5 Simple Steps for Better Mobile Security
Grant Ackerman • Jul 20, 2021
Mobile Security Is More Important Than Ever Before
Today many companies are opting into a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy where employees use their own personal devices for work. This allows convenient access to company information and systems, but in turn also makes this data more susceptible to a breach if a device were to be stolen or lost. A mobile security compromise risks more than just the data on the device. The range of consequences is vast, including downtime, supply chain delays, lost business, damage to reputation and regulatory fines.
According to the 2020 Verizon Mobile Security Index report, the portion of companies who have suffered a mobile-related compromise has been growing year over year for the past three years now up to nearly 40%. Additionally, during that same time frame an increasing number of companies reported investing more and more in mobile security over the years.
Thankfully, there are some simple steps end users and companies alike can implement to better secure their mobile devices. These steps will ensure your valuable data is safe and provide some peace of mind:
- First off, ensure all mobile devices are secured with a pin code, or pattern. Biometric security such as fingerprint or facial recognition is not recommended since someone could unlock your phone without your consent. For example, a police officer or criminal could unlock your phone by pointing the camera at your face without permission.
- Secondly, make sure that all apps with sensitive information such as banking apps are secured with a strong unique password for individual users. Once again, do not use biometric security.
- Ensure all data is being backed up to more than one location. Apple and Google offer cloud backups, however a service like Acronis Cyber Cloud
should be considered for additional redundancy and data security.
- Always have device location tracking enabled such as Google’s “Find my device” or Apple’s “Find my” feature.
If a device is lost or stolen, act immediately! You can remotely locate the device by using one the following websites and logging into the same account the device was registered to: https://www.google.com/android/find
or https://www.apple.com/icloud/find-my/
A device can also be remotely wiped from these websites ensuring that the data cannot be accessed or stolen. Please note that after device has been wiped it may no longer be tracked.
- Follow all standard internet safety practices such as keeping your operating system and apps updated, avoid unsecured WIFI, use 2FA (2 Factor Authentication) when possible, always use a VPN, and be careful about what you click on and download.
We must remember that our cellphones often function as a key to our personal lives too, arguably more important than an ID card. If someone has saved their passwords to their phone and it isn’t secured, someone could access medical records, company information, your bank accounts, and even private documents like a social security card, driver's license, etc. Spending a bit of time making sure you follow these steps could save you a lot of headaches in the future by avoiding a data security nightmare.
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In today's day in age, the use of AI-generated platforms has become increasingly popular across the internet. These platforms allow for a fast and facilitated way to complete tasks such as professional work, education, or expanding one's personal knowledge. Anyone has the ability to discover new or pre-existing information regarding a multitude of topics by simply imputing their inquiries on platforms such as Chat GPT. Chat GPT has had a striking impact on society because of how easy it is for people to gather information on any topic. The platform provides information on anything asked through its online chat and it does so with a fast response. However, Chat GPT and AI-generated platforms can have potential risks such as... Data Breaches Data breaches can happen when using any type of online platform, especially those generated by AI. Chat GPT must be accessed through a web browser since it cannot be downloaded. Because of that, data breaches can occur if an unauthorized party gets a hold of your online chat logs, personal information, or any other sensitive data. A few consequences are: Privacy compromises : If an unknown person or group gains access to your personal information through the platform, your privacy has been compromised and you identity could be exposed. Identity theft : Cybercriminals could use your personal information to act under your name rather than their own. They would steal your identity by using it against you in order to perform fraudulent actions. Misuse of data : User data could be subject to misuse when a data breach occurs on an AI platform. With that, your information could be used without your consent for suspicious activity online. Open AI appears to be taking accurate cyber security measures in order to make it less likely for data breaches to take place. However, not all systems are free from errors or breaches in security, and Chat GPT is a good example of this. Access to Confidential Information Chat GPT has the ability to use personal information entered into the online chat by its users. In order to ensure the user's safety and continual privacy while using the platform, it's best to not exploit one's own information when using the AI chat. Gaining access to user information isn't easy for an AI-generated platform to achieve, but if the user provides the data themselves, it can have some consequences. Biased or Inconsistent Information An additional risk in using Chat GPT is that it could potentially provide biased or inconsistent information to its users Because of the wide range of information the platform contains, it could possibly generate false data that could be confused for something else. This can definitely affect industries or companies that use AI-generated content for their line of work These businesses could provide faulty service to their customers all due to the misleading data given by an AI platform. This has the potential to hinder the company’s advances and overall performance as a result. In the end, it's up to the user and the user alone how they interpret the information given by the AI chat bots; it could be completely right or completely false. Question: Is it safe to use? In certain aspects, Chat GPT contains multiple potential threats to one’s online experience. A platform such as this one can provide misinformation and exploit your personal information. However, it can still be used without problems if certain measures are taken accordingly. Safety Measures You Can Take: Browse on and interacting with AI platforms through anonymous accounts Keep personal or sensitive information private Review the platform’s privacy policy and be well-informed about its activity To conclude, yes, Chat GPT is safe to use as long as it is used responsibly and accordingly to reap the benefits. These types of platforms will continue to be prevalent in the world for years to come and it’s important to know how to ensure we have the best experience with AI. Where can I learn more about the effects of AI for my business? At EV-Consultech, we can answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the influence of AI. Learn more by contacting us below.
Why Using A.I. Chatbots Will Impact The Way You Conduct Business
Pandemic Impact
When an employee decides to leave a company, there is an offboarding process that needs to happen. This process “decouples” the employee from the company’s technological assets and is vital to cybersecurity.
The pandemic has been a reality check that companies all around have shared. It required major changes in how they operate. No longer, did the status quo of having everyone work in the office make sense for everyone. Many organizations had to quickly evolve to working through remote means.
The one constant about technology is that it changes rapidly. Tools that were once industry standard, like Internet Explorer and Adobe Flash, age out, replaced by faster and more secure alternatives.