What is the future of rooting in Android? Is Google planning to eliminate rooting from Android?

Rooting is a process that allows user to gain administrative rights on their Android device just like they would on a Windows or Linux machine except rooting can sometimes be a much more complicated process.

Rooting is all code, the process is performed with one goal in mind, to overcome the complications and limitations the carriers and OEMs have put on devices or to install custom firmware by unlocking the bootloader.

Here is a sneak peak at the history of rooting in Android.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROOTING IN ANDROID

The term rooting is derived from having "root" or super user access on Linux based machines, rooting gives similar type of permissions as one gets on a Linux or any other Unix-like machine. Rooting has gone hand in hand with the first commercial release of Android which was Cupcake 1.5 and the first device to run Android HTC Dream. Since Android is based on Linux kernel, developers knew it was entirely possible to gain root access on HTC Dream and run scripts and do modifications that would otherwise be impossible to do without root access. Rooting has since become way easier with one-click rooting methods. I remember my first Android device HTC Wildfire S and rooting it was the hardest part, running scripts on Command prompt and goldcard and stuff.

The OEMs started to encrypt the devices with locked bootloaders because apparently they couldn't stop the people from gaining root access. So why not lock the bootloader and rob them of their freedom. So what is a bootloader? Bootloader is simply a piece of code that executes before system start-up and check for originality of the software installed on the device. Though, it is possible to root your device with locked bootloader but you can't install custom software (which is actually the point of all the hardship, to install custom software and to taste the latest Android from Google or install custom recovery like CWM or TWRP) as long as your bootloader is locked. OEMs like HTC and Sony provide the user with an option to unlock the bootloader but not on carrier-locked devices and that is where it gets trickier as most of the carriers do not allow the unlocking of bootloader and in countires like US, most of the users buy carrier-locked phones.

There are always ways to get stuff done when you are in Android, so there came unofficial ways to unlock the bootloader but they were not official and very risky to say the least and often you would end up bricking your device.

WHAT PEOPLE USE ROOTING FOR?

People simply root their devices to make changes to their devices, first and foremost, to install custom firmware, to taste the latest Android version on their old device. To perform actions that are otherwise impossible on non-rooted devices, for example, overlocking the processor, deleting useless system or carrier-installed apps to make space or free-up the RAM. I once rooted an LG Optimus G to get rid of useless AT&T apps that they somehow thought would be useful to the user. I replaced the official software on my HTC Wildfire S to install Cyanogenmod 10 which performed much better than HTC Sense ever did. Why people root their devices? Because they want full control, they want to make the device feel like their own, to do whatever they want and root provides them.

GOOGLE'S (AND HARDWARE MANUFACTURER'S) CASE AGAINST ROOTING

Hardware manufacturers including Google have added features to Android that would only be available to rooted devices in the past just to minimize the need for rooting like taking screenshots and using VPNs.

Android uses Linux's security model in which no app can access another app's data and runs in its own unique ID and is isolated from every other app installed on your device. This all changes when an app is run with root privileges, this specific app can now access any app's data. This is the reason why apps like Greenify, Xposed and Titanium Backup runs so well and why they require root privileges and this is completely against Android's security model.

If you have root access on your device, this means that any potential malware can exploit your device using root and cause much greater damage than it would normally do or you could accidentally delete any important system file and could make your OS corrupted playing with root and plus there are warranty concerns as well..

STRICTLY ENFORCED VERIFIED BOOT

It seems as that Google and top OEMs are in a joint venture to close the chapter of rooting once and for all and after the enforcement of strict verified boot, they are closer than ever.After the launch of Android 7.0 Nougat, Google has announced that it will enforce strict boot verification in which whole system will will be checked for errors against a signed hash tree during the boot and won't boot if it detects any errors in the system. Previously, I have discussed strict boot verification in detail. This big step coming from none other than Google is not very encouraging at all. It will not get simpler going forward with Android Nougat and flashing custom kernels just to get root will be the norm.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF ROOTING GOING FORWARD?

The future of rooting is very blurry and nothing points to the favor of rooting and it it is obvious enough already, Google is moving forward towards an era with no rooting. I am not sure what good will it do to either Google or the end-user but it seems OEMs and Google have a common attitude towards third party development of Android.

ROOTING WILL HOPEFULLY STAY FOR NOW BUT NOT FOR LONG.

Rooting will hopefully stay for now but not for long and rootless era will happen not immediately but definitely. As we have seen, Google is slowly incorporating anti-root features in Android since Jellybean 4.3.

If you ask me, I am not surprised at all, it is only a matter of time before the freedom that we have all enjoyed will be gone forever as OEMs and carriers start to realize that excessive power to the user is not good for their business.

They are trying to make rooting less necessary for the user by adding features that would only be available after rooting and installing custom ROM but there is nothing quite like having full control over your phone.

Will root die out? Your thoughts?

Please share this with your friends and follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.


FURTHER READING

How to install Ubuntu Linux theme on Windows.
Nexus 5 owners will not receive Android Nougat.
5 reasons people refuse to upgrade to Windows 10.
Pokemon GO: 6 Hacks to catch 'em all. Here's how you can get Windows 10 even after July 29 deadline.

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How to install Ubuntu Linux theme on Windows.

If you are a Windows user and are skeptical of switching to Linux but like the overall feel and look of Linux or Ubuntu in this case, then this theme's for you developed by DeviantArt.

Linux comes in different forms known as distributions and each one feels like a different OS but Ubuntu is the most popular of the distributions available and people prefer Ubuntu over other distros because of its simplicity and easy-to-use interface.


By installing Maverick, you can experience the dark grey and orange style interface but if you are expecting the app launcher and left-aligned panel of Ubuntu and if you think that it will turn your OS into Ubuntu clone, then you are in the wrong place.

Previously, I have discussed the reasons why Linux is better than Windows and I hope that I have convinced a lot of Windows users to make the jump but if you are still having doubts about experiencing Linux first hand and want to taste what the OS feels like. Here is a step-by-step guide.

FOR WINDOWS 10

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Rename the file to aerolite.msstyles.backup, which you can find in the directory "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero". If you are unable to rename the file then you will have to take ownership rights.
4. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
5. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
6. Apply theme in Personalize panel.
7. Apply the registry settings by applying the maverick_10_window_metrics.reg in the Windows Metrics folder.
8. Restart Windows and enjoy!

FOR WINDOWS 8/8.1

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
4. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
5. Apply theme in Personalize panel.
6. Apply the registry settings by applying the maverick_8.1_window_metrics.reg in the Windows Metrics folder.
7. To remove the hover glow of the taskbar buttons, System>Advanced Settings>Performance Settings>Uncheck Animations in the taskbar.
8. Restart Windows and enjoy!

ALSO READ: Best 6 Linux Penetration Testing Distros for Hackers

FOR WINDOWS 7

1. Create a restore point using System Restore.
2. Install UxStyle. Go to this link, select your operating system, download the file and follow the on-screen steps.
3. Install the fonts in the Resource\Fonts folder.
4. Install the theme by copying the contents of the theme folder in "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes"
5. To change the start orb, Use Windows 7 Start Button Changer by Kishan-Bagaria.
6. To remove the blured edges of the Windows, use Windows 7 Aero Blur Tweaker to remive the Windows blur.
7. Restart and enjoy!

Credit goes out to Deviantart and if you want more detailed step-by-step guide, you can visit their site.

Please share it with your friends and be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep updated with the latest headlines and articles from the Tech World.

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Fans furious after the latest update to the Pokemon GO app.

After a lot of bugs being reported in Pokemon GO app, the developer team Niantic released the biggest update to the game yet which was intended to fix bugs but instead has created more of them, the biggest one yet and as a result, the fans are furious.

It really is a difficult task to update and manage the most popular game in the world right now getting huge media attention and coverage.


ALSO READ: Pokemon GO surpasses Candy Crush to become the most popular game in U.S. history.

A lot of fans are devastated and furious after the update literally reset their progress to level one, some are asking for the money they spent on the Pokemon GO to be refunded and have taken it to social media to express their anger.

Here are the tweets.

I tried that twice and it didn't work. Even updated my phone and the app. I get this screen. @anthonybrowne pic.twitter.com/qjwVr5zb3M

— Gustavo Flores (@G_Flores_96) July 31, 2016

Another fan had this to say.

Updated Pokemon Go, had to reset my account password and now the full game has reset. Absolutely raging. @PokemonGoApp

— Michaela (@MB2314) July 31, 2016

ALSO READ: Pokemon GO: 6 hacks to catch 'em all 


[Source]

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Nexus 5 owners will not receive Android Nougat.

At last Google is dumping the highly successful Nexus 5, sad news to say the least for the faithful Nexus 5 owners, the Android Nougat will not be landing on Nexus 5 at least officially.

It had a long time coming, being launched in 2013 with Android Kitkat and keeping the device updated for almost 3 years is indeed a great feat from Google in a fast changing environment of Technology.


ALSO READ: What is Strictly Enforced Verified Boot in Android Nougat?

As reported by the famous leakster Evan Blass (@evleaks), the latest version of Android will be released in August and no Nougat for Nexus 5 owners.

Android 7.0 releases next month, with the 8/5 security patch. Sorry Nexus 5 owners, no Nougat for you 😢

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) July 30, 2016

It seems like the final nail in the coffin of Nexus 5, although you can head over to the XDA Forums and checkout the latest Marshmallow Roms and wait for someone to port the latest Android Nougat to this fabled device.


Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to keep updated with the latest news.


ALSO READ: Here's how you can get Windows 10 even after July 29 deadline.

[Via Twitter]

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Here's how you can get Windows 10 even after July 29 deadline.

Missed the Jul 29 deadline to upgrade Windows 10 due to one reason or another? And you still want to get hands on the latest Windows even after the deadline.

Microsoft had been offering free upgrade to the users of Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 since the launch of Windows 10. Windows 10 has not been the commercial success Microsoft had hoped for and here are the reasons people refused the upgrade to Windows 10.


The promotion for free Windows 10 ended on July 29 and now costs $119 for upgrade but there is a loophole which allows you to upgrade to the latest version of Windows without having to pay anything. The upgrade is intended toward those who use accessibility features in Windows. Here's how you can still get you hands on Windows 10.

ALSO READ: 6 easy steps to keep your Windows XP machine secure.

The process is actually quite simple. All you have to do is go here and check that you use assistive technology and hit the upgrade now button and get rolling with Windows 10. We are not sure if you should do this as the upgrade is only intended for the users with accessibility needs. However, if you are fine with it, you can go ahead and upgrade.

ALSO READ: Microsoft developer admits Linux is faster than WIndows.

There is also another very nice loophole in which you just have to change the date & time of your system before July 29, the free upgrade prompt will reappear.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook to get updated with the latest news.

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What is Strictly Enforced Verified Boot in Android Nougat?

After the launch of the newest version of Android. Google has announced that it will enforce strict boot verification, though the feature has existed since Android 4.4 Kitkat in which the user was notified if the device was tempered with.

With the arrival of Android Nougat, Google has taken this feature to the next level but what exactly is Strictly Enforced Verified Boot?

Here is the answer. During the boot, the kernel checks for errors in the system and won't boot if it detects any corruption in the software. Though the feature has been in existence since Android 4.4, it was only made public with the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

ALSO READ: 5 reasons people refused to upgrade to Windows 10

SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

During the boot-up, the kernel dm-verity checks the signature of every block against a signed hash tree to make sure the software is not compromised, should a single byte be corrupted, the entire block becomes inaccessible. A software with corruptions won't boot-up but it will give users the option to boot the system with limited functionality aka safe mode.

Sami Tolvanen, a Software Engineer at Google had this to say.

“Such strict checking, though, means that non-malicious data corruption, which previously would be less visible, could now start affecting process functionality more,” the engineer explains.

THE FEATURE WILL NOT BE ACTIVE ON DEVICES WITH UNLOCKED BOOTLOADERS

Google says, the feature will only be active on devices with locked bootloaders and not on devices that ship with bootloader unloced by default. If you want to root a locked device, it will definitely create problems for you.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU WANT TO ROOT YOUR DEVICES?

The answer is, you can't do anything. Devices with unlocked bootloaders will have little to no problem being rooted. Though some devices come with the option to unlock the bootloader but what of the devices that come with no such option. If you do tinker with your device, you will end up corrupting your software.

ALSO READ: Pokemon GO: 6 Hacks to catch 'em all

SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF ROOTING GOING FORWARD?

As it is obvious enough already, Google is slowly moving towards eliminating rooting from Android. As it has been previously hinted with release of Android 4.3 Jellybean and Lollipop. With talented developers like Chainfire, it is safe to say that we will find a way for now but It is evident that Google wants to move forward towards an era with no rooting.

Share your thoughts about this step from Google and also don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

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5 reasons people refuse to upgrade to Windows 10

Its been over a year since Windows 10 was launched and came as a free upgrade to the users of previous versions of Windows, though the free upgrade period has ended and now you have to purchase a license from Microsoft. Despite Microsoft's efforts, users still preferred to remain on the previous versions of Windows. Though Windows 10 is decent OS but comes with flaws that just could not take it to the levels of the mighty Windows 7 and the legendary Windows XP!

Why is that? The Redmond Giant offering its flagship product for free was unheard of before, people should have flocked to get their hands on the latest Windows but it was not the case. When it was first released in 2015, Microsoft had a humongous target of running Windows 10 on one billion devices by 2018. So what hindered the fairytale dream of Microsoft? Here are the reasons.

Privacy Concerns

In my post, Reasons you should own a Linux machine, I discussed in detail about how Microsoft is spying on its users through Windows 10. Windows 10 terms and conditions clearly state that Microsoft will collect your data. Though, they claim they only use it to enhance user experience but why you should allow them to collect your data in the first place. Its absolute violation of privacy.

Forced upgrade

If you are a user of older versions of Windows, you may have noticed the annoying pop up that pops up every now and then and ruins your experience. Hell, many people have reported that their machines automatically restarted and upgraded to Windows 10 without any prior notice or warning. You need to look no further than the "Get Windows 10" campaign which forced a lot of users to upgrade without them knowing. This just goes one to show how desperate they are to lure the users into upgrading but in turn it put off the users and definitely did not help Microsoft in the long run.

Here is how you can stop your OS to upgrade automatically.

Microsoft Store and the Universal apps

Microsoft Store just continues to underwhelm and the universal apps that were introduced with Windows 8 just don't cut it. Many popular companies have pulled their apps from the Store and it just seems easier to visit the site and use their services. Microsoft Edge still carries a lot of bugs from Internet Explorer and other apps such as News and Weather are practically useless because it is just easier to access their site from the browser which also loads faster and with no lag. This was a big turn off for the users that were hyped to taste the latest Edge browser and the improved Universal apps.

ALSO READ: 6 easy steps to keep your Windows XP machine secure.

Not worth upgrading

If you are using Windows 7 and have stopped using Internet Explorer, you have to think whether it is worth upgrading to Windows 10, plus I can't think of any program or app that is compatible with Windows 10 and not Windows 7 aside from the fancy Universal apps and Edge which are practically useless. Or if you are a user of Windows 8/8.1, and have got used to the interface and are now satisfied with Windows 8, then you have to stop and think for a second, is it really worth upgrading? Absolutely not.

People just don't trust Microsoft

After the release of Windows 8, users who were previously using the wildly popular Windows 7 upgraded to Windows 8 were just disappointed by the changes Microsoft brought to the Windows and reverted back to the Windows 7 just didn't risk upgrading again from Windows 7 which is still the most popular OS in the world today. Hell, there is panic inside the company itself after an alleged developer admitted that Linux is way better than Windows. This is just bad for the public image of the company and people just don't trust Microsoft anymore and after the outcry of the privacy issues with Windows 10, things have gotten worse for the Redmond giant.

After disappointing experience with Windows 8 and now Windows 10, Microsoft products are not my cup of tea anymore and are not worth my time and money.

Tell us about your experience with Windows 10 in the comments section below and do follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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Pokemon GO: 6 Hacks to catch 'em all

Pokemon GO has taken the world by storm and there is no denying the fact that it has the become the most talked about phenomenon on the internet today. Whether it be the die hard or casual fans, everyone share the same excitement.

It has become so popular that it has surpassed Candy Crush as the most popular game in U.S. history. So much so that the hackers are also taking down their servers to get attention.

A Reddit user recently claimed that he has caught all the Pokemon in the North American region.n order to finish his collection, he caught 4,269 Pokemon. He also hatched 303 eggs and walked 153 kilometers over the course of his two-week journey. Sounds crazy. Right? But you don't need to do that. Here is a guide to help you complete your Pokedex from the comforts of your home.

Play Pokemon GO from home

If you don't want to be one of those crazy enthusiasts that roam the streets and parks in search of Pokemon and have a little knowledge of Bluestacks and how to run Android apps on a Windows PC. Here is a detailed guide on how to set up a fake GPS and play Pokemon GO from home. Or here is a video for those iOS folks.

Poke Radar app to discover the location of rare Pokemon

You can download the Poke Radar app in which users work together and drop whenever they find a rare Pokemon. The more pins in an area, the better the chances of finding the rare Pokemon.

Find all the Poke Stops

Here is a user-created map to find all the Poke Stops. Anyone can add to the map so some of the data might be incorrect.

Evolve Eevee into whatever you want

As you die hard fans would remember, Eevee can evolve into Vaporeon, Jolteon or Flareon. And this occurs randomly. However there is secret trick which forces Eevee to evolve into the Pokemon you want. All you have to do is give her a nickname, a different for the Pokemon you want her to evolve to. "Rainer" for Vaporeon, "Sparky" for Jolteon or type in "Pyro" for Flareon. Restart the game and see the magic.

Get Pikachu as your first Pokemon

At the start, you are offered three Pokemon to chose from, all you have to do is literally run from it, run from the area where the game starts and then a Pikachu will appear.

Hatch eggs without walking

It can get pretty exhausting to walk around while in game to hatch your eggs and the rarer Pokemon hidden in 10k eggs. Yes, it is possible to hatch eggs without even walking an inch. A genius Youtuber came up with a great idea to hatch eggs. If you own a record player, just put your phone on it and let it spin. You will have eggs hatching from all directions.

Here is a six step guide to ensure your success in catching Pokemon. Tell us what you think of our guide and if you know any good tricks, share with us in the comments section below.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are ousting iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in terms of sales

Samsung's flagship smartphones are outselling iPhone 6s and 6s Plus and people are preferring Samsung over Apple.

According to a report, Samsung's Galaxy S7 and S7 edge are selling in greater number as compared to iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in the three month period ending in May 3.

16% of customers preferred a Samsung Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge while only 14.6% people purchased an iPhone 6s or 6s Plus during the three month period.

Also Read Another iPhone 7 video released showing the handset in its full glory.

Apple is still ahead of Samsung in the customer satisfaction area. 88% of Apple’s customers stay loyal. 14% of people who are using an iPhone have used Samsung before.

Also Read Galaxy Note 7 spotted on AnTuTu, SD820 SoC and QHD display in tow.

On the other hand, 86% of customers stay loyal to Samsung. And only 5% of Samsung users made the jump from Apple.

Source

Also Read iPhone 7 might sport 1,960 mAh battery.

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Getting rid of Adware

Ever clicked on a wrong link on the internet mistakenly? and it resulted in annoying ads showing up in the browser?

You may be a victim of Adware, due to which, you maybe experiencing unwanted toolbars in your browser or your homepage is set to a unknown search page. Nowadays, Internet is flooded with these Adware (Ads Software). Don't worry, here is the guide which will help you in getting rid of these adware which stick to your system and spoil your internet browsing experience. Here is a tool developed by ToolsLib:

Also Read 6 easy steps to keep your WIndows XP machines secure

AdwCleaner:

AdwCleaner is an efficient tool to get rid of Adwares and Hijacking software. The operation of this tool is very simple.

Follow these steps:/div>

• Download AdwCleaner Tool from here.
• Open it and click on "Scan".
• Let it scan your Computer for Adwares and other hijacking software.
• Once the scanning is completed, click on "Clean" button. (It is recommended to close other programs)
• After the cleaning process is completed, your Computer will restart.

After these steps you will surely get rid of most of the Adwares.

Tips to keep yourself free from Adware:

• When installing a software, don't click next too quickly, double check that there is no extra toolbar selected to be installed which may change your browser components.
• Always download a program from trusted links or Official sites.
• Use a AntiVirus Program.
• Don't click on malicious advertisements.

Happy browsing ! If this post helped you, then express it in the comments sections.

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Hackers are going to take down Pokemon GO on 1st of August

Pokemon GO has become a pop culture phenomenon. It is all over the internet. With all this spotlight on Pokemon GO, the hackers are bound to take notice.

On Saturday, game's servers, already bogged down with massive number of downloads, were taken down by hacker group called PoodleCorp through DDoS attack. Niantic, the developer of the game said it was due to huge number downloads that the server went down but the hacker group claimed otherwise.

We recently reported that Pokemon GO has become the most popular mobile game in U.S. history surpassing Candy Crush, these attacks are inevitable. Here is the tweet.

PokemonGo #Offline #PoodleCorp

PoodleCorp (@PoodleCorp) July 16, 2016

Everyone seems to be trying to benefit from the spotlight that Pokemon GO is getting and the hackers being huge attention seeker now claim that they will take down the servers again on 1st of August.

August 1st #PoodleCorp #PokemonGo

PoodleCorp (@PoodleCorp) July 18, 2016

The group has a history of attacking YouTube channels and League of Legends.

Apparently, they have got nothing to do with Pokemon GO or its fan, they are just here to get mainstream attention. That's all.

Pokemon GO has not been released internationally yet but you can download and install apk from here. Go Catch'Em all.

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Another iPhone 7 video released showing the iphone in its full glory

Another iPhone 7 video released, this time comparing the handset with iPhone 6s

The leaked images and videos are piling up for the iPhone 7 as we near the launch date. This is an extended version of the video that came out a few days ago.

This time, the guy in the video compares the hardware designs of the two iPhones and the lack of 3.5 mm jack.

Here are some photos to give you an idea.

Now the video.

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Facebook's Android app can save offline videos now.

If you want to save a video on facebook for offline viewing, the Android app now lets you do so.

Facebook's Android app now lets you save videos for offline viewing. According to AndroidPolice, the video is saved to your local copy of Facebook account and cannot be viewed and modified from the user-accessible file system.

Also read Pokemon GO is now the most popular mobile game in U.S. history


The app version 85 and 86 (beta) features the "Saved video" section.

Videos can be watched offline and once saved and can be removed at any time. 

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Pokemon GO surpassed Candy Crush to become the most popular mobile game in U.S. history

The craze of Pokemon GO has taken all over the world even in countries where it is not yet available and now has surpassed Candy Crush to become the most popular game in U.S. 

Even in countries where it is not yet available, fans in one way or another have installed and started playing. Pokemon GO has become an insanely popular phenomenon. Some people are getting annoyed by it but you have to deal with it because nothing like it has happened before.

Also Read 6 easy steps to keep your Windows XP machine secure. 

The question is how massive has this game is. We finally have some numbers.

Also read Moto Z Droid Edition Specifications.

According to SurveyMonkey, Pokemon GO has surpassed Draw Something and Candy Crush to become the most popular game in the history of United States. Pokemon GO has 21 million active users just above 20 million playing Candy Crush.

This phenomenon will only get bigger when its available in more countries .If Pokemon GO is not yet available in your country. Here is the download link for the apk. Download and start playing. Catch 'Em all.

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Moto Z Droid Edition Specifications

Here is the spec sheet of the incredibly weird Verizon specific modular phone Moto Z Droid.

Motorola has jumped on the wagon of modular phones after LG and Google (Though, Project Ara is still in the works).

Motorola Moto Z Droid is by far the best thing to come out of Motorola and Verizon partnership. Motorola Moto Z is a power house with modular capabilities.

This spec sheet will give will give you a pretty good idea of the modular phone capabilities.

Also read Xperia X Performance variant spotted on GFX Bench

Moto Z DROID Specs

• Processor: Snapdragon 820 (1.8 GHz or 2.2 GHz quad-core)

• Storage: 32 or 64 GB expandable to 2TB

• RAM: 4 GB

• Battery: 2600 mAh

• Connectivity: USB type-C

• Screen: 5.5″, 2560 x 1440p

• Dimensions: 6.11 x 2.96 x 0.20 in.

• Weight: 4.70 oz

• Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

• Camera (rear) 13 MP

• Camera (front) 5 MP

You can find more details here at Motorola's official site. What are your thoughts on the Verizon specific Moto Z Droid. Let us know in the comments section below.

Also Read AnTuTu: World's most popular smatrphones in H1 2016

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Best 6 Linux Penetration Testing Distros for Hackers

Linux penetration testing distributions are special purpose Linux distributions used for analyzing and evaluating network security.
A penetration test is a test carried out on a system or a network with the intention of finding security holes and weaknesses.

Today, the demand for security and penetration testers has increased exponentially and there are not enough penetration testers out there to keep up with requirements.

The term hacker is often taken in the wrong sense but that is not the case. Actually a hacker is someone who seeks and exploits weakness in a system. They are also referred to as white hats, security testers or computer programmers. The term cracker is the more appropriate word for someone who cracks into a system just for his own gain. They are also referred to as black hats.

Many Linux penetration testing distributions come packing with different tools and apps that help point out and exploit a hole in a system or a network.

Here is a list of some popular and most used penetration testing distros for Hackers or security testers out there.

NodeZero Linux

NodeZero is Ubuntu based Linux which can also be used for penetration testing. With NodeZero comes around 300 tools for penetration testing.

NodeZero was formally known as Ubuntu Pentest Edition and was the 1st Ubuntu/Gnome based penetration testing distro that was released. NodeZero was built on top of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx.

NodeZero features THC IPV6 Attack Toolkit which includes tools like alive6, detect-new-ip6, dnsdict6, dos-new-ip6, fake-advertise6, fake-mipv6, fake_mld6, fake_router6, implementation6, implementation6d, parasite6, recon6, redir6, rsmurf6, sendpees6, smurf6, toobig6, and trace6.

Since NodeZero Linux is based on Ubuntu, it comes with great stability and reliability.

You can download NodeZero Linux here.

Pentoo Linux

Pentoo Linux is based on Live CD focused towards security testing and based on Gentoo. Pentoo is also available as an overlay for an existing Gentoo installation. It’s basically a gentoo install with lots of customized tools, customized kernel, and much more. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the features currently included :

•     Hardened Kernel with aufs patches
•     Backported Wifi stack from latest stable kernel release
•     Module loading support ala slax
•     Changes saving on usb stick
•     XFCE4 wm
•     Cuda/OPENCL cracking support with development tools
•     System updates if you got it finally installed.

      

Source

You can download Pentoo Linux from their official site.

Matriux

Matriux is a distro which is relatively new and is a fully featured security disctribution consist of over 300 free tools called arsenals which can be used to penetrate systems and is based on debian. Matriux is designed to run from live CD or USB and can be installed on hard drive as well.

Matriux offers many forensics tools under its Arsenal in Digital-Forensics category.

The distro can be download their official site.

Parrot Security OS

Parrot Security OS is also a relatively new player in the Linux world and is also a debian-based penetration testing OS designed for easy use. It is a very versatile OS and is also very suitable for daily use. Parrot OS is designed for everyone from newbie to a highly professional security tester. It has a very devoted and committed development team known as Frozenbox Network. The Parrot OS is a cloud-friendly operating system focused on anonymity and complete encryption for the user.

The latest version of Parrot Security OS can be downloaded from here.

BlackArch Linux

BlackArch is a lightweight expansion to Arch Linux geared towards penetration testers and hackers. The repository contains 1233 tools. Although BlackArch Linux is past the beta stage but it is still a relatively new project. I highly recommend that you check out this distro if you are comfortable with Arch.

You can download BlackArch Linux from their official site.

Kali Linux

Unarguably the most versatile and the most used Penetration Testing OS in the Linux world and my personal favourite and go-to OS for daily use. It is also based on debian and is maintained and funded by Offensive Security Ltd. It was developed by Mati Aharoni and Devon Kearns of Offensive Security through the rewrite of BackTrack. 

Kali Linux is preinstalled with numerous penetration-testing programs, including nmap (a port scanner), Wireshark (a packet analyzer), John the Ripper (a password cracker), Aircrack-ng (a software suite for penetration-testing wireless LANs), Burp suite and OWASP ZAP (both web application security scanners). Kali Linux can run natively when installed on a computer’s hard disk, can be booted from a live CD or live USB, or it can run within a virtual machine.

The latest version can be downloaded from here.

Final Thoughts

Though there are many distros, some old and mature but some relatively newer, to chose from but in the end it all comes down to personal preference and the distro you are most comfortable with but my personal favourite is Kali Linux which I also use for daily activities.

Please feel free to express your opinions in the comments section below.

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