Latest Tech News

The official 2020 election apps of both President Trump and Joe Biden feature significant security issues, researchers have claimed.

With the US Presidential election now just a few days away, doubts have been raised over the security of the official apps used by both candidates by researchers at security firm Promon.

The company found that both the Trump and Biden apps are vulnerable to StrandHogg, a well-known and critical Android vulnerability that allows hackers to easily hijack apps and overlay fake screens which can depict anything the attacker wants, including screens that ask the user to hand over sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords.

• These are the best Android antivirus apps
• We've put together a list of the best VPN services around
• Also check out our roundup of the best malware removal software

Election apps hacked

The news comes despite President Trump recently declaring at a campaign rally that, "Nobody gets hacked. To get hacked you need somebody with 197 IQ and he needs about 15% of your password”.

Promon was able to use StrandHogg to overlay fake screens - one on Trump’s app, calling on users to donate to the Biden campaign, and another on official the Biden app, showing the Democratic candidate in a MAGA hat, urging users to vote for Trump. 

“The President’s statement sadly reflects a widely believed sentiment that secure passwords will protect you from hackers and that hacking, in general, doesn’t affect the average citizen," noted Tom Lysemose Hansen, CTO at Promon.

"Sadly, this isn’t the case. Absolutely nothing is “unhackable” and even the most secure, high profile accounts are vulnerable should the user fall victim to a phishing attack which seeks usernames and passwords."

The report comes shortly after the official Trump re-election campaign in the state of Wisconsin said it had lost $2.3 million to hackers who carried out a phishing attack.

• We've also highlighted the best endpoint protection software

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3mJDhH4

Latest Tech News

Update (November 1): Micromax showed off the phones, debunking the correlation between In Mobiles and Huawei/Honor. The original story has been retained below, but it no longer holds true.

Micromax is set to make a big return to the Indian smartphone market next week, with the launch of the new ‘In’ series of smartphones. While we await more details around its specs and pricing, conspiracy theorists think that the company will be rebadging Honor phones this time.

Earlier this year, Micromax announced that it will resume selling smartphones in India. Eventual developments confirmed that this return will happen under a new umbrella — In Mobiles. On November 3, two budget devices will be launched in the sub Rs 15,000 segment, powered by the gaming-centric MediaTek Helio G25 and the G35 chipsets. The rest of the specifications are yet to be officially confirmed.

(Image credit: Future)

In the usual pre-launch buzz campaigns, the company shared another teaser which shows a part of the back of the phone: a glossy panel with an X-shaped pattern that shines according to the light hitting it. Twitter users were quick to point out how familiar this design characteristic was to the Honor 9X which was launched a few months ago. This snowballed into a cloud of doubt over Micromax’s operations.

Micromax has always prided itself in being an Indian smartphone brand. However, many of its phones were actually just rebranded devices from smaller Chinese OEMs. These manufacturers would supply the base hardware, while Micromax would take care of the software and after-sales service. Many believe that Micromax might be up to something similar with its 2020 return unless it is ready to invest hundreds of crores and take care of the entire supply chain itself.

It’s no secret that Honor and Huawei have had a tough last few months, withdrawing from many markets and slowing down in others. Getting rid of any excess inventory in this way might not be the worst idea in that sense. Of course, it is too early to tell if that is actually the case or just coincidence.

If it is true, this wouldn’t be the first partnership between the two brands. Back in July 2019, Huawei announced a strategic partnership with Micromax to use its extensive retailer network across India as a destination for sales and service. 

We suggest you take this with a grain of salt as there is no real evidence suggesting a bigger partnership between the two companies. We should get a lot more clarity next week.

• Micromax’s In Series phones will debut on November 3
• Honor 9X Pro with in-house AppGallery launched in India
• Apple iPhone 12: price in India, pre-orders, and best offers

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/35FhLwq

Holiday gift guide 2020: CNET editors' top picks - CNET

The best of the best, across all gadget categories and price picks.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3jJvQOf

Varmilo's Moonlight mechanical keyboard is the smoothest I've ever used - CNET

Built with the company's EC Switch V2 linear switches, the keyboard offers an effortless typing experience.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3oMvUjZ

The best robot vacuum for 2020: Electrolux, Neato, iRobot Roomba, Eufy and more - CNET

From Electrolux, iRobot, Eufy, Ecovacs, Neato and more, we tested lots of leading robot vacuum models to see which are the best.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Gh4e5D

Latest Tech News

Asus TUF 15.6-inch laptop | $999.99 $899.99 at Best Buy
(roughly £700)
With a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, this Asus is easily the most powerful laptop for under $1000 right now. The 512GB SSD and the $100 discount are just the cherry on the top ahead of Black Friday.
View Deal

If you've been searching for a solid workhorse laptop that can also be used after dark as a gaming powerhouse, then you might want to consider the 15.6-inch Asus TUF FA506IV-BR7N12 - available for just under $800 at Best Buy - that’s $200 off.

With an eight core AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor, a 512GB PCIe SSD and a GeForce RTX 2060 graphics chip (with 6GB GDDR6 memory), this beastly Asus device is probably the most powerful laptop you can buy for under $1000 right now.

You seldom see components this powerful even in machines priced at $999.99, so in terms of bang for your buck, it's definitely up there.

• We've built a list of the best Macs for business right now
• Here's our list of the best mobile workstations around
• Check out our list of the best Linux laptops available

The specs on this machine are so powerful, in fact, that it could even have plenty of applications outside of gaming, such as 4K video editing or CPU intensive music production.

It's also a prime candidate for a cheap VR laptop, as the 60Hz refresh rate display won't matter at all when you're inside your headset and the RTX 2060 will keep frame rates super silky smooth.

This machine comes with 8GB memory (DDR4 3200MHz), which is probably the bare minimum you'd want for gaming. At $800, and with an RTX 2060 and Ryzen 7, this is pretty understandable in our books.

Luckily, RAM is the easiest and cheapest component to upgrade in a laptop, so picking up another stick and installing it won't set you back much, and should yield great results.

It's also worth noting you get a free six-month antivirus package (Webroot Internet Security) for three devices, which itself is worth $29.99.

• Here's our list of the best laptops for programming right now

Bear in mind

• If this product is not available in your region, you may need to use a specialist parcel forwarding service to take advantage of the deal
• If you've managed to get hold of a cheaper product with equivalent specifications, in stock and brand new, let us know and we'll tip our hat to you.

from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/3mKE8r1

5 ways Tuesday's election could change the course of a second stimulus check - CNET

Here's the rundown on when a second stimulus check could make its way to you, how to estimate your total payment, and what to do if you didn't receive your first check.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3ecT3Y6

Iconic James Bond locations in real life: How to travel like 007 - CNET

Exotic locales are a staple of any Bond film. When you can travel again, here's where to find some amazing sights around the world as seen on screen.

from CNET https://ift.tt/35KWEbW

Halloween's here: Weird horror films and TV shows you may have overlooked - CNET

Vengeful witches, angry ghosts, killer cults, evil clowns and body-snatching aliens. Watch these unusual scary films and TV shows, screaming (er, streaming) now.

from CNET https://ift.tt/3mF047a

The next stimulus check is in limbo. When it comes, will your payment be larger or smaller? - CNET

Until this point, each stimulus bill proposal has included a second check for individuals and families. Here's what we know about your payment size.

from CNET https://ift.tt/322EPEh

Halloween movies for kids on Netflix, Disney Plus and other streaming services - CNET

Throw on your Halloween costumes and get ready for family-friendly scares with these Disney movies and more.

from CNET https://ift.tt/2Jk4nWV

Best air purifiers for 2020: Dyson, Coway, Molekule and more - CNET

Air cleaners can capture wildfire smoke and COVID-19 virus particles. But which ones will help the most?

from CNET https://ift.tt/35QAzZz

How fast could the IRS send your second stimulus check? It depends on who you are - CNET

How your priority group -- the congressional calendar -- can forecast how long you may have to wait for another direct payment.

from CNET https://ift.tt/34L4DXw

Latest Gadgets News

A US judge in Pennsylvania blocked a US Commerce Department order set to take effect on November 12 that would have effectively barred Chinese-owned app TikTok from operating in the United States.

from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/2HTOp5q

The best soundbar for 2020: Vizio, Sonos, Polk, Yamaha, Roku and more - CNET

Let's face it, TV audio quality sucks. A soundbar can be a big improvement for a small price. Here are our favorites.

from CNET https://ift.tt/34Gz94I