CELL PHONES

Cell Phones Security Threats

Executive Summary

Cell phones have increasingly become a great source of convenient means of communicating, with anyone over long or short distances. Similarly, due to their low cost and inexpensive billing has increased the number of cell phone and mobile connection subscribers greatly the world over.

Cell phones have many types and forms and have a long and rich history, with the first cell phone to be introduced in the 1940's. However, from their initial bulky and large sizes, these have now been transformed into trendy and sleek designs packed with various features, which greatly adds to their attainability value. It is because of their easy availability and high number of users that cell phones are now an easy target for data theft and spamming activities. Discussing this aspect is the main purpose of this paper, which presents an detailed analysis of the security tips that can be undertaken by the mobile user themselves to ward of any type of external threat. Thus, this paper also serves the purpose as guideline that can be used by anyone, including the federal agencies and organizations to review the security aspects related to cell phone usage, and the measures that can be undertaken by them to employ appropriate security practices.

Table of Contents

1.Introduction1

1.1.Authority3

1.2.Purpose of this Paper3

1.3.Audience4

1.4.Paper Structure4

2.Device overview4

2.1.Cell Phones5

2.2.Software applications7

2.3.General Trends7

3.Security Concerns8

3.1.Threats11

3.2.Smart Phone Threats11

4.Defense13

4.1.Smart-Phone hardening13

4.2.Internet Side Protection14

4.3.Telecommunication Side Protection15

4.4.Cooperation between the Internet and Telecom Networks16

5.Security Tips17

5.1.Mobile Phones17

5.2.Using Mobile Banking18

5.3.Passwords18

6.Conclusion19

7.References20

Cell Phones Security Threats

Introduction

Globally, each year the cell phone or telecommunications industry as a whole is increasing at an escalating rate. This is a direct result of the rapid developments in the technology, which has further fueled development and experimentation to new technological experiments. Overall, all of this has further added to the acceleration of economic growth and activity, globally. In the telecommunications sector alone, the recent year growth trends have been focused around the development of wireless or mobile communications.

To provide a brief historic outlook, it was in the early 1980's that cell phones were first introduced in England, but it was not until the late 1990's that they started to be used in great numbers. The probable reasons for the increase in the user database were due to the entry of new service providers in the market, coupled with the advent of the digital technology (www.iegmp.org.uk).

Warman (2010) further opines that it was in the early 1940's and 1960's that companies like AT&T, Motorola and Ericsson were struggling to attract more users towards mobile phones, however, it was Vodafone that can be credited of launching the first popularly used mobile phones in Great Britain. These new mobile phones were large in shape and bulky in weight, however, the hippie generation of that era readily accepted these mobile phones, and soon the user database began to increase.

Thus, with such growing demand further led to the increase in investment and resources to build more sleek mobile phones, which were more advanced in their usability and features and attractive in shape and ...