Data good enough to steal

Data on your mobile device is valuable to you for performing your daily tasks and being available for reference when you need it. It is also valuable to others for purposes that may not benefit you.

Cookies, cookies everywhere

When you visit a website, information about your actions while visiting that website is saved. For example, if you visit an electronics store's website and view three flat-screen televisions, the information may be stored regarding the specific televisions you viewed. The information is stored in temporary computer memory called a session cookie. The purpose of a session cookie is two-fold: one, to make it easier for you to return to the same televisions if you want to order one, and two, to help the store's website suggest specific items for you to consider purchasing based on what you have already viewed. Once you close the browser, the cookie is deleted.

There are other types of cookies called persistent cookies. These are not deleted and...