Tip of the Day #12 – 3/23/09

I apologize for the lack of posting the last bunch of days.  I was just so burnt out from studying, I didn’t have the energy to post.  Luckily I let loose this weekend, celebrated life and I am back on track for writing.  When I wake up in the morning, there are a plethora (not quite a plethora, but a lot) of postings from the end of last week that will go up.  Anyway, enjoy this Tip of the Day to hold you over (or not, either way).

Level: Beginner

Tip of the Day #12 - How to set a password for your BlackBerry – Alright, one of the great things about a BlackBerry is how secure it is.  BlackBerry phones are just about impossible to hack, so no wonder governments and huge corporations around the world use them.  So, if you have sensitive material or just don’t want anyone to have access to any information on your phone, set a password lock for it.  I personally do not have one; I find it annoying and energy consuming for me, but I am also told I am stupid and crazy.  Not everyone will use it, but for those that need it, it is some good protectin’ for your Berry.  Here is how you do it:

Step 1: Go into Options.

Step 2: For devices with OS 4.5 and below, go to Security Options and then General Settings. For devices with OS 4.6 and above, you can just go to Password.

Step 3: Next, change the Password field to Enabled.

Step 4: You have a few options for password use:

• Number of Password Attempts – You can choose 3-10 password attempts before your device wipes itself.
• Security Timeout – Select your device to automatically lock after being timed out for anywhere from 1 min. to 1 hour.
• Prompt on Application Install – You can choose this option so that you have to enter your password anytime you try and download an app.
• Lock when holstered – This option will auto lock your BlackBerry when it is holstered.
• Allow outgoing calls while locked – This allows you to still make calls without unlocking your device.

Step 5: After you have set everything to how you want it, you are ready to set a password.  You can do this by pressing your Menu key and hit save; this will prompt you to set your password.  Enter your any password you want then press Enter or your trackball, then verify it and press Enter or your trackball again.

*Note: Devices with OS 4.6 and above will have an option to set and change the password on the password page.  To change your password with a device running OS 4.5 and below, press Menu and your Change Password option will be there.

Once your password is set and your device is locked, simply type your password and then press Enter or your trackball to unlock it.