Smartphone Security Tips and Dangers

Need tips on how to secure your new smartphone device...see below...

The dangers to your smartphone are increasing, says technology security experts.

With the rapid rise in the popularity smartphones like the iPhone, Blackberry, Palm and Droid smartphones with millions of new users every month has seen a huge increase in security dangers to the owners of high tech communications devices.

Torjan horses, viruses, worms, spam, scams and attempts by hackers are no longer the domain of just PC's, desktops and laptops, the humble smartphone is increasingly becoming a security danger.

Millions of smartphone users use thier handsets to surft the net, with internet banking and other financial transactions, and other personal businees and information actions are all becoming a frequent part of smartphone life.

However, it seems most users of smartphones forget or fail to realize that because a smartphone is used not just for text message and voice call functions, but for internet use proper, through browsers and web applications, security precautions are vital.

In 2008 alone more than 139 million smartphones were sold worldwide, a 13.9 percent increase from 2007. This staggering figure is expected to skyrocket by the end of 2009, with many expected well over 200 million smartphone handsets to leave high tech smartphone factories world wide.

How many of these millions of new smartphone users fail to employ proper security precautions to prevent future heartache once they buy their new, highly connected handset it anyone's guess, but many in the telecoms industry worry most don't take any steps to prevent smartphone disaster.

Analysts in the industry are becoming increasingly worried about the way people use smartphone's, with the spread of personal information and vital financial information a vulnerable target for hackers.

However, the danger of malicious attacks on smartphones are a different beast to past attacks on computer desktops.

"What we haven't seen is the massive anonymous attacking across all of the smartphone bases," Storms said. "[Traditional] worms and viruses continue to breed and move on from computer to computer -- the attacks we see today on the smartphone market are targeted attacks." Andrew Storms, who directs safety efforts at online security companynCircle, told CNN in a TV interview.

Many attacks on smartphone users happened via the email inbox of those using e-mail to communicate on the smartphone, just like traditional attacks on PC's. However many smartphone users are attacked in a highly targeted basis.

Some industry reports suggest only one quater of all new smartphone buyers enable the right security software. Just under a half also stake that surfing the net on their smartphone handset is safe, even with no security software.

Many in the industry say its good that most viruses, malware and other malicious attacks are aimed on platforms like Windows, due to the popularity and widespread use of the operating system.

The say that due to smartphone using a large variety of different platforms, its harder for an intended smartphone hacker to reach a wide audience.

However, as the smartphone becomes a more mainstream phone for millions to communicate and the old mobile phone technology fades away, the threat to the smartphone will only continue to rise.

Security tips to make sure your smartphone is not the victim of a malicious attack:

-Keep a password lock on your smartphone, a lost or stolen smartphone can equal to much more damaging stolen financial and other personal information.

-Wherever possible when buying a smartphone enable security software and updates from a the smartphone provider or seller.

-Install device-resident mobile security programs. Antivirus and SMS antispam programs are available for all popular mobile operating systems such as: AirScanner, F-Secure Corp., McAfee Inc., Symantec Corp., SMobile Systems, Trend Micro Inc., and Sophos plc.

-Carefully consider the source of any applications you download. In the case of the iPhone, what do others say about the application and is the app approved by Apple.

-Wherever possible, prevent sensitive data from being stored on your smartphone devices in the first place.

-Treat your smartphone the same way you treat a computer. Don't visit any web sites that look suspicious, don't open any emails that are suspicious and defiantly don't download any content that you are not familiar with or trust.