Is your mobile data vulnerable?

Nov. 15, 2010 - PRLog -- You wouldn’t leave your door unlocked so why leave your mobile phone open to thieves? That’s the warning coming from the UK-based smartphone security expert BlackBelt, which hopes to alert the growing number of smartphone users to the risks presented by unprotected smartphones.

The firm has this week announced the launch of its Mobile AntiTheft security solution that enables users to securely lock their android smartphones, block them in the event of loss or theft and wipe data remotely via SMS. BlackBelt AntiTheft also has the functionality to send a notification when the SIM is changed and can even provide the current location of the device if it is GPS-enabled, providing a potential means of recovering the smartphone.

“The amount of phones that are either stolen or left in the back of taxis in the UK each year is staggering,” says BlackBelt operations director and chief technical officer, Peter Harrison.  “Each one of these handsets contains valuable personal information, especially smartphones, as effectively, users are carrying around a small, very powerful PC.  

“Smartphone platforms are fundamentally insecure, leaving mobile devices exposed to the threats from the web. Loss or theft is also a big risk; if you use your mobile for business, access your emails on it or simply don’t want a stranger looking at your personal text, photos and emails, then it is essential to protect the phone with an inexpensive yet reliable security solution.”

According to a recent report by Ofcom, the amount of people in the UK reaching for smartphones to enable web access on the move or for use as business tools has seen a dramatic 81 per cent rise from 7.2 million in May 2009 to 12.8 million in May 2010.

Surfing the internet via mobile phones is the fastest growing mobile media activity according to the regulator.  There were one million new users during the first quarter of 2010, taking the total to 13.5 million, compared to nine million in the first quarter of 2009.

BlackBelt AntiTheft Facts
•   BlackBelt AntiTheft is an easy-to-use application that blocks the use of smartphones in the event that they are lost or stolen
•   The solution offers Geo-location functionality to locate the mobile device
•   Up to three user-defined numbers will be alerted when the SIM card is changed
•   The AntiTheft tool presents an effective means of remotely locking smartphones or wiping all data
•   AntiTheft is compatible with most mobile devices running Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems

SPECIAL OFFER! BlackBelt is offering free smartphone protection to all university students in the UK, for the duration of their studies – for more details on how to obtain the 100% student discount go to www.blackbeltdefence.com/studentoffer


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Note to editors:
BlackBelt is an expert provider of inexpensive, reliable security solutions that designs and builds cutting-edge security software for mobile devices and smartphones running Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems. Established in 2004 as UMU Global and with a UK base in Skelmersdale, Lancashire, BlackBelt is a mobile-only software provider that is committed to providing peace of mind for personal and business data. URL: www.umuglobal.com

http://www.blackbeltdefence.com/

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BlackBelt is an expert provider of inexpensive, reliable security solutions that designs and builds cutting-edge security software for mobile devices and smartphones running Symbian and Windows Mobile operating systems.