Take care of your device

• Use a case or holder to protect your device from accidental drops.
• Be security-minded. Keep it in sight or on your person at all times. Don’t flash it about where it might be targeted by thieves. Don’t leave it unattended in a car.
• It’s easy to accidentally leave a handheld computer in its docking cradle, especially overnight. In a corporate environment, this means that it is easy pickings for casual staff on night duty.
• Put a contact number on a sticker on the back of the device but, ideally, keep this anonymous. For example, give your switchboard number.
• Keep your handheld computer's software up-to-date.

Protecting your data

• Use the device’s built-in password protection. Most devices will allow you to set a pin number to restrict access. Additional software will trigger a device wipe if the password is incorrectly entered too many times. Additional software and hardware will allow you to use much stronger authentication and, if required, smart cards, cryptographic tokens or fingerprint recognition.
• Set up your device so that it backs up all your data each time you synchronise with your PC. Alternatively, backup your device to a memory card periodically.
• Be mindful of synchronising data from your PC to your handheld device unnecessarily. You may be transferring sensitive or personal data to your device that should only reside on your PC. Don't store more than you need to on your handheld. 
• Consider storing data in a memory card and removing it when not required (although this creates a different risk if your device is password protected, because thieves can simply plug the memory card into a different device and bypass the protection).
• Consider encrypting the data on your device. You may need to purchase third-party software to do this, but it will prevent thieves having access to the data on your device if you lose it.
• It is worth getting a system that will allow you to remotely lock or remotely wipe all the data on your device if it is ever lost or stolen. This is typically available through additional software or a subscription service.  Read about Apple's Find my iPhone service. 

Modifying your device

Advanced users may try to modify the software that controls their device. For many users this goes against the terms of their contract. By modifying your device you are potentially opening yourself up to a number of possible threats. These threats could include:

• Downloading third party applications that contain viruses due to them not being monitored or vetted by the official downloading channels.
• Modifying can potentially mean you do not receive official updates which often include special security fixes that help protect your device.
• Modifying your device probably voids your warranty.

Anti-virus software

There are many new mobile viruses appearing that can affect handheld computers.  These will become more widespread over the coming years as more and more handheld computers and smart phones are made available to users.  Many of these mobile viruses are proof of concept and have caused little or no damage.  However it is a real threat and you should be aware of it and protect yourself. 

Potential means of attack include; via your own internet connection, when you install Trojan software during synchronisation, when you download from the Internet an application containing a mobile virus directly to your device or when opening an infected email attachment. Infection via Bluetooth is another possibility.

For maximum security if you are using your mobile device to connect to the internet on a regular basis, consider installing anti-virus software. For Windows Mobile and Symbian devices:

• F-Secure.
• Symantec Mobile Anti-virus for Windows Mobile.
• Symantec Mobile Security for Symbian.

Network connections

• Don’t save passwords on the machine for network access. Enter them as required.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN), if possible, to connect to a work network.
• If your device uses a Wi-Fi wireless network connection, use WPA encryption rather than WEP encryption if possible. You may need to update the system on your device to enable this.
• For more information about Bluetooth safety see: Protect mobile phones.
• Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use for extra safety and increased battery life.

More information

• Microsoft advice on securing Windows Mobile Classic devices. (PocketPCs)
• Apple advice on securing your iPhone.
• For information on how to protect yourself when using GPS location services on your device, see: Protect mobile phones