News: RIM provides data security tips for BlackBerry users

Losing your smartphone can lead to repercussions beyond simply having to replace that device, as the personal information on it is vulnerable when not protected. For this reason BlackBerry holding company Research In Motion (RIM), has provided users with some tips and tricks geared towards protecting the private information of users from prying eyes.

Password

Users can secure their BlackBerry smartphone and its data by making use of a strong password. Setting a strong password is the simplest and most effective way to lock down your private data. Without a password, much of your data is accessible to anyone within reach of your device, but with a password, you are far more secure.

Tips for the most secure password:

Must be 4 – 14 characters in length
Cannot be identical characters (for example 1111) or sequences (such as 1234)

Set-up in BlackBerry 5 OS

To set your password on a BlackBerry 5 OS-operating smartphone, the likes of the Curve 9300 and old Bold 9700, a user must click options on the home-screen and then on “Password”. Change the “Password” field to “Enabled”, press the Menu key and click “Save”. Type the new password, click “Enter” and then re-enter this password again to confirm it and finally click “Enter”.

Set-up in BlackBerry 6 OS

To set up the password on a BlackBerry 6 OS-running device, such as the Torch 9800 and BlackBerry Bold 9780, go to the home-screen and click on the “Options” icon. Click on “Security” and then click “Password”. Change the “Password” field to “Enabled”, press the Menu key and click “Save”. Type in your new password, click “Enter” and re-type the new password again to confirm it and finally click “Enter”.

Set the number of password attempts

If a password is typed incorrectly ten consecutive times, all of the information on the BlackBerry smartphone is automatically deleted, but a user is also able to change the number of attempts (between 3 -10 attempts). Within BlackBerry 5 OS this can be done by clicking “Options” on the home-screen and then click on “Password”. Set the Number of “Password Attempts” field, press the Menu key and click “Save”.

Users employing devices running on BlackBerry 6 OS can click on “Options” on the home-screen. Next click on “Security” and then click on “Password”. Set the amounts of attempts within the “Number of Password Attempts” field, press the Menu key and then click “Save”.

Lock your phone automatically after a certain amount of time

Users should also set the security timeout feature to automatically lock their BlackBerry smartphone after a set amount of inactivity (maximum is one hour). For lost or stolen smartphones, this is a critical security block.

Follow these steps for BlackBerry 5 OS:

On the home-screen click on the “Options” icon, click “Password” and set the value in the “Security Timeout” field to the amount of inactive time you want to permit your BlackBerry smartphone, before it automatically locks. Next press the Menu key and click “Save”.

For BlackBerry 6 OS:

On the home-screen click the “Options” icon, click “Security” and then click “Password”. Set the value in the “Security Timeout” field to the amount of inactive time you want to permit your BlackBerry smartphone before it automatically locks. Press the Menu key and then click “Save”.

Encrypt data on your BlackBerry smartphone and media card

It is also smart to encrypt all data on your BlackBerry smartphone and media card. Encryption mixes everything up so no one but you can read anything without the correct password. On the home-screen click the “Options” icon. Next click “Security Options” and then on “Encryption”. Change the “Encryption” field to “Enabled” and in order to encrypt data in the device memory, set the Device Memory field to “Enabled”.

To encrypt files stored on a media card and on your device, set the “Media Card” field to “Enabled” and perform one of the following actions. To encrypt files using an encryption key that your device generates, change the “Mode” field to “Device Key”. To encrypt files using your device password, change the “Mode” field to “Device Password”. To encrypt files using an encryption key and your device password, change the “Mode” field to “Device Password & Device Key”. To also encrypt media files such as pictures, songs, and videos, set the Include “Media Files” field to “Yes”. Finally press the Menu key and click “Save”.

Lockdown Bluetooth

Bluetooth is useful for wirelessly connecting to other devices such as a Bluetooth-enabled headset, but it also can be exploited by hackers. Luckily changing a simple setting can block most threats. The key is to make your BlackBerry smartphone not discoverable, or visible, to other Bluetooth devices.

This can be done by clicking on the “Manage Connections” icon on the home-screen. Click “Bluetooth Options”, press the Menu key and click “Options”. Set the “Discoverable” field to “No”, press the Menu key and finally click “Save”.

Note: Temporarily reset this setting back to “Yes” when you wish to allow a new Bluetooth device to connect with your BlackBerry smartphone.

Download BlackBerry Protect from BlackBerry App World

BlackBerry Protect is a free application available from BlackBerry App World that allows you to wirelessly backup, restore and locate your BlackBerry smartphone. If your device is lost or stolen, BlackBerry Protect allows you amongst others to remotely wipe or lock the device, make a ‘Lost and Found’ screen viewable on it or locate it on a map.

BlackBerry Protect open beta is available for download in BlackBerry App World Test Center.

More security features and options

Just by following the checklist above your personal data will be locked down like a safe. But your BlackBerry smartphone protects your data in other ways too.

Examples of these includes:

The anti-spam system that helps block spam emails sent to your smartphone.
Secure browsing to shopping and banking sites can be done using SSL encryption.
Attachments are rendered into safe formats to help protect you from malicious code.
Applications received in email cannot run on your BlackBerry smartphone.
By default your BlackBerry smartphone continually removes sensitive data from temporary memory.

RIM provides data security tips for BlackBerry users

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