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WHAT Are Apps?
[START Text from Wikipedia] A mobile app, short for mobile application, or just app, is application software designed to run on smartphones, tablet computers and other mobile devices. The term “app” is a shortening of the term “application software“. It has become very popular and in 2010 was listed as “Word of the Year” by the American Dialect Society.[2] In 2009, technology columnist David Pogue said that newer smartphones could be nicknamed “app phones” to distinguish them from earlier less-sophisticated smartphones.[3] [END Text from Wikipedia]
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Infographic credit ===> http://fluency21.com/blog/2013/04/21/all-about-apps-infographic/ <===
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As already mentioned above: “Apps are designed to run on smartphones, etc.” means that they were created, actually programmed by humans and any code has bugs!
First WE need to know that WE are working with programmed code created by humans, and as ===> Nobody Is Perfect <=== so aren’t these programs. WE must also admit that NOT any programmer has the necessary knowledge about to create code for BEST Cyber-Security, NOR isn’t it possible to create 100% secure code, there is always a certain percentage of bugs in the code, thus meaning: there will be vulnerabilities in these programs!
I invite YOU to read the article(s) below for a deeper insight:
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Creating Apps In Schools For Kids And Parents: WHAT Should WE Be Aware About!?
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Apps are NOT ===> TOYS <===! There are STRICT rules to be followed as mentioned from the ===> U.S. Small Business Administration <===:
12. If you’re dealing with financial data, health data, or kids’ data, make sure you understand applicable standards and regulations
If your app deals with kids’ data, health data, or financial data, ensure you’re complying with relevant rules and regulations, which are more complex. The FTC offers details on the regulations that your business needs to be aware of in the following guides:
- Children’s Privacy
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule
- Health Breach Notification Rule
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Find out the complete guidelines here, please:
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Apps And Cyber-Security
Apart from programming errors, there are ALSO the bad boys (Cyber-Criminals) who are creating (programming) Apps to take the control over YOUR devices to earn money with them!
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Click the image to access the article who explains well in detail.
[START Text from TrendLabsSM 2013 Annual Security Roundup] On the mobile security front, we witnessed the mobile malware and high-risk app volume surpass the 1-million mark as early as September 2013.2. The current volume has, in fact, reached roughly 1.4 million, with 1 million new malicious and high-risk apps found in 2013 alone. [END Text from TrendLabsSM 2013 Annual Security Roundup]
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Image credit ===> http://www.trendmicro.com/cloud-content/us/pdfs/security-intelligence/reports/rpt-cashing-in-on-digital-information.pdf <===
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Please find the full report of TrendLabsSM 2013 Annual Security Roundup here:
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Click the above image to access the article, please.
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Click the above image to access the article, please.
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Click the above video to learn more.
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Check out ALSO (A MUST to understand) the video below, please, who explains BEST:
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And ALSO the McAfee LAbs Threats Report Fourth Quarter 2013
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Good To Know: Who Is Hosting Most Of Malware And Spam?
I am getting asked very often who are the countries who host most of Malware and Spam, check below to find out, please.
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Location Of Servers Hosting Suspect Content 2013
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TOP Countries Hosting Phishing And Spam URLs 2013
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Third Party App Stores, Avoid Them!
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The main distribution method of malware Apps is still shady apps downloaded via third-party app stores, say the Security experts! Thus meaning: download Apps ONLY from their ORIGIN website, please check below:
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Smartphones Are Mini Computers With Phone Capability
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DON’T forget that Smartphones are Mini-Computers with phone capability and so YOU MUST treat them ALSO! Thus meaning: the same AWARENESS and PROTECTION is necessary as for computers ===> ANY OS & ANY DEVICE <===!
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When Good Technology Goes Bad: Evolution of Mobile Technology
March 2014
Mobile hardware is evolving at an unbelievable rate. Think about it: the cell phone you are using right now has more computing power than the computers that sent Neil Armstrong into space a few decades ago. And not only has mobile technology been advancing so impressively, but the costs associated with the technology have been decreasing, making it more widely available and adopted.
Read more:
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How To Protect OUR Smartphones?
SO, now WE know about the online dangers, BUT How-To protect OUR Smartphones and tablets? Well, there are a lot of professional Security companies who offer protection tools, even as FREEWARE, check links below, please:
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- http://www.scoop.it/t/apps-for-any-use-mostly-for-education-and-free/?tag=Mobile+Security
- http://www.scoop.it/t/apps-for-any-use-mostly-for-education-and-free/?tag=AV-Comparatives
- http://www.scoop.it/t/apps-for-any-use-mostly-for-education-and-free/?tag=Mobile+Device+Security
- http://www.scoop.it/t/ict-security-tools/?tag=F-Secure
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And WHAT About Privacy!?
Talking about Privacy? YES, in some countries Privacy isn’t really (not yet) a matter, BUT in EUROPE WE fight for OUR human right about PRIVACY! When WE work together with children WE need to take care about the DATA which is used from the kids in EDUCATION and ALSO, especially, the private data who is shared through the different APPS! MOST of people don’t even know about the word “Permissions” when THEY install APPS on their devices, and that is very BAD!
People expose so THEIR complete ONLINE LIFE (which is ALSO their private life in Real-World…) on the internet! This is THEIR “Digital Footprint” who is used by commercials to address them tailored advertising and ALSO, the MOST important, it is THEIR resume for future employers! OUR “Digital Footprint” will replace the resume in the future (even NOW already…) where employers find out what WE deed over years and SO can make a profile over their future (OR NOT) employees!
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“When you look at most of the mobile apps, you accept the application and its privileges settings, and there is very little ability for you to customise those settings, so you either agree or disagree.
“App developers are trying to monetise their apps, because remember, most of these are being sold for $1.99 or they’re free, so the only way that they are going to make money is collecting and harvesting data, and selling it to a data house, who in turn is going to sell it to advertisers.
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Read more:
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Infographic credit ===> http://go.pronq.com/fortifymobile <===
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Read more below, please, a MUST for understanding:
- http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Privacy
- http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?tag=Digital+Footprint
- https://gustmees.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/privacy-in-the-digital-world-shouldnt-we-talk-about-it/
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Are There Existing Tools To Let Me Know Which Apps I Should Be Cautious?
YES, there are FREE online tools where YOU get instant transparency while you’re using Apps on the Web or Facebook, such as App Advisor, who helps safe-guard your personal data by telling you exactly which apps you should be cautious of, before they become a threat to your privacy.
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Click this link ===> App Advisor <===
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Sounds like a lot of RESPONSIBILITY, isn’t it?
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The word RESPONSIBILITY, oh YES, do YOU still know what it means? Internet shows us all again that WE are ALL responsible about OUR actions, interactions with other people, same actually as in the REAL-WORLD 😉
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Think For More…
DON’T forget about tools (Apps) ===> THEY are ONLY as good as the person who uses them and knows ALSO which tool to use for a specific task! <===
Deep-THINKing: DON’T use a screwdriver to hit nails 😉 Thus meaning: YOUR Professional Development needs to be Up-To-Date to know which tool to use and when to use it for a quality course!
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Some Critical Thinking: Do I really need an app to do that?
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There are tons of different Apps around and the average user has installed at least hundred (100) Apps on its device(s)!? Aren’t users dependent (addicted) already on Apps and on using THEIR Smartphones!? Was “Albert EINSTEIN” right!? Do WE really need ALL those installed Apps? Can WE still live without the internet and the Apps!? Imagine ONLY one day without YOUR Smartphone, how would YOU feel!?
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Image found on Twitter and edited to hide visages…
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THE MUST HAVE Apps
Here below my non-exhaustive list of MUST-HAVE Apps:
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Access everything everywhere.
With younited, you’ll always have your stuff with you. Your music, movies and photos, younited on your mobile phone, computer or tablet.
- http://www.scoop.it/t/ict-security-tools/?tag=F-Secure
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And as WE know that the NSA is spying around (Cyberespionage) it would be a good idea to look for companies located in Europe instead in the USA for stocking OUR DATA! Check below for possibilities:
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The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). . |
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Keywords as a reminder for me to create this blog post: Privacy, Mobile-Security, Cyber-Security, Nobody-Is-Perfect, Bugs, Malware, Threat Report 2013, Mobile-Malware on the rise, FREE protection software and Apps, Privacy settings and awareness, Digital Citizen, Mobile Botnet, Curation links, Infographics, stress, too many Apps, do I really need an app to do that? Right use of tools, Third Party App Stores,
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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉
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EDU: Digital CitiZENship, CyberSecurity, eSkills, Modern EDU by Gust MEES 
16 responses to “Often Asked Questions: Are There Cyber-Security Dangers With Apps And What’s About Privacy?”