We're looking back on 2011 and some of the most "liked," "tweeted" and commented tech-focused blog posts at Telus Talks Business.
One of my contributions that garnered a lot of traffic was on how to best protect your smartphone.
After all, today's mobile devices are like pocket computers, as they can perform many of the same tasks as your PC or Mac – including accessing email, browsing the web, playing media and getting work done – so protecting them and the potentially sensitive data that resides on it is critical.
Here are a few ideas to shielding your device – and thus, yourself -- from scams, viruses and identity theft with these following smartphone safety tips.
Back it up
The first line of defense is to back up your smartphone regularly in case it's lost, stolen or compromised. The easiest and least expensive way to do it is to connect the smartphone to a computer – via USB cable or wireless Bluetooth – and synchronize the data between the two devices. Should you need a new smartphone, all the info will be copied back onto the new device.
There are also many "cloud" services that can wirelessly back up your contacts and other information to a password-protected website.
Lock it out
Speaking of passwords, ensure you've set up a 4-digit PIN (personal identification number) to use your smartphone – and don't use 0000, 1111 or 1234 or any other numbers easy to guess. Sure, a PIN is a bit inconvenient, but you'll get used to it quickly and will be thankful if you can't find your mobile phone.
You could also draw a pattern to gain access to your smartphone, which is popular on many Android phones, or use facial recognition technology, though it's generally not as secure as a PIN or pattern. Some phones have a fingerprint scanner, too.
"Take it to the second and third level by using password protection on any applications that contain personal or confidential information," advises Chris Stier, managing director for NetQin Mobile, one of the world's leading mobile security providers with roughly 10 million registered users. For example, those who do mobile banking on their phone should create a password that's at least seven characters long and contains letters, numbers and symbols.
Software protection
"Threats like malware, hacking and spamming have always existed for traditional PCs, but a smartphone attack can be even more damaging," cautions Stier. "You likely have personal and business information stored on it, personal conversations and messages that can be recorded and your location can be also tracked."
As such, software to protect against malware (malicious software) is "critical" for a mobile device today, says Stier.
NetQin Mobile, for example, offers a free antivirus smartphone solution and a more robust "premium" option for $1 to $2 per month. The software works on Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian devices (not Apple's iOS platform).
Remote control
If your smartphone is lost or stolen, there are free mapping tools to remotely track the GPS-enabled device on a computer, smartphone or tablet. Note: if your phone was stolen it's recommended to give this info to authorities rather than you trying to retrieve it.
These same tools, such as Apple's Find My iPhone and BlackBerry Protect, can also remotely wipe the smartphone clean, making it ring loudly (if, say, left under the cushions) or display a message on the screen (such as "Please call me").
You need to set up these tracking apps ahead of time, so be sure to do that before it's too late. Here are some tips to setting this all up.
Check your statement
Finally, it's recommended to check your monthly statement carefully for suspicious calls and SMS (text messaging) charges.
"Comb through your bill closely because you might find charges made without your consent," says Stief. "If you find any, contact your carrier immediately to dispute the charges and they'll identify the company or service for you."
