Phone Affairs
I cannot live without my smart phone. Take my car. My cat (sorry Fluffy). Just not the phone. I use it for email both work and personal. It houses not only all my contacts but all kinds of useful information in the form of notes and calendar appointments and to do lists. I check my bank and credit balances on it. I also depend heavily on its GPS tools to shepherd me through the world.
I am not alone. This year, there are about 45 million smart phones in use, just in the U.S. These numbers are growing fast.
Imagine my sinking feeling to read about the research team at Rutgers’s University who managed to:
* remotely pinpoint a phone user’s location using GPS.
* remotely turn on said phone’s microphone to eavesdrop on their conversation.
* drain the battery.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100222121624.htm
It’s logical that an increase in threats follow the increase in use. As technology expands, new paths for malware via bluetooth radio channels and text messenging appear. But others argue that smart phones are less of a target for viruses, botnets and malware that go for more robust devices in big numbers.
The real issue with smart phones is related to the human factor. Similar to laptop theft, the phone gets pinched for the personal information it can disgorge. Think of all that precious data you carry with you and how with a tap or two, it’s in the hands of a malicious stranger. We’ve all heard about the Apple employee losing his next generation phone at a bar in Silicon Valley. His identity was easily found by looking at his Facebook page which was on the phone’s display. Although his embarassing story was broadcast around the globe, at least the data was wiped pretty early on by Apple.
Indeed, there are applications that allow users a code they text to their phone to remotely lock it or wipe it clean, before (too much) damage is done. Of course, using a password pin and making sure your backup is current are two easy ways to protect yourself in the event of a theft. Once again, the best protection advice is to be proactive and aware.
