Huntsy: A Smart Dashboard for Your Job Search

Ask any job seeker, and he’ll tell you that looking for a job is, in and of itself, a job. It’s time-consuming to prep your cover letter, tweak your resume, follow up and plan your interview, especially when you’re applying for multiple positions. Sure, you could make an intense, color-coded spreadsheet — but most of us aren’t that Type A. That’s where Huntsy comes in — it’s like HootSuite for your job search. Huntsy’s dashboard offer’s a bird’s eye view (hence the owl logo) of your job hunt, offering a bird’s-eye view of your professional prospects.

“People are applying to many different places — Huntsy is our way to make it easy for them,” says Cezary Pietrzak, Huntsy’s director of marketing. “The category is just so dusty.”

Huntsy’s cleaning it off with a slick UI and an organized and social approach to the intimidating job search. You can create an account via your Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn profiles (or create a new login if you eschew connecting via social sites), and then install the bookmarklet or Chrome extension into your browser. As you sift through job listings — on a company’s website, the Mashable job board, LinkedIn, Krop, CareerBuilder, Github, Monster and more — you can click the Huntsy bookmarklet to save exciting prospects. A Huntsy widget will push down in the browser and fill out the necessary details — company, title and job description — by extracting it from the job listing.

The bookmarklet in action

 Once you click “Add to Huntsy,” the job will be added to your dashboard, which looks like this:

 

The dashboard

 Within the dashboard, you can schedule interviews and follow-ups, receive reminders to send thank-you notes, uncover professional connections at various companies (if you linked your social networks) and, most importantly, apply to jobs directly. If you’re applying to some jobs in marketing and others in PR, Huntsy can save several versions of your resume and a few different cover letters, letting you emphasize certain strengths and experiences for various positions. When you submit your application, your resume is included in the email as a unique, downloadable link. No longer must you feel as though your application has been thrust into a black hole, never to be seen by human eyes, because you’ll receive a notification the moment someone downloads your resume. This feature enables you to have great timing with a follow-up email, since you’ll know that your resume is fresh in the recruiter’s mind. (The application email also BCC’s Huntsy, so the dashboard can track your actions throughout the application process and help you stay on top of each step.)

If you’re diligent about using Huntsy, then the email notifications and “today’s tasks” could keep you top of your application process, especially if you’re applying to more than a handful of positions. Pietrzak says Huntsy’s streamlining can save job seekers two to four hours per week, in addition to helping the hunt stay organized and productive.

“You start to have a sense of what’s going on in your job search,” says Pietrzak of Huntsy’s guidance tools. Plus, the way Huntsy breaks the application process into small steps makes the user feel like he is “getting somewhere” something every step of the way — a valuable feature, since the job search often can be daunting and overwhelming.

The site launched less than a month ago and has signed up more than 5,000 users, who are spending 10 minutes on the site per session, says Pietrzak. And many of them are coming back — 40% of the visitors are returning, suggesting that they are in fact using Huntsy with some regularity to manage and streamline their job search. The team is working to perfect the functionality and add new features, including calendar integration (for all of those reminders and interview dates) and linking with Google+. Since it’s still new, the bookmarklet can be a little buggy and tends to not fully extract all of the details for some jobs, but a simple copy-and-paste can load everything into your dashboard.

Huntsy is based in New York and was born out of the QLabs hacker community, where the team shares office space with Turntable.fm and Nestio, a Huntsy-esque dashboard for the apartment search.

Here Are 20 Companies Who Sell Your Data (& How To Stop Them)

Meet the data brokers. There’s a whole industry full of companies who make their money buying and selling our personal information. The FTC is working on busting this dark racket wide open, but in the meantime, they’re out there. Who are they? Can we stop them? Read on to find out.

What Are “Data Brokers?”

Data brokers scrape public information like names, home addresses and purchase histories, credit card activity and other such sensitive tidbits. Then they sell it. There is nothing at all to like about this. At best, they’re Spam-as-a-Service companies. At worst, they enable violent criminals.

It’s mostly marketers who are interested in this information, particularly people who do online targeting. But many of them just sell it to whoever wants it. Here’s a horrifying example of what any crazy person with a credit card can do with this information:

'My husband was killed in March 1987. The person who killed him was tried, and convicted in 1992. The defendant went to jail and was released last July after only serving 18 yrs out of a 25-life sentence. The defendant being savvy and enraged at being incarcerated has been using been [been]verified.com to try to find 'me'.'

She goes on to write that BeenVerified.com, as well as “dozens of other companies,” never responded to her attempts to be removed from a database. BeenVerified is one of the most notorious and irresponsible of these companies. Here are many more examples of its sleaziness.

The Most-Wanted List

There are tons of data broker companies. Here’s a selection to give you a sense of the kinds of language these companies use to describe their products, namely us:

More Data Brokers:

• Intelius
• Zabasearch
• Archives
• PeopleLookup
• US Search
• PeopleFinders
• PeekYou
• PublicRecordsNow
• USA People Search
• Epsilon
• White Pages
• MyLife
• PIPL
• PeopleSmart

Acxiom- “The 21st Century Marketing Funnel” - “Clean Your List: our data hygiene services start at $25.”

RapLeaf - “Upload… your customers’ emails and instantly get age, gender, and more.” - Best part: it asks for your “work email address” before you can use the free trial service.

Spokeo - “Not your grandma’s phone book.” - Its listed use cases are “Find Friends,” “Find Family,” and “Identify Unknown Callers and Emails.” I wonder what else you could do with it?

PrivateEye - “Billions of Records At your fingertips” - “You don’t have to be a member! Just enter as much info as you have about the person you are trying to find and our People Search Engine will do the rest.”

Radaris - “Radaris is a powerful search engine geared specifically to help people find one another easily despite distance and time.”

And then there’s the infamous BeenVerified. Just read the whole disclaimer on the footer of the site:

Disclaimer: While we are constantly updating and refining our database and service, we do not represent or warrant that the results provided will be 100% accurate and up to date. BeenVerified is a database of publicly available sources of information aggregated for your convenience. BeenVerified does not provide private investigator services and this information should not be used for employment, tenant screening, or any FCRA related purposes. BeenVerified does not make any representation or warranty as to the character or the integrity of the person, business, or entity that is the subject of any search inquiry processed through our service. None of the above-featured companies either sponsor, endorse, or are in anyway affiliated with BeenVerified.

You get the idea.

What Can We Do About This?

On Monday, the FTC released a detailed report calling for Congress to act to give consumers control over the data these companies gather and sell. Sites are currently not required to delete your data upon request. While the government slowly churns toward possibly someday doing something about this, there are companies out there to help individuals delete these records.

SafeShepherd is one such company, which deserves specific mention because it does such a good job of explaining the problem it solves. Its basic service is free, and it will find your info, give you privacy alerts and request removal of basic records. You can also pay for a more thorough cleansing.

SafeShepherd stays on top of all the data brokers it can find (including all the ones listed above). On average, it finds customers’ info on 11 such sites.

Keep in mind, these sites don’t have to comply with removal requests. But there are way too many data brokers to contact them all yourself, and SafeShepherd will keep trying over and over again.

For a lasting solution, we’ll need legislation. U.S. citizens who want to require data brokers to delete records on request should contact their representatives.

Solve computer issues using Remote Assistance

Run into computer problems and don't know how to get help? You can ask an expert to remotely connect to you over the internet.

Many of us may have had our computer suffer from a hardware or software problem. Usually the way out is to either call a computer expert over or take the system to the nearest service centre. However, you can easily get help for common issues using a remote connection. 

Both Windows and MAC have built-in remote assistance features that allow you to share control of your desktop/laptop remotely with an expert over the Internet, who can then examine and solve the issue. 

WINDOWS PCS 

The Remote Assistance feature first appeared in Windows XP. To enable this feature, go to the Control Panel > System and in the window that opens up, click on the Remote Tab. Check the box that says 'Allow Remote Assistance Invitations'. You can invite an expert you know to connect to your system via a secure remote connection by sending an email or by using Windows Messenger. 

Once connected, the expert will be able view your desktop screen, control your mouse and chat with you side-by-side in the remote assistance window. Note that you will need to share control of your system with the expert by clicking on the 'Take Control' button on top (a security feature). Once the expert solves your problem, you can disconnect the remote assistance session and start using your system. 

MAC 

On a MAC, there are two ways to provide remote control of a system for assistance. The first (and simpler) method is by using iChat/Messages. Just add the user to your chat list, start a conversation and select 'Screen Share Enabled' from the Video menu on top. 

The second way is to go to System Preferences > Sharing. Check the box that says 'Screen Sharing' and click on the computer settings button. Check both the options in the pop-up window. You will also need to specify a password for accessing your system. The expert will be required to enter the password to connect to your system. The one issue with this method is that it is really easy to use over a local network, but if the expert is in another location, you need to know how to configure your networking devices (port forwarding). 

WEBSITES 

TEACHPARENTSTECH.ORG 
This website has a collection of howto videos depicting various day-today used programs and functions of a PC/MAC. You can view the videos and even email them to less tech savvy family members or friends. 

LIFEHACKER.COM 
Lifehacker has a dedicated section (http://goo.gl/hA0jY) of easy-to-understand & emailable articles that feature step-by-step explanations of how to go about setting up a new device or perform various functions on a PC/MAC. 

HELP THROUGH A BROWSER 
CHROME REMOTE DESKTOP 
Google's Chrome browser offers a free add-on called 'Chrome Remote Desktop' — it allows remote control of one computer by another irrespective of the operating system. Both the systems just need to have Chrome with the add-on installed. It generates an authentication code on the host computer, which has to be entered in the remote computer to be able to get secure remote access. 

SOFTWARE TEAM VIEWER 

This multi-platform (Windows, MAC, Linux) software allows remote control, collaboration as well as file sharing between two connected computers. It is free to download for non-commercial use, you can download iOS and Android apps and it also secures the remote connection using 256-bit encryption. Get it from : www.teamviewer.com 

CROSSLOOP 

It offers an unlimited connection to another computer with the free version and also allows for a remote reboot. You can get an Android app for remote access plus perform unlimited file transfers between connected computers. Works with (and between) Windows and MAC. Get it from : www.crossloop.com 

LOGMEIN FREE 

This offers remote control for Windows or MAC from other computers or iOS devices. Using LogMeIn, you can also remotely wake up a computer from sleep. The free version uses 256-bit encryption for remote connection but does not allow file transfers. However, you can still use remote access to open and view files. Get it from : http://secure.logmein.com 

MIKOGO 

Mikogo offers many more features than just remote control of a computer. It offers session recording, multi-monitor support as well as an option to pause the session. The free account only allows for 14 days of trial usage. (It costs $13/month for the basic plan) Get it from : www.mikogo.com 

JOIN.ME 

Join.me allows access and control of a remote computer via a web browser. The remote PC is required to install a small software that gives you an access code. The access code allows anyone to connect via the Join.me website. The remote PC can then share control, chat or even set up a voice call over the internet. Get it from : http://join.me 

How to recover deleted files: Tutorial

Accidentally deleting files - it's something we've all done, but erasing a file isn't the only thing that can go wrong when you're working in a hurry.

It's also very easy to edit a document, save it and then later change your mind about the editing you've done.

The good news is the Previous Versions feature of Windows 7 can help you eliminate these problems by saving snapshots of your hard drive automatically, so you have the option of reverting individual files to an earlier version if necessary - or even restoring files that have been accidentally deleted.

Protect your work

Use Previous Versions to rescue files after accidental edits or deletion 

1. Enable System Protection

Click the 'Start' orb and then the 'Control Panel' shortcut to the right. Now click the 'System' icon followed by the 'System Protection' link to the left of the window.

In the Protection Settings section towards the centre of the dialog that appears, click the entry for your C: drive and then the 'Configure' button.

2. Configure restoration options

Select the option labelled 'Restore system settings and previous versions of files'. Use the slider that appears in the bottom portion of the dialog box to choose how much disk space should be set aside for previous versions of files and system backups. Click the 'OK' button once you've finished.

3. Create restore point

Windows will automatically start to create restore points and save multiple versions of files for you. Get things started by clicking the 'Create' button on the System Properties tab. Enter a name for your first restore point before clicking 'Create' - note that the date and time will be added for you automatically.

4. Complete system restore

You may have to wait for a little while as the system restore point is created, depending on the amount of data stored on your hard drive. Once it's complete, click the 'Close' button that appears to complete the backup process. You can then close the System Properties window and the Control Panel.

5. Accessing previous versions

If you discover that you've made and saved unwanted changes to a document, right-click it and select the 'Restore previous versions' option. Alternatively, you can right-click a file and select the 'Properties' option from the context menu before moving to the Previous Versions tab.

6. Check file contents

A list of previous versions of the selected file will be displayed, and you can then choose which one you would like to work with - click the 'Open' button to check the contents of a particular document. Work through the list until you identify the version that you would like to restore.

7. Restore previous version

Once you've decided which file you're interested in, click the 'Restore' button. Take note of the warning message that appears explaining that continuing will overwrite any existing file, and then only click the 'Restore' button if you're happy to continue. Once the process is complete, click 'OK'.

8. Create a copy

To avoid overwriting an existing file with one you're restoring - which could cause a problem if you accidentally restore the wrong file - it's a good idea to create a copy of the older version. To do this, click the 'Copy' button, navigate to the folder you would like to use and then click 'Copy' again.

9. Restore deleted files

If you've deleted a file by accident, right-click the folder it was stored in and select the 'Restore previous version' option from the menu that appears. You can then double-click one of the previous versions of the folder and create a copy of the file you're trying to retrieve.

10. Work with your documents

Having breathed a sigh of relief, you can now continue to work with your files as if nothing untoward ever happened. Whether you made an unwanted change to your CV or accidentally deleted some photos, Windows Previous Versions can help to save you a great deal of work and frustration.

5 Ways to Keep Your Google Browsing Private

Google's one unified privacy policy went into effect on March 1. The new privacy policy makes it easier for Google to bring user data across its services, but the actual privacy preferences remained unchanged. Google has integrated search, email, YouTube, social and work. The few exceptions to the unified privacy policy include Books, Chrome and Wallet, as those each have industry-specific laws in place. With the unified privacy policy in mind, and the idea that your browsing history could be used against you, is it even possible to keep your information private? We spoke with two security experts, Security Evangelist Stephen Cobb of security solutions provider ESET, and Alisdair Faulkner, chief products officer of cybercrime defender platform ThreatMatrix, to get a better idea of what you can do to keep your browsing history as private as possible.

'If you are very concerned about privacy, you can go to considerable lengths to hide what you are doing with Google,' says Cobb. 'But you can't dictate your behavior based on your privacy settings, whether you're an open book or not.'

Tip #1: Sign Out of Google When You're Done

This seems way too simple. So simple, in fact, that it's easy to forget, especially if you're in a rush to leave the office. Ready? Sign out of your Google account.

'If you're going into a Web browser and Google has logged you in, Google is collecting cookies,' says Cobb. 'But you should log out first of all, and then it won't know if it's you using the browser.'

But even if you're logged out, Google will still be able to see your computer's IP address.

Tip #2: Turn on Private Browsing in Your Web Browser

'Go into private browsing mode,' says Faulkner. 'That way, if you're a closet Justin Bieber fan, you can search for Bieber and still return to your regular browsing later.'

In Google Chrome, switch it to 'incognito browsing,' which means that the pages you search won't appear in your browser history or search history. They also won't leave traces like cookies on your computer. But even if you do go 'incognito,' websites may still collect or share information about you. Incognito keeps Google Chrome from storing information about you, but it doesn't mean that you're safe from other sites.

On Firefox, you can turn on private browsing and 'do not track'. Similarly, in Safari, Opera and IE9, turn on 'in private.' The private browsing features erase your cookies after you close the window. If you're on an iPhone, go into Settings > Safari, and turn on private browsing.

'The private mode can help, but you have to be careful when you are in private browsing mode. It doesn't recognize that in the same way it sees private browsing users,' says Alistar.' So while you're still in private browsing mode, it's liable to track your behavior.'

If you really want to play it safe, don't use Google. Try a search engine like DuckDuckGo, which says up front that it does not track or bubble you.

Tip #3: Go Anonymous With Anonymizer or Tor

'If you want to run your Internet connection through something like Anonymizer, then Google won't be able to see your IP address,' says Cobb.

Anonymizer hides your IP connection, protecting all of your Internet activity no matter where you are or what network you're using.

Tor, which you can find on torproject.org, is a free software and open network that defends against network surveillance, keeping you anonymous around the Web. 'Tor and TorProject were developed with people in repressive regimes in mind, to ensure anonymity,' says Cobb. 'It ensures that what you're searching for is not seen.' These are for people who don't want what they're doing on the Internet to be tracked back to their IP address.'

Disconnect.Me believes that a user's personal info should 'be treated with respect, that you should be the steward of your digital self, and that you should own your own data.' The platform aims to put users back in charge, allowing them to decide who actually does what with their online data. Disconnect.Me is a browser plugin, quickly installed. In Chrome, users can manage it through the Extensions option in the Window menu.

The makers of Disconnect.Me also created Facebook Disconnect. This is not Google Search per se, but with the massive integration of Facebook Connect, it's important not to overlook the information that Facebook, too, is gathering on you. Facebook is notified when a user visits a site on the Web that uses Facebook Connect, which also has a slippery history of leaking info to third parties.

Tip #4: Use a VPN

'VPNs are becoming another tool,' says Faulkner. 'Using a VPN makes it harder to track someone back to the originating endpoint. They're harder to bypass.'

AnchorFree is essentially a VPN to the user's IP address, so your IP address is theirs and your real IP address is hidden. It makes sure that every page you visit is as secure as a banking site, turning HTTP traffic into HTTP(S). AnchorFree also detects and blocks malware, including malware sites, illegal or phishing sites, infected sites, and spam sites and content farms. It is available on iPhone, Mac, Android and Windows. Anonymizer, the service we mentioned above, also uses a VPN tunnel to make online activities private and secure.

Tip #5: Adjust Your Google Web History Settings

'Go into your Google Dashboard and look at the Google privacy settings, adjusting them to limit the amount of information Google collects,' says Cobb. 'Private browsing features erase your cookies after you close that window.'

This will at least ensure that your Web history isn't constantly being stored by Google forever. Go to Account Settings in your email. Scroll down to 'View, enable, or disable Web history,' and click on 'Go to Web history.' Go to 'Learn More' and then 'Remove Items from your Web History.' Log in to your web history, and select 'Remove all Web History.'

Disabling this Web history doesn't prevent Google from gathering and storing information for its internal purposes, but it might make you feel more at ease. According to the DailyMail UK, Google will anonymize this data in 18 months' time.

Google Search, Sensitive Topics and You

A recent Pew report found that most Americans are 'anxious' about the personal information that search engines and websites collect from them. A total of 65% say that search engines collecting information is a bad thing, narrowing search results to ultimately create a 'filter bubble'-like effect. Only 29% believe that search engines collecting information in order to shape future search results is indeed a good thing.

'There are a lot of benefits to Google seeing what you can do, which is to tailor to your interests,' says Cobb. 'If you're uncomfortable with that, turn on 'do not track,' clear cookies when you quit a session, and if you really don't want activity traced back to you, use an anonymizing service. It all depends on what you're using Google for - and if you're researching a sensitive topic, you might want to think about doing it incognito.'

Google defines 'sensitive personal information' as 'personal information relating to confidential medical facts, racial or ethnic origins, political or religious beliefs or sexuality,' according to the Google Privacy Policy.

Google says that it will only share this type of information with your consent: 'We will share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when we have your consent to do so. We require opt-in consent for the sharing of any sensitive personal information.'

It all comes back to personal preference, and the user's trust in Google. After all, it is tracking you.

Google Search, Sensitive Topics and You

A recent Pew report found that most Americans are "anxious" about the personal information that search engines and websites collect from them. A total of 65% say that search engines collecting information is a bad thing, narrowing search results to ultimately create a "filter bubble"-like effect. Only 29% believe that search engines collecting information in order to shape future search results is indeed a good thing.

"There are a lot of benefits to Google seeing what you can do, which is to tailor to your interests," says Cobb. "If you're uncomfortable with that, turn on 'do not track,' clear cookies when you quit a session, and if you really don't want activity traced back to you, use an anonymizing service. It all depends on what you're using Google for - and if you're researching a sensitive topic, you might want to think about doing it incognito."

Google defines "sensitive personal information" as "personal information relating to confidential medical facts, racial or ethnic origins, political or religious beliefs or sexuality," according to the Google Privacy Policy.

Google says that it will only share this type of information with your consent: "We will share personal information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when we have your consent to do so. We require opt-in consent for the sharing of any sensitive personal information."

It all comes back to personal preference, and the user's trust in Google. After all, it is tracking you.

How to find your stolen laptop

This peice of info might be useful to all laptop users...

These days it has become easy to track a stolen laptop, courtesy, large number of laptop-recovery software. Most of these software automatically transmits the location of the device back to a central server. 

However, according to several experts, these theft-tracking software also make a user's laptop more vulnerable to spying. 

To tackle this, researchers at the University of Washington and the University of California, San Diego, have developed a free software that records location information in such a way that only a legitimate user can get access to it. 

Most of the laptop-tracking software periodically update a database with data related to the laptop's physical location, such as its current IP address and local network topology. While this data helps the security agencies to track the laptop they also help monitor the user's movement if the data is compromised. 

Called Adeona, it uses several cryptographic techniques to keep location information secure. Like the other software, the laptop running the software still sends location information to a central database, just that the data is encrypted so that it cannot be read without a private cryptographic key. 

Adeona works with Windows, Macintosh and Linux. For Mac users, it has an add-on that regularly takes photographs using the laptop's built-in camera, to provide further evidence to the police. 

The researchers are currently working on a version of Adeona for the iPhone. 

6 tips for smartphone security

Smartphones, tablet computers andmobile internet access are now a big part of everyday life. The new devices are fast becoming ubiquitous but users leave more and more data tracks behind as they use them and sometimes may offer third parties unwanted insight into private information. 

How can mobile devices be used securely? The German Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection has put together some tips. 

User access protection

Both the SIM card's PIN and the device lockout code should not be deactivated. It's also recommended to immediately change the pre-set lockout code from the manufacturer and renew it in regular intervals. 

Deactivate wireless services

If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are not needed on the phone or tablet, they should be shut off. Otherwise they could be used by hackers as a way into your system. 

Be cautious during hotspot surfing

Users should always be cautious about surfing in public WiFi networks. Individuals should be especially sceptical in unprotected or poorly protected WiFi zones. The same goes for networks that are only protected by the standard WPA instead of the successor WPA2. This allows for data - including sensitive access data - to be easily intercepted. It is recommended to avoid open WiFi networks if the data traffic of the website being visited is not continuously encrypted - which can be seen on the https in the address. 

Control location

Those who do not want a movement profile created should shut off their phone's GPS function and only activate it when it's actually needed. And individuals should avoid apps that want to access location information without any apparent reason. 

Apps only from trustworthy sources

Apps can have access to a lot of data or functions. To minimize your own risk, individuals should search in the internet for information about the manufacturers as well as user comments about the apps. In general, if the app demands more rights than seem necessary, then avoid the installation or if possible do not give permission for the unnecessary rights. 

Install security updates

Users should always keep mobile operating systems and all apps at the most up-to-date status. React quickly if you lose your phone: If a phone is stolen or lost, the SIM card should immediately be blocked by the mobile communications provider. Many manufacturers offer blockage and remote wipe functions. These can also be upgraded with apps.  

How to stop Google ads from tracking you on the web

It was recently revealed that Google and a number of advertisers had found a way to bypass some privacy features in modern web browsers, allowing them to forgo third-party cookie policies and serve targeted ads regardless of a user’s privacy settings. The report caused a stir among privacy advocates and consumers alike, and it prompted Google and other companies to agree to honor browsers’ do-not-track policy by the end of the year. Some users may not want to wait up to nine months to know they’re not being tracked, however, and Google has a solution for privacy-conscious web users who don’t want to be followed. Read on for more.

Google has an extension called “Keep My Opt-Outs” available for Chrome browser users that will block all cookies related to personalized ads. The cookies in question track a user’s path across various websites and then use that history to serve relevant advertisements. Web browsers all include a setting to block this process but a number of advertisers such as Google use a special code to circumvent this setting in browsers like Safari and Internet Explorer.

“Keep My Opt-Outs is an extension for users who are not comfortable with personalization of the ads they see on the web,” Google noted on the extension’s Chrome Web Store page. “It’s a one-step, persistent opt-out of personalized advertising and related data tracking performed by companies adopting the industry privacy standards for online advertising.”

Keep My Opt-Outs will work on OS X and Windows computers, but only in the Chrome browser.

Get that barcode app on your smartphone !

Stuck in a department store, unable to decide which brand of shampoo to buy? Wondering if a branded VCD is geniune? Having doubts if the latest best-seller book is worth buying and you want to read a review of it?

A GPRS-activated smartphone could make your task easier. You would have noticed those black thick and thin parallel lines or a rectangle of dots and designs on the back of a product. Those are barcodes and QR (quick response) codes that have in them huge amounts of data related to the product.

Obviously, they are of little use if you don't have a barcode scanner that can read and decipher the information in them. But today you can have a code reader application on your smartphone. These codes were originally devised with the aim of tracking product movement.

In most countries it's mandatory for all products to have the codes. Now, more and more people are using the scanners on their mobiles to read reviews, compare prices and find out where products are available for the best price. There are any number of barcode and QR code scanning apps available for all smartphone platforms.

On Android, Google has its own Goggles, which not only reads codes but also identifies well-known landmarks. Many models of Nokia, like N82, E90 have the reader pre-installed in them. In Windows 7 mobiles like Nokia's Lumia, codes are scanned using the Bing search engine.

eBay's scanner RedLaser is one such that is available for iPhone, Windows and Android phones; and the company says it has been downloaded over 15 million times. All that you have to do is to hold the phone steady over the code, align the code in the box and scan.

The codes have a variety of uses for consumers. It uses web applications to check prices and search nearby stores where the product is available. It can be used also to search catalogues and locate books and CDs in libraries.

The app has still not caught on in India, unlike in the US and Europe, mainly due to lack of available data and compatibility issues. But it could soon turn into a potent tool in the hands of consumers here too.