Many people lose their smartphones or have them stolen, but when that happens, few say they're concerned about the possibility of
identity theft.
In all, this type of crime was only the fourth-largest concern among consumers when they have their phones lost or stolen, according to a new survey from
GFI Software. Buying a new phone to replace the old one, piecing together their contact lists and losing photos all ranked as larger concerns.
Further, 35 percent of those polled said they think their personal data is easy to replace or simply does not pose a security threat if accessed, the report said. Another one-third believe their service provider or phone manufacturer should be ultimately responsible for protecting their personal data.
"[T]here is still a profound lack of understanding among consumers of all ages about the value of the personal data stored on these devices, as well as confusion over who is responsible for securing them," said Mark Patton, general manager, Security Business Unit at GFI Software.
Ondrej Krehel, chief information security officer for Identity Theft 911, has a blog about how to properly protect sensitive data on smartphones, computers and other devices.
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