Today many UK businesses use smartphones to facilitate the everyday running of their operations. With more and more businesses using smartphones, cyber criminals have turned their attention from desktop hacking to mobile hacking.

Large businesses in the UK now consider smartphones as posing the largest security threat to their operations. This has led them to come up with strict policies and comprehensive protective solutions in order to keep data safe. Companies can now invest in on-device anti-malware applications, SSL VPN clients and central monitoring tools.

A rise in the number of employees working remotely has also led companies to create central control systems that enable administrators to locate, lock, wipe, back-up and restore devices that have been lost or stolen.

Malware

Despite all of the security solutions UK businesses use to protect their IT systems, some still struggle to battle against the rise in malware. New malicious software is being developed to disturb IT operations and gather confidential information.

This year many UK businesses have been concentrating on protecting their mobile technology from malware threats. It is essential that businesses make use of the latest malware patches in order to keep their company data and customer information safe.

Image source: farm4.staticflickr.com

Data breaches

Last year, data from well-known companies was compromised by hackers. This exposed sensitive customer information such as usernames, passwords, and other account data. When a company compromises customer data, they not only face potential law suits but the loss of their customers’ trust. Many of the large UK companies now require customers to follow a two-step authentication process when attempting to access their accounts in order to improve safety and eliminate security breaches.

Social media hacking

With more and more UK businesses using websites like Facebook and Twitter to engage with customers, there has been a greater need to prevent social media hacking. Last year many businesses had their social media accounts hacked. Not only did the hackers gain unauthorized access to private messages, but they also sent out spam and hateful messages to customers. Social media hacking can seriously damage a brand’s reputation and at all cost is well worth preventing! Social media has quickly become the face of most UK businesses and therefore should be considered when creating security strategies.

Bug bounties

Although attempting to hack into a UK company’s database is unethical, there are some hackers out there that inform companies of their IT vulnerabilities, rather than selling on the information to cyber criminals. These hackers are often called ‘bug bounties’ and are paid by large companies to find flaws in their websites, databases and applications and find ways to fix them. The money paid by the companies to these ‘ethical hackers’ is thought of as a gesture of thanks, rather than something that is owed to them for their findings.

Conclusion

Although we assume that big UK businesses are invincible, many of them are still at risk from the common IT vulnerabilities stated in this article. It is essential that UK businesses constantly look to improve their security strategies and update their preventative software in order to keep their company information and client details secure. This year companies should be concentrating on developing their mobile security strategies, as mobile will continue to play a significant role in the world of business going forward.

Written by Aaron Hopkins on behalf of Cheeky Munkey IT support.

The post A look at IT vulnerabilities of the big UK companies appeared first on Colocation America.

More and more people are using their phones to access the web. With all the recent phone tapping revelations that have hit headlines, you could well be forgiven for wondering if any of your private data is secure.

Mobile phones are playing an increasingly important role in our lives; much of our most personal and sensitive information is now stored in their memories.

How secure is the data you have stored on your phone and could it be targeted by a third party looking to cause you harm?

Passwords

One of the most common mistakes that people make is to keep the default password that comes with the phone. The chances are that a lot of people will know or have access to these passwords, so always change it as soon as you have set up your new handset.

To further protect your phone you can add a PIN to your SIM card. This means that if your phone does get stolen the thieves won’t be able to access the information stored on it.

Automatic Lock

An automatic lock means that if your phone is not used for a minute or two the keypad will lock automatically. To unlock the phone a password or PIN number will need to be entered, preventing opportunistic thieves from getting their hands on your info.

Anti-virus software

With many people now using their phones to access the internet on a regular basis, you need to consider protecting your phone from online viruses just like you would your computer.There are various anti-virus software protection programs on the market, so invest in a good one and feel more confident as you surf the web.

Do Not Download Questionable Content

Many viruses get into your system when you download content online. Only download apps, data and programs from trusted sites. If you are downloading anything from the web, pay attention as you can be diverted or redirected to third party sites that are not trustworthy.

Watch out for Unsecured WIFI

Rogue WIFI connections can leave your data incredibly vulnerable to intrusion. Thieves set up a mobile WIFI hub and then wait for a passersby to log on to the network.

While they are logged on thieves can use the network to access data stored on the phone, stealing anything useful that they find. Avoid this scam by only using trusted networks and those that have secure passwords.

Encryption

If someone does get their hands on your phone, there is a chance they will be able to access the data stored on it. To prevent this from happening you can buy a program that encrypts all the data stored on your device. Some phones have an encryption program built in – making it especially easy to protect your info.

Recycling or Selling your Old Phone

When people get a new phone, most people tend to either recycle or sell their old handset. Though there is no real problem with this, it is important to ensure that all of your personal data has been removed. Everything from the contact details to the photos need to be wiped and any saved passwords should be return to factory settings.

It is also a good idea to erase all of your internet history so that your online life is kept secure. Mobile phone data is vulnerable to attack and intrusion, so keeping your information safe is vital. Most of these measures are fairly obvious, so don’t let yourself become a victim of mobile phone crime; take the time to keep your info safe.

About the author: This post was written by Aaron Hopkins on behalf of Cheeky Munkey IT Support – a team that has a passion for all areas of security and support.

The post How Secure is The Data on Your Phone? appeared first on Colocation America.