Category: Mobile Security

This proposed regulation would allow smartphone users to ask apps to delete their information.

U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-Georgia) has proposed mobile security legislation that would make it possible for smartphone users to be able to request that apps cease the collection of their personal data, and that they delete information that has been previously collected about them.

The American lawmaker has released a discussion draft for the change to the current law.

The release was made regarding the Application Privacy, Protection, and Security Act. This proposed bill would require mobile security measures to be taken by all apps, in that they must provide their users with notice about the data that they collect, and they must receive consent from those users before they will be permitted to collect any personal information.

This mobile security proposal would also allow the users to control the information being collected or held.

Beyond simply requiring permission to collect the personal information in the first place, this mobile security measure would also make it possible for users of apps to be able to tell the developer that they will no longer be using the app and that they wish the collection of their information to stop. This would mean that the developers would not only need to cease the collection of the data, and would also have to delete any personal data that has already been collected “to the extent practicable”, said the discussion draft.

Rep. Johnson used the AppRights.us website in order to solicit ideas for the mobile security and privacy bill that he wanted to propose. The website was initially launched in July 2012. He explained in a statement that “Because the majority of the feedback that we received on AppRights expressed strong support for user control, transparency, and security, we incorporated these principles into the bill.”

He also added that “Many of you also told us that simple mechanisms are important to protecting your privacy on mobile devices.” He went on to say that after he had heard the concerns that were raised, he was able to write provisions that would address them in a way that would provide increased mobile security, without threatening the integrity or functionality of the “apps that you love.”

Secure Element Manager has been approved by Visa for the BlackBerry 10

Leading technology company, and creator of the BlackBerry platform, Research In Motion has received approval from Visa for its NFC-based mobile commerce platform, known as Secure Element Manager. The platform is designed to be used with the company’s next generation BlackBerry 10 device. Thus, owners of the BlackBerry 10 will be able to make mobile payments for products thanks to the device’s support of NFC technology and the approval for the system granted by Visa.

Platform may help with security concerns

Visa has shown a great deal of interest in mobile commerce in recent months. The company has become one of the major players in this emerging industry through its various partnerships and the services it provides mobile consumers. The Secure Element Manager helps address one of Visa’s most significant concerns when it comes to mobile commerce: Security. As such, the platform has won the support of Visa, which will allow its customers with BlackBerry 10 devices to use their accounts to make mobile payments.

Security continues to be a problem for mobile commerce

Security has long been an issue that has made mobile commerce somewhat unpopular. NFC technology itself does not boast of any latent security features. As such, many believe that the technology can be easily exploited. If NFC technology is exploited, a consumer’s financial information may be at risk of theft, creating a serious problem for those involved in mobile commerce. Until recently, there have been few efforts to bolster the security of mobile commerce.

Secure Element Manage meets Visa expectations

The Secure Element Manager not only helps keep the financial information of consumers safe, it also acts as a management platform for various mobile commerce systems. The platform meets the strict requirements that Visa has adopted concerning mobile commerce systems, making it one of the few systems that Visa is willing to support. Moreover, it is the only mobile commerce platform for the BlackBerry that has the full support of Research In Motion.