In this world of information and identity theft it is no more a privilege to use a cool cell phone and brag about it too! In past, crooks used to require more physical ways to lay their hands on your hard earned money. But with the advancement of technology and the prevalence of electronic transactions, now it is just a matter of wrong steps (plethora of information being conveyed in private conversations being conducted publicly or retrieve the data stored in mobile phones) before you would find your money vanished from your a/c and you would have lost your identity too!

In light of all these facts and potential threats, it is imperative to take concrete defensive action safeguarding your personal information. It can be difficult to sacrifice convenience for safety, but it is a necessity in these electronic times. Remember, it only takes seconds for your personal information to be transmitted to a criminal network. And it takes an experienced cyber-criminal much less time to steal your identity, resources, and good name than it took you to establish them.

Use this list to help you protect your information in this cellular world:

1. Make sure you know the make and model of your phone, the phone number, the serial/IMEI number, the PIN number and the descriptive details of the phone including color, shape, size and identifying features. Taking a picture of your phone is helpful. Staple the picture to a sheet of paper with the details noted above. If your cell phone is ever stolen, the police will need this information to help with their investigation.

2. Contact the network with whom you have service as soon as you realize your cell phone has been stolen. Ask that they block your phone across all networks so service cannot be obtained with another provider.

3. Use the PIN or security lock code option available with your phone to lock your phone when it is not in use. This will keep your valuable personal information safe from a thief who gains access to your phone.

4. A limited number of phones have a remote lock capability. If your cell phone has that option, familiarize yourself with how to do it and set up your phone for it. The feature will allow you to lock your cell phone and your memory card.

5. Use an ultraviolet marker to place a security mark on your cell phone and battery. It is recommended that you use two numbers of significance to you. Do NOT use an account or PIN number. You can use your zip code, your house number, a lucky number.

6. Clear your text messages and calendar entries as soon as possible. Entries of significance or sentimental value can be forwarded to your home email and printed out or stored on your computer’s hard drive.

7. Never elect to have passwords saved on your device or to stay logged on to your accounts from your cellular phone. Though it may save you a few precious seconds, it can cause you significant harm which will require a substantial amount of the time you cannot afford to waste.

8. Allowing your browser history to be saved for lengthy periods of time can offer some useful information to a savvy thief. Make sure your settings are such that eliminate the history as quickly as allowed. Let your home computer be the place you store that type of information if you must.

9. Protect your friends and families from identity theft. Do not keep comprehensive contact information stored in your phone. Imagine the harm that could befall your loved ones if you were to have their names, birthdates, email addresses, and relationship to you saved for anyone to see.

10. When engaged in a conversation in public, do not readily reveal personal data. If it is required, save the conversation for a time when you are in private. If the phone cal cannot wait and you must provide this type of information only do so if you have access to a secure area which limits the potential for strangers to overhear.

11. Don’t leave your phone out when it isnt’ in use. No point in making a thief’s job easy, is there? Keep your cell phone away whenever possible.

12. Register your cell phone with The National Mobile Property Register. This will make the process of getting your phone returned to you easier for the police. Report your cell phone missing, lost, or stolen as soon as you notice it.

13. Do NOT leave your phone visible in the car when you leave it there. Half of all cell phone thefts occur in vehicles.

14. Do NOT open texts from unknown or unfamiliar sources. These could be malicious software waiting to steal your information or encouraging you to visit a particular website with the intent of retrieving certain information.

15. Report suspicious activity or issues with service immediately. Overage charges could be caused by malware texts or by someone gaining access to your service and using to attack other people.

16. Avoid using downloadable software unless it is from a trusted source or has been deemed acceptable by a trusted source.

17. Disable remote capabilities when they are not in use to limit the opportunity for information being retrieved in that manner.

18. Encrypt your information if you must keep it on your cell phone. Some devices offer the option to encrypt files or the software to do it.