₦airaland Forum

Technify-Africa, a community of software engineers and engineering managers from Africa in the US and Europe, is organizing a free online developers conference for African developers to help boost the tech scene and give back home.

I really like the topics, and I thought this might be useful to programmers.


TRACK 1: SIMPLE STEPS TO IMPROVE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT ITERATION WITH DATA

Even if you've never heard the term "iterative development," chances are you've participated in an iterative development process at a software company at some point. Google and other high-performing tech companies, for example, develop and release new features almost on a daily basis, employing an agile and continuous development process to streamline the launch and deployment of each of their products.
What if you could leverage data to improve product development? This talk will teach you how to improve product development iteratively with data.
TRACK 2: TECHNIQUES FOR BUILDING QUALITY INTO SOFTWARE FROM DAY 1


There is always a bug or a feature that isn’t working properly. We sometimes spend hours putting out fires in production environments every week. There is always something that breaks, a bug that needs to be fixed, or a feature that isn't working properly. Sometimes it feels like we're just treading water and not getting better at what we do – building software. This will be familiar if you are an engineer or a project manager at a startup. What if they are methods you can employ to build quality into software from day 1?
This talk will teach you techniques and practices for building quality into software from the start, as well as how to spend less time fixing bugs.


https://www.eventbrite.com/e/developers-and-project-managers-event-tickets-152151193315

This weekend has been very sad for me. I came across this website that compiles a list of stories of people tortured and killed by sars.

https://endsars.com/
and

https://killedbysars.com/

If you're still out there, and you're yet to join this protest, you should check yourself oo.

We built Auction site like eBay for Nigeria. Instead of prices going up, they come down

We would love to give you a first hand access to GramSquare, Nigeria's first auction website for fashion items. Unlike other auction sites such as eBay, you as a buyer beat the prices down to what you can afford, the same way we shop physically at markets.

GramSquare.com

GramSquare.com Bargain Page - Bargain with Seller immediately from the platform, and buy once agreed price is reached

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gramstore.galudy.com/static/img/GramSquare-Bargain-Feature.gif

We built Auction site like eBay for Nigeria. Instead of prices going up, they come down

We would love to give you a first hand access to GramSquare, Nigeria's first auction website for fashion items. Unlike other auction sites such as eBay, you as a buyer beat the prices down to what you can afford, the same way we shop physically at markets.

GramSquare.com

GramSquare.com Bargain Page - Bargain with Seller immediately from the platform, and buy once agreed price is reached

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gramstore.galudy.com/static/img/GramSquare-Bargain-Feature.gif

We built Auction site like eBay for Nigeria. Instead of prices going up, they come down

We would love to give you a first hand access to GramSquare, Nigeria's first auction website for fashion items. Unlike other auction sites such as eBay, you as a buyer beat the prices down to what you can afford, the same way we shop physically at markets.

GramSquare.com

GramSquare.com Bargain Page - Bargain with Seller immediately from the platform, and buy once agreed price is reached

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gramstore.galudy.com/static/img/GramSquare-Bargain-Feature.gif

We built Auction site like eBay for Nigeria. Instead of prices going up, they come down

We would love to give you a first hand access to GramSquare, Nigeria's first auction website for fashion items. Unlike other auction sites such as eBay, you as a buyer beat the prices down to what you can afford, the same way we shop physically at markets.

GramSquare.com

GramSquare.com Bargain Page - Bargain with Seller immediately from the platform, and buy once agreed price is reached

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gramstore.galudy.com/static/img/GramSquare-Bargain-Feature.gif

Sample message you can drop on nairaland..

Nice idea. I'm just skeptical of Instagram doing the same.

Why do people price in markets, malls, schools and anywhere? This was never a question for me until I traveled out of Nigeria for the first time.

It struck me big time. Mehn! Nigerians love pricing. We'll price Maggi, locust bean, and fufu even from the local "mama put".

Do you know a new study has shown that of 90% sold items in Nigeria every day are a product of strong bargaining and negotiation?

Why? Why? Naija why now?

The answer is simple: Seller wants more profit for that product and buyer don’t want to pay that much money to buy, at that, conversation for a bargain takes place.

A typical conversation between buyers and sellers go like this.


Buyer: Madam how much be this shirt?
Seller: Oga Na 7,500
Buyer: Make I pay 5K now?
Seller: Oga even me too no buy am like that. Na 6k be the last price
.........
In the end, the buyer pays 3K and leaves.


Loss of time for both parties.

Now here is an idea we are working


This is what we're working on: It's called Gramsquare

It takes care of bargaining like this:

Buyer sees things he wants to buy

[img]https://i.ibb.co/DfFHyf6/Screenshot-2019-06-22-at-22-33-58.png[/img]


He clicks to price


[img]https://i.ibb.co/zRZBFsP/Screenshot-2019-06-22-at-22-44-49.png[/img]

Pricing continues and price drops more


[img]https://i.ibb.co/wWxxvMZ/Screenshot-2019-06-22-at-22-47-05.png[/img]


Finally, the buyer is satisfied. He pays


[img]https://i.ibb.co/zS7s1Vy/Screenshot-2019-06-22-at-22-49-09.png[/img]


Seller receives money


Well, that’s about it. If you’re one of the few people who’ve read this post to this point. We need your input on what you think about this feature.


Like (if you love the idea) or Comment (and tell us why you don’t)

Most likely they got the traditional dress on https://gramsquare.com.
That's where most of these people buy all these beautiful traditional attires.

There are many small businesses in your area getting more sales because their stores are on gramsquare. Thank me later, I 'll show you how to set up your own store real fast.

1. Open your browser or just click on https://www.gramsquare.com
2. Click on "Login" and later on the red button with "Sign in with Google"
3. Click on "+" icon under your profile picture
4. Copy your Instagram post URL and paste in the text box
5. Fill the details and submit.
6. Don`t forget to share your store link on social media

A startup helping many local stores convert their Instagram handle to an online store and sell cheaply.
Check it out https://gramsquare.com. You just name what you want. Is it Asoke, Wedding Rings, Wigs, Aso-ofi, fitness watches and anything fashionable you can think of.

1. Click on the item you're interested in
2. Click on "chat with the seller" on whatsapp

Now, there is a website for kind people to give items they don't use anymore away to people who need them. You might find something you need. If you have some used clothes, sofa, furniture, laptops, phones you want to sell cheap or giveaway too.
Head on to https://gramstore.herokuapp.com/

With over a billion monthly active users, WhatsApp, in addition to its constant updates has added a new feature – video calls.

Like its last update which allows for tagging group members, there is not much publicity about this latest feature.

The update is not yet available on Google Play Store and only users on the WhatsApp Beta app can access it. On WhatsApp beta tester, sample users can test the newest development of a product before it is deployed onto a larger audience.

For users on the beta, the video call icon appears next to every contact on their list. However, if the other contact is not on the beta app, the
In May, the video call was introduced to the WhatsApp beta app but, it was discontinued for unknown reasons. However, with this new release, there are indications that the video call will be a feature on the messaging app.

While there are evaluations for every new feature, it is quite different for the new WhatsApp video feature in the beta tester. Questions asked from the user requires a lot of details.


During a trial run of the video call feature, I found the video and audio clarity to be sub-optimal. WhatsApp has to rectify this if it hopes to compete favourably with the already existing video call-messaging apps.

Source: http://infopoles.com/say-hello-to-whatsapp-video-calls/

Uber Nigeria has announced that it is now making low interest, used vehicle loans available to its top rated driver-partners. The move is the result of partnerships between Uber Nigeria, FirstBank Nigeria and other financiers.

Uber driver-partners in Nigeria will be able to apply for car financing loans for used vehicles based on their driver performance records. They loans will be accessed from the FirstBank of Nigeria at 20% per annum over a 24 months period.

Alternative offers also exist on the Uber Vehicle Solutions Programme, but this will attract a 20% rate per annum for an extended 36 months repayment period.

According to Ebi Atawodi, General Manager for Uber in Nigeria,

“We are absolutely committed to making it as easy as possible for our driver-partners to start and maintain their own successful and profitable businesses, and these used vehicle finance options make it possible for those with a demonstrable performance commitment to build sustainable businesses without incurring the high costs often associated with new vehicle purchases.”

In order to get these loans, Uber driver-partners will need an average driver performance rating of 4.5 or more. They must also have earned above ₦2.4 million in the last 6 months.

For Uber, offering car loans to their African drivers based on performance started in Kenya. In July this year, Uber partnered a Kenyan bank to offer drivers car financing loans up to 100% and at the time there were talks to expand to other African countries.

Suggested read; Uber partners Sidian Bank to provide loans to Kenyan drivers but there’s a catch
Everybody’s interest

The ratings that Uber drivers get at the end of every ride are very crucial as thy can be booted out for very low cumulative ratings.

When an Uber driver cancels a ride you hailed, his ratings are reduced but regardless of this, Uber drivers still cancel when it suits them.

Therefore, giving loans based on ratings is also a brilliant way to ensure that drivers behave well and avoid bad ratings altogether. With this development, we can expect a reduction of awkward and outright bad customer service with Uber drivers.

On another note, Uber is eventually adapting to the Nigerian climate by taking measures that are well suited to the business environment.


Source: http://infopoles.com/uber-offer-car-loans-to-its-drivers-in-nigeria/

[img][/img]
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (UPI) — Two Chinese astronauts lifted off for the longest manned mission in the history of China’s space program — a full month.

The Shenzhou-11 spacecraft blasted toward orbit Sunday night and is expected to dock with the Tiangong-2 space station in two days to start a 30-day mission conducting experiments and testing the station’s systems.

“The rocket is flying according to its original plan and the Shenzhou spacecraft has entered into its preliminary orbit,” said Gen. Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China’s human space program. “The solar panel has been unfolded and the crew is in great condition. Hereby I announce the launch of Shenzhou-11 is a complete success.”

During their 30 days in space, the astronauts will test computers and propulsion and life support systems aboard the Tiangong-2. The crew will also carry out science experiments, monitor changes in their own bodies, conduct three student experiments, plant growth studies and test orbital repair techniques.

Work at the lab is part of China’s plans to build a permanent space station in 2018, in addition to planning a lunar probe for the far side of the moon in 2018, unmanned mission to Mars in 2020 and a manned lunar mission in 2025.

Source: http://infopoles.com/china-launches-30-day-manned-mission-to-test-space-station/

[img][/img]
Iranian football fans faced a tricky balancing act Tuesday as they watched their team win against South Korea during a religious holiday in which they were banned from expressing joy.

Many took part in mourning processions as they gathered at the 75,000-capacity Azadi (“freedom”) stadium in Tehran to mark the eve of Ashura, one of the holiest days in the Iranian calendar.

For Shiite Muslims, Ashura marks the death of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussein in the seventh century, and is traditionally a day of sombre processions through the streets, in which black-clad men beat their chests and heads in anger and despair.

So it proved controversial with religious leaders when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) match against South Korea was scheduled for the day before.

“Bear in mind that if football is going to be played on the eve of the Ashura, the atmosphere of this match must be 100 percent in line with Ashura,” warned Friday prayer leader Ayatollah Ali Movahedi Kermani last week, according to the ISNA news agency.

“The entire stadium must be covered in black and shouts of Hussein must be heard constantly from the crowd. Instead of the clapping in these games, all should shout ‘Ya Hussein’,” he said.

The game, broadcast live on state television, showed a solemn black stadium packed with subdued spectators wearing black.

Iran beat South Korea 1-0 with Sardar Azmoun’s goal 24 minutes into the first half.

Two big signs installed in the Azadi complex read in English “Hussein, the ark of salvation” and “Hussein, the everlasting voice of justice”.

Between the two halves, religious singers came on the field and performed solemn religious songs about Imam Hussein.

Two enormous black flags with Hussein’s name were unfurled inside the stadium.

“Spectators and players of both countries have been briefed to observe religious codes,” General Alireza Adeli, the interior ministry’s police chief, told the Tasnim news agency before the match.

The AFC is highly sensitive to expressions of religious devotion during games and had asked for the black flags to be removed.

“We won’t do that. The Hussein banners are people’s beliefs,” said Iranian football official Mohammad Reza Saket, promising to pay any resulting fines.

South Korean journalists said they would voluntarily wear black arm bands to show respect for the holy day.

The game was a qualifier for the 2018 World Cup, and South Korea failed to break a 42-year losing streak in Tehran.


Source: http://infopoles.com/iran-football-fans-banned-from-celebrating-on-holy-day/
More: http://infopoles.com/category/sports/

[img][/img]
Nicki Minaj slays on the cover of Marie Claire’s November 2016 November 2016 issue, on newsstands October 18.

She talks to the magazine about competing with male rappers, being a black woman and more.
Here’s what the 33-year-old rapper had to share:
On young women’s goals: “Nowadays, I feel like [young women] see marrying into money—I think that’s a big thing now. I don’t want that to be a woman’s goal in life. I want your goal in life to be to become an entrepreneur, a rich woman, a career-driven woman. You have to be able to know that you need no man on this planet at all, period, and he should feel that, because when a man feels that you need him, he acts differently.”

On competing with male rappers: “I don’t need to read a book about [business]. I can look at someone’s career and just pinpoint the dos and the don’ts, and the one person I’ve done that with for my entire career was Jay Z. He did such a great job being an authentic street guy and a businessman, and I was like, Why aren’t there women doing that, taking the success from rap and channeling it into their empire? I felt like anything he could do, I could do.”

On the double standard that exists for women of color in the media: “When Kim Kardashian’s naked picture came out, [Sharon Osbourne] praised it, and my fans attacked her for being such a hypocrite. So it wasn’t trashy and raunchy when a white woman did it, but it was when a black woman did it? It’s quite pathetic and sad, but that is my reality, and I’ve gotten accustomed to just shutting it down.”

Source: http://infopoles.com/anything-jay-z-can-do-i-can-do-nicki-minaj-covers-marie-claire/
http://infopoles.com/category/celebs/

John Wick 2 is here folks ( almost ), and that means a new trailer with a high new movie kill count to rack up. Keanu Reeves is back as he gets tailored in his new suit for “social” purposes, while he shows us why he is the lead in every action movie to date.

https://infopoles.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/jowhn-wick-2-poster.0.0-291x161.jpg
John Wick one was known for it’s intense action scenes, carrying a more unique style than every other action movie before it.

Make sure to watch the first John Wick 2 trailer for more of the good old assassin action.

So what do you think? Will the double amount of action sequences give us the gratuitous violence we can’t turn away from?

Ruby Rose, Common and even Laurence Fishburne, are in this one, so not only is John Wick ready to get tailored up for more action, but this new movie has the caliber action stars to match.

Whether it is a dangerous car chase, or just more stylish action scenes that get our adrenaline pumping, John Wick 2 is going to pull in massive numbers that may hold the box office hostage for a weekend or two.

Watch Trailer here http://infopoles.com/john-wick-2-trailer-keanu-kills-a-lot/

Get ready for the John Wick 2 action, February 10th, 2017.

I am revamping an application built formerly for a client. It's first of its kind in Nigeria. I want to make this application available to people online so that people get to use it by paying a token as a subscription fee per year.
Now, am planning to rebuild it using api-centric approach to maximize user experience and make it easier for creating a mobile app along side.
If you are a good front end developer with vast knowledge in angularjs, css frameworks etc and nice cool portfolio to show, contact me on samuel4abiodun[at]gmail[dot]com so we can build this together and make the money together.

that is very lame of u guys .Don't u guys know they use fake names to cover them selves and they prefer to use christian names. The real name of Jihad John is Mohammed Emwazi
I would not be surprised by tomorrow if they say John trankil is Mohammed usman

The naira on Thursday crashed further
against the United States dollar from 215 to
220 at the Bureau de Change segment of the
foreign exchange market, following the
closure of the Retail Dutch Auction System
and Wholesale Dutch Auction System window
by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The naira also weakened to 199 to the dollar
at the interbank market, compared to 197 on
Wednesday.
The CBN had on Wednesday said all demands
for foreign exchange should be channelled to
the interbank market, adding that only
genuine demands for foreign exchange would
be met.
The President of the Association of Bureau de
Change of Nigeria, Mr. Aminu Gwadabe, told
our correspondent in a telephone interview
on Thursday that the closure of the RDAS
could further affect access to foreign
exchange by the BDC segment of the market.
“The dollar has gone to 220 at the close of the
market today from 215.5 yesterday
(Wednesday). That is the rate you can buy
now, that is even if you see it. You might not
even see it at 220 because the supply is not
much.”
“Last week, we bought at the interbank at
N203, N204. As of yesterday (Wednesday), the
rate at the BDC was N215.5.
“By tomorrow (Friday), we are likely going to
see continuous volatility in the market except
the CBN, as promised, continues to intervene
at the interbank market.”
He added, “Before the closure of the RDAS,
the CBN had stopped selling its money to the
BDCs through the RDAS for the past three
weeks or so. We have been accessing foreign
exchange through the interbank. Technically,
what they are saying is that it is going to be a
one-rate system.”
There are over 2,500 BDC operators in the
country. At the BDC, the process of buying
dollars is less rigorous but the operators
usually sell in small lots, compared with the
interbank market, which can transact over
$100m a day.
“There is going to be a lot of competition in
the interbank market because everybody will
be going there.
“So, to some extent, except the CBN is going to
intervene heavily in the market as it said, we
will find that the sources of foreign exchange
to the BDCs will be narrowed again and the
rate at which the BDCs sell will definitely go
higher,” said Gwadabe.
A fixed income and currency analyst at
Ecobank, Mr. Olukunle Ezun, said with the
wide margin between the RDAS and interbank
market rates, the CBN had been subsidising
the naira, which was not the best practice
because it gave room for round-tripping and
speculation.
Ezun said, “This one is more like implicit
devaluation because the CBN has not made
the pronouncement. But if the CBN is selling
at N196 or N197, that is devaluation without
saying it.”
Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This
material, and other digital content on this
website, may not be reproduced, published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole
or in part without prior express written
permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
wwww.jayseng.com/dollar-now-sells-for-n220-at-bdcs/

The United States military will provide
communications equipment and intelligence
to help African nations in the fight against
Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram, the
commander of US Special Forces operations in
Africa said.
Reuters reports that West African military
commanders have long complained that
cross-border operations against Islamist
groups, from al Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb in Mali to Boko Haram in Nigeria,
have been obstructed by lack of compatible
communications equipment, making it hard to
swap information and coordinate.
Major General James Linder told Reuters in
an interview that, as part of the annual US-
backed ‘Flintlock’ counter-terrorism exercises
this year in Chad, the United States would
provide technology allowing African partners
to communicate between cellphones, radios
and computers.
The system also incorporates a translation
function that would allow commanders in
francophone countries like Chad to
communicate by message with English-
speaking officers in Nigeria, a US military
officer said.


http:// jayseng.com/us-to-provide-weapons-intelligence-against-boko-haram/

Boko Haram insurgents attacked a Cameroon
military camp near the town of Waza in the
north of the country on Monday, wounding
several soldiers, an army spokesman said.
Chad, Niger and Cameroon have begun a joint
offensive against Boko Haram militants who
have killed thousands of people in a bid to
carve out an Islamist emirate in northern
Nigeria, and have increasingly staged raids
across nearby borders.
“The wounded are being evacuated. The
insurgents have been stopped. An APC
(armoured personnel carrier) was taken from
them and several of them were killed,” a
Cameroonian military officer told journalists
in Maroua, adding the incident was
continuing.
Earlier this month, Boko Haram fighters
killed more than 100 people in the northern
Cameroon town of Fotokol, including
residents inside their homes and a mosque, a
local political leader said.

A report just came in now from reuter that a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a crowded bus station in the northeast Nigerian city of Damaturu on Sunday, killing 10 people and wounded 30, police said, in a region that is frequently attacked by Islamist militants.

Witness Adamu Muhammad said he heard a loud blast and the people at the Damaturu's central motor park "descended into panic." (Reporting by Tim Cocks; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://jayseng.com/female-suicide-bomber-kills-10-in-attack-on-nigerian-bus-station-police/

For more than a year now, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been working on Memex, a search engine that can gather information from the 90 to 95 percent of the Internet that Google’s search crawlers cannot reach.

The search engine, which gets its name from a combination of “memory” and “index,” was designed to explore the unchartered terrains of the Internet, including the databases of information not indexed by Google and the darker part of the web where criminal activities, such as sex trafficking and drug dealing, take place.

“We’re envisioning a new paradigm for search that would tailor content, search results, and interface tools to individual users and specific subject areas, and not the other way around,” said DARPA program manager Chris White in a statement. “By inventing better methods for interacting with and sharing information, we want to improve search for everybody and individualize access to information. Ease of use for non-programmers is essential.”

With a team of 17 contractors, DARPA developed Memex far enough that the tool has become essential in the conviction of a New York City man who was part of a group who kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman before she escaped through the window of the six-story building where she was held. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance says his office now uses Memex for every single human trafficking case it works on, which is the initial intention for the search engine.

Unlike the search results offered by Google, Bing, and Yahoo, which are based on advertising and displayed in a linear fashion based on the search engine’s algorithms, Memex finds information that is difficult to find on Google and serves them as sophisticated infographics showing the vast network of relationships of the information.

For instance, searching for a name and phone number that crop up in a sex trafficking ad would not bring up a list of other places on the web where the name and number show up. Instead, Memex would create a diagram containing dots representing the web pages containing the name and number, thus drawing a bigger picture of what could possibly be a human trafficking ring operating online.

Clicking on the dots would show the place and time where the ads were posted, making it possible for criminal investigation bodies to go after criminals they would otherwise not be able to locate using a basic Google search.

The nature of Memex certainly raises questions from privacy advocates, but DARPA is quick to emphasize that it is “specifically not interested” in accessing information that is not publicly available online or identifying anonymous services, servers or IP addresses.

Aside from going after human traffickers, terrorists and other criminals, DARPA says Memex can become particularly useful to government, military, and commercial organizations in finding and organizing “mission critical” information on the Internet. Emergency responders, for example, can quickly find information on the worst hit areas in the event of a natural disaster.

http://jayseng.com/pentagon-darpa-develops-memex-new-search-engine-to-recess-world-wide-web-can-get-95-information-that-google-cant/

Hackers calling themselves “CyberCaliphate” threatened US President Barack Obama and his family when they took control of Newsweek magazine’s Twitter account on Tuesday with the words “Je suIS IS,” a reference to Islamic State and the deadly attack at French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

The group, which also took responsibility for hacking Pentagon social media accounts last month, tweeted “#CyberCaliphate Bloody Valentine’s Day #MichelleObama! We’re watching you, you girls and your husband!”

Newsweek removed the “CyberCaliphate” banner and tweets and regained control of the account within 14 minutes, the magazine said. The Islamic State militant group has seized territory in Iraq and Syria and has declared itself a “caliphate.”

The hackers also posted a message intended for the United States in retaliation for its actions in the Muslim world.

“While the US and its satellites are killing our brothers in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, we are destroying your national cybersecurity system from inside,” it said. The message contained a list of names under the heading “brave mujahideen.”

The group took responsibility for the intrusion last month of the Twitter and YouTube accounts for the US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East. The hackers claimed to be sympathetic toward Islamic State, which is being targeted in bombing raids by a US-led coalition.

At the time, several current and former US security and intelligence officials said they had never heard of the “CyberCaliphate.” They noted that Twitter accounts are more vulnerable to cyber intrusions than many company or federal government websites.

The attack on Central Command accounts in early January coincided with Obama’s announcement of proposals to bolster American cybersecurity after high-profile hacking incidents including one on Sony Pictures that US officials blamed on North Korea.

The cyberattack on Tuesday occurred the same day that Obama’s counter-terrorism coordinator, Lisa Monaco, announced the formation of a new government agency to monitor and analyse cybersecurity threats.

The FBI is investigating a hack into US magazine Newsweek’s Twitter account that resulted in posted threats against the Obama family, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said onTuesday.
http://jayseng.com/hackers-take-control-of-newsweek-twitter-account-threaten-obama-fbi-to-investigate/
http://fortune.com/2015/02/10/newsweeks-twitter-account-hacked-obama-family-threatened/
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report-hackers-take-control-of-newsweek-twitter-account-threaten-obama-fbi-to-investigate-2060021

Hackers claiming to be with the group Anonymous say they have hacked a jihadist website in retaliation for the terror attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

The website ansar-alhaqq.net, a French jihadist site, currently redirects to Duck Duck Go, a search engine. Hackers using the Twitter handle @OpCharlieHebdo claimed responsibility.

Anonymous also named dozens of Twitter accounts that the hacktivist group says belong to jihadists.

The hackers posted the Twitter handles on Pastebin, a website that lets people post information anonymously online.

On Friday, Anonymous members announced hacking operation “#OpCharlieHebdo, declaring war on Islamic extremists.



In a video posted on YouTube, the group of hackers said they would track down websites and social media networks linked to terrorists, and take them down.

“We, Anonymous around the world, have decided to declare war on you the terrorists,” it said.

Anonymous said the video was a message for “al Qaeda, the Islamic State and other terrorists,” and promised to avenge the deaths in last week’s attack.

Anonymous has hacked websites belonging to government departments, companies and other organizations.

The attack on Charlie Hebdo has prompted an outpouring of solidarity, sparking some news organizations to republish the magazine’s most controversial cartoons — including of the Prophet Mohammed.

On Sunday, millions of people, including world leaders, marched in an anti-terrorism rally in Paris. The French Mission to the United Nations called the massive gathering the largest in France’s history.

The day was emotional and peaceful, a gesture of unity just days after Islamic extremists slaughtered 17 people.
http://jayseng.com/anonymous-blocks-jihadist-website-in-retaliation-for-charlie-hebdo-attack/

A critical zero-day vulnerability has been discovered in a popular WordPress plugin, called ‘FancyBox for WordPress‘, which is being used by hundreds of thousands of websites running on the most popular Blogging Platform WordPress.
0-DAY FLAW EXPLOITED IN THE WILD
The security researchers at network security firm Sucuri issued a warning Wednesday about the zero-day vulnerability that is being “actively exploited in the wild” by malicious hackers in order to infect as many as victims.
While there are more than 70 million websites on the Internet currently running WordPress content management system, over half a million websites use ‘FancyBox for WordPress‘ Plugin, making it one of the popular plugins of WordPress for displaying images, HTML content and multimedia in a so-called “lightbox” that floats on top of Web pages..
HACKERS INJECT MALWARE INTO WEBSITES
The vulnerability allows attackers to inject a malicious iframe (or any random script/content) into the vulnerable websites that generally redirects victims to a ‘203koko’ website.
“All the infections had a similar malicious iframe from ‘203koko’ injected into the website,” Daniel Cid, founder and chief technology officer of Sucuri who discovered the vulnerability, wrote in an advisory. “In analysing the infected websites, we found that all the websites were using the FancyBox for WordPress plugin.“
FancyBox for WordPress Plugin has since been temporarily removed from the WordPress Plugins Directory, and the researchers advised users/wordpress developers/wordpress programmers to remove the plug-in as it hasn’t been updated for two years and poses a security threat to users.
PATCH RELEASED
Without wasting much of time, the developers released two new versions of the plugin on Thursday to fix the zero-day flaw. Version 3.0.3 addresses the actual flaw, while version 3.0.4, released late yesterday by José Pardilla, renames the plugin setting where the issue originated.
According to the plugin changelog, the latest updates will stop malicious code from appearing on the websites where the plugin is updated without removing the malicious code. Users who have the FancyBox for WordPress Plugin installed on their sites are advised to immediately apply the patch.
WordPress is a free, open source blogging tool and a content management system (CMS) with more than 30,000 plugins, each of which offers custom functions and features enabling users to tailor their websites to their specific needs. It is easy to setup and use and that’s why tens of millions of websites across the world opt it, and therefore, WordPress sites are a favorite target for hackers.
http://jayseng.com/wordpress-plugin-zero-day-vulnerability-affects-thousands-of-sites/

Microsoft has unveiled Windows 10, the latest version of Windows operating system for desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Windows 10 is aimed at doing away with the quirky features of Windows 8 and providing a unified platform that pleases both the desktop and touch screen users.

Here is a list of 10 must know features of Windows 10 that will entice you to upgrade your current version of Windows.
1. Start Menu is Back

Window 8 users can sigh a relief as the erstwhile start menu is back in Windows 10. Many desktop users found it difficult to navigate through programs without the start menu in Windows 8, and hence Microsoft has brought back the start menu.

The tiled interface of Windows 8 has also been retained along with the start menu. In windows 10, you can quickly access popular apps such as mails, weather, finance, maps etc from the start menu. Microsoft has tried to address the problem by providing a feature that will satisfy both desktop and touch screen users.
2. Continuum

Continuum is a new feature in Windows 10, which will detect whether the computer is being used as a desktop with attached keyboard or as a tablet with touch-screen feature. Windows 10 operating system can switch to more touch-friendly user interface when the keyboard is detached. On machines like the Surface Pro, this is a handy feature that provides flexibility to the user.

3. Universal Apps In A Window

In Windows 8, the “modern” apps available in Windows store opened in full screen mode. Many users found it really inconvenient to switch between apps. In Windows 10, these apps have been renamed as “universal apps” and they can be windowed like any other normal app.


The traditional desktop interface of Windows is regaining prominence in the latest version. Microsoft has tried to retain the conventional style by tweaking the interface to suit the touch screen users rather than going in for complete overhaul.
4. Multiple Desktops with Enhanced Multitasking

Microsoft is calling its multitasking feature as “Task View” where you will able to view all your open windows in one place. You can also create multiple desktops which will enable users to organize their apps better.

A new “Task View” button is available in the task bar. You can launch the task view interface by clicking this button which will bring up all your open windows on virtual desktops that you have created. When you launch the task view for the first time, you will be prompted with “Add a desktop” option which will allow you to create multiple desktops.
5. Snap Assist

The new multiple virtual desktops feature is further improved by the presence of snapping feature. With this snapping feature, users can now resize windows to fit any part of the screen. It is also possible to place windows side-by-side.

With multiple desktops, this is a cool new feature that will enhance the user experience. The snap assist will be extremely useful for those users who use a tablet as it will be easy to switch between applications and scroll content.

6. Pin Recycle Bin To The Task Bar

In Windows 10, you can add the Recycle Bin icon to the task bar and the start menu. You no longer have to minimize all your open windows to access the Recycle Bin. It might appear like a minor tweak but a helpful change that is sure to enhance a user’s experience.


7. Resizable Start Menu

It is now official; the Windows 10 start menu is resizable. You can adjust the size of your start menu to fit the left side of your window or shrink it to a strip. This feature will be quite useful for tablet users who have to view in display screens of varying sizes. The ability to adjust the size of the start menu renders more flexibility.
8. Charms Bar Stays

There were widespread rumors that the charms bar will be dropped in Windows 10. But, the technical preview still has a charms bar. Several Windows 8 desktop users have found the charms bar pretty annoying but Microsoft is not ditching the charms bar yet.
The charms bar might undergo few minor tweaks before the release of the final version to suit both the desktop and touch users.

9. Updated Command Prompt

Windows 10 has an updated command prompt that supports proper text selection and pasting a directory with Ctrl + V. We know it was long overdue and Microsoft has finally done it.
Windows 10 supports native text selection and line wraps providing great relief to users. You can paste text in the command prompt without using the traditional context menu as it now supports Ctrl + V option.

10. Explorer Has A New Home

In earlier versions of Windows, when you launch the Explorer Window, you will find a list of drives and libraries. In Windows 10, the explorer window has a new “Home” section which shows frequently accessed folders and recent files.
It also shows any location that you have designated as Favorites. The home section is the default landing page when you launch Windows Explorer in Windows 10. This feature is quite useful to quickly access frequently accessed files.

http://jayseng.com/windows-10-ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-it/

SL10.ng understands that West Ham are scouring the free agent market market for a central defender, having missed out on the signature of Sylvain Distin on deadline day.

Other defensive targets that The Hammers failed to lure to Boleyn Ground before the close of the January transfer window include Marseille’s Matheus Dória and Steven Caulker of Queens Park Rangers.

West Ham’s Director of Recruitment, Tony Henry, has opened a line of communication with Joseph Yobo’s representatives, including sports agent Sine Batimani, regarding the signing of the former Nigeria skipper.

Tony Henry, who was chief scout at Everton prior to being headhunted by West Ham, is full of hope and enthusiasm that talks between the Londoners and Yobo’s camp go smoothly.

Since the stopper has been inactive for close to seven months, West Ham will offer him a contract if he proves he’s in good physical condition.

The 34-year-old has been courted by teams based in the United States of America and Asia after terminating his contract with Fenerbahce in 2014.

Warri Wolves defender Azubuike Egwuekwe was linked with West Ham last month but the transfer failed to materialise.

http://jayseng.com/west-ham-chase-yobo/