I have a friend who is very tech savvy having worked in IT all her life in the software design and creation end of things. She put her entire life into her Blackberry when she retired from IT some 17 or 18 years ago and moved back home to help run an art gallery.  She then lost her Blackberry.
Now she keeps a paper copy of everything in a safe place and does regular offsite backups of her PC and mobile phone and all the rest. Â
I have a simple mobile phone so cannot run my life from it. I usually forget where I've put it and forget to charge it anyway.
Smartphones are brilliant when, as others have said, they are working. Having any important information accessible only from a smartphone is not a smart move. Even if the phone itself works OK it only needs an update to go wrong and you are up a very long creek without the canoe, never mind the paddle.
@Kili. Sounds as though if you were mugged or just lost that phone you'd be stuffed. No cards, no passport ID.Â
Hi Lyn, you might think that was the case and that's the misconception that most people have, especially the older generation. Not you of course as I'm sure your just a spring chickenÂ
The phone is just a device to access the data. I keep copies on the phone but if the phone was stolen/lost all the data is duplicated to my online accounts and is encrypted online. The phone is password protected and locked when not in use and can be wiped remotely should it be stolen.
Should the worst happen I simply go to any computer (or the wife's phone if hers has not been nicked/lost or anyones phone for that matter) in a hotel/embassy/Internet cafe or simply buy a new phone where ever I am and download or view my documents on the new device.
My situation is probably different to most people in my age group as I started working in IT at the dawn of the computer revolution so I am used to using such technologies .
Its not difficult . All most people need is a smartphone and an online account with encryption for any documents stored online. I usually upload copies of our passports and holiday insurance for backup purposes I still take the original documents with us.
Its a backup solution if your on holiday and your luggage/handbag is stolen with your passport and documents in there, not having copies online then your literally "Stuffed"Â Â if you need to use hospital facilities and you cant prove your insured to pay for the treatment its going to be difficult to get treatment abroad. Especially now the lunacy of Breixt is about to dawn on millions of Britons who voted for it . Traveling in Europe is about to get a whole lot more inconvenient for travellers with a British passport in the new year but that's a topic for discussion elsewhere.
My application for an Irish passport (On my fathers side) is underway.Â
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Yes, I see what you mean,  I know with my iPad, I buy a new one, all the files and info is automatically on there.  I don’t need to load photos and files on it.   Same with your phone. Just thought about if you lose it, no credit card to buy a new one. But yes, if you have a wife with you, no problem. I am an old Spring Chicken by the way, but like to keep up with the latest, so thank you for your input. 🙂
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.Â
@Kili interesting, I take the opposite view. If a document is stored electronically anywhere, unless it's in an air gapped system, it can always be hacked and stolen.
I'd never keep digital versions of identity documents on consumer/end user devices, the risk is far too high.Â
@Kili interesting, I take the opposite view. If a document is stored electronically anywhere, unless it's in an air gapped system, it can always be hacked and stolen.
I'd never keep digital versions of identity documents on consumer/end user devices, the risk is far too high.Â
With the latest encryption technologies and 2FA I have no qualms about storing documents in my online encrypted account.
But What ever works for you is what you should do.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
Yes, I see what you mean,  I know with my iPad, I buy a new one, all the files and info is automatically on there.  I don’t need to load photos and files on it.   Same with your phone. Just thought about if you lose it, no credit card to buy a new one. But yes, if you have a wife with you, no problem. I am an old Spring Chicken by the way, but like to keep up with the latest, so thank you for your input. 🙂
Lyn , the wife's there to take care of this old twit. Just as well else I'd forget my name if she wasn't there to remind me.Â
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
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Now she keeps a paper copy of everything in a safe place and does regular offsite backups of her PC and mobile phone and all the rest. Â
I have a simple mobile phone so cannot run my life from it. I usually forget where I've put it and forget to charge it anyway.
The phone is just a device to access the data. I keep copies on the phone but if the phone was stolen/lost all the data is duplicated to my online accounts and is encrypted online. The phone is password protected and locked when not in use and can be wiped remotely should it be stolen.
Should the worst happen I simply go to any computer (or the wife's phone if hers has not been nicked/lost or anyones phone for that matter) in a hotel/embassy/Internet cafe or simply buy a new phone where ever I am and download or view my documents on the new device.
My situation is probably different to most people in my age group as I started working in IT at the dawn of the computer revolution so I am used to using such technologies .
Its not difficult . All most people need is a smartphone and an online account with encryption for any documents stored online. I usually upload copies of our passports and holiday insurance for backup purposes I still take the original documents with us.
Its a backup solution if your on holiday and your luggage/handbag is stolen with your passport and documents in there, not having copies online then your literally "Stuffed"Â
Especially now the lunacy of Breixt is about to dawn on millions of Britons who voted for it . Traveling in Europe is about to get a whole lot more inconvenient for travellers with a British passport in the new year but that's a topic for discussion elsewhere.
My application for an Irish passport (On my fathers side) is underway.Â
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
Just thought about if you lose it, no credit card to buy a new one. But yes, if you have a wife with you, no problem.Â
I am an old Spring Chicken by the way, but like to keep up with the latest, so thank you for your input. 🙂
I'd never keep digital versions of identity documents on consumer/end user devices, the risk is far too high.Â
But What ever works for you is what you should do.
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'
'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.
George Bernard Shaw'