Monday, May 12, 2014

Malware is increasingly invading our Computers: Are Smartphones Next?

Greetings from Mobile Generated News® MoGN!
My office computer was immobilized recently because of a Malware attack.  I couldn’t open Microsoft Outlook and had difficulty opening other programs.  I had to call our IT Specialist to figure out what was going on. He added an anti-Malware program, scanned the hard drive and found that Malware was impeding the path and stopping me from signing in properly.  Although I was able to use my iPhone for email and calendar functions during the time my computer was down, it made me think whether my iOS devices could be similarly infected and separate me from the outside world completely ‒ at least temporarily.

So I began my research and found that we should always be vigilant by running anti-virus AND anti-Malware scans on our computers and whether you have an Apple, Android, Windows Phone or a Blackberry you can be vulnerable on your mobile devices as well.

Because Android has about 80% market share, there is more Malware in cyberspace in search of your Smartphone or Tablet.  It’s a very good idea to install an anti-Malware App on your Android device.  Many Android enthusiasts boast about the open architecture, however, the downside is that this same open framework makes it more open to Malware as well.  Google just blocked a files sharing website because of Malware.

Windows Phones have not had very much impact with a little over 2% market share.  This translates to being fairly safe because the malicious people that write the Malware won’t bother – at least for the time being – because they will not want to waste their time.

Although Blackberry is experiencing diminishing sales, they run Java which has been vulnerable to Malware attacks.  If you are a Blackberry diehard, be careful opening emails particularly with attachments.

Last but not least are Apple’s iPhones, iPads and iMac Computers.  Over the last decade they have a very good track record.  We chose to debut all of our Mobile Generated News® Apps on the Apple iOS because we felt more confident, in our development phase, that the controls that Apple has in place, and frequently criticized for, makes them less vulnerable to viruses and Malware.

At Mobile Generated News®, we want news consumers to be able to interact with local and national media for free and without worry about viruses and Malware.

We believe that contributing to the news cycle is essential to our democracy.  When newsworthy material is submitted to us, we vet it for authenticity and then upload it to our newsfeed.  Most often, viewers do not get to control what they see on the news. Now, the MoGN App enables news enthusiasts to have a say in the content they see on their televisions, web sites and newspapers. We are trying to enhance the human experience when it comes to news. Download the Mobile Generated News App and become a Citizen Journalist!

If you are out and about and see news, weather or sports happening, send in your Breaking News. If you have a story or opinion that’s worth sharing, record it and send it in as well!

Search for Mobile Generated News in the Apple App Store. And, you will see all of our related affiliate Apps.

The Univision-Mobile Generated News Apps were just released.  In addition, you will find the Mobile Generated News App for Nationwide coverage; Entravision-Mobile Generated News App and Serestar-Mobile Generated News App.

All of the MoGN Apps are currently available in English and Spanish with French language coming soon!
And, stay tuned for new affiliates joining the Mobile Generated News® Network team in 2014. Start contributing today!

Remember, if it is newsworthy, we will post it nationwide and you will see it on the MoGN "Newsfeed" distributed to Broadcast Stations, Newspapers, Web Sites and news organizations across the United States and soon around the World.

Mobile Generated News®.  Empowering the Next Generation.

─Jeff Wald, Mobile Generated News®, Los Angeles

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