurrencies. It has yet to overtake Bitcoin but its founders surely hope that their technical efforts will bear fruit in 2018.
7. Cardano (ADA)
Yet another platform used to send and receive digital money, employing the use of its digital token ADA. It was created by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hopkinson in 2015 and is most popular in Japan.
Cardano is managed by an international group of scientists and academics specialising in blockchain technology. Again, should its unique technology result in more adoption it would become an important Crypto to watch in 2018.
8. NEO (NEO)
This is a relatively new Cryptocurrency.
It enables the development of smart contracts and assets on the blockchain. Neo’s objective, while ultimately utilising many of the same technologies as Ethereum, is to be the platform for a new smart economy
NEO is compared to Ethereum because the two platforms share similar roles and goals, but the underlying technology is very different.
This coin is in its very early days but is supported by an excellent team and had an excellent 2017 with many investors encouraged by its potential based on the high profile of its founders.
9. Litecoin (LTC)
Litecoin is a peer-to-peer Cryptocurrency. Notable differences between Litecoin and say Bitcoin is Litecoin’s much faster transaction speeds and 84 million token limit in comparison to Bitcoins 16 million.
However, it does have a more memory intensive mining process than Bitcoin.
Whilst it is likely to remain popular in 2018, it is facing into an increasingly competitive market. Its speed though means it will likely continue to remain relevant throughout the year.
10. EOS (EOS)
EOS is another blockchain platform aiming to overtake Ethereum as the go-to infrastructure for decentralised apps.
Revealed to the world at the Consensus 2017 event, it is very new and has some way to go to become established.
The platform was created to overtake Ethereum’s low number of transactions per second, which EOS’ founders believed was not high enough to support what would be needed in the future.
EOS can handle up to 50,000 transaction confirmations per second.
This puts it ahead way of Ethereum in terms of speed.
One to watch and our final entry to our Top 10 Cryptocurrencies for 2018.
To check on all the current Cryptocurrency prices – CoinMarketCap.
