Apple's "Backdoor" Controversy Explained in 5 Minutes

The US Government demands Apple to create a "backdoor" to bypass the security features of a certain iPhone.

This is in connection to the unsolved case of San Bernardino shooting incident last Dec 2015.

The recovered iPhone, believed to be owned by the suspect, is the missing piece that if accessed, could significantly help the FBI to solve the puzzle.

Smartphones, in general, are encrypted with a passcode (or password) to avoid unofficial access without the owner's permission.

Because of encryption, FBI could not access the suspect's iPhone by all means. Hence they escalated the issue and asked the assistance of Apple to create a software that when installed, could unlock the device easily.

Decryption Debate Goes On

In Feb 16, 2016, Tim Cook wrote a letter to Apple customers about his opinion and the decision of not granting US Government's demand. The reason is simple - Privacy of customers' information.

The US Government, however, stands firm that they would only use the software on that single iPhone.

Risks of "Backdoor" Request

Tim Cook doesn't believe in US Government's promise on the exclusive use of software. In his statement,

In the wrong hands, this software — which does not exist today — would have the potential to unlock any iPhone in someone’s physical possession

Digital information can spread like a virus. One single mistake and it would lead to a devastating effect.

This could happen to the proposed software. Nothing is safe.

Before Game of Thrones released Season 4 on TV there were pirated copies already leaked online.

Prior to X-Men's opening in cinemas there was a leak of unfinished copy of the movie.

Wait for another scandal to happen but there's only way to avoid this - encryption.

To illustrate, these are some of the worst things that could happen.

1. You would wake up one day with a staggering credit card debt of $100,000. Someone has used your credit card information on unauthorized purchases.

2. You will be surprised to see your most embarrassing photo in 9Gag with a meme on it. It hit to 900 million views in 24 hours.

3. Someone saw your iBooks filled with your seduction books collection. He tweeted, "I never thought my friend is a pervert. Saw his bundle of seduction books. He's a priest, you know."

Conclusion

I condemn terrorism and stand for peace. But I support Apple's decision.

Everyone has the right to privacy. We have the right to protect our information.

In a world where (almost) no information is safe, there is only one hope and that is through rigid and strict encryption.

And I believe we should be entitled to that.

What is your opinion on this?

Udemy Review: A Comprehensive Assessment

Traditional learning like schools offers a great way for us to obtain a degree or learn new skills. But there are disadvantages in this medium: first, it is very expensive and second, actual presence is mandatory. There is a better way and worth investing. It is through E-learning.

E-learning is an interactive way to learn skills or acquire knowledge through the internet via information products like videos or webinarseries. The price of the courses usually ranges from $9-499 (Php400 – 20,000) which is way cheaper than universities and the best thing is that you can take this course while snorkeling in Maldives or climbing Machu Picchu.

One way to obtain a course for FREE is through Coursera, TreeHouse, Codecademy and other online courses. However, the topics for these websites are very broad and it would take you 3-6 months to finish. My recommendation is to try Udemy!

Enter Udemy

Udemy is an excellent website for learning great stuffs like Basic Accounting, Fashion Design, Android App Development, Stress Management, Photoshop CS6, SEO, Project Management or even Self-defense. You name it and most certainly they have it.

The best thing that I like about this website is that it's very cheap and the courses are well-structured. Besides, there are other relevant advantages that set Udemy apart from other sites.

Top 9 Advantages of Udemy

1. User-friendly

The user-interface and web design is really great. I never had a hard time searching for the courses I've enrolled, available courses, instructor's profile and payment processing. It's simply perfect.

2. Course reviews

Before you enroll in any course, you can browse through the course reviews and see for yourself what others are saying about. You can rate courses from 1-5 stars and post comments about your experience. Some instructors though will ask you to give a positive review for an incentive. This is solely to increase their rankings but your review greatly depends on you.

3. 30 days Refund Policy

It´s absolutely safe. One time I saw a course on Swift and iOS Development. I checked the instructor, his experience, what could I learn on the course and the requirements. It's all fine. So I hit the “Take This Course” button and paid with my Paypal account. I went through the course but on the 4th video, there was something that I needed to install for me to run xCode (MacOS program) because I'm a Windows user. Unfortunately, my computer wouldn't allow me to install the program.

In the "About" section of the course, the instructor stated that if someone couldn't install the program, he can opt out and ask for a refund. I emailed the instructor about my case and asked to cancel the course. Automatically, he sent me a refund. No fuss. It´s that easy. As long as you cancel within 30 days, you´re good to go.

4. Niche courses

There are numerous courses out there and you can enroll easily what you can imagine. You simply have to choose the best ones based on ratings, reviews and price. Read about the course entirely and see if it matches what you need.

How to pick the best Udemy courses

a. Read all about the course

Navigate through the course description, instructors (to see if he is competent enough on the subject), the requirements (so that you would know if it requires an intermediate knowledge or if it's newbie-friendly); or if it requires a software to install or an investment to start.

b. Topics and video length

The individual topics and video length are very important to see if the course covers everything that you need to know and it's not missing anything. Try to check the preview video(s) if the instructor's coaching style is clear enough in terms of the following:

• Amplitude – make sure you understand exactly what the instructor is speaking on his lecture. Some instructors have soft voices that you don't hear what they are saying. For me this could be a deciding factor.
• Quality – select instructors that speak and enunciate the words clearly. Although most instructors have presentations on their lecture, others don't. It will be hard for you if the voice is not conducive for learning.

c. Ratings

Nothing could go wrong on a course with 5-star ratings. Check out the average rating and if it's less than 5 stars, search the least rating and read the comments for you to have a glimpse of what other students are saying.

c. Price

Some courses are FREE. Yes, you don´t have to pay a dime. Other courses are extremely expensive like Shoemoney System but other students are not satisfied about it so don´t be deceived. Intuitively we know that the higher the price, the better but it doesn't apply all the time.

5. Payment Options

When I enrolled in my first course, it took me just a blink of an eye to process my payment. Yes it's fast and easy. You have two options to pay: Paypal or credit card.

I prefer to use Paypal because it's fast and safe. You simply have to type your email and it´s done. I suggest you sign up for Paypal here.

Credit card is another option but it's not safe all the time because you are exposing your credit card number every time you make a transaction. Thus, the recipient can see your credit card number and we might not know if it will be in good hands or not.

6. Full autonomy

One thing special about Udemy is that no one is putting pressure on you to learn. Learning should be fun. You decide when to start and when to proceed. You control the pace. If you want to take it slowly in details, it's up to you. Or if you want to skip the minutiae you can do so and go to the next chapters.

7. Mobility: Udemy App

Udemy has its own Android and iOS apps. What's better is you can even download the videos so that you can view it offline!

(Download the app here ==> Android | iOS)

Here's how to download videos:

a. Select the course that you want

b. Click the download button (you need to hit the download button every chapter)

c. Wait until it's done and voila, you can now view videos even without internet connection!

8. Completion certificate

Some courses offer a certificate of completion. This is great for courses like Social Media Marketing, Project Management or Talent Management because you can use this as reference for relevant purposes.

9. Discounts

This is what I love most! Some premiumUdemy courses are expensive that you can't chase the price. What I usually do is add these courses on my "Wishlist" and wait until they offer discounts.

This is how I acquired my course on CPA Secrets for just $10! The original price is $97 but when Udemy offered a 90% discount, I had no doubts but to buy. This happens frequently as they are continuously promoting courses.

Update: Sign up HERE and get started to learn for free!

Conclusion

Udemy is a goldmine if you want to learn new skills. The site is user-friendly, courses are cheap and you can even enroll FREE courses. Just make sure to check the ratings, reviews and topic discussions before you enroll. Overall, the courses are worth investing. I highly recommend this site!

How to Be a Millionaire: The Millionaire's Brain Honest Review

It's been a while now since I've been looking for help in improving my career and life.

When I came across The Millionaire's Brain, I was in two minds.

While I felt that the book could help me in my present situation, I wasn't sure if I could get much help out of it as I would like.

But The Millionaire's Brain seemed simple enough to digest and was more than  affordable- at least compared to the hundreds or even thousands you might fork out for some sort of "get rich quick" talks or schemes you see advertised everywhere.

And cut to present day after spending some time with The Millionaire's Brain,  I am relieved to review that it is well worth the purchase!

As a whole, The Millionaire Brain manual explores basic mind concepts that I have always found fascinating.

Changing your actions, behaviors and thoughts might sound simple, but they are powerful tools to implement in your life. I was particularly interested where they focus on training your brain to have a positive mindset towards money and wealth.

Personally, money has always been hard to come by. And I realized that it was due to my negative feelings towards money. Fortunately, the book teaches you how to rewire your brain to have a positive mindset about money.

It really helps that the book explains the abilities of a person's brain and how it is programmed.

I got to learn about neuroplasticity and how the brain can be changed and shaped throughout a person's life. Such information really instilled the confidence in me to make a list of goals and aim to achieve them.

Eliminate Negativity

Besides wealth, The Millionaire's brain also touches on other mental areas that is likely to affect you in life.

For instance, there is a chapter devoted to overcoming negativity and embracing positivity to overcome hardships. 

I'd like to point out that while such information might not be related to my main goal, I found it very helpful in evaluating myself  and my life choices so far.

Personally, I found myself re-reading the pointers on removing negative influence and adding more positivity to my life.

I realized from reading these chapters that I needed to surround myself more with people who share similar goals and hobbies.

Social Interaction

Initially, I was always focused on work and had no time for socializing which affected me emotionally. I now get that making positive changes is indeed just as important as working hard.

Another aspect I liked was the exercises present throughout the chapters that enabled me to understand the written content.

They do not take up much of your time and at most, all you need is a pen and paper to get it done!

Watch the video here http://bit.ly/1AMF8AF 

If you like to apply what you've learnt, The Millionaire's Brain also comes with a Brain Optimizer workbook for you to practice on yourself to get the most out of what you've been reading.

To be frank, I generally take a long time to learn things and get them right.

I was not looking forward to opening the Brain Optimizer workbook! But I'm glad I eventually did as the exercises were not difficult.

While I have not completed all of the exercises as of yet, I did the find the meditative techniques relaxing and emotionally satisfying.

The Millionaire's Mind Whole Product Details

Product Name: The Millionaire's Brain
Author: Winter Vee
Official Page: TheMillionairesbrain.com
Price: $47
Editor's Score: 924 stars
User Score: Excellent
Cash Back Guarantee: YES
Refund Guarantee: 60 days

The Money Code

The Money Code is another bonus content that comes with The Millionaire's Brain.

If you are more interested in achieving financial success, this report would be most beneficial to you.

It serves as a worthy extension from The Millionaire's Brain plus I found it cool how it teaches you to draw out ideas from the creative side of your mind.

Millionaire Mindset Suite

You also receive some audio guidance known as The Millionaire Mindset Suite.

I was recommended to listen to the audios consistently for at least four weeks.

I initially found it tough to commit to such a schedule due to work so I listened to each session individually daily, which has been working well so far.

This is a unique aspect when I got The Millionaire's Brain: Compared to most products today- you don't just get one wordy, measly book, you get the works!

As I mentioned above, I had more options in my hand with a workbook, an audio guide and an additional report.

I appreciate that Millionaire's Brain Book doesn't hold back, it gives the user a variety of stuff to work with!

I am very appreciative of what The Millionaire's Brain is doing.

I feel that authors Winter and Alvin have put together a well thought out and informative book that can help just about the everyday Joe who want to financially prosper.

It certainly has helped in making me believe that you don't really have to work day and night to achieve wealth and prosperity in your life!

And now that I'm taking control of my own destiny, the future has never looked better!

See the spotlight http://bit.ly/1AMF8AF 

How to Search Google Like a Pro - 20 Best Tricks

Google is a really powerful search engine. Not only for speed, seriously, but the ease and simplicity is a big winner among other search engines. Little do we know it has more features that could even help us browse faster. Here are the 20 most useful tricks on how to search Google like a Pro.


Have you tried searching phrases like:

1. "blogs similar to huffingtonpost.com" OR
2. "what are the best books from 2011 to 2014" OR even 
3. "article in juaninvestor.com that contains the word Colfinancial"?

Quite amazing, there is a shorter and faster way of searching these keyword phrases and save a few seconds in striking your keyboard. Read on.

20 Tricks for Searching Fast

1. Related Search

This is the answer to example 1. To search for webpages that have similar content to a specific site, type "related:" followed by the website address into the URL.

Ex. related:huffingtonpost.com

2. Not

 If you want to exclude a term or a phrase, use the "-" symbol. -big fat liar will show pages that contain "fat" and "liar" but don't contain "big"

3. File type

If you want to search for .avi files or powerpoint documents or any type of file, use the "filetype:" operator. Ex. travel filetype:pdf 

4. Definitions

To find the meaning of a word, use the "define:" operator. Ex. define:tenacious

5. Calculator

To do a specific calculation, simply type in the URL box and you can get the answer instantly. Use the basic operators like +, -, /, * and parenthesis. Ex. (4^7/23+45)

6. Site Specific

This is faster than example 3. This is used to search for a particular word or phrase only in a specific site. site:juaninvestor.com colfinancial will search for "colfinancial" only in this blog

7. Exact Phrase

 If you are searching for the exact phrase, use quotes. "best video compilation"  returns pages that contain the exact phrase "best video compilation"

8. Backlinks

Find pages that link to a specific site or page by using the "link:" operator. Ex. link:lifehack.org 

9. Numrange

This feature searches for a range of numbers. Use the ".." operator to execute. In example 2, we can search for it like best books 2011..2014 and the results will be the best books from 2011 to 2014

10. Weather

Search the weather for any city worldwide. Type "weather" followed by the city, state, zip code or country. Ex. weather talisay city, cebu

11. Unit Converter

Convert weights, lengths and other units of measure. Ex. 34 days in hours

12. Types of numbers

Google algorithms can recognize the pattern of numbers entered into the search bar. It can search for:

• Telephone area codes
• Zip codes
• Package tracking 1Z9999W99999999999

13. Local Search

Search anything in your city using the zip code. mexican food 90210

14. Vertical Search

To search for a phrase in a specific category, use the vertical search. If you like search for a term specifically in the blog category, use blog search.

• Blog Search
• Book Search
• Code Search
• Finance
• Images
• News
• Video

15. Location of Term

By default, Google searches for the term within a web page. But if you just want to search it in specific locations, you can use the operators like "inurl:", "intitle:", "intext:" and "inanchor:". Those will search for a term only within the URL, title, the body text and the anchor text (text used to describe a link) Ex. intitle:sleepwalking 

16. Similar Terms

Use the "~" operator to find similar terms. Ex. ~juaninvestor - juan will return results containing "investor" like investor juan but not juaninvestor

17. Wildcard

The "*" symbol is a wildcard. This is used if you are trying to find a song but can't remember the exact lyrics. Ex. "shower *love lyrics" will return to the song by Surface - Shower me with Your Love. You can also use it to find the term in a certain domain such as dogs *.edu

18. Either / OR

If you want pages that contain one or both of the terms, use the "|" (pipe symbol).

Ex. crazy | love will return pages containing crazy and/or love

19. Answer to life the universe and everything

Search the phrase and Google will give you the answer!

20. Advanced Search

If you can't remember any of these operators, you can always use Google's Advanced Search

New Year's Gift - FREE John Maxwell Audiobooks

Hi everyone! What a good year for us to start 2015!

I want all of you to jumpstart the year so I decided to share these nuggets of wisdom from a renowned author in self-help particularly in leadership. I want to share to you these audiobooks from John Maxwell.

I personally recommend audiobooks for ease and convenience. You can listen to the books while doing something be it running, exercising or cooking. It's truly great, I know.

Got these links from a friend and now is the time to pass the baton to you :)

Easy-peasy: Click on the link and it will open a new window. Wait for 5 seconds and click on the "SKIP" button on the upper right corner. And there you can download it for free! 

May you learn something from this. Share the knowledge! Kudos!

JOHN MAXWELL AUDIOBOOKS COLLECTION

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq00 

Download link: http://adf.ly/vspRG

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq01

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq03

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq04

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq05

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq06

Download link: http://adf.ly/vsq07

That's it! I hope you enjoy! Comment below if you have trouble downloading. 

You will love these HOT offers from Groupon! (Ended)

Spice up your week as the Lenten Season is approaching. Saw some great offers and thought I should share it to you. I handpicked these Groupon items with big discounts. You can only find this here exclusively in JuanInvestor. Shop more, sae more! Enjoy and thank me later.

Keratin Blowout Treatment Packages at Headway V.e.r.a Salon at P1,350 (55% discount)

Highlights

• Headway V.e.r.a Salon offers professional salon services to both kids and adults
• Make hair stronger with a keratin treatment
• Trained professionals
• They also offer eyelash extensions, body massages, foot reflexology, hair and makeup, manicure and pedicure services, and waxing services 

Or maybe you want to spoil yourself before Friday.. Here's a luscious treat from Gaucho.

Argentinian Roasted Meat Samplers at Gaucho from P490 (51% discount)

Highlights

• The first authentic and traditional Argentinian restaurant in the Philippines
• Serves slow-roasted meats (roasted on a fire pit for 5-6 hours)
• Has a great view for diners
• Located on the 3rd floor of Robinsons Magnolia

Or better yet, indulge in heavy Asian banquet featuring Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian dishes! Here's an amazing treat from Banana Leaf.

Banana Leaf Lunch or Dinner Treat starting at P550 (45% discount)

Highlights

• Serves authentic Asian cuisines
• Enjoy Malaysian, Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian dishes
• Redeemable in seven branches
• Banana Leaf has been included in the Philippine Tatler’s list of Best Restaurants for several years

Final Thoughts

Treating one's self (or even family) is a great way to acknowledge and reward thyself for the great work! These treats should be lavish to unwind from a heavy work.

However, there are luxuries that are bargained. Find these deals and live happily! I hope you like this post! Share to your friends and have fun! Happy Lenten Season!