Emirates ID

Dubai: Residents are risking loss of passports and identity theft at busy typing centres in the rush to meet the May 31 deadline for Emirates ID registration.

"In all events, don't leave your passport at the typing centre to avoid possible loss," warns Emirates Identity Authority (Eida) on its website. However, many private centres authorised by the UAE government to fill in ID applications, refuse service unless residents hand in their passports, which have to be digitally scanned.

Receiving passports in advance of processing applications allows typing centres to add more clients to their list and work at their own pace later on - besides making more money as they charge Dh30 per application.

However, holding on to passports - for several days in many cases - means longer waiting lines for applicants already pressed for time under the looming deadline. The practice is also against the rules of Eida, which issues the ID card.

Residents complained virtually all typing centres in crowded neighbourhoods of Dubai and Sharjah demand they part with their passports.

During a random sweep this week, XPRESS found dozens of passports lying around haphazardly at typing centres in Safa, Satwa and Karama.

He suggested applicants make a ‘booking' the following day by submitting their passports before noon, which they would not see again for three days - the time it would take for the application to be completed. "Of course I cannot give you a receipt for the passport, that's illegal."A worker at a typist near Mazaya Centre said on Sunday: "We've run out of space to keep passports so we're not taking any more for now. There's no place left to hide them if [Eida] inspectors drop in."

Another typist in Karama who had no applicants present in person at his office, scoffed when asked to process an application on the spot. "Get in line - you want to see the line?" he laughed as he pulled out a drawer crammed with passports.

"I'm getting non-stop calls from applicants asking ‘Is it done yet? Is it done yet?' The best I can do for you is take your passport now and call you tonight to let you know how long it'll take."

In Sharjah, a Russian applicant who ran out of patience while waiting for his application to go through was seen quarrelling with a typist who refused to return his passport in Al Taawun area.

"I cannot give back your passport now, Just wait, I'm busy," the typist said. One applicant said on condition of anonymity: "I had to give my passport to the typing centre, what else can I do? They say, ‘if you don't like it, you can find another place.' I give up, there's no time left."

Dubai expatriates whose visas expire after 2012 will be fined Dh20 per day (up to Dh1,000 maximum) if they fail to register for their Emirates ID card by May 31.

Eida adds on its website that "residents of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, with residencies expiring in 2012, will be required to enrol for the ID card along with renewing their residencies".

Earlier deadlines, which were eventually extended, had seen tempers fray at overrun typing centres. No grace period has been announced for current deadlines in place.

Blog websites are most vulnerable to malware

Threat of infection of mobile devices continues to grow, although small when compared to personal computers.

Dubai: Users are more likely to be infected by a computer software virus while viewing a blog than any other website.

This is according to the latest Internet Security Threat Report, compiled by software protection company Symantec, released on Wednesday.

The report also found that websites with religious or ideological (political) content were more infected with a computer virus — malware — than pornographic sites. Only 2.4 per cent of adult sites were found to be infected, compared to 20 per cent of blog websites.

"We hypothesise that this is because pornographic website owners make money from the internet and have a vested interested in keeping their sites malware-free," Justin Doo, security practice director at Symantec Mena, said in a webinar.

Pornographic sites ranked 10th in the list of categories of sites that are most infected, after automotive themed sites (8th) and health and medicine sites (9th). "2011 was the first year that mobile malware presented a tangible threat to businesses and consumers, with threats primarily aimed at data collection, the sending of content and user tracking," Doo said. However, threats to mobiles still significantly trail personal computers in terms of actual attacks.

The growth of the And-roid platform has been phenomenal and this has not gone unnoticed by cyber criminals who have discovered it to be a lucrative target for malware.

Need for vigilance

"Organisations of all sizes need to be vigilant about protecting their information as we are seeing a large increase in attacks on mobile devices, targeting sensitive data," Doo said.

Stolen credit card details may go for as little as 40-80 US cents. Malware that sends "premium SMS text messages can pay the author $9.99 (Dh36.70) for each text and victims not watching their phone bill could pay the cybercriminal countless times," he said. Google had to remove over 100 malicious apps from the official Android market, Google Play, last year.

"Cyber criminals are finding it very convenient to distribute their malware straight to a mobile device and we have detected a big increase in the use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to target Android users," Yuval Ben-Itzhak, chief technology officer at AVG, said.

As workers are bringing their smartphones and tablets into the corporate environment, data breaches are expected to rise as "lost mobile devices present risks to information if not properly protected," he said.

"We're seeing attackers trying out different techniques on smartphones to see what works for them, to see which ones are going to make them money," Ben-Itzhak said.

One bright note in the report is that spam levels dropped considerably in 2011, from 88.5 per cent of all e-mail in 2010 to 75.1 per cent in 2011. Symantec said that on average, 42 million spam messages were in global circulation per day in 2011, compared with 66.1 billion per day in 2010.

Gulf countries improve rankings

Gulf countries have improved their global rankings in the 2011 Internet Security Report due to governments' strict regulations and close watch on the internet.

"UAE is ranked 46th compared to 36th in 2010 and the country is expected to improve further this year," Justin Doo, security practice director at Symantec Mena, told Gulf News.

He said the spam rate in the UAE stood at 73 per cent in 2011, compared to the global spam rate of 75.1 per cent. The spam rate in the UAE in March 2012 stood at 65.6 per cent compared to global spam rate of 64.5 per cent.

The report showed the US is still ranked number one, followed by China, India, Brazil and Germany.

Market oversupply cuts job options

Many employers who are hiring for entry-level jobs may prefer to hire those who begin their careers with the company

Despite signs of economic recovery, the global job market is still very competitive as many experienced professionals who lost their job during the recession remain in the ranks of the unemployed. This oversupply in the market spoils employers with the availability of candidates who may have more experience and knowledge than it is needed for a job — and who are often willing to accept surprisingly low wages for the sake of returning to the workforce.

This scenario also complicates the job-hunting process for fresh graduates who may feel the need to fight the more experienced over scarce entry-level jobs.

In this competitive market, however, fresh graduates can easily position themselves to capitalise on existing opportunities by playing up their capabilities and education that can make them a better fit for the employer's financial and professional requirements.

To do so, they must understand their own points of strength in today's market and be able to communicate them clearly and concisely. They also must be aware that even though an older and more experienced job candidate seems to be a good deal, an employer will still have concerns regarding this person's ability to fit it. Experience does matter, but it is not the only factor at play.

Here are a few points to consider if you're a fresh graduate looking for a job and trying to position yourself as a better fit than a more experience rival:

Fresh perspective

Take a forward looking approach: While you may be lacking in practical experience, having up-to-date education with an aptitude to learn is a huge plus. That is why it is important to highlight your relevant academic qualification to the hiring manager, and affirm your willingness to learn and receive training, if necessary. Many employers who are hiring for entry-level jobs may prefer to hire those who begin their careers on the company system rather than trying to convince older and more experienced professionals to change their ways. Employers appreciate the flexibility of new graduates. So what you need to do is to show how outgoing you are and prove to be able to integrate and adopt the system.

Affordable choice

No one likes to be an inexpensive option. But to get your first job money shouldn't be an obstacle — a fact that both you and the hiring manager will be aware of. Your task here is to convince the hiring manager that you can do the job just fine and there is no need to pay extra for experience. To do so, you will need an excellent resume that explains your education, any experience gained through education, and most importantly a list of references who are willing to vouch for you. You also need to realise that in today's tough market, you must be willing to slightly compromise in money negotiation, if any, for the sake of getting this first job. Once you get your foot in the door and prove your qualification and abilities, you will be in a better position to negotiate a higher pay.

Individual edge

Work out an individual advantage that sets you apart from other graduates in your field and level of experience. This could be academic excellence, volunteer work, an internship, or even your personal passion for technology, social media, etc. The point is to provide the hiring manager with a surprise advantage that makes up for the lack of experience and simply proves you're a good deal.

Commitment

Don't lose out on the stability point. It can be a concern for a hiring manager that you, as a fresh graduate, are likely to use the job as a jumping pad to a better position. And because employers do invest in training and through the learning curve of their employees, providing assurances of your career commitment can go a long way. While no one will stop you from jumping jobs later, racking a couple of solid years of experience before making a move can position you as a reliable and stable worker.

Thriving industry

If your education and qualification give you choice of different industries, try to select a path that has not been badly hit in the recent years of economic turmoil. This can help you begin in a more normal environment where it might be easier to score the first job — even though it won't guarantee professional shocks down the road. After all, no industry is totally immune of the market ups and downs.

Rania Oteify, a former Gulf News Business Features Editor, is currently a journalist based in Seattle.

The first job

• Play up your education and abilities.
• Focus on the job rather than the money.
• Show commitment and a bonus point.
• Don't go down a dead-end job career path

Company Registration in UAE

We LexBiz Consulting DMCC , have the expertise in Corporate Legal Consulting and many other fields.We would be delighted to assist our clients in getting their Company Registered here in UAE and serve them better .

Here the short information about services:

 INCORPORATION

• Main Land
• Free zone
• Off Shore

Company Formation

LexBiz Consulting DMCC is a Business Advisory, delivering comprehensive advise to clients on business planning, incorporation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. We are Specialists in Company Formation and have dedicated teams with extensive expertise in the mainland UAE. Our expert consultants are fully versed with the commercial law to competently establish from a simple Professional License to complex Joint venture public Joint Stock entities. Dedicated teams specialize in each of the 35 free zones to offer cost effective corporate solutions for your business. Each service is customized to deliver best results for your business.Free automated SMS and Email communications at each step of incorporation keep you up to date with progress. You will have 24/7, secure, online access to your account to track and review all operational and financial information relating to your orders.

Feel free to contact us on : m.farook@lexbizco.com

Visit us at : www.lexbizco.com

Freezone Company Formation

LexBiz Consulting DMCC offers competitively priced, quality document clearing service. It specializes in providing outsourced PRO Service solutions to corporate in Mainland and in Free Zones and to allowing them to focus on their core revenue generating business. Our dedicated team of PRO’s take pride in delivering results for most difficult cases. We provide regular updates on the process. Pro -actively advise on the process by which avoiding unforeseen delays and loss of time and money.We provide a dedicated account manager for closer follow-up and better long standing relationship.

For more information,please contact us at: m.farook@lexbizco.com

Visit us at : www.lexbizco.com

Trade License in UAE

Tired off working under someone. Come and open an Company in UAE.

contact me - 0552761575

For more information,please contact us at: m.farook@lexbizco.com

Visit us at : www.lexbizco.com