>Protect your smartphone

Hackers are turning their attention away from your PC and on to your smartphone.

Surprised? Just think of everything mobile phones can be used for these days: calling, text messaging and taking photos; surfing the internet, shopping, checking email, playing games and updating social networking accounts; accessing accounts, checking bank balances and authorizing the transfer of funds. And so much more. What hacker wouldn't be tempted to break in?

And think of the millions of smartphones in circulation. An opportunity for hackers lies in almost every pocket and purse out there! Keep your handy mobile device safe and secure. Here are some things to watch for:

Viruses and Malware
Cell phone viruses are already in circulation, and you can expect more to pop up in the next few years. Current viruses could, for example, drain your cell phone battery or make high-priced phone calls or text messages from your mobile.

Avoid viruses: do not download illegal software or open questionable attachments. Don't buy or download any apps you're not 100% sure of. How do you know if an app is safe? Read this article.

Prepare for loss or theft
Your smartphone is small, and it goes everywhere with you. The opportunities for losing, misplacing or having your phone stolen are ample. Password protect your phone and lock the keypad when you're not using it.

Software is available that will remotely lock your smartphone or wipe it clean of all your information. If you carry a lot of important information on your phone, you may want to look into these.

Information control
Just because your smartphone lets you list all of your contacts in a fancy new application doesn't mean you should do it. If you don't really need to carry certain information or carry out certain tasks on your phone, consider not doing it.

Interceptions
Text messages, in particular, are relatively easy to intercept. Don't share any important information, account numbers or passwords via text message.

Voice mail
Ensure you enable the password or PIN to all your voice mail accounts. Again, it's just one additional layer of protection.

Stay alert
You may not realize someone has intercepted an important text message or captured you bank account password through your phone. Stay alert: examine every bank and credit card statement; check your credit report frequently; ensure your proactive identity monitoring information is always up to date.

And finally …
When you're ready to upgrade to a new smartphone, ensure you take these steps ro remove all information from your old one.

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