The currency of modern economy is “information” and it is not any similar to the times of revolution of industries, information does not close at dinnertime and so the present trend is hyper mobile computing through tablets and smart phones which keep the users connected to the web around the clock and paves the way for limitless data transfusion. It has become an addiction these days because even the employers encourage it as work can be done even after working hours and from any place and at anytime.

However the devices we use for sending and receiving data like the iPad is not secure and has been found to be leaking info to the hackers, identity theives and the economy competitors.  So, does that mean that companies have to sacrifice their security for increasing their work efficiency? Absolutely not! It is like driving a sports at high speed with seat belts and air bags.

iPads provide users and companies with many competitive advantages with the generation of tools it provides. Companies and even individuals need to learn how to use them safely to prevent the risk of identity theft which could affect them or their company drastically. Many factors can lead to the increased risk of identity theft and they are as follows:

  • Tablets bought initially to serve the purpose of reading and web browsing but functionality changed with the addition of apps.
  • Tablets lacking the security features that are similar to the laptops and desktops.
  • Corporate users are not trained on how to secure that data on the tablets.
  • Tablets are better than smart phones in terms of their capabilities, that is what makes them natural laptop replacements, but they lack the time tested security.
  • You might accidentally load malware to your tablet when you download apps to your device indiscriminately.
  • Many companies buy their employees tablets instead of laptops because they are less expensive and have the same capabilities. However, the risks associated with the trendy computers are not being considered.

Take the following steps to avoid these risks:

  • Protect your device with a password.
  • Turn on the remote tracking and wiping capabilities of your phone to remove your personal data in case it is stolen or lost.
  • Use only encrypted wireless connections only to surf the internet.
  • Limit the data you store in your device until you install all the security features in your device.
  • When you are not using the device, physically lock it. Never leave it alone, unlocked anywhere when you are in a public place.

Devices like the iPads’ are competitive and so people and companies will have to learn how to use these devices safely, eliminating the risk of the identity theft. The following are 7 security settings that help you eliminate the risk.

  • Turn the pass code feature on. iPad is quite strong like your desktop and laptop and to keep the device encrypted turn the pass code feature of the device on.
  • Turn your device’s simple pass code off as these 4 digit pass codes will be easy to decode. Use a strong alphanumeric password, which offers more protection.
  • Let your device to lock automatically itself with the pass code you set up anytime when you let it alone for  few minutes. It does seem inconvenient however, it means more protection for your device and your information.
  • Set your iPad to auto lock to 2 minutes.
  • Set your phone to automatically erase the data when it is stolen or lost. The  quite advanced password cracking software also cannot crack the password in less than 10 tries. When you set your device on this setting the data remotely when the thief tries to log in to your device by trying to crack the password and when he fails to do so after 10 times the data will be erased immediately.
  • Your passwords will only be effective if you have the potential to remember them. If you fear forgetting them, keep your password in an encrypted password manager. Download a password manager app from a trust worthy app surce and protect your sensitive passwords. This way your passwords will be safe and it will also be convenient for you to manage them.
  • Avoid app that are not from a trustworthy source. Not all the apps are user friendly and good for your phone especially those downloaded from third party sources. Users must read the app review from people who have already used them, this way users can get to know about their authenticity.
  • Do not jailbreak your device just for downloading and using the apps from other sources. Jail-breaking will reduce your iPad’s device security.

These simple tips and tricks offer users an extra safety which discourages the identity thieves from sucking your  data without your knowledge and you stay safe.