21st Century Learning and Teaching

While it is widely understood that mobile devices are more than just phones – they are a lifeline to the outside world, entertainment platform, GPS system, little black book and a shopping and banking tool – it’s lesser known that these devices are also gateways. Mobile devices can be used by a hacker as an access point into many other aspects of your digital life as well the lives of others in your network, making mobile security about more than just protecting your phone.

Hackers can use your mobile device as an access point to data that have historically been exclusively stored to your laptop or desktop, such as social network and bank accounts. One of the most harmful (and popular) mobile threats has to do with apps. Installing apps from unknown or untrusted sources like apps outside the official Google Play Market could allow hackers to steal sensitive and private information stored on your mobile device including passwords, photos, contacts and location data.

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Gust MEES

Critical Thinking: "While it is widely understood that mobile devices are more than just phones", really!?? Most people still think that it is ONLY a phone, but in reality it is a mini computer with phone capabilities! And any computer is vulnerable and at risk!!!

Check out also:

- http://gustmees.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/visual-it-securitypart2-your-computer-as-a-possible-cyber-weapon/

Especially check the video under this topic "Ever thought about that your smartphone is also a computer with phone capabilities?" to understand!

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Read more, a MUST:

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/mobile-devices-the-gateway-for-hackers-to-your-digital-identity?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Do you always turn WiFi off on your smartphone before leaving the house or work? You might think there's no harm in having WiFi turned on but not connected to a network, but that's not necessarily the case.

A wireless device goes through a discovery process in which it attempts to connect to an available wireless network. This may either be ‘passive’ - listening for networks which are broadcasting themselves - or ‘active’ - sending out probe request packets in search of a network to connect to.

Most devices use both passive and active discovery in an attempt to connect to known/preferred networks. So it's very likely that your smartphone is broadcasting the names (SSIDs) of your favourite networks for anyone to see.

===> An ‘evil twin’ attack could even accomplish this without needing any knowledge of your WiFi password - very damaging for all of those who use mobile banking for instance! <===

Gust MEES: a MUST READ for anyone using m-Learning + "BYOD" and also any smartphone user...

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2012/10/02/what-is-your-phone-saying-behind-your-back/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nakedsecurity+%28Naked+Security+-+Sophos%29