Smartphone’s have become a critical part of our daily lives. Not only do they serve as a mode for on-the-go communication, but the functionality of these devices allow us to store more and more personal and business data locally. That’s why it’s essential that users protect themselves in the event a smartphone is lost, stolen or gets in the wrong hands. Since a large portion of our data universe resides in our pockets, data security is an important issue. Here are a few ways to protect your tech.
FEATURES THAT CAN BE ACTIVATED
Enable Password Lock: The first step to protect your smartphone is to
activate password protection in the devices settings. This allows you to prevent someone from gaining access to your phone without inputting your personal pass code in the event it’s lost or stolen.Lock SIM Password: Locking the SIM card with a PIN allows your phone’s data to only be activated with the proper password. After multiple tries the data is locked and can only be restored when the correct password is input.
Deactivating Bluetooth: Bluetooth functionality is a great feature, but remember this is another way for a thief to locate a device. For instance, if you have a phone or tablet in your car and Bluetooth is activated a thief can easily identify that the device is in the car. Turning off the Bluetooth when not in use will make for a less tempting target.
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ANTI-THEFT SOFTWARE FEATURES
To ensure maximum security the installation of anti-theft software–which uses the GPS positioning of the phone as part of its security features–is mandatory. Listed below are some of the features and software options that are available.
Remote Swiping: Most smartphone’s give you the ability to erase data remotely to ensure that sensitive information is removed in the event your phone is lost or stolen. All the data is backed up and can be easily restored.
Data Encryption: Most smartphone’s give you the ability to encrypt your data. For instance, in iOS4 Apple allows you to set a password in iTunes to activate the encryption functionality.
Install Anti-Theft Software: There are a variety of anti-theft apps available, including free and paid versions. Among the former are Apple’s Find My Phone, which is free for anyone with an iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch (iOS 4.2 or later required); F-Secure Anti-Theft for Mobile, which lets you locate and lock your Android or wipe the data if it’s gone forever; Microsoft’s Find My Phone, which enables users to erase, ring or locate your phone on a map; and R.I.M.’s Blackberry Protect, which enables you to wirelessly backup, locate and restore your BlackBerry smartphone. Then on the paid side there’s Gadget Trek, which is a leading anti-theft software that’s available on the iPhone, Android, Blackberry for Smartphone’s, tablets, and laptops.
Smartphone’s are designed to be anywhere, anytime products that have unlocked a whole new world for business and personal users. Activating the security features and installing anti-thief software will only take a few moments. Make sure your smartphone is secure in the case of an emergency.