Russian police warn against storing documents and passwords on phones

Russia's Interior Ministry warned that copies of identity documents, banking details and passwords stored on a smartphone could expose personal information to fraudsters, according to recommendations reported by RIA Novosti and Lenta.ru.

The ministry identified passport photographs, pension insurance numbers, tax identification details and driving licence copies as information criminals could exploit. Such details may be used to take over accounts or create fraudulent profiles.

It recommended keeping electronic document copies in protected cloud storage with two-factor authentication. Passwords for email, social networks, messaging services and banking apps should not be kept in ordinary notes or messages to oneself.

The warning also covered chats containing card numbers, PINs and addresses. Notifications about transfers and account balances can reveal the owner's income and financial habits.

Private intimate photographs could become tools for blackmail if leaked, the ministry said. It also advised deleting obsolete contacts, protecting backups of important telephone numbers and avoiding additional personal information in contact entries.