HTC America's settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Friday has the potential to revamp not only how hardware manufacturers handle the security and privacy of mobile devices, but how carriers do so, as well.

“In many ways, this settlement is a shot across the bow of the handset and wireless industry and their practice of selling and abandoning devices after a few months,” said activist Chris Soghoian, principal technologist and senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union. “If I’m in those businesses, I’m seriously looking at this settlement.”

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Note: Use the linked name of each software product in the article to go to its full review. On its review page, use its linked name in the right column to go to its Product Information page. That page includes its "Download Now" button.