Smartphone As Your Most Dangerous Possession

Hugh Pickens writes "CNN reports that now that smartphones double as wallets and bank accounts — allowing users to manage their finances, transfer money, make payments, deposit checks and swipe their phones as credit cards — smartphones have become very lucrative scores for thieves and with 30% of phone subscribers owning iPhones, BlackBerrys and Droids, there are a lot of people at risk. Storing a password and keeping your phone locked is a good start, but it's not going to protect you from professional fraudsters. 'Don't think that having an initial password set on your phone can stop people from getting in there,' says Nikki Junker, a victim advisor at the Identity Theft Resource Center. 'It's a very low level of protection — you can even find 30-second videos on how to crack smartphone passwords on YouTube.'"

Comments

I do not think that word means what you think it d

[Amorymeltzer]

I believe you mean "risky" not "dangerous." The most dangerous item I own is probably a knife.

And how many people actually protect their phone

[hsmith]

With passcodes, setting the phone to wipe on a few failed tries? Almost everyone I know lacks a passcode on their mobile device - giving anyone the freedom to dig into their personal lives. I just don't think people realize what a risk it is at all.

I'd also like to know which devices can be cracked in 30 seconds. With iPhone 4's full device encryption, I don't see how the key can be cracked in under 10 tries before it would wipe itself. But, I'd like to know.

The power of technology....

[cold fjord]

It continues to make almost everything more convenient, including ruining you.

Re:Security of a smart phone

[CharlyFoxtrot]

The security on a smart phone isn't any worse (in many cases better, even) than that on most people's personal computers. The OS question is irrelevant, the big difference is that it's much easier to gain physical access. Just be vigilant and be have a plan ready to immediately block all access if you do lose your phone.

Re:I do not think that word means what you think i

[corsec67]

You don't own a car? That is probably the "most dangerous" class of item that people own.

Re:I do not think that word means what you think i

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't own a car, but I do own a lightsaber. Not as clumsy or random as a car; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.

Re:I do not think that word means what you think i

[TheRaven64]

Sorry, I thought it was people, not guns, that were dangerous

True, but since the 13th amendment passed you're not allowed to own any people, only guns.