Have you ever thought about how much information someone would get about you if they got your phone?
- Our smartphones and other devices are with us most of the day.
-
We store a lot of sensitive data on our devices.
- It is a good idea to handle them with care.
It may have happened to you that you were talking to someone about a potential vacation plan or some device to be purchased, and soon after, advertisements related to the destination, accommodation, or topic in question appeared on your phone. We've gotten used to that initially scary feeling over the past few years, but it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves from time to time that our cell phones know a lot more about us than we're willing to buy into.
When the Our smartphone Information and data from our activities are tracked and used by the device (at least for a period of time and with certain permissions). Although we cannot completely prevent data collection, we can avoid many inconveniences through careful use of the phone.
Let's see what sensitive data it stores your phone!
1. Sensitive information: password
Not surprisingly, it also stores all the passwords or data that your device automatically fills in. These may include your name, address and of course your credit card details. Storing this data will certainly save you a lot of time when you fill out an online form or make a purchase, but it's worth considering how secure it is to store all your personal data on one device. It is also important to know that saved passwords can be easily retrieved from the device settings, which also means that unauthorized people can access your password-protected accounts stored on the phone in just seconds. If you are looking for a more secure solution,
Do not save this sensitive data in your browser, but use a password manager.
2. Sensitive information: location
Cell phones are very effective at tracking our location even when location services are turned off. This is because many apps rely on GPS data, which means the phone tracks and stores our location even when we don't ask for it. While location data may actually seem harmless compared to other information like your name, phone number, and credit card information, it can be dangerous in the wrong hands.
Through a simple analysis of location data, for example, it is possible to calculate your daily schedule, the number of hours you spent away from home, and the apartment left unattended.
There is a more common concern. Just in the past, I've been thinking about the awkward situations a GPS device can cause when, relying on it, the next day after a wild night out, our phone asks how we felt at XY nightclub, even though we were “at Opera anyway.” …If you're concerned about location data, review app permissions on your phone and check which apps can access your location. Run all the apps you have installed on your device, and unless their use is essential, do not allow them to track your location.
Do we put the device in the pocket or are we in the pocket? (Photo by Ryan Pyle/Corbis via Getty Images)
3. Sensitive information: messages and phone calls
The messages you send and receive and the calls you make are recorded and stored by your phone, so it's important not to send or discuss sensitive information over your phone, such as your bank card details, passwords or other account details.
Apps with end-to-end encryption are somewhat more secure, but the app itself is still easily accessible to anyone who might gain access to your device. And for this
It's worth thinking about what information you share within messages and store on your devices long-term.
4. Sensitive information: deleted data
Did you know that when you delete various data from your phone, the data that was originally deleted can often be recovered long after pressing the delete button? This means that you have to be careful about the device you use to open emails with confidential content, for example. For example, if you receive a sensitive work email, wait until you can open it on a secure company computer before downloading the attachment. This way you can ensure that it is difficult to access and cannot be recovered after deletion. It's important to think about the data saved on your computer when it's time to buy a new phone. If you give your old device to a dealer or service provider, make arrangements to ensure that data stored on your device is safely and permanently removed. It is also important to never throw away your phone. You never know who will fall into their hands and for what purpose this person will use your data stored on them.
5. Sensitive information: files and downloads
When you download a file from a website or email, your device stores it and saves it for you. This means that everything you download, from banking statements to personal data, can be easily accessed with a little digging. This may be convenient for you when you want to find something quickly, but it can cause problems if the device falls into the wrong hands. So
It's important to always be careful about what you download and never allow files to accumulate in your downloads folders.
This is especially important on company-owned devices, because the company may have the right to view files stored on its own devices. So it's important that you never download personal information to your work phone, computer or tablet. It's also important to get rid of sensitive information when you're not using it: Empty the trash from your devices regularly.
Are you interested in everything related to data security? In this previous article we wrote about the phishing emails that are now spreading.
Featured Image: Getty Images
