The PC, also called the personal computer, is losing steam in some circles — generally being replaced by portable digital devices — by laptops, but mostly by tablet computers and smartphones. In both small and large businesses, the PC is still widely used and is still generally very useful — for consumers and in the home, however, PCs are dwindling quickly.
The portability and convenience of smart devices have given way for the advantages found in them. However, like all computer technology, there are some security caveats that should be considered when generally using them. Keeping the points below in mind can help.
- Device Theft
- Device Loss
Stealing a large computer off of a desktop would likely not be as easy as stealing a tablet or smartphone. One only has to set their phone down momentarily while in a public place and theft can occur instantly — people can be distracted very easily while in public places — taking eyes off of a charging phone can be risky.
When vehicles are broken into, smart devices can be stolen since they are small and easy to carry off. Be aware of surroundings when using smart devices in public and keep those cars locked. It’s probably better not to store expensive, small devices in any car for long periods of time.
The convenience of smart devices being small makes them easy to lose. They can be as easy to lose as a set of keys. When a phone is lost, recovering it is possible but can be a painstaking task — there are technologies in place to assist in recovering a lost smartphone — research the internet, but don’t get hopes up because in some cases it’s virtually impossible to recover a lost smart device.
Whether a lost phone is recovered or not, the data stored therein can be protected from prying eyes. Strong passwords should be used as a security measure for logging into a phone — it will prevent most people from being able to access the data stored in the phone, should it be found. Smart-device encryption can also be used to protect data stored therein.
Whether using smart devices in the home or in the business place, precautions should be taken including but not limited to those here.Â
WheelHouse IT specializes in a broad array of smart-device technologies and can assist in taking proactive measures in protection. Please contact us.
