MANILA - Kaspersky Lab is making expensive smartphones a lot smarter and more secure by arming them with unparalleled protection from theft, loss and data leaks through the introduction of Kaspersky Mobile Security 8.0.

The latest version of Kaspersky Mobile Security (KMS), which is now available in the Philippines, features cutting edge technologies such as the SMS Find, Anti-theft Module, SIM Watch Module, integrated firewall and the vastly improved Anti-spam Module.

“The Kaspersky Mobile Security 8.0 will spare Filipinos from the heartaches and headaches that the loss of their precious smartphones may cause. We know that in the Philippines, the people value their mobile phones so much,” Suk Ling Gun, managing director of Kaspersky Lab South East Asia, said in a statement.

The SMS Find gives phone users a higher probability of recovering their lost or stolen mobile phones. By sending an SMS with a password to the lost smartphone, the user will receive a link to Google Maps showing the exact coordinates of the device. 

It also allows parents to locate their children if they are using smartphones that have GPS.

The SIM Watch module, meanwhile, allows the owner to still trace the trace the whereabouts of the device even if the SIM card has been removed and replaced. KMS will send a hidden message notifying the owner of the new number, thus, enabling the law enforcement agencies to track the stolen device. This will also give the owner the chance to delete data from the smartphone or block access to it.

The Anti-theft module of Kaspersky Mobile Security 8.0, on the other hand, makes it possible for the owner of a lost or stolen smartphone to remotely block access to or completely wipe the memory of the device by simply sending a codeword via SMS to the mobile number.

The Anti-spam module blocks unsolicited messages and unwanted calls as it gives the owner the option to put the phone in the “white list mode” (only accepting calls and messages from specified contacts) or in “blacklist mode” (accepting calls and messages from all numbers except those in the list).

Kaspersky Mobile Security 8.0 also provides a safe-folder within the smartphone, which can be accessed only through a user-defined password. When the password is entered, the folder will remain accessible until the KMS detects a period of inactivity. This will shield the sensitive and confidential information that are contained in the safe-folder from intrusion.

The integrated firewall in Kaspersky Mobile Security 8.0 also prevents attacks by hackers and mobile worms that spread via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections.

Another valuable addition to the KMS is the parental control component, which enables parents to restrict the sending and receiving of messages to a child’s phone (e.g., premium rate numbers, adult content services, etc.).

Antivirus scanner is still best of breed. Aside from automatically scanning all incoming and modified objects, it performs on-demand scans of the device. All malicious objects can be deleted or stored in quarantine. Regular updates of the antivirus databases via various channels, including synchronization with a PC, ensure that new malicious programs are detected and deleted effectively.

The new Kaspersky Lab application offering protection for smartphones was developed with all the compatibility requirements for Symbian OS 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and Windows Mobile 5.0, 6.0, 6.1 in mind.

KMS 8.0 currently retails for P980.00.