How to protect your e-mail ID from hackers?

You must be scared that some day from some computer in the world someone else would get into your account and take everything away. Well, if that is your case then this article is for you and if it isn't your case then also read on how to save your account in 8 simple steps.

1.  Every email service provider, be it Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. has different security measures. All of the above companies timely provides security steps to protect user's account. They timely send emails to their customers like your account is being attempted to compromised from different IP addresses. Please change your password.
2. Email address. Have a complicated email address, not so you will forget it, but so no one else can guess it through your name (it should contain a number - for example, John023@_____.com)
3. Have a secure password. Passwords are there to protect your account; without passwords we would be lost. Make sure your password is complicated; do not use your name, or last name. For example, do not put in "John" because the first thing that hackers will do is to guess your password based on your name. Don't use a phrase or use a pet name that most people know about. For example, do not put in "MyPetMaddy" or "ShowUsYouFeelGood". Try to use a complicated code like "mkael092" or use a code like this "09484M92", so it is impossible to guess. Choose a password you have not previously used on your account before. A good password will contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters; numbers; and/or special characters such as %, $, and +. It is very important to keep your password private at all times. A password that contains a mixture of letters and numbers is a good way of securing your password.
4. Protect your computer. If your computer is wireless or does not use any antivirus software and is used not just by you, your email address and password is completely at risk. Download free antivirus software by going to www.avast.com. Using wireless isn't the safest form of using the Internet, as it can be hacked by people using network sniffers. If you have no other choice, make sure you have a WPA key on your wireless Internet connection. You can change or add one by going into Connections -> Your Wireless Network -> Wireless Map -> Your Router -> Properties -> Device Webpage. Then click Wireless Security Settings and then "WEP/WPA Key". It's best to have it set using a WPA key as it's the latest version of security.
5. Your email ID and its password are your own confidential information. No company's employee will ever ask you for your password in an unsolicited phone call or email message. The sender is a hacker, no doubt. S/he wants to gain access to your account and send spam emails, like asking money from your contacts or make an unauthorized third party send spam or fraudulent emails to your contact list.
6. If you are a victim of such a scenario, please contact the respective company immediately. Every company has an account verification department. They also provide instant chat support/phone support. By changing your password immediately, you quickly minimize the resulting risk of your Yahoo! account.
7. If you are ever asked for your password in an unsolicited manner or by someone you do not believe to be a representative of Yahoo!/Hotmail/Facebook/gmail, etc., please do not share your password with them and ask them the reason for asking or contact directly the respective company, as they have a separate department to handle such issues, like Yahoo!'s mail abuse depart
8. You should change the security questions and answers wisely. The answer to a good security question:

• Cannot be easily guessed or researched
• Doesn't change over time
• Is memorable
• Is simple or definitive

Tips

• Keep a copy (if you have to) of your password written down somewhere.
• Mix letters and numbers change john2468 to (j2o4h6n8).
• Do not tell anyone a clue to your password.
• Believe it or not, a string of three to four words in a row (i.e. MountainPhoneCandyJupiter) is more memorable and more secure than a difficult to remember password that is shorter. Length matters more than difficulty to guess when you're dealing with a hacker that uses a program.
• Do not tell anyone your password.
• Do not keep a copy of your email details on the Internet or on your system

Google unveils $35 Chromecast that lets you stream Internet content to TV

Associated Press, July 25, 2013

Google Inc. has unveiled a gadget that will lean on its widely used Chrome Web browser and take aim at Apple in the living room.

The new device, called Chromecast, is part of the company's attempt to make it easier for people to access Internet content on their TVs. Chromecast is a small stick roughly the same size as a thumb drive that can be plugged into an HDMI port on flat-panel TVs. It brings Netflix, Google's YouTube site and other Internet content to what is usually the biggest screen in households.

Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps said Chromecast could undermine Apple in the still-nascent market to plug streaming devices into TVs, just as the Nexus tablets have siphoned some sales away from Apple's iPad.

Google's previous products designed to connect TV sets to the Internet haven't worked out well. The company initially tried to embed an operating system called Google TV into sets made by TV manufacturers, but that flopped. Last year, Google introduced an orb-like device called the Nexus Q in hopes of delivering more Internet video to flat-panel TVs, only to quickly pull the product from the market.

"Chromecast looks like a smart and disruptive device," Rotman Epps said. "Maybe it took the other failures for Google to get it right."

Google wants to have a presence on TVs because it could open up a lucrative new channel for it to sell more ads, which bring in most of its revenue.

In a show of its determination to make inroads on TVs, Google started selling Chromecast for just $35 on Wednesday. That price undercuts the most popular Internet-streaming devices made by Apple and Roku. An Apple TV box sells for $99, while the least expensive Roku box capable of showing high-definition video goes for $80. Roku, a company that formed within Internet video subscription service Netflix Inc., also sells an Internet streaming stick similar to Chromecast for $100.

Earlier this year, Apple revealed that it has sold more than 13 million of its streaming boxes. Roku said its sales of streaming boxes surpassed 5 million units this year.

The Chromecast device connects with smartphones, tablets and personal computers to beam Internet connect to TVs. The Apple and Roku streaming boxes rely on a standard remote control to select Internet content.

As an enticement to get people to try Chromecast, Google is offering three months of free Netflix service with a purchase of the Internet-streaming stick. That translates to a $24 value, leaving the cost of the device at $11 for those who would have gotten Netflix anyway.

10 new features in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

Ketan Pratap, July 25, 2013

Google has announced the roll out of the next iteration of its Android operating system, dubbed as version 4.3, with the launch of its new Nexus 7 tablet. The new version will be called 'Jelly Bean' and would actually be the third version to carry the same tag after Android 4.1 and Android 4.2. The latest update comes about nine months after Google introduced Android 4.2.

However as suggested by previous leaks, the new Android version doesn't bring a big makeover and comes with a few major features. The new OS is being rolled out first to Google's Nexus range of devices including the original Nexus 7, Nexus 4, Nexus 10 tablet and will ship with the new Nexus 7. We take a look at its new features.

1. Restricted profiles

Google added multi-user profiles in the last iteration of Android and it seems the search engine giant wants to enhance that experience through restricted profiles. With the new feature, users can restrict app usage and content consumption on an Android device. So you'll be able to set profiles for each user of the device in case of multiple users. For instance, parents can control what apps or games their kids have access to on their tablets. However, it's worth pointing out that the new restricted feature is only available on Android tablets.

2. Bluetooth Smart Ready

Google seems to be making way for wearable technology by introducing the Bluetooth Smart Ready feature in Android 4.3. Devices running Android 4.3 will now support low-energy Bluetooth Smart accessories like heart rate monitors, pedometers, thermometers and many others. Users can now sync the low energy devices without these affecting the battery usage of the device, as per Google. This feature was missing on Google's mobile operating system, till now. This would also make way for Android friendly wearable tech.

3. Dial-pad Autocomplete

Android 4.3 now adds the autocomplete feature in the dial-pad suggesting contact names or phone numbers when users start keying-in something. This is not a new feature as OEMs like Samsung and HTC had already introduced this feature on to their UI skins running on top of Android, but devices running stock Android were missing it. Users can initiate the feature by going to the app settings and enabling 'Dial Pad autocomplete'

4.Notification Access

The Notification bar has been a popular feature on Android and with Android 4.3, you can control and interact with the status bar notifications. This would allow users to control how notifications are pushed to the primary and connected devices(smart watches, fitness bands). Users will also be able to see all the notifications at one place.

5. OpenGL ES 3.0

If you are a gaming junkie, the new update will definitely excite you. This feature would let Android devices render high quality graphics in games and other apps. Google claims that Android 4.3 supports the new version of the industry standard for high performance graphics. Google also gave a demo of a game showing detailed textures, lens flare, and reflections. This was missing in Android 4.2.

6. Simplified Setup Wizard

Android Jelly Bean now supports corrections to user inputs while signing-in to the device, the first time. This is due to more streamlined user agreements. Now a user can change the information that was keyed-in during the first boot of the device. Google has also introduced faster user switching from the lock screen in case of multiple users.

7. Bluetooth AVRCP

Google devices running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean can sync with Bluetooth enabled car stereos and offer additional functionality. The Bluetooth AVRCP 1.3 version allows stereos to display metadata such as song names when music is being streamed from an Android 4.3 device.

8. Location accuracy features via Wi-Fi scan only mode

Google has now increased the location accuracy of Android devices by allowing location scanning via Wi-Fi.

It now allows apps to get location data through Wi-Fi even when Wi-Fi is set to off and not being used for data access.

9. Keyboard & input

Android 4.3 comes with an upgraded algorithm for tap-typing recognition that makes text input easier while chatting via messages or even while composing emails. It also brings a new emoji keyboard, which we've previously seen in iOS. The update also adds lower latency input for gamepad buttons and joysticks.

10.Hindi support lands on Android 4.3

Google has introduced native local language support to its operating system for Africaans, Amharic, Hindi, Swahili and Zulu. Hindi has finally reached the stock Android operating platform.

With the update, Google has also added support for Hebrew and Arabic (right-to-left) in the home screen, Settings, Phone, People, and Keep apps.

Bonus - New Camera UI

Android 4.3 also offers a new updated Camera app that features a new arch based menu which makes it easier to control and switch camera settings.

Nexus 7 gets a pixel-density upgrade, starts at $229 on July 30 (hands-on)

CNET Editors' Take

July 24, 2013 5:18 AM PDT

Google's Breakfast with Sundar event is over, and the biggest news to come out of it was the announcement of a new Nexus 7 tablet. Yep, it's real, and is already available for preorder.

Taking a look at the new Nexus 7 tablet (pictures)

1-2 of 13

Scroll LeftScroll Right

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

As expected, the new Nexus 7 is a 7-inch tablet running the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system. The 16GB Wi-Fi-only version will be available for $229, with a 32GB Wi-Fi-only model coming for $269. A 32GB 4G LTE (unlocked) version will retail for $349.

Among the key features are an HD screen (with 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution); front and rear cameras (1.2- and 5.0-megapixel, respectively); Bluetooth 4.0; a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor; 2GB of RAM; NFC; and an Adreno 320 GPU (the same graphics chip used in the Samsung Galaxy S4). There's also support for dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and wireless charging using any Qi-compatible charger.

The large top and bottom bezels from the first-generation Nexus 7 return.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

The new Nexus 7 is the first device to support the latest version of OpenGL ES: 3.0. The new version includes support for higher-quality reflections and lens flares. Of course game developers will actually have to program these new features into games before you'll see any notable difference. Hopefully, with support for the latest version of OpenGL, frame rates on the new Nexus 7 will be higher than on other devices using the same S4 processor, such as theSony Xperia Tablet Z.

It's not a slow processor by any means, but in my testing, the S4 comes nowhere near Qualcomm's own Snapdragon 800 or Nvidia's Tegra 4 in raw performance.

A bigger bite of Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (pictures)

1-2 of 12

Scroll LeftScroll Right

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Still as comfy? (hands-on impressions)
Jessica Dolcourt got a few minutes to play around with the new tablet. What follows are her initial impressions.

The Nexus 7 is indeed a thinner device that will just about fit the width of smaller hands and should feel cozy in larger hands. There's not much of a curve to it, so you might feel the corners a bit if you regularly hold the device in portrait mode. In landscape mode, the slimmer, lighter device will weigh your hands down a lot less if you plan to hold it for longer stretches while you watch movies or play games.

The new Nexus 7 is thinner than the original, if a bit bulbous in design.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

I liked the rubbery, grippy backing of the original Nexus 7. This one, all black with a soft-touch finish, is decidedly less sporty, but it is grippable nonetheless. Button controls are black, plastic, oblong, and rise from the surface. They're responsive and easy to find and press.

Android 4.3 looked and felt almost exactly the same as 4.2.2 on Google's new Nexus 7. The camera app includes Photo Sphere, panorama mode, and video recording as on other Google Android devices.

No flash for you, but Photo Sphere is now a 7-inch tablet feature.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

Although it has a full-HD display, you may not notice it immediately unless you're comparing the screen with screens on other devices. Lettering looked clear and sharp, it was easy to read Web articles, and colors were vibrant and rich. The real value will come from gameplay and extended video viewing, and the difference will be most noticeable when holding the Nexus 7 side by side with the first-gen Nexus 7.

More to come
These specs point to a nice upgrade over the 2012 version of the Nexus 7, which lacked a full-HD screen and a rear camera. That said, you're going to pay $20 to $30 more for the 2013 model at each storage capacity -- and consumers aren't much used to seeing year-over-year price increases in tech these days.

Definitely a Nexus product. The back texture isn't quite as sporty as the original's, however.

(Credit: James Martin/CNET)

However, you are getting what will likely be the best-performing 7-inch tablet -- at least for a while -- with all the new features that Android 4.3 provides, including wireless charging. Still -- admittedly not having had hands-on time with the device -- I can't help but see this as a much more incremental upgrade than I was expecting. The specs look nice, but there just aren't many features here that have me truly excited.

The original Nexus 7 proved to be much more than the sum of its parts, so until I actually get my hands on the new one and get a sense for its comfort, its speed, and how useful its features are, I'll of course hold off on giving a final opinion. Look for more impressions over the next few days.

Apps addiction? Yes, there's an app for that…

Pause iPhone app wants to 'help us reconnect with real life' by using the smartphone's Airplane Mode and gamification

• 
  
• 
  

Polidea's Pause iPhone app wants people to reconnect with the real world

Technology maven Mary Meeker is taking flak this week for a claim in her latest Internet Trends Report that the average smartphone owner looks at their device 150 times a day.

Now the research (or rather lack of it) behind that datapoint is being questioned, but it's noticeable how few journalists and analysts thought it sounded strange when Meeker first said it.

Checking your smartphone 9.4 times per waking hour? To people who pride themselves on being always-connected digital natives, it may even have sounded a little low. But they know they're going to have to face it: they're addicted to apps.

Inevitably, there's now an app for that. It's called Pause, and it's a free download for iPhone (with Android to come) that comes armed with the slogan "Pause the digital. Start the real."

"Pause is a mobile app designed to help us reconnect with real life. Pause helps us to reduce our dependency on digital media and in turn free us up to do something more," suggests its App Store listing.

Essentially, it's about putting your smartphone into Airplane Mode for set amounts of time, while telling the app what real-world activity you're planning to do in that period. Pause – developed by Polidea – then tracks how long you keep Airplane Mode on.

Oh, and just as inevitably, there's a gamification aspect here. "Who is more addicted, you or your Facebook friends? Pause uses a ranking system so you can compete and compare the amount of time you spend looking at the world beyond a touchscreen," explains the listing.

It's easy to laugh at the idea of an app to fight apps addiction, just as it is to chuckle at the thought of people willingly paying over-the-odds for "digital detox" holidays where their smartphones are taken away from them for the duration.

Still, with the "Quantified Self" movement all the rage for people tracking their physical activity, food intake, vital signs and even their personal genome through digital services, it's no surprise to see an app tracking your ability to disconnect from all digital services temporarily.

There was a thing. The name was AltaVista

A screen shot of a recent AltaVista search.

• FACEBOOK
• TWITTER
• GOOGLE+
• SAVE
• E-MAIL
• SHARE
• PRINT

There’s an alternate universe where someone would ask you a question you don’t know the answer to and you would respond, “I don’t know, why don’t you AltaVista it?” Instead, in the real world, you reply, “Why don’t you Google it?”
AltaVista, once the most advanced and comprehensive search engine on the Web, is just days away from its last breath.
Yes, like you, I thought AltaVista had been extinguished years ago, but apparently not.
Last week, Jay Rossiter, executive vice president of platforms at Yahoo, which owns AltaVista, said that the search engine would be closed on July 8. Anyone who still uses AltaVista — I’m not sure who that is — should instead go to Yahoo Search, Mr. Rossiter said.
Readers who are 18 years old and younger will probably ask, “What’s an AltaVista?” In short, it was one of the first and most successful search engines. It was founded in 1995 by Digital Equipment Corporation.
Both Yahoo and AltaVista were decimated by Google, which was founded in 1998 and quickly became the biggest and most popular search engine in the world.Since then, AltaVista has been through a number of confusing acquisitions. Digital Equipment Corporation was acquired by Compaq in 1998, which merged with Hewlett-Packard in May 2002. AltaVista itself was purchased in 2003 by Overture Services, then the leading seller of online search advertising. Overture, in turn, was purchased by Yahoo, once also a leader in search, in 2003.
AltaVista didn’t go down without a fight. In 2002, the company tried to reinvent itself, and as Wired wrote at the time, “AltaVista is out to prove that troubled Internet companies can have second acts.” Wired said the company planned to battle Google by rolling “out a dramatic overhaul of its site and indexing methodology.”
It didn’t work. So 18 years after its birth, AltaVista is about to be laid to rest.
As the company approaches its final hours, entrepreneurs will look at the history books to find out what went wrong. Although there are likely many lessons to be learned — bad management and not innovating quickly enough — the end probably began in 2000, as the technology bubble started to go pop.
AltaVista was supposed to raise $300 million in December 1999 in an initial public offering, but canceled the I.P.O. after the technology stock market started to implode.
In 1995, when AltaVista made its debut, the company said it was processing 2.5 million search requests a day. Today, Google, processes 5.1 billion searches each day.
It’s a fascinating story from greatness to the end. If you want to learn more, you can always Google it.

Yahoo Hack India 2013: 250 hackers built 56 hacks in 24 hours

All New Indigo eCS

New Cabin, Exteriors & Powertrain.   More Reasons to Book a Indigo eCS.cars.tatamotors.com/tata-indigo-ecs

Ads by Google

New Delhi: In the sixth edition of Yahoo Hack India held in Hyderabad on July 13 and 14, 2013, about 250 developers from 20 states participated. The theme of this year's hack event was around mobile and personalisation.

Most of the hacks submitted were around geo location, science based apps on sentiment analysis, photo based apps and SMS. 250 hackers in the house built 56 hacks in just 24 hours. Eight per cent of the hackers at the event were women

Here is the list of winners of Yahoo Hack, Hyderabad 2013:

Most of the hacks submitted were around geo location, science based apps on sentiment analysis, photo based apps and SMS.

Grand prize winner: PlanMan! by Varun Kumar Nagarajan, Arun Kumar Nagarajan, Raghu Ram, Amit Bharti

It is a mobile app which lets you do Workflow Management through SMS and missed calls. It takes inputs from any type of mobile device and is targeted towards a small group or company wanting to schedule their daily tasks.

Most Creative Hack: Bachao! by Mayank Yadav, Abhijit Sinha, Asmita Metrewar, Vikalp Handa

This Android app uses the accelerometer in the Smartphones to track the user's location in event of a car accident and sends an alert to their emergency contacts and the ambulance service.

Best Technical Hack: Train Tracker by Sagar Pandey, Rohan Prinja, Shahid Khan, Ahamed Salim

It is a mobile traveler app that asks for users PNR number to provide them real-time train information on an ongoing journey including next stop, time to reach the destination, train status and weather forecast of the upcoming station.

Best Potential Product: iCity by Yogesh Joshi, Dinesh Salve

An iOS app which gives users basic information about the city they are visiting like weather forecast, public transport, city hospitals, hotels and restaurants, Facebook friends who live in the city all in just one touch!

Hackers choice award (voted by fellow hackers): AI Finance by Abhimitra Kartikeya Surabhi, Rakesh Tadisetty, Amiit Kumar Tiwari, Sudheesh Singanamalla.

An app that uses Artificial Intelligence to predict the upcoming stock values. It is helpful for those people who are occasional traders and helps them to make the right choices and avoid losses in their investment.