| While the iPhone is the undeniable king of | | | | requesting such information. Also (more applicable |
| smartphones, security flaws in the operating | | | | to laptops) if the login page seems to be taking |
| system create vulnerabilities hackers can exploit | | | | an extraordinary amount of time to load or |
| to steal email, contact and personal data. | | | | appears to be loading a large file to your laptop or |
| Surprisingly, smartphone users are seemingly | | | | smartphone immediately disconnect your wireless |
| unaware of data security issues with their cellular | | | | internet connection as malicious software may be |
| phones. According to a recent Trend Micro report, | | | | downloading to your device. |
| respondents (44%) feel surfing the internet on | | | | 3. Password Protect Your Data - most |
| their smartphone is just as safe as surfing the | | | | smartphones provide a feature to password |
| web on their computer, despite the fact that | | | | protect your device and the data inside it. This is |
| most smartphones offer no internet surfing | | | | typically enabled in a settings panel on the phone |
| security. What can you do to protect your | | | | and requires the owner to enter a password |
| iPhone? Use these tips: | | | | before gaining access to phone data and |
| 1. Wifi Hotspots Attract Hackers - those bent on | | | | functionality. While this might be annoying it is a |
| maliciously collecting information from laptop and | | | | great way to protect your data from theft, |
| smartphone users know that wifi hotspots | | | | especially if your phone is lost or is left |
| offering broadband internet access to anyone are | | | | unattended in public for an extended period of |
| great places to troll for the unprotected | | | | time. |
| equipment. When surfing at your local hot spot, | | | | 4. Layered Protection - exercising caution when |
| make sure you know whose network you are | | | | connecting with wifi hotspots and password |
| connecting to. Reference the name of the | | | | protecting your data is a great start, but you can |
| hotspot and ask yourself if the name makes | | | | increase your data protection with additional layers |
| sense with the location. For instance, all Starbucks | | | | of security such as the Trend Micro application |
| have a hotspot named "att" that requires | | | | Trend Smart Surfing freely available on the iPhone |
| validation through the iPhone's Safari internet | | | | application store that blocks users from |
| browser. Connecting to any other wifi network | | | | accidentally visiting a site that could exploit an |
| increases your risk of data theft. | | | | iPhone vulnerability. |
| 2. Wifi Hotspot Login Page - many wifi hotspots | | | | These simple steps will greatly increase data |
| require you to accept terms of service and login | | | | security on your smartphone device and better |
| to a web page on your internet browser. While | | | | protect you from identity theft. Also be certain to |
| checking a box to accept terms of service is | | | | regularly update your smartphone or iPhone to |
| rather innocuous, no other information is typically | | | | receive the most up-to-date security patches |
| collected (such as name, address, credit card | | | | made available from hardware manufacturers. |
| number, etc) so be wary of any login process | | | | |