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  • Beware! Fake ‘NextGen mParivahan’ Malware Returns

    Beware! Fake ‘NextGen mParivahan’ Malware Returns


    Cybercriminals continually refine their tactics, making Android malware more insidious and challenging to detect. A new variant of the fake NextGen mParivahan malware has emerged, following its predecessor’s deceptive strategies but introducing significant enhancements.

    Previously, attackers exploited the government’s traffic notification system to distribute malware, sending fake messages that appeared to be official traffic violation alerts. These messages contained details like ticket numbers and vehicle registration information to appear legitimate, tricking users into downloading a malicious app. Once installed, the app requested extensive permissions, hid its icon, and silently exfiltrated sensitive data, including SMS messages—while communicating with attackers via a Telegram bot.

    Figure 1. WhatsApp message received by Victim

    In this latest variant, the malware is distributed under the guise of “NextGen mParivahan,” mimicking the official government application. It uses the same distribution method as before—leveraging fake traffic violation messages to lure users into installing the malicious app.

    The official NextGen mParivahan app, developed by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, provides digital access to driving licenses, vehicle registration certificates, and other transport services. Available on the Google Play Store, it replaces the earlier mParivahan app with improved features and user experience.

    However, cybercriminals have seized the opportunity presented by the app’s rebranding, distributing malware under the “NextGen mParivahan” name to deceive users. In this latest variant, the malware retains its SMS-stealing capabilities. It has significantly expanded its reach—now targeting messages from social media, communication, and e-commerce apps, posing an even more significant threat to user privacy.

    Moreover, some samples have employed a stealthier command-and-control (C2) mechanism by concealing its C2 details within a compiled .so file and dynamically generating them at runtime. This approach greatly complicates detection and analysis. Some samples are intentionally malformed to further hinder security efforts and leverage multi-stage dropper-payload architectures to bypass signature-based and heuristic detection systems.

    Our previous blog analyzed the earlier version’s infection chain and communication tactics (Beware! Malicious Android Malware Disguised as Government Alerts). These latest variants not only retain those functionalities but expand on them, increasing both their stealth and data theft capabilities.

    In this blog, we’ll explain how this new variant operates and why its new enhancements make it an even greater threat to Android users.

    Technical analysis:

    We came across two variants of the new version: one utilizing a malformed multi-stage dropper-payload architecture and another employing a stealthier C2 extraction method while stealing notification data from other apps.

    1. Malformed multi-stage dropper-payload

    First Stage – Dropper Second Stage – Payload
    File name e_challan_report parivahan
    MD5 ad4626eff5238ce7c996852659c527bc ae1f49bd14027c7adea18147cb02f72a
    App name NextGen mParivahan NextGen mParivahan
    Package Name com.xyz.dropper com.example.icici

    Anti-analysis technique

    The malware author intentionally crafted these dropper and payload APKs to hinder static analysis. Many open-source Android APK analysis tools failed to process this APK, making analysis more challenging. See below:

    Apktool failed to decompile the APK-

    Figure 2. Apktool Error

    Jadx failed to decompile –

    Figure 3. Jadx Error

    Androguard failed to decompile –

    Figure 4. Androguard Error

     

    Bytecode viewer failed to decompile –

    Figure 5. Bytecode viewer Error

    7zip also failed to extract APK file –

    Figure 6. 7zip Error

    Android build tools AAPT (Android Asset Packaging Tool) and AAPT2 (Android Asset Packaging Tool) are also unable to dump the AndroidManifest.xml file –

    Figure 7. AAPT Error

    Additionally, this malformed APK file fails to install on Android 8.1 and earlier versions due to a corrupt XML file, as the OS cannot extract it like later Android versions.

    Figure 8. Android 8.1 APK installation Error

    The error displayed by all these tools indicates an unsupported compression method, meaning the APK file uses an invalid compression technique. However, AAPT and Android OS 8.1 (API level 27) report a corrupt AndroidManifest.xml error unrelated to the unsupported compression method. Despite this, the malformed APK installs and runs smoothly on Android devices and emulators running Android OS 9 (API level 28) and above without any issues.

    Why Do Analysis Tools Fail While Android OS (9+) Runs This APK?

    An APK file is essentially a ZIP archive. Below is its header format, where the values at offsets 08 and 09 indicate the compression method used in the ZIP file.

    Figure 9. Structure of APK ZIP file (Reference: The structure of a PKZip file)

    Android APK files follow the ZIP format and typically use two compression methods:

    1. Store (No Compression) – Used for files that don’t need compression, such as pre-optimized binaries and some assets.
    2. Deflate (Standard Compression) – The most used method for compressing resources, XML files, and other non-executable content.

    The compression method used by most of the APK files –

    Figure 10. Normal file Hex

    The compression method used by this malformed dropper APK file is neither Deflate nor Store. Its value is 0x1998 (decimal 6552), which is not supported by the ZIP format.

     

    Figure 11. Malformed APK Hex
    • All analysis tools strictly follow the ZIP format and expect the compression method to be either Deflate or Store only. However, Android OS only checks whether the compression method is Deflate or not. If it is not Deflate, the OS assumes it to be Store (i.e., uncompressed).
    • Android 9 introduced a different method for parsing monolithic apps compared to Android 8. This new implementation handles asset access differently. As a result, certain APKs that caused manifest corruption errors in Android 8 and earlier versions no longer encounter this issue on Android 9.

    Extracting and decoding AndroidManifest file 

    I wrote a script to extract the raw AndroidManifest.xml from an APK by parsing its ZIP structure. It locates the Central Directory, finds AndroidManifest.xml, extracts its compression details and raw data, and then, by using Androguard, decodes the extracted raw AndroidManifest.xml into a readable XML format.

    Figure 12. Extraction and encoding AndroidManifest.xml

    Below is the decoded AndroidManifest.xml of the Dropper APK. It requests permissions for QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES to list installed apps and REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES to install the payload application.

    Figure 13. Decoded AndroidManifest xml file of Dropper application.

    Below is the decoded AndroidManifest.xml of the Payload APK. It requests sensitive permissions such as RECEIVE_SMS, READ_SMS, and SEND_SMS to access and send SMS messages.

    Figure 14. Decoded AndroidManifest xml from payload application

    Malware execution

    After launch, the Dropper application prompts the user to update the app. Upon clicking “Update,” it requests permission to allow installations from unknown sources. Once granted, it installs the Payload APK, which uses the same icon as the Dropper but hides its icon from the app drawer.

    Figure 15. Dropper application execution

    Now, if the user clicks on the mParivahan app icon, it launches the Payload application. First, it requests SMS and Call permissions. Then, it displays a page asking the user to enter their vehicle and phone numbers to track challan status. Next, it prompts the user to pay ₹1 via PhonePe, Google Pay, or Paytm, requiring them to enter their payment PIN. After the transaction, it shows a confirmation page stating, “Payment completed, wait for 30 minutes, and do not delete the app from the device.”

    Figure 16. Payload application execution

    However, the application steals the entered information in the background and saves it to a Firebase database. Since the app has SMS access permissions, it also captures incoming SMS data and uploads it to Firebase.

    Figure 17. Pin and device info stealing code

    1. Stealthier native c2 extraction and notification stealer

    File name NextGen mParivahan.apk
    MD5 8bf7ea1c35697967a33c0876df5f30b9
    App name NextGen mParivahan
    Package name com.sakurai.endo3798132

     

    Upon launch, the second variant requests SMS and call management permissions. It then prompts the user to grant notification access to the malware. After obtaining all necessary permissions, the user is asked to enter a phone number. Once the user clicks “Continue,” it opens the Google homepage and hides its icon.

    Figure 18. App execution

    Malware, which has access to notification data, continuously monitors notifications. Whenever a new notification is posted, it captures the data and sends it to the C2 server.

    Figure 19. Notification stealer code

    The malware application maintains a list of apps targeted for notification theft. The targeted applications include WhatsApp, Facebook, Amazon, Zomato, Telegram, Google Messages, Gmail etc.

    Figure 20. Targeted application list

    C2 extraction from native code

    The malware dynamically generates the C2 server URL at runtime, avoiding plain-text storage to evade detection. The figure below shows code from the Java section, where the SecreatHeven class is responsible for loading the native library “libbunnycoban.so” and defining native functions. Here, the bunnylovesCarrot() function returns the C2 server URL. There are two additional functions, hiddendandelion() and SecreatAcron(), that return the IP info service URL and IP info token. The malware might use these functions during C2 server generation, as they are not referenced elsewhere in the code.

    Figure 21. Java code loading so file

    Here is a code snippet that shows the code for generating the C2 server from the .so file.

    Figure 22. Code used to construct c2 server from so file

    The logs clearly reveal the C2 server used by this malware –

    Figure 23. c2 mention in logcat

    Both variants also have SMS-stealing capabilities similar to the previous version. They access SMS data and send it to the extracted C2 server or Firebase. Additionally, they implement a bootloader broadcast receiver for persistence, which allows the application to start in the background after the device boots.

     

    MITRE ATT&CK Tactics and Techniques:

    Quick Heal Detection of Android Malware

    Quick Heal detects such malicious applications with variants of Android.Spyagent.A

    It is recommended that all mobile users should install a trusted Anti-Virus like “Quick Heal Mobile Security for Android” to mitigate such threats and stay protected. Our antivirus software restricts users from downloading malicious applications on their mobile devices. Download your Android protection here

    Conclusion:

    This malware variant demonstrates how cybercriminals continuously advance their techniques to evade detection and steal more user data. Leveraging malformed APKs, dynamic C2 generation, and anti-analysis methods makes it increasingly difficult for traditional security tools to identify their malicious activities. Additionally, their ability to access notifications, SMS, and sensitive app data poses a significant risk to user privacy.

    However, as threats evolve, so do analysis methodologies. Security solutions and threat intelligence efforts are improving detection techniques by deep-diving into obfuscation strategies, dynamic analysis, and advanced threat-hunting approaches. Strengthening security awareness, using trusted sources for app installations, and employing modern analysis tools are essential in combating these emerging threats.

    IOCs

    URLs:

    Https[:]//cyberdefensetech[.]cc/

     

    TIPS TO STAY DIGITALLY SAFE: 

    • Download applications only from trusted sources like Google Play Store.
    • Do not click on any links received through messages or any other social media platforms as they may be intentionally or inadvertently pointing to malicious sites.
    • Read the pop-up messages from the Android system before accepting or/allowing any new permissions.
    • Be extremely cautious about what applications you download on your phone, as malware authors can easily spoof the original applications’ names, icons, and developer details.
    • For enhanced phone protection, always use a good antivirus like Quick Heal Mobile Security for Android.

    Don’t wait! Secure your smartphones today with Quick Heal Total Security for Mobiles & Smartphones – Buy or Renew Today!

     



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  • How Has Medical Technology Impacted the Surrogacy Process?


    Advancements in medical technology have significantly transformed the surrogacy process, offering new opportunities and improving outcomes for all parties involved. From the initial application to post-birth care, technology plays a crucial role in making surrogacy a viable and successful option for many families. Let’s explore how these advancements have impacted the various stages of the surrogacy journey.

    Streamlining the Application Process

    Every year, thousands of women express their interest in becoming surrogate mothers. The process begins with a thorough application and screening to ensure candidates are suitable for the role. Medical technology has streamlined this initial stage, enabling agencies to efficiently process and review applications. Online platforms and databases allow for quick and secure submission of documents, while advanced screening tools help identify potential surrogates who meet the necessary health and psychological criteria.

    Ensuring Health and Compatibility

    The first three months of the surrogacy process involve a rigorous schedule of paperwork, legal formalities, and medical exams, as stated by Elevate Baby. Medical technology has enhanced these early stages by providing sophisticated diagnostic tools and tests. Surrogate mothers undergo comprehensive health evaluations to ensure they are physically capable of carrying a pregnancy to term. This includes blood tests, ultrasounds, and other imaging techniques that offer detailed insights into their health status. These exams help identify any potential issues early on, ensuring a smooth and safe journey ahead.

    Facilitating Legal and Ethical Compliance

    Legal aspects are a critical component of the surrogacy process. The initial months also involve meticulous legal work to protect the rights and responsibilities of all parties. Medical technology aids in this by ensuring accurate and secure documentation. Digital contracts and electronic signatures have replaced traditional paperwork, making the process more efficient and less prone to errors. Secure online portals allow for the easy sharing and storage of legal documents, ensuring compliance with local regulations and ethical standards.

    Enhancing Fertility Treatments

    One of the most significant impacts of medical technology on surrogacy is in the realm of fertility treatments. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a cornerstone of the surrogacy process, and advancements in this field have greatly improved success rates. Technologies such as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) allow for the screening of embryos for genetic abnormalities before implantation. This increases the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and reduces the risk of complications. Additionally, innovations in cryopreservation enable the freezing and storage of eggs, sperm, and embryos, providing greater flexibility and options for intended parents and surrogates.

    Monitoring Pregnancy and Health

    Throughout the surrogacy journey, continuous monitoring of the surrogate’s health is paramount. Modern medical technology offers a range of tools to track the progress of the pregnancy and ensure the well-being of both the surrogate and the developing baby. Regular ultrasounds, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and wearable health devices provide real-time data on the surrogate’s condition. This information allows healthcare providers to promptly address any concerns and make informed decisions to support a healthy pregnancy.

    Supporting Emotional Well-being

    The surrogacy process can be emotionally taxing for all involved. Medical technology also plays a role in supporting the mental health of surrogate mothers. Telemedicine and virtual counseling services offer accessible support, allowing surrogates to connect with mental health professionals from the comfort of their homes. These resources help surrogates manage stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges, ensuring a positive and fulfilling experience.

    Post-Birth Care and Follow-Up

    After the birth of the child, medical technology continues to be essential. Surrogates receive comprehensive post-birth care to ensure their physical and emotional recovery. Regular follow-up visits and check-ups are facilitated by advanced medical scheduling systems and electronic health records, ensuring continuity of care. It is recommended that individuals visit a doctor at least once a year to maintain their overall health, and this applies to surrogate mothers as well. Annual check-ups help monitor long-term health outcomes and provide ongoing support.



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  • Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution Vulnerability


    Apache Tomcat is a popular, open-source web server and servlet container maintained by the Apache Software Foundation. It provides a reliable and scalable environment for executing Java Servlets and serving web pages built using Java Server Pages (JSP). Frequently deployed in both development and production environments, Tomcat plays a crucial role in delivering dynamic Java-based web applications across various enterprise use cases.

    Recently, a critical security vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-24813 was discovered in Apache Tomcat. This vulnerability exploits a flaw in the handling of partial file uploads and session file persistence, potentially allowing attackers to achieve remote code execution (RCE) under certain conditions. The issue arises from how Tomcat’s default servlet manages write operations combined with deserialization logic for persisted session files.

    CVE-2025-24813

    Initially published in early March with a CVSS score of 5.5, the severity of CVE-2025-24813 was later reassessed and upgraded to 9.8 (High). Recognizing the potential impact of this flaw, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalogue, underscoring the urgency for affected organizations to patch their systems.

    CVE-2025-24813 is a critical vulnerability in Apache Tomcat that can lead to remote code execution (RCE) when specific server configurations are in place. The issue arises from how Tomcat handles partial PUT requests in conjunction with file-based session persistence.

    This issue becomes exploitable when the default servlet is explicitly configured with ‘readonly’ parameter is set to false — a setting that enables write operations such as HTTP PUT. By default, Tomcat sets ‘readonly’ to true, which restricts write access and helps mitigate risk. This parameter is defined in the web.xml configuration file, typically located in the conf/ directory of the Tomcat installation.

    When partial PUT support is also enabled (enabled by default), an attacker can exploit this behaviour to upload a crafted serialized payload, targeting a session file. If Tomcat is configured to persist session data to disk, the uploaded file may later be automatically deserialized by the server, resulting in attacker-controlled code execution.

    The vulnerability affects the following versions of Apache Tomcat:

    • 11.0.0‑M1 through 11.0.2
    • 10.1.0‑M1 through 10.1.34
    • 9.0.0‑M1 through 9.0.98

    Exploitation Prerequisites for CVE-2025-24813

    To exploit CVE-2025-24813, several server-side conditions must be in place. These prerequisites enable an attacker to craft a malicious PUT request that results in the deserialization of attacker-controlled data, potentially leading to remote code execution (RCE).

    The following conditions must be met:

    • The default servlet’s readonly attribute is set to false, permitting write access via HTTP PUT requests
    • Partial PUT functionality is enabled — i.e., Tomcat accepts the Content-Range header (enabled by default)
    • The application is configured to use Tomcat’s file-based session persistence mechanism

    Exploitation Flow

    The exploitation of CVE-2025-24813 involves a sequence of carefully crafted steps that take advantage of Tomcat’s handling of partial file uploads and session deserialization. The following outlines a typical attack chain under vulnerable conditions:

    Environment Setup: The target server must have ‘readonly’ parameter set to false for the default servlet, partial PUT support enabled, and file-based session persistence configured.

    Payload Generation: The attacker generates a malicious serialized object — typically using a tool like ysoserial — embedding a command that will execute upon deserialization.

    Payload Upload: The crafted payload is uploaded to the server via an HTTP PUT request with a Content-Range header. This simulates a partial upload and results in the creation of a session file on disk.

    Triggering Deserialization: A follow-up request is made to the application with the JSESSIONID set to the uploaded session file’s name. This causes Tomcat to deserialize the file, assuming it to be a legitimate session object.

    Code Execution: If a suitable deserialization gadget exists on the classpath, the payload is executed, leading to remote code execution under the privileges of the Tomcat process.

    Mitigation

    The recommended and most effective mitigation for CVE-2025-24813 is to upgrade Apache Tomcat to a version where the vulnerability has been addressed. This flaw is fully patched in the following Tomcat releases:

    These versions include enhancements to the handling of temporary files created via partial PUT requests, ensuring such files are not mistakenly deserialized as session objects — thereby preventing remote code execution.

    For environments where immediate upgrades are not possible, the following temporary mitigations can help reduce risk:

    • Keep the default servlet’s readonly parameter set to true, which prevents write operations via PUT requests. This is the default and recommended setting.
    • Disable support for partial PUT requests, especially if not used by the application. This can be achieved at the connector level or via upstream web server rules (e.g., Nginx or Apache HTTPD).
    • Avoid using file-based session persistence, particularly when writable paths overlap with session storage locations.
    • Review and sanitize the server classpath to remove unnecessary libraries such as commons-collections, which may introduce exploitable deserialization gadgets.

        Seqrite Endpoint Protection

    All Seqrite Customers are protected from this vulnerability by following signatures:

    • HTTP/CVE-2025-24813!VS.49414

    Authors:

    Vinay Kumar

    Vineet Sarote



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  • Upgrading a 20 year old University Project to .NET 6 with dotnet-upgrade-assistant

    Upgrading a 20 year old University Project to .NET 6 with dotnet-upgrade-assistant



    I wrote a Tiny Virtual Operating System for a 300-level OS class in C# for college back in 2001 (?) and later moved it to VB.NET in 2002. This is all pre-.NET Core, and on early .NET 1.1 or 2.0 on Windows. I moved it to GitHub 5 years ago and ported it to .NET Core 2.0 at the time. At this point it was 15 years old, so it was cool to see this project running on Windows, Linux, in Docker, and on a Raspberry Pi…a machine that didn’t exist when the project was originally written.

    NOTE: If the timeline is confusing, I had already been working in industry for years at this point but was still plugging away at my 4 year degree at night. It eventually took 11 years to complete my BS in Software Engineering.

    This evening, as the children slept, I wanted to see if I could run the .NET Upgrade Assistant on this now 20 year old app and get it running on .NET 6.

    Let’s start:

    $ upgrade-assistant upgrade .\TinyOS.sln
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Microsoft .NET Upgrade Assistant v0.3.256001+3c4e05c787f588e940fe73bfa78d7eedfe0190bd
    We are interested in your feedback! Please use the following link to open a survey: https://aka.ms/DotNetUASurvey
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    [22:58:01 INF] Loaded 5 extensions
    [22:58:02 INF] Using MSBuild from C:\Program Files\dotnet\sdk\6.0.100\
    [22:58:02 INF] Using Visual Studio install from C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Preview [v17]
    [22:58:06 INF] Initializing upgrade step Select an entrypoint
    [22:58:07 INF] Setting entrypoint to only project in solution: C:\Users\scott\TinyOS\src\TinyOSCore\TinyOSCore.csproj
    [22:58:07 INF] Recommending executable TFM net6.0 because the project builds to an executable
    [22:58:07 INF] Initializing upgrade step Select project to upgrade
    [22:58:07 INF] Recommending executable TFM net6.0 because the project builds to an executable
    [22:58:07 INF] Recommending executable TFM net6.0 because the project builds to an executable
    [22:58:07 INF] Initializing upgrade step Back up project

    See how the process is interactive at the command line, with color prompts and a series of dynamic multiple-choice questions?

    Updating .NET project with the upgrade assistant

    Interestingly, it builds on the first try, no errors.

    When I manually look at the .csproj I can see some weird version numbers, likely from some not-quite-baked version of .NET Core 2 I used many years ago. My spidey sense says this is wrong, and I’m assuming the upgrade assistant didn’t understand it. 

        <!-- <PackageReference Include="ILLink.Tasks" Version="0.1.4-preview-906439" /> -->
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration" Version="2.0.0-preview2-final" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Json" Version="2.0.0-preview2-final" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection" Version="2.0.0-preview2-final" />
    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Options.ConfigurationExtensions" Version="2.0.0-preview2-final" />

    I also note a commented-out reference to ILLink.Tasks which was a preview feature in Mono’s Linker to reduce the final size of apps and tree-trim them. Some of that functionality is built into .NET 6 now so I’ll use that during the build and packaging process later. The reference is not needed today.

    I’m gonna blindly upgrade them to .NET 6 and see what happens. I could do this by just changing the numbers and seeing if it restores and builds, but I can also try dotnet outdated which remains a lovely tool in the upgrader’s toolkit.

    image

    This “outdated” tool is nice as it talks to NuGet and confirms that there are newer versions of certain packages.

    In my tests – which were just batch files at this early time – I was calling my dotnet app like this:

    dotnet netcoreapp2.0/TinyOSCore.dll 512 scott13.txt

    This will change to the modern form with just TinyOSCore.exe 512 scott13.txt with an exe and args and no ceremony.

    Publishing and trimming my TinyOS turns into just a 15 meg EXE. Nice considering that the .NET I need is in there with no separate install. I could turn this little synthetic OS into a microservice if I wanted to be totally extra.

    dotnet publish -r win-x64 --self-contained -p:PublishSingleFile=true -p:SuppressTrimAnalysisWarnings=true

    If I add 

    -p:EnableCompressionInSingleFile=true

    Then it’s even smaller. No code changes. Run all my tests, looks good. My project from university from .NET 1.1 is now .NET 6.0, cross platform, self-contained in 11 megs in a single EXE. Sweet.

    Sponsor: At Rocket Mortgage® the work you do around here will be 100% impactful but won’t take all your free time, giving you the perfect work-life balance. Or as we call it, tech/life balance! Learn more.




    About Scott

    Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

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  • Easter Sale! 🐣

    Easter Sale! 🐣


    At Browserling and Online Tools, we love sales.

    We just created a new automated Easter Sale.

    Now each year, on the Easter Day, we show a 50% discount offer to all users who visit our site.

    This year it runs today, next year on April 5, etc.

    Here’s how it looks.

    Buy a subscription now and see you next time!



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  • Build a Python Site Connectivity Checker App with PyQt (Step-by-Step)



    Build a Python Site Connectivity Checker App with PyQt (Step-by-Step)



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  • Top reasons to add a Swimming Pool to your home


    If you’ve been considering adding a swimming pool to your property, you’re not alone. Swimming pools have become a popular addition to many homes, with around 10.7 million pools already installed in the U.S., according to Ruby Home. Pools can serve as the centerpiece of relaxation, fitness, and entertainment in your backyard. Beyond aesthetics, adding a pool comes with a variety of benefits that might make it the perfect investment for your home.

    1. Increase Property Value

    One of the most compelling reasons to add a swimming pool is its impact on property value. A well-maintained inground pool can raise the value of a property by as much as 7%, according to Bankrate. This is a significant increase, especially for homeowners looking to make their home more attractive to potential buyers.

    In warmer climates, where the pool season is longer, a swimming pool can be seen as an essential amenity rather than a luxury. Homes with pools tend to stand out in competitive real estate markets, as they provide prospective buyers with an immediate sense of lifestyle and comfort. By adding a swimming pool, you not only improve your daily living experience but also potentially boost your property’s marketability and price.

    2. Health and Fitness Benefits

    A swimming pool is more than just a luxurious backyard feature—it’s a tool for health and wellness. Swimming is a low-impact, full-body workout that provides both cardiovascular and strength training benefits. It’s gentle on the joints, making it suitable for people of all ages, including those who may have joint pain or physical limitations.

    With a pool right outside your door, you’re more likely to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, whether it’s swimming laps, doing water aerobics, or simply taking a leisurely dip. Pools can be especially useful for families, as children are more likely to stay active if they have an accessible and fun way to do so at home.

    3. Enhance Your Lifestyle and Entertainment Options

    A swimming pool transforms your backyard into an outdoor oasis. Whether you’re hosting a family gathering, a summer BBQ, or simply having friends over, a pool serves as a centerpiece for entertainment. It adds an element of fun and relaxation, allowing guests to enjoy the warm weather and cool off in the water.

    Beyond parties, a pool provides a great setting for spending quality family time. It can be a place where kids learn to swim, families play games together, or where you unwind after a long day. The versatility of a swimming pool makes it an appealing addition for those who value creating memories at home.

    4. Environmental and Water Conservation Benefits

    The idea of owning a pool might make some potential owners concerned about water usage, but modern water purification methods have come a long way. According to Pool and Spa News, the pool water purification method saves as much as 80% more water compared to draining the pool when the water reaches its saturation point. This innovation ensures that pools are more sustainable, significantly reducing the environmental footprint of maintaining a backyard pool.

    Water conservation techniques, such as installing a pool cover, using efficient filtration systems, and keeping pool water properly balanced, also contribute to minimizing water waste. With these improvements, owning a swimming pool today is far less resource-intensive than it was in the past, making it a more eco-friendly option.

    5. Stress Relief and Relaxation

    The soothing qualities of water make a swimming pool an ideal place for relaxation. Many people find the act of floating in water, listening to the gentle sounds of splashing, or even just sitting by the pool to be calming and rejuvenating. The mental health benefits of spending time in or near water are well-documented, as it can help reduce stress, anxiety, and promote overall well-being.

    After a stressful day, there’s nothing quite like taking a relaxing dip or enjoying the peaceful environment that a pool offers. Having your own private retreat provides a daily escape from the hustle and bustle of life.

    If you’ve been on the fence about installing a pool, consider the value it can add to your lifestyle, health, and home. From raising property value to creating a perfect entertainment space, the advantages of adding a swimming pool are numerous and long-lasting.



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  • Build a Python Network Speed Test App with PyQt (Step-by-Step)



    Build a Python Network Speed Test App with PyQt (Step-by-Step)



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  • A Nightscout Segment for OhMyPosh shows my realtime Blood Sugar readings in my Git Prompt

    A Nightscout Segment for OhMyPosh shows my realtime Blood Sugar readings in my Git Prompt



    I’ve talked about how I love a nice pretty prompt in my Windows Terminal and made videos showing in detail how to do it. I’ve also worked with my buddy TooTallNate to put my real-time blood sugar into a bash or PowerShell prompt, but this was back in 2017.

    Now that I’m “Team OhMyPosh” I have been meaning to write a Nightscout “segment” for my prompt. Nightscout is an open source self-hosted (there are commercial hosts also like T1Pal) website and API for remote display of real-time and near-real-time glucose readings for Diabetics like myself.

    Since my body has an active REST API where I can just do an HTTP GET (via curl or whatever) and see my blood sugar, it clearly belongs in a place of honor, just like my current Git Branch!

    My blood sugar in my Prompt!

    Oh My Posh supports configurable “segments” and now there’s a beta (still needs mmol and stale readings support) Nightscout segment that you can setup in just a few minutes!

    This prompt works in ANY shell on ANY os! You can do this in zsh, PowerShell, Bash, whatever makes you happy.

    Here is a YouTube of Jan from OhMyPosh and I coding the segment LIVE in Go.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_meKUIm9NwA

    If you have an existing OhMyPosh json config, you can just add another segment like this. Make sure your Nightscout URL includes a secure Token or is public (up to you). Note also that I setup “if/then” rules in my background_templates. These are optional and up to you to change to your taste. I set my background colors to red, yellow, green depending on sugar numbers. I also have a foreground template that is not really used, as you can see it always evaluates to black #000, but it shows you how you could set it to white text on a darker background if you wanted. 

    {
    "type": "nightscout",
    "style": "diamond",
    "foreground": "#ffffff",
    "background": "#ff0000",
    "background_templates": [
    "{{ if gt .Sgv 150 }}#FFFF00{{ end }}",
    "{{ if lt .Sgv 60 }}#FF0000{{ end }}",
    "#00FF00"
    ],
    "foreground_templates": [
    "{{ if gt .Sgv 150 }}#000000{{ end }}",
    "{{ if lt .Sgv 60 }}#000000{{ end }}",
    "#000000"
    ],
    "leading_diamond": "",
    "trailing_diamond": "\uE0B0",
    "properties": {
    "url": "https://YOURNIGHTSCOUTAPP.herokuapp.com/api/v1/entries.json?count=1&token=APITOKENFROMYOURADMIN",
    "http_timeout": 1500,
    "template": " {{.Sgv}}{{.TrendIcon}}"
    }
    },

    By default we will only go out and hit your Nightscout instance every 5 min, only when the prompt is repainted, and we’ll only wait 1500ms before giving up. You can set that “http_timeout” (how long before we give up) if you feel this slows you down. It’ll be cached for 5 min so it’s unlikely  to b something you’ll notice. The benefit of this new OhMyPosh segment over the previous solution is that it requires no additional services/chron jobs and can be setup extremely quickly. Note also that you can customize your template with NerdFonts. I’ve included a tiny syringe!

    What a lovely prompt with Blood Sugar!

    Next I’ll hope to improve the segment with mmol support as well as strikeout style for “stale” (over 15 min old) results. You’re also welcome to help out by watching our YouTube and submitting a PR!

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    About Scott

    Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.

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