Lending someone your cell phone requires careful consideration! You have to mentally go through its contents and decide whether there is anything too personal for outside eyes. Cell phones are now a sort of Diary 2.0.

The same could be said for our personal computers. So-called “family” computers – really, a box in the corner of the room — are becoming increasingly rare, being replaced by laptops, where individual ownership is more pronounced. Often, our computers are an open book on our lifestyles.

Today, the mere thought of spending a day without our cell phone or computer gives us the willies. This confirms that these devices are now a part of us; they contain all sorts of information that connect us to our families and our network of friends: they complete us as individuals. They are communication tools that we use to share our every thought, and because they are always within reach, they allow us to seize every moment. But we are also supplying these two electronic devices with personal information that becomes a public and permanent record of the moments of our life.

We are all entitled to some secrets, but storing them in a purse or cell phone makes them easily available for others to uncover. Set your own boundaries and think about the content you download. Segment access with permissions, passwords and encryption. It’s more than just a simple click; it’s your privacy.