Each day in England and Wales, an average of 200 mobile phones are stolen and with technology advancing year upon year, www.rightmobilephone.co.uk has revealed it’s not just other people’s numbers that the thief can obtain.
GPS and Bluetooth technology is now a feature of most modern mobile phones, which poses a problem for security. Whilst Bluetooth is very useful in terms of communication and sharing information, it’s also a feature that makes information on mobile phones vulnerable to hackers.
GPS (Global Positioning System) technology is highly functional when used for satellite navigation, but what some fail to release is that when a photograph is taken on certain handsets, the exact location of the shot is embedded in the picture file, which could be dangerous if the phone fell into the wrong hands.
As the ownership of smartphones such as Blackberry and iPhone handsets rises, contacts and text messages aren’t the only things at risk of being read by thieves. Many businesses obtain smartphones for employees, so work-related and personal e-mails can easily be seen by the wrong people following a mobile phone theft.
Unless a mobile is protected by pin codes and passwords, text messages and e-mails can reveal anything from your bank details to confidential work documents.
Rightmobilephone.co.uk has revealed the top 5 ways to keep mobile phones and the content on them safe;
1. Passwords – If your mobile allows it, always set a pin code to stop others being able to access your text messages, pictures and e-mails.
2. Blocking – If you find that your handset has been stolen, get in touch with your network provider and block your SIM card immediately to prevent thieves from being able to use it.
3. Back-up – There are plenty of services available that allow users to download their phone numbers, so there’s always a copy in case you do have to block your SIM following a theft.
4. Common Sense – If out alone, especially at night, keep your mobile phone from view; don’t use your phone to play music or have it on view unnecessarily, as this can tempt muggers.
5. Hidden – If your mobile has Bluetooth, set your visibility to hidden. This will prevent the chances of someone hacking your phone using wireless technology.
Neil McHugh, Managing Director of www.rightmobilephone.co.uk, had the following to say;
“Millions of people in the UK now own a mobile phone, including 84% of all households, so there are many people at risk of mobile phone theft.
“Owning a mobile handset comes with a responsibility to keep the content held on them safe, so these tips should be kept in mind for anyone who is looking to avoid revealing confidential information to the wrong people.”
END
For further information on the survey or www.rightmobilephone.co.uk please contact Fran Pearce 01452 348211 franpearce@10yetis.co.uk
Notes to editors
Rightmobilephone.co.uk was launched in November 2007 to help consumers save time and money by providing a trusted comparison platform for customers to purchase from.
The site has become the UK's most comprehensive and user friendly mobile phone comparison engine, with over 350,000 + mobile phone offers combined with user friendly consumer reviews, ratings and video.
Users can review and compare over 800 handsets with images, specifications and video with unique users reviews, opinions and ratings provided by handset owners and compare over 2000 + pay as you go offers and tariffs from all major networks.
