As of today, I am going to be more cautious with my cell phone.  I will no longer leave it lying about and you can forget about my willingness to allow others to use it sight unseen.  Heaven forbid that I ever lose my phone or that someone steals it.  The reason is that cell phone data can now be downloaded to a thumb-drive sized device in relatively short order by anyone who has 300 bucks to spare and the willingness to part with that amount of money to see what’s on someone else’s phone.  The device (and related software), available from a digital forensic product and service company called Paraben, is called the Cell Seizure Investigation (CSI) Stick.  Simply plug the device into a cell phone and voila, you have access to the phone’s phonebook, call logs, pictures, text messages, data files, even deleted messages that haven’t been overwritten.  This data can then be analyzed from any PC running the related software.  All you need is a USB port.  Wow!

As with so many things, this device has its upside and its downside.  On the downside, I think about how a distrusting spouse, disgruntled coworker, overzealous opposing counsel, or unscrupulous individual might respond if he or she came across a cell phone left unattended.  On the upside, I can see the value of this for a parent wanting to monitor what their kids are doing or perhaps an employer wanting to randomly confirm that the company’s (i.e. law firm’s) security and equipment use policies are being complied with.  This investigative capability may become particularly important now that so many phones come with significant storage space.  After all, aren’t cell phones in some sense quickly becoming incredibly souped-up jump drives?  More and more these things do it all.

At this point, however, the masses do not appear to be running out and buying the CSI stick so it isn’t likely to be a cell phone use game changer anytime soon.  This isn’t going to be a sales equivalent of the iPhone.  That said, there is value is being aware of the availability of devices like this stick.  If a divorce client brings in a printout of the other spouse’s cell call log, asking the client how the information was obtained would be a prudent step.  If done legally, having the ability to check what’s on a cell phone prior to allowing a fired employee to leave the premises with their cell phone might be worthwhile.  For me personally, the reality of the CSI stick is a game changer because one rarely is aware that a crime is about to be committed.  Pickpockets don’t walk up and say “excuse me, may I borrow your wallet.”  Thus, awareness and a little caution will go a long way in making sure I don’t become a victim of cell phone data theft.  How about you?