Only three out of 10 employees completely trust their employee to keep personal information private, according to a MobileIron-commissioned survey of 3, workers across the United States, United Kingdom and Germany. The flip side is that the rest aren't so sure. The survey sought to learn more about the trust gap in the enterprise, but what it really found was mass confusion. It's a dangerous scenario: Confusion can quickly escalate from head-shaking to finger-pointing to employee lawsuits claiming privacy rights violations.
Hoping to clear up some misconceptions, CIO. Two out of five employees in the survey don't think the employer can see anything--and they're wrong. Company email and data flow through corporate servers, "so absolutely your company can see it," Rege says. If you're connected to the corporate Wi-Fi network, the company knows what you're doing.
Technically speaking, a company can see the wireless carrier, country, make and model, operating system version, battery level, phone number, location, storage use, corporate email and corporate data. The company can also see the names of all the apps on the device, both personal and work-related.
Fast Company
This visibility has led to some companies blacklisting apps on a BYOD smartphone or tablet. It's important to note that a company cannot see the data within apps. Visibility is a little more limited for rogue devices, or smartphones not under a formal BYOD policy but still accessing company email. Companies can still see the make and model and carrier, as well as corporate email and data, but not the location of the device.
Technically speaking, a company cannot see personal email, text messages unless done over a corporate text messaging app , photos, videos, voicemail and Web activity. The survey found that respondents were most worried about employers seeing these types of data, Rege says, "yet all those are technically impossible to see on an iOS device, unless it's jail-broken. Oddly, more than half the survey respondents said they were far more comfortable with their employer seeing their location on the BYOD smartphone.
Survey respondents said they would be more trusting if the employer spelled out exactly what it can and cannot see, both from a technical standpoint and an optional one as in, opting not to track location , as well as why it wants to see the information. Respondents also said they want it in writing that the employer will not look at personal information. However, this last request is impossible in today's legal system.
Personal devices may be subject to search and review in the event of litigation that involves an employer or other similar legitimate reason, which can include any business information on the phone. It currently only works on Android, but the version on Google Play is outdated due to Google restrictions, so researchers recommend using a version available via F-Droid. Choose which project you want to help, hook it up to your local Wi-Fi, and let the built-in CPU finally do some work again.
US law requires that all phones be able to call , even without a SIM card or connected data plan. That means no matter how old your phone is, as long as it has power, it will be able to connect with emergency services. Even in conditions where there would normally be limited service, the call should be able to go through. While you probably have your phone on you at all times, it can't hurt to have a backup device just in case.
US spy agency 'collects phone records'
For instance, you could keep an inactive phone in the car in case there's an emergency. You can also give the decommissioned device to an older relative who might not have a mobile device, but could use an easy way to contact emergency services just in case.
There are also many nonprofits that take donations of old cell phones, then either give them away or sell them and use the profits to benefit those in need. Jason is PCMag's how to content generator. He believes tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. He is a Mac owner, Android user, dark mode advocate, and tech bargain hunter.
Everything You Need to Know About 5G
Before joining PCMag, Jason was a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets. When not writing and editing, he is either reading comic books, playing his Nintendo Switch, hanging out with his wife and two cats, or some combination of the three. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
Welcome to Spypoint Support
Learn more. Home How-To Mobile Phones. Updated April 22, Copy Link. Image: Shutterstock Every day, we walk around with a supercomputer in our pockets. Security Camera Image: Alfred If you have an old phone that's no longer in use, turn it into a home security camera. Give It to the Kids Image: Getty If you're not yet ready to buy your kid their own phone , repurpose your old device for them. Gaming System There are a ton of different mobile games for iPhone and Android , and you only need a Wi-Fi connection to download. Video Chat Device Houseparty app If you're communicating a lot via Zoom, FaceTime, or any other video chat platform these days, your old smartphone can serve as a dedicated interface for video chats, as long as you have decent Wi-Fi coverage.
Wireless Webcam If you don't have a webcam for your desktop computer or your laptop is on the fritz, you can turn to an old smartphone. Alarm Clock Image: Getty Smart displays like the Echo Show 5 and the Google Nest Hub can help you manage the time, but not everyone wants a microphone in their bedroom.
Top 10 Definitive Ways to Spy Cell Phone without Installing Software on Target Phone | FromDev
TV Remote Most media streaming devices come with their own remote controls, but they tend to be small and easy to lose. E-Book Reader Image: Getty If you love books and comics, but don't want to purchase an ebook reader , use your phone instead. Related Stories. No Charger in the Box? The Best Verizon Phones for The Best Phones for Kids in Get Our Best Stories!
Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning Email. Thanks for signing up!