Blackberry Security

BlackBerry OS 5.X is the most widely installed operating system across RIM devices. In September 2010, RIM launched BlackBerry OS 6 for new and upcoming devices. These instructions refer to the BlackBerry OS 5.

Set a Passcode.

1. On your home screen, choose Options.
2. Scroll down and select Security.
3. Select Password
4. Toggle the option to Enabled
5. Press the escape menu and type in a new password when prompted

Note: After enabling this setting, your BlackBerry may require a passcode to unlock the screen or to change the password settings.

Enable Auto-Lock.

1. From your home menu or through the search tool, choose Options.
2. Scroll down and select Security.
3. Select Password.
4. Verify that the Password option is set to Enabled.
5. Change Number of Password Attempts to 10.
6. Set the Lock After time to 1 Min. (Shorter times are more secure.)
7. Enable Prompt on Application Install and Handheld Upon Holstering
8. Verify that Allow Outgoing Calls While Locked is left unchecked
9. Press the escape button to save and quit

Install updates regularly.

1. From your home menu, choose Options.
2. Open Device.
3. Scroll down the menu and select Software Updates.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions for installing available updates.
   Note: Before updating your BlackBerry, make sure to back up all of its data. You will need to install BlackBerry Desktop Manager on your Windows or Mac OS X computer in order to complete the backup and restore process.

Securely configure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

To disable Bluetooth, do the following:

1. From the main icon screen, select the Manage Connections application.
2. Uncheck the Bluetooth option when not in use.

If Bluetooth is required, do the following:

1. From within Manage Connections, scroll down to Bluetooth Connections.
2. Press the BlackBerry's physical menu button to bring up the options menu.
3. Select Options.
4. Set LED Connection Indicator to On.
5. Press the escape key to return to the Bluetooth options panel
6. Toggle Discoverable to No.
7. Quit the Bluetooth options area and choose the Save option when prompted.

For WiFi, do the following:

1. From the main icon screen, select the Manage Connections application.
2. Uncheck the Wi-fi option when not in use.

Note: Remember to disable both of these wireless services when not in use. Avoid connecting to unknown networks or devices, especially in public areas such as cafés, parks, the street, etc.

Enable encryption.

To enable encryption, do the following:

1. From your home menu or through the search tool, choose Options.
2. Select Security.
3. Go into Encryption
4. Enable Encrypt
5. Verify that Strength is set to Strong.
6. Leave Include Contacts and Include Media Files unchecked
7. Press the escape menu button to save and quit (you may be prompted to type in your password).

If your device supports media cards (MiniSD, MicroSD, etc.), do the following additional steps:

1. Back up all of your media card's data before proceeding.
2. From your home menu, choose Options.
3. Select Security
4. Enable Encrypt
5. Verify that Strength is set to Strong.
6. Scroll down to Media Card and enable Encrypt
7. Under Mode, choose Device
8. Press the escape menu button to save and quit (you may be prompted to type in your password).

Note: Enabling encryption on older Blackberry devices may significantly impact performance. If this is the case, try removing unwanted applications and restart the device. If this does not improve performance, you should consider disabling encryption.

Utilize Security Wipe.

Secure wipe will delete all personal and application data on your BlackBerry. Once secure wipe is enabled, your data will no longer be recoverable.

Do not enable this feature until you have fully backed up your BlackBerry.

To secure delete all data on your BlackBerry, do the following:

1. From your home menu, choose Options.
2. Select Security.
3. Go into Secruity Wipe.
4. Select Emails, Contacts, etc. and User Installed Applications. Select Media Card if you wish to also delete its contents as well.
5. Scroll down to the confirmation field and type blackberry.
6. Select Wipe Data when ready to delete.

Note: This deletion process may take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on your BlackBerry's memory size and processor speed.