Top 7 Security Features to have on your Mobile Device

September 4, 2012 | Filed under: Technology | Posted by: katelyn

Smartphones are useful for business owners, employees, casual users and many other types of people. While many people love just how much information they can store on a smartphone, this is also one of the biggest problems with mobile devices. If someone hacks or steals the device, then he or she gains access to all of that information. This can compromise your business, personal life and financial dealings. If you want to avoid these problems, then make sure your device has these seven different security features.

Password Protection

Most modern smartphones allow you to place a password on your device so that no one can access the main screen without entering the password or PIN. This may not stop digital threats like hackers from getting into your phone, but this will block most thieves from stealing your personal information if they steal the actual device.

Software Updates

You should pick a smartphone provider that promises to supply new software updates periodically that you can download for free. Most of these software updates may not seem like a big deal, but they are used to fix inconsistent or weak coding that the provider has discovered. These upgrades may also close holes and exploits that hackers have picked up on. Keep your device updated will help minimize the chances of a hacker cracking your phone.

Dedicated App Marketplace

The majority of smartphones have a dedicated app marketplace that is provided by the phone or OS manufacturer. While there are many of unique apps that you can download from the Internet, it’s generally best to download exclusively from the dedicated marketplace. This is because all of the new apps are screened for malware to ensure that your information is not being stolen when you install the app.

Location and Wipe Features

Did you lose your smartphone? Having one with a location feature allows you to find the device, and you can tell police where the device is located. If you are worried about someone finding your information, then having a remote wipe feature allows you to wipe all the information so that the thief cannot see anything.

Antivirus Software

Mobile devices typically aren’t quite as vulnerable to viruses and malware because they are not targeted as much as desktops and laptops, but there are still viruses out there that can affect smartphones. These viruses can steal your information, destroy your device from the inside and commit many other heinous acts against your device.

The best way to fix this is to install antivirus software. Some smartphone manufacturers have antivirus programs automatically installed, but most will have an app that you can download for a few dollars. It’s best to spend the money for the extra protection.

Voice and Image Recognition

This feature isn’t too common yet, but it is picking up steam. This replaces the password function that protects your mobile device. Instead of inputting a password, you will speak a password or let the camera take a picture of you. If you sound and look correctly, then the phone will open up for you. This ensures that you are really the only one who can access the device.

Alarm

An alarm is another physical security feature that can stop thieves. Most thieves will try many different passwords until they can get into your device, and this approach can work after enough attempts. An alarm feature will create a loud noise that will scare off potential thieves because it will start making noise when the password isn’t inputted correctly.

This isn’t going to stop very determined thieves or those that take your device to a safe place, but it can stop people from going through your device in public. This is a supplementary feature that can be very useful.

Conclusion

Mobile devices can carry a lot of information, and they are very useful for business and casual use. Someone stealing or hacking your device can be disastrous, but there are many features that can help minimize the damage. Make sure you get a smartphone that has most or all of these features if you want to keep your device as safe as possible.

Author Bio

Rebecca Brown is an avid blogger for NQ Mobile, keeping people protected when using their mobile devices.

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Posted by katelyn on September 4, 2012. Filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry