Trend Micro releases Android mobile security solution

Peter Dinham
Monday, 21 November 2011 14:50

Cloud and mobile security vendor, Trend Micro, has just released the latest addition to its mobile security portfolio, with a solution designed to protect both Android smartphones and tablets.

Tina Su, senior product marketing manager at Trend Micro, said the newly released solution included a free app scanner, lost device protection and enhanced security to block threats while surfing the Web, and for receiving calls or text messages.

'We believe mobile users need to be protected against malicious applications, so to help protect as many people as possible and stifle criminal attempts to steal personal and financial information we are offering our anti-malware scanner for free,' Su said.

Su said that in an effort to protect as many mobile device users as possible Trend Micro is making the anti-malware component of the solution free, while other features are based on a subscription model.

With this release, a consumer's mobile device will now be better protected, Su said, with protection including:

'¢    App Scanner: Designed to block infected apps from installing and stealing personal information

'¢    Lost Device Protection: From a personal online portal, users can locate a lost device, trigger an alarm, remotely lock or even wipe it clean to protect their personal information

'¢    Surf, Call, Text Security: Designed to block online threats like banking scams, blocks unwanted calls and text messages and designed to block inappropriate websites to protect children.

Su cites a recent report from Google, estimating that there are currently 100 million active Android-based mobile devices in use already, and the market is expanding at the rate of 400,000 additional devices per day. 'This growth is consequently drawing the attention of hackers and other cybercriminals. Trend Micro saw a drastic 1400% increase in Android-based malware in the first half of 2011,' she said.

According to Trend Micro, with the sheer amount of personal information now being stored and transacted via mobile devices it is imperative that misplaced devices be recoverable or the sensitive information deleted. The security company says that, not only do these devices allow a third party to run up phone and data bills, they could also potentially grant access to online banking, social networking and in some cases even provide access to home automation systems including doors and alarms.

Alongside the free app scanner users can subscribe to a secure Web-based portal that enables them to remotely find a lost device on a Google map and set off an alarm, even if the device is set to silent. If the device can't be found it can be locked from the portal and if all else fails the user can wipe the contents by triggering a factory reset. As a safeguard, if the SIM card is removed the device is also automatically locked. The Web-based portal provides an easy user experience for those who may be in a state of panic over the whereabouts of their device.

'With over 200,000 devices currently protected with prior or Beta versions of the solution, we are confident in our ability to provide a solution that enables people to live out their digital lives safely and securely' Su concluded.

Trend Micro mobile security - personal edition is available now via the rhondagriffin 12.00 Normal 0 false false false EN-AU X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Android Market and at Harvey Norman, Dick Smith and all other authorised resellers in Australia and New Zealand.  It is priced at A/NZ$29.95 for one year or A/NZ $49.95 for two years.