*ATTENTION* Android Phone Users - "Malicious Application" - Be Aware!

Android phone users may be in for a shock on their next phone bill. Google, Androids creator has identified the first “malicious app” for its popular phone. This phone virus is disguised as a media player but once installed, it sends text messages to a premium rate number. The viruses creator then collects the money from the premium number. That means big charges and little recourse for those affected. This booby trapped app was discovered by Kaspersky Labs and is spread by text message. The message tells users to install a 13KB media player app. The virus or “trojan” is called Trojan-SMS.AndroidOS.FakePlayer.a. Currently, the virus is most common in Russia but because it is spread via text, android users in the U.S. and elsewhere can also be targeted.

A spokesman for Google says users can take steps to prevent their phones from being infected. First, read the permissions screen before installing. This screen tells users what the app has permission to do. Second, only install apps you trust and finally, be especially cautious when installing applications outside the Android market.



Blog Posting By: Tyler Griffin, Creative Director - Mindshift Media
Written By: Brad Girtz - Mindshift Media Blogger

Facebook New Search Feature called "Questions" - (Sneak Peak) Available Soon!

20 years ago, anyone with a question went to an expert. Then came the internet, and people began to use giant search engines like Yahoo and Google to find answers. This gave people access to far more information, but lacked the personal approach and security you got from asking a known expert. Without knowing where information originates, it can be hard to see bias or know how credible the source really is. That is the premise behind a new search feature on Facebook called “Questions”.



The option allows users to post questions to other users of Facebook. That way not only do you get an answer to a question, but you know where, or better yet, who the answer came from. The option is being offered to a small selection of Facebooks 500 million users for now but it will be available to a wider audience soon.

Some online analysts see this as a direct challenge to Google, but it is more likely to be a threat to search engines like ask.com and yahoo answers. Facebook can not match the searching and indexing power of google, instead, it will use its vast network of social contacts to help answer questions. That means it will not provide the immediate results provided by Google, but it may give users better answers to more specific or specialized questions. It could also prove a great way to find knowledgeable professionals. One day businesses may even use Questions as a sort of pre interview phase to vet potential employees.

Either way, web users now have another choice in the ever growing number of specialized search engines.


Blog Posting By: Tyler Griffin, Creative Director - Mindshift Media
Writter By: Brad Girtz - Mindshift Media Blogger