Holiday Gift Guide »

Latest Security News

ZTE Score ships with major security flaw

ZTE, best known for being one of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers in China, recently launched the Score in the United States. Well, it looks like the company isn’t getting off to a very good start. It just confirmed a security hole in the device that could potentially allow others to remotely control it. The so-called backdoor was being used by ZTE to update the phone’s software. It seems this vulnerability is the result of careless programming. “I have never seen this before,” said Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of security startup CrowdStrike. Read more

MobileIron helps HTC make its devices more secure, enterprise friendly

Security experts at MobileIron announced a deal with HTC through the Taiwanese company’s HTCPro program, which provides mobile solutions for companies and their employees while ensuring that HTC’s entire portfolio is business-ready. HTCpro delivers “consistent enterprise enablement across all HTC devices,” and combined with MobileIron software – it gives IT departments essential enterprise features to increase security in a mobile working environment, including things like remote lock/wipe, remote email configuration, remote VPN and Wi-Fi configuration, certificates store and secure app provisioning. Of course, HTC is not the only Android handset Read more

ESET Mobile Security hits Google Play

The newest security app to hit Google Play is ESET Mobile Security, packing a similar feature set other such solutions do. In that sense, expect much more than basic malware and spam protection, with ESET’s app also including additional features like: Behavior-based detection that warns of any suspicious activity against your phone. Multi-layered anti-theft security system that relies on the phone’s built-in GPS receiver to help you locate it. In addition, there are Remote Lock, Remote Wipe and SIM matching capabilities. Call blocking that works in both directions (incoming and Read more

NQ Mobile wants you to view security differently

I’m a firm believer that every mobile user wants security but they don’t want to take the steps necessary to achieve that. I don’t blame them either, as the PC model of security has left a bad taste in all of our mouths. I recently met with the head of NQ Mobile and the company believes that mobile security must be approached in a different way to be successful. Co-CEO Omar Khan said the company has seen some very nasty malware attacks out there but he hopes that it won’t Read more

New smartphone technology can track your every move

Our biggest fear as being an owner of a smartphone is our privacy and security being compromised. A location company by the name of Navizon, developed a new system called Navizon I.T.S., that tracks visitors in malls, museums, offices, factories, secured areas and all other indoor spaces. Yikes. The point of this software is to examine patterns of foot traffic in public places by way of WiFi; it’s a technology that can tell you if a visitor is still in a store or museum during closing time. This kind of Read more

Fake Instagram app for Android has malware

Here’s some more security news for Android users that has probably struck a nerve or two by now: another fake app has made its way into Google Play and yes, it has malware. This time the app is trying to imitate Instagram for Android. The app was discovered by web security provider Sophos. Once downloaded, it installs malware onto your device and sends text messages to your contacts without your consent in an attempt to get them to sign up for premium services so the developer can make money. This Read more

New Android malware spreads via SMS

NQ Mobile Security Research Center, in collaboration with the leading cyber security expert Dr. Xuxian Jiang at North Carolina State University, started alerting Android users about the new malware called UpdtBot. Disguising itself as a system upgrade, it spreads via text messages that contain a link to the malicious application file. Once installed, UpdtBot registers a remote Command and Control (C&C) server, which instructs the infected device to send text messages, make phone calls, and download and install apps. According to NQ Mobile’s estimates, some 160,000 Android users are affected Read more

Fake Angry Birds Space game for Android has malware

Be on the lookout, pig-crushing Android enthusiasts. The latest game from Rovio, Angry Birds Space, already has a fake counterpart in Google Play that downloads malware to your handset in the background. The fake version is actually a functioning game of Angry Birds Space. However, security company Sophos identified a Trojan horse within the app named Andr/KongFu-L. It quietly installs itself onto your phone and can then start displaying ads all over the device and bring up any website at any time without your permission. Rovio has even taken to its Read more

Safely Phone Controls helps parents control their kids’ Android smartphones

Safely Phone Controls, available in Google Play as Sprint Mobile Controls, is a new Android app that helps partners control their kids’ Android smartphones. Now we do realize kids have the right for privacy just like adults, however they are not necessarily that savvy and perhaps not as disciplined. According to Safely user data, 63% of teens text in class and 65% send texts late at night. Safely Phone Controls provides parents with personalized awareness of how kids use their mobile devices-and the ability to regulate that use. For instance, Read more

Cops can bypass iPhone security in about two minutes

If you think your iPhone is secure with that four-digit passcode, you’d better think again. It turns out that law enforcement can bypass this in less than two minutes thanks to some special software from Micro Systemation. Forbes pointed out that the software from Micro Systemation can get by your passcode on the iPhone or Android, dump the data on to a PC, decrypt that and then give the police all your information. This includes calls, GPS, files and even (yikes!) a keystroke log. “After twenty years or so, people Read more

YouMail unveils one-tap phone number blocking for Android

YouMail has announced its unveiled its simplest solution yet to block unwanted phone calls from telemarketers, robots, and the like. The two apps from YouMail in the Google Play Store, Visual Voicemail Plus and WhoAreYou, now incorporate the ability to “ditch” a phone number entirely with a single tap. WhoAreYou and Visual Voicemail work together to combat these unwanted calls. If you use WhoAreYou, a incoming call will appear on your Android handset with a popup including the option to ditch the phone number. If you choose to do so, Read more