Question

Discuss mobile device security. Give examples of loss or theft, lessons learned, and precautions you now take

Answer 1

Solution:

Mobile device security:

Mobile device security are the measures designed to protect the sensitive information which is stored on and transmitted by smartphones, tablets, laptops and other mobile devices.

Nowadays, most of the business information (>50%)are being shared over mobile  and the increase in Internet of Things (IoT) devices poses new challenges to network security. Consequently, IT must adapt its approach to security. A network security plan must account for all of the different locations and uses that employees demand of the company network, but you can take some simple steps to improve your mobile device security.

Securing mobile devices requires a unified and multilayered approach. While there are core components to mobile device security, every approach may be slightly different. For optimum security, you need to find the approach that best fits your network.

Mobile device security spans the gamut from user authentication measures and mobile security best practices for protecting against compromised data in the event of unauthorized access or accidental loss of the mobile device to combat malware, spyware and other mobile security threats that can expose a mobile device’s data to hackers.

Examples of loss or theft, lessons learned, and precautions you now take:

The most basic threat to physical device security is also the most common, loss or theft. Biometrics and kill-switches are reducing the incidence of mobile device theft, but still tens of millions of smartphones are lost or stolen every year. Once a laptop, tablet or smartphone is in the hands of a determined criminal, given enough time, a data breach is almost assured. From 2005 to 2015, more than 41% of all data breaches were the result of lost or stolen mobile devices (laptops, smartphones and USB drives).

Precautions that I now take:

• Setting a screen lock with a 4-digit pin
• Backing up data to a computer or online
• Installing software that can locate the phone
• Installing an antivirus app
• Using a PIN longer than 4 digits, a password, or unlock pattern
• Installing software that can erase the contents of the smart phone
• Using security features other than screen lock (e.g. encryption)