Trend Micro founder and chairman Steve Chang explained to Tim Culpan, "Android is open-source, which means the hacker can also understand the underlying architecture and source code.  We have to give credit to Apple, because they are very careful about it."

Chang later continued, "Apple has a sandbox concept that isolates the platform, which prevents certain viruses that want to replicate themselves or decompose and recompose to avoid virus scanners."

Those comments could make the iPhone look much more appealing to potential buyers, especially considering that they now have a choice when it comes to networks.

Of course, while no one’s questioning Trend Micro’s expertise in security, those comments may also represent a bit of salesmanship, considering that the company made its first Android app available for purchase late last week.

In any event, for the sake of mobile users, let’s hope hackers don’t have much luck with either Android or the iPhone.

The app, called Mobile Security for Android, is supposed to protect users in four ways.  The first feature is a safe surfing mode designed precisely to combat phishing attacks.  And download protection will also shield users who happen to come across something unpleasant online.

A third feature is slanted a little more towards privacy than traditional security.  Call and text filtering should nonetheless be welcome, though.

Finally, for adults whose phones might wind up in the hands of careless or overcurious kiddos, Trend Micro’s packaged parental controls into the app, as well.

Mobile Security for Android is meant to work on phones running Android 2.0 or higher.  A 30-day free trial’s available, while the full app costs $3.99 when it comes time to commit.

Interestingly, Trend Micro made clear that it’ll create many others apps for Android in the future.

The survey included 1,600 users in the U.S., U.K., Germany and Japan, found globally social networking at work increased from 19 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2010. The highest increase in social networking in the workplace during the last two years was found among users in the U.K., which had a 6 percent increase, and Germany with a 10 percent increase.

"Social networking is an extremely important tool both for personal and professional-relationship building. And while most companies’ concerns around social networking in the office center around the loss of employee productivity, what they may not realize is that many social networking sites are built on interactive technologies that give cybercriminals endless opportunities to exploit end users, steal personal identities or business data, and corrupt corporate networks with malware," said David Perry, global director of education, Trend Micro.

"With the right security solutions and social networking guidelines implemented, there is no reason why companies who choose to allow their employees the option of visiting these sites should be overly exposed to these risks."

Not including Japan, there were no major differences between users from small businesses and those from large companies, but the survey found laptop users are much more likely than desktop users to visit social networking sites. Globally, social networking usage via laptops went up by 8 percent from 2008 to 2010. In the U.S., it increased by 10 percent and in Germany, up by 14 percent.

In 2010, 29 percent of laptop users compared to 18 percent of desktop users surveyed said they visited these sites at work. In Japan for 2010, small-company employees were much more likely than those from large companies to visit social networking sites – 21 percent from small companies compared to 7 percent from large companies.

For all countries surveyed in 2010, laptop users who can connect to the Internet outside of company network are more likely to share confidential information via instant messaging, email and social media applications than those who are always connected to a company’s network.
 

Trend Micro (TMIC) learned it has won a year’s extension on its agreement with Microsoft (MSFT) to deliver antivirus services.

The Trend Micro technology scans sent and received messages for the usual threats, like viruses, Trojan programs, and other malicious programming. Trend Micro’s shares finished up 2 cents at 34.72 in trading today.

Antivirus and security competitor Symantec (SYMC) moved up 25 cents to 16.78 as it enters a financial quarter one analyst considers the company’s riskiest.

Forbes reported on Cowen & Co.’s Walter Pritchard’s opinion that Symantec could benefit from a stock buyback and changing its capital structure. However, those options do not guaranteed a significant uptick in shareholder value.

The antivirus companies all face growing competition from Microsoft. The software company has made strides toward delivering a more secure operating system to its customers, by providing a built-in firewall in Windows XP, an antispyware product, and the debut of its OneCare beta program.

OneCare provides antivirus and firewall services, plus performance tuning and system backup and restore options. In 2005, Microsoft had discussed plans to included antivirus on its Vista operating system, but complaints from Symantec to the European Union appear to have pushed that project aside.

McAfee (MFE) moved up 11 cents to 24.67 in today’s trading, as it announced a revamped Threat Center portal and a new Intrusion Prevention System, IntruShield 3.1.

That follows a downgrade of its shares by an S&P analyst from “strong buy” to “buy” and a lowering of its target price to $31 from $34. McAfee may have a competitive advantage with its IntruShield product, as the company claims it can protect unpatched browsers and desktops from a variety of threats, including the installation and communication of botnets.

Check Point (CHKP) has remained relatively flat since it and acquisition target SourceFire mutually ended their plans in the face of a likely hostile government review process. The company finished at 18.57, seven cents up from Friday’s close.

However, the company has lowered its 2006 financial forecast, partly because of the thwarted Sourcefire acquisition. First quarter revenue for the company has been forecast at $133 million to $134 million for the period ending March 31st.

Entrust (ENTU) continues to disappoint investors, with its shares being downgraded to “hold” by Wedbush Morgan Securities. Newratings.com reported how another quarter that missed analyst estimates resulted from the company’s inability to close significant deals for Public Key Infrastructure services it provides.

Computer Associates, now called CA, Inc., (CA) also continued its descent, closing seven cents down at 26.73. As former CEO Sanjay Kumar and global sales exec Stephen Richards near their trial dates for securities fraud and obstruction of justice, the new CA leadership has been trying to right the ship.

That could happen if the company’s growth strategy for the Asia Pacific Japan region bears fruit. Recently, CA shuffled four executives in the region, aimed at executing CA’s fiscal year 2007 strategy. The company announced these changes to the APJ leadership:

—

Add to | DiggThis | Yahoo! My Web | PreFound.com

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business.