I know we talk a lot about:
- backing up your computer data that may hold sensitive PDFs
- adding different passwords for different things
- changing passwords ever so often
- securing your online presence
.. but we haven’t touched on securing OTHER electronics that are seemingly harmless in terms of storing data.
The two I want to touch on: Cellphones & GPS devices.
Cellphones
Those of you with iPhones, Palm Pres and Blackberries may have an added security feature to enter a password before accessing the info.
But for those of you who don’t have a high tech cellphone this is particularly relevant to you.
1. Don’t label people nicknames like “Parents”, “Husband”.
Just use their real name as the contact name.
2. If you get a text from someone or you want to send a text, avoid texting sensitive information.
If you need to give an email address, a bank account number, or whatever else to a loved one, then call them and verify it is truly them who is asking via text.
Make it a family habit.
GPS Devices
How many of you really put a PIN number on your GPS device?
I found it annoying, so I generally leave it off, but then I realized that while it isn’t the best idea, it is the most convenient for me, but I’d have to take extra precautions.
Don’t give them an easy way to find out where you live
For your home address, put it at a public location or store NEAR to your home that is recognizable.
Even worse, is that if they’ve stolen your car AND your GPS device (the likelihood of that? rare, but still possible), they could use your GPS device to get there, and use your garage door opener to get in.
Ouch.
Don’t give them an easy way to rob your loved ones either
Set their addresses to public locations close to where they live.
If you are terrible at memorizing addresses (I am), then consider uploading a picture to your GPS device that is pertinent to you & that person.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a picture of the actual person, but perhaps something that reminds you of them.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Any other devices we should be careful about?
- In case of emergency….
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Little House
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 9:39 AM:
These are good points. A few years back my husband lost his cell phone and he had our bank account numbers stored in them! We not only had to go through the hassle of getting him a new phone, but worse, close and reopen new bank accounts. That was a complete drag!
Little House´s last blog ..The 10% Rule
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers)
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 11:35 AM:
Great advice!
Vanessa (Last Night’s Leftovers)´s last blog ..Food Snobbery Gone Too Far?
Jennifer
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 12:44 PM:
These are great tips.
I try to be careful when I text. Who knows who can access it or where it goes when it vanishes into thin air. Creepy!
Jennifer´s last blog .."That’s right, Annabella. Your mother’s a whore."
J
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 1:01 PM:
I can see your point with the cell phones, but at the same time I think it is important for people to have an entry labeled “Emergency” with the phone number of their emergency contact, just in case something happens.
FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 3:11 PM:
@J: that’s a good point. Maybe a separate entry for that?
Liam
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 6:31 PM:
your advise is a lot easier to read than to follow. I still do some dumb things with my phone.
Liam´s last blog ..
Financial Samurai
on Oct 28th, 2009
@ 8:03 PM:
Hi FB! Good reminder. We don’t do it enough until we lose the darn things! Backing up your blog should also be at least a weekly thing if not more.
Thankfully, my contact list from my blackberry is syched with my outlook on my computer.
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..You’re Rejected! How I Use Rejection To Motivate Me Every Single Day