BlackBerry Bold : Securing Your Data

1. Email Security Tips

Never send personal information via email. Examples of information not to send are credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, date of birth, mother's maiden name, sensitive passwords or PIN numbers (e.g., bank account ATM card PIN). If you have to transmit this information, it's best to call the trusted source or, if possible, visit in person.

2. Web Browsing Security Tips

If you are in an organization with a BlackBerry enterprise server, when you use the BlackBerry Browser secured by the encryption from the server, your communications will be secure, just like your email, as long as you are browsing sites within your organization's intranet. Once you go outside to the Internet and are not using an HTTPS connection, your web traffic is no longer secure.

Anyone that visits a site with HTTPS (or a secure socket layer) connection will also have a secure connection from your BlackBerry to the web site, like with your computer's web browser.

Whenever you are browsing a regular HTTP web site on the Internet (not your organization's secure Intranet), be aware that your connection is not secure even if are using a BlackBerry enterprise server. In this case, please make sure not to type or enter any confidential, financial, or personal information.

3. If You Lose Your BlackBerry

If you work at an organization with a BlackBerry enterprise server or use a hosted BlackBerry enterprise server, immediately call your help desk and let them know what has happened. Most help desks can send an immediate command to wipe or erase all data stored on your BlackBerry device. You or the help desk should also contact the cell phone company to disable the BlackBerry phone.

If you are not at an organization that has a BlackBerry enterprise server, you should immediately contact the cell phone company that supplied your BlackBerry and let them know what happened. Hopefully, a Good Samaritan will find your BlackBerry and return it to you.

4. Disabling Password Security

To turn off password security, go into the Options icon as above. Then click Password and change it to Disabled. Save your settings; you will be required to enter your password one last time to turn it off, for security purposes.

NOTE

If you work at an organization with a BlackBerry enterprise server, you may not be allowed to turn off your password.

5. SIM Card Security Options

With any GSM phone, like your BlackBerry, if your phone was every lost or stolen, your SIM card could be removed and used to activate another phone. To prevent that, follow these steps:

1. Click Options and Advanced Options.

2. Click SIM card.

3. Press the Menu key and select Enable Security The PIN code locks your SIM card to your BlackBerry.

   
   
   

4. Also, change the PIN2 code for added security.