Samsung Vs Apple

Round 3 in the ongoing patent battle between Samsung and Apple has fallen in favour of Apple, but is Samsung on the ropes or out for the count?

Initially a Europe-wide ban was placed on the sale of Samsung Galaxy Tablet following a ruling that elements of the tablet were copied from the iPad.  This was then lifted amid concerns about the court's power to impose such a broad embargo. The latest hearing upholds the original decision in Apple's favour, and means the Galaxy Tab 10.1 is again banned from sale across Germany.

The re-imposition, albeit only within one country, marks yet another round in the ongoing patent battle between Apple and Samsung.  Samsung phones have also been banned for sale in the Netherlands following court action.

The two electronics giants currently face each other in courtrooms in Australia, North America and Asia.

Whoever is your electronic giant of choice make sure that you are protected against those who take advantage of mobile technology.  Be Protected for FREE.

Increased need for Mobile Security

Worldwide, smartphone sales are on track to top 467 million units per year, tablet PC sales should approach 70million, and e-readers, 14.7million according to research firm Gartner, and the figures are rising.

These devices are now more capable of capturing sensitive information and are far more powerful then they were two years ago.  Thankfully, more companies are starting to appreciate the security issues that mobile devices bring.

As we have seen in recent weeks, the cyber underground is adapting hacks and scams proven to work profitably on desktops and laptops to Internet-connected mobile devices.  As mobile devices become a replacement for the desktop computers the problem of malware (malicious software) is growing significantly on the mobile platform.

If you have not already got smartphone protection, do it NOW. Peace of mind costs less than £20.

Is Google's Android Leading the March?

Google's Android operating system is growing up at speed, and one indication of this is that it's becoming the leading mobile platform for innovation. There are a host of companies using Android to try out all sorts of new ideas.

One of which is a new phone from Motorola, called the Atrix.  It’s a good looking touchscreen handset that boasts the same features as the majority of top-end Android handsets such as, dual-core processor, front and rear-facing cameras, and loads of social media integration.

What sets it apart according to Motorola is a range of accessories that they believe transforms the phone into the only computer you will ever need when you are on the road. 

The Atrix laptop dock looks much like an ordinary laptop computer - except it turns out to be just a dumb screen and keyboard with the ‘brain’ being the phone, that slots in at the back. It’s not cheap and weight may prove an issue, but this could be the ideal travel partner for the high-flying executive.

Another piece of Android innovation is from HTC, the company which has probably done more than any to make Google's mobile operating system a success.  Their new tablet, the HTC Flyer, doesn’t set the mind ablaze with excitement on first glance, but it does offer a new level of interaction in the form of a pen.  

With this tablet, the pen may work where others have failed because when you launch the tablets rather nifty notes app, you can call up a touchscreen keyboard or you can tap on the icon at the corner of the screen, choose a brush or pen, and start painting or writing.  This is of use, for the simplest reason that typing on a 7” inch screen is hard to type on, and may become redundant on a bigger screen. 

The Android’s growing popularity and race for innovation, should kick start a response from Apple, who only upgrade products once a year and they should be worried.  

That said: There are still security worries with regards the Android operating systems, and if you haven’t already, we suggest you explore your smartphone security options for less than £20.  Click here for more information!

Cyber Attacks on the Rise

Around the world, internet based attacks are increasing on critical systems according to a McAfee report.

The latest report from the Internet Security company took a survey of 200 IT executives working for utility companies in 14 countries, and 8 out of 10 said their networks had been targeted by hackers during the past year.

Since October 2010 in the UK, potential cyber attack has been recognized as one of the top four national security threats facing the country, but are we doing enough?

Is Your smartphone Ready for the Criminals?

Just like any computer, smartphones are vulnerable to hackers and their malicious code.  With the rise of mobile viruses, are you or your operators taking them seriously enough?

If you are in business or not, the chances are that you spend a large part of your day using a computer.  Therefore, you are probably aware of constant threat that looms in the form computer viruses, and we would hope that you take precautions to protect yourself against them.   

Are you aware though, that the threat of viruses and the ability of someone to worm their way into the centre of your life has taken on a new form?

Last year alone, according to IDC, approximately 302 million smartphones were shipped globally with sales up 67.6 % from 2009.  In an article published earlier this month, Gartner Inc. estimated that in 2011 approximately 468 million smartphones will be sold worldwide.  

Smartphones are becoming more and more popular, and as a result there is growing threat of mobile viruses, spam and smartphone theft.  Despite this, 86% of mobile phone users do not have any security software installed. 

If you use your smartphone for personal and business use, you are doubly at risk of criminal attacks.  If you keep personally identifiable data on your mobile phone, such as email addresses, contact lists, personal dates etc, imagine what you could make available to criminals if you do not protect yourself.  

The threat is real, and it’s now, call us to find out how to protect your smartphone.

Hi-Tech Criminals turn attention to Business Mobiles

Net giant Cisco has suggested that mobile phone operating systems are becoming increasingly popular with hi-tech criminals.

In their annual report they have predicted that 2011 will see a significant number of attacks directed at smartphones, mobile software and users.  That said, the vast majority of criminal activity continues to be aimed at Windows and the programs that run on it.

2009 brought a significant turn in trend for mobile malware with the appearance of a virus call Zitmo.  This was a mobile version of the Zeus Windows trojan that has proved hugely popular with criminals keen to steal logins to online bank accounts.

Apple products are proving to be a target as statistics gathered by Cisco suggest a growing number of vulnerabilities are being found in Apple operating systems.

The relative youth of the Android Operating Systems makes them a vulnerable platform to.  Trojans aimed at Android, that booby trap apps that run on phones, or bury premium rate links in ads were also starting to turn up. For instance, in late December 2010 the Geinimi trojan for Android was found that can steal almost any of the data on a handset.