How well do you protect the data stored on your smartphone?

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Your smartphone may not be smart enough to keep your data and personal information out of other people’s hands.

Mobile devices can divulge an enormous amount to prying eyes, from contacts to emails to information stored in financial apps.

“Privacy and data protection online are two very strong emerging issues right now. There are a few things that users need to keep in mind with their mobile device,” says Michael Kaiser, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance in the US.

The NCSA is the organization behind StaySafeOnline.org, which has taken the lead in encouraging people to keep cyberspace secure on Data Privacy Day, which is observed in Canada, the US, and many other countries every January 28th.

“Your smartphone contains an enormous amount of data so protecting it is critical,” Kaiser tells News1130. “But some of the data that’s on there may not be so obvious.”

“For example, many of the apps they might be using could include things like tracking location or other kinds of things that you’re interacting with as you take your mobile phone and walk around the world. People need to be aware of that very strongly to understand how to control their privacy on their devices.”

Reading the descriptions of apps before downloading is important, along with understanding how your phone is transmitting data.

“They might walk around with their Wi-Fi turned on or their Bluetooth turned on and they may not be aware that their device is connecting to other networks as they’re walking around,” he explains.

Kaiser says improving your privacy and data protection can be as easy as turning off location services, locking your device with a passcode, and making sure software is up to date.

The organizations behind Data Privacy Day are reminding you that computers, smartphones, and even gaming systems and other web-enabled devices all need protection from viruses and malware.