Top security vendors lose out

The world's top five security software vendors, including Symantec and Trend Micro, lost significant market share between 2006 and 2010, according to research firm Gartner, writes Computing.co.uk.

In 2010, security firms Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, and the security arms of IBM and CA Technologies between them accounted for only 44.3% of the market, down significantly from 60% in 2006.

The drop can be largely attributed to new, agile players moving into the market, according to Gartner.

Search giant Google's social networking foray saw fewer US visitors last week, and those who did visit spent less time on the site on average, according to new data released yesterday by market researcher Experian Hitwise, writes Cnet.

Google+ had 1.79 million visits for the week ending 23 July, a decrease of 3% compared with the previous week when the network had 1.86 million visits, Experian Hitwise reported. The average visit was 10% shorter, down from five minutes 50 seconds to five minutes 15 seconds.

Google declined to comment on specifics of the report, but cautioned it's based on the number of visitors and not the number of actual users.

Apple's dominance of the tablet market will continue another four years before Android finally catches up, say researchers, states V3.co.uk.

A report from Informa Telecoms and Media says the Android OS would start to make major strides on iOS by 2013, eventually pulling neck and neck with Apple in 2015 and taking over the top spot the following year.

The analyst firm predicts that by the time Android catches iOS in 2015, the market will be moving as many as 230 million units annually. Of those tablet sales, 87 million are predicted to be Android devices and 90 million iOS tablets.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in the Shetland Islands as part of an investigation into hacking groups, Anonymous and LulzSec, notes the BBC.

The man is suspected of using the online nickname Topiary and presenting himself as a spokesman for the groups. Both high-profile hacker groups are known for stealing and releasing private information from Web sites.

Police are also searching a house in Lincolnshire and interviewing a 17-year-old boy under caution.