Hacking in the 21^st century is simply a way of life. It can also be major money if done the right way. Hacking is no longer only the purview of the little nerd living in his parents’ basement. Large companies such as London Newspaper, News of the World have recently been caught hacking peoples’ cell phones. That is where the real problem lies. While the computer hacker is something people have almost come to know as just the cost of doing business, the hacker who gets into your cell phone or other devices is still hard to figure or see coming.

While Facebook has taken steps to make hacking their site a thing of the past by paying people to find security flaws, protecting wireless and other devices is still a new concept. Just recently, McAfee, one of the biggest Internet security firms around, issued a report warning people that their new cars are eminently hackable. So how do you keep your cell phone information from the public eye? The experts at Support.com have come up with an easy list of measures you can take to avoid having the information on your phone fall into the wrong hands.

Setting a device lockout might be a bit of a hassle if you have to unlock it every time you want to use it, but it will also make it much harder for a stranger to get into it. Should you lose or have your phone stolen, establishing a lockout is the easiest way to make sure your info isn’t easy pickings. Knowing who and where your wireless connections are will help you protect yourself as well. Bluetooth pairings are becoming a new way in which hackers will enter your phone. If you connect to a Bluetooth device, make sure you know what it is. 

Protecting your phone against viruses is just as important as it is when dealing with your PC. There are anti-virus programs out there to can clean your phone. In addition you need to make sure any apps you download to your phone are from reputable sources. The same goes for visiting websites on your phone’s browser. The final step when trying to keep your data from getting out there is to make sure you have a plan to find the phone if it goes missing. Almost all new phones have built in GPS sensors and there are programs that will allow you to track your phone. These kinds of programs make phones less desirable to steal as well if the thieves know they are going to be found.