We use them to surf, text, talk and store our personal information.
"My phone's always with me," says Surfside Beach resident Natalie Kitts."So I don't have to worry about anyone hacking into my phone."
But even if your cell phone is next to you at all times, hackers can still access a part of your information from anywhere in the world.
Reporters from "The News of the World" Tabloid are accused of hacking the cell phone voicemail of public figures, including the family of a murder victim, celebrities and possibly 9/11 victims.
Cell phones can be hacked if owners don't change the default password on their voicemail setting's options.
"I changed my password because I don't want someone hacking into my cell phone listening to my messages," says Conway's Victoria Bryant.
When purchased, cell phone providers use a default password for customers to easily access their voicemail, usually a combination similar to 1234 or 1111.
Horry Telephone Cooperative Marketing Director Tom Vitt says often times people don't change those default passwords.
"People like to default the default if at all possible," says Vitt, "People don't want to make up their own mind. They just want it to work."
When those settings aren't changed, hackers can call someone's cell phone wait for the voicemail to pick up, and punch in the default password. "You should always change that default password," says Vitt.
He says people often feel safe with their cell phones because it's where a lot of information is shared. "People are on Facebook and Twitter letting everyone know what is going on all the time, but if you want to keep your voicemail safe just make it hard for the other guy to figure out."
If those steps are taken, your voicemail will continue to belong only to you. "People get worried about hackers, hackers, hackers. But it's not rocket science to keep your information secure," says Vitt.
What steps do you take to protect your cell phone information?
