Angry Birds Spies

Do you have a mild addiction to this popular game? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! 
The popular game has been downloaded 1.7 billion times. But did you know that US and British spy agencies can routinely gain access to personal data from Angry Birds and other mobile applications?  The mobile app enables spies to access your location, check websites you have visited, access your contacts and your gaming and social networking applications. The agencies deny all however documents leaked by Edward Snowden, an American computer specialist and former CIA employee, prove that this information is true.

Later the NSA stated that the rumours were true but they were not interested in data beyond “valid foreign intelligence targets”. However in some cases, the intelligence agencies appear to have been hacking into the companies – for instance their internal data links – without knowledge or permission.

In the latest case concerning the Angry Birds and Squeaky Dolphin apps it appears that the NSA and GCHQ are effectively taking details off customer data that the companys' designing softwares – whether Rovio or Google – collect themselves and without the companies knowing.

The report, published by the New York Times, ProPublica and The Guardian says that the NSA and Britain’s GCHQ have worked together since 2007 to develop ways to gain access to information from applications for mobile phones and tablets.

One 2008 document from the British intelligence agency is quoted as saying that the joint spying programme “effectively means that anyone using Google Maps on a smartphone is working in support of a GCHQ system”.

Other applications mentioned by the documents include the photo-sharing site Flickr, movie-based social network Flixster and applications that connect to Facebook.

So the next time you use an application, think about all the data you are giving away.


Virginia Mitreva
year 8

Turn Up the Air Conditioning!

While England wraps up warm for the traditional mid-winter freeze, Australia’s road tar begins to melt.

What most people don’t realise is that while, in January, England is in the middle of winter, many other countries are halfway through their summers. Australia, in particular, is really heating up with some of the highest temperatures ever seen there.

On Tuesday 14^th January 2014, the weather forecast for England was 2°C. The weather forecast for Australia was 45°C. The English were turning up the heating; the Australians were turning up the AC. The English were pulling on gloves, scarves and coats; the Australians were stepping into swimwear. All over Australia everyone was heading to the beach, ready for a day of fun, games and sunbathing.

But not all of the effects of hot weather are exciting and enjoyable; according to BBC News, in Victoria over 250 fires were started by lightning strikes, resulting in a fire ban and several evacuations taking place. In Melbourne, at the Australian Open, a tennis player collapsed 2 hours and 22 minutes into his second round. In Tasmania, the road tar began to melt. The consequences of the heat were startling and upsetting.

There are, however, some funny and surprising aftermaths of the heat. On Friday afternoon, a video was uploaded onto CBBC Newsround. It showed a chocolate being placed on a street in Victoria on Wednesday - it melted in less than three minutes! Press play to watch the video below!

Hopefully the weather in Australia will cool down drastically, making Australia the fun and exciting place that it usually is. So, where would you rather spend your next winter – in England, with a temperature of 2°C, or in Australia, with a temperature of 45°C?

By Alisha Shaikh,

year 8

Boston Head

Sunday 19th January saw many junior and elite rowers visit the historical town of Boston ready to race on Great British waters.

Boston had received entries for 287 boats ready to take on either the 3 kilometre or 5 kilometre course (in very bright and smart racing all in ones). The morning saw some rain and a strong head wind, but the competitors gritted their teeth and pushed on; the hard work paid off when the times were released at the end of the division.

The clubhouse filled quickly as hungry competitors and officials took a break from the icy wind. Times were released soon after and Boston found they had an advantage being on home water and knowing the best ways to take the bends.

I was racing in division 2 so after a quick burger, my crew and I proceeded towards the start line just over 3 kilometres away, with a quick warm up and a jog thrown in. When we got down to the starting line we had to sort ourselves into numerical order.

As soon as we heard the bell, Lucie and I pushed. Within the first kilometre we gained ground and caught up with the double in front. However, we didn't sprint and take over them until the beginning of the last kilometre; our stroke rate was pushed to 25 strokes a minute. 

Coming up to the finish, the crowd and bystanders were cheering as we both gritted our teeth and gave ten solid strokes that pushed us over the line. Our final time for our 3 kilometre sprint was 12:43. In the under 15's category we came 5^th overall.

It was a great day and everyone enjoyed the racing and close competition.

By Kyra Balderstone,

year 9