Is your Android phone and your private data on it secure? This list of Android security apps will help you to secure all your private data and your private communication on your Droid

Now that Google’s Android mobile OS has been released to the public for some time and now thoughts of security are floating around in our minds. I am sure that many people just want a simple app to take care of security for them. Well, the good news is that since Android is based off of Linux inherently it is less susceptible to malware. The the flip side, Android users should think about their own private security since even Android developers say that their product is not completely secure due to the fact that apps must intercommunicate. Ultimately you will need to decide how much security you want on your phone. Androlib.com offers several free security apps to help you browse the internet, text your friends, and talk as securely as possible.

Secure SMS

This app will allow you to encrypt and decrypt your texts. This can be great for users who communicate potentially sensitive information via texting.

more via Handango

WaveSecure Mobile Security

WaveSecure is an app that takes action when your phone is lost or stolen. Via a secure website you can destroy or recover data, track changes to your SIM card, lock the phone, or back-up your personal data remotely.

WaveSecure – Anti-theft and security software on Android – winner ADC2

WaveSecure for Android – Demo

Videos and screenshots (via Androlib)

Mobile Security

Essentially this Android security app is an anti-virus solution for your phone. Mobile Security will stop viruses and other malware in their tracks. Just like a computer’s anti-virus, Mobile Security runs in the background. Besides being an anti-virus program it also is a secure back-up program and a phone finder if you ever lose your Droid.

SecuritySuite

Like Mobile Security, SecuritySuite is a security solution for Android devices touting anti-virus and intrusion detection software as well as online management. So, if you lose your Android-phone and you have sensitive information on it then you can clear all of that off with a few clicks of a mouse on a remote computer.

Droidhunter Security

Anti-virus Free

This little AV is all about protecting your phone from malware and exploits with real-time scanning. Additionally you can have it filter SMS so that you never have to read or pay for an annoying SPAM message again.

Download and more information via Androlib

ConnectBot

This little piece of software allows the smartphone to connect to a secure shell server which typically run on UNIX-based servers. Several shells can be open at once and controlled by the user. This Android app is typically used by power users and not general users as you do need to know shell commands in order to truly use the app.

Although ConnectBot 1.6.1 is out I thought you might be interested to watch the basic features

ConnectBot: Basic Features in v1.2

ConnectBot: Upcoming v1.5 Features

more video result you can find here more info on the Google Code page

91 Panda Firewall

Ever have an annoying person who keeps calling your phone looking for someone else? Well, 91 Panda Firewall is for you. You can now block and reply to texts and phone calls. 91 Panda Firewall also allow you to transfer calls, manage your profile, and blacklist certain numbers.

image credits via and.roid.es

Secrets-for-Android
This sneaky Android app allows the user to securely manage passwords without the worry that someone may hack your phone and steal them.

Find more information for secrets-for-android via Google Code

Keeper(TM) Password & Data Vault
Keeper is certified by the U.S. government to keep your passwords, notes, logins, and other sensitive information safe from prying eyes. This little Droid app has AES encryption that will make breaking into it tougher than sneaking back into your parents house after a night of partying.

keeper_android_demo via Callpod

CipherLog
Are you a smartphone journaler? If you are, CipherLog is your best friend. It will encrypt you entries so that only you can open up those private entries that the world should never see.

Dictosyl Pro Recorder
This nice little app allows all the busy businessmen and women of the world to quickly verbally record what they want in a letter and then securely send it to their secretaries to type saving time and money.

LokPixLite
Do you ever take sensitive pictures that you do not want just anybody to see? If you do then LokPixLite is perfect for you. Encrypt as many as 25 pictures, import, export, capture, and view pictures without a worry that someone else will see your work.

more information via Closecrowd

Each of these  Android security apps is great. Just remember to only choose one anti-virus solution otherwise your phone might run a little slow. As for the Google Android apps that are not anti-virus programs enjoy using those that appeal to you.

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Essential Windows 7 Security Internals

Securing your desktop computer against threats is an essential task for everyone, therefore we will inform you about the most important Windows 7 security tools.

Windows 7 includes several new security features that can help you protect your system.

These features include:

1. Improvements to User Account Control (UAC)
2. Enhanced security for Internet Explorer
3. Ability to define network-specific firewall rules
4. Ability to protect data against theft

UAC helps prevent attacks by using a standard user account as the security context for performing non-administrative tasks. If a member of the Administrators group attempts to perform an action that requires elevated permissions, the user is prompted to confirm the action. You can configure whether the action causes the desktop to dim. You can also configure whether standard users are prompted for credentials if they attempt to perform an administrative task or install an application. You can use User Account Control Settings to select from

4 different levels of UAC settings:

1. Always notify – prompts if a user attempts to change a Windows setting or install a program
2. Default – prompts if a program attempts to make a change, but not if an administrator makes a change directly
3. Notify me only if a program attempts to make a change – displays the notification dialog, but does not dim the desktop
4. Never notify – elevates permissions automatically for administrators, denies the action for standard users

Internet Explorer 8 provides several key enhancements to security

• SmartScreen Filter
• InPrivate Browsing
• InPrivate Filtering

SmartScreen Filtering works behind the scenes to warn you if you attempt to browse a site that is a known phishing site or one that downloads malware. When you access a Web site, SmartScreen Filter sends the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to Microsoft’s SmartScreen service, which compares the site against a database of known offenders. If the address is in the database, you will be prompted with a blocking page and the address bar will be displayed in red. You can select to bypass the blocking page at your own risk. SmartScreen Filter can be configured from Internet Explorer’s Safety menu.

Available options are:

• Check This WebSite
• Turn Off (On) SmartScreen Filter
• Report Unsafe Website

InPrivate Browsing is a confidentiality feature useful for computers used by multiple users. When InPrivate Browsing is enabled, the history of Web sites you visit is not stored, allowing you to browse Web sites confidentially. You can enable and disable InPrivate Browsing through Internet Explorer’s Safety menu.

InPrivate Filtering helps protect against discovery of your browsing patterns by third-party content hosted on multiple sites. For example, an advertisement used on multiple sites might include code that stores information in a database each time you visit a site that displays that ad. InPrivate Filtering keeps track of the number of sites that host particular content and notifies you if this number exceeds the threshold. The threshold is 10 by default, but you can set the value to a number between 3 and 30. Choose InPrivate Filtering Settings from Internet Explorer’s Saftey menu to set the threshold, approve content items, or block content items.

When you create a network connection in Windows 7, you identify the network as a Home network, a Public network, or (if the computer is joined to a domain) a Domain network. You can configure distinct Windows Firewall settings for each type of network. For example, you might choose to allow File and Printer Sharing traffic on the Home network, but block it on a Public network. (“Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Getting Started Guide“)

Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise allow additional protection against theft with BitLocker and BitLocker To Go (Windows 7 Walkthrough: BitLocker and BitLocker to Go).

BitLocker allows you to encrypt the contents of a hard disk. If the hard disk is moved to a different computer, you need to provide recovery credentials to decrypt the content. BitLocker To Go is used to encrypt data stored on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive. (“Inside Windows 7 Security: BitLocker Drive Encryption“)

Windows 7 does not include antivirus or anti-malware software. So, at the very least, you will need to choose and install virus and malware protection software compatible with Windows 7.

Some possible choices include:

• Trend Micro Internet Security
• AVG 9.0
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Norton AntiVirus 2010
• Avast! AntiVirus Home
• Kapersky Anti-Virus 2010

When choosing antivirus or anti-malware software, look for the Windows 7 Certified logo to ensure that it has been tested on Windows 7 and that the vendor provides Windows 7 support.

More interesting reads

“Windows 7 UAC flaws and how to fix them” via arstechnica

“Internet Explorer 8” via KilianValkhof

“What’s new in the Windows 7 Firewall?” via Windows Security

“Windows 7 from a vendor perspective – a chat with BeyondTrust” via TheTechHerald

Feel free to give us your thoughts in our comment area.

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Hackers are using the tactic demonstrated last week by an Australian programmer’s self-described “prank”

Computerworld reports that

This new worm uses “the same approach as last week’s “ikee” worm to silently snatch control of some iPhones”

“Portable attack runs on Windows PCs and Macs, then sniffs out nearby iPhones to plunder”

“It’s not surprising,” said Charlie Miller, a noted researcher of iPhone vulnerabilities, when asked his take on the move toward malicious intent. “This ‘vulnerability’ gives you root access to the iPhone, which gives you full access. It’s trivial to exploit, doesn’t need shellcode or anything like that.”

via Hackers pillage jailbroken iPhones

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Windows Phones Security Center Deletes all messages permanently they will not move over to Deleted Items folder! [Timesaver]

Installation:

The Setup file, to install from Desktop PC via MS ActiveSync:
WP.SECURITY.CENTER.SETUP.exe

The Setup file, to copy to mobile device, and run to install:
WP.SECURITY.CENTER.SETUP.cab

License purchasing and registration:

You have to write Registration code which is generated to match your Device ID.
After your purchasing, please open Registration dialog of this program, read Device ID digits,
and email to: info@jgui.net We will reply you the code within max. 2 working days”

(note: in reality the deleted messages only move to Deleted Items folder,
and then you have to empty this folder manually, what’s your next necessary action, and take your time)

via jGUI.net but found (via msmobiles.com)

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