We're Canadian. We're Smart Security.
May 14, 2015 by Anas Mustafa
When you bring up the subject of being hacked and virus protection, most people’s thoughts don’t turn to their phone. Unfortunately it is not just the computer sitting on your desk that is at risk; the computer in your pocket can be hacked as well.
Luckily, as with your desktop computer, there are several steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.
Lock Your Phone
Whenever your phone is not in use, it should be locked. The lock code should be something that people cannot easily guess in order to prevent unauthorized use and ensure that strangers cannot easily access your personal information or install nefarious programs. Lock patterns and facial or voice recognition can be good alternatives if you have trouble remembering your lock code.
Activate GPS Tracking
Many modern phone’s come with built in tracking capability. When activated, this feature not only allows you to track the phone’s location, but also remotely lock or wipe the data in order to minimize damage.
Update the Firmware
Most smartphone operating systems will install firmware updates automatically but if yours does not, or you have disabled this feature, be sure to check regularly for important updates. Firmware and software updates are released fairly frequently in order to patch exploits and prevent hackers from gaining access to your personal information.
Only Install Apps from Trusted Companies
When finding and installing apps, use the app store maintained by your OS and be cautious of third party creations. Never install an app from an unknown creator without checking it carefully for malware and viruses. Be especially cautious of apps that ask for lots of personal information.
Avoid Leaving It Unattended
Even with a good lock code, an unattended phone is still vulnerable to technologically savvy criminals. Avoid leaving it in public places where it may be tampered with or stolen such as on restaurant tables, bars, or your office desk. If you must leave it unattended, place it out of sight to prevent temptation.
Be Cautious of Links from Unknown Senders
If you receive an email or text message from an unknown sender, do not click any links contained within! They are likely phishing attempts meant to install malware on your phone or steal your personal information.
Be Wary of Public Wi-Fi
Public Wi-Fi hotspots are quite convenient but they should never be used for important communications or sharing sensitive personal information as they can be easily intercepted. Shopping and banking should only be performed over your mobile carrier’s network and not over free, public Wi-Fi connections.
Install an Anti-Virus App
No matter how cautious you are day-to-day, it is still possible to make a mistake and click an unsafe link or wander onto a website you shouldn’t be on. In order to prevent these mistakes from costing you big, ensure your online safety with an anti-virus app.
"Our company has been working with CSP for almost 10 years. We use them to secure our retail stores and have always had a great experience with them. Their technical team is terrific and always..."
"I own a small coffee shop on the Hamilton Mountain, and after many issues, I was considering the idea of changing companies for our security system. I checked out several reviews of some local..."
"What a company, Heather was such a pleasure to work with. Tamim was also a great person to work with. Set my company alarm system in no time. Tamim is very friendly and answered all my questions. And..."
"My whole experience with Canadian security professionals has been positive from the 1st step. I spoke to numerous companies and Curtis from Canadian security professionals was by far the most..."
"Can’t beat the price. Thank you to my technician Rabah. Installed my equipment professionally and did a very clean job. Could not be happier with the overall service. Curtis did a fantastic job..."
"Hands down it’s the best service you can get. Very professional from the time you reach out to them and to the final installation and set up. Heather from the office and Tamim on-site were both so..."
"Excellent Experience I had my business and home system installed by this company and I can’t say enough about the professionalism.. The installer was so patient, explained all the functions to..."
"We had an alarm setup in our commercial office space by CSP. The amazing service started with Anas, who helped us understand what we needed. From there, the installer showed up on time, installed all..."
"Tamim and Anas have helped us on numerous occasions for installation for our business and home! Its not even a question on who we would call to help us feel safe – they are quick, professional,..."
"What a fantastic company this is. I had a couple of issues with the doorbell camera and these guys were right ON IT. Emily is super fast, super smart and super nice when assisting me. Reminds me of..."
"Great service, I’m glad to have them in my business and would definitely recommend this company to my friends and family. "
"Heather (customer service) and Tamim (technician) were very helpful in explaining and demonstrating the services to myself and team. I had it installed in my home and office. Thank you very much for..."
"Thank you for making the process so simple and easy during a very stressful store opening. The technician was both professional and very pleasant to work with. Have nothing but positive things to say..."
"Received the best service, from first visit from the sales guy to the installation finish, gave me the best product out there and i was really pleased got them at my business and home now never will..."
"Products seemed well-made and service was excellent; during the install, the technician was knowledgeable and professional. The install itself was straight forward and not intrusive aesthetically. I..."
"Great feeling to have made right choice selecting Canadian Security Professional for Remote (smartphone) activated Alarm/Monitoring package. I highly recommend. "
"Super helpful friendly team at CSP. Outstanding tech support. Would definitely recommend as a security company and a company that can help sort out all that is new in smart home technology. Not being..."
"I wish there was a 10 star button. From the first interaction until the final installation, it was an amazing experience. Not only my equipment was set up professionally but the service was..."
"Excellent Staff to deal with. Very thorough about everything they install. Very friendly customer service. We were happy that they were a few minutes early to do the installation. They cleaned up..."
"We had an alarm setup in our commercial office space by CSP. The amazing service started with Adam, who helped us understand what we needed. From there, the installer showed up on time, installed all..."
"Very friendly conversation and nice work done by Tamim in setting up the home security installation. Also would like to thank Chelsee for all coordination and smooth installation. Thank you. "
"Great company from sales to install . Fast install and friendly knowledgeable installers . Helped with setup and made everything easy to understand. Very nice system with cameras . Will recommend to..."
"We were so pleased when we contacted Canadian Service Professionals. Heather was prompt and very helpful in answering all of our questions. Our service technician, Tamim, was wonderful. He installed..."
"Choosing the right alarm company is a daunting task but right from the onset Heather was informative and unbelievably helpful. Heather helped me with my choices, advised and made sure that my alarm..."
"Chelsee was so efficient and pleased to help me get the right system for my house. I wanted it installed as quickly as possible after we had a break in. It was installed the next day! Tim showed up..."
"Very quick job, next day installation, good communication with sales person Eric. Next day Tamim showed up in our house and did a quick, professional and clean job with clear explanation and..."
"Could not be happier with our new alarm system. It is user friendly and was easily adapted to suit our needs. Our Technician (Rabah) went above and beyond to ensure that our system was installed..."
"I’m very happy with the service CSP has provided, the discussion I had by email, before the installation of the system, was really helpful for finding what would be the best and the most efficient..."
"Tamim came extra early to accommodate my doctor’s appointment that day. Unfortunately, some of my other installations were running late (cable, HVAC), Tamim stayed later than he was supposed to..."
"Canadian Security Professionals is a wonderful company to deal with. The team was very knowledgeable and educated me about the product and I felt more comfortable to use the alarm system. It is..."
"We’re so glad we did our research and selected CSP! Incredible service from initial to the installation. Both representatives were professional, patient and educated us on how the products..."
"I would highly recommend CSP. The entire process was very easy and headache free. "
"Excellent service from original contact, who immediately responded to my queries, to providing a quote based on my needs, and the professional installer. System is everything I wanted and then some...."
"Had good communication with the sales person. He explained everything in detail. There was no hidden charges. Everything was straight forward. And the technician was super helpful, professional and..."
"Installer’s work was exceptionally neat and clean. I’m looking forward to having him install my security system at our cottage as well. The sales person was excellent. I will be pleased and..."
"Excellent experience! Thorough, professional and patient technician.. Thank you very much. We won’t hesitate to recommend you. "
"I just switched from a well-know security firm to Canadian Security Professionals. The change over was done exceedingly well, the installation was quick and professional and service has been great...."
"CSP has exceeded my expectations in both customer service and system quality. The pre sales interactions were handled very professionally and with a keen interest in helping me obtain a security..."
"Just wanted to say thanks for coordinating the install and just say that the installer did an excellent job and I would recommend your service. The installer was very patient and did everything to..."
"From the inital phone call consulation with Jennifer M., she was very knowledgeable and professional. I even had my spouse speak with her in order to help us make this important decision somewhat..."
"I want to say Thank You for all of your patience, and help. I downloaded the manual for my Simon XT Security System.. Everything is working perfectly. I went to previous employer today (I am retired)..."
"The installation was great, Equipment seems to be perfect, Your self and the installer was very Professional, courteous and a Pleasure to have met. I could not say enough about the Installer, I can..."
"I would like to take this opportunity to tell you how pleased I am with the excellent customer service I recently received from your technician Tamim. I wanted you to know that his patience, courtesy..."
"Hi Jennifer, Great experience ! Rabah was absolutely amazing , very pleasant , friendly and fast. Explained everything very well to me and my hubby. We are very impressed with your outstanding..."
"Just a quick note to commend Rabah who installed our alarm on Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. We are very pleased with his installation. He accommodated us, choosing the best possible location for the unit,..."
"Just had my alarm system set up today, and the gentleman that set it up was absolutely amazing. So kind and professional, my husband and I were truly blown away by the customer service we received..."
"I recently had a system installed at my house. So far, the system appears to be working great, easy to use and is a real peace of mind. I hope it continues this way. I would like to comment on the..."
"The alarm system is all that I expected. The installation guy was polite and helpful. Thanks again for your help. I’m confident that I made the right choice in going with your company. "
"We are very excited about making the switch. I really like the idea that the home will not only be monitored for burglars but also for fire and the fact that we will finally have a keypad (so my..."
"As we were looking into purchasing a home security system, we got in touch with Jennifer Morgan. Throughout the entire process, Jennifer was extremely helpful and went above and beyond our..."
"You will be delighted to know that both Tamim and I exchanged good words about you. We both agreed your enthusiasm and ability to compromise wins business. For example, I was dealing with 3 other..."
"Thank you for all the help with our alarm system quote helping us grasp the vital distinctions between the various models and monitoring services available. The installation team you sent were..."
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EST)
Press option 1 to reach our 24/7 Monitoring Centres
Fill out the form and a CSP security specialist will contact you about our current offers.
Call now to also receive a Free Monitored Smoke Detector
Use Promo Code: CSPONLINE
Call Now
1-877-494-9911
Security Specialists Available: Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM | Friday: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM | Saturday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EST)