Review: SmrtGuard v1.51-Your Smart Phone Guardian by SmrtGuard
Going with the theme today of Security Sunday, this review is on the SmrtGuard-Your Smart Phone Guardian by Smrt Guard. SmrtGuard is software security to protect your phone and your information. Remember, movie stars should be examples, and as Kevin Bacon and Paris Hilton have so kindly taught us: Don’t let this happen to you.
So what is SmrtGuard and what does it mean to you? Well, SmrtGuard is a security software program that is designed to protect your phone and your information. You’re able to track your BlackBerry with no GPS required. You are able to fully wipe sensitive data on the BlackBerry from where you are. You can back up all your sensitive data which includes: PIMs; call logs; emails and more. You can back up and restore your personal data (you might want to do that every so often, so when you do lose your BlackBerry, and have to wipe it, that you have those things you want to save on hand). The data can be accessed through the SmrtGuard web portal. You can use audio ping to locate your phone, even if it’s on mute.
With SmrtGuard, you are able to:
The Personal Guardian will allow you to send a distress SMS/Email/Call with a single button push. The SimCard Guardian alerts users that an unregistered Sim card being used in the phone. You can use it to remotely lock the phone or use it to remotely listen to the phone’s surroundings.
I received the product and began to install. The first step when installing this product is to register and activate the account online from your pc. Step two is to install the program on the phone and activate. For best results, they advise using the BlackBerry native email account from your phone, this is the one your carrier gives you free with your BlackBerry. I was really excited. The controls on the phone are really easy to use. A few extra controls on the phone are setting up the Personal Guardian or SIMs Card Guardian. The Personal Guardian allows you to set a button that you hold for a few seconds and it calls an emergency contact. It’s your own 911.
So while looking at the controls on the phone, there were several options on the phone besides the Personal Guardian. On the phone you can set up the Backup options and how often. You can set up your Restore options, Your Data options, and Follow Me. With Backup you can choose Contacts, Memos, Tasks, Events, Call Logs, and Emails. With Restore you can choose the same as above. Your Data shows how man Memos, Tasks, Contacts, Events, Call Log Counts, Emails, and File Counts you have on your handheld. Follow Me you can choose on foot or in vehicle. In a Vehicle it will keep track of you every three minutes and on foot it will keep track every five minutes. You can stop follow from the phone as well. In Personal Guardian you can have the phone call a contact or 911 and email another if you hold the “panic” button.
The Dashboard has so much available to you. In the Dashboard you have a map. Now they do let you know it is not 100% accurate so I cannot fault them for the map not being on target. In fact, it was quite off. The map is powered by Google Maps. You have the options Track My BB, Stop Tracking, Self-Destruct, Self-Destruct Test, Remote Listen, Locate My BB, Audio Ping, and Lock Device. With Track My BB, it will track the BlackBerry every five minutes. It will stop when you stop. Locate My BB will only check once and show the location on the map. In this you have the option to show location as to how many hours. By default it is set to 24 hours. Audio Ping is to help you find your phone. It will make a noise till it is turned off. The Self-Destruct Test will do a practice run but will not destroy any data, unlike the actual Self-Destruct will. You can also allow a “loved-one” to track you, giving them piece of mind, with Loved-One Tracker . The only tab they will be able to view after you set it up is the Tracker. You can also register your spouse’s and child’s BlackBerry with the SmrtGuard so that you can track them as well. I tested the many features and was impressed. Self Destruct Test was pretty neat, and of course I didn’t do the actual Self Destruct. Remote Listen has the phone call a handset of your choice, so you can listen to the phone. There could be several ways to use this feature. Audio Ping works too. Now the Lock Device locks the phone, but this is where you would want it to be password protected. Unlike the ROblock, the lock can be unlocked with the star and green button if you don’t have it password protected. There’s no place for a unlocking the phone on the Dashboard manually. From the Dashboard you are able to view: Dashboard, Account, Contacts, To Do, Memos, Call Logs, Events and Mail. I love the idea of wiping your data, especially from your Micro SD card. It’s good to know, although I love my family, my movies (I’d hate to see my Keanu Movies get wiped), and my music, I don’t have to worry about someone having the pictures of my daughters and family or their phone numbers and addresses as well. It gives me less to worry about.
So in my opinion, is there a need for this program? Of course, now at days you can never have too much protection. I mean, don’t ever say it won’t happen to you. It can happen to the best of us. And your BlackBerry is your sidekick, take care of it and your information.
For Customer Service, SmrtGuard is very quick to answer emails and questions, I never waited long for a response. I felt assured that any issues would be addressed quickly.
The map I wasn’t too thrilled about but they did say it wasn’t perfect. I also know that my carrier locks the GPS on my phone to third parties, so it wasn’t too surprising for me that it didn’t get a precise location. The manual lock from the PC would be a neat touch, but make sure through your Options>Security Options>General Options that you enable password protection and you will have no worries.
Pros: The pros are the self-destruct, the Personal Guardian, the audio ping, the listening in option, and choosing what to back up. It’s easy and allows you to track your phone, let others track you, and allow yourself to track others. Nice touch.
Cons: The map with non GPS enabled phones, having to have a password secured phone, and that was it.
If you are interested in the SmrtGuard v1.51, you’re in luck. We have it in the BlackBerry Sync Store and it’s available in three different ways: Monthly for $3.99; Bi-Annual for $22.99; and Annual for $44.99.
Grab a copy of SmrtGuard V1.51 today from the BlackBerry Sync Store >
Compatible BlackBerry handsets: 7130c, 7130e, 7130g, 7130v, 8100 (Pearl), 8110 (Pearl), 8120 (Pearl), 8130 (Pearl), 8220 (Pearl Flip), 8300 (Curve), 8310 (Curve), 8320 (Curve), 8330 (Curve), 8350i (Curve), 8700c, 8700f, 8700g, 8700r, 8700v, 8703e, 8705g, 8707g, 8707h, 8707v, 8800, 8820, 8830, 8900 (Curve), 9000 (Bold), Curve, Pearl, Storm
Compatible OS: 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7
Rating: 
