Security and Mobile Shopping: Is it Safe?
If I told you to secure your house what would you do? You would lock your doors and windows; put bars up; add an alarm; include CCT cameras hooked up to a recording device; install a moat and perimeter fence; set up archers on the corner watch towers; and, maybe a sniper. Ok, that’s a little excessive, but we all like to feel secure; it’s in our genetic makeup.
Let’s go digital. Security is a multi-billion dollar industry online. Just look at Symantec and Kaspersky; their whole business model is around fear of digital threats and subscribing to a service which allows you to have anti-virus software, back-up tools, up-to-the-minute virus, bugs, worms and trojan information to prevent hacks and identity theft.
Do you live in house or unit (maybe even a boat, a car a castle) and know how to secure it? Yes! Do you have a computer and antivirus software? Most probably!
Let’s go mobile. We can look into security in two ways.
1. Your habits and processes: The following best practices are well-advised via ACMA (The Australian communications and media authority). Given these best practices, which apply on a global scale, you should be confident in your purchase integrity; they also apply in general regarding mobile phone security.
- Avoid leaving your mobile phone in the car when unattended.
- Consider insuring your phone, noting that to replace it could cost you hundreds of dollars.
- Read your mobile phone manual carefully to see what security features to activate
- Lock your phone to your SIM card.
- Enable the PIN (Personal Identification Number) security feature of your mobile phone
- Record the 15-digit IMEI (and register if stolen) number of your mobile phone handset.
- Only purchase if a known financial institution or payment gateway is installed
- Also purchase insurance when purchasing online if the option exists
- Take note of purchase time, receipt numbers and transaction numbers
Given these steps, it’s almost impossible for someone to pick up your phone and begin to use it and make purchases as the data would need to be erased and new software installed to use the phone. Continued on the next page
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