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El DiPablo
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| Image by Michael Coghlan via Flickr |
Major Virus Vectors for Smartphones
Apps, especially ones you load from outside of official app stores, may carry malicious code and viruses. Mobile anti-virus and anti-malware applications help cut down on infections, although zero day viruses get around this protection until the virus definitions are updated. Teach employees to only download and install apps from trusted sources and official websites, instead of third-party sites.Unsecured wireless networks and Bluetooth connections are another way for malicious code to get injected on employee devices. Security settings on Android and iOS prevent devices from automatically connecting to untrusted networks. MMS messages with attachments also provide another way for hackers to get viruses onto the system, according to Qresolve. When employees are careful about what message attachments they open, they cut down on the amount of virus vectors to keep their smartphones more secure.
Device Loss
According to BGR, 113 smartphones are lost every minute in the U.S. If employees store work files or login information on their smartphones, this data could easily be used against the company if the phone is stolen. Anti-theft software cuts down on data breaches by locating the phone if it's lost, or remotely wiping the data if it's stolen. Another point to bring up in training is to tell employees not to store passwords on their smartphones, or encrypt any stored passwords. You can also install apps that provide lock screens for every individual app, preventing a thief from accessing any data stored in apps instead of mobile browsers.Enterprise App Stores
Instead of letting employees use their own apps for work-related purposes, provide them with approved, secure apps for productivity and utility. While some employees are more productive with their own apps, enterprise app stores do cut down on unsecure data transfer. You provide solutions to your employees for data transfer, cloud storage, collaboration tools, and other essential workplace apps.Mobile Management
You can cut down on the amount of work managing multiple mobile platforms by using mobile device management (MDM) software that supports iOS, Blackberry and Android phones. Solutions that provide substantial mobile security include features such as virtualized work spaces and secure, self-contained applications that don't interact with the rest of the smartphone's system files.
