Category Archives: mobile security
Guest Post: The important advantages of using VPN Services
by Muhammad Azam, a professional technology blogger working with SunVPN
In an era when the percentage of cybercrime is increasing worldwide, some countries are trying to control their citizens whilst threatening their economic growth by putting into place certain bans over using the internet and/or accessing specific websites. This is not the only reason for doing so. Other causes include potential violations of laws in the country and harassing one people’s religious beliefs. To avoid public protests, some such governments have been trying to cut out the source of trouble – the web. However, this not only affects the public but businesses too. For example, banning sites like YouTube and Facebook are exactly the same sites that work well for online businesses. In such countries many companies could potentially go out of business. Which is why VPN services should be considered. Continue reading
BYOD will continue into 2013 says SpamTitan
Rating: Social media is the most dangerous for phishing attacks
As we approach the New Year, Infosecurity Europe has been sending us the views from exhibitors on what they expect to see in 2013. We picked one of the most relevant to the mobile sector from Ronan Kavanagh, CEO of SpamTitan he predicts that social media risk and subsequent web and network security issues will continue to be a serious concern for businesses in 2013. Perhaps most controversially, Kavanagh expects the ) trend towards ‘Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) will continue into 2013.He also forecasts that Social media will be the platform of choice for phishing attacks in 2013. Continue reading
Guest Post: Teach employees to choose ultra secure passwords for their mobile phones
by Dr Matthew Candelaria, a professional technology writer who works with Webroot
It should go without saying that choosing a secure password is important to protecting personal and commercial data. Even mobile security software such as that offered by Webroot is worthless if a password is compromised. Unfortunately, most people don’t create secure passwords, and that can expose your organisation’s business’ network to attacks.The sad truth is that most people use weak and common passwords for most applications. Continue reading
GoMo’s protect your smartphone advice for Xmas
Rating: Inspired by Stonesoft’s Top ten tips
.We all know that significant numbers of handsets – especially smartphones, will be given as Xmas presents this year. However, consumers don’t naturally associate mobile phones with threats from hackers, viruses and malware. As Ash Patel, regional director with Stonesoft, says, “To a consumer, cybercrime may seem a distant threat that is mostly related to espionage between nation-states or hacking against big enterprises.” However, mobile devices are very easy to steal as we’ve reported before but they can contain seriously damaging personal data – such as credit card information and even login details for social networks. So Stonesoft has put together its own Top Ten tips on mobile security for Xmas time. Sound advice but not always entirely practical. Continue reading
App Lock from McAfee defends against handset loss
Rating: Muggers can’t go on spending spree with your smartphone
A new feature which mobile security specialist McAfee has just put into the latest release of its McAfee Mobile Security strikes GoMobile News as an excellent ruse. It will help prevent muggers can’t go on spending spree with your smartphone. We recently reported that many smartghones are snatched whilst the owner is still using the device. Meaning that all of the apps running on the phone are still live. Imagine what could happen if this includes your eBay account. Well, App Lock from McAfee should guard against this happening. Continue reading
McAfee helps keep consumers even safer on their mobile devices
McAfee helps keep consumers even safer on their mobile devices
Enhanced McAfee Mobile Security App Provides Ultimate Privacy Protection and Refreshed User Experience
December 10th 2012. McAfee has announced the release of an enhanced version of McAfee Mobile Security featuring App Lock, an innovative new app privacy technology, as well as a completely refreshed user interface. The enriched and all-inclusive security solution provides Android smartphone and tablet users with the power to ensure that the personal information living inside their mobile apps remains personal and protected. Continue reading
US professor slams ‘dangerous’ failures in Android malware vetting
Research by a US professor has revealed that an astonishing 85 per cent of malware fails to be discovered by Google’s new app verification service.
Though Google’s Bouncer service scans for viruses and malevolent programs in featured Play Store apps, users often opt to “sideload” applications so bypassing any protection. To overcome this Google recently introduced its application verification service in Android 4.2, letting users send information about any app back to the search giant to check if it is safe. Continue reading
iphone is the most snatched handset – official
Rating: Don’t emerge from Tube station using it
According to a report in the Sunday Times here, in London (England) the iPhone is the most common handset snatched by muggers. The Metropolitan Police say that although iPhones only account for around 28 per cent of total phone sales, they make up 28 per cent of handsets reported as stolen. This report contains a great deal of information on how to avoid a handset mugging and how to prevent personal data theft. Did you know for example, is that a typical modus operandi is for the mugger to be on a pedal cycle and swoop passed as you come out of a train station? Those planning to attend the MWC 2013 in Barcelona should take notice. Continue reading
Kadrige secure collaborative app for iPad users
Rating: Has all the bases covered on security side
Two major trends in the workplace are converging fast – remote working and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Spotting this opportunity, Kadrige Innovative Software has created what it claims is first of its kind – Kadridge iSharing a collaborative app for Apple iPad users. iSharing allows users to share interactive content as well as offering web app sharing. Plus users can organise conference calls and training sessions with hundreds of people, all connected at the same time. It has been specifically designed to meet the demands of remote working and therefore requires the minimum of bandwidth. The app will be released any time now. GoMobile News asked the vendor about security issues and the answers are given below. Continue reading
Privacy apps could fall into the wrong hands
Rating: Phone data extraction terminals might be fooled
A worrying report* appeared in yesterday’s [March 22nd 2012] Sunday Times alleging that British police forces are storing personal data from the mobile phones of suspects – even if they are not charged. Apparently only seven forces have openly admitted to renting the extracting terminals but the real figure is probably much higher. One source suggested that 22 forces in England and Wales might be involved. The equipment maker – Radio Tactics, claims that its latest terminals can crack popular Android social media apps. GoMobile News wonders if criminals will start to use sophisticated apps such as Cate (see here) to beat such machines. Continue reading
Cate is a love cheats’ charter app
Rating: Proving popular with the women
When GoMobile News spotted an article about an Android app called Cate (Call and Text Eraser), we were immediately struck by a similarity between this app and one which we had written about previously here. It is very similar to an app called ‘Redmenu’ which had been developed by the company of the same name. At the same time we were urging Redmenu boss, Gyan Ghuman, to turn it into a B2C app. He’s probably going to regret it because Neal Desai, has already had 10,000 downloads of his app which at $4.99 or £3.22 works out at around $50,000. Somewhat unusually, this app is currently only available for Android devices but iOS and BlackBerry version are underway. What does Cate do? Well, we’ve previously coined the term ‘lover cheats charter’ for it. Continue reading
Rogue advertising affiliates maybe behind surge in Android adware
Rating: Fortinet seems to think so
A very definite rise in Android adware has been identified by security specialist, Fortinet. Its researchers reported the marked increase the period beginning July 1st [2012] and ending September 30th. Two adware variants – named Android/NewyearL and Android/Plankton – were detected the company’s Labs – running at four per cent in the Americas and almost one per cent in the APAC and EMEA regions on all FortiGuard monitoring systems. “The surge in Android adware can most likely be attributed to users installing on their mobile devices legitimate applications that contain the embedded adware code,” Guillaume Lovet, senior manager of Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs Threat Response team explained. “It suggests that someone or some group is making money – most likely from rogue advertising affiliate programs.” Continue reading
Bizarre phishing attempts of our time
Rating: Ignore ‘O2 reset confirmation ‘ email messages
Given that GoMobile News subscribes to all five UK mobile networks in order to avoid accusations of bias, when we got a message through on our Hotmail email account purporting to be from O2, we were more than a little curious. On face value, the message said we were trying to reset a handset and O2 was thanking us for staying with the network. The header said ‘O2 reset confirmation’. Except, of course, that no such attempt to reset an O2 handset had been made by us here at GoMobile Towers. Continue reading
Phones 4u launches safe surfing advice site for parents
Rating: Mobile operators can fix it for you
Thanks to the now deceased DJ, Jimmy Saville, currently in the UK there’s a massive focus on the safety of children. Which makes it an ideal time for High Street retailer, Phones 4u, to launch an information hub/micro-site for British parents on mobile internet safety. GoMobile News was completely unaware, for example, that all five UK operators offer parental controls to their customers. The site offers parents useful advice on how to ensure a mobile operator’s safe surfing controls are installed. Plus it gives examples of mobile apps which can help monitor a child’s use of the mobile internet. Shame it doesn’t spell out which apps run on which mobile OS since many kids have a BlackBerry thanks to the popularity of RIM’s BBM messaging service. Continue reading
Guest Post: RIM BlackBerry 10 – Success or sudden death
by James Clark, whose most recent stint has been with CellSPYExpert
The recent BlackBerry Jam in San Jose, California by parent company Research in Motion (RIM), could be attributed either to the company’s dying wish to see and stir up developers’ interest in the platform or to the reincarnation of the slumbering giant. The stakes seems pretty clear at this point for RIM. Either the new BlackBerry 10 does really well or it just dies a natural and unnoticed death. It is interesting looking at the both sides of the picture as there is weighting to both. Continue reading
