Mobile devices may be small, but data risks are enormous

The biggest security problems associated with mobile devices are their portability and data capacity, an expert says.

“We take it out of our pocket, set it down and look away,” said Sarah Stephens, San Francisco-based assistant vp with Aon Risk Solutions, a unit of Aon Corp.

As their capacity to store data grows, sensitive information can be at risk in a device that easily can be stolen or misplaced, Ms. Stephens told attendees last month at the International Risk Management Institute Inc.'s first Cyber & Privacy Risk Conference.

“Often, we don't even have passwords protecting our phones unless it's mandated by corporate policies,” she said. Furthermore, now that cell phones and other mobile devices have high-resolution cameras, gyroscopes and GPS technology, it sets up privacy and security risks, she said.

Mobile devices also can provide a portal for criminals to hack into personal or corporate information. “We're seeing a huge shift in cyber crime that's targeted towards mobile devices,” Ms. Stephens said.

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Source: businessinsurance.com
By: Judy Greenwald