You’ve got password protection on everything from your office computer to your microwave. Between updating your Facebook status, checking in with your friends, paying bills, texting (hopefully not while driving) and talking, your cell phone has become an extension of your arm. You make very sure to keep your computer locked down… how about your phone?
I’ve noticed more than a few smart phone users that don’t take the time to lock their cell phone. While it may seem like a nuisance to enter a 4 digit code before you are able to make a call or check your email, take a minute to think about how your use your phone. Have you ever REALLY thought about the information stored within?
- Contact’s name, phone number, email address, etc. Would your friends and family want their contact info out there for anyone to find?
- Facebook login credentials. People forget about this one. You’re not actually entering your login information every time you update your status on your phone are you? If you are… you’re in the minority. If you’re like most, you’re using the “remember me” feature.
- Twitter, LinkedIn, Foursquare, online banking, Netflix, Kindle, etc., etc., etc. credentials – See above.
- Photos – it’d be OK if all of the photos on your phone were floating around the Internet right?
Now that you’ve thought about WHAT’S on your phone, take minute to think about what would happen if you lost your phone. Now consider what would happen if whoever found it wasn’t a “nice person” and simply returned it. Kind of scary isn’t it?
I ran across this story the the day where someone was recounting a similar situation:
I got a call the other day, someone my friends knew had their Hotmail account hacked.
The person (hacker) pulled the address book out of Hotmail, deleted all the contacts, forwarded the replies to a similar email account, and then spammed all the contacts with “I’m out of cash in Ireland” emails looking for a bite.By the time they got control back and deleted the forwarding, some people had responded (none had sent money luckily). Then, since the person had used the same password for Facebook, they tried to hit up all those users with the same scam.
We’ve said it time and time again… keep your passwords secure. And if you’re a smart phone user I’d strongly suggest you use the password feature. Sure, losing your phone sucks, but wouldn’t you sleep a lot easier knowing that at least your data is safe?