According to Websense, spammers have tried to target mobile devices through what are known as quick response codes for URLs which came embedded in email. Quick response (QR) codes are a type of matrix barcode that are often used by mobile phones to direct a browser to a Web address. Websense found that the codes were  used to direct individuals to the pharmaceutical spammer’s website. It’s a dangerous trend for spammers to adopt QR codes as a means to push consumers to their websites because many QR readers automatically load websites based on information in the QR codes. Back in October, the research team at Kaspersky Lab found websites containing QR codes for mobile apps on the Android platform that included a Trojan capable of sending text messages. Such malicious codes will certainly become more common. It’s essential for individuals to ensure that their QR reader applications display destination URLs and provide an option for stopping automatic direction to websites. E-mail and Web security applications would also prevent users from accessing malicious sites.
 

Panasonic Corporation has published the details of its 60 GHz multi-gigabit wireless circuit technology at http://news.panasonic.net/stories/2012/0119_8703.html, aiming to accelerate the implementation of the “New Network Lifestyle” the company proposes. Panasonic’s ultra-high-speed wireless communication technology is based on WiGig and other network standards. Positioning it as a Smart Information Communication Technology (Smart ICT), the company has been promoting its development and integration into network, communication and other electronic devices. Panasonic hopes releasing the details of the technology and showing practical examples of the New Network Lifestyle to be enabled by the technology will expedite the progress toward achieving a convenient and comfortable future lifestyle. Smart ICT enables multi-gigabit wireless communication more than 20 times faster than conventional wireless LANs using the 60GHz frequency band. Through the optimization of both the transceiver core and peripheral circuits, it will also enable lower than 1W low-power, multigigabit wireless communication in the future. This technology would allow the transfer of a 30-minute long compressed high definition video to a smartphone in just 10 seconds.
 

Adobe’s first Digital Marketing Insights report found that throughout the entire last year, tablet visitors spent more per purchase than visitors using smartphones or traditional desktops and laptops, suggesting that tablet visitors were the most valuable online customers in 2011. The research was based on the analysis of 16.2 billion anonymous visits to the websites of more than 150 top US retailers. Tablet visitors spent 54 percent more than smartphone visitors and 21 percent more per purchase than desktop/laptop visitors. Tablet visitors were nearly three times more likely to buy products and services online than smartphone visitors and were nearly as likely to purchase as desktop/laptop visitors. Adobe noted that although companies frequently optimize websites for smartphone users, they have been slower to create such optimization for tablet users and consequently may be losing out.  The Adobe study suggests that that the demographics of tablet visitors, as well as the flexibility of the overall tablet user experience, contribute to higher tablet visitor profitability. Tablet visitors are typically males between the ages of 18-34 years old and tend to be more affluent than other online shoppers. Tablet users also have higher usage rates over the weekend, when they have more time to shop online.
 

While the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) wasn’t the most well thought out legislative direction from US lawmakers, another bill is something that the entire world should support. Introduced in June, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act (HR 2284/SB1270) would create federal laws to restrict toxic e-waste exports from the US to developing countries that lack adequate safeguards for the environment and workers. Advocates claim that in addition to protecting the environment and the health of workers in developing countries, the legislation would spur the creation of tens of thousands of jobs through the expansion of the domestic recycling industry in the United States. Supporting the Recycling Act is the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER) which includes 46 US companies with 108 facilities involved in all aspects of the domestic electronics recycling and disposition industry. Also supporting the legislation are HP, Dell, Apple, Samsung and LG. For more information on the legislation, go to www.americanerecycling.org.