14
Jul
2010
RIM’s BlackBerry Protect Service Moves to Closed Beta
For those who have not heard, RIM is working out a new online service that is designed to help out users who often lose their mobile handsets. Of course, the service will only cover existing BlackBerry users. But if this works, then other mobile phone makers might want to try out the mode, for the BlackBerry Protect service.
The system is quite basic in terms of use. Users will need to create an account online and sign up their BlackBerry smart phones. After this, they can use the online service to remotely access the device. This comes in handy if the handset is misplaced, lost or even stolen as the number of commands available to users comes in a very wide range.
The most basic function would be to make the phone ring with message or an alert –this is really useful for folks who tend to leave their devices lying around the house. For those who feel that they might have left their device in a different location (such as the office, the car or a friend’s house) the GPS on the device can be activated and the location can be tracked to ensure that the device is indeed in the specified location.
Of course, there are times when phones are left in other places as well, such as the local gym or the pub, where the chances of another person taking the device is quite high. In these cases, or in times when direct theft is suspected, users of the Protect service may opt to have the device remotely locked or even have the contents wiped.
Wiping the memory can be a bit extreme, but as most professionals use smart phones to store important and private information, security is an important issue. The service also periodic allows over the air backups which allows users to instantly transfer content from one handset to another (should the previous handset prove to be irrecoverable).
25
Jun
2010
Mobile Phone Safety: Tips for Keeping Your Phone Safe
As impressive as technology has become in the recent years, it is also getting more and more expensive. And as such, mobile phones –especially smart phones, are prime targets of unscrupulous individuals and any opportunists who would not think twice about taking advantage of a handset that has been left unattended.
While it is also common for phone owners to actually break, drop, bend or smash their devices accidentally, there are also times when users accidentally leave their phones behind in a restaurant chair, on a café table, in a gym locker and other such locations. Here are a few tips on being able to keep track of your mobile phone.
First off, stick to good storage options. You might have a locked drawer in your office table or a secure pocket inside your bag; these are often great places to store an expensive device in without having to worry about the handset being taken while your attention lies elsewhere.
For those planning to spend a long busy night out partying, it is best to set a regular alarm on your mobile phone. Having a phone beep loudly every fifteen minutes will not be a bother to other people in a loud bar, and it will remind the owner that the device is still present even when the drinks start piling up. Of course, it would be a good idea to charge a device up prior to doing this because this would drain the battery heavily.
Avoid sticking the handset into the back pocket of pants and try not to make a habit of making the device something that you casually carry around in your hand. Having a phone in a back pocket could have it slip out or get crushed when you sit.
17
Jun
2010
Research Shows: Internet Exposes Children to “Negative Content”
Norton is brand that has always been affiliated with their efficient and powerful antivirus software. Throughout the years, the company has grown and expanded its services to provide deeper levels of security and threat prevention software to their many clients all over the world.
Annually, the company conducts various studies of growing threat patterns –especially on the ever evolving internet. And from what they have discovered, it appears that children are often given internet access without being properly prepared.
The new Norton Family Report for 2010 shows that at least three out of 5 children will encounter negative material on the internet. And anyone who has tried using the internet before, finding violence, nudity, and other adult oriented material on the internet is as common as seeing a tree on the roadside. It is everywhere, and no one can properly manage or hide it. While we certainly do not need to keep trees away, children deserve better than to be surprised with images of naked women.
However, the solution is not to cover the children’s eyes and pretend that the issue is not there. There is nothing about the internet that states that only people of a certain age is allowed to use the resources available. Children have as much right to browse as any grown up, but the matter of preparing and educating children, falls on the hands of parents.
With the advent of smart phone technology, 3G and wireless LAN, there is no way that a parent could ever prevent a child from going online. The best thing to do is to give the child the proper amount of awareness and guidance on the various issues and problems associated with going online and interacting with people on the internet.
While it is difficult, providing your kids with the proper education and discipline is far better than any firewall or filter that anyone can provide.
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