Tags: Mobile Phone Industry, Software Solutions, Technology Industry
By Alexander Villafania
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – Seeking to address the problem of cellular phone theft in the Philippines, mobile handset manufacturer Sony Ericsson announced that it will be installing security software on some of its smartphone handsets, starting with the recently launched Xperia X8 model, which runs on Google’s Android operating system.
While previous models can be installed with third party security applications, Sony Ericsson tapped McAfee for the Xperia X8’s security software, which is called WaveSecure .
In an interview, Sony Ericsson General Manager Dennis Manzano said the inclusion of a security application was a “natural progression” as the company sees growth in the smartphone handset, which has become a target for both phone thieves as well as cybercriminals looking to steal valuable data from the phones when it is connected to the Internet.
Manzano said mobile phone security is nothing new, though people have a tendency to actually forget that their phones are very unsecured against phone thieves. But most importantly, smartphones that are Internet-enabled can fall victims to viruses and malicious applications that steal data.
“The mobile handset is now people’s computers especially when they need fast and easy access to online services. With the ubiquity of these devices and the growing market for smartphones, owners will have to protect their devices against real and virtual threats,” Manzano said.
Manzano added that WaveSecure would also be made available on other Sony Ericsson handsets. The application has an initial 30-day full feature trial. It will then require an extended license that costs P895 for one year of security updates.
WaveSecure, a product by tenCube prior to being acquired by McAfee, has a number of features similar to PC security. It can remotely lock down a stolen phone by sending a lock code using another mobile phone that the original owner knows. It can also wipe out the data remotely when necessary. It can backup and restore phone data remotely through the Internet.
An important function is a tracking system wherein the original owner can track down the phone using the inserted subscriber identity module. Location information is sent via SMS and can be tracked through an online map.
McAfee is among the companies that are focusing on the mobile security space. Others include F-Secure , Kaspersky , and Symantec .
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