Guardian AlertME app offers up a little piece of mind

Guardian  AlertME

If you’re heading out to Trick or Treat on Halloween, jog around the neighbourhood or you’re off to locations unknown, it’s probably a good idea to check in with your loved ones to let them know you’re ok. But despite our best intentions we sometimes just forget and unknowingly causing unnecessary worry at home. So isn’t it nice to know that there’s an app that will not only remind you to check in but it will send an SMS alert and or email to a designated emergency contact if you don’t.

It’s called Guardian AlertME, by SnakeHead Software, LLC. Designed for iOS it’s easy to set up and easy to use.  Right through the app, you simply register with your name, optional email address and a 4-digit PIN, which acts as your password. Select your alert contacts from your address book, you can have up to five and pick whether they are to get an SMS text message, e-mail or both.  READ FULL ARTICLE at G4TV Canada 

 

Dropcam Pro drops intelligently into Canada

DropCam-PRO_Front_R11_white

Historically, when home monitoring or engaging in your own do-it-yourself security, the ability to see and possibly hear what was going on was good enough. For the most part, video quality suffered with the trade-off for low bandwidth.

Read more…AT  CANOE TECH BLOG

CANOE Review: Y-cam Home Monitor security camera

HomeMonitor MainWhether you already have a home alarm system or not, if you are looking for an inexpensive way to beef up your indoor security, Y-cam has developed a low-cost plug and play home monitor system that helps you keep an eye out from any computer, tablet or smartphone and alert you to unexpected activity when you’re not there.

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Evernote resets all user passwords after security breach

EvernoteWarning

At least every second day I get a security alert supposedly from my bank or some other service notifying me that something has gone awry and that I must sign in to fix the problem. More often than not there’s a link embedded in the email that I’m urged to click on immediately. Thus far, virtually all of them have been phishing expeditions by less than scrupulous individuals in an attempt to defraud me. However, one that arrived today from Evernote’s Operations and Security Team is real.

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Maintaining cyber security can’t be casual

EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 23, 2013/ Troy Media/ – It is better to be the spider, or at least aware of the spider, than the fly on the worldwide web. Use caution on the internet to avoid being inter-netted and fear, good healthy fear that has been keeping us safe since we first walked upright, is the key.

But despite warnings about vulnerability issues, attitudes still seem to be lax when it comes to online security – even by those that have already been personally victimized.

Siber Systems, Inc., a leading developer of software productivity tools for consumers and businesses and maker of password manager RoboForm, discovered this dangerous behaviour in a wide-ranging study.

Of the over 700 adults surveyed in November and December 2012 in the U.S., and European countries, nearly 30 per cent have had a fraudulent experience with an online account. Of that number over half have had their email hacked; 23 per cent have had a security breach with online shopping and 29 per cent had been affected by a breach in a social media account. Sadly, an alarming number, 79.2 per cent continue to use a site linked to an account that had been compromised. Even more staggering is that 60 per cent of the participants are convinced that online companies are careless with regards to security of customers’ personal information with 57 per cent singling out Facebook as being their least trusted site.

People are not unaware of the problem; they just don’t seem to care. According to Bill Carey, VP of Marketing with Siber Systems, it’s just that there is a huge disconnect between a person’s perception of risk and what they’re willing to do to protect themselves and their valuable information. Just look at the volume of info added to Facebook each day.

In fact, more than half of the respondents (under the age of 45) feel that security is the responsibility of the operator. This seems short sighted if they don’t trust the operator to begin with. Nevertheless, it seems this “totally-not-my-problem” attitude is a major factor in computer users not improving their own personal security practices.

One way of reducing the probability of being compromised can be as simple as proper password practices and use of a password manager. This includes creating passwords that are not easy to guess, having longer passwords that may be harder to crack and different passwords for personal and business use. Even the proverbial “mother’s maiden name” commonly used for years in the banking industry as part of identification verification can easily be found by searching family tree sites or more popular social media sites.

Occasionally, that too, is not enough. Just look at what happened last June when a password file containing 6.5 million LinkedIn passwords were leaked and posted on a Russian hacker site.

And, even when companies do enhance their security, for example by adding two-step login verification, almost a quarter of the survey respondents balked at the idea and 13 per cent indicated that the process was too complicated. On the flip side, 42 per cent indicated they would be more inclined to trust a company with their personal information.

Users can also improve the security of their data by keeping their software updated and current – many companies regularly update or patch their software when vulnerabilities are discovered. The same goes for operating systems like Windows, all iterations, and Mac OS X.

It’s also a smart idea to use anti-virus protection and malware checkers from companies like Kaspersky, Intego and Symantec.

How many times does one need to be victimized before they will actually do anything about it? There’s no guarantee that taking these precautions will prevent a breach, but it should reduce the probability.

Greg Gazin is a Tech Columnist, Small Business and Technology Speaker and Senior Editor at Troy Media. He can be reached at Gadgetguy.CA on Twitter @gadgetgreg or you can find him on Empire Avenue at (e)GADGET1.

This article is FREE to use on your websites or in your publications. However, Troy Media, with a link to its web site, MUST be credited.

 

StarTech portable hard drive enclosure encrypts data in real-time

StarTechEnclosure

Encrypting your data is certainly a good way to keep those prying eyes away from confidential, personal and sensitive information. So StarTech has come up with a creative way to easily keep your files, specifically those not located right on your computer safe and secure, especially while you’re on the road.

Read more… AT CANOE TECH BLOG

LinkedIn confirms stolen account passwords

linkedinLOGO

If you haven’t changed your LinkedIn password recently, now you might just have to. Reports had surfaced earlier that a file containing 6.5 million encrypted passwords have been leaked and posted on a Russian hacker site, might be from LinkedIn accounts and many of those have already been cracked. As it turns out, they were.

Read more…  AT CANOE TECH BLOG

Review: ZOMM wireless leash for your smartphone

Zomm

You reach for your phone and you soon discover that you don’t have it. You ask yourself where did I have it last? Was it the bank, the bar or the bathroom? Of course, it’s also in silent mode so even if you dial your own number you won’t hear it. Sound familiar?  I’m sure it does, so the good folks at ZOMM have designed the ZOMM Wireless Leash to alert you when you get separated from your smartphone. It can also potentially save your life.

ZOMM Wireless Leash is a small round pocket-sized device with a 1.62” diameter, not much bigger than a couple of poker chips that you attach to your keychain. It’s designed to use Bluetooth technology to alert you when you have strayed a certain distance from your phone.  When paired with your phone it will flash, then vibrate and sound an alarm so that you don’t accidentally leave your phone behind. The concept is so simple I wish I would have thought of it first.

It runs off an internal rechargeable battery, which should last 2-3 days depending on use. There is no battery level indicator, but when power is running low, you’ll get a series of 3 short beeps every few minutes to remind you. To fully charge takes about 4 hours.

 

Speakerphone, Panic Alarm & Emergency Calling

It also has other features including a built-in speakerphone and a noise canceling microphone so theoretically you could talk hands-free even while driving. Plus, it can also be used as a panic attack alarm and a one-step emergency dialler. For it to perform the last item, of course, your phone must be operational.

 

ZOMM APP

Software & Apps

The myZOMM software, available free from ZOMM.com allows you to connect your device to your Mac or PC to customize it and update it with the latest features.

Customizing allows you to give your device a name.  It also allows you to turn features on and off as well as adjust the length of the leash to be longer or shorter.

There is also a myZOMM for Android app available which offers similar functionality to the PC/Mac software with the added ability of your phone to actually track the location of the leash. In essence, use it to actually help find your keys.

 

Compatibility

According to the manufacturer the ZOMM is designed to work with virtually all Bluetooth enabled smart phones with a noted exception of Nokia Series 40 models.

It does work with the iPhone, but if you want to get the best mileage, there is actually a different model, the ZOMM Wireless Leash Plus. While functionally the same, this one is designed to work with the myZOMM iPhone app which also features geo-tagging, so you can remember where you left anything you can take a picture of.

The original wireless leash will work with the iPad 2 and the fourth-generation iPod touch. The “Plus” version should work on any iOS device as well as Android.

 

Test Drive

Taking the ZOMM  for a test-drive I found it easy to use. Pairing is a fairly simple process. It’s just a matter of getting used to the steps that you’re going to use for your particular phone. There are standard instructions in the quick start guide and specific variations online if you happen to be using the Nokia, Samsung or other Android devices as well as the Blackberry or iPhone.

Because the ZOMM uses Bluetooth, if you are wearing a compatible headset or use a Bluetooth enabled car kit, you might be in for some possible challenges. It’s nothing to do with the ZOMM, but whether it works is primarily a function of how many active Bluetooth connections your phone can handle. Newer phones can likely handle multiple inputs but some of the older ones may not. In which case, what you need to do, especially if you’re in the car, is to deactivate when you get into your car and reactivate when you leave.

The process is pretty simple all you have to do is hold down the Z button to hear the 1st beat and repeat the process. However I do find this somewhat inconvenient and something you can easily forget and it can be a real pain, especially if you’re one of those people who walk around with a Bluetooth earpiece like an appendage.

The speakerphone function can certainly come in handy at times. When a call comes in, you simply tap the Z button once. If you already happen to be on a call pushing the Z also enables the speakerphone. You can also hit the button twice and will immediately send your call to voicemail.

While the speaker was certainly audible, because of its small size combined with sometimes-poor phone signal quality, sound fidelity may not necessarily be the greatest. Furthermore unless you’ve mounted or attached, your ZOMM, you might look a little ridiculous talking to your keychain.

The alarm did function as advertised. As I walked away it would at some point flash, then vibrate and then sound off the alarm. It would even eventually reset it self when back within range.

While the ZOMM performed virtually flawlessly during my tests, the system isn’t perfect. If somehow your Bluetooth connection is interrupted, your alarm may go off unexpectedly. This can also occur if you happen to turn off your phone while it’s still connected. You’ll sure learn this very quickly once it happens in the middle of a meeting or even a movie theatre.

To trigger the panic alarm you need to hold the Z button for about 9 seconds. If you continue to hold the button, at the 15 second point the speakerphone becomes enabled and ZOMM notifies you that it will be placing an emergency call to either 911 emergency services or designated phone number.

ZOMMEmergency

Save Your Life

I didn’t want to call 911, but ZOMM advises that once connected to emergency services the Wireless Leash plays a recorded message asking the emergency services operator to send help to your location immediately. So in the event you cannot speak, help can still get to you. Emergency services should be able to pinpoint your location using your mobile phone’s signal.

 

Bottom Line

Overall, the ZOMM is a neat little device. If you’re someone who regularly misplaces your phone and I know a few people that fall into the category,  then the ZOMM would certainly be an incredible lifesaver. This is especially true since our smart phones have become not only a necessity but also a place where we keep all of our personal and private information. And in the event of an emergency, features like the speakerphone, panic alarm and emergency dialing can offer a different type of lifeline.

On the downside, it’s too bad ZOMM doesn’t have a battery level indicator. It does alert you when its low, but once you’ve reached that point, your emergency features will likely not work. Also, if you have a phone that isn’t happy with multiple Bluetooth devices attached simultaneously, you have to activate and deactivate it, so it could potentially be more trouble than it’s worth, especially if you’re someone who would more often than not forget to turn it back on.

While I’m sure there is a technical limitation, I think that it would have made better sense if there was one model that worked with any device and app combination, should you switch for example from Android to an iPhone.

Nevertheless, at $89.99 US, it’s certainly cheap insurance and for the right person, worth considering.

Included in the box, in addition to the wireless leash, you’ll find a belt clip, a key ring, a micro USB cable and an AC wall adapter charger. It’s available in White Pink or Black. (Plus version, available in Black only). Visit ZOMM’s website for more details.

photos courtesy: ZOMM LLC.

Greg Gazin is the Real Canadian Gadget Guy.

Follow me on Twitter @gadgetgreg.

 

 

iTwin: Easy secure file sharing; no cloud necessary

iTwin

We all have days where the seemingly simply act of transferring a file can make us crazy. Have you ever looked for a really quick, painless and secure way to retrieve or play files on a remote computer without having to configure a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or use cloud sharing options like Dropbox?

Read more…  AT CANOE TECH BLOG!!!