All Posts in Android

|In: Android|Last Updated:

Online and mobile ads are one of the biggest threats IT security this year, Trend Micro has revealed in its Q1 2015 round-up.

The company’s latest report, Bad Ads and Zero-Days: Re-emerging Threats Challenge Trust in Supply Chains and Best Practices, has revealed that ad-ware on mobile devices is the top threat in the mobile category – although Trend Micro has identified a mammoth five million Android threats to date. It is, however, predicting this will rise to eight million by the end of this year.

trend-micro-logo

Zero-day exploits are the biggest threat to desktop systems, but again, these are related to advertising and, in particular, are being used on adverts in Adobe software. This means victims don’t even need to head to a malicious site for their computer to be infected.

Dhanya Thakkar, Managing Director, APAC, Trend Micro says

It is clear 2015 is shaping up to be noteworthy in terms of volume, ingenuity and sophistication of attacks..It is clear businesses and individuals alike need to be proactive in protecting against threats. As a business, how would your IT-Security policies look like in a Zero Trust Environment? An aggressive and different security posture is critical to keep financial, personal and intellectual property safe.

In the enterprise space, Trend Micro said the healthcare sector was most at risk of cyber attacks, specifically in iOS and POS system applications. However, these types of threats have existed for the last few years and it would appear that their widespread nature is down to companies not being prepared for such assaults.

The question we have to ask is, ‘are we doing enough to protect ourselves from security threats? While we need to constantly update our systems to protect against new attacks, the first quarter of 2015 clearly showed we need to also watch out for older threats, and how no industry or system should feel exempt.

You can download the complete report from here

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in security software, strives to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Trend Micro enables the smart protection of information, with innovative security technology that is simple to deploy and manage, and fits an evolving ecosystem. Their solutions are powered by cloud-based global threat intelligence, the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ infrastructure & are supported by more than 1,200 threat experts around the globe.  For more information, visit TrendMicro

|In: Android|Last Updated:

HDFC Bank launched PayZapp, a payment solution that will revolutionize the way payments and purchases are done on-the-go today using mobile devices. You can pay with One Click for all your spends, from mobile phone top-ups, to instant money transfers, to bill payments, to groceries, to even big-ticket purchases such as foreign holidays and designer clothes.

Within PayZapp is Smart-Buy, a virtual mega marketplace that has every type of product available, from those that fulfill daily requirements to those that meet aspirational needs, just the way a mall has.

HDFC-PayZap

The launch of PayZapp & SmartBuy is the latest initiative in HDFC Bank’s digital banking offering christened #GoDigital. It aligns with the Bank’s core digital theme of ‘Bank aapki muthi mein’, which places the power of banking in the hands of the customer.

Features of PayZapp + SmartBuy

  • SmartBuy is a ONE-STOP shop on your mobile for all deals and offers by prominent e-commerce portals such as Flipkart, MakeMytrip, Cleartrip, Yatra, Big Basket, DTH & bill pay facilities.
  • PayZapp is the country’s first ONE CLICK payment solution that ensures fast and easy checkout using a single PIN.
  • In PayZapp, credit or debit card numbers and their security codes are not required to be entered with every purchase.
  • In addition, PayZapp maps the device with the card number to determine authenticity of a transaction, thus enhancing security.
  • With PayZapp, users can transfer money instantly to anybody using mobile number, email ids
  • In-app creation of NetSafe Virtual International Card
  • No restriction on daily / monthly limits as payments are done through linked cards

Speaking about the new launch, Parag Rao, Business Head, Payment Products & Merchant Acquiring Services said

PayZapp is path breaking. For the customer, whose world has now converged on his mobile device, this innovation will mean that he’ll be able to do every type of payment and purchase from a single App with a single PIN, whenever and wherever he wants, without worrying about prepayment and re-loading. Like all our innovations, the genesis of this platform is customer convenience.

As part of our Bank aap ki muththi mein initiative, this product is another major digital leap. In fact, the customer will find it is not only the #PowerofBanking which is in his muththi, but effectively the whole world.

As of FY 2014-15, 63% of all transactions at HDFC Bank are conducted through digital channels.

Do give PayZapp a spin & share your experience in the comments section…

|In: Android|Last Updated:

KeyPoint Technologies, a global linguistics innovator enabling intelligent human communication beyond mobile devices, today announced the launch of Xploree. Xploree is industry’s first search and discovery platform that connects mobile users to the most relevant brands and services across search, messenger and other platforms without exiting the current conversation app.

Leveraging KPT’s expertise in multi-lingual capabilities, Xploree which is now available in English for Android device users, will support nearly 140 languages [global & indic] by December 2015.

KPT

Completing an entire cycle of innovation, Xploree has emerged as the only intelligent, user-initiated and hyper-contextual Search & Discovery platform in the mobile eco-system. It predicts user needs during chat conversations and guides them through their mobile journey across apps through relevant content, deals and services discovery.

Speaking about Xploree, Sumit Goswami, CEO of KeyPoint Technologies said

Mobile users today are looking for convenient, relevant and on the fly information while they are in between conversations and e-mails with their friends, family and at work. With expertise & experience to provide contextual search & brand discovery solutions to mobile eco-system players from the current one to 140 languages by end of 2015, we are best positioned to help businesses connect with their customers in real-time.

Built on our patent pending cross-app search and discovery platform, we are thrilled to launch Xploree that offers brands an opportunity to provide innovative content & deals to mobile users’ in a single hop without quitting their ongoing app conversations. Currently we are actively looking at India, South-East Asia and Middle East as our growth markets.

With Xploree, mobile phone users, without exiting the current conversation app, can instantly explore options for movies, fine dining, shopping etc. Brands through Xploree can connect with users in real-time to provide relevant services such as discount coupons, deals, one-hop search and add greater value to the conversation, thus taking consumer engagement from a contextual to a hyper-contextual realm.

Key Features of Xploree

  • Hyper-Contextual – Location, environment, user intent, past actions and more – relevant information, always in context.
  • Immediacy – Information, services and product purchases in your mobile moment and time of need in real-time.
  • Simplicity – Mobile search made simple with one tap – easy to find what exactly you want.

To view Xploree in action, please visit http://bit.ly/1LQKJqo

For Xploree updates please visit http://www.xploree.com/

|In: Android|Last Updated:

The most popular Malayalam music audio label Muzik247 has opened its Official Account on WeChat to bring full-on entertainment to fans of Malayalam music around the world. The Official Accounts brings a wide variety of Malayalam music, video discovery and social sharing to a WeChat user. This is another step by a leading international messaging app to build a content and lifestyle ecosystem on its platform, and help connect the audiences with brands and services.

Muzik

After following the Muzik247 official account on WeChat on their Smartphones, users can get the best of personal Malayalam entertainment:

  • Users can connect with Muzik247 for latest updates, requests for music, streaming HD videos, and other customized options
  • Users can easily share their favorite stuff on WeChat to friends through chats or Moments.
  • Users will receive a daily piece of popular viral content circling the web directly on their Smartphones.

Speaking about the association, Syed Zameer, Content Acquisition Head, Muzik247 said

Muzik247 wants to connect with the lively audience who love and enjoy some of the greatest Malayalam film music. WeChat would help us access, connect and communicate with their users in a fun and dynamic way

Speaking about the association, Nilay Arora, VP, Marketing & Business Development, WeChat India said

We are excited to bring the leading Malayalam label Muzik247 on board for our users who wish to enjoy the best South Indian music. The youth of today do not want to be limited by boundaries, and having access to Muzik247 on their Smartphone enables them to socially connect with their friends through even music – hence sparking new conversations and fun chats with friends.

To follow Muzik247’s official account, one needs to simply download WeChat and type in “Muzik247” in the search bar or scan the QR code below. Then follow the instructions in the welcome message to get started.

Muzik247_QRCode

About Muzik247

Muzik247 represents an Audio Label from the Southern Indian State Kerala. Muzik247 has been the most aggressive music label in Malayalam film music over the last two years with a Market Share of over 60% in the year 2013 & 2014.

Muzik247 possesses the soundtrack and song video rights to some of the most successful Malayalam Movies of recent times – Bangalore Days, Drishyam, How Old Are You, 7th Day, Vikramadithyan, Sapthamashree Thaskaraha to name a Few. For more information, please visit Muzik247

|In: Android|Last Updated:

Intel Security has released its McAfee Labs Threats Report: May 2015, which includes revelations on the rapid proliferation of new ransom-ware, HDD & SSD firmware attacks by the Equation Group computer espionage group and a major increase in malware targeting Adobe Flash multimedia software.

Intel_Security

In the first quarter of 2015, McAfee Labs registered a 165 percent increase in new ransom-ware driven largely by the new, hard-to-detect CTB-Locker ransom-ware family, a new ransom-ware family called Teslacrypt & the emergence of new versions of CryptoWall, TorrentLocker & BandarChor.

McAfee Labs attributes CTB-Locker’s success to clever techniques for evading security software, higher-quality phishing emails & an “affiliate” program that offers accomplices a percentage of ransom payments in return for flooding cyberspace with CTB-Locker phishing messages.

McAfee Labs suggests organizations and individuals make it a priority to learn how to recognize phishing emails, including the use of tools such as the Intel Security Phishing Quiz:  Phishing Quiz Link

The first quarter also saw new Adobe Flash malware samples increase by 317 percent,  researchers attribute the rise to several factors

  • The popularity of Adobe Flash as a technology; user delay in applying available Adobe Flash patches; new methods to exploit product vulnerabilities
  • A steep increase in the number of mobile devices that can play Adobe Flash files (.swf); and the difficulty of detecting some Adobe Flash exploits. Researchers are seeing a continued shift in focus among exploit kit developers, from Java archive and Microsoft Silverlight vulnerabilities to Adobe Flash vulnerabilities.

To fully leverage vendor efforts to address vulnerabilities, McAfee Labs urges organizations and individual users to be more diligent in keeping their products updated with the latest security patches.

What can HDD and SSD do

In February 2015, the cyber security community became aware of efforts by a secretive outfit called Equation Group to exploit HDD and SSD firmware. McAfee Labs assessed the reprogramming modules exposed in February and found that they could be used to reprogram the firmware in SSDs in addition to the previously-reported HDD reprogramming capability.

Once reprogrammed, the HDD and SSD firmware can reload associated malware each time infected systems boot and the malware persists even if the drives are reformatted or the operating system is reinstalled. Once infected, security software cannot detect the associated malware stored in a hidden area of the drive.

Detailed insights of McAfee Labs Threats Report[May 2015]

PC Malware Growth : The first quarter saw a slight decline in new PC malware, a development primarily due to the activity of one adware family, Soft Pulse, which spiked in Q4 2014 and returned to normal levels in Q1 2015. The McAfee Labs malware “zoo” grew 13 percent during that time, and now contains 400 million samples.

Mobile Malware :  The number of new mobile malware samples jumped by 49 percent from Q4 2014 to Q1 2015.

SSL-Attacks : SSL-related attacks continued in Q1 2015, although they tapered off in number relative to Q4 2014. This reduction is likely the result of SSL library updates that have eliminated many of the vulnerabilities exploited in prior quarters. Shellshock attacks are still quite prevalent since their emergence late last year.

Spam Botnets : The Dyre, Dridex and Darkmailer3.Slenfbot botnets overtook Festi and Darkmailer2 as the top spam networks; pushing pharmaceuticals, stolen credit cards & “shady” social-media marketing tools

McAfee Labs Threats Report: May 2015 can be downloaded from here

|In: Android|Last Updated:

The world is going mobile and so is Property search. IndiaProperty has been at the forefront of enabling mobile as a tool for property search with innovations like Visual search using Augmented Reality, 3DPanoX etc.

These innovations have driven rapid scaling in mobile app & web usage which is now almost at par with desktop. IndiaProperty has taken property search a significant step ahead by unveiling a revolutionary mobile-first Property search experience – ‘Discover’!

india-property

A property seeker has a multitude of questions in their mind and not many clear answers. Discover makes this process of finding the answers and making a choice easy by ‘automagically’ bringing the answers directly to the user.

Talking about the newly launched product Muralikrishnan B, COO, IndiaProperty said

Property search is not just about seeing a list of Properties, but finding the answers to a multitude of questions that culminate in the final decision. With Discover, we have a mobile first solution that provides all the relevant information that the user wants to help him/her in their Home Buying journey smartly presented in the Feed. We believe this would set new benchmarks in the Home search experience – not just in India, but also globally.

Discover’s proprietary machine learning engine maps user behaviour patterns and intelligently recommends various snippets of content that are relevant to the user. The Discover engine understands the user’s context, what the user is looking for and presents the information / content on the Discover feed as Cards and is regularly refreshed with new information.

The information in the feed includes news articles, market reports, localities of interest, price trends, event information, tip of the day, word of the day and of course properties matching the users interest along with regular project status updates. The product is currently available on the Android, iOS app platforms and also Mobile Web.

The advantage Discover brings to a user is easy access to relevant information which is readily accessible in the Discover feed and over time making traditional search less important.

Innovating on the Mobile to drive category expansion and deeper user engagement is a key theme in Indiaproperty’s strategy. Towards this, IndiaProperty has many more exciting mobile first innovations lined up that would further redefine property search. Some of the projects in the pipeline include – an Intelligent Virtual Assistant which would change the way people do Property Site Visits, Augmented Reality Visualisation of under construction projects, a mobile first CRM Solution for Property Agents etc.

Discover for Android, iOS, WAP are available here, here & here

To know more about Discover click here

|In: Android|Last Updated:

MobieFit announced the launch of FirstRun App which is MobieFit’s first mobile app designed to make runners out of those who have never run before in their lives. FirstRun is the debut product of MobieFit, a company founded by Gourav Jaswal with Gul Panag as co-founder and born out of Prototyze, an incubator for technology-centered businesses.

Users can select from two running programs: a 5 kilometre program [based on Josh Clark’s world-renowned C25K program] and a 10 kilometre program. The most unique feature of the app is the personal trainer, Gul Panag.

FirstRun has many unique features that set it apart. Primary among which is the presumption that the user can run only one minute [yes, only one minute] at a time for the first session.

Gul Panag Launches First Run (1)

Features of FirstRun

Personal Trainer

A personal trainer guides users through the process, ensuring motivational levels never drop. Gul is the in-app personal trainer for the 5K and 10K programs, giving runners essential tips along the way.

Don’t worry about Speed or Distance

FirstRun does not focus on speed or distance, instead just encourages people to run for a set time.

With a combination of walking and running, the app ensures that exercising becomes easier for users at any stage of fitness or the lack of it.

Perfect for Beginners

On the first day, the runner only needs to run for less than 10 minutes with each run being only one minute. So even beginners can start running with ease. As they progress, the running time gradually increases.

Train for a 5K and 10K

The 5 kilometre program is structured in a way, that a beginner can go the distance in just 9 weeks, by running thrice a week. The 10 kilometre mark can be achieved by running thrice a week for 12 weeks.

Treadmill mode

Users can run outdoors or even indoors, since FirstRun has a unique treadmill mode, that gives you the right instructions at the right time.

In-app music player

Runners love music on their daily run, so there’s an in-app music player to keep them company every time they step out.

FirstRun is a great tool to train for marathons as it makes you a disciplined runner.

Quotes from Key People

Gul Panag, co-founder, MobieFit

I wish I had access to this kind of technology when I started running. If I had the support of a fantastic app like FirstRun, I would have definitely struggled less to run my first 3 miles.

Over the years, I have seen how important it is to bring fitness into our lives. I have witnessed first-hand the positive transformation it has brought in those close to me.

Gourav Jaswal, Founder and Director, MobieFit

FirstRun doesn’t just log your runs. It coaches you to run. While I have led an active life and been involved in many fitness activities, I was never a runner. This is what took me in nine weeks into running 5 km.

About MobieFit

MobieFit is a venture focused on m-Fitness. It helps you become as fit as you want, in the way that you want. MobieFit is one among many ventures born at Prototyze, an incubator founded by Gourav Jaswal. More information about MobieFit here

About Prototyze

Prototyze is an incubator, currently working in stealth mode on building mobile technology centered businesses in multiple sectors such as Financial Services, Health & Fitness, and Training & Learning. Two ventures catalyzed by Prototyze [MobieFit &HandyTrain] have already been incorporated as independent companies with independent teams, investment and trajectory. More information about Prototyze here

* Do give FirstRun [Download Link – FirstRun] a shot & share your feedback in the comments section.

|In: Android|Last Updated:

Online on-demand delivery Run to Deliver announced the release of it’s android app, India’s first app that provides the fastest  On demand & pick up drop services.  Users can call Run to Deliver for pick-up and delivery of anything & everything within the city. For instance, if you run out of groceries or want food from your favourite restaurant which doesn’t deliver in your area, Run to Deliver can deliver it at the given address.

Small & medium business owners can customize the service & use it for pick-up and delivery of their items at a very nominal cost.  All this can be done with the help of the app which shows options which is easy to use and responsive. The feature can be used to save time and money for anything you want within the city.

R2D Infographic

In addition to the fastest pick-up and delivery, the application offers feature to track packages till it gets delivered. Less time consuming and affordable way to get work done, this app is free with the smooth interface following android best design practices. User’s need to enter the following

  • To enter your pick up and drop destination
  • Choose what you want to order
  • Select the needed spot
  • Point to point package tracking service

Run2Deliver

Run to deliver has a team of highly qualified technicians and staff. It has active members all across Delhi/NCR region that help us to connect easily, assuring time delivery.

Mr. Mohit Jain, an entrepreneur and the founder of Run to Deliver started the service keeping in mind that a lot of people have to spend extra hours and money only to get items from another part of the city. At this age where time is everything, you really don’t have to spend a lot on travelling or paying the other delivery services which costs a lot and only deliver a handful of items. We at Run to Deliver, are “committed to deliver you anything anywhere and any-time within the city”

Run to deliver for Android can be downloaded from here