Smartphones and Privacy

A cautionary note from Arstechnica:

Given how much of what is on smartphones is now automatically backed up to the cloud, anyone should take pause before disrobing before their smartphone camera—regardless of the phone operating system or how that image will be delivered to its intended audience. The security of all of these services is only as secure as the obscurity of the mother’s maiden name of the person you sent that picture to—or of the next zero-day flaw.

I don’t think smartphones belong in bedrooms or bathrooms, but since most people want the convenience of having them there, it may be a good idea to keep the phone in the drawer while changing, or covered while showering, etc.

I think it’s a good idea to assume that what one’s smartphone can hear, see, or the data it contains could be made public someday — and perhaps sooner than we think. The same is true for any data we store “in the cloud”.