Smartphone Security: Blackberry Vs Windows Phone 7

10. The Winner Is...

We looked at the main security concerns and solutions for Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry:

• Both provide password-protected locking.

• Windows Phone 7 lacks full device encryption and data could potentially be recovered by a hacker. BlackBerry supports full device encryption, including media cards, keeping your data secure when your phone becomes lost or stolen.

• BlackBerry has full backup capability, whereas Windows Phone 7 currently does not.

• Both provide a free solution for tracking down and protecting a misplaced phone.

• Both support VPN connections, but only when using a messaging server from work.

• Like other smartphone operating systems, the current risk of malware is minimal, but there are third-party malware/security apps for BlackBerry.

Given the lack of both encryption and backup capabilities of Windows Phone 7, there’s no question that BlackBerry provides better security. BB OS has long been the choice for enterprise users, and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

There are even more advanced security features for BlackBerry we didn’t discuss. BlackBerry is so secure and trusted that it has approvals and certifications for government use in several countries, including the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) of the United States.

BlackBerry is very mature platform, and is generally targeted more towards the business world. Conversely, Windows Phone 7 is more targeted toward consumers—a change from the previous Window Mobile platform. Microsoft may add more security and backup features to the Windows Phone platform in the future, so keep your eye on the update site for additional news and details.