Last month a report from Ben-Gurion University in Israel identified what it described as “a critical vulnerability” in Samsung devices that used the Samsung Knox security system.

The issue, which the university said “could be used to bypass all Knox security measures”, was raised by a PhD student.

Elements of McAfee mobile security products will become free for Apple iOS and Android devices, according to a statement made by Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at International CES 2014.

In addition, the McAfee name will be dropped as an online security brand, with future products becoming part of the new ‘Intel Security’ family.

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return with their first mobile industry podcast of 2014.

This week they're looking at new Samsung, Sony and ZTE products from CES, they're talking about Android embedded in cars, they're catching up with the latest news from BlackBerry, they're discussing cheque payments by smartphone, they're revealing complaint data from Ofcom and they're investigating quite a few other stories as well.

Intel-owned online security company McAfee Labs has published its Predictions Report for 2014, using trends from 2013 to forecast the type of online threats anticipated next year.

The company says it expects the mobile platform to “draw the lion’s share of threat innovation” in 2014. Ransomware - taking control of a user’s device and asking for payment - is expected to become an increasing threat to mobile users, as are sophisticated attacks that can bypass some security measures.

Telefónica recently announced a new security application that enables consumers to ‘switch off’ their social networks, online banking and other digital services when they’re not being used.

It’s called Latch and has been developed by internet security company Eleven Paths, which is part of Telefónica Digital.