Lock ‘Em Out With Text Messaging

If someone ever stole my car, I’d wish for a feature that would allow me to cause my car to blow up via text message. That’s kind of the idea behind Lenovo’s latest notebook feature: Lenovo Constant Secure Remote Disable Feature.

Important data on your computer that you can’t have falling into the wrong hands? A porn library you can’t possibly have your wife stumbling upon? This new service will prevent any such scenarios by allowing the laptop’s owner to shut the computer down over a WWAN connection and lock it. All it takes is a simple text message from a cell phone to cripple your notebook’s capabilities. That will teach them to mess with your stuff! Look for this new feature around Q1 2009 on Lenovo notebooks at no additional charge.

Link [via]

Apple’s Core Location Blacklist Is The Truth

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Remember Apple’s dirty little secret? It’s no mystery that Apple has complete control over your iPhone, after all, Apple made it. Well, it turns out that that shoddy little news about a blacklist is possibly true. Daringfireball.net (they’re gay for iPhones) reports how potentially malicious or useless applications that don’t meet Apple’s standards could be revoked not only off of the App Store but also off of any individual iPhone carrying the app.

It is not a blacklist for disabling apps completely, but rather specifically for preventing any listed apps from accessing Core Location — an API which, for obvious privacy reasons, is covered by very strict rules in the iPhone SDK guidelines.

(more…)

Apple’s Dirty Little Secret

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Did you know that Apple has complete control over your iPhone? If you download an application from the App Store that is later removed, like I Am Rich, it’s normally no big deal. There’s simply no cause for alarm. But what if someone had uploaded a secret malicious application and it was installed on iPhones across the country?

No problemo. Apple can remotely remove applications from your iPhone whether you like it or not. It’s more of a safety precaution and makes sense if you take a second to think about it. However, this also means Apple could help the government out if need be. Watch your back, kid.

Link

GEARFUSE: tech-inspired
Theme by: Aten Syndicate