24 Apr How To Secure Your iPhone & iPad
Following on from our post on Android security apps last week, we decided to do another security app post for the iPhone and iPad. Though malware and general security concerns have generally been much less prevalent in iOS devices, the mentality of “better safe than sorry” should be adopted by all iOS users, particularly in the wake of the recent flashback trojan saga affecting Macs.
Splash ID ($10.49)
Going about our daily business has become somewhat harder with the sheer amount of important information you have to remember. We all have an overwhelming number of usernames and passwords for bank accounts, credit cards, emails and other personal accounts, which we need to store somewhere easily accessible to us but hard to access for others. Splash ID provides a way to say goodbye post it notes, text files, disappearing papers or your (not always reliable) memory and say hello to a single, ultra secure platform to keep your personal information. The app saves and protects hundreds of username and passwords using a 256-bit Blowfish Encryption, while also providing backup syncing to all authorised PC’s. Features include: [list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- Unlimited customisable record types and categories
- Strong 256-bit Blowfish encryption
- Backup and wireless sync to your Mac or PC
- Automatic password generator to create hacker-proof passwords
- Anti-phishing URL icons
- File Attachments
- Manual IP address synchronisation
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iPortScan Pro ($1.99)
This app, while targeted towards system admins rather than end users, is a useful security app for checking if any services are listening on a known system that are not authorized. It does not feature network discovery, but helps system admins to quickly portscan their systems to make sure nothing is open that shouldn’t be. You can portscan from the 3G or EDGE network to test was tcp ports are open from the internet. The features include: [list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- Multi-thread fast portscanner (on all networks including 3G)
- Portscan multiple systems
- Portscan in random order
- Fully adjustable delay time from 0.05-3 seconds
- Scan using a hostname/url or ip address
- Email your portscan results
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Security Organiser ($3.99)
Security Organiser is another app for storing confidential data. This app is quite a bit cheaper than Splash ID, but still provides a number of good features. Features: [list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- Automatic log out if device is left unattended
- Uses Apple’s internal keychain security
- Pick your numeric password, 10,000 possible combinations
- Add unlimited password entries
- Copy and paste long passwords and IDs directly from app
- information automatically deleted after 8 failed attempts
- Toggle between “extra” and “lite” security
- Colour-coded folders and fields already created
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Webroot SecureWeb Browser (Free)
The Webroot SecureWeb Browser is an advanced Web browser for the iPhone and iPad that blocks malicious sites. A warning is displayed on the screen if a website has been deemed as unsafe. The app also clearly marks which search results from Google, Yahoo, Bing and Ask are safe, while the tab design allows for quick browsing.
Find My iPhone (Free)
What would a post on security apps be without a lost or stolen phone locator? The title is a bit deceptive as though it says “Find my iPhone” the app can actually be used to find any iOS device, iPad, iPod or Mac. Either an iCloud or MobileMe account and 3.1.3 and above iOS (OS X Lion v10.7.2 for the Mac) is required for the app to locate the device. Once the device has been located it will display the device on a map. Features: [list style=”list1″ color=”green”]
- Display message on the screen e.g. “This iPhone is lost, if found please call 02 12345678”
- Play a sound for two minutes at full volume to find your phone (even if your device is set to silent)
- Remotely lock your device
- Remotely wipe your device to delete any personal data
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Security apps for Android devices
Want to keep your Android device safe too? Check out our post on security apps for Android devices here.