Comms: keep you hand on your phone
According to police chiefs in Paris, one of the most dangerous things you can do is take your phone out of your bag or pocket. It's not that little old ladies hit you with their umbrellas for disturbing their peace nor grumpy old men turn and cough noisily when you are trying to speak seductively into the mouthpiece. No, it's that more than 70% of thefts on the Paris Metro are snatch and dash thefts of phones.
Most Recent - This Section
Comms: new mobile app aims to deliver "SuperHD" VOIP for mobiles in JapanComms: Indian mobile sector in disarray
Comms: Mobile "apps" to have stronger privacy controls
Comms: the use and abuse of mobiles in disorder
Comms: a new use for a biscuit tin
Most Recent - Whole Site
The Risk Professional: Green Capital Consulting GroupLegal Professional: Baker Mac lawyer guilty of money laundering and securities fraud
Sales and Marketing: shooting oneself in the foot
Business Crime: Dear Mrs Kate Dave: Yes, please. Send it now.
The Risk Professional: Is your data secure enough for the UK's ICO?
Most Recent - BankingInsuranceSecurities.Com
Sanctions: USA PATRIOT Act designation 20120522Sanctions: OFAC Update 20120515
Sanctions: OFAC update 20120508
Sanctions: OFAC Update 20120517
Sanctions: OFAC Update 20120517 - 2
The problem has reached such serious proportions that more than three quarters of all assaults on the Metro are telephone thieves. iPhones are said to be the most popular target but that may be for the primary reason that other manufacturers are only just getting up to speed with similar devices.
It's not just using the phone for calling that attracts attention - arguably, that would be less likely to draw attention to its user than using the "smart features."
It's playing games, watching videos, handling e-mails that make the fact that the user has a flashy piece of kit obvious.
And whilst many countries, including neighbouring Britain, have systems that allow a stolen phone to be blocked, France doesn't use it. Also, there are dozens of free and paid-for downloads for both iPhone and Android that allow the owner to lock his phone and even to trace it without the thief knowing its happening.
But few people have them installed despite reports of their success.
The police like them, like they like similar applications installed on laptops. They can use real-time tracking to nab the thieves in possession of a device that they thought was unidentifiable. It's a quick, cheap and easy collar.
But for users of flashy phones in Paris, the best security at present appears to be to leave it in your pocket or on the sideboard at home.
Download PDF version of this page
