A total of 45 billion yen — equivalent to about $380 million — were the total financial losses incurred from January to October this year due to spam and scam phone calls in Japan. The prevalance of smartphones in the country may have made communication more accessible than ever, but with it comes the increased risk in security.

McAfee Japan, planning to turn over the situation, has decided to actively improve mobile security with the development of a new Android app, the McAfee Safe Call.  Co-developed by local IT firm Tobila Systems, the new app provides a security check to phone calls, much in the same way as how anti-virus software checks files and data for malicious content. The app automatically identifies any caller, and by matching it to a constantly updating cloud database, determines if that caller’s number is safe or not.

As explained by McAfee during an introduction seminar held last week, the McAfee Safe Call uses four basic notification modes, all of which help the user determine the level of risk a phone call may have. The safest green level determines that the number calling is properly listed in Tobila Systems’ safe database, as well as being listed on the user’s phonebook. A yellow alert notification checks that the number calling is listed in the database as a spam call number, and appropriately warns the user with it. Red notifications show blacklisted scam/fraudulent numbers, while a gray notification indicates an unknown/undetermined number which is either not yet in the database, on a public line, or is an international call.

McAfee touts that the complex yet convenient integration of the system is the key to make the app work as advertised. Tobila Systems explains that data won’t just be collected, but it will also be rechecked and cross-referenced to make sure that the numbers are actually spam and scam numbers. More importantly, McAfee promises that the app would not only provide security from spam and scam numbers, but also provide security in the form of privacy. Any additional personal data on the mobile device that the app would use will require the user’s permission before it is sent to the cloud database.

Though McAfee and Tobila Systems are confident in the implementation of the new security app, both companies admit that there are still a few gaping hurdles that prevent it from becoming a universal solution. Developing the same system for Apple devices might prove quite difficult for instance, because no API for developing apps for (carrier) phone calls is currently available for iOS at the moment. Also, the app is only optimized for carrier calls, and is not designed for VoIP systems, the apps of which are gaining steady popularity in smartphones today.

Nevertheless, McAfee is keen on using its McAfee Safe Call app to further bolster Japan’s mobile security, as its successful implementation could really help significantly mitigate financial losses.

The post What McAfee Has to Say About Japan’s Mobile Security Problem appeared first on VR World.

HTC launched its Desire 516 Dual Sim in India with a budget price tag of Rs. 14,200 ($237 USD). It is being seen as an alternative to the higher priced Moto G Dual Sim at Rs. 19,999 ($333 USD) or about the equivalent of $100 less.

Motorola customers may be ready to make the change not only because of price, but also because of dissatisfaction with performance. Some units of the Moto G with unregistered IMEI numbers would not work on domestic networks in India. Motorola offered affected customers full refunds, replacements, and credits to their Flipkart account.
The HTC Desire 516 claims to run on a 2G network (GSM 850/900/1800 – SIM1 & SIM2) and a 3G network (HSDPA 900/2100). The geo tagging camera is 5 MP, 2592 х 1944 pixels, with LED flash as well as a front facing 2MP camera. Both the HTC and Motorola include video recording. The HTC display has 16M colors, identical to the Motorola unit it is being compared against.

HTC Desire 516

The HTC has 1GB internal memory while its microSD stores up to 32 GB. You’ll get an Android OS v 4.2.2, with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200, Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7, Adreno 302 and accelerometer. Browsing is with HTML5. It runs on a removable, rechargeable Li-polymer 1950 mAh battery.

The Moto G has a more current operating system: Android version 4.3 Jelly Bean upgradable to KitKat, v4.4.3. It comes with Snapdragon 400 and Adreno 305. The phone has a 5MP 2592 х 1944 auto focus camera and LED flash. The second camera is 1.3 MP. This display has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The internal memory is the same as the HTC model, 1GB, but there is no card slot. The Moto G runs on a non-removable Li-Ion 2070 mAh battery.

Yes, the HTC Desire 516 Dual Sim can be considered as a cheaper version of the Motorola Moto G Dual Sim, but that depends on what you want in a mobile phone. There are some noticeable differences besides price.
HTC fans or anyone looking to change unit brands might want to look at a review of the HTC One M8. It also sells on Flipkart with a bigger price tag – Rs 45,249 ($754 USD) – more than double the two less expensive units addressed in this article.

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