| The movie Little Black Book features a young | | | | However, not every criminal is a super hacker. |
| woman, Stacy, who is frustrated when her | | | | Sometimes you just want to keep your |
| boyfriend refuses to share information about his | | | | information from prying eyes. Just because you |
| past relationships. When his PDA, a Palm Tungsten | | | | labeled something as private in your PDA doesn't |
| C, falls into her hands, she is faced with a | | | | mean someone else can't read it. It depends on |
| conundrum. Does she give it back, or does she | | | | what application you synchronize with. If you sync |
| explore it? If she gave it back, we wouldn't have | | | | with Outlook, records that are private on your |
| a movie, now would we? Stacy then proceeds to | | | | PDA may be public in Outlook.The best way to |
| identify his ex-girlfriends and contact them. Let | | | | protect passwords and PIN numbers is to store |
| the games begin.Could this really happen? Of | | | | them in a password application that encrypts the |
| course it could. Most PDA's contain a plethora of | | | | data. The best applications have both a PDA |
| information about a person and their activities, | | | | application and a desktop application that allows |
| their digital footprints. People store contact | | | | access to the information from either system. |
| information, appointments, meetings and midnight | | | | The trouble is converting that data from |
| rendezvous'. They store passwords, login ID's and | | | | whatever format it's in currently. I've struggled |
| PIN numbers. They have photos of people they | | | | with this one myself. There is no easy method |
| know and sometimes in awkward circumstances. | | | | I've found so far. Just set aside time to copy and |
| It's a lot to have to explain. The courts are only | | | | paste the data into the password application. It |
| beginning to grapple with how to handle the | | | | might take a few hours to get that information |
| content in a PDA. One person's little black book | | | | into a secure application.If you're worried about |
| can be very incriminating indeed.For the rest of | | | | someone viewing your schedule, the best |
| us, we have nothing as exotic; however, we are | | | | approach is to archive your past history |
| all in danger of exposure and threat. Identify theft | | | | periodically. Outlook has settings that allow you to |
| has become one of the largest white-collar crimes. | | | | specify to how often calendar events will be |
| There is enough information in the average PDA | | | | archived. This will wipe the history from your PDA |
| for someone to take over your life. So, what's | | | | also. Archives are usually stored in an external file |
| the solution? Give up your PDA? No. You face the | | | | that can be accessed later.If you have |
| same problem with the typical day planner. It has | | | | incriminating photos, delete them. If you want a |
| all of the same information, it's just not as | | | | copy, save it on external media like tape, CD and |
| accessible. In fact, a PDA has certain advantages | | | | flash ROM. For contacts, you can archive them or |
| over a planner. You can password protect some | | | | simply move the record to an external file. |
| of the data. You can even encrypt data. Most | | | | Outlook allows you to create a .pst file that you |
| importantly, you have a backup. The data is | | | | can use to save email, calendar, address, tasks, |
| safely stored on your computer and archived on | | | | or other information. Once you move a record, it |
| external media if you have taken the proper | | | | will be removed from your PDA.And, don't forget |
| steps.That duplication of data also means an | | | | to delete the cookies and memory cache on your |
| identity thief has more ways to get to it. So, | | | | PDA's web browser. Remember that website you |
| what can you do? Well, the first concern is to | | | | checked out last week? Is that something you |
| make sure that you backup your data. | | | | want everyone else to know about? I don't think |
| Synchronize your PDA at least daily. I synchronize | | | | so.Don't forget physical security; keep an eye on |
| my Treo 600 2-3 times each day, usually when I | | | | your PDA. It's possible to take steps to protect |
| arrive at my office or leave it. Backing up your | | | | your data and remove your digital footprints. |
| data means that you should be creating a copy | | | | Protect your little black book and it will protect |
| on tape, CD, zip disk, flash ROM or other external | | | | you.Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro, is the PDA Coach |
| media and storing it offsite. If you are not, you | | | | for productivity anytime, anywhere. He is a |
| are asking for trouble and your business is at risk. | | | | national speaker on business productivity and |
| If your PDA is ever stolen, you will need to | | | | sales. Rick is President of StratAchieve, a |
| restore that data on a new PDA.Next, you need | | | | company specializing in coaching services to |
| to minimize the amount of data someone can | | | | improve productivity and increase revenues. For |
| actually access. Let's face it, if a hacker really | | | | more information, visit his website at or call (800) |
| wants to get your data, they will succeed. | | | | 677-6708. |