Cellular
Phone SecurityCellular
Phone Security
We’re
just going to offer you a few tips on what you should be wary of in cell phone
use…as well as some common sense pointers that many people seem to ignore.
First, I’ve said it before but it most definitely bears
repeating: DO NOT under any circumstances talk on your cell phone while driving.
Study after study has proven that talking on the phone distracts you to the
extent that driving is extremely dangerous. And it does NOT make any difference
if you are using a hands-free phone. The problem is not having to steer with one
hand while driving and holding the cell phone in the other. The problem is that
researchers have proven (many times) that you cannot talk and drive at the same
time. It’s flat out dangerous, people. Don’t do it!!
Second, does anyone realize just how stupid or careless one
can be if they’re shopping and talking on their cell phone at the same time.
Recently I was in the local drugstore, and while I’m pushing my cart around
the aisles I had the chance to listen to someone having an argument over their
cell phone. People, we don’t need that. I heard more about that person’s
problems than I really needed to know.
Third, read your local community paper’s “crime
reports” and see just how many times you will read: “Joe Smith of Main
Street reported his car was broken into while he was in the supermarket. The
only thing that was taken was his cell phone.” What I want to know is why he
left his cell phone in the car. Today’s cell phones are incredibly small. They
fit into your pocket with ease and never should be left in the car. Wake up
people! Not only have you lost what could be an expensive piece of equipment to
replace, depending on the phone, but you now have to get a new phone number.
That’s rather stupid actually. In the meantime, whoever stole your phone is
racking up incredible charges on it before you report it stolen and cancel the
number. The inconvenience of changing phone numbers alone should be a sufficient
deterrent. Put the phone in your pocket!!
Cell phones can be “tapped” quite easily by portable
scanners. You should be careful where you use the phone and be alert to anyone
watching you perhaps a bit more closely than they should. This is another good
reason not to talk on the phone while driving. I know of instances where someone
was doing just that, stopped at a traffic light and a car pulled up next to
them, scanned the phone and bingo! They have your cell phone number. It’s
easier than you think people.
There is no hard evidence that cell phones cause cancer or
any other diseases, for pity’s sake. Also, it is basically a myth that if you
call someone on your cell phone while filling up your car with gas, the entire
city block around you will explode and cause a massive fire and kill thousands
of people. That doesn’t mean you should do it, but I certainly wouldn’t
worry about answering the phone while you’re pumping gas. If your phone is
putting out static electricity (which is supposed to be the cause of such
accidents), then I suggest you get another phone. Besides, even if it is, you
would have to be holding it right down by the gas nozzle.
There are some things you should do with your cell phone:
(1) Periodically delete all your call lists—people you have called, who have
called you and missed calls. Storing all that info in your phone just takes up
room. (2) Every few days, recycle your phone, i.e., turn it off for a few
minutes and then turn it back on. Cell phone companies often transmit updated
information to their users’ phones, but such transmittals won’t go through
while your phone is turned on. By turning it off for a few minutes, any updates
can be made (they are stored and only waiting for your phone to be turned off).
(3) It doesn’t hurt to review your programmed phone numbers periodically.
First, you want to ensure that all the numbers you want in your “directory”
are in there. Second, you also want to check that there aren’t numbers in
there you don’t need. Again, stored numbers take up memory.
Today’s phones almost always have SIM cards on which your phone data is stored. Thus, if you switch phones, you can take that SIM card and place it into your new phone and be done with it. This is an extremely important feature if you store nearly 100 names and phone numbers as I do. There also are two different types of phone technology, but I would recommend you stick to GMS. It’s easier to use in different countries should you be traveling frequently.
If you ever get the phone wet while it is turned on (such as dropping it in the tub), you probably will need to buy a new phone. But if the phone is turned off, you have a good chance of rescuing it. Simply let it dry out thoroughly for a day or so, turn it back on and give it a shot. It won’t hurt to open the back of the phone, remove and dry the battery and SIM card and wipe down any interior components. Leave the phone open and in a safe place to dry overnight. You should be okay.
Finally, one other caveat: Phones today can do a multitude of things—take photos, connect you to the Internet, allow you to play games and much more. That’s all fine. Blackdog prefers a cell phone that makes phone calls. When I upgraded my phone, I went from a black and white screen (so to speak) to a color screen to make it easier to read. That’s it. There are many places that will not allow you to bring in “picture phones,” which defeats the purpose of having a cell phone in many instances. I take photos with a camera. I do e-mail from my computer. I connect to the Internet from my computer. I sure don’t need a phone to do all that. One can make life very complicated that way. Also watch when you buy a phone to be sure that either your antenna is built in or that it is situated in such a way that it cannot be easily broken. It’s a shame to buy a brand new phone (and the fancy ones are not cheap) and break the antenna the first week you have it. Remember that YOU and only you are responsible for damaged equipment.
Blackdog 