10 QuickTips to Mobile
Security

10 Quick Tips to Mobile Security

contents
03 Introduction
05 Mobile Threats and 		Consequences
06 Important Mobile 		Statistics
07 Top 10 Mobile
Safety Tips
19 Resources
22 In Summary
23 About McAfeeintroduction

32% of people believethat they don’t needsecurity software for
their mobile devices

There’s no doubt about it—mobile devices have become
man’s new best friend. If you don’t believe it, consider that
there are currently more than 4 billion¹ mobile phones in use
worldwide among 7 billion people, not to mention millionsof tablets. We use our devices to stay in touch, take pictures,shop, bank, listen to music, and socialize. We store personal
and professional information on them, and because we usethem for almost everything, they have both a high financial
and emotional value.
Losing your smartphone or tablet, or the information on it, can be a hassle. If you lose
your mobile device, you not only have to replace it, but you could also lose the sensitive
information you had stored on it, including account numbers and confidential work
information. So, why do so many of us leave our mobile devices unprotected and notuse mobile security?
Most of us now understand that we need to protect our computers from the myriadof threats that we see each day. But many of us don’t realize that we face the samethreats, as well as a host of new ones with our mobile devices. In fact, 32% of people
believe that they don’t need security software for their mobile devices.2

1 http://mashable.com/2011/03/23/mobile-by-the-numbers-infographic/
2 McAfee Digital Assets Survey, 20113

For one thing, the growing popularity of mobile devices has led cybercriminals tosee them as a new avenue for attack. Mobile malware targeted at Android devices
has increased by nearly 37% over the past several months.3

Mobile malware
targeted at Androiddevices has increasedby nearly 37% over thepast several months

Even though we think of mobile devices as our phones or tablets, they are reallymini-computers that can be more vulnerable than the ones sitting on our desks.
So, as a mobile user, keep in mind that you need to learn how to protect yourself
from a variety of threats. Here are just a few to consider:

3 McAfee Threats Report: Third Quarter 20114

Mobile Threats and Consequences
Threats

Dangers

Device loss or theft• Loss of sensitive personal and employer information suchas contacts, calendars and photos• Breach of your privacy, and in a worst-case scenario, you could

become a victim of identity theft• Compromised online accounts• Payment to replace the device, and/or possible calls or texts

charged to your accountPhishing scams (oftendelivered via emails,
texts and social
networking sites)• Sensitive information revealed such as account numbers

Malware and spyware• Compromised personal information—you could even becomeand login credentials• Unauthorized withdrawals made from your bank accounta victim of identity theft• Unauthorized charges could appear on your mobile bill
• Others may listen in on your phone calls and retrieve

your voicemails
Quick Response (QR)
codes

• You could accidentally download a malicious application• Your personal information could be compromised, or your device

could cease to function properly
Wi-Fi networks• You could connect to an unsecured network, and the data you

send, including sensitive information such as passwords andaccount numbers, could potentially be intercepted5Important Mobile Statistics
50% of smartphoneusers do not use any
password protection

If you’re still not convinced that your phone needs protection, consider these statistics:• People are 15 times more likely to lose a mobile phone than a laptop, making

loss the biggest threat to mobile users.4• Consumers on average store “digital assets” they value to be worth $37,4385

in their devices, including digital media, professional information, and personalcorrespondence and photos—yet more than a third lack protection across allof those devices.
• By 2014, mobile Internet use is expected to take over desktop Internet use,6 which

could make mobile devices even more attractive to scammers and cybercriminals.
• Mobile commerce is expected to reach $31 billion by 2016,7 making it critical that

consumers know how to shop safely from their mobile devices.
• By 2015 there are expected to be 500 million mobile banking users worldwide,8

making mobile banking safety a top concern.
• Mobile malware aimed at the Android platform alone grew 400% in the six months

between June 2010 and January 2011,9 and no platform is immune.
• 40% of consumers say losing their mobile devices would be worse than losing theirwallets,10 yet they often leave them unsupervised or unprotected.
• More than 50% of smartphone users do not use any password protection

to prevent unauthorized access to their device.11

4 http://www.mcafee.com/us/about/news/2011/q1/20110216-03.aspx
5 McAfee Digital Assets Survey, 20116 http://mashable.com/2011/03/23/mobile-by-the-numbers-infographic/
7 Forrester, 2011 http://forrester.com/rb/Research/mobile_commerce_forecast_2011_to_2016/q/id/58616/t/2
8 Yankee Group, June 2011
9 Juniper Networks
10 “The Rise of Smartphones and Related Security Issues”, April 2011
11 The Wall Street Journal, “Google Mail Hack Blamed on China”, June 20116

Top 10 Mobile Safety Tips
Considering how much we rely on ourmobile devices, and how much opportunity thecybercriminals have to launch attacks against
them, you’ll want to make sure you are protected.
Follow these simple tips:

107

1

Lock your device witha personal identification
number (PIN) or password
This is how you can prevent unauthorizedaccess. Also, configure your device toautomatically lock after a certain periodof time.
Even after your device is password-protected,
never leave it unattended in public—lost andstolen devices continue to be the number-one
threat to mobile users.

8

2

Only install
applications (apps)
from trusted sources• Shop at reputable app stores—Before

downloading an app, research the app andits publishers. If you are an Android user,
avoid installing non-market applications byde-selecting the “unknown sources” option
in your device’s Applications Settings menu.
• Check other users’ reviews and ratings tosee if an application is safe.
• Read the app’s privacy policy—Check to see

how much of your data the app accesses
and if it will share your information withthird parties, if there is a privacy policy. For
example, if a game application requests
access to your address book, you should ask
yourself why it would need that access. If
you are at all suspicious or uncomfortable,
don’t download the app.
93Back up your data
It is relatively easy to do, and manysmartphones and tablets have the capabilityto backup data wirelessly, so you can quickly
restore the information on your phone if
the data is lost or accidentally deleted. And,if you lose your device, you will still be able
to retrieve your information.

10

4

Keep your system updated
Download software updates for your mobile
device’s operating system when prompted.
This way, you’ll always have the latest security
updates and ensure that your device is always
performing at an optimal level.

11

5

Don’t hack your device
Hacking, or tampering with your own device
to free it from the limitations set by a provider,
can significantly weaken the security of yourdevice. By hacking your device, you canpotentially open security holes that may havenot been readily apparent, or undermine thedevice’s built-in security measures.

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6Always log out of banking
and shopping sites• Log out of sites instead of closing thebrowser—If your phone or tablet is lostor stolen, a thief can potentially log in to
your accounts. Also, never save usernames
and passwords in your mobile browser orapps, just in case your device falls into thewrong hands.
• Don’t bank or shop online from public Wi-Fi

connections—It’s best to save your sensitivetransactions, such as online banking forwhen you’re on a network that has security
measures in place.
• Double-check the site URL—Make sure thatthe web address is correct before logging
in or sending any sensitive information. You
may want to download your bank’s official
app so that you know you’re going to theright website every time.

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7Turn off Wi-Fi, location
services, and Bluetoothwhen they are not in use• Turn off Wi-Fi if you’re not using it—

Cybercriminals and identity thieves caneasily access your information without yourknowledge if the connection is not secure.
One way to stay safe is to limit your useof hotspots. When you’re away from yourhome or work network, use a 3G or 4G data
connection instead since most mobile phone
providers encrypt the traffic between cell
towers and your device.
• Turn off apps that use location services—

You may not realize it, but some mobile
service providers store this information andit could be shared, leaked, or used to push
ads to you.¹²

12 http://www.itstactical.com/digicom/privacy/
data-leaks-location-based-services-and-why-you-should-be-concerned/

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• Bluetooth should be turned off when you

don’t need it—Many devices are preset touse default settings that allow other users toconnect to your device, sometimes without
your knowledge. This means malicious
users can potentially access your device andcopy files, or gain access to another device
attached to your Bluetooth device.

15

8

Avoid texting or emailingpersonal information
Even if you receive a text that appears
to be from your bank or another legitimate
business, never respond with personalinformation. Instead, contact the businessdirectly to confirm their request.
And even though it may be tempting tostore important information on your phone,remember that your device can easily be lostor stolen and your personal information,
including passwords and banking information,
could fall into the hands of the bad guys.

16

9Don’t click on links
or attachments in
unsolicited emails
or text messages
Remember to use your Internet best practices,and be wary of links in unsolicited email ortext messages (both SMS and MMS). Our best
advice is to delete unsolicited messages assoon as you receive them.
Also, be wary of shortened URLs and QR
codes—they could lead you to dangerous
websites. Use a URL preview site, such as
LongURL, to check to see if the web address
looks legitimate before visiting it. If you plan
to scan QR codes, select a QR reader thatoffers a preview of the code’s embedded web
address, and use mobile security software thatwarns you of risky links in QR codes.

1710Install a mobilesecurity app
Make sure that you have mobile antivirus
protection that can catch existing andemerging mobile threats, and keep yoursoftware updated. This way, no matter what
the bad guys have up their sleeves, you cankeep your information and device safe.

18

resources

19

Mobile Security
When it comes to the complex world of mobile threats, your best defense is security
software that offers several layers of protection, such as McAfee Mobile Security.™
McAfee Mobile Security offers:• Complete antivirus, antispyware, and antiphishing—Scan and clean malicious

code from inbound or outbound emails, text messages, attachments, and files.
• Safe searching and shopping—Protection from risky links within texts, email,and social networking sites, as well as browser exploits and malicious QR codes.
• App protection with app alert—Review a report on your app’s access to yourpersonal data so you can make informed decisions about each app.
• Device lock—Protect against misuse of your phone and personal data by remotely
Available for Android smartphones
and tablets as well as BlackBerry andSymbian smartphones.

locking all data, including the data on your memory (SIM) card.
• Remotely wipe data—Protect your privacy by remotely deleting the data on yourphone and removable memory card.
• Backup and restore data—Preserve irreplaceable personal information on

demand, on a schedule, or before you wipe your missing smartphone; then restore
your information to your new device.
• Locate and track—Recover your smartphone if it is lost or stolen. View its location ona map, send a text to prompt its return, and use a remote alarm to make it “scream.”• Call and text filtering—Easily filter out spam, incorrect names, and unwanted texts.
• Uninstall protection—Keep a thief or another user from bypassing yourMcAfee mobile protection.
Try McAfee Mobile Security for free.

20other resources
Mobile Security Advice
http://www.mcafee.com/mobile-advice
Safety Tips for BlackBerry Devices
http://us.blackberry.com/business/topics/security/
Tips to Protect Your Android Phone
http://www.cio.com/article/675129/Android_Security_Six_Tips_to_Protect_Your_Google_Phone
Google Good to Know
http://www.google.com/goodtoknow/online-safety/mobile-security/
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
http://www.netsmartz.org/CellPhones
Consumer Action Mobile Transaction Tips
http://www.consumer-action.org/english/articles/your_digital_
dollars-safety_and_privacy_in_online_and_mobile_transactions/

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In Summary
The explosion of Internet-enabled mobile
devices has delivered productivity and flexibility
gains that we have never realized before.
However, they have also given hackers andscammers unprecedented opportunities totarget your personal data. Protect yourself by
following the safety tips listed in this guide,and stay educated about emerging threats.
By investing a little bit of time and effort, youcan enjoy all the fun and convenience thatmobile devices offer while safeguarding yourprivacy, identity, and bank account.

For more information and advice about mobile security, please visit the McAfee
Security Advice Center at www.mcafee.com/mobile-advice.
About McAfee
McAfee, a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), is theworld’s largest dedicated security company. Since our founding in 1987, we have
had just one mission: to help our customers stay safe. We achieve this by creating
proactive security solutions for securing your digital world.
Through our vigilance, we allow consumers and companies to work, play and shop
online more securely, no matter where they are or how they connect. McAfee isrelentlessly focused on finding new ways to keep our customers safe.
http://www.mcafee.com

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