Symantec protects smartphones

Security software company Symantec has launched its new security product for mobile devices.

Dubbed Norton Smartphone Security, the product provides protection for devices which use both Windows Mobile and Symbian OS. As well as Norton Antivirus, the new product also has a firewall and antispam for text messaging. Rowan Trollope, senior vice president, Consumer Business Unit, Symantec, said: "Smartphones are expanding consumer freedom to communicate and access important information anytime, anywhere.

"However, unsecure public Wi-Fi or network connections can put users at risk. In addition, web and email viruses can directly infect smartphones, enabling hackers to remotely control the device, access sensitive information or disable applications." Mr Trollope added that Smartphone Security "runs discreetly in the background" and provides users the knowledge that they are safe to email, browse the internet or even bank online from a mobile device. Meanwhile, it has been reported that businesses in the Asia-Pacific region are to spend at least $2.8 billion on IT security a study from Access Markets International found.

Businesses Fail To Secure Wireless

Businesses fail to secure wireless

Though wireless technology is in use by most businesses, many neglect to secure their wireless technology, a new survey from the National Computing Center (NCC) has found.

A full 40 percent of the businesses surveyed admitted that their wireless networks were either only partly secured or not secure at all. In addition, many companies have not secured their VoIP networks and are unaware of the security weakness posed by using USB devices. Stefan Foster, NCC managing director said: "Running unsecured Wi-Fi is like locking the front door, but leaving the windows open.

"Fraudsters are increasingly targeting IT systems and the growing use of Wi-Fi is attracting their attention both inside and outside of the office environment." The NCC survey also found that of the businesses who have VoIP, only 15 percent have bothered to secure their network.

Meanwhile, a recent survey carried out by Trend Micro revealed that mobile workers pay less attention to internet security than those who operate from an office.