Feel secure about your phone?

 

You've lost your smartphone. Or more worrying, it may have been stolen. Like most people, you've entrusted it with more and more of your personal data. Your first thought: just how secure are those emails, contact list, work documents and that app to access your bank accounts?

Almost all smartphones offer some sort of "lock screen" option, many featuring a password, PIN or pattern of screen touches or swipe gestures the user can set up.

They offer a layer of security, to be sure, but are not foolproof, and some surveys have found fewer that half of smartphone owners have bothered to set up a lock screen option on their devices.

And since you're constantly using your smartphone in public, the method to unlock your phone could be visible to prying eyes.

"For example, a thief sitting on a bus may notice the four characters that an unsuspecting person entered on the person's smartphone," a patent application recently filed by Apple says.

The application, titled "Image-Based Authentication," suggests an entirely new take on securing a smartphone or other mobile device like a tablet computer.

The system, the application explains, would replace validation using text or touch by "(1) selecting at least one image that depicts one or more objects with which the user should be familiar, where the image is stored persistently on the computing device, and (2) displaying the image. An object may be a person's face, for example."

In other words, the security barrier intended to keep unwanted eyes out of your smartphone could be a picture of your favorite Aunt Claire, presented as your lock screen and requiring you to correctly identify who it is.

You know your Aunt Claire, of course; it's highly unlikely a thief does.

The patent application includes mention of "multiple rounds," suggesting layers of security by displaying more than one image that has to be correctly identified.

So, Aunt Claire; correct. Your dog Biscuit; correct. And that generic-looking shot of you on the beach? Malibu. Correct.

That would be a lot of text to enter, of course, so an image in the application suggests instead a list of possible identification answers could be presented along with the image; a convenient single tap on the right one would suffice.

Convenient is a significant word, and is likely why so many smartphone owners choose not to utilize any security technique. Who wants to have to enter a password, PIN or touch the four corners of the phone screen in a particular pattern every time the phone is whipped out?

So smartphone makers continue looking for ways to offer increased security for users they might consider convenient to use; fingerprint scanners and facial recognition using a phone's camera are being investigated by several manufacturers.

Still, whether it's a password, a swipe, a fingerprint or dearly beloved Aunt Claire, security will only work if the user uses it.

Which brings us back to the half of all smartphone owners who don't bother to secure the considerable chunk of their personal life they're blithely carrying about in public where it can be lost -- or worse.

Walking up to their bank's ATM, it's not likely they consider punching in their 4-digit PIN inconvenient. You'd think their smartphone -- and its contents -- are worthy of the same.

Source:Internet

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Smartphones used mostly for things OTHER THAN phone calls

While smartphones are replacing more of our gadgets, such as alarm clocks and digital cameras, actually using one to make a phone call is not that common, according to mobile network O2.

The average smartphone owner spends more than two hours each day using the device. During that time, smartphone owners spend an average of 25 minutes using their phone to browse the web, 17 minutes on social networking, 13 minutes playing games and 16 minutes listening to music.

Making phone calls with the smartphone was only the fifth most popular use for the gadget, only slightly more time than they spend writing and checking email (11 minutes) and text messaging (10 minutes).

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Top 10 Annoying Habits at Work

1. You're Unprepared: "Showing up for meetings, interviews or arranged work sessions without the equipment or data that you need demonstrates a lack of respect for your coworkers and yourself," says Star. "And it wastes time. Get off on the right foot, and make like a scout and be prepared."

2. You're Not a Team Player: "You have to be willing to pitch in when another member of the team needs help," Star says. "There's nothing more annoying than watching somebody do a crossword puzzle while you're buried in work." And if a coworker needs a little time off to run an important errand, be flexible and help out when you can, she suggests.

3. You're Not Self-Reliant: Only ask for help when you really need it. "Giving up on the paper jam after only one try and expecting a coworker to fix it because you know she can does not contribute to good team spirit," says Star. Try everything you can to solve your own problem before involving somebody else.

4. You, Umm, Smell: Your scent is important, especially when you're working in a small, poorly ventilated space with lots of other people around. Be considerate of your neighbors by taking care not to generate strong smells that will permeate their space.

For instance, don't eat eggs or onions in the office, Star suggests. And if you smoke, be sure you air yourself out before you walk back in the office. The same goes for colognes. "Fragrance is a very personal choice, so it should be reserved for those who are close to you, not 20 yards away," says Star.

5. You're Loud on the Phone: Loud telephone conversations can be offensive to your neighbors, so try to keep your voice low and even. And keep personal calls short. "Phone fights or, worse yet, phone foreplay can really drive one up a wall after a certain point," says Star. "Remember that you are not in your living room."

6. You're Unhealthy: If you're sick, stay home. If you have the sniffles or must come in, cover your mouth and do whatever you can to avoid infecting your coworkers.

7. You Walk Like an Elephant: Try to move around the office quietly to avoid disturbing the people around you. And if you must speak to another colleague, keep your voice down.

8. Your Cell Phone Is Always On: Unless absolutely necessary, cell phones should be turned off while you're in the office. If you need to keep your phone on, use a soft or silent ringer or vibrate mode.

9. Your Computer Volume Is Blasting: Nobody wants to hear somebody else's bells and whistles when they're trying to concentrate.

10. You Shake Hands Like a Fish and Avoid Eye Contact: "When somebody won't look me in the eye or give me some energy in their handshake, I feel like they're avoiding me or snubbing me in some way," Star says. "I like a firm handshake and a friendly smile."

Source:Internet

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Simply SS7

Simply SS7 pdf

Those who are about to confront telecommunications for the first time face a frustrating
experience. For one thing, the topic is broad and complex. For another thing
it is often difficult to find clearly written materials in the public domain. And,
finally, telecommunications is an industry obsessed with acronyms.
By the time one manages to negotiate the SS7s, STPs, CRPs, SEPs, SSPs and
HLRs it is time to deal with the ISUPs, ATMs, Sonets, and BISUPs. It seems that
telecommunications people would rather say to their children “GOTT!!” than they
would to say “Get off the telephone!!”.
Those of us who were not born speaking telecommunications sympathize completely.
All of that is really part of the reason this booklet was written. It is our hope
to lead the reader through the Signalling System #7 so gently, that you may never
even be aware of the fact that you now know what the acronym SS7 means until
it’s too late to unlearn it.
We must confess that we also have a hidden agenda in writing this. If your vision of
the Signalling System #7 is sufficiently clear, it cannot fail to lead you to easier
implementation of SS8 Networks products, and a greater appreciation of their
value. When both the publisher and the reader benefit, it sounds like a great reason
to write a book. Let’s find out.

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Phone Interview Tips

There are three basic types of telephone interviews:

1. You initiate a call to the Hiring Manager and he or she is interested in your background. The call from that point forward is an interview.
2. A company calls you based upon a previous contact. You will likely be unprepared for the call, but it is still an interview.
3. You have a pre-set time with a company representative to speak further on the phone.

Here are some phone interview tips to help you:

1. Be Prepared

For preparing the phone interview, there are several things you can do. To prepare for the phone interview you can consider the following points:

* You can keep all of your employer research materials within easy reach of the phone.
* You can tape your resume to a wall near the phone. It will help a lot during the call and will be a constant reminder for your job search.
* Have a notepad handy to take notes.

If the phone interview will occur at a set time, Following are some additional points you have to consider:

* Turn off call waiting on your phone.
* Place a "Do Not Disturb" note on your door.
* Warm up your voice while waiting for the call.
* Have a glass of water handy, so that you will not have a chance to take a break during the call.
* Turn off your stereo, TV, and any other potential distraction.

2. Do not be afraid to pick up the phone

The first step in the hiring process is the telephone interview. It may happen that when you pick up the phone, the call may be from any company. Then that time ask the recruiter to repeat his or her name. Verify the spelling and write it down. Use the recruiter's name in your response.

If there is really any problem for you to talk, then ask for a telephone number and a convenient time to call back. You are now ready to make a good impression during your first five minutes.

The phone interview tips will help you master the phone interview and get you to the next step - the face to face interview. So do not afraid to pick the phone.

3. Be a good listener

During telephonic interview, you must keep in mind that you must be a good listener.

Avoid interrupting and let the recruiter complete his thought or question before you respond. Ask for clarification. Use open-ended questions. The more information you can gather, the better you can respond. We must know the fact that good listener is the best quality.

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