Apple Inc. has just unveiled the iPad 2 and there is likely to be a rush to buy the new tablet when it becomes available in the U.K. However, this new arrival has highlighted the security risks of owning multiple mobile devices.
Losing an iPad, or other mobile devices such as phones and laptops, will not only mean the owner has lost the money they paid for the product, but also the valuable information, personal details, and memories that were stored on the device.
Dave Everitt, the General Manager at Absolute Software Corp., has commented on the security risks of having multiple mobile devices, “our research has found that the 83 per cent of consumers now own at least three mobile devices, and as more people buy tablet computers, this number will only grow” said Everitt. As Apple, and other companies, make their products more desirable, and in the case of the original iPad, which Apple yesterday reduced the price of to start at £329, more affordable, consumers are becoming more inclined to purchase an additional mobile device.
“Losing your laptop, smartphone or tablet can be worse than losing your wallet” added Everitt, “Despite this, 45 per cent of consumers still do nothing to protect their kit when they’re on the move”.
There are several ways to protect the data stored on your mobile devices from getting into the hands of the wrong person. There are settings that can be changed on your iPhone and iPad, which will wipe all of the data from your device if the passcode is entered incorrectly multiple times. Ensuring that you have a passcode can prevent most people from accessing your data.
MobileMe, which allows users to synchronise e-mail, calendar and contact information across multiple devices for £60 per year, can remotely wipe all of your information. MobileMe’s Find My iPhone can find your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch and display its location on a full-screen map. If you are unable to get your device back, or realise that it has been stolen, you can remotely set a passcode to prevent people accessing your personal information or changing your settings. If you know that you are unlikely to get your iPhone or iPad back, you can use MobileMe to restore the device to it’s factory settings.
The iPad 2 is due to be shipped on 25 March to the U.K.
