In a Boston 25 News segment, anchor Vanessa Welch asks cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano for practical steps to safeguard personal data after a surge in snatch-and-grab cell phone thefts that have led to victims losing bank information. Siciliano emphasizes the importance of situational awareness—maintaining a 50‑to‑100‑foot awareness of one’s surroundings while using a phone—to detect and deter potential thieves. He advises that when a threat is perceived, individuals should immediately secure their device, such as locking it, placing it in a pocket, or seeking help, as a first line of defense before employing additional security measures.
Alright, a few weeks ago we told you about a cell phone alert from Boston Police. Crooks are taking cell phones right out of people's hands and then stealing their bank information. The story got a lot of interest. More than 30,000 people viewed it on our website. So we wanted to get some more insight on how you can keep your cell phone and all your personal information safe. Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano shared his number one tip with Boston 25 News anchor Vanessa Welch.
I want to ask you specifically what else we can do to protect our personal data when using our phones in public. You helped us understand unpacked this a little bit for our viewers last week when Boston police reported that people were having their cell phones stolen and then losing thousands of dollars. I mean, this is a real crime and it's happening in our city.
Snatch and grabs are a real thing, you know? And despite all the data security things you're supposed to be doing, situational awareness, you know, pay attention to what's going on around the perimeter of your body. Most of us, when it comes to our mobile phones, you know, we're texting, we're not paying attention, we're oblivious to our surroundings. Situational awareness is knowing what's going on around the perimeter of your body, 50 to 100 feet at all times. If anybody's paying unwanted attention to you, unwanted attention, you'll know it as it's happening and you can lock down your mobile phone, put in your pocket, pay attention, scream for help, whatever you have to do.
Siciliano has some other tips to keep your cell phone information secure. Make sure your phone is password protected. If it's not and it gets stolen, the bad guys have access to everything. Always log out of apps, especially financial and banking apps. Make sure your phone's backed up on the cloud so you can retrieve data. And if your phone is stolen, immediately change all the passwords connected to that device.
