Down-to-earth solution against ransomware for security administrators

Recently, more and more criminals are using ransomware, a type of malware that restricts user’s access to a computer system or encrypts data(office files, pictures, videos etc.), then demands payment to remove the ransomware and restore the files or systems. AhnLab, Korea’s leading cybersecurity company, said in its recent report that both the number of 3 major ransomwares, CryptoLocker, CryptoWall and Teslacrypt, and the number of PCs those hit by them in Korea is growing fast from September to

Jan. 22, 2016

Government to unveil possible 4th mobile carrier next week

South Korea's ICT ministry said Friday it will determine whether to license the country's fourth mobile carrier next week after months of deliberation on candidates.The three candidates passed an initial government assessment in November in line with the ministry's plan to inject more competition into the market, which is currently dominated by only three -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp., and LG Uplus Corp. The Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning, which oversees the country's communications

Jan. 22, 2016

Samsung top sellers of phones, tablets, PCs in Q1-Q3 of 2015

South Korea tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. sold the largest number of so-called smart connected devices in the world in the first nine months of 2015, data showed Friday. Samsung Electronics sold 266 million smart connected devices -- a collective term for smartphones, tablets and personal computers -- worldwide in the January-September period, accounting for 19.3 percent of the total, the International Data Corporation said. U.S. tech behemoth Apple ranked second, selling 205 million iPhone

Jan. 22, 2016

Samsung considers cutting staff incentives on sluggish sales

 A sense of frustration seems to be pervading the halls of Samsung Electronics as incentives for the year 2015, dubbed the overall performance incentive, are anticipated to plunge due largely to its below-par business performance last year.The OPI reward program pays up to 50 percent of the annual salaries of workers within the range of 20 percent of the firm’s excess profits. The Samsung logo at Samsung Electronics’ head office in Seoul. (Yonhap)Samsung also runs their target achievement incent

Jan. 21, 2016

SK Planet sells off Loen stake to Kakao

SK Planet, owned by South Korea’s largest telecom carrier SK Telecom, said Thursday that it will sell off its 15 percent stake in Loen Entertainment, the operator of MelOn, Korea’s top music-streaming, to the new owner Kakao. The shares were valued at 368 billion won ($302 million). The SK Planet logo. (SK Planet)The company said that the decision was made during a directors’ meeting in the day as part of its business restructuring that has continued since last year to pour more resources into p

Jan. 21, 2016

Sales of UHD TVs to outpace full HD rivals in 2016

The global market for Ultra HD TVs is set to lead the global TV industry throughout 2016, data showed Thursday, beating its full HD rivals in market share for the first time. According to the data compiled by industry tracker IHS, UHD TVs are expected to take up 49 percent of global TV sales this year, hovering far above the 36.6 percent estimated for full HD models. LG Electronics' UHD TVs UHD TVs, often referred to as 4K TVs, boast a resolution of 3,840×2,160, while their full HD counterparts

Jan. 21, 2016

Samsung sued in Netherlands over Android updates

The Dutch Consumentenbond, the largest consumer advocacy group in the Netherlands, has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, accusing the Korean tech giant of having delayed software updates for its Android smartphones. The group had been in talks with Samsung about the issue, but no positive outcome was reached, they said. “We saw no other option but to file suit,” the group said in a statement Monday. Citing its own research, the group said that 82 percent of Samsung phones sold in the

Jan. 21, 2016

Korean start-ups eye Southeast Asian tech boom

As global-bound Korean start-ups struggle to break into the fray of competition in the U.S. and China, a handful are seeking the road less traveled, but booming with potential -- to Southeast Asia.　Internet penetration from the Philippines to Indonesia has more than quadrupled in the past five years as rising incomes and rapidly developing infrastructure have allowed nearly 200 million users across the diverse region access to mobile services. 　And the popularity of Korean pop culture, from musi

Jan. 20, 2016

[Herald Interview] Big data helps SMEs beat Goliath firms

Although many people talk about big data these days only a few truly understand its potential and actively make use of the related technologies in their businesses, due largely to expensive costs to build and manage infrastructure.Businesses that have swiftly adopted the emerging technology often pose a formidable challenge to leading market players.Video-streaming platform Netflix is a great exemplar as it has successfully integrated big data systems in its streaming services to meticulously an

Jan. 20, 2016

Samsung overhauls contract chip business: report

Samsung Electronics has started a large-scale inspection into its contract chip business division that recorded almost 1 trillion won (820 million) loss in 2014, The Herald Business reported Wednesday. The System LSI division, part of the semiconductor unit, produces non-memory chips for mobile application processors, image sensors for cameras and TV displays.Samsung’s System LSI division chief and president Kim Ki-namAccording to the report, the inspection aims to look into the division’s inves

Jan. 20, 2016

South Korea rules the world as most innovative economy

In the world of ideas, South Korea is king.Germany, Sweden, Japan and Switzerland rounded out the top five in the 2016 Bloomberg Innovation Index, which scored economies using factors including research and development spending and concentration of high-tech public companies.South Korea notched top scores worldwide for manufacturing value-added as well as for tertiary efficiency ― a measure that includes enrollment in higher education and the concentration of science and engineering graduates. W

Jan. 20, 2016

LG Innotek to focus on new growth business

Korea’s leading smartphone camera module-maker LG Innotek said Tuesday that it would focus on electronic components and materials in a bid to seek new growth engines.The company said it plans to rake in 200 billion won ($166 million) in revenue in the business in the next three years.LG Innotek CEO Park Jong-seok. (LG Innotek)Outlining its mid- and long-term plans, the company also said it would jump in the businesses for the metal power inductor, which helps prevent abrupt changes in electric c

Jan. 19, 2016

‘Cloud transition vital for success’

Flexibility and mobility are core elements for businesses to counter challenges in fast-changing business environments.Cloud computing services, which enable people to work anywhere and with anyone, will play a pivotal role in beefing up those two elements and ultimately change the business landscape, according to an executive at Oracle.Steve Deheb, senior vice president at Oracle, speaks at a press meeting held during the Oracle CloudWorld, a cloud conference held in Seoul on Tuesday. (Oracle)“

Jan. 19, 2016

Uber launches luxury sedan service in Korea

Uber, the U.S. taxi-hailing app operator, said Tuesday it was officially launching its luxury sedan service Uber Black in Korea.  Uber Black drivers pose with Kia’s K9 luxury sedans. Uber KoreaThe premium taxi service teams up with veteran taxi drivers with five or more years of taxi driving experience without an accident or one or more years of deluxe taxi driving experience without an accident. Uber will provide its own service training to drivers on how to offer services that meet Uber Black’

Jan. 19, 2016

Samsung holds luxurious banquet for new executives

Samsung Group held a luxurious banquet to celebrate some 400 newly minted executives and their spouses at the Samsung-affiliated Hotel Shilla in Seoul on Monday.  Lee Seo-hyun, fashion business president of Samsung C&T, walks at the entrance Monday of Hotel Shilla in Jangchung-dong, Seoul. (Yonhap)The event is part of a five-day training program for the year’s new executives. Samsung promoted 197 executives in a December reshuffle, the lowest figure from 167 in 2009. Samsung Electronics vice cha

Jan. 19, 2016

Xiaomi’s affiliate ZMI forays into Korean market

SK Planet, the operator of e-commerce platform 11st, said Monday that it has joined hands with ZMI, an affiliate of Chinese budget smartphone-maker Xiaomi.Some of the Xiaomi affiliate’s flagship products, including portable smartphone batteries, LED lights and electric fans, will be distributed by the Korean partner here. The move came amid heated competition to launch Xiaomi’s products, considered affordable while having comparable specifications, in the Korean market. 　Lee Chi-hun, the head of

Jan. 18, 2016