A few weeks ago, Bluebox Security uncovered a bug that could potentially effect 99% of Android devices. Bug 8219321, dubbed the Master Key bug, works by allowing applications with modified code to pass Android's signature verification system, thereby bypassing security measures that normally wouldn't allow these apps to be installed.
HTC's Sense 4 may be leaner and faster than previous versions, but one thing my EVO 4G LTE sorely lacked was the "Quick Settings" option that Sense 2 and 3 had. Developers were able to port it to Sense 4 for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), but the only way to get this feature was to install a custom ROM. With the update from ICS to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), my EVO 4G LTE received the new Sense 4+ version. This new Sense made it possible to add widgets to the Notifications pull-down menu, so...
Approximately 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States every year. That’s more than 1,200 bags per U.S. resident and more than 54 times the number of people who live on the planet. That's why here in Santa Monica, thanks to a city-wide plastic bag ban, you won't find a plastic bag at any of the major retail stores.
Living in Los Angeles has given me the opportunity to attend a bunch of really cool events. I've been to Dodgers, Lakers, and Clippers games, a few concerts at the Staples Center, and a plethora of smaller joints.
Welcome back, my newbie hackers! Hackers often are associated with clandestine and illegal activity, but that is not necessarily always the case. Hackers are increasingly being used and employed for law enforcement, national security, and other legitimate purposes. In this installment, we will look at how a single hacker could save the world from nuclear annihilation.
Let me start out by saying that Steampunk isn't about being historically accurate, and that everything I'm about to tell you is entirely optional. That said, let's take a look at the history of screws! What many people don't realize is that before we had metal screws, wooden screws were in wide use for things like wine and oil presses. Generally, the invention of the screw is attributed to Archimedes in the 3rd century BC. That was a long, long time ago. Metal screws and even screwdrivers hav...
The reasons for donating surpass much more than the direct and obvious benefits (ahem...taxes). Charitable donations are a direct reflection of your values and perspectives, not only improving your self worth, but can bring about unintended advantages.
Many people that I know who have gone to see the Hobbit have come back unimpressed or annoyed with the film. I LOVED it. When those non-specific people, cough Loziers cough, gave me their reasons for not liking the movie, I was very annoyed... I considered the demands that they were placing on Peter Jackson and his team to be very high and unreasonable. So, as a method of venting my anger, here is how to watch the Hobbit. If you’ve read Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, please, go back, and R...
There's really nothing safe about transmitting sensitive information electronically, but even if it gets there safely without being seen by prying eyes, there's no guarantee what happens to it once it reaches its destination. And let's face it, there are some things that you just don't want floating out there forever. So what can you do? Whether you want to send an email, a text, or a link, there are ways to send messages that self-destruct so that once they're read, they immediately vanish. ...
In my first few articles, we focused on operating system hacks. These hacks have been primarily on older operating systems such as Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2003.
Of all the places you'd think to check for bed bugs, I doubt that library books would be at the top of your list. As odd as it sounds, though, libraries and library books are some of the most common places for bed bug infestations. Libraries all over the country have reported bed bug problems this summer, and some have even had to temporarily close to take care of the problem. But before you vow to never set foot inside a library again, here's a little primer on how to check your books for be...
It's no secret that there's a lot of surveillance going on these days. It's easier than ever to end up in a database, and even former government agents are speaking out about the atrocious amount of spying being done against our own citizens. They've targeted our laptops, cars, IP addresses, and now they're coming for our iPhones. AntiSec hackers managed to get their hands on a list of over 12 million Apple UDIDs (Universal Device IDs) from an FBI computer, and they published 1,000,001 of the...
RFID chips are everywhere. They're in passports, credit cards, and tons of items you've bought in the last 5 years or so. Big retailers like Walmart started using tracking products with RFID as early as 2004, and today, they're used in everything from mobile payments to hospital record systems. Chances are, unless you're a hermit (in which case you wouldn't be reading this anyway), there's an RFID tag within a few feet of you. Photo by sridgway
There's been a lot in the news lately about tracking devices, and it's been pretty much all bad. They can be useful if your car gets stolen, but if you weren't the person who installed it, chances are you don't want it there. Just type "GPS tracking device" into Google and on any given day you'll find an article about someone who got busted by one of these things. Even if you don't have to worry about getting into trouble, you still don't want people following you. Here's how to make sure you...
What's the first thing you would do once you realized you were lost in, say, a desert? If you're like me, you would immediately pull out your cell phone and start dialing every number. But what if you have no service? What if your battery is dead?
Eat wonderful peaches all year long. Freezing fruit is easy and a great ways to preserve and retain nutrients. Freeze your peaches now and thaw them when you are ready to make a peach pie or smoothies. This is the perfect way to make the most out of your fruit.
For anyone who lives in a space that may frown upon making holes in the walls, or for anyone who may not want to take on such a task, there's a simple alternative to hanging curtains or drapes. And the answer is brilliantly simple.
As protests surge in the wake of George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer, powerful photographs and videos from the demonstrations have gripped the world, putting our nation's very real and very justifiable widespread civil unrest out into the digital world. Unfortunately, these pictures could put you or others in danger if precautions aren't taken before uploading them online.
Fireworks are the best part about the Fourth of July and other celebrations, but they can easily cause accidental injuries. It's both safer and more fun to set them off remotely, so we'll hack some standard fireworks with nichrome wire, a relay, and an Arduino to ignite remotely over Wi-Fi using any smartphone or computer.
Hacking Wi-Fi is a lot easier than most people think, but the ways of doing so are clustered around a few common techniques most hackers use. With a few simple actions, the average user can go a long way toward defending against the five most common methods of Wi-Fi hacking, which include password cracking, social engineering, WPS attacks, remote access, and rogue access points.
This time it's serious. Really. The largest web security vulnerability of all time went public on Monday, April 7th, 2014, resulting in widespread panic throughout the Internet as system administrators scrambled to secure their websites from the OpenSSL bug known as Heartbleed.
A spare key is one of those things that never seems like a huge deal until you need it. If you've ever lost your keys, had them stolen, or locked yourself out of your house or car, you know how difficult and embarrassing it can be trying to get your door open.
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to perform Randy Orton's RKO pro wrestling move, which is a variation of the ace cutter. In this video, the RKO is set up by throwing the opponent into the turnbuckle. The opponent has to face towards the turnbuckle and then slowly turn towards you. As they turn towards you, you will need to jump high with your right arm underneath their chin. Both hands should be holding the back of the opponent's head. This move is all about timing, and performing a...
Show your antique porcelain and pottery a little TLC. Spruce up your favorite antiques with these safe cleaning techniques. Remove the dirt and let the beauty of porcelain and history shine through. Just because your pottery is old, doesn’t mean in needs to look like it came out of a tomb.
If your cray fish or crawfish has tiny tiny worms crawling over the shell, watch this how-to video to fix the problem.
In this instructional video series, learn the proper, safe way to use a reciprocating saw. Our expert will give you tips and techniques for doing metal and wood cutting work in a variety of settings. Demonstrations include important safety guidelines for saw use, choosing the reciprocating saw blade that is right for the job, how to replace a blade, and how to cut wood and metal.
In this video series, watch as expert BMX biker Nick Gralike teaches how to do a manual on a BMX bike. Learn how to set up the jump, perform the jump, add style to it, and stay safe.
Keep you and your family safe by equipping your home to prevent home invasion. Discourage home invasions by being cautious and making a break-in more difficult. Have a plan in the case your home is invaded.
Removing the gunk from a gutter but with proper methodically will ensure a clean job and keep you safe while doing activity on top of a ladder. Don’t let this chore get you down, with a little work you’ll have free flowing gutters all season.
One of the most frustrating events in life is a computer freeze. When your Mac freezes don’t freak-out. Stay calm there are things you can do. And, hey, if you can’t do them, there is a professional out the happy to help you out...for a price.
Knowing how to prepare for a camping trip can be the difference between an enjoyable and safe experience and an experience that no one wants to repeat. Learn how to prepare for a camping trip in this free outdoors video series.
Learn advanced fly tying knots and techniques when you're an amateur fly fisherman in a safe and efficient way in this free video series.
Reiki is a form of holistic healing that originated in Japan. It is a way of magnifying the healing "ki" energy of the hands. Reiki uses the same kind of non-physical "ki" energy martial artists use to nourish the body's health and vitality.
In this video series, learn how to maintain a healthy iguana. Our expert, Nichole Bragg, gives you information to keep your lizard as healthy as possible. Learn how to clean an iguana's cage, and learn how to keep your iguana safe from other pets. Nichole shows you how to identify mites, ticks, dehydration, and respiratory infections in iguanas. So, if you have a beloved lizard that you want to keep healthy, learn how to care for iguanas today!
In this video series, our expert Chris Ramirez will show you how to make and weld yard art. He will teach you about all the tools you will need to make your yard art, teach you a bit about yard art in general, and teach you how to be safe while doing your welding.
n this how to video clip series, learn the proper way to tackle a tree trimming project. Lessons include having the right equipment and tools, safety gear, what order to cut branches in, and other important tips and cautions. Make this home & garden project a safe and effective one, says George Finn.
If you're bound to a wheelchair and living in Orange County, California, then this video is a must-see if you use public transportation. It will show you the steps to boarding an Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) bus the right way, when in your wheelchair.
Now the werewolf and the vampire are no longer threats, but we have heard reports of the giant spider going on drinking binges and webbing up large buildings and even entire towns in the California wine regions as well as in Kentucky bourbon country. It even left a slurred message on our answering machine about plans to step up the devastation this October 31st. We can’t protect each of you from this sticky conclusion, but we can offer a suggestion: build your own giant spider web and you wil...
In these rock climbing instructional videos, you'll learn all about the gear you'll need to get started climbing. Expert climber Justus Zimmerman shows you various styles of rock climbing shoes, harnesses, latches and other climbing gear you'll need when scaling the rock face. He also shares belaying, repelling and lowering techniques, how to use anchors, as well as several knots that will help you in your outdoor adventure. Watch these free videos and have a safe and enjoyable climb!
In this video clip series, our expert will explain the philosophy behind trance dance, demonstrate the methods and guidelines used by dancers, and help guide you through the experience in a safe, informative and natural way. Tips on breath exercises, stretches, spirit discovery and safety measures are included.
