Monday
Samsung printer hack could let the wrong ones in
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/29/samsung-printer-hack-could-let-the-wrong-ones-in/
Typically, when we think of hacks, our minds conjure images of compromised security systems, personal computers or server farms, but printers? According to Neil Smith, a researcher from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team, unauthorized access to those devices could be a very real threat — if you happen to own a Samsung model. Discovered and submitted to the agency this past Monday, the exploit unearthed by Smith takes advantage of an “SNMP backdoor” : an internet protocol that allows for remote network administrative control without authentication. The vulnerability — which would give hackers access to data sent to the printer, as well as control over it (think: ceaseless printing!) — affects most units released before November of this year. For its part, Samsung’s promised a patch will be forthcoming. But, in the meantime, if you want to avoid exposing any personal data or the possibility of a seemingly possessed printer, it’s best you steer clear of rogue WiFi connections.
Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Samsung
Source: ZDNet
Here’s How Consumers Are Shopping With Their Phones
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/bii-report-heres-how-consumers-are-shopping-with-their-phones-2012-9
Mobile devices are playing an increasingly large role in commerce.
In a special report out from BI Intelligence, we analyze patterns around all types of mobile behavior, including how people use their phones to shop.
Access The Full Report By Signing Up For A Free Trial Today>>
So, how are consumers using their phones in the shopping process?
- Buying items directly: Mobile is driving an increasingly large share of traffic to ecommerce sites. Forrester Research forecasts U.S. mobile commerce to hit $10 billion this year, up from $6 billion in 2010. Mobile sales made up 6.6% of Cyber Monday sales in 2011, more than double the percentage of the previous year.
- Opening emails for discounts and coupons: Email is a crucial marketing ! channel for companies like Gilt Groupe, Groupon, and LivingSocial. Since many consumers access email mainly through their phones, mobile has become an important marketing channel.
- Research and comparison shopping: Mobile shoppers are likely to use their phones in-store to compare prices and consult on potential purchases with friends. An analysis by Deloitte estimates mobile will influence $158 billion of in-person retail sales this year. This is a big problem for brick-and-mortar retailers, as it brings ecommerce competition directly into their stores.
- In-Store Payments: Consumers are beginning to make payments directly with their phones. According to Nielsen, 9% of mobile shoppers have paid for goods or services at point of sale. NFC probably won’t be the solution that powers this change though, but new apps like Pay with Square and Apple’s Passbook are promising.
The report is full of charts and da! ta that can be easily accessed, downloaded, and put to use.
In full, the report also looks at:
- The most popular mobile activities: We take a look at usage patterns around social networking, gaming, email, weather, search, and maps.
- The growth of the mobile web: We take a deep dive into mobile browser and app usage patterns and analyze the recent trends.
- How users are consuming content on their mobile devices: We take a look at how mobile users are consuming books, video, news, and music on their mobile devices.
To access BI Intelligence’s full report on Mobile Usage, sign up for a free trial subscription here.
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Dr. Augustine Fou is Digital Consigliere to marketing executives, advising them on digital strategy and Unified Marketing(tm). Dr Fou has over 17 years of in-the-trenches, hands-on experience, which enables him to provide objective, in-depth assessments of their current marketing programs and recommendations for improving business impact and ROI using digital insights. 
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