Smart phones and tablet computers have made our lives a lot easier in many respects. If you’re like me and have a tablet computer such as an iPad, you may be completely addicted to it. I look at my iPad from time to time and wonder how I was ever able to live without it.
Personal finance apps
You can now even manage your finances from your smart phone or tablet computer. There are numerous personal finance apps available, many of which are free. Probably the “granddaddy” of these apps is from Mint.com. If you type in the numbers of your checking and savings accounts, credit cards, investments and loans, this app will pull all of your information together so you can see it as one big picture. Once you have this information, you can do just about everything you would want to do in managing your finances.
how safe is that information
To use these apps, you have to enter information that is very sensitive such as logins to your bank accounts and passwords, which criminals could use to access your accounts. This means you have to be very trusting or make sure you choose an app that offers maximum “bank level” security. Before you download any personal finance app, make sure that you confirm its validity. It’s not a good idea to get any apps through a free wireless hotspot as criminals can set up a fake one and use it to steal your information.
Watch out for fakes
Criminals seem to become even smarter as does mobile technology. As an example of this, Google recently deleted more than fifty apps from the Google marketplace as it had found they contained malware that could allow a criminal to take complete control of your device. One way to avoid being fooled is to look for spelling errors in the app’s description as this is a major sign that someone is trying to spoof you.
Don’t let the app prevent financial planning
Despite what the creators of these apps say, most of them are designed for everyone and not necessarily just for your specific financial situation. They may not actually be able to give you your complete picture of your finances and the information they provide could be erroneous.
What happens if it’s lost or stolen?
Here’s a shocking statistic. According to one security firm, just last year around $30 billion in mobile phones were lost. The dreadful fact is that if you lose your smart phone, the more sensitive information you have on it, the more probable it is that your accounts or identity will be stolen. This means you should be sure your phone is protected by a password and with security software installed. If possible, get a phone where you can wipe your information remotely. That way, if it’s lost or stolen, you could completely clear all your information.
The net/net
While a personal finance app can make it much easier to manage your money, there are risks involved. You should think seriously before getting and using any mobile app that requires you to provide your bank login, checking or savings account numbers or other such information. If find the idea of putting your financial information online a bit scary, you might want to choose a desktop program such as Excel or Quicken to manage your finances.
Debt relief you can trust
Just as there are some apps you can’t trust, there are some companies that offer debt relief can’t be trusted. However, you can trust Debt Consolidation USA. This is because our debt relief providers offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If they are unable to help you get debt-free in a reasonable amount of time or if you are ever dissatisfied with their debt relief programs, you can cancel out of the program and they’ll be no penalties or fees.
Call us today for immediate help or use the form below to get a free quote.