smartphone security

mobile
September 22, 2011
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Smartphone owners say security is a concern, but few take precautions

By on September 22, 2011 at 7:01 AM.

Smartphone owners say security is a concern, but few take precautions

While smartphone owners say they are concerned about security threats, few actually do anything to secure their devices according to new data from The NPD Group. Focusing on owners of Apple’s iPhone and various Android phones, NPD’s “Emerging Technology Trends: Mobile Security” report found that security concerns are common among smartphone users. For example, 43% of users are concerned with unknowingly having their activities monitored and 42% are worried about hackers accessing personal files or information on their devices. Despite these concerns, however, only 30% of Android phone owners and just 6% of iPhone owners have installed security apps on their phones. NPD suggests that smartphone owners are unaware of the security options available for their devices, and among those who do know about apps and tools that are available, they are reluctant to pay for mobile security solutions. NPD’s full press release follows below. More →

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mobile
June 28, 2011
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iOS vs. Android: Which mobile OS is more secure?

By on June 28, 2011 at 5:30 PM.

iOS vs. Android: Which mobile OS is more secure?

A new independent study by security experts at Symantec attempted to measure how secure Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android platform are, and also to determine how these mobile platforms stack up against desktop operating systems. Symantec claims that these mobile platforms are much more secure than today’s popular desktop operating systems, though the firm does note that the key variable, as always, is the human element. “Today’s mobile devices are a mixed bag when it comes to security,” said Carey Nachenberg, Symantec Fellow and Chief Architect, in a statement. “While more secure than traditional PCs, these platforms are still vulnerable to many traditional attacks. Moreover, enterprise employees are increasingly using unmanaged, personal devices to access sensitive enterprise resources, and then connecting these devices to 3rd-party services outside of the governance of the enterprise, potentially exposing key assets to attackers.” While Symantec neglects to reach a firm conclusion regarding which mobile OS is the most secure, the firm definitely seems to favor iOS more often than not. It says iOS’ app screening procedure plays a big role in the operating system’s security, and it also says the platform’s architecture makes it better at resisting malware attacks and data integrity attacks. It also says iOS offers better encryption and more secure access control for apps. Symantec’s full press release follows below.

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