Learn a bit about India

Best places to shop.

• Mysore
• Kathmandu in Nepal.
• Varanasi
• Lucknow
• Hyderabad
• Jodhpur
• Jaipur
• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Delhi

Best places to visit.

• Taj Mahal
• Humayun's Tomb
• Akshardham
• The Red Fort
• Agra Fort
• Amer Fort
• Ganges
• City palace in Jaipur
• Mehranjarh Fort
• Gateway of India
• Vaishno Devi
• Jantar Mantar Jaipur
• Lotus Temple
• Mysore Palace
• Jal Mahal
• Lodi Gardens
• Golkonda
• Jaisalmer Fort
• City Palace, Udaipur

India's economy.

India posses the 7th largest economy in the world and is predicted to grow a further 7.6% in 2017. India has the most fertile economy in terms of purchasing power and if they continue along this part will eventually surpass China for the number one spot and the global economy table. 

Best Indian music 2016.

• Nashe Si Chadh Gayi - Befikre — Arijit Singh 
• Channa Mereya - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil — Arijit Singh
• Maahi Ve - Wajah Tum Ho — Neha Kakkar 
• The Breakup Song - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil — Arijit Singh, Badshah, Jonita Gandhi, Nakash Aziz
• Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil — Arijit Singh 

Best Indian movies 2016.

• Airlift
• Fan
• Dear Zindgi
• M.S.Dhoni- The untold Story
• Sultan
• Pink
• Udta Punjab

10 million android devices allegedly affected by android malware

So, for all of us Android users, the alert has been sent for us to look out for a potential android malware infection. Aparently, ten million Android devices have been infected by malware called "HummingBad", according to Check Point. The cyber security firm said it discovered the malware in February, and has been tracking it ever since.

Why is this bad? it is bad because by all indications the most dangerous part of the malware are the people behind it. A team of developers at Yingmob, an otherwise legitimate, multi-million dollar advertising analytics agency based in Beijing.


"Yingmob has several teams developing legitimate tracking and ad platforms," the report alleges. "The team responsible for developing the malicious components is the 'Development Team for Overseas Platform' which includes four groups with a total of 25 employees."

"The malware installs a piece of software called a rootkit onto infected Android devices, giving the cyber criminals admin-level access to smartphones." 

This access is used to generate fraudulent advertising revenue -- apparently up to $300,000 per month -- through the forced downloading of apps and clicking of ads. But it's not just fake ad revenue at stake here, as the group is able to sell access to phones or give away information held on them. Check Point estimates that over 85 million smartphones have the group's apps installed on them, but only up to 25 percent of these include malicious software.
The bulk of victims are in China and India, with 1.6 million and 1.35 million cases respectively. The Philippines, Indonesia and Turkey are towards the top of the list, too, while the US has 288,800 infected devices. The UK and Australia each have fewer than 100,000 devices affected. The verdict is still out on the rest of the world, but we are willing to bet that places such as the Caribbean are probably very badly affected as most of the phones are imported from china.

Malware has done considerable damage to mobile platforms over the past year. Apple, previously known for being virus and malware-proof, has been hit by multiple attacks, including some perpetrated by the same group behind "HummingBad", according to Check Point. 


200 Different Apps are used to Spread HummingBad, Check Point notes that HummingBad establishes a persistent rootkit on infected Android devices to produce fraudulent ad revenue, and installs an additional of over 50,000 fraudulent apps per day to increase revenue for the fraudster. From August 2015, Yingmob has used nearly 200 different apps to distribute HummingBad Android malware.

Meanwhile, a Russian hacker last month used malware to steal the data of millions of Twitter users. Neither Yingmob nor Google immediately responded to requests for comments according to reports.

Travelling to India

India, officially the Republic of India is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.

Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also shaped the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.

Currently, the Indian economy is the world's seventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialized country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty, corruption, malnutrition and inadequate public healthcare. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks sixth in military expenditure among nations. India is a federal republic governed under a parliamentary system and consists of 29 states and 7 union territories. India is a pluralistic, multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society. It is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats.

There’s no denying that travelling to India can be a major culture shock, especially on your first visit. It’s a huge and bewildering country, with many different religions and cultures, and cities that roar with traffic and bustle with activity non-stop. So how to prepare for this assault on the senses? At Rough Guides we reckon that if you want to get the most out of your trip it’s best to follow these essential rules.

• Avoid burnout

By far the most common complaint reported by first-time visitors to India is fatigue – simply trying to do too much in too little time. India is vast, colorful and addictive, but have realistic expectations about how much you can see. A wisely planned visit to a particular area can deliver far more of the unique texture and spirit of the place. And remember, India isn’t going anywhere – you can return time and time again.

• Get out of the city

India, Kerala, Kerala Backwaters near Allapuzha
Though perhaps a cliché, the only way to get a true sense of India is to visit smaller villages. The real benefit is that it’ll get you out of the sprawling and vastly overpopulated cities. Once you’ve cleared your head, say with a trip to the mountains or into the slower-moving land of Kerala in the south, you’ll be far better placed to enjoy the famous hospitality of the Indian urbanites.

• Watch what you eat and drink

A dodgy stomach is pretty common for first-timers in India. That doesn’t mean you should rule out street food, but try to stick to peeled fresh fruit and foods that have been either boiled or fried. Stay on the bottled water and avoid salads or ice.

• Don’t be too precious about your personal space

This isn’t really a popular concept in India. You will be squished on public transport and squashed in lifts. People will ask seemingly intrusive personal questions that you may find intimidating. Remember that this is a wholly different culture and the questions are merely indicative of the locals’ polite interest in you.

• Dress conservatively

Tribal indian Bishnoi woman with big nose ring
Be aware that India has a relatively modest culture. Covering arms and legs is a simple step toward respecting this. Indians are forgiving of those who aren’t familiar with their culture, but you can quickly make a good impression by, for instance, removing your shoes before entering someone’s home. This is particularly important when entering a sacred space, like a temple. Also, if you see shoes outside a shop, it’s a sign to remove your own.

• Watch those feet and hands

Feet are considered to be unclean in India, so if you touch something with your feet it’s appropriate to swiftly apologize. Similarly, eating or passing objects with your left hand is considered unpleasant for reasons best left to the imagination. If unsure of local customs, keep an eye out for what others do and imitate.

• Remember that Indian time is relative

You may well find yourself waiting half an hour in India when your friend has assured you they will be five minutes. Traffic and other interruptions can also mean that getting around can take a lot longer than expected. Build in plenty of room for unexpected waits and make sure to check opening hours – many government offices and shops close in the afternoon for lunch.

• Stay safe

While “don’t go down dark streets alone” might seem a bit obvious, there are plenty of straightforward ways to avoid subtle dangers in India. Carrying huge quantities of cash isn’t a good idea anywhere, but in crowded Indian cities pickpocketing is a very present problem. Equally, haggling at a market can, at times, become an unpleasant, heated exchange. Inexperienced visitors are advised to try to stay cool. Be pleasant but firm, and don’t allow yourself to be irritated.

• Be prepared for noise

Dusty urban scene of bicycles, rickshaws and local Indian people bustling through streets of  Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
One way of ensuring you can have a bit of personal space, albeit in your head, is to have earphones with you to shut out some of the surrounding din – there’s nothing like the sheer clamour of an Indian city.

• Avoid deals that seem too good to be true

Government shops are probably the easiest way to avoid running foul of scams, but simple rules like paying for things with cash, to avoid card cloning scams, may save you a lot of unnecessary trouble later in your journey. You should also pay particular attention if you’re arranging to have things sent home by post, as it’s not unknown for shops to take your payment and send worthless items instead.



All in all, we highly recommend going to India, as the Culture, Food and the people are amazing. 

Stay tuned to this blog for a special opportunity coming your way soon for both the people living in India as well as people wanting the opportunity to travel to India!

In the meantime share this post to as many people as you know to increase your chances of winning!