Internet of Things: BotNets exist. ThingBots do not

On the 16th of January 2014 Proofpoint (Leading Security Firm) claims to have uncovered what could be the first proven Internet of Things (IoT)-based cyberattack involving conventional household “smart” appliances. The global attack campaign involved more than 750,000 malicious email communications coming from more than 100,000 everyday consumer gadgets such as home-networking routers, connected multi-media centers, televisions and at least one refrigerator (What? A FRIDGE!) that had been compromised and used as a platform to launch attacks.

Just as personal computers can be unknowingly compromised to form robot-like “botnets” that can be used to launch large-scale cyberattacks, Proofpoint’s findings alledge that cyber criminals have begun to commandeer home routers, smart appliances and other components of the Internet of Things and transform them into “thingbots” to carry out the same type of malicious activity. Cyber criminals intent on stealing individual identities and infiltrating enterprise IT systems have found a target-rich environment in these poorly protected internet connected devices that may be more attractive and easier to infect and control than PC, laptops, or tablets.

Does “ThingBot” excist? [----> Read More]

Marketeers wake up! MMS/SMS campaign is the most effective way!

image: besttextmarketing.com

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Most marketing people try to convince me that SMS marketing is dead, not done, to complicated, to many regulations. I don't agree.  
Where SMS Messaging is becoming pretty much the 1980's typewriter vs Commador 64, MMS offers exactly the same service only it is empowered by the Graphical User Interface on almost all mobile devices and increasing volumes of mobile user. This makes MMS perfect to market anything! It actually makes a marketeer's job easier! MMS enables you to add pictures and videos of products and services. 


A 2009 study on marketings techniques concluded that:

"Mobile text messaging, the same 160-character dispatches first popularized by nimble-fingered teenagers, may be the closest thing in the information-overloaded digital marketing world to a guaranteed read." 

Some simple stats prove the point:

1. 97% of all marketing messages are opened (email marketing dreams of that rate)
2. 83% of all marketing messages are opened within 60 minutes of receiving
3. 95% of opted into a text message opened and read within 3 minutes

I am no super marketeer, nor a wizz kid, but 95% is fantastic rate, if only 95% of my page hits would read my blog... I would be bathing in internet sunshine.



MMS is basically created the likes of Instagram and Pinterest, where would they be without graphics uploaded directly from mobile devices? 

When it comes to SMS and MMS marketing we all have experience with these dreaded messages making us think our phones are infected with "Mobile Herpes", but those are bad industry practices. In fact SMS/MMS Marketing is highly regulated (especially in the US). 
As long as you stay within the rules of the law MMS offers M-Commerce an unbelievable platform. 

Want to know more?  Go to this section of my blog to download it or get "The 2013 Guide to TXT messaging regulations & best practices" here by Mogreet 

Thanks for reading again, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS! I really like to hear what you have to say about it!

StormFly: One to Watch or Not

In  a nutshell: StormFly is a super-fast storage device with an Open Source Operating System (bootable in most modern PC's and Macs and powered by our smart-boot technology) embedded in a cool wristband. Inserted into any computer and rebooted, the computer runs directly from the Operating System that is on StormFly, allowing you to take your Operating System and critical data with you wherever you go and use it in whatever PC or Mac is available.
The company recently launched a Kickstarter campaign hoping to raise $100,000 in crowd-funding to go from prototype to ship-worthy bracelet, and that goal was achieved.

You can watch the demonstration of the prototype here

What makes StormFly different from a USB stuck on a wristband? 

1. It is an encrypted storage device (USB 3.0) and operating system in one (PC/MAC)

2. It backs up automatically losing it would not be the end of the world

Even with the above stated it is not so much an innovative product, it will provide a unique feature to the mainstream public with it's encrypted, autobackup feature and it correctly targets the mainstream public.  

One other possible challenge it realized it has is the fact that StormFly is operating on a Linux Operating System. LOS will "take over" any MAC or PC hardware during the bootprocess. Technically whatever software a machine is running on. StormFly's challenge lays in the hardware, can it communicate with a wide range of different hardware (LAN, Graphic, Wifi, etc).

 Stormfly sets itself a target of usability of 90% of PC's and MAC's sold over the last three years and it recognizes the challenge to keep up with rapidly changing Software and Hardware developments

My opinion:

Stormfly is targeting a market of PC's and MAC's which is shrinking. Tablets sales are about to pass PC's and MAC's. Does StormFly expect to expand into those markets? If not, it could be a great add-on to Tablets and Smartphones, but unlike these devices Stormfly does not come with a screen..

All-in-All however much I like the buzz surrounding StormFly I am not sure it will be around for long. Given the rapid changing technology environment I have trouble seeing them in the future. 

Still great to see Kickstarter.com work its magic! 

2013 Rising Mobile Security Threats

After my last blog I started to brainstorm about the level and what type of security risks M-Commerce and Social Commerce need to mitigate or assure. Given the rise of sales in Smartphones and Tablets and the immense volume of downloadable applications and increasing volume of apps being developed, (personal) data and the protection of it will be key for any business to succeed. 

In this blog I will provide a bit more background on the type of security issues M-Commerce & M-Users are exposed.
Furthermore I will try to provide some information on who are what creates those threats and what the key drivers are. To finalize a current overview of the business practices and which security gaps need to be closed fast.