Have you ever thought about just how much information you keep in your phone? Your name, your parents’ names and contact information, photos of you and the people close to you. Not to mention most people have access to their social media, email and credit card numbers within the device. It’s all just a tap away.
Twitter user afronomics realized this when she found a lost iPhone and decided to see what she could find out about its owner. All she wanted was to figure out how to return the phone, but what she found was eye opening.
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833784254848970756
It started out normal enough.
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833779390492372992
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833779755518423040
But it didn’t take long for her to feel weird about what she had found out about the iPhone’s owner.
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833780255089364992
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833780462967455749
She decided to use her experience to warn others about what information they put into their phones.
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833781270832373765
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833782347308867585
She also gave some advice to other iPhone users so they won’t have to worry about being in a similar situation.
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833783023644639232
https://twitter.com/afronomics_/status/833783229563932672
People were understandably grateful for the tip.
Thank you for this! I just changed my settings
— Francesca Hogi (@DearFranny) February 21, 2017
My iPhone skills are above average I didn't know any of this. Mine pulled up everything you mentioned with touch ID on. Thanks
— Dani (@danisaysit) February 21, 2017
no snitchin on this side pic.twitter.com/i5y8dR8fsy
— BIG KEI 🇯🇲 (@YoungCurryPowda) February 21, 2017
Others worried about how easily Apple let strangers retrieve their information without their knowledge.
https://twitter.com/_mygrassisblue_/status/833903778457858048
We need a tougher Siri
Stranger: Siri, What's my address
Siri: Who's asking, motherfucker?@Apple— Stirling Matheson (@SZMatheson) February 21, 2017
Afronomics’s experience is a lesson to us all: be careful about what information you keep in your phone, and always check your privacy settings. 
