Over at UMPCPortal last week I took a long look at Windows 8 security features. One of the weak-points in my opinion is authentication. It’s single-channel, requires no proof of ‘personal presence’ and it leaves the user to choose the level of security. Poor passwords are a killer and as a result I’ve been looking at alternative and two-stage solutions. PalmSecure is a palm-vein detection technology and it’s pretty much the best technology out there for laptops right now.
Computer and digital security has changed a lot since I left my job as a security architect for a major ISP many years ago. At that time we were adding very expensive intrusion prevention technology into server farms and now the same technology is being used in consumer security software built into low-cost operating systems. The knowledge, tools and methods available to the consumer are vastly improved and a lot easier but, as always, the hacking techniques are more complex, the potential for vulnerabilities is greater and the rewards for the attacker increase as consumers move more information and financial transactions online.
As users we need to become more aware of the risks but even more accepting of the new ways to increase our personal data and identity security. Some of the tools are easy to use, others require more effort, and all of them require the end user to trust a third party.
In this report I take a look at security on consumer-focused Windows mobile PC products and I compare the features available to common security requirements for individuals.
For author background and audience notes, see footnote. A consumer-focused summary is provided.
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I’ve been using a Bitlocker encrypted drive for a month now and it’s been totally transparent in terms of speed. I’m surprised. I’m also surprised that it was available on my Windows 8.1 (not Pro) OS. Inspired to boost security on my Ultrabook I’ve also enabled secure boot, increased the security level, made sure Defender and Firewall are working and, this is contentious, made sure my login is only via Windows Live account so the password can be changed remotely. Given the reporting and password / device management in the Microsoft Live account though, it seems worth it. Here’s how you can do it too.
How many times have you been asked if you can recommend a product without really having much to go on? It’s true to say that there are many customers out there that are not really sure what they want and so in that case you have to interpret requirements, add a bit of crystal-ball gazing and come up with an answer. Here’s an example I received recently and three choices for an Ultrabook to run Office apps and store media.
People often suggest to me that an Ultrabook is simply a lightweight laptop. There’s one very important thing they miss – it’s an Intel-based lightweight laptop. Why is that important? It’s important because if you get the word ‘Ultrabook’ into peoples heads, you’ve cut off a huge chunk of competition. Take this RFP for example; The TSA [that’s the USA governments Transportation Security Administration] is asking for proposals to fulfill a requirement for Ultrabooks for around 500 locations in a contract worth up to $2.1 million. This is a big win for Intel and Ultrabooks.
Over the last few weeks I’ve been researching Ultrabooks for business. I’ve been trying to put together an article series on the security and manageability features you can expect in all Ultrabooks, in selected Ultrabooks with security features and in VPro Ultrabooks. I’ve had calls with Intel and spent way too much time looking at white papers. I’ve learnt about three levels of Identity Protection Technology (Intel IPT), Anti Theft features (Intel AT), 3rd-Gen VPro and Mcafee EPO and Deep Command, Remote KVM, VPro over WiFi, hardware AES encryption and TPM. Honestly, this is the toughest subject I’ve ever had to deal with in my 6 years as a blogger. Not only are the subjects complex but there are so many options that it’s difficult to tell what you get with an Ultrabook and VPro Ultrabook and now, an ‘Ultrabook for Business.’
It looks like NEC have pushed out a business variant of the NEC Lavie Z. The NEC Versa Pro packs in Windows 7 Pro, a TPM module and offers a Core i7 platform with optional secure SSD. You’ll pay for it though!
If you thought waiting for the latest Android update was the only issue your phone has, think again. A bug that was reported to Google last June that makes Android send SMS messages to the wrong recipient still appears to be impacting a vast number of users.
When sending SMS the Android messaging client will appear to have sent the message to the intended recipient however the bug will cause the message to actually be sent to another contact. It seems that the bug may not directly be related to the sending of the message but instead the Android messaging client loads the incorrect messaging thread. So, before hitting that send button on any message, make sure it’s destined to arrive at the correct recipient.
It remains unclear if this bug has been fixed in the recent Gingerbread release but even after Google fix this bug and provide manufactures with the corrected source code, users will still be relying on manufactures and carriers to promptly push the update out to devices.
If you have been suffering from this problem, let us know in the comments below and share your SMS horror stories.
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