Smart Phone Security BASICS
Hello readers :) While debating the Apple security points I prevously made, a friend of mine brought up a really good point. Why should basic security encryption matter, when the majority of iPhone users, and smart phone users in general, don't use a screen lock!! This was a stunning realization for me, as I have been living in security land for so long, I almost forgot how the average customer thinks about security. The average consumer sees security products as a nesesary evil, and puts up with them, despite disliking them. But again, I emphesise the magnatude of the data we now carry around with us daily: smart phones are a 'single point of intersection', of very important personal data. If a person's smart phone is comprimised, they will lose confidentiality of e-mail and contacts, integrity of social applications, availability to their information, and authentication to their serveices. Their entire digital identiy could be comprimised by someone simply picking up their phone. This is why I emphisise screen locks. Its not a hard process, and can be set up with almost any smart phone under 'settings' -> 'security' -> 'screen-lock'. Its a pretty fundamental piece of security, plus it makes you look really cool, so get on it lockBoxx readers!! With that said, I hear allot of stories about people losing their smart phones to theft. Lookout Mobile, for Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile, can locate lost or stolen phones by GPS and position them directly on a map! Now granted, you have to download and install Lookout before you lose your phone, so this is a good time to be preemptive and get that app! Lookout can also provide remote alarm, lockdown, and a data-wipe to give you even more protection over your private data. Lookout is a fantastic app, so after you get your screen lock, look a little farther ahead and be prepared!