Wednesday, November 25, 2015

From Digital Friend to Frenemy: 29% Takes a Device into the Bathroom, Despite the Risk of Being Hacked and Spied On

How confident are you that the sensitive data in your smartphone is safe? This is an eye-opening read!

Press Release:

Research by Kaspersky Lab and B2B International shows that the relationship between users and their digital devices is often closer than between best friends, with 29% taking them into the bathroom and 25% sharing secrets with their device that they don’t want anyone else to know. 

However, this trust could be leaving users at risk as devices can be hacked and private information exposed to the world.


The study found that the overwhelming majority of people (87%) store important, confidential and sometimes irreplaceable information on their smartphones, including passwords, messages, photos, contacts, files and more. 

One in four says their device carries sensitive information they wouldn’t want anyone else to see. Further, these devices are carried and used everywhere, including at work (52%), in a car (41%), on public transport (39%), in bed (58%) and even in the bathroom (29%).

Outside the home, these devices face potential risks that include damage, loss and theft, but also hacking by cyber-criminals intent on stealing data or even spying on the user. Devices that are used on open Wi-Fi networks are particularly vulnerable to attack. 

However, few people take action to reduce their risk. Our study found that just 26% of users adapt their online activity when on an insecure public Wi-Fi network, despite the fact that hackers can easily intercept data and passwords. 

Only around half (47 %) takes advantage of the security features that come with the device, such as remote blocks or find-my-device capability.

The impact of not protecting the devices we carry with us can be far-reaching. According to the study, a quarter of those whose device had been lost or stolen discovered that personal or secret information had been leaked.

But it doesn’t follow that users are automatically more secure once at home. Here, they face different and sometimes greater risks, particularly in sensitive places such as bedrooms and bathrooms, when a hacked device could easily turn the webcam on the user.


“The bond of trust between users and their devices can lead them to forget about security. It’s hard to imagine that something we carry close to us at all times and turn to for everything, could ever become a threat. But it can, and does happen. A digital friend can become a digital frenemy,” said Victor Yablokov, Head of Mobile Product Line at Kaspersky Lab.

“A failure to appreciate the potential risks and to protect our devices and information accordingly could mean the loss of confidential information, money and even our identities. The device camera that we use to look out onto the world can be hacked and used to look into our world instead. Security is simply not an optional extra,” he warned.

To ensure a digital friend doesn’t transform into a digital frenemy, Kaspersky Lab recommends that people always set strong passwords for devices and for their online accounts, install a trusted security software and take care when accessing websites and downloading apps, particularly over insecure Wi-Fi networks.

To check if your online behavior is safe, follow https://blog.kaspersky.com/cyber-savvy-quiz. To get more tips on how to be protected, check https://blog.kaspersky.com/tag/cybersavvy.


Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Bento and Baking Items are Available in Daiso Japan at Affordable Prices!

Sale alert for moms who love  to do bento-making and baking! Read my other posts about Daiso Japan here and check out my personal shopping finds!

Press Release:

Ever wondered how the Japanese make those elaborate charaben (character bento) or those fancy cookies that are too cute to eat? Stop wondering and get cooking because Daiso Japan is having a “3 for P188” crazy combo on most baking and bento tools so you can get started with your new hobby. 

The popular price point store, home of all things kawaii, offers a complete array of colorful, cute and unique implements to help you bake like a pro and make your own beautiful bento. Also, every item in the store is very affordable which only means more reasons to engage in these stress-busting pastimes. 


You don’t need a lot of equipment to create a variety of baked products. Some basic tools such as cookie cutters, silicone cups and baking molds – plus a good splash of creativity – could go a long way in the kitchen. If you’re making cupcakes, don’t forget to put pastry bags in your cart for the icing on your cupcake!


With Daiso Japan’s “3 for P188” crazy combo, you can save P25 per item as you build your collection of bento and baking tools. That’s a great deal, even lower than P88 per item for which Daiso Japan is known for! 


Daiso Japan is one of the retail formats operated by Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., which holds the exclusive sub-license to sell authentic Daiso merchandise from Japan and operates the legitimate Daiso Japan store concept in the Philippines. It offers a wide assortment of unique products - from home and kitchen ornaments, office knick-knacks, and beauty essentials to curious merchandise that are both practical and collectible.   

Visit Daiso Japan for more ideas on how you can take your hobby to the next level. 


Sunday, November 8, 2015

ASUS Launches ZenLooks: A Regional Case Design Challenge Open for All Aspiring Artists and Creative Enthusiasts

Calling all creative Filipinos! ASUS calls on the country’s most skilled designers to create a new ZenFone 2 Case, with the chance of collaborating with the ASUS team to have your very own design manufactured!

Press Release:

Manila, Philippines (5 November, 2015)ASUS today announced the launch of ZenLooks, a regional online design competition that invites all aspiring, creative designers and artists to test their skills and have a hand at  creating their own ultimate gadget accessory – a new case for the stylish ZenFone 2


The ZenLooks competition, which runs from November 9 – December 6, is inspired by ASUS’ recent Incredible Catwalk collaboration with Filipina fashion icon Kim Jones, wherein ASUS and Kim created Southeast Asia’s ultimate fashion story across seven different countries. Kim modelled a selection of ZenFone 2 cases in the Incredible Catwalk campaign, including the case designed exclusively for ASUS by popular Italian beauty and fashion vlogger, and international YouTube personality, CutiePieMarzia.

“The ZenFone 2 is this season’s most versatile accessory and it looks right at home next to Kim in our Incredible Catwalk fashion story. And now, we are proudly launching our ZenLooks campaign, inviting aspiring accessory designers all over the Philippines to showcase their creativity, and design their very own ZenFone 2 case. The Philippines’ most talented accessory designers are set to join the ranks of global YouTube icon CutiePieMarzia who has already created her own ZenFone 2 case.” shares Jamie Zaldivar, ASUS Philippines Marketing Manager. 

Zen Case design by CutiePieMarza

Interested participants are encouraged to enter using the recently launched Incredible Catwalk fashion story as their inspiration, images and videos of which are already available at  http://www.facebook.com/ASUSph. Ultimately, each submitted ZenFone 2 case design should be inspired by the Philippines’ unique and unmatched heritage, aesthetic identity, diverse culture, striking landscape, and iconic elements. 

How the ZenLooks design challenge works:
1. Visit the ASUS Philippines Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ASUSph.
2. Click on the ZenLooks app.
3. Follow the steps to create your ZenFone 2 case design by uploading your own original photo that captures the Philippines’ iconic elements. Likewise, you may use the Incredible Catwalk image of Kim Jones in the Philippines as the inspiration for your own design. 
4. Submit and share your case design, and hashtag with #ZenLooks on your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to check out the other designs from the Philippines. 


Your Chance to Win

From 9 November to the 6 December 2015, one (1) winner will be announced every week, totaling four winners at the end of the design challenge.

Weekly Prizes: Each weekly winner will take home their very own ZenFone 2 Deluxe (worth PHP 17,995.00) and the limited edition ZenFone 2 case designed by CutiePieMarzia. 

Grand Prize: Out of the four weekly winners, a Grand Prize winner will be selected to collaborate with the design team at ASUS to have their winning case design manufactured. 


Friday, November 6, 2015

Global Toilet Sanitation Problem Leads to 443 Million Missed School Days

With all the modern conveniences we enjoy today, there are still so many children who fall sick because of lack of sanitation :( Let's help spread the word on the advocacy of proper toilet sanitation to everyone ... 

Press Release:

According to a study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), children around the world miss an estimated 443 million school days each year because of diseases caused by poor sanitation and hygiene practices, including using unsanitary toilets. Simply put, this number of sick days is equivalent to all grade school and high school classrooms in the Philippines being empty for one month. This sanitation-related concern hinders the children’s learning and significantly reduces their quality of life.


Illnesses due to poor toilet sanitation include diarrheal disease and parasitic worm infections which can lead to nutritional deficiencies, physical and mental stunting, and death. Every day, millions of children in rural communities and urban households nationwide are exposed to these health problems by using dirty toilets populated by disease-carrying germs.

According to Dr. Luisa Efren of the Philippine Public Health Association (PPHA), the simple act of proper toilet sanitation can help prevent the spread of these germs. However, children continue to be at risk from these deadly diseases because many households still use ordinary laundry bleach to clean their toilet bowls, which is not enough to kill all toilet germs.


“A toilet that looks clean to the naked eye may not necessarily be free from germs and bacteria. So, it is very important to properly sanitize all surfaces using a germ-kill expert with proven efficacy in eliminating bacteria, and not just any ordinary laundry bleach,” Dr. Efren warned.

For the past three years, Unilever Philippines through its germ-kill expert brand Domex, has been working with UNICEF and PPHA to champion the One Million Clean Toilets Movement. This advocacy program aims to educate Filipinos on proper toilet hygiene and the need for sanitized household toilets to keep their families safe against disease-causing germs.


On November 13, World Toilet Day, join the One Million Clean Toilets Movement in the fight against disease causing germs to save lives, one clean toilet at a time. To learn more about Domex and how you can stay safe from disease with a germ-free home, visit Domex Philippines on Facebook

You can also help the 1 Million Clean Toilets Movement fight against disease by spreading awareness on the sanitation issue caused unsanitary toilets. Watch and share the “Sick Days” video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypMNHyUwQOQ) to help keep your family and friends germ-free.

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