Simple Smartphone Security Tips

Smartphones, like the iPhone, are actually mobile mini computers. As well as running Apps they are designed to carry a wide range of personal and business information

like birthday details, parents' names, addresses and internet login links. All this data would be very valuable to a criminal were they to get their hands on your smartphone. Considering how easily an iPhone can be left in a cab, on a bar stool, or mysteriously disappear from your pocket... it’s a good idea to ensure you properly safeguard your mobile and information.

We all know that prevention is better than cure so let’s take a quick looks at some of the things you can do to better protect your smartphone:

Lock it
All phones have security features, so check the manual and turn them on. Work out your smartphone’s lock features, and then set a password to lock your phone when it’s not in use.

Don’t save passwords or PINs as contacts
While this is tempting, it’s the first place criminals will look. Even if you think you’ve hidden them well, the crooks will be very motivated to crack your codes.

Be careful with WiFi
Try to only use encrypted networks and set your phone up to request confirmation before connecting to a new network. Be sure to always do any online banking over a trusted network.

Find/wipe service
If you have really valuable information on your smartphone look at registering with a consumer find/wipe service. These services can locate a missing phone and wipe all your saved data if it’s not coming home. See MobileMe for an example of this type of service.

Delete all data
If you recycle or throw away your old phone, always ensure you remove all traces of personal information.

If you stop to think about it, the information you store on your Smartphone is probably more valuable than the Smartphone itself. While we are all enjoying discovering the capabilities of these new devices, it’s worth taking the time to protect the information you store on them.