Smart Phone Smarts-Protect your Identity

Content from http://www.statefarm.com/

A visit to the application store may load more than that cute virtual pet program on your smartphone. If you're not careful, you might just sync up with some very clever criminals. It's true. As smartphones flood the marketplace and users load up on apps such as games, shopping tools, map software and online banking, they're also exposing themselves to identity thieves and hackers. Malware (malicious software designed to infiltrate a computer) has gone mobile.
"Mobile malware isn't a new concept in the mobile security field, but we've seen a huge rise in the volume of attacks as a side effect of the expansion of mobile apps," says Dror Shalev, chief technical officer at DroidSecurity, which focuses on protecting smartphones. "After all, mobile devices are just always-on computers that can make phone calls."
So how can you protect your phone and your identity from this new breed of mobile-minded criminal? Here are some tips.
Protect your phoneUse common sense in protecting your smartphone from hackers and identity thieves. Don't let strangers borrow your phone, protect access to e-mail and sensitive data with a PIN or password, don't use unofficial apps for online banking, and don't click on links from text messages. Basically, if you wouldn't do it on your home computer, don't do it on your smartphone. Be wary of free apps that aren't from established, trusted, familiar sources. Steer clear of pirated app repositories; stick to official versions for safe mobile surfing. And when you use public WiFi for Web access, don't visit sites that require you to share sensitive personal information such as account numbers or your social security number. Hackers may lurk on WiFi networks.
Watch bills vigilantlyCheck your bill carefully each month. If you see downloads you didn't authorize or calls you didn't make, contact your wireless provider immediately. If you receive a confirmation e-mail when you download an app, take time to actually read through it so that you know exactly what you are putting on your phone—and where it's coming from.
Question quirks
If your home computer started doing bizarre things like shutting down without warning, sending unauthorized email messages or pulling up websites that don't match the address typed in, you might suspect a virus. But users don't necessarily make the same connection when bizarre quirks develop on smartphones. Mobile devices will usually issue similar weird warnings when they're infected with malware