Your Mobile Phone Password S@@@@
There are two things I’ve learned from an audience as a privacy officer:
- Most business security practices are dangerously outdated.
- One simple change can make hacking your company’s data as hard as scoring Super Bowl tickets.
The Client Meeting That Changed Everything
I didn’t set out to become the person who freaks out executives in boardrooms. But one day, during a meeting with a business client, I demonstrated something that stopped everyone in their tracks—I cracked into a company mobile phone using a weak passcode.
Cue the silence. The nervous glances. The sudden rush to check their own devices.
Why? Because once I was in, I could do everything—access emails, transfer funds, impersonate employees, and even approve fraudulent transactions. And that changed the conversation.
The same thing happens during my keynote when I “hack” an audience member’s smartphone. It’s one thing to hear about security risks; it’s another to realize just how vulnerable your business really is. But here’s the good news: fixing this is easier than you think.
Upgrade Your Passcode to a Passphrase
Instead of a weak four-digit PIN (which, let’s be honest, is probably an employee’s birth year backwards), switch to a passphrase—something longer, easy to remember, and way harder to crack.
Example:
🚫 1234 → 10,000 possible combinations (AI can crack this in seconds)
✅ Secure@Biz2024 → Over 60 quadrillion combinations (Good luck, hackers!)
How to Set It Up
🔹 iPhone Users: Here’s how to create a stronger passcode
🔹 Android Users: Check with your phone manufacturer for instructions
And don’t forget: Make sure IT administrators have a secure way to recover access in case of an emergency—store passphrases in a password manager instead of sticky notes on desks.
Bonus: Lock Down Your Business Accounts
Your phone’s passphrase is just the start. For business accounts, ditch passwords entirely and switch to passkeys—they’re easier, more secure, and eliminate phishing risks.
Because keeping your company’s data safe shouldn’t be harder than getting Super Bowl Tickets. 😉
Stay secure, stay protected! 🔐
