According to the guys at Callpod, there is currently no technology for the iPhone that provides full security and encryption when you sync data to the PC or Macintosh. Thus the need for Keeper, an app so secure, it comes with military grade encryption that keeps your passwords and synced data too secure to handle.

Currently, Keeper sells for $0.99 at the iTunes store and is compatible with both iPod touch and iPhone. You can download the application here.

Oh and we weren’t kidding about the self-destruct mode.

Sometimes a phone is a clearer mirror of ourselves.

Call it what you want. Marketing sensitive denizens may call this another PR spin from Nokia but I see it from another point of view. Nokia’s latest campaign dubbed Somebody Else’s Phone has been around since October and although it differs in every region, one particular message stands out. They’ve hit it right in the bag: You are your phone.

Imagine this. If you were to stumble across a phone in a dark alley that was obviously lost by its previous owner, would you itch to hazard a peek into it? And believe me, you can find out so many things about a total stranger by just peeking into his or her phone. So much of our life is hidden in the unlocked safe that is our mobile. From inbox text, sent messages, call history, music, photos, video and even the applications installed - tell us so much about a person without meeting them.

How much sensitive information do you keep in your phone? Let’s say you were to lose, god forbit, your phone tonight at a party, how much if your life would be revealed to a complete stranger?

Digital voyeurism at its best!

[screenshot from Somebody Else's Phone]

Ah, Biometrics. The selling point of life sensitive security controls is its supposed ease of use. A survey sponsored by Biometric manufacturer Authentec shows that finger scanning on mobile devices is preferred by consumers, if they were to have that option. Of course, this is also a PR spin towards their way, but we can see past that to look at how interesting this slap it on type of technology is, especially for mobile phones.

The independent survey of cell phone users (ages 18-25) was sponsored by fingerprint sensor supplier AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH) and indicates that the vast majority (80%) would like to see widespread availability of fingerprint-enabled phones in the U.S. between now and next year, and nearly half (45%) would be willing to pay $10 or more for a phone if it was equipped with fingerprint security. Highlighting the desire and trust in fingerprint sensor security, more than two-thirds of respondents (69%) would feel more secure about conducting mobile financial transactions via their phone if it was equipped with a fingerprint sensor. [source]

I’ve had my fill of biometric scanners and I honestly can’t compare the experience to not having one. Well, what I’m trying to say is that I’ve always been fearful of the possibility of not being able to access my phone if my fingerprint is read wrong. Are biometric scanners very reliable in this day - for mobile phones or are phones too personal for us, that we don’t really find the need yet? Survey says that close to 50% are willing to have one.

Well, as a consumer, if my phone comes with it, I’ll use it. Maybe. But it won’t be on my top priority list.

[logo c/o Authentec]

Anyone whos been a mobile warrior since the early 2000’s will know eWallet. The champions of mobile security have been around for the longest time, Ilium has upgraded eWallet to version 6.0. So the guys have been gracious enough to give away five (5) licenses to my fun readers!

eWallet is the champion of security in the same way that Manolo is the shoe champion!

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Aaaand here’s the release description:

Ilium Software’s eWallet lets you secure your personal information in a single file which can be accessed on your mobile device. Whether it is PIN numbers, bank account information, passwords, or credit card numbers; the vast majority of us have an ever-expanding amount of confidential information that we need to keep secure and conveniently accessible on our fingertips. eWallet 6.0 allows you to password-protect your personal information letting mobile device users store information in a safe and secure electronic wallet. eWallet is now compatible with the iPhone.

Depending on the OS, eWallet can cost from $9.00 to short of $20.00. It is also now available for the Apple iPhone and this OS version is included in the contest! So for iPhone users, you may want to join!

Contest Rules

1. The contest is open from today September 25 2008 till the Friday of next week, October 3 2008. This contest is open to everyone around the world!

2. To enter the contest, all you need to do is leave a comment with a valid email address answering the question “what’s the best way to keep a secret?”. As all my contests go, you can enter as many times as you want as long as you leave a different answer for each entry.

3. eWallet is available for the following phone operating systems:

Pocket PC / Windows Mobile Smartphone
Palm OS
Windows PC (yes, there’s a PC version!)
iPhone

That means when I choose the winner, you will have to give me the preferred OS you want to run eWallet with. Cool?

Last week, we had a solar powered Bluetooth headset from Iqua up for grabs (winner announced in a separate post). This week, in keeping with our green theme, though not intentionally, we have FIVE complementary disposable phone numbers up for grabs for use within the USA courtesy of Vumber. Let’s go green - let’s go disposable!

DISPOSABLE PHONE NUMBERS??

Yep you heard it right. Vumber is a service that allows you to link your current mobile phone number to a Vumber account, thus masking your real mobile number. This is useful for short business trips, filtering contacts and gee, for practically anything that has to do with your “other life.” (LOL)

A Vumber is a number from any area code you want, linked to your home, cell, or work phone. When someone calls your Vumber, Vumber lets you control how you handle the call: you can a) answer it; b) send them to VumberMail; c) give them a busy signal; d) tell them the number is out of service; or e) play them a custom message you create.

It provides unequaled privacy protection when anyone calls your Vumber, and when you call anyone. And it’s not limited to a pre-defined one-to-one calling relationship like you sometimes see out there – it is as simple as having another phone number. Even simpler. Vumber puts you in total control of your communications and your identity.

Here are the rules for the contest:
Read more

Here are some facts from You Get It Back, a service that tracks lost mobile phones and other gadgets so that they may be returned to the rightful owner.

• 63,000 mobile phones, 6,000 laptops, and 5,000 PDAs left in London taxis in six months (Pointsec, 2005)
• 10,000 lost mobile phones and almost 6,000 electronic items, including cameras and laptops, in 2004 (Transport for London, 2005)
• 2,000 mobile phones lost or stolen every week in Ireland (Vodafone, 2005)
• Nearly one in four PDAs lost or stolen (Palm, 2004)
• Over 1.6 million items handed into Tokyo lost and found centre in 2002 (Associated Press, 2003)
• 4,000 items handed in daily to New York Grand Central Station’s lost and found office (Associated Press, 2003)

You Get It Back applies the eBay principle that people are still honest, and if given a way, will assist in the return of devices. Specifically for mobile phones, you can download a Java based application that helps people return the phone via ID tracking as well as making it harder to steal the phone via anti-theft lockdown.