As much as I love my BlackBerry devices, there is something I love even more: the precious data inside my BlackBerry devices. Phone numbers, email addresses, contacts in BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), PINs, Facebook and Twitter usernames, videos, music downloads…all stored within the walls of my BlackBerry Bold 9900 smartphone.

For those not on a BlackBerry Enterprise Server, backing up your data using BlackBerry Protect should be your first step. Use BlackBerry Protect’s backup service to wirelessly back up contacts, text messages, browser bookmarks, and more on a regular schedule to ensure your backups stay current. BlackBerry Protect also features the ability to perform a remote “wipe” of the data stored on your device, and can find your device on a digital map if it’s lost.

You can also sync your BlackBerry device to your PC or Mac with BlackBerry Desktop Manager, which allows you to back up messages, videos, and even songs or playlists every time you connect your device to your computer.

Performing regular backups brings peace of mind that your data is safe and recoverable should your BlackBerry device ever get lost, stolen, or destroyed.

Are you performing regular backups of your BlackBerry device? What do you back up? Share in the comments, friends!

For today’s Five Tip Friday, I thought I would provide some tips for keeping my personal information secure on my BlackBerry® smartphone. I’ll be covering everything from using a secure password to encryption of your documents stored on an inserted media card.

1. Use the Password Keeper app

BlackBerry Password Keeper allows you to securely store passwords or banking PINs on your BlackBerry smartphone. If you have never used the Password Keeper app, check out our blog post on how to set up and use BlackBerry Password Keeper to learn more.

On top of securely storing your information, you can use the Password Keeper app to generate a secure random password for you. To try out this feature, complete the following steps.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

Hey blog readers! We’ve got a guest post today from Jason, who’s bringing you some useful tips and information about using the uber-handy BlackBerry® Protect app. Read on! – Ed.

It’s hard for any of us to imagine our beloved BlackBerry® smartphone being left in a taxi or getting stolen, but the truth is stuff happens – we misplace things, we accidentally leave behind a bag, or worse. If you’re on a BlackBerry® Enterprise Server, the data on your BlackBerry smartphone is backed up by your IT administrator, but what about the rest of us? We want all of you to know that the important (and sometimes sentimental) data such as contacts, calendars, tasks, memos, text messages and browser bookmarks from your missing device can be recovered easily as long as you have BlackBerry Protect set up completely and correctly.

Below are four simple steps to help make sure your data is protected.

Note: BlackBerry Protect is designed for backing up and restoring specific data from your BlackBerry smartphone and for wiping/locking your lost or stolen handset. BlackBerry Protect is not recommended to be used for switching to a new handset. If you want to move the data from one BlackBerry smartphone to a new one you’ve upgraded to, then I would recommend using BlackBerry® Desktop Software.

STEP 1: Set up your BlackBerry® ID on your New Device

If you haven’t already done so, set up your BlackBerry ID on your new device. This must be done because BlackBerry Protect uses your BlackBerry ID to help secure and restore your backed up data wirelessly. Don’t worry if you aren’t sure how to do this, as BlackBerry Protect will prompt you to create a new BlackBerry ID if you do not have one as part of Step 2 below.

STEP 2: Install BlackBerry Protect

The best way to get BlackBerry Protect depends on your operating system. For models running BlackBerry® Device Software 5.0 and upwards to BlackBerry® 6 OS, the BlackBerry Protect application must be downloaded from the BlackBerry App World™ storefront. For BlackBerry® 7 OS devices, the application is pre-installed on your device – you can find it in the Applications folder.

STEP 3: Do an Initial Backup

The first backup is the most important. If you are having issues with contacting your device for the first time from the BlackBerry Protect web portal, please ensure that you have completed the first backup. The first backup not only saves your data, but it’s also a “handshake” between your smartphone and the website.

STEP 4: Visit http://protect.BlackBerry.com

The dedicated BlackBerry Protect website is where you can manage your handset and backups, as well as find your smartphone. Since this website allows you to locate your BlackBerry smartphone or wipe all data for security purposes, this is the first place you should visit if your BlackBerry smartphone is lost or stolen. Be sure to write down the URL and keep it in a safe place, or save it as a Favorite on your desktop browser. You can also scan this QR code:

In addition to the above steps, I wanted to point out a few important points related to BlackBerry Protect:

• Use BlackBerry Desktop Software for Full Backup of your Data: BlackBerry Protect is designed primarily for a lost or stolen BlackBerry smartphone. BlackBerry Protect doesn’t for example, back up media content, such as your pictures. Make sure you continue using BlackBerry Desktop Software to do a full backup of your handset.

• BlackBerry Protect and BlackBerry Enterprise Servers: Be aware that BlackBerry Protect does not support corporate devices connected to a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

• Using BlackBerry Protect to locate your device: If you are not sure where you left your BlackBerry smartphone, by using the “locate on a map” feature in BlackBerry Protect you’ll be able to see where your handset is. Additionally, the “loud ring” feature can help you locate a BlackBerry smartphone lost in the couch cushions by sounding your ringer at full volume, even if the phone is set to vibrate. If you think your phone has been stolen, we recommend that you contact law enforcement and do not try to track down the phone on your own using this feature.

So if you don’t already have BlackBerry Protect set up, I highly recommend doing so – you can thank me later! To check out the full list of features, get support on BlackBerry Protect, or for more information, visit our full info page here: http://us.blackberry.com/apps-software/protect/

Are you already using BlackBerry Protect? Has it gotten you out of some sticky situations? Let us know in the comments!

Protecting information on your BlackBerry® smartphone and finding it in case you misplaced it is made easier thanks to the BlackBerry® Protect™ app. This free application allows you to take advantage of several features such as automatic backups of your contacts, calendar entries and more. It is a great way to help ensure you do not lose important contact information; for example, if you happen to lose your BlackBerry smartphone.

Today I’d like to show you five reasons why you should be using BlackBerry Protect if you haven’t set it up already:

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

As promised in the first BlackBerry® 7 Getting Started Guide, here is a complete overview of every option available in the Setup wizard. For those wondering, I will be using a BlackBerry® Torch™ 9860 smartphone in this post.

Before we begin, opening the Setup app can be accomplished two ways. The first is when it opens automatically after starting up a new BlackBerry 7 OS smartphone. The second is when you open it by selecting the Setup icon that appears on the Home Screen if you’ve already set up BlackBerry 7 on your smartphone. With this being said, let’s dive in.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

BlackBerry® ID is a single sign-on identity service that gives customers convenient access to multiple BlackBerry® products, services and applications. With BlackBerry ID, there’s only one login and password to remember.

If you use BlackBerry App World™, you are most likely familiar with BlackBerry ID. BlackBerry® Protect™ and BlackBerry® News – both of which can be found in BlackBerry Beta Zone – also use BlackBerry ID, so today I’d like to take a moment and go over some questions I’ve seen people ask about BlackBerry ID since it is starting to appear in more applications and services.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

We recently introduced in-app purchasing with BlackBerry® Payment Service 1.0, which allows developers to create apps that offer their customers the ability to make purchases through the app using the same BlackBerry® ID and payment method used to buy apps in BlackBerry App World™ storefront. Today I wanted to show you what you may see when you use an app with the in-app purchase ability, as well as showcase the levels of authentication and security.

Below is an example of a purchase made through the Hockey Scores app. The app is free on BlackBerry App World and is supported by small advertisements. If you’d rather not be distracted by advertising, you have the option to purchase the service of removing advertising on the app by paying $0.99.

If you’re not logged into the payment function with your BlackBerry ID, you’ll be prompted to sign in – the same as in BlackBerry App World. If you are already logged in, you won’t be prompted to log in again (you’re logged in for 20 minutes at a time before you’re prompted again) – but the “Confirm Purchase” screen will still appear so you see the full price and tax before the purchase happens.

As with any system that has purchase capabilities, you’ll always want to keep your eyes on it. BlackBerry Protect, which is available now in open beta, can help you always know where your BlackBerry smartphone is – read more the BlackBerry Protect webpage!

You know that sinking feeling you get when you lose something really important? Well, thanks to the open-beta release of BlackBerry® Protect – a free application on supported data plans – the information stored on your BlackBerry® smartphone will be kept secure in the event your BlackBerry smartphone goes missing.

Today I’ll be providing an overview of what’s required in order to use BlackBerry Protect and will include some useful links where you can get more information on how to set up and use BlackBerry Protect.

Read more at the Inside BlackBerry Help Blog »

Please welcome the BlackBerry® Protect team for a guest blog post to tell us all about the opening of the BlackBerry Protect beta, and some of the features included in the app! Take it away, team… – Ed.

Last year we introduced the world to BlackBerry Protect via limited beta. Throughout the beta, we received great feedback from the thousands of BlackBerry® Beta Zone users who tested out this personal data security solution, ultimately shaping it into what it is today.

Based on the tremendously positive feedback we’ve received on the improvements made to the product, I’m extremely happy to announce that we are opening the BlackBerry Protect beta. This beta is currently available in North America and some of Latin America only, although there will be further country rollout to come in the next couple of months! If you live in North America or Latin America and you weren’t able to be part of the original limited beta, you can now install BlackBerry Protect for free from the BlackBerry App World™ Test Center. You can also find it at the BlackBerry Protect web page, which is where you’ll need to go if you ever need help finding a misplaced BlackBerry® smartphone once the BlackBerry Protect device software has been installed (note: it may take up to 24 hours for BlackBerry Protect to appear in BlackBerry App World for some users. It will be available immediately on the BlackBerry Protect web page).

As a quick reminder, here’s a summary of what BlackBerry Protect offers:

BlackBerry Protect helps you find your smartphone and protect your important information by:

• Assisting in locating your BlackBerry smartphone on a map via GPS and cell-tower triangulation
• Locking and setting a device password
• Activating a special loud ring to help find your smartphone, even if it’s in silent mode
• Displaying a custom message on the home screen so that anyone who finds it knows how to return it
• Forcing an instant wireless backup of data even when you don’t have the smartphone with you
• And as a last resort, securely wiping all information from your BlackBerry smartphone, including the data from your SD card.

Additionally, the new wireless backup and restore features include:

• Automatically, periodically and wirelessly backing up your contacts, calendar appointments, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and text messages
• Optionally restricting backup to when within Wi-Fi® coverage or disable backup when roaming
• Wirelessly restoring backed up data to a new BlackBerry smartphone

And finally, some of the key feature improvements we’ve incorporated based on your beta feedback:

• Easier discovery and highlighting of BlackBerry Protect-related system messages
• Better clarity in status messages
• Unique and improved Loud Ring ringtone
• Clearer, simpler and more descriptive UI icons and graphics

BlackBerry Protect is a really great example of how BlackBerry Beta Zone members help to make BlackBerry smartphone applications and experiences better. If you’re not already a BlackBerry Beta Zone member, be sure to join so that you too can start testing out new products before they’re released.

Install BlackBerry Protect for free today, and be assured your smartphone data is protected even when you are busy and on the go! Let us know right here in the comments or in BlackBerry App World what you think of the open beta (speaking of BlackBerry App World, BlackBerry Protect leverages BlackBerry ID, so if you’re already using BlackBerry App World 2.0, you’re already set up with an ID!).

Thanks for your support!

I’m very excited today to tell you about a new security application from Research In Motion® (RIM), BlackBerry® Protect. To help get a better understanding of the product, I spoke with Michael Accettura, Product Manager for BlackBerry Protect.

What are the key features of BlackBerry Protect?

BlackBerry Protect allows you the ability to wirelessly backup, restore and locate your BlackBerry® smartphone. In the event that your BlackBerry smartphone is misplaced, lost or stolen, BlackBerry Protect provides features like: remote device wipe, remote device lock, ‘Lost and Found’ screen, locate device on a map, remote activation of the BlackBerry smartphone loud ringer, and wireless device backup and restore.

How, when and where can users get the BlackBerry Protect application?

BlackBerry Protect is not yet generally available; it is currently in beta phase and will be launching first in limited beta through BlackBerry Beta Zone later this week via invite codes. If you’re a member of Beta Zone and don’t receive a download code, don’t worry, you will be able to try it out when it reaches open public beta later this year. If you aren’t a member of BlackBerry Beta Zone yet, it’s not too late – sign up for a BlackBerry Beta Zone account now and try out other apps available in open beta!

Can you walk us through BlackBerry Protect and give readers a preview of the functionality?

I’ve love to! The easiest way to explain the product is to walk through a few ‘real-life’ scenarios.

BlackBerry Protect Setup

First, the user would need to download and install the BlackBerry Protect application on their BlackBerry smartphone. After completing the initial registration, you’ll be given the option to backup the data on your BlackBerry smartphone. You will be able to decide what you want to back up – contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and/or text messages. You will even be able to choose how often your BlackBerry smartphone is automatically backed up (i.e. daily, weekly, and monthly). Also, once the first back up is completed, only incremental data is backed up (i.e. new data since the last backup) to reduce data usage. Remember to always check with your wireless service provider to determine any additional charges that may be incurred through your use of the wireless network.

Misplacing your BlackBerry Smartphone (Loud Ring Feature)

So, I love my BlackBerry smartphone but for some reason I often seem to misplace it around my house (you’re not the only one — Ed.). This is why ‘loud ring’ is one of my favorite features of BlackBerry Protect. When this happens, I simply log into the BlackBerry Protect web portal where I can activate the loud ring feature – this makes my BlackBerry smartphone ring loudly for one minute, even if I had the profile set to silent. It also changes the default profile to ‘loud’, so I can call my BlackBerry smartphone to try to locate if I didn’t find it while it was initially ringing.

Dealing with a lost BlackBerry Smartphone (Lock, Lost and Found screen, Locating and Wiping Features)

In another situation, let’s say that I was out running errands, and when I got home I couldn’t find my BlackBerry smartphone. I realize I must have left it at one of the stores I was at. In this case, I want to be sure that if someone finds my BlackBerry smartphone, they can’t access any of my personal information on my device, and I want to try to locate the device so that I can hopefully get it back.

First, I would log onto the BlackBerry Protect web portal, where I would lock my BlackBerry smartphone and set a password.

Next, I would set the ‘lost and found’ screen with a message and contact information in case the device is found – this way they know who owns the device and can get ahold of me to let me know they found it.

Next, still from within the BlackBerry Protect web portal, I can use the ‘view current location feature’, which will use the built-in GPS functionality in most BlackBerry smartphones to help show me the current location of my BlackBerry smartphone. This will give me a good idea of where to find it.

In the worst-case scenario, if I can’t find my BlackBerry smartphone and no one has called to say they have found it, I can use the Remote Wipe feature to delete all the information off the device, including the data stored on the device and on the Micro-SD card.

Getting a new BlackBerry Smartphone (Restore from Backup Feature)

Once I have a new BlackBerry smartphone, I can wirelessly restore all my backed up data from my old device onto my new device. So, even though I’ve lost my BlackBerry smartphone, all of my information can be transferred to my new BlackBerry smartphone.

Michael, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, and we look forward to hearing more about BlackBerry Protect later this year.

No problem!