REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Mobithinking.com, there are nearly 6 billion mobile phone subscribers worldwide. Unfortunately, when compared to PCs, mobile devices and smartphones are more prone to be lost or stolen, which significantly increases the risk of identity theft, compromised information, and ultimately, financial loss for the consumer.
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There are a number of things you can do to mitigate security risks and protect your mobile device, including these six essential tips from Support.com (Nasdaq:SPRT), the Personal Technology Experts:
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Enable Auto Lock: Whether using an iPhone®, an Android™ smartphone, or a BlackBerry®, enable the built-in phone lock feature with a strong password. This adds an extra layer of security to your mobile device and prevents unauthorized access particularly if lost or stolen. To password-protect your iPhone follow these steps. If you have an Android phone, check out these tips and forums at Android Central. And for BlackBerry devices, try this app.
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Install a Mobile Tracking App: To reduce the risk of lost or stolen mobile devices, consider a device tracking application such as:
* Android: Android Lost, Wheres My Droid
* iPhone: FoneHome, Bar Heist
* BlackBerry: Berry Locator
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Erase Personal Data Remotely: These applications enable you to remotely access a smartphone from a PC then wipe its data clean when necessary.
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Lock-Sensitive Applications: Another useful way to protect personal data on smartphones is to make use of an application locker utility which prevents unauthorized access to applications that contain sensitive personal information. Even if someone finds or steals your phone, they cannot access these protected apps without a valid password (and while they fumble around you can remotely wipe all data clean!).
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Device Backup: This is perhaps the wisest thing you can do to both protect vital data (and ensure you can restore it on a new device in the event of loss or theft). When choosing an application, always consider a solution that offers remote backup and restore, such as Lookout™ a free application for iPhones and Androids.
- Real-Time Protection: Ensures that all files stored on your mobile device are analyzed each time you attempt to access them. It will also scan all incoming content, such as text messages and files received via Bluetooth®.
About Support.com
Support.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPRT) provides cloud-based technology services and software for consumers and small business. The Support.com® Personal Technology Experts provide a quick, cost-effective and stress-free technology support experience over the Internet and the phone using the Company's advanced technology platform. Support.com also offers a wide range of easy-to-use software products that detect and repair common computer problems and optimize performance and security. Support.com offers programs through many of the nation's leading retailers, broadband service providers, software vendors and PC/CE OEMs, and provides software to over a million consumers and small businesses. For more information please visit us at: www.support.com, www.facebook.com/support.com, or http://twitter.com/support_com.
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Support.com, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit http://www.support.com/about/careers.
Copyright © 2012 Support.com, Inc. All rights reserved. Support.com and Personal Technology Experts are trademarks or registered trademarks of Support.com, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark or registered trademark of Apple, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Android is a trademark or registered trademark of Google, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Blackberry is a trademark or registered trademark of Research in Motion Limited in the U.S. and other countries. Bluetooth is a trademark or registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
