Author Archives: Authcom

Despite big branding push, Apple is about as trusted on privacy as Google and Microsoft

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Apple is adamant that its iPhones and Macs protect user privacy better than competing products, and the recent fight with the FBI shows the company isn’t willing to back down from its software security principles without a fight. However, a recent poll reveals that customers don’t think Apple can defend their data any better than competing companies, including Google, Amazon or Microsoft.

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Conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, the national poll showed that while Apple is seen as a company that can keep data private, it doesn’t have a significant lead on others. It should be noted that Apple rivals also have various data encryption policies in place, or are working on improving them. The FBI did say Apple’s stance on iPhone encryption is nothing more than a marketing tactic meant to help it gain more customers.

It turns out that people don’t think Apple has the edge when it comes to privacy: 60% of respondents said they strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that they trust Apple to protect data from hackers. This appears to be in line with responses to the same questions about Google, Amazon and Microsoft, Reuters reports.

However, consumers were less trusting of two other companies: Facebook and Yahoo. 39% of respondents say they trust Facebook would protect their data against hacks while Yahoo has the confidence of 44% of people who answered in the study.

Furthermore, the poll found that just one in 10 people considers security options including encryption and passcode protection to be the most important considerations when buying a new smartphone. Performance and price are more important factors.

“Security is one of these things that gets people in trouble when it lapses, but it’s not something consumers are going to be shopping for,” Ipsos pollster Chris Jackson said.

The poll was conducted online, with 1,702 adults responding to the question from March 11th to March 16th.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

Galaxy Note 6 rumor claims Android N will release much sooner than expected

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Google this month released the first Android N developer preview earlier than many of us expected. Does this mean Android N itself is going to release much earlier than expected as well? A new report from Korean financial news site The Bell claims that Samsung is going to release its Galaxy Note 6 in July this year and that it’s going to come with Android N already installed. If this report is correct, that means Galaxy Note 6 owners won’t have to bother waiting to upgrade to the newest software when they buy the device since it will already have Android N.

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That said: There are a couple of reasons to be skeptical that this report is accurate. For one, Samsung tends to wait until late August or early September to unveil its Galaxy Note devices, although last year it did have a special event for the Galaxy Note 5 on August 13th. Second, Google doesn’t normally release new versions of Android until months after showing them off at Google I/O. Android 6.0 Marshmallow released in early October last year and Android 5.0 Lollipop didn’t come out until November of 2014.

That’s not to say Android N won’t release earlier than expected, but it’s highly unlikely that it would release as early as July.

Read more here:: Boy Genius Report

Microsoft Announces New Service – Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection

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Microsoft announced a new service called Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection, which it calls the next step in its efforts to protect enterprise customers.

The service helps enterprises detect, investigate, and respond to advanced attacks on their networks, building on existing security features in Windows 10. There’s a new post-breach layer of protection.

“With a combination of client technology built into Windows 10 and a robust cloud service, it will help detect threats that have made it past other defenses, provide enterprises with information to investigate the breach across endpoints, and offer response recommendations,” says Terry Myerson, Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group.

“Just like we developed Windows 10 with feedback from millions of Windows Insiders, we worked with our most advanced enterprise customers to address their biggest security challenges, including attack investigations and day-to-day operations, to test our solution in their environments,” Myerson says. “Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection is already live with early adopter customers that span across geographies and industries, and the entire Microsoft network, making it one of the largest running advanced threat protection services.”

Myerson discusses how the offering detects advanced attacks, its response recommendations, and how it complements Microsoft’s other threat detection solutions here.

Microsoft of course insists that all Windows users upgrade to Windows 10 to have their most advanced security features.

The post Microsoft Announces New Service – Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection appeared first on SecurityProNews.

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