Article
Your data is worth a lot
to thieves and fraudsters, therefore you should be careful with the sources
these thieves and fraudsters can use to access these data. It is time to get
rid of the notion that using a password for your devices means you have
something to hide. This will help prevent sensitive data like banking and
account details, social security details, corporate email information etc. From
being unnecessarily compromised.
Jumia Travel shares 5
important reasons you should password your devices.
To
avoid pocket dialing
Pocket dialing, especially
for smartphones and even basic phones, can be humorous or annoying, but most
annoyingly because your airtime is being wasted without your knowledge. Here, a
preloaded phone number can be dialed when a person has a phone in the rear
pocket and sits on it, or if the phone gets ‘jostled’ in a purse or briefcase.
This occurrence will be reduced, if not eliminated, if your device was locked
with a passcode.
To
protect your private information
Symantec, a leading
security software maker, conducted an experiment to encourage smartphone users
to protect their private information. In the experiment, a phone was loaded
with fake password, banking information, emails and photos, and a tracking
software was installed on it to monitor what people will do with the phone when
found. At the end of the experiment, the result showed 72 per cent looked
through photos, 57 per cent checked out saved passwords and 43 per cent
accessed the phone's online banking app.
To
prevent unwanted prying into your business
This goes without saying.
Nosy friends, partners or family members who want to know about ‘every and
anything’ you are doing, will have a field day with your ‘password –
unprotected’ device. To protect your privacy and avoid unbelievably
embarrassing and awkward scenarios, it’s best to password your device and
encourage these friends, partners or family members to simply ask you questions
about whatever they want to know.
To
monitor others’ use of your device
This is important
especially if you have children that like to play with your devices. In the
process of moving from one game app to another, children can keep your device
running without rest till your battery runs down, regardless of the power
situation. Also, without a password, a child can easily pick up your device and
while looking for their favourite app, mistakenly rearrange, hide or delete
sensitive information on your phone.
In
case of theft
Theft is a sudden and
unexpected occurrence. You don’t exactly see it coming. In the case of the
theft of your device, it will be better for you if there is a security lock on
your device. This is because it gives
you some time to inform your bank and other relevant institutions about the
theft, before the thief is able to use personal data gotten from your device(s)
against you. For some devices like the iPhone, once your device is stolen and
it’s password-protected, it’s easier to remotely lock and wipe it.
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