Looking for the right click keyboard command? It’s not often you’re left without a mouse, a trackball, or a touch pad, but there are those rare occasions when nothing works! Oddly, my touch pad died the other day, I didn’t have a mouse, and my computer didn’t have a secondary mouse tracking option!

It was quite interesting to sit for hours trying to figure out what combo of keys does what! Anyway, I now have learned several useful keyboard shortcuts so that I can use my computer without the need for a mouse device!

So how can you control the computer without your mouse? Well firstly, the easiest thing to do is use the ALT key and the ATL + TAB key combo. ALT + TAB lets you switch between programs and just pressing the ALT key on your keyboard focuses onto the menu options, such as File, Edit, etc.

You can then use the arrow keys to navigate the menus for a program and press Enter to “left click” on an item.

But what if you need to right-click in a Word document or right-click on a file to see it’s properties? The right-click keyboard shortcut is to hold down SHIFT and then press F10.That’s one of my favorite keyboard shortcuts because it comes in VERY handy and sometimes it’s actually easier to use the keyboard than the mouse.

There are some other handy Windows keyboard shortcuts that you should know in case you are stuck in a bad situation:

CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (then use ARROW keys to select an item)

ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box

ALT+F4: Closes the current program window

ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

 by Joshua Carroll

Many people fail to realize just how much energy there is locked up in matter. The nucleus of any atom is an oven of intense radiation, and when you open the oven door, that energy spills out; oftentimes violently. However, there is something even more intrinsic to this aspect of matter that escaped scientists for years.

It wasn’t until the brilliance of Albert Einstein that we were able to fully grasp this correlation between mass and energy. Enter E=mc2. This seemingly simple algebraic formula represents the correlation of energy to matter (energy equivalence of any given amount of mass). Many have heard of it, but not very many understand what it implies. Many people are unaware of just how much energy is contained within matter. So, for the next few minutes, I will attempt to convey to you the magnitude of your own personal potential energy equivalence.

First, we must break down this equation. What do each of the letters mean? What are their values? Let’s break it down from left to right:

E represents the energy, which we measure in Joules. Joules is an SI measurement for energy and is measured as kilograms x meters squared per seconds squared [kg x m2/s2]. All this essentially means is that a Joule of energy is equal to the force used to move a specific object 1 meter in the same direction as the force.

m represents the mass of the specified object. For this equation, we measure mass in Kilograms (or 1000 grams).

c represents the speed of light. In a vacuum, light moves at 186,282 miles per second. However in science we utilize the SI (International System of Units), therefore we use measurements of meters and kilometers as opposed to feet and miles. So whenever we do our calculations for light, we use 3.00 × 108m/s, or rather 300,000,000 meters per second.

So essentially what the equation is saying is that for a specific amount of mass (in kilograms), if you multiply it by the speed of light squared (3.00×108)2, you get its energy equivalence (Joules). So, what does this mean? How can I relate to this, and how much energy is in matter? Well, here comes the fun part. We are about to conduct an experiment.

This isn’t one that we need fancy equipment for, nor is it one that we need a large laboratory for. All we need is simple math and our imagination. Now before I go on, I would like to point out that I am utilizing this equation in its most basic form. There are many more complex derivatives of this equation that are used for many different applications. It is also worth mentioning that when two atoms fuse (such as Hydrogen fusing into Helium in the core of our star) only about 0.7% of the mass is converted into total energy. For our purposes we needn’t worry about this, as I am simply illustrating the incredible amounts of energy that constitutes your equivalence in mass, not illustrating the fusion of all of your mass turning into energy.

Let’s begin by collecting the data so that we can input it into our equation. I weigh roughly 190 pounds. Again, as we use SI units in science, we need to convert this over from pounds to grams. Here is how we do this:

1 Josh = 190lbs
1 lbs = 453.6g
So 190lbs × 453.6g/1 lbs = 86,184g
So 1 Josh = 86,184g

Since our measurement for E is in Joules, and Joule units of measurement are kilograms x meters squared per seconds squared, I need to convert my mass in grams to my mass in kilograms. We do that this way:

86,184g × 1kg/1000g = 86.18kg.

So 1 Josh = 86.18kg.
Now that I’m in the right unit of measure for mass, we can plug the values into the equation and see just what we get:
E=mc2
E= (86.18kg)(3.00 × 108m/s)2
E= 7.76 × 1018 J

That looks like this: 7,760,000,000,000,000,000 or roughly 7.8 septillion Joules of energy.

Artistic rendition of energy released in an explosion. Via Pixabay.

This is an incredibly large amount of energy. However, it still seems very vague. What does that number mean? How much energy is that really? Well, let’s continue this experiment and find something that we can measure this against, to help put this amount of energy into perspective for us.

First, let’s convert our energy into an equivalent measurement. Something we can relate to. How does TNT sound? First, we must identify a common unit of measurement for TNT. The kiloton. Now we find out just how many kilotons of TNT are in 1 Joule. After doing a little searching I found a conversion ratio that will let us do just this:

1 Joule = 2.39 × 10-13 kilotons of explosives. Meaning that 1 Joule of energy is equal to .000000000000239 kilotons of TNT. That is a very small number. A better way to understand this relationship is to flip that ratio around to see how many Joules of energy is in 1 kiloton of TNT. 1 kiloton of TNT = 4.18×1012 Joules or rather 4,184,000,000,000 Joules.

Now that we have our conversion ratio, let’s do the math.

1 Josh (E) = 7.76 x 1018 J

7.76 x 1018 J x 1 kT TNT/ 4.18 x 1012 J = 1,856,459 kilotons of TNT.

Thus, concluding our little mind experiment we find that just one human being is roughly the equivalence of 1.86 MILLION kilotons of TNT worth of energy. Let’s now put that into perspective, just to illuminate the massive amount of power that this equivalence really is.

The bomb that destroyed Nagasaki in Japan during World War II was devastating. It leveled a city in seconds and brought the War in the Pacific to a close. That bomb was approximately 21 kilotons of explosives. So that means that I, 1 human being, have 88,403 times more explosive energy in me than a bomb that destroyed an entire city… and that goes for every human being.

So when you hear someone tell you that you’ve got real potential, just reply that they have no idea….

 A team of Swedish researchers found that the presence of a receptor that regulates general serotonin activity in the brain correlates with people’s capacity for transcendence, the ability to apprehend phenomena that cannot be explained objectively. Scientists have for long suspected that serotonin influences spirituality. They found that drugs known to alter serotonin such as LSD also induce mystical experiences. If this neurotransmitter is released in huge quantities into the body, the individual will reach a higher state of consciousness. An immense feeling of joy and happiness takes over .

Have you ever come across the term LSD? Well, I’m sure you have. LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide is a powerful drug that can make or mar. While it can churn out millions for the peddler it can ruin the one who ingests it. So notorious is this one that the mere possession of it can see you to the gallows. Now what offence can LSD commit? Why are the ones introduced to it ready to throw away every penny they have just to buy it? Let’s find out.

In 1938 Albert Hoffman a Swiss Scientist, synthesized LSD while researching lysergic acid derivatives, from the ergot fungus that grows on rye. While re-synthesizing LSD he accidentally absorbed a small quantity of the same through his fingertips. He experienced something unfamiliar, something strong. It was the strong effects of LSD (1).

Later on in the 1940s, LSD made its entry in the health market under the name Delysid. It was marketed to psychiatrists as a tool for understanding psychosis and for facilitating psychotherapy. A patient administered Delysid could capture repressed memories. The psychiatrist could get an insight into the patient’s mind via a primary process induced by the hallucinogen. The drug found widespread acceptance. Timothy Leary, a lecturer in Psychology at Harvard University in the 1950s, was a great advocate of LSD. But in 1965 it was banned in the US. Timothy Leary was tried for unlawful possession of marijuana cigarettes and put behind bars. He was sentenced to 30 years (1).

What actually happens when you ingest LSD?

Dr. Fahad Basheer

When ingested LSD acts on specific receptors in the body and binds with them. A feeling akin to pleasure and ecstasy sweeps through the being. But what has LSD got to do with serotonin? Well, the specific receptors are none other than serotonin receptors themselves. 5HT type 2 receptors are the receptors where the entire serotonin binds. These receptors are there within all and the correct peptide that ought to bind there is serotonin itself. The power of serotonin peptide is so great that LSD is no match for it. But to experience it one needs to reach a point called unconditional love. Serotonin unlike other peptides has the power to hold sway over the human mind and body. Made up of tryptophan amino acid, serotonin peptide is a potent mood booster. It is a powerful antidepressant and anti- anxiety peptide. At the physical level it has amazing anti-aging properties. It eliminates the free radicals that accelerate the aging process. A low-level of the peptide can result in eating disorders and obesity (2,3).

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine is a monoamine neurotransmitter that was initially believed to be produced in just one location in the body i.e. the brain. However as research on the topic advanced, it was found that 95% of the total serotonin in the human body is produced in the gut, in the enterochromaffin cells. The rest of the serotonin is synthesized in the serotonergic neurons of the central nervous system. The brain cannot depend upon serotonin supply from outside sources i.e. the gut because it i.e. serotonin, is incapable of crossing the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from external invasions. Hence, the brain has to source its requirement of the neurotransmitter from within (3).

Serotonin contributes to the feeling of well-being and hence, is often referred to as the ‘happiness hormone’. The gut bacteria aid in the production of this neurotransmitter. It imparts a sense of love within the gut in an individual and is also actively involved in preventing depression and regulating sleep, appetite and body temperature. However its influence is not limited to the gut alone (3).

Studies have revealed that serotonin is a potent accelerator critical to maturation of the brain. It has a powerful influence on the brain neurons responsible for mood, sexual desire and functioning, appetite, memory, learning and social behavior. Deficiency of the peptide can lead to autism and Down syndrome (3)

When serotonin is produced in a balanced  amount an immense spiritual feeling takes over. Serotonin is the hormone and the neurotransmitter that makes one feel the spiritual bliss and wellbeing.

 Have you ever built a super cool Hi-Fi Audio amplifier with simple components at your home? If not here is your guide to do so, am pretty sure you are gonna love this. This article narrates about making your DIY high fidelity audio amplifier with output transistor protection circuitry and 2-way speaker protection circuitry. Let’s discuss some striking features which might convince you to try making this amp.

FEATURES OF THIS Hi-Fi AUDIO AMPLIFIER:

1. Input Sensitivity – 0.25mVmax – most phones output such a level
2. Input Impedance – 470ohm – solely depends on R1. You can increase R1 to whatever value you wish or exclude it altogether, but i recommend you keep it at that. Most audio cards of both laptops and phones will handle such an impedance with ease.
3. Frequency Response – 1Hz – 45KHz at -3dB
4. Output Power – 50Wrms or 70W musical power
5. Power Consumption – 95W
6. Efficiency – 53%
7. Ripple Rejection – -68dB – a good value, which will attenuate power supply noise to a few hundred mV. Since the amp is in class B, there will be no substantial current draw at idle state, so the 10mF capacitors will provide exquisite filtering. When signal is applied, the hum will still be so low, that it will be inaudible.
8. THD+N – 0.007@50W/1KHz – This is the value of the power amp. Due to the need of preamp, the value will be slightly higher. This value is often not topped even by the best class A amplifiers, so the amp will have virtually perfect signal recreation. This value is often indicative and may vary to some extend. Worst case scenario is 0.05%, which is still perfect for all intends of purposes. The key moment is to keep the voltage gain of the power amp low, 4 in this case.
9. The output transistors of this audio amplifier are protected from excessive current draw, as one would occur if the output is shorted out while the amp is cranked up to the max. The maximum current draw is 6.3A. The protection is realized by Q13 and Q14 and all the surrounding components in their immediate vicinity.

STAGES OF Hi-Fi AUDIO AMPLIFIER:

1. Power Supply Unit (PSU)
2. Pre Amp Circuit
3. Power amplifier and Protection circuit

POWER SUPPLY UNIT (PSU):

The power supply consists of normal bridge wave rectifier. A filtering capacitors C1 and C2 was used in the circuit. The values of these C1 and C2 should be no less than 10,000uF/35V. I always prefer to use 1500uF as cap value for every amp of current, this is the rule of thumb i follow. It is important to connect a heat sink to the bridges, this will keep the bridge cooler than 50 degree Celsius at 10W dissipation.

PREAMP CIRCUIT:

Preamp circuit was built around op-amp to boost the input signal. It is nothing but a non inverting amp with a closed loop gain of about 20. Variable resistor R3 is used adjust the gain of this preamp circuit. The boosted signal is then goes to the next stage “Power amp and Protection circuit”.

POWER AMP AND PROTECTION CIRCUIT:

The power amplifier takes the high impedance input signal, further amplifies it and transforms it into a low impedance signal, suitable for the speaker. The output voltage offset is set by R10 and the gain of the power amplifier is set by R14 and is currently set to 4.3. An input signal of 4.6Vmax would be enough for the full output swing.

The amplifier also incorporates two-way speaker protection. One of the protections delay the speakers from enabling for 5s after the amp has been powered up. This is to negate any peaks that may strike the speaker in the first few seconds, before all the regimes have settled down. This protects the speakers,and stops a loud popping sound, when the amp is first powered up. Another protection comprises the relay , Q19 and the delay RC chain R35,C9. I designed it for a relay that enables at 8V. Any one will do, but the turn on time will vary.

The second protection i came up with is quite interesting, and i personally haven’t seen it in any other circuits. This circuit comprises the two most right op amps (they come in one package) and Q20 and protects the speakers if any of the power transistors fail. Usually this will expose the speakers to the full voltage of one of the rails (30V) , which may be catastrophic for speakers and diode bridges. So the bottom line is that it should absolutely be avoided.

How it works, you may ask. The two op-amps work as comparators. One end is set at a voltage close to the rail voltage. You can choose any voltage between 22V and 28V set by R38/R39 and R40/R41. I`ve chosen a voltage of around 26V. So, since the output in a normal operation will never exceed 0.707 of the max rail voltage (21Vmax) it is safe to assume, that during a normal operation, no false triggering will occur.

Just in case if one of the power transistors fail, it most often becomes a short-circuit. That exposes the speaker and the other input of the respectful comparator to a voltage higher than the reference voltage (26V). This causes the op amp to trigger the Q20 transistor, which then fully discharges C9, the capacitor that keeps the relay driving transistor on, thus cutting the connection to the speaker. This protection is very fast (50-60ms) and is superior than a simple fuse protection, which may keep the short for up to 1s.

Temperature drift compensation by Q11 and R22 thermistor. Both should be mounted close to the heat sink or somehow glued to it. The increasing temperature will cause the output voltage to drift around the 0V offset, so the temperature dependence of the thermistor and the Q11 transistor, will keep the voltage centered around 0V, or will partially null this effect. Usually a little more complex system is used, but this amp is only rated 50W, so even this will do the trick.

TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The most important tip i have to give you is to never exclude C6. It ( with conjunction with C4) are the two components that ensure the amplifier stability and keep its tendency to oscillations at bay.
2. Use the closest matched transistors from the BCxxx in the circuit, that you can get. Just buy 40-50 of the BC550 ( they are extremely cheap) and like 10-20 of the BC560 and test them all, and choose only ones with the closest hFe you can get.
3. Also use very low tolerance resistors, the 3.3k resistors should have a 1% tolerance.
4. Since it’s virtually impossible to match all components i have added R10, which is used to fine tune the output voltage offset. Using it, set the offset closest to 0V as possible. To do so, don’t use a voltmeter at the output. they tend to be somewhat inaccurate, instead use a mA meter in series with the load. Once you’ve hit the closest you can get to 0mA, that’s your center point.
5. The circuit is designed to only be able to handle 50W of power. If you want to get more out of it, you will need to put another pair of the output transistors in parallel, increase the power supply rails and increase the gain of the power amp by lowering the value of R14. Keep in mind that the transistors chosen are for this voltage levels and they will not work at a differential voltage more than 80V. The maximum voltage you can obtain is 0,7 of the Vcc, therefore the maximum power is (0,707.Vcc)^2/Rl.
6. You must provide a sufficient heat sink to keep the power transistors cool. Keep the thermistor and Q11 close or even glued onto the heat sink, They are the temperature drift compensation components.
7. Set the current through the power transistors to 20mA by R20
8. Set the output voltage offset to closest to 0V you can, by R10, keep the amp running at max output for 20min or so and readjust if necessary.
9. The diode bridges must also be mounted on sufficient heatsink to handle roughly 10W-15W of power dissipation
10. Use a star-shaped ground layout topology for lowest hum

FIRST POWER-UP INSTRUCTIONS:

1. After assembling the circuit, make sure everything is soldered correctly and add all the heat sinks.
2. Set R20 somewhere in the middle position.
3. Add a dummy load. Just use a 1W/4ohm resistor submerged in pure water.
4. Power it up. Set your voltmeter to the 20mV scale, and measure the voltage drop from one of the 220mOhm resistors. Adjust R20 until you see a reading of around 5mV. This means that the idle current of the power transistors is set at around 25mA. This sets the amp in the class B region. If you want to push it further in the class AB region (which I do recommend) just adjust R20 until you get a reading of 25mV. This means that the idle current is set around 100mA.
5. Measure the output voltage. Use R10 to adjust the offset until you get it as close to 0V as you can.
6. Inject an input signal (preferably sine wave) or something from the source you’re gonna use the most, keeping the water cooled load, and use an oscilloscope on the output. Adjust the preamp gain until you get a non clipped sine wave on the output, and keep the amp running at maximum power for a while (15-20min) and then remove the input signal. Measure the output voltage offset again, and readjust by R10 again.
7. Restart the amp again and see if everything is working as it should, if not retrace your steps and readjust again

src: https://www.gadgetronicx.com/50w-hi-fi-audio-amplifier/

 Keyboard shortcuts make our life very easy, but many seem to care less about them. In this article we will see the basic keyboard shortcuts everyone should know.

Shortcut Keys	Description
Alt + F	File menu options in current program.
Alt + E	Edit options in current program
Alt + Tab	Switch between open programs
F1	Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
F2	Rename a selected file
F5	Refresh the current program window
Ctrl + N	Create a new, blank document in some software programs
Ctrl + O	Open a file in current software program
Ctrl + A	Select all text.
Ctrl + B	Change selected text to be Bold
Ctrl + I	Change selected text to be in Italics
Ctrl + U	Change selected text to be Underlined
Ctrl + F	Open find window for current document or window./ Search.
Ctrl + S	Save current document file.
Ctrl + X	Cut selected item.
Shift + Del	Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C	Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins	Copy selected item
Ctrl + V	Paste
Shift + Ins	Paste
Ctrl + K	Insert hyperlink for selected text
Ctrl + P	Print the current page or document.
Home	Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home	Goes to beginning of document.
End	Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End	Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home	Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End	Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow	Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow	Moves one word to the right at a time.
Ctrl + Esc	Opens the START menu
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Opens Windows Task Manager
Alt + F4	Close the currently active program
Alt + Enter	Open the Properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut, etc.)

 Android-x86 6.0-rc2 (marshmallow-x86)  2016/08/15

The Android-x86 project is glad to announce 6.0-rc2 release to public. This is the second release candidate for Android-x86 6.0 (marshmallow-x86) stable release. The prebuilt images are available in the following site:

• http://osdn.org/rel/android-x86/android-x86/Release%206.0

Key Features
The 6.0-rc2 release is based on the latest Android Marshmallow-MR2 release (6.0.1_r61) with all AOSP security patches applied. We fixed a lot of issues found in the 6.0-rc1 and added more features:

• Launch the Android-x86 Analytics Program to collect anonymous data from users.
• Update kernel to 4.4.17 with more upstream patches.
• Update Mesa to 12.0.1. The unstable issues of i965/i915/Nvidia GPUs found in 6.0-rc1 are fixed.
• Fix software rendering crashing issues on VM like QEMU and VirtualBox.
• Fix modules auto loading method to improve hardware compatibility.
• Improve audio hal sound card selection.
• Auto-mount USB/sdcard with ext4/ntfs/exfat/vfat filesystems.
• Add back SDCARD=xxx function to vold 3.0.
• RTC time is set to local.

Released Files
We created universal images for most x86 platforms. This release contains two files. One is the 32-bit x86 ISO and the other is the 64-bit x86_64 ISO. Both can be boot from legacy BIOS and newer UEFI firmware. You can choose one of them depends on your devices. In doubt, try the 32-bit ISO for legacy BIOS devices and 64-bit ISO for UEFI devices.

• 32-bit:  android-x86-6.0-rc2.isosha1sum: d05874e2591d18f45f4463f53b0bcb00b7731e15
• 64-bit:  android-x86_64-6.0-rc2.isosha1sum: 8de2faf6c1cae7eee64dbc4d375bcfe359cbb777

For Linux users, just dump the iso into a usb drive to create a bootable usb stick like

$ dd if=android-x86-6.0-rc2.iso of=/dev/sdX

where /dev/sdX is the device name of your usb drive.
Windows's users can use the tool UNetbootin to create a bootable usb stick.
Please read this page for how to install it to the device.
Known issues

• The display of built-in browser messes up sometimes on Skylake GPU.
• Suspend and resume doesn't work on some devices.

Source code
The source code is available in the main git server,

    $ repo init -u git://gitscm.sf.net/gitroot/android-x86/manifest -b marshmallow-x86
    $ repo sync

Read this page for how to compile the source code.

 by CRISTINA CHIPURICI

CONTENT MARKETING SPECIALIST

Not a week goes by without new cyber security threats.

In our latest blog article, my colleage Andra warns about Scylex, a new complex financial security malware that might become a high-threat for financial institutions.

Advertised on a notorious malicious hackers forum, Scylex is a new financial crime kit that strives to be the next Zeus. The creators proudly claim that they developed it from scratch.

It’s currently under monitoring and we’ll keep you updated with any additional information.

Now here are the top 10 most important cyber security news of the past week:

Security articles of the week

1. The NSA hack

In this past week, the spotlight was on the NSA hack.

A group of hackers called “The Shadow Brokers” claimed to have hacked a group linked to the NSA. They dumped a bunch of its hacking tools to prove it and asked for 1 million bitcoin (around $568 million) to release more files.

2. Meet the men who spy on women through their webcams using RATs

So you thought putting tape on your laptop’s webcam is an extremely paranoid measure?

You’ll change your mind after reading this article.

3. Security researcher turns the table on cyber scammers

Scammer gets tricked by security researcher, ends up infected with ransomware.

4. Stealing bitcoins with badges: How Silk Road’s dirty cops got caught

Here’s a long article for you to read over the weekend, about the Silk Road bust.

5. Healthcare’s latest cyber threat: source code for sale on the dark web

A new threat for healthcare: source code went for sale on the dark web. Forbes article explains why this matters.

6. Credit-card stealing malware hits Hyatt, Marriott, Sheraton hotel chains

Hotels belonging to HEI Hotels & Resorts were attacked by hackers who planted credit-card stealing malware on their systems.

HEI Hotels & Resorts includes well known brands such as Westin, Marriott, Sheraton, Hyatt, Intercontinental.

7. SMS scams targeting parents

This one’s a pretty common scam in my country, and it looks like it now reached UK.

It may sound like a parent’s nightmare but it’s just a scam. Here’s how it works: targets receive a text message from someone purpoting to be their child, claiming they were hurt, can’t talk over the phone and need a favor.

Whether to make a few bucks or steal your login credentials, fraudsters have plenty of reasons to send you scam SMS messages. With that in mind, users should always err on the side of caution when they receive any message – especially one that is urgent – from a number they don’t know.

8. New Linux malware installs Bitcoin mining software on the infected device

As my colleague, Andra Zaharia, was saying: malware comes in many shapes and sizes, but its objective is always the same: to make as much money as possible for the attacker.

9. Why ransomware is booming in 2016

Here’s why the 2016 digital landscape is perfect for ransomware.

10. What your hacked account is worth on the dark web

Some people just don’t care about the possibility of getting hacked. They don’t understand how all that information can be used by cyber criminals.

This article from Sophos shows just how valuable our accounts are.

by Adarsh Verma 

Short Bytes: Very often free Wi-Fi comes with time limits and one needs to pay to continue using the internet. But, using methods like MAC address spoofing and DNS Tunneling, one can bypass the time limits. As these methods are a little dishonest, one should only use them when needed urgently.

How to get free Wi-Fi is one of the most searched terms when it comes to network hacks. In my previous article, I’ve explained different ways to grab a free bite of internet using many simple ways.
Out of those methods to get free internet, I talked about coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels that offer free Wi-Fi. But, many employ time limits on them to control how long a customer uses the Wi-Fi. This trick is also used by the business owners to ensure that a person doesn’t spend too much time in their establishment.

How To Bypass Wi-Fi Time Limits?

There are a couple of methods to circumvent this Wi-Fi time limit to continue using the free Wi-Fi. Please note that these methods are a little devious, so employ them only in critical situations.

Mac Address Spoofing:

The solution to this problem is very simple. All you need to do is use an app that can spoof a new MAC address and allow you to keep accessing free Wi-Fi. Even changing a single number should help you out. The MAC address is basically how a particular network recognizes your computer. So, if you change your MAC address, the network will consider you a new computer and reset your timer.
You don’t need to worry about the losing or resetting your real MAC address. It’s embedded into your hardware. So, when you restart your device, you’ll get back to your original MAC address.
To do this, there are tons of free tools like Mac Makeup, SpoofMAC etc. You can also do this manually by changing some network settings.

DNS Tunneling:

Another method to bypass Wi-Fi time limits is to use DNS Tunneling. This method is usually employed to get free internet access at places where you need to pay for the Wi-Fi. However, this method also works if you wish to continue using the free Wi-Fi for a longer period of time.
The coffee shops, hotels, and airports that provide free Wi-Fi, reroute all HTTP requests to their web page until you pay for access or log in using your credentials. But, they don’t reroute DNS requests. So, if you use the free Wi-Fi using a remote DNS server with some specialized software, you can enjoy unlimited internet.

Sniff other device’s Wi-Fi MAC address:

Another method is to use your Wi-Fi and sniff other devices’ Wi-Fi MAC address. Once you find a person (or employee) who has a permanent login access, you can use tools like InSSIDer, NetStumbler, Cain and Abel etc. to copy the MAC address.

Go buy another cup of coffee!

As I mentioned above, some of these methods are unethical and one should avoid using them. So, if you are feeling like staying for another hour, just buy another cup of coffee 

 by Adarsh Verma

Short Bytes: In a new advertisement, Microsoft has made fun of Apple’s claim that iPad Pro is a real computer. Microsoft called Apple out on iPad Pro’s incompetence to run desktop apps and support USB devices. Looking at the devices offered by both the companies, at the moment, Microsoft Surface looks like a better “computer”.

Back in 2012, Apple CEO Tim Cook poked fun at Microsoft’s Surface tablet and called it “a fairly compromised, confusing product”. His other Apple colleagues thought that putting a keyboard on a tablet was like combining “a toaster and a refrigerator.” Well, things change with time.Now, Apple is itself very much interested in the same business and working hard to push the sales of its iPad Pro. It’s so much engrossed in marketing iPad Pro as a computer that it has forgotten its real computer offering Apple MacBook Pro.
In an ad that people are calling silly, Apple recently implied that iPad is a complete replacement of a real computer. Given the current state of iPad Pro that comes with its mobile iOS operating system, this claim sounds childish. If you’ve missed the ad, here it is:

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Now, poking fun at Apple’s claim, Microsoft has refused to accept the same. Redmond’s new Surface ad points out the problems faced by the iPad users who miss having USB port and not being able to run any desktop apps.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s Surface is more like a real computer with a complete desktop operating system and powerful hardware support.
Honestly, at the moment, if you want to do some real and serious work, Microsoft’s Surface is a better choice. We are waiting for Apple’s move because it’s an argument that won’t end here.

 By Kavita Iyer

How do Apple, Windows, Android and BlackBerry fare against hacking? Lets take a look

While the technology world is waiting with bated breath for the final decision in the ongoing battle between the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and Apple over a government request for a backdoor to the iPhone used by San Bernardino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook, it exposes the issue of security that has for long been the selling point in smartphones that dates back to the long-encrypted BlackBerry.
“The tech industry tries to build the most secure products possible,” says Harvey Anderson, chief legal officer at computer security company AVG Technologies.
On the market today, there is no genuine way for consumers to keep themselves secure against the privacy concerns raised by likely government-instructed backdoors in mainstream phones.

That’s the reason why some people believe that the Apple-FBI fight may give tech companies a long-term motivation to build products that are safe which cannot be hacked. “If Apple had done it right, and no backdoor was available (to iPhone 5c), this would not be an issue,” Anderson said.
Jonathan Zittrain, an Internet law professor at Harvard Law School says that the Farook case in the end “compels Apple to build a next-generation, ultra-secure phone”.

How secure is my phone compared with the other brands available – will be the question on any ordinary users’ mind who are concerned about privacy until such new, super-secure phones are built.
Here’s is a summary:

Google’s Android operating system :

According to comScore MobiLens, phones that use the Android operating system with 53% of market share are the most popular worldwide and in the United States.
These Android phones come in many favors. Google made the decision to give away its software when it first launched Android in 2007, and not tie it to any one device or carrier. That means that today there are exactly dozens of marginally different types of the Android operating system running on phones built by multiple companies and using the cell networks of dozens of companies.

Four out of five smartphones are powered by Android worldwide, due to the openness that makes Androids cheaper and popular. However, it also means that based on what flavor of the operating system is being used, such as what the hardware is and which carrier the phone runs on, the phones’ security can vary enormously.
The latest version of Android, Marshmallow, that was released last October is used on new phones, the phone is fully encrypted on all devices that support a secure lock screen. However, older phones that were updated to Marshmallow may not be fully encrypted as they may not meet the necessary requirements.
Though stronger versions of encryption are possible, Android Marshmallow uses AES 128-bit encryption as the default. Generally used in phones, Advanced Encryption System is a standard first established by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. The bigger the bit number, the more tougher it is to break the key. However, anything from 128-bit on up is regarded as reasonable, as the key length is normally not the weakest link in a phone’s security.
The open app system of Android is considered by many as the main security threat to Android phones. While Apple’s apps must all be examined by the company to run on its phones, Google allows users to run unapproved apps as well. An outsider can be allowed access to the phone, if the apps that are not purchased from Google’s own app store can contain malicious code.
Samsung’s Knox (most probably after the super-safe Fort Knox) is an example of a feature built around security. Knox that was first announced in 2014 works only with selected Samsung phones, as it integrates directly with the hardware.
Apple’s iPhone:
Apple is mostly considered as having the most secure mainstream phones on the market today, a place once held by BlackBerry. Since the release of iOS 8 in 2014, all Apple phones have been fully encrypted. The system uses an AES 256-bit key from iOS 9 forward.
The company’s rigorous inspection process and firm sandboxing system that keeps apps from accessing other apps keep Apple phones protected from malicious apps.
At present, Apple has about 41% of U.S. smartphone market share.

Microsoft’s Windows mobile operating system

The first version of Microsoft’s mobile platform was the Windows 8.1 operating system that supported full-device encryption. However, it comes disabled by default and the phone’s administrator must enable it.
Windows 10 Mobile also support encryption, which must be turned on by the customer.
Currently, Windows handsets are not believed to be very susceptible to app-based attacks, partly as the platform has a somewhat small app library that is basically believed to be relatively free of malware.

BlackBerry Inc.’s BlackBerry OS:

For those wanting strong security, the BlackBerry was the device of choice for years, as they offered a safe network and chip-level hacking protections that was lacking in others. For at least a decade, BlackBerry’s have been fully encrypted.
However, Blackberry is no longer a feasible option for many companies, as the phone’s market share had shrunk to less than 2% in the United States in 2015.

Other smartphones :

There is a phone with high security and high prices to match for those for whom security is vital.
By default, Silent Circle’s $799 Blackphone 2 provides full device encryption. The enterprise-grade phone works through Silent Circle’s own Silent OS, an operating system built around privacy and with Android.