A security consultant has demonstrated how a specially developed Android app can be used to take control of a commercial aircraft.

Presenting at the Hack in the Box security forum in Amsterdam, Hugo Teso has demonstrated how an app he has developed can extract important information from aircraft systems, and can even be used to control the aircraft; either by uploading a new flight plan or by remotely adjusting the plane's steering wheel.

Trained as a commercial pilot, Teso says that several systems on planes are unencrypted and insecure, and that once he had access to these systems he could control the plane once it was put into auto-pilot mode. Luckily for the unsuspecting passengers and crew, he also loses control once the pilot switches back to manual controls.

Of course, he hasn't conducted a live test on a passenger plan to date. Instead he has opted for replicating an aircrafts system in his lab.

This information comes at an interesting time given that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US is considering an overhaul of regulations that currently restrict how and when passengers can use electronic devices, such as mobile phones, during flights. Many expected these regulations to relax, but perhaps Mr Teso will present the FAA with new objections.

Via Computerworld

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Free smartphone and tablet games that offer in-app purchases for additional content are to be scrutinised by the Office of Fair Trading, it was revealed on Thursday night.

Following high profile incidents where kids have racked up huge bills on their parents' accounts, the OFT will investigate whether the purchases are "misleading, commercially aggressive or otherwise unfair."

Last month an eight-year old boy bought £980 in virtual donuts in The Simpsons: Tapped Out game, while a 5-year-old Bristol boy also spent £1,700 on Plants vs Zombies without his parents realising.

Now the watchdog has encouraged more affected parents to come forward, while it has also written to games developers to ensure these titles, often marketed to kids, are abiding by the rules.

Under pressure

As well as the 'accidental' purchases, the regular said it was also concerned that parents are coming under pressure from kids after allowing them to download seemingly 'free' games only to realise there's a fee to be paid to access anything more than the most basic content.

Cavendish Elithorn, the spectacularly-named senior director for goods and consumer at the OFT said: "We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs."

The OFT probe will not look into the mechanics of buying the in-app purchases on iOS and Android devices, but rather at the fairness of offering them in the first place.

The Guardian reports it will be paying close attention to "whether these games include 'direct exhortations' to children – a strong encouragement to make a purchase, or to do something that will necessitate making a purchase, or to persuade their parents or other adults to make a purchase for them".

The initial findings and proposed course of action will be published in October 2013. The OFT says it has no designs on banning in-app purchases, but wants to ensure rules are being followed.

Refunds and warnings

Following the controversy Apple has refunded several App Store users for the unauthorised purchases, while it has also added an 'includes in-app purchases message on the game's download page.

In the United States it has been required to set aside a fund of $100m (around £60m) to reimburse parents who've been similarly affected.

If users can prove they didn't give their kids the iTunes password then they're entitled to a $5 iTunes gift voucher, while any purchases over $30 will be fully refunded.

Nokia has announced software updates for its Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and Lumia 620 Windows Phone 8 handsets, which should take care of a few bugs and improve the usability of the devices.

Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 owners can look forward to improved automatic display brightness adjustment and a fix for the intermittent screen blanking issue that occasionally occurs during calls.

The update will also resolve a few minor issues with performance and stability improvements.

The update for the budget Lumia 620 handset brings "plenty of reasons to update", according to the post on the Nokia Discussions page.

Multi-touch, Bluetooth and camera improved

The software bump brings improved touch screen functions, including corrections in multi-touch actions, and better voice quality with Bluetooth headsets that support echo/noise suppression.

It'll also offer enhanced camera performance with corrected exposure when the flash is used in bright light conditions.

In a post on the Nokia Discussions page, the company said the update will begin a global rollout today and should be with everyone within a few weeks.

New research that emerged today suggested that Apple's next wave of new iDevices is facing some possibly significant delays.

The expected iPhone 5S, a rumored budget-style cheaper iPhone, and the iPad mini 2 are all facing production issues that are complicating Apple's release schedule, KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo told AppleInsider.

The production issues center largely around an all-new fingerprint sensor that Apple is hoping to include in the next iPhone, as well as new iPad mini 2 and cheaper iPhone design challenges and even iOS 7 hiccups.

Kuo has something of a track record when it comes to Apple predictions, and the analyst's forecasts often turn out accurate.

That pesky fingerprint scanner

Recent rumors have held that Apple is going to introduce a fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S, and Kuo's research backed that claim up.

But the analyst reportedly said that Apple is running into technical issues related to materials used under the device's glass display.

The fingerprint scanner could allow for new types of security that will be more difficult to bypass than password-input methods, but Apple is reportedly having trouble perfecting it.

Beyond the hardware, Apple is said to be taking extra time to implement the fingerprint scanning functionality into iOS 7, the expected followup to iOS 6.

Stunted growth

Meanwhile, the cheaper iPhone that's been rumored for months is facing delays due to a slimmer plastic casing that may slow down production, said Kuo.

And the iPad mini 2 is not exempt, with the expected Retina display reportedly causing manufacturing issues for the unannounced iPad mini successor.

It seems like Apple is really stepping things up for its next wave of new products, but as a result, Kuo predicted that Q3 2013 will be a slow quarter for the company, with growth well below the market consensus.

With all the rumors flying around about these upcoming devices, though, things could well pick up going into 2014.

Microsoft's mobile OS could soon be getting bigger, as an upcoming OS update will allow for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phone 8 devices, said a report on Thursday.

ZDNet cited unnamed sources who claimed that Microsoft's third "General Distribution Release" (GDR3) update will add support for 5- and 6-inch Windows Phone 8 devices when it's released sometime before early 2014.

The site's contacts also confirmed Tuesday's rumor that GDR3 will add support for 1080p resolution displays on Windows Phone 8 handsets.

Given all the rumors lately it seems Microsoft's mobile OS is about to get bigger and sharper, which could help give it a boost against Android.

Getting up to speed

In the near future everyone will be looking to Samsung's Galaxy S4, a 5-inch 1080p handset that will likely set the standard for 2013 and beyond.

Windows Phone 8 will find it even harder to compete if it can't meet those standards, and even an update bringing it up to speed by the end of the year (when GDR3 is currently expected) will be pushing it when the Galaxy S4 will have been out for months by then.

HTC's Tiara is rumored to be the first device that will launch with the GDR2 update to Windows Phone 8, and it's believed the 4.3-inch phone could arrive as early as May.

If the "Blue" update for Windows Phone arrives in early 2014 like ZDNet claimed it will, then it would make sense for GDR2 to land during the summer and GDR3 to arrive in time for the holidays.

It's currently unknown what changes GDR2 will bring, but ZDNet's sources hinted that GDR3 could add some UI tweaks and changes to core apps, including adding a third column to the start screen, in addition to allowing for bigger and higher-res handsets.

Here's an interesting turn of events in the ongoing flood of legal battles. Both Apple and Google's Motorola Mobility have been accused by a US Judge of using their continued dispute as "a business strategy".

Miami District Judge Robert Scola reckons that neither of the pair are interested in ending the patent fight they're embroiled in, instead using the conflict to attract media attention.

"The parties have no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving this dispute," said the District Judge. "They instead are using this and similar litigation worldwide as a business strategy that appears to have no end."

Of course, this may seem like speculation on the Judge's part, but it certainly makes an interesting point. There doesn't seem to be a day that passes that Apple isn't quarrelling with either Samsung or Google over a new alleged patent infringement of some type.

Cantankerous conspiracy

The statement came as Apple and Google fought out over a patent involving wireless technology in a Florida court, which kicked off back in 2010.

Both companies were given four months to streamline the scope of the case. The Judge said that if they failed to do so, he would put the case on hold until all the patent terms are clearly defined. We reckon that could take a while.

He referred to actions of the companies as "obstreperous and cantankerous conduct," telling them that it was not a proper use of court time. Stick it to 'em!