6 Ways to Protect Yourself from Online Threats

To help better illustrate the importance of online safety and security, Microsoft recently released the results of its 2013 Microsoft Computer Safety Index study. The survey tracked safety behavior of nearly 10,500 people worldwide to get a handle on just how costly these digital threats can be, and to make recommendations on how to better protect against online danger. The bottom line: An estimated $23 billion was lost last year to online risks such as phishing, ID theft, viruses, data leaks and more. The biggest cost – and arguably, the biggest threat – was damage to professional reputation to the tune of $4.5 billion yearly. Don’t let the bad guys take their cut from your personal bank account. Here are 6 steps you can take to better protect yourself from danger. 1. Take Charge of Your Online Reputation How, exactly, can damage to your online reputation be so costly? Ask Anthony Weiner, the former New York congressman whose bid for NYC mayor was sunk by compromising selfies he texted to women. In all seriousness, Microsoft survey data reveals that the median amount respondents paid out to repair their professional reputation was $2,600. Naturally, the best way to protect your reputation is to watch what you say online and put your best foot forward. If you need a little bit of help, check out these tools for protecting your online reputation. You might also want to consider using a reputation-monitoring service like Persona. 2. Defend your Devices Think about all the sensitive information stored on your mobile phone. Some people store private contacts. Others keep online banking data on our phones or use their phones as mobile wallets. A small percentage of Americans even have naked selfies saved. But while there’s plenty to be stolen on our phones, Microsoft’s survey reveals that only 33% use a PIN to lock our mobile devices. Even fewer of us (21%) use mobile security apps. That suggests a lot of sensitive data is at risk should a snoop decide to play around with our phones.

Google becomes king of deal-making

Google has become the top deal-maker in the world, according to research by Bloomberg.
Over the last three years Google jumped from thirteenth place in forging deals to nabbing the number one spot, thanks to a whopping 127 deals it made over this period.
To put this into perspective, the figure is more than twice the number of deals it made between 2008 and 2011. The huge increases is the result of a new focus on investment by Google co-founder Larry Page, who took on the CEO job in 2011.
This has led to a more than 50 per cent increase in the size of the mergers and acquisitions group in the last two years, while Google Ventures and Google Capital continue to invest large sums in startups and established firms respectively.

Deal or no deal

Among the acquisitions Google made recently are mapping firm Waze, artificial intelligence startup DeepMind, and smart home appliance maker Nest Labs. These give Google a wide range of potential future products in areas expected to boom.
The total value of Google's deals amounts to $17.6 billion (£10.6 billion, AU$19.5 billion). While this is still far behind actual investment firms like Blackstone, it marks a continuing expansion beyond Google's core search engine and advertising business.
WPP, an advertising firm, took second place, while chip giant Intel, which previously held the top slot, came in third with 121 deals over the three-year period. Google's arch-nemesis in the mobile field, Apple, only inked 12 deals over this time, but still enjoyed strong growth.

Is Apple about to kill the iPhone 5C?

Is this the end for the iPhone 5C? According to the latest reports, Apple is preparing to release two new iPhones this September - and may kill off the colorful sibling in the process.
South China Morning Post claims that one of the new iPhone 6 handsets will pack a 4.7-inch screen, while the other will come in at a sizeable 5.5 inches.
They'll also reportedly be made from sapphire crystal, even though we just heard that Apple couldn't afford to put these tougher screens in the iPhone 6.
According to the sources "who have seen the prototypes", these screens will have a pixel density of 441ppi, up from the current 326ppi.
But also interesting is the claim that Apple is planning to ditch its colorful 5C from the lineup. Instead, it will reportedly sell a 5S "made from cheaper material."

Short-lived?

The iPhone 5C didn't take off quite like Apple had hoped, with Tim Cook admitting that the sales were lower than expected.
However, take this rumor with necessary caution, especially as the source is unverified. Would an iPhone 5S with cheaper materials still be the 5S – or will Apple actually turn this into the C and just ditch the colorful backs?

India Raises Concerns On Bitcoin’s Credibility, But Doesn’t Call It Illegal Yet

Bitcoin traders are having a roller coaster ride everywhere and India is no exception. After initial momentum that saw several Bitcoin exchanges emerge in India, the Reserve Bank of India issued a warning that sent many traders into a tizzy last year. Now, Raghuram Rajan, the RBI’s new governor has reiterated the central bank’s concerns about the credibility of Bitcoin. Addressing a technology conference in Mumbai earlier today, Rajan said there are ambiguities about who controls the value of Bitcoin. “As a currency, I do worry a little bit when the underlying (value) fluctuates tremendously. One of the values of a currency is stability and the extent (to which) a currency is target of speculation as opposed to primarily a means of exchange,” he said addressing a conference organized by technology industry body Nasscom. I do think we have to understand the role of virtual currencies and how they will interact with the paper currency that you have…There are questions that need to be asked, one of them being, who will maintain value? Can we have confidence in unseen, unknown centres who maintain the value of the currency, or an algorithm that will maintain the value of the currency – we need more credibility there But Bitcoin traders in India are not giving up yet. Last month, Highkart became the first (and the only) e-commerce site in India to start accepting payment in Bitcoin. Its co-founder Amit Kumar told me that one of the challenges facing growth of Bitcoin in India is that many early adopters are still hoarding the currency and not trading them. Highkart sold a pair of shoes from Provogue in exchange for Bitcoin as its first transaction. It has currently 150 products and the startup does not charge anything extra for shipping the products. “There’s nothing illegal in accepting Bitcoin — the RBI will take more time to come up with clarity,” Kumar added. Highkart and other Bitcoin traders in India say they are following all banking regulations prescribed by the RBI, leaving no room for any illegal activities. Benson Samuel, a Bitcoin developer and consultant said nothing much has changed for Bitcoin in India since the last time RBI issued the warning. Last month, an Indian lawyer even sent a legal notice to RBI asking for clarity on Bitcoin trading in India.

Tocomail Debuts An Email Service Designed For Kids

Tocomail, a new iPhone and iPad application launching today, aims to be kids’ first email service. The app was designed not only with children in mind, but also in collaboration with kids who provided input as Tocomail’s early adopters. But more importantly, Tocomail offers parental controls that allow mom and/or dad to designate who the child is able to email using Tocomail, and who they can accept email from in return. The company was founded last year by Dennis Bolgov and Pavel Istomin, long time friends and former classmates at the Moscow Engineering and Physics Institute. Bolgov came to the U.S. back in 1998, and ended up working for a company called Lobby7, acquired by Nuanace Communications in 2003. He later went on to work on Nuance’s speech-enabled mobile interfaces – technology that has since made its way to other mobile applications and services, including Apple’s SIRI. The two founders also previously built another company, Warelex, back in 2002, which was acquired in 2008 by German company Shape Services GmbH (makers of instant messaging app IM+.) They stayed on there for over 5 years until building TocoBox. Says Bolgov, he came up with the idea for a kids’ email application when his son Michael, then 7 years old, asked for his own email account. “I agreed that everyone today needs an email account, but I wanted a safe email service for Michael which also had a good mobile app and was intuitive and fun to use,” Bolgov tells us. “But after a lot of research, I realized that there was nothing out there that satisfied all of these requirements, so Pavel and I decided to create Tocomail.” The app itself is easy to use. Parents sign up and create the account for their child or children, in a process that takes about five minutes to complete. At this time, they also configure a list of “safe contacts” who their kids are allowed to email with – people like grandma or grandpa, for example, plus other family members or close family friends. Once set up, kids can both send and receive emails on Tocomail using iOS, Android (soon) or the web. Since the idea is to offer a service that’s not just safe for kids, but one that’s appealing as well, Tocomail includes fun tools like a drawing board, custom avatar creation, a picture timeline and more.

The Ideal Mobile Personal Assistant

The Ideal Mobile Personal Assistant is a post by Warner Crocker from Gotta Be Mobile.
Some love the fact that mobile tech is able to predict more and more of our daily routines. Some not so much. I happen to be one of those who likes the semi-predictive nature of services like Google Now. Now. But I’d like to see services like this grow and offer more options for those who need or desire them. In fact, I’m looking for the ideal mobile personal assistant. Sure there are personal assistant type Apps and services out there, but they don’t go far enough. Here’s what my ideal mobile personal assistant would do for me on a given day.
The alarm goes off at whatever time I set. After a few moments that allow me to put my feet on the floor and grab the first cup of coffee the personal assistant would ask me (via audio) “Are you ready to hear about your day?” I’d answer in the affirmative or ask for a delay. When I do wish to start hearing about my day I’d hear about what’s coming up, whether that be meetings, phone calls I have to make, packages to be delivered, or chores to do.


Next, the personal assistant would tell me what the weather is going to be for the day and perhaps the next three. If I’m planning to travel in a few days, perhaps the personal assistant would tell me what the weather is currently at my next location and what the expected forecast there is. If  there is the possibility of travel delays because of weather, the personal assistant would give me a heads up. Then the personal assistant would move on to news. Based on parameters I’d set, the personal assistant would tell me about news items that interest me and any breaking news items that might be of note. The personal assistant would give me options to delve further into those stories or save them for later retrieval. Then the personal assistant would tell me of any important social events coming up in the next period of time that I specify such as birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions my friends may be observing, etc…
After the personal assistant has finished running through the news and personal headlines, I’d like it to tell me where I am on my fitness goals for the week and make recommendations for what I need to do if I’m lagging behind. After stepping on the scales for the morning weigh-in, the personal assistant would tell me how I’m doing on my weight goals. While I’m preparing or eating breakfast I’d like to be able to dictate what I’m eating so that figures into whatever mix of calories or cholesterol count I’m watching. If I have prescriptions that will need filling within the next few days I’d like to know that info as well as receive a gentle reminder that it is time to down a pill. I’d also like to know of any upcoming bills that will need to be paid, whether they are selected for automatic payment or not.
As I start the day the personal assistant would follow me throughout providing appropriate updates based on the ideas mentioned above, but limited to a series of notifications that I could select. If the personal assistant is tied into my car, I’d like to know when I need to fill up or get an oil change or the tires rotated. I’d also like to be notified about traffic on any planned routes I might be taking that day and beyond that, if there are errands that need running between meetings, schedule the travel path accordingly so I could accomplish more with perhaps fewer trips.
One voice command at any point during the day would give me a quick run down of any updates I should know about and allow me to tick off any tasks on my list that I’ve completed or reschedule them for later. I don’t want to be nagged throughout the day. I’d like to control when I check for information.
Certainly with the move towards home automation I ‘d like to be able to speak a few voice commands to control some aspects of my living environment. Then at the end of the day, I’d like to be asked what time I want to wake up the next morning, followed by a quick update of things I may need to know about before turning in. I’d like to do all of the above without touching a device.
Two keys would make this ideal personal assistant work for me. Always on listening would be one factor, combined with some sort of dashboard that would allow me to set parameters at some point.
Most of this kind of thing exists now but scattered over various App and service solutions. Google Now does a decent job of keeping track of some of my comings and goings, but I’d like to see all of this combined into one core experience. Both Siri and Google Now allow some good interaction via voice but that would need to improve. There shouldn’t be the need to tap and select Apps or services, simply speak commands.
I’d pay for this kind of service because I don’t want any sort of advertising intruding on my day. That and the ideas below would probably scotch the entire idea. I don’t want recommendations for things I might like. I want things tailored to what I know I need and the information that I request, not the information some algorithm thinks I might be interested in. I’d love to see any data grabbed throughout this process anonymized and not stored in some server bank somewhere with my name or other identifier on it. Would that defeat the purpose? Given today’s business models probably. But I’m dreaming so why not dream of a business model that doesn’t depend on the selling of data tied to an individual. Again, no recommendations and no advertising. If I’m looking for a recommendation I’d like to ask for one, not have one fed to me.
Unrealistic? Perhaps. Again, there would need to be changes in business models and improvements in voice technology for this to exist. Am I being lazy by not wanting to touch a device and start an interaction? Perhaps. But in the time before digital personal assistants you could get in all kinds of trouble if you touched a personal assistant the wrong way. Unless of course you were in the cast of Mad Men.
How about you? What would be your ideal digital personal assistant? Would you be willing to pay for such a service? Do you want recommendations or want to choose when you want something recommended to you? We’d love to know your thoughts.

iPhone 6: 7 Tips for Future Buyers

iPhone 6: 7 Tips for Future Buyers is a post by Adam Mills from Gotta Be Mobile.
With iPhone 6 rumors swirling around, we’re starting to get bombarded with questions about Apple’s rumored 2014 iPhone from readers, family and friends. While we certainly don’t have all of the answers, we do have some worthwhile iPhone 6 tips for buyers that we think will not only make the wait a lot easier but the eventual release much smoother as well.
While consumer attention is primarily focused on the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC M8, two flagship Android smartphone that are set to debut in just a few weeks, there are certainly those that have their eyes fixated on another big name smartphone, or smartphones, that should arrive some time later this year.
Every year, Apple releases an updated version of its iconic iPhone. Last year, it was the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, this year, consumers are expecting an iPhone 6. Rumors suggest that Apple does indeed have another iPhone up its sleeve, that it’s not going to bow out of a smartphone market that it continues to dominate.

iPhone 6 rumors, at the moment, are scarce, unsurprising given that Apple typically doesn’t announce or release its iPhone until much later in the year. That hasn’t stopped a barrage of questions from plummeting into our chat windows, Twitter feeds and email, however. No, we’ve been inundated with numerous questions about the iPhone 6. We’ve been answering those questions to the best of our ability but we thought it appropriate to extend our advice to more than just our family and friends.
Here, we want to offer up seven early iPhone 6 buyers tips that we think will be helpful to those who are considering the iPhone 6 as their next smartphone.

iPhone 6 Release in Summer/Fall

One of the questions that we continually get asked about the iPhone 6, and really every big name smartphone that’s rumored for 2014 and beyond, is about its release date. “When will the iPhone 6 be released?” While a specific date hasn’t been set in stone, we know that there are two windows where the iPhone 6 will likely be released.
The first is in the summer. WWDC, Apple’s annual developer conference, typically takes place during the month of June and in the past, it has been used as an iPhone launch pad. Apple shifted away from summer and WWDC with the last three iPhones but there are rumors that suggest it could return at least one iPhone launch to the annual conference. If it does, the device would likely arrive in late June or in July.

The other window is the fall. The iPhone 4s, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5s all arrived during the fall between the months of September and October. This is another likely window for the iPhone 6 in that it sets Apple up perfectly. iPhone 4s users will be coming off contract and it’s right before the holiday season which allows Apple to ramp up production to meet demand by the time November and December roll around.
No, we don’t know the exact date of the iPhone 6′s release but we know that Apple always uses either the summer or the fall so we advise interested consumers to circle July, September and October on the calendar and remain patient.

Expect a Larger Display

As of right now, we don’t know a lot about the iPhone 6 itself. Rumors haven’t emerged at the same frequency as Samsung Galaxy S5 rumors and there are still plenty of puzzle pieces missing. The iPhone 6 isn’t a blank canvas though.
One thing that appears likely is a larger display. It’s something that rumors from credible sources have consistently pointed to, time and time again, and at this point it’s impossible to ignore.

The Wall Street Journal believes the company will deliver a 4.5-inch and a 5+-inch iPhone 6. NPD DisplaySearch believes that two iPhone 6 models with higher resolution displays will be coming in 2014. A KDB Daewoo Securities report uncovered by OLED-Display includes two iPhone 6 display sizes. Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, who accurately predicted many iPhone 5s features, thinks Apple is planning an iPhone 6 with a screen between 4.5-inches and 5-inches. Here is how that breaks down:

• 4.5-inch display – WSJ
• 4.7-inch display – 1600 x 900 resolution – NPD
• 4.7-inch to 4.8-inch display - 1920 x 1080 resolution – KDB
• 4.5-inch to 5-inch display – Kuo
• 5+ inch display – WSJ
• 5.5-inch display – 1920 x 1080 resolution – NPD
• 5.5-inch display – 2272 x 1280 resolution – KDB

So unless every single source here is wrong, the iPhone 6 will be coming with a display that is larger than the 4-inch Retina Display found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c.
While nothing is confirmed, it’s safe to assume that at least one new iPhone model will come with a larger display. And it’s possible that they could be made out of Sapphire, something that would make them virtually unbreakable. With that in mind, our advice is this.
If you’ve been waiting for years for a larger iPhone display, now is the time to wait because all signs point to a much larger iPhone 6 display arriving later on this year.

Expect the iPhone 6 to Be Good

Another question that we continually get asked is: “What features will the iPhone 6 have?” We can’t answer that exactly but what we can tell you is that you should expect the iPhone 6 to come with hardware upgrades over the likes of the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. Apple introduces advancements year-after-year and it would be strange to see an iPhone 6 share a camera or processor with the iPhone 5s. It will more than likely feature better hardware.
It’s safe to assume that the iPhone 6 will be better, performance-wise, than the iPhone 5s. That means features like gaming, multitasking and overall speed of the operating system should be improved. There are already rumors that point to an improved camera. The iPhone 5s is an extremely powerful smartphone, but the iPhone 6 will almost certainly be more powerful. And that will be key for many users who depend on their smartphone for more than just phone calls.

Don’t Limit Your Options

While it’s alright to have the iPhone 6 on your shortlist, we advise taking a serious look at some of the iPhone 6′s competitors. That includes the iPhone 5s, that includes the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC M8, and that will probably include a number of other devices that emerge between now and the summer.

A new Samsung Galaxy S5 rumor shows a possible design and dimensions.

We suggest doing as much research as possible. Play around with Android, take a look at Windows Phone, use Apple’s iOS 7 software because it’s likely going to be similar to the iOS 8 update that arrives along with the iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 may be the best smartphone of the year in the eyes of many but it won’t be that way for everyone.
So while your heart might be set on the next iPhone model, keep an eye on the competition. Who knows, you may just find something that you think is better than Apple’s experience.

Research Carriers

Between now and the iPhone 6 launch, consumers would be wise to do as much research as they can on carrier options in the United States. That means digging into the data plans and 4G LTE coverage at AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon. There are tons of differences between these carriers and their coverage and the more you know, the better equipped you’ll be when the iPhone 6 finally does arrive.

We also suggest taking a look at their off-contract plans as well. These will appeal to those that find that they can’t stick to a smartphone through the duration of a contract. There are plenty of people who get bored with their device and want something new. And for those people, offers like AT&T’s Next and Verizon’s Edge are worth a look.
And finally, expect the iPhone 6 to arrive for the five major carriers in the United States in addition to a number of pre-paid and regional carriers. Apple’s iPhones always come to a wide swath of carriers so we suggest preparing for a widespread launch.

Don’t Believe Every Rumor

This probably goes without saying but we still think it’s important to note. Do not believe every single iPhone 6 rumor that comes out between now and the iPhone 6 launch. Gotta Be Mobile will do its best to bring you the most credible rumors but even then, those sometimes don’t pan out.
Apple, like other smartphone manufacturers, goes through a number of prototypes before it decides on a final version of its flagship phone. This is likely the reason why iPhone 6 display rumors are all over the place. This also means that Apple will continue to add and trim features in the build up to the devices eventual launch.
iPhone rumors typically start to firm up a few months ahead of the release and the most believable ones are typically the ones that get rumored over and over again ad nausea. Again, like the iPhone 6 display rumors.

iPhone 6 concepts showing what larger displays could look like.

We should also note that things like price and storage are usually some of the last dominoes to fall, if they even fall at all. When the iPhone 5s launch date arrived, we had no idea how much storage it would have or how much it would cost. Turns out, the price and the storage space for the iPhone 5s were both familiar.
And finally, about those iPhone 6 concepts. There is a reason they are called concepts. While they might pull in iPhone 6 rumors, they are usually from third-party designers and not the designers at Apple.

Start Saving Now

Smartphones aren’t cheap. They may appear cheap due to their subsidized price tags but those buying the iPhone 6 will incur hundreds if not thousands of dollars in charges thanks to features like data and accessories. So, with several months to go before the iPhone 6 launch, now is a great time to start saving money for not only the initial upfront cost of the iPhone 6 but for the costs that you’ll incur down the road.

The iPhone 6 price could jump according to one analyst.

One thing that we do suggest is to stay patient about trade-ins. Companies like Gazelle and NextWorth offer a lot of money for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 trade-ins, something that can help offset the cost of your next smartphone. Those prices, however, don’t tend to start fluctuating until much closer to the actual launch which means that you have plenty of time to sell.

Google Turns Contacts into Relationships, Lets you 'Call Mom'

Google Turns Contacts into Relationships, Lets you “Call Mom” is a post by Cory Gunther from Gotta Be Mobile.
Voice controls and search on mobile devices is nothing new, but Google Search has continued to improve with each and every update, that it is now becoming one of the most powerful and useful features of Android.
As if Google didn’t automate enough things or know plenty about us already, the newest Google Search update asks for access to our contacts, which will allow voice commands like never before. Contacts can now be set as relationships, or figured out automatically by Google. Simply saying “Ok Google, Call Mom” to your Google Search bar will instantly call Mom, even if you’re impersonal like me and have her saved in your contacts under a different title.

Specific contacts can now be saved under Mom, Dad, Brother, Girlfriend or even Baby. All you need to do is say, “Ok Google, Call baby” and Search will ask who your girlfriend is, and let you pick which contact can be associated with that name. Hopefully there’s an undo feature though, in case someone needs to set a new significant other.
This is an opt-in feature, meaning you won’t be required to set this up or share contacts with Google Search. Upon the first request Google will let you know they’re looking for more details, and you can opt yes or no when it comes to sharing contacts and improving contact search recognition. So don’t get out the tinfoil hats just yet.

So far it appears to only support the extended family, and it even supports destination. Meaning if you’d like to call Mom on her Cell vs at home, you can do that even though you set a main number during initial setup. This is a work in progress, and likely will be improved soon, and now all we need is to be able to say, Ok Google, turn off WiFi” to do those quick and simple tasks.
No app updates are required by the user, as this is a backend improvement by Google. Users should be able to give it a try today and enjoy the latest improvements to Google Voice Search.

Gartner Report: Big Data will Revolutionize the Cybersecurity in Next Two Year

Organizations are more than ever exposed to a large number and variety of threats and risks to cyber security. Big Data will be one of the main elements of change in the enterprises by supplying intelligence-driven models.
Research firm Gartner said that big data analytics will play a crucial role in detecting crime and security infractions. By 2016, more than 25 percent of global firms will adopt big data analytics for at least one security and fraud detection use case, up from current eight percent.
Avivah Litan, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner said big data analytics gives enterprises faster access to their own data than ever before. Big data analytics enables enterprises to combine and correlate external and internal information to see a bigger picture of threats against their enterprises. It is applicable in many security and fraud use cases such as detection of advanced threats, insider threats and account takeover.
She said information needed to uncover security events loses value over time, and timely intelligent data analysis is critical as criminals and bad actors move much more quickly to commit their crimes. For example, a year or two ago, hackers would look around, conduct extensive cyberespionage on their targets, and then go in for the theft — whether it was for money or information. Now, hackers — aware of more-effective security and fraud prevention measures erected by their target victim enterprises — simply go directly to the theft without a drawn-out reconnaissance phase.
Going forward, big data will have an impact that will change most of the product categories in the field of computer security including solutions, network monitoring, authentication and authorization of users, identity management, fraud detection, and systems of governance, risk and compliance. Big data will change also the nature of the security controls as conventional firewalls, anti-malware and data loss prevention. In coming years, the tools of data analysis will evolve further to enable a number of advanced predictive capabilities and automated controls in real time.
Gartner said organizations should align the capabilities security in a holistic cyber security strategy tailored to the threats and the risks specific to the demands of the organization, big data requires the collection of information from various sources and in different formats, a logical target is to have a single architecture to collect, index, normalize, analyze and share all the information, and organization should look for profile accounts, users or other entities, and look for anomalous transactions against those profiles.
Organizations should ensure that the continued investment in security products promote technologies that use approaches agile-based analysis, not static signature-based tools to threats or on the edge of the network.
While security solutions are emerging prepared for the big data, security teams may not. Data analysis is an area where internal knowledge of the staff may be lacking. The data scientists who specialize in security are few, and will continue to be in high demand. As a result, it is likely that many organizations will turn to external partners to compensate for the lack of skills of internal analysis.