Tips to protect your PDA and cell phone

There were several alarming articles this week about mobile device privacy at News.com:
Used mobile devices share secrets
Stolen smart phones scream to be found

Smart phones and PDAs offer the benefit of storing information, but consumers may not wipe the data clean before selling the devices on eBay, according to research results released Wednesday.

“Personal and corporate data is being sold on the open market through eBay, and it’s also available to anyone who finds, steals or purchases a used smart phone or PDA from any other source,” Nick Magliato, chief executive of Trust Digital, said in a statement. “The general public needs to immediately be made aware of this fact.”

Be sure to read the complete article for more startling statistics.

The point is, the more you become dependant on technology, the more you have to put safe guards in place:

• Use the built-in PIN/password security on your PDA or cell phone.
• Set your device to automatically lock after 30 minutes or when you close the lid.
• Keep a backup copy of your device data. That means sync to your computer often.
• If you store sensitive information, don’t file with titles such as “My passwords.” Use non-descriptive titles that don’t draw attention.
• If you are selling or exchanging the device, figure out how to wipe the data first.
• If you are disposing of the device, make it unusable. But be sure to dispose/recycle the battery properly.

It’s a hassle to lose a device, but with a little precaution and common sense, it won’t be so devastating to you.

-Roland

Roland Reinhart is an interactive marketing professional who is concerned about how companies handle personally identifiable information. His observations can be found at Chaos365.com and AdMadMan.com.

©2006 Roland Reinhart. All Rights Reserved.