Privacy Threat to Smartphone Users

Many people are using smart phones today and yes it is true that these phones have been very beneficial to humans more than the ordinary call and text functions. These smart phones have enabled people to send and read email and other digital messages, take photographs and do other important things with the phone. However, there is abuzz of rumors about how the smart phones are posing privacy threats.

Recent researches have established that there is a “keystroke logger” software program from a software company known as Carrier IQ that runs in the background of most if not all smart phones. This software records personal information of the phone owners such as the dialed numbers, messages exchanged and various other details without the user’s knowledge. This is a security threat because personal information is supposed to be private but this software records everything. Who knows who is accessing this data and for what reasons. Another risk is the ability to trace someone using the maps on smartphones, which are installed in the smart phones. Most of these phones can be traced using tracking software via GPS technology. Anyone with access to this technology can track and can easily pinpoint it on a map.

In some cases, it has been argued that it is the security agencies that are spying on smart phone users for several reasons. With the increase of terrorist attacks and related crimes, security agencies use such information to track enemies. However, it is the right of every citizen to have privacy on his or her phone. Correct documentation including court order should be provided before obtaining such details. It is therefore important to deactivate this software if you can and avoid storing important information in the phones.