Google buys browser-based malware scanner VirusTotal

 

Google has acquired Web-based  URL scanner VirusTotal in what may be an effort to improve browser security.

VirusTotal's service is pretty simple: Just visit the Website and either select a file to scan or paste in a URL. Also available are a Windows desktop application and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

In a blog post, VirusTotal says it will operate independently from Google and will keep its partnerships with other antivirus companies and security experts. The company says Google can help improve the service and “ensure that our tools are always ready, right when you need them.”

Google told TechCrunch in a statement that it can provide VirusTotal with “the infrastructure they need to ensure that their service continues to improve.” The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.

Enter a URL, and VirusTotal will report any security hazards.

As with so many tech company acquisitions, Google isn't saying what it hopes to get out of the service, but since VirusTotal isn't the only link scanner around, the service itself may not be what Google's after.

This is just speculation, but the value in VirusTotal may be in its partnerships with antivirus companies and the dataset it creates for all scans. Google already screens search results for unsafe Websites, warns Chrome users about potentially malicious sites, and scans e-mail attachments for viruses. The search giant may improve its existing security services using VirusTotal's data, so it'd make sense for Google to keep the service alive and let its dataset grow.

Even if the acquisition never becomes a tangible product for users, it seems like good news for safer Web browsing.

How to store your data forever

Whether you're a photographer, engineer, businessman, or just a casual computer user, chances are that you have images, blueprints, or important legal documents that you want archived for a good part of your life. Unfortunately, the storage industry in general is concerned more about data density and cost per MB than putting any amount of effort in maintaining data integrity over longer periods of time.

What not to use
Before we get to the ideal long-term storage medium, let's take a look at which archival solutions to avoid and why. Flash drives, for starters, use tiny capacitors to store a miniscule amount of electrical charge. This charge tends to get dissipated over time, which rules out this ubiquitous USB storage device. Did I mention that flash drives have a ridiculously high cost per MB? Hard drives aren't guaranteed to work beyond three years for very good reasons. This magnetic storage medium has way too many moving parts, with incredibly low tolerance for error to work reliably on a long-term basis. The process of having to spin them up to test them every few months and replacing the drives after every three years is quite cumbersome and prohibitively expensive.

There are numerous online file hosting services as well, but none can really promise they'll be around forever. In fact, distributed online storage services (Cloud storage) have fallen prey to data loss in the past. Moreover, large Hollywood studios will continue to take down online storage websites in their quest to wrest Internet freedom away from us through laws such as PIPA, SOPA, ACTA et al. In a nutshell, so far we have realised that hard drives are useless, flash drives are expensive and useless, and online storage has been rendered useless due to corporate greed. Things aren't looking too great for long-term storage then.

A highly collimated ray of hope
Don't lose heart, because the best way to store data for a really long time is ironically the cheapest and the most widely available. Optical media such as CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs happen to offer the most ideal long-term storage solution. Not only does this medium provide better resistance against loss of data integrity, it also strikes an ideal balance between cost and ease of storage/retrieval. However, which one of these should you use?

The ubiquitous DVD strikes an ideal balance between cost and ease of storage/retrieval

For starters, CDs are best avoided for two main reasons. Firstly, if you want to archive a substantial amount of data, they end up being more expensive than either DVD or Blu-ray blanks. Secondly, the construction quality is considerably inferior to its successors, which makes them more susceptible to damage caused by mishandling and environmental factors. DVD and Blu-ray blanks, however, have the all-important recording and reflective layer sandwiched between two polycarbonate substrates. Unlike with CDs, an extra helping of plastic layer found in a DVD/Blu-ray makes it nearly impossible to scratch or oxidise the fragile, yet crucial reflective layer. That's one less way to ruin a disc.

Blu-ray or DVD?
The choice between DVD and Blu-ray entirely depends upon the volume of data that needs to be backed up. Apart from the obvious advantage of considerably higher data density, Blu-ray drives are significantly more scratch-resistant than DVDs, thanks to a special hard coating. However, Blu-ray blanks aren't exactly cheap, since they sell for anywhere between Rs 250 and 300 a pop. You're better off using DVDs for long term storage, if you simply want to stash and forget a few GB worth of data away for a long time.

Now that we know which medium to opt for, it's time to delve into the specifics. The unfortunate fact is that user-recordable DVD media will never possess the same longevity of retail-stamped DVDs, which use a significantly more durable metallic recording layer. This is solely due to the fact that DVD-Rs use organic dyes as the recording layer. Like all things organic, this cyanine-based dye tends to deteriorate due to environmental factors. However, higher quality DVD blanks from brands such as Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden employ proprietary Azo-based dyes that are more resistant to chemical degradation. In fact, the former brand can be found relatively easily on the street.

Blu-rays, however, trump DVDs in this department by incorporating a much more stable metallic recording layer. Having said that, one must also know that most modern Blu-ray blank media tend to use cheaper organic dyes to save manufacturing costs. So do your homework well before selecting blank optical media.

Optimising optical media for long-term storage
The most important factor deciding data integrity is the speed at which you burn optical discs. To burn an optical disc at higher speeds, the recording layers needs to have a thinner sputtering of organic dye. This translates into a recording surface that's fragile and more susceptible to degradation. It is therefore important to opt for blanks rated to burn at lower speeds, and write them at the lowest speed possible.

Moreover, disc rot, which is caused by the oxidation of the metallic reflective layer, tends to begin along the outer rim of the disc. It is therefore a bad idea to fill DVD or Blu-ray blanks up to the brim. Temperature and humidity also greatly affect disc integrity. It's good practice to keep discs in a dark, cool environment that's free from excess humidity levels. It pays to keep a few silica gel bags nearby to absorb moisture.

Sensitivity to UV light is another important factor to consider. Keeping recorded discs exposed to sunlight in transparent containers is a very bad idea. Make sure you stash them away in high quality CD sleeves or preferably in individual jewel cases. The discs should be kept upright to negate any chances of physical deformation under gravity. If you absolutely must use spindles for storage, stick to the smaller 10-disc ones. However, using airtight containers to hold these sleeves/jewel cases will do wonders for the longevity of your precious data.

DVD/Blu-ray manufacturers tend to claim anywhere between 30-100 years of life for their products, but that's best taken with a pinch of salt. That may be true in hermetically sealed labs, but it's best to err on the side of caution and replicate the data onto newer blank discs after every five years. This shouldn't be much of a problem since blank media is relatively cheap. It also makes sense to have three copies of your data (preferably using blanks from different brands), with at least one copy being stored somewhere safe and offsite, such as a fireproof bank locker.

New Lumia smartphones come packed with exclusive apps

At the Nokia World 2012 event, the brand took the opportunity to announce a broad range of new, innovative apps for its latest Lumia smartphones that aim to provide consumers app experiences which are unique, differentiated and unavailable on other platforms.

Commenting on these apps, which are exclusive to the recently launched Lumia handsets, Marco Argenti, SVP, Nokia Developer Experience said, “It’s great to see more and more partners creating their best, most innovative apps for Nokia Lumia consumers. The ecosystem has achieved exponential growth over the past 18 months, and Nokia has been working closely with developers to create unique and innovative apps, while helping them connect with consumers all over the world. With new opportunities to innovate around features such as PureView camera technology, NFC and the integration of Nokia Maps, we look forward to developers creating their next generation app experiences, and partnering with Nokia to achieve success locally and globally.”

A range of new apps for the new Lumia handsets

These apps cater to different needs and span various horizons such as sports, imaging, gaming and many others. The new apps that are available for the new Lumia smartphones include:

Sports – The World of Red Bull app
The app delivers all the latest news from over 400 Red Bull Athletes around the world and lets users pin their favourite athletes to the homescreen for live news updates. Coming to the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820, the enhanced app experience will include the option of small, medium and large Live Tiles, plus Nokia Maps integration and Voice Commands. This app is exclusive to Nokia Lumia for 9 months and comes loaded with a variety of other features from Red Bull events

Imaging - Vimeo app
The Vimeo app coming to the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820  will enable imaging fans to capture HD video using Nokia’s camera optics and PureView technology. Offering the highest quality video playback experience, the app will allow users to share videos using NFC tap-to-share technology, claims Nokia. The enhanced Vimeo app introduces HD video support, features an easy to use design interface with live tiles and enables consumers to purchase Vimeo Plus subscriptions through the app. Nokia Lumia owners will get a 3-month trial membership of Vimeo Plus.

Gaming – Angry Birds Roost
Launching on the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820, the new and exclusive Angry Birds Roost experience for Nokia Lumia will enable fans to dive into the world of Angry Birds, with access to hundreds of walk-through videos, news, ringtones and more brought together in one unique and original hub experience. A first for Rovio and the Windows Phone platform, the Angry Birds Roost will offer fans an exclusive ‘Bird Cam’ feature. Users can take a picture on their Nokia Lumia, add their favourite Angry Birds characters to the picture and then share it on Facebook, Twitter, MMS or send it via email. Additionally, Angry Birds Roost will have tons of wallpapers and wide Live Tiles on the Lumia start screen. Angry Birds Roost will be exclusive to Nokia Lumia for 3 months.

Business and Finance – Bloomberg Hub
The new Bloomberg app for Nokia Lumia Windows Phone, launching in the coming days, offers consumers a one-stop hub for all business and finance news, market data and portfolio tracking tools. In addition to today’s launch, Bloomberg will be enhancing the Bloomberg Hub experience for the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 with added features that will utilise new Live Tile customisations. This app will be exclusive to Nokia Lumia handsets for 3 months

Lifestyle – StyleSaint
StyleSaint is an exclusive app for fashion fans that will be launched by mid-September on Nokia Lumia smartphones. the app enables users to capture their favourite inspirational fashion images and transform them into personalised mobile fashion magazines to be shared with the world. The app is exclusive to Lumia handsets till the end of this year.

Groupon with Augmented Reality
The Groupon app for Windows Phone features deals on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy at discounts of between 50 and 90 percent. Using the principles of collective buying, Groupon aims to negotiate discounts with the best merchants in local communities. Enhanced features launching with the Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 820 will include Wallet integration enabling quick access to purchased Groupons, wallpapers and multiple-size Live Tiles for notifications to the start screen. Groupon with Augmented Reality is exclusive to Nokia Lumia for 6 months.

Productivity – YouSendIt
YouSendIt's mobile app delivers powerful file sharing capabilities for Nokia Lumia users, including NFC file transfer. This app allows users to access, sync and share content stored in the cloud. Users can even sign documents using their Nokia Lumia touchscreen and securely send them from anywhere. YouSendIt simplifies syncing and sharing of large files such as video and photo. This app will be exclusive to Lumia handsets for 3 months.

Travel – Michelin
Using NFC technology, food fans will be able to share restaurant information by tapping devices, and also receive specific information about places to eat by tapping their Lumia on a MICHELIN 2013 NFC-enabled restaurant window sticker. Augmented Reality technology will enable the user to view restaurants near them on the screen. In addition, the app delivers search, details, calling and reservations. This app is exclusive for these new Lumia handsets for 6 months.

Messaging – Whatsapp
WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app, which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS, will be available on these handsets.

For more information on all the apps, click here.

Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 Complete Walkthrough (Galaxy Nexus)

10 reasons why the Galaxy Nexus is THE phone to buy

There’s absolutely no lack of Android phones and as you can imagine, it’s not easy trying to find which one’s the right one for you. You could just go out and buy the most expensive one out there, but then you don’t want to waste so much money on it either. If you’re looking to spend somewhere between Rs. 18,000 and Rs. 27,000 on an Android phone, we feel that you should blindly go out and buy a Samsung Galaxy Nexus. No, it’s not ‘officially’ available in the market, but drop in at your local, buzzing mobile store and you’ll probably find it there for somewhere between Rs. 23,000 and Rs. 25,000, depending on where you are. No, you won’t get a warranty on it most likely but that’s a risk you have to take. Now, let’s look at why it’s THE Android phone to buy.

Jelly Bean available... right now

No waiting for Jelly Bean

Everyone’s talking about Jelly Bean and how their brand new Rs. 40,000 smartphone is going to get it really soon. If you’re as excited about it, you’ll be happy to know that the Galaxy Nexus already has it. Of course, if you have one, and haven’t received the update, here are some quick instructions on how to get it.

It’s Google’s iPhone!

Apple’s got the iPhone and if there’s one phone that can be called Google’s own phone, it’s this. While Samsung makes the device, the Galaxy Nexus most certainly is Google’s latest official phone, at least, at the moment. If you’ve always wanted to have the pure Google Android experience, without any third party interfaces and apps, this is the best device to have. All future updates that Google puts out will come to this phone before almost any other phone in the market.

720p screen

The screen on the Galaxy Nexus spans 4.65 inches, almost identical to the Galaxy S III and the HTC One X. Very few phones in this price range have such a large screen, that too at 720p. The screen may not be as vibrant as the ones on more expensive smartphones in the market, but it’s certainly way better than other phones in its price range. It’s a Super AMOLED display, so there’s decent detail and reasonably good colour reproduction as well—a joy when you’re viewing HD content on it.

Dual-core CPU performance

More cores means more performance, at least theoretically. The Galaxy Nexus comes with a rather speedy 1.2GHz processor, which means very good, smooth performance. Google’s Project Butter on Jelly Bean only makes the experience better.

Decent camera, with full HD video recording

Panorama shooting takes seconds

The camera on the Galaxy Nexus might only be 5MP as compared to some of the other phones, but in broad daylight, it’s able to click some very impressive photos. The camera lets you choose panorama by simply moving the phone from side to side. The phone not only lets you view full HD 1080p content on it, but even record it.

1 GB of memory

For most of us, the processor is the most important part of the phone but the amount of memory is what lets you run multiple applications simultaneously with negligible drop in performance. The Galaxy Nexus comes with 1GB of RAM. When it comes to storage, the phone doesn’t have any microSD slot, but there’s 16GB of internal memory.

NFC support

NFC can be very convenient

NFC used to be advertised as one of the biggest changes to come to mobile phones. In the case of the Galaxy Nexus, you don’t pay a premium for it. Although NFC isn’t widespread in India yet, it’s still a neat little feature that lets you quickly share apps, Youtube videos, links and contacts by simply touching the phone to the back of another NFC-enabled device.

It looks great

Simple, solid attractive design will attract eyeballs

While most mainstream devices have a boring design, Samsung and Google have ensured that the Galaxy Nexus is an attractive phone to hold in your hand. The front has no buttons on it and all the basic controls are carried out through the screen itself. The only physical controls are the power and volume control buttons. The back has a thin textured grip that only makes the device look even slicker.

It’s exclusive

People love bragging rights, and owning the Galaxy Nexus means that it’s not like the Galaxy Note or the S III; phones that every other person on the street has. The Galaxy Nexus isn’t as popular as it should have been here in India. If you own it, you’re one of the few people to have one. Hurry, because it’s one of the few phones also to run Jelly Bean as of now.

It’s pretty darn good value for money

Price is a key part of any purchase and it’s no different for the Galaxy Nexus. Rs. 23,000 might seem like a lot of money, but in fact, this phone offers way better value money than the more expensive options. For all practical purposes, superphones such as the HTC One X and the Samsung Galaxy S III only have a faster processor and a slightly better quality screen. For the money you’ve spent on them, you still don’t get the latest Android updates. Take any other phone priced around the Rs. 23,000 mark and you’ll begin to appreciate the kind of hardware you get for the price. Most of the phones in this price range come with a single core processor and won’t have a screen with this resolution, let alone its several other extras.

So if you’re willing to sacrifice the warranty and are looking for a good value for money Android phone, then look no further. The Galaxy Nexus is THE phone for you.

Pictures of Nokia Lumia 820 and Lumia 920 leaked on Twitter

Nokia has been staying on everyone’s radar these days with the Nokia Phi device rumoured to be announced at the Nokia and Microsoft joint press event later this month. Now, pictures of what seems to be Nokia’s next phones – the Lumia 920 and the Lumia 820 – have been leaked on the twitter account @evleaks.

These phones may be showcased at the upcoming Nokia and Microsoft press event, where the companies are presumably presenting Nokia’s first lineup of phones that will be running the anticipated Windows Phone 8 operating system. The Nokia Lumia 920 seems to have a 4.5-inch screen and may be the rumoured and highly anticipated device that has been codenamed the Nokia Phi. Both the phones also have Nokia’s PureView technology, according to evleaks.

The Lumia 820 with a 4.3-inch screen

Here is a look at some of the rumoured features of the Nokia Phi:

• It has the same curved screen but bigger display size than the Lumia 800.
• It has the same form factor, i.e, polycarbonate unibody with irreplaceable battery as the Lumia 800
• No physical buttons on the front
• 4 physical buttons on the right side: up/down vol keys, power button and camera
• It will run on a Qualcomm Dual Core CPU (First Nokia Dual Core WP8 phone)
• It will have external SD card slot
• NFC chip on board.
• LTE enabled

The Lumia 920 with a 4.5-inch screen

Microsoft had officially raised the curtain on Windows Phone 8 at an event in San Francisco earlier this year and claimed that it is the most advanced mobile OS Microsoft has ever made. Here is a look at some of the highlighted features available on Windows Phone 8:

• Multi-core processor support: Windows Phone was a slick OS that ran smoothly on handsets with a single processor. The latest OS now features multi-core support with Belfoire claiming that they’re ready for whatever hardware makers dream up.
• Bigger, sharper screens: Windows Phone 8 supports two new screen resolutions — 1280 x 768 and 1280 x 720, making it compatible with new handsets that will feature high-definition 720p displays.
• More flexible storage: Windows Phone 8 supports removable microSD cards, so users can stuff their phone with extra photos, music and whatever else is important and then easily move it all onto their PC.
• NFC wireless sharing: In Windows Phone 8, NFC helps make sharing photos, Office docs, and contact info easier. One can achieve this by tapping their phone on another NFC-equipped device.
• Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. Microsoft claims that IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.
• Internet Explorer 10: The next version of Windows Phone comes with the same web browsing engine that’s headed for Window 8 PCs and tablets. Microsoft claims that IE10 is faster and more secure, with advanced anti-phishing features like SmartScreen Filter to block dangerous websites and malware.
• Better maps and directions: Windows Phone 8 builds in Nokia mapping as part of the platform. This partnership will provide more detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions in many countries, plus the ability to store maps offline on your phone so you can work with maps without a data connection.
• Improved apps and games: Microsoft states that basing Windows Phone 8 on the Windows core will unleash a new wave of amazing apps and especially games.