How to for Mobile Device Security

Everyone is mobilizing, Our lives, not just business but also personal, have become entwined with our cell phones (or is it vice versa?). “Cell phone” isn’t even the right term anymore for many people, who use their BlackBerrys, iPhones, and other smartphones almost as much as they use their computers. This makes our mobile devices and the data they contain just as important as our laptops and desktops. Add a direct Internet connection—which very few people secure—and the likelihood of physical loss or theft and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

There are a number of things you can do to avoid a data-theft disaster. Here, we tell you how to keep your phone, data, and passwords safe. One final note: When you get rid of your phone, make sure you wipe it clean. Follow the directions under our How To Safely Dispose of Your Cell Phone or visit Sascha Segan’s instructions on deleting data when you no longer want to keep your phone.

iPhone Security

Enable passcode protection!

1. Enter the Settings app
2. Tap General
3. Tap Passcode Lock
4. Tap Turn Passcode On

• You can opt for a simple password, which is 4 numeric characters, or you can choose to disable simple passcode, in which you will have to use a longer, alphanumeric passcode.

Don’t jailbreak your iPhone!

Jailbreaking circumvents the security already in place, allowing you to install unauthorized applications on your iPhone.  However, this also means that you can easily get malicious software on your iPhone, which makes it easy for hackers to install remote access tools, keyloggers, etc. which will compromise all of the information on your phone.

Find My IPhone

Consider registering for Find My iPhone, which can help you locate your phone if it is lost, send a message to it, or even wipe its contents remotely if you need to:

Reset your iPhone

Restoring your iPhone to factory settings is a very simple process, and can be done right on the phone. Make sure you have a full iTunes or iCloud backup of your device if you wish to restore your contacts, photos, settings,  music, videos, apps, etc:

Android Security

Set a unlock pattern

Unlike most other devices, Android does not use a passcode but rather an ‘unlock pattern’ in which you swipe your fingertip across a series of dots in a prespecified manner.

1.      Open the Settings menu

2.      Tap Location and Security

3.      Tap Set Unlock Pattern (if you haven’t set an unlock pattern before)

4.      If you have set a pattern before, tap Change Unlock Pattern

5.      You should not be on the Draw Unlock Pattern screen.

a.       Touch your finger down on any dot on the screen and then swipe your finger over nearby dots in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal manner

b.      More dots connected and more complex patterns are more secure

 Reset your Android

With the countless versions of Android out on the market, the thought of resetting any particular Android device may seem complicated. However, this is not the case:

BlackBerry Security

Be sure to set a strong password!

1. Go to the Options menu
2. Scroll down to Security Options and click it
3. Click General Settings
4. Click the option for Password
5. Choose the Enable option
6. Enter your new password on the next screen. (If no screen appears, you may have already set a password for another application)
7. Set your number of password attempts. This is how many times you can guess your password before your phone is wiped/blanked of all its memory. Use with caution.
8. Set the amount of time you want on Security Timeout – the idle time until your phone automatically locks itself.
9. Select yes or no for prompt on application install.

 Reset your Blackberry:

Resetting your Blackberry is slightly more of a complicated process in comparison to other types of smartphones. We recommend Backing Up your device prior to resetting it.

Windows Phone 

Set your password!

1. On Start, flick left to the App List
2. Click Settings
3. Tap Lock + Wallpaper
4. To set up a password for the first time, turn on Password, enter your new password in the New password text box, and then reenter it in the Confirm password text box
5. If your phone already has a password and you want to change it, tap Change password, and then enter your phone’s current password in the Current password text box before entering your new password.
6. Set a time limit for screen time out (the amount of idle time before your phone locks itself) by tapping Screen times out after and then selecting the time length you want.

Reset your Windows Phone:

If you wish to preserve your settings and content on your windows phone, we recommend you Back Up your device before you reset it.

iPad Security

Enable passcode protection!

1. Enter the Settings app
2. Tap General
3. *Disable Smart Cover unlocking 
4. Tap Passcode Lock
5. Tap Turn Passcode On

• You can opt for a simple password, which is 4 numeric characters, or you can choose to disable simple passcode, in which you will have to use a longer, alphanumeric passcode.
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 For more information on protecting your iPad and more step by step instructions for better security.

Source: Mobile Security & Mr. OoPpSs