Patent ID: 7809353

Claim:
A mobile communications device, comprising: a processor; a communications subsystem connected to the processor operable to exchange signals with a wireless network and with the processor; a storage element connected to the processor and having a plurality of application modules and data stored thereon, the data comprising at least user application data associated with the application modules and service data including data for establishing communications with the wireless network; and a security module operable to detect a locked state of the mobile communications device and initiate a lockout data protection timer for a predetermined duration upon detection of the locked state; and wherein the security module is operable to, after the lockout data protection timer has been initiated, detect if a password shared by the user and the mobile communications device is entered through a user input device within the predetermined duration of the lockout data protection timer; wherein the security module is operable to terminate the lockout data protection timer if entry of the password is detected within the predetermined duration; and wherein the security module is operable to perform a security action comprising erasing or encrypting at least some of the data on the storage element if entry of the password is not detected within the predetermined duration.