I’m on the prowl for chances to intercept your data. SmartPhones, iPads, BlackBerrys and other mobile devices help you stay connected and allow you to take your data with you. Because they connect to the Internet using wireless connections, they present opportunities for bad guys to pick off the most sensitive company information. Next thing you know, I’m exchanging high fives with a hacker in the end zone.

Downloading the global address list and storing sensitive client information or email discussions on your mobile device adds risk of unauthorized disclosure.

Don’t fumble your data when using mobile devices:

• Kick that app. Be careful what you get at the app store. Applications and freeware often contain hidden viruses and spyware that could put your device and the information on it at risk.

• Block that Bluetooth! When not in use, change the default password for connecting to a Bluetooth-enabled device.

• Be a textual deviate. Your text messages are not secure. Texts are transmitted over your carrier’s network, not a secure company network. The files you send are not encrypted and won’t be scanned by your company’s network virus protection.

• Huddle up on WiFi. Free, public WiFi service can be extremely insecure. Don’t make it easy for me. Be your own WiFi hot spot.

• Kick the GPS habit. GPS is useful when you need it; but it can also publish your current and past locations. Turn it off unless in use.

• Use a playbook. Keep track of where your mobile device is at all times and lock it when not in use to prevent loss or theft.

Don’t let your mobile device get sacked. Protect — don’t neglect!

Lisa Martin
CEO
LeapFrog Solutions, Inc.

LeapFrog Solutions (LFS) is a certified woman owned small business based in Fairfax, Virginia. Founded in 1996, we are a trusted source for commercial businesses and federal agencies seeking full spectrum creative solutions and exceptional program management. This blogpost is brought to you by GTSC in partnership with LeapFrog Solutions. For more information on cyber awareness campaigns contact Anjali Dighe at 703.539.6127 or adighe@leapfrogit.com.

Admit it. You can’t resist plugging those cute little USB thumb drives, miniature CD ROMS and other removable media devices into your computer. They’re easy to use, portable, convenient and they hold lots of data.

But my hacker friends and I discovered that those nifty memory devices are a great way to get into your computer and your network — especially if you don’t know where they came from. We hand them out everywhere we go. Everybody wants one. We pre-infect them with malware or spyware. The second you plug them into your USB port, presto! I’m running around your computer, free and easy.

Sure, it’s handy to download files onto a thumb drive and take them home with you instead of lugging your laptop around. But humans have a propensity to lose things. People misplace their thumb drives or CD ROMS all the time. Because they are so small, it’s pretty easy to steal them, too.

But you can protect yourself, your computer and your network. Just follow these easy tips:

• If you don’t know where it came from, don’t put it in your computer.
• Safeguard your memory sticks. Keep them in a safe place.
• Use encryption. Protect sensitive data on your thumb drives.
• Print hard copies of documents and back up data on removable media.

Remember, losing a memory stick that contains important data could have severe consequences. Protect, don’t neglect! For more information, check out www.us-cert.gov.

Lisa Martin
CEO
LeapFrog Solutions, Inc.

LeapFrog Solutions (LFS) is a certified woman owned small business based in Fairfax, Virginia. Founded in 1996, we are a trusted source for commercial businesses and federal agencies seeking full spectrum creative solutions and exceptional program management. This blogpost is brought to you by GTSC in partnership with LeapFrog Solutions. For more information on cyber awareness campaigns contact Anjali Dighe at 703.539.6127 or adighe@leapfrogit.com.