Articles about Mobile Devices

In just a few days, Google is starting the rollout of a mandatory automatic software update to Android 16 for Pixel 6a handsets. While an update would generally be expected to add features or improve performance, this particular, unavoidable update will have an unwanted side effect for some handset owners.

Having determined that some Pixel 6a handsets are a risk of an overheating battery, the update is being used to reduce battery capacity and charging performance on impacted devices. For users who are unhappy with this, there is the option of a battery replacement, but there are eligibility criteria.

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Mobile threats are no longer an emerging issue, they're here, rapidly evolving, and targeting the devices organizations depend on every day.

As employees use smartphones, laptops, and tablets to access sensitive data and systems, a new report from Zimperium zLabs shows attackers are increasingly exploiting these endpoints through mobile-first strategies that bypass traditional security defenses.

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Rooting (on Android) and jailbreaking (on iOS) were once widespread for enabling deeper customization and removing OS limitations on mobile devices. It's a practice that's become less common in recent years but still represents a serious security threat, not just to the user, but to enterprises who enable employees to access sensitive corporate apps and data from their devices.

Research from Zimperium's zLabs shows rooted Android devices experience 3.5 times more malware attacks, and system compromises have surged by 250 times compared to non-rooted devices.

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Smaller businesses lack the tech resources of larger ones so it's common practice that they not only allow employees to use their personal mobile phones to complete work tasks but in many cases actively expect them to.

Research carried out by OnePoll for SME security solutions company CyberSmart finds that 60 percent of organizations expect their employees to use mobile devices to carry out work tasks despite not providing all of them with work phones.

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The rise of hybrid and remote working has put added emphasis on the need for mobile device management (MDM).

We spoke to Weldon Dodd, SVP of global solutions at cloud-based automation and device management specialist Kandji, to find out more about Apple's approach to MDM and the broader lessons businesses can apply from this in order to solve complex IT challenges.

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With their ability to provide access to websites, enable mobile payments, and retrieve data, QR (quick-response) codes have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives. In fact, In 2022, approximately 89 million smartphone users in the United States scanned a QR code on their mobile devices, a 26 percent increase compared to 2020.

However, cybercriminals are also using this trend to distribute malware, steal personal information, and conduct phishing attacks, which can then be leveraged to access your confidential corporate data. As consumers and even large enterprises continue to use QR codes as a means to streamline operations, it's important to be aware of the fast-growing attack surface that bad actors are jumping on.

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Both government agencies and corporations are being tasked with developing strategies for protecting mobile devices from an increasing wave of attacks. CISOs and business leaders are asking themselves not only how they can use mobile devices to make employees more productive, but also how to realize the full potential of a mobile-powered business.

As leaders execute their mobile-powered businesses, they will also need to parallel these initiatives with mobile-first security strategies to address the fast-growing attack surfaces that bad actors are increasingly jumping on. We spoke to Shridhar Mittal, CEO of Zimperium to discover more.

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The second quarter of 2023 has painted a grim picture for tablet shipments, revealing a significant decline. As reported by the International Data Corporation (IDC), worldwide tablet shipments declined a stark 29.9 percent year over year, amounting to just 28.3 million units in total.

The once-prosperous market seems to be gasping for air, with top vendors recording double-digit losses. Attributed to weakened consumer confidence and decreased purchasing power, these negative impacts were further compounded by high channel inventory levels. The silver lining? IDC expects this issue to gradually improve in the coming months.

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