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The Growing Security Concerns of Smart Phone Users

Spam emails have long been a problem on our PCs and laptops, but now we have another device to be wary of; the smart phone. The security on these devices is usually much lower than what can be found on a computer, thus making it a very vulnerable target of attackers. Phishing is a fraudulent method of acquiring personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. This is usually done through emails that advertise what may appear to be a legitimate website that will request this sensitive information. One of the biggest threats lies in the ever-increasing number of applications available for smart phone users. With thousands of new apps hitting the market each year, there is no way to guarantee the security of each of these programs. However, it appears that apps may be both the problem and the solution when it comes to mobile phone phishing.The SMobile Security Shield for Android is an anti-virus app that is going a long way toward improving the security of this popular smart phone. Not only does it scan for viruses and malware, it can be used to erase all data from the phone in the event that it is lost or stolen. A built in GPS can also be used to help you locate a lost phone. However, there’s a price to pay for security, ringing in at 29.99 a year. But that’s a lot less that what you risk losing if you’re phone is hacked. Another comprehensive smart phone application is Mobile Active Defense (MD), which protects against malware, secures all email accounts and incorporates anti-virus software. MD currently provides defense systems for the iPhone with coming software for the Symbian and the Android.Most people spend as much time on their smart phone as they do using a computer, and it therefore requires as much, if not more, protection.