More than 8,016 mobile devices have been left behind by travelers at seven of the largest airports in the country, a new study found.
Credant Technologies' survey of top airports in the United States, found that in last year alone, around 3,444 smartphones and tablets, 3,576 laptops and 996 USB drives were left behind on the airport or aircraft by the travelers.
These gadgets were found at some of the largest airports in U.S which includes, Chicago O'Hare, Denver International, San Francisco International, Charlotte Douglas, Miami International, Orlando International and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Five of the seven airports, reported that the most common place mobile devices were left behind was at the Transportation Security Administrator's checkpoints. Another popular spot were restrooms,
In February 2012, Javelin Research found that 62 percent of smartphone users do not create a password to lock their device, which can actually increase the risk of a serious data breach.
Travelers mainly access most of their company's corporate network, favorite websites or online shopping sites, which hold their personal banking information, on a mobile device. When these gadgets are left behind with unlocked accounts filled with a traveler's personal data, it can be misused by someone else, creating severe consequences.
"These research findings are a wake-up call for CSOs and security managers across all enterprise organizations and SMBs," said Bob Heard, founder and CEO of Credant Technologies. "With widespread BYOD adoption, companies must be vigilant in securing data wherever it resides. Be it a USB drive, a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, unsecured data puts companies at risk - making it critical to encrypt data both at rest and in motion."
The Credant Technolgy survey also revealed that more than half of lost devices are reclaimed by owners. The unclaimed ones are mostly sent to the airport authorities or to the local police.
