Category: Mobile Security

 

National Cyber Security Alliance predicts consumers becoming more concerned over security

Black Friday is widely known as a day when retailers offer major deals and discounts on a wide variety of products. As the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday is the most important day in the retail industry, in terms of business. The following Monday is known as Cyber Monday, largely due to the fact that a wide range of electronics go on sale in a move that is very similar to what occurs in the retail industry on Black Friday. A new survey from the National Cyber Security Alliances and McAfee suggests that these two shopping holidays could mean major security issues for consumers.

Data breaches leave many consumers leery of mobile commerce

Mobile commerce is expected to play a major role in t his year’s holiday shopping. More consumers have access to smart phones and other mobile devices as well as mobile payment platforms that make it easier to purchase goods. These platforms could be a major boon for some shoppers that have trouble finding the products they want, or those than want to avoid long lines and make a purchase quickly and efficiently. The survey from the National Cyber Security Alliance shows that the vast majority of these consumers do not feel safe while they are online on their mobile devices, however.

National Cyber Security Alliance survey shows majority of consumers do not feel safe online

The survey notes that 90% of mobile consumers do not feel safe when shopping online through their mobile device. The National Cyber Security Alliance notes that over the past year, one in four consumers received notifications from businesses that informed them that their personal information has been lost of compromised due to data breach. These data breaches have left many consumers wary of online shopping and mobile commerce. While many consumers are still inclined to participate in mobile commerce, the survey suggests that these consumers should take steps to ensure their information is protected.

Consumers can take steps to protect their information

There are several ways consumers can keep their financial information safe without relying on other companies to do all the work for them. One way is to ensure that a smart phones or mobile device is free from all malicious content. This can be done using anti-virus software that is made specifically for mobile devices. Keeping an eye on what kind of information companies collect through mobile transactions is also a good way to know what information may be put at risk. Consumers can control what information they share, thus mitigating any risk they may face.

Smartphones have become pervasive in China, where data from September 2011 has shown that the number of mobile phone users broke the 940 million mark, and where over half of the new device users are opting for 3G devices. Now, in 2012, China holds the largest share of mobile phone market and is experiencing the most competitive challenges within smartphone sector.

As a result, much of the world is looking to China mobile trends as the gauge of mobile progress, and is seeing mobile gaming as a vital element of the growth of the industry, and that will also be responsible for the majority of the revenue in that part of the world.

Firms and mobile app developers around the world are looking to China to take their own piece of the mobile pie. To do this, they are also paying close attention to the predictions that are being made about the mobile environment in that region. So far, they included the following predictions for 2012:

• Before the close of the year, China will break the 100 million mark for the number of smartphones being used in the country

• All three major Chinese telecom carriers will offer support of Apple’s iOS

• The market for game distribution in China will continue to divide until there will be more than 100 independent channels

• The most popular smartphones in China will be those based on Android

• The top source of mobile game revenue will come from in-game purchases

Though analysts, economists, and other experts may have yet to decide whether or not China will become the world’s next superpower, and when that may occur, what is difficult to doubt is that in the mobile gaming world, the country will already have reached its position as confirmed leader by the end of this year.

Not just China Mobile Trends Anymore – What all companies should know about m-commerce

The companies that will be seeing the greatest successes over the next few years have realized that mobile is here and it is heating up, and that the earlier they take part in it, the better the results will be.

Even better than the popularity of mobile is that m-commerce is also on the rise. Business leaders such as CEOs are now being required to find out about the latest trends and movements in mobile, so that their own companies will be able to stay ahead of the game.

The following are some points that every company should know about m-commerce:

Mobile has arrived – this isn’t a channel that is just about to get here. It’s already here, and it is expected to explode at any moment. Almost half of all Americans now have a smartphone, and most expert predictions are saying that by 2015, the spending using those mobile devices will be 8 percent greater than that generated by e-commerce.

• M-commerce is becoming mainstream – it is becoming the norm for the average consumer to make purchases using their mobile devices. Whether they buy the items online, or use the devices to make the payments in-store, the incorporation of the device into the purchasing process is becoming mainstream.

• Mobile payments does not yet have a leader – though there are many different companies vying for the top spot of the mobile payments marketplace, that position has yet to be claimed. It isn’t expected that the winner will be known before the end of this year.

• Privacy is key – one of the top concerns that smartphone owners have identified is with regards to privacy. Being respectful of this will be critical to the success of mobile efforts both this year and beyond.