Tech crunching, mobile bugs, target shooting...
- Regardless of your geographic location or mobile phone
brand, one thing is certain: you're inextricably affected by it all. There was
a time when there were few participants and many spectators. Now, we are all
participants. Every time you hit a phone key, big things happen. You can either
save a life, or, you can unwittingly pass around a virus that could, and will
mess things up pretty badly. This all means that the little things we do can
impact our world and what's around us.
- When I was younger, working in a photo darkroom, seconds
seemed really small. Then, with electrocardiographic recordings, I got into
milliseconds. Then with computing resources, we marked nanoseconds. Now, even
nanoseconds are an eternity. Hence, the paradox: The smaller we chop things
into, the more time it takes to prepare a meal. The rush is inevitable. Or, is
it our own doing? Again, it depends on where you live, and what you actually
do. Take the time to block out all the
noise and think clearly.
- This takes us to the matter at hand: being more aware and
taking more care, regardless of our favorite tech device. Not everybody can
build a smartphone from scratch, but we can all practice what I call "tech
hygiene." Always remember that there are tech germs and we've got to be
careful of what we touch. To the point: take time to install the latest
"anti-microbial" for your device. Android, iOS, Windows, and Sony are
all different, but yet they're all the same in the sense that they are
vulnerable. But let's not get paranoid now. There are a lot of tools for
keeping your communications safer. And I say “safer”, not “invincible.” Even
Windows bugs can hide in iOS ware.
- May I suggest then a few solutions. First, you can shop
for the latest anti-virus available for your device. There's AvastFree MobileSecurity, AVG Mobilation AntiVirus Free, Lookout Mobile Security, just to name
a few. That's the obvious one. The
second issue to tackle is data encryption for your messages. For iOS, there is
Wickr, a "military grade” app intended for secure IM and multimedia
sharing. It's touted to be "simple enough for a 3-year old." For
Android there are, for example: Cryptext, Rhythm Crypt, and B-Secure Vault (also "military grade"). For
password management and data vault functions, there's Keeper Security (for iOS), and Wallet Free (for
Android). For Windows Phones, kindly
check out the Windows Mobile Marketplace. In the case of Sony, do hop over to
the Sony Mobile Security website. Live Ware Manager (for Sony) allows you to connect
devices safely. Some of these apps are free. And others are available for
reasonable prices worth the investment.
- So, that wraps it up for smartphone security for now. Oh,
yes, I did say target shooting. Cool off, turn on your TV and watch your favorite
Olympic matches. You could bag a Gold: yeah,
in your dreams! As always, keep yourself, and your family safe.
- Fernando Yaakov
Lalana, M.D.
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