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Plug The Security Holes In Your Two-Factor Authentication http://ift.tt/2xwu6As On Tuesday, Techcrunch writer John Biggs had his phone number stolen by a hacker who gained control of Biggs’ T-Mobile SIM card, granting him access to Biggs’ phone number used to verify his identity. Biggs correctly employed SMS-based two-factor authentication on his accounts, but forgot to add extra security layers to his wireless carrier account. His attacker proceeded to lock him out of his accounts and attempt to demand ransom in bitcoin. Biggs was eventually able to recover his accounts and regain control over his phone number, but you can turn his evening of headaches and password resetting into a teachable moment for yourself, and learn how to stop a similar incident from happening to you. Put a PIN in Your Phone AccountThe easiest way to make sure no one can seize control of your phone’s wireless account is by adding a security PIN or passcode. It’s as simple as calling your phone carrier and asking to enable PIN protection (it’s free), or logging into your online account and visiting your security settings. This isn’t the same PIN you might use to unlock your smartphone, but a number or passcode you’ll need to enter or say whenever you’re dealing with your carrier. If you’re on the line with a customer support representative, you won’t be able to make any changes to your account without providing a PIN or passcode. You can set up your PIN by calling your carrier or visiting a retail store with valid identification. Advertisement Don’t remember the PIN? Carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile will let reset your PIN either over the phone or online. Every major carrier will let you walk into a retail store with valid identification and update your PIN that way. When it comes to the PIN itself, be sure to avoid simple ones like “1234” or a PIN related to your birthday, as these can probably be guessed by hackers snooping around your social media profiles looking for identifiable information. Use Better Two-Factor Authentication ServicesSMS-based authentication, used to verify your identity by texting you a random passcode needed to access your account,is a good start to a more secure digital life, but you’ll have to step it up a notch if you want to make sure there are no security holes. As a rule, it should only be used when no other two-factor authentication process is available. Advertisement Keep in mind your phone may not be the only device receiving that authentication message, especially if your messages are synced between multiple devices, like your tablet or computer. They could be sent to other online messaging services like Google Voice or Skype, services that can be accessed from places besides your smartphone. It’s also susceptible, as Briggs discovered, to carrier-based SIM card transfers if the proper security protocols aren’t in place. Two-factor authentication apps like Authy or Google Authenticator are much more secure, and don’t involve email addresses or text messages, granting attackers fewer entry points. Setup is a bit more involved than entering a number sent to your phone, and requires you to have your authentication device, whether it’s a smartphone or tablet, in hand while you enter the periodically randomized string of numbers. Employ a Password ManagerDon’t think that adding more layers of security means you’ll have to remember every new PIN, password, or other secret code. While you’re setting up additional security checkpoints, enter the information in the password manager of your choice. You can use it to store backup codes, customer support numbers, or a carrier-exclusive email address, ensuring it both stays far from snooping hackers and accessible only to you. Keep Your One-Time Codes HandySetting up two-factor authentication apps like Google Authenticator usually involves saving a backup passcode in the event your phone is missing or stolen. Google suggests you print them out and store them in a secure location. You can keep them in a folder tucked away in your home somewhere, or inside your password manager for easy access. No matter what, having a backup plan in case your original backup plan goes down is a great method of keeping yourself secure and your identity safe from malicious individuals. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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Encourage Teens to Focus on Quality Over Quantity in Their Social Lives http://ift.tt/2xgLE4i Remember how high school felt like one big popularity contest? While the stereotypical adolescent dream is to accumulate as many friends as possible, new research suggests teens who take the opposite approach may have more-fulfilling adulthoods. Advertisement As reported by Quartz, the journal of Child Development released a study finding that teenagers who reported an intense, close friendship exhibited greater self-worth and less social anxiety at age 25 than their more popular peers. Social structure has tremendous psychological effects on teenagers (shocker), and while you may consider their friendships outside your parental jurisdiction, there are ways you can help them form closer bonds with a smaller circle. Here’s how: Explain the Difference Between Likability and StatusThe new findings echo past studies, which uncovered a divide in the definition of “popularity.” Students who are “likable” are genuinely admired and trusted by their peers, while students who seek “status” seek to create social hierarchies that grant them power. Guess which group winds up feeling more secure? Advertisement Chances are, come middle school, your teenager may come to you with their anxieties over fitting in and being popular. That first conversation is an ideal time to explain the difference between earning trusted friendships and weaponizing perceived friendships for social standing. Temptation will be present early on for teens to trade gossip or rumors for quick cliquish acceptance, so point to the payoff of the more patient route of trustworthiness: a future of deep, meaningful friendships and enduring health. Foster Real FriendshipsIf a close friendship seems to be blossoming between your teen and a peer, do your best to encourage it to grow further: invite the friend on a family vacation, encourage your kid to confide in their friend in moments of difficulty, and try to establish a bond with the friend’s parents. Advertisement In the long run, your teenager will be more grateful for those experiences than they will be for a trendy purchase that helps them ascend the social ladder. Keep an Eye on How Social-Building is EvolvingThe drawback to the study was that it began before the proliferation of smartphones and social media, which have changed the way teens socialize considerably. Advertisement Regardless, whatever mechanisms are used for socializing, they don’t transcend the divide between “likability” and “status.” Help your teen understand that the social interactions that occur in a digital setting still apply to the foundation of character, which can reap longterm rewards if approached correctly. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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How to Stay Safe During a Hurricane http://ift.tt/2ga3DVK Hurricane Harvey is careening through the Gulf of Mexico and planning to make landfall in Texas. It might even be the first category 3 hurricane to hit that part of the U.S. in nearly 12 years. Here’s what you need to know to stay safe during the storm. Sign Up for Emergency AlertsStaying in the know can keep you and your family safe. You’ll know if you need to evacuate or whether it’s safer to stay put. Make sure your phone and backup burner phone are setup to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) from FEMA through the Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS). These are free 90-character texts that local authorities can send to mobile devices within range of any cell towers in an affected area. There’s no need to sign up, just make sure your phones are updated and charged. Advertisement Next, do a search for your jurisdiction’s opt-in public alert system, like this: “[town, city, or county name] + emergency alerts” to see how you can sign up. It’s not a bad idea to check with your local emergency management or public safety office either. You can also receive alerts and warnings directly from the National Weather Service with a NOAA Weather Radio. Do your best to make sure everyone in the family is able to get warnings and alerts—not just you. Know the Difference Between an Advisory, Watch, and WarningWarnings aren’t much help if you don’t know what they mean. Here’s a quick breakdown of hurricane and tropical storm warnings, via FEMA:
These warnings may very well save your life, so take them seriously and don’t blow them off. Be Prepared to EvacuateIt’s very possible local authorities will tell you to evacuate the area, so you need to be prepared to leave in a moment’s notice. Here’s what you need to do to be ready:
Make sure your evacuation plan accounts for everyone in your household, including pets. If authorities tell you to evacuate, do so immediately. Protect Your HouseholdIf you have the time, prepare your home for being battered with high winds, heavy rains, and airborne debris. That means reinforcing doors and protecting windows. If you don’t, wind can literally rip off your roof or cause your walls to collapse. Or at the very least, wreck the inside of your house. Advertisement All windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors should be covered. Plywood is the cheapest option, running less than $20 per 4' x 8' sheet, but it has to be installed properly. According to Bob Sheets, retired director of the National Hurricane Center, here’s how to do it right:
DO NOT tape your windows in hopes of protecting them. It isn’t very effective and this method can actually create larger, more dangerous shards of glass if they break. Advertisement Once you’ve got all openings covered, bring in all of your loose objects sitting out in your yards: patio furniture, garbage cans, bicycles, toys, lawn tools, etc. If something is too big to bring inside, anchor it as best you can outside. Make sure your trees are trimmed too to avoid branches smashing into your home. Unplug your electronics and be sure to shut off all propane tanks. Last but not least, get your home and property ready for potential flooding. Clean debris out of your gutters and drains, elevate your heating system, water heater, and electric panel, and don’t keep any easily-damaged valuables in the basement or in low areas. Hunker Down and Weather the StormIf you choose not to evacuate, or are in an evacuation-optional area, get inside and get safe. Make sure, wherever you are, you’re on somewhat higher ground in case of flooding. Gather your emergency supplies and food, and fill your bathtub with water so you have an extra supply on hand in case you need it. Advertisement Stay away from doors and windows, even if they’re boarded up, and make your way to a windowless room in the lowest part of the house. It could be a basement, a bathroom, a closet, or even a hallway. If possible, lie on the floor under a table or sturdy object during the more violent parts of the storm. It’s also a good idea to have a mattress or pillow with you to protect your head. Be patient, and do not be fooled if there is a lull in the storm. Wait longer than you think you need to. You’re probably just in the eye of the hurricane and the high winds will probably pick up again. Listen to your radio and wait for local officials to say it’s okay to go outside. Bonus: Hurricane Prep ChecklistIt quickly goes over a lot of the major things you need to prepare and take care of (via FEMA): Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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What to Do Your First Day at the Gym http://ift.tt/2gaaYER After you’ve mustered up the willpower to finally check out the gym for the first time, plenty of questions remain: What should you wear? What workout should you do? How does this machine even work? Here’s a primer on how to make your first gym experience awesome. Most first-time exercisers tell me they’re intimidated by the gym because they have no idea what to do and don’t want to look or act like a fool. It’s normal to feel insecure or embarrassed about being clueless, but remember two hard truths: everyone starts somewhere, and no one is actually paying attention to you that closely. Before the GymTo ease first-time jitters, it helps to look like you fit in and make the unknown known. That means a couple of things. Dress for SuccessYou typically need to bring a couple of things with you: a towel (to wipe your sweat and lay on top of seats and benches), a water bottle, a combination lock if you use the lockers, and workout clothes to change into. Advertisement A loose-fitting, dry fit shirt or tank top, tights or shorts, and comfortable shoes should do. You don’t have to care about what to wear to the gym, as long as it’s comfortable for you, but one study in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology suggests that what you wear can influence your confidence levels and how you act. I’ve definitely found myself more focused and motivated to crush my workout if I seem like a badass in my head. Have a PlanAmanda Thebes, a personal trainer and owner of Fit n’ Chips, said that one of the biggest mistakes she sees is people aimlessly wandering around, testing one piece of equipment after another, without a plan. “Every time you go to the gym, you should have a plan,” said Thebes. (We’ll give you an idea of what workout to do later in this story.) Advertisement Think of the reason that’s driving you toward the gym. Perhaps it’s the desire to get more muscle. If so, you probably want to focus on the weights and machines. (Never mind the how yet.) This way you can avoid being distracted and overwhelmed by all the options when you finally get to the gym. Once You’re At the GymYour main goal isn’t to become workout champ of the world. It’s to create a positive first experience so that you keep up this healthy habit. Learn the Lay of the LandEvery gym is set up differently, but there are certain mainstays. I’ve been to dozens of gyms around the world, and without fail, every one has a space for cardio machines—the treadmills, ellipticals, and whatnot. Then there’s generally a room with mirror along the wall for group exercise classes; the weightlifting area, where it’s further separated according to free weights versus machines; and an area for warm-ups or cool-downs with yoga mats, medicine balls, and foam rollers. Don’t be afraid to talk to the gym staff and let them know you’re new. “The gym staff are there to help you and give you advice. They want you to be safe so take advantage of that,” said Thebes. The gym staff should’ve given you a tour before you signed up for a membership or trial, but if not it doesn’t hurt to ask. Know Your Gym EtiquetteGym culture has unspoken rules about good form and proper etiquette. We’ve written about gym etiquette, but I’d like to emphasize a couple of points:
When the gym gets busy, these simple etiquette rules keeps things civil and running smoothly. Don’t Expect AwesomenessYou probably want to sweat and feel the “burn”, but Lee Boyce, a strength coach based in Toronto, recommends that you take things easy. Don’t try to be a hero and make yourself so sore that you aren’t able to work out for days or a whole week after. Being too sore can hurt your motivation and might even turn you off of exercising, says Boyce. A Sample WorkoutEveryone will have different suggestions on what sort of workout you should do. But today? Keep it simple. Boyce recommended this workout to get you started:
Do each exercise for the prescribed number of repetitions, or the full cycle of an exercise, until you complete all three exercises. That’s one round. Repeat for five rounds and rest for 90 seconds between each round. Advertisement These exercises are some of the most basic movements to build foundational strength and prime you for other exercises in the gym. Your body isn’t used to working out or moving efficiently yet. You’ll seem like a lumbering giant and feel awkward, and that’s OK. If you’d like to learn proper form, personal trainers may sometimes offer free initial consultations to help you map out your goals. But beware the tactics many gyms might use to rope you into a personal training package. Whether you should hire a personal trainer or not is based on your budget. A personal trainer is a great way to ease you into the basics and keep your accountable, but not all are awesome. After the GymCongratulations, you did it! You might feel sore after a day or two, which is normal. It’s possible to still work out when you’re sore, even if it is uncomfortable. But the most important thing is that you keep going. No one gets more comfortable with exercising overnight or by going to the gym only occasionally. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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How to Help Kids Cope When Their Favorite Team Loses http://ift.tt/2wKgOD6 Let Deadspin’s Drew Magary tell it: your kid’s favorite NFL team sucks. Which means it’s almost certain they’ll take an L at some point this upcoming season. Take it from another long-suffering Vikings fan, when it comes to losses, there’s gradation to devastation. Especially-crushing defeats, like last year’s Falcons surrendering a 25-point lead in the Super Bowl (or the ‘98 Vikings freaking flubbing a NFC-clinching field goal), can be particularly shattering to children since they haven’t matured enough to gain perspective. Advertisement However, there are things you can do to brighten their mood following a heartbreaker. Here’s how to help your kid cope after their favorite team suffers a notably tough loss: Remember The Pain and EmpathizeAge has (hopefully) made shrugging off a tough loss easier for you than it is for your kid, so try to remember why their reaction may seem dramatic.
Saying “I know how it feels,” and sharing an anecdote about a tough loss you watched as a kid lets them know that though they’re upset, they’re not alone, and things will be all right. Get Them Active and Engage in ImaginationExercise always seems to work its endorphin magic, so if your kids are blue following a defeat, suggest going outside to toss an actual pigskin around. Advertisement The other benefit to that? Backyard sports are a canvas of athletic imagination and revenge: a place where real-life rivals are vanquished, and the good guys always manage to conjure up last-second glory. Hell, the Vikings are undefeated and have won several hundred Super Bowls on my childhood turf. Point Out the Fallacy of CursesOne of the most refreshing aspects of being a fan is the enduring optimism that comes with it. You have to believe that the next play, the next game, and the next season will go your way. Advertisement Even when streaks of bad bounces stretch on for decades, curses aren’t real and time is the only truly infallible opponent. It’s what supplies fans with their ability to endure the sucky seasons. However unlikely, eventually even the most downtrodden franchises slay their demons and seize the moment, at which point any accumulated suffering makes the payoff that much sweeter (*Vikings flashbacks*) ... right? If your kid seems resigned to pessimism, point to real-life examples of historic losers defying expectations. There are lots to choose from recently. Remind Them of the Bigger PictureSports are, at their best, awesome, triumphant and fun. To paraphrase former Chief Justice Earl Warren, “The sports page records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.” Advertisement Of course, Mr. Warren fails to account for fans of the players trying to stop said accomplishments. There’s nothing celebratory about getting posterized. Yet, despite ridiculous budgets, edgy posturing of star athletes, and the shiny, hype-revving veneer, athletic accomplishments largely stem from a pretty trivial premise: humans playing games with inanimate objects of varying shape. Also, remember that most of sports’ most iconic moments owe their influence to factors beyond a game’s outcome. So, after a loss, remind your kid that their self-worth and identity are comprised of much more than the emotional sting of a lone match. In short: ball is life, but it’s also only a game. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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How to Get an Appointment With a Dermatologist When There Are None to Be Found http://ift.tt/2wC5v0H Where’s a dermatologist when you need one? A recentinvestigation by Women’s Health details a widespread shortage of dermatologists who can evaluate skin cancer. Wait times can be dangerously long, if you can get an appointment at all. In the article, journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer gives a few tips to better your chances. First, don’t just tell the person who picks up the phone that you want to make an appointment. Get specific about why it’s important. Use these magic words: “I have a mole that’s changing/bleeding and I’m afraid that it’s melanoma.” If that doesn’t work, she suggests that you ask to speak to a doctor or nurse, and offer to email a picture of your mole. Advertisement There are a few clinics, including mobile ones, that specialize in skin cancer screening. You may also be able to get a teledermatology visit at a local hospital, where staff photograph your mole and send the photos to a specialist for evaluation. And if those avenues don’t work, the magazine lists 17 dermatologists who have promised to see readers within a month; make sure to mention where you heard about them, and note that the offer is only valid until September 11, 2017. (That said, nothing is stopping you from calling them after that time; they just might have a longer wait time.) Read the full report for more. Gadget News via Lifehacker http://lifehacker.com August 24, 2017 at 03:41PM
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HTC says the U11 will get Android Oreo before the end of the year http://ift.tt/2vkpfBF HTC is ready to commit to an Android Oreo upgrade. The company tweeted today that it will update its devices to the new OS starting in the fourth quarter of 2017, starting with the U11. Oreo will eventually come to U Ultra and the 10, too. This seems slightly ambitious, but at the same time, if you're going to release an expensive flagship device, you should also be able to keep it up-to-date. Google officially released Android 8.0 Oreo this week, although it isn't ready for phones just yet. The company says builds for the Pixel and Nexus 5X / 6P are in carrier testing and over-the-air rollout should be happening “soon,” including updates for Nexus Player and Pixel C devices. If you don't want to wait for HTC, though, you can download the OS yourself by following instructions on Google's blog.
Gadget News via The Verge http://ift.tt/1jLudMg August 24, 2017 at 03:40PM AI recycle bins could know what you’re throwing away http://ift.tt/2xwJ9de Is that coffee cup recyclable or compostable? It can be tough to tell, for sure, but a new recycling system from Cambridge Consultants aims to help using image recognition and machine learning. With low recycle rates in the US and UK, possibly due to consumer confusion over what's possible to recycle, this new retail-focused recycle point could help us all know what to recycle and what to trash. The company envisions a future where you'll even be rewarded via a phone app with points or a donation to charity when you recycle this way. When you scan an object at one of these new bins, it should be able to recognize the type of waste deposited and tell you which section to place your item into. It can even learn new materials and products over time, thanks to the included AI. There's no detail on when you'll start seeing recycling centers like this, however. We've reached out to the company for more information and will update when we hear back. There have been home recycling units with a scanner on them before, but this is the first recycling system we've seen that focuses on retail and commercial uses. The idea here is for consumer brands (think Coca Cola or Pepsi) or food outlets to sponsor a "smarter" recycling point to both reinforce a brand's customer engagement as well as keeping more recyclables from the landfill. "Consumer brands are coming under increasing pressure from the government, lobby groups and consumers like you and me, to take responsibility for the end-of-life of their products." Cambridge Consultant's Sajith Wimalaratne said in a statement. "The smarter recycling system gives a brand a real reason to be in contact with the consumer while showing a commitment to make a positive impact." Source: Cambridge Consultants Gadget News via Engadget http://www.engadget.com August 24, 2017 at 03:39PM
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Judge orders DreamHost to hand over anti-Trump website records to Justice Department http://ift.tt/2vtMvfF After a dispute over the scope of a warrant, a judge today ordered hosting service DreamHost to turn over records related to an anti-Trump website. The legal fight started last week, when DreamHost said it had received a warrant from the Justice Department for records on the website “disruptj20.org,” which organized protests related to Trump’s inauguration. The warrant was so vaguely worded, and seemingly so broad, DreamHost argued, that it was effectively demanding information like IP addresses, which could identify visitors to the website. After controversy, the government backed down somewhat, clarifying that it would not ask for IP addresses. The Justice Department said it was only looking for records on how the website was allegedly used “to organize, to plan, and to effect a criminal act — that is, a riot.” In today’s ruling, a DC Superior Court judge ordered DreamHost to comply with the amended warrant, although the court will oversee how the data is searched, DreamHost said in a blog post. DreamHost said it would comply with the warrant but cast the court’s decision as, ultimately, a win. “The de-scoping of the original warrant, combined with the court’s additional restrictions on the use of, and access to, that data, is a clear victory for user privacy,” the company said. Gadget News via The Verge http://ift.tt/1jLudMg August 24, 2017 at 03:26PM
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Apple TV with 4K and HDR support reportedly coming this fall http://ift.tt/2wsqMtj The iPhone may not be the only thing Apple’s going to unveil this September. According to a report by Bloomberg, the Cupertino-company is finally refreshing the Apple TV after nearly two years, bringing it up to 4K streaming standards. The new set-top box will reportedly have a faster processor, support High Dynamic Range (HDR) video, and work with an updated app that can aggregate specific TV shows or movies. It will also offer a catalog of live content such as sports and news. Of course, to view the content in 4K and HDR, the new Apple TV would have to be used with a television set that also support the formats. The upcoming Apple TV would be the company’s fifth generation of the device; the 4th generation box launched back in October 2015. Since that time, companies like Amazon and Roku have offered up devices with higher specs at lower price points, which caused Apple’s marketshare to dip to the aforementioned competitors. The rumors today match up with previous leaks that suggest that a 4K Apple TV with HDR support is forthcoming. Gadget News via The Verge http://ift.tt/1jLudMg August 24, 2017 at 03:26PM |
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