Official Mobile Security & Innovative Technologies Blog
This blog is managed/edited by Eric Everson. The purpose of this blog is to discuss common threats and solutions that exist within the mobile community in addition to the intricacies of innovative technologies and the markets therein.
Thank you for taking the time to review my blog; I am Eric Everson the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. In addition to my duties at MyMobiSafe, LLC I am also a full-time graduate student and mobile industry researcher. As a mobile security expert and innovative technologies leader, I am glad to answer any questions you may have: EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Tuesday 17 November 2009, 5:18 AM
Entrepreneur: Is Your But in the Way? (Part I: Capital)
Entrepreneur: Is Your But in the Way? (Part I: Capital)
Author: Eric Everson, Founder: MyMobiSafe.com
I would start a business BUT… I want to grow my business BUT… My business would be more profitable BUT… STOP the madness and get your “BUT” out of the way!
Every year people all around me use this time between now and the remainder of the year to hypothesize and dream about what the next year will mean to them. One of the topics that invariably surfaces year after year is this certain matter of entrepreneurial destiny. Perhaps you are one of those very people… if so, you are thinking some variation of: I’m going to start my own business next year.
For far too many entrepreneurial dreamers, one thing always seems to get in their way… I call it their BUT. To level with you as an entrepreneur myself, I get it and I’ve certainly had to overcome my BUTs along the way too. I am an innovation entrepreneur and I specialize in mobile technologies, so as one could imagine my biggest BUT usually boils down to capital. In today’s economy where it seems more likely to fund a venture by investing in lottery tickets than to actually get a real line of small business credit, capital can be a barrier to entry that many entrepreneurs face. Don’t let capital (or especially the lack there of) steamroll your entrepreneurial dreams, just get more creative!
Do you remember what made the 1990’s so great? No, I’m not talking about Kurt Cobain and baggy jeans, I’m talking about the times when a garage startup was a much cooler place to be than a corporate office. Looking back at some of those greats the one thing that stands out is that they didn’t let their BUT stand in the way of launching their companies. Sure some (including so many of those that got swept up in the dot-com bubble) were not the greatest business ideas on the planet, but somehow even they figured out how to materialize the dream of entrepreneurship. It all comes back to getting creative when faced with hurdles of capital.
Do you really need a million dollars to start a company? Hell no! If the 1990’s taught us anything it was that those entrepreneurs that survived without huge Venture Capitalist investments often emerged as stronger financial managers as their businesses gained traction. If you can manage your business through the tough times of startup on limited capital, then chances are if the economy takes another dip (which seems as certain as Christmas lights in December) you’ll be more equipped to weather the storm.
Getting creative in launching your startup means defiantly rejecting the barriers that stand in your way and looking for efficient alternatives. Do you need that huge telecommunications system as a startup? No! Chances are a decent phone and a Skype account will provide you with all the international calling you’ll need to set your business in motion. Do you need to rent that commercial property? Look around for alternate locations (hint, hint – they weren’t called garage startups because they rented out space on Main Street). I started my first venture out of a spare bedroom and felt like I’d hit the big leagues when I moved into the attic of my father-in-law’s dirty axle shop. Start by throwing out all that _____prenuer.com trash about investing countless dollars into a franchise and consider launching your own version of that kind of company (at a fraction of the cost). Check your corporate ego at the door and decide what you REALLY need to start your business and find it at the best possible price you can get it... don't be afraid to get creative, even barter if you must!
Above all else, get your BUT out of your way! I’m posting this as Part I, if you like it let me know and I’ll keep it coming and if not I’ve got a whole other kind of BUT for you. :0)
Eric Everson “The MobileTech”
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Author: Eric Everson, Founder: MyMobiSafe.com
I would start a business BUT… I want to grow my business BUT… My business would be more profitable BUT… STOP the madness and get your “BUT” out of the way!
Every year people all around me use this time between now and the remainder of the year to hypothesize and dream about what the next year will mean to them. One of the topics that invariably surfaces year after year is this certain matter of entrepreneurial destiny. Perhaps you are one of those very people… if so, you are thinking some variation of: I’m going to start my own business next year.
For far too many entrepreneurial dreamers, one thing always seems to get in their way… I call it their BUT. To level with you as an entrepreneur myself, I get it and I’ve certainly had to overcome my BUTs along the way too. I am an innovation entrepreneur and I specialize in mobile technologies, so as one could imagine my biggest BUT usually boils down to capital. In today’s economy where it seems more likely to fund a venture by investing in lottery tickets than to actually get a real line of small business credit, capital can be a barrier to entry that many entrepreneurs face. Don’t let capital (or especially the lack there of) steamroll your entrepreneurial dreams, just get more creative!
Do you remember what made the 1990’s so great? No, I’m not talking about Kurt Cobain and baggy jeans, I’m talking about the times when a garage startup was a much cooler place to be than a corporate office. Looking back at some of those greats the one thing that stands out is that they didn’t let their BUT stand in the way of launching their companies. Sure some (including so many of those that got swept up in the dot-com bubble) were not the greatest business ideas on the planet, but somehow even they figured out how to materialize the dream of entrepreneurship. It all comes back to getting creative when faced with hurdles of capital.
Do you really need a million dollars to start a company? Hell no! If the 1990’s taught us anything it was that those entrepreneurs that survived without huge Venture Capitalist investments often emerged as stronger financial managers as their businesses gained traction. If you can manage your business through the tough times of startup on limited capital, then chances are if the economy takes another dip (which seems as certain as Christmas lights in December) you’ll be more equipped to weather the storm.
Getting creative in launching your startup means defiantly rejecting the barriers that stand in your way and looking for efficient alternatives. Do you need that huge telecommunications system as a startup? No! Chances are a decent phone and a Skype account will provide you with all the international calling you’ll need to set your business in motion. Do you need to rent that commercial property? Look around for alternate locations (hint, hint – they weren’t called garage startups because they rented out space on Main Street). I started my first venture out of a spare bedroom and felt like I’d hit the big leagues when I moved into the attic of my father-in-law’s dirty axle shop. Start by throwing out all that _____prenuer.com trash about investing countless dollars into a franchise and consider launching your own version of that kind of company (at a fraction of the cost). Check your corporate ego at the door and decide what you REALLY need to start your business and find it at the best possible price you can get it... don't be afraid to get creative, even barter if you must!
Above all else, get your BUT out of your way! I’m posting this as Part I, if you like it let me know and I’ll keep it coming and if not I’ve got a whole other kind of BUT for you. :0)
Eric Everson “The MobileTech”
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of the U.S.-based MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Friday 6 November 2009, 4:14 PM
Motorola Droid Drops Today: Happy Droid Day America!
Motorola Droid Drops Today: Happy Droid Day America!
Author: Eric Everson, Mobile Security Expert
If you’re wondering what all of the buzz is about with words like Droid and Android 2.0 circling about, you might think for a moment that there is a new George Lucas film that hit theaters. To the contrary, Motorola’s much anticipated Droid handset hits Verizon Wireless stores today in America. This is a hallmark handset that comes equipped with Google’s Android 2.0 MOPS (Mobile Operating System) and offers what some believe to be Verizon’s answer to the iPhone.
As the official Droid release email from Verizon promotes, “The phone that makes you feel like a four star general with natural charisma, twelve arms and the power of mind control is here and is ready to serve.” Okay so, they might be overselling it a little bit, but this Droid handset certainly pushes the competitive landscape forward within the mobile industry. Having taken some time to tinker with the handset, the quality that stands out the most in comparison to the iPhone is its ability to handle apps (applications). If you’re used to the lag of opening apps on your iPhone, the Droid will feel like a supersonic blast of Star Wars-like hyper-drive in your palm!
Also notable is the 5MP (mega pixel) camera feature which pushes the idea of the camera phone into new territory. While it might not compare to the rumored 12MP Nokia camera phone that is secretly said to be in development, you’ll certainly notice a difference in picture quality compared to the 3.2MP camera of the iPhone. The Droid has the look and also pushes handset design forward with such features as a touchscreen plus QWERTY slider keyboard to the next level. The Droid also comes out of the box with built-in access to Amazon’s MP3 store.
Compared to the thriving Apple App Store and iTunes platform, the novelty of an Android App Store seemingly falls flat, but in all fairness the Android community is still very young. As third-party mobile content developers continue to see opportunities to embrace this new market, they will likewise be motivated to develop more apps. I see a great opportunity here for Google to flex its creative muscle to answer the competitive advantage that the iPhone already has in place.
As your resident mobile security expert, I would be amiss not to acknowledge the undertone of growing security concerns regarding the Android 2.0 MOPS. Are there mobile security vulnerabilities to come? Of course, but as I’ve noted in the past, nobody in the MOPS industry addresses vulnerabilities as well as the Google team. As we uncover new vulnerabilities throughout the MOPS landscape, the Google team is consistently the fastest and most efficient to respond.
If you’re in the market for a new handset or you’re one of many Verizon customers that has been waiting patiently for a smartphone of this caliber to come along, I say to you Happy Droid Day! May the force be with you!
-Eric Everson “The MobileTech”
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Author: Eric Everson, Mobile Security Expert
If you’re wondering what all of the buzz is about with words like Droid and Android 2.0 circling about, you might think for a moment that there is a new George Lucas film that hit theaters. To the contrary, Motorola’s much anticipated Droid handset hits Verizon Wireless stores today in America. This is a hallmark handset that comes equipped with Google’s Android 2.0 MOPS (Mobile Operating System) and offers what some believe to be Verizon’s answer to the iPhone.
As the official Droid release email from Verizon promotes, “The phone that makes you feel like a four star general with natural charisma, twelve arms and the power of mind control is here and is ready to serve.” Okay so, they might be overselling it a little bit, but this Droid handset certainly pushes the competitive landscape forward within the mobile industry. Having taken some time to tinker with the handset, the quality that stands out the most in comparison to the iPhone is its ability to handle apps (applications). If you’re used to the lag of opening apps on your iPhone, the Droid will feel like a supersonic blast of Star Wars-like hyper-drive in your palm!
Also notable is the 5MP (mega pixel) camera feature which pushes the idea of the camera phone into new territory. While it might not compare to the rumored 12MP Nokia camera phone that is secretly said to be in development, you’ll certainly notice a difference in picture quality compared to the 3.2MP camera of the iPhone. The Droid has the look and also pushes handset design forward with such features as a touchscreen plus QWERTY slider keyboard to the next level. The Droid also comes out of the box with built-in access to Amazon’s MP3 store.
Compared to the thriving Apple App Store and iTunes platform, the novelty of an Android App Store seemingly falls flat, but in all fairness the Android community is still very young. As third-party mobile content developers continue to see opportunities to embrace this new market, they will likewise be motivated to develop more apps. I see a great opportunity here for Google to flex its creative muscle to answer the competitive advantage that the iPhone already has in place.
As your resident mobile security expert, I would be amiss not to acknowledge the undertone of growing security concerns regarding the Android 2.0 MOPS. Are there mobile security vulnerabilities to come? Of course, but as I’ve noted in the past, nobody in the MOPS industry addresses vulnerabilities as well as the Google team. As we uncover new vulnerabilities throughout the MOPS landscape, the Google team is consistently the fastest and most efficient to respond.
If you’re in the market for a new handset or you’re one of many Verizon customers that has been waiting patiently for a smartphone of this caliber to come along, I say to you Happy Droid Day! May the force be with you!
-Eric Everson “The MobileTech”
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Tuesday 3 November 2009, 6:15 PM
Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry Storm2
Mobile Security Profile: BlackBerry Storm2
Author: Eric Everson
BlackBerry handsets are a staple of office culture; from syncing calendars to sharing business-related data, the BlackBerry handsets are seemingly everywhere you look around the office. Most recently BlackBerry introduced the Storm2, a second generation touchscreen handset into the market. As the resident mobile security guru, I wanted to take a deeper look at this handset to gauge its real mobile security profile in the corporate environment.
As mobile handsets have become ubiquitous within the business environment, significant levels of proprietary business data has migrated from the security of the computer-based environment into the vulnerable setting of the mobile handset. Simply put, mobile devices have become the weakest link in enterprise security, which is something that the BlackBerry Storm2 does little to address. In fact, the security specifications detailed at BlackBerry.com for the Storm 2 merely include two features: Password protection and Screen lock.
Like every BlackBerry the Storm2 should come with a barebones version of The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is a platform that can be purchased “with corporate data security in mind.” (BlackBerry.com; 2009) Essentially this is a security software offering that allows businesses to decide how much mobile security they are willing to pay for rather than a one size fits all security platform. There are pros and cons to this model, but it does allow a tailored approach for enterprise mobile security which many IT professionals enjoy.
If you are looking for a hacker-proof handset, the Storm 2 is built on the BlackBerry OS 5.0 MOPS (Mobile Operating System), which introduces the vulnerability that JavaScript has been enabled by default in the Internet browser. While no direct threat has been identified that exploits this feature, it is a prospective area of concern. From the standpoint of a standard (non-enterprise) user the security features of the Storm 2 will likely be sufficient.
If you’re simply looking for a new handset, many of the business/enterprise users of BlackBerry handsets will likely not find the Storm 2 as an adequate replacement for a handset such as the BlackBerry Tour. Some users have already reported less battery life than what is found on the Tour and many new users of the Storm 2 have complained that the audible clicks from using the touchscreen cannot be silenced. For anyone who “multitasks” on the BlackBerry while in meetings is sure to find the audible clicks as a serious annoyance.
Personally, I love the Storm 2 as a personal handset, but compared to the Tour (or other similar BlackBerry models), the Storm 2 is no enterprise handset. In short, Storm 2 is good for home but not so much for the office. On the bright side, the security profile of the Storm 2 can be tailored to fit the needs of the enterprise environment to the same degree as any other BlackBerry model.
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Ref: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrystorm/storm_specifications.jsp
Author: Eric Everson
BlackBerry handsets are a staple of office culture; from syncing calendars to sharing business-related data, the BlackBerry handsets are seemingly everywhere you look around the office. Most recently BlackBerry introduced the Storm2, a second generation touchscreen handset into the market. As the resident mobile security guru, I wanted to take a deeper look at this handset to gauge its real mobile security profile in the corporate environment.
As mobile handsets have become ubiquitous within the business environment, significant levels of proprietary business data has migrated from the security of the computer-based environment into the vulnerable setting of the mobile handset. Simply put, mobile devices have become the weakest link in enterprise security, which is something that the BlackBerry Storm2 does little to address. In fact, the security specifications detailed at BlackBerry.com for the Storm 2 merely include two features: Password protection and Screen lock.
Like every BlackBerry the Storm2 should come with a barebones version of The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. The BlackBerry Enterprise Solution is a platform that can be purchased “with corporate data security in mind.” (BlackBerry.com; 2009) Essentially this is a security software offering that allows businesses to decide how much mobile security they are willing to pay for rather than a one size fits all security platform. There are pros and cons to this model, but it does allow a tailored approach for enterprise mobile security which many IT professionals enjoy.
If you are looking for a hacker-proof handset, the Storm 2 is built on the BlackBerry OS 5.0 MOPS (Mobile Operating System), which introduces the vulnerability that JavaScript has been enabled by default in the Internet browser. While no direct threat has been identified that exploits this feature, it is a prospective area of concern. From the standpoint of a standard (non-enterprise) user the security features of the Storm 2 will likely be sufficient.
If you’re simply looking for a new handset, many of the business/enterprise users of BlackBerry handsets will likely not find the Storm 2 as an adequate replacement for a handset such as the BlackBerry Tour. Some users have already reported less battery life than what is found on the Tour and many new users of the Storm 2 have complained that the audible clicks from using the touchscreen cannot be silenced. For anyone who “multitasks” on the BlackBerry while in meetings is sure to find the audible clicks as a serious annoyance.
Personally, I love the Storm 2 as a personal handset, but compared to the Tour (or other similar BlackBerry models), the Storm 2 is no enterprise handset. In short, Storm 2 is good for home but not so much for the office. On the bright side, the security profile of the Storm 2 can be tailored to fit the needs of the enterprise environment to the same degree as any other BlackBerry model.
Eric Everson is a leader in mobile technologies and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with consulting related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com
Ref: http://na.blackberry.com/eng/devices/blackberrystorm/storm_specifications.jsp
Tuesday 27 October 2009, 5:48 PM
Google ABC’s… I Like
My company has been listed in Google’s auto-complete web services for a long time; if you type in “MyMobiS” you’ll see the auto-complete for my brand MyMobiSafe.com. For some of the most popular web searches however, they’ve penetrated the coveted Google ABC’s… which is when you type just one letter “A, B, C,…” their brand is the first to show in the auto-complete.
For fun, do a Google search and type in the letter A, what you’ll find to no surprise is “Amazon” as the first auto-complete suggestion.
What about the other brands that pop up? Here is a little list I made and some of the auto-complete brands might surprise you.
A=Amazon
B=Best Buy
C=Craigslist
D=Dictionary
E=Ebay
F=Facebook
G=Gmail
H=Hotmail
I=IMDB
J=Jet Blue
K=Kohls
L=Lowes
M=Mapquest
N=Netflix
O=Old Navy
P=Pandora
Q= Quotes
R=Realtor.com
S=Southwest Airlines
T=Target
U=USPS
V=Verizon Wireless
W=Walmart
X=XM Radio
Y=Youtube
Z=Zillow
While the Google auto-complete feature may make you question how some sites/searches take priority (as a fun example type “I like” into Google to see the funniest auto-complete priority around) the reality is that it means mega hits for the sites that make it into the priority. Interestingly enough, despite having spent tons of money in the beginning advertising with Google for MyMobiSafe.com, we didn’t seem to make it into the Google auto-complete directory until I had published a blog regarding an operational vulnerability within Google’s Android Mobile Operating System… go figure???
If you want to take a website global, the reality is that people need to be able to find it and that is exactly where Google fits into foreign market entry. Does your firm appear in Google’s auto-complete feature? Whether you’re a small business or a multinational, the reality is that if you don’t have an accessible website, you will struggle and likely suffocate as the business domain continues its digital expansion. Who will emerge as a titan of mobile search? Will Google struggle in this unique landscape of mobile search just as Microsoft has with their mobile operating system?
BTW…
I Like= i like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur
Cheers,
Eric Everson - If technology is the wave of the future, then call Surfer Magazine because my board is waxed and I’m in the barrel!
For fun, do a Google search and type in the letter A, what you’ll find to no surprise is “Amazon” as the first auto-complete suggestion.
What about the other brands that pop up? Here is a little list I made and some of the auto-complete brands might surprise you.
A=Amazon
B=Best Buy
C=Craigslist
D=Dictionary
E=Ebay
F=Facebook
G=Gmail
H=Hotmail
I=IMDB
J=Jet Blue
K=Kohls
L=Lowes
M=Mapquest
N=Netflix
O=Old Navy
P=Pandora
Q= Quotes
R=Realtor.com
S=Southwest Airlines
T=Target
U=USPS
V=Verizon Wireless
W=Walmart
X=XM Radio
Y=Youtube
Z=Zillow
While the Google auto-complete feature may make you question how some sites/searches take priority (as a fun example type “I like” into Google to see the funniest auto-complete priority around) the reality is that it means mega hits for the sites that make it into the priority. Interestingly enough, despite having spent tons of money in the beginning advertising with Google for MyMobiSafe.com, we didn’t seem to make it into the Google auto-complete directory until I had published a blog regarding an operational vulnerability within Google’s Android Mobile Operating System… go figure???
If you want to take a website global, the reality is that people need to be able to find it and that is exactly where Google fits into foreign market entry. Does your firm appear in Google’s auto-complete feature? Whether you’re a small business or a multinational, the reality is that if you don’t have an accessible website, you will struggle and likely suffocate as the business domain continues its digital expansion. Who will emerge as a titan of mobile search? Will Google struggle in this unique landscape of mobile search just as Microsoft has with their mobile operating system?
BTW…
I Like= i like to tape my thumbs to my hands to see what it would be like to be a dinosaur
Cheers,
Eric Everson - If technology is the wave of the future, then call Surfer Magazine because my board is waxed and I’m in the barrel!
Tuesday 20 October 2009, 5:32 PM
Intel-iquette: Intel Releases Mobile Etiquette Report
Intel-iquette: Intel Releases Mobile Etiquette Report
Author: Eric Everson
Perhaps you too get annoyed with movie goers that constantly check and text through the film. It’s a dark theater and that bright screen certainly presents a distraction, so this mobile etiquette report by Intel certainly hits close to home for many of us.
As CNBC Correspondent Julia Boorstin, notes, “The chip giant commissioned a "Holiday Mobile Etiquette," hiring Harris Interactive to conduct a carefully weighted poll of 2,625 adults to better understand how people use technology, so it can better create and adapt its products to serve the fast-changing consumer.”
What does this report suggest about the future of wireless? Considering that it was commissioned by a chip manufacturer and not an exclusive wireless handset manufacturer, I think it speaks volumes to where this company is positioning its chips for the future. Can we look for the Dell-Intel partnership to carry over into wireless? I sure hope so!
While I can’t help but look toward the future, this report begs the question, what mobile etiquette (or lack there of) drives you crazy?
Cheers,
Eric Everson – "The MobileTech"
Eric Everson is a leading mobile technologies analyst and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with research related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
Ref:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33379536
Author: Eric Everson
Perhaps you too get annoyed with movie goers that constantly check and text through the film. It’s a dark theater and that bright screen certainly presents a distraction, so this mobile etiquette report by Intel certainly hits close to home for many of us.
As CNBC Correspondent Julia Boorstin, notes, “The chip giant commissioned a "Holiday Mobile Etiquette," hiring Harris Interactive to conduct a carefully weighted poll of 2,625 adults to better understand how people use technology, so it can better create and adapt its products to serve the fast-changing consumer.”
What does this report suggest about the future of wireless? Considering that it was commissioned by a chip manufacturer and not an exclusive wireless handset manufacturer, I think it speaks volumes to where this company is positioning its chips for the future. Can we look for the Dell-Intel partnership to carry over into wireless? I sure hope so!
While I can’t help but look toward the future, this report begs the question, what mobile etiquette (or lack there of) drives you crazy?
Cheers,
Eric Everson – "The MobileTech"
Eric Everson is a leading mobile technologies analyst and is the founder of MyMobiSafe.com. If you would like to contact Eric Everson for interview or with research related inquiries contact him directly at EricEverson@Hotmail.com.
Ref:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/33379536
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