Are Smartphones Secure

Are Smartphones Secure?

English 1302

May 5th 2015

Are Smartphones secure?

Smartphones became one of the most wanted technological devices. Nowadays, millions of people addictively use their Smartphones in a daily basis. The majority of the World population are now dependent in this technological device because it provides them a variety of functionalities that make their lives easier. Smartphones offer a variety of features that make people use them without thinking in the consequences and dangers behind this super powerful device. Technology has been evolving over the years, and ,unfortunately the wide variety of applications and widgets associated to that evolution bring a lot of security problems that people are not aware of. A good percentage of the World population defend the use of Smartphones in a daily basis, however there is a psychosocial issue behind this topic. The exaggerated use of technological devices as Smartphones can put people's security in danger. People tend to get addicted and excited with these type devices, and that fact leads them to a World where living without a Smartphone is not an option. Smartphones users must be educated in a way that they can make the best use of their devices and also be secure. More than taking benefit of this devices people must be aware of the security problems. Smartphones users must be educated about Smartphones, be conscious about how to create a good password, how GPS location can be used against them and additionally how malicious programs can affect their devices.

Education is the key to success, and this fact does not change when talking about how to use a Smartphone. Nowadays, everybody has a Smartphone and use them for a variety of activities. Everything that is exaggerated entails problems, and the Smartphone use is no exception to the rule. Smartphones can be a harmful device principally for youths. Students are a good example in this case. Every student has his/her own device, and if they do not get educated in how to use it safely they will be part of the huge percentage of people that uses Smartphones with no caution. It is not just a matter of protecting self information but also a question of being able to succeed and be careful in a job environment. It is true that older people have more difficulties in understanding the new technologies, but youths have no excuses for not being aware of the dangers associated to Smartphones. Beth Jones et al, defend that " Today’s students are tomorrow’s employees with responsibilities for protecting their work environment. They need to understand and practice a full-range of mobile security practices so that they can safely access the information assets of their organizations"(73). Considering this it is extremely important to encourage people in general to be careful, and youths even more. Because the internet access available in Smartphones can bring a lot of security problems.

Since the creation of internet and online accounts with a variety of purposes as email, online shopping, e-books, games, bank accounts, etc, the need for a password to keep our information safe became something indispensable. Every day millions of people create passwords, however most part of them do not realize how important it is to create a strong password. According to Iddo Genuth, the way people have to identify themselves online is by creating a password because that allows one to keep self information safe. (35). Additionally, it is extremely important to understand that the creation of a password requires dedication and some kind of skills. Most part of the people tend to associate their passwords to important events in their lives, as birth, marriage and graduation dates, however that is definitely not the smart way to do it. It is know that the majority of people do not want to spend more than 5 minutes thinking about a good and strong password, they consider it a "waste of time". However, once again, creating a strong password can be a easy process if people think clearly about it, it takes just a few minutes to do it. Furthermore, the technological evolution does not just allow people to use and enjoy Smartphones, but also introduces a new type of technology that allows one to easily create safe passwords. Some alternatives can be found today in order to help people to have a safe password. Biometrics are definitely one alternative that have been changing the online World, in a way that nowadays are few excuses for having one password hacked. Biometrics are divided into two groups : physiological and behavioral. Iddo Genuth informs, " The first includes fingerprints, voice, iris, face and even the electrical activity of the heart or brain."(35) , referring to the physiological biometrics. Then he concludes, "Behavioral characteristics will typically be measured as a group over time, looking at things such as human machine interactions (keyboard, mouse and touch screen use), which are unique to each individual." (36). As explained, biometrics can change the way people create their passwords. A good example of Smartphones that allow people to use biometrics in their own benefit are iPhones. The latest iPhone 6 allows the owner to unlock the device by using the fingerprint. This is definitely a smart password because that way nobody else will be able to access one's device. This is just one of the examples that supports that Smartphones can be a safe device if used in the right way. Other topic that comes to mind when talking about Smartphones security and how much educated people must be about it ,is the use of the GPS location.