| Do you own a keychain USB jump-drive, a PDA, or an | | | | human. And humans make mistakes an erroneous |
| | | | judgment |
| all-in-one mobile communications device? If you do, | | | | calls.How To Secure Mobile Devices |
| what | | | | Because there a so many types of mobile storage |
| type of information do you store on it? Many people | | | | and |
| would | | | | communications devices, there are many ways to |
| say there is nothing important stored on their mobile | | | | secure them. |
| device. Many of our customers initially state there is | | | | So, I will stick to what I do to secure the above |
| nothing on the computer network that hackers would | | | | mentioned |
| want or a | | | | devices since I happen to use both types.I use 1GB |
| virus could irreparably damage.I want to start out this | | | | USB 2.0 Jump Drive to store and transfer many |
| article with a couple real-life | | | | types of information. Sometimes, this includes |
| stories about why it is so important to make sure | | | | confidential |
| your | | | | information. For instance, when I travel, I have a copy |
| mobile devices are secure.Panic Over Lost | | | | of |
| Jump-Drive | | | | my account database on the device. However, the |
| About a year ago, a business acquaintance | | | | device |
| contacted me in a | | | | file-system itself is heavily encrypted, and the |
| panic. Apparently, he was onsite performing an internal | | | | database |
| | | | stored on the encrypted file-system, is encrypted. If I |
| security audit for a rather large company, and had lost | | | | happen to misplace this device, I am more than |
| or | | | | confident (at |
| misplaced his keychain USB Jump-Drive. At first, I was | | | | least at this point time) that the data is protected and |
| not | | | | not |
| sure of why he was in such a panic. That is, until he | | | | easily accessible. Now, nothing substitutes for not |
| told | | | | carrying |
| me the drive contained approximately 300Mb of | | | | around this type of information to begin with, but it is |
| security | | | | safer than carrying around a printout of the excel |
| information minded from a previous security audit he | | | | spreadsheet you keep you passwords in.As far |
| performed. He was scared out of his wits that this | | | | mobile communications. I don't know what I would do |
| information would fall into the wrong hands, not to | | | | without my mobile phone. It has replaced my PDA, |
| mention | | | | has |
| the hands of his new client. What would his new client | | | | unlimited internet access, a VPN client so I can |
| think | | | | retrieve my |
| if they found he was walking around with this | | | | mail without having to use a separate service (more |
| information on | | | | $), a |
| a device that anyone4 could gain access too. Would | | | | 1GB storage card, camera and so on. The primary |
| he do the | | | | thing that |
| same thing with their information? Lucky, after | | | | this device stores that is confidential, is my contact list. |
| retracing | | | | |
| his steps in the building, he found on the floor of the | | | | There are other items I don't want just anyone to |
| men's room. He apparently pulled out his keys and the | | | | have |
| | | | access too as well. Not to mention using my phone |
| jump-drive came off the keychain. He no longer | | | | (more $). |
| carries his | | | | So, the storage card is encrypted, and that is where |
| jump-drive around with him.Confidential Client | | | | my |
| Information Lost In Snow Storm | | | | important data is kept. The device itself is password |
| On another occasion, someone quite close to me, | | | | protected with and eight character key that meets or |
| dropped his | | | | exceeds |
| Toshiba PDA somewhere between his car and food | | | | standard complexity rules. And, the mail client itself |
| store. Not to | | | | requires authentication in order to use it.Conclusion |
| big of a deal, except for the fact that there was | | | | If you use mobile devices on a regular basis, I suggest |
| about one | | | | you |
| foot of snow on the ground. He spent the next three | | | | sit down and think about exactly what you store on |
| hours | | | | them. It |
| drudging through the snow looking for the PDA. | | | | is sometimes easy to overlook these things or under |
| Besides the | | | | estimate |
| fact that it was not an inexpensive PDA, it contained | | | | exactly how private or confidential certain information |
| his | | | | is |
| entire client list, personal online accounts with user-id's | | | | or should be. Make sure you take reasonable steps to |
| and passwords, and several other categories of highly | | | | keep |
| | | | the information stored on mobile devices secure and |
| confidential information.In both the cases above, | | | | private. |
| neither of these people had given | | | | It is definitely a balancing act between security and |
| much thought to the loss of these devices. Why | | | | easy |
| should they? | | | | of use.And, what ever you do, don't leave your mobile |
| They were both experienced professionals in the | | | | device in the |
| information | | | | men's room.You may reprint or publish this article free |
| technology business and very careful and conscious | | | | of charge as long as |
| about | | | | the bylines are included. |
| keeping information secure. The problem is, their both | | | | |