Mobile Security in the Apps Era
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Today we are enjoying a flood of new highly anticipated content into the mobile industry. With apps (small mobile software applications designed for a mobile handset) ushering in a new era of mobile communication and interaction, much of the excitement in the mobile industry is underpinned by issues in mobile security.
2010 has seemingly opened the floodgates for new apps into the mobile market. With phones like the Apple iPhone and Motorola Droid standing out as class leaders in this new era, apps are quickly becoming part of our culture. The problem is that not all apps are created equal and some apps may open some unexpected doors.
This has already been the case this year as we have seen mobile banking apps released by the most popular app retailers that turned out to be malware. In these instances, the apps looked like the official banking apps, but instead of logging into your bank account, your information was being sent to a sophisticated network of hackers. While the app retailers were quick to banish these particular apps due to negative press, similar threats are unleashed every day.
As an industry we have gone about security in a way that has created significant vulnerabilities for the apps era. As consumers in this industry we treat our handsets as disposable technology and opt against third-party mobile security solutions, despite that 9 out of 10 people agree that they wouldn’t go online with their laptop without at least a firewall or antivirus solution in place. We do not afford this same level of protection to our cell phones, yet increasingly much of the time we spend online is migrating into the mobile environment. Without antivirus/firewall protections in place on your mobile handset, you are just as likely to contract a harmful strain of code on your phone.
This is not intended to sway users against opening their arms to the apps era, because there is a lot of valuable content of high quality being introduced into the market too. Differentiating the good from the bad remains our greatest conflict to date in this rapidly growing app era. The vetting process for new apps must be improved and a quality standard must soon be adopted to pave the way for a safer mobile experience.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Google Fallen to Bing! The Controversial Google Background Image Service.
Google Fallen to Bing! The Controversial Google Background Image Service.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE; Founder, BikerAwareness.com
Within the past 24 hours, the simplicity of the Google Search Engine that you have enjoyed since the beginning has seemingly exploded with color. Google has been making several updates in recent months and this latest blast of color is said to demonstrate some of this capability. For anyone that has visited Bing.com, Google’s up and coming market share rival, it would seem that this update only demonstrates Google’s submission in the search engine cage fight of the century.
Round one seems to have fallen to Bing.com as Google has stepped away from their traditional white background and company colored logo and has given in to the market pressures created by Bing. The biggest issue this introduces for Google is that it creates the perception throughout the search engine market that Google has lost its edge as an innovator by following in the footsteps of a rival, rather than leading.
This kind of thing happens sometimes in business; a company loses sight of its core hallmark and introduces something that is… well, let’s just say not great. “New Coke”, the 1985 catastrophic blunder of Coca-Cola, comes to mind when looking at this product debut by Google.com. Perhaps more modernly, Google could learn from the miscalculation of Harley-Davidson in considering the controversial VRSC “V-Rod” model motorcycle.
For Harley-Davidson, the V-Rod has faced incredible skepticism over the years, though there are a few avid followers that have finally come to accept the bike. The V-Rod was a motorcycle that was introduced in 2001, largely in response to the liquid-cooled cruiser motorcycles that Japanese brands (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha) had so successfully introduced into the market. At the time of its release, the V-Rod was seen by company officials as the future of The Motor Company, but the public unfortunately did not share the same vision. Despite dismal sales of the model, Harley-Davidson has stood by its investment, which has conjured some support, but nothing like the company had once hoped for.
What The Motor Company did successfully, much like Google is doing, is keep their tried and true hallmark available to those that want it. Just as you can purchase a timeless classic motorcycle from the other Harley-Davidson model families, you can also adjust your Google browser back to the traditional white within the “Change background image” option. Though there may be pockets of Google service where a bug in the change back option is being resolved, sooner than later all can be manually restored to traditional white around the globe.
Are we just resistant to change, or is there something simply comforting about the traditional white background of Google.com in a world where every other website around us seems to be flooded with color? Has Google made a “New Coke” mistake here? There are many questions that this “update” has solicited, yet one thing seems certain, Bing.com has Google in a hold and is showing no signs of letting up. For Google, perhaps for better or worse, the choice to launch this update is as simple as the age old adage, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” It seems evident that with growing market pressures from Bing, Google the teacher has now become the student.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE; Founder, BikerAwareness.com
Within the past 24 hours, the simplicity of the Google Search Engine that you have enjoyed since the beginning has seemingly exploded with color. Google has been making several updates in recent months and this latest blast of color is said to demonstrate some of this capability. For anyone that has visited Bing.com, Google’s up and coming market share rival, it would seem that this update only demonstrates Google’s submission in the search engine cage fight of the century.
Round one seems to have fallen to Bing.com as Google has stepped away from their traditional white background and company colored logo and has given in to the market pressures created by Bing. The biggest issue this introduces for Google is that it creates the perception throughout the search engine market that Google has lost its edge as an innovator by following in the footsteps of a rival, rather than leading.
This kind of thing happens sometimes in business; a company loses sight of its core hallmark and introduces something that is… well, let’s just say not great. “New Coke”, the 1985 catastrophic blunder of Coca-Cola, comes to mind when looking at this product debut by Google.com. Perhaps more modernly, Google could learn from the miscalculation of Harley-Davidson in considering the controversial VRSC “V-Rod” model motorcycle.
For Harley-Davidson, the V-Rod has faced incredible skepticism over the years, though there are a few avid followers that have finally come to accept the bike. The V-Rod was a motorcycle that was introduced in 2001, largely in response to the liquid-cooled cruiser motorcycles that Japanese brands (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha) had so successfully introduced into the market. At the time of its release, the V-Rod was seen by company officials as the future of The Motor Company, but the public unfortunately did not share the same vision. Despite dismal sales of the model, Harley-Davidson has stood by its investment, which has conjured some support, but nothing like the company had once hoped for.
What The Motor Company did successfully, much like Google is doing, is keep their tried and true hallmark available to those that want it. Just as you can purchase a timeless classic motorcycle from the other Harley-Davidson model families, you can also adjust your Google browser back to the traditional white within the “Change background image” option. Though there may be pockets of Google service where a bug in the change back option is being resolved, sooner than later all can be manually restored to traditional white around the globe.
Are we just resistant to change, or is there something simply comforting about the traditional white background of Google.com in a world where every other website around us seems to be flooded with color? Has Google made a “New Coke” mistake here? There are many questions that this “update” has solicited, yet one thing seems certain, Bing.com has Google in a hold and is showing no signs of letting up. For Google, perhaps for better or worse, the choice to launch this update is as simple as the age old adage, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” It seems evident that with growing market pressures from Bing, Google the teacher has now become the student.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Remember When Android Meant Human-like Robot?
Remember When Android Meant Human-like Robot?
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Google’s latest Mobile Operating System (MOPS) dubbed Android, has all but wiped the original connection of the term android – a human-like robot- off the grid. For good measure, simply open a second browser tab and perform a search (on your favorite search engine) and see what it returns when you type in “android”.
As you have now seen for yourself, the days of an android being just a human-like robot are somewhat extinct. For those with a genuine interest (or career for that matter) in robotics or more specifically the niche robotics market of androids, this has made everything from ordering parts to collaborating with like-minded peers a nightmare. Beyond the sheer inconvenience, could this carry a greater implication than what meets the eye?
Consider for a moment that from 2002-present, the android niche has seen explosive growth from the Albert Einstein-like android of Hanson Robotics to the EveR-1 of KITECH. As computing speeds continue to soar and processors continue to drop in price, now is an incredibly bad time to lose momentum (scientifically or otherwise) with regard to this technology.
Android robotics are becoming increasingly infused with modern medicine, opening bionic possibilities that where once only dreamed up for low budget sci-fi films. The truth is losing “android” to the marketing prowess of Google hurts. It does not just hurt those in the software or robotics industry breaking new ground within AI or embodiment machines respectively, but it hurts everyone at large that looks to a future of growth and development for android technologies.
Is this a case of a lesser technology choking the progress of a greater predecessor? I will let you decide, but something tells me the window industry suffers some very similar hurdles.
Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Software Engineer, Founder, MyMobiSafe.com
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Google’s latest Mobile Operating System (MOPS) dubbed Android, has all but wiped the original connection of the term android – a human-like robot- off the grid. For good measure, simply open a second browser tab and perform a search (on your favorite search engine) and see what it returns when you type in “android”.
As you have now seen for yourself, the days of an android being just a human-like robot are somewhat extinct. For those with a genuine interest (or career for that matter) in robotics or more specifically the niche robotics market of androids, this has made everything from ordering parts to collaborating with like-minded peers a nightmare. Beyond the sheer inconvenience, could this carry a greater implication than what meets the eye?
Consider for a moment that from 2002-present, the android niche has seen explosive growth from the Albert Einstein-like android of Hanson Robotics to the EveR-1 of KITECH. As computing speeds continue to soar and processors continue to drop in price, now is an incredibly bad time to lose momentum (scientifically or otherwise) with regard to this technology.
Android robotics are becoming increasingly infused with modern medicine, opening bionic possibilities that where once only dreamed up for low budget sci-fi films. The truth is losing “android” to the marketing prowess of Google hurts. It does not just hurt those in the software or robotics industry breaking new ground within AI or embodiment machines respectively, but it hurts everyone at large that looks to a future of growth and development for android technologies.
Is this a case of a lesser technology choking the progress of a greater predecessor? I will let you decide, but something tells me the window industry suffers some very similar hurdles.
Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Software Engineer, Founder, MyMobiSafe.com
Monday, February 22, 2010
Venture Capital and Mobile Apps: This is No Small Business.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE – MyMobiSafe.com
As the app-driven mobile industry is heating up the sharks of the venture capital market smell the blood in the water! Since last week’s Mobile World Congress event, one of the hottest items on the board room table in the weeks/months ahead for venture capital is sinking their teeth into a piece of the mobile app market.
Venture capitalists are beginning to realize that while there are still many hobbyists in this market, there are just as many young fresh companies that are positioning for market leadership for the app-driven mobile future. Some of these companies are building their own portfolio of lucrative apps while generating additional revenue by building apps for other companies that want to get in on this wave of “App Mania.”
Other companies, like my own MyMobiSafe.com for example, are taking a broader view of the market and are not concentrating on a single Mobile Operating System (MOPS) platform, which is ultimately where the REAL money in this industry stands to be earned. The greatest challenge that App Developers face is that to keep even a single product viable in this market, they must at minimum develop a version of their App for the iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry MOPS’. Compared to developing software for the computer industry, this multiplies the cost of bringing a single mobile product to market, which is not the kind of business model that is quick to attract venture capitalist.
On the other hand, as we have done with MyMobiSafe Verified Services, we have positioned in this market with a minimal upfront cost structure and have introduced an industry recognized product that is equally viable across all mobile platforms; our brand is quickly becoming recognized as the mark of quality across all App distribution portals. As veterans in this industry, we learned the hard lessons of trying to develop for every single MOPS and have leveraged our core strengths as a result to streamline our MyMobiSafe Verified Services business. Just for the record, despite some of the venture capital rumors we have read about MyMobiSafe.com, we have also managed to self-fund our venture; yet we look forward to exploring opportunities with the right venture partner.
In this market, there are still many hobbyists that are making thousands of dollars in extra money by building Apps, yet there are also many companies that are positioning to emerge as the next $100 Million goliath in this space. It is the companies that operate seamlessly across all mobile platforms that stand to generate the most wealth in this industry. As any wireless industry analyst would agree, the history of MOPS platforms has always been one of many islands and has never been known for integrated compatibility. Thus it is the firms that position to embrace the broadest spectrum of this market that are the most attractive to investors.
Will the next Microsoft emerge from this market? It is not likely, but there are certainly companies within this market that stand to change the future and are sure to generate a hefty balance sheet in the process… not to mention might create some attractive merger, acquisition, and potential initial public offering opportunities along the way. What is nice about this market is that with already over 3 billion App Store downloads, this is a market where a small business can grow into a big business very quickly!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Twam: The Reality of Twitter Spam
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Twitter has become a global phenomenon and there is no doubt that everyone from small businesses to the world’s largest corporations have taken notice. While it can be fun to get the latest tweets from your friends and family, getting the up to the minute scoop from companies using Twitter to advertise might not be exactly what you signed on for.
Twam – the new buzz word for “Twitter spam”, coined by Airwide Solutions, is growing in popularity. In fact a recent study indicates that already over ten percent of all Twitter traffic has become “twam” that for many of us is hitting our mobile handsets at an unwelcoming rate. This week the Mobile World Congress event is in full swing in Barcelona, Spain and there is one company taking a pretty major stand against twam.
As far as my research indicates, the phrase “twam” was coined by Airwide Solutions, which interestingly is also the same company that claims to have sent the world’s first text message. How befitting that text messaging is becoming the new wave of tweeting. This very company is giving demos at the Mobile World Congress event that certainly should not be missed. If you want to learn how to really block this surge of twam, it is my humble opinion, that this company has the answers that the industry is looking for.
Though many handsets are being introduced into the market with improved processing capabilities, the overwhelming number of legacy handsets in use today far exceeds the iPhones and Droids of the world. With that realization, it is easy to recognize what a popular role SMS (text messaging) is playing as the world continues to embrace and enjoy using Twitter. What has been fascinating to me lately is the number of people that are tweeting on behalf of the companies they support. MyMobiSafe.com for example does not even have an established twitter account, yet tweets keep getting generated about our new MyMobiSafe Verified services. As a business owner I am fascinated by this, it’s like free marketing just because people identify with your brand.
On the other hand, I realize that even though I have not sent a single twitter message about my company, these tweets might be somebody’s twam. We are entering new territory here where sharing something exciting about an innovative company is contributing to the rising occurrence of twam. It makes me ask, is it really twam or simply the digital version of word of mouth? From introducing new parental controls to manage this kind of content to putting filters in place, the service providers must certainly take notice of this rising new phenomenon too. Until they do however, feel free to tweet about my company too, we love that so many people want to help us spread the word!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Malicious Mobile Code: What You Need to Know.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
The thought of someone hacking into your mobile phone to steal your personal data added to the growing number of mobile threats sounds bad enough, then you come across the industry term “Malicious Mobile Code” and it makes downloading any new mobile app a scary process.
So it sounds like scary stuff, but what is Malicious Mobile Code (MMC) REALLY? If you follow my journal, you know that I’m always knuckle-deep in this kind of stuff, and as a result I’ve lost many good computers and mobile handsets along the way. As threatening as the words may sound, MMC is really an industry catchall phrase that refers to any code that can hinder the operation of a mobile application or device.
Building software is kind of like building a house of cards in that each layer depends on the next to function properly. In software (just as in the house of cards) if you remove or otherwise tamper with a key component it can often corrupt the entire structure. MMC most often attempts to do this very thing by injecting faulty code into a key operating component of your mobile software or Mobile Operating System (MOPS).
Though mobile devices are steadily becoming more sophisticated with added computing power, the reality is that MOPS remain highly vulnerable to such MMC attacks. This is why third-party mobile security software is becoming so important to have on your mobile device. Many of the mobile security solutions on the market today block the MMC similar to antivirus software for a computer.
Additionally, the demand for mobile app-driven handsets is significantly on the rise which is putting many users at greater risk. Often consumers on the most popular app retail portals assume that anything they download to their handsets should be safe. Despite best efforts however, many risky apps from those with harmful embedded source code to those masquerading as legitimate financial services apps are making their way to unsuspecting mobile users.
This issue has created new demand for services like MyMobiSafe Verified, the first service of its kind that offers a formal review and validation of new mobile apps across every platform (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Java, Orange, and all others). By creating an environment where developers and the mobile community alike are looking for the confidence of the MyMobiSafe Verified mark, this creates a significant hurdle for unwanted Malicious Mobile Code in the market.
MMC can range from the simplest corrupt code to the worst mobile viruses, yet the phrase and acronym remains as an industry catch all. As a software engineer and one with substantial frontline experience with this kind of code, my words of wisdom are to be cautious of anything that you are loading onto your handset. If it is free, remember that old adage that suggests “nothing good comes free.” In too many cases of mobile apps free means that there is something else behind the curtains. Start looking for verified apps before you buy them as they will often display a recognizable logo. Finally, remember that not all MMC is created equal, in many cases damage is not permanent and can often be repaired by a professional.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To learn more about MyMobiSafe Verification simply visit the website email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Malicious Mobile Apps a Growing Concern
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
The phrase “mobile security” does not usually mean much to anyone, until of course they encounter their first mobile attack. For a growing number of App Store and Android Market customers, this is a growing fear that is becoming all too real.
Already in 2010, mobile apps via both the App Store and Android Market, owned by Apple Inc (NASDAQ: APPL) and Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) respectively, have experienced a rise in malicious mobile apps. Often consumers on these popular portals and others like them assume that anything they download to their handsets should be safe. Despite best efforts however, many risky apps from those with harmful embedded source code to those masquerading as legitimate financial services apps are making their way to mobile users.
This rise in mobile threats comes at a time of industry vulnerability as popular app-driven handsets like the Apple iPhone and Motorola Droid are in very high demand. As the app markets are poised for substantial growth in the years ahead, tackling these security issues must remain at the forefront of priorities for industry experts. To combat this problem head-on, MyMobiSafe.com recently launched MyMobiSafe Verified, a service which offers the industry’s first universal verification credentials for app developers. Demand for the MyMobiSafe Verified logo is quickly growing amongst app developers and those shopping for new apps.
App verification is becoming the leading opportunity for legitimate app developers to demonstrate the integrity of their apps in a crowded marketplace that is becoming increasingly at risk from malicious apps. From imposter financial apps to free gaming apps that are phishing for information on handsets, the mobile community is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of such verified services like MyMobiSafe Verified.
As upwards of 10,000 new apps are submitted to these popular app retailers each week, the sheer volume is exposing significant handset-level vulnerabilities. Additionally the growing popularity of the unregulated mobile banking and mobile financial services is attracting an increasing number of hackers into the mobile community.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started or to learn more about MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
iPad on Lockdown: Apple Faces a Twist of Intellectual Property Law
iPad on Lockdown: Apple Faces a Twist of Intellectual Property Law
Author: Eric Everson, MyMobiSafe.com
Imagine that you have this great product idea and a catchy brand name for it too. As managers, we have all been there at some point or another. Grandiose ideas of being patted on the back and welcomed into the inner circle of the executive leadership team come to mind as you envision all the profit your company is going to earn with this revolutionary new product… then the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) snaps you back to reality as you discover that it’s already been done before!
As a U.S. Company, this is the epiphany that Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) either failed to acknowledge or figured they had the treasury and legal muscle to flex. As it turns out the iPad, is not a new product in the world of technology, in fact as even some of us more techy types may remember, it was Fujitsu that actually introduced the first iPad. Don’t just take my word for it, just look it up for yourself at USPTO.gov (Hint: start with US Patent: 7,228,469).
How accurate does this sound? “Portable information device, … portable information device, and computer product” If that sounds like one of Steve Jobs’ lines for promoting the new Apple iPad, think again as that text was literally copied verbatim from the Fujitsu owned US Patent: 7,228,469. It would seem that Apple Inc has stepped into the ring with Fujitsu, which is a leading Japan-based company with a beefy balance sheet and domestic access to the legal system that should certainly make Steve Jobs and team consider their next moves carefully.
As I understand it Apple has until February 28, 2010 to decide to fight for the name at the USPTO. The new Apple iPad has iPhone app developers frantic as their current content will lose significant resolution when displayed in full screen on the iPad. Apple released a new SDK exclusive to the iPad this week, which has many developers contemplating if they should invest the time in redeveloping and transferring their product to the iPad.
While the future may bring about a balance where app content can be shared from iPad to iPhone (and back) with ease, in the interim we are granting a specialized MyMobiSafe Verified package that covers content unique multiplatform apps. This will allow app developers to earn their MyMobiSafe Verification for either their iPhone App or their iPad app and use the same credentials at no added cost.
Apple is no stranger to big lawsuits and legal action, but for now, it seems this twist of intellectual property law has plans for the Apple iPad on lockdown.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Author: Eric Everson, MyMobiSafe.com
Imagine that you have this great product idea and a catchy brand name for it too. As managers, we have all been there at some point or another. Grandiose ideas of being patted on the back and welcomed into the inner circle of the executive leadership team come to mind as you envision all the profit your company is going to earn with this revolutionary new product… then the USPTO (US Patent and Trademark Office) snaps you back to reality as you discover that it’s already been done before!
As a U.S. Company, this is the epiphany that Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) either failed to acknowledge or figured they had the treasury and legal muscle to flex. As it turns out the iPad, is not a new product in the world of technology, in fact as even some of us more techy types may remember, it was Fujitsu that actually introduced the first iPad. Don’t just take my word for it, just look it up for yourself at USPTO.gov (Hint: start with US Patent: 7,228,469).
How accurate does this sound? “Portable information device, … portable information device, and computer product” If that sounds like one of Steve Jobs’ lines for promoting the new Apple iPad, think again as that text was literally copied verbatim from the Fujitsu owned US Patent: 7,228,469. It would seem that Apple Inc has stepped into the ring with Fujitsu, which is a leading Japan-based company with a beefy balance sheet and domestic access to the legal system that should certainly make Steve Jobs and team consider their next moves carefully.
As I understand it Apple has until February 28, 2010 to decide to fight for the name at the USPTO. The new Apple iPad has iPhone app developers frantic as their current content will lose significant resolution when displayed in full screen on the iPad. Apple released a new SDK exclusive to the iPad this week, which has many developers contemplating if they should invest the time in redeveloping and transferring their product to the iPad.
While the future may bring about a balance where app content can be shared from iPad to iPhone (and back) with ease, in the interim we are granting a specialized MyMobiSafe Verified package that covers content unique multiplatform apps. This will allow app developers to earn their MyMobiSafe Verification for either their iPhone App or their iPad app and use the same credentials at no added cost.
Apple is no stranger to big lawsuits and legal action, but for now, it seems this twist of intellectual property law has plans for the Apple iPad on lockdown.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Is Mobile Banking Safe: Redefining Mobile Security through App Verification
Is Mobile Banking Safe: Redefining Mobile Security through App Verification
Author: Eric Everson, Founder MyMobiSafe.com
I was told with optimism recently that there is an upswing expected in the use of mobile banking services in the year ahead for key markets within the US and EU. The trouble is however, this growth is hinged on one MAJOR hurdle which is security.
Just the other week for example, news spread from media sources like USAToday.com confirmed that Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) removed more than 50 mobile banking apps from its Android Market. These apps were just a few of the growing number of phishing apps that hackers are releasing into the financial services sector of mobile banking. The questions on the minds of many is, “How could this happen and is my mobile banking app safe?”
The problem is that until recently there has not been a third-party verification process to ensure the security of these apps, which is exactly why many have started looking for the MyMobiSafe Verified logo before they buy or use their apps. MyMobiSafe.com has introduced the wireless industry’s first verification process for app developers. What makes the company standout is that they work directly with app developers to credential mobile apps across all platforms. From Symbian and BlackBerry apps to Java and Android apps, MyMobiSafe Verified is certainly putting its mark on the industry.
As a mobile security professional, I literally come in contact with thousands of apps in a given week and one thing that is missing from 99% of them is an element of security. The reality is that app users want apps that are fast loading and easy to use; adding in security features to these apps more often than not makes them too robust and slow. In a market where app developers are sometimes making pennies on the dollar from each app they sell, sacrificing the user experience is not worth adding burdensome security protocols.
Mobile banking apps often have more security built-in, but without a verified logo from a credible third party, users simply just do not know what apps they can trust. Digging deeper into the issue of the phishing apps that are becoming so popularized in mobile financial services, mobile security solutions on your handset will not make your information more secure if you are voluntarily putting it into these dangerous apps. This is not to discount the importance of mobile security software on your handset as the state of device-level security remains very limited on most mobile phones.
Mobile verification is a new method that is redefining the way we view security as a mobile community. People are starting to look for the seal of approval from services like MyMobiSafe Verified before they use new mobile apps. This is a paradigm shift from the days when it seemed that any app downloaded from a reputable mobile content distributor (i.e. App Store, Android Market, BlackBerry App World, GetJar, and others) was considered harmless. Today more than ever, the uptick in popularity of mobile financial services is being targeted. Without an authenticated MyMobiSafe Verified logo, how do you REALLY know your app is safe?
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Ref:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/01/google-removes-banking-apps-from-android-marketplace/1
Monday, January 25, 2010
Verified Mobile Apps?
Author: Eric Everson
Verified services are nothing new to the digital environment; simply look at the success of Verisign, Inc (NASDAQ: VRSN), a company which offers a variety of Internet and communications-related services. While offering a myriad of services all targeting computing industry, VeriSign is perhaps most recognized by its Certificate Services (verification) logo. As the digital environment became riddled with malware, verification quickly took a leading role toward improving digital security and essentially paved the way for eCommerce as we know it today. With smartphones quickly stepping into digital territory which was recently exclusive to computers, verified services are going mobile.
If you perform a Google search for “Verified Mobile Apps” you are certain to encounter JavaVerified, which is Sun Microsystems (NASDAQ: JAVA) verified service arm for Java developers. The Java Verified Program is exclusively for Java apps for the mobile and computing environments. As you scan through your Google search what you will likely also see is information about MyMobiSafe.com, who has released MyMobiSafe Verified, the wireless industry’s first verified services that caters to mobile app developers exclusively. While MyMobiSafe is emerging as the leader in verified mobile apps and mobile verification services, it is truly the rise in security related issues within the mobile environment that has introduced a need for such services.
From the iPhone (NASDAQ: AAPL) to the myriad of new mobile devices arriving with the Android Operating System (NASDAQ: GOOG), mobile users are hungry for new apps. This has led to the introduction of mobile malware cloaked as legitimate apps (already found in both platforms in 2010). This has app developers scrambling to identify a credential, like MyMobiSafe Verified, that “would be customers” could recognize to differentiate their apps from those that could be tainted by hackers.
MyMobiSafe Verified introduces a comprehensive five phase verification process, which is designed to document, test, and sign mobile apps to ensure their security within the mobile community. Where many app developers may forego built-in security protocols due to the threat of hindering their apps performance, MyMobiSafe Verified provides a unique affordable alternative. With mobile apps for financial services on the rise (banking, money transfer, ePayments, etc) the need for verification is certain throughout the mobile industry. For anyone who has ever put their money where their mobile is, the fears can be all too real.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Importance of Verification in an App-driven Mobile Industry
The Importance of Verification in an App-driven Mobile Industry
Author: Eric Everson, Founder MyMobiSafe.com
The future of mobile essentially belongs to the company that offers the best apps. As Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) revolutionized the digital music business with their iTunes Store, the company is carrying that momentum forward in mobile with their App Store. Meanwhile, companies like Google with its Android OS and BlackBerry are beginning to make a momentous shift in this direction too. With over 10,000 new apps being developed each week, mobile verification will play a major role in the app-driven future of the wireless industry.
Many are familiar with the Apple “vetting process” that new iPhone apps must undergo; this is a process that literally dissects every app that is submitted to the App Store. The vetting process has become a roadblock that many developers struggle to overcome. As Brian Heater of PCMag.com writes, “The company recently celebrated the submission of the 100,000th app for the platform. "Submission" is a key word. No one but Apple knows precisely how many apps have been rejected. And the company hasn't exactly publicized what many developers have deemed an overzealous and somewhat arbitrary vetting process.” (Heater, 2009) Many app developers are opting to forego the bureaucracy of the Apple policies in favor of programming for the rapidly growing Android OS.
The vetting process is far less strenuous for Android and BlackBerry apps, which has incited concern amongst many users regarding the safety and quality of the apps they are downloading. This is exactly why developers and app users alike are coming to recognize the MyMobiSafe Verified logo as a premier mark of quality throughout the industry. The MyMobiSafe 5-Phase Verification process, is remarkably more friendly for app developers as it is essentially a process where developers work one-on-one with MyMobiSafe experts to ensure the quality and security of the apps they want to credential. The MyMobiSafe Verified logo is quickly becoming the stamp of approval that everyone in the industry is looking for.
As MyMobiSafe recently launched this innovative credential, it is not likely to get developers through the arduous Apple vetting process any quicker – yet. MyMobiSafe.com hopes to work directly with companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Nokia and others in the future to continue to grow the prevalence of this mark throughout the industry. The MyMobiSafe Team realized this gaping void in the market and has worked tirelessly for many months to introduce the wireless industry’s first verification services for mobile app developers.
Apps are becoming a big business opportunity and many developers, from independent programmers to major corporate development firms, are looking for a stamp of quality to differentiate their products in the marketplace. As the vetting processes for new apps are unique to each provider, MyMobiSafe Verified represents a new step forward that is becoming universally recognized and sought throughout the industry. There is no denying that the future of mobile will be driven by apps, but with so many MOPS (Mobile Operating System) providers depending on quality third-party apps, verification will play a major role in the app-driven future of the wireless industry.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Ref:
Heater, B. (2009, November 17). PCMag.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from Apple's iPhone App Vetting is Here to Stay—For Now: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356027,00.asp
Author: Eric Everson, Founder MyMobiSafe.com
The future of mobile essentially belongs to the company that offers the best apps. As Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) revolutionized the digital music business with their iTunes Store, the company is carrying that momentum forward in mobile with their App Store. Meanwhile, companies like Google with its Android OS and BlackBerry are beginning to make a momentous shift in this direction too. With over 10,000 new apps being developed each week, mobile verification will play a major role in the app-driven future of the wireless industry.
Many are familiar with the Apple “vetting process” that new iPhone apps must undergo; this is a process that literally dissects every app that is submitted to the App Store. The vetting process has become a roadblock that many developers struggle to overcome. As Brian Heater of PCMag.com writes, “The company recently celebrated the submission of the 100,000th app for the platform. "Submission" is a key word. No one but Apple knows precisely how many apps have been rejected. And the company hasn't exactly publicized what many developers have deemed an overzealous and somewhat arbitrary vetting process.” (Heater, 2009) Many app developers are opting to forego the bureaucracy of the Apple policies in favor of programming for the rapidly growing Android OS.
The vetting process is far less strenuous for Android and BlackBerry apps, which has incited concern amongst many users regarding the safety and quality of the apps they are downloading. This is exactly why developers and app users alike are coming to recognize the MyMobiSafe Verified logo as a premier mark of quality throughout the industry. The MyMobiSafe 5-Phase Verification process, is remarkably more friendly for app developers as it is essentially a process where developers work one-on-one with MyMobiSafe experts to ensure the quality and security of the apps they want to credential. The MyMobiSafe Verified logo is quickly becoming the stamp of approval that everyone in the industry is looking for.
As MyMobiSafe recently launched this innovative credential, it is not likely to get developers through the arduous Apple vetting process any quicker – yet. MyMobiSafe.com hopes to work directly with companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Nokia and others in the future to continue to grow the prevalence of this mark throughout the industry. The MyMobiSafe Team realized this gaping void in the market and has worked tirelessly for many months to introduce the wireless industry’s first verification services for mobile app developers.
Apps are becoming a big business opportunity and many developers, from independent programmers to major corporate development firms, are looking for a stamp of quality to differentiate their products in the marketplace. As the vetting processes for new apps are unique to each provider, MyMobiSafe Verified represents a new step forward that is becoming universally recognized and sought throughout the industry. There is no denying that the future of mobile will be driven by apps, but with so many MOPS (Mobile Operating System) providers depending on quality third-party apps, verification will play a major role in the app-driven future of the wireless industry.
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com. To get started with your MyMobiSafe Verification simply email: GetVerifed@MyMobiSafe.com.
Ref:
Heater, B. (2009, November 17). PCMag.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from Apple's iPhone App Vetting is Here to Stay—For Now: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2356027,00.asp
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
MyMobiSafe.com: Sticktoitiveness from Software Provider to Verification Leader
MyMobiSafe.com: Sticktoitiveness from Software Provider to Verification Leader
Author: Eric Everson
If you’ve visited my company website in the last 24 hours, you have seen that we just launched our business in a very new direction. From our humble beginnings of writing mobile security software, we have now repositioned the company as a leader in mobile verification services. From the beginning our objective has always been to protect the mobile community. Our new direction will allow us the opportunity to drive the future of mobile security forward in a new way as we are positioning MyMobiSafe Verified Services at the forefront of the app-driven mobile environment.
Today we begin working with mobile application developers around the world to position MyMobiSafe Verified as the premier mark of quality in the mobile industry. Before now, mobile app developers had no way of differentiating their apps from those plagued with masked mobile malware. Today through our innovative accreditation process, we are working together with app developers to secure the future of mobile content. This new direction is a reflection of our commitment to the success of MyMobiSafe and our dedication in driving mobile security forward. More importantly it demonstrates the sticktoitiveness of this small company in the face of the most challenging economic times that most of us have ever managed through.
According to Merriam-Webster.com, sticktoitiveness means dogged perseverance and has an etymology that dates back as far as 1876 during the industrial revolution. Sometimes, as in the case of MyMobiSafe, that means making tough decisions to shift directions when everyone else is falling down around you. As entrepreneurs, it is our sticktoitiveness that allows us to dig deeper while many others perish. Sticktoitiveness is a word that is changing the future of mobile security and may be one that will revitalize your small business too.
Eric Everson – “The MobileTech”
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
Ref:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick%20to%20itiveness
Author: Eric Everson
Every entrepreneur has a relationship with this word. From the bootstrapping startup to those overburdened by debt structures in this tumultuous global state of economy, we all know this word. Depending on your dictionary of choice, this word may or may not even exist, but it is one that every entrepreneur knows all too well. What is the word? Sticktoitiveness.
As a Microsoft kid, even my trusted Spelling & Grammar tool does not recognize the word, but it is one that so many of us have developed an intimate relationship with over the years. From those that are fighting to keep multigenerational businesses alive through these tough times to those launching their startup in the midst of a lackluster job market, sticktoitiveness is a quality exhibited by the most successful entrepreneurs throughout history. My experience with my venture, MyMobiSafe.com, is no different, it is only through sheer sticktoitiveness that we have weathered the storm of survival to date.
Today we begin working with mobile application developers around the world to position MyMobiSafe Verified as the premier mark of quality in the mobile industry. Before now, mobile app developers had no way of differentiating their apps from those plagued with masked mobile malware. Today through our innovative accreditation process, we are working together with app developers to secure the future of mobile content. This new direction is a reflection of our commitment to the success of MyMobiSafe and our dedication in driving mobile security forward. More importantly it demonstrates the sticktoitiveness of this small company in the face of the most challenging economic times that most of us have ever managed through.
According to Merriam-Webster.com, sticktoitiveness means dogged perseverance and has an etymology that dates back as far as 1876 during the industrial revolution. Sometimes, as in the case of MyMobiSafe, that means making tough decisions to shift directions when everyone else is falling down around you. As entrepreneurs, it is our sticktoitiveness that allows us to dig deeper while many others perish. Sticktoitiveness is a word that is changing the future of mobile security and may be one that will revitalize your small business too.
Eric Everson – “The MobileTech”
About the Author: Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
Ref:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick%20to%20itiveness
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Mobile Banking: Mobile Security and the Future of Banking Profitability.
Mobile Banking: Mobile Security and the Future of Banking Profitability.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Let there be no mistake about it, we as a global community have a certain lingering bitterness in our mouths for the financial sector. After all, in the end much of this global economic crisis is directly linked to poor management at some of the world’s largest banking institutions. Why then do I care about introducing an out-of-the-box model for generating new revenue structures for these very banks? As you’ll see, my strategy while delivering a proven model for future banking revenue channels is better anchored to your mobile security.
What does mobile security and banking have in common? Very little at the moment as nearly every mobile banking platform available is either a home grown mobile application (app) or has been developed via a third-party mobile software developer that is likely more concerned with its own profitability than your handset-level security. The harsh reality however is that the banking industry has essentially “given the farm away” over the past 20 years through offering so many free services that the once profitable business of banking now has some of the most razor thin profit margins in history. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of free banking services from free checking, to free transfers, to free checks, only to witness the freefall of the banking industry.
As much as we hate to admit this from our spoiled lives of free financial services, we have backed our banking industry into a corner from which they have no choice but to reinstitute textbook models of fee-based banking. As consumers of this industry, we have to swallow that jagged pill of once again paying for services that in all honesty we were lucky to get free for so many years. As the reintroduction of fees are inevitable to the future of the banking business, it is through mobile security that I believe that every bank in the world can return value added services associated with such fees.
In 2005 me and my team launched a mobile security solution that defied the industry, MyMobiSafe. What was remarkable about our platform wasn’t just that we’d introduced a Java-based mobile security solution like no other in history, but it is that we were able to bring this technology to market for a low monthly fee of just $3.99. While everyone else in the mobile security industry was selling robust mobile security solutions with exorbitant upfront fees, we defied that market norm and made handset-level security affordable for any budget. As fate would have it, in response to the contraction in security spending felt throughout the industry, we removed MyMobiSafe software from the market after meeting our breakeven point. One thing we figured out along the way however was a shared profit model wherein a third party (i.e. the banking industry) could supply such a mobile security solution in tandem with their mobile banking apps and could introduce a new model of profitability.
Using a 60/40 model wherein the bank keeps 60% of the fee based profit per monthly subscription, everyone was satisfied. The mobile security company (that was us) made money by improving subscriber volume (even if at a discount), the bank was able to charge a mobile security fee for mobile banking customers (thus generating innovative revenue streams), and finally the consumer not only got improved mobile banking security, but also top of the line handset level security for their handset. For the consumer they might pay a monthly mobile banking security fee of $2.99-$3.99 but it gave them a full mobile security suite in addition to much more secure access to their mobile banking platform as well. It really is a model wherein everyone wins.
Though we have now focused the business model at MyMobiSafe.com to verified services for app developers and mobile security consulting, we realize that what we uncovered in the banking industry is a model that stands to redefine the future of value added fee structures throughout the banking industry. The future of banking as a profitable business model hangs in the balance; a balance which in the end must make the tough decision towards the fee-based model that so many of us have skirted for so many years.
Let our success in introducing a value added solution into this equation create a new model for the future of banking, a model based on introducing fees that touch the lives of banking consumers beyond their financial transactions. Modify the traditional model of something such as transfer fees toward a model that allows banking consumers to appreciate the value that such fees introduce. Whether your bank helps you improve your mobile security or pre-allocates a percentage of your fees toward an escrow account designed to help you mitigate your rising utility bills, there is a significant opportunity for banking to embrace the future with innovative value added profitability in mind.
-Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
Author: Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Let there be no mistake about it, we as a global community have a certain lingering bitterness in our mouths for the financial sector. After all, in the end much of this global economic crisis is directly linked to poor management at some of the world’s largest banking institutions. Why then do I care about introducing an out-of-the-box model for generating new revenue structures for these very banks? As you’ll see, my strategy while delivering a proven model for future banking revenue channels is better anchored to your mobile security.
What does mobile security and banking have in common? Very little at the moment as nearly every mobile banking platform available is either a home grown mobile application (app) or has been developed via a third-party mobile software developer that is likely more concerned with its own profitability than your handset-level security. The harsh reality however is that the banking industry has essentially “given the farm away” over the past 20 years through offering so many free services that the once profitable business of banking now has some of the most razor thin profit margins in history. I’ve enjoyed a lifetime of free banking services from free checking, to free transfers, to free checks, only to witness the freefall of the banking industry.
As much as we hate to admit this from our spoiled lives of free financial services, we have backed our banking industry into a corner from which they have no choice but to reinstitute textbook models of fee-based banking. As consumers of this industry, we have to swallow that jagged pill of once again paying for services that in all honesty we were lucky to get free for so many years. As the reintroduction of fees are inevitable to the future of the banking business, it is through mobile security that I believe that every bank in the world can return value added services associated with such fees.
In 2005 me and my team launched a mobile security solution that defied the industry, MyMobiSafe. What was remarkable about our platform wasn’t just that we’d introduced a Java-based mobile security solution like no other in history, but it is that we were able to bring this technology to market for a low monthly fee of just $3.99. While everyone else in the mobile security industry was selling robust mobile security solutions with exorbitant upfront fees, we defied that market norm and made handset-level security affordable for any budget. As fate would have it, in response to the contraction in security spending felt throughout the industry, we removed MyMobiSafe software from the market after meeting our breakeven point. One thing we figured out along the way however was a shared profit model wherein a third party (i.e. the banking industry) could supply such a mobile security solution in tandem with their mobile banking apps and could introduce a new model of profitability.
Using a 60/40 model wherein the bank keeps 60% of the fee based profit per monthly subscription, everyone was satisfied. The mobile security company (that was us) made money by improving subscriber volume (even if at a discount), the bank was able to charge a mobile security fee for mobile banking customers (thus generating innovative revenue streams), and finally the consumer not only got improved mobile banking security, but also top of the line handset level security for their handset. For the consumer they might pay a monthly mobile banking security fee of $2.99-$3.99 but it gave them a full mobile security suite in addition to much more secure access to their mobile banking platform as well. It really is a model wherein everyone wins.
Though we have now focused the business model at MyMobiSafe.com to verified services for app developers and mobile security consulting, we realize that what we uncovered in the banking industry is a model that stands to redefine the future of value added fee structures throughout the banking industry. The future of banking as a profitable business model hangs in the balance; a balance which in the end must make the tough decision towards the fee-based model that so many of us have skirted for so many years.
Let our success in introducing a value added solution into this equation create a new model for the future of banking, a model based on introducing fees that touch the lives of banking consumers beyond their financial transactions. Modify the traditional model of something such as transfer fees toward a model that allows banking consumers to appreciate the value that such fees introduce. Whether your bank helps you improve your mobile security or pre-allocates a percentage of your fees toward an escrow account designed to help you mitigate your rising utility bills, there is a significant opportunity for banking to embrace the future with innovative value added profitability in mind.
-Eric Everson, MBA, MSIT-SE
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
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