Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Things that Really Grind my Gears! Cheaper iPhone, Android Trojan, Windows 8.1 release date

(Reuters) - Apple Inc introduced two new iPhones on Tuesday, including an "iPhone 5C" that comes in five colors and starts at $99, priced to bring one of the industry's costliest smartphones within reach of the masses in poorer emerging markets.

Apple Inc introduces low cost iPhone overseas.  

What is it about the American consumer that make our corporations love to screw us over? We have heard for years now that the big Pharamceutical companies sell their drugs in other countries for less than what we pay here. Now Apple introduces a new less expensive iPhone for consumers in China and overseas but probably will not release it in mature markets such as the U.S. and U.K. I suppose they know that the Apple Fans will bend over no matter what the cost.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/10/us-apple-iphone-idUSBRE98908I20130910

Cyber Criminals:  MALWARE, Viruses and Trojans

"The spread of malware among mobile devices should be a bigger concern than it ever was for computers.  A household may have had 1 or 2 computers, today every member of a household has a mobile device".  (me, Phil Gilbert, 09/10/2013)

First case of Android Trojan spreading via mobile botnets discovered

Summary: Just what you always wanted: A malware botnet on Android devices. But you have to be really dumb to get infected.

The above is from the ZDNet article published 9/5/2013.  The statement is harsh but true, this is how the majority of computers use to be infected.  The computers aren't infecting themselves.  Social engineering was the norm used to infect a computer.  A users was asked to click on something in a pop-up or to allow a program to run, or it was a link from a trusted source that came with an email that arrived in the inbox.  This still occurs but malicious scripts on infected websites drive a lot of malware installations these days.

Now that mobile smartphones/tablets are the primary device of the consumer segment (consumers have always been the exploited/incubating prey of the malicious code payload), Android (Linux) OS has become the prime target for malware writers and criminals.  This is due to its dominant position in the smartphone/tablet market.  Expect more attacks and malicious programs to appear with Apps for banking and other financial applications coming online for mobile devices.

Apparently it is going to be necessary for consumers to purchase, install and update an Anti-Virus Apps on mobile devices.  Good luck with that since that proved to be an impossibility with desktop computers.  Consumers never shouldered responsibility for making sure their own systems were secured from attack.

Why Your iPhone Will Inevitably Catch A Virus

iPhone users beware.  While Android may be the home of the free and infected, trouble awaits.

Apple's iOS may be more resistant to malware attacks than Android, but once "security by obscurity" gives way, Katie bar the door.

http://readwrite.com/2013/09/05/kaspersky-the-ios-malware-dam-will-break#awesm=~oh3PpksyKSffVg

Microsoft had to take action against the operators of botnets that were being used to propagate the malware and exploit compromised machines.  It may be that both Apple and Google will have to become proactive considering the popularity and widespread use of their devices.  The spread of malware among mobile devices should be more of a concern than it ever was for computers.  A household may have had 1 or 2 computers whereby every member of a household has a mobile device.


Windows 8.1 Official Release date in October, 2013.

Why did it take an entire year for Microsoft to fix the most glaring omissions/mistakes in their flagship OS.  I like Windows 8 very much but it's my job and it's what I do.  They could have released snippets with the monthly update.  My customers don't have time to learn the ins and outs of a new OS... they have a different job to do Microsoft!  I am currently running the Windows 8.1 RTM in shop, so far so good.

http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-1-rtm-whats-new-whats-next-7000020449/

BTW, Windows XP support coming to an end in April, 2014.



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