According to a survey of 600 London subway users by data protection security experts Credant Technologies, 80% of British mobile phone users are lax enough with their phone security that they risk identity theft. Among the findings:
- 16% have their bank account details saved on their mobile phones
- 24% their pin numbers and passwords
- 11% keep social security and inland revenue details
- 10% store credit card information
- alarmingly 40% fail to protect their devices with a password
Businesses are at risk too if employee phones are stolen:
- 35% receive and send business emails
- 77% keep business names and addresses
- 17% download corporate information, such as documents and spreadsheets
- 23% store customers information
Steven Gold, telecom and IT expert points out: \'Imagine how easy it would be to assume or destroy the life of a colleague just by stealing their phone - if it was the company chairman\'s phone you could send emails from him announcing his resignation - a practical joke with serious consequences.\'
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