A method and apparatus are provided for a user of a mobile wireless
communications device to have the option of viewing security status
messages in a large or small format depending upon the user's
preferences, form factor of the mobile communications device, or the
like. In accordance with an exemplary aspect of the invention, a user may
opt to display status icons on one row of a display and include an
abbreviated text associated with each icon that is displayed when a
particular icon is highlighted by the user. If no icon is highlighted by
the user, the most important status text (determined based on
predetermined criteria) is displayed. The user has the option of
switching to a large status display to view additional information
relating to the status icons.