On December 1, Stalin Guzman had his car stolen with his smart phone inside. Guzman called the police and then got online on his home PC. On his Android phone, Guzman had the Lookout mobile security application, a free, downloadable phone ap which has a variety of different uses. The free version of the app protects against viruses and back ups files. There is a premium version of the Lookout for $29.99 a year which offers location tracking, a locator "scream," and remote lock/data wiping. Guzman, being a premium member, was able to get online and access the Lookout site to track where his car was. He informed authorities and just seven minutes later, police cars surrounded his stolen car with the thief inside.
Virtually everyone has some form of a mobile device. With new technology like the Lookout app being installed on more advanced devices, smart phones are becoming a security tool by their users. Most smart phones contain their user's personal information. Apps like Lookout have security measures that can lock a user's data remotely in the event the phone is lost or stolen. Now with technology that can locate the phone remotely if it's stolen, security is even stronger not only for the phone but, like in Guzman's case, wherever the phone may be. More mobile devices should have security applications that have the diversity and effectiveness like Lookout. As the technology advances, more and more applications like Lookout will exist. The only problem with Lookout is that the cost might prevent some users from buying the premium version, which provides the most security. Unfortunately it seems that the only way to have the best kind of security is to spend a little money. When it comes to security, spending $29.99 a year is reasonable for the types of services provided and should be purchased by anyone with an Android phone. With more smart phones and improving security technology more crimes can be stopped just like with Guzman's car.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/mobile/12/03/mobile.app.carjacker/index.html
Sunday, December 5, 2010
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I do not think that the Lookout app is a worthwhile investment because of the insurance packets that they offer for smartphones. I would not be willing to pay $29.99 a year so that I could track there whereabout of my blackberry if it happened to get lost or stolen. Most phones come with insurance in which you can get a new phone if anything happens for somewhere around $50, which includes if your phone merely gets broken. Lookout does not help at all if your phone happens to break, only if it is lost or stolen. Therefore, if your phone breaks and is not lost, you are paying an additional $29.99 for nothing. Unless you are very irresponsible and play on loosing your phone multiple times in a year, I do not think it is a worthwhile investment. On top of that, I do not really have anything in my phone that would be useful to a thief. I guess they could access my inbox on my email, however there is nothing in there that would be of any use to them either. In this particular situation, Lookout ended up being a lifesaver, not because the person was able to locate their phone, but because they were able to locate their car. This was clearly a freak incident in which the individual left their phone in the car when it was stolen, but I do not think you can assume that the App will be consistently useful in this way.
ReplyDeleteLookout is a great idea for all smartphone users because more and more information is being stored on these phones. Not only is the amount of data being held in smartphones increasing, but the sensitivity of the information is as well. I would agree that the price may deter some smartphone users from getting the maximum amount of protection, but a user has to expect to pay to get good protection. Depending on the sensitivity of data that one stores on his or her smartphone, either the free version or the premium version is more appropriate. If a CIO stores a large amount of customer credit card and Social Security information, the $29.99 a year is well worth the premium protection. As more applications like these are developed, the price for these services will drop and protection will only get better. This is just one more step in the war for data security.
ReplyDeleteI am an Android phone owner, and have the Lookout app installed on my phone. I have not, however, spent the extra money to get the Premium edition. After reading a story like this, I am more likely to spend the cash. While I understand that things like a stolen car where the phone happens to be inside are rare and in many cases the premium Lookout benefits may not come in handy, the cases in which it does are worth the money. Think about cases in which purses are stolen with phones inside. There could be credit cards, insurance information, and even more sensitive data in the bag. Some people even carry their social security numbers with them. In a case like this, catching the person right away would be useful. I think it is interesting to note that this is just the beginning. Soon, there will be even more things like this that will prove worthwhile. Technology on phones is changing, and while you may have to pay for better technology, the money you spend could help you to avoid losing even more money.
ReplyDeleteI must disagree with The Black Knight's analysis of Lookout vs. phone insurance. I looked up Verizon's phone insurance policy for a Blackberry - the case cited by the commenter. At $6/month and a $89 deductible, losing your Blackberry once every two years would cost you $233. Losing it once a year over your contract would cost you $322. Not losing your phone at all would cost you $144 over your two year contract. Your replacement phone will be refurbished, rather than new phone according to the terms of use. Also, if you didn't lose your phone, but were conned into handing it to someone, the insurance policy is void.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest use of Lookout is not to track down a phone, which would require navigating through the bureaucracy of the police department, but to wipe your data. With your e-mail, someone can go through your accounts (Facebook, etc.) to reset your password - which is sent to your e-mail. Who knows what other kinds of account information could be stored on your e-mail. And you can also use it locate your phone if you just forgot where you put it in your room.
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ReplyDeleteverizon phone insurance