Few things invoke instant panic like a missing smartphone or laptop. These devices hold a good part of our lives. This includes files, personal financials, apps, passwords, pictures, videos, and so much more.
The information they hold is more personal than even that which is in your wallet. It’s because of all your digital footprints. This makes a lost or stolen device a cause for alarm.
It’s often not the device that is the biggest concern. It’s the data onthe device and access the device has to cloud accounts and websites. The thought of that being in the hands of a criminal is quite scary.
There are approximately 70 million lost smartphones every year. The owners only recover about 7% of them. Workplace theft is all too common. The office is where 52% of stolen devices go missing.
If it’s a work laptop or smartphone that goes missing, even worse. This can mean the company is subject to a data privacy violation. It could also suffer a ransomware attack originating from that stolen device.
In 2020, Lifespan Health System paid a $1,040,000 HIPAA fine. This was due to an unencrypted stolen laptop breach.
The Minutes After the Loss of Your Device Are Critical
The things you do in the minutes after missing a device are critical. This is the case whether it’s a personal or business device. The faster you act, the less chance there is for exposure of sensitive data.
What Types of Information Does Your Device Hold?
When a criminal gets their hands on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, they have access to a treasure trove. This includes:
- Documents
- Photos & videos
- Access to any logged-in app accounts on the device
- Passwords stored in a browser
- Cloud storage access through a syncing account
- Emails
- Text messages
- Multi-factor authentication prompts that come via SMS
- And more
