
San Francisco and Washington, DC – December 18, 2012 – Today Lookout, a global leader in mobile security, and the FCC unveil the Smartphone Security Checker, a checklist to help people keep their mobile devices safe. With nearly half of all Americans now owning smartphones, the FCC and Lookout encourage people to take a few simple steps to protect the sensitive information on them.
Devised in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Federal Trade Commission, The National Cyber Security Alliance, CTIA-The Wireless Association and Lookout, the online tool covers how to safeguard lost and stolen phones, block digital threats like malware and spyware and prevent financial fraud.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski remarked, “With less than half of smartphone owners using passwords to protect their devices, this new tool will be of particular value to millions of Americans. The holiday gift-giving season is a perfect time to remind consumers to take simple steps, like setting a password, to protect themselves from mobile security threats.”
According to data released by Lookout in their Mobile Threat Predictions, nearly four in 10 people clicked on an unsafe link in 2012. More than 18 million Android users globally are expected to encounter malware over the course of 2012 and 2013, making mobile device protection more important than ever.
Lookout and the FCC recommend the following tips:
For the full set of tips for both Android and iOS operating devices, please visit http://www.fcc.gov/smartphone-security
“We’ve unmistakably transitioned into a mobile era where we rely on our phones and tablets for countless aspects of our everyday lives. A secure mobile experience is a critical factor in determining if people will trust their phones and use them to the fullest potential. It’s great that both the government and private sectors are working together to solve mobile security challenges for the benefit of people everywhere,” says John Hering, CEO and co-founder of Lookout.
Lookout protects people from malware and spyware, backs up personal data, locates lost and stolen phones, and more, in a single app. For more information, visit www.Lookout.com or you can download the mobile security app.
* Canalyst forecasted that 33,410,970 smartphone units would be shipped in Q4 of 2012. Source: Canalys, Global Opportunity Smartphone Forecasts, August 2012
Lookout is a leader in endpoint and cloud security solutions. Our mission is to secure and empower our digital future in a privacy-focused world where mobility and cloud are essential to all we do for work and play. We enable consumers and employees to protect their data, and to securely stay connected without violating their privacy and trust. Lookout is trusted by millions of consumers, the largest enterprises and government agencies, and partners such as AT&T, Verizon, VMware, Vodafone, Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit www.lookout.com and follow Lookout on its blog, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Contact Lookout PR: press@lookout.com