PCMag study ranks Telus as Canada's fastest major ISP for 2020

A recent study released by PCMag revealed Telus as Canada's fastest internet service provider (ISP) for 2020, unseating Bell Canada, who reigned for the last couple of years. The top spot was usually a battle between Rogers and Bell Canada, with Rogers taking the title for years. But for this year, Telus gets the title of "speed master" when it comes to Canadian ISPs. 

The study focuses on "major" Canadian ISPs. PCMag considers an ISP a major provider if it has at least 500,000 subscribers and typically reaches across multiple provinces. It got it results from 33,782 tests the publication ran between June 1, 2019, and June 2, 2020, using their Speed Test.

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Researchers find Android third-party keyboard app Go Keyboard spying on users

Photo by Tony Lam Hoang on Unsplash

We can’t stress enough how careful you need to be about the things you download or use. A new finding by Adguard researchers reinforces that idea. They have found that two variants of keyboard app Go Keyboard have been sending personal information to remote servers while also executing unauthorized code on devices. The apps in question, which are developed by Chinese GOMO Dev Team, are the Go Keyboard – Emoji keyboard, Swipe input, GIFS and Go Keyboard – Emoticon keyboard, Free Theme, GIF apps. These apps have been downloaded between 100k and 500k times and are rated 4.5 and 4.4 stars, respectively.

Some of the information the apps are collecting include Google Play Store account, screen size, network type, and Android version and build number. Plus, it communicates with tracking networks and executes codes and downloads plugins that are marked as adware by various anti-virus programs. What the researchers are really worried about is the possibility of the app tracking everything you type, which it can do if the developers want to. The app is already in violation of Google Play Store’s policies. Adguard has passed on their findings to Google.

Source: Android Authority

McAfee study names Shawn Mendes as 'Canada's Most Dangerous Celebrity in 2017'

Canadian pop rock musician Shawn Mendes dethrones Justin Beiber as the country's most dangerous celebrity to search for online when it comes to exposing their fans to malicious websites. According to this study from McAfee, the list usually covers all kinds of celebrities but this year the musicians dominate the list. Returnees include Justin Beiber (No. 2), Avril Lavigne (No. 3), and Drake (No. 6). The other Canadian musicians part of the list include Celine Dion (No. 4),  Carly Rae Jepsen (No. 5), and Alessia Cara (No. 7). McAfee cautions people to be careful what they click on when they're online. For example, if you're trying to sneak a peek at new Shawn Mendes material, it would be best to wait for the official release and searching for things like "Free MP3s" can mostly lead you to risky, malware-infested sites. The computer security software company recommends using some of its tools like the McAfee WebAdvisor and McAfee Total Protection.

Your phone can be hijacked through a replacement screen

Installing malicious apps or visiting phishing websites aren’t the only things that can compromise security of your phone. A new study finds that even a screen replacement can compromise this. In a newly published paper from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, they found that embedding a malicious integrated chip within a third-party touchscreen can manipulate the communications system of a device. They tried this out on a Huawei Nexus 6P and LG G Pad 7.0. The chip was able to do things like take photos of the users and send these via email, record keyboard input, direct users to phishing sites, and install apps. A second class attack also let them exploit vulnerabilities in the devices’s operating system kernel.

The researchers say these screens can be made to look like the real thing and is file-less so it can go undetected by anti-virus software. They made use of an Arduino platform running on an ATmega328 micro-controller module and STM32L432 micro-controller to carry out the task. But other micro-controllers could also work. They used a hot air blower to separate the display from the main assembly board to access the copper pads and then they soldered a copper wire to attach the chips. While it isn’t the most polished job, it could require little effort to hide the altered part. And it affects not just Android but iPhone devices, too. Be careful where you get your screen replaced.

Source: Engadget