Academics have disclosed today a new vulnerability in the Bluetooth wireless protocol, broadly used to interconnect modern devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart IoT devices. The vulnerability, codenamed BIAS (Bluetooth Impersonation AttackS), impacts the classic version of the Bluetooth protocol, also known as Basic Rate / Enhanced Data Rate, Bluetooth BR/EDR, or just Bluetooth Classic. The BIAS attack The BIAS security flaw resides in how devices handle the link key, also known as a long-term key. This key is generated when two Bluetooth devices pair (bond) for the first time. They agree on a long-term key, which they use to derive session keys for future connections without having to force device owners to go through the long-winded pairing process every time the Bluetooth devices need to communicate. Researchers said they found a bug in this post-bonding authentication process. The flaw can allow an attacker to spoof the identity o a previously paired/bonded devi...
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Samsung’s phones are crammed with special features, so it’s understandable if one or two have passed you by. However, Samsung’s DeX mode is something you absolutely don’t want to miss. Essentially turning your powerful Galaxy smartphone into a versatile desktop computer, Samsung DeX allows you to hook up a computer monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and start using your phone as a PC. While you might expect a trick like this to trumpeted loudly and then abandoned, Samsung has actually been consistently improving DeX. The feature used to require a specific (and expensive) dock to use, but over the years, Samsung has refined the process so now you now only need a simple (and cheaper) USB-C cable to use DeX mode. Here’s a quick guide on how to use Samsung’s DeX mode. What is DeX? Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends “DeX” is the name for Samsung’s desktop software, activated by plugging a compatible mobile device into a spare monitor, laptop, or computer. It turns your phone or tablet into a full-f...
© Shivam Vahia The difficulty of buying ‘Vocal For Local’ smartphones When Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on May 12 to announce a Rs 20-lakh-crore stimulus package for the economy to cushion the fallout of the coronavirus, he said the outbreak was a chance for India to be self-reliant, or “Atamnirbhar” as he put it. He called people to be "Vocal For Local" to support the economy battered by the pandemic that has forced India to extend for the fourth time the almost two-month-long lockdown by another two weeks beginning May 18. As soon as Modi uttered those words, social media exploded with messages calling for a boycott of foreign and especially Chinese products. But the senders missed one small detail--most of the messages were being sent from “foreign” phones, the majority of which were Chinese. Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, POCO, iQoo, Honor and Huawei are Chinese brands. Samsung and LG are South Korean. Nokia is Finnish and Apple is American. Can...