JPMorgan customers targeted in email phishing campaign

JPMorgan customers targeted in email phishing campaign

By Jim Finkle and Nadia Damouni

Reuters

A sign outside the headquarters of JP Morgan Chase & Co in New York, September 19, 2013.

BOSTON/NEW YORK - Fraudsters are targeting JPMorgan Chase & Co customers in an email "phishing" campaign that is unusual because it attempts to collect credentials for that bank and also infect PCs with a virus that steals passwords from other institutions.
The campaign, dubbed "Smash and Grab," was launched on Tuesday with a widely distributed email that urged recipients to click to view a secure message from JPMorgan, according to security researchers with corporate email provider Proofpoint Inc.
JPMorgan, the No. 1 U.S. bank by assets, confirmed that spammers had launched a phishing campaign targeting its customers.
"It looks like they sent it out to lots of people in hopes that some of them might be JPMorgan Chase customers,” said bank spokeswoman Trish Wexler.
She said the bank believes most of the spam was stopped by filters at large Internet providers, adding that the email looked realistic because the attackers apparently used a screen grab from an authentic email sent by the bank.
Users who click on a malicious link are asked to enter credentials for accessing accounts with JPMorgan. Even if they did not comply, the site attempts to automatically install the Dyre banking Trojan on their PCs, according to Proofpoint.
Dyre is a recently discovered piece of malware that seeks credentials from customers of Bank of America Corp, Citigroup Inc and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, according to email security firm Phishme.
Proofpoint Vice President of Threat Research Mike Horn said it is unusual for spammers to infect PCs with malware while trying to persuade users to provide banking credentials because that increases the odds of detection.
"Usually when they do credential phishing, that is all they do. In this case, they are throwing in the kitchen sink," Horn said. 

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Swiss startup creates a wearable chair so you can rest anywhere

Swiss startup creates a wearable chair so you can rest anywhere

Chris Velazco

Engadget 

Most of the wearable gadgets getting people hot and bothered either strap onto your face or your wrist, but Swiss startup noonee has cooked up a little something that straps to your legs instead. Well, fine, maybe it's not exactly little: in a bid to keep factory line workers more alert and more comfortable during their shifts, the five person team has developed a locking leg support device they call the Chairless Chair. Once you get strapped in, all it takes is a press of a button to get settled -- the aluminum and carbon fiber frame holds whatever position your legs take and essentially becomes, well, an invisible chair. The secret sauce here is a battery-powered dampening system eases the load on your lower back and legs by supporting the your body weight and directing it down into your heels. Noonee's curious wearable is still firmly in the prototype phase (though Audi and BMW will soon take the thing for spin on its production lines) but if it works as well as the team says it does, expect every haggard commuter -- or frenzied blogger cranking out stories at a trade show -- to own one soon enough.

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You'll Never Believe What Justin Bieber Did to an Officer

SPLASH NEWS

He's facing major trouble with the law! While Justin is already getting sued by a photographer, he might be in trouble for giving a Canadian border official $10,000 in backstage passes in order to get his entire entourage into the country.

According to TMZ, some of Justin's people aren't allowed to enter Canada because they have certain types of criminal records, so Justin offered up the passes in exchange for their entry — which is definitely not allowed.

While the officer who accepted the bribe has been fired, Justin hasn't been charged with anything yet. If he did, that would only add to his legal struggles! (And it probably wouldn't make Selena happy.)

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Chris Pratt Surprises 'Lego Movie' Fan At LA Children's Hospital

Chris Pratt Surprises 'Lego Movie' Fan At LA Children's Hospital

The Huffington Post

 Lauren Zupkus

If Chris Pratt wasn't already your favorite dude in Hollywood, he will be now.
Reddit user Angelkirie posted a heartwarming photo of the "Guardians Of The Galaxy" star with a young fan at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital:

Pratt, who voiced the lead role of Emmet Brickowski in "The Lego Movie," surprised Dylan Prunty, a boy with a mitochondrial disorder, who's been dubbed "Lego Kid" for his love of the toys.
In a recent interview with Panzer TV, the 35-year-old actor explained that he took home pieces of his "Guardians Of The Galaxy" costume to visit sick children in the hospital:

"I stole the jacket and some of the wardrobe so that, if this movie comes out and does what everyone hopes it can, I can follow the example of someone -- say, like, a Russell Wilson, you know -- and go visit kids," Pratt said, referring to the Seattle Seahawks quarterback who visits children's hospitals every week.
"If it was a big enough movie, to where it would mean something to a kid who’s sick in the hospital for ['Guardians' character] Peter Quill or Star-Lord to come visit them, I’ll do that," Pratt said. "I think that’s awesome, man. That would give me real meaning for this movie, you know?"

A Lego man and Star-Lord? Looks like Pratt is keeping his word.

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LG's L-series phones keep the flair but drop the specs

LG's L-series phones keep the flair but drop the specs

Steve Dent

Engadget

With its latest L-series devices, LG is sticking to its script of building low-spec devices that retain some of the design cues, features and software of its higher-end handsets. Like earlier models, both the new L Fino and L Bello phones are aimed at emerging and youth markets with specs like 1.2GHz/1.3GHz quad-core CPUs, low-res WVGA screens, no LTE and 8-megapixel rear/1-megapixel front cameras (front VGA only for the Fino). Rather than specs though, LG is emphasizing the UX software features carried over from the G3 and other models.

Those include a back button, the Knock Code unlocking system and the QuickCircle case for fast access to the camera and other functions. Both models also have a recent version of Android KitKat, 4.4.2, and come in a range of colors like gold, red and green.

Given competition like the Moto E, which looks to have a bit more style, the success of the devices will likely depend in large part on their price. LG has yet to release that info yet, but seems to have confidence in the new handsets, judging by the aggressive launch schedule. They'll start rolling out in Latin America this month, followed by Europe, Asia and other regions soon.

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Apple Patents A Way For Your iPhone To Remember Where You Parked Your Car

Apple Patents A Way For Your iPhone To Remember Where You Parked Your Car

Darrell Etherington

TechCrunch 

Apple has a new patent application (via AppleInsider) that could indicate some additional functionality it’s building for its automotive-focused mobile features – the tech described offers a way for your iPhone to automatically record where you park your car, and then provide directions back to the vehicle, even if you have only intermittent GPS signal or any cell reception.

The app includes provisions for automatically determining when you park your car either by direct data connection between the phone and your vehicle, over Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE as one possibility, or by simply using internal sensors like the accelerometer to figure out when a phone is in motion fast enough to be in a vehicle, and when they’ve come to a full stop.

The location data would be tracked either via GPS signal when available, or, when that’s not available, the iPhone would use its own onboard sensors to track a user’s motion and essentially establish breadcrumbs that it can use later to find its way back. These same methods that are used to keep track of a user’s location during times when they lack good cellular connectivity could also be used in areas of weak signal while driving, the patent notes.

Finding their way back to their car would involve an iPhone user asking their device to simply “Find my car” via audio request to Siri, for example, and then they’ll be provided with a map guiding them back, complete with visual and, potentially, audio turn-by-turn directions.

It’s a patent that solves an age-old problem with a fairly simple solution, but one that Apple is best-positioned to implement as a first-party feature. If this were integrated into its CarPlay software, you can see how it would help bridge the gap between in-car and between trip use, and as a feature a user doesn’t have anything to trigger, it’d be much more likely to get used.

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Flappy Bird Creator Unveils His Next Game - Swing Copter

NDTV

After the unexpected success of Flappy Bird, creator Dong Nguyen faced intense scrutiny, which led to him eventually pulling his game from the App Store and Google Play. He finally re-launched the game - but only for the Amazon Fire TV - at the start of August. Now, Nguyen has released another game, called Swing Copters, which looks like a spiritual sequel to Flappy Bird.

Like Flappy Bird, Swing Copters is a kind of endless runner, and it looks to be brutally difficult as well. The visuals retain the primitive aesthetic that came to define Flappy Bird - and the gameplay is also a simple, one-touch experience.

The difference is that in Flappy Bird, you used the taps to simply flap upwards - tapping quickly gained altitude, and with careful tapping you could maintain your level or drop as required.

In Swing Copters, you're playing as a little dude with a helicopter-cap, rising up past girders which have swinging hammers attached, for some reason. He's also drifting from the left to the right, and tapping the screen just changes the direction he's moving in.

It looks like it could have the same addictive quality as Flappy Birds did, though it's of course very hard to say about this kind of game without having played it. After Flappy Birds became a big hit, a cottage industry of imitators came up, but few were able to replicate its success.

Luckily, Swing Copters is expected to launch on August 21, for free, so we won't have to wait long to find out if lightning strikes twice.

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Microsoft and its partners are modernizing the London Underground network

Microsoft and its partners are modernizing the London Underground network

by Andy Weir

Neowin 

The London Underground - known affectionately as 'the Tube' - is the world's oldest subterranean railway network, and remains one of the largest, with 270 stations across 11 lines, serving almost 1.2 billion passengers a year. Keeping a system like this up and running is no small task, and in addition to regular maintenance, constant monitoring of critical elements is also needed to ensure that any issues that arise can be quickly resolved.
Transport for London turned to Telent, CGI and Microsoft to create a secure interconnected monitoring infrastructure for the Underground network, designed "to modernize the systems that monitor... critical rail assets by harnessing data from thousands of devices and sensors."

Just like those 'smart' refrigerators and washing machines, this is an example of the Internet of Things coming into play, adding sensors and connectivity to 'dumb' objects to understand how those objects work as part of a larger system, and monitoring their performance both in real-time and in the longer term.
The system is built on Microsoft Azure Intelligent Systems Services, and its introduction will help to replace more labor-intensive monitoring procedures with a quicker, cheaper and more efficient system. It can monitor issues across the entire network - from spotting a temperature sensor malfunction on the Jubilee Line to scheduling routine maintenance of CCTV systems on the Piccadilly Line.
Sensors are able to track metrics such as temperature, vibrations and humidity, while even staff can be located while on duty and easily contacted to help deal with issues and situations, wherever they may be on the network. All of the data is stored in the cloud via the Microsoft Azure platform, and accessible via a customized secure access portal.
Telent managing director Steve Pears said: "Many manual monitoring processes can now be streamlined; disconnected systems can be securely integrated and automated. Most importantly, equipment degradation can be spotted in real-time, based on live data - and with new insights from data, London Underground can measure asset performance over time."
That will lead to more savings in the future and, it will also make it easier to deal with problems quickly as they arise. It may even make it easier to spot potential issues before they have the chance to impact on passenger safety or to disrupt services.
Pears added: "When one system can connect thousands of devices and data streams across a rail network serving millions of people, that's the Internet of Things - and it's here right now. That's why we chose Microsoft."
Microsoft is increasingly focusing on the Internet of Things as it embraces its 'cloud first, mobile first' future under Satya Nadella. As we reported earlier today, the company has now released a custom Windows OS designed specifically for this new class of connected devices. 

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Amazon Might Start Testing Its Delivery Drones In India, Since It Can't In The US (AMZN)

Amazon Might Start Testing Its Delivery Drones In India, Since It Can't In The US (AMZN)

Business Insider 

Amazon will reportedly start testing its delivery drones in India as soon as October, sources tell The Economic Times of India.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos first announced the company's drone delivery ambitions back in December 2013, which would let customers receive packages in as little as 30 minutes.
The company hit roadblocks in its initial testing because commercial drone use is currently illegal in the US. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) currently dictates that only hobbyists can fly drones outdoors, while all commercial experimentation needs to take place indoors. (The FAA was originally expected to lift its ban on commercial drones starting in September 2015, but The Washington Post says "technical and regulatory obstacles" will delay that deadline.)
To avoid these domestic regulatory constraints, Amazon will reportedly start drone trials in India, which doesn't have any laws about drone usage. The Economic Times pinpointed two Indian cities, Mumbai and Bangalore, where Amazon already has warehouses.
The testing would likely bring big publicity to Amazon in India, where the company is currently battling it out with Flipkart, an e-commerce company that recently raised $1 billion. The next day, Bezos announced that Amazon would invest $2 billion in its Indian operations.
Amazon told The Economic Times that it wouldn't comment on the rumors.

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ASCPA app helps people locate lost pets

ASCPA app helps people locate lost pets

By Lindsay Friedman

Chicago Tribune

 

Aug. 15- Can't find Fluffy? The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals wants to help.
The ASPCA recently launched an app designed to help frantic owners find their lost pets.
Developed by animal care experts, the app gives owners a personalized missing pet recovery kit, including a step-by-step lost-pet action checklist. It features a variety of recommendations that are based on the owners' personal profiles.
"At ASPCA one of our goals is to end homelessness (for pets)," said Emily Weiss, vice president of shelter research and development for ASPCA in New York. "This is one way is ensure animals stay home or, if they leave home, that they get back there and they get back there fast."
The app lets owners launch their search online and offline, helping them make digital fliers for social media and design posters to hang throughout their neighborhood.
Also key: The program offers important weather-related advice — storms are to blame for many pets running away. It presents tips to help owners prepare, handle and help pets recover, physically or mentally, after intense storms or disasters.
In addition, owners can store and manage their pet's health records, get pet-related news and check out ASPCA's Instagram, which features cute pet pictures.
Available online in iTunes and Android stores, ASPCA's app is free to download.
Go to www.aspca.org (type "lost pet app" in the search field).

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Apple ramps up spending on R&D

Apple ramps up spending on R&D

By Julia Love

San Jose Mercury News 

Aug. 20- As rumors swirl about new Apple products that may be on the way, one thing is for sure: The company is doubling down on R&D.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based company has shifted research and development into overdrive this year, spending $1.6 billion in the third quarter, up 36 percent from the same period last year. At this rate, Apple's spending will be up 60 percent year-over-year by the fourth quarter, according to a Morgan Stanley report released this week.
Investors and tech junkies watch closely for any hints about Apple's highly anticipated product launches. Coming four years after Apple last entered a new product category with the iPad, the spike in R&D spending suggests that Apple has much more in store than a new version of one of its signature devices, analysts say.
"This shows that they intend to make good on their implicit promise of life after iPhones and iPads," said John Jackson, a research vice president at IDC. "There are big bets in the wings."
But analysts diverge on how close to launch the products may be. In light of the R&D spending spree, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty predicted in her report that Apple will soon enter a new product category, noting that the company ratcheted up its R&D spending before launching the iPod, iPhone and iPad. Indeed, Apple is now devoting 4 percent of its revenue to R&D, a level it has not reached since shortly before the original iPhone's 2007 release.
Still, R&D is a long game, and a hike in spending does not necessarily mean a product launch is imminent, analysts say. With little visibility into Apple's labs, it is impossible to know whether the company has boosted spending to polish off a mature product or to explore a nascent idea, said Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates.
Apple CEO Tim Cook "has the luxury of a little bit of time and a whole lot of money to incubate what's next," said Jackson, the analyst.
Even with the upswing, Apple's R&D spending is still modest by some measures. Computer and electronics companies generally devote 6.5 percent of their revenue to R&D, according to a 2012 study by consulting firm Booz & Co., and some spend much more. Microsoft, for one, has allocated 13 percent of its revenue for R&D each of the past three years, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Apple is known for its efficient R&D, analysts say. While it is costly to pioneer a new product, Apple has not had to spend huge sums in years when it merely updated its existing devices, Jackson said.
"They are masters of incremental innovation," he said.
Apple's slim lineup of products also helps keep costs down, said Tom Mainelli, a program vice president at IDC.
"They don't have a thousand irons in the fire," he said.
Apple has also had a year of blockbuster acquisitions, another tool companies can use to boost innovation. In the first three quarters of this year, Apple spent $898 million in cash to buy firms, almost twice the total of recent years, according to Morgan Stanley. The expenditures can also be seen as hallmarks of Cook's leadership, Mainelli said.
"It's a reflection of Tim Cook making this his company and basically pulling all the levers," he said.

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Opera's Mini browser to be installed on Microsoft phones

Opera's Mini browser to be installed on Microsoft phones

Reuters

The Nokia X is shown at its unveiling at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona

OSLO - Norwegian software maker Opera signed a deal to take over the browser building unit of Microsoft's Nokia mobile phone unit and reported second-quarter earnings above expectations on Thursday, sending its shares sharply higher.
"We have signed a strategic licensing deal with Microsoft. We are basically taking over the browser building department in Nokia," Opera Chief Executive Lars Boilsesen said. "This means that Opera Mini will become the default browser for Microsoft's feature phone product lines and the Asha phones product lines."
The deal will be profitable from the start, he added.
Opera shares rose 6.5 percent to 80.45 crowns a share by 0304 EST on the deal and the earnings report.
"All the current user base will be encouraged to upgrade to Opera Mini and all the new phones will come with Opera Mini pre-installed as a default browser. This is a great deal for us. We have dreamed of this for more than 10 years."
In a separate statement, Opera said the licensing agreement applies to mobile phones based on the Series 30+, Series 40 and Asha software platforms.
"As part of the agreement, people who use the current browser for these phones, Xpress, will be encouraged to upgrade to the latest Opera Mini browser. Factory-new devices will have Opera Mini pre-installed."
In the second quarter, Opera's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) rose 24 percent to $27 million, beating forecasts for $24.7 million in a Reuters poll of analysts.
The firm said it now sees full-year EBITDA in a range of $117 million to $124 million, up from a previous guidance for $110-120 million, and it sees revenues at $480-500 million versus a previous forecasts for $435-460 million.
(Reporting by Joachim Dagenborg, writing by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Balazs Koranyi)

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