Don't share your devices

Be careful when lending your personal devices, be it a cell phone, computer, tablet, or other. Do not share them with people you don't know or trust, as they may have bad intentions, such as invading your privacy by accessing your emails, messaging conversations, and photo galleries. They can also carry out bank transactions in banking, credit card, or shopping applications, even using the contactless payment mechanism.

If you really need to allow someone else to use one of your electronic devices, set up and use the security features available for these situations.

You can, for example, pin the application that the person is going to use to the screen. In a situation where someone asks you for your phone to watch a YouTube video, you can leave that app fixed on the screen. To exit the app you need to enter a password or fingerprint recognition. On iOS systems this feature is called “Guided Access.” On Android systems you can find it as “Screen pinning”, “Apps pinning”, “Mark windows,” varying by manufacturer.

Some Android versions allow you to create different user profiles or even use “Guest Mode” where various features are available, but the accounts and data are isolated.

There are also applications that allow you to hide other important apps, and to enable extra authentication (password, fingerprint recognition, default) to access those apps that require more security. For example, banking, social media, and messaging apps.

Be extra careful if you have enabled contactless payments on your device. Also watch out for e-commerce apps and others where you already have a card or other means of payment registered. In some cases, a few clicks and no authentication are required to make a transaction. In these situations, it’s best not to lend your device at all.

Topic suggested by Rodrigo Cardoso Silva

Video description

In the first scene, a woman sitting in a coffee shop gets up after stranger asks to borrow her cell phone, and above is the phrase “Did someone borrow your cell phone?” The woman is suspicious and hesitates, doesn’t hand over her phone, and above is the phrase “Careful! They may have bad intentions.”

In the second scene we see a closeup of the stranger, and a thought balloon appears showing his bad intentions: to use the victim's cell phone to make a contactless payment without her consent.

In the third scene, the woman points to the phrase “Don't share your devices with stranger” showing she disapproves as she does the thumbs down sign. On her right side, examples of devices such as a tablet, cell phone, and laptop are shown.

In the fourth scene, the woman is pensive and above her appears the phrase “Your cell phone is also your wallet!” and, inside a thought balloon is a cell phone being compared to a wallet.