How Important is Encryption on Mobile Phones?

Every day for the last several weeks, Apple has been in the news. For it's new iPhone or Apple Watch wristbands? Yes, but not for the reason I'm referring to... because of their ongoing battle with the FBI over iPhone encryption. Got a question for you - before this publicity, when was the last time you thought about the encryption on your device?

Like many first-adopters, you probably have a Kindle, possible an Android device, an old iPod laying around, and certainly an iPad and your iPhone. I'll admit that I haven't given it much thought. Passwords, yes. Logging out of publicly accessible equipment, yes. But the hardware and software that I pay for, that I trust to contain my digital life? Not really. Did you pick up on the key word earlier? Trust.

Throughout this ordeal, Apple has showed their supporters that they have their backs. It's important to follow the law, I completely agree. But, they're not going to unlawfully provide access to a clients data without the readily available tools to do so. What I've found so odd throughout the timeline this has been happening is how little security and encryption is encoded into the other technologies on the market.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, the Wall Street Journal wrote an article entitled "Google Faces Challenges in Encrypting Android Phones." Turns out, the reason it's such a problem is that very few Android phones are encrypted. One of the drawbacks of an open ecosystem is sluggishness when the hardware and software don't work together harmoniously. Since there are so many manufacturers that utilize the Android operating system and it's designed to work on a wide variety of hardware platforms, the handset makers have resisted adding encryption to their devices because it can hurt the phone's over all performance.

Almost all of us buy from Amazon, and we know our transactions are safe and secure with them due to their world-class encryption, so that should be the same with their devices, I would think. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Shockingly, the Amazon Fire OSn5 has no encryption built into its software.

One of the most common questions we get asked is "when will Virtual Halo be built for Android?" That's a good question and we're interested in doing so, but we want to make sure we've built out our tech on a single platform first. Also, for us, it's very important that our tech is secure. Part of the point of Virtual Halo is that no one is watching you through our service. It doesn't actively report a user's location - only when events occur such as an SOS, a Check In, or when a user doesn't cancel a "Going Out" notification. We don't like big brother, and we're building our app to give our users the peace of mind that comes with our notifications. As Android matures, and adds encryption, we will look at that platform in earnest. It's a great software, and a lot of Android users have said that they're interested in Virtual Halo. For us, all in due time. But, safety, security, and privacy always come first.

What's a good App icon look like?

It's a hard question; one in which I'm working on right now. One has to consider how they want their app to look. Does it resemble the company as a whole, or is it merely a product of the company? Should it connotate fun, or professionalism? Should it be descriptive or oblique? It's tough to decide when the canvas starts white, with a world of possibilities from which to choose from. From a user experience standpoint, it's a really important decision. It sets the tone.

In the life of a startup, there are a lot of decisions that need to be made; some big and some small, but the icon of your flagship product needs to hit the mark. It tells a story. Even though the adage says to not judge a book by its cover, we all do. If the icon isn't compelling, what else will a person use to make the determination that they want the app?

This is the point I'm at. Right now, I'm leaning towards this type of a look. What do you think? What kind of emotions or thoughts does it evoke in you? Does it show what you think Virtual Halo is as a company? Yes, the icon can be changed in the future, but we're really trying hard so that we won't have to do that.

The question I now ask: "Does this icon set the tone for an app dedicated to personal safety?"

Comments are great, please leave them below. We take all of the feedback given to try to give our customers what they want. Thanks!

Virtual Halo WON KeyStart!

Every two months, StartupPeoria hosts an entrepreneurial pitch contest for local startups called KeyStart! This past Thursday, was the third KeyStart and Virtual Halo was chosen to be a finalist amongst the applicants. Three companies are chosen and then a fourth is chosen by the community. Each of the four presenters are given three minutes to give their pitch. JUST THREE! And that's followed by a 10-15 minute question and answer session where the judges ask the presenter questions about their startup.

Four start the process, but only one goes home with a giant 4-foot check worth $5,000 in investment funding.

Contestants were told to be at LDVM in the Warehouse District for a tech check in preparation for the pitches that begin at 7pm. HDMI dongle in hand, I made my way into expanse of the exposed brick structure, which sits the the left of The Nest, Peoria's Coworking space. After meeting the rest of the contestants and putting on my duly-issued lanyard, I checked my tech and was relieved that it worked as expected.

Randon, our MC for the evening, pulled our names out of a hat for the order we would go in, and low and behold, I was chosen to go first. They say to go first or last, so I wasn't disappointed, but I was secretly hoping to get a comfort level of how the judges were going to work the process.

Before long, family and friends arrived, along with the judges, crowd, pizza and beverages.

• 7:10pm  Randon started speaking
• 7:20pm  I started my three minute presentation
• 7:23pm  I finished my three minute presentation. Questions from the judges started flying
• 7:35pm  My time on stage concluded. Now the waiting game begins...
• 9:00pm  The judges adjourned to discuss the startups and decide who would win
• 9:10pm  Randon emerges with the giant 4-foot check. Shrouded in secrecy.
• 9:15pm  Without further adieu, Randon announces Virtual Halo the winner of KeyStart!

I'd like to thank the StartupPeoria, judges and the sponsors of KeyStart! This type of a program brings excitement, youth, and fun to entrepreneurship and to Peoria. Without the help of Attollo, OneFire, DJ4U, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust, this event would not happen. Thank You!

Kickstarter was fun

What a ride! 31 days and tons of feedback; thank you, backers and other interested parties! We made it about 23% of the way. Not bad when I consider the fact that I hadn't done a Kickstarter campaign before and went into it without a marketing campaign (and budget) associated with reaching our $30,000 goal.

To everyone that backed us - thank you. And, since we didn't make our goal, your cards will not be charged and your'e not out anything.

Stay tuned! We've got some fun things coming your (and our) way in the next few weeks that we're sure you'll be interested in. Oh, and beta testing will be commencing in October. Interested in applying to be a beta tester? Sign up here!

1 Million Cups Peoria

I had the great opportunity to speak to an engaged group of Peoria entrepreneurs yesterday at the 1 Million Cups event that is held every Wednesday morning at 9am in the Art Guild building. If you're not familiar with 1 Million Cups, it is a weekly national program deployed in cities all around the country that connects entrepreneurs. Developed by the Kauffman Foundation, 1MC is based on the notion that entrepreneurs discover solutions and network over a million cups of coffee.

Interested in attending? Visit their site here.