We are constantly on the move, spending more time on the go than we do in the comfort of our own homes.  This means less time at our desk tops and more reliance on mobile devices.  With our phones used to pay bills, view bank statements, and hold otherwise private information they have become a prime target for malware developers and hackers.  It can make one feel extremely vulnerable when these criminals can reach you no matter where you are in the world but there are a few things that you can do to protect you and your phone from being targeted.

One of the biggest and most preventable ways to protect yourself is to make sure you know where your phone is at all times.  When your phone is lost or stolen it can fall into the hands of someone who is able to access your sensitive information right from your phone.  That being said there are ways to protect yourself even if your phone is lost or stolen.  The first thing that you will want to do is make sure that your information is accessible to you.  Make sure that you regularly back up any important information on your phone.  If your phone is lost or stolen there are apps and even a built in service that allow you to use other devices to locate your phone.  There are also ways to remotely wipe your phone of all of your information.  Be aware that the smartest smartphone thieves know how to prevent you from remotely accessing or locating your phone.  The best way to prevent yourself from having to deal with this is to keep your phone stored away in a pocket or other hard to get to area on your person when you are not using it.

Malware is becoming a bigger problem especially when it comes to the open source market for Android applications.  Obviously not all developers are creating malware, but the few who are most likely want to steal your information.  There are multiple ways for you to prevent yourself from being taken advantage of by malware.  First of all be sure what you are downloading.  Be cautious of free apps that seem too good to be true.  Read reviews and only download apps that you are absolutely sure are genuine.  Even this may not be enough as some malware developers have begun to post copies of popular apps to lure in unsuspecting victims.   If you feel that you may be at risk; many of the most popular anti-virus companies have begun to produce anti-malware software for mobile devices.

Even when they are not malware you still have to be careful with the apps that you download.  Legitimate apps can still have certain aspects that leave you vulnerable.  When downloading a mobile application make sure that any information you will store within that app is encrypted.  Many of the most popular apps on the market don’t encrypt your sensitive information making it easy to illegally access.  Do some research about the apps you use consistently to make sure that your information is being properly protected.

A relatively new technology on Android phones is Google Wallet.  While the technology is cool it can also be a security risk.  Google Wallet allows you to store credit card information in your phone and use your smartphone as a credit card with the help of near-field communications.  Google has put multiple security features in place including encrypting your information as well as requiring a PIN for the app to work.  Where the real security risk falls is on the user.  If you choose a PIN that is easily determined, 1234 for example, you are setting yourself up for people stealing your phone and making unwanted purchases with it.

Identity theft is an awful crime that can leave you feeling vulnerable and take years to clear up.When it comes down to it protecting your phone from identity theft is pretty easy if you know what to do.  Be sure to take proactive steps to protect your phone and yourself and hopefully you will never become a victim of identity theft.

On The GoWARE provides mobile app development and training services for Apple iPhone, iPad, Google Android, and BlackBerry platforms.

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