The Small Retailers Grants Fund

SecuTech Dongle

SecuTech Solutions Inc.’s has announced the availability of software that is 3D Professional Software complete with dongle for sale as USB copy protection method.

The stand-alone package includes a dongle that protects software from piracy as well as creating bespoke control – for example, the introduction of a time-limit to certain software that can be controlled remotely. So, if users have purchased new modules, or have agreed with the software suppliers that the characteristics of the software should change, they can update the software remotely with ease!

Vodafone Ships Mobile Malware

Security company Panda Research has revealed that mobile phone company Vodafone has shipped a handset to Spain containing malware. The HTC Magic mobile handset which utilised the Android platform contained the Mariposa botnet as well as other assorted malware which could steal user information and credentials to send on to the creator of the malware.

Vodafone believes that only one handset was infected and has said that the incident may have been caused by a customer returning the mobile in a supposedly ‘sealed’ package that had actually been tampered with. The company is currently investigating.

Fraud Figures

The UK Cards Association has released new information that shows an increase in online fraud. Online banking fraud losses have risen to £57.7 million which is an increase of 14% from last years figure.

However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. New measures such as PCI compliancy are helping in the war against on line fraud and figures for cheque fraud and debit and credit card fraud are slightly down. To keep them down, it’s best to ensure that all of your online practices are as safe as they possibly can be.

POP Awards

The recent Problem Oriented Partnership (POP) Award ceremony, held annually in Blackpool, has announced a new winner. The accolade goes to Fylde, a deprived area in Lancashire that has been using the innovative SelectaDNA product to improve the quality of life in the area. SelectaDNA is a solution that contains a synthetic form of unique DNA that gets painted onto valuable objects. So if stolen goods are recovered, a UV light will show the presence of SelectaDNA, allowing the items to be reunited with their owners.

Wireless Alarms

When it comes to security from fire, wireless and radio fire alarms are the best systems to go for. Since their advent in the early 80’s, wireless and radio fire alarms have come on in leaps and bounds and are now used for places such as the Ritz Hotel and Windsor Castle. Using a radio or wireless fire alarm system can mean that you don’t have to install cables, making it the perfect choice for listed buildings. The alarms are fully compliant with BS5839 and EN54 too.

Data Backup

The world today is characterised by a workforce that’s more mobile than ever. The days of workers being chained to the desk are over and now instead of desktops, employees are being issued laptops and company mobiles. As much as this step forward is a positive step, it also comes with a downside. Unlike a desktop that remains in an office, a PC or a mobile phone is easily lost, easily stolen and easily broken. Around 3500 laptops are reported missing from European airports every week – so you can imagine how many laptops in the entirety of Europe go missing each and every day. If your laptop or mobile contains sensitive data or important data, then this can be a serious problem. PCs get backed up – so why not mobile devices and laptops? It’s something to consider.

Korenix JetWave

Security firm Korenix has announced the release of the JetWave 2450 IEEE 802.11b/g/n complaint Outdoor Wireless-N Access Point. The JetWave 2450 has a 150Mbps data connection that allows you to extend wireless coverage by up to 5km. With dual antenna design, wireless users can deploy the JetWave 2450 for their specific long distance line-of-sight applications and extend transmission by overlaying multiple radio signals.

North Chad Hires Security

North Chadderton School and Sixth Form centre in Greater Manchester is to hire a security guard, making it the first school in the borough to use serious security.

The move comes after a recent Ofsted report failed a school in England for having lax security – members of the public were able to walk into the school unchallenged, which obviously poses a serious security risk to school and college children. Despite having perimeter fencing and school staff guarding gates, North Chadderton School has decided to take that extra step which is a move most parents will surely applaud.

System Security Partnership

DeviceLock Inc. has teamed up with SentryBay, a specialist in security software to provide what will no doubt be, one of the most comprehensive data security solutions on the market.

DeviceLock Inc. is a company that provides endpoint data leak prevention solutions for businesses whilst SentryBay offers the market-leading software security solutions, EntryProtect and PhishLock. As key logging and phishing make up 95% of the cause of all stolen data, a decent data security system is a must-have for your business.

Security Industry Trends

Magenta Security Services surveyed a large number of businesses and the results show that the security industry is the juiciest place to be right now. 42% of respondents spend a respectable 10% of their budgets on security whilst 12% of respondents spend between 50% and 75% of their facilities budget on security – mostly security guards to guard against theft and vandalism. So if you’re in the security industry, now seems to be the time to cash in!