It seems we can not go a day in recent times without a new story about some security screw activities related to lost or incorrect Blackberry. This week, John McCain campaign officials had mistakenly sold with Blackberry Fox television reporter for $ 20 in a fire sale. The device contained confidential information about the campaign. And many Hollywood gossip publications abuzz earlier this month with news that Tom Cruise has lost his Blackberry while promoting the film in Toronto. (Now Mixed reports tying device as a “finding” or “never lost in the first place.)

With all these slip-ups, it is not surprising, White House officials want President Barack Obama to renounce his Blackberry to taking office. With this in mind, the CSO said Dan Hoffman, the author, mobile security expert and CTO of SMobile system, for his advice on how to save your Blackberry safe.

Treat your Blackberry, as PC

You do not shop online, open e-mail attachments and check your bank account on your computer without proper firewalls, anti-virus and anti-Trojan protection in place, would you? So, why are you doing this with your Blackberry? Blackberry is a mini-computer, said Hoffman.

“The sense that viruses and malware, not a problem for the blackberry is outside of,” said Hofman. “The reason we have not heard of widespread infection is because the nature of malware has changed. Zarazheniya used to be done for fun and fame. Now these crimes are financially motivated.”
Without software that can scan the problem and update the virus definitions, Blackberry owners are now quietly, without even knowing it is infected, said Hoffman. And creepiest part of this news is that the most popular type of malware currently bramble is seen by spyware, according to Smobile research systems.

“They can intercept every e-mail and text message that goes in and out of the device. And he can remotely activate the phone for calls and listen in on conversations,” said Hofman.

Watch your back

Does this sound familiar? You are the time of the killing during the layover in Dallas and housekeeping on your Blackberry: testing and solution for e-mail that does important work-related challenges. Maybe you even check your bank account.

“I can not even tell you how much personal and confidential information, I accidentally saw or heard for many years because of what people are doing with their mobile devices,” said Hofman.

Hoffman describes a recent flight, where he was sitting directly behind the Blackberry user who organizes all his passwords and codes of entry.

“I could see everything, despite the fact that the place,” said Hofman.

Hoffman points? Be careful. Keep your personal information private care business in a place where other people’s eyes can not see. And keep talking in the presence of people to a minimum. In addition, the risk of a potential violation, and you risk annoying your neighbor.

Keep it for you!

It sounds like the most obvious piece of advice, but, as Hoffman points out, this is where most trouble begins for Blackberry owners.

“They are small and simply left everywhere,” said Hoffman.

Popular places for sliding take-offs and losses included in bars and restaurants where users place the device on a table or bar, sit in conversation and forget about. This not only opens the door to leave him behind, but also for theft. Even temporary theft can be detrimental. The bad guy can receive confidential data or install Trojan horse for a few seconds when the device is in the hands, said Hoffman.

Lie back up.

Ok, so you do not take the last step, and now you have an idea where your Blackberry is. What can I do? That depends, if you have prepared for this scenario.

If the corporate form, and you work for a company with the Blackberry Enterprise Server, contact immediately. They can remotely lock or wipe the device. If this is your personal Blackberry, or if your company does not have such support should install the software, which gives you that opportunity. Investing in the program, which provides remote access means that you can lock the device, so that others can not get to him. You can also back up the information you have stored on the Blackberry and wipe it clean, if you believe he had lost forever.

Investment, said Hoffman, mean lost device, simply lost the device, part of the equipment. If you act quickly enough, it does not mean the loss of sensitive corporate data.

Using encryption

With respect to devices RIM, encryption is, said Hoffman. Users just need to activate. But many, unfortunately, no.