Have You Considered What You’re Really Losing When You Lose Your Phone?
Losing a smartphone can be a problem for anyone. For the modern business, it can really cause issues. Mobile devices are notorious for housing a lot of personal information, which makes them extraordinarily dangerous to lose track of. How much is at stake with mobile devices going missing; and, what kind of information is stored on these devices that makes them so dangerous to misplace?
To get started, let’s think about the information that’s being put at risk. Here is a list of information that could possibly be stolen from mobile devices–a surprising amount of data for most users, to say the least.
- Payment information: The applications on your device could potentially be storing credit card numbers or bank routing numbers, which could become problematic if stolen. Hackers could make off with all of your precious, hard-earned cash.
- Passwords and usernames: If you use your device’s web browser, it’s likely that you have passwords and usernames saved on it–even if it’s been done accidentally. These usernames and passwords can be stolen from the device, or used on the device by whoever is accessing it.
- Application data: There are a lot of applications installed on your business’ devices, and these applications store lots of information that a hacker could have a field day with. Even if applications are locked behind a login screen, these accounts can be infiltrated if the login credentials are stored on the device
- Cloud storage: Access to cloud storage is one of the best things about mobile devices, but if you lose one, you’ll be compromising any sensitive data that your account has access to. Any information that’s shared with your device will be accessible by whoever finds your misplaced device.
- Social media accounts: If you have social media applications on your device, it’s likely that you have the password and username saved to the device. This means that anyone who finds your device will have access to your social media accounts, ready to use for whatever vile purposes they want.
- Email: You’d be surprised by how much information you keep hidden in your email inbox. Think what would happen if any of your countless messages was accessed by a hacker who has found your smartphone. Now THAT’s frightening!
- Contacts: You might not think the people you associate yourself with are valuable targets for hackers, but they certainly are. Contact lists for both business and personal use hold a lot of value, as it essentially becomes a list of potential targets to hit with phishing scams.
Keeping all of this in mind is of the utmost importance, especially if you want to make sure your mobile devices don’t become a liability in the event of a loss scenario. To learn more about how you can secure your business’ devices, reach out to us at (317) 705-0333.
Tip of the Week: If You Prefer Windows 8’s Start Menu, You’re In Luck!
When Windows 8 launched, users of the operating system were all up in arms because they deviated from the Start menu that we know and love, in favor of a tiled menu screen. While many people went out and found the extension that turned tiles into the classic Start menu, others got used to working with the tile menu. With the release of Windows 10, the Start menu was back as the primary interface. If you’re one of those who adapted and enjoyed the tile menu of Windows 8, we’ve got good news: The tile menu is available on Windows 10!
To begin, access your PC settings in one of a couple of ways. The first method is to access the Start menu and select Settings. It’s the icon that looks like a gear – second from the bottom on the list of icons above the Start menu. Also, you can just press Windows key and the I key for a keyboard shortcut. Next, you’ll want to access Personalize > Start. Then scroll down until you see the option ‘Use Start full screen’. Click that to ‘On’.
Okay, so it might not be exactly the same as the Windows 8 home screen but it does have many similar features and functions. There is access to your favorite applications and new menus. Also, for those who have tablets that run the Windows 10 OS, tiles can be a bit easier to handle when reduced in size. To change the size of the Start menu without going to the full size, open your Start menu and click on the edge. Click and drag your Start menu’s edge to resize the menu and add or subtract new tiles according to your own preferences.
Especially when your business relies on computers for daily operations, customizing them to your preferences can boost productivity, not to mention make your work day a bit more pleasant. Which version of Windows does your business use? Are you a fan of the traditional Start menu? Or do you like the newer tile form? Let us know!