This one phone security mistake could put your identity at risk

The UK now accounts for nearly 40% of all mobile phone theft and loss claims across 12 European markets¹. In London alone, 117,211 phones were reported stolen in 2024² - that’s an average of 321 devices every day.

Losing your phone is frustrating, but what’s more concerning is someone getting access to your personal data.

Some thieves aren’t just after the device - they’re after your data. Once they get in, they’ll often search through photo albums for images of passports, driver’s licences or bank details to commit identity fraud.

That’s why it’s so important to take a few extra steps to protect your personal information – starting with password-protecting your photo albums.

Why you should password-protect your photo albums

With hundreds of phone snatches happening across the UK every day³,  Kara says protecting your handset is essential as once a thief gains access, your photos can reveal sensitive information that could be used for identity fraud.

Research has found that 60% of adults are most concerned about their financial information being stolen, while 30% said photos and videos are what they’d least want to lose⁴.

Despite this, many people still don’t take basic precautions. Locking your phone is a great first step, but adding an extra layer of protection to apps and photo albums can make all the difference.”

Top tips on how to keep your phone and data safe

• Lock your device: Always use a strong passcode, biometric lock (fingerprint or face ID), or both. This is your first line of defence if your phone is lost or stolen.

• Protect your photo albums: Most phones now let you lock  albums for extra privacy. 

To lock a photo album on your iPhone, move the photos to the Hidden album via the Photos app and enable Face ID or Touch ID protection in Settings > Photos. You can also hide the Hidden album from view by toggling off 'Show Hidden Album' in the same settings.

• Store sensitive documents securely: Move important files and photos of passports, drivers licences or bank statements off your phone, or store them in an encrypted cloud service with multi-factor authentication rather than keeping them in your camera roll.

• Add app-level security: If you use apps for photo storage or backups, enable strong authentication and automatic timeouts so the content stays protected even if someone gets hold of your device.

• Stay alert in public: Avoid using your phone openly in crowded areas, especially on public transport or busy streets, where thieves can strike in seconds.

• Turn on remote tracking and wipe features: Make sure you can locate, lock, or erase your phone remotely if it’s stolen - this can help prevent your data from being accessed or misused.

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

Don't make the mistake of using the same password for everything

The point of adding password protection to your apps is to create layers of security, so it doesn't do any good to use the same password for your lock screen and all your other apps.

Vary the passwords you use, or consider adding biometric locks to your phone, like fingerprint or face scans. These are a lot more difficult for thieves to spoof.

<sub>Sources:
1. Insurance Edge
2. Met Police
3. Crime Stoppers
4. Compare and Recycle</sub>