Do you use your smartphone or tablet to text friends or conduct business via email? Or maybe you have a hard time remembering what it was like not having eBay or Amazon.com at your fingertips? As you rely more and more on your mobile device for these and other functions, make certain you are taking the proper precautions to keep you and your mobile device safe.

Smishing
You may be familiar with email phishing; wherein hackers attempt to compromise your personal information by dropping suspicious email messages in your inbox and ask you to click or perform some type of action. Unfortunately, scammers also use a similar technique to target private information stored on your cell or smartphone called “smishing”. With “smishing”, hackers send SMS or text messages and ask you to “Click Here!” or “Please reply back with your account number.”
Before responding to these messages, always confirm the source behind these messages by calling or emailing the organization. In doing so, not only can you avert the unwanted sharing of your information, you can also alert the third party to hackers operating under their name. Also, remember Community Bank of the Chesapeake will never contact you to solicit any personal and private information in this manner.
Keep Private Info Private
Unlike a desktop or laptop computer, because of its portability, your mobile device is more prone to being left behind or lost, whether on its own or while sitting in your bag or purse. It’s best not to store any sensitive data like email passwords, company or student info and financial records on your device to avoid a worst-case scenario if your device ever ended up in the wrong hands. Setting a passcode is always a good idea, as it keeps your phone locked down and inaccessible to anyone else who might get a hold of it.
Watch Your Apps
There are myriad of apps ready to assist you in any number of ways throughout the day. Despite an application’s enticing name, free availability or attractive utility, be aware of the risks before you download. Take the time to read the application’s reviews as well as its permissions, and be certain you are not “over-sharing” unnecessary information associated with your data and texts for an app that does not need to draw on such information.

Remember, the more you do with your mobile device, the greater amount of attention that needs to be paid to keep you and your information safe.