Tag Archive for: electronics
Electronics repair technicians snoop on your data
When your computer or smartphone needs repairing, can you trust repair technicians not to access or steal your personal data? According to the results of a recent research by scientists with University of Guelph, Canada, you shouldn’t.
Granted, they tested only 16 repair service providers with rigged devices, but in six cases technicians snooped on customers’ data and in two they copied the data to external devices. Oh, and most of them tried to cover their tracks, either by removing evidence (e.g., by clearing items in the “Quick Access” or “Recently Accessed Files” on Microsoft Windows) or by trying not to generate it (e.g., by just zooming in on photo thumbnails).
Consumer privacy violated
Researchers Jason Ceci, Jonah Stegman, and Hassan Khan conducted a four-part study to measure the state of privacy in the electronics repair industry.
First they asked 18 repair service providers – national (big-box stores), regional (stores of a larger chain), local (mom-and-pop shops), and device manufacturers – whether they have a privacy policy or have set up controls to protect device owners’ personal data from snooping technicians, and found that most have not.
Then they dropped devices at 16 of those service providers after rigging them to log all the actions performed by technicians. After getting the devices back and analyzing audit and interaction logs, they discovered a number of privacy violations, against both female and male experimenters.
The snooping technicians accessed documents and picture folders (and revealing pictures), folders with financial information, and the experimenters’ browsing history. In two cases, the technician copied the revealing pictures to an external device and in one those two cases, the technician also copied a password-containing file.
The study also included an online survey with 112 respondents to collect data on their experiences when getting devices repaired, and found that of those who chose not to get at least one device repaired, 33% cited privacy as a factor for the decision.
Subsequent interviews with some of the responders also revealed that many service providers only have a generic policy on data…
Samsung Electronics Shares its Vision for the Homes and Devices of Tomorrow – Samsung Global Newsroom
This month in San Francisco, the 2022 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) spotlighted some of Samsung’s best and brightest minds across tech, marketing and product fields, sharing a compelling vision of the future, showcasing the transformational technologies that will improve consumers’ daily lives and giving users more time to focus on what matters most.
With opening remarks from Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device Experience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, the presentations revealed how Samsung is crafting systems that help make lives smarter, safer, more convenient and more connected than ever before.
▲ Attendees take their seats at SDC 2022 in anticipation of the day’s wide-ranging Keynote
Read on to see Samsung Newsroom’s recap of the innovation and inspiration revolutionizing how we live and work both now and in the future.
Opening: A Seamless, Frictionless Experience
Jong-Hee Han opened up the day’s talks by underscoring the importance of convenience in an age of brilliant yet complex technologies. “At Samsung, our goal has always been to make our lives easier through technology innovation,” said Han. “But innovation can also be burdensome for users if convenience is not at the forefront. Our teams are determined to deliver devices that are as smooth and accessible as they are advanced.”
▲ Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of DX Division at Samsung Electronics, welcomes attendees to SDC 2022.
Covering everything from Calm Technology to Knox Matrix to holistic household platforms like Bixby Home Studio and SmartThings, Han outlined a device and systems ecosystem that puts the user experience at the center. “The goal of all this is to give you an easier, seamless and more frictionless experience,” Han emphasized. “So you can focus on what matters most.”
A Home That Learns and Adapts Through SmartThings
Following Jong-Hee Han, Jaeyeon Jung, Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Mobile eXperience Business, discussed how Covid-19 galvanized teams at Samsung to prioritize the important things in life, particularly in the home. “If you’re…
Samsung Malaysia Electronics Introduces The New Galaxy XCover6 Pro Made To Secure And Built For Modern Enterprises – Samsung Newsroom Malaysia
With advanced productivity features, a faster processor and 5G enabled, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro is designed for a more collaborative and productive workforce
KUALA LUMPUR, 11 October 2022 – Samsung Malaysia Electronics today announced the availability of the new Galaxy XCover6 Pro in the market – a purposefully engineered, enterprise-ready smartphone powerful enough to support today’s most demanding businesses. The XCover6 Pro delivers enhanced mobility with strong performance, end-to-end security and ruggedized durability to help professionals get more from their device, whether they are in the office or in the field.
Powerful Performance for Unbeatable Productivity
The Galaxy XCover6 Pro is a breakthrough in ruggedized performance and is powered by an enhanced 6nm processor to deliver supercharged speed that shortens work time and help frontline professionals get their work done. With an optional microSD card[1], the XCover6 Pro offers expandable storage, which means – no compromises in the work you do. It is the first-ever device in the XCover series to support 5G network[2] making it possible to work from anywhere a signal can be found.
Today, work can happen anywhere, so employees need a device that is agile and reliable. With the Galaxy XCover6 Pro, users can conveniently extend the battery life of their device because its long-lasting, replaceable battery[3] can be easily swapped with a fresh one when it runs out. Thanks to convenient POGO charging[4] capabilities, multiple users can dock their device and quickly power up for uninterrupted productivity.
For workers who split their time between the office and working remotely, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro has Samsung DeX.[5] This enables users to connect[6] their device to an external display, keyboard and mouse and enjoy a PC-like experience. Employees can also use their XCover6 Pro to take pictures and notes on the go while seamlessly access the information they captured to build reports once they are back at their desk — all using one device.
Strong and Streamlined for Challenging Work Environments
The Galaxy XCover6 Pro is designed to…