Mobile phones play an invaluable role in modern society. While smart phones and mobile tablets can be useful tools for many businesses and individuals, it can be difficult to make sure that they are secure. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to secure your mobile phone.
Every year, almost two million mobile telephones in the United States are stolen. While some of these thefts may involve violent crimes, the majority of cell phones are stolen in non-violent ways. For example, leaving one’s cell phone on a table at a coffee shop while one using the restroom may increase the risk of cell phone theft.
In most cases, the loss of a smart phone can cost an individual hundreds of dollars. However, it can also cost an individual thousands of dollars under some circumstances. If a criminal is able to steal an individual’s identity through his or her smartphone, the consequences can be dire.
Modern smartphones are designed to interface with a variety of online services and accounts. In many cases, smart phones are set up to have access to email accounts, calendars, notebooks, online banking accounts and more. While some of these services may require a password prior to opening them, many of them don’t.
In addition, many people use inferior passwords and security protocols on their smart phones. While a facial recognition feature may be an effective way to thwart some hackers, it won’t stop a determined individual from accessing a phone.
It’s essential to make sure that one encrypts all important data on a cell phone or tablet computer. In addition, it’s important to make sure that one has a six digit pin number of swipe pattern set up on a phone. If an individual has a six digit swipe pattern, criminals will have to try over 200,000 different combinations to access a phone. If an individual uses a 10 digit swipe pattern, that number rises to over 5,000,000,000. This can be an effective way to ensure that important data on one’s phone won’t leak into the hands of hackers.
In addition, it’s a good idea to have a phone set up with security software that will wipe the phone in the event of its loss. For example, some software tools allow an individual to send a remote kill command to a cell phone. When this command is sent, all data on the phone will be erased.
Author Bio: Neha is a tech-expert with an extensive knowledge of smart phones. She frequently writes for some of the most renowned technology blogs and her reviews are read by thousands of people worldwide.
