Phishing attacks affect 20% of Indians

Microsoft has released the results of the third annual Microsoft Computing Safer Index (MCSI) that reveals impact of poor online safety precautions being taken.

The company surveyed over 10,000 consumers in 20 countries including India. Out of these 10,000 consumers, 20 percent of Indians had claimed that they had been victims of online phishing attacks and in a worrying statistic, 12 percent Indians said that they had suffered an identity theft at an average cost of Rs 7,500.

Surprisingly, only 34% of respondents around the world said they limit what strangers see on social networks and the amount of personal information online, while 38% said they adjust their social network privacy settings, the survey revealed. It also noted that only 35% of users use a PIN (personal identification number) or password to lock their mobile devices.

According to the MCSI survey, the annual worldwide impact of phishing and various other forms of identity thefts could be as high as $5 billion. The cost of repairing online reputation is far higher at around $6 billion or an estimated average of $632 per loss. “Internet users can prevent intrusions and thefts by using a unique four-digit PIN for mobile devices and strong passwords for online accounts,” Microsoft India National Technology Officer Prakash Kumar said. He advised that users should perform sensitive transactions over secured networks, which includes paying bills, banking or shopping.

Finally, the software giant also issued tips and guidance on the Internet Safety Day, like using a unique four-digit PIN for mobile devices and strong passwords for online accounts; performing sensitive transactions over secured networks like paying bills, banking or shopping, rather than sharing personal account information over “borrowed” or public wifi connections among others.

India ranked fourth among countries targeted by phishing attacks as per an EMC Report last year.

Flappy Bird fakes are hatching Android malware

Security firms have found Flappy Bird-like applications running malware in a host of third-party Android app marketplaces.

Flappy Bird's take down by its creator has given malware creators a new outlet to exploit unsuspecting users.
According to security firm Sophos, it has discovered several applications claiming to be Flappy Bird in third-party Android app marketplaces. The trouble, however, is that the games in some cases contain malware and in others force users to send a text message to a given number, effectively giving the malware creators all they need to potentially exploit users.

Another security firm, Trend Micro, also chimed in on the issue, saying that it has discovered "a bunch of fake Android Flappy Bird apps spreading online." Every one of those it has discovered so far are "apps that send messages to premium numbers, thus causing unwanted changes to victims' phone billing statements."

Flappy Bird has become a hot-button issue in the mobile world after the game soared to popularity and was subsequently taken down by its creator, Dong Nguyen. That was the opening malware creators needed, the security firms say, to take advantage of users who didn't have a chance to try out the game and want to see what all the hype is about.

Both Trend Micro and Sophos said that users shouldn't attempt to download anything calling itself Flappy Bird, since the original version is "dead." They also warned users to "be wary of apps from alternative markets."

Tools for Creating an Optimized Mobile Website

If you feel like you're behind the eight ball, there's hope. Here are some great solutions to help you quickly and cost-effectively develop a mobile version of your site.

MobDis
MobDis is a service that lets you build websites with a mobile-first approach. Rather than starting from a template or from an experience that originated from your desktop website, the application makes creating a mobile site feel like you are editing a Word or Illustrator document, starting from a plain white page.

Once you've created your mobile site, MobDis gives you every possible option on how to display it. You can host it with MobDis on your own domain or on a sub domain on their website. You can also export your mobile site and move it to your own hosting environment. You can even publish it as an app and submit it to the Apple or Android app stores. Cost is $28 per month.

DudaMobile
DudaMobile gives you two options for creating your mobile site, both of which are super simple. If you're looking for a jump-start on your mobile design, DudaMobile can scan your site and pull content, images, and other information into a template that you can then customize or edit to best fit your goals. Once the content has been converted you can use their drag-and-drop editor to remove site elements that might not be necessary and move around page elements to make an optimal experience for mobile visitors.

On the other hand, if you want to take a more thoughtful, ground-up approach, choose one of DudaMobile's templates and build your mobile site from there. Their advanced site editor allows you to configure template settings, navigation, HTML, CSS, and more. But even users without tech skills can easily make edits with their simple drag-and-drop tool. Cost is just $9 per month.

goMobi
GoMobi gives you a selection of 40 site templates to get you started each of them totally customizable. Create your own menu, build forms, add and optimize video, and display reviews, all with simple click and go integration. And unlike many of its competitors, goMobi also supports e-commerce sites, allowing visitors to purchase directly from your mobile site.

The team at goMobi really seems to understand mobile interactions, and have integrated a ton of features that go way beyond click-to-call and basic mapping functions. You can create special offers, let people leave you a message or request a call back, and translate your site into their language with a single click. GoMobi is available through hosting partners and other Internet service providers.

Landr
Landr is specifically designed to help marketers capture more leads from mobile devices by creating mobile landing pages. That's right: landing pages. It seems to be the only tool available that allows you to build single pages that are focused on getting the conversion. It's built to simplify the mobile experience out of the box so visitors see exactly what they are looking for and nothing more. Landr's "less is more" strategy is a particularly good option for marketers who need the flexibility of creating campaign landing pages without the involvement of IT. You can even run A/B tests with multiple Landr pages. Cost is $12 per month.

MoFuse
MoFuse is another monthly subscription tool that allows you to easily build and host your mobile site. But one option that distinguishes it from the others is that you can hire their team to completely build your mobile site for you. Custom features include a range of design tools, m-commerce functionality, mobile analytics, mobile advertising, GPS-guided store locator, and more. If you are looking for mobile marketing services in addition to a site build, you'll like MoFuse's SMS text marketing package and its search and SEO support.

SproutMobi
Few people would dispute the fact that building a successful mobile site is not just about the tools. You have to have the right strategy, and that's where SproutMobi really shines. For $99 you'll get a dedicated developer/consultant who will help you develop your strategy, identify the right features and functionality for your audience, and build up to 10 customized pages for you. They'll even set up the code to reroute mobile traffic to your mobile-friendly site. Once they build your site, you'll be charged $10 per month for unlimited hosting, support, and access to make your own edits via their content management system.

YoMobi
While many of the tools and services listed here offer free trials, YoMobi takes that a step further with a free standard plan that includes hosting, unlimited pages, and all the bells and whistles. The only catch: your site will display a discrete mobile ad. But for those on a really tight (as in nonexistent) budget, this just might be the best way to get your dedicated mobile site up and running. Have a little money? Spend $6 per month on a custom plan and you get all the YoMobi features without the pesky ads. This plan also allows you more customization options as well as a custom m.domain name. Both plans come with free SMS and email blast capability, click-to-call, and GPS-guided location finder.