Top 10 ways to share files securely

Techradar - All the latest technology news Top 10 ways to share files securely

The internet is made for sharing and it's perfectly understandable that the moment you snap a picture of a new addition to the family, or some other unmissable photo, you want to show it to your loved ones. Or you might want to share critical documents with work colleagues.

How can you make sure that whatever you share is seen only by the people you choose? Simply placing a password on files won't always do – as you'd need a way of sending the password to the recipient securely in the first place!

In this article, we're going to explore some quick and simple options for sharing your files safely over the net. These are not exclusive so don't be afraid to combine them if necessary, or look into other ways to share files safely, too.

• We've also looked at how best to share large files here

1. Dropbox

Most Dropbox users know that they can click 'Share' next to a file or folder to generate a link to allow other people to download that file or folder. 

This is especially useful when you want to share files that are too large to email. Only people who have the link will be able to access the data, and you can delete the link at any time.

If you have a paid Dropbox Pro account (or a business one) you can password protect individual files and folders, as well as set the link to expire automatically.

• You can sign up for Dropbox here

2. Password protection

Many applications such as the cross-platform word processor LibreOffice Writer contain an option to password protect documents. Usually you'll be asked to type in the password twice to make sure it's entered correctly. Note it down carefully.

The specific steps you need to follow plus the strength of the encryption used will vary depending on the piece of software in question. Check with the developer (look for the support section of the website) if you need help with anything. Ideally documents should be protected with at least 128-bit AES encryption. 

You will of course need a way to send the password to the recipient securely after sending the file.

3. PGP/GPG

 PGP and GPG are two programs which make use of public key cryptography to send files securely. 

They get around the problem of having to send someone the password of a file you've encrypted by using a 'public key' to encrypt documents and a 'private key' to decrypt them. Your private key never leaves your computer but anyone can use your public key to send you files.

Setting this up can be tricky for less tech-savvy types. The easiest way is probably to install the cross-platform email client Mozilla Thunderbird, then use the free add-on Enigmail which has a handy step-by-step wizard.

• You can download Mozilla Thunderbird here and Enigmail here

4. OTR

OTR (Off the Record) messaging is a feature that can be added to a number of messaging programs such as the cross-platform app Pidgin. 

Messages are encrypted before leaving your machine, so you can safely send files to your correspondent. You can also use security codes to make sure no one is sitting between you and them, intercepting your messages (known as a 'man-in-the-middle' attack). 

OTR messaging is available as a plug-in for Pidgin, as mentioned, but is also built into other messenger clients such as FrozenChat for Android.

• You can download FrozenChat here

5. One-Time Pad

To use a One-Time Pad, first you must create a list of random numbers by rolling dice or using a computer. Your correspondent does the same, then you both meet and give each other a copy of the pads.

When you want to send your correspondent a file, you can then combine the random data in the pad with it, and send. The recipient can then use their copy of your pad to take away the random data to reveal the file. 

This is tricky to get right, but theoretically it's perfectly secure. There are a few programs as listed here, such as the Paranoia plug-in for the Pidgin messaging app, which can automate the process for you.

• You can download Pidgin here and the Paranoia plug-in here

6. LastPass

LastPass is an excellent service which stores all of your usernames and passwords in one place. One of its niftiest features is that you can choose to share a login – say, for Google Photos – via email.

Part of the beauty of LastPass is that if you choose you can allow your correspondent to log in and access files without them seeing the password. Your connection is also protected by SSL so there's very little chance anyone could connect to your data in the same way. In short, this is one of the most respected password managers out there, and with good reason.

• You can download LastPass here

7. Snapchat

Snapchat users will be aware that photos sent over the app theoretically self-destruct after a certain length of time. The recipient can take a screenshot of important information, however, and you'll receive a notification that this has been done. 

Snapchat updated its terms and conditions in 2014 to say that the firm may store copies of images you send. Ideally, you should use this app in combination with another of the methods listed here – for instance, you could encrypt a spreadsheet and send via email, then transmit the password separately via Snapchat. Splitting the file and the key in this way means only your correspondent will be able to view the data. 

• You can download Snapchat here

8. Resilio Sync

Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync) synchronises files using the BitTorrent protocol. The advantage of this is that instead of having to share files via a cloud service like Dropbox, files can be synced directly between two devices.

Provided both your device and your correspondent's are online, files can be shared in real-time and the connection is secured by 128-bit AES. BitTorrent is particularly good for sharing large files and folders as it was originally designed for that purpose. More devices can be added to share files with others if you wish. 

For more details and to download clients for both desktop and mobile platforms visit the Resilio website as linked below. The client is not open source so there's no easy way for security experts to check the code used for any vulnerabilities.

• You can download Resilio Sync here

9. SSH

SSH (Secure Shell) is a network protocol which establishes an encrypted tunnel allowing people to log in to a computer remotely. It can be used to upload and download files as well as run commands on the target computer.

If you have a server, you can give your correspondent their own username to log in and access files you've uploaded. Alternatively you could create an account for them on your own machine so they can connect to you.

Mac and Linux users will be pleased to hear they can use SSH directly from the Terminal app. Windows users can download the free program Putty to do the same.

• You can download Putty here

10. SFTP

Continuing the trend of obscure acronyms, SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is an extension of the SSH protocol used specifically for transferring files. In order to make use of it, you need to have access to a server, for instance by renting one from a provider like Hosted FTP.  

You'll be supplied with a username and password that you can use to connect and upload/download files. Most operating systems integrate FTP into the file explorer so you can move, edit and copy files onto the server just as you would with an ordinary folder. Although the connection is encrypted, documents stored on the server aren't, so consider protecting them with a password before uploading.

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The best free website builder 2017

Techradar - All the latest technology news The best free website builder 2017

The best free website builder

Creating a website used to be the domain (geddit?) of professional designers and coders, but these days it is something anyone can tackle. The problem is that there are so many website creation applications and services vying for attention that it can be difficult to know which one to opt for -- this is where we can help.

We've collated the very best free website builders available, including a mixture of offline software and online tools. It's usually quicker, easier and more efficient to create and edit a site entirely online with a WYSIWYG editor, but if you want complete control over every aspect of your site's design and hosting, you'll need a desktop-based free website builder.

So whether you're looking to create a site for your business, or you just fancy creating an online presence for yourself, here are the best tools to help you out.

Have we missed your favorite free website builder? Let us know in the comments below

Wix makes great use of images, and is ideal is you want to build an online store or portfolio

1. Wix

The easiest way to build your own website, with both a quick wizard and a smart WYSIWYG editor

Wix offers you two ways to build your website. Both involve creating it online, and both are as quick and painless as possible.

The simplest option is to use the Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) website builder which will guide you through a series of questions before automatically creating a site for you. There is scope for customization, but the focus here is really on fast results for anyone who is terrified of designing websites.

A more hands-on approach is available if you decide to use the standard Wix Editor. There are literally hundreds of stylish templates to choose from -- and, yes, they are genuinely impressive – which you can tweak and tailor to your needs using a beautiful WYSIWYG editor.

Despite being a cloud-based website builder, Wix gives you a great degree of control over the look of your site and placement of page elements. You can also liven it up using the App Market to add features such as a newsletter and live chat. This power and flexibility make Wix the best free website builder around for creating your own site.

Try it online: Wix

There are two versions of WordPress: a web app for creating a site online and having it hosted on WordPress's servers, and a desktop program for advanced users who want to host their own site

2. WordPress

As simple or complex as you like, Wordpress is ideal for static sites, portfolios, online stores and blogs

Causing a slight degree of confusion, there are actually two different versions of WordPress. The more complex version can be downloaded from wordpress.org, and you will need to upload it to your own web space and install it using the automated online installer. You can then customize the templates and use add-ons to make the site your own. This is the route many bloggers go down, but there is a simpler option for people who don't want the hassle of fiddling about with scripts and getting dirty with hardcore editing.

The hosted version of WordPress lets you create your own site on wordpress.com. You can create everything from a blog or photo site, to a fully fledged online store, and there are a number of templates to choose from.

Whether you're creating a static site, or a blog-style site with regularly updated content, the online editor is a joy to use and allows just about anyone to create an impressive, professional-looking site. With the only downside is the limited range of plugins and templates compared with the desktop website builder.

Try it online: WordPress

Download here: WordPress

CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor isn't a WYSIWYG website builder, but it provides a live preview of your site as you write it

3. CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor

Ideal for hand-coding a website, Free HTML Editor is packed with time-saving extras

CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor is one of a dying breed of web building programs that don't use a CMS (content management system). While not in the same league as the likes of Adobe Dreamweaver, Free HTML Editor packs quite a professional punch. With split screen code/preview views, it's possible to see the effect the changes you make have straight away.

To help you get started quickly, there are a number of templates built into the program, and there are some very nice features such as tag and code suggestions as you type. For absolute beginners the program might seem a little overwhelming to start with, but it's worth sticking with it – assuming you have some HTML knowledge. There is one slight issue; a number of features, such as spell-checking and code optimisation, are only included in the paid-for version of the program.

Download here: CoffeeCup Free HTML Editor

Joomla offers a fantastic range of downloadable plugins and templates to customize the way your site looks and works

4. Joomla

Another free website builder with online and offline versions, but not as slick as WordPress

Joomla is a well-known name in the CMS world. It may not be as popular as WordPress, but it offers the same two options: build a site using the web app at joomla.com and having it hosted on the company's servers, or download the software from joomla.org and host it yourself.

If you choose the latter option, you'll notice that the interface is much less approachable than WordPress. It's not completely impenetrable, but there are lots of menus and options to work through and it doesn't feel quite as polished as WordPress.

Joomla's online website builder is nearly as complex, but doesn't involve the same setup process, making it a bette option for beginners. Its key selling point is its huge collection of themes and extensions, which provide endless ways to customize the way your site looks and works.

Try it online: Joomla

Download it now: Joomla

SITE123 is incredibly easy to use, and all its templates are optimized for viewing on mobile devices

5. SITE123

Build a website and get it online in minutes, but bear in mind the size and traffic restrictions

As its name suggests, the idea behind SITE123 is that creating a website should be a simple as possible. As with other online-only free website builders, you start by choosing a general format – whether it's a simple blog or something more complicated like a store. Having filled in a few pieces of basic information, you're set loose to start customizing it.

Everything is either incredibly obvious or wizard-led, so you're never left floundering or wondering what to do. In a matter of minutes you can create a site with an unlimited number of pages, complete with free hosting, and there's even a library of free images and icons for you to work with.

If you choose you're restricted to 500GB of web space and 1GB of traffic, but should you start to exceed this, you can easily upgrade to one of the paid options.

Try it online: SITE123

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The best free alternative to Microsoft Word 2017

Techradar - All the latest technology news The best free alternative to Microsoft Word 2017

The best free alternative to Microsoft Word

Everyone needs a great word processor, and Microsoft Word is one of the best thanks to its wide format support, integration with other Office apps, and huge range of high-quality templates.

However, that power and convenience doesn't come cheap – even with Microsoft's Office 365 subscription model, which spreads the cost throughout the year. Free software has come a long way in recent years, and there are now superb alternatives to Microsoft Word that don't cost a penny.

Lightweight distraction-free writing software has its place, but here we're looking for fully-featured word processors with support for templates, advanced formatting, and compatibility with Microsoft file formats. You could switch to any of these programs today and begin working immediately. 

WPS Office Writer is a joy to use – thoughtfully designed and packed with convenient features to make everyday tasks quicker and easier

1. WPS Office Writer

The best free alternative to Microsoft Word, with a smart interface, full Word compatibility, cloud backup, and free mobile apps

WPS Office Writer's slick design is very similar to the current version of Microsoft Word, with a ribbon interface and almost identical icons. If you like using Office 2007 or later, the move to WPS Writer will be pretty much seamless.

There's tabbed browsing for multiple documents (a feature not found in Word, but one we love), and WPS Office Writer can open pretty much any text document format you can throw at it. It has its own proprietary file format (WPS), but new documents default to Microsoft's DOCX format for convenient sharing with Word users.

WPS Writer includes built-in cloud support with 1GB free storage (comparable to Microsoft OneDrive) for easy backup and syncing. There are also free mobile apps for Android and iOS that are fully compatible with Microsoft file formats, and let you edit and sync documents on the move.

WPS Office Writer comes with a good range of templates pre-installed, with more available to download. 

Unlike LibreOffice and OpenOffice, WPS Office isn't open source. Instead, it's supported by ads, but these are unintrusive and won't stop you getting on with some serious work. There's a premium version of WPS Office that removes the ads and throws in bonus PDF tools, but the free edition is superb. Give it a try – we think you'll be impressed.

Download here: WPS Office Free

LibreOffice Writer is a great open source World alternative that benefits from regular updates to add new features and squish bugs

2. LibreOffice Writer

The best open source Microsoft Word alternative, with a buzzing developer community and regular updates to add features and squish bugs

If you feel most comfortable using the older, pre-ribbon versions of Microsoft Word, you'll love LibreOffice Writer. Its interface is very similar to Word prior to the controversial introduction of the Ribbon in 2007, so if you're familiar with the older interface, you'll be up and running in seconds.

It'll take a little longer if you're only used to newer versions of Microsoft Office, but the menus and icons are simple and intuitive, so don't be put off.

LibreOffice Writer is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (including DOC and DOCX) as well as other common text file formats, so you'll have no trouble sharing files with friends or colleagues using different software, or opening your old files.

Writer also integrates seamlessly with the other tools in the LibreOffice suite, so you can easily import a spreadsheet from Calc, or a graph from Charts – just like you could in Word.

What sets LibreOffice Writer apart from other free Microsoft Word alternatives is its lively community of users and developers, who have created hundreds of free plugins and templates for you to download and use.  LibreOffice itself receives regular updates too, adding features and security that help it keep pace with Microsoft Word.

The only thing lacking is integrated cloud support, but you can easily sync your files using Dropbox or OneDrive, so this is a minor drawback.

Download here: LibreOffice

There's very little to choose between LibreOffice and OpenOffice. The main difference is the frequency of updates, where LibreOffice has the advantage

3. Apache OpenOffice Writer

Another open source Word alternative. Not quite as fresh as LibreOffice, but still an excellent option

LibreOffice is a fork of Apache OpenOffice and the two share the same code base, so it's no surprise that there's little to choose between the two. Both offer excellent compatibility with Microsoft Word documents, and work seamlessly with their linked spreadsheet, database, and presentation applications.

There's almost no difference between the programs' features or interfaces, either – both use a classic Microsoft Office style system, with a handy sidebar for formatting options.

OpenOffice provides fewer templates than LibreOffice by default, but there are thousands available to download, so this isn't a concern.

The main difference is that OpenOffice only receives one or two updates a year, whereas LibreOffice is updated every couple of months thanks to its larger team of volunteer developers. This means that reported bugs and vulnerabilities are likely to be fixed sooner in LibreOffice, and new features are added sooner.

Download here: Apache OpenOffice

SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker is let down by its limited support for the latest Microsoft file formats

4. SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker

TextMaker is very good, but would be superb if it could save documents in DOCX format

SoftMaker FreeOffice TextMaker's interface is less cluttered than most free Microsoft Word alternatives, but it doesn't skimp on tools and settings. Some features are tucked away in sub-menus, but you can customize the toolbars by adding, removing and rearranging the icons (you can find more by clicking the small arrow buttons on the right).

All the essentials are there, and FreeOffice TextMaker makes it particularly easy to create interactive documents with fields and bookmarks, which you can then save as PDFs. The selection of templates isn't huge, but they look good and will satisfy most of your needs.

The drawback of TextMaker is its inability to save your work in Microsoft's DOCX format. This is a shame, because this newer format has several advantages over DOC, including more consistent appearance in different word processing programs and superior file compression.

You can open files in DOCX format using FreeOffice TextMaker, so you won't be locked out of your existing documents, but if your friends and family use Word, you might prefer one of the alternatives listed above.

The premium edition of SoftMaker Office adds DOCX support for a one-off fee of £48.20 (about US$60, AU$75).

Download here: SoftMaker FreeOffice

We like AbiWord's old-school approach, but updates for the Windows version are few and far between. For a long-term Microsoft Word replacement, WPS Office Writer or LibreOffice would be a better choice

5. AbiWord

AbiWord replaces Microsoft Word's key features, but its developers have chosen to focus on Linux rather than Windows

AbiWord is the most pared-back of the options here, but could easily replace Microsoft Word for your everyday writing and editing if you don't rely on Word's advanced features. 

It's an open source project, and is much less demanding than the other Microsoft Word alternatives here, making it great for low-powered notebooks. 

AbiWord has excellent format support, including DOC and DOCX, making it a good choice for document-sharing. There's a basic selection of templates (or you can create your own from a document), and a collection of plugins to extend its file compatibility.

It's an excellent text editor, but sadly AbiWord has a shortage of volunteer Windows developers. This means that although the Linux version is in active development, the Windows edition hasn't been updated for quite some time, and lags behind by several versions.

At the time of its original release, AbiWord's standout features was AbiCollab, which lets multiple users work on the same document simultaneously, with automatic syncing – a feature that has been superseded by Google Docs. 

The basics of word processing haven't changed much, but if you're looking for a future-proof alternative to Microsoft Word, we think you'd be better off with WPS Writer or LibreOffice.

Download here: AbiWord

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5 free augmented reality apps to delight your kids

Techradar - All the latest technology news 5 free augmented reality apps to delight your kids

Simply handing your smartphone to your child is a lazy way to keep them entertained; instead you can harness the incredible power in your pocket to enjoy quality time with your kids as they have fun and develop their creative skills.

One of the best ways to do this is through augmented reality (AR), using your phone's camera to superimpose digital images and animations onto the real world to distort reality. 

From unlocking the secrets of the universe to giving yourself a funny meerkat makeover, there's loads of AR excitement to be had when stuck in even the most mundane of settings.

Exciting and entertaining for little ones and big kids alike, these apps will turn your phone into a more magical portal than anything JK Rowling can conjure up.

1. MSQRD

Price: Free iOS / Android / Windows Phone

If you haven't got the time to crack out the face paints, you can still customise your kid's grinning visage easily and fuss-free using AR.

Face-warping (where you fire up the front-facing camera and alter your features digitally) is one of the most fun and delightful things to do with your phone, and while there are a number of face-warping apps, MSQRD is one of the best we've seen.

From ogres to tigers, and from fairies to fighter pilots, this app will transform your face (and those of your little ones) into all manner of weird and wonderful creations right before your eyes.

Available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, the app features an in-built face-switching tool to increase the fun of these interactive masks even further, offering truly odd features and bringing a swift smile to a child in any boring situation.

2. Dinosaurs Everywhere!

Price: Free iOS / Android

If there's one thing that every kid loves - besides chocolate or Santa - it's dinosaurs.

If you've run out of reasons for not taking them to Jurassic Park (because they know it's real, no matter what you try to tell them), why not bring the prehistoric lizards to them?

The great thing about this free iOS and Android app is it will drop AR dinosaurs wherever you point your phone's camera, making everything from a walk in the park to a trip through the supermarket an exciting maze of dino-dodging.

It has an useful educational element too, where tapping on the bodies of the virtual animals brings up a fact sheet on the beast.

Including this surprising nugget: did you know the diplodocus was 33m long? Neither did we.

3. Quiver

Price: Free iOS / Android

Just because children are becoming used to a digital world, it doesn't mean that the creative act of coloring-in needs to be forgotten.

Quiver combines real-world drawing and shading with AR technology to bring the ancient art of shading to the modern era, using both physical skills and your phone's camera.

To start, you'll need to download and print Quiver's coloring pages from quivervision.com, add the app to your phone and use whatever pens or pencils you have to hand to transform your designs into colorful creations.

Now when you dangle your phone over the pictures, your designs will rise from the page to bring the characters to life.

As well as paid-for print outs, there are dozens of free designs to download and enjoy from Quiver to fire your child's (or your) imagination.

4. Iron HUD

Price (with in-app purchase of £1.49 (around $2 / AU$2.50)) : Free, iOS

The idea of being Iron Man isn't just exciting to children - it's a cool idea that we can all get on board with.

Well thanks to the power of AR, your phone can now get you pretty close to taking on that iconic role.

OK, so you can't fly around, be effortlessly suave or have billions in the bank, but you can get an idea of what it's like cram your head into that superhero suit.

Using the Iron HUD app, you'll hold up the phone to view the world through Iron Man's eyes - all the while being guided by the voice of his assistant Jarvis.

The free app is pretty basic, but splash for the in-app purchase on the all-encompassing in-app purchase, and you'll soon be firing rockets, lasers and enjoying target-based mini-games.

We're now secretly hoping this comes to VR soon too...

5. Reality Pool

Price: Free iOS

When you're stuck inside with bored offspring on rainy afternoons, you can use AR to bring all manner of games to life, no matter how much space you've got available.

It can be hard to choose which one though; there are AR football and basketball games out there, but we've found these just don't work consistently enough to create a fluid and immersive experience.

However, the iPhone-friendly Reality Pool brings a pool table to your house without any worries over space and cost.

All you've got to do is place a rectangular item on a flat surface - a piece of paper, cereal box or rug will all work.

Now when you point your phone in the direction of said rectangle a digital pool table will appear through your screen, and all you need to do is walk around it, line up your shots (pulling back the on-screen cue to make your pots) and turn a meaningless four-sided shape into hours of fun.

This article is brought to you in association with Tesco Mobile

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14 eyebrow-raising personal details Google knows about you

Macworld 14 eyebrow-raising personal details Google knows about you

Google may know more about me than I know about myself.

I'm not just saying that, either: I recently started poking around in Google's personal data repositories and realized that, between my wide-reaching use of the company's services and my own brain's inability to remember anything for more than seven seconds, Google may actually have the upper hand when it comes to knowledge about my life.

From face-tagged photos of my past adventures (what year did I go to Nashville, again—and who went with me to that Eddie Vedder show?) to the minute-by-minute play-by-play of my not-so-adventuresome days (wait, you mean I really only left the house once last Wednesday—and just to get a freakin' sandwich?!), Google's got all sorts of goods on me. Heck, even my hopes and dreams (which may or may not involve sandwiches) are probably catalogued somewhere in its systems.

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

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5 ways to learn a new language on your way to work

Techradar - All the latest technology news 5 ways to learn a new language on your way to work

There's nothing like the smug feeling of being on holiday and ordering a plate of chips in the native tongue (regardless of how bad your accent probably is). 

And what's brilliant is your smartphone has become the perfect portal to do just that - and with minimal effort compared to having attend night classes or order records from the back of a magazine.

A range of new apps, YouTube channels and online portals make getting to grips with a new language in a short amount of time simple and, more importantly, actually enjoyable.

A number of popular apps turn language learning into an experience that's almost as addictive as the biggest smartphone games with badges, rewards and different levels gamifying a tough task. 

But what sets these apps apart from average games is you come away with an actual, tangible reward too: being able to ask for another beer in something other than English. 

Here's our pick of the simplest and cheapest ways to learn a new language, perfect when you're daydreaming about a Spanish villa or Thai island on your way into your sad, little office, with everything from the conversational basics to the chance to become a conversational conquistador on offer. 

1. Duolingo

- Price: Free iOS / Android

Duolingo is both an app and online portal, and has grown to over 110 million users worldwide. In fact, ask anyone the best way to learn a language on the go and they're likely to excitedly shout "DUOLINGO!" at the top of their lungs.

What makes Duolingo so effective (and not to mention addictive) is it chops up learning a new language into digestible and gamified chunks such as Basics, Food and Animals.

In each lesson you type in phrases, read new words, look at visuals and speak phrases into the microphone too (which you can do while pretending you're making a phone call, if you don't want to look odd on the train chatting to your handset).

So it's a bit like a school exam in that it focuses on speaking, reading and writing a language, which many would argue is the best way to learn.

You can track your progress as you move through different levels and, after a few, take a simple test to check it's all sinking in. 

2. Easy Languages

The Easy Languages YouTube channel is a different to the stereotypical way of learning a new tongue, in that it's not someone lecturing you on a new language and expecting you to absorb at the same pace.

Instead the creators take to the streets of foreign climes to help you hear languages from actual speakers in their natural setting, allowing you to see how the language is used naturally while also learning about the culture it's from.

Although each episode is produced in the local language, you can follow along in subtitles of the language you're learning - allowing you to see how words look as well as sound - or follow along in English subtitles to help you learn how to translate.

Each week, the YouTube channel has a video about learning French, German and English, but interspersed between them are vocabulary training, verb lessons and grammar explanations to help your training and offer linguistic new challenges.

Although you can subscribe to the Easy Languages channel and simply watch the teaching videos, other really handy ones offer useful catch-up refresher lessons if you're jetting off soon and don't have much time to learn, like "10 Phrases for asking directions in Italian" or "10 Phrases for using transport in Arabic."

3. Babbel

- Price: Free iOS / Android (Subscription costs £7.99 / $9.99 / AU$14.99 for one month.)

Available on both iOS and Android, Babbel teaches you how to learn a language from local speakers with things you'll actually want to say, rather than long lists of verb conjugations to memorise.

The list is pretty comprehensive as you can learn 14 languages using Babbel at present, including Spanish, German, Russian and Indonesian.

The lessons come in 15 minute chunks, which lets you slip in a lesson during a train ride and perfect for a quick set of lessons before a holiday when you don't have to time to master the foundations.

The user experience is rather basic but entices repeat lessons through audio, visuals and written word testing - as well as different levels and a chance to review everything you've done so far so you gain a sense of language understanding.

Many Babbel lessons are free, but to use the course properly you'll need to pay for a subscription, which begins at £7.99 / $13 / AU$18 for one month.

4. Memrise

- Price: Free iOS / Android (Subscription costs £6.99 / $8.99 / around AU$13.99 for one month.)

Memrise is a simple and colourful app that currently offers a great variety of languages - but that's nothing new on this list. What impresses us here is that the app teaches you variations of languages for different countries, so you can learn to speak Spanish in Mexico or Spain to learn some of the cultural nuances.

Curiously this app is built around a narrative that you're a space detective on the mission to other worlds and need to learn the language to fit in - and the app is filled with space imagery as a result. It makes it all feel sweeter and easier, but isn't entirely necessary in actually helping you learn.

The Memrise app also has an offline mode, which makes it really useful for learning during your commute - especially if you travel somewhere that has frequent data-sparse spots.

The developers also tout the app's adaptive learning tech, which means it'll make small tweaks to the way it teaches you based on your learning style and how you perform, which would mean you'd learn at the right speed for you rather than the random speed decided by an app creator.

5. Rosetta Stone

- Price: iOS / Android (subscription needed, starting at £240 / $89)

Speak to anyone alive in the 1960s about Rosetta Stone and they'll talk about the days when one needed to buy huge boxes of records to learn Dutch - this teaching platform has been around for a long time and as such has a heritage in teaching many the tricks of a new tongue.

Luckily for lazy, app-loving types, the company has created lessons for the smartphone for on-the-go learning that packs years of teaching smarts into a small screen-friendly package.

Like many of the other apps on this list, it does away with traditional language learning styles (such as flashcards or lots of memorisation) and instead focuses on the basics you actually need like greetings, shopping terms and useful phrases.

Each lesson is presented in a minimal, yet colorful, way to keep you entertained when you're getting through the sea of teaching. You work through lessons gradually and in each you'll be able to read, write, speak and listen to absorb the teachings effectively.

The developers of the Rosetta Stone app are touting its speech recognition tech too, designed to make speaking into the app more accurate and offers best-in-class accent training too.

This article is brought to you in association with Tesco Mobile

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How to keep your Mac’s camera from spying on you, no tape required

Macworld How to keep your Mac's camera from spying on you, no tape required

It's the staple of all hacker and government-conspiracy fiction, not to mention quite a number of horror films: You're being watched through your hacked computer or phone or through a hijacked surveillance camera feed. And, unfortunately, this is well-reasoned paranoia in the real world, because to an operating system, a camera is just another file that can be read and relayed.

Earlier this year, in response to the news and to reader queries, I went into detail with a few ways you could disable microphone input in software and hardware on a Mac. Video is surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) easier to block: You can simply put a piece of tape over a lens.

Security guru Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist at the ACLU, told an interviewer in August, "the best bang-for-buck when it comes to privacy…is putting a sticker or a Band-Aid over your webcam on your laptop." That's what Mark Zuckerberg did, and he also covered his mic—which, as I noted in the previous article, doesn't help nearly as much as audio will still bleed through.

Audio and video tapping don't lend themselves per se to mass surveillance, despite the NSA reportedly recording enormous amounts of phone calls and video sessions and using software to find words and people of interest. Even its alleged efforts represent a fraction of all conversations, much less when you're not actively engaged in an online A/V conversation with someone.

Soghoian explained in the above interview the likelihood of you being spied upon individually, which is worth a glance. Most people are unlikely targets, but any activist, any member of a group that finds itself in the minority, and anyone who someone else might feasibly have a grudge against could find themselves in the crosshairs of audio- and video-tapping malware or products.

Students and workers with equipment provided to them could also be monitored without their knowledge. The best-known incident, but absolutely not the only case, is when a school near Philadelphia revealed to a student they were watching him at home on a school-owned computer. The school district later settled for over $600,000.

So what you can do besides tape? Some new and existing software for macOS can help.

Scotch that recording

There's a bit of chicken-and-egg problem with software tools that monitor, report on, and block access to microphones and cameras: they're susceptible to malware, too. Software designed to hijack your A/V would likely be savvy enough to check whether kernel extensions or other software is also monitoring devices, and would try to disable or mislead them.

But the more widely spread malware is—that is, the less targeted for a very high-value individual or group—the less sophisticated it is, and the more likely it will give itself away.

Micro Snitch alerts you when mics and cameras activate.

I wrote about Micro Snitch ($4) in my column on microphones, and it alerts you when built-in and some third-party video cameras activate as well.

The OverSight menu lets you know what it's monitoring and what's in use.

Security researcher Patrick Wardle has a passel of free apps designed to help you protect your privacy and system integrity, and his OverSight will monitor not just for usage, but "piggybacking." This is a technique seen in malware that can tap into a stream being used for FaceTime, Skype, or local recording, so the camera, mic, or both are already active when the surveillance starts. OverSight will pop up an Allow/Block warning with details about what triggered it.

And a free version CameraGuard alerts you to use of your camera. A paid version ($40) adds microphone blocking, and its maker says it uses heuristics to identify likely unwanted audio and video uses.

It's hard to recommend one above another, except for cost, because until malware strikes (or you intentionally install a known example to test on an unpatched system), it's impossible to predict whether one will perform better than another.

OverSight can also warn you if an app tries to tap into an active audio or video stream.

But whichever you pick, pairing it with new software like Little Flocker and Wardle's BlockBlock, which I wrote about recently, could help prevent software from running that tries to disable monitoring software or hijack active streams.

But what about an iPhone or iPad?

It's much more complicated in iOS, because you don't have access to the operating system's innards and iPhones are more fragile. While iOS has a strong security track record in terms of exploits that have made it into the wild, plenty of severe flaws have been found and patched, and may have been used to target individuals. Recently, I wrote about the three-exploit package deployed against a human-rights activist's iPhone in the United Arab Emirates, which—had it been successful—would have allowed remote audio and video interception on demand by the attackers.

You can simply put a black opaque sticker over the front-facing camera, or get a case that obscures both the front and back cameras.

It's hard to argue that Apple could do more with iOS, because the locked-down nature of the system prevents the casual installation of third-party software that might commit unwanted acts and more serious attempts to quietly subvert your privacy. Any software that manage to hijack your mic or camera on an iOS device is the kind of thing that won't go undiscovered in the wild for long, given how many researchers are watching for just this kind of attack.

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