Cyber crimes: Are we secured enough?

The everyday progress in the field of information technology connects the world in even faster way and has become a vital and integral part of all the businesses. But at the same time, the new advancements throw up unprecedented functionality risks of information security. Taking a bigger picture, homeland security is critical to the overall security of the entire country. Recent terror attacks and other security concerns pertaining to domestic law and order situation have prompted the Central and State governments to focus on the modernisation and up gradation of the country's security infrastructure.

Responding to the importance of the IT security subject and homeland security, The Economic Times organised a summit titled 'Secure India Summit' in association with Wipro and Cisco , recently , in the Capital.

The summit addressed information and homeland security challenges facing the Indian Government and the society at large today. It was more of a platform to people in IT business across industries to share problems and discuss possible solutions. 'Security' , in this summit, was defined as doing business in new ways that reflect the emerging dangers across the globe, evolving concerns of customers, investors and employees.

How do we secure India, questions G K Pillai, union home secretary , Government of India, while giving his keynote address at the summit. "Navy , cost guard, border security force, air force and army - they all are there to protect India . But this is just one aspect of securing India. How to secure your business and house is another aspect. You can't secure one aspect leaving another insecure, for everything is connected. For example , in an office if one person tries to break the LAN rules, everybody else's security goes for a toss. So there are vested interests in saying that protection (related to information, data, house, business) is not up to the mark as everybody needs foolproof security" , said Pillai.

The increase in the use of Internet , laptops, mobiles have surely eased our lives but have lead to problems like hacking, theft of data and attacks of viruses. Security breaches are on the rise and it is quite obvious that without government intervention on rules, responsibilities and formal procedures, an information security framework can not prove effective.

Post-Windows alliance, Nokia may show the door to many Indian techies

For hundreds of engineers at Nokia's Bangalore research centre, the smartphone alliance with Microsoft means uncertainty about future roles and immediate anxiety on job prospects, as the companies prepare to align their operations across the globe.

While Nokia's decision to make Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 its primary platform for smartphones is aimed at reviving its flagging handset business and compete better with aggressive rivals such as Samsung and Apple, it also means loss of job for many engineers working on the Symbian platform.

In India too, some Nokia engineers could lose jobs as part of a global restructuring. The handset-maker employs around 2,500 engineers in its Bangalore centre.

"Many Symbian projects are shifting back to Finland from Bangalore. The company might give us some new projects," said a Symbian engineer in Bangalore, concerned about the uncertainty. He requested anonymity.

Globally, the company has said it is looking for alternative employment for workers who will lose their jobs at the Finnish mobile manufacturer due to its strategic shift.

The company is already facing backlash from Symbian developer community worldwide, on forums, blogs, tweets. Symbian is one of the most used mobile phone operating system in the world, having an installed base of over 200 million phones.

At Nokia's own forum, developers feel cheated, due to the shifting strategy of Nokia - first from Symbian, to Meego, a Linux based operating system for phones, to Maemo, and now Windows Phone 7.

"We want MeeGo and Qt," says a developer on blogs.forum.nokia. Other said: "Farewell to freedom and openness." Qt is an open source framework for developing mobile phone apps across platforms, largely used by Symbian developers.

RIM says rivals will face same pressure from India

Research In Motion (RIM), looking to fend off rivals and assure wary Indian customers of its encrypted communications services, said its major competitors would face the same pressures over government security concerns.

The maker of the BlackBerry smartphone, which has been grappling with the Indian government for years, said it appreciated New Delhi's security concerns and was willing to discuss industry-wide policy changes.

But it also warned that draconian measures would limit India's economic development, including its massive business outsourcing industry.

" RIM fully appreciates and supports the priority India rightly places on national security," the Canadian company said in a statement on Tuesday addressed to enterprise customers -- businesses, professionals and government agencies -- in the world's fastest growing mobile phone market.

The Indian government is fearful that encrypted BlackBerry services could be used to foster unrest or allow militants to organize or carry out attacks.

But RIM noted that, in numerous meetings, the Indian government has also shown it recognizes encryption is fundamental to attracting and maintaining international business.

Apple's iPad2 launch delayed to June: Broker note

The launch of Apple Inc's iPad2 tablet will be delayed to June from April as maker Hon Hai faces production bottlenecks due to the device's new design, Taiwanese brokerage Yuanta Securities said in a note.

Component makers had to change their production processes after Apple made design changes to the iPad2 before the Lunar New Year at the beginning of February.

"Our checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production process and it is taking time to resolve them," Yuanta's head of downstream tech equities, Vincent Chen, wrote in the note on Tuesday.

Hon Hai declined to comment on the note. Apple was not immediately available for comment.

The note said that if the launch of the iPad2 is delayed by two months, total iPad shipments would be 23 million units this year, down from the broker's original forecast of 30.6 million units.

Manufacturing sources have previously said the new model would have cameras on the front and and back of the device and would be slimmer, lighter and have a better resolution display than the first iPad.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us

Google says working with EU over rivals' concerns

Web search giant Google said on Tuesday it was working with the European Commission to address competition concerns after a rival renewed complaints of anticompetitive behaviour .

"We continue to work cooperatively with the European Commission, explaining many aspects of our business," Google spokesman Al Verney said.

"We believe there is always room for improvement, so we are working to address any potential concerns."

The creator of French legal search engine Ejustice.fr said earlier it had added to its complaints to European regulators over Google's business practices.

The French company is one of three online search engines that have already accused the world's No. 1 in web search of abusing its dominant position by demoting rival sites in results and giving preference to its own services.

Disclaimer: All information on this news has been compiled from their respective official websites or through public domain sites and leading newspapers. Although, we have taken reasonable efforts to provide you with accurate information, but we assumes no responsibility for the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the Information and would advise you to verify it from the official product provider. We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. If you would like to advertise on our site please contact us