Category: Mobile Security

Wearable technology and it’s place in business

| April 9, 2014

If these mobile gadgets ware going to be as popular as predicted, they will soon be in the workplace.

Wearable technology is moving ahead with leaps and bounds as smartwatches and other types of devices that can be worn on the body make their way onto the market shelves and are being scooped up by consumers.

It won’t take long before workplaces will need to come up with policies to manage their use.

Whether in the form of smartwatches, wristbands, pendants, belt clips, or even glasses, wearable technology is starting to become popular and the industry is predicting that it will be mainstream sooner rather than later. At a time in which businesses are only just starting to be able to come up with the right kinds of policies to safely implement bring your own device (BYOD) programs, a whole new form of mobile tech is now making its way into the space.

Wearable technology is different because it isn’t always clear what it is or when it’s on.

Now that Google has announced its Android Wear operating system for wearables, it is likely that the number of manufacturers will start to jump into the mix and base their gadgets on this OS. These devices will be piled on top of the large number that are already in existence, including Google Glass, Samsung Gear , Pebble, and others, as well as a range of different types of jewelry such as rings and pendants, and fitness bands that also come in a spectrum of shapes and brands.Wearable Technology - Business

Depending on the wearable technology, the gadget could provide biometrics, internet access, or smartphone access, among other features. While workplaces will need to keep additional distractions in mind to keep employees focused on their tasks, this will be more challenging than it is with smartphones because it is difficult to recognize some forms of wearables and it is exceptionally hard to know when they are active. This means that it is possible that texts could be sent, recordings could be made, or the net could be surfed without any outward signs that it is occurring.

Next, there is also an issue of security. Mobile security is already a major concern for companies with a BYOD program, and many find it to be a considerable challenge to enforce the policies when they do have them. Connected wearables adds an entirely new layer of tech and of risk that needs to be considered and protected.

Mobile security feature could save consumers $2.5 billion every year

| April 7, 2014

The controversial “kill switch” for smartphones could bring massive savings, according to a study.

Lawmakers, consumers, and law enforcement officials have been considering the idea of an added mobile security feature for smartphones in the form of a kill switch, particularly since the launch of last year’s Secure Our Smartphones initiative.

Now, a study has shown that by introducing the feature, the outcome would be considerable savings.

The idea of the kill switch is relatively simple. The “complicated” part would be that it would require handset manufacturers and wireless carriers to take part in this mobile security effort that would provide a way to render stolen smartphones completely useless. The hope is that this would help to notably reduce the rate of cell phone theft.

The only party who would not benefit from this mobile security kill switches would be wireless carriers.

The reason is that the carriers would risk losing a very large amount of money every year. At the moment, they are making a solid supplementary income through the sale of insurance plans that provide coverage against the theft of cell phones. According to professor William Duckworth from Creighton University, who recently conducted a study on the subject, consumers would save an estimated $2.5 billion every year simply through the implementation of kill switches.Mobile Security - Savings

When looked at even more closely, this represents a savings of $500 million in replacing the handsets that have been stolen, and a savings of $2 billion on the insurance coverage to provide protection against possible theft. This helps to explain exactly why wireless carriers may not be quite as excited about this feature as consumers.

That said, it is important to point out that these findings have generated some controversy of their own. For example, Asurion, a cell phone insurance company, has estimated that approximately 60 percent of phones that have gone missing turn out to have simply been lost, not stolen. Moreover, they also have suggested that phones may still be targeted for theft and use for spare parts, which would still provide thieves with enough incentive to continue stealing. Still, the FCC says that 30 to 40 percent of all robberies that occur in major cities involve phone theft.