Keeping Your Cell Phone Safe and Private

Introduction

Most of us have cell phones that we use on a daily basis. While for some a cell phone is simply a convenient thing to have in the case of an emergency, for others cell phones and personal electronic devices are a way of making a living. It is unarguable that cell phones are here to stay and as cell phones become more a part of everyday life, the individuals who look to take advantage of innocent people also become more skilled at using your cell phone in ways that are neither safe nor private.

Instructions

Although you cannot control what dishonest people in the world may try to do, you can take steps to make yourself less of a target. Additionally there are threats to your safety that you are completely in control of that you can work to minimize.

Steps to improve the safety and privacy of your cell phone

1.Don’t use your cell phone while driving – The number one suggestion to improve the safety of using your cell phone is simply not to use it while driving as driving distracted has been show to be just as debilitating in some cases as driving while under the influence.

2.Deter eavesdroppers – Many people are more concerned about the possibility of radios or government taps as posing an eavesdropping threat to them. In reality, the best way to protect yourself from eavesdroppers is to guard what you say out in public. It is easy to forget what is happening around you when you are on the phone. Simply making sure not to disclose information while talking on your cell phone in public that you would rather the world not know about is your most effective defense.

3.Protect your cell phone records – Unfortunately there are several websites and individuals who offer to sell private cell phone records. Your cell phone carrier is not always to blame, but there are ways that through working with your cell phone service provider you can reduce your risk of having this happen. Start by having your call history removed from your bill. Then ask to create a password protected account. A password should stop anyone without knowledge of the password from accessing your account. Third, insist that your service provider never issue call history information if someone, including you, does not have or has forgotten the password. Instead require that you visit a store in person and show I.D. in order to obtain these records. This type of security measure may not always be the most convenient for you, but it can save you a lot of trouble down the road.

4.When you are ready to replace your phone, delete all data – Most phones allow you to permanently delete all of the information that you have stored on your phone. Instructions for how to do this are usually found in your owner’s manual. Make sure that you leave no trace of personal information if you give away or even throw away your old cell phone.

Other tips

Many times all that is needed to keep your cell phone safe and private is some effort and common sense. If you do not want your information to be stolen off of your phone, make sure that it never leaves your side or that you are aware of its location at all times. Respect the rights to privacy that other people have by limiting what personal information that you store in your phone that belongs to others. You may not ever be able to guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that nothing bad will ever happen to your cell phone or to the information on it. But you can take steps to minimize your risk.