A 2020 Group USA member in Portland (OR) sent an interesting article featuring an interview with US District Attorney for Oregon Dwight Holder. Two interesting questions came from the security/terrorism discussion regarding how secure the iPad is.
Is cybercrime on your radar?
Sure. I got an email right before Christmas from the mother ship [U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder] saying, essentially, don’t use iPads, don’t forward email to iPads, don’t take notes using iPads because they’re a security risk. I didn’t tell my wife. And, unfortunately, she got me an iPad for Christmas, which is [now] a very lovely and expensive gaming platform for my 6-year-old.
But the implication is the iPad is more of a security risk than a laptop?
That’s what my security folks think. And they say quit whining. People can mine information off these things in a way…because they are so connected. In part it’s because it’s so tempting to put everything on there in a way that everything might not be on your laptop.
Read the full article
Is iPad security on your radar? Let us know what you think and link to any articles which may be useful.
Here are a couple of tips we found online to keep your iPad secure. Some seem more obvious than others.
Lock your iPad
This is basic security that’s free and easy, and that too many iPad/ smart phone users don’t employ. Tap the “Settings” icon on the home screen and then select “General” and “Passcode Lock.” Then set the four-digit PIN to unlock your iPad when you turn it on or wake it up.
Choose an interval of time of inactivity before it will ask for the code again. As a general rule, the shorter the interval the better. Another security feature you can set is to erase all data if someone enters the wrong code 10 times. Fear not, if you cause the erasure, you can always restore your information by syncing with your computer. A code won’t necessarily stop a thief from accessing content on your device by connecting it to a computer, but it may be enough of a deterrent.
Think also about a physical case and lock to keep prying eyes out.
Source: Techworld
Work on trusted WiFi networks
In far too many cases, WiFi connections on unprotected networks just aren’t as safe as they should be. And although it’s more difficult for folks to access information on an iPad than on, say, a Windows PC, sending sensitive information over that network can be dangerous. Once again, the iPad is little more than a newly designed computer. So maybe online shopping on your iPad is not as safe as it seems.
Source: e-week
Find or disable a lost or stolen device
Apple’s MobileMe service has a feature called “Find My iPad” (or iPhone) that can help users locate a lost device.
Using your computer, sign up for MobileMe and activate the feature by logging into your account and following the on-screen instructions to see the approximate location of your lost property on a map.
If you discover that you left it at a bar, say, you can remotely set a four-digit passcode and lock it (if you haven’t already) by clicking “Remote Lock.” Then you can write a message that will be displayed on the screen to whoever may have found it — like, “Oops! Left my expensive, coveted iPad at your bar. Please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Coming to pick it up now!” — even if it is locked.
If you go to the bar and get blank looks, have MobileMe override the ringer volume or silent setting and play a sound to help you locate the device. If all these efforts fail, you can click “Remote Wipe” to return the device to its factory settings and remove all your content.
Source: New York Times
And last but not least:
Use complex passwords and change them often.
Tips for password:
Use combinations of upper and lower case.
Use non-alphanumeric characters to represent alphanumeric characters. For example substitute ! for i, @ for a, and 3 for e.
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