Bank Simple adds more security features in iOS app

Bank Simple has added some essential features in their iOS app such as notifications for every transaction that takes place in our bank accounts and also added an important feature that is blocking the card in one click (if the card gets lost or when it is misused).


At Simple, we're all about reducing worry when it comes to your money. And if you’ve ever lost your card, you probably know a thing or two about worry.

Well, worry no more: you can now temporarily suspend use of your Simple card all on your own! Just open the Simple web app or Simple for iPhone, and with a few clicks or taps, you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Want more security? We've also begun sending push notifications whenever there's a deposit or credit to your account. Within a few moments of the activity, you'll see a quick message with some info about your transaction. This way, if something fishy ever happens, you'll know right away!

For more on these features, read our announcement. You should also make sure your iPhone app is updated and push notifications are enabled!

Worry less, spend smarter, and enjoy!

-The Team at Simple

Hope to see this in their Android app also.

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How to Enable Two-Step Verification in Dropbox?

To enable Two-Step verification in Dropbox, which is similar to 2-Step verification in Google, follow these steps.

1. Go to Dropbox account and go to "Security" settings.

2. Under "My Devices" section, unlink all the devices you have currently. You can link it later after you follow these steps.

3. Under the same Dropbox "Security" settings, go to "Account Sign in" and enable Two-step verification.

4. Dropbox will provide a special barcode like the picture below to add this 2-Step verification. This step will help you add it to the Google Authenticator app. 

5. Download Google Authenticator app from either Google Play (Android link) or iTunes (iOS link). You can also use Amazon Authenticator app or Windows Phone 7 app.

6. Once you add the Dropbox account in Authenticator, it provide a time stamped six digit numbers, which you need to log on to your Dropbox account besides your password.

7.  Download the latest Dropbox version (you don't have to uninstall your previous installations):

Windows: http://dl-web.dropbox.com/u/17/Dropbox%201.5.12.exe

Mac OS X: http://dl-web.dropbox.com/u/17/Dropbox%201.5.12.dmg

Linux x86_64: http://dl-web.dropbox.com/u/17/dropbox-lnx.x86_64-1.5.12.tar.gz

Linux x86: http://dl-web.dropbox.com/u/17/dropbox-lnx.x86-1.5.12.tar.gz

8. After you run the installation and open Dropbox, you will find that after entering the password, you will be asked to enter a six digit number. 

9. Open the authenticator and enter the numbers in the Dropbox dialog box.

10. With these steps you have linked the device (computer, smartphone or tablets) to your Dropbox account. You should do the same for each device from steps 8 and 9.

The 2-step verification is a must have for both Dropbox as well as Google accounts. It is a minor convenience entering too many numbers but is worth it compared to a total breach of your files.

Via Digital Inspiration.

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How to Protect your Payments with Google Wallet

Google Wallet in Android phones was recently compromised by hackers, so Google is giving the following suggestions to prevent your payment cards from getting accessed by others.

1. If you are using a rooted phone, make sure you don't install Google Wallet, because it is unprotected in that OS version. In phones that Google Wallet can be used usually with Android 4.0 or higher, there is a face lock option and a pin password before you can access the payment card, in rooted phones there are no such options. Though the hackers can only access your pre-paid card option with Google, not your credit or debit cards in the wallet. 

2. If you are not using a rooted phone, don't use Google Wallet yet, Google will issue a protected version soon to overcome this flaw. Google's response for this problem: "For example, to address an issue that could have allowed unauthorized use of an existing prepaid card balance if someone recovered a lost phone without a screen lock, tonight we temporarily disabled provisioning of prepaid cards. We took this step as a precaution until we issue a permanent fix soon."

If you still have concerns or any concern in the future, you can contact Google Wallet support at this link.

Protecting your payments with Google Wallet

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Login to your Gmail account in Public computers Safely with Google's QR Code

We are all worried about logging on to public computers or in our friend's computer because of keylogging (Keystroke logging) problems. Using the below method you can log on to your Google accounts page in your friend's or in a public computer safely without leaving any password signature in that computer.

1. Go to http://accounts.google.com/sesame, it will create a unique QR code as above picture.
2. Scan the QR code generated with your Android phone/iPhone/iPad/Windows Phone/BlackBerry Phone.
3. Google will then ask you whether you want to give permission logging your Google account in a public computer.
4. Once you give the permission, the window in Step 1 will quickly log you to your Google account without having to type the username or password.
5. Once you finish browsing, you can then log off from the computer without leaving your security password details in that computer.

I tested it works great without a hitch.

Photo of Google generated QR Code from Ghacks.net.

Update: Google has disable this phone based login method for now, it claims they have a better method than this and will be available to public soon.

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Check whether you have Carrier IQ installed in your Android phones

For the past few days there has been a big controversy whether Carrier IQ, a small app installed by the phone carriers is spying on the Android phone user's activities.

To see whether you have Carrier IQ installed in your Android phones, use the free Voodoo Carrier IQ app.

It is very user friendly to install and run the app. Once you open the app, it gives a quick score whether you are infected with spyware from Carrier IQ.

Also, install the spyware and security app, Lookout, which does a decent job in issues like this reported one.

 For more information, click the link Androidcommunity.com.

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