Mobile security

The former head of the UK's government's communications agency GCHQ has issued warnings over the privacy of the biometric security increasingly favored in top-end mobile phones and other devices, Computing reports.

The Samsung Galaxy S5, Apple iPhone 5s and Google Nexus 5 were amongst handsets to be successfully hacked during the Mobile Pwn2Own hacking competition, reports Forbes.

Mobile payments look set to be one of the defining technologies of 2015, as the launch of Apple Pay catalyses a boom in cardless payments - both from Apple’s own system, and rivals playing catch-up.

iOS and Android messaging app GroupMe has had a possible vulnerability fixed quickly by Microsoft, according to The Register. There was no evidence to suggest any cybercriminals had been able to exploit the flaw before it was patched.

One of the most popular and useful security functions of mobile handsets can be turned against the owner.

Google has outlined the enhanced security credentials of the upcoming Android 5.0 - nicknamed Lollipop - in an official blog post.

The latest version of Android, nicknamed Lollipop, will offer a new feature that could make stolen phones a whole lot less valuable to thieves: the ability to only allow factory resets when entering a password.

The latest version of the Apple iPad is due to be announced at an event later today, and according to Gizmodo, the Californian tech company are planning on bringing the fingerprint security system implemented in recent iPhones to its tablet market for the first time.

With Apple, Google and other tech companies responding to users’ demands for privacy with further smartphone encryption options, not everyone is happy. FBI Director James Comey is “very concerned” about increased mobile OS encryption, according to TechSpot.