Both Google and Apple must improve their internal bug tracking capability to protect their users' information and devices, according to recent reports from various industry experts.
While cyber criminals appear to have mastered malware aimed at both consumer and enterprise computers, their attention has shifted to the growing mobile customer base. As products, such as Apple's iPhone and Android-based smartphones, become increasingly popular, it's imperative that development teams place bug tracking atop their priority list.
For Apple, a bug in its iOS caused many people to oversleep on New Year's Day. An issue with the changing years affected those using one-time alarm clock features, while iPhone customers who use recurring alarm clock settings did not experience the problem. Older versions of the iPhone were not affected by the bug, however, users of iOS 4.1 and 4.2.1 relying on their alarm were not awoken properly.
In the past, Apple has experienced issues with its alarm clock settings during Daylight Savings Time in the United States. However, recurring alarm settings were the problem at that point. The company has remained quiet as usual, likely opting to respond by assigning bug tracker teams to the problem rather than publicly discussing the failure.
For Android, its potential problems come from the outside. According to a number of sources, Geinimi, a Trojan designed to steal Android user information, has become an issue for many users. Internally, the company cannot do too much to negate the effects of the strain, since it comes from a rogue application designed to trick users into downloading it. However, Android can help protect its users by improving its system's security by ensuring its project tracking teams and solutions factor in bug tracking and other defense mechanisms during the development of new Android iterations.
With smartphone use booming in the United States and most of the world, cyber criminals will likely stop at nothing to profit as heavily as they can from exploiting security flaws in other popular devices and services, such as wireless internet routers and SaaS applications.
Both Google's Android workers and Apple's iOS team are expected to release new versions of their mobile operating systems in 2011, and users want to be protected. However, it's imperative that smartphone customers of all major brands understand their own responsibilities in terms self defense.
Rachel Zee is a freelance technology writer. Her software development coverage includes the bug tracker and project tracking space.
