Our phones have become everything to us – our communication device, our phone book, our organizer, our internet connection, our way of purchasing online goods, our email device and more.  With all of this going on, have you ever wondered about the safety and security of your smartphone?

Because we are able to do so much on these devices, smartphones have become increasingly popular with consumers.  However, we also need to keep in mind that using mobile devices come with risk.

According to net-security.org, 89% of mobile owners were unaware that apps on these devices often transmit confidential information such as credit card details without owner consent.  Additionally, 91% of mobile owners polled were also unaware that financial apps can be infected with malware designed to steal online banking credentials.

By now, most of us have installed anti-viral and anti-spam software on our computer systems.  But what about our mobile devices?  More often than not, these devices are overlooked.  Check your app marketplace or iTunes store for various security apps available for your device.

Here are some basic suggestions to minimize risks:

  • Familiarize yourself and utilize the device’s ‘locking’ feature
  • Always make sure to install and update security software.
  • Make sure when shopping on your device that you’re utilizing a secure Wi-Fi network.  If “WPA” or “WPA2” appear on the top of your screen, the data being transmitted is more secure due to scrambling technology.
  • Only frequent trusted web sites on your mobile device.
  • Always be careful with financial apps.  Research and read reviews about apps to stay current on which ones are safer and which are more questionable.
  • Check with your mobile service provider to find out about your liability if fraud occurs through financial transactions.

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