Uncomplicated IT Logo

THE KEY TO A SAFE AND EFFICIENT SMARTPHONE

Megan Poljacik • June 28, 2024

The National Security Agency recently recommended that iPhone and Android users restart their phones once a week to help guard against potential cyber threats. Our phones have become essential for communication, entertainment, and productivity in all aspects of life. The home and office are becoming more intertwined with this ever increasing reliance on smartphones to manage our lives. In today's digital landscape where cyber threats loom, phone security is not just a best practice but a necessity. This is especially true for corporations looking to protect sensitive data and maintain operational integrity.

Smartphone

Home and business users alike can benefit from regular phone maintenance. One of the primary reasons to regularly update and reboot your phone is to install security patches that fix vulnerabilities in the operating system. These patches help protect your phone from potential cyber threats and unauthorized access to your data. Additionally, updates often include performance improvements that can enhance the speed and efficiency of your phone, reducing the likelihood of glitches or crashes. By staying up to date, you also ensure that your phone remains compatible with the latest apps and software updates, preventing any compatibility issues that may arise. Bug fixes included in updates address reported issues, boosting the performance and stability of the device. Updates also frequently introduce new features and functionalities that can enhance your user experience and provide you with additional capabilities (like fun new emojis!).


Many people use their personal phones to store a variety of sensitive corporate information, including confidential emails, client details, and important documents. It is crucial to implement strong phone security measures to protect this data, ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot access it and that critical business information remains secure from potential breaches. Businesses can do this in the form of Mobile Application Management or MAM. MAM allows for centralized control of user devices without being intrusive. Through MAM, the IT Department can set security policies on mobile applications to help prevent unauthorized access to confidential information. For instance, a company may use MAM to restrict the sharing of proprietary data through certain apps such as Outlook and Teams or to implement encryption protocols for secure data transmission. Additionally, MAM helps prevent data loss by allowing remote management of physical access, so businesses can wipe data from lost or stolen phones to stop unauthorized access.


MAM also enhances productivity by streamlining app distribution, updates, and configurations. For instance, a business can use MAM to update Microsoft Mobile apps automatically so employees always have the newest features and security. Plus, it saves money by managing app licenses, tracking app use, and stopping unauthorized app installs. Mobile Application Management is a must-have for businesses wanting to protect data, stay compliant, boost productivity, and save money when it comes to corporate mobile devices.


So, while it is a good idea to keep your phone up to date by rebooting often and installing updates, having additional security measures in place is essential. In today's world of constant cyber threats and digital weaknesses, it's important to take steps to reduce risks and deepen defenses against security issues. By using solid phone security measures, businesses can minimize the effects of cyberattacks, data breaches, and other security problems on their daily operations.


Uncomplicate IT News Blog

ON PREM VS. SASE: WHICH FIREWALL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

By Megan Poljacik • March 27, 2025
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes and the persistent threat of cyberattacks. There are many layers of defense in the onion of cyber security, but at the helm is your firewall. Traditionally firewalls have always been the piece of hardware acting as a barrier between your office network and the wilds of the internet. Then in 2020 the way we work was transformed forever by the global pandemic. Nearly a third of the workforce transitioned to remote, leaving offices empty. Many employees continue to work in non-traditional spaces to this day. How can we defend them against cyberattacks if they are outside the protective reach of an on premise firewall? A firewall is a network security device or software that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Think of it as a moat with a bridge and a guard shack that surrounds a castle. The guards and the moat are the firewall, acting as a barrier and between a trusted internal network (the castle) and untrusted external networks (random people trying to get in), helping to prevent unauthorized access to and from the castle while allowing legitimate traffic to pass through. The outside forces have to “check in” with the guards before they can cross the moat and access the castle.

NEW MESSAGING GUIDELINES RELEASED

By Megan Poljacik • February 25, 2025
You may have heard recently that the FBI and Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency are recommending cell phone users use end to end encryption when sending text messages. Why are they doing this and how does it affect you and your business? In December of 2024 authorities revealed that Chinese hackers have breached at least 8 major telecom network infrastructures, including those of Verizon and AT&T. Known as Salt Typhoon, the nefarious actors used a “back door” that is used by U.S. foreign intelligence surveillance systems (yes that’s legal wiretapping). Senior officials within the US Government have admitted the hackers have had access since summer of 2024. It appears that they focused heavily on users in the Washington DC area.

IMPACTFUL VIRUSES IN HISTORY: HUMMINGBAD

By Megan Poljacik • December 19, 2024
Imagine a virus infecting over 85 million Android phones without anyone catching on. Believe it or not, this really happened in 2016! How could a virus be so easily distributed without human intervention? The HummingBad virus was a persistence rootkit, which is a very smart and nasty virus. It is difficult to find and even more difficult to remove. They embed themselves within the system without the users knowledge and they are designed to hide themselves and their activities, even from security software. A rootkit will take over an infected system on its own, or if it cannot gain root access, it will push a fake update prompt, tricking the user into installing. Once the malware has control of the device, it begins downloading and installing apps, and the lucrative business of conning users begins. The HummingBad virus was designed to click on the ads within the apps to generate advertising revenue. This inflated ad click and view counts, allowing the attackers to earn more revenue without actual user engagement. The malware also promoted and installed additional malicious
More Posts
Share by: