Archives for October 2011

Use Mini-Sessions in Life is Crime to Maximize Progress

October 7, 2011 By SLee 69 Comments

Mobile games are fun, but if you’re like me, you don’t have a lot of time to play them at any given time. Fortunately, the game structure of the new hit Android app Life is Crime is serendipitously conducive to this pattern of gaming.

Like the Facebook game The Sims Social, you have limited resources in Life is Crime, specifically energy and stamina. Use up your resources, and you won’t be able to do very much until you get some more. Again, much like The Sims Social, you can buy more energy and stamina, or wait until they replenish on their own.

Thankfully, they do replenish. This means you can use them all up, put your Android device down, and come back for some more action a few hours later. By rationing your gaming in these mini-sessions, you can quickly make a name for yourself in the Life is Crime universe without dropping wads of cash on in-game purchases.

Here is a breakdown of SLee-style mini-sessions in Life is Crime.

Grab the Cash When Life is Crime Loads

Life is Crime loads you in your safe house, where you are greeted with a menu of some general stats. In the middle of the stats, there is an option to “Collect.” This is money you earn for controlling locations. Tap the button to get your money. After you get your money, accept any friend invites or gifts available, and then…

Hit the Streets

After tapping the large, obvious button, you are loaded in your “Gamefeed.” You can use this to see what your friends are doing or find people to fight, but there are more productive things to do in your mini-session in Life is Crime.

You can get more done by going to the Map. Pick a location close to you (the closer locations will use less energy, therefore maximizing your productivity) and see if there is anyone with a similar rank on the leader board at this location.

2 Reasons to fight someone with a similar rank:

If you fight someone with a higher rank, you will most likely be demolished.
If you fight someone with a much lower rank, your rep will take a temporary hit for picking on small fries.

When you find someone with a similar rank, tap on their name to see their stats. If your attack and defense are better than theirs, you can probably when a fight with them. Tap “fight” to be taken to the fight screen; then duke it out until you win.

In each round, a few things happen:

You burn one stamina point.
You (potentially) earn money.
You earn XP.
(If you fight with someone through the location menu instead of the friend stream) you earn points on the leader board for that location.

When you win the fight, you will earn extra money, XP, and location points. This is the fastest way to move quickly up the leader board.

No More Stamina? Start Using Energy

After you use up all your stamina, it’s time to start using your energy.

You can contact a dealer for a delivery of stolen goods or drugs. Drop these at the location to get more money and location points.

Use your remaining energy to steal, rob, or whatever other activity is available at your location for more money, XP, and location points.

When all your energy is used up, you won’t be able to do anymore money-making activities until your next mini-session. Before you’re done, you can head to the shop to see if there are any items that you can upgrade with your newly-earned money.

Come back a few hours later when your energy and stamina have recovered and repeat these steps. Using these mini-sessions in Life is Crime, you will quickly rise in the ranks of the criminal underworld.

Do you have any other tips? Leave a comment below.

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How to Save on Texting Fees for Smartphone and iPhones

October 7, 2011 By Topher Leave a Comment

Cell phone companies are making bank off of the text message packages that people are being required to purchase as a part of their plans. Not only do smartphones need a data plan for internet usage, but they must also add a text plan, if they are avid messengers that is. Most teenagers will definitely fall under this category. All of these messaging, minutes and data costs can add up. So how can you lower your phone bill and still be able to be involved in the “texting” generation? Here are a few options you can use for you Smartphone or iPhone that will help you save money on all of those texting bills:

**As a note before reading any of these, be aware that most will require that you get a second phone number, usually acquired for free through whichever service you choose.**

Google Voice

Google Voice is an excellent service for making any and all phone calls/text messages for free on both Android phones and iPhones. Unfortunately, if you already have a cell phone number, you will have to get a second Google Voice number, as with most of the services below. If you can make it happen, give all your friends and family your Google Voice number. With this number, you will not only be able to send and receive text messages, but all phone calls will be automatically forwarded to your normal cell phone number. All domestic services are free. International services are also available at a low rate.

Skype

Skype, one of the most popular online phone systems, also offers texting services. Unlike Google, they charge a fee of 4.7¢ per message, which is still about half of what a pay-as-you-go phone would charge. With Skype, you can send a message from the computer or a mobile device that has a Skype app. Then you will receive responses in your regular Skype chat window.

Text+ for Apple

Don’t be fooled by the + sign in the name, this texting and phone service is made for Apple. Although, it is very similar in function to Google Voice. You can get a free Text+ number and use it to make and receive phone calls and text messages on any of your apple devices, including the iPod touch. However, if you are using anything but an iPhone, you’ll have to wait until you are within range of a wireless connection to receive any of your messages. A great free option, but dependent on internet reception or having an iPhone.

The biggest challenge to overcome when trying to find a way to lower your phone bill is the issue of balancing two phone numbers. It can be a real pain to change your number and inform all of your acquaintances of the change. However, if you analyze the people with whom you pass the most texts, you might be able to inform them of the change. That way, you can switch over to a free texting service for your Smartphone or iPhone with the people who are using up most of your texts/minutes. This will reduce the number of paid-for texts you receive on your phone and allow you to lower the limit on your text messaging plan or having a lower bill if you are on a pay-per-text plan.

Top image by katerha.

5 Security Tips That Could Save Your Server

October 6, 2011 By Topher Leave a Comment

Securing a dedicated server or VPS is an ongoing process that can sometimes be overwhelming. Just as quickly as you find ways to keep would-be attackers out of your server, they look for new ways to get in. Above all else, it is important to be proactive and always look for ways to improve your server’s security. The following are 5 tips that should help you keep your server safe.

1. Secure Web Applications

A common mistake for new system administrators is to place too much emphasis on network security while ignoring the rest. No doubt, it is important to have a good network firewall in place, but it will not save your server from attacks aimed at open network ports, especially your web server.

On any Internet-connected server, the most vulnerable points are those which must be exposed to the outside world. The web server is always susceptible to attacks because anyone on the web can access it. Therefore, it is important to keep it patched and secure your web applications and server-side scripts. All it takes is one security hole in a PHP script to expose your entire server. One way to lessen the sting is to install a web application firewall like the free and open source ModSecurity.

2. Install Intrusion Detection

It is conceivable for people to attack and invade your server without you even knowing it. Think of your server as a compound with multiple borders to defend. A single person can probably find a hole in the fence to sneak in unnoticed. With surveillance at every point, however, you will at least know when someone attempts an intrusion.

Intrusion detection software, such as Brute Force Detection, can alert you whenever someone attempts to sneak into your fortress. Many of these solutions will also take measures to keep those attackers from finding ways into your server.

3. Monitor Everything

It is easy to sit back and hope no one attacks your server, but by actively monitoring it, you can often prevent attacks before they start. Monitor your network, web server, database server, mail server, operating system, an any other vital systems. You can do this by watching the system logs with a tool like logwatch and by using advanced scanning tools like OpenVas vulnerability scanner.

Some monitoring tools will even notify you of problems via text message to your mobile phone. By monitoring your server, you can often pick up on threats and potential attackers before they cause problems.

4. Get Help

I managed Linux servers for many years, but I still do not consider myself anywhere close to being a security expert. Acknowledging that you do not know everything is an important realization because it allows you seek help from others. The web has opened up many possibilities for free support with forums, blogs, and even video tutorials offering server security help. Even if you cannot afford to pay for help, there are plenty of free and inexpensive options.

If you can pay for help, however, it may save you a lot of time and grief to hire security consulting. Just make sure you do your homework and choose a consultant that will actually help your situation. If you know before getting your server that you will need a great deal of help, you might want to consider getting a managed server from your web host. The best web hosts will offer a wide range of managed server options.

5. Manage Users

Finally, and most importantly, you need to manage your users. All of your other security measures will be for nothing if you have users with weak passwords and unsecured scripts. Therefore, you should enforce strong passwords and require users with direct access (such as SSH) to change them periodically. For web hosting clients, make sure they keep their scripts and web applications updated. You may be able to help them by providing automatically installed scripts. Use your best judgement, and always look out for users who may have nefarious intentions.

Server security takes a lot of work, but it is possible to have a secure server without spending a lot of money. Avoid the reactionary approach. Take the time to do it right and be proactive, and you should be able to keep your server safe.

Top image by Jamison_Judd.

Marketing Secret: Why the Amazon Kindle Fire is Sold Below Cost

October 5, 2011 By SLee 2 Comments

Last week, Amazon announced its very own tablet to the market: the Kindle Fire. Similar to other tablets already available to consumers, yet with a very Amazon-ish spin, the Kindle Fire has received extra notice because of its low price point.

Though it is arguably less powerful or functional than its main competitor — Apple’s iPad — the Kindle Fire carries a price tag of only $199, a full $300 cheaper than the iPad. Moreover, Amazon is selling the Kindle Fire at a loss. Estimates vary, but it seems that Amazon is losing at least $10 per unit.

The Method Behind the Amazon Kindle Fire Madness

Of course Amazon is doing everything it can to get its tablet into as many hands as possible. As a late-comer on the tablet scene, Amazon has some ground to cover if it hopes to gain some of the market share, and one part of this goal necessarily includes the price.

But selling units is just the beginning. Losing money on the device itself is not a winning business model if that’s all Amazon were trying to do. Certainly, this is not Amazon’s end goal.

Borrowing the Console Video Gaming Business Model

I’m not privy to any insider information, but it seems apparent from the outside what Amazon is up to. Similar to the strategy of console video gaming businesses — such as Microsoft’s Xbox or Sony’s PlayStation — Amazon is creating a system with the Kindle Fire that will generate more sales and revenue from their other products.

For years console video game businesses have been selling their consoles — very expensive, high-tech pieces of equipment — at cost or cheaper and then making up their loss in the game sales (the price for a new release for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 is currently $59.99). These business minimize the barrier to entry with drastically discounted hardware, creating a highly targeted group of customers who will buy the games for these consoles for years after.

Amazon is clever to realize the potential of this model in the tablet market. In its marketing copy, Amazon emphasizes the ease of accessing movies, TV shows, music, magazines, and books from the Kindle Fire — additional services that are all offered from Amazon. With an Android-powered OS, there are tons of apps available for the Kindle Fire, also available for purchase through Amazon. By ushering customers into “Amazon Land,” the Kindle Fire practically creates a captive audience for more Amazon products.

Moving beyond the basics of the console video game model, Amazon has the ability to increase the precision of its marketing with its proprietary web browser: Amazon Silk. For consumers, Amazon Silk is supposed to create a faster, more powerful web browsing experience; but for Amazon, users of the Silk browser stoke the marketing fire with the fuel of browsing data, which (despite any promises of anonymization) will surely be used by Amazon to refine their marketing strategies.

The Wave of the Future?

Though this model isn’t new, this is the first time that it’s been used in the tablet industry. And if it’s successful for Amazon Kindle Fire, I wonder how long it will be before others start to follow suit. Will we start seeing Apple tablets priced below cost? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

How to Secure Your BitTorrent Downloads

October 5, 2011 By Topher 1 Comment

The media often associates BitTorrent with illegal file sharing, but there are legal uses for it as well. Unfortunately, some Internet service providers (ISP) have placed bandwidth throttling restrictions on torrent downloads or even blocks on torrent trackers, preventing legal downloads right along with the illegal ones. But there are ways to still get quality torrent downloads, protect your online identity, and make sure your downloads are secure.

1. Encryption

Most torrent clients support encryption, which makes it difficult for prying eyes to see exactly what you are downloading. Not all peers may have the ability to connect with your encrypted stream, but most will. The headers and the stream will be encrypted, preventing your ISP or others from knowing that the data you are transferring is coming from torrent downloads or uploads.

As a result of this encryption, you will be able to work around any bandwidth shaping or throttling that your ISP may have in place. It is important to note, however, that this will not make you anonymous to torrent trackers or peers. Therefore, illegal downloads can still be monitored.

2. Port Forwarding

The BitTorrent protocol has certain common ports that most clients use. In an effort to slow down illegal movie and music downloads, some ISPs may block these ports. In order to still get your legal torrents through, you can tell your router to use a different port and forward it to your computer. You can even randomize the port in your client, such as uTorrent or Transmission so that your client will use a different port each time it starts. Then, enable UPnP (Universal Plug-N-Play) on your router to make sure it detects your BitTorrent client and gives it access to the Internet.

3. Block Spying Peers

Some people and organizations monitor torrent trackers and set themselves up as fake peers. They connect to you when you start downloading and then have your IP address. Again, if you are doing nothing illegal, you may have no reason to care, but if you are particularly paranoid, you can use a tool like PeerBlock or a filter list from organizations that keep track of bad peers. This can also increase security, as it prevents peers who might send harmful files from connecting to your computer.

4. Automated Limits

Something that has become increasingly important in BitTorrent optimization are download limits, especially now that ISPs like Comcast and AT&T are instituting bandwidth caps. While. you want to be a good file sharer and seed torrents for as long as you can, you cannot afford to have people connecting to your computer 24/7 at the highest speeds. Most BitTorrent clients have settings to limit download speed, the number of simultaneously connected peers, the number of files you want to seed, and even the time of day you want files to be available.

5. VPN or Proxy

If you are extremely concerned about keeping your torrent downloads under the radar, a VPN or proxy is the ultimate solution. With either solution, your torrent downloads will be hidden completely, including your IP address. Most good VPN and Proxy services charge subscription fees, but some of the best are fast and secure, making them worth the investment. If you live in a country that is particularly anti-torrent, even against legal torrent downloads, a VPN or proxy will protect your digital rights and keep you safe. Some Internet users also find it very important to stay anonymous, no matter what they do, and may use VPNs or proxies for web browsing, emails, and all other general Internet usage.

Why It Is Important

Beyond illegal file sharing, many free and open source software projects, such as Linux distributions, use BitTorrent to distribute their programs, effectively lowering bandwidth costs. Some organizations even share legal movies, such as “Sintel”, the Durian Open Movie Project and “Big Buck Bunny”. Moreover, many indie game developers also use BitTorrent to distribute their games.

When ISPs indiscriminately hinder torrents without regard for their legal uses, net neutrality is in jeopardy. That is a situation that would be bad for all parties involved and one that we should collectively strive to prevent.