Smartphone Security

Even if you are not worried that one of Rupert Murdoch's publications is trying to hack into your cellphone, you may be interested in information on how to security your smartphone and the personal information that you keep on it.  Here is some good advice on the subject from the good folks at the Maryland State Bar Association:

TIPS FOR SECURING YOUR SMARTPHONE

Here are some basic tips for securing your smartphones. 

1.  Make certain that all your mobile devices have passcodes.
2.  Disable interfaces that are not currently in use, such as Bluetooth, infrared, or Wi-Fi.
3.  Set Bluetooth-enabled devices to non-discoverable.
4.  Delete all information stored in a device prior to discarding it.
5.  Do not “root” or “jailbreak” the device.

These tips and more were taken from Cyber Threats to Mobile Phones published by the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team.

Check out the links above for more information.  Thanks to Pat Yevics and her staff at the MSBA.  Go to this link:  February  2012 MSBA Tech Tips and find all of the MSBA 2012 Tech Tips.  There are posts on protecting your computer from tracking cookies and Google's new privacy policy.

More on privacy issues in an upcoming post here at Reality Bytes.