Category: You Asked, We Answered
What Is a Phishing Scheme?
A phishing scheme is a type of cybercrime in which criminals send emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate sources such as a bank, government agency, or payment processing service. They use the email or message to persuade the recipient to disclose confidential information. This information can include account numbers, passwords, or credit card information.
This article will answer the following questions:
How did “phishing scheme” get its name?
The term “phishing” is a play on words and a variation of the word “fishing”. Fake emails, messages, and websites in a phishing scheme are used as lures to “fish” for personal or sensitive information.
What are the five most common phishing schemes?
The five most common types of phishing schemes include the following:
- Fake Websites. The scammers create a replica of a legitimate website and use it to collect sensitive information including usernames and passwords.
- Spear Phishing. They send targeted fake emails to specific individuals or groups of people. The emails appear to come from a legitimate source.
- Malware. They send malicious software or links to malicious websites that can infect a computer with viruses or steal personal information.
- Fake Updates. They send fake software updates or security patches that appear to be from a legitimate source.
- SMS Phishing (Smishing). They send text messages to individuals that appear to come from a legitimate source. The messages, in turn, contain malicious links.
What types of businesses or organizations do phishing schemes pose as?
Phishing schemes can pose many types of legitimate businesses, but some businesses and organizations are used more than others:
- Banks/Financial Institutions. Phishers often pose as banks or other financial institutions to attempt to acquire access to personal information about users. They may send emails or text messages asking for verification of sensitive information such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, and Social Security numbers.
- Government Agencies. Phishers also pose as government agencies such as the IRS or Social Security Administration. These messages appear to come from government sources but are fake. Their goal is to get users to provide personal information or to pay money.
- Online Retailers. Phishers pose as online retailers such as Amazon or eBay to get users to provide personal information or credit card numbers. These messages may look like official emails from the particular retailer or may be sent through phishing websites.
- Social Networking Websites. Phishers sometimes pose as social networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter to get users to provide personal information or to click on malicious links. These messages may contain false promises of free gifts, discounts, or access to exclusive content.
- Payment Processing Services: Phishers may pose as payment processing services such as PayPal or Venmo to get users to provide personal information or credit card numbers. These messages may also look like official emails or may be sent through phishing websites.
How can you tell a phishing scheme from the real thing?
There are a number of things you can inspect to determine if an email or message might be a phishing scheme:
- Check the sender’s email address. If the domain name is suspicious or not affiliated with the company they claim to represent, it is likely a scam. The name of the email address may be similar to the real one, so look carefully. Government emails will end with .gov while phishing emails will not.
- Hover over links in emails prior to clicking on them. If the URL is suspicious or not affiliated with the company they are claiming to represent, it’s probably a phishing scheme.
- Look for poor spelling and grammar. Emails for phishing schemes often use poor spelling and grammar and may use slang that a legitimate site wouldn’t use.
- Look for requests for personal information. Legitimate companies rarely ask for personal information via email.
- Check for a sense of urgency. Phishing emails often urge you to take immediate action.
How can I protect myself from phishing schemes?
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from a phishing scheme:
- Set your email to show a preview. If an email looks suspicious, don’t even open it.
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, even from people you know. If an email seems suspicious in any way, don’t click on links or open attachments.
- Be wary of emails that include misspellings or poor grammar.
- Instead of responding to suspicious emails, call or contact the business or organization in question on your own.
- Don’t respond to emails that ask for your username, password, or other sensitive information. A legitimate company will not ask for that type of information via email.
- Pay attention to the URL of a website. If it looks suspicious, don’t enter info on the site.
- Check your bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized charges.
- Use anti-virus and anti-malware software to protect your computer from malicious software.
- When available, use two factor verification.
Matraex would like to help you with all of your app development and technology concerns. Feel free to contact us, leave a question on our instant messaging feature on our website, or send us a question through our Google Business profile. We look forward to answering your questions.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
As an App Founder, What Do I Need to Know about Passwords?
Passwords are an essential part of any application or website security system. They provide a layer of protection that prevents unauthorized access to your software and its data. Passwords also help to protect user data including credit card information, addresses, and any other private information from being accessed by the wrong people. Furthermore, passwords are a way to validate user identity and to ensure that only authorized users can access the application and its data.
In this article, we will be answering the following questions:
How long and difficult should a password be?
The longer and more intricate a password is,the harder it will be to figure out and subsequently break into a system. The following is commonly recommended regarding length and complexity of passwords:
- Create passwords that are at least 8 characters long.
- Use a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters.
- Avoid using common words or personal information in passwords.
- Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
More characters, capital letters, numbers, and a special character or two can greatly increase the difficulty related to determining what a password is. Below is a chart showing exactly how longer and more intricate passwords greatly increase the amount of time it will take a computer to figure out a password.
How often is it recommended that users change passwords?
It is often recommended that passwords be changed every 3-6 months. Passwords can be exposed over time, either through malicious activities or because of password reuse. By changing passwords, it ensures that if passwords were obtained, the person who acquired it cannot use it for any extended amount of time. Also, if passwords are reused on multiple accounts, changing the password regularly helps to ensure that if one account is compromised, that other accounts are not also at risk.
What types of businesses require a higher level of password security?
- Banks and financial institutions store and manage customers’ financial information including credit card and Social Security numbers. Therefore, strong password security is essential to protect against data breaches and unauthorized access to this sensitive info.
- Health apps store highly sensitive medical information including medical records, insurance information, and prescription information. In addition, they are subject to the HIPAA law that states that no sensitive patient info can be disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge. Strong password security is necessary to ensure that information is kept confidential and to protect against potential data breaches.
- Retailers including online businesses retain their customers’ personal information, which includes credit card numbers, home addresses, and phone numbers. Strong password security is necessary to protect information from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
- Government Agencies store and manage sensitive information including national security information, tax records, and other confidential information. Strong password security is needed to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.
What features can be added to my app to increase password security?
An app founder has many options to choose from to increase their app’s security:
- Requiring a minimum password length. This is done by setting a minimum character limit to passwords.
- Requiring a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in a password.
- Requiring users to change their password every 3-6 months.
- Two-factor authentication. This adds a second layer of security, such as a code sent to a user’s email or phone and helps to ensure that only the intended user gains access to an account.
- Utilizing a password manager, which helps users generate strong, unique passwords for each of their accounts.
- Logging failed password attempts and locking out users after a certain number of failed attempts.
- Adding Captchas to login requirements. A Captcha is a challenge response test that is required as part of the login process to make certain that the one logging in is human.
- Requiring one-time passwords when registering with an app. One-time passwords are temporary passwords that are only valid for a single use and are used to authenticate users on websites or applications.
- Adding biometric authentication. Biometric authentication uses a user’s physical characteristics such as fingerprints or voice recognition to verify their identity.
An app founder may want to discuss the different features that will increase app security with their app developer to determine what features would make sense for their app.
Do you have a question about app development? Matraex would like to be your go-to place for answers. You can leave us a question on our Google Business Profile, contact us through our website, or leave a question via our chat feature on the website. Let us help you become more informed so you can make decisions that will best suit you.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
What is SaaS Software?
A SaaS, “Software as a Service,” application is a type of cloud computing application that is hosted by a third-party provider and is made available to customers over the internet. SaaS software and apps typically provide customers with business applications which are delivered on a subscription basis. Customers then pay a set fee on a regular basis, usually monthly or yearly, to access the application. Many SaaS apps offer free versions of the software that can be upgraded for more functionality. Many also offer a free or inexpensive trial of the software so users can determine if the app suits their needs prior to committing to a paid plan.
Questions answered in this article include the following:
What are the advantages of using SaaS software?
Incorporating SaaS apps into a business often has many advantages:
- Flexibility: SaaS applications are often highly scalable and can be customized easily to meet the changing needs of a business.
- Ease of Use: SaaS applications are usually easy to set up and use. This allows a business to start using them quickly with minimal effort.
- Automation: SaaS applications automate many manual processes. This saves businesses time and money.
- Accessibility: Saas applications are typically accessible from any device with an internet connection so users can access them from anywhere that has such a connection.
What are the disadvantages of using SaaS software?
SaaS software also has a number of disadvantages:
- Limited Control: Unlike traditional software, with SaaS apps, the user can only access and configure the application as much as the provider allows and cannot customize it beyond that point.
- Interoperability: A business may not be able to integrate SaaS applications with their existing applications and systems. This is particularly true if a business needs to access data from multiple sources.
- Reliability: SaaS software can be unreliable because it is not accessible if the SaaS provider or the internet connection goes down.
Is SaaS software a good option for my business?
It depends. It can be, but it depends on the parameters of the business. SaaS software can be very cost effective for many businesses because the business does not need to purchase, install, and maintain the software themselves. If the business requires multiple users to access the application, however, it can potentially become very expensive. Also, since security is maintained by the host company who regularly monitors and updates the software, it tends to be very secure, but it is hosted on the cloud, which typically reduces security. In addition, if a business needs a lot of control over the software beyond what a provider allows or if they need to integrate many systems, SaaS software may not be the best solution for them. Whether SaaS software will be a good option for a business depends on their needs: what they need help with and whether the SaaS software can do what they need it to do. Only they can decide.
What are the most common problems Saas software solves?
The four most common business problems that SaaS software can solve can be grouped into four categories:
- Accounting and Bookkeeping: SaaS accounting solutions can help businesses automate and streamline their financial processes. These processes include invoicing, payments, and payroll. For small businesses, SaaS software often eliminates the need for manual bookkeeping and simplifies the entire financial process.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM). CRM SaaS solutions help businesses manage their customer relationships in a more efficient, effective way. CRMs typically include such features as lead tracking, contact management, and automated communications, which enable businesses to easily manage their customer base.
- Human Resources (HR): HR SaaS solutions provide businesses with a range of tools and features to help them manage their employee data and performance. This includes scheduling, onboarding, payroll, and employee benefits.
- Project Management: Project management SaaS solutions help businesses plan, manage, and track their projects. These solutions typically include features such as task management, resource management, and reporting. This enables businesses to effectively manage their projects and ensure successful outcomes.
A future article will go into more detail about the problems that SaaS software can solve as well as possible recommendations if you need help that could possibly be provided by SaaS software.
Matraex would like to be your go-to source for answers to your app development and technology questions. Feel free to contact us, leave a note on our website’s instant messaging feature, or leave us a question on our Google Business Profile. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
What Is a Responsive Website?
A responsive website is a website that is designed to respond to the user’s behavior and environment based on the screen size, platform (desktop monitor, tablet, phone and so on), and orientation (whether portrait or landscape). A responsive website uses fluid, proportion-based grids and flexible images to create a dynamic, flexible website that provides a great user experience that looks great on any device.
Questions that will in answered in this article include the following”
Why is it important to have a responsive website?
Websites are viewed in many different ways and on many different devices. Long gone are the days of a website being viewed on a desktop monitor most of the time. The platforms used to access a website depends on the target audience and the content of the website, but the trend for many years has leaned heavily towards mobile devices. According to Oberlo, just ten years ago, over 90% of website traffic occurred on desktop computers. By late 2022, those figures had totally changed. Now, over 60% of all web traffic comes through mobile devices, with over 50% of all website visits coming through such devices.
In addition, more and more people are accessing websites through wearable devices and their car’s navigation systems among other platforms. It is important that your website can be viewed properly regardless of the device that is being used because it allows users to have a better user experience. Google also rewards websites that are optimized for mobile devices, so having a responsive website is also important for SEO.
How can I tell if my website is responsive?
Many website builders, like WordPress, provide tools that will allow you to “see” what a website will look like on a desktop monitor, on a tablet, or over a mobile phone. It may be a good idea to use those tools regularly to get an idea of what your website looks like on various devices, but those tools are not 100% accurate. They cannot account for all possible screen sizes or device types nor can they always accurately reflect the performance of a website in an actual environment.
The only surefire way to determine whether a website is responsive is to actually look at it on various devices and see if it looks and responds as you wish for it to. There is no substitute to actually looking at the website itself.
If I am using a website builder, do I need to worry about my website being responsive?
Yes, though it may not be as much of a factor as creating a website from scratch. Many pre-designed templates from WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace, among others, come with pre-designed templates that are designed to be responsive, but that doesn’t mean they always are. When designing a website, regardless of method of doing so, you may wish to check your website on different devices to ensure that it is truly responsive.
How do I make my website responsive?
- Add the following ‘meta’ tag to your HTML Head:
<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1″>
By doing so, you are styling your meta tag as code. - Some markup languages, such as pure HTML, tend to be responsive by nature, but you are very limited to what you can do with just HTML.
- You can use a CSS Flexbox/Grid. CSS dictates how a document looks and controls its responsiveness, and this will allow you to resize items depending on the size of the screen.
- Add breakpoints that will change the design of the website when it starts looking awkward on different sized devices. This includes having a single column of images and text on narrow-screened devices that changes to two or even three columns on wider screens. You can also use a different font size for different break points to increase its readability.
- Set images and other elements to 100vw. By doing so, the elements will be able to resize with the size of the screen.
Do you have any app development or technology questions? We would like to supply answers. Feel free to contact us via our website, leave us a note via the live messaging feature on our website, or call us at (208) 344-1115. We look forward to answering all of your questions so you can make informed decisions that are right for you.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
What Is Amazon Web Services?
Amazon Web Services, also known as AWS, is a cloud-based computing platform that is owned and operated by Amazon.com. It offers a wide range of tools and services that can help businesses become more agile and increase their innovation. Services include computation, storage, analytics, networking, and mobile services. AWS is the world’s most popular cloud platform with over a million customers in 190 countries and is used by businesses, from startups to large corporations, to build and manage applications. AWS allows companies to quickly and easily build, manage, and scale applications and services in the cloud. It also provides flexible and cost-effective solutions that can help companies reduce cost while increasing efficiency.
Why is AWS useful to app developers?
Amazon Web Services is an important tool for developers because it provides a cloud platform that allows them to quickly create applications and services with high scalability and reliability. With its wide range of storage, database, and networking services, it allows developers to write code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. It also provides cost-effective, pay-as-you-go pricing, which makes it attractive for developers who look to build applications quickly and cost-effectively.
Why do developers request administrative access to AWS?
Developers request administrative access to Amazon Web Services to facilitate faster development. While the developers are setting up servers, there is often a complex relationship between the numerous resources and services that need to be established and maintained. Allowing administrative access enables developers to set up those relationships between the different systems without needing to communicate why each system is required.
Administrative access to AWS is also requested for developers to manage advanced security systems as well as to monitor and troubleshoot issues when they arise.
Do developers require administrative access to AWS?
App and software developers may not require administrative access to AWS, but without it, the product owner or product manager may need the knowledge to manipulate some of the AWS services on their own. The product owner or manager may also need to give multiple permissions for individual access to various AWS tools and services as their app is being developed. If the developer does not have access to the tools and services they intend to implement and integrate into the app, the product owner or manager will need to do it themselves.
What are the most commonly used tools and services of AWS?
The most common features of Amazon Web Services include the following:
- Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2): A web service that allows users to easily launch and manage virtual machines in the cloud. With EC2, users can quickly create a virtual machine and load the machine with their own software. They can then scale the machine up or down as needed.
- Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3): A highly reliable, cost effective storage service that can be used to store data on the cloud. S3 provides a simple web interface for users to store and retrieve any amount of data from anywhere on the web.
- Amazon Relational Database Services (RDS): A managed database service that allows users to quickly launch and manage relational databases in the cloud. Relational databases are organized into tables with rows and columns. Each item on the table is related to one another. RDS is highly scalable and provides many features that help users manage their databases more efficiently.
- Amazon Elastic Load Balancing (ELB): A web service that helps manage the load on an application. It does this by automatically routing traffic to multiple instances of the application. This helps to ensure that the application is always available and can handle incoming requests.
- Amazon CloudFront: A content delivery network(CDN) that helps to deliver content to users around the world with low latency and high transfer speeds.
- Amazon DynamoDB: A NoSQL database service that is highly available, scalable, and secure. DynamoDB provides high performance and low latency for applications that need to access large amounts of data.
- Amazon Lambda: A serverless computing service that allows users to run code without needing to manage underlying infrastructure. Lambda is perfect for applications that need to scale quickly and can handle unpredictable workloads.
- Amazon Machine Learning (ML): A service that allows users to easily build, train, and deploy machine learning models in the cloud. This helps to reduce the time and cost associated with building and managing custom machine learning solutions.
- Amazon Redshift: A data warehouse that makes it easy to store and analyze large amounts of data. It is highly scalable and provides a fast, cost-effective way to analyze data.
- Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS): A message queuing service that helps to manage message-based communication between applications. SQS helps to ensure that messages are delivered in the correct order. It also allows for asynchronous communication between the different components of an application.
Do you have any app development or tech questions? We’d like to be your source for answers. Contact Matraex, call us at (208) 344-1115, direct message a question on our website, or put a question on our Google Business Profile. We look forward to talking with you.
What Is the Difference Between HTTP and HTTPS?
Have you ever noticed, at the beginning of every website, are the letters http or https? Take notice and you’ll see that it everytime. But what do http and https stand for? And how are they different from each other?
HTTP stands for “HyperText Transfer Protocol”, and it is the protocol used to send data over the internet. Http is written in plain text and can be read by anyone on the internet. The S in https, on the other hand, stands for “secure”. Https encrypts all of the data that is sent, which makes it much more secure as well as more difficult to tamper with.
This article will address and provide answers to the following questions:
When were http and https first used?
Http was first released in 1991 by Tim-Berners-Lee. Mr. Lee is a British computer scientist who is credited with inventing the World Wide Web. Https, on the other hand, was created by Netscape Communications in 1994 as an extension to http to make its web browser, Netscape Navigator, more secure.
What has https traditionally been used for?
Https has traditionally been used for internet usage that needed to be secure due to the risk of theft or to prevent the release of sensitive user information. Banks, shopping websites, and doctors’ offices/hospitals have used https the longest to make certain that financial or patient information stayed secure. Over time, however, https has become more mainstream, and most websites are now implementing https on their websites. In fact, in 2014, Google turned https into a ranking symbol. They not only started using https in their Google Mail, Google Search, and Google Drive, but also started rewarding sites that followed suit with a higher Google ranking.
Why is https becoming more important as time passes?
With http written in plain text, it is easy to intercept and use it for malicious purposes, such as in a “the man in the middle” attack. In that attack, the attacker inserts himself into an online conversation, impersonates both parties, and gains information that the two parties were attempting to send to one another without their knowledge.
Https also reduces the piracy that can occur through an open network connection or public wi-fi network, such as in coffee houses, though it does not stop all attacks.
What’s more, according to Chris Hoffman, content writer for McAfee in the blog “What is HTTPS, and Why Should I Care?”, internet service providers are legally allowed to spy on their customers’ web browsing history and sell it to advertisers, and Verizon created a supercookie that they are using to track ads. What’s more, documents leaked by Edward Snowden back in 2013 indicated that the U.S. government monitors the internet activity of many users, both domestically and abroad. Using https would largely curtail this type of activity. Https, however, is not infallible, however. If you wish to stay secure during your internet usage, you may need to take other steps to protect yourself.
Finally, by using https, you will receive a boost in Google search ranking, so there is a better chance that your website will be found.
How can I tell if a website is being presented as HTTP or HTTPS?
It is easy to determine if a website is being shown as http or https by a quick visual inspection. First, by visually looking at the website URL, you might know. If it says http, guess what? It’s http – and vice versa. It doesn’t always directly state whether a given website is http or https, however. Regardless, you can still tell if a website is http or https if you know what to look for. but if you know what to look for, you can still tell. If a website is https, there will be a lock in the upper left-hand corner in front of the URL such as the following:
What if I open a website using http instead of https?
If you open a https website with http, it will more than likely still come up, but some of its functionality may be missing. If the site asks for permission to access your location, for example it probably won’t, and some pages that request personal or sensitive information may not appear to come up at all. Those pages may appear to have a bug when they are actually functioning according to design since an http website is not secure in any way. What appears to be a problem with the site or page is actually protecting the user.
How do you acquire an https website?
In order to have an https website, the business or organization needs to acquire a security certificate which does expire and needs to be renewed. There are different types of security certificates, and in some cases, depending on the business or organization, you may need more than one type of certificate. Some certificates are free while others do have a price tag. Types of security certificates include the following:
- Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificate: This type of certificate validates that the domain name is registered to the applicant. It does not verify the identity of the organization and does not provide any additional features.
- Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificate: This type of certificate validates that the domain name is registered to the applicant, and also verifies the legitimacy of the organization. It provides additional features such as company name display in the certificate.
- Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificate: This type of certificate provides the highest level of validation available and is used for high-profile, high-security websites. It verifies the domain name, the organization, and provides additional features such as a green bar in the address bar.
- Wildcard SSL Certificate: This type of certificate allows a single certificate to be used to secure multiple subdomains of a domain.
- Multi-Domain (SAN) SSL Certificate: This type of certificate allows a single certificate to be used to secure multiple domains.
- Code Signing Certificate: This type of certificate is used to digitally sign software and other code to verify the author and integrity of the code.
Matraex’s goal is to answer all of your app development and tech-related questions so you can be an informed consumer. Have a question? We’d love to hear from you. You can contact us, send us a message through our website, call us directly, or post a question through our Google Business Profile.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
What Is a Cookie and What Does It Do?
It happens all of the time. You visit a new website and the site asks for you to accept cookies. What’s more, in some cases, you can’t proceed to the bulk of the website unless you accept them. Cookies, in this case, are obviously not chocolate chip, but exactly what are they? A cookie is a small text file stored on your computer or mobile device by a website. Cookies are used to store information such as your preferences, login details, and other information that the website may need to personalize your experience. They can also be used to track your activity on a website including what pages you visit and how long you spend on each page.
In article, we will answer the following questions:
Why do websites ask for consent for cookies?
There are several laws that require consent for cookies since the websites are collecting private information. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) requires websites to explicitly ask for user consent before collecting personal data from visitors. This includes cookies. The website must also provide an obvious link to a page that explains what data is collected and how it is used and shared as well as how to opt out of data collection. The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation also requires user consent of cookies.
Should I allow cookies?
Whether or not you accept cookies depends on the purpose of the cookies and the website itself. Generally, it is safe to accept cookies, but if you are worried about the website that is collecting the data, it might be best to check the website’s privacy policy before accepting.
What benefits do cookies have?
Website cookies can have several advantages:
- Cookies can improve user experience because they store user preferences and session information.
- Cookies enhance web performance because they provide information that can be used to optimize the web page content.
- Cookies allow users to be authenticated and tracked, which can improve website security.
- Cookies provide advertisers with information about a user’s browsing habits so they can target ads more effectively.
- Cookies can increase and improve the functionality of a website by storing information for shopping carts and user accounts.
What are the disadvantages of cookies?
Cookies also have some disadvantages:
- While they can potentially make a website more secure, they are not secure for the user. They are essentially text files that can be read, copied, and even modified by anyone with access to a user’s computer. Therefore, they can pose a security risk for the user.
- Cookies can track user activity and store information, which can be a privacy concern.
- Cookies can be large in size and potentially slow down the loading time of a web page.
Why should I consider deleting cookies?
Cookies can contain a lot of personal information including what websites you’ve visited and login details. This data can be used to track your activity, target you with ads, and exploit your information without your knowledge, sometimes for malicious intent. Deleting cookies can reduce the risk of this happening.
Also, cookies can take up space on your computer. Deleting them can help to free up space and declutter your computer which might allow your computer to run smoother.
Do you have any app development or tech questions? We’d like to be your source for answers. Contact Matraex, call us at (208) 344-1115, direct message a question on our website, or put a question on our Google Business Profile. We look forward to talking with you.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (also known as AI) is a branch of computer science that focuses on developing computer systems that have the ability to think, work, and react like humans and to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. This involves accurately and efficiently processing large amounts of data and making decisions or predictions based on that data. AI can also be used to create self-learning systems that can learn from data and improve their performance over time. Let’s discuss and give some examples of how AI is currently being used. Keep in mind that these examples of AI are only a few of its many uses. These uses also often overlap in one app or piece of technology.
In this article, we will be covering the following types of artificial intelligence:
Image Recognition
Image recognition is a process in which a computer system is able to recognize and identify objects. These objects include people, places, writing, and actions in both still images and videos. With image recognition, a user can take a picture of an object, and AI will tell them who or what the object is. Google Lens, CamFind, and Amazon Rekognition are apps that currently use image recognition technology.
Natural Language Processing and Speech Recognition
Natural language processing and speech recognition work hand-in-hand to enable machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language. These technologies are integrated in many home devices that allow you to talk to the machine to turn on your lights and other appliances in your home without lifting a finger and to use Siri or Cortana to answer questions and fulfill requests. Natural language processing and speech recognition are also used in automated customer service and dictation software.
Autonomous Navigation
Autonomous navigation enables vehicles to move from place to place without human intervention. Such systems use sensors, cameras, and mapping data to navigate the environment. In addition, they are often programmed to react to changes such as traffic and road conditions. Autonomous navigation is used in self-driving cars, robots, and drones.
Machine Learning
Machine Learning uses algorithms that enable a machine to learn from provided data and make predictions based on that data. In this manner, systems access data and use it to automatically learn and improve without being explicitly programmed. One app that uses machine learning is Netflix. Netflix recommends content based on the content the user already watched through machine learning. Netflix also uses it to identify and block fraudulent accounts, to detect and reduce piracy, and to target potential customers with personalized ads.
Predictive Analysis
Predictive analysis uses data mining and statistical analysis to identify patterns and trends in data and then to predict future outcomes and behaviors. It can be used to make predictions about customer behavior and market trends. It can also be used to predict the success of a product or service, the likelihood of an event occurring, or the outcome of a particular decision. Weather apps use predictive analysis for more accurate forecasting, financial apps for identifying trends in the market and offering investment advice, and healthcare apps for identifying health risks and suggesting preventive measures.
Robotics
Robotics is a branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, and use of robots as well as computer systems for their control, sensory feedback, and information processing. These technologies are used to develop machines that can substitute for humans and replicate human actions. Starship Technologies is a mobile app that allows users to order food and other items which are then delivered by robots.
Decision Making
During the decision making process, a machine makes a choice between two or more alternatives. It involves gathering information and assessing the available options to make the best decision. Shopping apps like Amazon, Ebay, and Wish use decision making to make personalized product recommendations to customers and to suggest alternatives if the user’s first choice is not available. Health and fitness apps such as MyFitnessPal and Fitbit also use decision making to track and analyze user activity and dietary habits. They then suggest personalized plans to help the user reach their health and fitness goals.
Artificial Intelligence is still an emerging technology, and we’ve only touched the surface of what might eventually be possible. It has and will continue to change how we interact with the physical world, to take over mundane tasks, to optimize operations in many fields, and to help us make better decisions.
Have any questions regarding app development? Matraex would like to become your go-to source for answers so you can be an informed consumer. Feel free to contact us, call us at (208) 344-1115, send us a message on our website, or post a question on our Google Business Profile. We’d love to hear from you.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
Why Do Apps Ask for Permission to Access Data?
“Why do apps ask permission to access data?” seems like a simple, benign question on the surface, but it is actually two pronged:
- What does gaining permission to access information including access to contacts, usage data, location data and permission to use my camera or microphone do for the app and for me? and also
- Why do apps ask for permission in the first place?
We will be covering the answers to both of these questions in this article.
Why do apps want permission to access private information?
By accessing personal information, apps can provide a better user experience that is personalized for the intended person. They can also use that info to show targeted, tailored content. Such permissions are what allow Facebook and Twitter to post your pictures on the internet and for WhatsApp and Google Voice to call or message from your phone’s contact list. It also allows you to catch Pokemon on Pokemon Go or get directions to somewhere across town by accessing your current location. In fact, most apps ask for permissions of some type. It is your choice whether to allow permissions or not. If you attempt to perform a function of an app that requires a permission to do that function, you’ll be asked again when that time occurs.
Why do apps have to ask for permission in the first place?
The U.S. government, in addition to many other governing bodies including the European Union, have laws in place to protect the privacy of consumers and to give individuals more control over their personal data and how it is used. These laws also require transparency from organizations about how they collect, store, share, and use personal data and require that children under 13 obtain a parent’s permission before sharing such data. These laws include the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act in addition to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation among others.
Do you have any other questions related to apps or app development? We’d love to answer them for you. Send your question via the Matraex Google Business Profile. You can also call us directly , contact us through our website, or use the chat feature, also on our website. We look forward to helping you with any questions you may have.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!
How Long Will It Take to Build My App?
“How long will it take to build my app?” is often one of the first questions a software visionary wants to know. In short, there is no definite answer to this question. It depends on a number of factors, but put simply, an app can take anywhere from a month to several years to develop and will largely be determined by several factors.
The factors that influence how long it will take to build an app that are discussed in this article include
Factor #1: Scope of the Project
The size, complexity, and features of an app as determined by its MVP all contribute to how long an app will take to build. If an app solves only one problem, it may be able to be built within a month or so. If it solves several problems, it may take 3-6 months, and if it’s a larger app that solves a number of problems, it could take several years. It all breaks down to the time involved to develop the app.
Factor #2: Resources Available
The amount of developers, designers, and other staff available to work on a project will also influence how long an app takes to build. If a product owner wants an app completed in a more timely manner, they can often add more developers to work on a project, but those extra developers are likely to add to the cost of the project as well.
Factor #3: Technology Used
Some programming languages are more complex, require more logic, and take more lines of code to develop with. For example, programming languages such as C++, Java, and Python are considered more complex and take longer to develop compared to languages like HTML and CSS, which are generally much simpler and more straightforward.
Factor #4: Experience of the Team
The experience and expertise of the development team who are working on a project also impacts the amount of time an app takes to build.
Factor #5: Quality Standards
The quality standards that are set up for each app can also influence the timeline of an app. Some apps may require more time to ensure that they meet required standards.
The time it takes to build an app often directly correlates with the app’s cost. We hope you’ll check out “How Much Does a Custom App Cost” as part of your research, and if Matraex can answer any questions for you, please let us know. You can contact us, call us, leave us a message on our website, or on our Google Business Profile. We would like to be your go-to resource for answers to your app development questions.
Sign up to receive answers to your questions delivered directly to your inbox!