10 Things You Should Never Keep on Your Phone

In a world where people spend more and more time on their phones, keeping your personal information and data secure has never been more critical.

With phone theft on the rise and hackers now targeting cell phone users, taking steps to protect yourself from the massive financial mistake of having your data stolen will help ensure you're protected in the long run. That starts with keeping certain information off your device entirely.

Here are 10 things you should never keep on your smartphone.

Perhaps it seems easier to keep a notes file on your phone with your passwords for convenience, but by doing so, you're giving thieves and scammers easy access to important information that could compromise your finances.

Whether they outright steal your phone or hack into it, you don't want anyone to have immediate access to your accounts. It's best to memorize your passwords, keep a paper list of passwords in a secure location, or download a reputable password manager like LastPass.

This is another mistake that gives criminals easy access to your accounts. If you have photos on your phone that contain credit or debit card numbers, thieves will have easy access to them and can spend at will.

Instead, keep secure digital versions of your cards in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay wallet. Those apps offer encryption and are more secure against hacking.

From driver's licenses to passports, any personal documents should be kept either in your physical wallet or at home. 

Having photos on your phone means your information can easily be compromised, and it's one that criminals will exploit to impersonate you and steal your identity.

It can be tempting to use a work device to store personal information under the guise of practicality, but it's a good practice to keep the two completely separate. 

Exposing your personal data will give anyone in your company potential access to it, which poses a big security risk. All it takes is one disgruntled employee to scrape your personal data and then sell it.

Your Social Security number is the most important number in your life, so it's best to memorize it rather than keep any photos of it in your camera roll or store it on your phone in any form.

All it takes is for someone to obtain your Social Security number to begin opening accounts in your name and posing as you. No one wants to become a victim of identity theft.

Account numbers, routing numbers, and other information that can be linked back to your bank account should stay within your encrypted banking apps. Leaving that information in a notes app or a text message gives thieves an easy way to access your accounts and steal your hard-earned money.

From there, it won't take them much time to drain all of your cash and investments. If you want to be extra careful, it's a good idea to avoid having banking and investment apps on your phone; instead, leave those logins on a secure home computer.

It's also a good practice to delete any two-factor authentication codes or password reset links you might get via text or email. Leaving those on your phone could give hackers all they need to slip into your bank accounts.

You should avoid downloading a phone app from an unknown source. For an app to be available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, it must undergo a series of steps to ensure its safety.

Installing a random third-party app could give hackers easy access to your phone, and therefore, sensitive data such as banking information, login credentials, payment information, and more. Steer clear of anything that directs you to a sketchy site for downloading.

Public Wi-Fi networks are vulnerable to data theft, so it's best to keep that setting turned off on your phone and avoid automatically connecting to public networks.

It's possible for hackers to spoof network names and set up fake free wifi networks, which could give them access to everything from banking logins to digital wallet activity to saved card info.

If you need to use one, consider using a VPN. If you absolutely need to use the network, try to avoid logging into any apps.

Any stored tax filings, such as W-2s and 1099s, make you an easy target for financial fraud or identity theft if you have copies on your phone.

While it might seem convenient at first, tax documents should be stored at your home or on a secure home computer for online tax filing. If you need to bring the documents with you, make physical copies, then shred them afterwards.

Your phone poses the greatest security risk if you leave sensitive information on it. Keeping a large amount of personal data on your device exposes you to identity theft, and it's becoming increasingly common for thieves to target phones.

For example, according to a recent report by AARP, Americans lost $43 billion to identity fraud in 2023. Don't let criminals destroy your financial fitness and steal your personal information. Instead, keep your secure financial information in the safety of your home.