Spamming conquers iMessage system

The iMessage system that was introduced by Apple is a great way to send texts from one apple device to another without ever the paying fees to your mobile carrier. But over the past year, it has evolve into something of a nuisance. The iMessage has been polluted by spam message. It’s a cheap and easy way for luxury goods spammers to get their junk messages front-and-center on your phone.

A year ago, Tom Landesman—who works for security and anti-spam company Cloudmark—had never seen an iMessage spam. But he and his company now say that, thanks to one particularly aggressive campaign from a junk mailer, it accounts for more than 30 percent of all mobile spam messages.

These kinds of spam campaigns come and go. Cloudmark spotted its first one late last year, when the scammers were flogging imitation designer handbags. Lately, the spammers have been pushing deals on knock-off Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses.

Apple’s iMessage system spans across the iPad, iPhone, and Apple’s laptop and desktop systems. That fusion of the desktop and mobile world makes it particularly easy for scammers to write a Mac OS script that can send messages to all types of devices just as fast as Apple will allow. “It’s almost like a spammer’s dream,” says Landesman. “With four lines of code, using Apple scripts, you can tell your Mac machine to send message to whoever they want.”

Most of the time, the spammer will need a phone number to deliver the iMessage spam, but if you’ve added your email address to iMessage, the spammers can get you using that address too. (On your phone, you can see which addresses and phone numbers are associated with your iMessage account by visiting: Settings –> Messages –> Send and Receive)

Apple’s desktop client instantly tells you whether or not the number you’ve entered is registered with the iMessage network, so scammers could use this feature to generate a list of verified iMessages users. As an added bonus, iMessage notifies the scammer whether the message they’ve sent out has been read or not.

It’s very easy for spammers to register an iMessage account. All you need is an email address. We’ve seen spam sent from accounts registered to Microsoft’s hotmail.com system and to Chinese webmail providers such as Yeah.net. “In 10 minutes, if you have a whole bunch of accounts, you’d be able to send a huge volume of messages,” Landesman says.

Because the spam is all traveling on Apple’s network, your mobile carrier can’t do anything about it. That makes the clean-up job an Apple problem. Reached Monday, an Apple spokeswoman didn’t have any immediate comment for this story. But the company has taken some steps.

2015 Civic Type R Spied in Nurburgring

Honda Type R fans just have to wait a bit longer. Honda has not been seeing any true performance cars in a while, ever since they dropped the S2000 in 2009. The favourable FD2R was axed a year later in 2010, while the CR-Z was a car produce to stay in line with the current trend. What you’re seeing here is the European version of the CIvic Type R, still under going numerous testing.

Unlike the concept shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the production version of the upcoming Civic Type R will be toned down quite a lot, as evident in the photos. Although it has been toned down quite a lot, certain go-fast bits are still evident, like the quad-pipe exhaust, bigger sized rims, a rear diffuser and fatter wheel arches. Also notice the front mounted intercooler.

As we mentioned earlier, the new Type R is poised to go against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus ST. Honda will drop their tried and tested K20A block due to emission regulations, and will adopt a turbocharged engine. This puts the Civic Type R on the same ground as the Focus ST, but not the Golf R, since the Golf R comes equipped with VW’s 4Motion system. Power of the new Civic Type R is rumoured to be above 276 hp, with about 400 NM of torque on tap.

Honda is also eyeing to dethrone Renault Megane RS as the fastest front wheel drive production car around the Green Hell.

Toyota reveals the all new FT-1

Toyota have caught the automotive community attention when they unveiled the FT-1 concept at the Detroit Auto Show last January. Coming from the same people who gave us the Lexus LFA, Scion FR-S and Toyota Supra, the FT-1 concept looked striking in its bright red livery. But the Japanese automaker isn't quite done with it yet.

We don't have the production announcement to share at the moment, but Toyota has revealed two new versions of the FT-1 concept that cast it in different light. Most notable is the graphite version pictured above. Replacing the bright red paintjob and two-tone red and black interior of the original concept, this second iteration – presented in the metal at McCall's Motorworks Revival in Monterey, CA – goes for a more upscale and refined graphite exterior and a tan leather interior with exposed metal elements.

Both versions of the virtually road-going FT-1 concept will be playable in Gran Turismo 6, but at the same time Toyota also revealed (in digital form, at least) a virtual racing version of the concept called the FT-1 Vision Gran Turismo. Looking like the original concept was prepared for Japan's Super GT series, the FT-1 Vision GT is retuned for racing, with wider fenders, more extreme aero, competition-spec alloys on slicks and the like.

VW with another recall of 189,000 Tiguan

Volkswagen AG is recalling 189,490 Tiguan small SUVs in North America for potential stalling issues.

The company said gas bubbles may form in the fuel system in the affected vehicles from model years 2009-14 when winterized fuel with high vapor pressures is used in warmer areas or during months with higher temperatures.

That could lead to reduced fuel pump performance and pressure, potentially resulting in vehicle stalling and could lead to an accident.

VW said no accident or injuries related to the issue have been reported.

Dealers will install revised electronic control module software on all affected vehicles at no cost. The recall is expected to begin later this month, a spokeswoman said.

Of the affected vehicles, 151,389 were sold in the United States and 38,101 in Canada, a spokeswoman said. No other markets are affected by the recall, she said.

3 time champs kills young racer in a racing horror show

Tony Stewart is not currently facing criminal charges over the on-track incident during a sprint car race that resulted in the death of a fellow racer Kevin Ward Jr.

Ontario County Sheriff Phillip C Provero told a media conference on Sunday that an initial examination of available evidence does not support the accident being considered a criminal matter.

"At this moment there are no facts or evidence that would support a criminal charge or criminal intent," he said.

"This is, right now, being investigated as an on-track crash, and I don't want to infer that there are criminal charges pending.

"When the investigation is completed we will sit down with the District Attorney and review it, but I want to make it very clear that there are no criminal charges pending at this time."

Stewart has been cooperating with authorities in the investigation and was described by Provero as "visibly shaken" by what had happened on Saturday night.

The incident began when Ward and Stewart made contact during a race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park, an hour from Watkins Glen, where the NASCAR Sprint Cup was racing last weekend.

Ward spun out, climbed from his car, and walked down the track gesturing at Stewart as the three-time Cup champion looped back around. 

Stewart's car fishtailed as it passed the 20-year-old, hitting him with its right-rear wheel and flinging him to the side of the track. He was pronounced dead at nearby FF Thompson Hospital.

A statement from Ward's family read: "We appreciate the prayers and support we are receiving from the community, but we need time to grieve and wrap our heads around all of this."

Next Gen of the LEXUS LFA Supercar

The next generation of the Lexus LFA is already in the works. It is a known fact since 2012 that Lexus is already working on the next generation of the LFA. Now it is being confirmed by Mark Templin, the Executive Vice President of Lexus.

As with all of the new performance-focused products coming out of Toyota these days, the LFA II has the support of company CEO Akio Toyoda. “Akio believes that every generation deserves to have a car like an LFA” said Templin, “so we’re building an LFA for the generation we have today.”

Templin went on to comment that there may even be plans for a car after that.The LFA was introduced in 2010, featuring a carbon fiber chassis, a 552 hp V10 engine and a price tag of $375,000. Just 500 LFAs were made.

Lexus is currently in the midst of a strong product push, having just launched the new NX crossover with the RC and RC F models set to arrive later this year. Rumors have indicated the Toyota luxury division is also planning to launch a version of its LF-LC concept car with a choice of either a hybrid engine or a twin-turbo V8.

Initial D: Takumi finally found his match

At last, this super hero driver in Takumi Fujiwara in his Toyota AE86 finally met his match. It was a grudge match but of course in the, Takumi just have the edge. Enjoyed this one. One of the few Initial D series that does not make me doze off half way.