Lookout for Android gets updated

The Android mobile security application, Lookout has received an updated bringing two new features – one which is included in the free version and one that premium users can access.

· Lock Cam (available on free version) – lets you know if someone is trying to look at or use your smartphone without your permission. It silently takes a picture with the front-facing camera if the password on you smartphone is entered incorrectly three times. The picture is sent to your email, along with the location of your phone on Google Maps.

· Lock Screen (available on premium version) – if you lose your phone, you can now remotely lock it and tailor the lock screen with a message for whomever finds it. For example: “As you are a lovely person who values good karma, please contact me on XX to return my phone.”

Mobile security has become an increasingly important issue in the UK. The Metropolitan Police says phones are by far the most common item stolen, making up 70% of items taken in personal robberies. In fact, in London alone, 314 phones are stolen each day. Recent research by Lookout reveals some alarming attitudes towards mobile security and privacy in the UK:

· 66% of people don’t have a lock pin or passcode on their phone

· 28% of people admitted to looking at someone else’s phone without permission

· 12% of people surveyed said they found someone looking at their phone without permission

For more information on the new features of the Lookout app, as well the research, please see the full press release below:

London, UK – January 23^rd, 2013 – Lookout, the leader in mobile security, today announced Lock Cam, a new feature on Lookout for Android that protects your device from intruders by emailing you a picture of the unauthorised person, along with the location of your device. In addition, if you have Lookout for Android Premium, you can now write a custom Lock Screen message to help you recover a lost device.

Mobile security has become an increasingly important issue in the UK. The Metropolitan Police says phones are by far the most common item stolen, making up 70% of items taken in personal robberies. In fact, in London alone, 314 phones are stolen each day. Curious eyes can also be potentially harmful – compromising the privacy of the sensitive information (i.e., financial information, email, contacts, etc.) living on your phone or tablet.

Recent research by Lookout[i] reveals some alarming attitudes towards mobile security and privacy in the UK:

• Two out of three people (66%) have not set up a password/passcode on their phone – the simplest way to keep unauthorised parties from snooping through your phone
• 15% of people said their mobile phone was the personal item they were most worried about other people looking at without permission (just behind computer and wallet)
• 12% of people have found someone looking through their phone without their permission
• Generally, the culprits are loved ones:

o Almost half (48%) caught their spouse/significant other

o Almost a third (29%) caught a friend

o Almost a quarter (23%) caught a family member

o 18% caught their child

• Over a quarter (28%) of people admitted to looking through someone else’s phone without permission. People are generally doing this to their loved ones:

o Almost two thirds (60%) looked at their spouse’s/significant other’s phone

o One in five (20%) people looked at a friend’s phone

o One in five (20%) people looked at a family member’s phone

o 12% looked at their child’s phone

o 16% said they looked to see the person’s texts, emails or call history

Protect your device from intruders

Now available on the latest version of Lookout Mobile Security for Android, Lock Cam is a free feature that notifies you if anyone tries to access your device when you’re not around. Lock Cam silently takes a picture with the front-facing camera of your device of anyone who enters an incorrect password three times. You’ll then receive an email with the picture, and the location of your device. You can use this information to change your password or increase its strength, or if your phone has been stolen, file a police report and / or insurance claim.

Help lost phones return home

Now you can add a customised message to your Lookout Lock Screen, so if your phone is lost, you can help whoever finds it return it. Your message could be, "I can’t live without my phone! Can you please call me on XX to help me get it back?" or another message of your choice up to 300 characters, including spaces. If you have Lookout Premium and you lose your phone, you can log in at lookout.com to lock the phone and protect it from unauthorised access. The ability to write a custom Lock Screen message is available on Lookout for Android Premium (£1.99 month / £19.99 year).

Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and CTO of Lookout said, “Smartphones have become one of our most personal and valuable possessions, so it’s understandable that we want to protect them from prying eyes. We are committed to helping people keep their private information just that – private. We also understand the emotional and financial impact of lost and stolen phones, which is why we offer a number of features that help people recover their smartphone.”

The Lookout Mobile Security app keeps you safe from mobile threats, backs up your personal data, can locate your lost or stolen device, and protects the privacy of your phone. Lookout Mobile Security for Android is available in Free and Premium versions. To download the app, please visit Google Play:http://bit.ly/lookoutapp.

Posted by: James