Mobile devices are seemingly everywhere. Many people carry them around all day. This makes them a valuable target for attacks.
The NSA published a document earlier this year in which it highlights best practices for mobile devices. It is a simple document, that divides suggestions into the labels avoid, disable, do, and don’t.
Some suggestions appear very basic for experienced users. Like, making sure that the operating system and apps are up to date, not opening attachments or links from untrusted sources, or not having sensitive conversations on personal devices..
A few of the suggestions may be new advice, even for experienced users. Or, it may be known but not practiced.
Here are five takeaways that I found interesting
You should reboot the device at least once a week.
Do not have sensitive conversations in the vicinity of the mobile device.
Use a protective case that “drowns the microphone” and block the camera when it is not used.
Disable Bluetooth, Location, and Wi-Fi when it is not used. Never connect to public Wi-Fi networks.
Use a protective case that “drowns the microphone”. Also block the camera when it is not in use.
Some of these make using mobile devices cumbersome and that is likely one of the main reasons why most mobile users are probably not restarting their device once a week or turning of Wi-Fi.
You can check out the full list of suggestions here.
What is your take on this? Do you restart your device regularly or follow some or all of the other suggestions? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
You may have heard that Microsoft is working on extending the Windows 11 Start Menu. Called Start Menu Companions for now, it is showing additional information and management options.
Good to know: Microsoft showcased several Companions already, including one that showed information from Windows Widgets there.
Microsoft released a new Insider build to the Beta channel that showcases the feature. This particular one adds Android phone management options to the Start Menu. Microsoft says that iOS support is coming at a later stage.
The feature extends the Phone Link feature of the Windows operating system. Phone link supports the following features at the time of writing:
Read chat messages and respond to them.
Call contacts, check the call history, and search contacts.
Check, dismiss, or pin notifications.
Share photos (Android only).
Phone Link functionality in the Start Menu
The Phone Link companion displays just a few information right now. The top lists the device’s name and status information. Below that are links to Messages, Calls, and Photos. These open messages, calls, and photos directly from the Start menu.
The bottom displays recent activity, including new messages, missed calls, or new photos.
Microsoft says the feature is rolling out gradually to users. It can be managed via Settings > Personalization > Start and requires a paired mobile device.
Closing Words
Windows users who use the Phone Link app may enable or disable the functionality in the Start menu. Everyone else won’t see it, unless Microsoft decides to advertise it.
There are a number of uncertainties that Microsoft has not addressed yet:
Can you link more than one phone?
Is it possible to display multiple Start menu companions at the same time?
Will there be multiple companions to choose from? If so, which?
For now, I’m not sold totally on the feature. Is it adding something that is not accessible elsewhere or does it improve usability significantly? How often do users open the Start menu in Windows?
My count has gone down significantly ever since Microsoft introduced the pinning of apps to the taskbar.
What is your take on the companion feature? Good addition or superfluous?
Cursed Treasure 2 is the successor of the popular Cursed Treasure game by Iriysoft. It is a well-designed tower defense game that is available for mobile platforms, Steam and also as a web-based version.
A word on ads and in-game monetization
Cursed Treasure 2 is a game that is light on ads, at least when it comes to the Android and web-based versions, which I played. There are no ads during gameplay or even after levels. You may watch an ad to double the experience gained in a level, but that is about it and completely optional.
An option to make a purchase to remove all ads is provided, but it is unclear how much it costs. Users may want to stay away from that option because of that.
Cursed Treasure 2: the Game
Cursed Treasure 2 follows the main game philosophy of most tower defense games. Players place towers on the map that attack rushing waves of enemies. The main goal of the game is to prevent the enemies from reaching your treasure and stealing all the gems. It is game over for the map when enemies manage to steal them all.
The game lets players place towers nearly everywhere. Some locations are blocked, but the majority aren’t. The three core towers, Den, Temple and Crypt attack enemies with arrows, fire and magic. These can be upgraded and different paths become available for towers. The Temple tower, for example, can be upgraded to shoot two fire beams at enemies or unleash an area of attack damage regularly.
Towers gain experience when they shoot at enemies. Once they reach a certain threshold, they may be upgraded. Upgrading makes them stronger, e.g., by increasing damage or abilities.
The two core currencies in the game are money and mana. Money is used to build and upgrade towers, and to influence some of the independent buildings on the map. Mana is used to influence other buildings and used for spell casting.
Experience points and skills
Players earn experience points while playing the game. They need to complete a level or fail to earn experience.
Experience is used to level up and this awards players with skill points. These points are invested into the three skill trees Orcs, Undead and Demons, which correspond to the three core tower types Den, Crypt and Temple.
Skills fall into several groups. Some improve mana or gold during game start or while performing certain actions in the game. Ancestral Wisdom, for instance, adds 30 mana at start for each invested skill points, which is a lot.
Another group of skills makes placing towers, upgrading towers, cutting trees or casting mana cheaper or more rewarding.
A third group increases random rewards that defeated enemies may drop. The fourth and final group increase damage output. Any invested skill gives the corresponding tower a bonus, such as faster recharge times or increased range.
Spellcasting
Spellcasting plays an import role in the game. Player spells are limited to just two and certain items. The two spells are Meteor and Terror.
Meteor fires a a blazing rock from the sky on the designated target location, hitting all enemies in range. It can be improved with skills, so that it leaves a smoldering pool on the ground that damages enemies who step on it.
Terror frightens enemies in range. Frightened enemies move back the path for as long as they are frightened. Another positive effect of casting terror is that negative effects are removed from towers and that they are protected from effects for three seconds.
Items play a big part as well. There are three scrolls that enemies may drop. Players may activate the scrolls at any time with a tap or click to cast their spell. The spells are polymorph, which transforms enemies into chicken, stasis, which keeps them in place, and thunder, which damages them with lightning.
Enemies may drop coins, mana potions or skulls. Coins and potions give the player money or mana. Skulls allow players to cheat. They may be used to gain lots of gold or mana, return all gems to the treasure or wreak havoc on all enemies on the screen.
The enemies
A tower defense game would be nothing without a good assortment of enemies.
Cursed Treasure 2 delivers in this area. It distinguishes between regular enemies, champions and bosses. Regular enemies range from peasants and guards to enemies with special abilities.
Valkyries can fly over water and lakes, monks heal enemies and paladins are immune to most magic. There is a good variety of regular enemies and the level designers have done a good job at creating the levels and enemy waves.
Champions are special enemies that have more health and usually special abilities as well. The Templar, for instance can’t be frightened, is protected against evil magic and has a spell that halves damage and fire rate of nearby towers.
Bosses are even tougher enemies and they almost always have one or multiple abilities. The General, for instance, is protected by armor, may summon knights and Valkyries, may give mass magic armor to allies and has a final rush ability that breaks the armor but increases the speed of the General.
Gameplay and story
If there is one area in which Cursed Treasure 2 fails to deliver, it is the story. A dark overlord has set sight on the treasures of the kingdom, and it is the player’s task to protect the gems from the evil creature.
Each map adds a bit to the story, but most players may skip reading these altogether, as they don’t miss much.
Gameplay, on the other hand, is excellent. Players who like Tower Defense games will enjoy this game. It is well designed, but never unfair. Some maps may look impossible on first try, at least when it comes to protecting all gems, but all it may take is to add a few more points into skills.
Steam gamers may play it on Steam, but it costs $4.99 on the platform.
Cursed Treasure 2 Verdict
Cursed Treasure 2 is an excellent tower defense game. You need to like the genre to enjoy it, but if you do, you will certainly have hours of fun playing it.
It is quick to jump in and play a map, which usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The game explains some of its concepts during the first levels, which may help new players understand core game mechanics.
