Editorial: Rude intruder in your phone

You only have to look around your workplace, the streets, your school or the cafe you're sitting in to see how popular smartphones such as iPhones, Blackberry or Androids are.

They are pretty much everywhere, people of all ages have them and it's not an uncommon sight these days to see people walking down the street looking down at their phone.

Many people with smartphones use them for everyday online activities such as Facebook, Twitter, email, online banking, Google searching, researching, buying and selling on websites, reading newspapers or downloading music.

The telecommunications industry has left us in no doubt these phones will progressively flood the market.

We seem to have a mindset to protect our laptops from viruses and hackers by installing a security programme on them.

But do we have the same mindset for our phones considering they are basically mini computers?

We should, if we don't already.

Internet security specialist AVG has released a report stating hackers are using sophisticated techniques to break in to smartphones and personal devices.

Bay of Plenty telecommunications and information technology consultant Nathan Willis, of Phocal Communications, says in today's edition that smartphone users need to be aware that smartphones are like small computers and susceptible to being hacked, just as computers are.

He says people need to download antivirus or security software as soon as they buy their smartphone. But, be careful, because you need to make sure you download your applications from known sources.

Another worrying factor is that a Netsafe spokesman has said Android users are more exposed to viruses than Apple users because Google is more open.

If you're a smartphone user, it is advisable to protect it as much as you protect your computer or laptop. Installing an antivirus product or security system makes sense.

Other ways to keep your phone and information safe include using a PIN or password, installing an application that tracks or wipes your phone if stolen and make sure to check application authenticity.