Data Safety first. Will developers help Google with this?
Google has recently launched a new privacy section called Data Safety, and it now appears that another security section — App Permissions — is hidden from users. It seems that moving forward, Google will rely solely on developers and their responsible actions in relation to the Data Safety section.
In light of the new rule, Kaspersky experts explore possible risks for users and how the situation will change in the future:
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The permission model in Android has become more complicated over time. Sensitive permissions are now dynamic, and requested while the application is running. In addition, most permission values no longer include just “allowed/not allowed” options but additional ones, depending on the permission itself. For example, “allow only while using the app”, “ask every time”, “not allowed”. This makes the process of managing apps’ permissions and accessing personal data more accurate and reduces the risk of leaking any sensitive information.
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In general, the Google initiative helps users check what will happen to their personal information and brings more clarity to the understanding of all stages of data processing. Users also have the ability to abandon the app in favor of an alternative, if they believe that the disclosure of data is unreasonable.
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Data Safety and App Permission sections relate to Google Store information that the user should receive before installing an app. Nevertheless, if some points in this section cause concern, users still have the option to manage permissions on their devices in the Settings app under Apps. Moreover, apps have no access to any APIs or personal data before being installed on the device, so confidential information will be protected and kept private, ensuring there is no recourse for users.
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As for further improvements to personal data protection, the next steps could include not just controlling app access to sensitive information (such as received, used and “forgotten” data) but understanding its future fate (such as saving, storing, transferring to third parties etc.). In particular, key aspects could relate to:
a. What data an app collects (and not just one-time access, but future storage. It must have a purpose)
b. Where does app transfer such information – to whom, why and under what conditions?
c. Handling – an explanation to the user, what access to data is necessary for the app to operate (without which it cannot work), and what is optional
d. Additional information – such as whether there is the ability to revoke or delete information, or the app and whether data is encrypted during transmission, etc.
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Another practice that can lead to enhanced user data protection is providing more checks (e.g., a compliance audit) to ensure a high level of defense and a clear way of processing sensitive information. We see that Google is making steps in this direction by connecting to MASVS.
Additional tips and lifehacks from Kaspersky on how to strengthen privacy controls:
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A good option is to choose and install a reliable security solution which provides users with features that let them optimize storage space on their devices. It is also a good option for users to view the list of apps installed on their devices, see which ones they don’t use, uninstall them, and free up storage space on their devices.
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It’s better to avoid installing browser extensions unless you really need them. Carefully check the permissions before you allow them. The full list of permissions is available in the “Settings” page → “Apps” → “About this app” section → “Permissions”.
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A safe practice is also to update an operating system and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing updated versions of software.
GCash Jr.: Be ready to discover bigger things
with your first e-wallet
To give young Filipinos a safe and secure cashless payment channel and a fun digital experience, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, introduces GCash Jr., the newest e-wallet in the GCash app for minors aged 7 to 17 years old! With the GCash Jr., young users can access a host of digital financial services along with exciting offers such as exclusive fandom deals, gaming vouchers and discounts, premium access to their favorite shows, music, and so much more in a trendy user interface made just for them!
The new GCash Jr. lets youngsters learn how to be financially aware and responsible at an early age while still pursuing their passion and doing what they love — whether it’s gaming, music, shopping, and more.
Kick-starting their digital financial journey, GCash Jr. has designed an easy dashboard to access GCash’s convenient features such as online payments and Pay QR for their K-Pop merchandise, buying load for their gaming credits and skins, and GLife for food deals and the latest fashion trends.
GCash Jr. allows younger users to properly manage their finances with an e-wallet size of up to PHP50,000 and a P10,000 limit for daily incoming and outgoing transactions.
Safety and security remains a top priority. Similar to regular GCash accounts, GCash Jr. follows a stringent KYC (Know-your-customer) process. All you need to do is to download the GCash app and minors aged 7 to 17 years old will just need to submit a photo of any of the following IDs: student ID, passport, or national ID. Their parents will also be required to input their fully verified GCash account for reference and will be asked to take a selfie with the ID submitted by their child. GCash Jr. users are also required to submit a photo of their birth certificate. Upon submission of all the requirements, users will receive SMS confirmation as a fully verified GCash Jr. user!
Getting GCash Jr. opens up users to a whole lot of exclusive offers and deals. On top of that, GCash has gone all out with GCash Jr.’s hit song and music video featuring actress and top Tiktok content creator Andrea Brillantes, one of the country’s most phenomenal P-Pop band and Billboard chart-topper SB19, and 2021 Mobile Legends World Champions, Blacklist!
Your time to achieve financial freedom starts with GCash! You can download the GCash app for free on Google Play and the App Store. Watch the video to learn more and get the best GCash Jr. experience!
Smart boosts SM Cyber Month 2022
Tech-savvy customers of leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will get to enjoy amazing deals at the SM Cyber Month for the whole month of August 2022.
Launched at the SM Mall of Asia, shoppers will have the chance to find the right promos and gadgets that they need to level up their home, gaming, mobile, and productivity.
Mobile users who are looking for a powerful data pack to support their entertainment, gaming, and social media needs may also purchase Smart Power All 99 at the booth. This data pack gives subscribers 8GB access to all sites and apps, unlimited TikTok and unlimited texts to all networks valid for 7 days for only Php99. Meanwhile, customers who will avail of participating Smart Signature Plans from August 1 to 10, 2022 will also receive a free drawstring bag or reusable tote bag that they can use when they shop in the mall.
For those looking for the best connectivity for their homes on a budget, Smart Bro Home Wifi demo units have been set up in the Smart Home section to give them an idea of how their living and work-from-home spaces could look like, with the right gadgets, powered by the fastest network of Smart.
“Our strong partnership with SM allows us to reach more Filipinos with our customer-centric offers that help make their lives easier and more enjoyable through technology. Our Smart 4G and 5G networks provide them with their connectivity needs for productivity, entertainment, social media, and gaming,” said Precy P. Katigbak, FVP and Head of National Key Accounts at PLDT and Smart.
“For this year’s Cyber Month, we are focusing on innovations on the Internet of Things category, and latest consumer gadget trends that provide interactive experiences for our customers. We are glad to have Smart as our partner while we continue to look for ways to give our SM customers the best deals for their Smart home and other technology needs,” said Mark Ramilo, Group Marketing Manager — Cyberzone.
Philippines’ Best Mobile Coverage. Smart subscribers can make the most of their mobile experiences powered by Smart, which delivers the country’s Best Mobile Coverage as cited by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.
Prior to earning the Best Mobile Coverage citation from Ookla, Smart also dominated the April 2022 Mobile Network Experience Report by independent mobile analytics firm Opensignal, covering the essential aspects of service, especially speed and experience.
PLDT ramps up digital channels for customer convenience
The country’s largest fully integrated telco network PLDT Inc. has recently improved its digital self-service options to empower its customers through technology. PLDT customers now have options to conveniently pay bills, report service issues, track service repair tickets and new service applications, and monitor service interruptions.
“We are introducing new self-service channels to provide our customers with more convenient ways to report service issues and get help for their concerns without having to go to the physical stores or wait in queue for customer care agents over the hotline,” said Jeanine Rubin, FVP and Head, Customer Experience Group at PLDT. “These initiatives are part of our continued digital transformation, aligned with our goal to elevate the quality of service delivered to our customers through technology and innovation,” she added.
A new way to report concerns, track requests, and securely pay bills. A faster and better alternative to contacting the customer service hotline, PLDT Home customers can also use our official PLDT Home Facebook Messenger via the PLDT Home Digital Assistant https://m.me/PLDTHome to report a service issue and automatically get a repair ticket.
To address customer inquiries on the status of their repair tickets, PLDT has also improved the PLDT tracker on its website. Customers can access https://pldthome.com/pldt-tracker to know the status of their repair tickets and to confirm when the technician is scheduled to visit. New customers applying for a PLDT service can also use this tracker to know the schedule of installation.
Customers can now pay their PLDT and Smart bills through the Paybox kiosks located inside PLDT and Smart stores nationwide. Other digital payment options are the all-in-one money app Maya and platforms like PayExpress Online, Lazada, and Shopee. The complete list of our accredited payment partners can be found at www.pldthome.com/paymentcenters
More digital self-service capabilities will be introduced soon to provide easier and faster ways for customers to inquire about their bills, reconnect their services, and submit aftersales requests. For more information, visit www.pldt.com
Cohesive announces acquisition of MaximoCon
Cohesive, a wholly owned, independently operated, digital integrator business unit of Bentley Systems, Incorporated (Nasdaq: BSY), the infrastructure engineering software company, today announced the acquisition of MaximoCon, a Brazil-based consultancy specializing in technical services for IBM Maximo, IBM’s enterprise asset management solution.
MaximoCon has worked with Cohesive on a variety of global Maximo systems integration projects and is a long-time partner. Founded in 2015, the MaximoCon team offers both technical and functional senior-level expertise to Maximo implementations. MaximoCon will operate as an integral part of Cohesive.
Through the 2020 and 2021 combination of several acquisitions of industry leading advisory and consultancy businesses, Bentley Systems formed the digital integrator business, now newly branded as Cohesive, to advise and support infrastructure owner-operators in their digital transformations. Cohesive partners with clients to develop their digital strategies spanning the full infrastructure asset lifecycle, upgrade their enterprise environments, leverage digitalization and drive better ESG outcomes around efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
Clients understand that going digital will accelerate operations in a way that produces better outcomes for businesses and communities. The digital ecosystem of data, tools, and processes must be strategically adopted and integrated to meet the unique needs of the businesses while incorporating best practices. A sophisticated enterprise asset management system such as IBM Maximo is a critical component of the integrated digital ecosystem that enables data-driven decisions. MaximoCon will enable Cohesive to expand its technical and functional delivery resources, activating more teams and increasing depth in skill for enterprise asset management projects.
“Digitalization in enterprise asset management is a big priority for our clients and a key part of the digital twin core capability,” said Mark Bew, CEO of Cohesive. “Adding MaximoCon to our global team will further expand the already deep expertise we have in Maximo and drive more efficient delivery for our clients and help us gain access to the South American market. We have been partnering with MaximoCon on many projects and are excited to welcome them to the Cohesive family.”
Leonardo Bastos, executive of MaximoCon, said, “We are thrilled to join Cohesive and enhance the delivery of their implementations around IBM Maximo. Pairing the senior technical expertise of our firm with Cohesive’s deep experience of process, industry, and digital solutions provides a truly integrated and end-to-end experience for our clients.”
Bastos joins Cohesive along with other executive partners Breno Vida and Péricles Foureaux.
CebuanaLhuillier Insurance Brokers, Multisys ink pact on a digital platform for insurance providers
CebuanaLhuillier Insurance Brokers Inc. (CLIB), in collaboration with Multisys Technologies Corporation – a software engineering solutions firm – developed a new online platform designed for insurance providers
The website, called Insurebox, serves as an end-to-end e-commerce platform where CLIB can conveniently offer its products and promos, making it more accessible to the public.
Insurebox offers CLIB’s Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) insurance, one of LTO’s requirements in motor vehicle registry, for as low as P300. Other pertinent insurances like personal accident and health insurance will also soon be available in the platform.
“We are glad to move forward with yet another innovation with Multisys. Working with them for years has greatly helped our company toward our digital transformation journey. With this new collaboration, we can provide a more affordable insurance option to our kababayans and bring financial inclusion to all Filipinos by making our services more accessible anywhere in the archipelago,” CebuanaLhuillier president and CEO, Jean Henri Lhuillier said.
Among the features that will be in Insurebox is a smart e-KYC (know your client) system that will allow providers to verify customers and understand their needs to be able to recommend appropriate and tailor-fit products.
Policyholders will also be able to pay for their insurance premiums through various digital payment methods such as debit/credit, bank transfers, and e-wallets. This will also enable them to monitor their transactions real-time, including previous payments and unpaid settlements.
“This marks another milestone in CLIB’s portfolio as an insurance broker. As we plan to make more Filipinos protected, we are thrilled to deliver more efficient services and launch affordable,on-demand insurance products on the platform soon,” First Vice President and CLIB Group Head, Jonathan Batangan added.
SHAREit achieves 220% global revenue growth in the financial year 2021-2022
SHAREit Group, a next-generation technology company that democratizes digital access and empowers businesses to grow, achieved 220% global revenue growth in the financial year 2021-2022. In the same year, SHAREit Group’s advertising platform revenue achieved 3x growth.
According to Karam Malhotra, SHAREit Global Vice President, SHAREit Group’s advertising platform is committed to serving global clients in multiple fields, with deep coverage in key areas such as gaming, e-commerce, and fintech.
“Our clients are increasing incrementally with a year-on-year growth rate of nearly 30% in 2022. SHAREit Group was able to achieve this mainly by providing mobile advertising solution services to global partners. Thanks to this achievement, we are focused on growing our local teams in Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UAE, and Israel among others,” Malhotra said.
SHAREit Group currently has more than 1,000 employees worldwide. In the Philippines, newly-appointed country director Lester Lim shares that his team has plans of growing SHAREit’s presence locally.
“While growing the team is definitely in the pipeline, we want to focus more on unlocking synergies with our partners to boost their growth further. Part of the efforts is to help more start-ups in growing their audience and users through SHAREit the same way we have been doing since 2020,” says Lim.
SHAREit’s content discovery platform was also proven to be a helpful tool for awareness campaigns, reaching even the farthest places in the country. Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat is an awareness campaign that aimed to boost vaccine confidence by educating Filipinos on proper vaccine information and encouraging them to get vaccinated, in hopes of speeding up economic recovery in the country and SHAREit was one of the partner media for information dissemination.
One of the most popular apps in the Philippines and worldwide. The main product of the SHAREit Group is a user-demand-oriented app that provides users with features such as content browsing, file sharing, cache cleaning, game resource packs transfer, phone acceleration, power saving, file management, and state-of-the-art file sharing online and offline.
SHAREit Group has organically grown to a 2.4 billion user base globally, forming a huge app install ecosystem. According to the latest AppsFlyer Performance Report (14th Edition) released in 2022, SHAREit is the 4th top media source globally in volume and power rankings in non-gaming categories, 7th in all categories on the In-App purchases (IAP) index, 8th in all-category retention index, and 11th in the power ranking index, marking another growth milestone.
In the Philippines, the SHAREit app has around 40 million monthly active users and was also ranked as the #2 Top SEA headquartered applications publisher worldwide for 2020 by App Annie.
“Our active user base is grown organically. We haven’t done any user acquisition campaigns as of late and that’s a testament to how vital SHAREit is to the Filipino community. We’ve had reports of people using the peer-to-peer transfer feature whenever data is scarce,” says Lim. Download SHAREit through these links: Apple Store, Google Play Store, Windows for PC.
