(PRWEB UK) 30 November 2011
Many of Britains 11 million smartphone users are playing fast and loose with their work and private information, according to new research.
Over 40 per cent of the population never back up their device, risking the permanent loss of photos, videos, texts and work information.
Many are also storing sensitive financial information on their smartphones, with five per cent saving bank details there, four per cent with online banking logins, three per cent with credit card details and three per cent with banking PINs.
Jason Lloyd, from leading online smartphone retailer Dialaphone which commissioned the research, said backing up a Smartphone at least monthly and making sure it is password protected are as vital as locking your front door at night.
He said: People really need to get into good habits with smartphones.
Losing your valuable handset is bad enough, but it can be particularly traumatic if your finances are also suddenly up for grabs and your cherished photos are gone forever.
Backing up and securing the information on your smartphone has never been easier for example those who have bought the new iPhone 4s from Apple, or who have updated their existing iPhone to the new operating system iOS5 only need to activate wireless syncing and their phone does the rest every time it is within wifi range of your computer and plugged into power. So just a few moments taken now can save a lot of anguish in the future.
According to Dial-a-Phones research, six per cent of smartphone users were most concerned about others seeing their racy photos or videos if their phone was lost or stolen.
Londoners were doubly worried, with 12 per cent (or around one in eight) fearing intimate videos or photos being seen by others. This contrasted greatly with those in North West England, where only two per cent had raunchy photos or videos to be worried about.
A consistent one in six people across the nation were most concerned about others reading their intimate texts.
Of those who do back up their smartphone, two in three do so on their computers, while a quarter use a memory card.
A smartphone isnt the best place to permanently keep your racy photos and videos, said Mr Lloyd.
Transferring them to your computer and then deleting them off your smartphone is a wise course of action.
Almost 40 per cent of smartphone users would be bothered about the loss of sentimental photos or videos and a similar number of people would worry about others having access to their contacts.
A quarter of those who do not back up their mobile said they didnt know how to and one in five didnt know they could, while 19 per cent said they never seem to get around to it and 18 per cent cant be bothered.
Mr Lloyd said: Backing up your smartphone is simple and essential, and the latest phones and operating systems have ensured this process is simple, secure and straightforward.
In the time it takes you to imagine exactly what you could lose, start to panic and break into a sweat, you could have backed up your phone.
ENDS
Back-up and security TIPS for Smartphone users:
iPhone users
Backing up:
Connect your iPhone to your computer, download and install the latest operating system (iOS 5*). While the phone is linked to your computer, open itunes and click onto your device to show its settings. On the main summary page, in the options section, check that the boxes for Open iTunes when this iPhone is connected and Sync with this iPhone over wifi are ticked (if not, tick them then click apply). Your iPhone will then sync automatically when it is plugged into power and within wifi range of your computer.
Security:
On your iPhone go to settings, then general. Scroll down to and select passcode lock, then select turn passcode on, enter a passcode, then re-enter it and your phone is now code protected. You can also select whether you have a simple four-digit passcode or a more complicated and potentially more secure code by switching the simple passcode bar on and off. For even more safety you can select the option for the phone to erase all its data if an incorrect passcode is entered 10 times. Similar to Windows phone apple in there update to ios5 offer use of iCloud which gives find my phone and remote wipe features if handset is stolen.
Android users
Backing up:
Go to relevant manufacturers site (Sony/Samsung/HTC etc) Download the Pc companion software. Open the software connect phone through Micro USB lead. Select Back up Handset.
Security:
Press the options toggle on the home screen, Select settings. Scroll to Location and Security and select. Select Set-up Screen lock this will give the user the option to set up a pattern, pin or password. With the New Galaxy Nexus the new OS 4.0 Gives the user the extra unique ability to unlock the phone through face recognition and the forward facing camera.
BlackBerry users
Backing up:
The handset with out issue will be able to save your email accounts you register on the blackberry servers so anytime you need you resign in and email accounts will be pulled through to new phone. BBM contacts can be backed up to an email account or micro SD card in the handset. Contacts are synced through windows contacts or backed up to the sim card. (each of these has to done individually)
Security:
Select Blackberry key and open the Tray. Select Options then security. You are then able to set up a password to access the handset. Input the password wrong ten times and the handset will wipe all data from the phone.
Windows Phone users
Backing up:
Go to the Microsoft website and download the Zune Software. Once installed will give the user the back-up option every time handset is connected.
Security:
Select the right facing arrow on the home screen. Select Lockscreen, you will have option to setup a 4 digit pin number. The Zune software offers a find my phone which will locate the last place your handset had signal on Google maps to you can potentially reclaim the phone. Also offers a remote wipe of the handset if stolen.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
About Dial-a-Phone
Dial-a-Phone is an online-only retailer of mobile phones, especially smart phones, to the public. The company aims to be the UK’s No 1 direct supplier of mobile phones through offering customers the very best in mobile phone deals and value for money.
Dial-a-Phone was established in 1995 and was acquired by the 4u Group in 2008. Due to the fact it is ‘powered by 4u Group’ the company is able to offer customers convenience and great savings along with excellent customer service, both over the phone and through its website.
The company works with all the major networks and phone manufacturers and offer a huge range of the latest contract and pay-as-you-go mobile phones.
Dialaphone’s website, which is found at http://www.dialaphone.co.uk is now one of the most visited mobile phone websites in the country, and the brand has supplied mobile phones on monthly contracts to over three million customers, and since the website launched in 2000, over one million customers have placed their order online.
About the Research
Opinium Research surveyed 1,011 Smartphone users from 10 to 12 August 2011
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