Mobile security

Take your smartphone and count the apps that you have on it. Think of this. Each and every one of those apps that you`ve downloaded, downloaded some of your data as well. Got your attention?

What are they doing with your personal information? If you’re worried, you’re not alone. A Harris Interactive survey commissioned by TRUSTe, which helps its clients manage customer privacy, shows that 60% of adults surveyed are more concerned about their online privacy now than they were a year ago. Advertising plays a major role in how the Web operates, and during the past several years there has been a significant increase in behavioral targeting. Internet ad providers track user behavior through browser cookies or unique identifiers in smartphones. This allows them to deliver ads based on the user’s location or websites the user has visited recently.

Like most things in life you are the only one you can trust and you are your own best defense against identity theft. Read the terms and conditions make sure that you understand what you are allowing them to do with your information. You are in control of what information you provide be conservative, be discreet.

With new mobile technology allowing us on-the-go access to our financial accounts, it brings along a heightened awareness of security issues. Having your financial and personal data on your phone makes you more susceptible to identity theft. In fact, smartphone users are being targeted more often than the general public; seven percent of smartphone users were victims of identity theft fraud in 2011, which is one-third higher than the average consumer. While many of us have figured out how to protect our home computers from hackers, 62 percent of smartphone users don’t bother to protect their phones with a password.

The good news is that your smartphone actually has the capability to help you keep identity theft and fraud at bay. Apps like SeekDriod and LookOut are excellent to help you protect your data and your cellphone. Banking should preferably only be done via your banks own application, avoid doing your banking via your mobile web browser.

The biggest mistake most of us make is having one password for everything, from our alarm system to our Facebook page. If you struggle to remember passwords make use of applications like lock box, and above all please remember that 12345678, is NOT a password.