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Why the HP and ExpressVPN Partnership Is Good News for Privacy

Tech Warn October 29, 2019 0

Hewlett Packard (HP) – a leading hardware OEM specializing in desktop and laptop computers – made one of their many silent moves in partnering up with ExpressVPN. This can be seen in the way of their launch of a recent Spectre x360 13 laptop which comes with a VPN from the above-named company on board.

Of course, this is not the first time that a company has linked up with another to make products mutually available to consumers. However, this is not just any move by the company, but one dedicated towards better security and safety of the users.

What makes the laptop special?

Before we go into the specifics of this partnership, the HP Spectre x360 13 has already laid the groundwork for the inclusion of this VPN. We are not interested in talking about the specs here – of which the laptop is nothing short of impressive – but the added features which make this one a great choice for people who care about their privacy.

The first in line is the physical webcam kill switch which is designed to remove the webcam from all other electrical components on the laptop whenever engaged. This beats just turning the webcam off when not in use as it can still be remotely turned on by a hacker.

Of course, webcam hacking and spying has been a problem for a long Time now. Besides hackers, government agencies and even your employer could be doing it.

So concerning is this issue that even Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, was once photographed with a tape over his webcam. Now that the physical button from HP is there, you no longer have to resort to such crude measures.

There is likewise a dedicated LED button on the keyboard to mute the microphone. This will solve the problem of having others listening in on your conversations.

Already, all of Amazon and Google – all big names in the home assistant game – have been rightly accused of listening in on user conversations even when the assistants have not been voice-activated at all. It needs no telling that a hardware mic can also be hacked for the same purposes.

With these in tow, the HP Spectre x360 13 is dedicated to privacy as much as it can be.

The place of a VPN

We have seen numerous computers come with a preinstalled antivirus to help fight against malware attacks which could threaten user data privacy. If this partnership between HP and ExpressVPN shows anything, though, it is how important VPNs are becoming in the same fight.

In fact, they handle the blind spots of antivirus software, and they do it well.

ExpressVPN will help protect users against the many dangers of public Wi-Fi networks which users might have been unknowingly exposed to. This includes all of man in the middle attacks, possible unauthorized malware installations, data snooping and monitoring.

This, the VPN does by layering and encrypting your internet connection via the multiple servers it ships with, making it impossible for anyone to follow your data trail or even identify your internet traffic.

Don’t worry about getting the encryption hacked either. With their 256-bit, FBI-grade encryption level, the hackers will need a few hundred years to make that happen.

Speaking of multiple servers, you can also use the VPN to take advantage of faster internet speeds in other locations, escape geo-blocking attempts by content creators and beat censorship, among other things.

In short, including a VPN into the pre-installed software build promises customers and users of the HP Spectre x360 13 a lot in the utilities department – and we can’t wait to see what enthusiasts think of it.

How to shield your iOS device from hackers in 5 easy steps

Tech Warn May 27, 2019 0

iPhone is often touted as the most secure phone. Unfortunately, that is not entirely accurate. Just two years ago, after the release of iOS 11.1, security researchers from a well-known security lab managed to hack the operating system within a day.

Late last year, security researcher Jose Rodriguez posted a video outlining how to bypass iPhone’s lock screen on iOS 12.1 and gain access to contacts, emails, and photos.

From these two instances, it is clear that you need additional security to keep your iOS device safe. Consider the following five easy steps that will protect your device.

1. Keep your device up to date

For every new version of iOS, hackers are hard at work trying to find flaws they can exploit. Often the determined hackers end up finding the flaws, and Apple fixes these flaws by releasing updates.

A good example to consider is the January 22, 2019 security update that Apple admitted was supposed to fix vulnerabilities that could make it easier for malicious people to hack iPhones and iPads.

Therefore, update your device as soon as Apple releases a security update. To check if there is a pending update, go to Security, tap General then Software update. You will either find a message saying you are running the latest version or a prompt asking you to download the latest update.

2. Switch on Find my iPhone

Activating this is setting is a precaution in case a hacker gains access to your lost or stolen device. Once you lose your phone, you can use another iOS device to log onto Find my iPhone and wipe all the data on your device.

Consequently, even if the hacker bypasses your passcode and accesses your device, they get nothing because the phone is blank. To wipe your device, log in to the iCloud website, select your phone and click erase.

3. Restrict the information displayed on Lock Screen

For convenience, iOS allows a lot of information to be displayed on the home screen, including previews of messages, and emails. However, if your phone ends up with a malicious person, they can easily glean a lot of information about you without having to bypass your lock screen.

To avoid, restrict the information your device displays on the lock screen. Go to Settings, tap Touch ID & Passcode and disable all the apps that you don’t want displaying information at a glance. Messaging apps and email apps, in particular, should be at the top of your list.

4. Use a VPN

A VPN works hand in hand with other security features to add a secondary layer of both privacy and security to your iOS device. Essentially, iOS VPNs fends off interception attempts with traffic encryption.

It encrypts all your traffic with military-grade encryption making it impossible for hackers to intercept information or read the contents. Moreover, it hides your identity from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and also from any government authority that likes to spy on its citizens.

To enable a VPN, first subscribe to a reputable VPN provider. After you do so, download the app from the Apple store, install it and finally enable it.

5. Create a longer passcode

As recent as last year, there was a tool known as GrayKey that could be used to crack iPad and iPhone passcodes. Reports indicate that the tool only took a couple of hours to crack a 4-digit code and a few days to crack a 6-digit code. The tool was so effective that law-enforcement agencies were using it.

However, with the iOS 12 update, GrayKey stopped working. That does not mean that the founders of GrayKey will not eventually find a way around iOS 12.

To protect yourself, choose a longer passcode, preferably one that is longer than six digits. Going by prior evidence, if GrayKey ever manages to get through iOS 12, it will probably take a few months to bypass an 8-digit passcode and maybe a decade to bypass a 10-digit code.