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Intel

Samsung Note 7 to come bundled with McAfee security

GeneralEdward Kiledjian

Itell Security (formerly McAfee) announced that the Samsung Note 7 will come bundled with McAfee VirusScan mobile security. The press release claims "Samsung customers can enjoy better protection from more diverse and sophisticated threats in mobile world."

Truth be told, I do not advocate using an antivirus on Android smartphones but you have to ensure you don't break any of the built in security features (like side loading apps). To me, this looks like the kind of bundling cash grab we see in the PC space (manufacturers get $1-$5 to bundle an app in the base image helping make the device a bit more profitable). What's surprising is that Samsung would do this kind of bundling deal on its premium $800+ flagship smartphone.

Intel Security to expand mobile security technology to Samsung Galaxy Note7 and Tizen OS based Samsung Z2

- Samsung’s latest Galaxy Note and Tizen OS based Z2 smartphone will come pre-installed with McAfee® VirusScan® mobile security and anti-malware technology
- New ransomware grew 24 per cent quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2016 in Intel Security McAfee Labs Threats Report – June 2016
- Samsung agreed to expand protection from new Samsung Galaxy Note7 to Tizen OS based Samsung Z2

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Aug. 23, 2016 – Intel Security announced that Samsung’s latest smartphone, Galaxy Note7 and Tizen OS based Z2 will come pre-installed with McAfee® VirusScan® mobile security. McAfee VirusScan Mobile is an anti-malware technology solution that is already helping to provide a more secure mobile experience to millions of Samsung Galaxy users globally. With this collaboration, Samsung customers can enjoy better protection from more diverse and sophisticated threats in mobile world.

According to Intel Security’s McAfee Labs Threats Report – June 2016, there are 305 new threats every minute, or more than five every second. New mobile malware grew 17 per cent quarter over quarter in Q1 2016. Total mobile malware grew 23 per cent quarter over quarter in Q1 2016 and 113 per cent over the last four quarters. In particular, new ransomware rose 24 per cent in Q1 2016 due to the continued entry of relatively low-skilled criminals into the ransomware cybercrime community. This report showcases the need for security against a growing volume of mobile malware and expanding attack surface.

“Mobile threats continue to grow and be more sophisticated as we become increasingly connected. Now mobile devices are the tip of the spear for new hacking methods,” said John Giamatteo, corporate vice president at Intel Security. “Intel Security is combatting these growing mobile threats by collaborating with mobile device manufacturer Samsung to keep customers’ mobile devices, data and privacy safe from vulnerabilities.”

”New customers of Samsung Galaxy Note7 and Samsung Z2 now can enjoy mobile experiences securely with the latest anti-malware solution that Samsung offers,” said Henry Lee, vice president of Mobile Security Technologies of Samsung Mobile. “Security and privacy are at the core of what we do and what we think about every day. It is very important to provide a high level of protection at all times to our customers.”

About Intel Security

Intel Security, with its McAfee product line, is dedicated to making the digital world safer and more secure for everyone. Intel Security is a division of Intel Corporation. Learn more at www.intelsecurity.com.
— Intel Security

How to get 50% more run time on your laptop

technologyEdward Kiledjian
Intel's Architecture Group VP Rani Borkar is making some bold claims about the upcoming Haswell chipset: that it will allow laptops to deliver 50% more power out of existing batteries. 50% more runtime is an incredible claim and if true, may single-handedly drive increased laptop sales as customers jump to upgrade.
He attributes the miserly battery usage to lower power requirements and better power management. I have to test a Haswell device before I can believe such a grandiose claim but it is music to my ears. 
In other words, wait a couple of weeks before you buy that new laptop.
Computerworld article here.

Tablet domination impacts Intel's business model

technologyEdward Kiledjian

It’s no secret the tablet market is steadily chipping away at the tradition PC market and now industry heavyweights are starting to feel the impact. Intel has announced that its Haswell architecture motherboards will be the last batch designed and manufactured by Intel.

Other Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturers will easily fill the void however it is interesting to see a tech titan concentrate more on building design references for Ultrabooks and tablet than traditional PC components.

Like everything driven by the consumer, they are at the forefront of the switch to alternative computing models (tablets instead of PCs) however CIOs will have no choice but to eventually change their corporate computing model to account for this new reality. Devices like the Microsoft Surface which deliver the new form factor while still maintaining their corporate manageability, will gain ground in the coming years. For the security conscious, this means your corporate data will be much more mobile. It’s a great time to think about how to manage this new reality.