Lessons From The Headlines: Don’t Be Hacked

The questions and answers over the phone hacking scandal at a London newspaper have not been put to bed, just yet.

In fact, several investigators want more answers, especially from the paper’s owner Rupert Murdoch.

What his group is accused of doing in London; however, can actually be done anywhere and by anyone.

With the modern cell phones that look more like computers from the 1990s, these devices, too, don’t have virus protection or firewalls. That means anyone with a simple business card can get inside can steal whatever you have stored.

“People are realizing their phones are computers and that the data on them has become digital currency,” said Harold Welte of Chaos Computer Club. “So voicemail is one thing, but think about your location; think about your banking information; work info; corporate information; you know, via documents, that all is incredibly valuable and hackers are now turning their attention to mobile devices for that reason.”

And now, they’re coming up with smart phone apps to combat the hackers.

One is called My Lookout Security, and it’s available to Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile users.

It acts just like the security suite on your computer does: keeps the viruses away, backs up your data, helps you find your lost or stolen phone and manages it all of it online.

“Everybody knows (mobile) is not secure,” explained My Lookout CEO John Hering. “People think mobile phones are more secure, which is not true at all.”

So what can you do to protect your vital information on your cell phone without an app? Plenty.

First. try to surf websites that only have the protected “https” in the address.

Change the security code you may have to access your cell phone often. That way everyone doesn’t eventually know it.

Never download other apps for your smart phone from someone other than your cell provider.

And make sure all of your wireless internet connections are secured with a password-protected router.

They’re a few simple steps that could keep you off the front page of the newspaper.