New Android 'Switcher Trojan' infects Wi-Fi routers by changing DNS settings

A new Android OS virus has been discovered by cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky Lab, and the same is being termed as ‘Switcher Trojan’. The virus infects Android OS powered devices and uses them as tools to infect a user’s Wi-Fi router. It then changes the DNS settings of the router and starts redirecting traffic from the Wi-Fi connected devices to websites controlled and operated by attackers, making users vulnerable to malware, phishing and adware attacks.

What happens is that when an IP address is assigned to a web address, the Switcher Trojan hijacks the process and gives the attackers complete control over the network activity.  This works because Wi-Fi routers usually change the DNS settings of all the devices connected to them, and reconfigure them to their own settings.

According to Kaspersky, “The infection is spread by users downloading one of two versions of the Android Trojan from a website created by the attackers. The first version is disguised as an Android client of the Chinese search engine, Baidu, and the other is a well-made fake version of a popular Chinese app for sharing information about Wi-Fi networks.” The company adds that the rogue DNS planted by attackers also has a secondary DNS as a backup, just in case the ongoing rogue DNS goes down. “The Switcher Trojan marks a dangerous new trend in attacks on connected devices and networks. It does not attack users directly. Instead, it turns them into unwilling accomplices: physically moving sources of infection. The Trojan targets the entire network, exposing all its users, whether individuals or businesses, to a wide range of attacks - from phishing to secondary infection. A successful attack can be hard to detect and even harder to shift: the new settings can survive a router reboot, and even if the rogue DNS is disabled, the secondary DNS server is on hand to carry on. Protecting devices is as important as ever, but in a connected world we cannot afford to overlook the vulnerability of routers and Wi-Fi networks,” said Nikita Buchka, mobile security expert, Kaspersky Lab.

The company warns that all users should check their DNS settings and search for the following rogue DNS servers:

• 101.200.147.153
• 112.33.13.11
• 120.76.249.59

If any of these servers are found in DNS settings, then it is recommended that users contact their Internet Service Providers and change login IDs, passwords.

NOKIA D1C LAUNCH PRICE IN INDIA

Nokia D1C is a rumored smartphone that is expected to come in two variants. One is a basic standard model which will come in Black and White colour options. It is expected to have 5 inch Full HD screen, 2GB RAM and 13 MP rear camera. The second variant is a Premium one in gold colour and has a all metal unibody design. It is expected to have 5.5 Full HD screen, 3 GB RAM and 16 MP rear camera. Rest specifications remain the same for both.

Nokia D1C Smartphone was launched in December 2016, comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD Capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels at a pixel density of 401 pixels per inch. The screen is not protected by a Scratch Resistant display.

The phone is powered by a 1.4 GHz Octa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and it comes with 2 & 3 GB of RAM. What this means is the processor has Octa cores in the CPU and 2 & 3 GB of RAM ensures the phone runs smoothly with multiple applications open simultaneously. The Nokia D1C also packs in a graphics processor, and 16 GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 128 GB via a microSD card.

The Nokia D1C runs Android 7.0 OS. Its a N/A SIM Smartphone, and connectivity options on the Nokia D1C include , GPS, HotSpot,Wifi,Bluetooth.

The main camera on the Nokia D1C is a 13 MP shooter with , , Video Recording. The smartphone also has a Front Facing Camera capable of shooting 8 MP selfies.

Lenovo P2 : Mid Range Premium SmartPhone by Lenovo

Lenovo P2 is available in 2 Varaints- the first one with 3GB RAM that is priced at Rs 16999 and the second one with 4GB RAM, which is priced at Rs 17999. Rest of the specifications for both the varaints remain same.

Lenovo P2 Smartphone was launched in January 2017, comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED Capacitive touch with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels at a pixel density of 401 pixels per inch. The screen is not protected by a Scratch Resistant display.

The phone is 8.2-mm thin , and tips the scale at 179 grams. The phone is powered by a 2.0 Octa core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and it comes with 3 & 4 GB of RAM. What this means is the processor has Octa cores in the CPU and 3 & 4 GB of RAM ensures the phone runs smoothly with multiple applications open simultaneously. The Lenovo P2 also packs in a graphics processor, and 32 GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 128 GB via a microSD card.

The Lenovo P2 runs Android 6.0 OS and is powered by a 5100 mAh battery. Its a Dual SIM Smartphone, and connectivity options on the Lenovo P2 include , GPS, HotSpot, NFC,Wifi,Bluetooth.

The main camera on the Lenovo P2 is a 13 MP shooter with Auto Focus, Face Detection, HDR, Panorama Mode, Geo-tagging, Touch Focus, Video Recording. The smartphone also has a Front Facing Camera capable of shooting 5 MP selfies.

BSNL's new Rs. 144 plan brings unlimited national calls and 300MB data for one month

State-run telecom operator, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has unveiled a new plan that brings unlimited monthly calling along with bundled data at an affordable price point. Priced at Rs. 144, the plan brings unlimited local and STD calls, along with 300MB of 3G data. This plan will be available for both prepaid and postpaid customers, for a span of six months.

The plan was reportedly announced by BSNL Chairman-Managing Director Anupam Srivastava in front of reporters in Chennai. In addition to the new plan that aims to catch up with the likes of Airtel and Reliance Jio offering bundled data and unlimited calling plans, Srivastava also reportedly spoke on BSNL’s focus on setting up public WiFi hotspots. He quoted the presence of 4,400 WiFi hotspots in the country already, and targets up to 40,000 WiFi hotspots to be set up all over in India within one year.

BSNL had previously launched a similar plan with unlimited nationwide calling within BSNL operators and 300MB bundled data for Rs. 99, which now gets overshadowed with the more versatile plan. For data-intensive users, unlimited calling plans with 1GB of 3G data was priced at Rs. 339. The new plan, although somewhat restrictive on data limit, shows BSNL’s gradual recognition of telecom trends, and accordingly, the operator will also reportedly rollout 4G LTE servicesin India, in 2017.

January’s Android Distribution Numbers Show Marshmallow Passing 29%, Froyo Pushed Off the Chart

We’re close to half way through January, and Google has just published the Android distribution numbers for the 7-day period ending on January 9, 2017. The big news this month is that Froyo has finally been pushed off the chart completely.

This doesn’t mean it’s 100% dead, as Google reminds us that they simply remove any versions with less than 0.1% distribution for that particular time frame.

Oddly enough, this means that Froyo could reclaim it’s 0.1% share next month if enough devices check the Play Store during the designated time. This is unlikely to happen but there it’s still a possibility. This month we also learn that Android 7.x Nougat is close to reaching the 1% mark, with 0.5% using 7.0 and 0.2% using 7.1. Then we have the Android 6.0.x Marshmallow release which was able to reach a total of 29.6% of the active devices this month.

Going further back we can see all of Lollipop has now reached 33.5%, making it the most used version of Android today. This is split up between Android 5.0 with 10.1% of the market and Android 5.1 with 23.3%. Right behind that is Android 4.4.x KitKat, as it is currently used by 22.6% of the market. This is actually down from 24% last month, so it seems like KitKat is currently on the decline in terms of active devices.

As we wrap things up, Jelly Bean is still being used by 11.6% of the active smartphones and tablets right now, which is down from 12.8% last month. Ice Cream Sandwich is holding strong at 1.1% and we also have Gingerbread with 1% of the total active devices too. It will be interesting to see if Ice Cream Sandwich and Gingerbread are able to stay alive as long as Froyo did. We saw these two distributions drop 0.1% and 0.2% respectively, so next month could bring us closer to their demise as well.

Nokia 6 android phone launched

   Once a wise man said, "it's never too late to start.." yes, i am talking about nokia. Today MD Global announced Nokia 6(a nokia branded android phone),  the first Nokia smartphone after it was granted exclusive global license to sell Nokia phones.

The Nokia 6 runs Android 7.0 Nougat and it sports a 5.5-inch full-HD display wrapped in 2.5D Gorilla Glass. The smartphone  is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC alongside 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The Nokia 6 is a dual SIM smartphone that is backed by a 3000mAh non-removable battery.

The unibody Nokia 6 is built using 6000 series aluminium and its home button has an embedded fingerprint scanner. It packs a f/2.0 16-megapixel rear camera with phase detection auto focus and dual-tone flash, as well as an 8-megapixel f/2.0 front camera for selfies. The smartphone also includes Dolby Atmos tech and ‘dual amplifiers' for louder sound.


  *Nokia 6 specifications*

    *5.5-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) 2.5D curved glass display with 450 nits brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection
   * Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 ( 4 x 1.2 GHz Cortex A53 + 4 x 1.5 GHz Cortex A53) 64-bit processor with Adreno 505 GPU
    *4GB LPDDR3 RAM, 64GB internal memory, expandable memory up to 128GB with microSD
    *Android 7.0 (Nougat)
    *Dual SIM
    *16MP rear camera with dual-tone LED flash, PDAF, 1.0um sensor, f/2.0 aperture
    *8MP front-facing camera, 1.12um sensor, f/2.0 aperture, 84° wide-angle lens
    *Fingerprint sensor
    *3.5mm audio jack, Dual speakers, Dual smart amplifiers (TFA9891), Dolby Atmos
    *Dimensions: 154 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm
    *4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, USB OTG
    *3000mAh built-in battery

the Nokia 6 is a China-exclusive smartphone that will be available for 1699 CNY (around  Rs. 16,750) in "in early 2017"

Vodafone India announces SuperHour unlimited data packs

Mobile data has become such an integral part of the smartphone experience that most users and developers and service providers, for that matter, can't really imagine modern digital interactions and activities without it. Hence, it is rather disappointing to learn that getting a proper data plan from most carriers, even on the biggest markets is still mostly a drag.

Vodafone India is looking to sweeten the deal for its prepaid customers. Users can now purchase a "SuperHour" pack for unlimited mobile data over the course of an hour. And the best part is, it only costs INR 16 or just around $0.25. There is also no limit on stacking these packs, so every hour can be a "SuperHour", if that is your wish.

The plans cover 4G, 3G and even 2G networks, depending on your local coverage. Customers stuck in a 2G circle will get an even cheaper deal at INR 5, to compensate for the inferior service. Vodafone will also offer an unlimited local call package, under the same hourly conditions. You just have to pay INR 7 and enjoy 60 minutes of Vodafone to Vodafone voice calls.

Sandeep Kataria, Chief Commercial Officer, commented on the program, saying: 

"With SuperHour, you can use and download as much data as you like for one hour at a fixed, nominal price. Moreover, with unrestricted repeat purchase, you can make every hour SuperHour. Customers can also buy the SuperHour pack for making unlimited local Vodafone-to-Vodafone voice calls for only Rs. 7."

The "SuperHour " scheme is expected to launch on January 7 and roll-out across all circles by January 9. Well, at least most circles, that is. Apparently, the deal won't be available in Bihar-Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh — Jammu and Kashmir, and Andhra Pradesh-Telangana.

Unofficial XOSP for OnePlus 2

Have fun flashing :)

Known Bugs:
•SuperSU can't be flashed (CM-Root already in it)
•Messagses that Browser has stopped appears (deinstall stock Browser and download Chrome)
•Changing of Blur-Color causes that XOSP-Settings disappear (Go back to Main-Settings and go again in XOSP-Settings, everything works fine then)

If you find Bugs:
Comment here!

Download : http://bit.ly/2hZ4p3c

Today it's time for Verizon to kill its Samsung Galaxy Note7 units

  There is a bit of a controversy regarding its initial decision to seemingly not send out the final update for the Galaxy Note7, Verizon then changed its mind and announced it would just be skipping the holiday season. The carrier's release date for the infamous update was set as January 5.

  

  That's right. From this point on all remaining Note7 units purchased from Verizon will be receiving the software update that, once installed, will prevent the phones from charging. The message you can see in the screenshot to the left will pop up letting owners know what's about to happen. The new software build version is MMB29M.N930VVRS3APL2.

  AT&T's rollout was also planned for today, but so far it doesn't look like it's started. It might just be a matter of hours, however. T-Mobile was the first to issue the update last month, while Sprint will send it out starting on January 8, concluding the rollout for the Big Four carriers in the US.

  Samsung is currently doing all it can to ensure that it gets back even the last few Note7 units that remain in the wild. In its home of South Korea it will push an update that will limit charging to 15%, as we found out earlier today.

Samsung & BlackBerry Publish Their Android Security Bulletin for January

Each month we talk about Google’s Android Security Bulletin, but these aren’t the only vulnerabilities that get patched.

Google helps OEMs by taking care of the patches which are specific to the core Android platform, but that’s not all there is to it — many smartphone manufacturers add their own skin and some even make major changes to the platform itself so that they can implement the features they want. These changes can also add vulnerabilities, and this is part of why we see other smartphone companies releasing their own Android Security Bulletin each and every month, so we are also seeing BlackBerry and Samsung release their summary of patches for the month of January: On top of the patches Google announced, Samsung is patching over 15 vulnerabilities with their Android security update for January.

Only one of these vulnerabilities has been marked with a high severity level, with the rest being considered medium or low. These have all been privately disclosed, with some dating all the way back to May, but they will be patched in this month’s security update. As with all monthly security updates, Samsung is unable to give us a list of which devices will be receiving the update, nor can they tell us when owners of Samsung devices can expect to see this update pushed to them.

On the other hand, BlackBerry doesn’t give us individual lists to show us what vulnerabilities they’re patching from Google, and which ones they have found specific to the BlackBerry platform. However, they do tend to do a better job when it comes to delivering these updates and have told us that updates are pushed out immediately to those devices that were purchased from their Shop BlackBerry website. Those who purchased directly from a carrier, though, will have to wait until the update is certified and pushed out by the carrier.

Follow the links below for more information:

Samsung - http://bit.ly/2jjTbeJ

Blackberrry - http://blck.by/2hQ2yB2

T-Mobile Announces Two Cellular Plans for IoT Devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) market is still fairly premature, though companies are hopping on the bandwagon expecting the market to explode in upcoming years. Companies seeking to capitalize on the next big thing are attempting to turn nearly everything, from door locks to toothbrushes, into smart devices. For the most part, these products connect to a central hub in your home which then connect to your router so it can access the internet. Though is fine for home products, IoT products that are out of range of your home network are obviously unable to function in this way.

In order to allow IoT products to connect directly to the internet, they will need to be connected to your cellular plan. Thus, mobile network operators have been rolling out plans aimed specifically at IoT users – and T-Mobile is the latest to offer such a plan. The company has announced what they’re calling “IoT Access packs”. These access packs will come with both a data plan as well as the modules you may need for the IoT product.

If the product will only be using a limited quantity of data, the first data plan will allocate 5MBs per month for that device. This plan costs $20 per year and per device for the first year, and then $6 per year and per device after. For products that need to utilize more data, the second plan offers unlimited data at speeds up to 64kbps. This unlimited data plan will cost you $25 per year and per device, but T-Mobile has a promotion that will save you $5 off the first year for each device you sign up for. No matter which plan you go with, T-Mobile will be covering the cost of a Sequans Cat1 module.

The company has also announced they are working on “Category M” and “Narrowband IoT” (NB-IoT), which are the next evolution of modules that should help save customers money over time. For more information about T-Mobile IoT Access packs, head on over to their IoT landing page here.

Asus ZenFone AR

Asus ZenFone AR The phone comes with a 5.70-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1440 pixels by 2560 pixels.

The Asus ZenFone AR is powered by quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor and it comes with 6GB of RAM. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Asus ZenFone AR packs a 23-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 8-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The Asus ZenFone AR runs Android 7.0 and is powered by a 3300mAh non removable battery.

The Asus ZenFone AR is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Micro-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G and 4G. Sensors on the phone include Compass Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Gyroscope and Barometer.

Asus ZenFone AR detailed specifications

GENERAL

Alternate names	ZS571
Form factor	Touchscreen
Battery capacity (mAh)	3300
Removable battery	No
Colours	Black
SAR value	NA

DISPLAY

Screen size (inches)	5.70
Touchscreen	Yes
Resolution	1440x2560 pixels

HARDWARE

Processor	quad-core
Processor make	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM	6GB
Expandable storage	Yes
Expandable storage type	microSD
Expandable storage up to (GB)	128

CAMERA

Rear camera	23-megapixel
Flash	Yes
Front camera	8-megapixel

SOFTWARE

Operating System	Android 7.0
Skin	ZenUI

CONNECTIVITY

Wi-Fi	Yes
Wi-Fi standards supported	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
GPS	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes, v 4.20
NFC	Yes
Infrared	No
USB OTG	No
FM	No
Number of SIMs	2
SIM 1
SIM Type	Micro-SIM
GSM/CDMA	GSM
3G	Yes
4G/ LTE	Yes
Supports 4G in India (Band 40)	No
SIM 2
SIM Type	Nano-SIM
GSM/CDMA	GSM
3G	Yes
4G/ LTE	Yes
Supports 4G in India (Band 40)	No

SENSORS

Compass/ Magnetometer	Yes
Proximity sensor	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes
Ambient light sensor	Yes
Gyroscope	Yes
Barometer	Yes
Temperature sensor	No

Hope you would like it! 

Virtual Reality

So who what is Virtual Reality?

  Virtual reality is a computer-generated environment that lets you experience a different reality. A VR headset fits around your head and over your eyes, and visually separates you from whatever space you're physically occupying. Images are fed to your eyes from two small lenses. Through VR you can virtually hike the Grand Canyon, tour the Louvre, experience a movie as if you are part of it, and immerse yourself in a video game without leaving your couch.

Some Top VR -

• HTC Vive VR -  http://amzn.to/2hVpzPL
• Sony PlayStation VR - http://bit.ly/2iUphue
• Samsung Gear VR - http://amzn.to/2hVurZX
• Google Daydream View - N/A
• LG 360 VR - http://amzn.to/2iMpz9m
• Microsoft HoloLens - N/A
• Google Cardboard - http://amzn.to/2hVurnP
• Procus One VR - http://amzn.to/2jeZpfN

Qualcomm Introduces the Snapdragon 835 at CES 2017

Consumer Electronics Show – Las Vegas, Nevada. 2PM PST on January 3rd, 2017:

CES 2017, Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has officially introduced its latest high-end mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC) – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. This is Qualcomm’s first SoC which is commercially manufactured using the 10nm FinFET process node. The Snapdragon 835 is built not only to power the next generation flagship smartphones, but also to better support mobile augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) and even consumer devices such as IP cameras and mobile PCs with Windows 10.

Computing

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC utilizes the custom Kryo CPU architecture found in earlier designs but upgrades the specifications to the latest Kryo 280. With this upgrade, the S835 will feature 4 performance cores running at up to a maximum frequency of 2.45GHz and 4 efficiency cores running at up to 1.9GHz. The SoC also features dual-channel LP DDR4x memory at 1866MHz.

The 10nm FinFET manufacturing process contributes to the overall efficiency of the processor. Compared to the Snapdragon 820, the Snapdragon 835 is 35% smaller in package size and overall consumes 25% less power, theoretically providing longer battery life.

---

Graphics

The GPU will also see an upgrade of its own. Qualcomm will ship the Snapdragon 835 with its latest Adreno 540 GPU. The Adreno 540 supports OpenGL ES 3.2, full OpenCL 2.0, the Vulkan Graphics API, and DirectX 12, enabling the GPU to handle high-end mobile gaming for many months to come. Keeping in mind the growing demand for AR and VR content, the GPU in the S835 is built to handle scenarios of high performance while constraining thermal limits and thus maintaining battery efficiency.

The Snapdragon 835 sees up to a 25% increase in 3D graphics rendering performance, and supports 4K Ultra HD video (capture at 30fps, playback at 60fps with support for H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC)), wide color gamut 10-bit display, and AR/VR motion tracking through Qualcomm’s sensor fusion-based six degrees of freedom (6DoF). As a cherry on top, the Snapdragon 835 does provide support for Google Daydream.

Imaging

The DSP will be upgraded from the Hexagon 680 found in the Snapdragon 820‘s to the new Hexagon 682 DSP with Hexagon Vector eXtentions (HVX). The upgrade to the Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine framework includes support for Google’s TensorFlow and custom neural network-layer. This should enable developers interested in machine learning to enable rich user experiences such as intelligent photography and smarter personal assistants and automobiles. The DSP also adds in the Halide framework for image processing.

The core of the image capture experience on the Snapdragon 835 is the Qualcomm Spectra 180 ISP, featuring dual 14-bit ISPs. This allows for hardware makers to opt for either a single 32MP camera or dual 16MP cameras. Depending on the OEM manufacturing preference, the camera sensor can also pack a hybrid autofocus, Qualcomm Clear Sight, Optical Zoom support, hardware accelerated face detection, and/or HDR video recording.

Security

Security enhancements have also been made with the next iteration of Qualcomm’s high-end Snapdragon SoC. Qualcomm has unveiled what the company calls the “Qualcomm Haven Security Platform“, which improves biometrics and device attestation security measures. The platform provides support for hardware-based user authentication such as for fingerprint, eye, and face-based biometrics as well as improved device attestation measures for mobile payments, enterprise data access, and personal data storage.

Connectivity

As mobile data networks continue to improve, so too do the chipsets that enable our smartphones to connect to these networks. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 ships with an integrated X16 LTE modem with support for Category 16 LTE download speeds (up to one gigabit per second) and Category 13 LTE upload speeds (up to 150 megabits per second). The integrated 2×2 11ac MU-MIMO provides up to 60% reduction in Wi-Fi power consumption compared to the Snapdragon 820. With the optional 802.11ad Multi-gigabit Wi-Fi, peak speed of up to 4.6 Gigabits per second is possible. Furthermore, the Snapdragon 835 is the first Bluetooth 5 certified commercial chipset offering up to two megabits per second transfer speed. All of these connectivity features combined enable the S835 to power our needs for better cloud storage capabilities, richer multimedia applications, and demanding AR/VR experiences.

Other features of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 include Qualcomm Location with support for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS systems. The Qualcomm Aqstic WCD9341 audio codec helps the Snapdragon 835 to support audiophile grade DAC with 32bit/384kHz support with SNR at 115dB and native DSD hi-fi audio playback. Moreover, the SoC supports Qualcomm aptX and aptX HD Bluetooth audio for improvements to power for wireless connectivity.

Charging

Last but not the least, Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology will be seeing massive improvements with the introduction of the Quick Charge 4.0 specification. This improvement claims up to 20% faster charging and up to a 30% higher efficiency compared to Quick Charge 3.0.