Tag: application

Machine Learning providers

IT Education, Machine Learning

Last update: September 11, 2019

  1. Cloud-based providers – Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS)
  2. On-premises
    • Microsoft
    • Open Source
      • R Project
        • Description: A free software environment for statistical computing and graphics
        • Goal: Data manipulation, calculation and graphical display
      • Anaconda
        • Description: A free and open-source distribution of the Python and R programming languages for scientific computing
        • Goal: Develop and deploy AI and machine learning models rapidly into production
  3. Build your own environment
    • Development
    • Testing
    • Production

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  • Security and Privacy

Choosing Mobile Applications

IT Education, Mobile

An impressive amount of mobile applications are available on the market, no matter what platform your mobile device is using. Choosing the right one is a difficult task as more decisional steps are involved.

 

These are the most common questions that should be answered in the process:

  • Does it fit your needs?
  • Does it have a simple, user-friendly interface?
  • Does it offer enough protection for both you and your data?
  • Does it have zero or a very limited number of trackers?

 

Based on each individual’s needs, several characteristics have to be considered before deciding on the best app to download. Here are some tips that usually help answer the above questions:

  1. the app description should help determine:
    • what exactly does it do;
    • what are its features:
      • what is included;
      • what is to be paid for;
      • what is under development;
      • what is considered for the future;
    • security and privacy matters:
      • does it collect any data;
      • if so, for what purpose;
      • how is the sensitive data handled;
      • does it encrypt communication with the server as well as with other users;
    • advertisement related details:
      • do the developers use ads to sponsor the so called free-of-charge options;
      • based on what criteria are the ads placed;
      • can users remove them;
    • maintenance and support plans:
      • to maintain and update the app and its infrastructure;
      • to develop new features;
      • is user support available;
  2. the screen-capture pictures or videos included within description might help:
    • understand how friendly is the user interface;
    • confirm
      • what features does the app offer and how can they be used;
      • where are the ads placed;
  3. the app developer and its corresponding contact information make it easier to:
    • identify the person or the company who offers the software;
    • can help users decide if the app source is trustworthy or not;
  4. the number of downloads (users) might help determine how many people:
    • found the app useful;
    • trusted it and its provider;
  5. the app rating usually helps understand if it is:
    • useful and popular;
    • how many people decided it is worth to rate it;
  6. reviews are also important:
    • to understand the general feeling and level of satisfaction;
    • to determine what is good or bad about the app functionality;
    • what features are missing, not working properly or requested;
    • how responsive are the developers;
    • what level of support is it offered by the app provider;
  7. permissions also have to be considered:
    • these details provide useful information about how the app is working;
    • what device resources are going to be used and why;
    • were the features designed and built considering user’s privacy and security;
    • how intrusive can the app be.

Even if details about trackers are not usually included in the app detailed description, each app should be checked by using a permission and privacy tracker like εxodus in order to understand what trackers were included and for what purpose.

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Another mobile app on Google Play store phishing for login credentials

Google, Issues, News, Security & Privacy

Last update: November 05, 2018

Despite all efforts Google states it makes to keep the Play Store apps safe for the users, it seems that from time to time malicious code manages to fool its filters.

This is the case of an app called “Easy Rates Converter” – a currency conversion tool identified and exposed by security and malware researcher, Lukas Stefanko, on his blog and in a video published on the researcher’s YouTube channel.

 

What happens when someone decides to use the app:

  • after pressing the install button in the Google Play store, the desired app downloads, installs and works just fine, doing what it’s supposed to do – nothing suspicious here;
  • after the app is installed, the second installer is downloaded and started – for an untrained eye it might look like a legitimate app update as the installer identifies itself as an Adobe Flash update;
  • in fact, the second application is a trojan horse trying to steal the user’s credentials and it is programmed to target:
    • banking applications (tested for Commonwealth Bank);
    • cryptocurrency applications (tested for Binance);
    • the Google Play store application.

 

How does the app operate:

  • the malware detects when the targeted application is launched;
  • it creates a second process (activity) that:
    • mimics the target’s interface;
    • overlays the target application;
    • is trying to trick you to login in order to expose your credentials;
    • sends your login details to the phishers.

 

Most probably as a result of people’s notifications, the app was removed from the Google Play store after a few days, but it seems it had been downloaded more than 500 times.

Considering the amount of similar apps and the huge number of downloads for some of them, it looks like it’s getting more and more difficult to protect yourself and your family.

 

For more details on how to select the best apps for your portable devices please visit the Choosing Mobile Applications page.

 

Read more about it: The Next Web, Stefanko’s blog, YouTube.

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  • Known Security and Privacy Issues

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