Do you use WhatsApp? Well, most of the readers will say yes to this question. WhatsApp is the most popular instant messaging app. It is so famous that Facebook acquired the app for 19 Billion dollars. It is so famous because its hassle free. All you need to do is install and add contacts.
But two Indian teenagers have discovered a new vulnerability in the app. According to them, the vulnerability has not been tested on
iOS, but it is sure that all versions of WhatsApp including 2.11.431
and 2.11.432 are affected with this bug. Also the attack does not work
on Windows 8.1.
They have also create a video demonstrating the attack. The vulnerability can be exploited by sending a specially crafted message. A 2000 words message that contains special characters will do the job.
Here's the video demonstration of the hack. The video has been uploaded by THN.
You can create this message by writing about 2 kb of Unicode characters and sending them.
Lots of love! :)
I'm a Linux user since years and completely love the power, flexibility and security Linux has to offer. I migrated to Ubuntu 4 years back and no looking back since then. I don't like Windows on Desktop but Windows Phone is one heck of a thing. Totally love the UI and UX Windows phone flaunts. Windows Phone is actually how customizable a phone should be. But Ubuntu and Windows Phone are not good friends. Its really difficult to share files between them.
So, this is one software which I really love. BitTorrent Sync. It has a very light-weight user client which sits silently in the background and very user friendly mobile apps too. Now you'll say "I already have dropbox, blah blah!" so here's the answer, in your face. Dropbox creates an account on their website and everything you share goes to their server before it reaches your phone where as, Once a folder is added to Sync, it immediately tries to discover other
devices that have a folder with the same key. Sync easily finds other
devices by using multiple methods. It also allows Sync to work on a
private network that is not connected to the Internet. These
methods include contacting user-defined IP addresses, looking on the
local network, using the distributed hash table (DHT), automatically
registering with a Sync-specific BitTorrent tracker, and using a relay
server. While devices becoming peers is an automated activity, all of
these methods can be enabled/disabled by the user. Each file contained in a Sync folder has an associated torrent and is
broken up into small pieces before it is transferred. Using the
BitTorrent protocol, this protocol allows devices to receive file pieces
from any peer simultaneously. The more devices a folder is shared with,
the faster files are transferred. While the speed is not visible to the
user, the accelerated speeds will be noticeable.
File pieces are AES-128 encrypted when in
transit. They are then decrypted and reassembled when they arrive at the
destination. File pieces take the shortest and fastest path to
get from one device to another. Transferring files on a local network
is most often fastest, while using the relay server to reach a device
halfway around the world is often the slowest. This is different than
cloud services, which have to send files through centralized data
centers and that's why its not like DropBox. I have never used DropBox in my life because if you're in India, you understand how painful is file sharing over the internet. (BSNL @ 60KBPS -_-)
You can get Sync at http://getsync.com/ The site is super cool and the software is very easy to install so I will not waste blogspot's database by writing about it. :p
After installing Sync, you can add a new folder.
Right click on the added folder and generate QR code. Scan this QR code in your mobile app.
A similar folder will appear in your windows phone.
You can now easily share files between your Ubuntu System and Windows phone. This app is also available for other devices.
Lots of love. :)
