The Ministry of Internal Affairs warned about the dangers of storing personal data in smartphones

Storing photographs of documents, bank details, passwords and snapshots on a smartphone can lead to leakage of personal data and financial losses. This is stated in the recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which RIA Novosti reviewed.

The department warned that attackers could use copies of the passport, SNILS, Taxpayer Identification Number and driver’s license stored on the phone. Criminals can use the information they receive to hack accounts, create fake profiles, and other fraudulent activities. To reduce risks, law enforcement officials advise transferring electronic copies of documents to secure cloud storage with two-factor authentication.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs recommends paying special attention to personal photographs of an intimate nature. If leaked, such materials can become a tool for blackmail and extortion. Another common mistake is saving passwords for email, social networks, instant messengers and banking applications in notes or correspondence with yourself. If the smartphone ends up in the hands of strangers, this information can allow access to several important services at once.

In addition, law enforcement officers warn against saving bank card numbers, PIN codes and addresses in correspondence. Bank notifications about transfers, receipts of funds and account balances also pose a potential threat. Criminals are able to gain insight into a person's income and financial habits.

Some recommendations concern the phone book. Users are encouraged to delete irrelevant contacts, create secure backups of important numbers, and not indicate additional personal information in subscriber cards.