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Chances are that you own and use a mobile phone or tablet device every day, but you are most likely not aware of all the risks and dangers involved in the process. Of course, there is no need to be paranoid, but certain measures of precaution should be taken to avoid any sensitive information getting stolen. In the past couple of years tablets and mobile devices are a major target for theft and statistics show that hundreds of thousands of mobile devices are reported lost or stolen every year. Having your device get stolen could mean a lot of things. The thief could use your wireless Internet access and use your device to pay for services charged to your bill. After this, they usually scrap the device, jailbreak it and sell it on the black market. However, even worse things could happen, most importantly, one could steal your identity and credit card information which is probably one of the most sensitive data leaks that could happen to you. To get this information sometimes they do not even have to physically take your device as they can use malware and viruses. So, what can you do about it? Be careful about viruses and malware Android is one of the most powerful mobile platforms, but it also filled with malware that users install without knowing it. Always check the reviews that an application has before downloading it and make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your phone. If you are using an Apple device though, chances of this are a lot slimmer, but you should still check the statistics and see what software you could use to improve on your security. The bran new Firefox Mobile OS seems like it will the leading power when it comes to online privacy, but even so you should be careful when using it. Mobile Lookout Security is a great application for Android which allows you to keep your data safe. It is anti-virus software, but also a remote tracking application which can be used to locate a lost or stolen device. It is a great idea to set a password for your SMS app as well as on the main screen. Of course, there is a lot more you can do to protect your privacy. Another thing that people often forget is to update their operating system and applications when it is possible to do so. The main reason is that it is often time consuming and a boring task, but it is extremely important for you to do so. Data and Privacy Some phone companies store your data on their server. Do you trust your phone company to keep your data secure? Phones may not be the best place to store valuable or personal information. Phone conversations can easily be overheard. Passwords, credit card numbers and other identifiable information should be discussed in a private place. Nobody takes responsibility if you leak your private, secure data this way so be very careful about what you say and where you say it. More on this subject Jim Wilkinson is the founder and CEO of Your Greatest Protection dot Com, an online store and community site for everyone who is seeking personal security advice and products. Download his free eBook on online identity theft and get a 10% discount coupon on his website!
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identity theft, identity fraud, credit card scam,
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