Turning off the Internet on a smartphone does not stop the device from collecting and transmitting data, nor does it guarantee personal information remains private. In a recent interview, Shamil Magomedov, head of the Intelligent Information Security Systems Department at the RTU MIREA Institute of Cyber Security and Digital Technologies, spoke about the persistent exposure of data that follows every mobile device, even when it seems the online world is paused. The message is clear: disconnection from the network does not equal disengagement of the device from the digital ecosystem that surrounds it.
According to Magomedov, smartphones harbor continuous streams of information about their owners. Even with the internet turned off, the device stores details about the user, their geographic location, and a gallery of photographs taken with the device. The mere act of capturing a moment leaves a digital imprint, and the risk arises not from what is sent in real time but from what remains stored on the phone and how it can be accessed later. This reality underscores a fundamental truth of modern mobile technology: data resilience in the offline state is real and consequential, because the memory keeps a quiet log of daily life that can be revealed once the device reconnects to the wider network.
Magomedov explained that graphic file metadata illustrates this phenomenon vividly. Information about where and when a photo was shot is embedded in the file and sits inside the phone’s memory long after the moment of capture. As soon as the gadget reconnects to the internet, those details have a ready-made path to cloud storage or other synchronized services, expanding the potential surface for data exposure. This sequence demonstrates why simply turning off connectivity does not guarantee that sensitive information remains inaccessible; it can still be inferred or retrieved when the device re-establishes a link to online services or backups.
The expert also highlighted that confidential information is often stored beyond the visible content on the device. For instance, the SIM card can retain a history of contacts and movement patterns, creating a dataset that persists across changes in devices or SIM cards. Even a brand-new smartphone, taken out of the box, can begin to accumulate a surprising amount of data about its intended user, tied not only to software settings but to the hardware’s intrinsic data collection behaviors and the pre-installed services that come with the device. This reality places responsibility on users to scrutinize how their devices collect and store information from the moment they are activated, as well as on manufacturers to offer clearer controls and options that minimize unnecessary data retention without compromising essential functionality.
In light of these considerations, it becomes important to evaluate practical steps for safeguarding privacy on mobile devices. Users should review permission settings for apps, be mindful of location history and cloud backup options, and consider limiting backups to trusted networks and secure storage environments. Security-focused practices, such as regular updates, robust screen locks, and encryption where available, can help reduce the risk of data exposure. While no device is perfectly private, informed decisions and proactive management of mobile data can lessen the chances that sensitive information falls into the wrong hands when connectivity is restored or when devices are reset or repurposed.
Historically, discussions about mobile security have touched on the risks of social engineering and phishing schemes that exploit gaps between what users expect and what a device quietly stores. A broader understanding of how data flows from a phone to the cloud provides a foundation for safer digital habits. By staying aware of the data that a phone keeps by default and the moments when that data can become accessible again, users in Canada and the United States can make smarter choices about device settings, app permissions, and the kinds of information they permit their devices to collect and synchronize with cloud services. This awareness helps turn everyday smartphone use into a more controlled, deliberate practice rather than a passive, uncontrollable stream of personal data.