Speak to most IT people, and they will tell you the way people use their Smartphones make these devices the weakest link in the data security fence. A recent survey conducted by Anti-Virus company AVG and research and consulting firm The Ponemon Institute reinforce this perception.
According to the report, 84% of the respondents use their mobile device for both work and personal uses, and a majority (66%) admit that they keep a lot of personal information on their phone, such as email address, name, contact lists, photos, videos, anniversary and personal dates and music. However, only about half use a keypad lock or password to protect access to the information. We find this shocking given how easy it is to password protect a Smartphone.
Further, although two-thirds of the respondents have paid at least once for an item using their Smartphone, only 6% say they check their mobile bill regularly. This isn’t that surprising, considering 57% said that security on a Smartphone is not an important feature when deciding which model to use.
What does this mean? Well, unless you’re planning a life of crime, you should probably consider some of the following simple things to help make your Smartphone live up to its name:
- Set a password or keypad lock on your phone
- Always keep an eye on your phone while traveling – treat it like your wallet
- Install and enable remote services, such as remote lock, remote wipe, and/or GPS location (for finding where your phone went when you forget number 2).
- Keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off when you aren’t using them
- Back up your data
- Apply software/firmware updates from your carrier or phone vendor
- Only download applications from reputable sources
- Use encryption where available
- Don’t respond (or even open) text messages if don’t recognize the number it’s sent from
If you want more information on data security, speak to your IT person – they would be more than willing to help you ensure your device is protected.
Tags: Blackberry, electronic evidence, forensic vendors, ipad, iPhone, IT Security, LegalTech, mobile devices, playbook, Smartphones, Social Media, tablet, Technology
Blog | admin April 13, 2011 | 
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Nickle from New York with Andre, Wortzman Nickle’s Senior E-discovery Analyst and Project Manager at North America’s largest legal technology conference and trade show.
This overwhelming spectacle (this year, complete with demonstrators protesting GB fees in front of the venue!) offers lawyers, forensic vendors, records managers and other e-discovery providers the opportunity to network, attend education sessions, and scope out “the next big thing” in the technology exhibit areas. Breakfasts, lunches and dinners with our colleagues and friends is our favorite way to keep abreast of new technology.
While we are trying to look at everything, our focus this year rests at both ends of the e-discovery spectrum – Early Case Assessment and Review tools. We are always searching for faster, cheaper and more efficient solutions. There is amazing software available – stay tuned for our conclusions!
New e-discovery products are coming to market on almost a weekly basis. They serve different functions and fit into different parts of the EDRM model (notionally being: preservation, identification, collection, processing/culling, review, and production). In researching these options, we are learning that the terminology used by forensic companies is often as diverse as the products they are selling.
In particular, the term “review” is causing some confusion. In the legal context, “review” means the fifth stage in the EDRM model referencing the “lawyer review”. This is the phase after collection and processing/culling when lawyers review and code the records for relevance, privilege and to issues codes. At the review phase, we look for a robust review platform that allows customized coding fields and the integration of near de-duplication and/or concept clustering software. These features save our clients significant time and money as they avoid a linear review.
However, in the forensic context, “review” often means the ability to view records (images or in native format) during the early case assessment or processing/culling phases.
Does this potential conflict in e-terminology matter? Yes. Suddenly, a solution billed as “end to end” is actually an early case assessment or processing tool – one which will require an export of data to an appropriate (but different) review platform down the road. This can mean an increase in time and cost for the litigant company – the one that believed it had purchased a single “end to end” e-discovery solution.
The lesson learned is this – ask lots of questions and clarify the terminology at every stage. Alternatively, call Wortzman Nickle and we’ll help you with the e-translation.
