mobile device

Tips to protect your data on mobile device from being lost or stolen

cyberguru Consulting , , , , , , ,

Tips to protect your data on mobile device from being lost or stolen

Recently a family member lost their mobile phone. Unfortunately, some of the important settings on the phone were not configured, and as a result the phone could not be found. As a lesson from this exercise, we have developed these tips on how to protect the data on your mobile device from being lost or stolen.

If you do lose your device, you should report it to the police and mobile service provider. However, it is possible to find your device using “Find my iPhone” (as part of the iCloud – Find My iPhone, iPad, and Mac),“Find my Device” for Android or “Find my Device” in Windows provided you have this software setup as well as your mobile data and location services enabled.

There are several strategies for protecting your data:

  1. Record the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the device upon purchase. This is a unique number for each individual device and can be found inside under the battery. It can be displayed on screen by entering *#06#. If your device is lost stolen, this can be reported to your phone provider and police.
  2. Set a strong PIN or password on the device and configure encryption of data if this is available. Set this to automatically lock your phone after a set period, such as 30 seconds. This will enable your phone to be only to be unlocked by yourself or someone else who knows the PIN. You may also want a separate PIN for your voice mail.
  3. Use a reputable security product app, such as Norton Mobile Security. Mobile phones can be hacked just like any other computing device, so they need to be protected. Installing security software will enable you to use their features including app reputation (to determine if any apps are malicious or sending your data overseas) on your device, as well as wi-fi security and Web protection.
  4. Register the device with Google or Apple, and/or third-party manufacturers (eg. Samsung). As mentioned above, registering with these services to enable you to find, lock or erase your phone, in addition to finding your device in case it is lost
  5. Perform a regular backup to a cloud service. This provides you the ability to use their services to synchronise your data on a regular basis, and eases recovery if this is required. A cloud service may be available by the manufacturer on when you configure the device.

Further security tips can be found on the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association website (link opens in new window). If you need a hand to help protect your data on your smart devices, we can provide assistance to you via our Support solution.

If we can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Spring clean your mobile devices

cyberguru Support , , , , ,
Spring clean your mobile devices

As many of us are regularly using our phones, tablet or other mobile device as our primary device whilst travelling or on the road, it’s possibly the one device that doesn’t get as much attention when it comes to servicing them in the same way we do a computer. However, here are five ways you can spring clean these devices to ensure you keep it run at an optimal level.

Install the latest operating system upgrades

Manufacturers and telecommunications providers introduce regularly updates to improve the reliability and performance of their devices on their network. It is worthwhile checking at least once a quarter to see whether any new upgrades or updates are available to ensure that you are running the latest version of your mobile phone operating systems (Apple, Android and Microsoft) and associated applications.

Install the latest application updates

Similar to operating systems, apps are regularly being updated with new features and enhancements. Check your mobile device’s app store to review what updates are available, and ensure you install them when they become available. It is suggested you do this each month as new updates arrive frequently.

Uninstall unnecessary apps

Tired of Angry Birds? Reclaim space on your mobile device’s storage by removing unnecessary apps you no longer use. Whilst some of the built-in apps can’t be uninstalled, those that you have installed yourself from the mobile device’s app store can generally be removed. If you decide that you want to reinstall it down the track, simply go back to the app store and download it again.

Clear out unnecessary data

You can also reclaim data consumed by the programs, such as the temporary file cache in your browser, downloaded attachments or blurry photos taken that are no longer required. This can allow more space to be made available for things you want to keep, allowing you to take full advantage of the capacity of your device.

Reorganise your apps

One of the great things about mobile devices is you can use separate screens to separate your apps. If you don’t use an app on a regular basis, move it to a separate screen so that you have your essential apps (such as Outlook) on one screen, and use another screen for those that you don’t use as often.

By following these tips, you may be able to breathe some new life into your mobile device – both in terms of battery life and usable life. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please feel free to contact us.