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HolyHigh ET1 True Wireless Earphones review

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Another day, another Bluetooth wireless headphone to review. Once limited to only a couple brands and models, “true wireless” headphones or earbuds as they are called are all but commonplace today. An Amazon search for “true wireless headphones” yields over 2,000 results.

With so many models and price ranges to choose from, how does the HolyHigh ET1 compare to others? Or better question, how can it stand out from the crowd?

In the Box

As far as unboxings go, opening the HolyHigh ET1 is about one notch above using a box cutter to slice through the razor sharp clear plastic that you’ll find encasing merchandise on peg board racks at your local discount store. In fact, you’ll find exactly that plastic inside the packaging once you slide the outer sleeve off the box.  Fortunately, no tools are required to open this packaging.

Under that plastic window you’ll find the charging case containing the left and right earbuds. The earbuds ship with stickers covering their respective charging contacts.

Pulling the case out of the package, you’ll also find a short micro-USB charging cable, 2 additional pairs (large and small) of silicone eartips, multi-language user guide, multi-language “tips” card, and “thank you” card.

Design

The HolyHigh ET1 true wireless earphones feature a behind the ear hook design. For active users, this ensures you won’t be losing them during strenuous activity. However, for eyeglass or sunglass wearers; this design may be uncomfortable as it adds bulk behind your ears. The ear hooks are made of rubber and are integrated into the earbuds.

The left and right earbuds are made of lightweight, matte black plastic. Each side features a single multi-purpose button, LED light and microphone. A grayish stripe spruces up and otherwise “plain-Jane” design.

No branding is present on the earbuds themselves which I’m guessing is either for OEM purposes or to appease brand-conscious buyers who might otherwise not buy a product that doesn’t overtly advertise “Beats.”

The charging case is made of similar matte plastic and features HolyHigh branding across the top. It is surprisingly lightweight for its size, about the size of a bar of soap. On the front of the clamshell case is a single LED light and on the rear a micro-USB charging port.

The case contains a 600mAh battery. Opening the case, I was befuddled to find the left earbud seated on the right side of the case and vice versa. Obviously not a deal breaker but an odd design decision.

Setup

The HolyHigh ET1 earphones can be used in both stereo or monaural modes. Pairing the earphones is a relatively simple process; remove the earphones from the charging case and press and hold the multi-function buttons on both earbuds for two seconds to turn on. Open your phone’s Bluetooth setting and select ET1. From here forward, you can use the left and right earbuds independently if desired.

Performance

Before we jump into sound quality, let’s talk about fit. Without swapping the eartips, I found that the left earbud sealed with no issue. The right earbud on the other hand was more fickle. I found that it would only remain seated in my ear canal if I rotated the earbud so that the attached end of the hook was placed against the top of my earlobe. Once placed in that position, it was time to crank some tunes.

To test the ET1 earbuds, I turned to my personal “I Hear Dead People” playlist. It offers a wide variety of genres and I’ve listened to them through all sorts of speakers, earphones, headphones, etc. to know the nuances of each song.

First up;  Nirvana’s “You Know You’re Right.” I noticed immediately that the HolyHigh ET1’s were capable of delivering on bass response. But the song sounded distorted at mid-range and above. It’s not often I listen to earphones that struggle on higher frequencies. I was honestly prepared to be disappointed.

Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt” was up next. I love this song. You can hear the finality of life in the timbre of Johnny’s voice. The vocals and acoustic guitar notes sounded fantastic. I went from disappointment to surprised satisfaction immediately. One of these songs is a fluke, but which one?

I allowed the playlist to continue. One deceased singer after another for the next 1.5 hours or so. Amy Winehouse, INXS, Joy Division, Notorious B.I.G., Prince, Soundgarden, Tom Petty, Sublime, Alice In Chains, etc. They all sounded good to great.

Battery check at the end of the playing session was at 60%. I predict that the claimed five hours of play time is not far off. The case claims 6X full recharges for 35+ hours of play.

Calls

My first call test happened spontaneously when I was testing music. I answered an incoming call using the multi-function button and while the call picked up, I could not hear the caller and they couldn’t hear me.

The second test was an outgoing call using only the right earbud and the caller heard me perfectly.  We’ll mark the initial test a fluke.

Controls

The good news is there are lots of controls available on the earbuds using the multi-function button. The bad news is you’re probably going to have to carry the instruction manual for a while to figure them all out.

  • Turn on – Remove from case and hold button for 2 sec. (Mine turned on as soon as I removed from case)
  • Turn off – Place in case and hold button for 5 sec.
  • Play/Pause – Press L/R button
  • Previous/Next – In stereo mode double-click L/R buttons respectively. Mono mode – double click L/R will only skip to the next track.
  • Volume Down/Up – Press and hold the left or right button respectively for 2 seconds and continue hold until desired volume is reached.
  • Answer/hang-up call – Press L/R button
  • Reject a call – Press button for 2 sec
  • Answer call waiting – Press L/R button
  • Reject call waiting – Press and hold L/R button
  • Switch between calls – Press L/R button
  • Answer incoming call and hang up first call – Double-click L/R
  • Hang up 2nd call and return to first call – Double-click L/R
  • Turn on voice assistant – Triple-click L/R
  • Turn off voice assistant – Press L/R

In my experience, double-clicking and triple-clicking were extremely clumsy. Especially when using my non-dominant hand. On more than one occasion, I launched Siri rather than navigating to the previous song.

Wrap-Up

At MSRP of $49.99 on Amazon I would personally have a hard time going with the HolyHigh ET1 True Wireless headphones. At the time of this review, a 15% off coupon was available bringing the price to a slightly more reasonable $42.49.

If you are in the market for behind the ear hook style earbuds, the HolyHigh ET1 should be on your list of considerations based on sound quality and a generous 24-month warranty.

The description on Amazon states the earbuds are “made of IPX7 waterproof material.” That doesn’t give me confidence that the earbuds themselves could withstand 30 minutes submerged in 3.3 feet of water. In fairness, I didn’t test the waterproof claim in my test either.

Just $69.99, the SmartFit watch comes with built-in wireless earpods

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Smartwatches come in a wide variety of price points and designs with all sorts of varying functions and features. The same can be said of earbuds, too. Both are gadgets that many of us purchase and use on a regular or semi-regular basis.

If you are in the market for one or both of these types of devices, you might be interested in what we’ve got in our Deals Store today. The SmartFit watch, just $69.99 right now, is a wearable that packs all of your typical features and sensors — and happens to include a pair of built-in earphones. It’s a 2-in-1 device.

Among other things, the SmartFit watch track steps, sleep, calories, and heart rate. This is helpful stuff for not only day-to-day activities, but also when getting in exercise. And when you do, you won’t have to look very hard for a pair of headphones. They’re already with you!

SmartFit Watch Features

  • Track all your sports activity by selecting the activity you are doing & a preset tracking will start
  • Keep track of heart rate 24 hours a day
  • Monitor your Blood Pressure on-demand with a 7-day history stored in your app.
  • Receive notifications for your SMS, calls, & social accounts
  • Calculate calories burned based on activity
  • Track your route w/ GPS tracking technology

Availability

You can purchase your SmartFit watch in the AG Deals Store for just $69.99 right now. Typically valued at $159, it’s less than half its normal price.

Best Sellers

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For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

How to install Fortnite from the Samsung Galaxy Store

Rizwan Anwer
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Even though Fortnite isn’t available in the Google Play Store, you can install it on your own. And with the new season getting underway, you can also update things, too.

If the Epic Games Launcher isn’t your style, or if you happen to own a Samsung device, you can go about installing and managing in a different way. Downloading it from the Samsung Galaxy Store means you will get all updates from Epic Games without having to worry about any ongoing lawsuits between Epic Games, Apple, and/or the Google Play Store.

Don’t miss out on the new season – install Fortnite from the Samsung Galaxy Store right now!

Pre-requisite

All you really need is a Samsung device that has the Samsung Galaxy Store installed on it.

Open up the Samsung Galaxy Store, and you should see Fortnite at the front page. If you don’t you can manually search for it.

Once you have found Fortnite, tap on it, and choose Install.

The download will be quick and once done, will prompt you to Open the app.

Once the app is open, tap on the Fortnite tile.

You will now see an option to Launch the game. Tap on it.

You will now be prompted to log in to your Epic Games Account.

Choose Yes, Find my account, followed by the method of login you use to access Fortnite, but the most common is Epic Games

After you get past that, there will be a screen that will tell you to install the game and telling you the game size. Tap on it, and keep the screen awake during the whole process, otherwise, your download will reset.

Once the download is complete, it will automatically install the game. After that’s done, the game should automatically launch.  Additionally, you can press the Play button on the screen.

You can also enable the toggle below the Play button to automatically launch the game when you boot the app.

Once the game is installed, depending on if the servers are up yet or not, you can now play the game.

I left my Pixel 4XL for the Pixel 3a and I feel right at home

Andrew Allen
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As you may have read in other editorials and opinion pieces here, I’ve been questioning just what the Pixel 4 XL really has to offer as a flagship over other Pixels.

From the weird gestures and face unlock to the missing fingerprint scanner, I’ve found myself ready to accept the Pixel 4a as my next device. But to further this thought process, I asked myself another question: How good is the Pixel 3a as compared to the 4th-gen models?

You’d be surprised

I’ve not skipped a beat in my daily driver. I moved to a Pixel 3a because I miss having a phone that’s easy to wield one-handed. I enjoy the bigger screen when watching media, but those are few and far between for me for extended periods.

My daughter has been rocking a Pixel 3a XL since it launched last year, so I thought I had a decent idea of where my mind was headed. I’d notice a pretty big drop in performance. I’d miss the premium builds. The camera would be slightly worse. At least, that was the idea.

Instead, I’ve noticed no big drops in performance. Yes, it’s slightly slower, but you’d never notice if you didn’t have them side by side. Honestly, in some regards, it seems better. Even with the smaller footprint, Pixel 3a is giving me a slightly better battery life with the Snapdragon 670 than the notoriously bad Pixel 4 XL.

And while the Pixel 3a is not the tank of the Pixel 4 XL when it comes to materials, Google did a great job of making the plastic body not feel cheap. I have also noticed I don’t constantly cringe when I set my phone down as much. I’m not a case guy and always leary of full glass phones like the 4 XL.

Camera… can you tell the difference?

This is the main reason I’m never leaving the Pixels. It was also my biggest reservation with downgrading. Thankfully, I have the same point and shoot success with great photo results on the Pixel 3a in comparison to the 4 XL.

Portrait mode seems just as solid. Normal auto-focus shots seem to have that same patented Pixel post-processing. Even Night Shot is legit. Now, all the processing does take a little more time to prepare your photo afterward, but it’s not like you’re getting a coffee in between.

Don’t believe me? Then take a look for yourself to see these shots taken by both phones.

What do I miss?

Qi wireless charging. That’s it. I’ve invested heavily in wireless charging over the years. From the first time I saw it on the Palm Pre, I was hooked. It’s been a true selling point for me on choosing phones for almost a decade.

I believe Qi should just be mandatory on any phone over $300 these days. If Anker and many other accessory makers can squeeze it into $80 earbuds, then I think the billions of cash Google has in the bank can make it happen on the entire Pixel line.

Just feels right

As I said in the intro, I’ve really been thinking about how much of a premium I’m willing to spend on devices of late. I’ve also recently traded my Dell XPS 13 for an older Dell Latitude. Are the metal and glass accents of top-tier devices great? Sure. But do I need them? Probably not.

The Pixel 3a, and presumably, the Pixel 4a hit a sweet spot for me that simply may not be worth going for the standard Pixels moving forward. As long as the camera continues to offer very similar results, I’ll make sure it’s a Pixel, but it may not be the most expensive model has to offer for my pocket.

Could I be coaxed back with the right combination of pricing, materials, and wireless charging? You bet. However, for now, I feel right at home with this little Pixel 3a at my side.

Eggtronic Power Bar review

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These days it’s common that mobile users have a decent portable battery bank — perhaps one they even carry with them daily. Some like simplicity and just need an extra charge on standby just in case; some want the full monty. That is to say that some want their power bank to take care of all their charging needs when away from wall outlets.

The Eggtronic Power Bar falls in the latter category. It’s a hefty slab of battery that offers up 10,000mAh of power and features a very Apple-esque feel to the design. Seriously, just check out that built-in Apple Watch charger.

Despite its physical port the Eggtronic Power Bar wants to be as wireless as possible. There are two wireless charging areas which can power both your phone and a pair of wireless earbuds. Or maybe two phones at the same time.

Then there is that Apple Watch charger that works beautifully. My wife is all-in on Apple so I was able to test with an iPhone XR, Apple Watch, and a knockoff pair of AirPods.

If you can’t take advantage of the wireless charging areas there is a USB-C port that you can plug your device into.

If your device doesn’t have wireless charging or a USB-C port Eggtronic has you covered. It includes USB-C to Lighting and USB-C to USB-C cords, and a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

The included cables are actually quite nice as they are braided and come with a Velcro wrap to keep them nice. You should be pretty much covered with whatever device you may have, regardless of how old it is.

Eggtronic Power Bar Features

  • 30W Power Delivery from the USB-C port
  • Wireless output: 2x 7.5W Qi-certified
  • Apple Watch output: 5W Apple MFI-certified
  • Total output: 53W
  • Battery capacity: 10,000mAh

Just going off that spec list, the Power Bar should be able to power just about anything you need to plug into it, or set on top of it.

Performance

I did my best to put this thing through its paces. I have an iPad Pro that the Power Bar didn’t have any issues charging up, but I don’t have a MacBook to test that with. As I said before the Apple Watch charger worked beautifully, in that it did what it was supposed to do.

I did have a few problems with it, though. For one, once the device being charged was full the Power Bar didn’t stop charging. You have to keep an eye on your devices to keep your battery health as good as possible for as long as possible.

Also, I don’t think I was getting the full 10,000mAh of power. This isn’t a scientific test, but stay with me. The 2018 11″ iPad Pro has a 7,812mAh battery and the LG G8 has a 3,500mAh battery for a total of 11,312mAh. Theoretically the Power Bar should be able to fully charge my iPad Pro and get me at least 50% on my G8.

From full charge the Power Bar charged my iPad to 92% and stopped. I checked the Power Bar and sure enough it was dead. Similarly, I got two full charges on my G8 and not much more. All of this very un-scientifically tells me this particular battery held less than 8,000mAh worth of charge.

Conclusion

Things can be forgiven just so long as a price point can be justified. The Eggtronic Power Bar comes in at a fairly staggering $149.99. Considering its “bells and whistles” I could probably be okay with that price… if it did them flawlessly and accurately. It doesn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, the Power Bar is by no means a bad product. It’s solidly crafted and has a sharp modern design. But when I review something, the price is always the sticking point for me. I want to like the Power Bar so badly, I really do. And I do like it, just not at the current price tag.

This $34 online training bundle will turn you into an Excel whiz

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Let’s say you’re someone looking to launch a new career or to enhance the one you already have. Perhaps you’re an IT graduate who feels as though a little certification could improve your chances for that first big job interview. Maybe you’re looking to polish things up before asking the boss for a raise. Or, it could be that you’re just looking to take advantage of the pandemic and make better use of your time.

If you’re looking to get anywhere in 2020, you’ll need to have a good understanding of how data works and how it can be used. When it comes to data, Excel is one of the first places to start.

If you’re ready to get certification in Excel or expand your horizons, look no further than the Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle.

READ MORE

The Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle includes six courses, more than 33 hours of instruction, and nearly 450 tutorials in how to improve your knowledge and skills by way of Microsoft Excel.

The training lays out all the critical areas covered in Microsoft’s official Excel certification exams, meaning you’ll be versed in all important topics and tools. We’re talking charts, graphs, pivot tables, functions, macros, and more. You’ll have no problem acing Excel tests and show your current or prospective employers that you’re the real deal.

This hyper-specialized Excel training is currently just over $5 per course as long as you act now. The Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle comes with lifetime access, so you need not worry about taking advantage of these courses within a limited time frame.

The Ultimate Microsoft Excel Certification Training Bundle is valued at nearly $1,000, but we’re offering it to our readers for just $34 (96% off). It’s literally pennies on the dollar. Hurry, this incredible offer won’t last forever!

Best Sellers

Earn Credits!

For every $25 you spend in the AG Deals Store you get $1 credit added to your account. And, if you refer the deal via social media or an email that results in a purchase, you’ll earn $10 credit in your account.

First Time Buying?

If this is your first time buying, you are also eligible for 10% discount! Just be sure to subscribe for email updates.

Free Stuff

Not looking to spend any money today? No worries. You can still visit the AndroidGuys section for freebies and pick something anyhow.

T-Mobile expands lineup with trio of REVVL phones

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T-Mobile on Thursday announced three new phones as part of its lineup, all of which carry the REVVL branding. As has been the case with previous generations, the trio are affordable alternatives to devices offered from more well-known manufacturers.

The three handsets, REVVL 4, REVVL 4+, and REVVL 5G, are slated to arrive on September 4 at T-Mobile and its prepaid brand, Metro. It’s not immediately clear as to who makes these models, but TCL has been known to build REVVL phones in the past.

The most intriguing phone being announced is the REVVL 5G which arrives as the least expensive 5G handset . Not just for T-Mobile, but for the US.

All are powered by Android 10 and feature face unlock, fingerprint sensors, and screens that are at least 6-inches.

Here’s a look at the key features for the three new phones.

REVVL 5G

  • Camera: 48MP (main) + 8 MP (Super Wide) + 5MP (Macros) RFC with 16MP FFC
  • Battery: 4500 mAh
  • Color: Nebula Black
  • OS: Android 10
  • Screen: 6.53” 19:5:9 FHD+ Display
  • RAM: 6GB
  • ROM: 128GB
  • Bands: 5G n71/n2/n66/n41/n25 LTE 2/4/66/25/26/41/71
  • Security: Face unlock and fingerprint sensor
  • Dimensions: 6.51” X 3” X 0.37”
  • Chipset: Qualcomm SD765
  • Processor: Octa Core (6*1.8 GHz, 1*2.2 GHz, 1*2.4 GHz)

REVVL 4+

  • Camera: 16MP + 5MP RFC with 16MP FFC
  • Battery: 4000 mAh
  • Color: Steel Gray
  • OS: Android 10
  • Screen: 6.52” 18:9 HD+ Display
  • RAM: 4GB
  • ROM: 64GB
  • Bands: 4G 2/4/5/12/25/26/41/66/71
  • Security: Face unlock and fingerprint sensor
  • Dimensions: 6.51” X 2.96” X 0.32”
  • Chipset: Qualcomm SD665
  • Processor: 1.8 GHz Octa-core

REVVL 4

  • Camera: 13MP RFC with 5MP FFC
  • Battery: 3500 mAh
  • Color: Graphite
  • OS: Android 10
  • Screen: 6.22” 19:9 HD+ Display
  • RAM: 2GB
  • ROM: 32GB
  • Bands: 4G 2/4/5/7/12/25/26/41/66/71
  • Security: Face unlock and fingerprint sensor
  • Dimensions: 6.26” X 2.99” X 0.32”
  • Chipset: MediaTek MT6761V/CA
  • Processor: 2.0 GHz Quad-core

Availability

Qualified T-Mobile customers can purchase the REVVL 4 for $5/month ($120), the REVVL 4+ for $8/month ($192) and the REVVL 5G for $16.67/month ($400) – over 24 months with $0 down.

New and existing T-Mobile customers can receive the REVVL 4 and REVVL 4+ for free or the REVVL 5G for $200 after 24 bill credits when switching or adding a line. Metro customers can take advantage of the same offers when switching or activating a line and verifying ID.

How to update Fortnite on Android using the Epic Games Launcher

Rizwan Anwer
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Fortnite update 14.00 is slowly rolling out across the globe, introducing gamers to Chapter 2 Season 4. This guide will help teach you how to update Fortnite on Android.

The game may have been removed from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, but users who have an Android device can make use of the Epic Games Launcher and the Samsung Galaxy Store to make sure they’re not left out of the loop.

This guide works for the Epic Games Launcher version of the app, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Store version.

How to update Fortnite on Android via the Epic Games Launcher

Pre-Requisite

If you’ve already followed our previous guide on installing Fortnite via the Epic Games Launcher or by the Samsung Galaxy Store, you’re already 75% of the way there.

In addition, you will have to keep the device near you as the app doesn’t support background downloading. Turning off the screen will pause the download and installation of the game after it.

You can choose to boot up Epic Games Launcher app on your home screen or App Drawer. Either works.

Your launch button will be replaced by an Update button.

Tap on the update button and this will start downloading the update. It will ask you permission to install a new version of Fortnite, tap Install, and then Open once its installed.

You will now be taken to the Fortnite app. Throughout the process, you will have to keep your screen on as the app doesn’t support background downloading.

Once the update is completed, the update button will change to a Play button and you’re all set.

This is how you will update the game when Epic Games pushes out new patches throughout the season. It is a bit annoying at first, but you’ll quickly get used to it.

Once the update is installed, depending on when you did it, the servers might still be down and you will have to wait for them to get back up before you play your first game.

If the servers are down, you will see this message. This is routine whenever a new patch is deployed.

You can monitor the server status of the game by clicking here.

When the servers have resumed, boot up the game and you will be taken to the home screen right away, ready to play the game.

BLU announces its first gaming device, the G90 Pro

AndroidGuys
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BLU has a reputation of making smartphones with the idea of keeping more money in your pocket. It’s pretty easy to find a range of BLU devices under $150. You obviously won’t get flagship specs on any of its phones, but for the most part, it makes some really solid devices.

Understanding there is a growing market for gaming smartphones, BLU decided to throw its hat into the arena with the announcement of the G90 Pro.

The standard retail price of the G90 Pro is $249.99, however, if you are one of the first to purchase the device you get an instant discount. While supplies last the G90 Pro will be available for $219.99. That is simply insane for a gaming phone. Now that we know about the pricing let’s get into the specs.

Specs

  • 5” Full HD+ display (2340×1080, 19:9 aspect ratio, 396ppi)
  • MediaTek Helio G90T SoC
  • Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock
  • 4GB RAM/128GB Memory with a MicroSD card slot
  • 5,100mAh LiPo battery
  • 18w Quick Charge/10w Wireless Charge
  • Dual SIM
  • Quad rear cameras: 48MP main, 2MP depth sensor, 8MP Ultra Wide, 2MP Macro
  • Front camera: 32MP

The G90 Pro seems to be a pretty solid device on paper. Save for the memory (RAM), I think the G90 Pro has everything it needs to succeed in a market of budget phones that is actually starting to get a little crowded (which is a good thing). To call it a gaming phone almost puts it in a class of its own, simply because there aren’t any at this price point.

You can check out our full review of the Blu G90 Pro here. After you read the review, let us know what you think of a budget gaming phone and if you think it could hang with a semi-serious mobile gamer.

Do you really need a VPN for your mobile phone?

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You need a VPN for all your online devices. That would include your Android or iOS mobile smartphone. The best VPN for your cellphone is a subscription-based premium service.

Cellphones are now called “smartphones” because of how they have morphed into hand-held computers that do much more than providing telephone service. You pay for your minutes consumed by telephone conversations and the data you up- and download through your device via your browsing and email.

Those data costs depend on your plan, and even the so-called “unlimited” data plans can result in slower connections as the user exceeds a specific monthly allocation. Thrifty and occasional smartphone users frequently ration their data usage to take advantage of low-cost monthly plans.

Whatever the reason, smartphone users who switch over to Wi-Fi can stop the clock on data usage. When that switching occurs, the smartphone is as vulnerable as any PC to hacking, hijacking, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks–which is why VPN for your smartphone.

About cellphone security in general

Android and iOS operating systems are essentially impermeable to regular computer viruses. Their main insecurities arise from downloaded apps that bypass Google and Apple controls. Apple’s app vetting tends to be more stringent than Android. Android users should stay with the Google Play store when downloading new apps, but be wary of the dangers.

One crucial security measure highlighted in this Business News Daily online piece is to be wary of free Wi-Fi in shopping areas and to switch off the device’s automatic Wi-Fi connection. The private cellphone connection is the most secure way to shop online. When the best option is Wi-Fi, a VPN app on the cellphone provides greater security.

MITM attacks infest unprotected Wi-Fi networks

Most security experts advise against ever logging into an unsecured public network. Because those public networks are unsecure and open to anyone who wants to log on, they are hangouts for hackers and crooks who want to get “in the middle” of unsuspecting victims and whomever they are talking to, communicating or doing online business with. Hence, the term “man-in-the-middle.”

The nature of the threat

MITM perpetrators employ a variety of sinister and tech-savvy tactics from live-session hijacking to tricking users into logging into fake websites or bogus web apps. The goal is to steal login credentials or convince the victim to transfer funds to a location other than the user intends.

To carry out that attack, hijackers typically use the following strategies:

  • Employing a “web pineapple” device, which detects and accesses unsecured networks
  • Spoofing DNS (Domain Name Servers). This is a lure that sends the victim to fake, malware-infested websites.
  • Hijacking unsecured session cookies. Those are unencrypted login trails that even if the site is secure, a hacker could steal user credentials to enter a webmail account. The hacker can leverage that entry for a variety of nefarious purposes—identity stealing, stalking the accounts of the user’s address book, etc.
  • Using open-source “sniffer software” to track the target’s online activity as well as intercepting the data transmitted by or received by the victim.
  • Employing a fake web application to route the victim to a previously hijacked web application under the hacker’s control.

How a VPN protects against MITM attacks

A VPN is a tool to deceive hackers and mask the user’s login location. VPN stands for “virtual private network.” The term “virtual” means that your private network has software rather than a hardware-based infrastructure. The “private” network is assured by encryption where your data is secure and flows through what is known as a “tunnel.” The “tunnel” is a method where packets of data are encased in other packets and flow to and from the VPN server.

The VPN server is typically at a location other than where the user logs in. That means that the user’s actual location (or IP address) is concealed. Even the user’s internet service provider cannot detect where the user logged into or what internet activity the user is engaged in.

VPNs for Smartphones are safe, but…

A premium VPN app like Surfshark can be used safely with smartphones. Like any app downloaded to a smartphone, it must be trustworthy. The most trustworthy VPNs are premium offerings. Beware of fake VPN scams and inferior free products that can download spyware and disappearing icons on the smartphone.

Free VPN offerings come with shady practices, like monitoring the user’s online activity and selling the data to marketers. Slower online performance can also occur as a result of pop-up ads. Free VPNs must use ad revenue to generate income, and they frequently exploit their users’ by downloading virus-prone adware.

Your best bet in a VPN smartphone app is a subscription-based premium offering like Surfshark. Premium services offer the best encryption and VPN protocols. Look for a “no-logs” policy where the service collects no data from users. Look for extras like multi-device downloading and features like connection speed enhancements, e.g., Surfshark’s MultiHop and GPS location spoofing for Android.

Conclusion

Its important that you have a VPN for your smartphone. With the proliferation of free Wi-Fi connections nowadays, the temptation is to freeze smartphone data usage and save money. Free Wi-Fi hotspots can be insecure and open the user to man-in-the-middle attacks. A VPN hides the user’s login location and encrypts web traffic.

VPN apps are safe for cellphones, but free versions can come with slower performance and privacy concerns. The best bet is to subscribe to a premium VPN smartphone app like Surfshark, which has tighter security protocols and extras that improve the user’s online experience.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

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