McAfee Unveils Mobile Security Offerings

McAfee today announced that it is extending its mobile device portfolio for consumers with McAfee Mobile Security and McAfee WaveSecure Tablet Edition. These mobile device offerings are said to change the mobile security landscape by offering security safeguards that help consumers secure their mobile devices for personal use, commerce and work.According to a mobile security report released last week by McAfee and Carnegie Mellon University titled, "Mobility and Security: Dazzling Opportunities, Profound Challenges," respondents named their top three security concerns: the loss of personal or work data through the accidental loss of a device, physical theft of the device, or loss of their data due to their device "crashing". Moreover, close to half of all respondents said they were using their smart phones both for personal use and work, demonstrating that consumers want more than just personal device security.

McAfee Mobile Security software, available for both smartphones and tablets, reportedly provides a comprehensive mobile security solution by combining three leading McAfee mobile security products: WaveSecure, VirusScan Mobile and SiteAdvisor for Android.

With McAfee Mobile Security, consumers reportedly have available to them the following features: back-up and restore data - to help protect sensitive information; Protection against misuse (such as excessive phone charges)- as well as safeguarding personal data with remote locking capabilities; An audible alarm - to help users find the device or disrupt a thief, and or pop-up a notification with instructions for returning the device; Remotely remove data from a lost or stolen device - via the McAfee Web portal, mobile Web portal or via a SMS message; 24/7 real-time anti-malware protection and protection from malicious Web sites - when shopping online, SiteAdvisor, a software for Android devices provides color coded site ratings right next to the search results, allowing Android users to confidently browse and search the mobile Web; Management of mobile device protection - allows consumers to quickly execute necessary security tasks, backup, locate, wipe, etc. via the McAfee Web portal.

The WaveSecure Tablet Edition is said to offer Android users, through WiFi, the ability to find their missing device through the alarm and location tracking features, and prevent device misuse through remote lock and wipe. It also allows for preserving important personal data with remote backup, even from a lost or misplaced device. Users can also reportedly trigger an audible alarm to help them find the device or disrupt a thief, and also send a brief SMS message with instructions for returning it.

Todd Gebhart, senior vice president and general manager of consumer, small business and mobile, McAfee, was quoted in the press release as saying "With device growth eclipsing PCs, consumers need tools to not only protect their personal information, but also to provide safeguards for business data should they decide to use that device for work. It’s far too easy to leave a mobile device in a cab or at the airport, which can mean lost photos, contacts and other important content. Also, the threats to mobile devices are in many ways the same as in the online world. Beyond device lost or theft, users can be hacked, infected or phished on a mobile device just as easily as they can online."

McAfee Mobile Security software is available at an annual subscription of $29.99 (~ Rs. 1340) per year from McAfee and the Android Market. McAfee WaveSecure software is similarly available at an annual subscription of $19.99 (~ Rs. 893).