Mobile Device Security
The use of mobile devices including smartphones, PDAs, netbooks, tablets is on an exponential rise these days. Unfortunately, security solutions for mobile devices haven’t been able to keep pace with this growth. This makes mobile devices more prone to security risks than a well-protected PC, Mac or laptop. “Why do I need to worry about mobile device security?”, you may wonder. Well, whether you are a student. faculty or staff, you:

• Don’t want to lose your research and project work
• Want to keep your personal information, such as access to your email accounts, from falling into the wrong hands

Network Services has listed a few best practices that will help you use your mobile device more securely.

1.  Authentication: Make sure you set a password/PIN, or pattern to unlock your device

2.  Auto-lock: Set a timer to automatically lock your phone when not in use for more than, say 2 minutes

3.  Encryption: Certain mobile devices support encryption and if yours does, it is strongly recommended that you enable encryption. Encryption scrambles your data in a way that unauthorized individuals see only gibberish instead of your sensitive data. You can encryption by following the device specific information listed.

Android
Out of the box, Android phones do not come with encryption software out of the box. The exception to this is Android Pro, which supports encryption by default. Android users will therefore need to download and install third party applications such as TouchDown and WhisperCore, which can encrypt data or the device itself.

iPhone (iOS 4.x and later devices including, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad)
Ensure that data protection is enabled:

  1. Tap Settings
  2. Tap General
  3. Tap Passcode Lock
  4. Verify that "Data protection is enabled" is displayed at the bottom of the screen
     If not enabled, you can enable data encryption as follows:
  5. Tap Settings
  6. Tap General
  7. Tap Passcode Lock
  8. Tap in a passcode
  9. Tap in the same passcode

Blackberry
Blackberry users with OS 4.2 or later can encrypt emails, browser information, contacts and other data on their devices. But please note, that caller ID will not available if contacts are encrypted. Please follow the procedure below to encrypt data on your device:

  1. Click Options
  2. Goto Security Options
  3. Click on General Settings
  4. Here, you set Content Protection to Enabled
    You can also encrypt SD cards by:
  5. Clicking on Options
  6. Click on Media Card (In some OS versions, you might have to first click Advanced Options, then click Media Card).
  7. Then, you set Encryption Mode to either Device, Security Password, or Security Password & Device.

 

4.  Locate and remote erase smartphone: This feature allows you to track your lost smartphone and if cannot be retrieved, delete all your data remotely. Refer to the links below for more information:
  1. Android users, click here: https://seekdroid.com/v2/
  2. iPhone users, click here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8
  3. Blackberry users, click here: http://blogs.blackberry.com/2010/07/introducing-blackberry-protect

5.  Wireless networks: Take care connecting to wireless network. Make sure that it’s a network that you are familiar with. Here are list of wireless    networks available at FGCU:

   On campus:
   1. Wlan-public
   2. Wlan-private
   NLV:
   1. Wlan-nlv-<building name>. For example, wlan-nlv-m or wlan-nlv-r
   SoHo:
   1. Wlan-sovi

Also make sure that you turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections when you are not using them

6.  Update: Mobile device and application developers frequently release updates to their products. Make sure your device is up-to-date with the latest software release. These updates cover any security loopholes discovered by the manufacturer/developer

7.  Do not root or  “Jailbreaking” your iPhone or Android device. Doing so opens up your device to security vulnerabilities. This may also void manufacturer’s warranty and lower your protection against malware