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mobile phone security


The FBI and SOeC Endorse VPNs for Securing Mobile Devices

Posted on Thursday, May 9th, 2013 by

Securing Our eCity Foundation (SOeC), in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has developed a Public Service Announcement featuring five tips for keeping yourself safe on your mobile device.

In this PSA, airing on San Diego’s NBC 7, FBI Special Agent Darell Foxworth states, “Securing your mobile device is essential to keep your data out of the hands of crooks.”

Agent Foxworth provides the following steps for protected yourself:

  1. Lock your device with a passcode.
  2. When using public WiFi, limit using e-mail, social networking, shopping, and banking, unless you have a secure Virtual Private Network, or VPN.
  3. Keep your device up to date. When software patches are available, use them.
  4. Avoid questionable apps, and only download from trusted sources.
  5. Always back up your data.

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ACLU Files FTC Complaint

Posted on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 by

The ACLU claims that the four major mobile carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint — are not doing enough to protect users’ private and personal data related to security updates on their Android devices. The ACLU says the mobile providers are all using a “deceptive and unfair business practice” — but what exactly are they doing?

Click to find out what security holes could be compromising your Android mobile phone.

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HTC Settles Security Case, Agrees to Audits for 20 Years

Posted on Friday, February 22nd, 2013 by

Mobile device manufacturer HTC America has agreed to settle charges that it failed to patch a security vulnerability on its smartphones and tablet computers.

These failures introduced security flaws that placed sensitive information about millions of consumers at risk. The flaw was first discovered by a developer in 2011.

Click to find out more about the settlement with the FTC. Read More

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Trends and Predictions For Identity Theft in 2013

Posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013 by

With 2013 stretching out in front of us, we asked our friends at the ITRC to share their predictions about the big security issues we may expect to see. Click to find out their surprising predictions and how to protect yourself this year. Read More

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NYC Starts Offering Free WiFi Via Payphone Kiosks…But At What Cost to Your Online Privacy?

Posted on Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 by

24/7 free WiFi access in New York City telephone kiosks? No, you’re not dreaming!

The pilot program to offer free broadband access via public payphone kiosks is part of the Bloomberg administration’s “efforts to promote greater digital inclusion for New Yorkers,” which also includes wireless at schools, libraries, and senior centers.

The first location is at West 58th Street and Broadway, with at least 10 other locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn (545 Albee Square and 2 Smith Street), and Queens (30-94 Steinway Street, Astoria).

Plans are in place to open locations in the Bronx and Staten Island, and NYC officials hope to spread public WiFi throughout the city, which includes more than 12,000 payphones in about 9,000 locations.

It’s costing about $2,000 per location, but what is this going to really cost the average citizen in terms of online privacy protections?

Turns out, it could be a lot more than $2,000. Read More

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Video: Sprint CEO Says Wireless Carriers ‘Must Earn the Trust of Their Customers’

Posted on Friday, May 18th, 2012 by

As part of the recent CTIA Wireless 2012 conference last week, Sprint’s CEO Dan Hesse spoke about Sprint’s strategy to proactively address their customers’ privacy concerns. Read More

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Facebook, Dropbox, LinkedIn: Flaw in Some Mobile Apps Exposes Users to Identity Theft

Posted on Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 by

There is a newly discovered security flaw exposing iOS and possibly Android smartphone users to identity theft, specifically when using the mobile apps for Facebook, Dropbox, and LinkedIn.

The problem is that the apps’ security settings save users’ authentication keys in unencrypted plain text files (called plists) and that could easily be stolen by copying the plist from one iOS or Android device and pasting it into the same directory on another device.

Facebook has issued a statement, effectively blaming the security gaffe on jailbroken devices: Read More

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Survey: Smartphone Users More Likely to Suffer Identity Fraud

Posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 by

A new Javelin survey of 5,000 smartphone users has revealed that 7% became identity-fraud victims in 2011.

Smartphone users are 33% more likely overall to fall prey to identity fraud than the general public. Read More

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National Security Agency Recommends Personal VPNs

Posted on Thursday, March 29th, 2012 by

The National Security Agency has issued a new “best practices” data sheet for keeping home networks, laptops, and mobile devices secure. Read More

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Video: ‘Smishing’ Scam Lures Victims Via Text Message

Posted on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 by

In true phishing fashion, a fake email tries to dupe recipients into clicking on the embedded links in an attempt to obtain sensitive information like credit card account numbers and passwords.

Now, smishing has come along and it combines the name of the technology used for text messaging (SMS, or short message service) with the word phishing. Read More

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