Cell Phones and Laptops

Cell phones are proving to be the ultimate convenience, not only for communication but also for routine transactions enabled by RFID. Håkan Djuphammar, Vice President of Systems Architecture at Ericsson, believes RFID technology will be in all mobile phones produced starting in 2010. (ZDNet.com) This would allow phones to be used as everything from house keys to concert tickets to boarding passes for air travel. It also means that companies will be able to see if your phone is in the same place as a credit card transaction, potentially limiting fraudulent purchases, but also allowing for widespread tracking of consumers and their habits. At best this is information companies can sell, and at worst it is another way you can be tracked.

Our penchant for traveling with smartphones and laptops also means that we often carry around sensitive information that is easily accessible to thieves. People tend to put their personal data such as account numbers on these devices, which is clearly a dangerous way to travel.

"Always protect your personal data with passwords and encryption as much as possible," says James Linkin, principal and founder of Cosmopolitan Technology Management Corporation. "For example, the iPhone has a password protection feature that will wipe the phone after ten failed sign-on attempts. Features like that are a good start, and many other smartphones have similar features." If you do lose your phone, call your provider and ask them if they can wipe it clean.

Lastly, don't forget that if you leave the country, your laptop or smartphone is subject to search, even seizure when you return. If you have sensitive information, especially if it is encrypted, be prepared to show Customs and Immigration officers all your data. "If you even suspect there is data on your laptop that could subject you to civil or criminal penalties, such as copyright-infringing movies or music or, heaven forbid, pornography (in many countries a big no no), make sure you search for it and get rid of any trace  before you travel. The authorities are unlikely to be understanding," says Linkin.