XDA + Windows Mobile 5........Security?
Discussion
Hi,
I've recently bought an O2 XDA Mini running Windows Mobile 5. My surfing habits tend to be around either general news etc or car/racing/bike stuff and email, so nothing shady. I'm either connected by via encrypted WIFI indoors or GPRS when out and about and I also have bluetooth enabled but not discoverable.
I'm not really familiar the OS but would appreciate your views on security on these devices. There are various options to use passwords etc which I use, but when I look or search for "firewall" or "virus" on the device it comes up with a blank!
So, have you got one? Do you think it's secure? Am I expecting too much?!
Thanks Avantone (Tony)
I've recently bought an O2 XDA Mini running Windows Mobile 5. My surfing habits tend to be around either general news etc or car/racing/bike stuff and email, so nothing shady. I'm either connected by via encrypted WIFI indoors or GPRS when out and about and I also have bluetooth enabled but not discoverable.
I'm not really familiar the OS but would appreciate your views on security on these devices. There are various options to use passwords etc which I use, but when I look or search for "firewall" or "virus" on the device it comes up with a blank!
So, have you got one? Do you think it's secure? Am I expecting too much?!
Thanks Avantone (Tony)
Hi
You can purchase both anti-virus (e.g. F-Secure) and firewalls for windows Mobile 5.0. The OS has been advanced/functional enough since its first incarnation to be vulnerable to malicious software (malware) and wider use of devices running the OS will certainly mean more threats appear. Add in Bluetooth, GPRS, 3G, infrared, web browsing, receipt of emails, synchronisation with a desktop PC and shared file access and there are a lot fo ways in which a device could be infected.
Having said all of the above, this is still very rare and as long as you have Blueooth correctly set-up I really wouldn't lose any sleep over security just yet as long as you're sensible. If you do want tighter control in a corporate environment then Microsoft's Messaging and Security pack combined with Exchange Server 2003 SP2 offers lots of options such as remotely deleting data from a lost device next time it is switched on, etc. There are also lots of encryption and password packages available that can protect the data on your handheld should you lose it or have it stolen.
I hope this helps.
roadie.
You can purchase both anti-virus (e.g. F-Secure) and firewalls for windows Mobile 5.0. The OS has been advanced/functional enough since its first incarnation to be vulnerable to malicious software (malware) and wider use of devices running the OS will certainly mean more threats appear. Add in Bluetooth, GPRS, 3G, infrared, web browsing, receipt of emails, synchronisation with a desktop PC and shared file access and there are a lot fo ways in which a device could be infected.
Having said all of the above, this is still very rare and as long as you have Blueooth correctly set-up I really wouldn't lose any sleep over security just yet as long as you're sensible. If you do want tighter control in a corporate environment then Microsoft's Messaging and Security pack combined with Exchange Server 2003 SP2 offers lots of options such as remotely deleting data from a lost device next time it is switched on, etc. There are also lots of encryption and password packages available that can protect the data on your handheld should you lose it or have it stolen.
I hope this helps.
roadie.
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