Public points of data loss

“Forgetting” or “underestimating” are the main reasons
for data loss around the world. In an airport lounge during my last
trip I came across some cool tab devices running on Android
integrated with an external keyboard available for public use and
connected to the Internet.

As
in the past
I performed a quick check of downloaded files,
most visited sites and browser history and found a huge list of
sensitive information. Here are some examples:

  • Access via OWA to a corporate email of a Latin American bank.
  • Medical files from Spanish hospitals.
  • Commercial offers with personal banking information of a
    service provider.
  • Personal traveller information with full names, IDs, frequent
    flyer number and the destination of the flight.
  • Audit control released by a Latin American government to local
    companies.

I didn’t check if the browser function “save passwords” was enabled.
Just imagine if it was! I
also didn’t check the saved cookies. Anyway enough sensitive
information was already exposed out there.

Lots of people are not very good at safeguarding their personal
information on standard PCs; they are even worse when it comes to
tab computers. More often than not, they just don’t know where a
file was downloaded on a tab, and they have no idea how to delete it
afterwards.

I wonder how much sensitive information is already exposed in this
way at airports around the globe! Without any doubt it’s a huge
advantage for cybercriminals who know how to use social engineering
and a big pain for security officers of the companies who have to
train employees. Another important point is when people fly on
business – they are usually managers, so any leaked information can
compromise not only their personal identity but also a company’s
secrets.

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