# Vulnerability of having everything on your phone **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456 "2022-12-13T15:23:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/41 "2022-12-14T21:11:12Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > The odds of someone forcing you to use your phone to transfer them money is also practically zero. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/42 "2022-12-14T21:42:23Z")
MMM entry in the first monthly photo competition. > [@Monthly photo competition #1 - Dec 2022 - "Outdoors"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monthly-photo-competition-1-dec-2022-outdoors/975644/7): > > Yellow House on the Hill: [[Imgur] ](https://imgur.com/I041LVC) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/43 "2022-12-14T21:43:07Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > How often does this actually happen That is exactly my point. How often is it convenient to use your phone to send $38 to someone because you’re splitting a check versus how often you have to send somebody some money so they don’t shoot you? I’m sure there are people here who never split checks. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2022, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/44 "2022-12-14T21:48:14Z")
Plus transferring money to someone at gunpoint leaves a paper trail (or really an electronic one). Surely a criminal doesn’t want that? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/45 "2022-12-15T03:26:23Z")
> [@Crane](#): > > For a hundred bucks I got a flip phone that is excellent for communication. I don’t put any information of value on it. Now you’ve got me inspired… to carry a dummy flip phone in case I’m held up. “Sure, you want this? All it’s got is my kids’ phone numbers, no apps, no banking.” My grey hair and curmudgeonly attitude should sell them on my tech-ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/46 "2022-12-15T03:37:40Z")
I don’t use banking apps on my phone, for this reason, and because I don’t trust myself to not forget to not use it on public WiFi. It can be quite inconvenient, yes, but I feel like the peace of mind is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/47 "2022-12-15T04:47:35Z")
Yeah, I’m like you, I don’t like having banking apps on my phone. We get a monthly rent check from our tenants and my daughter asks why don’t I just take a picture of the check. Because if I had the app, I wouldn’t have a reason to leave the house to go to the bank. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/48 "2022-12-15T10:18:54Z")
> [@digs](#): > > > [@Crane](#): > > > > For a hundred bucks I got a flip phone that is excellent for communication. I don’t put any information of value on it. > > Now you’ve got me inspired… to carry a dummy flip phone in case I’m held up. “Sure, you want this? All it’s got is my kids’ phone numbers, no apps, no banking.” > > My grey hair and curmudgeonly attitude should sell them on my tech-ignorance. With my luck I’d never get held up. mmm ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/49 "2022-12-15T13:29:11Z")
How often do you replace that onion on your belt anyway? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/50 "2022-12-15T14:22:33Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Crane](#): > > For a hundred bucks I got a flip phone that is excellent for communication. I don’t put any information of value on it. I don’t need to make bank transfers while waiting at stop lights. My home computers provide sufficient convenience. The topic of the OP is this: > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > What steps can a person take to protect themselves against the compromise of their phone and yet still take advantage of the convenience of mobile technology? Telling them not to take advantage of the convenience of mobile technology is not helpful and is off topic for this thread. Note to everyone in the thread: Let’s not have any more discussions of this aspect of the topic. The intent of the OP is not to discuss whether or not one should use a phone for these sorts of things, but how to protect yourself if you do choose to use a phone for these sorts of things. If you want to discuss whether or not you should use a phone for this, take it to another thread. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > You are just threadshitting. Don’t junior mod. > [@bump](#): > > How often do you replace that onion on your belt anyway Attack the post, not the poster. Even if the entire hijack wasn’t off-topic, this isn’t the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/51 "2022-12-15T14:58:35Z")
I had to get on my husband’s case - he doesn’t password protect his phone, and he used to keep all manner of data in his contacts list (like my SSN and such.) He still doesn’t lock his phone, but all the personal data is gone. I’m pretty sure none of my financial links are on my phone - as if I want to do anything on that tiny screen! I’m not sure how vulnerable it is having FB, the Dope, and my email shortcuts on the phone - but I do have a PIN to unlock it, FWIW. And I’m not anti-technology. I do wonder what a really tech-savvy person, with or without criminal intent, could get from my phone. That is unnerving. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/52 "2022-12-15T15:56:25Z")
Thanks for all the input. I do not consider this closed so welcome further contributions. I’ll just add that statistically and practically this just may not be a real problem. But it’s a little unnerving to hear about this type of incident, even if it was a friend-of-a-friend. I keep my phone locked which is required with the banking apps I have. It unlocks with a pattern, face recognition, or fingerprint. (Samsung Galaxy S20, Android 12) I don’t have much worry about having the phone stolen; I assume that it would take NSA-level knowledge to get into a locked phone. I am more concerned about what is the potential loss if you have a gun at your head. Even with a debit card, an ATM will limit how much cash you can take out. On your phone banking apps it’s basically wide open. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/53 "2022-12-15T16:03:28Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > On your phone banking apps it’s basically wide open. Nah. They’re not going to be doing a wire transfer here. They’re going to want use to use Venmo/Zelle/Cashapp/etc. which all have limits. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/54 "2022-12-15T16:06:58Z")
But using these apps requires the criminal to provide a bank account, phone number or email address to which to send the money. That sounds like the sort of electronic trail that the police could use to track them down. On the other hand, forcing you to go to an ATM and withdraw cash leaves no trail. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/55 "2022-12-15T16:46:13Z")
Are there any apps or systems that let you have two passwords or pins? One is the password that lets you use your phone to its full functionality, the other being a password that would just open it up enough to show that you “don’t” have any banking apps or anything like that on your phone? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/56 "2022-12-15T17:11:11Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > Are there any apps or systems that let you have two passwords or pins? Like a “duress code?” > **[Duress code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duress_code)** > > A duress code is a covert distress signal used by an individual who is being coerced by one or more hostile persons. It is used to warn others that they are being forced to do something against their will. Typically, the warning is given via some innocuous signal embedded in normal communication, such as a code-word or phrase spoken during conversation to alert other personnel. Alternatively, the signal may be incorporated into the authentication process itself, typically in the form of a panic p... Android 9 and later has a “lockdown mode” which can be quickly triggered to disable convenience unlock methods like face or fingerprint recognition, but a bad guy can still coerce you to unlock the phone with your PIN or password. There appear to be third-party duress or panic apps but I don’t think they are standardized in any fashion so I don’t know what they do. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/57 "2022-12-15T17:43:07Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > and because I don’t trust myself to not forget to not use it on public WiFi. I use my banking app on public wifi. The bank doesn’t let anyone in without two level authentication, so I’m not too worried. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/58 "2022-12-15T17:49:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > On the other hand, forcing you to go to an ATM and withdraw cash leaves no trail. It does get the perp on camera, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/59 "2022-12-15T20:54:02Z")
Only if they’re careless about where they stand while you’re at the ATM. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456/60 "2022-12-15T21:12:57Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Now you’ve got me inspired… to carry a dummy flip phone in case I’m held up. “Sure, you want this? All it’s got is my kids’ phone numbers, no apps, no banking.” Also, pack it with C4. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vulnerability-of-having-everything-on-your-phone/976456.md?page=4)