Your Android lock screen pattern isn’t as safe as a PIN code

What’s safer? Using a numeric PIN code to unlock your Android smartphone or relying on a finger squiggle? Newly-released research suggests that, at least when someone close by could be looking over your shoulder, you might be safer with an old-fashioned PIN. The research, presented in a paper entitled “Towards Baselines for Shoulder Surfing on Mobile … More Your Android lock screen pattern isn’t as safe as a PIN code

Bankbot trojan returns to Google Play with new tricks

The dangerous Android banking trojan that we first informed about in the beginning of this year has found its way to Google Play again, now stealthier than ever. Dubbed BankBot, the banking trojan has been evolving throughout the year, resurfacing in different versions both on and outside Google Play. The variant we discovered on Google Play on … More Bankbot trojan returns to Google Play with new tricks

What are the risks of allowing people to use their smartphone at the bank?

From time to time, our readers raise questions or issues related to topics that concern, or simply interest them. One such issue was brought up recently by a Twitter user, who asked us: “Do you have any posts discussing the risk to banks when people use their cell phone inside them, ignoring the security guards?” … More What are the risks of allowing people to use their smartphone at the bank?

Hackers can control damaged phones using replacement screens

Replacement screens for cracked smartphones bought from third party vendors could leave you vulnerable to hackers, a new study has revealed. The research, carried out by Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, has shown how hackers can use replacement screens to override and steal data from the refurbished phones. Worryingly for users, the attack on these … More Hackers can control damaged phones using replacement screens

Having “the talk” with parents — the tech talk, that is

Reviewing a lease, preparing a favorite recipe, applying for a loan … these are all things a typical college student might ask parents how to do. But these days, students are more likely to turn to a quick internet search for answers to just about everything. Parents, however, still tend to depend on their children … More Having “the talk” with parents — the tech talk, that is