Are Your Smartphone Security Practices Really That Smart?

Your computers and servers are protected from external threats, but have you thought about your business’s mobile devices lately? Some business owners who have an office full of mobile devices might not immediately think about the security risks associated with storing sensitive data on them. Therefore, it’s essential to consider these threats when planning your mobile device security strategy.

Even the average smartphone owner can take major steps toward shielding themselves from the myriad of threats that are found online. Here’s a list of methods you can take to keep both your own personal data, and that of your business, from falling into the wrong hands.

Set Up a PIN or Other Authentication Method
You wouldn't believe the number of people who don’t have their smartphone locked. All it takes is a swipe of the finger to get into the device. This makes it especially easy for hackers to access the contents of the device if they can get their hands on it. When choosing a PIN or password, it’s important to have it be as secure as possible by making it difficult to guess. Or, if this doesn't sound like something you can do, the least you should consider is a pattern lock, in which the user swipes their finger in a specific pattern to unlock the device.

It should also be mentioned that there are several other ways to protect your smartphone, including password protection and, depending on the device, facial-recognition or fingerprint identification scanners. There’s even what is known as a SIM card lock, which can prevent someone from using the SIM card in another phone; but petty thievery like this is the least of your worries when dealing with the Internet.

Disable Your Autoconnect Feature
Data plans can quickly rack up your phone bill, and nobody knows this better than the consumer. This is the reason most people tend to connect to a nearby WiFi connection when they need to browse the Internet. For this purpose, the autoconnect feature is ideal. It finds nearby hotspots and connects to them automatically as soon as you’re within reach. Unfortunately, this feature doesn’t really allow you to ensure that the wireless connection you’re accessing is a safe and secure one.

By connecting to unknown WiFi networks, your data could be put in harm’s way fairly easily. Hackers can take advantage of an unsecured hotspot and use it to gain access to your device. If autoconnect decides that it wants to connect to these compromised networks, your data could be in serious jeopardy. It’s better to just leave it off than regret having it on.

Turn Off Bluetooth Settings
Similar to autoconnect, make sure that your device isn’t randomly connecting to other Bluetooth-enabled devices. Bluetooth has a shorter range than WiFi, but hackers know how to take advantage of this to infiltrate your device’s inner workings. If they’ve wormed their way in, they can make calls, listen to conversations, and access the Internet. Set your Bluetooth settings to “non-discoverable.” This way, devices won’t be able to connect to your smartphone unless you authorize them to.

Be Wary of Newly Downloaded Applications
Just like that new car scent makes you want to drive around the block, the “new app” feeling can make you feel anxious and fidgety while waiting for it to download. Some users will instinctively accept any message that pops up… like the one that states what information the app can or can’t access. These permissions can give the app access to private information that shouldn’t be accessed by outside forces. Pay attention to what information you’re providing your apps with.

Computerware can provide your business with solutions designed with the mobile device in mind. For those who want to be able to access corporate data securely while on the go, we can equip you with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) which gives you secure access to files on your business’s network. For those who are concerned with mobile device and application security, we can whitelist or blacklist particular apps with our mobile device management solution to restrict access to company data.

For more information about how we can keep your mobile data secure, give Computerware a call at (703) 821-8200.