Mobile Security Tips to Follow

This will be the first in a series of articles about mobile phone security. This first article deals with Internet security in general, and the follow-up articles will be on specific security apps for Andorid and iOS devices. Even if you follow just a few of these tips, you will go a long way in safeguarding your information, both personal and financial.

1. Don’t Lose Your Phone

Or, if you do, make sure that your phone is password protected. And just to be clear, a password like 1234 or 0000 is not really a password. This is basically a default code, so try to be a little more creative when choosing a code.

If you go into your General settings on your iPhone, for instance, under Passcode Lock, you can also select to have all data wiped from your phone if after 10 tries the right password is not entered. Of course, this means that a code should not be so difficult that even you have a hard time remembering it.

2. Download with Care

It is always a good idea to carefully review an app before downloading it. You should also make sure you cross-reference reviews so that you are not using just once source. Although Apple has much stricter guidelines for uploading new apps to the App Store, it has been shown that iOS devices are not impervious to hackers.

That said, if you have an Android device, you must exercise greater caution when downloading because the Android Market is a completely open forum. This allows, in theory, for greater diversity and creativity, but it also makes the entire market place, so to speak, more vulnerable to hacker attacks.

3. Safeguard Data

Your phone is basically a computer, so you need to show as much care in safeguarding data on a tablet or cellphone as you would on a regular computer. This is especially true if you use applications to view PDF files or if you transfer information via the Cloud.

Most apps that allow you to view a Word document or a PDF file, for example, do not actually save the file on your device. That file is saved on a remote server that belongs to the app developer or one that the developer has piggybacked on. That is, if you have no way of knowing whether or not the remote server can be trusted, then you probably should find a more traditional way to review and work with these types of files.

The Cloud is another issue all together and leads us to the next tip.

4. Wi-Fi & “The Cloud”

In their 2011 Mobile Threats Report, Juniper Networks states that Wi-Fi hotspots are expected to grow from 1.3 million in 2011 to 5.8 million in 2015. Although the convenience of these ‘free’ hotspots is undeniable, they must be accessed with caution. Simple tools and apps, such as FaceNiff and Firesheep, now exist that allow you to essentially eavesdrop on other mobile devices that are using unprotected hotspots.

Of course, even mentioning these ‘tools’ here is a risk, but it is important to know that they exists so that you can make an informed decision when traversing a hotspot’s access point. In other words, when you are at a local Starbucks and decide you want to use their complimentary Wi-Fi, make sure that the information you will be accessing (or that you have on your phone) is not vital.

The same can be said for cloud computing. Although the cloud offers marvelous features and versatility, it should be used with discretion. All it takes is one time for sensitive data to breached and misappropriated.

5. Review App Permissions

App stores are starting to be a little more transparent with respect to the data to which they have access. Be sure when you first open an app (after downloading it) not skip over the step where permission is asked to access or share your information.

Although some apps have a social-networking component, like Hipster or Path, the choice is ‘always’ yours. All you have to do is select “Don’t Allow.” Now, this might mean that some key features will be disabled, but you have to weigh this against potential security breaches, which have happened, for example, in the case of both Path and Hipster.

Ultimately, much of the onus when it comes to securing our information falls on us, the user. With the exponential growth and potential use of mobile devices, there has scarcely been enough time for consumers to consider all the implications. Developers and app platforms like the App Store and Android Market are starting to take some responsibility for securing their products and services, but not enough can be said for a little good, old-fashion common sense.

Stay tuned for more information on securing your iOS and Android devices.