In addition, there has been lack of information dissemination about smartphone malware vulnerabilities though this is changing. With increased use of smartphones, it is essential that users prepare themselves to address the aspect of malware vulnerabilities. Smartphone users are using their devices to carry out business activities including online purchases, doing transactions and processing customer orders. 

Surveys show that 97% of smartphone users use the device at home and 66% access the internet at least daily from their smartphone. Criminals targeting smartphones are now creating malware for different platforms and smartphone users need to realize that it is not only PCs, which are threatened but also mobile and tablet users. 

Most of the infections on smartphones occur as a result of side-load apps. Side-load app activities are simply loading programs from non-official sources, which are not protected. Mainly these are paid apps, which are offered for free to mobile users by the attackers. The next time you are downloading a paid app from a site that offers it free, think again. You could be risking your device from risks of malware infection. 

You may not realize immediately that your phone has been infected until you discover that charges appear on your mobile phone bills or your accounts are compromised. One of the best ways you can protect yourself from android malware is to run security software on the phone periodically. This will help screen for any malicious codes that have been injected on your phone. 

Attackers are increasingly making use of simple techniques to identify flaws in websites and other internet applications. They will Google apps and websites and search for vulnerabilities. The attackers use Google code search to identify crucial vulnerabilities in application codes strings. This can provide an easy entry point that they need to break into application security shield. 

Some of the android malware, which have been discovered, are Andr/PJ apps C. These apps may not be malicious but they are likely to be illegal. Mostly they are paid-for apps and they have been hacked and the attackers use them to spread malware to unsuspecting smartphone users. Another type of android malware is Andr/BBridge-A and this malicious software can install addition malicious apps onto your device. 

The Andr/BBridge-A malware use HTTP to communicate with central servers and could easily leak potential identifiable information. In addition, Andr/BBridge-A can send and read SMS messages and this could potentially cost you money. The malware can scan incoming SMS content and remove any warnings that inform when you are being charged a fee for the premium rate services that you have signed for. 

Moreover, Andr/BatteryD-A is another malware, which has been identified in smartphones. This battery doctor app falsely claims that it can save battery life on your android device. Considering that many people want their android battery life to last for long, they will certainly be tempted to install such an app in their device. This malware actually sends potentially identifiable information to a server making use of HTTP and other aggressively displayed advertising codes. 

Confronted with these types of malware, android device users need to be wary of the programs they install in their devices. There are different android security apps you can get in the market both free and paid versions. Even when you are downloading these security apps, you need to get them from trusted sources only. They could also be used as loopholes for your devices to be infected with malicious codes especially if they are downloaded from illegal sites. 

Cybercriminals are more and more targeting android operating system because it has become very popular. One of the security app you could use is the mSecure-Password Manager. This is a password and data manager tool, which helps store sensitive and important information such as credit card numbers, web login details, passwords, and frequent flyer numbers. 

This security app uses a 256-bit blowfish encryption that helps safeguard the data you have stored and this means that if you misplace your phone or it is lost, you do not compromise your confidential important information. This app comes in paid version and it is worth the security you need for your android phone. 

Seal app Locker is another android security app, which is used to individually lock any app on your phone using complex numeric password or patterns. This will prevent any malware from activating or functioning if they invade your phone. The apps in your phone are arranged into profiles and can be locked and unlocked as a group. Each app can also be enabled or disabled easily from the interface of the Seal app Locker. 

Another good security app for your mobile device is NQ Mobile Security and Antivirus. This app has a privacy protection tool that monitors apps accessing your private data without permission. Its traffic-monitoring feature enables you not to go beyond your data plan limits and you can rank apps by data consumption. The premium version of this security app comes with other additional features, which help enhance your android protection. 

For example, it features online banking protection, database updates and can lock and wipe data if your phone is lost or stolen. Other apps you can use for your android device are Avast free security app. Avast has joined the leading companies in internet security service provision to offer option for android users to protect their devices. This is a free tool and does an excellent job in protecting your device from cybercriminal activities. In essence, android users need to take a center stage role in ensuring that their devices are protected from malicious software as the threat is real.

However, for the tech-savvy and advanced users who would like to play around with their SMS feature, they may not find the stock messaging app exciting. Although you can do some other things with this app such as search for specific messages, delete threads you do not need or change the settings, you may enjoy little from the stock messaging apps. You may not be able to change the skin or background theme that is featured by stock app. 

The stock messaging app takes a simple background and you cannot change it. This could be boring especially if you want to change the color and other features. However, with alternative android messaging apps, you can really enhance the functionality of your android messaging capability features. The android OS is very customizable but when it comes to messaging app, there is great limitation and this is why android smartphone users are seeking for messaging apps that can give them the flexibility and pervasiveness they desire.

Moreover, with the stock messaging apps, there is no provision for back up and store. There is also no message security and scheduling features. All these aspects coupled with the inability to customize the look of the background theme or skin, you will most likely be frustrated by lack of these features.

Shifting to third party messaging applications has offered great benefits to users. Some of the best alternative android messaging apps include Handcent SMS, Go SMS Pro, and Tango to mention but a few. Handcent SMS is perhaps one of the most popular of the third party android messaging apps. It is feature-rich and has great customizable ability. 

Handcent SMS works for both MMS and SMS. You can use different themes and skins giving you many options to set the appearance of the background theme. In addition, you can change the look of the text bubble and conversation thread. This app has SMS scheduling feature, which lets you compose an SMS, and sent it on scheduled time and date. Moreover, you can secure your messages with a privacy box meaning that not all people can access them. 

You can apply filters and back up your SMS and MMS and this ensures that you do not lose them. Go SMS Pro has also scheduling feature and cool themes which you can use for the skin. Other features are batchmode, privacy mode and pop up with quick reply. In essence, if you would like to enhance the functionality of android messaging features, you need to use the third party messaging apps that are designed to offer additional tools for messaging.

• Camera MX –  This is one of the most creative camera apps for your Android Phone. You can combine effects and photo frames live in this camera. You can also optimize and edit your pictures to share them on various social networking platforms like Facebook, Flick and Twitter.  Though this app is free, you can also unlock an effect package that can give you more things to do with this app for just $0.99 (£0.79). There are more than 20 customized real-time photo effects like Color Splash, Pop Art, Sepia, Black and White etc.

• Fast Burst Camera Lite –  You can take up to 30 pictures per second with this camera application for your Android device.  This is one of the fastest camera apps available in the Android Market.  You can take 30 photos per second and on low-end devices, you can take 5-10 photos. There is no shutter lag, picture are taken as soon as the button is pressed.
• Night Vision Camera – This is the best night vision camera app for your Android device. This application maximizes automatic adjustment of pictures to improve in the night or low light conditions. T he image quality produced is of a much better value than the night mode on your device.

• Camera Effects -  You can take great pictures with this Android app and add amazing effects.  With this app,  you can take superb photo effects like Thermal, Lomo, Black and White, Holga and such other filters. There is an adequate zoom functionality also.

• Camera Illusion – Add cool effects to your pictures with this app that includes filters, masks and many such image enhancing elements. Not only is the app used by a regular user but also by professionals and artists.

• GIF Boom –  This camera app for Android phone can help you create GIF images and share them on various social media websites. Plus, you can also change the speed of images in the GIF Boom.

• Camera Zoom Fx -  This is an award winner camera app for Android,  this one makes you image capturing a really good experience. The Life Hacker has even called it the best camera app for Android.  You can also benefit from the Optical Mode  and other modes like Burst Mode and Timer Mode.

• Paper Camera -  This app helps you visualize photos like  a sketch drawn on paper or a cartoon.  You can see the real world  in a paper mode with Paper Camera.  Another app is Cartoon App which gives you cartoon image of the photos that you click.

• HDR Camera – Many may argue that high quality pictures are captured only by DSLR camera. HDR camera app for Android enhances the quality, resolution of images and  you will find picture quality that can rival that of a DSLR camera.

• AfterFocus – Do you like the picture you have clicked but feel that the background has ruined a great pic ? Fear not, AfterFocus is a great Android app that can blur out background elements that you do not want, with a couple of finger swipes.

Some of the S Pen apps for Samsung Galaxy Note are listed below:

• American Football Clipboard: This app provides with a pro football coach’s clipboard. A user can express various strategies and plays, jot down notes about the team and use the S Pen to move the ball and the players. Also, one can save an indefinite number of plays into the playbook, which can be quickly loaded from the sidelines.

• Basketball Coach’s Clipboard: This app is just like the actual whiteboard of the coach, but on the Note’s screen. The app allows users to draw and save an indefinite number of plays, develop the strategies, and then animate them. The S Pen can be used to erase and draw lines where required, move the players across the screen and animate the different plays. They can then be saved and loaded onto the playbook.

• Amazon Kindle: It is one of the best ways to read e-books, whether they are bestsellers or classics, on the Samsung Galaxy Note. The big screen on the Note makes for easier reading while the S Pen can be used to easily highlight text with superior precision. It is also possible for users to enjoy reading magazines and newspapers on the Note along with color images of high resolution. The e-books can be synched across devices. Also, a user can customize the reading experience by setting the screen, font size and background color to one’s choice.

• Soccer Coach’s Clipboard: This app will aid one’s team in making the best moves on the soccer field. One can develop the plays and move the players throughout the screen with the S Pen. The plays can then be saved into a playbook and then quickly loaded from the sidelines. Other options include choosing half or full field mode, erasing or drawing lines, and altering the line and player colors or the animation speed.

• Deer Hunter Challenge: It is a hunting app which takes users to different parts of the world into intense wilderness during a search for the biggest game. The GPS map can be used by players to aim at moose, cougars, and other big games. There are a number of customizable weapons that are available for the user, like a shotgun, rifle, crossbow, etc.

• ChatON: This app supports several devices and platforms and thus lets a user experience a richer and better communication with pals. User can avail of a number of fun ways to communicate such as chats, pictures, animated messages, broadcasts and audio. One can employ the S Pen to draw and color animated messages and then send them to friends.

• Flick Golf: This app can make one addicted to Golf. It is quite a popular app which has grown rapidly to include two new courses, brand new medals and a choice to unlock every course. Users can spin, flick and curve the shots while making sure that they avoid various dangers like trees, bunkers and sand. One can set a course for different wind effects as well. The amazing 3D environments and the accuracy of in flight control can leave a user gasping for more.

• Kids ABC Learn and Trace: It is an app that is both entertaining and educational. A child can use the S Pen to trace both the lower and upper case letters and then match the starting letter to a picture.

• Fruit Ninja Free: It is a popular app that allows users to indulge in splashy, squishy and entertaining destruction of different fruits. One can use the S Pen to swipe through the screen like a ninja warrior. A user can opt for single player mode with 3 options, i.e., Arcade, Zen or Classic or worldwide leaderboards that use Openfeint. There a bonus Dojo section that comes with backgrounds and blades that can be unlocked.

• Make Me Bald: It is a fun app which allows a user to use the S Pen and play around with various photos. One can take a picture from Facebook, the camera or a photo gallery and then shave off the hair, draw moustaches, etc.

• Posterous Spaces: This app allows users to easily share photos, ideas, videos and artwork created on the Galaxy Note with family, friends and others. The app allows the control of data sharing every time and facilitates rapid posting of all kinds of data. The viewing can be made public or private or the posts can be broadcast to various websites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.

• Solo: This virtual guitar app is the most popular one in the Android world. The app can be referred to when playing a guitar or can be used during jamming sessions when a physical guitar is not readily available. The S Pen can be used to mimic the actions of a guitar pick. The app interface can be customized to suit the playing style of the user. Some of the app features include a large chord library along with diagrams; acoustic, classical and electric guitars; and the option to play along with any music present in the Note.

• Premium Suite: The lack of sufficient number of apps that benefited from the various uses of the S Pen was one of the main issues of Samsung Galaxy Note users. However, with the Premium Suite upgrade that is available with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, most such issues may be put to rest. This app comes with 7 templates that can be employed for a number of daily life activities such as taking down notes or writing a diary. One can record all the steps of a particular drawing and then play them back, as also use the Note as a whiteboard to make flowcharts, create diagrams, etc. Additionally, the app allows users to save and annotate PDF files

• S Memo: It is considered as one of the best apps for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to be used along with the S Pen. The app allows users to take down memos with varied pen colors and tips, add pictures to the memos and also edit them within the app. Additionally, users can annotate a map and thus aid a colleague in finding a restaurant where a lunch meeting would take place. After a memo is completed and final, users can send it via email or text.

• Soonr Scribble: This app for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 allows users to share and annotate documents in excess of 35 file formats which include Microsoft Office Word (.doc), Excel (.xls) and PowerPoint (.ppt), and PDF. It is a free app that allows saving of expense reports, proposals, notes, and other smartphone files to the Soonr cloud server. One can use the Note’s S Pen and jot down comments in margins, highlight text, and add arrows where needed. Additionally, the rendering technology of Soonr facilitates the viewing of more than forty different document types without the need to download the file. The app supports greater than 800 mobile gadgets running on BlackBerry OS, iOS and Android.

• Square Card Reader: The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a phablet and hence an apt device for apps that require a larger screen space. One such app is the Square Card Reader which can be easily used on the Note, wherein the stylus can be used by the customers to digitally sign the receipts and the large screen facilitates the easy processing of transactions. The free credit card reader of the app can be attached to the top of the Note. It may be noted that the app is available for free, but the credit card processing service provided by Square is chargeable. Users can opt from two payment options, i.e., a 2.75% charge per swipe or a monthly price of $275.

• Flipboard: This app is a clever combination of journalism and social media, wherein the photos, articles and updates shared by the friends on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, gets displayed in a magazine like format. One of the best features of Flipboard is the layout which can be flipped through like a magazine. This app is ideal for a tablet, but works well on the big screened Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as well. It is a free app which can share data from various sources such as Instagram, Flickr, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, and other services.

• Catch: This app is well suited for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. It allows users to create notes with voice, text and images even when one is offline, as well as add multiple voice memos and images to a single note. The app is a great way to remember gift ideas due to its ability to scan barcodes. Catch allows the automatic back up of notes across the Android gadgets and the cloud service of Catch.com. One interesting feature of the app is the fact that it allows for creation of a shared space in catch, wherein colleagues and friends can be invited to add ideas and notes. It is available for free and in Pro and Premier versions. The free version lets a user save 70 MB of new data every month to the cloud, and comes with 3 spaces whether shared or private.

• Fruit Ninja: This app is available for free with ads or at a price of $1.22. One can use the stylus and slice and dice various fruits, ninja-style, on the big screened Samsung Galaxy Note 2. A great pastime during cab rides, flight delays, etc.

• Adobe Reader: This free app comes quite handy when sharing, viewing or annotating PDF files. Users can ‘sticky notes’ anywhere in the file as also add comments using the Add Text tool. Other tools such as the strikethrough, underline, freehand drawing feature and highlight tool can be used to mark the PDF documents. Filling in and signing of PDF forms becomes very easy when using the Note 2’s stylus. Different types of PDF files, including password protected files can be accessed with this app.

• Autodesk SketchBook Mobile: This drawing and paint app works fantastically on the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The S Pen can be used with a variety of brushes to produce a work of art. It is available for just $1.99.

A lot of thoughts cloud your head before going to college. You are clueless about how the next four years will shape up and till now you have relied on hearsay to build a careful image of what college life might be like. You probably gear up for wild parties and keep dreaming about meeting the girl of your dreams.

While packing all the furniture and supplies you will need during your college tenure, there is one thing you should not forget – your trustable smart phone. It is simply something you cannot miss out on, irrespective of whether you are aspiring to become a drama geek, a stoner, topper or homecoming queen.

Get your collection of apps spot on, as apps are the life support of your Android. The following ideas are some ideas which you may find particularly useful during your college days.

Sparrow

Price – $2.99 (Purchased by google to improve Gmail)

Type – Mail Application

As soon as you enter college you will be given you new .edu mail address to add to your existing gmail, facebook, hotmail identities. So many mails might make it difficult to contend with Android’s default mail and you might find the need for a new, more customized app. That is when you should look to switch to Sparrow from Android’s default mail application. It unifies all your mails into one account. With provisions to reply, forward or star a mail with just a swipe of your finger it is probably just the mail application you were looking for to manage your mails efficiently. If you are using Facebook connect Sparrow even brings your profile pictures next to your name during a conversation.

Grindr/Blendr

Price – Free

Type – Chat Application

Socializing and adding new dimensions to your character define college days. So, if you want to walk on such a self exploratory path try out Grindr (for guys) or Blendr (for girls). The app functions by pulling off the names of everyone who has this app in your surrounding and showing a green dot to signify the online ones. Before starting a conversation you can look at a little bio information before clicking to start a chat. The app has more than 4 million users.

THE WHOOT

Price – Free

Deciding which activity to participate on might be difficult on free nights at college because you are not exactly aware of the schedule of some of your friends. Even if you are aware of the class schedule, most of your friends are involved in extra-curricular which have an ever changing schedule. But with this application all you need to do is look at what your friends are doing at the present moment and choose what you want to do. The biggest improvement this application has over Facebook events is it provides notifications for present events and not future ones. You can alternate your status between staying in, working, partying and relaxing out. If you are partying or relaxing out then you can also add location so that your friends can find you.

1. Period Tracker – All you have to do is press a button at the beginning of your period every month. The Period Track logs your dates and calculates the average of your past 3 months menstrual cycles to predict the beginning date of your next period. You can also be in track of your current and future period dates, ovulation and fertile date, your moods and symptoms in a lucid manner.
2. Pink Pad- This menstrual cycle app tracks your period and connects you to other women. It is a health and hygiene tracker with integrated community to connect with women around the world. It has a simple, calendar style UI. It is simple and extremely easy, intuitive to navigate.  You can also be in check with weight issues, emotional and physical well being while getting  connected with an international community of women for information exchange.
3. Women’s Calendar – This is a menstrual and fertility calendar for women which hasgood really good review from the ladies.
4. My Days, Period and Ovulation – Track your period, ovulation and fertility with this android app.  The features include calendar, multi-user support, multiple language support,  add personal information like intercourse, pill, birth control and other notes,  backup. It is available in 4 widgets.
5. Lady’s Calendar – This app can manage the cycle of menstrual period and basal body temperature. This is the calendar that can easily help you manage your menstrual period.  You have to register the cycle dates  of your period in  ‘base settings’  and menstrual period expected date, increased probability of pregnancy and highest probability date appears on the calendar. Plus, this app has a very good, user friendly interface. You can also add a memo.

On Tuesday, Pinterest announced three apps, the first one being an Android offering. This Pinterest for Android app can work on all Android smartphones and tablets.   You can also check it out and Google Play Store and download them for free.  The app will also be available in Android appstore for Kindle Fire users.

Pinterest has been growing meteorically in the past months, rising from 1.03 million unique monthly users in the United States in August 2011 to 17.8 million in February n 2012.  Research firm Comscore noted that in July, Pinterest had 23.3 million unique users in the United States. With the easy access of Pinterest on your Android phone and tablets, the number is sure to grow manifold.

Apple, recently announced that it will be removing the YouTube app for their sixth generation model and will also be coming up with their own version of Google Map that will run on 3D technology.  But what is evident that both the big boys are trying to replicate the success aspects of each other in their own way. The Siri for Android  will have easy, contextual voice recognition and using the personal information given in your Google Account, it will be able to personalize answers effectively.

Google showed off its news addition to voice search in San Francisco and said it is currently testing a a new service that will combine its web based email with search engine capabilities.  With this unique voice search feature, the Google voice search app will give information on everything from weather to movie listings to even telling you the closest car mechanic at your place

The new app gives answers to search results in a human sounding voice just like Apple’s Siri. Google is testing a  new service that will combine personal emails into searches on the Google website. This service that will be given to 1 million users initially, will make it even easier for consumers to find  and track information like flight schedules and shipping orders.  Amit Singhal, vice president at Google Search said, “This is going to be one truly universal search that should have all the information that humanity has put on the web and information that’s your information. He also said that the initial ‘field trial’ was with Gmail, but the company is also open to working with other existing email providers.

Google Voice Search Test Video (Sample)

What you need to do is go to Playstore and search for the apps.  There are apps based on categories too which you can make use of by going over to each individual category.   For now, here are the top appS for Samsung Galaxy S3, from an overall perspective that you should have on your phone

1. Whatsapp –  Easily one of the best and reliable apps for any smartphone, whatsapp can be incredibly helpful for chatting, sending messages, uploading and sending pictures on the go, sending videos and yes, even sharing those lovely kissable icon. Fancy a beautiful dress at a shop ? Click the picture with your Samsung Galaxy S3 and send it over to your husband on his smartphone. He will instantly reply ‘yes’ or ‘look for a better one.”
2.  Juice Defender – Smartphones are blamed for low battery life and Samsung Galaxy S3 battery drain issue is also a problem that cannot be denied.  Just install Juice Defender. What it does is, it turns off all the data  signals that you are not using. So all the background apps that are running are closed and you get much better battery life.  Another alternative is Easy Battery Saver.  Here are some of the best battery savings apps for your Android phone.
3.  Instagram – The Samsung Galaxy S3 camera is already a gem, but why not accentuate its quality and functionalities by installing Instagram, one of the most popular apps today ? You can also add fillers, effects and edit your picture.
4. Dropbox –  Dropbox is your on-the-move postbox.  Upload all photos, documents and videos in dropbox and get access to them from one place.
5. SwiftKey X -  Need a keyboard replacement  for Samsung Galaxy S3 ? Install Swift Key X and you will notice the difference, it is smooth and slick. Find out which is a better keyboard app, Swift Key X or Swype.
6. Dophin Browser -  It has been noticed that Dolphin Browser works real quick and slick on ICS. Since Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with ICS (Ice Cream Sandwich), make the best use of this fantastic browser. Here are some of the other best browser for Android phones.
7. AndroSensor -  Easily, the best diagnostic tool to know everything about your Samsung Galaxy S3.  Get  information about everything from the location of your device to network to battery functioning and status.
8. Talking Cat – The fun app is good fun, because it talks back to you whatever you say. Kids and friends are sure to be entertained.
9. MX Player – MX Player is one of the best Android video player. Watch movies in high resolution and come back to the movie after you finish that call. It is the first Android video player to perform multicore decoding.
10. Kindle for Android – This app gives you access to millions of books on your Samsung Galaxy S3.  Now you don’t need a Kindle device anymore, the app can do well for you to read magazines, books and newspapers on your device.
11. Pulse News – This is an award winning news app that you can install on Samsung Galaxy S3. It is a beautiful app that takes your favorite websites and presents them in the form of a beautiful mosaic. You can also share the news easily on social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and email them too.
12. IMDB -  If you love the movies, what can be better than the famous IMDB app for your Samsung Galaxy S3. Get access to millions of movie stars, movie profiles, reader reviews, ratings and feedback and trivia that you can impress your like-minded friends with.
13. Fring  or Nimbuzz – Both are universal instant messaging applications that you can use to chat with your Gtalk friends, Yahoo friends, Skype clients, colleagues and other people on social networking sites.