by : David Collins

Blackberry devices have become one of the must-have gadgets of recent times, offering everything from e-mail to editorials in the palm of our hands.

With streamlined handsets, wi-fi software and colour screens, smartphones have allowed us to keep up to date with the latest news headlines and our e-mail while on the move.

As a result, have become a necessity for many - both at home and at the office - allowing us to manage our daily lives while also having all the features of familiar mobile phones.

Smart phones make use of technology more familiar with home PCs - allowing users to check e-mails, browse web pages and organise schedules with the touch of a button or through pressing icons on an interactive screen.

With this technology comes the risk of theft, as well as an increasing risk of spam targeted at . As the popularity of internet-enabled handsets increases, so the opportunities for spammers to rip us off are also on the increase.

Many make use of the e-mail function in order to send viruses and other malicious software to our handsets. Already a problem in countries such as India and China, industry analysts predict that mobile phone spam will increase around the world as more of us choose to indulge in new handsets with internet capabilities.

Spam text messages and e-mails can be a very annoying aspect of owning internet-enabled . With sales of such phones expected to rise sharply, so the risk factor is sure to increase as spammers tap into the growing market.

It's best to double-check the security settings on your phone for when you browse in order to stop any nasties getting through and corrupting your phone.