Apple on the way to Buy Beats Electronics for $3.2 Billion

Earlier this year, Jimmy Iovine, founder of headphones giant Beats Electronics with rapper Dr. Dre, gave a clue as to what Apple was missing in its computer empire. He recalled that when iPods first came out more than a decade ago, they were linked to white earbuds with tinny sound, providing room for Beats to make a less flimsy product. "Apple wasn't focused on sound," Jimmy said at the time. "They were selling an iPod."

Things You Should Know About Beats Music

If Apple buys Beats for $3.2 billion, as some reports have suggested, the iconic computer company will suddenly have the high-level sound hardware to go with its numerous music products, from iTunes to the iPod to the iPhone.

Although Beats is the best-selling headphones maker, bringing in more than $500 million in revenue in 2012, one of the most important facets of the deal could be the company's launch of Beats Music in January. The subscription service, which charges a $10 monthly fee and competes with Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio and Deezer, would give Apple a powerful foothold in a part of the music industry that is slowly becoming dominant. Sales of both albums and tracks have plunged over the past two years — including those sold via iTunes, the top music retailer — and on-demand subscription services are growing.

According to reports, the Beats executive team would report to Tim Cook, Apple's chief executive. This would put Iovine, who still moonlights as the head of Interscope Records, home of Eminem and U2, in an interesting position — an Apple executive who remains part of the record industry.

Neither Beats nor Apple would comment on the reports.

iOS apps vulnerable to HTTP Request Hijacking attacks over WiFi

Security researchers Adi Sharabani and Yair Amit have disclosed details about a widespread vulnerability in iOS apps, that could allow hackers to force the apps to send and receive data from the hackers' own servers rather than the legitimate ones they were coded to connect to.

Speaking about the issue at RSA Conference Europe 2013 in Amsterdam, researchers have provided details on this vulnerability, which stems from a commonly used approach to URL caching.

Demonstration shows that insecure public networks can also provide stealth access to our iOS apps to potential attackers using HTTP request hijacking methods.

The researchers put together a short video demonstrating, in which they use what is called a 301 directive to redirect the traffic flow from an app to an app maker’s server to the attacker’s server.

There are two limitations also, that the attacker needs to be physically near the victim for the initial poisoning to perform this attack and the flaw works only against HTTP traffic.

“A victim walks into Starbucks, connects to the Wi-Fi and uses her favorite apps,” explains an example. “Everything looks and behaves as normal, however an attacker is sitting at a nearby table and performs a silent HRH attack on her apps. The next day, she wakes up at home and logs in to read the news, but she’s now reading the attacker’s news!”

They estimate that at least 10,000 iOS apps in the Apple App Store are vulnerable to the hack. As a result, apps that display news, stock quotes, social media content, or even some online banking details can be manipulated to display fraudulent information and intercept data sent by the end user.

Victims can uninstall apps to scrub their devices clean, and Skycure has released app code that prevents the web caching from taking place. It may be a while until developers can get this fix implemented, so connect to those public networks with extreme caution.

Apple Patents Tech Allowing Cops To Remotely Switch Off Their Devices

Recently, The Social Media is buzzing over reports that Apple has invented a new technology that now can Switch off iPhone Camera and Wi-Fi, when entering a 'sensitive area'. Technology would broadcast a signal to automatically shut down Smartphone features, or even the entire phone.

Yes ! It's true, On June 2008 - Apple filed a patent (U.S. Patent No. 8,254,902) - titles “Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device” that defines the ability of U.S. Government to remotely disable certain functions of a device without user consent.

All they need to do is decide that a public gathering or venue is deemed sensitive and needs to be protected from externalities. Is it not a shame that you can't take a photo of the police officer beating a man in the street because your oppressive government remotely disabled your Smartphone camera? Civil liberties campaigners fear it could be misused by the authorities to silence 'awkward citizens'.

Apple insists that the affected locations are normally cinemas, theaters and concert grounds, but Apple admits it could also be used in covert police or government operations that may need complete blackout conditions. 

"This technology would be a dangerous power to place in the hands of the government," Kurt Opsahl, a civil liberties lawyer at Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). "The government shutting down iPhone cameras and connectivity in order to prevent photos of political activity or the organization of the event would constitute a prior restraint on the free speech rights of every person affected, whether they're an activist or an observer" he added.

Apple also says that the user can be given a choice to approve changes being sent remotely, however one cannot rule out the possibility of some changes being applied to the device without user consent.

Apple adds two-factor authentication to iCloud and Apple ID

Apple is beefing up the security of its iCloud and Apple ID accounts by adding two-factor authentication to the account login process. Users who activate the option will be required to enter a four-digit code they may receive via SMS message, aside from the usual password.

Two-factor authentication is gaining popularity because it makes login to online services significantly more secure compared to regular process. Apple has rolled out this functionality for Apple ID and iCloud users.
"Turning on two-step verification reduces the possibility of someone accessing or making unauthorized changes to your account information at My Apple ID or making purchases using your account," Apple said.
Apple will be using both the app and SMS versions, providing security codes through texts as well as the FindMyiPhone app. As long as users are able to remember their password, they will have the ability to generate a new recovery key from the My Apple ID website.
You can turn on the feature as described belowGo to My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com)Click the "Manage your Apple ID" button to login to your Apple IDEnter your Apple ID and password and click "Sign In"Select "Password and Security" in the left-hand columnType in the answers to your account security questions if you are prompted to answer them.You will see Two-Step Verification at the top of the page. Click on "Get Started" and follow the on-screen instructions.The option will be initially available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. Other countries will be added later.