pokemon – PSafe Blog

Tips to Safely Get Pokecoins on PokemonGo

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:59:51 +0000

Maybe the novelty has worn off since it became the mobile game of the summer, or perhaps the cold weather is keeping aspiring trainers from being the very best, but PokemonGO has been a little quieter these days. Even with a Halloween update bringing some players back into the fold, only the most devout players remain catching and battling Pokemon on a regular basis. Still, even with a diminished population of active gamers, there is a need to remain safe while playing the game, particularly while attacking Gyms.

As the number of new monsters to catch decreases, and the level of your current Pokemon increases, the one thing left that can sustain and engage the dedicated trainer are Gyms; geographic locations that members of Team Mystic, Valor, and Instinct can battle over to control. Aside from local bragging rights, these Gyms provide Pokecoins, an in-game currency that can be redeemed in the app’s built-in shop for rewards like PokeStop Lures, Incense, PokeBalls, Egg Incubators, and extra space for Pokemon and items. To get these coins, you must either battle the occupying team until no Pokemon remain, or find space in a friendly gym, before placing one of your monsters in the gym and claiming your coins. The more Gyms you hold at one time before cashing in, the more coins you’ll have. Then, it’s just a short 21-hour wait before you can repeat the process and get those sought-after coins.

Still, whether you’re a trainer yourself, or the parent of one, these in-game locations may not be safe to congregate at. Some may be in less-than-ideal locations in your neighborhood that aren’t 100% safe, while others may be too remote and away from houses and communities in case the unimaginable occurs. No matter the reason, it pays to follow a few simple tips while battling Gyms to make sure each gaming session is as fun as it is safe.

Battle With Friends
With some gyms hosting Pokemon with particularly high combat points, attacking gyms with friends on your team is not only effective in staying safe while strolling around the neighborhood, but can make the process of taking a high level gym far quicker and entertaining than it would be flying solo. Moreover, going with a friend ensures that you get wherever you need to go, and that nothing happens to you or your buddy while you’re gaming

Don’t Battle Gyms Far Away from Others
While most Gyms are located in places frequented by pedestrian traffic, like monuments, churches, or historic landmarks, others may be off the beaten path that see far fewer visitors. It may be tempting to go after these gyms since there is less of a chance that competing teams will battle you for control of the gym, but their remote locations can also be potentially dangerous — whether someone decides to mug you at this gym, or if you fall and sprain an ankle, help won’t arrive quickly, To lower the odds something awful like that happens, leave those backwater gyms for other trainers to claim.

Visit Gyms During the Day
Following similar logic to the previous tips, you’ll want to be playing while there are many people around and about. As the days become shorter and the temperature drops, this means you should be playing between dawn and dusk, both because autumn and winter aren’t as conducive to an outdoor video game like PokemonGO, and because common sense would conclude that you’re less likely to deal with vengeful players, thieves, or other delinquents in broad daylight.

Maintain Situational Awareness
This one should be an obvious recommendation (the loading screen for the game even says this for legal reasons), but considering that people have died playing PokemonGO because they were distracted and unaware of surrounding hazards, it deserves repeating here. If you’re going to spend 30 minutes battling Pokemon, do so somewhere that has clear lines of sight of your surroundings, is outside of roadways, and, when possible, where you can have your back against a building or wall. Not only does this give you a good view of the pedestrian and vehicular traffic around you, it gives you protection from potential muggers coming at you outside of your field of vision.

While we hope that you never have to put these tips to the test in real life, these tips are intended to give players of all ages a sense of security while gaming by lowering the odds of something bad happening to you. To this end, strive to be the very best, but keep in mind that your safety matters more than becoming a Pokemon master.

User Retention is Declining in Pokemon Go

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 20:50:58 +0000

Like new songs, new applications are typically only enjoyed until everyone gets bored of them. Well, it looks like this same death cycle is rearing its ugly head to Pokemon GO. Within a week after Pokemon GO was released in the US, it had broken records at the Apple store for most downloads in a week. Herds of people were crowding famous landmarks labeled as “Pokestops,” as they scurried to find their first legendary Pokemon. There were also reports of people rudely scavenging on their phones in places like graveyards and memorials.

Nevertheless, it seems as if the glory days of Pokemon GO are a thing of the past. At its peak, it was reported that Pokemon GO had 45 million players on the date of July 17, according to their Daily Active Users statistic.

However, Axiom Capital Management reported that over 10 million players have quit the game since the middle of July. The estimated daily users of Pokemon GO has subsided to below 30 million as of late August. Axiom’s statistics are also showing that engagement and downloads of Pokemon GO has fallen as well.

Fortunately, this decline in daily use has been offset by the proliferation of Pokemon GOers in foreign countries. Right as Pokemon GO was waning in popularity, they began releasing the game in countries such as Brazil, China, Indonesia, France, and more. As a result, the revenue lost by players quitting in the US is being compensated for by the growth experienced in other countries.

This is illustrated through the marginal decline in Nintendo’s profits. Nintendo owns about one third of Pokemon GO, and their price share fell only about 3% as a result of the diminishing popularity. Thus, Nintendo will certainly be able to stay afloat despite this Pokemon GO drought.
Although games are expected to lose players after a popularity boom, there are certainly other factors at hand other than time. For example, Niantic, the creators of Pokemon GO, cracked down on cheating and the usage of third party websites for unfair advantages. Plus, Niantic made the game slightly harder by removing the “nearby” feature on the game, which could have dissuaded some users from playing.

In sum, despite this loss in popularity, both Niacin and Nintendo will certainly have the resources to keep their businesses afloat.

PokémonGo and Your Privacy: What You Need to Know

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 22:24:13 +0000

PokémonGo’s app was recently updated — even though its first release was only in July of this year — due to the fact that the original app poses some significant privacy concerns for users. The chief privacy concern is that the app requests and receives full access to the Google accounts of users who login to it. In the updated version of the app, which users are being encouraged to download, the app and game developers only have access to the user’s basic account information.

Privacy Concerns and PokémonGo

Before the recent update to the PokémonGo app, users who logged in to the game with Google were required to give full access to their Google account. This allowed the app to have access to a large amount of users’ personal information. The app could access a user’s Gmail, important documents, and other personal data that they had stored in their Google account. For this reason, the initial version of the PokémonGo app posed a significant security risk factor.

PokémonGo Makes a Change

The good news for users of this popular game is that along with addressing security concerns in the new version of PokémonGo, the company has provided assurance that they never actually collected or stored significant amounts of private data about its users. The makers contend, and outside sources verify, that the initial account access request was a mere error that the Niantic team never exploited for any sinister purposes.

The app did, however, track the location of the devices upon which the game was played, as well as track recently viewed webpages from the user’s browsing history. Much of this information was collected simply to enhance the user’s enjoyment of the game by allowing the game to place its creatures in real-world locations that the user would encounter.

In order to eliminate the previously discussed privacy concern completely, users of the PokémonGo game are advised to logout of their Google account and download the updated version of the app. After downloading the newer version of the app, users are encouraged to go into their Google account’s ‘Privacy and Security’ settings and check their ‘Connected Apps and Sites’ to ensure that the app no longer has full access to the account.

PSafe Total can enhance a user’s security even further with its anti-virus software that combats attacks on the user’s Android device by malicious online threats.

Move Over Pokemon GO! Other AR Apps Worth a Look

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:20:53 +0000

Everyone, everywhere, has at least heard of Pokemon Go — even if they haven’t played it. For all the hubbub, it may surprise you to learn that it isn’t the only augmented reality app on the market. For other forms of AR gaming fun, check out some of these other Android apps below.

Ingress

Although you may not be familiar with the Ingress app, you have likely heard of the company behind it — Niantic — which also developed Pokemon GO. Ingress draws you into a galactic global struggle, between the “Resistance” and the “Enlightened”. You choose sides, surveil your neighborhood, use your phone’s GPS to track down energy sources, and work with your team to either embrace the force or struggle against it. The choice is yours.

Space 4D+

See space like you have never seen it before. With Space 4D+, users can scan and print space cards, allowing planets to appear in your very own home. Layering on facts and figures about the solar system, space missions, and satellites, this app offers a unique educational angle that makes it stand apart from the current crop of AR gaming offerings — both kids and adults will likely enjoy going into orbit with this one.

TableZombies Augmented Reality

Looking for a more grown up game? Then join the fight against the Zombie Apocalypse. TableZombies AR places you in a chopper, hovering above a building where survivors are trapped. Using your phone camera as a marker, you kill zombies in the crosshair, collect special items — and maybe even save the day in the process.

SpecTreck Light

Virtual ghosts are out there. Find and catch them floating around your neighborhood using your camera’s GPS. The interface for this game couldn’t be easier. Simply hold your phone as though it were a map in radar mode, then flip it up to hunt for ghosts via your camera viewfinder. Set the radius you want to explore, and then go roam.

Gaming has come a long way since Pong. Take advantage of the latest technology and enjoy some of these cool new Android apps. Winning, though, requires energy. So make sure your battery is fully charged by installing PowerPRO, and keep your competitive edge.

Olympians Couldn’t Play Pokémon GO and They Were Pretty Upset

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 20:51:23 +0000

PokémonGO is a popular mobile augmented reality game, available for Android and iPhone users, that was released in select countries in July of this year. Unfortunately, Brazil was not one of the countries in which PokémonGO was initially released, much to the dismay of the Olympic athletes.

It was anticipated by many that the game would be available in Rio before the Olympics; however, this prediction had not come to fruition until August 3, when the game was finally released in Brazil. On Wednesday, PokémonGO reported on its Facebook page that the game was finally available for fans and visitors in Rio as well as the Olympians.

The Allure of PokémonGO

PokémonGO is a game that merges the real world and the virtual world and allows the player to explore their surroundings while searching for Pokémon. One aspect of the game that may appeal to Olympic athletes is that the player acts as a trainer of Pokémon. Unlike other mobile games, it encourages players to get out and be active while playing it. The game is free to play; although, it does contain some in-app purchases.

Olympic Athlete’s Initial Disappointment

When they arrived in Brazil, many Olympic athletes thought they could have fun exploring the Olympic Village while seeking out Pokémon. If only the new game had made it to Brazil in time for the summer games. Many Olympic athletes expressed their disappointment over the fact that they could not get the game at Olympic Park. Some athletes, however, had stated that the lack of PokémonGO freed up more time for training.

The disappointment of athletes and others about the lack of PokémonGO in Brazil ended on Wednesday August 3. The game had made it to Brazil just in time for the opening ceremonies on August 5. Now, athletes can use this popular mobile game to help commemorate their experiences at the Olympic games by capturing and training Pokémon to be high quality virtual athletes.

3 Potential Problems with Pokémon Go

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 18:05:41 +0000

Let’s get this out of the way first: Pokémon Go is fun. There’s no denying this. You can find colorful, digital creatures of all shapes and sizes in your background, your office, your shower and around your city. You can’t even go outside without crossing at least one person playing the game. But, like so many uber-popular apps, Pokémon Go has its problems—both in the real world and the virtual world. Here, we’ll cover three threats Pokémon Go users should address so you can stop worrying and focus on catching ‘em all:

1. Real-World Crimes

Pokémon Go encourages players to visit so-called Poké Stops in the real world where they can grab useful items for gameplay. Unfortunately, some nefarious players have used these pinned locations in the United States to rob unsuspecting players at gunpoint. There’s no problem in enjoying this nostalgia-filled throwback to your childhood, but keep the adult in you aware of your surroundings and alert when you’re exploring.

Only go where you know you won’t be alone (such as a popular park), avoid Poke Stops that make you feel uncomfortable or are found in unfamiliar places, and avoid trespassing on other people’s property. As game creator, Niantic Labs, says: “We encourage all people playing Pokémon GO to be aware of their surroundings and to play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places.”

2. Pervasive Personal Data

To play the game, users have to share their locations and personal data with the app. The game’s creator reserves the right to do with that information whatever they see fit—they can even share it with third parties if they see the need. In fact, within the first week of its release, some users reported the game having full access to information on the Google accounts used to sign in – a bug that has since been fixed.

While this in itself isn’t cause for alarm, and it isn’t entirely uncommon for apps like Pokémon Go to collect user data, it helps to be careful. This particular app’s massive popularity might mean that you’ll need to take extra precautions when giving out permissions to collect personal info – such as using a burner email address specifically for playing the game.

3. Crafty Malware

Malware creators started targeting Pokémon Go almost immediately after it first was released. A remote access tool called “DroidJack” that allowed hackers to take over players’ phones was detected early on in an online file storage service. Although that particular piece of malware hasn’t been reported to have invaded users’ phones yet, it likely will be only one of many created with the intention of duping Pokemon players.

Hackers have also created plenty of ingenious schemes, posting messages on blogs about ways generate unlimited Pokécoins. Remember, if you read about anything online that seems too good to be true, it usually is.

With such a high-stakes and fast-paced game play, the last you want to be doing when playing Pokémon Go is worrying about your virtual safety. Focus on capturing that elusive Abra or hatching a Snorlax by installing PSafe Total. The free software protects your phone from threats of viruses, malware, and malicious attacks, while also boosting the speed of your Internet.

Why is Pokemon GO-ing Strong?

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 12:22:48 +0000

It’s been less than a week since the release of Pokemon Go, and already the mobile game is becoming a worldwide sensation. Developed in partnership between the Pokemon Company and Niantic, Inc., the app is available for both iPhone and Android smartphones. The game utilizes an “augmented reality” system, where the virtual world of Pokemon is superimposed upon real map data provided by Google. Players explore their locale in order to seek out Pokemon that randomly appear on their map.

As soon as they encounter a Pokemon, the phone switches on its camera, and Pokemon is rendered atop the real world (though you can turn off the augmented reality function if you so wish). Various landmarks also take on meaning in the game’s world. A local deli might turn into a “PokéStop” where players can collect items to aid them in their journeys. Or a nearby church might become a “Gym,” a site over which players battle, competing for dominance and bragging rights.

Only two days after its US launch, Pokemon Go already had more installs than Tinder (the mega-popular dating app), and almost as many daily users as Twitter. Praise is flooding in from every corner of the internet as people pour onto the streets in search of the virtual creatures. In particular, there has been a huge response from more sedentary folk, who cite the game as motivation to get out and get cardio workouts.

Unlike other Pokemon games, walking around in the real world is necessary. Not only must players explore to find new Pokemon, but eggs containing Pokemon can only hatch after the player walks a certain number of kilometers. Users have even taken to Twitter to speak of how the game has dramatically improved their mental health.

The game is also making unprecedented strides in making mobile games more social. Players around the country are posting photos online of chance encounters with other players. In well-populated areas, it’s not uncommon for groups of ten or twenty players to crop up at Gyms or hotspots with rare Pokemon. Never before has a game encouraged real-life socialization on such a massive scale. We can only hope this sets a precedent for games to come.

Investors have picked up on the game’s popularity, too. Since the game’s release on July 7th, Nintendo’s stock has risen by more than 50% (as of 7/11). However, the game has had a myriad of issues since its release, with countless players getting locked out of the game during peak usage hours. The concerns with scaling for a user base far larger than Niantic predicted are very real.

Nevertheless, confidence in the game has done nothing but climb. Given the massive popularity of the game, it can only be a matter of time before Niantic resolves the issues. Meanwhile, we’ll be keeping our eyes out for Mewtwo (except when we cross the road – always be aware of your surroundings when playing, kids!)