Category : Software Development
Google’s Mobile Payment App – Google Wallet
Google is involved in a lot of areas of Internet marketing. As a search engine, they’re perfectly positioned to handle just about everything; many website owners believe that using Google’s services will provide them with more exposure, although there is no solid evidence supporting this view.
Google also, of course, has a hand in mobile technology—and not just in search—as an online payment service. This is Google Wallet.
What is Google Wallet?
Originally launched in September of 2011, Google Wallet is an online service that you access through your smartphone. It stores your credit cards on your phone, which allows you to pay for things by simply tapping or scanning your phone at their kiosks. Google’s main problem is that this application isn’t available at many locations right now—or on many phones.
The only way you can use this application in-store right now is if you own one of Sprint’s Nexus S 4G phones. In addition to that, you can only use it at select locations that feature the MasterCard PayPass. In Central Oregon, that’s a total of 26 places—most of which are 7 Elevens. You can search the Google Wallet website to see where you would be able to use the mobile Google Wallet in your area.
What is the Point of the Google Wallet?
Because of the limited number of people able to use this feature, a lot of people have wondered what the point is—why would Google choose to release a product that so few people would be able to use? The answer is this: money is becoming digital. The technology isn’t advancing very quickly right now, but it is coming—and Google wants to be at the forefront, labeled as an innovator.
Google Wallet is also taking over Google’s old online checkout system—so the wallet is becoming very integrated into Google’s ecommerce work. Any retailers who are currently using Google Checkout will now be moved into Google Wallet—although it will work in the same way.
So what are your thoughts on the integration of Google Wallet and Google Checkout? Can you see yourself using Google Wallet on your phone?
Hardware-Based Keyloggers – Making Identity Theft Easier
Hardware-based keyloggers are making online identity theft an easier opportunity for criminals. As well, these devices can help anyone wanting to discover or monitor your online activity. It is important you are aware that these devices exist in order to take appropriate precautions regarding your personal sensitive information.
What Is A Hardware-Based Keylogger?
Hardware-based keyloggers are some form of hardware circuit attached between a keyword and computer used for logging keystrokes. The circuit records or logs all keystroke activity in its memory. The keystroke information can be later retrieved and used to extract any personal information computer users may have entered while using the computer keyboard.
These devices do not need to be dependent on a computer’s operating system, nor will they interfere with programs running on the computer. Accordingly, these devices are not detected by the computer’s software. Similarly, the physical nature of these devices is intentionally innocuous to avoid detection. While generally an external device, these devices can be installed as part of the keyboard making them more difficult to discover.
Except in the case of wireless hardware keyloggers that can be controlled and monitored remotely, physical access to hardware-based keyloggers is needed twice in order to obtain recorded information. The device must first be installed and then later retrieved. As a result, keyloggers present some risk to potential thieves (or anyone else wanting to monitor keystroke activity – like a spouse). Physical access to the device is needed while in the meantime the device can be discovered. Law enforcement can become aware of a keylogger and then monitor the computer’s physical location to ascertain who planted the device.
What Does This Mean For You?
While you might not be a criminal (let’s hope not), you might find value from the services provided by a hardware-based keylogger. Doing a quick query on Amazon for a keyloggers I found this comment for a device being sold:
This comment reflects a potentially interesting use of a keylogger. A business owner might wonder what employees are up to during working hours and which sites they are visiting.
With the prevalence of identity theft, you need to be careful about your public computer use. For example, you are probably better not using publicly accessible computer devices to login to site requesting personal information (e.g., banks or social media sites like Facebook).
If you are really cautious, you might look at where your keyboard hooks into a public computer to see if any unnecessary device is present. As explained earlier, these devices are innocuous and not easy to identify, so this effort might not be foolproof. Also, you might not have visual access to see where a keyboard connects to a public computer removing this opportunity to protect yourself.
If you need to use a public computer to login to a website, you might try staggering your login keystrokes. Open a notepad text file on the screen and bounce back and forth between the login screen on the website and your notepad document typing the characters of your password. When you type on the notepad document, type random characters unrelated to your password.
There is no fail-safe way to protect yourself from keylogging or online identity theft, but you can be cautious. Awareness of hardware-based keylogging is important so you can take cautious preventive measures to protect your personal information. Conversely, you might find some benefit from using one of these devices (for ethical reasons of course).
Warning…Warning…The Coolest New Product of the Year Announced!
But you’ll have to be at SMX to see it!
Well, that’s not entirely true – you can also see it at www.pixelsilk.com; but you’re going to want to be at SMX to really get to know the geniuses behind this leading-edge…some would say “futuristic”… SEO-enabled Content Management System.
Pixelsilk will also be hosting the SMX Meet and Greet party at the Santa Clara Convention Center on February 9th; 6 – 7:30pm. Don’t miss the party – especially when Pixelsilk is buying the beer!
Here are the details:
When: Monday, February 9th, 2009
Where: Santa Clara Convention Center, Main Lobby Bar
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm
What to Bring: Your SMX Pass, Business Cards…and your drink tickets!
Discount Offer:
We welcome our clients and friends to join us for this special occasion. Use the coupon code: smx10pixelsilk when you register for SMX West 2009.
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