Category Archives: Terrorism

The Meitu selfie app unlocks your anime beauty and personal data

Meitu has been taking off — everywhere I look on my Facebook, Twitter, I see pictures run through the app.

But do you actually check to see what permissions it asks for? A crazy amount it seems. I just checked on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mt.mtxx.mtxx) and these are the current permissions

Version 6.1.0.2 can access:
Device & app history
  • retrieve running apps
Location
  • approximate location (network-based)
Phone
  • read phone status and identity
Photos / Media / Files
  • read the contents of your USB storage
  • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Storage
  • read the contents of your USB storage
  • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Camera
  • take pictures and videos
Wi-Fi connection information
  • view Wi-Fi connections
Device ID & call information
  • read phone status and identity
Other
  • receive data from Internet
  • view network connections
  • change system display settings
  • full network access
  • change your audio settings
  • run at startup
  • reorder running apps
  • control vibration
  • prevent device from sleeping
  • Google Play licence check

For the most part, these aren’t too much of a concern but these two might be:

Phone
  • read phone status and identity
 Device ID & call information
  • read phone status and identity

These relate to reading the device information such as the IMEI and call information. I’m not too concerned about the call side — you can block this with later version of Android’s permission manager (and I use that a lot with different apps), but I’m not sure if I can block attempts to read phone status.

Their justification of this to track usage in China because it is blocked, I guess does make sense, but am I the only one who thinks doing it this way leaves it way too open for abuse and misuse?

Source: The Meitu selfie app unlocks your anime beauty and personal data

Zak Ebrahim: I am the son of a terrorist. Here’s how I chose peace

TED videos are always inspirational. With all the fighting going on in and around, it is nice to know that there are some who refuse to follow in the footsteps of their extremist forefathers.

Moston Marathon Explosions — People Finder By Google

Looking for someone caught up in the explosions? Have information about someone caught in the explosions? Google have setup a people finder to help on both fronts:

http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions

EDIT: From Sky News UK

Boston Police said there is a helpline in the US for concerned relatives: 617 635 4500, and anybody with information about the blasts should call 1 800 494 tips.

The UK consulate in Boston said British Nationals in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Global Response Centre on 1 877 854 6872.

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