Reasons Behind Successful Phishing Attacks

Posted on 13/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Phishing is one of the most infamous cyber attack vectors that is widely adopted by attackers for luring victims to reveal their sensitive and confidential information. Phishing attacks are generally carried out through the medium of emails.

Attackers forge fake emails with malicious links. Once the link is clicked and the victim submits its credential, the attacker gains unauthorized access by misusing those credentials. Hence, the victim gets phished.

History of the Emergence of Phishing Attacks

The history of phishing is quite old. It has been prevalent since the good old days of the 90s. America Online (AOL) was one of the top internet service providers during the mid-90s with millions of visitors every single day.

Attackers or ‘Phreaks’ (yes! That’s what attackers used to call themselves. Fancy, right?) started trading pirated software over AOL and formed a ‘warez’ community.

This community stole AOL users’ passwords, created random credit card numbers, and spammed users.

This process was automated with the help of windows software AOHell. Once discovered, AOHell was shut down by America Online.

There are many cases that have been reported and even more that have not been reported. On average, 1.2 million phishing attacks occur annually. According to security research, phishing attacks almost doubled to 482.5 million from 246.2 million in the year 2017. Statistics show that phishing accounts for 91% of all cyber attacks.

Why do Attackers Use Phishing Attacks?

Large User base

One of the biggest reasons for the success of Phishing attacks is the widespread use of emails. At present, there are around 2.6 billion email users and this number is expected to cross 4.2 billion by the year 2022. Susceptibility rate of phishing attacks is quite high as attackers can easily find out email addresses, send phishing emails, and there, it’s done.

Humans are the weak link

The other big contributor to the success of phishing attacks is the victim itself. These days, social media has become a huge part of people’s lives. People are putting out their entire lives online. Attackers can easily access the personal information of the victim through a social networking platform that helps in creating personalized phishing attacks (also known as Spear Phishing).

Lack of awareness

Lack of security awareness among employees is also one of the major reasons for the success of phishing. Organizations should be aware of how the benefits of security awareness training can secure their employees from falling victim to phishing attacks.

In recent years, attackers have shifted their focus from individuals to employees within the organization. Statistically, 90% of the cyber attacks are the result of employee negligence. During the year 2018, a 76% increase in the number of phishing attacks was observed.

54% of the companies had experienced one or more attacks that compromised their IT infrastructure and data. According to the survey done on 19,000 people, approximately 97% of the people are unable to identify such attempts.

Leniency in the adaption of security measures

The leniency in the adaptation of security measures is one of the biggest reasons for the success of phishing attacks. Studies have shown that organizations lag in spending money on the implementation of cybersecurity measures. During the year 2018, 51% of the organizations have made no change to the budget allocated to ensure cybersecurity.

These reasons play a huge role in the success of such attacks. Therefore, it is extremely important for organizations to implement cybersecurity practices and understand the benefits of following security measures properly. Cybersecurity companies like Anteelo , ensure that your network and infrastructure are secure from cyber attacks. Anteelo offers industry-leading cybersecurity solutions and tools such as cyber attack simulation and awareness tool, email authentication and anti-spoofing solution; anti-phishing, fraud monitoring & take-down solution; phishing incident response, VAPT and secure code review.

Impenetrable Security: Securing People, Process & Technology

Posted on 12/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Securing people, process & technology and having an Impenetrable security posture in an organization has been a major concern for businesses since years. Organizations have been investing massive amounts in next-gen security technologies such as antivirus, firewalls, full disk encryption and data loss prevention. The investment in cybersecurity solutions has risen from $3.5 billion in 2004 to $75 billion in 2015, and forecasted to reach $170 billion by 2020! Though these solutions are considered as the epitome of security, they fail to secure one very important aspect of cybersecurity, which is the People. In the current era of technology, People, not technology, are becoming the key to securing organizations.

Why do we need to have an impenetrable security posture addressing the human element?

Cyber attackers are well aware that employees in an organization are considered to be the least resistant or in other words, the weakest link for any security breach. As a result, attackers are intruding technology using cyber-attacks like Phishing, Smishing, Ransomware attacks, removable media etc. The solution to mitigate it is quite simple, just as organizations are investing in creating a secure IT infrastructure, they’ll also need to start investing on a security-conscious workplace, also known as a human firewall, in order to obtain an impenetrable security posture.

However, this can only be achieved if they are able to raise the awareness amongst the people to such an extent that they at least become a strong firewall against potential cyber threats. The best way to incorporate awareness is to gamifying the training part in order to create employee interest in the subject. As for many of them, the idea of cybersecurity ignites the same emotions that air travelers experience when witnessing the flight safety presentations during the start.

To create a secure culture and behavior amongst the people, organizations need to establish a long-term security awareness approach. An approach, where the employees should be tested for their behavior, and how they are reacting against the top potential online attacks. Where the workforce will be engaged in knowledge imparting and regular security assessments as building a strong line of defense is not a one-time security training, it needs to be a continuous process. This will at least make the employees think like security professionals, or at least be vigilant enough to think twice before reacting to cyber scams.

Also, we cannot completely blame the employees when it comes to data breaches, for example, if a user commits a mistake and clicks on an email that causes a breach, we often think that it happened because of the user’s negligence. But it is not actually the case, the organization was already under attack when the attacker sent the email before it was even clicked or opened! So having a powerful security infrastructure is equally important when it comes to incorporate People, Process, and Technology.

What are the possible consequences of not having a cybersecurity awareness training program for employees?

Given that 91% of the data breach attacks include phishing, if your workforce is not prepared to identify and ignore these attacks, the risk of a successful cyber attack, such as ransomware is greatly increased. Small businesses are affected the most as they can be extremely fragile, and the cost of a breach is always high in terms of money. Also, depending on what loss is incurred and how it impacts the customer base, a data breach can do significant damage to your brand reputation as well.

Companies need to harmonize security and convenience when talking about security awareness to their employees. The goal should be to lower the risk to an acceptable level. Awareness training is an emerging trend, and organizations should always look out for upcoming trends in employee compliance and new tools, in order to improve cybersecurity awareness.

Some people are still on the fence about investing in employee cybersecurity, what should be the driving factor for them?

Here the answer will be simple, a big YES! It is considered an essential practice to incorporate impenetrable security involving employee security measures in organizations. The employees need to keep in mind that everyone has a role in keeping a company and its stakeholders protected. Companies might consider spam filters, firewall, IPS, SIEM, app whitelisting etc. to be effective against cyber scams, but the only way they can make these tools effective is by involving the users in cyber defense.

Every organization across the globe has data which is valuable to the attackers. Data such as customer records, email accounts, employee data etc. are all sought after and can make your organization a high-value target. Organizations should have a highly maintained security management approach which should include high-quality employee protection program, documented patching process, identity, access and password management and an incident response plan. Dedicated cybersecurity firms like Anteelo , solely work on People, Process, and Technology agenda, providing customized VA-PT (Vulnerability Assessment- Penetration Testing) services and employee risk assessment tool, that helps organizations in reducing the overall threat posture to up to 90%.

The human element: Weakest Link in Enterprise Security

Posted on 11/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Have you ever heard the term that employees are the weakest link in the security of the organization? If yes, then it is completely true. IT security is one of the tricky set of scales. No one is resistant to make an error, and making a mistake will take only one forgotten step or an incorrect click to bring down your complete system. As technologies are mounting up hackers are setting digital traps ubiquitously to profit from the employee’s one mistake, so the odds are frequently more in their goodwill than yours for productively.

If your firm is like most, and you are spending a lot of your budget on security: to protect your organization then you must be aware of the facts that spending on products is useful if the weakest link is attentive about the latest cyber security trends. The expert consultant’s help you understand where your weaknesses lie and sort out the expected mess when something goes incorrect. This approach can work, but it fails to prove that the weakest link in your security fence: are your employees.

The risk of cybercrime has created a noteworthy increase in concern on the matter of cybersecurity, with organizations spending dollars to shield themselves against this growing array of present and possible future threats. They frequently forget the menace exposure created by their own employees and customers.

Unfortunately, business heads don’t realize that the biggest threat is the human element in spite of the fact that barely a day goes by without news any data breach. It’s secure to say that we work in a risky environment with risky people. But there’s a mounting recognition that cybercriminals aren’t the only risk to an enterprise. So it’s also necessary to educate employees about increasingly complicated phishing and vishing techniques and also to carry out Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing(VAPT). It is imperative to carry out standard and systematic education and cyber training sessions to keep everyone up to pace on the most up-to-date threats and best practices. All the mandatory compliances also ensure the reduction in the cyber risk.

Is your Digital life at risk? Let’s know more about it!

Posted on 09/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Are you using social media platforms on daily basis then you must be aware of its dark side impacts on your social life? Let’s talk and rethink about your personal safety before using these interactive internet based applications. As people use it to connect with far-flung friends and family members to send speedy messages to colleagues and can broadcast major and minor actions in your lives. This is also a basic platform for many businesses to collaborate or share information for instance; individuals can discuss an assignment with co-workers by means of a various social media messaging session. With advancement employers and schools are more and more using social media to reach out to possible employees and students as well.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 16 million US residents became victims of identity theft in 2012 alone. Keeping your passwords, financial, and other personal information safe and protected from outside intruders has long been a priority of businesses, but it’s increasingly critical for consumers and individuals to pay attention to data protection advice and use various top-notch practices to keep your personal information secure and protected. There is loads of information out on the internet there for consumers, families, and persons on protecting their bank credentials, sufficiently protecting desktop and laptop from hackers, malware, and other threats, and most excellent practices for using the Internet safely for personal safety. Protecting your individual information via various cybersecurity training programs can help lessen your menace of individuality theft.

Various conducts to secure your data:

Maintain proper security on your PC, Mobiles and other electronic devices to secure your social life.
Systematically store and arrange your personal information securely
Ask questions before deciding to share your individual information

Practices for personal safety and Keeping Your Devices Secure

Install good quality anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and a firewall.
Don’t open files which are not known to you or download programs sent by outsiders.
Before sending personal information over your laptop on a public wireless check if your information will be protected.
Keep financial information on your laptop only if necessary.
Don’t use an automatic login feature on your bank accounts and emails that save your username and password.
Delete mail that contains identifying information or account numbers or invalid transaction.

There is so much information that may make you get confused, principally if you’re not a tech-savvy. In order to mend these issues, you can adopt various straightforward best practices and tips for protecting your devices from threats or simply consult us via contact@anteelo.com and get various security tips to secure your social platforms.

Why Banks Need Cyber Security?

Posted on 08/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Do you know the frequency of sophisticated attacks on the banking sector is increasing day by day? If so, then the need to develop a comprehensive cyber security program is vital. The banking sector has always been susceptible to banking related and financial frauds. Subject to the technological advancements, the banking systems are now connected to the internet and have migrated from the physical centers to computer systems and to other platforms like mobile phones.

Although this, like every other technological change, is a development that is aimed to make life easier for the masses, it (like every other technology) comes with disadvantages.

Lack of Cyber Security in the Banking Sector

The biggest disadvantage that the banking sector has been facing subject to being digitized is being vulnerable to cyber attacks. Since the banking platforms are available online, any flaw in their application risks the chance of getting exploited by anonymous attackers throughout the world.

That is, digitization of the financial services industry has opened the gates of anonymous incursions and hence, to myriad information security threats. In order to prevent fake transactions, the banking platforms have taken several security measures like incorporating advanced analytics; but not being in compliance with the set mandatory safety norms hinder the successful implementation of the same (that is, although the measures have been enforced, they fail to provide complete protection).

The last quarter of 2016 witnessed the largest data breach in the history of India’s banking system when about 3.2 million debit cards, belonging to some of the major banks, got hacked using a malware (virus) infection.

Another incident of banks being targeted by the cyber attack was reported at the beginning of 2017 when three Indian banks belonging to the Public sector got infiltrated in order to create fraudulent trade documents. The SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) systems associated with these banks were discovered to be compromised with the purpose of creating fake documents.

This was not the first time that the SWIFT systems got breached. The Bangladesh Bank Heist that took place in February 2016 occurred because of compromised SWIFT systems as well, and so did a number of other attacks.

Consistently increasing and more streamlined attacks like these (the ones mentioned above) make the banking sector one of the most targeted domains and since it is one of the most crucial ones (dealing with the finances of a country), it is imperative that banks opt for cybersecurity (both at basic and advanced levels).

Mobile Application Testing- A Step by Step Guide

Posted on 07/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

As mobile applications are emerging as the biggest trend in the market today, it is carrying with it plenty of opportunities for everyone- may it be the developers, the app owners or the users. Mobile apps have created a stir in the market, and therefore, the competition in its market is cutthroat. Therefore, just building a functional and aesthetically pleasing app in no longer enough. Developers must ensure that their app is free from any sort of errors, bugs or glitches which might hinder the UX and avert customers from using it. That’s when TESTING comes into the scene.

Quality Assurance is an indispensable piece of the mobile app development lifespan. Unfortunately, many disregard the basic step of this progression. To guarantee the fruitful development of any application, QA must be engaged with all phases of development, from the ideation stage to breaking down prerequisites, drafting test particulars and deploying the completed item. QA is even the way to post-development audits.

Be that as it may, it can regularly be overwhelming to realise where to begin while making your testing procedure. Mainly follow the below-given steps for a consistent methodology of mobile application testing:

1. Strategizing and Preparation

This is the first and foremost step after you are done with your development process. This phase requires you to set up a strategy and draft a work plan to define what success means for your app and what constraints it might face. This is a crucial phase as it sets the trajectory for the rest of the steps. The activities that are carried out in this stage are as follows:

Affinity for different systems
Check and rundown the necessities:
Check Frequency of data-usage
Check Frequency of space-usage
Dissect practical prerequisites
Does the application interface with different applications?
Identify the targeted devices
Is the application testing constrained to front-end? Does it incorporate back-end testing also?
Load Handling
The utility of each feature
Will the app be Native, PWA, or Hybrid?

2. Categorise the type of testing required

It is a compulsory necessity that the application needs to work in all iOS and Android gadgets as the end-users can have a variety of gadgets. To guarantee that the application works in every one of the gadgets, we chose a mix of manual testing, automated testing and testing in cloud simulator. This comprises of practical, ease of use, similarity, execution, or security testing on the objective gadgets. Likewise, figure out what sort of practical prerequisites ought to be tried.

3. Test Case and Script Design

The test case is a succession of steps that assist us in executing a specific test on the application. The test script, too, is something very similar. The only difference between these two is that the term test case is used during manual testing, whereas the term test script is used during automated testing. It is very crucial to draft a test case for each and every feature and functionality that you have provided in your mobile application. In addition to that, some extra test cases must also be included.

4. Setup Appropriate Environment for Testing

A testing environment refers to an arrangement of code as well as devices for the testers or automated scripts to perform test cases. In short, it assists in testing with hardware, software, and system designed. Testbed or test environment is arranged according to the need of the App-Under-Test. On a couple of events, testbed could be the mix of the test environment and the test information it works on. Setting up the correct test environment guarantees successful mobile app testing. Any imperfections in this process can lead to additional expense and time of the customer.

5. Manual and Automated Testing

This progression includes executing manual test cases and mechanised test contents on different gadgets, emulators or test systems. Presently these manual test cases and computerised test contents are run on the key functionalities of the application to guarantee that there are no glitches. Record the flaws recognised in the error management system and follow the work plan as devised in the first step.

6. Beta Testing

Beta testing is a significant piece of the application dispatch process. After engineers test their application (that is a thorough testing process called alpha testing), they push it forward to genuine clients to test it. Now, they have the chance to get large blemishes settled before making the application accessible for the more extensive audience. What will the beta testers do? They reliably utilize the application over a particular timeframe. They report back any bugs or issues, and they give their reviews about the application. This aides application distributors to choose whether or not their application is prepared for their target users. On the off chance that it’s not, they’ll have the opportunity to continue improving before it hits the application stores.

7. Performance Testing

Performance testing is the act of assessing how a framework acts as far as responsiveness and soundness under a specific task are concerned. Performance tests are ordinarily executed to analyse speed, power, unwavering quality, and application size. Performance testing assembles each one of the tests that check an application’s speed, strength, unwavering quality, and right estimating. It looks at a few pointers, for example, a program, page and system reaction times, server inquiry handling time, number of acceptable concurrent clients architected, CPU memory utilization, and number/kind of mistakes which might be experienced when utilizing an application.

8. Security Testing

Make sure that the application is secure by approving SQL injection, information dumps, session seizing, bundle sniffing, SSL, and gate crashers. Typically, mobile apps have generally less gadget memory and power so it is fundamental that applications must deal with it appropriately. Along these lines, the application performance can be tried by modifying the system from 2G, 3G, 4G to broadband and WIFI. Therefore, the responsiveness, adaptability, and strength are tried in performance testing of an application.

9. Device Testing

Device testing includes a lot of exercises from analysing and rectifying errors, content and administrations on genuine handsets. Testing incorporates confirmation and approval of equipment gadgets and programming applications. During this step, the mobile application is tested on various operating systems as well as a variety of devices so as to ensure that the apps work well when it is launched in the market among the end-users identified with the cloud. The primary motive of this phase is to attain decent test coverage relating to various devices, operating systems or versions of OS.

10. Reporting

At last, the QA administrator produces the test synopsis report. This is an administration report which gives subtleties of any significant data revealed by the tests led, incorporates evaluations of the nature of the testing exertion, the nature of the product framework under test and measurements got from occurrence reports. The report additionally records various kinds of testing performed and the completion of the testing. This assists in improving any future test arranging. This final report shows whether the product framework under test is fit for use and has met acceptance criteria characterized by venture partners.

In a mobile app development venture, mistakes can show up in any of the phases of the development cycle, some of them even stay hidden. Mobile application Testing empowers undertakings to assemble applications that are adaptable and accessible over various stages. It’s a procedure to fabricate a mobile application by testing it for its usefulness, ease of use, and consistency. This is possible via both automation as well as manual testing. Mobile applications are getting more and more complicated with time and there is a requirement for a start-to-end testing. Right from whether the app is downloadable easily, works smoothly, and gives the same kind of experience across various devices. Therefore, we hope that this article has given you enough insights into the mobile application testing process and may come handy when you need it.

THE UNKNOWN MANTRAS OF DESIGNERS

Posted on 06/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

“ABCD”, AnyBody Can Design. That’s right, anyone can become a designer. Attaining a specialised certification or having an expertising degree iis not necessary. If you’ve mastered the graphics software, you can simply become a designer. Learning softwares usage online and mastering does not make it illegal. It’s perfectly legal.

So, is design a science or an in-born skill? How do designers work?

The thing to remember here is design has two sides, one is creative and fun and the other is challenging and even daunting. And so, designers should also be problem solvers towards business troubles as well as aesthetic matters. Both of these are like bicycle tyres, like a human’s feet. It’d work only if both sides are balanced, else you’d find yourself limping. You must be very careful in maintaining the balance.

PROBLEM SOLVER

Being a designer, this is your first and foremost requirement. You should first know the problem and then conduct a deep-rooted analysis. The aim is to come up with such a solution that leads you to the path of achieving your goals. Now how do these analysis processes take place? What is the tool?

The best is the usage of 5Ws & 1H, i.e., What+When+Where+Why+Who+How. The right steps guide is, know the problem first, then find the context. Now once you’re aware of the context, make sure you know the precise purpose. Working without purpose would lead you nowhere. Take a note here, there is no need, absolutely none, to rush the finishing of the graphics software. And that is because not all problems can be solved with a sketch.

Designers create sketch solutions in the form of wireframes to solve the problems. Wireframe designs can be really wild, if you really get to thinking of the solutions. It’s a fact that beautiful sketches and hand-made drawings are not always capable of solving strong issues. Now when such a stage comes up, internal validation enters the picture. It is best to validate at the earliest stage possible, so that you get a definitive answer.

The method of analysing is not exclusive to UX/UI designs, rather it can be applied to the designing of illustrations, brand logos, etc. In principle, design is for knowing the problem, analysing it and then finding an appropriate solution. That’s the main function.

VISUALIZATIONS

The second mantra is visualizations. The design made at the initial stage, in the form of wireframes is processed in a way that is pleasing and looks absolutely beautiful. In this phase, designers can demonstrate their capabilities in the appearance department. You can tweak or completely subtract the placement of visual elements like shapes, lines, etc. Avoiding the clutter and instead leaving out acceptable white space for the perfect fit of the talking stage.

Processing graphics is like the dominant part at this stage. The designer’s choices and skills are the difference makers. Creation of style and possibilities in the main graphics software happens essentially because of the sensitivity.

Later on, the resultant wireframe is transferred over on the UI, which is beautifully done. It has an appearance where the colours are popping, option buttons are making you want to click on them. What more to ask for as a designer? The success of your design and work is all that you need!

Now, if you have both these mantras as characters in you, a problem solver and a visualizer, then there you go. You are a complete designer, a balanced one who can provide amazing solutions.

Furthermore, you should always be wanting to improve. So how would you improve your problem solving skills?

The thing is you will be solving problems, if there are problems. But the trick is, look for problems. Analyze every situation and try to improve it. So you question, “what if?”

There are multiple applications, products, websites out there and they all have scope to improve. There always is. You just have to work your way through the application/website and then figure out the issues that you probably face during the course. Not all of your queries down.

This process is a major part of running an analysis. An effective analysis gives a result wherein you find the best of best solutions. However, validation is of essence. You have to validate your resultant case study with the users through constant testing, this will tell you whether or not your solution is effective.

Secret mantras aren’t exactly a secret. We shall grow and learn together, so share the secret so that you don’t have a secret to guard anymore!

MOBILE APP: TOP MOCKUP TOOLS

Posted on 05/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

As we’ve said before that now the crossover realm of functionality and aesthetic is truer than ever. Which is why a mobile app mockup is crucial in the early stages of development. People have become accustomed to having apps that make them feel comfortable and are usable with an ease. Mobile mockups help in defining how the user experience and the aesthetics are functioning. Basically, it helps to make your app better, and the better it gets the more user traffic it will drive.When you are in the process of designing a software, a mobile app prototype testing gives your users, investors and the management a visual sense of how the app “feels like”. There are a lot of such apps in the market, but here we’d give you the top ten apps.

Let’s understand: A mobile mockup tool

There are many ways to mock up an app or a website. You can even use MS Paint, if you are not reluctant about using an antiquated tool. Today, there are several such solutions that function as simpler mockup tools and app prototyping.

There are two different kinds of mockup tools; One that mimics the intended functions of your app; And the other that just gives a visual layout of your designed app.

Prototyping Tools for Mobile App

Every prototyping tool available in the market also has mobile mockup features. And there consists features in the prototyping parts where the designer is enabled to add-in features that would let the app ‘flow’ like it originally should. This implies that when you click on a website/link, the app is supposed to work the same way as to how the actual app would work. A lot of mobile mockup tools along with prototyping features also include analytic features. The analytic features take note of how the test group is using the app, this helps the design team to better develop the app taking into consideration the user’s functionality preference.

Let’s look at the top mobile mockup tools;

InVision

InVision is one of the most immaculate options available in the market. They provide app developers dynamic proficiencies, and that too needs-specific. The tools that are power packed in InVision present you with mobile app- prototyping tools, wireframe tools and mockup solutions. Design teams can create anything from a simple basic layout to an absolutely full-fledged prototype that represents the intended design.

Marvel

Obviously you won’t be able to create the whole Avengers gang with this tool, but, you can create wireframes, design and prototyping with sheer ease. The Marvel system prevents the designers from getting uninhibited by any actual coding and works as WYSIWYG so that designers can create at peace. Marvel automatically takes note of the design’s parameters which makes it easier to pass off the entire properties to speed up the development process. This also relieves you of the guesswork that you would generally do to figure the way to replicate the mobile app mockup. This prototype also shows how users interact with the ensign and further inculcates a more centralized feedback framework.

Principle

This is another fully packed system that enables creating mobile mockups and prototyping the same. Principle presents designers with animation tools that are created on iOS and macOS engine, Core Animation. This makes it easier to illustrate and to apply the same on a working prototype. Designers can either select transitions from stock features or can simply create custom responses for UI. Users are allowed to import designs from the major tools and then further export animations that could be used by the developing team.

Framer X

This enables designers to quickly prototype their idea in a responsive layout. This is free, and it has one of the most developed digital stores for the purpose of third-party integrations via multi-platform plugins. It’s features and tools are curated by the Framer development community. Since the Framer system is a little advanced, it is not desirable for designers with no coding knowledge. Creating and coding prototypes at a decent level would be only possible for those with at least a little web coding knowledge.

After Effects

From the highest positioned design company Adobe, comes their animation app, After Effects. This app isn’t a prototyping tool in itself, rather it’s key point is that it offers a lot of control for creating motions and animations for media-intensive apps. Users can engage with other files from Adobe and can export their animation for using it in a mockup or prototyping.

Mockup Tools

A mockup tool allows a designer to build synthesised images for a mobile app or website in a short span of time. While mobile app prototyping enables receiving quick feedback, mobile app mockup and wireframe tools allow designers to create visuals for a project much quicker.

Let’s take a look at some top mockup tools;

Sketch

Although Sketch can also be employed for prototyping mobile apps, it’s main ability rests in creating consistent mockups. Like Framer X, this also has a large store for plugins maintained by a developing community. This mobile app mockup tool has a collaborative feature that makes it easy for designers to link with others working with them on the project and to receive feedback.

Figma

Figma is a cloud-based system, made for the purpose of collaboration between design teams for creating mobile app mockups. This comes with two bonuses, first that it also includes prototyping tools and second, the mobile app wireframing tools are free to use! The collaboration element in Figma is considered one of the best as it allows feedback to be left in the context without any interruptions. It’s almost like working in Google Docs but the difference is that this better accommodates feedback on design keys.

Adobe XD

We all know Adobe is the most famous when it comes to creating, designing apps/websites. Adobe XD also has a great collaboration feature that lets you work with other designers and teams on the platform. Since it integrates with other creative cloud softwares, hence, one gets a fine experience when using files from other apps like After Effects or Photoshop.

Proto.io

Proto.io is also a web-based mockup software and contains mobile app prototyping tools as well as mobile app wireframing tools. The best part is, it is a no-code solution, so designers that have zero to little knowledge about coding find it easier to work on this platform. This also works well with Sketch and Photoshop.

Simulify

This is designed to assist with visual mockups for sites via JAMstack. For messed and decoupled architectures, where you are constantly pulling data in and out from multiple apps/websites, Simulify is the ideal option. The Simulify system amalgamates with Gatsby which is ideal for using modern development frameworks.

We’ve provided you the top choices and now the ball is in your court. Choose wisely!

Challenges Faced by iOS Developers

Posted on 04/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Apple is improving every day. Throughout the years, iOS is widely used on an assortment of devices including iPhone, iPad, and iPod. And yet, with every new update, Apple brings new abilities and difficulties for developers over the globe. The below pointers talk about the challenges face by iOS developers while working on an iOS app: But iOS developers do face a lot of challenges while creating an iOS app. Some iOS developer challenges are mentioned below:

Challenges Faced by iOS Developers

Anyone can make an iOS app by using the iOS developer kit, which is regularly updated by Apple. But iOS developers do face some challenges while creating an iOS app, like:

1. Eligibility:

If you want to distribute your app on the App Store, you have to be 18 years or older and you have to purchase a membership by paying a fee of 99 USD per year. This can be a real hurdle for new developers who are just starting out with iOS development or for someone who is just experimenting with an idea. Also, the age requirement can be a limiting factor for young developers who are talented but do not meet the age criteria.

2. Rejection from the App Store:

Apple is very strict about the quality standards for apps in the App Store and has laid down clear guidelines that an app must follow. Your app might get rejected due to the following reasons:

Poor Performance: An app can be rejected if it doesn’t run smoothly without any major lags. Apple gives top priority to user satisfaction and if the app is slow to load, it is unresponsive or if it has major bugs, there is a good chance that the app will get rejected from the App Store.
Lack of information about the app: Every app must include metadata which describes what the app does, like screenshots, videos, and descriptions.
Safety Issues: The app should not include objectionable content which might include content that promotes violence, pornography, or consumption of illegal drugs, etc. If the app is in the kid’s category then it can’t include third-party analytics or third-party advertising.
Substandard UI and UX: The app must have a decent user interface which is not too confusing for the users. The layout should be pleasing to the eye and must include proper margin and padding. Also, the app should not be very complicated to use which might affect the overall user experience.
Copy of an already existing app: If the app is just a copy of another app in the App Store, it will be rejected as it does not include any original content.

3. Device Compatibility

Apple has released 11 iPhone versions, and each new iPhone comes with major updates in both hardware and software. Developers have to constantly learn the new features in the new versions and update the app accordingly; otherwise, the app will not run on the latest iPhone. Although it takes a while for a new iPhone to be released when compared to Android, developers still have to keep in mind about the major changes in the newer iOS updates and iOS challanges.

4. Resource Consumption

An app has limited resources available to it and it must minimize the use of critical resources like battery, CPU power and memory, otherwise, it might affect the proper functioning of the device. This can prompt the user to uninstall the app from the device or give it low ratings, which might affect the popularity of the app in the App Store. To utilize resources optimally, the app should be free from major bugs and should not contain unnecessary code. The focus should be given on testing the app and removing bugs in an agile manner. Sometimes developers have to create two versions of the same app for making it compatible with both low and high-end devices. This can increase development time and cost to maintain two versions of the same app.

5. Hardware and software requirements:

The biggest difficulty while developing an iOS application is that the Integrated Development Environment utilized for developing them is only compatible with Mac. A developer has to have a Mac device to develop an iOS application. This hardware constraint compels the developer to build on a particular platform thereby adding to the difficulty.

6. Storage Issues

iOS devices don’t include the trash assortment function. The application can be ended on the off chance that it turns source-controlled. Along these lines, it is a daunting task for the iOS developers to manage memory within the app. While building up an application for a particular adaptation of iOS, we can’t overlook that equivalent version runs on different iPhone devices and every one of them has a varying level of capacity and memory. There are applications and games that utilize a ton of space. Users are unable to use those applications or games, even if their smartphone is compatible with it.

7. Battery and Performance Optimization

Battery Drainage is a very significant problem that is very common with Apple users. A client tends to uninstall an IOS application on the off chance that they discover that it is draining out their phone battery. Therefore, iOS developers need to ensure that the application doesn’t execute any sort of unessential procedure that can suck the battery power. Battery and performance optimization itself being a difficult errand should be precisely looked upon particularly when any new iOS adaptation is launched.

8. High Expectations of UX/UI

Because of its High-quality UX and crisp layout, iOS has emerged as the top choice of users. While making an iOS application, engineers need to remember the requirements and feasibility of the end-users. They have to ensure the UI contains just the crucial features so as to make an easy-to-understand functionality. While making UI/UX for an application, developers ought to consider contemporary designs, so as to make an intelligent and instinctive interface. Since Apple has always provided its users with top-notch quality, the developers have the responsibility of keeping up the quality of the apps, or else users will not like it.

Conclusion:

Apple presents hardware and programming developments consistently while keeping up with firm security and control norms. iOS Development companies and developers must work in accordance with these advancements so they can limit the difficulties encountered during the application development process. The above-mentioned iOS developer challenges give the developers an insight into the hardships they might face and provides a front foot over the challenges that they might face during the development process. However, developers need to fathom with occasional updates so as to limit the efforts and provide quality solutions for the end-users. Constant testing and improvement experience will cause you to defeat all the forthcoming issues.

APPLYING FOR A DESIGNING JOB

Posted on 03/01/202018/06/2021 by Anteelo Master

Finding the right choice for a designing job can be really challenging. There are several aspects that are to be covered for applying, but your initial presentation should be impactful. What happens in most of the cases is that the applicants don’t represent themselves and their work in the right way. Hence, we’re here to help you better understand the process and aspects of applying for a designing job.

SET YOUR GOALS

You need to ask yourself, ‘what is your passion and what is it that you want to do?’. And if you are not sure, then you need to figure it out. It is best if you talk to someone who’s already in the same profession and industry. This will give you a much clearer vision and you would be able to figure out the direction you want to go in.

One question that you will be asked in every interview is – “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Now the important thing is you need to know the answer for that question for yourself. So make sure that you know what you want to do in your life and just focus on it, this would help you a lot and even make it easy for you to plan your future.

Be sure of building your career in an environment you can thrive in. Because the people around you can really affect your job and your career in the long run. So, you would want to find a job with an environment where people have passions similar to yours, connect with those people and you will go a long way in your choice of life.

WORK THAT PORTFOLIO

First impression is the long lasting impression if not the last impression. So, with your portfolio, you make the first impression. Your portfolio is the first thing your potential employer will look at. You have to work hard on your impression and present a few of your projects that you’re most proud of. Remember a portfolio is not just a bunch of sheets, it is how you present yourself and your way of thinking, so make sure every minute detail is perfect.

Try to avoid portfolios in pdf forms and dropbox folders with screenshots of your designs, especially if you’re applying at a digital company. There are a bunch of great online services that can help you build your portfolio in the best way (like Readymag, semplice, etc)

As a designer, always try solving the problems at hand with your projects. Talk about the approach you went with and the process you had whilst working on the said projects.

Here a few things that you should consider while sending your portfolio:

What are the goals of your project?
What is it that you want to solve?
What is the background of your project?
Who are your users?
How do you plan on solving the problem with your project?

Design is not just about creating beautiful things, instead it’s about following the right process and employing creative storytelling to come up with a solution. Which implies, functional utility > aesthetics.

A lot of times, people looking for a job say that they don’t have any work to show, since they didn’t get a real opportunity to work. You should know that you need not worry about not having any experience of working in an agency or with clients. There might be a website or a tool that you use in your daily life, one with which you would have had a bad experience.

Now, look into and find out what the problem/flaw is and try to come up with a solution for it, as to how you could improve it. There you go, you can present your work and approach by resolving the problem.

Be extremely careful with your portfolio, keep in mind all the current technologies and the latest designs for the same. Lastly, show what you are best at, and what you would want to work on.

INTERVIEW: PREPARE YOURSELF

First, research the company thoroughly before you go for the interview. Gain knowledge about the people who already work there and try to find them on social media. You will find a lot of useful information that may help you further. And, don;t forget to research the clients’ they are working for and the projects that they have done so far.

Second, be ready to present yourself and your work. Critiques help you sharpen your communication skills as a designer, as there is always scope for learning how to articulate what you did, how you did and why. Basically, it will help you in explaining your idea to the reviewer in a much better way.

The last and the most important key, BE HONEST. Nobody is perfect, so you remember to communicate them to your reviewer/potential employer.

CONCLUSION

Explore different companies, their profiles and websites, where you will find what they do and how they do it. And also about the people and the culture in their company. Attend design workshops and meetups, you have the best shot at meeting and getting to talk to people from the industry, you will find a lot of insightful information. And lastly, stay fresh with your portfolio work and keep yourself updated on the current trends in digital designs. Remember, this not just for applying to a job, but for all times. It’s good to stay updated all time.

History of the Emergence of Phishing Attacks

Why do Attackers Use Phishing Attacks?

Lack of Cyber Security in the Banking Sector

1. Strategizing and Preparation

2. Categorise the type of testing required

3. Test Case and Script Design

4. Setup Appropriate Environment for Testing

5. Manual and Automated Testing

6. Beta Testing

7. Performance Testing

8. Security Testing

9. Device Testing

10. Reporting

PROBLEM SOLVER

VISUALIZATIONS

Let’s understand: A mobile mockup tool

Prototyping Tools for Mobile App

InVision

Marvel

Framer X

After Effects

Mockup Tools

Sketch

Figma

Adobe XD

Proto.io

Simulify

Challenges Faced by iOS Developers

1. Eligibility:

2. Rejection from the App Store:

3. Device Compatibility

4. Resource Consumption

5. Hardware and software requirements:

6. Storage Issues

7. Battery and Performance Optimization

8. High Expectations of UX/UI

Conclusion:

SET YOUR GOALS

WORK THAT PORTFOLIO

INTERVIEW: PREPARE YOURSELF

CONCLUSION

Delivering excellence, collaborating across time zones.

Take a look at our global hideouts.​

Contact

India (HQ)

Atlanta, USA

London, UK

Dubai, UAE

Melbourne, Australia

Surabaya, Indonesia

India (HQ)

Atlanta

London

Dubai

Australia

Indonesia

Take a look at our global hideouts.