Mobile Kill Switch & Protecting Mobile Data

Mobile Kill Switch

Phone theft is so common it barely makes the news and has been branded an epidemic by both police and politicians. The combined value of smartphones lost and stolen daily in the US is a staggering $7 million, which sounds impossible until one considers that 113 cell phones are lost or stolen every minute. Most phone theft is likely opportunistic in nature, with thieves snatching up devices accidentally pitched out of shallow pockets or unzipped purses, but that doesn’t make the consequences of loss or theft any less dire.

Today’s mobile devices are more than just phones. They’re our banks, our scrapbooks, our payment methods and our work computers. The information on a single cell phone can be all a thief needs to usurp a person’s entire identity, online and off. That’s why California’s kill switch legislation, which was the first of its kind in the nation, was heralded as groundbreaking and is being championed by other states.

Guaranteeing that phones are sold with the ability to “brick” the device remotely after loss or theft may be less important than making sure that there is no opt-in required. A 2014 Consumer Reports survey found that most Americans don’t even password protect their devices so making sure that security features are toggled to on automatically is vital. Until fairly recently, only Apple devices had a kill switch feature that was opt-out rather than opt-in. Now thanks to pressure from legislators and law enforcement officials in California, Oregon, Minnesota, and elsewhere, the best mobile processors with a kill switch (as well as the ability to recover data) are coming from Snapdragon and other notable brands.

“We’re already witnessing a worldwide reduction in smartphone robberies following the limited implementation of this technology,” San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon told Forbes. But even as phones hit the market with more robust security features it’s worth noting that a little personal responsibility goes a long way. Here are a few simple steps everyone can take to make mobile devices that much more secure:

  1. Lock the screen: The average opportunistic thief will be more interested in the device than what’s on it, but if the screen isn’t locked he won’t hesitate to browse for bank and credit card info. Think of locking the screen as a first line of defense.

 

  1. Use passwords and make them stronger: Set passwords for every application that uses or stores sensitive data like personal information or credit card numbers. Whenever possible choose passwords that are long and include not just letters but also numbers, symbols, capital letters and lower-case letters.

 

  1. Don’t allow automatic connections: Choosing networks manually means that a device won’t transmit or receive information without your knowledge. Don’t log in to banks or read email when using unsecured wi-fi.

 

  1. Download carefully: Only download apps from trusted sources like the Google Play store and read reviews carefully before downloading new apps in case other people have experienced security issues.

 

  1. Don’t skip updates: Downloading and installing regular updates can feel like a chore but these often include security patches designed to ensure your data stays safe.

 

  1. Back up your data: Theft happens. Do it manually or opt in to automatic cloud storage, and a lost or stolen device won’t mean that your work, cash, photos, music and personal and professional calendars are gone forever. 

Ideally we’d all treat our phones as extensions of the computers we use at home and at work, keeping them even more secure since a smartphone is a lot easier to swipe off a café table than a laptop. Kill switch laws are a great start – after Apple made them standard phone thefts dropped 40% in London, 16% in New York City and 22% in San Francisco – but tweaking just a few settings as outlined above can make your device even more secure.

Latest Posts

THE FIRST OMEN Releases 1970s-Inspired Trailer and Poster, Evoking Nostalgic Horror

The horror film The First Omen unveils a mesmerizing new trailer, transporting audiences back to the captivating allure of classic 1970s cinema while echoing the...

NATIONAL TREASURE 3 Still in the Works, Nicholas Cage Awaits Script

It's been nearly two decades since "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" graced theaters, and fans have long awaited news of a NATIONAL TREASURE 3...

Posts You Will Love

KICK-ASS Meets SAW

Kick Ass Meets Saw ! I must saw we like what we saw in these trailers ! this looks like a promising movie and worth...

Latest articles

Related articles

Your Comments / What Do You Think ?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.