Beware of
‘juice jacking’
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Many individuals frequently go to coffee shops, stores, and other locations with charging ports when their phone’s battery runs low. Today, however, even seemingly ordinary actions like this can make them fall victim to cyber fraud.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reportedly issued a cautionary message to cell phone users advising them against charging their devices via public chargers due to security threats presented by ‘juice jacking’. In this type of attack, hackers manipulate public USB charging stations by installing malware on them or altering their hardware, which enables them to steal data from linked devices.
When unsuspecting users plug their devices into such compromised charging ports, cyber-criminals can siphon off personal data or install malware onto the connected device and even device encryption with ransom demands.
While using a public charging kiosk, it is safer to switch off the device before charging. One should avoid public charging ports or portable wall chargers. Only wall sockets should be used for charging the mobile.
It is best to avoid using public Wi-Fi while charging the phone, especially if one plans to access the bank account or conduct any financial transactions. It is advisable to carry a phone charger with built-in data blocker and a power-bank when travelling. These mobile chargers with built-in data blockers only provide power, preventing any data transfer between the phone and the charging port. This eliminates the need to rely on potentially compromised public ports.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Goa’s ‘Swim in sewage’ attraction!
There are numerous Sewage Tankers which collect sewage not only from residential units but also from Commercial/Hotel/Guest Houses (many at over capacity in the tourist belt)! My question is, where do they offload all this sewage?
Based on facts that we see in Goa, with all water bodies, including creeks being highly polluted and full of stink, it is prudent to think about what is causing this.
Recently there were sewage tankers caught even supplying the “load” as water supply to residential units!
I request the Goa Government to clarify on how the sewage is being managed/properly disposed of! Else I can only conclude that it’s a part of the un-declared “swim in Goa’s sewage” tourist attraction!
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
New wave instability
in Middle-East
The turn of political events in Syria raises fears of a new wave of regional instability, following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ending his family’s despotic rule for over 13 years.
It marks a turning point for the middle-eastern country, shattered by years of civil war which has turned cities to rubble, killed hundreds of thousands of people, and forced millions abroad as refugees. Western governments, which have shunned the Assad-led state for years, must decide how to deal with a new administration in Syria in which HTS looks set to have greater influence.
HTS, which spearheaded the rebel advances across western Syria, was formerly an al-Qaeda affiliate. The Syrians, therefore, will obviously remain fearful as this militant group will impose draconian Islamist rule or instigate reprisals. As the rebels form their first provisional government free of the al-Assad family in more than five decades and a peaceful transfer of power takes place in the country, Syria now faces an immeasurably difficult task of healing the wounds of the civil war and turning the page on totalitarian rule.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai
Who is the pig here?
What State BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar said is correct. “Never wrestle with a pig, because both will get dirty and the pig actually enjoys it” (O Heraldo, December 10).The question here is who is the ‘pig’ referred to by the BJP Spokesperson and it seems that the pig is actually enjoying the match.
On the front page of Herald dated December 10 on ‘Anti-Corruption Day’ Herald has questioned what happened to the promise the CM made of recovering the money in the “cash-for-jobs” scam?
I don’t think we can expect an answer to the question because the sad reality we are facing today is that we are wrestling with pigs!
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Beware, dictators!
What will happen to the rulers when the anger of the people of a nation explodes, particularly when the top leader turns power hungry and autocratic, has been well demonstrated in the manner the people of Syria led by the militants rose in clamour against Bashar-al-Assad, the Dictator- President of Syria and made him flee the country to save his life.
First it was the uprising of the people of Sri Lanka against the Rajapaksa brothers, who as dictators were involved in Himalayan corruption, looting the exchequer and other criminal acts, to demit office and flee the country. They brought an end to their cruel regime which paved the way for a new regime which has assured to bring all the looters to books and confiscate their ill-gotten wealth.
Next, it was Bangladesh. The people who had been tolerating for long under duress the tyrannical rule of Sheikh Hasina, who had allegedly been looting the country, imprisoned her opponents and even eliminated her enemies, with an army supporting her evil deeds, rose like a tsunami, chased her and her coterie and made her flee the country.
She is now a refugee in India, awaiting deportation and to be tried for treason, looting the treasures of the country and many other criminal charges filed against her including the massacre of hundreds of people before she fled the country.
Tyrants like them should remember that people will not remain submissive forever and once they come to the streets to teach them a lesson, it would be unimaginably and immensely unbearable to them.
Tharcius S Fernando, Chennai
