The YouTube Shortcuts and Tips Cheat Sheet

YouTube can give you hours of entertainment and education. When you pair its limitless store of content with the enabled-by-default Autoplay feature, binge-watching sessions are inevitable.

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If YouTube surfing is a daily activity for you, it’s a good idea to learn a few shortcuts and tricks that’ll help you navigate YouTube faster. And you’ll find the best shortcuts laid out neatly in our YouTube cheat sheet below!

The cheat sheet contains keyboard shortcuts, URL shortcuts, and search operators. For YouTube creators we’ve added standard dimensions specified by YouTube for creating all types of graphics and videos.

FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download The YouTube Shortcuts and Tips Cheat Sheet.

The YouTube Shortcuts and Tips Cheat Sheet

Shortcut	Action
Keyboard Shortcuts The YouTube video window must be active for these shortcuts to work.
Space	Play/pause video
k	Play/pause video
Left Arrow	Rewind 5 seconds
Right Arrow	Fast-forward 5 seconds
j	Rewind 10 seconds
l	Fast-forward 10 seconds
¹0	Restart video
¹1-9	Fast-forward in increments of 10%
Home	Restart video (Windows only)
End	Jump to end of video (Windows only)
,	Rewind by one frame when video is paused
.	Fast-forward by one frame when video is paused
>	Increase playback speed
<	Decrease playback speed
Shift + n OR ²Ctrl + Right Arrow	Jump to next video in playlist
Shift + p OR ²Ctrl + Left Arrow OR Backspace	Jump to previous video in playlist
m	Mute/unmute video
Up Arrow	Increase volume by 5%
Down Arrow	Decrease volume by 5%
f	Toggle Full Screen Mode
t	Toggle Theater Mode
i	Toggle Miniplayer
c	Toggle captions if available
o	Cycle through text opacity options for captions
w	Cycle through window opacity options for captions
=	Increase font size for captions
-	Decrease font size for captions
w	Pan up in 360° video
s	Pan down in 360° video
a	Pan left in 360° video
d	Pan right in 360° video
[	Zoom in within 360° video
]	Zoom out in 360° video
Tab	Cycle forward through onscreen elements
Shift + Tab	Cycle backward through onscreen elements
Space	Launch or open selected element
Enter	Launch or open selected element
/	Place cursor in search box
Shift + /	Open YouTube shortcuts dialog
Esc	Exit Full Screen mode, exit dialogs
URL Shortcuts Video_ID in the URLs refers to the 11-character sequence that appears in every YouTube URL.
³Link to any part of video	youtube.com/watch?v=Video_ID&t=YmXXs
³Start video from a specific point	youtube.com/watch?v=Video_ID&start=XX
Bypass age restrictions	genyoutube.com/watch?v=Video_ID
Loop video indefinitely	youtuberepeater.com/watch?v=Video_ID
View high-res thumbnail of video (if available)	img.youtube.com/vi/Video_ID/maxresdefault.jpg
Make a GIF from any part of video	gifyoutube.com/watch?v=Video_ID
Search Operators Append search operator to your query.
+keyword	Force keyword matching
-keyword	Exclude keyword
“keyword(s)”	Force exact keyword(s) match
intitle:	Look for keywords in content title
,hour	Content uploaded in the last hour only
,today	Content uploaded today
,week	Content uploaded this week
,month	Content uploaded this month
,year	Content uploaded this year
,video	Videos only
,channel	Channels only
,playlist	Playlists only
,movie	Movies only
,show	Shows only
,long	Content longer than 20 minutes
,short	Content shorter than 4 minutes
,live	Live streaming content only
,4k	4K content only
,hd	HD content only
,cc	Captioned content only
,creativecommons	Creative Commons licensed content only
,spherical	360° content only
,3d	3D content only
,hdr	HDR content only
,purchased	Purchased content only
,	Separate keywords/operators
Related Links
YouTube Trending	youtube.com/feed/trending
Your Subscriptions	youtube.com/feed/subscriptions
Your YouTube History	youtube.com/feed/history
YouTube Gaming	youtube.com/gaming
YouTube Premium	youtube.com/red
YouTube TV	youtube.com/tv
YouTube Copyright Basics	https://youtu.be/OQVHWsTHcoc
YouTube TestTube	youtube.com/testtube
Recommended Dimensions (in pixels) for Creating YouTube Graphics and Videos
Profile Picture	800x800
Thumbnail	1280x720
Banner (Cover Photo or Channel Art)	2560x440
Banner Safe Area	1546x423
Mobile Display	1546x423
Tablet Display	1855x423
Desktop Display	2560x423
TV Display	2560x1440
4K (2160p)	3840x2160
2K (1440p)	2560x1440
Max. Resolution for HD (1080p)	1920x1080
Min. Resolution for HD (720p)	1280x720
Standard Definition (480p)	854x480
Traditional Website Resolution (360p)	640x360
Minimum YouTube Video Size (240p)	426x240
¹Key(s) on the numeric keypad won’t work. ²On Mac keyboards, use Cmd instead of Ctrl and Delete instead of Backspace. ³Y refers to minutes and XX refers to seconds.

Keep Your Eyes on the Screen

Once you master YouTube shortcuts, figure out how to find awesome videos, and learn to break a few of YouTube’s restrictions, you have a delightful, personalized stream of video content on tap.

Not sure where to begin your next binge-watching session? Start with these YouTube channel recommendations.

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6 Websites to Make Christmas Planning Easy for Stress-Free Holidays

The closer we get to Christmas, the sooner you need to start preparing for the big day. These websites will help plan a smooth Christmas, ensuring stress-free and happy holidays.

Doing things at the last minute leads to unnecessary stress, running around, and a whole lot of over-spending.

That’s why we put together a guide of a few websites that help you get organized for Christmas. You’ll learn how to pick the best tree for you, get free printables and organizers, download designs and art, and even queue up the playlist for the big day.

1. Pick Your Own Christmas Tree (Web): Guide to Choose the Perfect Tree

Is it really Christmas if you don’t have a Christmas tree? Buying the perfect tree isn’t easy though. Tree lots will try to sell you something you don’t need or can’t use in your house. That’s why you need this guide to pick the perfect Christmas Tree.

Follow the guide’s links in order. It’ll tell you the pros and cons of buying a real tree or a fake tree. It then tells you how to select the perfect tree for you. There is a comprehensive page with tree varieties and their features. And the site also advises you on how to flock your tree and keep it safe from bugs and pests.

Finally, the website lists tree farms, tree lots, and other places to buy it, divided by states in the USA. It also has recommendations for a few other countries. These farms and lots vary, including those where you can cut the tree yourself as well as places with rides and fun activities.

All in all, Pick Your Own Christmas Tree is the best and most detailed resource to find the perfect tree for your house during the holidays.

2. Organized Christmas (Web): Free Printables, Tips, Recipes, and Guides

Organized Home by Cynthia Ewer has a dedicated mini-site for Christmas that you must visit well in advance. Through planners, tips, checklists, and printable forms, Ewer will make sure you are as prepped as you’ll ever be.

The main blog is a series of posts focusing primarily on tips and advice, divided into a few categories: get organized, holiday plans, gifts, and crafts. The posts are what any average person needs, telling you how to be frugal while looking good, suggesting holiday ideas and wrapping methods, and so on. Make sure you don’t stick to the 2019 posts alone, go back to find tips from previous years.

But the crown jewel of Organized Christmas is the page packed with free printables. Particularly, the Christmas Countdown Checklist and the House and Holidays Plan gives you an excellent weekly breakdown of chores and activities to plan your holidays. Don’t miss out on this one.

3. Christmas HQ (Web): Free Designs, Decorations, Recipes, Carols, and More

Christmas Headquarters wants to be your one-stop-shop for any resource you’d need. It has designs and decorations you can download for free, a repository of carols, and a collection of ideas, tips, and recipes like any other blog.

The design downloads are the highlight of Christmas HQ. You can download clip art, backgrounds, borders, images, and fonts to spruce up your decorations. All of these are completely free, and available in high resolution. The font collection is especially cool, and you’ll have fun tweaking it to design your own Christmas cards.

The Carols page is worth a look too. You’ll get the full lyrics of all popular Christmas carols. Each carol also includes a brief history of its meaning and popularity, as well as a short YouTube clip of how it’s sung.

Similarly, the website is full of historical information about Christmas. You can learn why we hang stockings, the meaning behind wreaths, the tradition behind Christmas sweaters, and so on. Stock up on these facts and wow your friends at the party.

4. All Things Christmas (YouTube): Video Crafts, Recipes, Reviews, and Tips

All Things Christmas is a new YouTube channel dedicated to covering a variety of topics related to the holiday season. It is hosted by Chantelle Joy (and sometimes co-hosted by her daughter Lydia).

The channel is completely kid-friendly, as you might guess, and features several videos that focus on crafts and DIY ideas. They are clear and beginner-level guides for handmade stuff which you can do with your kids.

There is also a heavy focus on reviews of Christmas-related products and toys. If you want a mother’s and her daughter’s opinion on many of the items you’ll see in toy stores this year, it’s worth checking it.

5. Christmas Zone (Web): Free Movies and Cartoons to Stream on Christmas

Now, this is awesome. A few good folks put together a website packed with free-to-stream movies, cartoons, and other videos, all focused on Christmas. You no longer have to go searching on Netflix to watch something with the family or keep the kids entertained.

It’s a pretty good list too. It includes classics like The Miracle on 34th Street and Scrooge, as well as a few new Christmas films that you can discover for the first time when you’re feeling full of that holiday spirit. There’s also a collection of classic cartoons like Jack Frost and The Little King’s Christmas Night. Convenient, right?

6. The Christmas Channel (YouTube): All the Favorite Christmas Carols and Songs

When you’re ready for Christmas carols, you don’t need to hunt for a Spotify playlist or anything else. Fire up YouTube, go to The Christmas Channel, and let it rip.

The videos are long compilations of various tracks. For example, Christmas Songs for Children is 45 minutes long, and saves you the trouble of queueing them up. Subscribe to this channel right now, and you’ll be prepared to deck the halls when the time comes.

If you want to use proper music streaming services, check out our compilation of the best music you can stream on Christmas.

Get Ready for Secret Santa

No, it’s not too late to start a Secret Santa. Whether it’s in your office or with a group of friends, this has become a wonderful new take on the traditional gift exchange. And with these easy Secret Santa apps and sites, you can get the ball rolling right away so that there are no last-minute hiccups.

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What Does SMH Mean and How Can You Use It?

Internet slang comes and goes, but some terms stick around for years. One such example is the abbreviation SMH, which you’ll see appearing in tweets, instant messages, texts, and status updates. But what does SMH mean? And when can you use it?

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about this common slang abbreviation.

What Does SMH Mean?

I can’t even get my friends to text me back smh https://t.co/0Oy8UQCqJM

— Dylan (@dyllyp) November 19, 2019

In texting and writing, SMH stands for “shaking my head”. The term expresses disappointment, embarrassment, or bafflement regarding a specific topic or piece of information. If someone responds to a text or tweet with “SMH”, they’re expressing disappointment at the content of the message.

People also tweak SMH slightly to add emphasis. The most common form of this is SMDH, which stands for “shaking my damn head”. But you can also find other examples such as SMFH, with the F being a common curse word.

Another less common meaning of SMH, according to Dictionary.com, is “so much hate”. However, this usage is relatively rare. You should be able to tell by the context of a message. But when in doubt, “shaking my head” is the dominant (and therefore most likely) meaning.

When to Use SMH

SMH is an example of textspeak, so you don’t use it in spoken conversation. Rather, you’ll see it across social network posts and in text messages. Other than this limitation, its usage is pretty flexible. Usually, it will appear at the beginning or end of a sentence, but it can even appear in place of a comma or period.

You can use it in reaction to something you’ve seen or heard online, as part of a post sharing your feelings on a topic, or as a standalone comment. Basically, you can use it as part of any message or reaction where you would shake your head in disappointment.

Its usage is very similar to other acronyms like “WTH” (what the hell), though SMH expresses a lesser degree of disappointment. You can also use SMH in either its capitalized or lowercase form.

Examples of SMH

Okay but why is g-ma the ONLY one vibing?? Smh wack ass crowd https://t.co/ryakVBipGt

— ? UNGRATEFUL MAX ? (@dammitmaximo) November 19, 2019

Like “LOL” or “Facepalm”, SMH is meant to communicate a real-life gesture or action that can’t be seen from behind a screen. This is why you’ll SMH in messages and posts that would usually accompany the gesture of physically shaking your head in disappointment. Considering there isn’t currently an emoji or emoticon expressing this gesture, SMH is still very common in texting and tweeting.

Depending on context, SMH can be used in a humorous way or as a genuine expression of disappointment.

If you’re still unsure of how to use SMH, here are a few examples of SMH being used in a sentence:

• “SMH who buys a T-shirt for $500? Some people have money to burn…”
• “My boyfriend thinks Yoda is from Star Trek. SMH I’ve failed in my nerdy duties.”
• “The neighbors are partying late again while I’m trying to sleep SMH.”
• “You’d think my cat would appreciate this expensive tuna SMH but apparently it’s not good enough.”

Other Slang Words to Know

SMH is just one of many examples of online slang abbreviations. As language reacts to technologies and online platforms, there’s an ever-growing list of new words and phrases that shows no sign of slowing down.

So, now you know what SMH means and how to use, you should check out our guide to internet slang terms.

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The 7 Best Raspberry Pi 4 Cases

The Raspberry Pi 4 is the latest version of the fantastic single-board computer. As with previous iterations, the Raspberry Pi 4 adds more processing power, more memory, and extra functionality to the tiny devices.

Download Our FREE Guide: "26 Awesome Uses for a Raspberry Pi"

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Even though the Raspberry Pi 4 is small, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a proper home. There are several excellent Raspberry Pi 4 cases available. Some Raspberry Pi 4 cases come with automatic fans, while others are sturdy and built to last.

Here are the seven best Raspberry Pi 4 cases you can buy right now.

1. Official Raspberry Pi 4 Case

First up, the Official Raspberry Pi 4 Case. This Raspberry Pi 4 Case picks up where previous official designs left off. The case is a basic-but-handy design, available in red and white or in black and gray. You’ll find the appropriate cut outs for the Raspberry Pi 4 ports, while the case itself features anti-slip feet to stop unexpected movement while in use.

The case fits snug to the Raspberry Pi 4 and ensures it won’t shift around. All operational lights are visible with the Official Raspberry Pi 4 Case, too. As far as Raspberry Pi 4 enclosures go, the Official Raspberry Pi 4 Case is an excellent cheap option.

2. Miuzei Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Miuzei Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Miuzei Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Buy Now On Amazon $16.59

The Miuzei Case for Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is a step up the Raspberry Pi enclosure ladder, at least in comparison to the Official Raspberry Pi 4 Case. One of the first things to note is the four aluminum heatsinks. The heatsinks come in three sizes, are self-adhesive, and will help keep your Raspberry Pi 4 cool.

You can boost the cooling further using the Raspberry Pi 4 case with the fan, which attaches to the top of the Miuzei Case. The Miuzei Case is made of acrylic as to not interfere with the Raspberry Pi 4’s Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signal. It also features rubber feet for extra stability.

Another handy feature is the USB cable on/off switch. You plug the USB switch into the Raspberry Pi 4 and can turn your device on and off easily without removing the power cable. However, you should note that it doesn’t perform a shutdown sequence and just cuts the power to the device.

3. anidees Aluminum Extra High Pi Case

anidees Aluminum Extra High Pi Case anidees Aluminum Extra High Pi Case Buy Now On Amazon $49.90

You never know what you might need or want to plug into your Raspberry Pi 4. The anidees Aluminum Extra High Pi Case takes care of the potential for expansion with extra high design, with 29.5mm between the Raspberry Pi 4 and the top cover. The extra space in the anidees Aluminum Extra High Pi Case comes with other benefits, too.

The enclosure has more airflow using two additional cut-outs, and the aluminum shell helps dissipate heat quicker than other options. You’ll also find rubber feet for extra protection and sound absorption, plus a stylish transparent top cover to show the inner workings of your device.

4. Argon NEO Raspberry Pi 4 Case

If your Raspberry Pi 4 enclosure is on display, consider a sleek Argon NEO Raspberry Pi 4 Case. The polished slimline aluminum enclosure will slot in alongside your TV, monitor, or anywhere else in your home.

The case features a magnetic shell design. You slide the top half of the Argon NEO back to reveal the connections underneath, which also helps keep the case cool. There are handy cut-outs for each Raspberry Pi 4 port, and these are snug and easy to use.

5. EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case

EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case Buy Now On Amazon $25.90

The EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case is a great option if your Raspberry Pi 4 is in constant use. That’s because the enclosure comes with dual intelligent temperature control fans. The fans are mounted on top of the Raspberry Pi 4 enclosure and respond to the board CPU temperature, adjusting speed when the temperature changes. The fans connect to two GPIO pins, which in turn read the temperature.

However, the EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case also has a large button, also on top of the case, that you can use to switch the fans on or off manually. Alongside the fans, the EleDuino Raspberry Pi 4 Case is made from aluminum and acrylic. The combination allows the EleDuino enclosure to dissipate heat quickly while being tough enough to stop external damage to your board.

6. GeeekPi Acrylic Case for Raspberry Pi 4

GeeekPi Acrylic Case GeeekPi Acrylic Case Buy Now On Amazon $7.99

GeeekPi’s Acrylic Case for Raspberry Pi 4 is another handy basic Raspberry Pi 4 enclosure. Well, I say enclosure—GeeekPi’s offering has open sides, making sure your Raspberry Pi 4 can breathe. So, this case should stop your board overheating when in use. The GeeekPi Acrylic Case is made from—you guessed it—acrylic.

The acrylic is strong and durable and does not interfere with any incoming or outgoing signals. The case also includes a top-mounted fan for additional cooling, plus four self-adhesive heatsinks. You have to change the fan speed manually using the GPIO pins, allowing you to switch between Full Speed and Quiet Cooling modes.

7. iUniker Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case

iUniker Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case iUniker Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case Buy Now On Amazon $24.99

What if you have more than one Raspberry Pi 4? Well, you need an iUniker Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case. This is a stackable Raspberry Pi enclosure that holds up to four boards. Each level of the stack has a fan that the individual Raspberry Pi 4 units control from their GPIO pins. You’ll also find four Raspberry Pi heatsinks in the pack, too.

The iUniker Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case is an acrylic design with metal legs and standoffs. Product reviews suggest the instructions that come with the cluster case are limited, although the overall construction of the Raspberry Pi 4 Cluster Case is easy enough without them.

Raspberry Pi 4 NES and Console Cases

Unfortunately, as the Raspberry Pi 4 is relatively new, there are not any Raspberry Pi NES or SNES cases available at the time of writing. That situation will change as the Raspberry Pi 4 grows in popularity.

A Raspberry Pi forum post illustrates how the Raspberry Pi 4 fits within a NESPI+ case. The answer is that it fits, but the case requires some additional cutting to allow access to every port. The option to put a Raspberry Pi 4 in a NESPI enclosure is entirely up to you, but the current NESPI design doesn’t accommodate it out of the box.

Which Is the Best Raspberry Pi 4 Case?

The best Raspberry Pi 4 enclosure really depends on how you use your devices. If you’re running them 24/7 as a server, consider a case with integrated cooling. I would suggest the same if you use your Raspberry Pi 4 as a gaming console, too. If you carry your Raspberry Pi 4 in your rucksack, you need a sturdy case.

The Raspberry Pi 4 is undoubtedly an excellent upgrade to the single-board computer. Here’s why everyone should try the Raspberry Pi 4’s new features and impressive specs!

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How Do CAPTCHAs Work and Why Are They So Difficult?

You’re trying to purchase an item or log into an account. You enter your credentials, but before you proceed, you need to prove that you’re a human being. Tick the box marked “I’m not a robot”. You can see a blurred image with skewed digits that you need to decipher. These are CAPTCHAs, and while they can be a nuisance, they’re necessary.

Right?

What are CAPTCHAs and how do they work? How are they different from reCAPTCHAs? And why are many of them so difficult?

What Is CAPTCHA?

CAPTCHA stands for Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart. They take their name from Alan Turing, the genius cryptanalysis who created the Turing Test. This is a way of examining a machine’s thinking, to check whether its behavior is indistinguishable from that of a human being.

A standard Turing Test involves a real person judging the subjects. CAPTCHAs don’t: they’re generally administered by a computer. As such, some call them the “reverse Turing Test”, while others know them as Human Interaction Proof (HIP).

CAPTCHAs were created to stop bots from spamming websites. Any proficient technology whizz can make a program that automatically signs up to millions of accounts; CAPTCHAs are designed to stop that from happening.

It’s because computers find it difficult to decipher distorted text—or at least more difficult than humans do. Most CAPTCHAs are paired with different color gradients in the background, to further obscure the message.

There’s debate over who created CAPTCHAs, though the term was coined by Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, in 2003.

The scholarly team posited that they could be used to secure emails, online polls, and other services requiring registration from search engine bots, worms and spambots, and dictionary attacks. They’re also useful in combating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

How Do CAPTCHAs Work?

Text can be really obscured, but you can often still make out what it means. The more skewed symbols are, the more effective a CAPTCHA is. That’s because humans exhibit pareidolia, a phenomenon in which our brain tries to make sense of randomness. It’s your mind trying to assign order out of chaos.

Christ I hate these damn captcha security things – can’t see the bloody pics most of the time. Awful. pic.twitter.com/T65tMeKs4U

— Jamie Sefton (@Seffers007) November 24, 2018

Pareidolia is why you infer faces where they shouldn’t be—in clouds, buildings, cliff faces, trees, drinks, flowers, and more.

The most famous examples of this psychological quirk typically feature either religion (with people claiming to see Jesus in their food) and astronomy. You’ll know Barnard 33 by its colloquialism, the Horsehead Nebula, due to its equine qualities; others see a rabbit carved into the craters of the moon.

That’s also why you can make out words in CAPTCHAs even when they’re crossed out and bent out of shape. Our brains make connections that computer programs typically can’t.

Why Are CAPTCHAs So Difficult?

Luis von Ahn, formerly of Carnegie Mellon University’s CAPTCHA team, says it takes an average of nine seconds solving a CAPTCHA. 92 percent get it right. That might make you feel stupid for inputting the wrong combination, but it shouldn’t. Everyone is part of that remaining 8 percent from time to time.

In fact, failure rates rise from 8 percent to nearly 30 percent if the CAPTCHA is case-sensitive.

The problem with inferring information is that we can easily infer the wrong information. An “I” can become a “1”. It’s even harder when the CAPTCHA doesn’t consist of words but random letters.

Fortunately, services know humans are fallible and can’t always read blurred text. Most CAPTCHAs give you the option to generate a new one, so if you’re struggling, refresh it.

Captcha’s are the demise of terrible, horrible, very bad #ux. Can anyone actually read this?!?! pic.twitter.com/vW4E19vvCc

— Sarah Doody (@sarahdoody) February 22, 2015

The main reason CAPTCHAs can be so tough is through necessity. As CAPTCHAs have evolved, so too have attackers. Artificial intelligence (AI) can read even particularly distorted text with an estimated 99 percent accuracy. CAPTCHAs have had to up their game.

Notably, Google has advanced the technology considerably, but we’ll come back to that.

How do programs defeat CAPTCHA? They’re cracked using algorithms that look for particular shapes. These typically convert the text box into grayscale, removing the distortion afforded by color artefacts. They then focus on patterns and cross-match these with standard letters and numbers.

The algorithm takes, effectively, educated guesses when it comes to any digits that remain unidentified.

CAPTCHAs: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

There are numerous problems with CAPTCHAs—especially for those with disabilities. It’s particularly true for people with poor eyesight or suffering from dyslexia.

Yes, CAPTCHAs have developed to fight bots more effectively and get easier for humans. In some cases. It’s done so in a few significant ways. The first is through variation of verification. One widely-used example of this is replacing text with photos.

You might be presented with pictures in a grid and have to click on each box displaying road signs. This works so well because programs suffer from computer vision, i.e. a difficulty understanding the contents of digital images.

Some AI can differentiate and understand what a photo contains. Think about Facebook’s DeepFace technology, which can recognize facial features and suggest profiles. Nonetheless, these types of CAPTCHAs are an extra challenge for bots—an additional hurdle for brute force attacks and their ilk.

Images also work well for those using smartphones and tablets: it’s much easier to tap-select the right squares. That is, as long as those photos load properly!

Another adaptation is audio CAPTCHA, which reads the text for those struggling to make out the digits. These are often accompanied by background sound. This can cause further troubles for spammers using voice-recognition software.

Dear @CalFTB: Yours is a very bad captcha. pic.twitter.com/wHkJUUcpZF

— Mark Frauenfelder (@Frauenfelder) July 23, 2019

The other important way CAPTCHAs have evolved is through integration with Google, and the introduction of reCAPTCHAs. And no, they’re not quite the same thing…

CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA: What’s the Difference?

Most CAPTCHAs you see are actually reCAPTCHAs. The latter does the same job as the former, but surpasses this by also furthering machine learning.

What’s more, reCAPTCHAs are used for the digitization of books.

They were developed by the same team from Carnegie Mellon University who gave us the term “CAPTCHA”. The open-source software aimed to “preserve literature by deciphering a word that was not readable by computers”. Effectively, each time you decipher a word found in a reCAPTCHA, it’s used for machine learning. You’re helping the program understand the varying shapes and patterns of symbols.

CAPTCHA is a random combination; reCAPTCHA consists of targeted words that bots haven’t been able to analyze previously.

It was released in 2007 and acquired by Google in 2009. Many consider Google a massive conglomerate that you can’t trust, but reCAPTCHAs have done a lot of good. Just two years after the acquisition, the technology had entirely digitized the archives of Google Books and The New York Times. Both are invaluable repositories of information.

It’s ironic that technology can now understand text effectively, making reCAPTCHAs redundant. That’s why Google has pushed the idea further.

Ever wonder what happens when you click on “I’m not a robot” and proceed straight away, without deciphering anything? Google’s new reCAPCTHA analyzes your activity across the whole site then secretly assigns you a probability score to determine whether you’re human or a bot.

Essentially, it’s worked out whether your interactions with the service are more indicative of a real person or a program.

Easy on Humans, Hard on Bots?

As bots become more intelligent, security systems have to advance too. ReCAPTCHA is a solid enough idea. For now.

But many question the power held by Google. Artificial intelligence can recognize human behavior. Factor in all the things Google already knows about you and that’s certainly a cause for concern.

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The 8 Best Augmented Reality Games for Kids

Looking for a more exciting way to entertain your child with your smartphone? You should try an augmented reality game.

Augmented reality (AR) titles are the perfect way to wow children. They allow you to seamlessly mix fantasy and reality together using your phone or tablet. Just point your phone at a real-life surface and a 3D dragon, alien, or robot—you name it—will appear.

We love AR games, and here we’ve compiled some offerings for kids. Here are the best kid-friendly AR games that you can download today on Android or iPhone.

1. Magical Park

Going out to a park with your family? If so, it’s a great idea to bring your phone with a copy of Magical Park installed. Magical Park is a slick AR offering that transforms any ordinary park into a fantasy playground.

It allows you to place 3D augmented reality models anywhere you see fit. And it has missions designed for outdoor play, like collecting eggs, trapping little critters, and fixing robots. Monsters, dinosaurs, and aliens all come to life in this super-cool AR experience. Your kids will surely be amazed and entertained.

Download: Magical Park for iOS | Android (Free)

2. Thomas & Friends Minis

Thomas & Friends Minis lets kids design and build their own Thomas the Tank Engine train sets. This awesome train set simulator places a virtual toy in the room and allows you and your child to build virtual train tracks any way you see fit.

You can create a calm track and relax as you watch it unfold, or try making twisty roller-coasters with lots of dizzying stunts. There’s no limit to what your child can make.

The app offers lots of toy trains to play as, like Thomas, James, Hiro, and more. You can take your character through the game’s several varied worlds. While it’s free to start, you’ll need to unlock much of the full game via in-app purchases to see everything.

However, the relatively small cost is well worth it for something that’s sure to keep kids engaged all day. It’ll also save you some money, too—no more trips to the toy store.

Download: Thomas & Friends Minis for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs

In Rovio’s Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs, the classic Angry Birds game turns into an epic AR adventure perfect for entertaining bored kiddos. Just like in the 2009 classic, you have to launch birds at the evil army of pigs so you can recover their stolen eggs.

This time, though, there’s a twist: the battlefield is in your living room, the park, or anywhere else you see fit, thanks to AR.

Angry Birds AR is perfect for kids, thanks to its bubbly bird heroes like Red, Bomb, Chuck, and lots more. It also packs the fun, wacky Angry Birds gameplay that takes skill and strategy. And its super-cool AR elements are sure to surprise the little ones.

Download: Angry Birds AR: Isle of Pigs for iOS | Android (Free)

4. Avo

Avo is a lovable, inventive game where you control an adorable walking avocado that loves mystery and solving puzzles. As Avo, you can jump, play around, and solve puzzles alongside Billie, a young scientist.

Your kid will surely love this adventure, consisting of eight awesome episodes where you fight crime and solve mysteries. There’s also an AR photo mode, in which you can take cool shots of Avo in the real world. Basically, Avo is a kids’ TV show that your kid can play!

Download: Avo for iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Color Quest AR

Stayhealthy’s Color Quest AR lets your children learn as they color fun characters that come alive. And they can pick up tons of fun health facts along the way.

Once your child has finished coloring in their character, he or she can see the new creation come to life and pull off some slick dance moves in front of the whole family. You’ll want to bring out the camera and say cheese.

Keep coloring and unlocking characters to win lots of trophies, play more minigames, and become the Magic Health Master in this charming AR odyssey.

Download: Color Quest AR for iOS | Android (Free)

6. Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO, despite being released a while ago, is still relevant today. It receives updates with new Pokémon every once in a while. Notably, one of those updates also added an enhanced AR game mode. It makes this game full of cute critters even more perfect for kids.

Not only is it a cutesy game, but it’s also a great way to keep your kids active. In order to collect Pokemon, you must look for them in the real world. It’s like the Pokémon version of hide-and-go-seek, and we think your kids will absolutely adore it.

Download: Pokémon GO for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases)

7. AR Sports Basketball

Another way to keep your little ones active is to play some basketball. But what if it’s stormy outside? Don’t worry; AR Sports Basketball is here to fix that.

Just take out your phone or tablet, point the camera at a flat surface, and a virtual basketball hoop will appear. You can throw virtual shots and three-pointers all from your phone. That’s truly awesome.

AR Sports Basketball is the ultimate virtual basketball experience for the whole family, and a great way to keep kids physically active even on days with poor weather.

Download: AR Sports Basketball for iOS | Android (Free)

8. AR Dragon

Say hello to the ultra-cute AR Dragon. Like Pokémon GO, this game from Playside places mythical creatures in the real world all from your smartphone’s camera. Just point at the floor and an adorable dragon will appear.

The game lets you interact with your virtual pet dragon in many ways. You can play with it to your heart’s content, buy it cute outfits, and even have it chomp on some virtual snacks. Simply put, AR Dragon is the adorable antidote for a child’s boredom.

Download: AR Dragon for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

More Great Options for Entertaining Kids

Thanks to the magical world of augmented reality, a whole new way to teach, entertain, and surprise kids has emerged. We think that these AR games are a great way to spend some quality time with your children and keep them glued to the fun.

But too much screen time isn’t healthy, especially not for children. That’s why you should take a look at our list of the best brain-boosting podcasts to entertain and teach kids. Or if you want to boost your child’s creativity, why not check out our list of the best sites to find DIY craft projects for kids?

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How to Use a Phone With a Cracked Display and Recover Your Data

Staring at that cracked mobile phone display, you probably think the device is now useless. In some cases, you would be right—but that doesn’t mean you can’t still use it. Other devices can be connected, data can be recovered, and you might still be able to use the hardware buttons.

If you’re wondering how you’re going to deal with a broken smartphone display, these practical tips should ease your mind.

My Phone’s Display Is Broken!

Smartphone display broken? This is a big problem. Over the years, smartphone manufacturers have removed hardware interface options to save space and cost. The result is a device that you can only interact with through a touchscreen.

So, what happens when the display breaks? Several “broken display” scenarios can be described:

• A small crack in the screen
• A crack in the screen, some loss of picture
• Crack, loss of touch
• A crack with loss of touch and loss of picture
• An apparently perfect screen, no crack, but no touch sensitivity

Each of these will impact how you use your phone. None of them should necessarily result in you being unable to use the device at all, however.

Of course, the practical solution to a smartphone with a broken display is to repair it. However, several issues may prevent this, from a lack of warranty to replacement parts being unavailable.

If you cannot get the phone repaired professionally, it is possible to replace a damaged phone display.

The sections below will walk you through the options to accessing your phone despite a broken touchscreen display. With access achieved, you’ll then be able to recover data from the device.

Revive Your Phone With a Keyboard and Mouse

Display powers up and you can see at least most of the screen, but can’t use it? The answer here might be to connect a keyboard and mouse.

You have different options here, depending upon your smartphone platform.

Connecting a Keyboard and Mouse to Android

Your phone should accept USB devices via USB OTG support, although earlier Android devices won’t necessarily support this. To use this, you’ll need a USB OTG cable adaptor.

Two types are available: USB Type-C and Micro USB, each with a standard USB input port. Good options are the Cable Matters 6-inch L-Shaped USB-to-Micro-USB OTG Cable or the Cable Matters 6-inch USB-to-USB-C OTG Cable.

Cable Matters 6-inch L-Shaped USB-to-Micro-USB OTG Cable Cable Matters 6-inch L-Shaped USB-to-Micro-USB OTG Cable Buy Now On Amazon $6.99 Cable Matters 6-inch USB-to-USB-C OTG Cable Cable Matters 6-inch USB-to-USB-C OTG Cable Buy Now On Amazon $5.99

Take care to choose the correct USB OTG adaptor for your phone.

Once purchased, simply connect a keyboard, or a USB hub with keyboard and mouse attached. Our guide to connecting a USB keyboard to Android should help here.

Don’t have a USB keyboard? While Bluetooth devices are supported by Android, for new connections you’ll need to access the Settings screen. This won’t be possible if the touchscreen isn’t working. For existing Bluetooth keyboard pairings, however, it should be fine.

What if the display is completely dead? The best option here is to connect an external display to your Android device.

Use a Keyboard or Mouse With iPhone

The only way to connect a keyboard to your iPhone is via Bluetooth. As noted above, if the device hasn’t already been paired, this is going to be difficult. Fortunately, connecting a Bluetooth keyboard to iOS is straightforward, which might make the workaround easier.

Control Your Phone Remotely

Remote control apps and services can help when accessing a phone with a broken display.

Remotely Access Android With Airdroid

Several remote access apps are available for Android, but the one you should be looking at first is AirDroid.

Download: AirDroid (Free, Premium options)

Once again, take note that this may not be possible if AirDroid is not already installed and set up. However, if you can get a USB keyboard working and set up AirDroid, remote access should be possible. You can also use AirDroid to move data from Android to your PC.

Other Android remote apps are available.

Remote Connect to iPhone

iOS devices can be remotely accessed. You have two options here: use remote administration tools via macOS or connect over VNC. The latter option is only available via Jailbreak, however, and as with Bluetooth, this can only be done with a working display. It’s also risky, as jailbreaking can void the warranty and introduce security vulnerabilities.

Can Your Phone’s Hardware Buttons Help?

In some rare cases, especially on older Android devices, you might get away with controlling the device using a button. When Android was first released it shipped with seven or eight hardware buttons for interface options. Most of these have since been replaced with gestures.

However, beyond using the damaged phone as a camera (hardware shutter buttons are unlikely to be lost), options are limited.

Broken Phone Display? Time to Backup Your Data

By now you have should settled on an option for accessing your broken phone:

• USB keyboard and mouse
• Bluetooth keyboard and mouse
• Remote access from a PC

But what comes next? Should you continue your use of the phone via these methods? Well no—certainly not long-term. Instead, you should be looking at recovering data from the device.

The easiest way to do this is connect your phone to your computer via the provided cable. Browse the device like a USB drive, copy the data off. However, it isn’t always as simple as that. Fortunately, both Android and iOS owners can rely on backups of their devices.

For Android users, a backup can be made in Settings > System > Advanced > Backup. If you have taken steps to save calendar events and contacts to your online accounts, these will also be backed up. When you switch to a new phone, if you sign into it with the same account your data will be restored.

On iOS, you can back up your iPhone to your computer (via iTunes), or to iCloud. Both are good options, although of course you may need to pay for iCloud if your backup is beyond the free capacity. An iCloud backup can be commenced in Settings > iCloud > iCloud Backup. Restore the back on a new iPhone by choosing Restore from iCloud Backup in the setup screen.

In addition to both backup options, it is wise to rely on a cloud storage sync service like Dropbox. This provides an additional layer of protection in the event of other backups and archives failing.

Switching to a New Phone? Unlock Your SIM Card

With these workarounds, we’re working towards the situation that you’re going to get a new phone. You’ve accessed the operating system, perhaps installed remote software, and retrieved data.

But if you need a new phone, your SIM card probably needs to be unlocked. Once that has been done, you’re free to switch to a new device.

Carry on your journey of overcoming a broken phone display by learning how to SIM unlock your phone.

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How to Copy and Paste on Your iPhone

All Mac users have grown up with Cmd + C and Cmd + V, the usual shortcuts for copy and paste across most programs. (Just swap the Command key for the Ctrl key on Windows.) But how do you copy and paste on your iPhone?

It might seem like too basic an operation to even bother covering. But you’d be surprised how much it matters to iPhone users who still aren’t steeped in mobile culture.

This guide is for them. Unlike your desktop, there are no shortcut keys or Edit menu. Everything works through a tap on the screen, which we explain below.

How to Copy and Paste Text on iPhone

Tap on the screen and a popup menu reveals the copy and paste commands. This is common across all apps on the iPhone.

Let’s see how this works, step-by-step. You have to select a single word or a snippet of text before you copy and paste it elsewhere on the phone.

1. Double-tap on a single word to select it. A small menu will appear with options for Cut, Copy, Paste, and more. Alternatively, in the browser, you’ll see Copy, Lookup, Share…

2. To select more than one word, drag the handle with the little circle at either end of the highlighted text. You can drag the handle left and right, as well as up and down.

3. Alternatively, you can use these sequences of taps to select a word, a sentence, a paragraph, or all the text on the screen:

• To select a word: Double-tap with one finger.
• Select a sentence: Tap it three times.
• When you want to select a paragraph: Tap it four times.
• And to select all text on a page: Double-tap at the start and drag two fingers down the page.

4. Once you have selected the text you want to copy, tap Copy. The copied text is stored on a “clipboard,” ready to be pasted wherever you want it. This clipboard works in the background and is invisible. Notably, it can only store one item in its memory. If you copy something else, the earlier text will be erased.

5. Tap the location in the app or document where you want to paste the text. Press and hold your finger down until the menu appears. Tap Paste to paste the text.

Tip: Did you know that you can select text better by turning the keyboard into a trackpad? See Apple’s support page on iPhone text editing for instructions.

How to Copy and Paste With Text Editing Gestures

Apple introduced a slew of new gestures in iOS 13. These are quick three-finger movements that allow you to perform common operations like copy and paste. Depending on your preference, you can tap on copy or paste from the menu as explained above, or use these gestures.

It’s best to do these with your thumb and two fingers. Select the text and then:

• Cut: Pinch closed with three fingers two times.
• Copy: Pinch closed with three fingers (imagine you are picking up the words from the screen)
• Paste: Pinch open with three fingers (imagine you are laying them out on the screen)

We have mixed feelings about using these gestures. This might be due to old habits or stubby fingers wrestling on the iPhone’s smaller screen, but you can try them yourself and see if them grow on you.

The official video below will help you understand the technique, along with how to undo and redo the operation.

The Utility of the Universal Clipboard

The Universal Clipboard feature allows you to copy and paste content across your Apple devices, as long as you’re signed into all of them with the same Apple ID. For instance, you can copy text or anything else on your iPhone, then paste it into a document on your Mac or iPad.

Enable each of these to make Universal Clipboard work with your Apple devices:

• Sign-in with the same Apple ID.
• Turn on Wi-Fi for all devices.
• Switch Bluetooth on and keep the devices in range of one another (about 33 feet or 10 meters).
• Enable Handoff on all devices.

Universal Clipboard works with iOS 10, iPadOS 13, macOS 10.12, and later. It’s part of the Continuity features that make all Apple devices work together with the help of iCloud.

How to Copy URL Links on an iPhone

It’s safe to say that URLs (or hyperlinks) are what we copy and paste more than anything else. Thankfully, the process is similar to copying standard text.

Tap and hold the link until a popup menu appears from the bottom of the screen. From here, tap Copy.

You can paste it anywhere on your phone using the same steps as other text.

How to Copy a Safari URL

There are two ways to quickly copy a URL from Safari’s address bar on your iPhone. The screenshots below illustrate the two options.

1. Tap and hold on the address bar. Then tap Copy from the popup menu. Safari will copy the URL to your clipboard.

2. Double-tap on the address bar to display the complete URL. Cut or Copy the URL from the popup menu and paste it anywhere else.

Copy-pasting a URL from somewhere else to browse with Safari? Just tap and hold on the Safari address bar. Tap Paste and Go from the popup menu to automatically go to the webpage.

How to Copy a Text Message

Copying a text message in Messages or chat apps like WhatsApp usually leads to forwarding them. Here’s how it works in Messages on your iPhone:

1. Launch the app.
2. Tap and hold on the message you want to copy.
3. A popup menu appears with Copy as one of the options. Tap on it, then paste it anywhere you want to.

Depending on the content of the message, a different Quick Action menu will appear with a touch and hold on the screen. iOS apps dynamically update their quick actions when new information is available. Here are three types:

1. The default menu with the Copy option that selects the entire message.
2. A preview is displayed along with the Copy Link option in the quick action menu, if the message contains a link.
3. A phone number in the message displays a quick action menu with Copy as one of the options.

How to Copy and Paste Images on an iPhone

You can copy and paste images just as easily from one app to any other which supports it.

Tap and hold on the image until a menu appears below the image with Copy as an option, as shown in the screenshot.

The behavior can differ from app to app. For instance, Twitter will allow you to save an image to Photos but won’t give you the option to copy it. In these cases, you can open the article or photo with Safari, then use the Copy option by tapping and holding it.

Copy and Paste Emojis on the iPhone

Your iPhone has a dedicated emoji keyboard. But sometimes you may want to shower someone with emojis. In these cases, copying the emoji and pasting it multiple times is a timesaver.

This follows the same Select with a tap > Copy > Paste method as described throughout this guide.

Emojis are pretty much everywhere now. But what about specials symbols that are more difficult to get? Think about legal symbols like copyright and trademark, foreign currency symbols, and even fancy Instagram fonts.

You can use a site like Cool Symbol to copy these, then paste the symbol to any app on your iPhone.

Improve Copy and Paste With Clipboard Managers

If you use your iPhone like a workhorse on the move, then it makes sense to install a specialized clipboard manager. Clipboard managers are utilities that help you save multiple clippings and then paste them anywhere.

We have talked about some excellent Clipboard Managers for iOS before, so take a look at those.

An Alternative to Copy and Pasting: Share

Now you know how to copy and paste pretty much anything on your iPhone. But it’s not always necessary to do so. You can often save yourself the bother of a copy-paste, as Sharing is another option.

For instance, you might want to share something from one app to social media like Facebook or Twitter. The Share sheet in iOS not only allows you to copy, but also share quickly via Mail, Messages, and social apps. Learn how to master the Share sheet on your iPhone next.

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Group Chat Rules

Group Chat Rules

Pixpay is a challenger bank for teens focused on pocket money

Meet Pixpay, a French startup that wants to replace cash when you’re handing out pocket money to your kids. Anybody who is older than 10 years old can create a Pixpay account, get a debit card and manage pocket money.

Challenger banks are nothing new, but they’re still mostly targeted towards adults. If you want to create an N26 or Revolut account, you need to be at least 18 years old. You can create a Lydia account if you’re at least 14 years old with parental consent.

Pixpay, like Kard, wants to fill that gap and offer modern payment methods to teens so that you can ditch cash altogether. Parents and kids both download the Pixpay app to interact with the service.

A few days after creating an account, your child receives a Mastercard. It offers the same features that you’d expect from a challenger bank — you can customize the PIN code, lock it and unlock it, receive a notification with each transaction and restrict some features, such as limits, ATM withdrawals, online payments and payments abroad. Pixpay also lets you generate virtual cards for online payments.

In addition to some spending analytics, users can create projects and set money aside to buy an expensive thing after months of savings. Parents can also define an interest rate on a vault account to teach children how to save money. In the future, Pixpay wants to let teens collect money after a babysitting job for instance.

As for parents, they can send money instantly from the Pixpay app. You can top up your Pixpay account with your favorite debit card and send money on a regular basis (€4 per week for instance) or for one-off payment (here’s €15 for your movie ticket and fast food).

Parents can see an overview of multiple accounts in case you have multiple children using Pixpay. Eventually, the startup wants to let multiple parents manage the account of their child, which could be useful for separated couples.

Pixpay costs €2.99 per month per card. Payments and ATM withdrawals in the Eurozone are free. Transactions in foreign currencies cost 2% in foreign exchange and ATM withdrawals outside of the Eurozone cost €2.

The startup has raised $3.4 million (€3.1 million) from Global Founders Capital. The company partners with Treezor, a banking-as-a-service platform that lets you generate cards and e-wallet accounts using an API.

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Concerning 5G Security Risks You Need to Know About

5G phones and other devices have already begun to appear in stores. And soon the super-fast 5G will become the new standard for cellular technologies. With a 5G connection you’ll be able to stream high-quality video and play online games on your mobile device more easily.

However, as with any new technology, 5G comes with certain security concerns. Here we’ll explain some of the security risks of 5G so you can be more informed when you purchase or use 5G devices.

1. Optional Security Features in 5G

Concerns about 5G have been around for some time. US Senator Ron Wyden even wrote to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in November 2019 to discuss some of these worries.

A major issue Senator Wyden raised in his letter was that some cybersecurity protections against known vulnerabilities are optional in 5G (what is 5G?). This includes features like encryption and authentication.

As these are not mandatory, each individual wireless carrier must decide whether to turn on these protections themselves. We can hope that most carriers will choose to do so. However, carriers are not obligated to use these protections.

“For decades, wireless carriers have ignored known cybersecurity vulnerabilities that foreign governments were and are still actively exploiting to target Americans,” Wyden wrote. “The market has failed to incentivize cybersecurity, in part because consumers have no way of comparing the cybersecurity practices of phone companies.”

This is a worry not only for 5G users whose carrier doesn’t take security seriously. It can impact others too. For example, if user A’s carrier is not secure and they send and receive messages from user B, then both users’ data is vulnerable.

In his letter, Senator Wyden raises the issue of foreign governments using these vulnerabilities to target Americans. But users are at risk from spying from their own governments as well.

2. Risks to 5G Hardware and Infrastructure

A 2019 report by the US’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) raises more concerns about 5G. It looked at the security risks currently present in 4G technology. The agency then considered how these risks could apply to 5G.

In particular, the report considers how hardware manufactured by untrustworthy company could compromise security. This is clearly a reference to Chinese companies like Huawei, which has been accused of spying on Americans.

“Even if US networks are secure, US data that travels overseas through untrusted telecommunication networks is potentially at risk of interception, manipulation, disruption, and destruction,” the report warns.

There is also the issue of the sheer number of components used in 5G, which is higher than previous wireless technologies. Much 5G support will require new physical architecture. That means carriers will need to build more cellular towers as well as more small cells or micro cells. The problem with this is that the more components present in a system, the more ways there are to attack it.

This is especially concerning when you think of the technologies which will be using 5G, such as autonomous cars, remote medical procedures, and Internet of Things devices. These are all vulnerable to cyberattacks and a successful attack could have very serious consequences.

3. A Vulnerability in 5G Authentication Protocol

As well as these more general threats, researchers have identified specific security issues in 5G. Researchers from SINTEF Digital Norway and the Technical University of Berlin described a vulnerability in the Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) protocol that 5G uses in a 2019 paper.

The AKA protocol is what devices uses to communicate with the 5G network. A similar protocol is used in 3G and 4G networks too. The AKA protocol generates a one-time password so that devices and cellular networks can send data back and forth, and be sure that the data is not being interfered with.

The new, 5G version of the AKA protocol was designed to be more secure and to protect against a type of attack called a fake base station attack.

However, the new AKA protocol has introduced a weakness of its own. The researchers uncovered a logical vulnerability, which means a problem in the way the system operates as opposed to a weakness in any underlying code. The protocol is supposed to use randomized encryption to protect data. But the researchers were able to get around this. They created a new class of attack which they named an activity monitoring attack.

This means that hackers could steal steal information which is carried over 5G. The researchers have suggested a fix for the vulnerability, but the fix has yet to be adopted.

4. 5G Is Not Safe from IMSI Catchers

There’s also a way that governments can spy on users through 5G. Considerable attention has been focused on a security issue raised in 2018. The US Department of Homeland Security announced it had discovered electronic surveillance devices called International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers in Washington, D.C.

IMSI catchers are devices which pretend to be cell towers, so devices like mobile phones connect to them. But when a device is connected, the owner of the IMSI catcher can intercept phone calls and messages. The FBI has been using similar technology called Stingray devices in order to track cell phone communications since the mid-1990s.

Despite public outcry about Stingray in the last five years, the FBI continues to use the technology. Law enforcement in Canada and the UK also use the devices.

5G was supposed to protect users against IMSI catchers. However, it appears that there are a number of ways attackers can get around the protections in 5G.

One way is using the vulnerability in the AKA protocol described above. Another is an attack called Torpedo. This takes advantage of a weakness in the paging protocol which notifies a phone to be ready when a call or message is about to arrive. Hackers could use Torpedo to spoof Amber alerts or to block incoming messages altogether.

If hackers deployed Torpedo, they could then follow this with a pair of followup attacks called Piercer and IMSI-Cracking. Together, these can access IMSI data on both 4G and 5G networks.

So 5G is not protected against IMSI catchers after all.

Security Issues in 5G

5G technology will bring faster internet speeds and enable new functions like streaming games on mobile devices. However, this new technology will carry some security risks with it as well. Before you jump into 5G, you should consider your devices’ security. And you should consider whether devices could be compromised by being connected to a 5G network.

To learn more about security for your connected devices, check out our list of best security and privacy apps for smartphones and tablets.

Image Credit: fotokitas/Depositphotos

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