TimesToCome Mobile

McAfee, who has a strong monetary interest in WM viruses, is reporting it found one in the wild. Perhaps they have? I’ve yet to hear or meet an individual who has caught a virus on his/her mobile device.

If you are concerned about viruses on your mobile device, then take the following precautions:

1) Turn off blue tooth visibility. No one else needs to see your device but you.

2) Download programs from the source. If you are downloading Google Maps, download it from Google. Not a file sharing site.

I think for now the risk is too small to be a great concern to most of us. But the two precautions above should cause you no effort.

Several reports are coming in on laptops and phones having data copied when you cross the border. Arriving in the US, people are reporting that security is insisting on looking through the data on your laptop and cell phone and often copying the data from your cell phone or laptop.

More information:

iPhone meets the 4th amendment
Civil liberties groups sue Homeland Security
US Confiscating data at the border
US courts consider legality of laptop inspections.
Examining Search and Seizure of Electronics at Airports

Another concern is having your cell phone stolen. Most cell phones now allow you to enter a password that will turn on after a set time. Since I almost lost a phone on a trip I’ve used passwords on my phones. Don’t wait until you lose the phone to decide you need a password.