Mountains of Mobiles Left in the Back of New York Cabs
Research shows that almost 31,544 mobile phones have been left in New York Yellow Cabs in the last six months
DALLAS, Sept 16, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --CREDANT Technologies, the market leaderin mobile data protection solutions, today announced survey results thatindicate passengers in New York's Yellow Taxicabs have left behind astaggering 31,544 mobile phones (that's over 2 per taxi) and 2,752 otherhandheld devices such as laptops, iPods and memory sticks over the last sixmonths.
The survey was carried out at the same time in both London and New Yorkand highlights that New Yorkers and Londoners are both as work-obsessed as oneanother. Cab drivers reported that passengers spend almost half their time(44%) catching up on work, either by being on the phone or email.Unfortunately too many of these mobile devices are left behind in the backseat of the cab. The survey in New York polled 300 licensed yellow cab driversto gauge the frequency and ease with which mobile devices are left behind andto highlight the issue that encryption is one of the preferred forms ofprotection to prevent unauthorized users from accessing critical data at anypoint.
"We've become too complacent about losing personal information. This is awarning to the business community and individuals to be vigilant whentravelling with mobile devices especially as more people are using the latestrange of "must have" mobile smartphones to store large amounts of sensitivepersonal and business information," stated Michael Callahan, Chief MarketingOfficer at CREDANT Technologies.
"Many of these devices now have the capacity to store as much as 10,000Word documents, 11,000 pictures, 500,000 contact details or an amazing 1.1million emails, making them an obvious target for identity theft criminals andhackers who can steal this information and assume the identity of the userboth in their personal or business life."
Nearly two-thirds of cab drivers reported that mobile phone owners werereunited with devices found at the back of cabs. In London the chance ofgetting a mobile device back was much better than NY with 80% of cab drivershanding them into their depots or personally contacting the owners themselves.
"It is clear that none of us are infallible. It's easy to forget thingswhen you're travelling -- it used to be an umbrella, now it's more likely amobile phone or and other storage device that contains highly sensitiveinformation," Callahan said. "It's only when you've lost a mobile devicecontaining your personal information and contacts, or your company's data,that you really understand how disastrous it can be. Our advice is to encryptall information on these devices to prevent access by anyone other than you."
Not just mobiles forgotten ... but a sawn-off shotgun, a couple of kids,12 dead pheasants, 2 dogs, 1 cat, toilet seats and more ...
When the cabbies were asked to recall what the strangest objects were thatthey'd found at the back of their cabs they reported that it wasn't uncommonfor people to leave their most precious possessions, including their kids, adrunken wife left as a tip, 2,700 -- which apparently made its way back tothe owners, and 12 dead pheasants. Other articles left behind includedfirearms, prosthetic devices, and pets.
Notes to Editors
The survey figures were based on 300 New York yellow licensed taxi driversand extrapolated amongst 13,087 yellow licensed taxi cabs in Manhattan NewYork. In London the figures were based on interviews with 300 London licensedtaxi drivers and then extrapolated amongst the number of licensed taxi cabs inLondon which is 21,729 (according to the Public Carriage Office September2008).
About CREDANT Technologies
CREDANT Technologies is the market leader in endpoint data protectionsolutions. CREDANT's data security solutions mitigate risk, preserve customerbrand and reduce the cost of compliance, enabling business to "protect whatmatters." CREDANT Mobile Guardian is the only centrally managed endpoint dataprotection solution providing strong authentication, intelligent encryption,usage controls, and key management for data recovery. By aligning security tothe type of user, device and location, CREDANT permits the audit andenforcement of security policies across all computing endpoints. Strategicpartners and customers include leaders in finance, government, healthcare,manufacturing, retail, technology, and services. CREDANT has been recognizedby Inc. magazine as the #1 fastest growing security software company in 2008and 2007; was selected by Red Herring as one of the top 100 privately heldcompanies and top 100 Innovators; and was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur ofthe Year. Austin Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Intel Capital,and Cisco Systems are investors in CREDANT Technologies. For more information,visit http://www.credant.com.
CREDANT Technologies, CREDANT, the CREDANT Technologies logo, and the"We Protect What Matters." tagline are registered trademarks of CREDANTTechnologies, Inc.
SOURCE CREDANT Technologies
http://www.credant.com
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