Tech
Understanding VPN: The Comprehensive Guide
From online frauds, and scams to even hacking sensitive personal information, the Internet these days seems to be a haven for fraudsters. There’s a growing concern about internet security and how it might jeopardize the security of information and finance of people and organizations. VPN or Virtual Private Network can be a solution to such problems. Millions of people around the world are adopting VPNs for their data security and safe online browsing. So here’s a beginner's guide on VPN. Let’s find out how a VPN works, the benefits, and the types of VPNs.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. Generally, the internet is provided through an ISP which processes all of their user’s traffic simultaneously. This makes them susceptible to malicious attacks which might intercept the net traffic to access personal data.
A VPN works as an intermediary between the computer and the destination to make it untraceable. There are a few complicated steps involved in the process. Let’s have a look.
Read more: How to Protect Your YouTube Channel from Getting Hacked
How Does VPN Work?
VPN creates a secure channel between the computer and the intended destination by developing a private network just for the user. The data gets encrypted and sent directly to the VPN server. There it gets decoded and sent to the intended location. This middle encryption allows the data to be completely untraceable by anyone.
Every device has a unique IP address that can be used to trace all of its activity. VPN essentially masks the IP address and assigns a new IP address from their server. As a result, the data becomes completely untraceable even by the ISP. VPN works not only to maintain anonymity online and protect privacy but also to allow users to access region-specific content.
Benefits of Using a VPN
There are a lot of benefits to using VPN. Here are a mentionable few.
Enhanced Privacy
VPN brings enhanced privacy thanks to the end-to-end encryption between you and the VPN server, making it impossible to be tracked by a third party.
Read More: Bank Account Hacking Protection: How to save financial accounts from hackers?
Secured Data Transmission
The end-to-end computer-to-server extension also allows for secured data transmission. This is especially helpful if a user is in a public network zone like using free wifi. It's impossible to tell who else is signed into the network and what kind of monitoring they might be running. Secured encryption allows for safe data transmission.
Bypassing Geographical Restrictions
VPN helps to bypass geographical restrictions so that a user can access services that might not be available in their location or to evade censorship. For example, Netflix has a host of shows that are available in the UK but not in India. With VPN, a user from India can reroute their IP through the UK and access all the contents regardless of the restrictions.
Top Charger Fans in Bangladesh in 2023
As summer is here, heatwaves and frequent load-shedding are making life miserable. A charger fan or rechargeable fan is designed to provide a portable and efficient solution for keeping the user cool during the scorching heat of summer months. Furthermore, it can run with or without electricity. This feature makes a charger fan a handy gadget during power outages. In Bangladesh, charger fans are becoming popular to beat the heat during powercuts. Let’s take a look at the latest models of charger fans available in Bangladesh in 2023.
9 Rechargeable Fans in Bangladesh in 2023
Charger Fans below BDT 5000
Click Rechargeable Table Fan
The Click Rechargeable Table Fan is a powerful and efficient fan that comes in a vibrant blue color. With a 12-inch blade, it can deliver air to a wider area, making it ideal for use in homes and offices. The fan is designed to be charged using a USB charger and comes with a 6V, 4.5Ah battery, which provides long-lasting power for extended use.
The fan has two-speed settings, low and high, with a maximum speed of 1400 R.P.M and a low speed of 280 R.P.M. The fan takes approximately 12-15 hours to charge fully, after which it can operate for up to 3.5 hours at maximum speed and 25 hours at low speed. Additionally, the fan is equipped with LED lights that can run for up to 70 hours at strong light and 120 hours at weak light.
Read More: Inverter AC Prices in Bangladesh in 2023
The Click Rechargeable Table Fan comes with a full charge indication, which makes it easy for users to know when the fan is fully charged and ready to use. Priced at 4000 BDT, it can be an affordable option for those looking for a reliable and powerful rechargeable table fan.
Miyako Rechargeable Fan KL-2924
The Miyako Rechargeable Fan KL-2924 is a high-performance fan designed to provide cool and refreshing air to users, especially during hot weather. This fan is categorized as a Charger Fan and is manufactured by the renowned brand, Miyako.
The fan has five blades that can deliver powerful airflow to cool down the surrounding environment. It can be powered by both AC and DC power sources, providing users with flexibility and energy-saving options. The fan requires a 12V DC input to function properly and has a duration of 4-5.5 hours, making it an excellent choice for extended use.
The Miyako Rechargeable Fan KL-2924 also features eight pieces of LED lights that can provide ample illumination when necessary.
Read More: Air Conditioner Brands, Buyer Guide, Models, with Price in Bangladesh.
To ensure the fan operates efficiently and safely, it is equipped with protection against overcharge and over-discharge. This feature is vital as it ensures the fan can be charged and discharged without damaging the battery or any other internal components.
The fan is compatible with AC220-240V 50/60 Hz power supply. It is priced at Tk. 4,390.00.
Defender KTH-2912
The Defender rechargeable fan is an excellent option for staying cool in any situation. It boasts a 4.5 Amp (6 Volt) battery that is built to last, ensuring long-lasting performance. With three different speed settings, including the high speed at 1500 R/M, medium speed at 1150 R/M, and low speed at 800 R/M, users can customize the airflow to their preference and stay comfortable.
This fan stands at 1.6 feet, making it an ideal size for both indoor and outdoor use. Its impressive runtime of 2.3 hours on high speed, 4 hours on medium speed, and 5 hours on low-speed mean users can enjoy a cool breeze for extended periods without having to recharge frequently.
Read More: Air Cooler price in Bangladesh with Buying Tips
With Defender's trusted brand name, users can be confident in the fan's durability and long-lasting performance. The fan also comes with a 1-year warranty, ensuring users can enjoy peace of mind when purchasing. At a price of Taka 3,330, it's an affordable option that delivers great value for money.
Charger Fans in BDT 5000-10000 Price Range Midea MCF-2926HR
The Midea Rechargeable Table Fan MCF-2926HR is a charger fan that is worth considering for its impressive features. With a rechargeable 12V 4.5Ah C-Type Sealed Lead Acid Battery, this fan is built to last. It takes between 12-15 hours to fully charge, after which it can provide a backup of 4 hours on high speed, 7.5 hours on low speed, and 27 hours on LED.
This fan is a suitable option for those who desire portability and flexibility in their cooling systems. With a DC 12V-15V input, it can operate in places with limited electricity. The Midea Rechargeable Table Fan MCF-2926HR is a charger fan that offers an ideal balance of convenience and durability. At Tk. 5,489, this fan offers value for its price.
Walton W170A-EM
The Walton Rechargeable Fan W170A-EM is a 17-inch table fan that comes with a long run-time battery and overcharge and over-discharge protection system. It has a switch mode power supply (SMPS) system that can operate within a range of 90V-265V and allows for high, low, and natural speed selection. It also has a bright LED night light and comes with a remote control.
Read More: Tips to Keep Home Cool in Summer Without AC
The fan has a rated input of 30W and a charging time of approximately 8-10 hours. Its battery has a running time of 3 hours on high speed, 3.5 hours on natural speed, 6 hours on low speed, and 90 hours for the LED light. The fan is available in different color combinations and comes with a 6-month spare parts warranty (without battery) and a 3-month battery replacement warranty. The price of the fan is Tk. 6,790.
OPPO wins 2 international awards for innovation
OPPO has recently been honoured with two international awards in recognition of its innovation and industry influence.
OPPO Air Glass won silver in the AR category at the 2023 Edison Best New Product AwardsTM. OPPO was also named one of the 10 Most Innovative Asia-Pacific Companies of 2023 by business media Fast Company, according to a press release.
The awards were announced in Florida on 20 April.
Established in 1987 in honour of inventor Thomas Edison, the Edison Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in the world recognizing products, designs, and technologies that have made outstanding contributions to global innovation, said the release.
The Edison Awards are selected by a panel of over 3,000 business executives and academics on the four criteria of concept, value, delivery, and impact.
Alongside awards earned for product innovation, OPPO has also been named by Fast Company as one of the 10 Most Innovative Asia-Pacific Companies of 2023 in recognition of the technological innovation and sustainable impact of its Battery Health Engine, the release also said.
“Through its mission of ‘Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World’, OPPO is dedicated to developing user-centric innovation that improves lives, communities, and the world,” it said.
At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 in March, OPPO showcased its latest breakthroughs including the SUPERVOOC S power management chip, environment-friendly Zero-power Tags and OPPO’s self-developed MariSilicon Y flagship Bluetooth audio SoC.
“OPPO will continue to aim for even greater heights with its technology and products, providing high-quality services and excellent user experiences for people around the world,” the release added.
Huawei Announces Switch to MetaERP, Redefining Enterprises' Core Business Systems
Huawei announced it has replaced the legacy ERP system with its MetaERP system over which it has full control.
The Huawei hosted the MetaERP Award Ceremony titled "Heroes Fighting to Cross the Dadu River" with the aim to recognize the individuals and teams who made critical contributions to this project at the company's Xi Liu Bei Po Village Campus in Dongguan of China recently.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is the most critical enterprise management IT system. Huawei introduced the MRP (Manufacturing Resource Planning) II system in 1996 and later expanded to the ERP system with several iterative upgrades.
The old ERP system was the core system underpinning Huawei's enterprise operations and rapid development for more than 20 years. It supported Huawei's efficient business operations which generate hundreds of billions of dollars every year in more than 170 countries and regions across the world.
In 2019, the Huawei began facing increased external pressure and business challenges. The company decided to develop a completely self-controlled MetaERP system to replace the old ERP system. This has been the most extensive and complex transformation project Huawei has ever undertaken. Over the past three years, Huawei has invested significant resources and assigned several thousand people to this project while also working with industry and ecosystem partners to overcome related challenges.
This new, future-oriented, ultra-large-scale and cloud-native MetaERP system has already gone live by replacing the old ERP system.
MetaERP currently handles 100 percent of Huawei's business scenarios and 80 percent of its business volume.
MetaERP has already passed the tests of monthly, quarterly and yearly settlements while ensuring zero faults, zero delays and zero accounting adjustments.
Sabrina Meng, Huawei's Rotating Chairwoman and CFO, said, "Leaps in technology take a spirit of craftsmanship and years of experience. More importantly, it takes an open mind to drive leaps in the way we think. We wouldn't have been able to build MetaERP without the support of our partners. Innovation is only possible with an open mind, and thriving is only possible when we work together."
Huawei has complete and full-stack control over MetaERP which has been built with other Huawei systems like EulerOS and GaussDB.
Huawei has also worked with partners to incorporate advanced technologies such as cloud-native architecture, metadata-driven multi-tenant architecture and real-time intelligence into the MetaERP system, significantly improving service efficiency and operational quality.
Huawei's guiding principles are to build the simplest possible architecture with the best possible quality, delivering the best possible experience at the lowest possible costs. In a range of fields, including both ERP and PLM, Huawei will keep working with partners to build more efficient and secure core enterprise business systems that are not subject to any restrictions.
Microsoft reports boost in profits, revenue, as it pushes AI
Microsoft on Tuesday reported a 9% increase in profit for the January-March quarter, as growth in cloud computing sales helped bolster its plans to expand its use of artificial intelligence.
The company reported quarterly profit of $18.3 billion, or $2.45 per share, beating Wall Street expectations for earnings of $2.24 a share.
The software maker posted revenue of $52.9 billion in the period, its third fiscal quarter, up 7% from the same period a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet expected Microsoft to post revenue of $51.02 billion for the quarter.
The quarter marked an ambitious push by Microsoft to capitalize on its investments in artificial intelligence and close partnership with San Francisco-based startup OpenAI with the February release of a new AI chatbot feature on its search engine Bing.
Also Read: Is Bing too belligerent? Microsoft looks to tame AI chatbot
Microsoft is also integrating similar AI tools into the cloud computing and software products it sells to big businesses and organizations, though it's not immediately apparent to what extent the AI features are playing a role in overall sales.
Microsoft’s personal computing business, centered on its Windows software, was widely expected to continue a deterioration that began last year due to economic uncertainties and crimped demand. Quarterly sales from that segment dropped 9% to $13.3 billion, the company said Tuesday.
Also Read: Google hopes ‘Bard’ will outsmart ChatGPT, Microsoft in AI
Making up for that decline was a 16% increase in revenue from Microsoft's cloud-based business segment, to $22.1 billion for the quarter. Revenue also grew 11% to $17.5 billion from Microsoft's productivity software segment centered around its Office suite of workplace products such as email.
Big Tech crackdown looms as EU, UK ready new rules
TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Google, Amazon and other Big Tech companies are facing rising pressure from European authorities as London and Brussels advanced new rules Tuesday to curb the power of digital companies.
The U.K. government unveiled draft legislation that would give regulators more power to protect consumers from online scams and fake reviews and boost digital competition.
Meanwhile, the European Union was set to release a list of the 19 biggest online platforms and search engines that face extra scrutiny and obligations under the 27-nation bloc's landmark digital rules taking effect later this year.
Also Read: TikTok attorney: China can’t get U.S. data under plan
The updates help solidify Europe’s reputation as the global leader in efforts to rein in the power of social media companies and other digital platforms.
Britain's Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers bill proposes giving watchdogs more teeth to draw down the dominance of tech companies, backed by the threat of fines worth up to 10% of their annual revenue.
Under the proposals, online platforms and search engines can be required to give rivals access to their data or be more transparent about how their app stores and marketplaces work.
The rules would make it illegal to hire someone to write a fake review or allow the posting of online consumer reviews “without taking reasonable steps" to verify they're genuine. They also would make it easier for consumers get out of online subscriptions.
The new rules, which still need go through the legislative process and secure parliamentary approval, would apply only to companies with 25 million pounds in global revenue or 1 billion pounds in U.K. revenue.
Also Read: Twitter restores blue tick to high-profile accounts with over 1 million followers
Also Tuesday, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is set to designate 19 of the biggest online platforms or search engines that will have to take extra steps to clean up illegal content and disinformation and keep users safe online.
Violations of the bloc’s new Digital Services Act could result in fines worth up to 6% of a company’s annual global revenue — amounting to billions of dollars — or even a ban on operating in the EU.
Google, Twitter, TikTok, Apple, Facebook and Instagram have already disclosed that they have more than 45 million users in Europe, putting them over the bloc's threshold.
Twitter restores blue tick to high-profile accounts with over 1 million followers
Twitter reinstated blue tick badges for some accounts with over one million followers without charging a subscription fee.
Beyoncé, Harry Kane, Richard Osman, and Victoria Beckham are among those whose blue ticks were restored, reports BBC.
The BBC News Twitter account got back its gold badge but has not paid for it.
Before Elon Musk acquired the platform, the blue tick was a free symbol of verification provided by Twitter, said the report.
It was created as an authentication method to prevent the spread of false accounts and disinformation.
It is now a sign that an account has subscribed to Twitter Blue, a premium service, and there is a verification procedure associated with making a payment. The price varies depending on where the membership is bought, but it is usually approximately $8 per month, said the report.
Those who had a blue tick from the first verification procedure but did not pay the membership price began losing their ticks on April 20, it added.
James O'Brien, a broadcaster with 1.1 million followers, is one of many who has regained their blue tick after losing it. He admitted to not having paid for his account.
He also mentioned that some accounts with fewer than 1 million followers appeared to have had their blue ticks restored, which he described as "anointed entirely at Elon Musk's discretion."
Musk claimed that he paid for the memberships on behalf of novelist Stephen King, actor William Shatner, and basketball star LeBron James who had criticized the scheme.
Despite having over 21 million followers, certain celebrities, such as actor Ryan Reynolds, still do not have a blue tick.
It was claimed that the legacy blue ticks had to be removed manually, so this might potentially be a manual procedure that will continue in the following days.
Twitter Blue had a difficult launch. It was first delayed due to an increase of fake accounts posing to be official organizations, and in recent weeks, both subscribers and previously validated accounts have seemed identical.
Subscribers' tweets are more visible, individual messages can be longer, and they see fewer advertisements.
Elon Musk has previously stated that when he took over, the company's finances were in disarray and that Twitter was losing $4 million per day.
Twitter has not said how many users have subscribed so far, but app maker Sensor Tower projected to TechCrunch that the network will have roughly 386,000 subscribers in March 2023. This does not include subscriptions paid through Twitter's website rather than its app, but it is still a modest portion of the company's over 300 million user base.
Twitter begins removing blue checks from users who don't pay
This time it's for real.
Many of Twitter's high-profile users are losing the blue checks that helped verify their identity and distinguish them from impostors on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform.
After several false starts, Twitter began making good on its promise Thursday to remove the blue checks from accounts that don't pay a monthly fee to keep them. Twitter had about 300,000 verified users under the original blue-check system — many of them journalists, athletes and public figures. The checks — which used to mean the account was verified by Twitter to be who it says it is — began disappearing from these users' profiles late morning Pacific Time.
High-profile users who lost their blue checks Thursday included Beyoncé, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey and former President Donald Trump.
The costs of keeping the marks range from $8 a month for individual web users to a starting price of $1,000 monthly to verify an organization, plus $50 monthly for each affiliate or employee account. Twitter does not verify the individual accounts, as was the case with the previous blue check doled out during the platform's pre-Musk administration.
Celebrity users, from basketball star LeBron James to author Stephen King and Star Trek's William Shatner, have balked at joining — although on Thursday, all three had blue checks indicating that the account paid for verification.
King, for one, said he hadn't paid.
"My Twitter account says I've subscribed to Twitter Blue. I haven't. My Twitter account says I've given a phone number. I haven't," King tweeted Thursday. "Just so you know."
In a reply to King's tweet, Musk said "You're welcome namaste" and in another tweet he said he's "paying for a few personally." He later tweeted he was just paying for King, Shatner and James.
Singer Dionne Warwick tweeted earlier in the week that the site's verification system "is an absolute mess."
"The way Twitter is going anyone could be me now," Warwick said. She had earlier vowed not to pay for Twitter Blue, saying the monthly fee "could (and will) be going toward my extra hot lattes."
On Thursday, Warwick lost her blue check (which is actually a white check mark in a blue background).
For users who still had a blue check Thursday, a popup message indicated that the account "is verified because they are subscribed to Twitter Blue and verified their phone number." Verifying a phone number simply means that the person has a phone number and they verified that they have access to it — it does not confirm the person's identity.
It wasn't just celebrities and journalists who lost their blue checks Thursday. Many government agencies, nonprofits and public-service accounts around the world found themselves no longer verified, raising concerns that Twitter could lose its status as a platform for getting accurate, up-to-date information from authentic sources, including in emergencies.
While Twitter offers gold checks for "verified organizations" and gray checks for government organizations and their affiliates, it's not clear how the platform doles these out and they were not seen Thursday on many previously verified agency and public service accounts.
The official Twitter account of the New York City government, which earlier had a blue check, tweeted on Thursday that "This is an authentic Twitter account representing the New York City Government This is the only account for @NYCGov run by New York City government" in an attempt to clear up confusion.
A newly created spoof account with 36 followers (also without a blue check), disagreed: "No, you're not. THIS account is the only authentic Twitter account representing and run by the New York City Government."
Soon, another spoof account — purporting to be Pope Francis — weighed in too: "By the authority vested in me, Pope Francis, I declare @NYC_GOVERNMENT the official New York City Government. Peace be with you."
Fewer than 5% of legacy verified accounts appear to have paid to join Twitter Blue as of Thursday, according to an analysis by Travis Brown, a Berlin-based developer of software for tracking social media.
Musk's move has riled up some high-profile users and pleased some right-wing figures and Musk fans who thought the marks were unfair. But it is not an obvious money-maker for the social media platform that has long relied on advertising for most of its revenue.
Digital intelligence platform Similarweb analyzed how many people signed up for Twitter Blue on their desktop computers and only detected 116,000 confirmed sign-ups last month, which at $8 or $11 per month does not represent a major revenue stream. The analysis did not count accounts bought via mobile apps.
After buying San Francisco-based Twitter for $44 billion in October, Musk has been trying to boost the struggling platform's revenue by pushing more people to pay for a premium subscription. But his move also reflects his assertion that the blue verification marks have become an undeserved or "corrupt" status symbol for elite personalities, news reporters and others granted verification for free by Twitter's previous leadership.
Twitter began tagging profiles with a blue check mark starting about 14 years ago. Along with shielding celebrities from impersonators, one of the main reasons was to provide an extra tool to curb misinformation coming from accounts impersonating people. Most "legacy blue checks," including the accounts of politicians, activists and people who suddenly find themselves in the news, as well as little-known journalists at small publications around the globe, are not household names.
One of Musk's first product moves after taking over Twitter was to launch a service granting blue checks to anyone willing to pay $8 a month. But it was quickly inundated by impostor accounts, including those impersonating Nintendo, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Musk's businesses Tesla and SpaceX, so Twitter had to temporarily suspend the service days after its launch.
The relaunched service costs $8 a month for web users and $11 a month for users of its iPhone or Android apps. Subscribers are supposed to see fewer ads, be able to post longer videos and have their tweets featured more prominently.
SpaceX takes second shot at launching biggest rocket
SpaceX prepared to launch the biggest and most powerful rocket Thursday, working nonstop after the first shot at a test flight fizzled earlier in the week.
The nearly 400-foot (120-meter) Starship was poised to blast off from the southern tip of Texas, near the Mexican border. SpaceX’s Elon Musk gave 50-50 odds of the spacecraft reaching orbit on its debut.
None of the rocket will be recovered. Instead, if all goes well, the first-stage booster, dubbed Super Heavy, would drop into the Gulf of Mexico. The spacecraft on top would continue eastward, passing over the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans before ditching near Hawaii. The whole flight, if successful, would last just 1 1/2 hours.
The company plans to use Starship to send people and cargo to the moon and, eventually, Mars. NASA has reserved a Starship for its next moonwalking team, and rich tourists are already booking lunar flybys.
A stuck booster valve scrapped Monday’s try. Hundreds of space fans returned to the launch site at Boca Chica Beach on the eve of the second launch attempt, snapping more selfies.
“I've been waiting for this, really, for years,” said Bob Drwal, a retired engineer who drove down from Chicago with wife Donna.
Imo to bring in `Annual Report feature’ this Eid
The popular instant audio/video call and messaging app, imo, is set to launch a new “Annual Report” feature on Thursday, aiming to bring people together this Eid-ul-Fitr with enhanced communication amid festivities.
“Imo has always focused on executing meaningful initiatives for the betterment of communities, allowing people to come together and share key moments with each other,” the instant messaging app said in a press release.
The new feature will enable imo users to send their loved ones an 'Annual Report' of the previous year (2022).
Users will be able to avail this feature by clicking on the link sent by imo team through text to generate an Annual Report consisting of the last year's total number of calls, most calls made, most chats and more.
“Users can now easily relive their best moments of last year on imo through this Annual Report and share it with friends, families and close ones on the occasion of Eid while exchanging Eid wishes and pleasantries,” the press release reads.
On this occasion, Mehran Kabir, Business Director at imo, said: "At imo, we focus on innovating meaningful features to our platform that will enhance connections at all levels.”
We hope that our newest “Annual Report” feature will add a new dimension to the Eid festivities and make communication more wholesome. Through this feature, imo has yet again proven to be a powerful tool in safeguarding and empowering bonds with loved ones," he said.