Ant-virus on Android Smartphone not needed

Mobile anti-virus not needed: Google

Full article here: http://bit.ly/TET7Vp

The majority of Android smartphone and tablet users do not need to install anti-virus and other security apps to protect them, despite dire warnings from security companies selling such products, Google’s head of Android security says.

Adrian Ludwig, the lead engineer for Android security at Google, said there was "a bit of a misperception" in how the company reviewed apps for its Google Play store in comparison with other stores. He also said those who used security software on their phones would likely get no protection from it. "I think ... paying for a product that you will probably never actually receive protection from is not a rational reduction of risk – but people buy things for lots of reasons." Mr Ludwig said every Android app goes through an automated system that checked for issues, and verified apps before they were made available on the app store.

"By the time a user goes to install an app they’ve had ... the best review of that application that is possible," he said. The risk of potentially harmful applications ending up on users’ devices was therefore "significantly overstated" and the actual risk of a damaging app being installed was "extraordinarily low", he said. "Certainly if you compare [the] Android [mobile operating system] to any desktop operating system, it's orders of magnitude different.

He rejected reports from numerous security vendors showing Android was a hotbed for malicious software compared to other mobile platforms, saying the firms often presented their statistics in a misleading way. He said the numbers didn't show how many users were actually affected by potentially harmful applications. The reports instead focused on how many potentially malicious apps existed, and not whether they were ever installed by users.

Apple chief Tim Cook recently used industry figures at the company's Worldwide Developers conference to take a swipe at Android, saying it "dominates" the mobile malware market.

"It's a convenient way for [security firms] to [count] it like that because it never goes down. If you just count that number the world always looks worse, which [is what] sells their product," Mr Ludiwig said. "The way we talk about potentially harmful applications on Android is how many users are affected," he said. "If nobody ever installs that application, does it matter? If [a potentially harmful application] never got into [the] Google Play [store], does it matter? That’s what we focus on."

Users who chose to use anti-virus on their devices would be no better off, he said.

Full article here: http://bit.ly/TET7Vp

Managing your USERNAME and PASSWORD

I was faced with a dilemma (and am sure many of us would be facing it!! Read on!!) which did stress me out a bit. It is regarding managing our 'accounts' (both online and offline) safely and securely in todays technology driven world.

By accounts I mean personal data for generally online and offline usage. I have accounts in multiple online websites - Shopping sites (Amazon, EBay, Flipkart, Myntra, FabFurnish,.......), Magazine Subscription (The Economists, HBR, Times Group, etc..), Online Banking (ICICI, SBI, PNB etc....), Personal data (PAN, Income Tax, Aadhar, My Organisation site, etc ), Communication (BSNL, MTNL, Local Broadband, TataSky etc....), Social Networking and EMail and websites (Multiple GMail accounts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Health and Vehicle Insurance Sites, Multiple Twitter accounts, Evernote, Dropbox, Various Forums Sites, Social Groups, TED, Slashdot, Linux sites, Subscribed Tutorial Sites, Children School sites, Photography sites, Personal Blog Site etc etc.... Very Very Large List).

Now the problem : To be secure, it is necessary that different USERNAME and Passwords are to be used 'as much as possible' - So how do I remember them, manage them and access them anytime I want!!!??? Options are - write all these down on a Notebook (cannot carry it around!!), put them in a note in Evernote or Google Doc or DropBox and access it online when required (not secure as it is not encrypted!!!), use an encrypted document and copy it into my mobile document (syncing it when there is a change to all devices one carries is a problem!!), use a password manager available online (problem is I do not trust proprietary Password Managers - cannot trust them with my data!!).

Solution? Well, since the last six to eight months, have been using a combination of tech driven solution which I feel is secure - an Open Source Password Manager (KePassDroid for Androids - http://www.keepassdroid.com/) which 'does not keep the data in a cloud', combined with an encrypted doc (Open Source Encryption!!) and finally the encrypted doc stored in the cloud (yess, Dropbox is my favourite! - I use DropSync to Sync the Encrypted KeePassDroid File on the cloud).

I can access it offline and can sync with my mobiles, tablets, desktop, laptops (one of the gadgets is with me always - as is common nowadays with most of us!!!).

With the above solution, I feel I am 'reasonable safe' and secure and can access all my data (I even keep datas like my Biodata, dates of my promotions, transfers, important dates and milestones etc.) and it feels better organized and less stressed out!!!

Why this mail - Well, I guess though my solution above seems good to me, am sure many of you would have your 'own solution' which would maybe be better and maybe more innovative. Thus would like to know - 'How do you manage the above mentioned data?' in your own way!! Would not mind a tech driven solution or a simple secure basic notebook solution. 'USE THE SAME USERNAME AND PASSWORD - is a BIG NO NO NO' - as it is not a solution!!!! There are some discussions on the web on managing passwords - but did not come across a solution that address all my requirements!!! But would be glad if someone points out a solution to me!!!

My solution - will make a detailed webcast/presentation and mail it - but before I do, would like to check 'others' solution and maybe improve it!!

Please Email/Facebook/Whatsapp/Tweet me (either private communication or group-replyl!!) your solutions ( #GunzManageToday) if you are interested to share your thoughts on this!! Maybe most of us would benefit - as I guess it is a dilemma for all those who are making best use of today's technology driven world!!!

I was faced with a dilemma (and am sure many of us would be facing it!! Read on!!) which did stress me out a bit. It is regarding managing our 'accounts' (both online and offline) safely and securely in todays technology driven world.

By accounts I mean personal data for generally online and offline usage. I have accounts in multiple online websites - Shopping sites (Amazon, EBay, Flipkart, Myntra, FabFurnish,.......), Magazine Subscription (The Economists, HBR, Times Group, etc..), Online Banking (ICICI, SBI, PNB etc....), Personal data (PAN, Income Tax, Aadhar, My Organisation site, etc ), Communication (BSNL, MTNL, Local Broadband, TataSky etc....), Social Networking and EMail and websites (Multiple GMail accounts, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Health and Vehicle Insurance Sites, Multiple Twitter accounts, Evernote, Dropbox, Various Forums Sites, Social Groups, TED, Slashdot, Linux sites, Subscribed Tutorial Sites, Children School sites, Photography sites, Personal Blog Site etc etc.... Very Very Large List).

Now the problem : To be secure, it is necessary that different USERNAME and Passwords are to be used 'as much as possible' - So how do I remember them, manage them and access them anytime I want!!!??? Options are - write all these down on a Notebook (cannot carry it around!!), put them in a note in Evernote or Google Doc or DropBox and access it online when required (not secure as it is not encrypted!!!), use an encrypted document and copy it into my mobile document (syncing it when there is a change to all devices one carries is a problem!!), use a password manager available online (problem is I do not trust proprietary Password Managers - cannot trust them with my data!!).

Solution? Well, since the last six to eight months, have been using a combination of tech driven solution which I feel is secure - an Open Source Password Manager (KePassDroid for Androids) which 'does not keep the data in a cloud', combined with an encrypted doc (Open Source Encryption!!) and finally the encrypted doc stored in the cloud (yess, Dropbox is my favourite!). I can access it offline and can sync with my mobiles, tablets, desktop, laptops (one of the gadgets is with me always - as is common nowadays with most of us!!!).

With the above solution, I feel I am 'reasonable safe' and secure and can access all my data (I even keep datas like my Biodata, dates of my promotions, transfers, important dates and milestones etc.) and it feels better organized and less stressed out!!!

Why this mail - Well, I guess though my solution above seems good to me, am sure many of you would have your 'own solution' which would maybe be better and maybe more innovative. Thus would like to know - 'How do you manage the above mentioned data?' in your own way!! Would not mind a tech driven solution or a simple secure basic notebook solution. 'USE THE SAME USERNAME AND PASSWORD - is a BIG NO NO NO' - as it is not a solution!!!! There are some discussions on the web on managing passwords - but did not come across a solution that address all my requirements!!! But would be glad if someone points out a solution to me!!!

My solution - will make a detailed webcast/presentation and mail it - but before I do, would like to check 'others' solution and maybe improve it!!

Please email/Facebook/Whatsapp/Tweet ( #GunzManageToday ) (either private communication or group-replyl!!) or leave a comment on my blog (http://bit.ly/1c4ruwA) your solutions  if you are interested to share your thoughts on this!! Maybe most of us would benefit - as I guess it is a dilemma for all those who are making best use of today's technology driven world!!!