Crappy phone battery life? Video ad fraud could be to blame


Few people can claim to like the ads that have become part and parcel of smartphone usage, but for the most part they can be endured. But what about when a minor inconvenience that merely infringes on your time becomes even more of a nuisance and actually starts to kill your phone battery?
According to an investigation, this is precisely what has been happening. An ad fraud scheme has been uncovered that invisibly plays videos lucrative video ads on handsets, earning money for fraudsters and draining the batteries of Android handsets.
Mobile security platform combines biometrics and behavior to enhance security


Multi-factor authentication specialist Veridium is launching a new behavior analytics feature to better protect user identities and prevent malicious activity.
Incorporated in the VeridiumID authentication platform, InMotion increases the reliability of all native biometrics for authentication by pairing behavioral data captured on smartphones with users' biometrics, making it more difficult for malicious actors to spoof their fingerprints or faces to gain access to accounts.
The changing enterprise mobile threat landscape


As enterprises continue the shift towards mobile devices there's concern that the risks could begin to outweigh the benefits.
Mobile security specialist Wandera has released a new report on the mobile threat landscape which looks at the risks faced by enterprise mobile users.
Branded calling solution seeks to rebuild trust in mobile calls


A few months ago we reported on a study that found half of calls to mobiles would soon be scams without more effective protection measures being introduced.
First Orion the company behind that survey is addressing the problem with the launch of a new platform that gives consumers confidence in answering calls, but also helps businesses get their legitimate communications through.
Mobile marketers increase their focus on data


Data has become an increasingly popular resource for marketers, new research from marketing platform YouAppi reveals that 98 percent of respondents say they have increased their organizational investment in data.
What's more that investment is paying off, 97 percent say they have seen improvement, with more than half of those calling the improvements ‘significant.’
Security worries hold back second-hand mobile device market


According to the results of a new study, 58 percent of global consumers have yet to trade in an old mobile device, though 64 percent report they would be willing to do so if more stringent data management processes were in place.
The research by data erasure specialist Blancco shows 66 percent of respondents have some concern that data on their old devices might be accessed or compromised after trade-in.
Mozilla has a new mobile web browsing experience for you to test: Reference Browser


Mozilla has launched a test version of a new mobile web browser -- sort of, anyway. Known as Reference Browser, Mozilla stresses that "this is NOT a new end product, it is a collection of parts".
Described as a "technology preview", Reference Browser sees the company seeking feedback about various components which may or may not be used together in the future. It is looking for Android users to provide "input, telemetry and feedback and bug reports" to shape the future of mobile web browsing.
Fighting mobile ad fraud with artificial intelligence


The mobile advertising market is massive, around $75 billion worldwide according to Forbes, and that makes it an attractive target for fraudsters.
Fraud rates have almost doubled over the past year and companies are under increasing pressure to monitor data for clients, allowing them to identify and prevent the risk of fraud hurting campaign performance.
Verizon is splitting in three: Consumer, Business and Verizon Media Group/Oath


Verizon has announced that it is to split into three as it looks to ensure "first-to-market leadership in the 5G era". Starting January 1, 2019, the telecom company will divide into Consumer, Business and Verizon Media Group/Oath.
The company says that it expects its new structure to be reflected in financial reporting for Q2 2019.
Understanding the privacy paradox


In the modern world people often say they care about privacy, but their actions don't reflect their words. Exploring this privacy paradox is a new infographic from privacy app company Keepsafe.
It shows that 35 percent of people have concerns when making purchases on their mobile devices, but 43 percent do so anyway in the name of convenience.
Half of US mobile traffic will be scam calls by 2019


Unwanted and scam phone calls are an increasing problem. Analysis by call management company First Orion predicts that nearly half of all calls to mobile phones in the US will be fraudulent in 2019 unless the industry adopts and implements more effective call protection solutions.
Over the past year, First Orion's data shows a drastic increase in scam calls -- from 3.7 percent of total calls in 2017 to 29.2 percent in 2018 -- and that number is projected to reach 44.6 percent by early 2019.
Personal devices are a major threat to mobile IT environments


A new survey finds that 58 percent of respondents believe access to their network from non-corporate and personally owned devices such as laptops, desktops or mobile phones is the highest risk in managing remote users.
The study from trusted access specialist Duo Security shows that while the trend to remote working has created unmatched flexibility and helped organizations attract top talent globally, it has also introduced a major predicament for IT and security teams.
UBports Foundation releases Linux-based Ubuntu Touch OTA-4


Canonical once had an ambitious vision of making Ubuntu a dynamic operating system that would scale to desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. Unfortunately, this goal was ultimately a failure -- the Ubuntu Touch plan was abandoned. Later, the much-maligned Unity environment was killed off. Why did it all fail? Quite simply, as Microsoft learned with Windows Phone, it is pretty much impossible to compete with Google and Apple in mobile. Android and iOS are just too mature and too good. Ubuntu Touch had no real chance due to a lack of apps and device support.
For those that still own devices compatible with Ubuntu Touch, all is not lost. You see, the UBports Foundation has picked up development. Today, the foundation releases version OTA-4, which is based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. It is chock-full of improvements, but unfortunately, despite the "OTA" name, you apparently cannot upgrade over the air.
How technology is changing the way we work


As millennials now become the largest component of the workforce, and as the freelance or 'gig' economy grows, expectations around technology in the workplace are changing.
Cloud communications and collaboration firm Intermedia has produced a report looking at how companies can utilize technology to foster a more collaborative, productive, and accessible workplace, and at the same time help attract and retain top talent.
Ookla: T-Mobile is fastest mobile internet carrier in USA, Minneapolis is speediest city


Mobile internet speeds are blazing fast these days thanks to 4G LTE, and they are about to get even faster with the impending roll-out of 5G. Not all carriers are created equally, however. In a new study by Ookla -- of Speedtest.net fame -- it is discovered that T-Mobile offers the fastest mobile internet overall in the USA. As you can expect, Sprint is dead last.
Ookla didn't just rank carriers, but cities too. After all, speed can vary by location since performance can be impacted by number of towers, terrain, and other factors. Shockingly, the overall fastest city in the USA is not New York or Los Angeles, but Minneapolis -- located in the cold state of Minnesota.
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