Author name: Jenny Nicole

10 Most Effective Parenting Apps
Android

10 Most Effective Parental Monitoring Apps of 2022

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Looking for the best apps for parental control? 1.   XNSPY XNSPY can record children’s phone screens, follow their GPS location, and view their online history, making it one of the most dependable apps for remotely tracking kids’ smart devices. It monitors popular social networking apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, allowing parents to safeguard kids from phishing schemes, malware, and online abuse. Parents may quickly watch their children’s social media interactions and study screenshots obtained from multiple messaging applications using XNSPY’s screen recording. This feature safeguards children from cyberbullying, fake news, and phishing/ransomware risks, yet few apps offer it. The user interface is extremely interactive, with each monitoring capability identified. And notifications that are fast and simple to configure. XNSPY concentrates on the simplicity of its crisp user interface, making it extra helpful for beginners. Also, its Netflix limiter is one of the best on the market. Users can check how much time their kid spends streaming shows and movies by checking the app usage tab and navigating to the app of their choice. It makes it easier to raise digitally responsible kids. 2.   Norton Family Norton Family is one of the best budget parental control apps on the list and put users straight into action. To begin monitoring, navigate to the online dashboard and click Web Monitoring. Then, based on the child’s age, choose a restriction level. These default options control the categories available to your kid and Norton Family’s behavior when they attempt to access a site in that category: Monitor (Low), Warn (Medium), and Block (High). You may modify any of the presets to meet your requirements, or you can choose to monitor, warn, or ban certain people. It is a far more adaptable mechanism for censoring content based on severity. A Norton Family subscription costs $49.99 a year and includes features such as online blocking, time limits, and location monitoring. The app can upload months’ worth of internet history, making it one of the better child monitoring apps on the market. 3.   Kaspersky Safe Kids Kaspersky Safe Kids is another parental control app that monitors children’s activity on Macs, PCs, and smartphones. And out of this list of the best apps for parental control, it offers the best budget value at just $15 a year for as many smart devices as you like. The program gives its basic version for free that helps parents filter questionable websites, set lime limits on kids’ devices, and block specific apps. Do note that on iOS, you can only block age-restricted apps. Meanwhile, the premium version builds on top of the free version of the app and adds geolocation monitoring and social media tracking for Android and iOS devices. But Kaspersky’s enticing pricing comes at a price. Firstly you cannot read your kids’ text messages. Secondly, the mobile apps for Android and iOS have confusing menus, and the UI feels outdated. And lastly and most importantly, the web dashboard is slow and cannot filter websites running on older websites. 4.   Qustodio Qustodio is one of the more user-friendly parental control apps on the list as it displays all the monitored data in easy-to-follow graphs. The graph allows parents to monitor how much time their children spend on their gadgets. Qustodio will automatically block any website that fits into one of the ten categories. Drugs, gambling, pornography, proxies/loopholes, and violence are some of the tags that the app can detect. Parents may fine-tune their limitations in 19 additional categories, including file sharing and social networking. The application is available for Windows, macOS, Android, Chromebook, iOS, and Kindle, and it has outstanding cross-platform support. Qustodio offers a free version limited to one device and can only track online browsing activity for one week. It provides premium programs for five, ten, and fifteen days for $54.95, $96.95, and $119.95 respectively. Qustodio offers a powerful online interface and may be configured independently of all the other settings. It can monitor phone calls and texts sent and received on iOS and Android devices, but its social media-tracking feature can only monitor Facebook which is a major letdown for an otherwise robust child monitoring app. 5.   NetNanny This kids’ phone spy app is available on iOS and Android devices and gives the choice to parents to decide their actions when kids surf web content that includes harmful topics like drug use and pornography. NetNanny gives parents three options regarding kids’ browsing habits which include allowing, blocking, or receiving alerts. So the app works on content that is tagged as dangerous for kids. Parents can also set specific timeframes during which they won’t be able to go online. They can also straight-up block websites and apps with a single click and kids won’t be able to access them at all. NetNanny can track children’s location via their phone’s GPS service and lets parents view their entire location history during a specific period, and also set time limits on their screen use. It makes it easy to safeguard kids by tracking their location whenever needed and setting time limits enables kids to set time for studies. 6.   Bark Bark’s performance and cost are a tad disappointing. In terms of price, Bark’s strength comes with a cost. For $14 per month or $99 per year, the Bark Premium plan covers an unlimited number of devices. The Bark Junior app is also available for $5 per month or $49 per year, but it only includes the most fundamental parental controls: content filtering, app management, screen time limits, and location monitoring. Geofencing and location history logs are not presented. Parents cannot even view the location immediately on demand. Bark currently feels like hit-or-miss. The software filters information using advanced algorithms that analyze the content data to determine whether it is sexual, damaging, pornographic, violent, or anxiety-inducing. 7.   Hoverwatch Hoverwatch is an excellent tool for tracking mobile phone activities remotely for parents who want to maintain control over several devices. Users can engage or disable the monitoring capability at any

Buy a Spying App
Infographic

Planning to Buy a Spying App? Here’s What You Should Know First

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Spying apps, or device monitoring apps, have long been in the app ecosystem but we’re rarely greeted with their presence. This is because most app stores don’t allow device infiltrating applications on the platform, as they can be used for nefarious reasons. But these apps do plenty good too, and if you’re looking to deploy them in a constructive environment, here’s all you need to know about them!

Remove Spy Apps Installed
How-To

How to Find and Remove Spy Apps Installed on Any Android Phone?

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With the increasing number of mobile phone hacking cases, it’s become a major concern whether our phone is protected from being hacked. Cybercrime will cost companies worldwide an estimated $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015, at a growth rate of 15 percent every year. When you have a potential threat to your data and privacy, everyone wants to know how to secure their digital presence. And since the majority of hacks take place via smartphones, users need to be extra careful when mobile devices are concerned. Android and its Problems Android devices are at the forefront of hacks since they come with the most popular operating system in the world. Android is an open-source platform that, in comparison to other mobile operating systems, is more exposed to criminal actors and hackers. While this openness fosters a collaborative environment for Android developers, it also facilitates the development and distribution of powerful malware capable of hacking and exploiting the operating system by infecting smartphones with malware. Once in your device, attackers have access to practically all parts of your personal information, with limited options for recovering it. The Need for Spy Apps But some apps provide useful functions even though they are often mistaken for malware. These apps, known as hidden spy apps for Android, get commonly used to assess employees’ and children’s productivity by ensuring that they do not squander time on social media, Internet surfing, sending long texts, or making unnecessary phone calls. These apps also protect corporate data from prying eyes. Other hidden spy apps, for example, XNSPY assist in protecting children from cyberbullying too. The app monitors social media channels and instant messaging apps which are the playground for bullies and miscreants targeting innocent kids new to the viciousness of social media. Parents can access this extracted information and intervene in time. These hidden spy apps for Android can also protect against cyberattacks that target businesses. The data gathered from employees’ devices gets forwarded by these apps to your private online dashboard for evaluation. The cybersecurity team working at those businesses can then analyze the data for any malicious code, thus preventing the spread of the data to the corporate network. Thus the necessity of spy apps is unquestionable. But sometimes, when they outrun their usefulness or if the device will no longer get used, it is better to detect and remove these spy apps. But since these apps are hidden, i.e., they operate in stealth mode, they don’t show up in the installed apps list. So, detecting them can be tricky. For this purpose, I have made a list of quick tips that can make spy app detection and removal easier. Check if Your Phone is Heating Up If your phone begins to heat up for no apparent reason, it means it is running several processes in the background. And the first thing it affects is the phone’s battery usage. Check the battery use option first because even the most sophisticated spyware can leave traces on your phone or tablet. And checking your battery usage is one of the most reliable techniques to determine if your phone has gotten compromised. In Settings > Battery > Battery Usage, look for any unexpected program that might be consuming a lot of battery. Hidden spyware is most likely infecting your Android device. So keep an eye out for anything suspicious, such as processes with strange names or unrecognized apps. If your phone battery needs to be recharged frequently, this could indicate infiltration. Force stop the suspicious app and restart your device. Check to see if there is a difference. If it did, you’ve found your perpetrator. Look for High Data Usage Because most people have unlimited data subscriptions, they rarely look at the “Data Usage” area in settings. However, if your Android device is acting strangely and you want to check whether it has gotten hacked, there is another quick way. If you have a virus, it may be sending your personal information to a third party via an always-on app and communicating with criminal actors. To check, go to Settings > Connections & WiFi > Data Usage and look around. You can perform the following using Android devices: • Navigate to your Android device’s settings, which typically get represented by a cogwheel. • Select the Connections option. • Go to Data Use • Next, select Wi-Fi data usage. • You will get shown your Wi-Fi data consumption for a specified period, such as a month. • Further down, you’ll see applications and the data they used throughout this period. • When you click on an app such as YouTube, you will see that it consumed a lot of data due to streaming videos. That is perfectly normal for YouTube. But for every other app, we are concerned with the background data usage. Background data should never reach high gigabytes. If your background data is high, it means a spy app got installed on your device and it is most likely the result of the app extracting large volumes of data and transmitting it to a server using the phone’s data or Wi-Fi network. Look for Unfamiliar or Deleted Messages on Your Social Media Accounts A hacker has all of your accounts if they acquire access to your phone. They will have access to your social media, email, and a wide range of lifestyle and productivity apps. It could appear in a variety of ways. Resetting a password, sending emails, marking unread emails that you don’t recall receiving, or joining up for new accounts that send you verification emails are a few examples. In this case, you could be a victim of identity theft. It happens when thieves utilize information stolen from your hacked accounts to open new accounts or lines of credit in your name. Before running a security scan on your phone, update your passwords without updating them on the device. It changes the passwords from other devices, ensuring the hacker cannot

WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal
WhatsApp

WhatsApp vs. Telegram vs. Signal: A Detailed Comparison

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Every time you search for a messaging app on the Play Store or the App Store, a long list of applications pops up on your mobile screen. It might be confusing for a novice to pick one out of many. There are multiple ways to know which one is the best messaging app, like the star rating and comments regarding the app. But nothing proves to be right when it comes to personal requirements. If you have been on the search for a messaging app, you might be asking yourself which one is the best: WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. However, these three messaging applications are surprisingly futuristic and have a high rating, but picking one out of these could race your mind. In this article, we will thoroughly examine security models of all three messaging services as well as their distinguishing features. Let’s start the comparison to find the best messaging app. A Detailed Comparison: WhatsApp vs. Telegram vs. Signal 1. Security Before discussing other characteristics, I would like to begin with the security first, as it is the most debatable and contentious topic among the three messaging apps. Below, we will discuss how each app developer has tried to make their app secure for their users. But one thing that needs to know is that if you notice any unusual activity with your messaging apps like hanging or unidentified contacts, someone has hacked your phone. Notably, it is not always the hackers. Although, hacking Android phones is easy enough. Even one of your close friends and family can also hack your phone. You might be thinking, is it even possible? And the answer is, yes. There are multiple ways to hack someone’s phone, and mobile monitoring software is gaining popularity these days, of which Xnspy is a significant example. What Xnspy does is monitor everything on your phone and save it to an online portal. The person who has installed this spying software can access that stored data from that portal. Although Xnspy is a parental control app, one that does not like you much would utilize it to hurt you and to make you feel embarrassed in front of everyone. So let’s start with WhatsApp’s security model first in this battle against Telegram and Signal. WhatsApp WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption is one of its biggest selling points, which works with any mode of communication that the app enables. As a result, all of your WhatsApp messages, voice calls, video calls, images, and other content are encrypted end-to-end. However, it’s worth noting that WhatsApp and Signal messenger also employ the E2E protocol, which was designed by Open Whisper Systems. That’s a good thing, because the Signal protocol is open source, has received a lot of peer review, and is widely regarded as one of the best protocols for implementing end-to-end encryption in messaging services. What about security features on WhatsApp’s user-facing side? On both the Android and iOS apps, WhatsApp has a built-in app lock feature that allows you to lock your WhatsApp chats with biometrics. Furthermore, the app supports two-factor authentication (2FA), which is excellent for security. Telegram In terms of security, Telegram does provide some protection to its users. The method Telegram uses to encrypt your conversations and other information, however, has several flaws. For example, while Telegram offers end-to-end encryption, it is not enabled by default. Telegram’s private chats feature is the only way to use E2E encryption. It’s good that messages sent in a secret chat are E2E encrypted, but regular chats aren’t. This means the messages are encrypted on your device before being decrypted on Telegram’s server. The messages are once again encrypted on the server before being delivered to the recipient’s device for decryption. As you can see, Telegram holds the encryption keys on the server-side and can theoretically see your regular chats during this process. Telegram, like WhatsApp, has a built-in app lock on the user-facing side of things. End-to-end encryption, on the other hand, is rarely present in the app. Because Secret Chats are only for single-user conversation, Telegram groups are not encrypted. Furthermore, on any platform other than macOS, Telegram’s desktop client does not support E2E encryption. Signal Signal provides end-to-end encryption using the open-source Signal Protocol. Like WhatsApp, Signal’s E2E encryption covers all types of communication. Signal invented a unique mechanism to communicate between the sender and the recipient called Sealed Sender to protect user privacy from all perspectives. No one—not even Signal—will be able to tell who is messaging whom with Sealed Sender, which is incredible. Additionally, Signal has some amazing privacy features that will make your messaging experience, even more, private and secure. Signal, for example, can be secured with a passcode or biometrics. Then there’s two-factor authentication, as well as the ability to disable screenshots within the app and the recent screen. Signal recently introduced a new feature that automatically blurs faces before sending images. Isn’t that great? 2. Features Now let’s compare the features of these three apps to evaluate which one offers the most to its users. WhatsApp For the most part, WhatsApp has practically all of the features you would require. You can have up to 256 users in a group chat. You can also broadcast messages to a group of people at the same time. Voice and video calls are also supported for both individual users and groups. However, you can only have 8 individuals on a group video call at any given moment. Other than that, WhatsApp has a unique feature that neither Telegram nor Signal has. Yes, I’m referring to WhatsApp Status (also called Stories). Users enjoy this function since it allows them to share their thoughts and feelings with their friends and family. Moving forward, on WhatsApp, there are some file size restrictions you need to be aware of. The maximum file size for images, videos, and audio files is 16 MB. Documents can, however, be up to 100 MB in size. You may also share your current location with your contacts, which I

Vivo filling void
NEWS

How is Vivo Filling the Android Void Left by Huawei?

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If you’ve been following the tech industry for the past few years, you’re well aware that Huawei is in a heap of trouble. While uncountable smartphone trends were hitting the market in 2019, Huawei was dealing with the accusations leveled by the United States government. The Chinese company has been under fire from the US government since May of 2019, resulting in what is informally known as the “Huawei ban. (www.nuestra-gente.com) ” This ongoing battle has forced Huawei to drastically change its business practices, which has given a chance to other companies like Vivo to fill the void left by Huawei. A Basic Gist: Why Huawei Got Banned Huawei is one of the world’s largest telecommunications firms. At the start of 2019, the company was anticipated to overtake Samsung as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer by the end of the year. Despite its success, Huawei has faced numerous accusations of shady business practices throughout the years. It has also been accused—albeit without substantial evidence—of using its products to spy on other countries. This is a worrisome thought considering the company’s close links to the Chinese government. In May 2019, US declared that Huawei, along with numerous other Chinese companies, would be sanctioned. These companies were added to a list known as the Entity List, which means they are ineligible to do business with any organization operating in the United States. How is Vivo Filling the Vacuum Left by Huawei? Following Huawei’s demise, smartphone company Vivo has ascended to the top of the Chinese smartphone market, beating its nearest competitor OPPO thanks to a consumer-friendly product lineup. Vivo phones scored #1 in Counterpoint Research’s Monthly Market Pulse Service, with a 20 percent market share. The strong market reaction to its product line-up, which included the X, V, and Y series, drove the company’s position throughout the quarter. With smart devices and intelligent services as its core, Vivo maintained strong momentum. According to Counter Research, Vivo topped China’s smartphone market in 2021 with a market share of 22 percent. Vivo has now expanded its sales network to more than 60 countries and regions, and it is loved by more than 400 million people worldwide. Aside from the favorable circumstances, Vivo phones are outstanding in terms of build quality and performance. The company understands user needs and continues to introduce new devices with good price tags and designs. As previously stated, despite Huawei’s downfall, the company already has one of the greatest smartphone market shares in the world, so it will be interesting to observe how this latest growth affects its influence. Many of the company’s phones are currently exclusively available in Asia at this early point in its worldwide expansion, while a rising number are also available in Europe. However, for European buyers, this does not detract from the outstanding hardware packed in the Vivo mobile phones. Data Security Issues As a result of the aforementioned charges of stealing customers’ data as well as recording surroundings, Huawei received a hefty penalty of being banned. Anyone can be affected by this. You’ll be dealing with security issues whether you are using a Vivo, OPPO, Huawei, or any other mobile device. Well, you can’t control it, but you can deal with it. There are numerous choices for storing data for back-ups, such as the cloud or Google Drive. What if you can’t access any of them? In the event, you’ll need a portal to keep your data safe and you can easily restore it. However, using a monitoring app could be an option if you are thinking about protecting your data online. Xnspy is a monitoring app that could be the source of your backup data. Let’s suppose your mobile is lost. You can easily trace it remotely with the GPS locator. Moreover, it helps you keep a backup of your incoming and outgoing calls, pictures, videos, text messages, and important emails. Moreover, if you have accidentally deleted any of your social media apps, your data will be saved, which you can easily access on your laptop or PC by logging into Xnspy. Is Vivo a good phone for enthusiasts? Vivo phones were not made to serve all the dimensions in the first place. Vivo mobile phones were introduced with explicit camera features for a better photography experience. But to ensure its survival in the already high-maintenance market, the company decided to improve the performance of its devices. Vivo’s latest phones have better processors, bigger batteries, and better displays. However, gaming is another interesting aspect. Vivo phones for gaming are not as popular as other companies. However, some phones, such as the Vivo X70 Pro 5G, Vivo V23 Pro 5G, and Vivo Y50, could be useful for gaming. These are the top three Vivo gaming phones. Vivo was one of the first brands to release 5G devices, with the Nex 3 5G and iQoo Pro 5G models. There’s also the company’s sub-brand to consider, which sells remixed versions of its parent brand’s products at a more competitive price/performance ratio, with a slight gaming focus. If you have a little more money to spend, the Nex line—which used to be the firm’s actual flagship space until the Nex 3—is no longer available, and rumor has it the company is re-branding its high-end line. Vivo’s flagship series, the NEX and X series, are centered on photography capabilities, and the S and U series are focused on value for money. Y focuses on low-cost customers, whereas iQoo focuses on online channels. A Quick Note on Software Vivo currently uses two operating systems. Origin OS is mainly accessible on Chinese models and is confined to the company’s most recent phones. Funtouch OS is present on global launches, although it will be phased out in favor of Origin. The few phones with official European versions also include Funtouch, but it’s a stripped-down version that’s closer to standard Android and much better. The Final Verdict Even though Huawei has been dealing with allegations (some of which may be untrue) for the last several

2022 summer travel tips
Guide

5 Traveling Tips You Definitely Need This Summer

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Summer vacation used to be a time for relaxation when all you needed was to buy a ticket and hop on the bus with your family. A lot has changed since then, including technology being readily available for almost anybody with an internet connection. It makes planning a vacation easier and traveling safer. If you are among the many people looking to go on a summer vacation this year, here are 5 tips for traveling you may not have even thought of. 1.   Make Your Reservations ASAP According to the U.S. Travel Association (USTA), 85% of Americans plan to travel this summer, meaning crowded roads and airports. Due to two years of covid restrictions, cancellations, and delays, people are eager to leave their homes and go on a trip. It means expect busy flights and full hotels. Hotels have seen earlier than expected summer bookings, and that has caused a stream of chaos, especially in popular tourist destinations such as nature destinations. National and state parks are more crowded than ever before, and most parks are only taking in tourists who have made prior bookings. It makes advanced reservations even more crucial than before. Some flights have to change their routes throughout the COVID pandemic. And this means that summer flights have been fully booked up to capacity, and there’s less capacity to several international cities. So plan. Buy tickets in advance and make all your reservations ASAP. 2.   Stretch Your Budget As Much As You Can Your hard-earned dollar is more valuable than it has ever been. Gas prices have skyrocketed, and it’s the highest they’ve been since 2014. Nearly two-thirds of American travelers (63%) believe increasing gas prices will affect their decision to travel in the next two quarters. It means you will have to spend your money wisely. Soaring gas prices have consequently impacted the cost of travel. According to USTA, travels costs have increased by 12% since 2019. Even domestic flights are now expensive. Domestic airfares have increased 7% since 2019 and almost 11% in just one month from February to March 2022. Popular tourist destinations like Hawaii and Europe are costly, and they won’t be getting cheaper anytime soon. Normally, favorite tourist spots become budget-friendly during summers due to bulk traveling, but it won’t be the case this year. People avoid these spots and travel to cheaper countries like Turkey, Canada, Costa Rica, and Chile whereas travelling to East European countries is becoming a new trend for individuals who want to visit Europe on a budget. These are friendly places with great cultures and tourist hotspots, so you will still have an amazing time during your vacation. These countries offer great bang for your buck as the dollar exchange rate is quite favorable. So stretch out your dollar and look for places that offer great value. 3.   Prioritize Your Adventure Style The pandemic tested many people’s mental strength and resolve, but you can finally take a breather. Prioritize what you want from your vacation. Are you looking for adventure, relaxation, or just the scenic views of your favorite mountainside? Make a plan of your favorite activities to maximize your enjoyment of the trip. Choose what works best for you based on the necessary safety precautions and your level of comfort socializing. For instance, if you’re an introvert you can enjoy a sunny day at the beach with your favorite book by your side. Or, if you’re the life of the party, you can have a blast at an EDM concert with the DJ blasting your favorite beats. But you’ll have to take proper precautions if you will be attending a crowded event. Even if peak COVID is behind us, you should still be cautious, carry a hand sanitizer, and wear a mask. By prioritizing your adventure style, you minimize the risk of time and money wastage and instead focus on the things you want most out of a vacation. 4.   Make Safety a Priority Safety should be a priority while on vacation, especially if you’re going solo. When in a new country, you’re unfamiliar with its customs and places. So it’s easy to get lost or taken advantage of. Because they appear more defenseless, independent travelers are more likely to be victims of muggings, pickpocketing, attacks, and other crimes. Getting hurt, sick, or lost are frightening scenarios that no one wants to go through. Your loved ones can use a remote cell phone tracking app to track you at all times while on vacation and can inform the local authorities in case of an emergency. The geolocation tracking function of XNSPY, a remote cell phone tracking app for Android and iOS devices, could help with your travel safety. Its remote cell phone tracker feature allows customers to see their loved ones’ current position. So, if you’re going on a solo journey through the Mayan temples of Guatemala or making your way through the busy streets of Istanbul, it’s easy to get lost while admiring the scenery. Your loved ones can use XNSPY to check up with you. So plan for any unforeseen circumstances, and install XNSPY on your phone. Your family and friends need to log in to the app’s dashboard and navigate new locations. They will be able to view your location in real-time and monitor your location history if they need to retrace your steps. 5.   Don’t Go Destination Hopping Destination hopping would have been feasible before COVID existed as it allowed you to visit nearby places without worrying about money or getting sick. But since COVID-19 restrictions have just lifted, a few countries are still in lockdown and taking things slow. So it is much harder to visit different destinations in one go, and much more expensive than before. So keep things simple and don’t have a finger in every pie. Like I said before, prioritize your adventures since it will make your vacation stress free and economical. By following these tips, I can assure you your next vacation trip will

How to Spy on Popular Instant Messengers on Android 12
Android

How to Spy on Popular Instant Messengers on Android 12?

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In the age of information, ignorance is a choice. It might sound harsh, but it is true. Never before has information been more vital than it is now. And there’s an arms race on who can get the most information with the least amount of hassle and panic. Just look at the WhatsApp Pegasus spyware hacks. It was a large-scale covert operation carried out by different governments to hack protestors and human rights activists’ WhatsApp to read their messages. But it is not the only reason why hacking someone’s phone to spy on their instant messages has become necessary. But what are other reasons? When children and employees are left alone and unsupervised, parents and businesses want to know what they are up to. Employees and teenagers can mindlessly use instant messengers to share memes or gossip when they should be focused on work and studies because mobile phones are unavoidable at work and school. There is also the issue of harmful content on social media and messaging apps, especially if the children are too young. They may come across pornography, violent videos, or gambling streams, all of which could be harmful to a young child’s development. Such content and discussions can leave permanent mental scars and traumatize children for life. And since 39% of US teens own a smartphone, it is hard to avoid such content. Increased messaging app usage might lead to addiction, affecting grades, social life, and sleep. It can also have serious cognitive and emotional consequences such as decreased attention span, tension, anxiety, and depression. There is also the potential for cyberbullying and harassment on social media and messaging apps, which worsens stress, anxiety, and depression. Worse, parents are utterly oblivious of it. Parents cannot accurately estimate how much time their children spend on social media because they use applications on their phones. And many children spend time on the platforms during the school day, away from the prying eyes of adults. And it’s not much different when it comes to employees. Although pornography, violent videos, or gambling are not harmful to an employee’s mental development, they are detrimental to their performance. And if they are sending messages all day, their productivity decreases significantly. Workplace inefficiency has become so common that escapism through instant messaging has become a nuisance for many employees. Employees may also share company secrets and trademarked technology or research with the business rivals, causing millions of dollars in funding losses. It gets shared within a few seconds due to how effective instant messaging apps have become. A jealous partner may suspect their partner of cheating on them and contacting other people through dating apps, or they may feel sexually insecure due to sexting other people via instant messaging apps. These are just a few reasons why someone might want to read instant messages of another person. How do Instant Messaging Apps get hacked? If the user has enabled their messaging apps to automatically sync, all their messages, contacts, settings, and multimedia files get linked to their account. It means that if the user logs in to an instant messaging app on another device, there is a brief window in which you can access the instant messaging profile before it automatically logs off. If you already know the username. You can also use a keylogger and install it on the child’s phone or tablet to extract all the keys typed in and guess the password or read the messages. If the user has forgotten to log out of their Android 12 device and is still logged in, you can view their app conversation threads while they are AFK (away from the keyboard). If you wish to keep a permanent record of their messages, you can click on their profile picture, note their login and password (if they have it saved on the messaging app), and turn on sync. It will allow you to log in to the messaging app on your device using their credentials. But be warned, if you log in from another device, the account owner gets an email notifying them of suspicious login activity. When you sign in to your social media account, your browser and the social media server maintain a session for user authentication. The session information gets saved in the browser’s cookie files. The hacker steals the cookies and then uses session hijacking to access the victim’s account. It is known as session hijacking and is the act of stealing a session. It is similar to the strategy that can be used to hack WhatsApp. If a user turns on Web WhatsApp via a QR code, they can use WhatsApp services from within their web browser. A third party could use cookies saved during this session, extract them and add them to their browser. It will allow them to read another person’s WhatsApp messages. A hacker may use a man-in-the-middle approach to covertly relay and possibly influence communication between the server and the victim, both believing they are interacting directly. The hacker makes separate connections with the victims and transfers messages between them, creating the illusion that they are conversing directly with each other through a private connection when, in fact, the hacker controls the entire network. However, all these methods are somewhat complex and risky for reading instant messages. What if I told you there’s a more straightforward approach, with no danger or strings attached? Apps for monitoring social media can be the answer. How Remote Monitoring Apps Prove Useful? You can use a remote monitoring program to read instant messaging app chats, track browsing history, access emails, view call logs, monitor location history, and view time spent on an app. Did I mention that all of these features work in complete stealth mode? As a result, the owner will be unaware that they are getting tracked. XNSPY is one of the apps for monitoring social media on Android 12 that includes all of these capabilities and more. Users only need to install the app

Infographic

Raising Digitally Responsible Children in 2022

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The internet is a constantly evolving space. Changes come in and some practices eventually die out. This evolution is usually in tandem with the technological progress we make, with one greatly influencing the other. But in this grand evolutionary cycle, our behavior still lacks severely in this domain. Most people consider the internet as a free space to do, post, and share whatever they like. But in 2022, such careless endeavors can be dangerous for a myriad of reasons. Today’s illustration is all about instilling values of digital citizenship in the children of today, for a better internet space of tomorrow.

Guaranteeing OS Updates
Everything Else - New

The Importance of Guaranteeing OS Updates and Why Apple Needs to Do Better

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Longevity has long been a benefit for iPhone and iPad users over their Android peers. While new Apple devices receive OS upgrades for years, most Android phones are lucky to receive updates for more than a year after purchase, leaving many smartphones with out-of-date software before they’re ready to be upgraded. Samsung has significantly narrowed that gap with the latest Galaxy S22 phones. In addition to the new phones, the company said that they will support four generations of One UI and Android OS upgrades, as well as five years of security updates. That means that an S22 purchased today with OneUI 4 based on Android 12 will receive OneUI 8 based on Android 16 in 2026. The Importance of Guaranteeing OS Updates Of course, Apple normally supports its devices for much longer. More than six years after its release, the iPhone 6s from 2015 may now receive iOS 15, and the iPad Air 2, released in 2014, is also compatible. Buyers, however, are unaware of this at the time of purchase. We simply have to trust that Apple will not discontinue support after three or four years. And it is not always the case that people live for a long time. Apple discontinued support for the Apple Watch Series 1 and 2 with the release of watchOS 7 in 2020, less than four years after the hardware’s release. We assume the iPhone 14 will receive iOS 20, however, Apple has never confirmed this.  It’s improbable that any Android smartphone will ever support OS upgrades for as long as an iOS device, but that’s irrelevant if Samsung provides a promise that Apple does not. Apple customers anticipate their new iPhones to receive at least 5 years of updates, if not more, and Apple should capitalize on its advantages by meeting and exceeding Samsung’s guarantee. When you buy a new Apple product, you can rest assured that it will receive OS updates for many years to come. It’s possible that Apple will have to put it in writing. Although it is not stated in Apple’s terms and conditions, there is always the possibility that Apple will discontinue updating its devices without providing legal notice. Unlike other phone manufacturers, Apple talks about increased security and longevity; yet, nothing in the tiny print guarantees security updates, which can be challenged if they fail to deliver. Why does Apple need to do its OS Better? Apple devices are, indeed, costly. However, most phone manufacturers, including Samsung, will be able to say the same in 2022. It is also true that devices might become obsolete in 5 years. The statement that Android is quite well developed and that a smartphone will still work fine after 5 years without major updates is also correct. However, there are a couple of reasons why we feel the need for a better OS: Minor upgrades: We don’t need a new phone every year because if you compare a 2021 flagship and a 2022 one, there is so little you’re upgrading for. E-Waste: Imagine where we would be in a decade if everyone on the planet used and abandoned a device every two years. The iPhone 6s was released in 2015, and iOS 14 was released in 2020. Because iOS 15 was released in 2021, the iPhone 6s had received 6 years of updates before Apple chose to discontinue support. This means that a client who paid $650 in 2015 received that much value in return – whether through use or re-sale of their device during that time. Reasons Why Apple Enables its Devices Update for Long Complete Control This isn’t the main reason, but it is a key feature that allows Apple to keep its gadgets updated for a long time. Apple is responsible for the processor, operating system, and hardware of its phones. This implies the company can customize everything to work smoothly over time and with upgrades. From the chips to the displays to the batteries, Apple is well aware of the limitations and strengths of its devices. They also know how to fine-tune the devices over time to provide optimal performance. They also stated that following the incident, they deliberately slowed down older iPhones to alleviate the burden on the Lithium-ion batteries and make them last longer. Samsung, on the other hand, manufactures both the chips and the rest of the hardware for some of their devices, as well as customizing the software with One UI. However, they do not have complete control over the operating system. They also produce so many devices that they can’t possibly keep up with all of them and ensure that they all work properly. Services This is the primary reason Apple will continue to update the iPhone for many years to come. Apple makes a lot of money by offering its consumers services. These services include both Apple’s goods, such as Apple Music, Apple TV, News, and others, as well as something as simple as the App Store, where Apple continues to charge developers royalties and take a share of sales. Throughout the life of their iPhone, an Apple user will spend a lot of money on these services. As long as Apple keeps the device running, the user will try something new — whether Apple Music, purchasing an app or game, using Apple Pay, or something else entirely. From all these transactions, Apple will get its cut, and it’s a lot of money. Though a few Android manufacturers have attempted to imitate this with their devices, the fact that they run Android means Google already has control. Consider the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. It could be easily updated till 2025 based on its specifications. This, however, will not be the case. Because, while Samsung has its own payment system, the majority of customers are likely to utilize Google Pay. While Samsung has its own store called the Galaxy Store, the Play Store will be used by the vast majority of consumers. As a result, Samsung will not

Text Messages of any OPPO Phone
Android

4 Ways to Hack Text Messages of any OPPO Phone

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OPPO phones are based on Android’s architecture. It means they run on Google’s Android operating system and are therefore just as easily hackable as other Android devices. Users may want to spy on text messages remotely for several reasons. Kids can get bullied via SMS messages and they do not reveal it to their parents. Some employees may steal trade secrets and share them with competitors. So parents and employees can find this information useful. So let’s look at some of the ways to hack text messages of any OPPO device. 1. SMS Trojan SMS Trojans utilize the SMS text message format to send and intercept text messages. All of it is done without alerting the user, so they are unaware their OPPO phone got hacked. These Trojans focus on SMS because it remains a popular way to send texts when an Internet connection isn’t available. Another reason why hackers use SMS Trojan to spread malware is that text messages do not consume too much data, so hackers can easily carry out communications in the background using SMS. When a malicious program is installed, the user becomes infected. These apps range from legal apps that have been recompiled with malware code to malicious apps with a false name and fraudulent download links. The SMS messages are usually sent without the user’s awareness and come with a charge. Shortcode messages connected to services the malware creator has signed up for, such as “56789,” are used to collect the money. Usually, the victim is not aware that the message has been sent. These apps can be deleted using the uninstall mechanism on your mobile device; the difficult part is identifying the objectionable behavior and program. Anti-malware software can help by detecting and deleting these applications. Later versions of Android KitKat included warning functionality for these shortcode messages. It helped decrease the chances of malware spreading. So SMS Trojan is a good way to hack an OPPO and other Android phone brands. It is, however, limited to sending and interception text messages but not reading them. 2. Kali Linux Kali Linux is a Linux distribution library providing tools for security audit and penetration testing. Hackers can easily abuse these tools for nefarious purposes as Kali Linux provides tools that can hack smartphones. Hackers can create a corrupt APK file using Kali Linux that can grant hackers access to a user’s phone. If the user downloads the malicious APK file, they transfer access permissions over to third-party users. This file contains the name of the local IP address as well as a command that establishes a link between the hacker and the target device. Commands to snap images, read messages, and see call records get delivered to the target device. You don’t need physical access to the device to use this method. Rather, you rely on the device’s user to download the file. This method is only useful for spying on Android phones and tablets including OPPO devices. The downside to the Kali Linux method to hack text messages of any OPPO phone is that it requires technical knowledge of APK files and the Kali Linux interface. 3. FluBot FluBot is another malware that targets Android devices. This malware spreads quickly like wildfire and can leave behind utter devastation. FluBot has infected thousands of devices in a few months. FluBot adapts itself to the phone’s system language and targets Android users through scam messages. The malware sends messages in a format similar to this: “You have 1 new Voicemail, Visit [link].” It includes a bogus link that redirects viewers to a website that appears to be legitimate, and it tells them to read or listen to what they’ve missed. After that, it infects the device with malware. The malware will prompt the user to allow the app authorization. When the person agrees, the program gets right to work and begins infecting numerous apps. Android users’ mobile banking apps get targeted by FluBot. It may, however, evolve and focus on cryptocurrency-related applications. These vulnerabilities can cause significant problems for businesses. FluBot tries to access user contact lists, personal information, credit card information, browser pages, and other data sources. It spreads erratically. You can detect FluBot if you see suspicious-looking apps installed on your OPPO phone. You can remove FluBot from your system by turning on Android’s safe boot option and manually uninstalling the malicious app from your OPPO device. 4. Pegasus Pegasus is a major-level commercial spy app developed by an Israeli firm known as NSO Group. It gets sold to governments who want to spy on its citizens. This sophisticated program can discreetly access your messages, record your phone calls, and turn on your camera. It essentially turns your phone into a surveillance gadget that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hackers don’t even need physical access to your phone or persuade you to click on a link to breach your system. They only need to send a WhatsApp message to your phone, and Pegasus will have control of your phone. Pegasus gets installed even if you did not open the WhatsApp message. Fortunately, it is not available to citizens and gets sold only to powerful governments. So these are four ways how OPPO and other Android devices can get hacked. They all have pros and cons, as some methods are unchallenging and cheaper than others. Some require technical knowledge, while others require a simple monthly payment. But you should be aware of all these methods to safeguard yourself.

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